WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:08.439 Well, good evening everyone. Are we well? It's great. We started at half past six with about half this number. 00:00:08.540 --> 00:00:12.439 It's amazing what happens in the ten minutes after the actual start of the evening service. It's great. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:18.679 So welcome to you. If you've just joined us, my name is Graeme. I'm the pastor here at the church, 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:22.359 Brunsford Evangelical, and it's a joy to welcome you here on a Sunday evening. 00:00:22.500 --> 00:00:26.740 I love a Sunday evening because it is a wonderful chance just to still ourselves 00:00:26.739 --> 00:00:34.280 as we leave a busy week, a busy week in life, but it's also been a busy weekend for us as a church, 00:00:34.780 --> 00:00:40.439 and just to still ourselves as we sit on the cusp of, I'm sure, what is another busy week ahead of us. 00:00:40.539 --> 00:00:45.939 It's a great time just to focus our minds and our hearts on our great and our awesome God. 00:00:45.939 --> 00:00:52.000 And it's a real joy this evening to introduce a new series that we're going to be doing this evening 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:57.240 and the next four Sunday evenings called What a Way to Make a Living. 00:00:57.960 --> 00:01:00.679 We have it on there. Here we go. What a Way to Make a Living. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:04.299 Now, hopefully that appeals to some of the Dolly Parton fans out there. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:09.900 What a Way to Make a Living. We're going to be thinking about how our Christian faith 00:01:09.900 --> 00:01:14.539 makes a difference to how we look at this thing that we call work. 00:01:14.540 --> 00:01:22.440 The things that we do in the hours between waking up in the morning and going to bed in the evening. 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:25.080 We're going to look at it quite broadly, I think, quite deliberately. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:28.260 The things that we do in life. 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:33.380 And it's going to look differently for all of us, all at different stages of life, 00:01:33.440 --> 00:01:35.040 all doing many different things. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:38.880 For some of us, that is work means to go to the office. 00:01:39.580 --> 00:01:42.100 For some of us, that means we go to study. 00:01:42.099 --> 00:01:44.479 Some of us will compose. 00:01:45.559 --> 00:01:46.799 Some of us will sing. 00:01:47.459 --> 00:01:48.679 Some of us will write. 00:01:49.419 --> 00:01:50.679 Some of us will think. 00:01:51.359 --> 00:01:53.399 Some of us will work with other people. 00:01:54.299 --> 00:01:55.959 Some of us will work with our hands. 00:01:56.099 --> 00:01:58.439 Some of us will look after our home. 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:00.379 Some of us will look after our family. 00:02:00.539 --> 00:02:01.560 Some of us will volunteer. 00:02:01.739 --> 00:02:06.599 And I'm sure that for many of us, actually, it's probably a combination of a lot of those things. 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:11.699 And this evening and in this series, we're going to ask the question, why? 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:14.359 Why work? 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:19.060 And to get us thinking this evening, I thought I would give you some quotations I found this week 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:24.180 from famous people in our world who have had a stab at answering that question, why work? 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:24.879 You ready for these? 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:25.680 We've got five of them. 00:02:26.060 --> 00:02:29.280 These are the people who are very influential in our culture. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:33.199 And many people look to as being able to tell them what life is all about. 00:02:33.299 --> 00:02:34.099 So here's the first one. 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:36.840 Steve Jobs writes this. 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:40.280 The only way to do great work is to love what you do. 00:02:41.420 --> 00:02:43.140 If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. 00:02:43.700 --> 00:02:44.560 Don't settle. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:49.219 As with all matters of the heart, you'll know it when you find it. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:52.460 Here's Russell Brand. 00:02:53.460 --> 00:02:54.500 No, there's not, actually. 00:02:54.599 --> 00:02:55.800 Here's David Brent. 00:02:57.680 --> 00:02:58.460 Here he is. 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:00.120 You grew up. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:01.340 This is him in the office. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:02.360 You grew up. 00:03:02.579 --> 00:03:03.620 You work half a century. 00:03:03.819 --> 00:03:04.900 You get a golden handshake. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:06.579 You rest a couple of years and you're dead. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:09.879 Here's Russell Brand. 00:03:11.300 --> 00:03:13.139 Read it this week, actually, him saying this. 00:03:13.219 --> 00:03:14.419 I don't know if you read it on the BBC News. 00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:16.000 People are realizing, hold on a minute. 00:03:16.579 --> 00:03:18.539 Is it natural to work 12 hours a day? 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:22.539 Here's Confucius. 00:03:23.119 --> 00:03:26.739 Choose a job that you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life. 00:03:28.079 --> 00:03:31.539 And lastly, and I'm sure you won't have heard of this guy, but I found him this week. 00:03:31.619 --> 00:03:33.539 David Brooks, a columnist for the New York Times. 00:03:33.619 --> 00:03:36.399 He was commenting on the saying that's popular in our culture. 00:03:37.139 --> 00:03:38.319 Listen to your inner voice. 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:39.819 Be true to yourself. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:41.099 Follow your passion. 00:03:41.339 --> 00:03:42.459 Your future is limitless. 00:03:42.459 --> 00:03:43.659 Well, he said this about that. 00:03:44.419 --> 00:03:48.259 That is garbage and nothing other than a middle class mantra. 00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:50.819 So why do we do that? 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:55.079 We do it because a lot of people in our world have got different things to say about work. 00:03:55.399 --> 00:03:55.799 Haven't they? 00:03:56.359 --> 00:04:00.060 So the question we need to ask ourselves as Christians here this evening is who is right? 00:04:00.899 --> 00:04:02.339 Why work? 00:04:02.799 --> 00:04:08.319 Now, I recently heard a Christian describe himself as an IKEA kind of Christian. 00:04:08.959 --> 00:04:11.099 And I thought to myself, what does he mean by that? 00:04:11.459 --> 00:04:12.839 He's an IKEA kind of Christian? 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:14.780 Does he like Swedish things? 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:15.759 What does he mean? 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:16.800 He's an IKEA kind of Christian. 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:17.500 He wrote this. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:23.120 While I take something home from IKEA, I simply seek to follow the maker's instructions. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:25.160 That's good advice. