WEBVTT

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 Well, good evening, everyone.

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 It's great to be with you again.

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 I always enjoy coming to Brunsfield,

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 and Graham has given me a wonderful theme to look at.

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 Really, when we try to understand other people,

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 other viewpoints, I'm often encouraged

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 to rely upon those who are brighter than I am.

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 One of the great voices of the late 20th century

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 was a man called Francis Schaeffer,

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 and he addressed the University of Notre Dame in Indiana,

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 and he said this.

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 He said,

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 Christianity is not a series of truths in the plural,

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 but rather truth spelled with a capital T.

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 Truth about total reality, not just about religious things.

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 Biblical Christianity is truth concerning total reality

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 and the intellectual holding of that total truth

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 and then living in the light of that truth.

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 So not just a series of truths in the plural,

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 but truth with a capital T.

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 Twenty years later, there was a survey done in the United States

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 by the Barna Group,

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 and the Barna Group concluded that only 4% of Americans

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 held what could be described as a biblical worldview.

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 The surveyor said,

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 although most people own a Bible and know some of its content,

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 our research found that most Americans have little idea

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 how to integrate core biblical principles

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 to form a unified and meaningful response

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 to the challenges and opportunities of life.

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 So what we're talking about here is how you and I see the world.

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 So, for example, if I take off my glasses,

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 I know that there are people here.

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 I can't see you very well.

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 You're very, very blurry.

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 Everything I see, I see through these glasses.

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 But I'll tell you this.

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 If you put my glasses on,

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 I think you will be equally mystified as I am without them.

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 You can never really put on another person's pair of glasses

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 because they're suited for them.

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 And as we gather tonight,

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 we're trying to see the world

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 through the eyes of other people.

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 Maybe you are here tonight,

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 and maybe this term, a pluralist,

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 maybe this refers to you.

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 Maybe you're not sure where you're coming from.

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 But all of us have a way of looking at this world

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 and of processing what this world presents to us.

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 And what the challenge that Schaeffer identified is this,

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 is that if we aren't careful,

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 if we lack not just Christian knowledge,

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 but if we lack the ability of integrating

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 our faith and our life,

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 we will find ourselves quickly

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 at drifting along or being pulled

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 by a very different tide

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 along to a very different destination.

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 Nancy Piercy, if you've ever read any of her books,

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 she is the modern-day version of Francis Schaeffer.

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 She wrote a book called Total Truth.

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 And she said this.

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 She said,

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 The purpose of our studies and worldviews

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 is nothing less than to liberate Christianity

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 from its cultural captivity,

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 unleashing power to transform the world.

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 The gospel is like a caged lion,

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 said the great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon.

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 It does not need to be defended.

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 It just needs to be let out of its cage.

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 Today, the cage is our accommodation

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 to the secular-sacred split

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 that reduces Christianity

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 to a matter of private, personal belief.

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 To unlock the cage,

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 we need to become utterly convinced

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 that as Francis Schaeffer said,

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 Christianity is not merely religious truth.

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 It is total truth.

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 Truth about the whole of reality.

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 And as bookends,

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 maybe in the later part of the 20th century,

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 Francis Schaeffer and C.S. Lewis

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 are two significant voices.

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 And C.S. Lewis said this.

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 He said,

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 I believe in Christianity

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 as I believe that the sun has risen.

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 Not only because I see it,

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 but because by it,

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 I see everything else.

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 So the question tonight really is,

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 do you have a worldview

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 that is rooted in the Bible?

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 Do you see the world

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 through the lens of the Bible

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 that's open in front of us?

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 Because if you don't,

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 there are many alternative worldviews

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 that are available,

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 and you will adopt one

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 or more of those views.

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 Our theme tonight is pluralism.

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 And as we begin,

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 we want to say that pluralism is a fact.

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 Plural just means more than one.

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 And there are more than one group of people.

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 There are more than one culture.

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 There are more than one philosophy.

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 There's more than one religion.

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 And we don't need to look far.

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 We live in a very diverse city, don't we?

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 With all different types of employment,

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 with different universities,

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 and folks coming here to live

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 and to work and to study.

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 You've heard different accents already this evening.

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 So we have different cultures.

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 Yes, we have different religions.

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 Yes, we have different nationalities.

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 But pluralism is more than a fact

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 because it's a worldview.

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 And the worldview of pluralism really tonight

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 signifies that celebration

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 or that cherishing of plurality,

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 meaning that no one group,

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 no one philosophy,

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 no one way of looking at the world

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 can claim a monopoly

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 or can claim authority

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 or can claim unique legitimacy.

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 You see, we're all seeing the world

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 and maybe we're all kind of seeing it

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 a little bit differently,

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 but that's a good thing.

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 You come from your background

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 and you see things your way.

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 I come from my background

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 and I see things my way.

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 You might be a Christian.

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 You might be a Buddhist.

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 You might be a Muslim.

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 You might be a Sikh

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 or just you might choose

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 and pick and choose.

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 It's like if you,

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 I'm kind of harking back to those days

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 when I used to go out a lot for meals.

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 But in Edinburgh,

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 whatever cuisine you want,

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 you can find.

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 You want Thai food.

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 You can get Thai restaurants.

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 You want Chinese food.

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 Plenty of Chinese restaurants.

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 And many people will cherish pluralism

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 as you have a choice to make.

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 Just be honest and have integrity

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 and live according to the light that you have.

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 Now this fact and worldview

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 is a profound challenge

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 to what we find in the Bible.

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 Graham's already alluded to the words of Jesus.

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 I am the way, the truth, and the life.

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 No one comes to the Father except through me.

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 Now that statement in John chapter 14

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 is in direct conflict

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 with the spirit of pluralism.

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 The Roman Empire,

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 when we go back into the first century AD,

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 we want to say that pluralism is in fact biblical.

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 Well, let me put it this way.

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 The Bible captures pluralism on its very pages.

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 So pluralism is not a new thing.

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 You think on the Jewish side of the equation,

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 you have Sadducees

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 and you have Pharisees.

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 They believe different things.

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 You have those groups of Jews

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 that were pro-establishment.

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 We call them Herodians.

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 You see, they hitched their wagon

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 to the Roman Empire

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 because they saw the writing on the wall.

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 They saw the direction of travel

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 and they figured if we connect ourselves well

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 to this empire, we will do well.

