WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.860 Well, thank you so much for coming this morning. 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:08.939 This service is particularly aimed at people who are inquiring about the Christian faith. 00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:12.580 ! So maybe the Christian faith isn't a reality for you or not central. 00:00:12.820 --> 00:00:15.320 If that's the case, we are thrilled you're here. Thank you for coming. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:19.640 If you can just flick back to the reading we had at the start, that would be a great help to me. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:21.480 So Luke chapter 12. 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:28.719 So this is part. Luke's gospel is a doctor who wrote a biography of Jesus. 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:31.939 He investigated very carefully. 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:39.780 And in fact, we've got a little course, Hope Explored, coming up, which enables you to look further at Luke and bring any question you've got. 00:00:39.939 --> 00:00:45.500 And unashamedly in that course, we're going to look at where we find hope, where we find peace, where we find purpose. 00:00:46.099 --> 00:00:47.679 All the seas are going on at the moment. 00:00:47.859 --> 00:00:56.480 Covid, conflict in Europe, numerous things, economic crisis, all these things that cause people to be, I think, thinking through what life's about, 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:58.599 as I did at 16 when my godfather was killed. 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:02.899 So do please, if you've got any questions, come back on that course, see us afterwards. 00:01:03.059 --> 00:01:04.979 We'd love you to think that through. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:08.239 And we'd be an absolute privilege to have you join us on those evenings. 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:16.879 So that is in end of June, 19th, 26th of June, 3rd of July, Wednesday nights, free supper here, and then ask any question you like. 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:18.839 Let me pray as we begin. 00:01:20.219 --> 00:01:22.280 Oh, Father God, thank you very much for the Bible. 00:01:22.919 --> 00:01:24.340 Thank you that it speaks to us. 00:01:24.419 --> 00:01:27.519 We dare to pray now that you would speak to us in the very depths of our being. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:32.459 We pray that we would learn things now we'd never forget through our lives from this passage. 00:01:32.459 --> 00:01:35.359 And we ask that those things would take us into eternity. 00:01:36.379 --> 00:01:36.699 Amen. 00:01:39.199 --> 00:01:43.699 I don't know what's wrong with me, but I find myself constantly reading the most inane, ridiculous material. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:45.839 I think that's why I got a third at university. 00:01:46.339 --> 00:01:48.419 So I do hope your reading material is better than mine. 00:01:48.479 --> 00:01:51.179 When I got my third, I said to my tutor, was I close to a 2-2? 00:01:51.539 --> 00:01:53.319 He said, no, Rico, it was a very solid third. 00:01:53.399 --> 00:01:57.979 So I knew then that ordination into the Church of England was the only career option available, so that's what I did. 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:01.700 But anyway, I do hope you spend your reading time more profitably than me. 00:02:01.820 --> 00:02:03.240 And here was something I read recently. 00:02:03.300 --> 00:02:04.040 I don't know if you've read it. 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:09.659 It's a list of lost property that was handed in on British Rail depots during last year. 00:02:10.140 --> 00:02:16.319 And at the top of the list, to my astonishment, was a human brain that had been left by a medical student on an away day. 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:17.659 I don't know what you'd call that. 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:19.360 I think it's the ultimate in absent-mindedness. 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:19.939 I'm not sure. 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:26.060 But other things on the list included a pair of stuffed gerbils, a glass eye, a motorcycle and a wooden leg. 00:02:26.060 --> 00:02:29.500 And the mind boggles as to whether the same person left them all on the drain. 00:02:30.300 --> 00:02:32.580 Anyway, by contrast this morning, thank you for coming. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:34.939 I'd love you to do a small exercise with me. 00:02:35.539 --> 00:02:41.740 Henry Ford said, thinking is probably the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few of us engage in it. 00:02:41.979 --> 00:02:45.039 But could you put your mind to this question this morning? 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:45.800 Here's the question. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:48.539 Do you think you're a successful person? 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:51.340 Do you think you're successful? 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:58.159 Now, not so much have you been in the past or do you think you will be in the future, but right now would you call yourself successful? 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:04.900 And I think as we think about that, we'd have people across the scale. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:07.960 Some would be fairly certain modestly they are successful. 00:03:08.079 --> 00:03:11.199 Others have been put down so often that their confidence is rock bottom. 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:12.780 Most of us are bumping around the middle. 00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:14.800 My brother was always head boy at school. 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:16.139 He was always captain of the sports. 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:18.979 I nearly put on my UCAS form when I applied for university. 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:20.039 I was his brother. 00:03:20.039 --> 00:03:26.299 But the question is, of course, what would constitute success as far as you're concerned? 00:03:26.799 --> 00:03:28.159 What do you make of success? 00:03:29.219 --> 00:03:34.379 And there comes before us in this fascinating part of the Bible, in Luke's Gospel here, in this parable of Jesus. 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:36.620 So that's a story with a spiritual cutting edge. 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:41.039 A man who, from every point of view, would have been considered successful. 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:49.039 And yet, ladies and gentlemen, God's verdict on him, the creator's verdict, was that he was a dismal failure. 00:03:49.780 --> 00:03:50.620 A dismal failure. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:52.599 Can we have a look down and see that in the passage? 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:53.659 Do we see verse 20? 