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:26.699 Good advice. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:29.300 Well, in this series, we're going to be looking at the maker's instructions. 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:36.120 What God, our creator, has to say in his words about work. 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:50.759 And what we're going to see as we look at his blueprint for work is that not only is what the Bible has to say about work wonderful, but actually what the Bible has to say about work is refreshingly realistic. 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:56.379 And tonight we're going to be thinking about God's original creation. 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:01.539 If you've got a Bible, maybe you want to turn to Genesis chapter 1 just now. 00:05:01.620 --> 00:05:08.019 We're going to be thinking about God's original creation, his good creation, his creation of Adam and Eve. 00:05:08.019 --> 00:05:13.500 And we're going to be thinking about the job that he gave them to do in his good creation. 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:23.779 So in just a minute, Alistair's going to come up and he's going to read the verses from Genesis chapter 1, end of Genesis chapter 1, and the beginning of Genesis chapter 2 to us. 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:30.879 But before we get there, let me just give you a little bit of a run up as to where we are in the Genesis narrative. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:35.180 Now, if you've got it there, Genesis 1 chapter 1. 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:37.620 Sorry, Genesis 1 verse 1. 00:05:38.019 --> 00:05:42.360 The very first words of the Bible, in the beginning, God. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.180 In the beginning, God. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:51.620 As my lecturer at Cornhill used to say, everything else is actually just a footnote to that. 00:05:52.379 --> 00:05:54.100 In the beginning, God. 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:56.680 For all eternity, God has existed. 00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:58.159 That's what that's saying. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.700 For all eternity, this God just has been. 00:06:00.820 --> 00:06:01.780 He has been there. 00:06:02.820 --> 00:06:03.560 And he's been living. 00:06:03.880 --> 00:06:09.780 He is a fully satisfied, loving community of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, the great three in one. 00:06:10.740 --> 00:06:13.400 And God created the heavens and the earth. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:15.500 This is what we see as we read through Genesis 1. 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:17.260 He created the heavens and the earth. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:21.920 So we discover from Genesis chapter 1 that the God of the Bible is a worker. 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:24.780 He made the universe. 00:06:25.920 --> 00:06:27.560 He made it out of nothing. 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:28.439 Ex nihilo. 00:06:28.980 --> 00:06:30.019 It's the Latin term there. 00:06:30.100 --> 00:06:31.019 He made it out of nothing. 00:06:31.100 --> 00:06:35.339 By his powerful word, he spoke and things just came into being. 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:37.139 The light. 00:06:37.780 --> 00:06:38.519 The stars. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:46.160 Now, I love how the author, if you want to check it out there, verse 16 of chapter 1. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:49.640 He also made the stars. 00:06:49.700 --> 00:06:52.380 Just a throwaway comment, is it not? 00:06:52.380 --> 00:06:53.320 He also made the stars. 00:06:53.400 --> 00:06:54.100 Well, all of them? 00:06:54.860 --> 00:06:55.540 All of them? 00:06:56.620 --> 00:07:00.180 We get the impression that this was, God was just doing this effortlessly. 00:07:00.420 --> 00:07:01.500 He also made the stars. 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:04.200 Is he truly not an awesome God? 00:07:04.280 --> 00:07:06.100 This is the God that we meet in Genesis 1. 00:07:06.140 --> 00:07:06.879 This is our God. 00:07:06.960 --> 00:07:07.540 He made the light. 00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:08.260 He made the stars. 00:07:08.340 --> 00:07:08.840 He made the fish. 00:07:08.900 --> 00:07:09.440 He made the plants. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:10.399 All of it. 00:07:10.719 --> 00:07:12.240 And it's pleasing to him. 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:18.040 And that consistent chorus that the writer of Genesis 1 keeps bringing us back to. 00:07:18.139 --> 00:07:19.819 That beautiful melody. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:21.519 And God saw what he made. 00:07:21.620 --> 00:07:22.300 And what was it? 00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:24.019 It was good. 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:26.399 It was good. 00:07:26.399 --> 00:07:32.539 You get the sense as you read through Genesis 1 that God, he creates effortlessly. 00:07:33.979 --> 00:07:36.739 And more than that, he creates joyfully. 00:07:38.219 --> 00:07:41.159 His creation, it brings him delight. 00:07:41.379 --> 00:07:43.399 It showcases his splendor. 00:07:43.479 --> 00:07:44.839 It declares his glory. 00:07:46.620 --> 00:07:50.739 Those verses from Psalm 19 that Fiona read out at the start to set the tone. 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:51.299 Brilliant. 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:56.280 So amazing how often the psalmist refrain comes back to the God of creation. 00:07:56.500 --> 00:07:57.060 Psalm 19. 00:07:57.220 --> 00:07:58.960 The heavens declare the glory of God. 00:07:59.220 --> 00:08:02.379 The skies proclaim the work of his hands. 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:06.680 This is our awesome God that we meet in Genesis 1. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:10.080 The heavens declare the glory of God. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:12.300 The skies proclaim the work of his hands. 00:08:12.420 --> 00:08:13.420 Creation is speaking. 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:14.139 It's speaking. 00:08:14.280 --> 00:08:14.660 It's speaking. 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:15.620 What is it telling us? 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:18.699 That our God, this God, is an awesome God. 00:08:18.699 --> 00:08:23.639 So we jump into the story at verse 26 of chapter 1. 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:24.599 Is this God's? 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:31.139 He chooses to create man as the pinnacle of his good creation. 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:34.080 Alistair, hand over to you. 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:47.059 Well, let's pray, shall we, as we come to God's word now. 00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:56.300 Dear Father, we thank you so much, Lord, that you have given us your word that tells us what you are like. 00:08:57.320 --> 00:09:04.640 And so this evening, dear Father, we ask as your creatures that you would help us grasp something more of your greatness. 00:09:05.220 --> 00:09:10.780 And you would help us grasp something more of our purpose as we study together this evening. 00:09:11.400 --> 00:09:13.759 So be with us by your spirit, we ask. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:15.100 Would he be our leader? 00:09:15.560 --> 00:09:16.960 And would he be our teacher? 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:19.680 And this is our prayer because we make it in Jesus' name. 00:09:20.040 --> 00:09:20.440 Amen. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:28.540 So I want to do just in the next 20 minutes or so, from that passage, if you want to have it open in front of you there, 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:32.480 I just want to help us see three quick things from the verses that we've just read, 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:40.840 before suggesting two principles that I think we can derive from these verses as we seek to apply this to our lives. 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:48.820 Especially as we think about Genesis 1 and 2, what it's teaching us about God's design for work. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:56.860 And the big thing that I want us to see this evening is that God has woven work into the fabric of his world. 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:01.780 God has woven work into the fabric of his world. 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:03.259 So here we go. 00:10:03.339 --> 00:10:06.959 Firstly, verses 26 and 27, God makes. 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:08.720 What does he make? 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:10.419 He makes man. 00:10:11.459 --> 00:10:16.839 Now we learn from verse 27, mankind there, he made them male and female. 00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:18.919 And what did he make them in? 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:21.339 Just get your head around this. 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:22.399 What did he make them in? 00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:24.679 Beginning of verse 26. 00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:30.359 Let us make them in our image. 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:34.899 Worth pausing and just thinking about that for just a minute. 00:10:35.819 --> 00:10:45.199 That every single human being has been made in the image of this triune God who we meet in Genesis 1. 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:48.219 This loving community of the Godhead. 00:10:48.319 --> 00:10:51.319 We were made in his image. 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:54.920 Now that has massive ethical implications. 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:58.280 That has massive moral implications. 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:02.700 That has staggering spiritual implications for all of human life right there. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:06.800 But let me just hone it down just a little bit. 00:11:08.020 --> 00:11:11.379 And as I was praying about this this week, 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:15.840 it struck me that maybe there's some here tonight and you're thinking, 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:16.860 I am not valuable. 00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:19.740 I am not valuable. 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:27.480 Well, can I encourage you to dwell on what Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 is telling you about you? 00:11:28.539 --> 00:11:29.820 That you are no accident. 00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:31.060 That you are not insignificant. 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:34.820 That you are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of this God who we meet here. 00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:35.620 This almighty. 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:37.419 This awesome God. 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:42.000 Now we'll see next week how sin entering the world has impacted things. 00:11:42.180 --> 00:11:43.799 And we are broken human beings. 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:53.179 But see here in God's good design that we are human beings who are beautiful simply because we've been made in the image of this God. 00:11:54.120 --> 00:12:01.620 The fall may have messed things up, but all human beings still retain the image of God. 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:04.000 I think C.S. Lewis captured it best. 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:06.580 He called mankind a glorious ruin. 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:08.980 I think that captures it really well. 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:10.740 A glorious ruin. 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:12.340 How precious is that truth? 00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:14.039 Again, we see it through the psalm. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:14.639 Psalm 8. 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:16.460 You hear the psalmist reflecting, 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:19.259 What is man that you are mindful of him? 00:12:19.940 --> 00:12:21.940 And the son of man that you care for him. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:27.220 Yet you have made him a little lower than heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and splendor. 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:31.240 Do you see the psalmist reflecting on that wonderful truth that God you made us? 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:33.639 I am made in your image. 00:12:35.180 --> 00:12:39.279 And it's really impacted me this week as I found myself just walking down the street. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:42.000 And as I've bumped into people, as I've seen people. 00:12:43.200 --> 00:12:48.460 As I'm thinking that every single human being has been made in the image of God. 00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:51.540 Every single human being an image bearer of God. 00:12:51.660 --> 00:12:53.420 Every single human being valuable. 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:55.560 Every single human being dignified. 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:57.500 And we get it from here. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:01.339 Let us make man in our image. 00:13:01.859 --> 00:13:03.779 And what did God make man to do? 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.759 Do you see the word there? 00:13:04.939 --> 00:13:06.699 Have dominion. 00:13:07.599 --> 00:13:11.199 So God appoints man to rule over his good creation. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:14.139 Almost as his representative beings. 00:13:15.219 --> 00:13:16.259 So God makes. 00:13:17.239 --> 00:13:19.559 And secondly, verses 28 to 31. 00:13:19.839 --> 00:13:21.500 Having created man in his image. 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:22.719 God tasks. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:26.940 Three things God says to man about his good creation. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:31.000 Three things God tells man to do with his good creation. 00:13:31.160 --> 00:13:32.060 Firstly, fill it. 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.779 Be fruitful and multiply. 00:13:35.279 --> 00:13:36.779 As creatures made in my image. 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:38.600 Go ahead and fill the earth. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.940 Fill my creation. 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:42.720 Fill it with other image bearers of me. 00:13:44.180 --> 00:13:48.600 You see, God's desire is that the earth would be populated with people who all know him. 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:49.660 Who all serve him. 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:51.200 And who all enjoy him together. 00:13:51.660 --> 00:13:52.240 Fill it. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:55.120 Secondly, use it. 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:57.120 Subdue it. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:04.600 You see, God expects man to wisely cultivate and make useful the land that he has given them to have dominion over. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.960 And they are to work at it. 00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:09.080 And do you notice how they are to use it for food? 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:15.500 Do you see how God cares for man? 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:19.820 As he cares for Adam and Eve who he's made. 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:21.360 He cares for them. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.419 He's protecting them. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:23.480 He's providing for them. 00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:24.899 Do you see verse 29? 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.679 I have given it to you, says God. 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.379 I have given you. 00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:35.940 Hinting at the enormous sense of privilege that man has in looking after God's glorious creation. 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:42.880 But also the enormous sense of responsibility that man has in looking after God's good creation. 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:46.460 God is not only one who has created them. 00:14:46.920 --> 00:14:51.300 God is the one who has given them his creation to look after it and stewards. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.200 Do you see how they are to care for God's good creation? 00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:59.220 As a direct response for their love for their creator. 00:15:00.420 --> 00:15:02.780 And all the time they are to do it walking in fellowship. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.379 Sweet fellowship with God who created them. 00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:07.900 Loving fellowship with him. 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:09.580 Fill it. 00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:10.560 Use it. 00:15:11.020 --> 00:15:11.700 Care for it. 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:14.700 And in so doing, walk in relationship with your God. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.220 Enjoy him. 00:15:16.520 --> 00:15:17.240 Delight in him. 00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:20.220 And bring glory to him through the way that you do that. 00:15:20.660 --> 00:15:22.800 And what does this make God's? 00:15:22.800 --> 00:15:23.480 Verse 31. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.200 Do you see it? 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:25.400 He looks on his creation. 00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:26.620 And what does he declare? 00:15:27.020 --> 00:15:28.379 Whereas before it was good. 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.440 What is it now? 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:30.840 Somebody? 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:33.140 It's very good. 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:35.840 Do you see that God delights in what he has made? 00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:38.600 Very good. 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.840 And so God. 00:15:41.020 --> 00:15:43.840 Thirdly, verses 1 to 3 of chapter 2. 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:44.820 He rests. 00:15:47.320 --> 00:15:49.400 God's work in creating is finished. 00:15:49.400 --> 00:15:53.900 And on the seventh day he rests from his work in creation. 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:56.659 Do you see three times the word rest is mentioned there? 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:04.039 Now for God to rest doesn't mean that he's slumped down on the couch like sometimes we would do at the end of a hard day exhausted. 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:06.059 This is not the kind of rest that's going on here. 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:12.119 The effortless ease that we saw God create things in chapter 1 would suggest that that is not the case. 00:16:12.119 --> 00:16:22.119 Rather here is God having stopped working, standing back as it were and perceiving what he has made and delighting in it. 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:25.240 There's harmony. 00:16:26.240 --> 00:16:27.320 There's beauty. 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:29.879 And God blesses the seventh day. 00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:32.039 And God makes it holy. 00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:36.419 You see the seventh day is a different day. 00:16:36.419 --> 00:16:46.639 It's as if the seventh day was designed specifically for the sweet fellowship between God and man as they live out enjoyment of God's world to exist. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.399 God rests. 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:55.399 You see how God has built this into the fabric of his world, into the rhythm of his creation. 00:16:55.399 --> 00:17:04.019 Now we don't have time to go into the Sabbath massively this evening, but let me just say this, that I think this speaks volumes. 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:11.460 A Christian understanding of rest volumes into our world that is bought into this crazy, crazy, crazy work ethic. 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:13.819 What is it they call New York? 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:16.720 The city that never sleeps. 00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:18.720 I don't know how that works. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:24.500 But the city that never sleeps, because it's people that are so, so busy running around. 00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:27.720 And I often ask myself, am I any better than that? 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:35.740 As I run around from thing to thing, here is God who has built rest into the rhythm of his world. 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:46.359 It's interesting, isn't it, that so often our world derives our identity from what we do. 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:55.240 See, the call here of these verses to, as God's people, to be defined by not what we do, but whose we are. 00:17:57.160 --> 00:18:00.660 Now let me hit you with some geeky theology here, okay? 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:03.160 Article 1 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:04.220 I knew it was on your tongues. 00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:06.640 What is the chief end of man? 00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.100 Question. 00:18:07.360 --> 00:18:07.759 Answer. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:11.420 Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:14.480 Here is God's perfect world. 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.500 Here it is. 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:20.839 Now, we'll see next week how sin, the creature's rebellion against the creator, 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:24.339 has broken the perfect harmony that exists here in God's original creation. 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:30.100 But for now, see how Genesis 1 and 2 show us how God is a worker, 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:35.079 and that work is part of his good creation. 