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 But on the other hand of the spectrum,

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 you had the Zealots.

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 They didn't like Rome

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 and they rebelled against Rome.

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 And if you want to include

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 kind of like the half cousins,

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 the Samaritans.

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 So within that phrase

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 or that word Jewish,

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 there are several different groups,

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 several different groupings.

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 There are Jews who lived in the Middle East.

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 There are Hellenized or Greek Jews

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 who had their own culture.

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 And then when you go

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 to the other side of the world,

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 in the other part of the world,

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 the Gentile world,

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 that was even more diverse.

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 You had the Romans

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 and you had the Greeks.

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 You had pagans.

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 You had Platonists.

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 You had Stoics.

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 You had Epicureans.

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 We heard that just a few moments ago.

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 And these are all,

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 in many ways,

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 very conflicting worldviews.

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 If you're an Epicurean,

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 and we still use that word sometimes,

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 somebody that really likes good food

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 is often described as an Epicurean.

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 They like wine

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 and they like good food

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 and they like the good things of life.

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 But the Stoic

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 was quite a different approach

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 to the sensual pleasures of life.

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 Quite restricted.

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 Quite limited.

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 So we see here,

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 as you read through the Scriptures,

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 and isn't it interesting

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 that Jesus attracts

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 all different kinds of people

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 from all different kinds of backgrounds.

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 This is not a homogenous group.

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 And the church today

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 is not a homogenous group.

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 We aren't a homogenous group.

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 We look different.

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 We speak differently.

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 We represent different age groups.

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 We have different cultural backgrounds.

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 We have different upbringings.

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 Some of you may have grown up

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 in a Christian home

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 and you have heard the gospel

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 your whole life.

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 Others, like me,

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 may have come to faith

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 at a later age

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 and still others

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 may not yet be sure

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 what you actually believe.

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 So with this background

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 of the plural society

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 in which we live

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 and of that celebration

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 of plurality

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 that everyone has something

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 of the truth

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 but no one has all of the truth.

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 And as we engage

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 with a plural world

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 in the pages of the Bible,

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 Christianity makes

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 an audacious claim.

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 It makes this audacious claim

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 that there is but one God

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 and there is but one Savior

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 and there is but one Gospel

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 and there is but one Holy Book,

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 the Bible.

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 Over the years,

00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:37.639
 it's interesting,

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 when you have to teach,

00:10:39.800 --> 00:10:41.019
 you really have to learn

00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:41.700
 your material

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 and I tell you what,

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 I don't know what I was doing

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 preaching for all those years

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 before I was ETS

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 but I've learned so much

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 since I started to teach.

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 I came across a quote

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 by Leslie Newbigin.

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 He was a missionary,

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 an Anglican missionary in India.

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 And he captured this response

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 from an Indian religious person.

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 He said,

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 I can't understand

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 why you missionaries

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 present the Bible to us

00:11:06.779 --> 00:11:07.379
 in India

00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:08.879
 as a book of religion.

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 It is not a book of religion.

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 And anyway,

00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:13.279
 we have plenty of books

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 of religion in India.

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 We don't need any more.

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 I find in your Bible

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 a unique interpretation

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 of universal history,

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 the history of the whole creation

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 and the history

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 of the human race

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 and therefore,

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 a unique interpretation

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 of the human person

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 as a responsible actor

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 in history.

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 That is unique.

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 There is nothing else

00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:38.940
 in the whole religious literature

00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:39.779
 of the world

00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:42.159
 to put alongside of it.

00:11:43.420 --> 00:11:45.019
 Now, this is not to say

00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:45.879
 or to prove,

00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:46.600
 you might not think,

00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:48.279
 this is not a proof

00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:50.259
 that this is the right book

00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:52.000
 or the right gospel

00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:53.080
 or the right savior

00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:54.179
 or the right God,

00:11:54.319 --> 00:11:55.659
 but I'm suggesting that

00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:58.600
 within this plural view of life,

00:11:59.379 --> 00:12:01.399
 Christianity does not sit easily

00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:02.600
 within pluralism

00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:04.639
 because it makes unique

00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:07.120
 and particular claims

00:12:07.120 --> 00:12:08.259
 about God,

00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:09.500
 about us,

00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:10.879
 about the world,

00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:12.379
 about the past,

00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.559
 about the present,

00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:15.059
 and about the future.

00:12:15.059 --> 00:12:17.939
 And we need to come to terms

00:12:17.939 --> 00:12:19.059
 with what the Bible

00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:20.899
 is saying to us.

00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:22.739
 And if you have a chance,

00:12:22.819 --> 00:12:23.599
 you could read,

00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:25.039
 for example,

00:12:25.159 --> 00:12:26.899
 in 1 Corinthians chapter 1,

00:12:27.559 --> 00:12:28.659
 and you find there

00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:29.679
 the way in which

00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:30.419
 the gospel

00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:31.939
 has a way

00:12:31.939 --> 00:12:33.399
 of alienating

00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:35.439
 all kinds of people.

00:12:36.439 --> 00:12:38.679
 The gospel alienates the Jew.

00:12:38.839 --> 00:12:39.099
 Why?

00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:40.239
 It's a stumbling block.

00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:42.539
 The gospel alienates a Greek.

00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:42.919
 Why?

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:43.899
 It's foolishness.

00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:44.919
 You see,

00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:46.159
 this idea of resurrection

00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:48.459
 never made much sense.

00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:49.799
 You see,

00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:51.120
 people 2,000 years ago

00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.139
 were not dumb

00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:53.079
 or dull

00:12:53.079 --> 00:12:54.379
 or stupid.

00:12:55.299 --> 00:12:56.199
 I think C.S. Lewis

00:12:56.199 --> 00:12:57.159
 used this phrase.

00:12:57.259 --> 00:12:57.779
 He talked about

00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:59.240
 a chronological snobbery.

00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:00.179
 We are modern people

00:13:00.179 --> 00:13:01.199
 or post-modern people

00:13:01.199 --> 00:13:02.199
 or technically

00:13:02.199 --> 00:13:04.039
 we are post-post-modern people.

00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:05.860
 So we are really bright.

00:13:06.559 --> 00:13:07.340
 And those people

00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:08.240
 of different generations,

00:13:08.439 --> 00:13:09.199
 they're really dim.

00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:10.519
 Well,

00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.019
 2,000 years ago,

00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:13.840
 death had this characteristic

00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:14.820
 of being final.

