WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.599 But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had travelled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:11.779 They are now his witnesses to our people. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:14.359 We tell you the good news. 00:00:15.580 --> 00:00:20.400 What God promised our fathers, he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. 00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:23.039 As it is written in the second psalm, 00:00:23.780 --> 00:00:27.000 You are my son, today I have become your father. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:32.179 The fact that God raised him from the dead never to decay, it is stated in these words, 00:00:32.820 --> 00:00:36.980 I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David. 00:00:37.799 --> 00:00:42.060 So it is stated elsewhere, you will not let your holy ones see decay. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:51.320 For when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep. 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:54.060 He was buried with his fathers, and his body decayed. 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:57.800 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 00:00:58.980 --> 00:01:04.140 Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:11.099 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 00:01:12.099 --> 00:01:15.260 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you. 00:01:15.260 --> 00:01:25.439 Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you. 00:01:26.859 --> 00:01:32.740 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:39.400 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, 00:01:39.620 --> 00:01:43.300 who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:55.120 Thanks very much, Jonathan. 00:01:56.319 --> 00:02:05.979 There is at the back an A4 sheet, which you may find helpful in understanding the big plan. 00:02:05.980 --> 00:02:11.000 This one here is entitled Progression of God's Mission. 00:02:11.180 --> 00:02:17.280 So the big sweep of Acts, and it helps you understand what's going on and some of the big themes. 00:02:17.420 --> 00:02:18.740 So there's copies of those at the back. 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:22.400 You might want to take them to read at home. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:32.120 Well, keep your Bibles open at Acts 13. 00:02:33.259 --> 00:02:37.040 We're going to dip into Luke as well, just very briefly. 00:02:37.800 --> 00:02:42.360 But we're going to pray first and ask for God's help in this. 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:53.520 Father, we thank you for this great book of Acts, this history of the early church, 00:02:54.080 --> 00:03:00.620 its beginnings, its growth, and its spread across the entire world. 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:09.420 But more than that, we thank you for the person of Jesus to whom it points to and tells us about. 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:17.599 And we pray that what we read and what we look at together would shape us, not as individuals, 00:03:19.020 --> 00:03:25.200 but it would shape us and transform us as a church and the way that we should be. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:31.039 So please help us, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:33.239 --> 00:03:39.199 Well, I want to start by asking what is a very contentious but critical question. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:46.519 And if you come along on Wednesday nights, I'm sure this question will be debated at large. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:49.879 Here's the question. It's the title of the talk. 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:53.699 What is the mission of the church? 00:03:53.699 --> 00:03:56.479 You might think that's straightforward. 00:03:57.699 --> 00:03:59.339 What is the mission of the church? 00:03:59.419 --> 00:04:01.259 What would you answer to that question? 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:03.979 Well, let me give you some possible answers. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:09.359 The mission of the church is to grow God's kingdom, 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:13.120 love God and love your neighbour. 00:04:14.679 --> 00:04:16.360 Is it to tell the gospel? 00:04:17.899 --> 00:04:19.740 Or is it to serve the community? 00:04:19.740 --> 00:04:24.540 The mission of the church is to plant churches? 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:28.600 Or feed the poor and fight injustice? 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:32.040 Or obey God's commands? 00:04:35.460 --> 00:04:37.819 What is the mission of the church? 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:43.639 Well, before we try and answer that, let's define what we mean by mission. 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:49.000 Surprisingly, mission as a noun, as in what is the mission, 00:04:49.259 --> 00:04:51.000 it doesn't appear in the Bible. 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:53.959 But it does mean, when we talk about mission, 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:57.039 it means being sent with a task. 00:04:57.899 --> 00:04:59.539 So we could define it like this. 00:04:59.599 --> 00:05:01.279 I think it's on the screen there. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:05.779 Mission is the specific task or purpose 00:05:05.779 --> 00:05:09.039 the church is sent to accomplish. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:13.280 That's our working definition for mission. 00:05:14.260 --> 00:05:15.660 So what is the task? 00:05:15.780 --> 00:05:17.840 What is the purpose for the church? 00:05:17.960 --> 00:05:21.400 Well, you might think of a missionary who goes overseas 00:05:21.400 --> 00:05:23.900 or you might think of a group of people 00:05:23.900 --> 00:05:26.439 who go on a short-term missions trip. 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:28.620 And when people do that, 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:31.640 it could mean anything from teaching in a Bible school 00:05:31.640 --> 00:05:33.280 to personal evangelism, 00:05:33.420 --> 00:05:36.660 or it might mean going to a country where you're digging a well 00:05:36.660 --> 00:05:39.460 or starting a health clinic. 00:05:41.260 --> 00:05:45.100 You see, there is a very popular view in the church today 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:49.040 that the mission of the church is to feed the poor, 00:05:49.960 --> 00:05:51.060 fight injustice, 00:05:51.960 --> 00:05:53.700 and free the enslaved. 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:57.800 Now, I want you to hear me clearly on this. 00:05:57.800 --> 00:06:01.400 While I say yes to all of these things 00:06:01.400 --> 00:06:04.920 and encourage and support those things, 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:09.280 it is not the mission of the church. 00:06:10.699 --> 00:06:14.879 They may help to facilitate the mission of the church. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:17.420 They may be in some ways a partner, 00:06:18.020 --> 00:06:20.259 but it is not the mission. 00:06:21.700 --> 00:06:25.840 Mission is not everything the church does or can do, 00:06:26.340 --> 00:06:29.780 but what the church is sent in the world to do. 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:34.779 So, have a flick back to Luke's Gospel, chapter 24. 00:06:37.739 --> 00:06:41.339 Luke's Gospel, you remember, is the prequel to Acts. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:43.699 It was the first one that Luke wrote, 00:06:43.799 --> 00:06:46.419 and it's introducing us to who Jesus is, 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:47.779 why he came, 00:06:48.239 --> 00:06:50.219 and after his resurrection, 00:06:51.239 --> 00:06:53.979 Luke records the last and final words 00:06:53.980 --> 00:06:56.920 that he gives to his followers. 00:06:59.140 --> 00:07:01.560 Luke 24, verse 46. 00:07:04.520 --> 00:07:05.720 Jesus told them, 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:07.660 this is what is written, 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:09.680 that Christ will suffer 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.759 and rise from the dead on the third day, 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:15.980 and repentance and forgiveness of sins 00:07:15.980 --> 00:07:18.939 will be preached in his name to all nations, 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:21.080 beginning at Jerusalem. 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:25.019 You are witnesses of these things. 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:27.240 Now, there's three things there. 00:07:27.359 --> 00:07:27.639 It says, 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:28.879 the Christ will suffer, 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:30.979 he will rise from the dead. 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:32.740 Both of those have been fulfilled. 00:07:33.019 --> 00:07:34.599 Both of those things have happened, 00:07:35.099 --> 00:07:37.000 but there's one outstanding thing 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:38.939 that hasn't yet finished, 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:41.039 and that is in verse 47, 00:07:41.159 --> 00:07:43.319 that repentance and forgiveness of sins 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:46.259 will be preached in his name to all nations, 00:07:46.419 --> 00:07:48.219 beginning at Jerusalem 00:07:48.219 --> 00:07:49.539 and working out from there. 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:53.519 An author, Kevin DeYoung, 00:07:53.859 --> 00:07:55.039 puts it like this. 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:56.539 He says, 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:58.859 mission is not everything we do 00:07:58.859 --> 00:08:00.379 in Jesus' name, 00:08:01.180 --> 00:08:02.800 nor is it everything we do 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.240 in obedience to Jesus. 00:08:05.419 --> 00:08:08.339 Mission is the task we are given to fulfil. 00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:11.099 It's what Jesus sends us 00:08:11.099 --> 00:08:12.560 into the world to do. 00:08:13.539 --> 00:08:15.199 So the mission of the church 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.399 is not to sponsor a child. 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:20.799 It is not to work for famine relief. 00:08:21.179 --> 00:08:23.060 It is not to care for the environment. 00:08:23.719 --> 00:08:25.779 It is to witness about Jesus, 00:08:26.039 --> 00:08:26.679 his death, 00:08:26.979 --> 00:08:27.799 his resurrection, 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:29.759 and our response to him. 00:08:30.719 --> 00:08:31.979 Of course, that doesn't mean 00:08:31.979 --> 00:08:33.559 we don't do those things. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:34.980 We do, and as a church, 00:08:35.100 --> 00:08:36.720 we encourage those things. 00:08:37.699 --> 00:08:39.120 However, by themselves, 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:40.340 as we will see, 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:42.500 they do not fulfil the mission 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:43.980 that God has given. 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:46.420 Now, when we get to Acts, 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:48.320 so you can go back to Acts again, 00:08:48.420 --> 00:08:49.320 when we get to Acts, 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:52.019 we see those final words of Jesus 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:54.060 being fulfilled 00:08:54.060 --> 00:08:55.420 through the book of Acts, 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:56.440 being worked out. 00:08:57.259 --> 00:08:58.759 In fact, the whole book of Acts 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:00.920 is all about his people 00:09:00.920 --> 00:09:04.060 preaching the good news of Christ. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:05.759 And of course, 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:06.740 as we go through Acts, 00:09:06.820 --> 00:09:07.800 there are examples, 00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:09.039 you'll know in chapter 2 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:09.899 and chapter 4, 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:11.519 there's these great examples 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.840 of social care and concern 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:16.059 as the church sell their possessions, 00:09:16.299 --> 00:09:17.340 they sell their fields, 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:19.039 they sell their other homes, 00:09:19.159 --> 00:09:20.639 and they give to those 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:21.620 who are in need. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:24.379 So there is a social care. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:28.299 But the primary underlying theme 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:29.480 working its way through 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:31.259 the whole book is this. 00:09:32.259 --> 00:09:34.720 The priority for the church 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:37.220 until Jesus returns, 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:39.179 a mission of which 00:09:39.179 --> 00:09:41.500 the community must never lose sight 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:44.339 is to witness to Jesus 00:09:44.339 --> 00:09:46.979 to the ends of the earth. 00:09:48.739 --> 00:09:50.299 And that's what we find happening 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:52.219 when we get to this church in Antioch 00:09:52.219 --> 00:09:53.899 that we were introduced to last week 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:55.179 in Acts chapter 13. 00:09:55.959 --> 00:09:57.959 Look what we see happening in verse 2. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:09:59.359 Here they were, 00:09:59.419 --> 00:10:00.579 they were worshipping the Lord 00:10:00.579 --> 00:10:01.199 and fasting, 00:10:02.059 --> 00:10:03.459 and the Holy Spirit said, 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:05.500 Set apart from me Barnabas and Saul 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:08.000 for the work to which I've called them. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:10.559 So after they had fasted and prayed, 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:12.080 they placed their hands on them 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:12.980 and sent them off. 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:14.940 So what are they sending them off to do? 00:10:15.019 --> 00:10:15.899 What's the work? 00:10:16.539 --> 00:10:17.440 What's the mission? 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:19.159 Well, verse 5, 00:10:19.799 --> 00:10:21.360 when they arrived at Salamis, 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:24.480 they proclaimed the word of God. 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:26.899 They are simply fulfilling 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:29.320 the mission of the church. 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:31.639 So what we want to do 00:10:31.639 --> 00:10:33.899 as we look at chapter 13, 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:35.580 the verses that Jonathan read, 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:36.759 is to look and see 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:38.860 how we can keep the mission of God, 00:10:39.660 --> 00:10:41.639 the mission of the church. 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:44.700 And we do this in two ways. 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:45.400 Firstly, 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:49.100 we keep the message of Jesus central. 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:52.220 Keep the message of Jesus central 00:10:52.220 --> 00:10:54.259 in all the work 00:10:54.259 --> 00:10:56.920 that we seek to do as a church. 00:10:57.580 --> 00:10:58.840 So verse 13, 00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:01.240 from Pathos, 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:02.940 so you remember that they'd gone down 00:11:02.940 --> 00:11:04.340 to the island of Cyprus. 00:11:05.280 --> 00:11:06.940 So we're told from Pathos, 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:08.460 Paul and his companions 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:11.300 sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:13.780 which was just on the edge of Turkey, 00:11:13.940 --> 00:11:15.480 back onto the mainland again, 00:11:16.040 --> 00:11:17.540 where John left them 00:11:17.540 --> 00:11:19.160 to return to Jerusalem. 00:11:20.160 --> 00:11:21.180 From Perga, 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:22.200 they went on their way 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.920 to Pisidian Antioch, 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:25.900 which was about 100 miles inland, 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:26.939 across mountains, 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:28.259 beautiful scenery, 00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:31.600 to this place of Antioch, 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:32.899 Pisidian Antioch. 00:11:34.059 --> 00:11:35.399 Now this isn't a tour, 00:11:35.539 --> 00:11:36.399 a holiday guide 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:37.240 of where they went 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:38.899 in the Mediterranean and Turkey. 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:39.779 No, 00:11:40.059 --> 00:11:41.639 what this is telling us 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.679 is that as they went 00:11:42.679 --> 00:11:43.959 from town to town, 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:46.740 they were witnessing to Christ, 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:48.539 as the text tells us. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.799 Look at the rest of verse 14. 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:50.659 So on the Sabbath, 00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:52.120 they entered the synagogue, 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:54.500 like the local church, 00:11:54.579 --> 00:11:54.980 if you like, 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:56.080 there and they sat down. 00:11:56.659 --> 00:11:57.360 And after reading 00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:58.539 from the law and the prophets, 00:11:58.700 --> 00:11:59.639 the synagogue rulers 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:00.680 sent word to them, 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:02.560 rumour had obviously spread 00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:03.580 about what they were doing, 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:03.960 saying, 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:04.340 Brothers, 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.300 if you have a message 00:12:05.300 --> 00:12:06.019 of encouragement 00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:06.800 for the people, 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:08.139 please speak. 00:12:09.420 --> 00:12:11.100 So this word of encouragement 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:12.000 that we read 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.460 from verses 16 through to 41 00:12:14.460 --> 00:12:16.580 is like the sermon 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:17.800 that was going on. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.120 It was the exhortation, 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:19.960 it was the message, 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:20.960 it was an opportunity 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.539 for them to open up 00:12:22.539 --> 00:12:23.200 the scriptures, 00:12:23.420 --> 00:12:23.879 the Bible, 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.700 which they would have had 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:25.700 the Old Testament, 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:26.980 and from that 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:28.120 they would have talked 00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:29.539 about Jesus, 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:31.399 which is exactly 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:32.899 what Paul goes on to do. 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:36.580 The message of Jesus 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:37.480 was central. 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.740 Now not everybody liked 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.840 what he had to say. 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:42.879 Look down at verse 44, 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:43.980 we didn't read this, 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:45.159 but let's read it together, 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:45.980 verse 44. 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:48.600 So on the next Sabbath, 00:12:48.759 --> 00:12:49.519 a week later, 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.720 almost the whole city 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:53.139 had gathered to hear 00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:53.960 the word of the Lord. 