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:55.840 But God said to him, fool. 00:03:56.959 --> 00:03:58.060 God calls him a fool. 00:03:58.959 --> 00:04:02.039 This is the funeral card of my best friend from university. 00:04:03.019 --> 00:04:04.840 I took his funeral in 2005. 00:04:05.019 --> 00:04:07.819 He died very suddenly of a pulmonary embolism. 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:09.899 I was crying as I took the funeral. 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:14.200 And about a year and a half later, I went to his graveside with his dad. 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:15.599 And his dad was in floods of tears. 00:04:15.900 --> 00:04:18.319 And he pointed at his son's tombstone. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:21.680 And he said, what epitaph shall I put on my boy's grave, Rico? 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:23.699 It's a dreadful moment. 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:27.759 Well, God writes the epitaph for this man, fool. 00:04:28.439 --> 00:04:30.180 Now, look, I only know two Greek words. 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:32.019 One is kebab and the other one is this word. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:35.199 But this word literally means without thought. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:37.840 So it's not that this guy didn't make plans. 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:40.519 He thought and he thought and he thought. 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:42.560 But he didn't think about the right things. 00:04:43.060 --> 00:04:45.239 He didn't think about the really important things in life. 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:46.479 That's the issue here. 00:04:46.679 --> 00:04:48.139 So I wonder if we can do that this morning. 00:04:48.279 --> 00:04:50.139 Thank you for coming on this summer's day. 00:04:50.579 --> 00:04:54.099 Can we think about in this passage what constitutes success and failure? 00:04:54.699 --> 00:05:00.620 Now, it's a striking story because in Luke chapter 12, the chapter we're in here, as we go through it, 00:05:00.620 --> 00:05:03.120 Jesus has been talking about eternity. 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:04.920 Maybe COVID did that to you. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:07.060 My godfather's death did that. 00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:11.560 The Bible says God has put eternity into our minds, into our hearts. 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:14.480 So suddenly you're thinking about, well, this life's so short. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.439 And Jesus is talking about it. 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:20.959 So he says, verse 5, fear him who after the killing of the body has power to throw you into hell. 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:21.780 Well, that's striking. 00:05:22.780 --> 00:05:25.600 Verse 3, there's nothing concealed that won't be disclosed. 00:05:25.600 --> 00:05:26.600 It's like gladiator. 00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:28.340 What we do in life echoes in eternity. 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:32.480 Verse 8, he warns us, eternity belongs to this figure, the Son of Man. 00:05:32.520 --> 00:05:35.720 And then suddenly, bang, there's a massive interruption. 00:05:36.400 --> 00:05:39.840 And a guy in the crowd says, will you shut up about that spiritual stuff? 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:41.260 That's not real. 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:42.220 That's not relevant. 00:05:42.660 --> 00:05:43.980 That doesn't put bread on the table. 00:05:44.260 --> 00:05:46.420 And he says, can we see as we look down, let's have a look at it together. 00:05:47.060 --> 00:05:47.740 It's verse 13. 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:52.340 Someone in the crowd said to him, teacher, tell my wretched brother to divide the inheritance with me. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:53.700 By the way, it doesn't say wretched. 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:54.720 I just put that in. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:56.500 But that's what's going on, isn't it? 00:05:57.100 --> 00:06:00.440 So here are two brothers falling out about the will. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:02.100 You know what they say, don't you? 00:06:02.260 --> 00:06:03.700 Where there's a will, there's a family. 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:05.300 Well, that's what's going on here. 00:06:05.820 --> 00:06:10.480 Here are two brothers and they're falling out over who's going to get grandma's clock and sideboard. 00:06:11.820 --> 00:06:14.520 When I was an Anglican clergyman, I had a friend called John. 00:06:15.280 --> 00:06:16.280 And he took a funeral. 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:23.400 And during the funeral, during it, one of the members of the family removed from the parental home what they wanted. 00:06:23.399 --> 00:06:25.079 So they got a removal van. 00:06:25.179 --> 00:06:27.159 They literally removed the dining room table. 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:29.579 And when they got back afterwards, it wasn't there. 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:32.279 Can I recommend you don't do that? 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:34.459 Puts a bit of a shadow over Christmas. 00:06:34.719 --> 00:06:35.560 That's what I'd say. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:39.100 So Jesus, as he responds, can we have a look down? 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:42.139 He says, verse 15, he says to them, take care. 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:43.860 Now the original is watch out. 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:46.939 The original there is jump out the way of a truck. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:48.000 Watch out. 00:06:48.340 --> 00:06:49.220 Do we see as we look down? 00:06:49.280 --> 00:06:49.899 What does he say? 00:06:50.660 --> 00:06:53.720 And be on your guard against all types of covetousness. 00:06:53.819 --> 00:06:56.180 One's life doesn't consist in the abundance of possessions. 00:06:56.180 --> 00:07:08.680 And then he arrests us with this parable, which actually is to stop a brother who's got a writ in his pocket to go to court to start a law case against his own brother. 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:11.000 So to make him stop and think. 00:07:11.579 --> 00:07:13.139 So it's a striking story. 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:13.879 It had to be. 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:15.560 The family's in crisis. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:17.019 What's he going to do? 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:19.920 And let's have a look down and see what happens together. 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:20.540 Can we see? 00:07:20.960 --> 00:07:22.460 And verse 16, here is Jesus. 00:07:22.459 --> 00:07:26.839 And he told them this parable, this story with a spiritual cutting edge. 00:07:27.459 --> 00:07:30.319 The land of a rich man produced plentifully. 