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:40.439 God has woven work into the fabric of his world. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:45.620 Now, the question I hope you're asking at this point is, 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:49.820 how does a Christian understanding of how God created the world, 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:54.200 how does a Christian understanding, viewing the world through this Genesis 1 and 2 mindset, 00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:57.220 how does it impact how you and I live today? 00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:02.420 Well, here are the two principles I was telling you about as we work towards a close. 00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:06.820 Firstly, our work matters to God. 00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:15.180 A Christian understanding of God's good design shows us that there is dignity in work, 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:20.400 that God created it, that it was part of his good design, 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:23.019 that we are designed for it, 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:25.259 and that work, which you and I do, 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:26.960 whatever form that that takes, 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:32.440 we were made by God to cultivate his good design. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.720 We were made to be in community with others. 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:39.339 We were made to stretch our imaginations. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.859 We were made to create. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:43.119 We were made to be pleased when things are done well, 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.680 and because God designed it, 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:47.680 do you see how God dignifies work? 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.059 Now, what did Jesus do while he was on earth? 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:53.579 He worked as a carpenter. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:58.759 What a challenge that must have been to first century Greek thinking and culture, 00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:01.799 that God came to earth and God worked. 00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:05.079 And God worked with his hands. 00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:10.119 And what do we see the Apostle Paul doing as we meet him in the New Testament? 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:13.599 What do we see him doing to fund himself in his missionary endeavors? 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:15.200 He works as a tent maker. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:18.440 God has dignified work. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:21.120 And God has dignified not just some work. 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:23.519 God has dignified all work. 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.180 All work. 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:31.259 And I heard someone say recently in a conversation that 20, 30 years ago, 00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:33.680 that the second question you would ask somebody after, 00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:34.539 what is your name, 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.660 is, 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.259 who are your parents? 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:43.720 Now, the second question you ask somebody after asking them, 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.480 what is your name, 00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:45.319 is, 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.559 what do you do? 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:51.900 Just an example of how our society derives our worth from what we do. 00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:55.480 How easy is it to turn a good thing into a God thing? 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:01.599 Because we live in a society that measures someone's worth by the job that they do in society. 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:05.199 People in our culture deriving their identity from what they do. 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:08.000 That we list jobs in our mind, 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:09.179 our society's trained us, 00:21:09.219 --> 00:21:10.939 to see some jobs as less glamorous, 00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:12.839 to see some jobs as more glamorous. 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:16.419 Deriving your identity from what you do. 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.899 And I find this all the time. 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:21.139 That people don't just derive their identity from what they do, 00:21:21.199 --> 00:21:24.959 they derive their identity from how busy they are doing what they do. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:31.519 I remember years ago when I started as a young lawyer meeting somebody who told me, 00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:33.059 I asked him, 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.180 are you having lunch? 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.559 And he said, 00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:35.819 no, life's too short for lunch. 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:38.039 Life's too short for lunch. 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.100 Very quickly, 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:43.680 understanding the culture in my office was that it was a sign of weakness, 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:47.079 that you must be very unbusy if you left before six o'clock in the evening. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:52.920 Is this not true that we so often derive our identity from what we do, 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:55.820 and how busy we are as we do what we do. 00:21:56.259 --> 00:22:01.539 But a good understanding of God's design of work in Genesis 1 and 2 shows us that all work, 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:05.259 whatever we do in those waking hours that we have in the day, 00:22:05.380 --> 00:22:08.180 done in harmony with the task that God has given man, 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:11.100 is dignified and it matters to God. 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:14.000 Whatever it is that we're doing, 00:22:14.360 --> 00:22:18.340 if we're doing it in line with the task that God has given man, 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.240 that is dignified, 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:21.300 that is a way we can glorify him. 00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:22.700 And as Christians, 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:26.259 we believe in the sovereign goodness of God over our lives. 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:29.339 And that means that wherever he has placed us, 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.579 in his purpose, 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:31.680 according to his will, 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.500 wherever we are, 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:33.460 whatever we're doing, 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:37.079 we can bring him glory by working in a way, 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.379 a proper and fit way, 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.339 which brings him glory. 