00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:16.399
 People who died

00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:17.220
 stayed dead.

00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.620
 It's a strange thing.

00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:20.700
 It's just the way it was.

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.920
 It's just the way it is.

00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:23.460
 So the ancient people

00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.399
 aren't simple people.

00:13:25.300 --> 00:13:26.780
 And the Christian gospel

00:13:26.780 --> 00:13:27.980
 comes and proclaims

00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:28.480
 the resurrection

00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:29.820
 of Jesus from the dead.

00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:31.399
 And the Greeks say

00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:32.860
 this is utter foolishness.

00:13:33.340 --> 00:13:34.480
 And the Jews say

00:13:34.480 --> 00:13:36.180
 this is a stumbling block

00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:37.340
 to us believing

00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:39.840
 in what you are saying.

00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:43.019
 And as we turn

00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:44.320
 to Acts chapter 17,

00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:46.800
 we see that the way

00:13:46.800 --> 00:13:48.600
 in which the apostle Paul

00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:50.300
 presents the gospel,

00:13:50.740 --> 00:13:53.320
 he presents the same message,

00:13:53.820 --> 00:13:55.399
 but he presents

00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.300
 the same message

00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:58.379
 to very different audiences.

00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.759
 He speaks to the Thessalonians.

00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:02.040
 He speaks to the Bereans.

00:14:02.160 --> 00:14:03.720
 He speaks to the Athenians.

00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.600
 And as you read

00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:06.500
 through the book of Acts,

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.860
 you'll see that the theme

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:09.279
 remains constant.

00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:11.700
 One of the great missionaries

00:14:11.700 --> 00:14:13.240
 of the modern era

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.100
 was a man called

00:14:14.100 --> 00:14:15.000
 James O. Fraser.

00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:16.340
 And he was a missionary

00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:17.860
 to the Yunnan province,

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:19.399
 southwest Asia,

00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.620
 southwest China.

00:14:21.220 --> 00:14:22.560
 And in that province,

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.419
 he encountered

00:14:23.419 --> 00:14:26.340
 one of the local

00:14:26.340 --> 00:14:28.180
 indigenous people groups

00:14:28.180 --> 00:14:29.460
 called the Lisu people.

00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.139
 And not only was

00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:32.420
 the Yunnan province

00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:34.379
 largely unreached

00:14:34.379 --> 00:14:35.159
 by the gospel,

00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.360
 the Lisu people

00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.759
 were completely unreached.

00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:39.220
 Not a single Christian

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:40.080
 among their number.

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:42.919
 And Fraser comes to China

00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:44.159
 and after nine months,

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.080
 he's going to preach

00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:46.039
 his first sermon

00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.060
 in Chinese.

00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:49.360
 And he thought to himself,

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:51.019
 the best way

00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:53.060
 to craft a gospel address

00:14:53.060 --> 00:14:54.539
 is to look at

00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:55.779
 the book that's open

00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:56.340
 in front of us,

00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.060
 the book of Acts.

00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.279
 I understand you're looking

00:14:58.279 --> 00:14:59.039
 at it in the morning.

00:14:59.139 --> 00:14:59.740
 You're going to get

00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.940
 two doses of it today.

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.659
 And he said this,

00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:02.960
 he said,

00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:04.279
 in preparing my address,

00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:05.340
 I first went through

00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:06.720
 the Acts of the Apostles

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.759
 with a view of finding out

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.879
 the actual gospel

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.259
 we are bidden to preach.

00:15:11.660 --> 00:15:12.720
 The result was

00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:13.899
 very instructive to me.

00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:15.600
 I had never imagined

00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:17.160
 the gospel was so simple.

00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:19.000
 Why, Peter and Paul

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.360
 both preached the gospel

00:15:20.360 --> 00:15:21.460
 in words

00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:23.660
 which would not take

00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:24.759
 one minute to say.

00:15:25.300 --> 00:15:26.320
 And I found out

00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.040
 that there are just

00:15:27.040 --> 00:15:28.060
 four things

00:15:28.060 --> 00:15:29.580
 that seem to be essential

00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.920
 in preaching the gospel.

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.420
 The first,

00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:33.740
 the crucifixion

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.679
 of Jesus Christ.

00:15:35.479 --> 00:15:36.199
 No theological

00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:37.360
 explanation needed.

00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:38.679
 The resurrection

00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:39.699
 of Jesus Christ.

00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:41.059
 Most important of all,

00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:42.679
 the gospel was never preached

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.379
 without this being brought in.

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.219
 An exhortation,

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:46.599
 three,

00:15:46.959 --> 00:15:47.639
 to hearers

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.819
 to repent of their sins.

00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:49.839
 And four,

00:15:49.939 --> 00:15:51.059
 a promise to all

00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:52.419
 who believe on Jesus Christ

00:15:52.419 --> 00:15:53.779
 that they will receive

00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:56.019
 remission of their sins.

00:15:56.740 --> 00:15:58.019
 Beyond these four points,

00:15:58.099 --> 00:15:58.819
 others are mentioned

00:15:58.819 --> 00:15:59.379
 occasionally,

00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.379
 but they are not many.

00:16:01.099 --> 00:16:02.000
 In teaching Christians,

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.220
 it is quite another matter.

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:03.659
 To them,

00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:04.379
 we are to declare

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.620
 the whole counsel of God

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:08.620
 as far as they can receive it.

00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.659
 But the gospel is preached

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.679
 to the unsaved

00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:13.500
 is as simple as it could be.

00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:15.120
 I should not care

00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:16.460
 to take the responsibility

00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:19.960
 of preaching another gospel.

00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:22.299
 And as we turn

00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:24.059
 to the pages of Acts chapter 17,

00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:25.820
 we have the same preacher

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:28.639
 with very distinct audiences.

00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:29.980
 Now,

00:16:30.059 --> 00:16:30.939
 is he guilty

00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:33.039
 of imbibing

00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:34.679
 that pluralistic

00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.379
 environment

00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:36.399
 in which he was living?

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.799
 Is he guilty

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.559
 of preaching

00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:39.299
 one message

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.000
 to the Jews

00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:41.039
 and one message

00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:41.879
 to the Greeks?

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:43.819
 Well,

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.740
 I hope you're not surprised

00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:45.480
 by me saying that.

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:45.679
 No,

00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.460
 he's not.