00:07:30.419 --> 00:07:32.139 The word is euphorically. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:36.639 So this guy knows exactly how to work the government subsidies. 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:44.099 I guess in city terms, he'd be working on Bond Street in one of the hedge funds. 00:07:44.579 --> 00:07:45.919 He'd have a house in Mayfair. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.899 He'd have another house on the Wentworth Estate. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:50.359 His wife would shop at Harrods and Harvey Nicks. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:51.920 He drives an Aston Martin. 00:07:52.280 --> 00:07:53.160 Where would the kids be? 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:54.720 Eaten and down house, I guess. 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:56.060 So that's where he is. 00:07:56.280 --> 00:08:00.120 I tell you what, if you saw him commuting and you'd nudge your friend, you'd say, look at that guy. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:01.759 He made a fortune, you know. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:04.879 He made money 2007, 2008. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:07.639 Even when there was economic crisis, he still made money. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:08.960 Take his advice. 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:09.740 He's no fool. 00:08:10.420 --> 00:08:12.139 And let's have a look down and see what he does. 00:08:12.220 --> 00:08:13.259 Can we see as we look down? 00:08:13.660 --> 00:08:14.819 Verse 17. 00:08:15.360 --> 00:08:17.960 And he thought to himself, what shall I do? 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:19.939 I've nowhere to store my crops. 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:21.800 Then he said, this is what I'll do. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:23.540 I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. 00:08:23.740 --> 00:08:25.740 And there I'll store all my grain and my goods. 00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:28.219 So what happens? 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:30.899 He gets a better harvest than he expected one year. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:32.139 But there's no waste. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.279 There's no panic. 00:08:33.620 --> 00:08:34.860 He's not going to flood the market. 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:36.460 He gets out his calculator. 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:37.179 He does his sums. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:42.200 And he realises it's definitely worth paying for a massive grain storage mountain. 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:43.679 Waste not want not. 00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:44.639 That's what his mum taught him. 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:46.720 And so there's a bigger profit this year. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:48.779 He's not going to let Rishi Sunat get hold of it. 00:08:49.180 --> 00:08:50.879 So he calls in his accountant. 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:53.300 And he works out how to invest it. 00:08:53.299 --> 00:09:01.579 And then having planned and worked and thought and planned and worked and thought. 00:09:01.719 --> 00:09:06.439 It's fantastic because he at last arrives at verse 19. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:07.679 Can we see it together? 00:09:07.939 --> 00:09:08.679 Verse 19. 00:09:08.939 --> 00:09:09.879 As we look down. 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:12.879 And I'll say to my soul. 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:14.120 Soul. 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:17.179 You've ample goods laid up for many years. 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:17.759 Relax. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.240 Eat, drink and be merry. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.919 And he retires early at 47. 00:09:23.820 --> 00:09:26.480 And do you know ever since he was at Christ the Saviour Primary School. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:27.820 When he was 11 he thought. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:29.419 I'm going to make all my money. 00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:31.600 And retire in my late 40s. 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:32.820 And he's done it. 00:09:33.299 --> 00:09:34.039 He's retired. 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:41.299 And doubtless the Sunday Colour Supplement magazine would have an article on him entitled 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:44.019 The Man Who Knew When to Stop. 00:09:44.839 --> 00:09:49.459 And everyone sitting in their front rooms would read it and go very wise. 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:50.980 So wise. 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:54.000 And we read now that he's a member of two golf clubs. 00:09:54.099 --> 00:09:55.719 He's a member of the Wentworth near where he lives. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:57.519 But also Royal St George's. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:00.959 And his aim is to get down to single figures on both golf clubs. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:03.920 So you see the retirement party's come and gone. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:06.040 He's got a massive house down in Sandwich. 00:10:06.280 --> 00:10:08.080 Huge house overlooking the bay. 00:10:08.560 --> 00:10:09.900 And there's his yacht in the bay. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:11.420 And everyone's come down. 00:10:11.560 --> 00:10:13.780 And they've all had to head back up to London. 00:10:13.860 --> 00:10:15.300 They've got to go back to work Monday morning. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:19.860 And their congratulations are ringing in his ears. 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:23.620 And he's standing there with, what do you think, a long cool glass of what? 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:28.160 Orange juice in his hand? 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:28.800 I don't know. 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:30.859 And he looks down. 00:10:31.179 --> 00:10:33.859 And on the side table, there are chalets. 00:10:34.339 --> 00:10:36.859 He doesn't know whether to get one in Verbier or Valdezere. 00:10:37.219 --> 00:10:38.000 He doesn't know. 00:10:38.099 --> 00:10:40.679 But he's going to buy one so that he can go when the snow's good. 00:10:41.299 --> 00:10:42.659 And then there are safaris. 00:10:43.459 --> 00:10:45.199 And he looks back at his house. 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:47.399 And he looks down onto the bay. 00:10:47.959 --> 00:10:49.379 And there is his yacht. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:52.839 And he says to himself, you've done it. 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:54.299 You've done it. 