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:54.899 It's quite incredible, 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:55.320 isn't it, 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.639 that this rumour had spread, 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:57.740 these people were talking 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.580 about this Jesus, 00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:00.240 and they've all come to hear. 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:02.220 But when the Jews 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:03.000 saw the crowd, 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:03.899 they were filled 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:04.740 with jealousy 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:07.060 and talked abusively 00:13:07.060 --> 00:13:08.420 against what Paul was saying. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:09.639 So not everybody liked 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:10.639 what he had to say. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:14.679 But that was his mission. 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:16.919 Verse 46, 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:18.080 Then Paul and Barnabas 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.220 answered them boldly, 00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:20.939 We had to speak 00:13:20.939 --> 00:13:21.740 the word of God 00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:22.559 to you first. 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:25.100 And since you reject it 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:26.620 and do not consider yourselves 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:28.199 worthy of eternal life, 00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:30.319 we now turn to the Gentiles, 00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:31.980 to all the other nations, 00:13:32.899 --> 00:13:34.259 people who are not Jews. 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.879 For this is what the Lord 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.259 has commanded us. 00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:41.220 I have made you a light 00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:42.480 for the Gentiles 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:44.840 that you may bring salvation 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.919 to the ends of the earth. 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:49.159 God's mission, 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:49.980 his work, 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.740 his purpose, 00:13:50.860 --> 00:13:51.620 his plan 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:55.200 is that the salvation of Christ 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:57.840 would go to every people group, 00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:59.279 to every language group. 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:01.980 And so Paul 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.419 and the church 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:04.580 from which he was sent 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:05.340 is driven 00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:07.100 by that same mission. 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:09.759 Now increasingly, 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:10.879 I'm discovering 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.179 as I read articles 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:15.080 and read different blogs 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:15.819 on the internet 00:14:15.819 --> 00:14:18.480 that the definition of mission 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:20.539 is beginning to expand, 00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:21.460 it's broadening. 00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:23.439 For some churches 00:14:23.439 --> 00:14:24.759 and mission organisations, 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.600 the mission is 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:28.319 about social justice, 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:31.100 releasing people from poverty, 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:33.500 increasing the opportunities 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.240 of the weak. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.019 and as I've said, 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:38.139 that is all good stuff. 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.740 We can support it, 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:42.019 we should support it, 00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.919 we can be involved in it, 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:45.180 but you know what, 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:46.759 it doesn't enable people 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:48.080 to receive salvation, 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.500 it's not the message. 00:14:51.180 --> 00:14:52.740 Let me put it bluntly, 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:55.000 and I want to be very careful 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:55.840 as I say this, 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.919 but to make the point, 00:14:56.919 --> 00:15:00.699 a child with a full belly 00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:03.219 does not make them 00:15:03.219 --> 00:15:04.339 a child of God. 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:07.139 And a father released 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.179 from slavery 00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:10.500 does not rescue them 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.099 from hell. 00:15:13.699 --> 00:15:14.339 You see, 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.159 when the opposition 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:16.779 came to Paul and Barnabas 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.379 that we read 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.479 in verse 46, 00:15:18.959 --> 00:15:19.959 they could have kind of 00:15:19.959 --> 00:15:21.339 gone back to square one 00:15:21.339 --> 00:15:23.120 and redefined their mission. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.039 Let's go do something else. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:27.879 But that's not going 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:28.899 to save people. 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:29.659 That's not going 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:30.620 to rescue people. 00:15:31.939 --> 00:15:33.439 Tim Keller put it like this 00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:34.599 when he was talking about 00:15:34.599 --> 00:15:36.319 the primacy 00:15:36.319 --> 00:15:38.000 or the centrality 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.259 of preaching the gospel. 00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:41.539 The gospel is central, 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.099 he says, 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.039 quote, 00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:45.120 not because the spiritual 00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.959 is better 00:15:45.959 --> 00:15:47.339 than the physical, 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.279 but because the eternal 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:52.319 is more important 00:15:52.319 --> 00:15:54.139 than the temporal. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:57.379 We must be crystal clear 00:15:57.379 --> 00:15:59.219 on what the mission 00:15:59.219 --> 00:16:01.120 of the church is. 00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:04.819 So first, 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.719 we are to keep 00:16:05.719 --> 00:16:06.959 the message 00:16:06.959 --> 00:16:08.199 of Jesus central. 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:08.699 Second, 00:16:09.819 --> 00:16:11.279 we are to keep Jesus 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:12.219 the centre 00:16:12.219 --> 00:16:14.500 of our message. 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.500 Keep Jesus 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.019 the centre 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:17.799 of our message. 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.740 As Barnabas 00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:20.279 and Paul 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.599 speak to these people, 00:16:22.099 --> 00:16:23.259 it's very clear 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.379 that they're talking 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.139 about Jesus. 00:16:25.939 --> 00:16:26.220 Now, 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:26.899 as I was reading 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.360 through that, 00:16:27.439 --> 00:16:28.279 and I hope it's the same 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:28.559 for you, 00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:30.179 that's a real challenge. 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:32.519 Because I find myself 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:33.539 actually talking about 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:34.419 a lot of other things. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.059 It's not wrong 00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:36.179 to talk about other things, 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:36.879 but let me give you 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.439 an example. 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.539 One of the questions 00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.700 when you meet new people 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.899 after they get to know 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:43.539 what your name is, 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.319 they usually ask you, 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:44.980 what do you do? 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.919 And I'm always asked, 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:46.600 what do you do? 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:49.879 And usually it ends 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:50.600 the conversation 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.180 pretty quick 00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:52.500 or people want to 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.460 go talk a bit more. 