WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.820 Good morning, everyone. Welcome to St Paul's. My name's Steve. I've never met you before. 00:00:03.820 --> 00:00:11.580 ! I'm the lead pastor here. In this last couple of weeks, as you probably realise, maybe, 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:20.440 that we've been in our Christmas season here at St Paul's. And I began this season by quoting 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:29.339 the late theologian James Packer, who suggested that what Christianity claims 00:00:29.339 --> 00:00:41.659 regarding Christmas is so outrageous that nothing in all of fiction has anything like it. In other 00:00:41.659 --> 00:00:48.039 words, what he's saying there is that there is no worldview that comes even close to the outrageous 00:00:48.039 --> 00:00:55.640 claims of what the Bible declares around Christmas and other things. And so what we've been doing 00:00:55.640 --> 00:01:03.659 in the last couple of weeks is really exploring some of those claims and whether or not you can 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:10.379 actually believe what the Bible says about Christmas, or whether it's just much better just to keep it 00:01:10.379 --> 00:01:17.859 as a holiday at the end of the year and with a great deal of light and joy and so on. The claim 00:01:17.859 --> 00:01:24.439 of Christmas in the Christian faith is the claim that the infinite God who made all things became 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:34.719 a human being, a limited human being, a Jew, a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and stare 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:42.500 and wriggle and make noises, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:49.459 And if that wasn't enough in terms of just the claims of Christmas, the claim that the Almighty became a 00:01:49.459 --> 00:02:00.299 baby, but also the fact that the author of life came into this world to die on a cross for humanity. 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:07.179 It claims, the Bible claims that Jesus performed miracles, that he was raised from the dead, 00:02:07.459 --> 00:02:12.139 and that he is now present with his followers by his Holy Spirit through his word. 00:02:12.139 --> 00:02:21.879 It claims that he will, Jesus will come back to earth one day as universal judge and ruler of all things. 00:02:23.239 --> 00:02:24.219 Extraordinary claims. 00:02:25.179 --> 00:02:27.839 Not just the claims of Christmas, but extraordinary claims. 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:33.739 And we need some serious evidence to believe any of those claims. 00:02:33.979 --> 00:02:38.219 And that's kind of what we've been looking at the last couple of weeks through our Christmas season. 00:02:38.219 --> 00:02:45.340 And if you've just joined us, there's a couple of really short resources to do with Christmas and whether or not it's believable. 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:51.020 Just on the other side of the wall, you can take these and continue on yourself. 00:02:51.979 --> 00:02:53.000 Extraordinary claims. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:03:08.759 And yet, billions of people from all different culture groups and different socioeconomic educational stages of life and other things like that have come to believe those claims. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:16.120 In fact, some of the smartest people in the world today believe those claims. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:31.140 And throughout history believe that the claims of the Bible are true and that they are, in fact, not just true, but have authority over my life in every aspect of my life. 00:03:31.139 --> 00:03:47.519 And so, as we, you know, come to the close of our Christmas season and, you know, if you're already thinking ahead, if you're like me, people with ADHD, you're always thinking of something else forward. 00:03:48.799 --> 00:03:52.959 You know, the New Year's there, New Year's resolutions are there. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:04:17.199 And so, I want to put the claims of the Christian faith and specifically the reliability of the Bible in front of us and an encouragement for you to pick it up and to read it as you look into the year ahead and explore those claims and what they mean for your life. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:22.879 And, in fact, that's really what we're going to be doing as we move into January as well. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:34.739 Just looking a bit more about the reliability of the claims of the Christian faith, why you'd want to believe it in 2026 and why you'd want to shape your life around those claims. 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:43.819 So, what I want to do today really is just really simply, very quickly propose that the Bible is true and reliable for everything in life and faith. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:50.839 And I want to say really that the Bible is historically, culturally and personally reliable. 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:53.359 Okay, so that's kind of our journey today. 00:04:53.879 --> 00:05:09.620 So, one of the common accusations today is that the Bible and particularly the New Testament accounts about Jesus and what are written there were written by the winners in history, if you like. 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:32.759 The claim that he did miracles, that he was, that Jesus was divine and that he rose again were all written much later in time by church leaders who were trying to get Christianity to spread and to be the dominant religion in the world. 00:05:32.759 --> 00:05:42.539 And so, what those church leaders did was they fudged things a little bit to kind of make it, to make it more effective, if you like. 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:50.500 They just sort of fudged a little bit of the accusations, prop Jesus up a little bit more to make him what he was than what he wasn't actually. 00:05:50.500 --> 00:06:02.220 Now, there are many reasons why those accusations, people might want to grab hold of them, but also why they fundamentally are not right at all. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:10.660 But let me look briefly at three reasons why you can trust what the Bible says about Jesus. 00:06:10.779 --> 00:06:14.779 And I'm referring here particularly about the New Testament, what it says about Jesus. 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:22.579 Firstly, the New Testament accounts about Jesus were written far too early for them to be legends. 00:06:23.459 --> 00:06:24.619 Take the beginning of Luke. 00:06:24.739 --> 00:06:26.759 The angels read out to us, Luke chapter 1. 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:37.839 Luke was written as a biography of Jesus and he points out to his readers there in verses 2 and 3, 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:59.879 So here's Luke. 00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:04.719 Luke is writing this gospel that Andrew just read out to us. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:10.939 He's writing it 30 to 40 years, only 30 to 40 years after Jesus. 00:07:11.259 --> 00:07:19.579 And he makes the point there that lots of people who saw Jesus are still alive right now. 00:07:20.019 --> 00:07:23.040 And so you can check the facts with those people. 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:30.200 And writing even closer to those events than Luke here was Paul. 00:07:30.960 --> 00:07:37.180 And Paul wrote his letters only 15 to 20 years after the events of Jesus' life. 00:07:37.460 --> 00:07:42.580 And he says this in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 6 about the resurrection of Jesus. 00:07:42.580 --> 00:07:51.759 He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:08:05.000 So what that means is Paul could not have possibly written a public document promoting Christianity, 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:10.640 a statement like that, unless it was in fact the case. 00:08:11.580 --> 00:08:17.360 Or in Philippians chapter 2, Paul quotes a hymn of Jesus' divinity. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:22.180 And if Philippians is written so close to the events of Jesus' life, 00:08:22.840 --> 00:08:28.280 and Paul is quoting something here that's written earlier about Jesus, 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:37.960 then what it says in Philippians 2 is that the very earliest Christians worshipped Jesus as God. 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:42.040 The very earliest Christians worshipped him as God, 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:49.200 which stands opposed to the claims that Christians didn't worship him as God 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:52.920 until 300 to 400 years later under Constantine. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:55.400 Absolute rubbish. 00:08:57.259 --> 00:09:00.759 They worshipped him as God from the very beginning. 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:10.179 The documents of the New Testament are way too early for people to say whatever they wanted about Jesus, 00:09:10.600 --> 00:09:15.419 while thousands of people who witnessed him in person were still alive. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:24.939 Secondly, documents of the New Testament are too counterproductive to be legends. 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:31.520 Remember, the accusation is that the Bible is what the early, 00:09:31.520 --> 00:09:36.640 the New Testament is what the early church leaders wanted people to believe had happened, 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:40.840 because this helped them to consolidate their power 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:43.700 and to grow the Christian faith throughout the Roman Empire. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:51.980 So imagine you're a church leader living 70 to 80 years after Jesus, 00:09:51.980 --> 00:09:55.240 and so what you've decided to do to consolidate your power 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:57.120 is to make up a heap of stories about him. 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:02.379 Would you put in those stories 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:06.700 that Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane 00:10:06.700 --> 00:10:11.220 asking the Father to get out of his plan? 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:14.060 If there's any other way of doing this, 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.440 please come up with another plan. 00:10:16.500 --> 00:10:17.779 Would you put that story in it? 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:17.779 00:10:17.779 --> 00:10:23.360 Not in the Roman Empire, you wouldn't. 00:10:24.579 --> 00:10:27.439 In fact, it was the Garden of Gethsemane 00:10:27.439 --> 00:10:31.319 and the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross 00:10:31.319 --> 00:10:37.439 that resulted in the Nazi Party rejecting Christianity 00:10:37.439 --> 00:10:41.459 because they would not believe in a God who was so weak. 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:45.500 That was the fundamental issue for Adolf Hitler. 00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:50.600 Christianity is about humility and about sacrifice, 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:52.460 and that is weak. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:55.940 And that's the Roman Empire. 00:10:57.379 --> 00:11:00.480 Would you put Jesus on a cross asking God 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:04.179 why he had forsaken him? 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:06.720 Jesus looks weak. 