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.480 So everyone, 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:43.279 from the doctor to the dustman, 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:44.879 from the parent to the postman, 00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.680 working for an audience of one, 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:50.720 seeking to care and cultivate that particular part of God's good creation, 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.779 that he has given us for his glory. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:57.880 There's a famous story told of the toilet cleaner, 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:02.539 who worked at the NASA Space Center at Cape Canaveral in America. 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:05.079 And someone once asked him what he did for a living. 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:09.039 And he replied simply like everyone else, 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:11.460 my job is simply to put a man on the moon. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:14.179 Do you see it? 00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:16.939 Understanding the bigger picture of what's going on here. 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:20.059 And so in the same way as we sit here tonight, 00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:22.059 as we sit here as diverse people, 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.240 at different stages of life, 00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:26.619 doing different things with the hours of our days, 00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:28.879 we believe as Christians in the common goal, 00:23:29.159 --> 00:23:31.679 that we can bring God glory through what we do. 00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:33.599 Our work, 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:35.819 it matters to God. 00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.679 And secondly, 00:23:38.719 --> 00:23:40.819 God matters to our work. 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:42.979 As Christians, 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:45.719 as we grasp this Genesis 1 and 2 world feat, 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:48.739 should make a real difference to the way that you and I live our lives. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.479 You know what's really struck me this week? 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:55.900 It's the sense of glorious responsibility 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:59.920 that I have as one who's been made in God's image, 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:01.279 living in God's world, 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:04.660 to bring him glory with what he's given me. 00:24:05.559 --> 00:24:06.640 And it's a responsibility, 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.319 I think, 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:09.420 that has got two axes to it. 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:09.599 Now, 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.960 if you were at the day away yesterday, 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:12.779 these are the two axes that Bob, 00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.160 our speaker, 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:13.960 picked up on. 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.160 Firstly, 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.779 there's the vertical axis, 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:19.180 that I am responsible, 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:21.660 I am accountable for what I do, 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.000 what I've been given, 00:24:23.060 --> 00:24:24.360 and what I do with what I've been given. 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.720 I'm responsible to God. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:29.000 So I've been asking myself this week, 00:24:29.080 --> 00:24:31.759 am I stewarding well the things that God has given me? 00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:36.000 Am I looking after well the things that God has given me? 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:38.580 Am I using the things that God has given me for his glory? 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:42.720 How I conduct myself as a Christian? 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:45.400 Do I seek to, 00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:48.360 to devote myself first and foremost, 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:49.479 as a creature of God, 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.399 to my creator? 00:24:53.319 --> 00:24:54.619 How I am as a husband? 00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.899 How I am as a father? 00:24:58.939 --> 00:25:00.339 How I am as a son? 00:25:01.479 --> 00:25:03.279 How I work in the office? 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:05.699 How I use my money? 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:08.000 How I use my time? 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:10.199 How I use my possessions? 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:12.179 Everything in my life 00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:14.159 that has been given to me 00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:16.240 on trust by God, 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.019 it's not mine. 00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.420 How often, 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.319 we heard this this morning, 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:19.599 didn't we? 00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:22.240 How often that we run around our world 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:24.259 thinking that what we have 00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.339 is ours. 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.420 It's not ours. 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:29.079 It's on loan to us from God. 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:30.279 We're going to have to give an account 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:31.379 for how we've used it. 00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:32.500 And particularly, 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:33.720 we're going to have to give an account 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.799 for how we've used it 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.059 for God's kingdom purposes. 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:40.220 So the question of my mind has been, 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:42.619 am I seeking to use the opportunities 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:44.139 that God has given me in life? 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:46.000 Am I seeking to use the resources 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:47.519 that God has given me in life 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:49.099 in line with God's will 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.759 for the glory of God 00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:52.440 and for the expansion of his kingdom 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.240 throughout the world? 