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:55.560 But often when people 00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:56.340 ask me that, 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:57.460 it develops into 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.180 a conversation 00:16:58.180 --> 00:16:59.460 about the church 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:01.519 or the kind of work 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.139 that I do 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:03.120 in the church. 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.019 In other words, 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:05.839 I tell people 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:07.099 about church life, 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.819 but I'm not actually 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:09.559 talking to them 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.299 about Jesus. 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.680 Or perhaps 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.640 in the conversation, 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.500 if it develops 00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.079 a bit more, 00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:17.500 I talk about the Bible, 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.119 I say, well, 00:17:18.199 --> 00:17:18.859 one of the things 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.359 I do is to help 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:21.480 people understand 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.079 the Bible 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.179 and what it's about. 00:17:25.399 --> 00:17:26.240 And I maybe talk 00:17:26.240 --> 00:17:27.220 about how reliable 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.000 it is in that 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:28.819 the Gospels 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.480 that we read 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:29.960 are actually 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.699 trustworthy. 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:31.679 They're true 00:17:31.679 --> 00:17:33.039 eyewitness accounts 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.839 and they're not 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.879 just made up. 00:17:36.699 --> 00:17:37.419 And I can talk 00:17:37.419 --> 00:17:38.159 all this wonderful 00:17:38.159 --> 00:17:38.740 information, 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.619 but it's actually 00:17:39.619 --> 00:17:40.720 not talking about 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.139 Jesus. 00:17:43.399 --> 00:17:44.579 We need to talk 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.299 about Jesus. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:48.619 And Paul does 00:17:48.619 --> 00:17:49.799 this in many ways 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.039 here, 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:51.019 but I've summarised 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:51.779 it into three 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.500 simple ways 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:53.500 and I hope 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.220 this is a helpful 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.879 way of just 00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:55.799 recounting the 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.659 whole message 00:17:56.659 --> 00:17:58.019 of Christ. 00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:58.399 First, 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.539 Jesus is the 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:00.519 promised Saviour. 00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.579 Look at verse 16. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.139 Or sorry, 00:18:04.199 --> 00:18:04.980 verse 17. 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.139 It seems like 00:18:06.139 --> 00:18:07.439 as he starts 00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.299 into his spiel, 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:09.079 this is just a big 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.059 history lesson 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.759 as he talks about 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.259 the beginning 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.259 of Israel. 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.359 So in verse 17, 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:14.740 he says, 00:18:14.859 --> 00:18:15.460 the God of the 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.299 people of Israel 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:18.000 chose our fathers, 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.460 he made the people 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:20.440 prosper during their 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:21.420 stay in Egypt, 00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:22.460 and with mighty 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.539 power he led them 00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.400 out of the country. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:25.900 Verse 20. 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.720 All of this took 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.559 about 450 years. 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:31.220 And then he begins 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.940 to talk about a 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.059 succession of great 00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:35.000 leaders and kings. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.160 So continue on in 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:36.660 verse 20. 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.220 After this, 00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:37.900 God gave them 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:38.920 judges until the 00:18:38.920 --> 00:18:40.019 time of Samuel the 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.339 prophet. 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:41.759 Then the people 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:42.500 asked for a king 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.159 and he gave them 00:18:43.159 --> 00:18:43.619 Saul. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.099 Verse 22. 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.199 After removing 00:18:46.199 --> 00:18:47.039 Saul, he made 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.059 David their king. 00:18:49.099 --> 00:18:50.059 So what is this? 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.779 Just history? 00:18:50.919 --> 00:18:51.639 What's going on? 00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:52.559 Well, no, there's a 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.459 purpose to all of 00:18:53.459 --> 00:18:53.599 this. 00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:55.099 His purpose is to 00:18:55.099 --> 00:18:55.959 get to Jesus. 00:18:57.679 --> 00:18:58.559 Consistently, God 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.659 had promised through 00:18:59.659 --> 00:19:00.799 the nation of Israel 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.139 and through all their 00:19:02.139 --> 00:19:03.039 great leaders like 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.379 Moses and Samuel 00:19:04.379 --> 00:19:05.679 and David and Saul 00:19:05.679 --> 00:19:07.839 that Jesus would 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.559 come. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:10.119 It's all part of 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:10.559 his plan. 00:19:10.679 --> 00:19:11.379 So when we get to 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.879 verse 23, what does 00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.259 he say? 00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:14.779 From this man, once 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.480 he gets to David, 00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:16.759 from this man's 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.359 descendants, God 00:19:18.359 --> 00:19:19.299 has brought to 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.960 Israel the saviour, 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.740 Jesus, as he 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.240 promised. 00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:26.299 Now most people 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.539 today, while they 00:19:27.539 --> 00:19:28.099 don't know a lot 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.079 about him, are 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.480 still familiar with 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:30.799 Jesus. 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.559 At best they may 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.339 see him as a good 00:19:33.339 --> 00:19:34.259 moral teacher. 00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:35.399 He arrived on 00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:36.139 earth for a few 00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:37.359 years and, well, he 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.399 died an unfortunate 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:39.019 death. 00:19:40.160 --> 00:19:41.060 But it's so much 00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:42.040 bigger and greater 00:19:42.040 --> 00:19:42.600 than that. 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:43.720 We must show 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.880 people that Jesus 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:46.720 is God's promised 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.960 saviour from 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:49.900 eternity past, who 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.860 has come into 00:19:50.860 --> 00:19:51.759 this world to 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.780 renew broken 00:19:52.780 --> 00:19:54.620 lives and restore 00:19:54.620 --> 00:19:55.720 this broken world. 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:57.040 And he does it all 00:19:57.040 --> 00:19:57.759 through his death 00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.440 on the cross. 