00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:48.159
 He is not imbibing

00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.299
 the spirit of the age,

00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.439
 but he's proclaiming

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:51.019
 the gospel

00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:52.240
 of Jesus Christ.

00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.720
 But he's proclaiming

00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.299
 the gospel

00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:55.120
 in a manner

00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.799
 that people

00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.899
 can understand.

00:16:56.899 --> 00:16:59.019
 The most distinct

00:16:59.019 --> 00:17:00.819
 contrast we see,

00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:02.779
 Acts chapter 17,

00:17:02.939 --> 00:17:03.679
 Paul in Athens,

00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.019
 and Acts chapter 2,

00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.779
 Peter in Jerusalem

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.920
 at Pentecost.

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:10.299
 These are gospel addresses.

00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:13.480
 There's a gospel response.

00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.400
 There is gospel blessing.

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:17.559
 And yet the addresses

00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.700
 are very different,

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.200
 aren't they?

00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:21.059
 Peter is speaking

00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:22.059
 to a Jewish audience

00:17:22.059 --> 00:17:23.180
 who knows the scriptures,

00:17:23.420 --> 00:17:25.119
 who knows the Old Testament,

00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.859
 who knows the great promises,

00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:28.720
 who knows the great prophecy.

00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:30.720
 Whereas Paul

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.019
 is speaking to an audience

00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:32.780
 that knows

00:17:32.780 --> 00:17:34.200
 the Greek philosophers,

00:17:35.040 --> 00:17:37.060
 but knows next to nothing

00:17:37.060 --> 00:17:38.980
 about Jesus Christ.

00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:41.040
 And yet we see

00:17:41.040 --> 00:17:43.759
 that the power

00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.500
 of the gospel

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.680
 can only accompany

00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:46.360
 the gospel.

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:47.920
 Men and women

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.019
 can only be transformed

00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:50.040
 by this message.

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:51.700
 So if there is gospel blessing,

00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:53.160
 there must be gospel preaching.

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:55.100
 There must be a conveying

00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:56.099
 of the good news

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:58.439
 concerning Jesus Christ.

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.379
 When Paul goes to Thessalonica,

00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:03.000
 his pattern, of course,

00:18:03.459 --> 00:18:04.500
 is to search out

00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:05.439
 the Jewish community.

00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.379
 He is a Jew.

00:18:06.919 --> 00:18:07.819
 He knows them.

00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:08.619
 They know him.

00:18:08.699 --> 00:18:09.219
 He knows where

00:18:09.219 --> 00:18:09.980
 they're coming from.

00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.439
 They know where

00:18:10.439 --> 00:18:11.299
 he's coming from.

00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.579
 And when he gets

00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:13.679
 to Thessalonica,

00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:14.480
 what does he do?

00:18:14.579 --> 00:18:15.599
 He reasons with them

00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.299
 from the Sabbath,

00:18:16.919 --> 00:18:18.059
 explaining and proving

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:19.539
 that Christ had to suffer

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:22.159
 and rise from the dead.

00:18:22.879 --> 00:18:23.779
 Jesus died

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:26.039
 and Jesus rose.

00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:27.359
 And this Jesus

00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.539
 I am proclaiming to you

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.500
 is the Christ.

00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:31.920
 Some were persuaded

00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.220
 and yet some were enraged.

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:37.859
 That's one way you know

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:38.579
 that the gospel

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.500
 is being proclaimed.

00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.740
 You see gospel blessing

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:42.180
 and you see gospel opposition

00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:43.119
 together.

00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.359
 We see that in Athens

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.980
 and we'll see that

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.799
 in a few moments.

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:50.419
 So, when we turn

00:18:50.419 --> 00:18:52.039
 to the Christian message,

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:55.419
 now, we need to be clear

00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:56.019
 on this.

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:58.099
 Because other religions

00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:59.339
 and other world views

00:18:59.339 --> 00:19:01.059
 are seeking to give answers

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.059
 to life's questions.

00:19:02.139 --> 00:19:03.279
 We're not going to deny that.

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:05.019
 Because everyone is looking

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.819
 for answers.

00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.319
 Everyone is looking

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.139
 for insight.

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.440
 Everyone is looking

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.099
 for a way of making sense.

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.960
 Where have I come from?

00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.279
 Why am I here?

00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:15.519
 Where am I going?

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:17.599
 So, we shouldn't be surprised

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.960
 that many people

00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.500
 are asking the same questions

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.519
 and seeking answers

00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:23.200
 to those questions.

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.440
 But we need to be clear

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.859
 that Christianity presents

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:27.400
 a unique answer

00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:29.900
 to these common questions.

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:32.119
 The best explanation

00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:33.779
 I was given many years ago now

00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:36.240
 was most, if not all,

00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:38.900
 world views, philosophies,

00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.599
 and religions

00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:41.960
 largely suggest

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.859
 that the problems of life

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:46.019
 are outside of ourselves.

00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.379
 You know, you.

00:19:48.899 --> 00:19:51.719
 You know, in this context,

00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:53.299
 if I have problems,

00:19:53.339 --> 00:19:54.879
 the problems are largely with you.

00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:57.219
 Whereas the solutions

00:19:57.219 --> 00:19:59.459
 are largely here.

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:02.019
 You're the problem for me,

00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:03.099
 but the solution

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:04.500
 is somewhere within me

00:20:04.500 --> 00:20:05.979
 if I can just find it.

00:20:06.159 --> 00:20:07.759
 If I can just understand it.

00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:08.959
 If I can just realize it.

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:10.299
 If I can dig deep.

00:20:11.860 --> 00:20:13.180
 Now, you might not be surprised

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.759
 at me saying

00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.799
 is the Christian worldview

00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:16.100
 is completely opposite.

00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:18.200
 Because the Christian worldview

00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.819
 says there is a problem,

00:20:20.220 --> 00:20:21.279
 but that problem

00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.799
 is primarily internal.

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.740
 My major problems

00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:26.220
 are me, not you.

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:28.019
 And your major problems

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:29.460
 are you and not me.

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.960
 But what Christianity says

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:33.279
 without hesitation

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.859
 is that the solution

00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:36.259
 is completely outside

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.139
 of ourselves.