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.840 Would you include in your first century stories 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:12.600 that all of your very first eyewitnesses 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:15.899 to the historical fact of the resurrection were women 00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:20.340 at a time when women's evidence 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:23.139 was not even permissible, admissible in court 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:26.360 because of their low social status? 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:29.139 And all the gospel accounts say 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:31.680 that the original eyewitnesses were women. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:34.440 If you're trying to fudge things, 00:11:34.540 --> 00:11:36.480 why would you put that in there? 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:40.240 Not only that, 00:11:41.300 --> 00:11:43.180 but when you get into the New Testament, 00:11:43.420 --> 00:11:45.500 you see the apostles don't come across 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:50.740 as glowing historic, heroic figures in any way. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:52.220 They're cowardly. 00:11:52.340 --> 00:11:53.440 They're slow to believe, 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.879 and they are fundamentally self-interested. 00:11:57.340 --> 00:12:00.000 So why include any of it 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:02.120 if they were in fact making it up? 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:06.120 They are in fact totally counterproductive 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:07.879 for consolidating power 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:09.060 for the early Christian leaders 00:12:09.060 --> 00:12:09.960 of the Christian movement. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.019 And thirdly, 00:12:14.220 --> 00:12:15.600 they are too detailed. 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:18.139 The New Testament accounts are too detailed 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:19.340 to be legends. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.480 Ancient myths and novels 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:25.940 were never written like this. 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:29.920 Modern novels might have, 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:31.140 if you like, 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:34.920 familiar characteristics to the New Testament, 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:37.380 but not ancient ones. 00:12:38.280 --> 00:12:40.480 The New Testament accounts of Jesus 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:44.380 don't have the form of legends. 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:49.840 They are written too early to be legends, 00:12:50.040 --> 00:12:53.220 and they are too counterproductive to be legends. 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:55.380 And so you can trust them. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:57.340 Now, that's just really brief. 00:12:57.380 --> 00:12:58.640 I haven't touched on the Old Testament. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:01.320 I haven't got time to delve into all of that as well. 00:13:01.900 --> 00:13:02.800 But briefly, 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:05.600 if you can trust what the New Testament says about Jesus, 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:08.120 then you can trust what Jesus says 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:09.140 about the Old Testament. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:12.640 And his view was that the Old Testament, 00:13:13.400 --> 00:13:14.880 the Jewish Bible, 00:13:15.440 --> 00:13:16.760 was God's word, 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:17.860 it was true, 00:13:18.260 --> 00:13:19.340 and it had authority. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.860 Historically reliable New Testament. 00:13:25.940 --> 00:13:28.280 Secondly, 00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:30.560 it's culturally reliable. 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:32.000 Now, 00:13:32.060 --> 00:13:33.820 I think it's pretty much true to say 00:13:33.820 --> 00:13:36.700 that modern people 00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:39.660 care less about the historical reliability of the Bible 00:13:39.660 --> 00:13:41.040 because, really, 00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:43.760 in our Western world, 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:44.660 particularly at the moment, 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:48.380 we're more troubled about the cultural aspects of the Bible. 00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:54.720 And in our progressive cultural society at the moment, 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:58.200 we consider many aspects of the Bible offensive, 00:13:59.019 --> 00:13:59.279 primitive, 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.460 and backward. 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:05.860 The Bible offends Sidneysiders in many ways, 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.560 in certain ways. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:09.660 Of course, 00:14:09.920 --> 00:14:12.080 the offense might have a long list, 00:14:12.420 --> 00:14:15.220 but the offense is a constantly moving offense, 00:14:15.540 --> 00:14:17.220 and the list constantly changes. 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:20.139 So here's three considerations 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:22.800 for any bit of the Bible 00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:26.240 that you regard offends you right now, 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.779 that, you know, 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:28.259 you want to read it with a pair of scissors 00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:29.279 and cut that bit out, 00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:30.279 keep these bits, 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:31.399 but cut those bits out. 00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.820 Three considerations. 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:34.639 Firstly, 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.120 consider the possibility 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.399 it isn't teaching 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:39.680 what you think it's teaching. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:42.419 For instance, 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.360 I could never understand 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:47.399 why some of the great spiritual heroes 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.740 of the Old Testament 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:51.000 had so many wives. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:55.000 until I realized 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.039 that the Bible 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.120 in no way 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.059 was endorsing it. 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:01.179 It was recording it, 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:03.080 not endorsing it. 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.440 And in fact, 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.559 the Bible 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:09.080 in every instance 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:10.600 in those moments 00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:12.279 is actually subverting it. 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:15.799 In every case 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:17.259 where polygamy was practiced, 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:19.299 it goes bad 00:15:19.299 --> 00:15:20.740 for those people. 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:22.700 Families break down, 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.700 lives are ruined, 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:24.159 physically, 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:24.620 spiritually, 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:25.139 emotionally, 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:25.879 relationally, 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:29.019 in every single instance. 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:31.820 You see, 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:32.879 if the Bible 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:35.000 is a recording of history, 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:36.899 it doesn't just record 00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:38.700 the successful bits. 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:40.720 It records 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.440 all the evil 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.379 and the carnage 00:15:42.379 --> 00:15:43.720 and the difficulty 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:44.379 and the sin. 00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:47.539 The Bible shows us, 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:47.840 in fact, 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:48.919 how bad it is. 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:50.839 The Bible 00:15:50.839 --> 00:15:52.019 wasn't endorsing 00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:53.459 what I thought 00:15:53.459 --> 00:15:54.279 it was endorsing. 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:54.899 It was simply 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:55.620 recording it. 00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:56.500 Secondly, 00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:57.659 please consider 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.479 the possibility 00:15:58.479 --> 00:15:59.620 that you are 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.319 misunderstanding 00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:01.620 what the Bible 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.159 teaches 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:02.620 because 00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:04.740 of your own 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.939 cultural blind spots, 00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:08.479 which we all bring 00:16:08.479 --> 00:16:09.679 to the Bible. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:13.059 in Luke 24 00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:13.859 verses 20, 00:16:13.859 --> 00:16:14.299 21, 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:14.779 again, 00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:16.939 Anne read this out 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:17.299 to us. 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.359 On the road to Emmaus, 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:20.139 we see these early 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:20.799 disciples 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:22.500 had misunderstood 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:24.120 the prophecies 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.459 about the Messiah. 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.879 You see, 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.759 as Jews, 00:16:27.920 --> 00:16:28.639 they were really 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.500 only thinking 00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.040 about the redemption 00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:32.320 of Israel, 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.360 currently under 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.540 occupation 00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:36.519 by the Roman Empire. 