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.580 Jesus didn't just 00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:01.519 appear out of 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:01.860 nowhere. 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:04.959 Jesus is God's 00:20:04.959 --> 00:20:06.579 planned solution 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:08.759 to the devastation 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.759 and destruction 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:11.500 that we see all 00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.539 around us in the 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.740 world and in 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.699 people's lives. 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.679 He is a promised 00:20:16.679 --> 00:20:17.539 saviour, a 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:19.659 rescuer, the one 00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:20.319 that everybody 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:21.299 longs for and 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.819 wants. 00:20:23.179 --> 00:20:24.279 So we need to 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.279 talk about Jesus. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:27.619 The second thing 00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.359 we could sum up 00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:29.240 like this is that 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.379 we talk about 00:20:30.379 --> 00:20:31.559 Jesus as the 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.339 risen king. 00:20:33.399 --> 00:20:34.660 Verse 26. 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:39.240 No, verse 20, 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.180 well, hang on. 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.940 Yeah, 26 to 37. 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:45.259 Most people, again, 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.819 when we talk about 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:48.180 Jesus, they accept 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.259 that he lived on 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.139 earth, that he came 00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:50.899 to earth for a 00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:51.139 while. 00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:52.300 They maybe 00:20:52.300 --> 00:20:53.240 recognise that he 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:54.360 died, but where 00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:55.340 people have a real 00:20:55.340 --> 00:20:56.480 problem is that he 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.040 rose again, that he's 00:20:58.040 --> 00:20:59.320 actually still alive. 00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:01.880 But we need to make 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:02.520 sure that people 00:21:02.520 --> 00:21:03.660 understand that that's 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.900 true, and Paul is 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.860 concerned that people 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:06.620 know that this is 00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:06.960 true. 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.780 So look at verse 29. 00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.920 When they carried 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:11.880 out all that was 00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:13.040 written about him, 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.480 they took him down 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.520 from the tree, that's 00:21:16.520 --> 00:21:17.480 the cross, and they 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.580 laid him in a tomb. 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.840 But God raised him 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.959 from the dead, and 00:21:21.959 --> 00:21:22.959 for many days he 00:21:22.959 --> 00:21:24.419 was seen by those 00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:25.299 who travelled with 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.439 him from Galilee to 00:21:26.439 --> 00:21:26.980 Jerusalem. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.439 They are now his 00:21:28.439 --> 00:21:29.819 witnesses to our 00:21:29.819 --> 00:21:30.139 people. 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:30.720 You couldn't have 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.419 made this up. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.379 People saw him, 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.379 touched him, heard 00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:33.599 him. 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.599 They ate with the 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:36.299 risen Jesus. 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:39.139 Hundreds of people 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:39.759 saw him. 00:21:40.459 --> 00:21:41.319 So you can't make 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:41.639 it up. 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:43.019 And without the 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:43.859 resurrection of 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.179 Jesus, everything 00:21:45.179 --> 00:21:46.000 that he said in 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.359 his life would 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.039 prove to be 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.539 empty. 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:49.740 It would just 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.259 be a lot of 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.879 hot air. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:52.960 But if Jesus 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:54.319 is risen from 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:55.180 the dead, if he 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:56.460 actually is alive, 00:21:56.740 --> 00:21:57.720 then his promise 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:58.619 of renewal and 00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.599 restoration is 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.180 true. 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.779 Verse 32. 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.279 We tell you the 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.259 good news, what 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.279 God promised our 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:05.680 fathers. 00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:07.339 He has fulfilled 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.299 for us their 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:10.039 children by raising 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.339 up Jesus. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.119 Verse 36. 00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:33.179 David was a 00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:33.919 great king, a 00:22:33.919 --> 00:22:34.459 great leader. 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:35.379 We can read about 00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:35.659 him. 00:22:36.479 --> 00:22:37.319 But he ended up 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:39.099 a dead, smelling, 00:22:39.719 --> 00:22:41.119 rotting corpse. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.579 Jesus, however, 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:45.239 defeated death. 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.680 Therefore, he 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.759 has power and 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.940 authority over 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.359 death. 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.420 The resurrection 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.740 proves, it 00:22:52.740 --> 00:22:54.000 guarantees the 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.519 promise of 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.220 eternal life. 00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:57.220 Everybody fears 00:22:57.220 --> 00:22:57.680 death. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:22:59.859 Nobody likes the 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:00.620 thought of one 00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.299 day having to 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:01.559 die. 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.319 Where do we 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:02.519 go? 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.000 What will 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.400 happen? 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.759 It's our 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:05.200 enemy. 00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:07.160 But the 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:07.759 resurrection 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:09.099 guarantees the 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.640 promise of 00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:10.359 eternal life. 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:11.779 And if Jesus 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.799 has risen, 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:14.839 well then we 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.879 can trust him 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.039 with our 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.379 life. 00:23:17.919 --> 00:23:18.339 We can 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.079 trust him 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.980 with our 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.419 future. 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.939 So we need 00:23:21.939 --> 00:23:22.599 to talk about 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.079 Jesus. 00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:24.599 Talking about 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.399 the church, 00:23:26.399 --> 00:23:26.980 talking about 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:27.859 the Bible, 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.459 is not going 00:23:29.459 --> 00:23:29.939 to help 00:23:29.939 --> 00:23:30.319 people. 