00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:39.500
 Even if we realize

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.619
 that we are the problem,

00:20:40.879 --> 00:20:42.099
 and even if we realize

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:44.139
 that we can't fix the problem,

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.700
 the solution has to come

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.619
 completely outside

00:20:46.619 --> 00:20:47.399
 of ourselves

00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:48.680
 to us.

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:52.319
 Now, that sharply distinguishes

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:54.200
 a pluralistic worldview,

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.660
 which suggests

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:56.440
 that we all have

00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:57.339
 part of the truth,

00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.240
 some of the truth.

00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:00.259
 Maybe some ideas

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:02.339
 are more or less valid.

00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:03.139
 Some ideas

00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:04.179
 are more or less helpful.

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:04.500
 No.

00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.980
 The Bible

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.939
 and the gospel

00:21:06.939 --> 00:21:08.179
 says there's a problem.

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:10.039
 There's one main problem

00:21:10.039 --> 00:21:11.119
 that's called sin,

00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.539
 where I put myself

00:21:12.539 --> 00:21:13.720
 at the center of my world,

00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:14.839
 and I want everyone

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:16.059
 to orbit that center.

00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:18.240
 I want things done my way,

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.519
 when I want,

00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:20.099
 how I want,

00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:20.839
 as I want.

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.339
 God is useful

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.339
 only insofar

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:27.259
 as he serves my ends.

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.759
 That's a problem.

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.879
 That's a problem

00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:31.279
 from a biblical point of view,

00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.619
 because you and I

00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:33.440
 are not the center

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.079
 of the universe.

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.440
 God is the center

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.259
 of all things,

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.180
 for from him

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.740
 and to him

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.319
 and through him

00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:38.960
 are all things.

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.220
 To him be glory

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:41.079
 forever and ever.

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.619
 Amen.

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:43.579
 So there is one problem,

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:44.819
 and you see,

00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:45.899
 God not only has

00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:47.160
 to solve the problem,

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.980
 he has to tell us

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.920
 about the problem

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.500
 because we're not

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.200
 going to get it.

00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:52.359
 Not only are we not

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.079
 going to get the solution,

00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:53.740
 we're not even going to

00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:54.420
 figure out what

00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:55.460
 the problem is.

00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:56.759
 And that's why

00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.579
 we need the Bible

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.420
 open before us,

00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.140
 because the Bible

00:21:59.140 --> 00:21:59.920
 tells us,

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.740
 here is the problem.

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.799
 There's a human heart

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:05.519
 that's darkened,

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.400
 a human mind

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.319
 that's clouded,

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:09.960
 human emotions,

00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:10.960
 human actions,

00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:11.799
 human thoughts,

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.079
 everything about us

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.940
 has been corrupted.

00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:14.380
 Why?

00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:16.140
 Because we've inherited

00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:16.759
 a nature.

00:22:18.340 --> 00:22:18.559
 You know,

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.380
 we all have inheritance.

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:19.660
 You know,

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:22.480
 we look like

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:24.039
 our parents,

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:25.139
 we act like

00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:25.859
 our parents,

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.180
 we have genetic

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.980
 characteristics,

00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:28.519
 and we have

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.680
 personality traits.

00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:31.740
 But the Bible

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.339
 tells us that

00:22:32.339 --> 00:22:33.039
 we've inherited

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.559
 something from

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.920
 our first parents,

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.339
 an inclination

00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:37.940
 to sin.

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:39.720
 So not only does

00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:40.680
 God have to tell

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.599
 us the problem,

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:43.139
 not only does God

00:22:43.139 --> 00:22:44.139
 have to explain

00:22:44.139 --> 00:22:45.240
 the problem to us,

00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:47.180
 God has to tell us

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.420
 and provide for us

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:49.039
 the solution.

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.119
 God the Father

00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:53.019
 sends God the Son

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.879
 on a rescue

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.260
 mission.

00:22:55.020 --> 00:22:55.620
 God the Son

00:22:55.620 --> 00:22:56.300
 lives a perfect

00:22:56.300 --> 00:22:56.640
 life,

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.580
 dies a sacrificial

00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:57.900
 death,

00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:59.340
 rises from the

00:22:59.340 --> 00:22:59.840
 grave,

00:23:00.260 --> 00:23:01.180
 ascends to heaven,

00:23:01.760 --> 00:23:02.580
 and the Father

00:23:02.580 --> 00:23:03.020
 and the Son

00:23:03.020 --> 00:23:04.080
 then send the Spirit,

00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.220
 God the Holy Spirit,

00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.560
 to take what

00:23:06.560 --> 00:23:07.700
 belongs to Jesus

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.680
 and to apply it

00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:09.200
 to us.

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.500
 Because even when

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.080
 we're presented

00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:11.760
 with a solution,

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.640
 we are completely

00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.740
 incapable of

00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:14.420
 receiving it.

00:23:14.800 --> 00:23:15.580
 Such is the

00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:16.360
 nature of human

00:23:16.360 --> 00:23:17.340
 sin and such is

00:23:17.340 --> 00:23:18.660
 the implication

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:21.180
 of the fall

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.400
 that we're dead,

00:23:22.560 --> 00:23:23.280
 Paul says.

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.299
 We are dead

00:23:24.299 --> 00:23:25.000
 in sins and

00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.339
 dead in

00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.059
 transgressions,

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:26.779
 dead in mind,

00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.579
 dead in heart,

00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:29.200
 dead spiritually.

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.720
 So God must

00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.480
 make us alive.

00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.619
 Now when we

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.160
 begin to compare

00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:36.200
 that view of the

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.460
 world to any

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.119
 other worldview,

00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.019
 we have to say,

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:40.019
 now Christianity

00:23:40.019 --> 00:23:41.259
 might be wrong,

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.740
 but Christianity

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:45.119
 cannot be easily

00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:46.480
 or at all

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.759
 incorporated into

00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:48.480
 a pluralistic

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.000
 worldview.

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.180
 It's just

00:23:50.180 --> 00:23:50.920
 impossible.

00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.000
 people.

00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.240
 And you see,

00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:52.680
 in fact,

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.519
 if we're being

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:55.580
 fair to other

00:23:55.580 --> 00:23:56.460
 worldviews,

00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.180
 neither can

00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:57.640
 they.