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.620 You've plenty laid up for years and years and years. 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:57.519 Take life easy. 00:10:57.659 --> 00:10:58.259 Eat, drink. 00:10:59.060 --> 00:11:03.179 And suddenly, there is a searing pain in his chest. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:06.860 And he's dead before they get him to hospital in Canterbury. 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:09.799 Can we see, ladies and gentlemen, let's see it together. 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:10.779 Do we see it's there? 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:11.879 Verse 20. 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:20.919 Well, they hold a memorial service for him in the city. 00:11:21.019 --> 00:11:21.860 St. Helens, Bishop's Gate. 00:11:21.939 --> 00:11:23.019 That's a good place for a funeral. 00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:24.419 So he goes there. 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:28.019 And the chairman would say, well, a loyal servant of the company he was. 00:11:28.299 --> 00:11:31.019 The trade journal would say, well, an example he was to his profession. 00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:33.740 And ladies and gentlemen, God will say, you fool. 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:35.959 What a fool you've been. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:40.479 I've taken funerals of people like this, of men like this. 00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:44.419 Actually, agonizingly, I once took a funeral of a young woman called Kathy. 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.860 And she'd been killed in a car crash. 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:46.779 It was a dreadful day. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:51.980 And afterwards at the reception, an old lady came up to me. 00:11:52.019 --> 00:11:55.240 And she said, do you know what failure is? 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:56.360 And I said, sorry. 00:11:56.459 --> 00:11:57.459 She said, what's failure? 00:11:57.559 --> 00:11:59.539 I said, I don't really understand what you mean. 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:04.039 She said, failure is being successful at the things that don't matter. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:06.059 That was the definition. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:09.279 Well, the money, where did all the money go? 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:11.519 Well, the lawyers tidied up most of it. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:15.539 Some went to a son who was, well, delightful chap. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.600 But all he did was windsurf. 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:20.860 So he spent it over 25 years windsurfing around the world, broke his mother's heart. 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:23.840 And the eternal world, all was lost. 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:28.240 And I don't know what you make of that little parable, ladies and gentlemen. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:32.060 Do you think it would have stopped the brother with the writ in his pocket, go to court? 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:36.180 Do you think it might have made him stop and go, well, actually, what do I think? 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:39.879 And I want to say, as we look at this passage from the Lord Jesus, 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:43.279 and we think about what constitutes success in life, 00:12:43.800 --> 00:12:45.920 that, well, I've never met anyone who wants to fail. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:47.079 We all want to be successful. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.719 So what were this man's two fatal mistakes? 00:12:50.039 --> 00:12:51.699 And his first mistake was this. 00:12:51.959 --> 00:12:55.839 Ladies and gentlemen, he lived as though God was not there. 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:58.240 That was his first mistake. 00:12:58.599 --> 00:12:59.879 Now, we don't know much about this guy. 00:12:59.939 --> 00:13:01.799 We don't know if he was a good husband or a philanderer. 00:13:01.959 --> 00:13:04.419 We don't know if he was a good father or neglected his children. 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:09.639 And what we do know, can we see, is the end of the passage, what we're told is he was not rich towards God. 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:14.579 Now, I don't doubt for a single moment that if you said to him, do you believe in God, down in Sandwich, 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:17.240 where he had that marvellous house, and you look out on the coast, 00:13:17.579 --> 00:13:20.779 and you'd have sort of got a little vox pop and said, do you believe in God? 00:13:20.819 --> 00:13:22.039 He'd have said, well, of course I do. 00:13:22.599 --> 00:13:23.459 I mean, look at this. 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:25.780 How do you explain all this? 00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:28.080 But he lived as though God wasn't there. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:31.500 And actually, he's absolutely self-centred on it. 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:36.420 Do you know, we'd have said he's not so much C.O.V., Church of England, but C. Andy, Christmas and Easter. 00:13:36.780 --> 00:13:37.900 That's what it would have been, isn't it? 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:40.840 And do you see, it's very interesting. 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:46.280 Do you see the words, I, me, or my, come 11 times in verse 17? 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:48.200 He's absolutely focused in. 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:50.160 Have a look, see if you can count them as we go through. 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:51.060 Verse 17. 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.320 What shall I do? 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:54.940 I've nowhere to score my crops. 00:13:55.180 --> 00:13:57.140 Then he said, I will do this. 00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:59.720 I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:03.220 There I'll store all my grain and my goods, and I'll say to my soul, 00:14:04.020 --> 00:14:06.100 soul, you have plenty of good things laid up for many years. 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:07.520 Relax, eat, drink, and be merry. 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:09.960 All the arrows are focused in. 00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:11.379 Can we see that? 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:16.120 So he's got leisure, take life easy, pleasure, eat, drink, and be merry, 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:18.660 treasure, plenty of good things, ample good things. 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:21.120 But he's forgotten God, the giver of it all. 