00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.579 Third, we 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.099 could sum it 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.639 up like this. 00:23:34.679 --> 00:23:35.339 He talks about 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:36.079 Jesus, the 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.980 forgiving judge. 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:38.379 And look at 00:23:38.379 --> 00:23:39.119 how Paul just 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.879 keeps Jesus 00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.559 central the 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.000 whole way 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.399 through his 00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:41.839 talk. 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.119 Verse 38. 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:44.859 Therefore, 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.459 my brothers, 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.099 I want you 00:23:46.099 --> 00:23:46.479 to know 00:23:46.479 --> 00:23:47.179 that through 00:23:47.179 --> 00:23:49.000 Jesus, the 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.679 forgiveness of 00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:50.219 sins is 00:23:50.219 --> 00:23:50.939 proclaimed to 00:23:50.939 --> 00:23:51.179 you. 00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:52.799 Through him, 00:23:53.219 --> 00:23:53.979 everyone who 00:23:53.979 --> 00:23:54.679 believes is 00:23:54.679 --> 00:23:55.559 justified from 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.259 everything you 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:56.919 could not be 00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:57.839 justified from 00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:58.899 by the law 00:23:58.899 --> 00:23:59.519 of Moses. 00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:01.899 Now we 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.299 know we 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.519 experience life 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.219 every day. 00:24:05.239 --> 00:24:05.819 You know 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:06.659 the mess that 00:24:06.659 --> 00:24:07.179 people get 00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:08.079 themselves into, 00:24:08.639 --> 00:24:09.419 all because of 00:24:09.419 --> 00:24:09.979 our rebellion 00:24:09.979 --> 00:24:10.859 against God. 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:10.979 God. 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:13.659 But Jesus 00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.379 is full of 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.319 grace and 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.439 mercy and 00:24:16.439 --> 00:24:18.759 compassion and 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.439 he's making it 00:24:19.439 --> 00:24:20.559 clear to us and 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.799 to all people that 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.419 he offers 00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:23.000 forgiveness. 00:24:24.719 --> 00:24:25.679 He provides a 00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.419 way for us, 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:26.979 look at verse 00:24:26.979 --> 00:24:28.319 39, to be 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.019 justified. 00:24:30.099 --> 00:24:30.859 That is to be 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:32.000 declared right 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.959 before God. 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:34.299 Not only to be 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.139 declared right, 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.099 but actually to be 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:37.500 treated as right, 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.240 to be treated 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.979 like his own 00:24:38.979 --> 00:24:39.459 son. 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.960 this is what 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.640 he does for 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.100 us. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:45.720 Remember the 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.380 nursery rhyme 00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.039 about Humpty 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.440 Dumpty? 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:49.860 Well, 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.039 we're all a 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.620 little bit like 00:24:51.620 --> 00:24:52.340 Humpty Dumpty. 00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:54.079 We've all had a 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:54.940 great big fall. 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.380 And all our 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.380 efforts and all 00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:59.100 our energies 00:24:59.100 --> 00:25:00.940 can never fix 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.340 us. 00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.759 We can never be 00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.759 put back together 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.519 again by our 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.920 own efforts and 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.779 trying our own 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.720 different ways in 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.120 life. 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.700 But Jesus is 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.319 the one who 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:12.700 has come to 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:14.019 forgive, to 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.720 put us back 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.420 together, to 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:16.660 make us a new 00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:18.620 creation, alive 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.640 again in Christ. 00:25:21.840 --> 00:25:22.900 But what if we 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.779 refuse his 00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.200 forgiveness? 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:26.720 Well, he makes 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.960 it clear we face 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:30.259 him as judge, 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.319 verse 40. 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:34.359 take care that 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:35.379 what the prophets 00:25:35.379 --> 00:25:36.259 have said 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:37.619 does not 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.179 happen to 00:25:38.179 --> 00:25:38.500 you. 00:25:40.319 --> 00:25:41.259 Look, you 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.819 scoffers, 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.619 wonder and 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.439 perish, for I 00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:44.179 am going to do 00:25:44.179 --> 00:25:45.000 something in 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:46.779 your days that 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.519 you would never 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.779 believe, even if 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.740 someone told you. 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.500 This is a quote 00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.240 from the prophet 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.319 Habakkuk. 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:55.460 And he's 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.019 talking there 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.419 about the 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:57.099 people in the 00:25:57.099 --> 00:25:57.659 past and 00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.519 their refusal 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.480 to repent and 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.200 turn back to 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.539 God. 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.500 And God 00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.099 said, because 00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.639 of your 00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:05.039 continued refusal, 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.200 my judgment 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.779 is going to 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.119 come. 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.319 And it's 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.720 going to 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.740 come via the 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.460 nation of the 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.339 Babylonians. 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.579 And they're 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.399 going to move 00:26:13.399 --> 00:26:14.279 into your land, 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.220 they're going 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:16.480 to destroy you, 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.179 they're going 00:26:17.179 --> 00:26:17.879 to take you 00:26:17.879 --> 00:26:18.679 into captivity. 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:18.799 captivity. 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:20.940 That's what's 00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.560 going to happen 00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:22.160 and it did 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.580 happen. 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.799 And what he's 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.500 saying here is, 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.279 he's making this 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.980 as an example, 00:26:27.100 --> 00:26:27.700 he says, if you 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.920 refuse this Jesus 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.759 who has come to 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.500 bring forgiveness, 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.420 he says, well, 00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.440 Jesus one day is 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.580 coming as 00:26:34.580 --> 00:26:35.100 judge. 