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.920 They weren't thinking 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:38.940 in terms of the redemption 00:16:38.940 --> 00:16:40.360 of the whole human race. 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.759 They had a cultural 00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.680 blind spot 00:16:43.680 --> 00:16:44.540 that meant 00:16:44.540 --> 00:16:45.340 they misread 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:45.780 Scripture 00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:46.860 and therefore 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:48.160 they misread 00:16:48.160 --> 00:16:48.700 Jesus. 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:52.060 And the modern person 00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:53.000 does the same. 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:56.240 In many ways, 00:16:57.040 --> 00:16:57.620 for instance, 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.980 a common one nowadays 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:01.560 is that on slavery, 00:17:02.940 --> 00:17:04.279 one accusation is 00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:06.000 the Bible condones 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.700 slavery 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:08.380 and we all know 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:08.819 nowadays 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:10.259 that slavery is wrong. 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:14.120 If it is wrong 00:17:14.120 --> 00:17:15.420 on that moral issue, 00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:17.960 then it's quite possibly 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.519 it's wrong 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.139 on every other 00:17:19.139 --> 00:17:20.359 moral issue as well. 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:22.879 And I've heard 00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:24.720 that argument 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.519 played out 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:27.059 even in the press 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:28.460 over the last 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.960 five to ten years 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:31.480 on multiple occasions 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.019 whenever a moral issue 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:33.839 is raised. 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:35.639 And so does 00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.000 the Bible 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:36.879 condone slavery. 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.480 For instance, 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:40.019 there's parts 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.759 of the New Testament 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.700 when Paul tells 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.319 slaves to obey 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:42.900 their masters 00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:44.099 and as soon as 00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:44.539 we read that 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:44.779 we go, 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:44.859 well, 00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:45.440 there you go. 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.379 You know, 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.379 there it is right there. 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:49.240 Condoning of slavery. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:51.280 In fact, 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:52.380 in one New Testament 00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:52.860 letter, 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:55.200 Paul is addressing 00:17:55.200 --> 00:17:55.900 a relationship 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:56.820 between a master 00:17:56.820 --> 00:17:57.600 and his slave 00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.900 and it's clear 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.220 from that letter 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.400 it's not the kind 00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:02.100 of relationship 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.220 that we would 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.120 in fact call 00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:05.020 modern slavery 00:18:05.020 --> 00:18:06.420 at all. 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:08.220 You see, 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.019 when we read 00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.820 the word slave 00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:10.500 in the Bible 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:12.000 we automatically 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:12.960 import 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.480 17th, 00:18:14.580 --> 00:18:15.240 18th 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.220 and 19th 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:16.720 century 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.880 thinking, 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.680 experience, 00:18:18.840 --> 00:18:19.279 history 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.380 and modern 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:20.940 slavery 00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.320 into the Bible 00:18:22.320 --> 00:18:24.920 which is 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:26.019 in those 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.960 the 16th 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.320 through to the 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:27.980 19th century 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:28.500 slavery 00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:30.160 is race-based 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.180 and ethnic 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:32.400 minority slavery. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:35.400 when we read 00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:35.920 the Bible 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:36.840 with those 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:38.220 cultural blinders 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:38.700 on 00:18:38.700 --> 00:18:41.080 we are not 00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:41.800 understanding 00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:42.420 what the Bible 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.100 is teaching 00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:44.600 and we're not 00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:45.460 actually allowing 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:45.980 it to sit 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.019 in its historical 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:47.759 context. 00:18:48.259 --> 00:18:49.960 In the Greco-Roman 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:50.960 world of the 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:51.740 New Testament 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:54.440 slaves were not 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.400 distinguishable 00:18:56.200 --> 00:18:57.060 from anyone 00:18:57.060 --> 00:18:57.759 else 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.079 by their 00:18:59.079 --> 00:18:59.640 race 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:01.619 by the way 00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:01.920 that they 00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:02.579 spoke 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:03.960 or by the 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.400 clothing 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:04.819 that they 00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:05.180 wore. 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.240 They looked 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.180 and lived 00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.079 like everyone 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:09.740 else 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.879 and they 00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:11.379 were not 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.039 segregated 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.619 off 00:19:12.619 --> 00:19:14.099 as a 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:14.420 different 00:19:14.420 --> 00:19:14.940 segment 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.900 of society. 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:17.579 Slaves 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.299 were often 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.400 quite well 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:20.039 educated 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:21.359 and they 00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:22.319 held high 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.180 managerial 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:23.759 roles. 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.299 Slaves 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.180 also made 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:27.700 the same 00:19:27.700 --> 00:19:28.400 wages 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:30.180 as free 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.140 labourers 00:19:31.140 --> 00:19:32.660 and therefore 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:33.660 over time 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.380 they were 00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:35.539 able to 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.340 pay off 00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:36.960 the debt 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:38.259 that resulted 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:38.880 them being 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.620 into slavery 00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:40.380 in the first 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:40.900 place 00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:41.680 and to buy 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:42.060 themselves 00:19:42.060 --> 00:19:42.900 out of that 00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.799 scenario. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.980 Much like 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.920 the very 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.080 early convicts 00:19:49.080 --> 00:19:49.820 of Australia 00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:52.980 who at the 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.580 end of their 00:19:53.580 --> 00:19:54.019 day 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:56.059 went home 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.400 to their 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:56.920 homes 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:59.119 and their 00:19:59.119 --> 00:19:59.639 families 00:19:59.639 --> 00:20:00.599 and their 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.079 houses. 