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:26.000 And the Bible says, if you have wealth, that's a wonderful thing. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:27.179 But be generous. 00:14:27.779 --> 00:14:29.379 But he's totally focused on himself. 00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:32.460 And selfish people are such a pain, aren't they? 00:14:32.919 --> 00:14:33.899 Self-centered people. 00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:38.980 It was Samuel Butler who wrote about two very self-centered people called Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle. 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:39.940 And he wrote this. 00:14:40.420 --> 00:14:46.820 How good of God to cause Carlisle and Mrs. Carlisle to marry one another and so make two people miserable instead of four? 00:14:47.940 --> 00:14:49.840 Well, that's what's going on here. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.960 All the arrows are focused in. 00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:54.480 And religion? 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:57.060 Well, this is sexist, ladies and gentlemen. 00:14:57.180 --> 00:14:57.740 Please forgive me. 00:14:57.800 --> 00:14:58.259 It's sexist. 00:14:58.259 --> 00:15:02.480 But with religion, he'd have said, religion is for the wife and kids. 00:15:03.439 --> 00:15:05.720 I mean, it's a handrail for the women and children. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:07.299 But it's not for me. 00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:09.139 He'd have said, I'm an alpha male. 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:11.399 I like to be on the golf course Sunday morning. 00:15:11.700 --> 00:15:13.679 I don't need to bother with it, but I like it for them. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:18.439 And God says to him, what a fool you are. 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:22.439 What a fool, because God has shown himself to us. 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:24.799 So he lives as though God wasn't there. 00:15:25.359 --> 00:15:26.819 And God has revealed himself. 00:15:28.839 --> 00:15:31.339 Oh, years ago now, I was on my day off. 00:15:31.479 --> 00:15:32.819 And I went back home on a Saturday. 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:37.939 And my brother and sister-in-law and my parents had to go to a wedding. 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:40.599 So I was told I had to babysit the three kids. 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:44.600 So there was Dalton was eight, Patrick was six, and Lena was three. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:46.620 And it was an exhausting day. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.300 We played rugby. 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:48.000 We played cricket. 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.820 We played football. 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:50.720 Someone should have told me at bath time. 00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:52.659 It's helpful if you mostly take your own clothes off. 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.879 I got soaked at bath time. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:15:58.100 Anyway, about four in the afternoon, while her brothers were having a sleep, 00:15:58.600 --> 00:16:00.860 Lena, the three-year-old, said she wanted to play a game. 00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:02.800 I said, Lena, what game do you want to play? 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.019 She said, hide and seek. 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:05.740 I said, Lena, how do you play? 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.279 Have you noticed that? 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:11.439 If you are playing a game with little ones, you need to get the rules clear at the start. 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:15.720 Because otherwise, if there is a ruling in the middle of the game, it tends to go against you. 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.839 So I said, Lena, how do you play? 00:16:18.279 --> 00:16:19.279 She said, it's easy. 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.519 She said, you shut your eyes. 00:16:20.579 --> 00:16:21.339 You count to ten. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:23.480 I go and hide behind the dining room door. 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.299 You come and find me. 00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:26.259 I said, Lena, have I got that clear? 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:27.339 I shut my eyes, count to ten. 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:28.539 You hide behind the dining room door. 00:16:28.579 --> 00:16:29.159 I come and find you. 00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:29.799 She said, yes. 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:31.019 I shut my eyes. 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:31.879 I counted to ten. 00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.039 I said, are you ready? 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:35.620 She shouted from behind the dining room door, ready? 00:16:36.719 --> 00:16:39.379 I said, is Lena underneath the kitchen table? 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:41.259 How's of laughter from behind the dining room door? 00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.819 Is she behind the kitchen door? 00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:44.899 How's of laughter from behind the dining room door? 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.120 I said, is she behind the dining room door? 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:49.299 She shot out as though she was spring loaded. 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.719 I said, what are we doing now? 00:16:50.959 --> 00:16:52.139 She said, you shut your eyes. 00:16:52.199 --> 00:16:52.939 You count to ten. 00:16:53.219 --> 00:16:55.659 I'm going to go and hide underneath mummy and daddy's bed. 00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:56.740 You have to come and find me. 00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:58.819 Now, what was going on there? 00:16:59.259 --> 00:17:02.659 Well, she knows her husband's such a thick idiot that unless she gives instructions, 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:06.259 she'll be called out as a skeleton from underneath mummy and daddy's bed. 00:17:06.859 --> 00:17:09.579 But actually, the fun in hide and seek is not hiding. 00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:11.240 It's in being found. 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.420 And it's in speaking. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:17.259 And ladies and gentlemen, I want to say to you this morning, just categorically, 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:20.500 ladies and gentlemen, God has spoken to us. 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:22.059 That's the great theme. 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:25.319 That's what we believed in our very core. 