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:37.340 But that 00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:38.240 judgment will be 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.759 eternal. 00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.620 It won't be 00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.140 through another 00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.900 nation, it will 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.600 be through his 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:44.799 son, and it 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.440 will be hell. 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:49.259 So you see, we 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.799 need to talk 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.460 about Jesus, 00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.000 don't we? 00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:52.039 That's the 00:26:52.039 --> 00:26:53.000 reality of it. 00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:55.120 It's so easy 00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:55.880 for us to talk 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:56.759 about something 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.820 else or 00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:59.140 someone else. 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.019 And we need 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.700 to be careful 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.519 that we do not 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.180 lose the 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:05.580 centre of our 00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:05.980 message. 00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.799 And as I've 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.759 said, increasingly 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:09.779 many churches 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.940 and organisations, 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:11.820 well, they're 00:27:11.820 --> 00:27:13.019 kind of sidelining 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:13.799 the message of 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:14.420 Jesus because, 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.160 well, it's not 00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:16.620 very PC today. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.540 Social justice 00:27:19.540 --> 00:27:20.440 and human rights, 00:27:20.540 --> 00:27:21.279 well, people get 00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.700 that, they 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.420 understand that, 00:27:22.600 --> 00:27:23.259 so let's do 00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.900 that and let's 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.940 talk about that. 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.800 And while 00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:29.640 they're all good 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.940 things, ultimately, 00:27:32.360 --> 00:27:32.880 when we're 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.400 speaking of 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.100 eternity, it 00:27:34.100 --> 00:27:34.700 will help no 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:34.960 one. 00:27:36.040 --> 00:27:36.519 Is God 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.400 concerned about 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.960 the poor? 00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:39.080 Is he concerned 00:27:39.080 --> 00:27:39.840 about justice? 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.019 Absolutely. 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.200 The Bible is 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:44.060 full of God's 00:27:44.060 --> 00:27:44.820 concern for the 00:27:44.820 --> 00:27:45.080 poor. 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:47.160 But it's not 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:47.880 the mission 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.500 of the church. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:53.120 One church 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:54.600 that is involved 00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.340 in a social 00:27:55.340 --> 00:27:56.440 justice issue 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:58.200 that I was 00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.759 reading about 00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.320 has got it 00:27:59.320 --> 00:27:59.640 right. 00:28:00.580 --> 00:28:01.259 They're involved 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.240 in healing 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.580 and rescuing 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:04.440 those, 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.460 particularly young 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:06.200 girls who are 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:06.940 caught up in 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:08.800 sexual exploitation 00:28:08.800 --> 00:28:09.440 and human 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:10.180 trafficking of 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:10.840 young children. 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.519 And here's a 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.300 quote from one 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:13.940 of their leaders 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.859 which highlights 00:28:14.859 --> 00:28:15.859 what is central. 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.519 Now bear in 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.139 mind they do 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.960 an awful lot 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:19.079 of work of 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.839 rescuing, of 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:20.659 taking them 00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:21.339 out of these 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:22.220 places, literally 00:28:22.220 --> 00:28:23.720 physically rescuing 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.579 them out of it. 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:25.839 But listen to his 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.799 quote and where 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:28.399 the emphasis is put. 00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:29.960 This is what he 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.399 says, we 00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:32.279 recognise that 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.200 if we rescued 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:34.599 everyone involved 00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:35.359 in sexual 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.359 exploitation 00:28:36.359 --> 00:28:38.759 today, millions 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.539 and millions 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.199 and millions 00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:40.759 would be there 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.359 to take their 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.240 place tomorrow. 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.740 Because at the 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.639 root of sexual 00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:46.299 exploitation 00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:47.839 is the demand 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.619 for sex 00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.839 from the sinful 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:51.219 desires of 00:28:51.219 --> 00:28:51.599 people. 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.219 I know we 00:28:53.219 --> 00:28:53.839 need awareness 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.839 campaigns and 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.519 justice and 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.359 better laws to 00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.899 prosecute, but 00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:58.659 none of them 00:28:58.659 --> 00:28:59.459 will change 00:28:59.459 --> 00:29:00.539 people permanently. 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.719 The desires of 00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.559 people's hearts 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:04.700 need to change. 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.579 What we need is 00:29:06.579 --> 00:29:07.500 the gospel of 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.360 Jesus Christ. 00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:10.160 The reality that 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:11.180 Jesus died for 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:12.079 our sins so that 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:13.019 we can be alive 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.920 with God. 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.819 It's Jesus who 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:17.079 has and who 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:18.460 will continue to 00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:19.299 change the hearts 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.860 of people. 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:22.100 It's Jesus who 00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.319 changes abusers 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.579 into protectors, 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.500 addicts into 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:27.259 free people, 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.000 traffickers into 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.839 rescuers. 00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:32.120 To really change 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:34.359 exploitation, we 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:35.000 need more than 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.959 governments and 00:29:35.959 --> 00:29:36.479 policy. 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.659 We need Jesus to 00:29:38.659 --> 00:29:39.500 change hearts. 