00:23:58.820 --> 00:23:59.080
 You see,

00:23:59.140 --> 00:24:00.759
 I think it's

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.360
 actually quite

00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:02.340
 patronizing and

00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.380
 quite insulting

00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:04.279
 to say to

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.240
 someone who

00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:06.120
 follows another

00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:06.980
 world religion,

00:24:07.600 --> 00:24:07.940
 well, you

00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.820
 actually believe

00:24:08.820 --> 00:24:09.500
 pretty much what

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.220
 I believe.

00:24:11.060 --> 00:24:11.820
 Because I don't

00:24:11.820 --> 00:24:12.420
 think they do.

00:24:13.060 --> 00:24:13.640
 And neither do

00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:13.960
 they.

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.519
 I think we need

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:16.980
 to be honest

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.620
 with ourselves.

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.200
 I think we need

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.820
 to be honest with

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.200
 each other.

00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:19.939
 That doesn't

00:24:19.939 --> 00:24:20.619
 mean to be

00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.099
 insulting,

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.139
 and that doesn't

00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:22.740
 mean to be

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.639
 patronizing,

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.099
 but to say,

00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:24.419
 well, look,

00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:25.299
 if this is what

00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.000
 you believe,

00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:26.960
 and this is

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.859
 what I believe,

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.819
 these are

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.819
 different beliefs.

00:24:31.779 --> 00:24:32.839
 I remember I was

00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.579
 involved for many

00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.579
 years in university

00:24:34.579 --> 00:24:35.200
 chaplaincy.

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.839
 It's an interesting

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:37.299
 experience.

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.299
 And in the

00:24:38.299 --> 00:24:39.559
 university chaplaincy,

00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:41.139
 I met many

00:24:41.139 --> 00:24:41.899
 different chaplains

00:24:41.899 --> 00:24:42.639
 from many different

00:24:42.639 --> 00:24:43.639
 Christian traditions.

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:46.159
 The ones that I

00:24:46.159 --> 00:24:47.000
 had most affinity

00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:47.920
 with were the

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:48.559
 Roman Catholic

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.099
 and the Eastern

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.460
 Orthodox,

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:51.160
 because they had

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.200
 a firm set of

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.640
 beliefs.

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:53.980
 They had a firm

00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.779
 idea of what

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.380
 they believed,

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:55.980
 what was right,

00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.559
 what was wrong,

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:56.980
 and where it

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.599
 came from.

00:24:59.039 --> 00:24:59.819
 I would say

00:24:59.819 --> 00:25:00.940
 alongside the

00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.460
 Roman Catholics

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.059
 and the Eastern

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.460
 Orthodox,

00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:04.680
 the next natural

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.680
 affinity was the

00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.440
 Muslim chaplain.

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.740
 It was quite

00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.240
 remarkable.

00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:10.880
 I remember one

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:11.779
 time talking about

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.720
 Eid and talking

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.400
 about the various

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.599
 festivals, and I

00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:15.480
 never realized that

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.200
 Hajj,

00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:19.920
 was a form of

00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.380
 Hagar.

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.720
 Remember Abraham

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.220
 and Hagar?

00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:23.380
 Well, you see,

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:23.960
 we're big on

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.940
 Abraham, Sarah,

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:27.640
 and Isaac,

00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.080
 right?

00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:28.920
 Abraham, Sarah,

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:29.240
 and Isaac.

00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:29.900
 Those are the

00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.580
 three for us,

00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:30.819
 right?

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:31.940
 But from the

00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:32.660
 Muslim worldview,

00:25:32.840 --> 00:25:33.380
 it's Abraham,

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.420
 Hagar, and

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:34.900
 Ishmael.

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:37.120
 And my Muslim

00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:37.860
 friend, the

00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.660
 chaplain, he said,

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.779
 we believe that

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.380
 the child of

00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:40.840
 promise was

00:25:40.840 --> 00:25:41.319
 Ishmael.

00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:42.480
 He didn't say

00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.200
 it provocatively.

00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:43.860
 He didn't say

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.480
 it insultingly.

00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:44.940
 He just said,

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.460
 this is what we

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:45.920
 believe.

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:47.819
 Now, you can't

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.519
 reconcile those

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.120
 two, can you?

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.380
 We say the

00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.039
 child of promise

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.920
 was Isaac

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.640
 through Sarah.

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.640
 They say the

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.319
 child of promise

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:54.900
 was Ishmael

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.480
 through Hagar.

00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.039
 Now, it's

00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:57.980
 patronizing to

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:58.500
 say to these

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.120
 two people,

00:25:59.299 --> 00:25:59.840
 you're saying

00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:00.380
 the same thing.

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:00.840
 They're patently

00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:01.500
 not saying the

00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:01.960
 same thing.

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.240
 One might be

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.000
 right, the

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.539
 other wrong.

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.440
 They might both

00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.580
 be wrong, but

00:26:06.580 --> 00:26:07.039
 they can't

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.779
 possibly be

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.180
 right.

00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.700
 And that's one

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.120
 of the great

00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.200
 weaknesses of

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:12.240
 this pluralistic

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.840
 worldview.

00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:14.660
 We're not saying

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:14.940
 that there

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.759
 aren't plurality.

00:26:15.800 --> 00:26:16.360
 Of course, there

00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:16.759
 is.

00:26:17.040 --> 00:26:17.940
 But the worldview

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.580
 that says we're

00:26:18.580 --> 00:26:19.519
 all pretty much

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.259
 saying something

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.080
 of the same,

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.240
 or we're kind

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.259
 of moving in

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:24.019
 the same direction,

00:26:24.120 --> 00:26:24.519
 or we've kind

00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.060
 of captured

00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:26.540
 something of a

00:26:26.540 --> 00:26:27.180
 similar truth.

00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:29.100
 well, we're not.

00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:30.560
 And I think it's

00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:31.460
 unfair to say

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:31.860
 so.

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:35.400
 So Paul speaks

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.920
 to the Thessalonians.

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.500
 He preaches the

00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:40.240
 gospel to the

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.640
 Jews.

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.640
 And what

00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.140
 happens?

00:26:42.580 --> 00:26:43.019
 There's a

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.360
 riot.

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.000
 Some believe.

00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:45.660
 Some are

00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.140
 persuaded.

00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.240
 Others are

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.940
 enraged.

00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.779
 It's now time

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.620
 for Paul to

00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:52.060
 leave.

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.160
 And you see,

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:53.720
 Paul is

00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.600
 proclaiming that

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.279
 there is another

00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.779
 king.