00:25:54.639 --> 00:25:55.859 Now just think about your own life 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.240 for a minute. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.419 What's that going to look like? 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:00.339 What the Lord, 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.399 by his grace, 00:26:01.400 --> 00:26:02.300 has given you? 00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:07.540 What has he given you 00:26:07.540 --> 00:26:08.560 to steward for his glory? 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:13.340 You see how this world view it, 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:15.580 this truth that we know as Christians, 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.740 it should make a way, 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.680 it should make a difference, 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.240 rather, sorry, 00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:20.620 to the way that we view 00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.519 what we have. 00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:25.180 And I've been embarrassed this week 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:27.160 to find out my own life 00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:28.580 as I've asked those seeking questions. 00:26:28.780 --> 00:26:29.980 How often is that? 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:31.819 It's just never on my radar. 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:34.059 It's just never on my radar. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.880 And so my prayer this week 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:36.160 has been, 00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.480 Lord, 00:26:36.819 --> 00:26:37.640 would you help, 00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.799 by your grace, 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.579 put it on my radar. 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.220 Secondly, 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:44.980 it's a responsibility 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:46.400 with a horizontal axis. 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:49.360 To care for God's good creation. 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.940 To conduct myself 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:52.039 in a way that looks after 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:52.799 his creation, 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:54.240 because I recognize just that, 00:26:54.299 --> 00:26:55.720 that it's his creation. 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.539 And if I'm to take 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.839 the words of Scripture seriously, 00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.819 if I'm to take the words 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:01.179 of Psalm 19 seriously, 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.819 that this creation of his 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:04.519 is declaring his glory 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.740 to a watching world. 00:27:06.939 --> 00:27:08.019 And I think in particular 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.299 I've been challenged this week 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:11.480 with how I care for his creation, 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.959 particularly how I care 00:27:12.959 --> 00:27:14.179 for other human beings 00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:16.000 as part of his creation. 00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:18.879 Made in the image of God, 00:27:19.359 --> 00:27:21.000 as part of God's good creation, 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:22.699 with whom I share this world. 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.720 How do I relate to others? 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.940 How am I loving others? 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.200 Am I interested in others? 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.339 Am I concerned about others? 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.279 Am I praying for others? 00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.519 Am I seeking to love others? 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:32.920 Again, 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.799 how often is that 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.559 just not on my radar? 00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:36.700 This has been such a challenge 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.559 to me this week. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.839 Do you see how this 00:27:39.839 --> 00:27:41.420 Genesis 1 and 2 framework, 00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:42.799 it should challenge us 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:44.980 as we look at God's good design 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.860 for his world, 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.460 as we think, 00:27:47.660 --> 00:27:49.000 conscious of those two axes, 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.279 the horizontal axis, 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.500 the vertical axis, 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:55.319 how it should challenge us? 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:58.440 The Genesis 1 and 2 blueprint 00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:00.720 with a Genesis 1 and 2 goal, 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:02.079 what a difference that should make 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.779 to our lives. 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.759 Those looking on to our lives, 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:07.000 those that we witness to 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.559 in the office 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:08.700 that we rub shoulders with, 00:28:08.779 --> 00:28:09.660 but those who look on, 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.799 our family and friends, 00:28:10.880 --> 00:28:11.579 as they look at the way 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.559 that we live our lives, 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.640 they should ask why. 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.920 Our work matters to God. 00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:19.880 That's why. 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:22.400 And God matters to our work. 00:28:22.760 --> 00:28:23.380 That's why. 00:28:24.320 --> 00:28:26.480 God has woven work 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:28.060 into the fabric 00:28:28.060 --> 00:28:29.440 of his world. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.820 Now I'll give you a list 00:28:31.820 --> 00:28:32.740 of quotes at the start. 00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:33.640 Here's just one more. 00:28:33.780 --> 00:28:34.660 In fact, there's two more, okay? 00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:36.100 Two more. 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.760 Here's British businessman 00:28:37.760 --> 00:28:38.540 Philip Green, 00:28:39.280 --> 00:28:41.180 owner of the Arcadia Group. 