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:27.299 We think God has spoken. 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:34.039 So when we open the Bible, Christians believe God speaks. 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:39.720 And more than that, ladies and gentlemen, he's spoken to us about his son. 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:42.480 He's saying, what do you make of Jesus? 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:46.299 So there was a dead girl and he raised her from the dead. 00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:50.360 There was a storm and he flattened the storm. 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:54.519 And then when he went to die, the Lord Jesus, what do you make of this? 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:58.519 He says in the Sermon on the Mount, love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. 00:17:58.860 --> 00:18:03.279 And then as he's being murdered, he cries out for the people killing him, 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:05.359 Father, forgive them. 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.599 They don't know what they're doing. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:12.259 So God has spoken to us and he's spoken about his son. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.519 And he says, now it gets even more remarkable than that. 00:18:15.819 --> 00:18:20.779 He says, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like you to be in friendship with my son. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:25.299 I'd like you to be friends with Jesus. 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:28.480 I've sent him so that he can meet you. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:33.779 And so just as we ponder that, I'm thinking how to illustrate that. 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:34.680 It's like this. 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:37.460 Are we ready? Ball coming? 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:37.960 Oh. 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:40.519 And back. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.740 Chance to shine. 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:42.579 Oh. 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.299 Oh. 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.279 Oh. 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.099 And back. 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:52.740 Are we ready? 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:53.259 Oh. 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:55.180 Oh. 00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:57.819 Get a South African to pick it up. 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.339 Very good. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:58.799 Okay. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.500 Let's do it without the ball. 00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:03.720 And back. 00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:04.700 Thanks, John T. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.160 Ready? 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.160 And back. 00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:10.440 Can I say, ladies and gentlemen, if there's no ball, the game loses its focus. 00:19:10.759 --> 00:19:11.599 It loses its meaning. 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:17.700 And God says, my son is to be as central to your life as a ball is to a game. 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:23.940 Now, there are people here and you're here and you're thinking, actually, I think the Bible's the rules. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.019 Well, the rules are great. 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:27.900 I mean, he says don't lie because he's a God of truth. 00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:30.320 He says don't commit adultery because he's faithful. 00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:32.280 He says don't steal because he's giving. 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.900 The rules reflect his character. 00:19:34.040 --> 00:19:34.759 We love the rules. 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:37.339 But, actually, it's about a relationship. 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:44.519 Can you imagine a game of rugby starting off beginning of the Six Nations or the game up in Scotland and there's no ball? 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:46.359 Actually, it might have been better that day. 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:55.059 But what I'm saying is that he wants you to be in friendship with his son and he wants to be as central to your life as a ball is to a game. 00:19:55.699 --> 00:19:56.740 Now, what do you make of that? 00:19:56.839 --> 00:19:58.559 And furthermore, it goes on. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:05.019 He says, not only did I send my son to be in friendship with you and that success in life. 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:14.460 Ladies and gentlemen, he says, I sent him to die so that friendship could happen. 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:21.279 He says, when Jesus dies on the cross, it's not just a Galilean carpenter dying. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:30.000 He's saying he's died to bring you from hell through the cross to heaven. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.779 So there's only one way to get to hell. 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:37.700 If you want to go to hell, you have to trample over the cross of Jesus. 00:20:38.279 --> 00:20:46.039 He blocks the way and he says, I'm playing in death and blood so you can be forgiven and you can have me right at the centre of your relationship. 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.559 What do you make of that? 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:52.859 You know, years ago, I was playing rugby in Bristol against a club side called Dings Crusaders. 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:55.619 And I arrived at the rugby ground and I saw my opposite number. 00:20:55.980 --> 00:20:57.019 He was enormous. 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:59.319 He was built like an outside toilet. 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:03.379 Honestly, you look at a bloke like that and you think, what does his mother look like? 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.859 I mean, the bloke was vast. 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:08.819 And I looked around a bit and he wasn't warming up. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.039 Had a number three on his back. 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:10.759 I knew he was opposite me. 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:14.679 I looked quite a long way around and I saw why he wasn't warming up. 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:16.679 He had a tiny baby boy in his arms. 