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.440 Slavery 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.460 was never 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:06.940 a permanent 00:20:06.940 --> 00:20:07.519 status. 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:10.379 The average 00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:11.079 slave worked 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:11.660 for a master 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.139 for about 00:20:12.139 --> 00:20:13.019 10 years 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:15.920 and this 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.799 is very 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.359 different 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.799 than new 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.519 world slavery 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.220 of the past 00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.359 300 years 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:21.839 or so. 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.660 So those 00:20:23.660 --> 00:20:23.940 who have 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:24.500 used the 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:24.879 Bible 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:26.139 to defend 00:20:26.139 --> 00:20:26.440 their 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:26.980 practice 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.779 of kidnapping 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:28.779 and slavery 00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.700 in the 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.379 slave trade 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.259 in the past 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.180 several hundred 00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:32.779 years 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:34.180 have read 00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.639 the Bible 00:20:35.639 --> 00:20:36.759 through their 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.240 cultural 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.000 blind spots 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:41.359 and those 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:42.240 who use 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.039 it today 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:45.180 to reject 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.819 the Bible 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:47.980 are you 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.599 reading it 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.759 through their 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.500 cultural 00:20:50.500 --> 00:20:51.519 blind spots? 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.920 Thirdly, 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.700 consider the 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.420 possibility 00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:58.700 that you're 00:20:58.700 --> 00:20:59.319 being offended 00:20:59.319 --> 00:20:59.880 by the 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:00.279 Bible 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:01.720 because of 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.440 assumption 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:04.940 that your 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:05.500 cultural 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:05.940 moment, 00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.819 our cultural 00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:07.299 moment, 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.579 is superior 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.359 to all 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:09.740 other 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.159 cultural 00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:10.779 moments. 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.059 Often 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:14.279 that 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:14.759 assumption 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:16.039 has actually 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.379 in fact 00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:17.359 never been 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:18.220 tested 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:18.799 or 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.759 acknowledged. 00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:21.240 The reason 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:21.700 we are 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.440 offended by 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:23.039 some 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.440 biblical 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.039 passages 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.319 is because 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:25.779 it's 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.159 culturally 00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:26.659 offensive 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:27.599 in our 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.039 own 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:28.539 cultural 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.000 moment. 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:30.980 But in 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.359 other 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:31.839 cultural 00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.460 moments 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.379 today, 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:33.919 right, 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.399 today, 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.200 in other 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:35.759 parts of 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.299 the world, 00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.759 and also 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.440 historically 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:40.079 in the 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.720 past, 00:21:41.159 --> 00:21:41.759 they have 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.500 absolutely 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.519 no problem 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.279 with the 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:44.779 same 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.700 passage of 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.180 the Bible. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.940 On the 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:49.460 other hand, 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:50.159 the passages 00:21:50.159 --> 00:21:50.819 that we 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.859 think are 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:52.980 totally fine 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.619 for us 00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:54.819 and appropriate 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.379 for our 00:21:55.379 --> 00:21:55.799 cultural 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.319 moment, 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:57.879 others in 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.500 the past 00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:58.899 and in 00:21:58.899 --> 00:21:59.500 other parts 00:21:59.500 --> 00:21:59.759 of the 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.099 world 00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:01.039 are 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:02.419 fundamentally 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:05.600 appalled 00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:06.259 by those 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:06.820 passages. 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.160 For 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:10.480 instance, 00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:10.920 in our 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.480 progressive, 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.400 individualistic 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:13.940 Western 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.680 society, 00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.620 what the 00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.500 Bible says 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.180 about 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.019 sexual 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.800 relationships, 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:19.600 we go, 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.140 you know, 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.500 like, 00:22:22.060 --> 00:22:22.700 that is 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:25.440 pre-1950s, 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.860 it's 00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:29.060 so narrow-minded, 00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.619 and you 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:31.220 get on a 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:31.720 plane and 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.200 you go to 00:22:32.200 --> 00:22:32.599 the Middle 00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.200 East and 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:33.519 they go, 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:33.720 yeah, 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.200 absolutely, 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.579 what the 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.079 Bible says 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:35.700 about sex, 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.019 totally 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.440 appropriate. 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.299 That's 00:22:38.299 --> 00:22:38.980 exactly right, 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:39.240 that's 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.700 exactly how 00:22:39.700 --> 00:22:39.980 it should 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.259 be. 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.240 And yet, 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:43.799 we, 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.339 in our 00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:44.700 cultural 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.359 moment here, 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:45.779 we read 00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.099 what the 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.720 Bible says 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:47.559 about forgiveness 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.679 of someone 00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.639 who has 00:22:49.639 --> 00:22:50.539 wronged you, 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.679 about doing 00:22:51.679 --> 00:22:52.200 good for 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:52.839 other people, 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:55.740 and we 00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.159 go, 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:56.859 yes, 00:22:57.500 --> 00:22:58.220 that is 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.000 absolutely 00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.720 appropriate, 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.220 it is 00:23:01.220 --> 00:23:01.720 good and 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:01.899 it's 00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:02.279 right, 00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:03.480 and again, 00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:03.939 you get 00:23:03.939 --> 00:23:04.220 on a 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:04.779 plane and 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.159 you fly 00:23:05.159 --> 00:23:05.539 the Middle 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.419 East and 00:23:06.419 --> 00:23:06.799 they say 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.179 what the 00:23:07.179 --> 00:23:07.859 Bible says 00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:08.299 about 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:08.819 forgiveness, 00:23:09.639 --> 00:23:10.059 that is 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.959 absolutely 00:23:10.959 --> 00:23:11.980 offensive, 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:13.839 totally 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.419 inappropriate. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.240 We love 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.839 forgiveness 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.319 and hate 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:18.959 justice, 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:19.919 whereas 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:23.200 14 hours 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.700 away on 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:23.840 an 00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:24.380 airplane, 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:25.900 and they 00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.560 love justice 00:23:26.560 --> 00:23:26.920 and hate 00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.300 forgiveness. 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.480 If we 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.039 are offended 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.660 by something 00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.039 in the 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.440 Bible, 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:36.279 why should 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.440 our cultural 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.400 sensibilities 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:40.140 trump everyone 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.400 else's cultural 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.140 sensibilities? 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:43.980 Why should 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.519 we say 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.080 we've got it 00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:45.400 right and 00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:45.860 they've got it 00:23:45.860 --> 00:23:46.220 wrong? 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.240 That's a bit 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.620 arrogant, 00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.160 isn't it? 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.980 a bit 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.600 narrow-minded, 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.160 isn't it? 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.340 Why get 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:54.720 rid of the 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:54.980 Bible? 00:23:55.060 --> 00:23:55.500 Because it 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.120 offends 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:58.080 our culture 00:23:58.080 --> 00:23:58.920 only at 00:23:58.920 --> 00:23:59.279 certain 00:23:59.279 --> 00:23:59.860 points. 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:02.840 And if 00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:03.140 you haven't 00:24:03.140 --> 00:24:03.580 worked that 00:24:03.580 --> 00:24:04.180 one out, 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:05.779 bear in 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.740 mind that 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.660 all of 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.140 your 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.140 great 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:10.019 grandchildren 00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:11.779 are going 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.240 to find 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:12.840 a lot 00:24:12.840 --> 00:24:13.320 of what 00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:14.000 you think 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:15.420 today to 00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:15.720 be 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.720 incredibly 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.580 embarrassing. 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:20.860 where you 00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:21.380 think your 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:21.800 cultural 00:24:21.800 --> 00:24:22.440 moment is 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:22.980 progressive 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:24.100 and right, 00:24:24.540 --> 00:24:24.900 your 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.240 great 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.680 grandchildren 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.120 are going 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.480 to think, 00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.180 my goodness, 00:24:27.320 --> 00:24:27.740 my great 00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.200 grandparents 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:28.560 were 00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:30.019 narrow-minded. 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:39.480 don't miss 00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.160 out on 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.700 all that 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:40.859 the 00:24:40.859 --> 00:24:41.259 Bible 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:42.000 and the 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.319 Christian 00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:42.700 faith 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.160 has to 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:43.519 offer 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:43.900 you 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.240 just 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.799 because 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.539 you 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:47.019 can't 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:47.240 get 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.759 over 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.240 one 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.839 aspect 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.079 of 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:49.460 your 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.819 so-called 00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:51.259 cultural 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:51.819 truth, 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.039 your 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.379 cultural 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.839 moment, 00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:55.079 that in 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.339 fact, 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.660 your 00:24:55.660 --> 00:24:56.019 cultural 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.400 moment 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:56.839 will in 00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:57.220 fact be 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:57.599 considered 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.119 a joke 00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:58.379 within 00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:58.680 50 00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.140 years. 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.160 If the 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.420 Bible 00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.260 really is 00:25:04.260 --> 00:25:04.540 God 00:25:04.540 --> 00:25:04.920 revealing 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:05.340 himself 00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:05.540 to 00:25:05.540 --> 00:25:05.760 his 00:25:05.760 --> 00:25:06.380 creation 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.140 and 00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:07.320 it's 00:25:07.320 --> 00:25:07.520 not 00:25:07.520 --> 00:25:07.740 just 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:07.920 a 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:09.320 byproduct 00:25:09.320 --> 00:25:09.740 of 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.140 any 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.700 specific 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.380 culture, 00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:13.620 then what 00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:14.200 that means 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.840 is it 00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:16.060 will 00:25:16.060 --> 00:25:16.720 contradict 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.460 every 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:17.900 culture 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:18.580 at some 00:25:18.580 --> 00:25:18.960 point. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.800 It 00:25:21.800 --> 00:25:21.980 will 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.520 offend 00:25:22.520 --> 00:25:23.180 every 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:23.800 culture 00:25:23.800 --> 00:25:25.220 and every 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.620 cultural 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.000 moment 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.319 at 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:26.720 some 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.079 point. 00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:28.980 And so 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.279 if you 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.720 read it 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.160 and find 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.500 some 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.740 things 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.240 beautiful 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.299 and other 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.619 bits 00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.240 offensive, 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:35.980 then it's 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.380 probably 00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:37.039 true 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:39.599 and it's 00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.019 from God. 