00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.239 For when the 00:29:41.239 --> 00:29:42.539 gospel changes the 00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.479 hearts of people, 00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:45.939 that changes 00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:46.779 everything. 00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.899 We need to keep 00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:50.619 the message of 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.439 Jesus central. 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.899 And when we 00:29:54.899 --> 00:29:55.619 keep the message 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.659 of Jesus central, 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:58.139 and when Jesus 00:29:58.139 --> 00:29:59.439 is the centre of 00:29:59.439 --> 00:30:00.199 our message, 00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:03.140 lives are changed 00:30:03.140 --> 00:30:04.539 and hearts are 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.180 transformed. 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.720 Look at verse 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.279 48. 00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:08.580 When the Gentiles 00:30:08.580 --> 00:30:09.380 heard this, 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.580 they were glad 00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:11.460 and honoured the 00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.279 word of the Lord, 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.759 and all who were 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.519 appointed for 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.480 eternal life 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:16.580 believed. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.440 And the word of 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.400 the Lord spread 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.640 through the whole 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.100 region. 00:30:22.580 --> 00:30:23.299 You see, if we 00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:24.440 make God's mission 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.819 the mission of the 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.299 church, 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:28.360 we will begin to 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:29.159 see an end of 00:30:29.159 --> 00:30:29.839 poverty and 00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:30.679 injustice and 00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:32.579 slavery, because 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.740 attitudes will be 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:34.219 changed. 00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.399 And if we grasp 00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:37.159 that ultimately 00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:38.139 we're sent into 00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.759 the world with 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.500 the good news of 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:41.159 the gospel, then 00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:42.019 we will see an 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.879 end to 00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:44.719 exploitation and 00:30:44.719 --> 00:30:46.079 trafficking and 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.819 sweatshops. 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:49.139 In their place, 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:50.279 we will see new 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:51.219 communities of 00:30:51.219 --> 00:30:53.079 people, churches, 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.899 people who love 00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:56.160 Jesus and who 00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:58.060 love others, all 00:30:58.060 --> 00:30:58.900 living under the 00:30:58.900 --> 00:31:00.420 rule of Christ, 00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.519 living God's way 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.960 in his world. 00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.560 May God give us 00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:09.259 together as a 00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:11.320 church his grace 00:31:11.320 --> 00:31:12.280 to live out his 00:31:12.280 --> 00:31:13.840 mission in this 00:31:13.840 --> 00:31:15.680 church and in the 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.300 world today. 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.920 Let's pray. 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:19.000 Amen. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.040 Amen. 00:31:19.040 --> 00:31:19.080 Amen. 00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:19.120 Amen. 00:31:19.120 --> 00:31:19.140 Amen. 00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:19.200 Amen. 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:21.040 Amen. 00:31:21.040 --> 00:31:21.080 Amen. 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:23.080 Amen. 00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:23.120 Amen. 00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:24.880 Amen. 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:26.900 Amen. 00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:27.900 Amen. 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:28.900 Amen. 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:29.900 Amen. 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:30.900 Amen. 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:31.300 Father, we thank 00:31:31.300 --> 00:31:32.320 you for Jesus. 00:31:33.780 --> 00:31:34.960 We thank you that 00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:36.100 he is our promised 00:31:36.100 --> 00:31:39.420 saviour, that he is 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:42.380 our risen king, our 00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.259 forgiving judge. 00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:47.160 Thank you for all 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:48.200 that we have because 00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:50.680 of him, the work he 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.340 has done in our 00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:51.800 lives. 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:54.500 God, we pray that 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.359 we would be people 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:56.279 who keep Jesus 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:59.200 central to our 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:01.779 lives, to our 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:03.919 families, to our 00:32:03.919 --> 00:32:06.419 marriages, to our 00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:07.399 church and the 00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:08.200 mission that we are 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.940 involved in. 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:12.000 And as we go around 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.960 this world, as we 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:16.119 meet people, help us 00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:17.279 to talk about Jesus. 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:17.420 Jesus. 00:32:21.039 --> 00:32:22.119 And we ask for your 00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:24.839 help in doing this, for 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.879 his honour, for his 00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:28.220 glory, for the saving 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:29.440 of many, many people. 00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:32.299 In Jesus' name. 00:32:33.339 --> 00:32:33.740 Amen. 00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.740 Amen. 00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.740 Amen. 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:41.740 So we're going to sing a 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:43.859 song that I hope reflects 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:45.120 some of what we've been 00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:45.960 thinking through. 00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:48.240 Could you flick on to the 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:49.960 next slide there? 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:56.380 I think that's... 00:32:56.380 --> 00:32:57.160 No, one more. 00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:00.339 There we are. 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.839 By faith the church... 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:02.939 This is the second verse 00:33:02.939 --> 00:33:03.159 down. 00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:04.839 By faith the church was 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:06.740 called to go in the 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:08.099 power of the spirit to 00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:09.779 the lost, to deliver 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:11.619 captives and to preach 00:33:11.619 --> 00:33:12.899 good news in every 00:33:12.899 --> 00:33:14.579 corner of the earth. 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:16.699 Let's stand together as we 00:33:16.699 --> 00:33:19.039 encourage one another in 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.839 our calling. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:19.919 Amen. 00:33:19.919 --> 00:33:19.959 Amen. 00:33:19.959 --> 00:33:20.019 Amen. 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.059 Amen. 00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:20.119 Amen. 00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:20.159 Amen. 00:33:20.159 --> 00:33:22.019 Amen. 00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:22.059 Amen. 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.119 Amen. 00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:22.159 Amen. 00:33:22.159 --> 00:33:24.019 Amen. 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.099 Amen. 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.119 Amen. 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:24.159 Amen. 00:33:24.159 --> 00:33:24.220 Amen. 00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:24.259 Amen. 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.299 Amen.