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:19.159 And I thought, well, maybe he's not playing. 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.179 Maybe he's babysitting. 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.119 Maybe his mother's playing. 00:21:21.179 --> 00:21:21.679 I didn't know. 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:24.659 Just before kickoff, he handed this baby onto the field. 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.939 He walked onto the field. 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:27.539 Handed his baby off. 00:21:27.619 --> 00:21:28.379 He walked onto the field. 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:30.020 He came on. 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:31.600 He scrummaged opposite me. 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:34.120 And ladies and gentlemen, he ripped me limb from limb. 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:36.280 Halftime, went straight back to the baby boy. 00:21:36.580 --> 00:21:37.600 Second half, came back on. 00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:39.360 Threw me around like straw in the wind. 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:44.060 As the final whistle went and I stuttered off, that little baby boy was back in the man's arms. 00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:45.940 There was no question who the father was. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.380 There was no question who the son was. 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:49.840 I'd like to have seen anyone lay a finger on that little boy. 00:21:50.120 --> 00:21:51.640 It would have been amusing to behold the result. 00:21:52.300 --> 00:22:04.020 Now, ladies and gentlemen, do you think God loved his son, Jesus Christ, any less than that man loved his little boy, yet he sent him to die so that you can be in relationship with him? 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:10.180 And yet, healing is full of people who say, well, I've lived a decent life and so God will accept me. 00:22:10.180 --> 00:22:16.420 Well, if you've lived a decent life, why did he send his son to die if your goodness was good enough? 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:22.340 So this man lives as though there's no God and God says, what a fool you are. 00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:26.259 And secondly, just as we close now, he also lived as though there's no judgment. 00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:28.160 Let's have a look at that. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:30.060 Can we see that together as we look down? 00:22:30.059 --> 00:22:31.619 It's striking in the passage. 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:38.940 But God said to him, fool, this night your soul is required of you. 00:22:39.679 --> 00:22:44.240 So this man's second message was that very night his life would be demanded from you. 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:50.240 Now, can I tell you, as I say that, I'm holding my best mate from university's funeral card who went like that. 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:58.240 And, you know, there is a time, I just want to say this, say to the gentlemen, when the giver of life demands our life from us. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:02.140 And this man thought he had a long time, but he didn't. 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:04.900 So verse 19, he made preparations for a long time. 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:08.519 I'll say to myself, soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years. 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:10.120 But he didn't have many years. 00:23:10.440 --> 00:23:11.480 He was out of time. 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:14.579 I've buried nine of my school friends. 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.160 Nine. 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:18.019 I mean, it goes so fast. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.859 You know the definition of middle age, don't you? 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:25.200 You bend down to do up your shoelaces and ask, what else can I do while I'm down here? 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:32.620 And old age, my father used to say this about old age, he used to say, to my dentures I'm accustomed, to my deafness I'm resigned. 00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:35.980 I can cope with my bifocals, but oh, I miss my mind. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.940 Life is so fast. 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:45.700 And God says there'll be a day when I'll ask you two questions. 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:48.279 Question one, did you know me? 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:51.960 You were meant to have me as central to life as a ball is to a game. 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:53.920 I sent my son so that you could know him. 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:54.740 Did you know me? 00:23:54.800 --> 00:23:56.840 And secondly, did you have your sin forgiven? 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:59.340 Those are the two questions we'll be asked. 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:08.039 And actually, you'll see on the Hope Explored course that on that course, we'll talk about actually, well, where do we engage and how do we engage with eternity? 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:10.340 But I want to say this. 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:14.019 I make no excuse in telling you there's a judgment to come. 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:17.560 And that it's a wonderful thing there's a judgment to come. 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:20.060 Ladies and gentlemen, can I persuade you of this? 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.940 Judgment's great. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:28.960 Because it means how you treat me and how I treat you and how we treat the world matters to God. 00:24:29.879 --> 00:24:34.960 And sometimes, and for some here, there would have been appalling things that had happened. 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:37.879 And there's never been any recompense. 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.379 There's never been justice. 00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:41.660 I'm so sorry to hear that. 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:44.360 But I want to say there is a day of judgment. 00:24:45.760 --> 00:24:48.260 I don't know if you know this book, Slumdog Millionaire. 00:24:48.540 --> 00:24:49.760 There's a film of it too. 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:56.840 In this book, a little Indian boy who's a beggar and an orphan gets his eyes burned out so that he'll earn more money begging. 00:24:57.360 --> 00:24:58.440 And I saw that. 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:02.140 And I remember seeing it on the film and saying out loud, there's a judgment to come. 