00:28:41.280 --> 00:28:42.620 So we've got Topman and Wallace 00:28:42.620 --> 00:28:43.660 and whatnot, 00:28:43.760 --> 00:28:44.540 the Arcadia Group. 00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:46.520 He writes this about work. 00:28:47.580 --> 00:28:49.300 It's all about quality of life 00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:50.879 and it's all about finding 00:28:50.879 --> 00:28:51.759 a happy balance 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.960 between work and friends 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.519 and family. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.419 You heard that one before, 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.500 something similar to that? 00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.599 Well, hopefully we've seen 00:28:59.599 --> 00:29:00.859 tonight that as Christians 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:02.180 armed with our Bibles 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:04.079 and informed by God's revelation 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.099 of who he is 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:07.139 and how he's created things, 00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:09.139 we know and we've seen 00:29:09.139 --> 00:29:10.619 that there's so much more 00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:12.339 to God's design for work 00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:13.700 than simply about me 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:15.039 and my quality of life. 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:18.559 You know, a lesser known fact 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.220 about me is that 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.960 when I grew up, 00:29:20.079 --> 00:29:21.799 I used to play the saxophone. 00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.500 I'm not auditioning for the band, 00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:26.099 that's not what I'm doing there. 00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:27.000 I used to play the saxophone, 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:27.920 I used to really love 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:28.940 playing the saxophone. 00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:31.259 One of the jazz musicians 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.559 who I still love to this day, 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.659 I love to listen to, 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:36.019 is a man called John Coltrane. 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:38.059 Some of you may have heard of him, 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.000 some of you might not. 00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:40.399 Something to do on Spotify 00:29:40.399 --> 00:29:41.819 or YouTube when you get home. 00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:42.539 John Coltrane, 00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:44.039 fantastic jazz musicianist. 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:47.000 And his most famous 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.940 and most loved album 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:49.819 is called A Love Supreme. 00:29:51.159 --> 00:29:51.779 And this is how, 00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:52.619 I don't know if you've noticed 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:53.519 it sometimes in CDs, 00:29:53.659 --> 00:29:55.440 the artists put the kind of 00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.819 this is who it's to 00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.599 in the inside cover 00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:58.259 of their CD. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:58.940 It's to my mum, 00:29:58.980 --> 00:29:59.460 it's to my brother, 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:00.399 whatnot, they say that. 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:00.920 Well, this is what 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.839 John Coltrane writes 00:30:01.839 --> 00:30:03.379 and I've kind of modernised it 00:30:03.379 --> 00:30:04.480 in terms of it's English 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.200 so you can understand 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:05.799 what he's saying. 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.859 This is John Coltrane. 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:09.440 This album is a humble 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.720 offering to God. 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.559 It's an attempt 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:14.279 to say thank you, 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:14.839 God, 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.500 with my work 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:18.480 just the same as I do 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.279 with my heart 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.379 and my tongue. 00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:22.779 I think John Coltrane's 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:24.079 grasped Genesis 1 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:24.899 and Genesis 2. 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:27.819 What a glorious God 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.720 that Genesis 1 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.399 and Genesis 2 00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:30.440 presents us with. 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:33.500 He is an awesome God. 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:35.720 We'll see next week 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.799 how Genesis 3, 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.279 sin entering the world 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:40.119 has significantly changed things 00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:40.980 but for now, 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:43.099 what a brilliant task 00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:44.359 God has given to his creatures 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.880 to fill 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:47.299 and to use 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:48.759 and to care for 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.900 his good creation. 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:52.019 And while they do that, 00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:53.140 first and foremost, 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.000 all the while, 00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:55.039 seeking to walk 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.119 in sweet fellowship 00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:57.519 with the God 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.819 who created them. 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.339 To do what they do 00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:01.359 to live their lives 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.420 for the glory of God. 00:31:02.420 --> 00:31:03.500 What a beautiful picture 00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.800 Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:05.440 paints us. 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.340 This is our God. 00:31:07.340 --> 00:31:07.380 This is our God.