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.000
 You see,

00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:57.319
 there's a

00:26:57.319 --> 00:26:57.680
 source of

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.579
 authority here,

00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.740
 and that source

00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.339
 of authority

00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.160
 isn't Jesus.

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:02.639
 The source

00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.119
 of authority

00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:03.799
 isn't you

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.559
 and isn't me.

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.720
 The source

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.420
 of authority

00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:09.099
 is not

00:27:09.099 --> 00:27:09.500
 Caesar,

00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:10.899
 is Jesus.

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.180
 Jesus is

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.680
 this other

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.000
 king.

00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:13.619
 He's called

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.160
 Jesus,

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:15.519
 another king.

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.639
 Paul then

00:27:16.639 --> 00:27:17.099
 goes on to

00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:17.960
 Berea,

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.879
 and again,

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.399
 he's speaking

00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:20.000
 to a Jewish

00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.720
 audience.

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:22.220
 They examined

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.879
 the scriptures.

00:27:23.139 --> 00:27:23.799
 They were eager

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.660
 to make sure

00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:25.359
 that what Paul

00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:25.959
 was saying

00:27:25.959 --> 00:27:26.740
 was right.

00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.319
 But again,

00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:29.279
 that crowd

00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.619
 from Thessalonica,

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.679
 they found

00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.039
 their way

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.679
 to Berea,

00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:33.639
 and it was

00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.179
 time for

00:27:34.179 --> 00:27:34.659
 Paul to

00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.159
 leave.

00:27:35.719 --> 00:27:36.379
 So Paul

00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:36.919
 is preaching

00:27:36.919 --> 00:27:37.359
 Jesus.

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.019
 He's preaching

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.639
 the gospel.

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.779
 He's preaching

00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.519
 the message,

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.759
 and there is

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.359
 a reaction.

00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:43.319
 Some believe,

00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.259
 and some

00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:44.879
 respond,

00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.339
 and then he

00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:46.899
 comes to a

00:27:46.899 --> 00:27:47.399
 very different

00:27:47.399 --> 00:27:47.740
 setting.

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.299
 He comes to

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.659
 Athens,

00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:50.139
 and the first

00:27:50.139 --> 00:27:50.719
 thing he does

00:27:50.719 --> 00:27:51.299
 was let the

00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.139
 city speak to

00:27:52.139 --> 00:27:52.399
 him.

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.099
 He listens,

00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:54.240
 and if

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.759
 we're wise,

00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:56.419
 we listen

00:27:56.419 --> 00:27:57.059
 before we

00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:57.559
 speak.

00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.740
 We listen

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.199
 to what the

00:27:59.199 --> 00:27:59.959
 city says.

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:00.839
 We listen

00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.240
 to what the

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:02.139
 culture says.

00:28:02.459 --> 00:28:03.019
 We listen

00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:03.619
 to what people

00:28:03.619 --> 00:28:04.199
 think,

00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:05.599
 and if they

00:28:05.599 --> 00:28:06.179
 don't tell us,

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.819
 we ask them,

00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:07.379
 what do you

00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:07.740
 think?

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.500
 What do you

00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.019
 believe?

00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.219
 Because when

00:28:10.219 --> 00:28:11.159
 Paul was there,

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:11.939
 he saw that

00:28:11.939 --> 00:28:12.719
 this city was

00:28:12.719 --> 00:28:14.259
 not irreligious,

00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.419
 but very

00:28:15.419 --> 00:28:15.959
 religious.

00:28:16.939 --> 00:28:17.240
 And you see,

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.199
 maybe modern

00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:19.079
 Scotland is not

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:19.639
 so much

00:28:19.639 --> 00:28:20.839
 non-religious,

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.299
 it's just

00:28:21.299 --> 00:28:22.079
 multi-religious.

00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:22.939
 Everybody has

00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:23.659
 different ideas

00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.199
 of what they

00:28:24.199 --> 00:28:24.539
 worship.

00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.819
 They worship

00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.359
 many different

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:26.720
 things.

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.699
 They might not

00:28:27.699 --> 00:28:28.119
 call them

00:28:28.119 --> 00:28:28.619
 gods, but

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.559
 they worship

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.659
 many different

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:31.259
 gods.

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.179
 And Paul

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:37.079
 realizes that

00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:37.960
 as he

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:39.319
 circulates,

00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.480
 as he

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:40.899
 listens,

00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.599
 and as he

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:42.119
 speaks,

00:28:42.439 --> 00:28:43.000
 what does he

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.179
 do?

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.379
 He tells the

00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:45.240
 good news in

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.960
 verse 18.

00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:48.519
 He tells the

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.539
 good news about

00:28:49.539 --> 00:28:50.279
 Jesus and the

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.779
 resurrection.

00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:50.899
 salvation.

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.279
 It's the same

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:52.660
 theme.

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.460
 It's the same

00:28:53.460 --> 00:28:53.940
 gospel.

00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:54.839
 It's the same

00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:55.240
 Jesus.

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.299
 The same

00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:56.879
 Jesus that

00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:57.740
 caused a

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.160
 riot in

00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:58.799
 Thessalonica,

00:28:59.139 --> 00:28:59.559
 the same

00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:00.200
 Jesus that

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.700
 caused a

00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.359
 revival in

00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.500
 Jerusalem when

00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.180
 Peter preached

00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.940
 the Pentecost,

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.899
 is the same

00:29:04.899 --> 00:29:05.639
 Jesus that

00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:07.099
 Paul preaches

00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:08.660
 here in

00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.480
 Athens.

00:29:10.879 --> 00:29:11.500
 They're

00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:11.920
 interested,

00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:12.899
 they're

00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:13.599
 curious,

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:14.740
 they're

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.519
 talkers,

00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:16.119
 they're

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.660
 thinkers,

00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:16.800
 believers,

00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:18.120
 and then

00:29:18.120 --> 00:29:18.720
 Paul gets

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.400
 an opportunity

00:29:19.400 --> 00:29:20.200
 to speak.

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:20.500
 And what

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.000
 does he do?

00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:22.320
 He finds a

00:29:22.320 --> 00:29:22.700
 bridge.

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:23.800
 You see,

00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.400
 there's always

00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:24.960
 a bridge.

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.279
 There's always

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:27.140
 a bridge between

00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:28.120
 the gospel and

00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:28.480
 people.