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:04.600 There is a judgment to come. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:06.559 And the resurrection of Jesus proves it. 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:08.740 And it's a wonderful thing. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:12.180 But Jesus says, I'm going to die to save you from it. 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.940 So let's close. 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:19.539 But I want to say, is your life successful by these standards? 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:24.320 By how you've related to God's son and to the fact that he sent his son to die? 00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:30.939 What have you done with the Bible when he says, I want to know you and Jesus will walk off the pages? 00:25:31.939 --> 00:25:33.679 I mean, wouldn't it be a dreadful thing? 00:25:34.339 --> 00:25:35.039 Can you imagine? 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:40.559 The letter comes in as we close to the wife of this rich man. 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:43.559 And it's addressed the mansion Wentworth Estates. 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.179 And it's from God. 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.639 So God writes a letter. 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:49.139 There are lots of Cone Golic's letters. 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.679 But God writes one. 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:54.160 And the woman, the wife, grieving, opens it up. 00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:57.560 And all she gets is, what a fool. 00:25:58.960 --> 00:25:59.960 What a fool. 00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:03.380 God hates to say that about our lives. 00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:05.660 He longs for us to have successful lives. 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:08.340 But he says at the center of it is what you do with Jesus. 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:11.259 Is your life successful by God's standards? 00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:14.240 And what do you make of that line? 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:18.320 Failures being successful at the things that don't matter. 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.160 So much to talk about. 00:26:21.580 --> 00:26:27.720 Well, I wonder if you can pick up the service order here and turn just to where we've had the sermon. 00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:28.900 We're going to sing again now. 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:32.299 But can you see there's a little prayer after the preach. 00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:39.560 And for some here, I think they'd be saying, do you know, I need to get right with God. 00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:42.639 I'm not right with him and I need to do that. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:47.179 Others will say, well, I mean, wherever you're at, I'd need to come and ask questions at Hope Explored. 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:47.799 I'll be doing that. 00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:51.819 But one or two will say, actually, I think this is true. 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:54.639 And I need to get right with God today. 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:56.899 I think he did send his son to die for me. 00:26:57.299 --> 00:26:59.259 I've lived as though there's no God and no judgment. 00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:00.460 And that needs to stop. 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:07.440 And can I say metaphorically, I'm on my knees pleading with you to echo this prayer and to come to faith. 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.740 Jesus has done all the work. 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:13.460 And if that's the case, then perhaps you would say it with me now. 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.900 I'm going to say it slowly. 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.559 Read it through so you know what's coming. 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:20.859 And then a second time, I'll say it phrase by phrase. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:26.740 And if it's right for you to become a Christian today, can I plead with you to do so? 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.480 It's a lovely church family. 00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:29.460 Come and join us here. 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:31.400 But can I plead with you to do that? 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:39.580 And can I tell you that if these things in this parable are true, then this is the most important moment in your life. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:42.940 What you do with Jesus, if this is true. 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:45.280 It's the most important moment in your life. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.060 So here we are. 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:49.140 Let me pray it phrase by phrase. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:52.340 So I'll read it through and then I'll do it phrase by phrase a second time. 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.320 Let's go through it. 00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:58.080 Heavenly Father, I'm so sorry that I've lived as though there's no God and no judgment. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:01.919 I now turn away from that light, from that life. 00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:04.980 Thank you that Jesus died so that I could be forgiven. 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:12.259 Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit and help me to live with Jesus as my friend and master. 00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:16.980 So if that's right for you, if everyone else could bear with me, I'm going to say it slowly. 00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:20.399 And if you just want to pray it phrase by phrase, then why not do that? 00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:23.960 And then we'll have our final song and Chris will close us. 00:28:24.919 --> 00:28:25.759 So here it is. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:28.480 Do echo it in your own heart if it's right for you. 00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:43.259 Heavenly Father, I'm so sorry that I've lived as though there's no God and no judgment. 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:46.539 I now turn away from that life. 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:52.839 Thank you that Jesus died so that I could be forgiven. 00:28:52.839 --> 00:29:05.599 Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit and help me to live with Jesus as my master and friend. 00:29:06.939 --> 00:29:07.679 Amen.