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.079 But 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.539 lastly, 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:45.259 the Bible 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:45.900 is personally 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.420 reliable. 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.099 A 00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:50.039 completely, 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:52.000 a completely, 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:52.880 that is a 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.259 totally 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:54.079 authoritative 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:54.839 Bible 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:56.279 is in 00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:56.659 fact 00:25:56.659 --> 00:25:57.399 the 00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.299 prerequisite 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.740 for a 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.879 warm 00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:01.879 personal 00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.720 relationship 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:04.159 with God. 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.179 It is 00:26:05.179 --> 00:26:06.039 not the 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:06.419 enemy 00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:07.079 of it. 00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.379 Have a 00:26:08.379 --> 00:26:08.779 look there 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.419 at Luke 00:26:09.419 --> 00:26:10.399 24 that 00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:11.079 Anne read 00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:11.460 out for 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:11.619 us, 00:26:11.659 --> 00:26:12.299 verse 32. 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:12.779 The 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.240 disciples 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.439 are reflecting 00:26:14.439 --> 00:26:15.099 back on 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.759 their journey 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:17.199 over the 00:26:17.199 --> 00:26:17.839 last previous 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.359 days as 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:19.899 they walk 00:26:19.899 --> 00:26:20.159 in their 00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:20.559 road to 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:20.980 Emmaus 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.539 with Jesus 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.559 and it 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:22.920 says, 00:26:23.379 --> 00:26:24.220 were not 00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:25.759 our hearts 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.259 burning 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.059 within us 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:28.000 while he 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.879 talked with 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:29.899 us on 00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:30.559 the road 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.559 and opened 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.279 the scriptures 00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.500 to us? 00:26:34.779 --> 00:26:35.359 So in 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:35.859 the Bible, 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.539 the heart 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:40.359 is not 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.700 the muscle 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.339 pumping the 00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.759 blood through 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.339 the system. 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.480 The heart 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.359 is the 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:46.299 centre of 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.599 the whole 00:26:47.599 --> 00:26:48.159 person. 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.279 It's the 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.619 driving centre 00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:50.839 of the 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:51.179 person, 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:51.819 not just 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.539 the emotions, 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:53.739 it's the 00:26:53.739 --> 00:26:54.539 driving centre 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:54.919 of the 00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:55.659 desires of 00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.179 the person. 00:26:56.639 --> 00:26:56.939 And the 00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:57.339 hearts 00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:57.779 burning 00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:59.079 here means 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.579 a full 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:02.000 life-changing 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:03.039 personal 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.779 encounter 00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.299 with God. 00:27:04.399 --> 00:27:04.759 That's what 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.239 it means 00:27:05.239 --> 00:27:06.079 here in 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:06.759 Luke 24. 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:07.559 They 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.479 experienced 00:27:08.479 --> 00:27:09.739 something on 00:27:09.739 --> 00:27:10.339 that road 00:27:10.339 --> 00:27:10.879 to Emmaus 00:27:10.879 --> 00:27:11.500 with Jesus 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:12.259 that they 00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:12.879 had never 00:27:12.879 --> 00:27:13.859 experienced 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.879 before. 00:27:15.939 --> 00:27:16.459 When? 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.259 When did 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.019 they experience 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.259 it? 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:20.779 when the 00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.859 Bible and 00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.759 its meaning 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:24.480 was properly 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.220 opened up 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:25.599 to them. 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.240 When they 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.059 understood 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.119 what it 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:28.940 had meant. 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.680 And that 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.359 is the 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.319 key to 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.400 this deep 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.000 personal 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.700 relationship. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.519 Notice how 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:36.859 it happens. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.220 Verses 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.019 20-21, 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:38.839 they say 00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:40.119 Jesus died, 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:41.720 but we 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.599 had hoped 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.720 that he 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.059 would be 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:44.799 the one 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.960 who would 00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.920 save us. 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:48.300 that's 00:27:48.300 --> 00:27:48.580 what they 00:27:48.580 --> 00:27:49.039 had hoped. 00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:49.500 Their 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.000 cultural 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.620 blinders 00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.080 were on. 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:51.460 He's the 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.000 Messiah 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.360 of Israel. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.800 We had 00:27:53.800 --> 00:27:54.259 hoped he 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.800 would save 00:27:54.800 --> 00:27:55.200 us. 00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:56.680 And Jesus 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.460 calls them 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.360 out for 00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:59.840 being foolish 00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:01.360 and so 00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:02.240 slow to 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.860 believe the 00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.220 scriptures. 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:08.100 What did 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:08.480 they not 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.300 understand? 00:28:11.300 --> 00:28:12.060 Keys 00:28:12.060 --> 00:28:12.980 verse 27. 00:28:12.980 --> 00:28:16.900 beginning 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.200 with 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.700 Moses 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:18.640 and all 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:18.860 the 00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:19.380 prophets, 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.259 he 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.900 explained 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.299 to them 00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:21.779 what was 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.460 said in 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.440 all the 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.019 scriptures 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:25.200 concerning 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:25.779 himself. 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.299 That's the 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:27.759 key to it 00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.400 right there. 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.880 What Jesus 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.319 is saying 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:31.880 here is 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:33.019 that everything 00:28:33.019 --> 00:28:33.700 in the 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.079 Bible 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.339 is about 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.000 him. 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.240 It's all 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:38.599 about 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.180 him. 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:39.920 He 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:43.960 way too 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.820 many people 00:28:44.820 --> 00:28:45.720 have walked 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.900 away from 00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.519 the Christian 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:49.300 faith and 00:28:49.300 --> 00:28:50.480 ultimately from 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.019 the Bible 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.580 because they've 00:28:52.580 --> 00:28:53.019 misunderstood 00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:54.860 that crucial 00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:56.400 central point. 00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:58.400 If we 00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:58.920 think the 00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.660 Bible is 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.759 about us 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:02.180 and what 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:03.019 we must 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.820 do, 00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:06.140 then what 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:06.940 that means 00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:07.740 is we 00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.560 don't need 00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:09.560 a saviour. 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.139 We don't 00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:10.839 need a 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.299 Messiah 00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.980 dying for 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.339 us. 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.619 All we 00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.539 need is a 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.039 bunch of 00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:15.720 rules and 00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:16.359 a code of 00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:17.200 conduct to 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:17.819 live by. 00:29:19.359 --> 00:29:20.059 That's what 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.539 it means 00:29:20.539 --> 00:29:21.539 if we think 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:21.940 it's about 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:22.299 us. 00:29:23.099 --> 00:29:23.319 You see, 00:29:23.379 --> 00:29:23.559 there are 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.139 only two 00:29:24.139 --> 00:29:24.700 ways to 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:25.019 read the 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.339 Bible. 00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:26.700 Read it 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.259 as if it's 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.919 all about 00:29:27.919 --> 00:29:29.059 me and 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.559 what I 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.379 must do 00:29:30.379 --> 00:29:31.200 or we 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.839 can read 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.839 every part 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.720 of it as 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.099 if it's 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:35.259 about him, 00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.240 God, 00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:36.839 and what 00:29:36.839 --> 00:29:37.500 he has 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.919 done for 00:29:38.919 --> 00:29:39.339 us. 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.799 And the 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.619 whole Bible, 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.139 the whole 00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:42.539 lot of 00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:42.679 it, 00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:43.379 Old Testament 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:43.899 included, 00:29:44.419 --> 00:29:45.179 points us 00:29:45.179 --> 00:29:45.859 to Jesus 00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:47.419 and it 00:29:47.419 --> 00:29:48.379 explains 00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.839 Jesus and 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.899 everything that 00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:51.460 Jesus has 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.159 achieved for 00:29:52.159 --> 00:29:53.099 us in 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:53.759 dying in 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:56.419 our place 00:29:56.419 --> 00:29:57.579 for our 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.019 sin. 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.500 And the 00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:00.919 Christmas 00:30:00.919 --> 00:30:02.440 message is 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:04.019 exactly that, 00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:06.299 that God 00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:06.919 entered 00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:08.779 history for 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.599 that purpose. 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:10.879 You see, 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.259 when the 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.000 Bible is 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.660 all about 00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.399 Jesus and 00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:13.740 what he's 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.299 achieved for 00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.339 us out of 00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:16.480 purely out of 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:16.899 love for 00:30:16.899 --> 00:30:18.259 us because 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.680 of our 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.759 incapability to 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:19.819 do it 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.539 ourselves, 00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.839 that all of 00:30:22.839 --> 00:30:23.940 a sudden is 00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:25.899 when it 00:30:25.899 --> 00:30:26.279 becomes 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:26.899 personal, 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:28.960 relational. 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.519 It's when the 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.440 Bible starts to 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:32.980 become an 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:34.720 encounter with 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.099 him. 00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:37.359 Now, 00:30:37.419 --> 00:30:38.139 my conviction 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:39.839 from both 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.559 personal 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:42.240 experience over 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.859 30-odd 00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:45.319 years and 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.159 also from the 00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:46.759 teaching of the 00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.579 Bible itself, 00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:48.459 more importantly, 00:30:49.179 --> 00:30:49.799 is that the 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:50.919 most effective 00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:52.959 means for 00:30:52.959 --> 00:30:54.039 bolstering 00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:56.119 confidence in 00:30:56.119 --> 00:30:58.179 the Bible is 00:30:58.179 --> 00:30:59.059 not to do 00:30:59.059 --> 00:30:59.559 what I've 00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:01.240 just done in 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:02.079 the last 20-odd 00:31:02.079 --> 00:31:02.480 minutes, 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:06.539 giving you 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:07.919 arguments as 00:31:07.919 --> 00:31:08.579 to why you 00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.379 should believe 00:31:09.379 --> 00:31:09.599 it. 00:31:09.899 --> 00:31:10.519 They have a 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:13.059 place about 00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.859 its authority 00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.220 and its 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.960 truthfulness and 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.740 its reliability, 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.399 but in actual 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.339 fact, to spend 00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.439 time in the 00:31:19.439 --> 00:31:20.799 Bible, reading 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.399 the Bible, 00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:23.079 with Jesus at 00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.799 the centre of 00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.599 it as a 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.259 supernatural 00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.199 activity. 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:29.380 very simply, 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:30.559 God, if you 00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.299 exist and 00:31:31.299 --> 00:31:31.940 this is your 00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:33.200 word, then 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:34.019 you need to 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.759 revere yourself 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.259 to me. 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:39.519 Let me put it 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.120 like this. 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.460 I could 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:44.180 tell you 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.360 that honey, 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:46.860 which I'm 00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:47.519 assuming you're 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.000 all familiar 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.440 with, 00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:51.299 honey is a 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.920 substance that 00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:54.259 is made by 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.600 a species of 00:31:55.599 --> 00:31:58.219 insects called 00:31:58.219 --> 00:32:00.019 bees, not 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.759 by all bees, 00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:02.299 but by several 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.039 species of 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:03.399 bees. 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:06.039 Bees produce 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:07.500 honey by 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:09.980 gathering and 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.139 then refining 00:32:11.139 --> 00:32:12.459 the sugary 00:32:12.459 --> 00:32:13.939 excretions of 00:32:13.939 --> 00:32:15.439 plants and 00:32:15.439 --> 00:32:16.299 the secretions, 00:32:16.459 --> 00:32:17.019 in fact, of 00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:18.500 other insects. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.619 And this 00:32:20.619 --> 00:32:22.179 refining 00:32:22.179 --> 00:32:23.959 process takes 00:32:23.959 --> 00:32:25.159 place within 00:32:25.160 --> 00:32:25.860 individual 00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:28.320 bees through 00:32:28.320 --> 00:32:29.500 regurgitation 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:31.540 and the 00:32:31.540 --> 00:32:32.900 enzymatic 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:34.279 activity that 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.019 happens in 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.740 that process 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.060 where they 00:32:36.060 --> 00:32:37.300 vomit it and 00:32:37.300 --> 00:32:38.940 do stuff 00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.320 with it. 00:32:40.320 --> 00:32:41.580 I could also 00:32:41.580 --> 00:32:42.480 tell you that 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.220 honey is 00:32:43.220 --> 00:32:43.740 sweet. 00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:45.080 Like, it's 00:32:45.080 --> 00:32:47.160 sweet because 00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:47.779 it's sweet 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.480 because of 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.440 its high 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:50.460 concentration 00:32:50.460 --> 00:32:51.299 sugar and 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:51.460 sugar. 00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:52.460 It's a 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:52.900 simple 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.299 sugar. 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:53.840 It's a 00:32:53.840 --> 00:32:54.079 sugar of 00:32:54.079 --> 00:32:55.480 fructose and 00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:56.079 glucose. 00:32:57.340 --> 00:32:58.299 It's about the 00:32:58.299 --> 00:32:59.299 same relative 00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:01.620 sweetness as 00:33:01.620 --> 00:33:02.620 white sugar 00:33:02.620 --> 00:33:04.240 interchangeably. 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.600 So one 00:33:05.600 --> 00:33:07.039 standard teaspoon 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:09.180 of honey provides 00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:10.240 around 120 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.960 kilojoules of 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:12.799 food energy. 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:12.859 honey. 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.220 And I 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:15.139 could go on 00:33:15.139 --> 00:33:15.740 and break 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.139 down the 00:33:16.139 --> 00:33:16.659 chemical 00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:18.680 components that 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.379 make up 00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.579 honey and 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.379 tell you from 00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:22.240 all that 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.960 information, 00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:24.339 you should be 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.859 able to 00:33:24.859 --> 00:33:26.180 deduce that 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:27.180 honey is 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:27.839 sweet. 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.339 If you're a 00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:31.720 chemist. 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.419 It's all 00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:35.859 true. 00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:38.139 but the 00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:38.619 best thing I 00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:39.039 could do 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:39.899 for you is 00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:40.539 not tell you 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.139 that honey is 00:33:41.139 --> 00:33:41.779 sweet but to 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.359 actually get 00:33:42.359 --> 00:33:43.479 some onto a 00:33:43.479 --> 00:33:44.059 teaspoon and 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.519 shove it in 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:44.979 your mouth. 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:47.759 That's when 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:48.599 you go, 00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:52.279 oh, I 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:52.659 get what 00:33:52.659 --> 00:33:53.099 you're talking 00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:53.819 about now. 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:56.159 You see, 00:33:56.399 --> 00:33:57.079 and if in 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.759 that moment 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.179 that I put 00:33:59.179 --> 00:34:00.619 it on a 00:34:00.619 --> 00:34:01.179 teaspoon and 00:34:01.179 --> 00:34:01.619 shove it in 00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.359 your mouth, 00:34:02.879 --> 00:34:04.359 if you don't 00:34:04.359 --> 00:34:05.359 get it then 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:06.759 no amount 00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.799 of explanation, 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:08.960 no more 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:10.119 argumentation 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:10.960 will in 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:11.759 any way 00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:12.539 come through 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.159 for you 00:34:13.159 --> 00:34:14.500 at all. 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.619 And so 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:22.799 as 2025 00:34:22.799 --> 00:34:23.900 draws to a 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.599 close and 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.000 we move 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:26.059 forward into 00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:27.239 2026, 00:34:28.299 --> 00:34:28.839 I want 00:34:28.839 --> 00:34:29.619 to do, 00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:32.960 to invite 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:33.779 you to do 00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.519 what 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:35.800 King David 00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:36.940 invited others 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:38.179 to do and 00:34:38.179 --> 00:34:38.880 to join him 00:34:38.880 --> 00:34:39.840 in in 00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.860 Psalm 34 00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.780 verse 8, 00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.320 to taste 00:34:43.320 --> 00:34:43.840 and see 00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.280 that the 00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.920 Lord is 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:46.440 good in 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.539 2026. 00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:49.739 You see, 00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:57.099 the best way 00:34:57.099 --> 00:34:59.559 for you to 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:00.319 build confidence 00:35:00.319 --> 00:35:00.819 in the 00:35:00.819 --> 00:35:01.579 reliability of 00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.059 the scriptures 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:04.079 is to 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:04.559 actually read 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:05.000 it. 00:35:07.299 --> 00:35:07.959 And to 00:35:07.959 --> 00:35:08.439 read it 00:35:08.439 --> 00:35:08.859 regularly 00:35:08.859 --> 00:35:10.319 and ask 00:35:10.319 --> 00:35:10.759 God to 00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:11.199 work in 00:35:11.199 --> 00:35:11.859 you as 00:35:11.859 --> 00:35:12.279 you read 00:35:12.279 --> 00:35:12.479 it, 00:35:12.939 --> 00:35:13.699 to reveal 00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:14.139 himself. 00:35:14.779 --> 00:35:14.979 You see, 00:35:15.059 --> 00:35:15.819 God himself 00:35:15.819 --> 00:35:16.719 promises to 00:35:16.719 --> 00:35:18.019 bless the 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.759 reading and 00:35:18.759 --> 00:35:19.420 teaching of 00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.019 his word. 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:22.119 The word 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:22.559 of God 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:24.239 itself is 00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:25.300 more than 00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.759 enough to 00:35:26.759 --> 00:35:27.840 accomplish the 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.739 work of God 00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:29.880 in the people 00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.440 of God. 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:32.320 And there is 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:32.960 no better 00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:34.719 way to 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:35.920 understand and 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.699 to come to 00:35:36.699 --> 00:35:37.579 embrace the 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:39.139 truth of 00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:39.800 the Bible 00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:41.460 than, in 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:41.880 fact, than 00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:42.900 to open it 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:44.500 up and to 00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.159 let it 00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:46.339 into your 00:35:46.339 --> 00:35:48.819 life, as 00:35:48.819 --> 00:35:49.519 a regular 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.839 habit in 00:35:50.839 --> 00:35:52.000 your life. 00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:54.139 And so I 00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:55.099 commend it to 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:56.159 you that 00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:56.699 you might 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.460 not just 00:35:57.460 --> 00:35:58.319 know it, 00:35:58.779 --> 00:35:59.159 but that 00:35:59.159 --> 00:35:59.599 you might 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.480 taste and 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:01.119 see in 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:02.879 2026 that 00:36:02.879 --> 00:36:03.399 the Lord 00:36:03.399 --> 00:36:04.460 is good. 00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:04.539 Amen.