00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:29.580
 Well,

00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:31.360
 one reason is

00:29:31.360 --> 00:29:31.759
 this.

00:29:32.040 --> 00:29:32.779
 We are all

00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.360
 made in the

00:29:33.360 --> 00:29:34.200
 image of God.

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.259
 We are all

00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:36.279
 made by God.

00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:36.800
 We are all

00:29:36.800 --> 00:29:37.600
 made for God.

00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.060
 We are made

00:29:38.060 --> 00:29:38.720
 to know Him.

00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:39.620
 So there is

00:29:39.620 --> 00:29:40.500
 always a bridge.

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.320
 We just need

00:29:41.320 --> 00:29:42.140
 to look for it.

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:43.040
 And Paul

00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:43.820
 found that

00:29:43.820 --> 00:29:44.520
 bridge in

00:29:44.520 --> 00:29:45.080
 the altar

00:29:45.080 --> 00:29:45.560
 to an

00:29:45.560 --> 00:29:46.560
 unknown God.

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.780
 This very

00:29:47.780 --> 00:29:48.660
 religious people,

00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:49.640
 they were

00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.280
 worshiping all

00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:50.960
 different kinds

00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.580
 of gods.

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:52.740
 And they

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.520
 recognized that

00:29:53.520 --> 00:29:54.180
 maybe they

00:29:54.180 --> 00:29:54.800
 might have

00:29:54.800 --> 00:29:55.560
 missed the

00:29:55.560 --> 00:29:56.180
 real God,

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:56.500
 so they

00:29:56.500 --> 00:29:57.180
 had an

00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:58.180
 altar to

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.680
 an unknown

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.280
 God.

00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:00.300
 And Paul

00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:00.500
 says,

00:30:00.580 --> 00:30:00.740
 I'm going

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.220
 to introduce

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:01.759
 this God

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.240
 to you.

00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.060
 You don't

00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:03.460
 know Him,

00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.380
 but I do.

00:30:04.820 --> 00:30:05.660
 You worship

00:30:05.660 --> 00:30:06.240
 Him as

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:06.700
 unknown.

00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.360
 Let me

00:30:07.360 --> 00:30:08.060
 tell you

00:30:08.060 --> 00:30:08.900
 who He

00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.180
 is,

00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:09.640
 and let me

00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.259
 tell you

00:30:10.259 --> 00:30:11.380
 what He

00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.800
 is like.

00:30:13.880 --> 00:30:14.280
 And what

00:30:14.280 --> 00:30:14.620
 does Paul

00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:14.880
 do?

00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:15.640
 He preaches.

00:30:16.520 --> 00:30:17.400
 He preaches

00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:17.940
 in a way

00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.220
 that is

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.040
 understandable,

00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:19.900
 that is

00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:20.720
 comprehensible.

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.880
 He finds

00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.480
 that bridge,

00:30:22.600 --> 00:30:23.040
 the altar.

00:30:23.540 --> 00:30:24.220
 He finds

00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.880
 the poets,

00:30:25.300 --> 00:30:26.020
 the philosophers.

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:27.300
 He connects

00:30:27.300 --> 00:30:27.700
 with the

00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.200
 culture.

00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:29.640
 Quoting the

00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.200
 Old Testament

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:30.960
 do no good.

00:30:31.320 --> 00:30:31.660
 They don't

00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.060
 know the

00:30:32.060 --> 00:30:32.620
 Old Testament,

00:30:32.780 --> 00:30:33.180
 but they do

00:30:33.180 --> 00:30:33.580
 know their

00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:34.340
 Greek poets.

00:30:34.820 --> 00:30:35.300
 They do

00:30:35.300 --> 00:30:36.440
 know their

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.100
 philosophers.

00:30:38.060 --> 00:30:38.520
 And Paul

00:30:38.520 --> 00:30:39.340
 is constantly

00:30:39.340 --> 00:30:40.460
 finding bridges

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.880
 between the

00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.500
 gospel and

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:42.880
 people.

00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:43.860
 And maybe

00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:44.220
 that should

00:30:44.220 --> 00:30:44.539
 be our

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.039
 prayer as

00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:45.360
 we go

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:45.779
 into the

00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.140
 world.

00:30:46.900 --> 00:30:47.360
 God,

00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:47.980
 give me a

00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:49.140
 bridge with

00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.579
 my neighbor.

00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:50.360
 God,

00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:50.860
 give me an

00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:51.700
 entry point.

00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:52.779
 Give me

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.559
 some way of

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.340
 conveying the

00:30:54.340 --> 00:30:55.220
 gospel in a

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.620
 way that

00:30:55.620 --> 00:30:56.360
 makes sense

00:30:56.360 --> 00:30:57.000
 to them.

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.140
 Not just in

00:30:58.140 --> 00:30:58.460
 a way that

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:58.900
 makes sense

00:30:58.900 --> 00:30:59.380
 to me.

00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:00.279
 Help me

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:00.740
 convey the

00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.279
 gospel in

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.700
 a way that

00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.319
 makes sense

00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:03.000
 to someone

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.799
 who does

00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:04.680
 not share

00:31:04.680 --> 00:31:05.559
 my biblical

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.140
 worldview.

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.380
 Someone who

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:07.860
 does not

00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:09.319
 understand what

00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:09.960
 the scriptures

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:11.480
 are saying.

00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:14.119
 And Paul

00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:14.939
 conveys

00:31:14.939 --> 00:31:15.539
 Jesus.

00:31:16.419 --> 00:31:17.279
 He speaks

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.500
 about judgment.

00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:19.859
 He speaks

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:20.799
 about resurrection.

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.279
 He calls

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.039
 people to

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.659
 repent.

00:31:24.859 --> 00:31:25.079
 Again,

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:25.960
 this is a

00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.659
 Greek audience.

00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:27.419
 This is a

00:31:27.419 --> 00:31:28.099
 philosophical

00:31:28.099 --> 00:31:28.679
 audience.

00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:29.179
 This is a

00:31:29.179 --> 00:31:29.879
 pluralistic

00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:30.419
 audience.

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.000
 There's

00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.659
 Epicureans

00:31:31.659 --> 00:31:32.119
 and there's

00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:32.539
 Stoics.

00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:33.220
 There's

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.720
 talkers.

00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:34.000
 There's

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.319
 thinkers.

00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:35.139
 There's

00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:36.399
 any number

00:31:36.399 --> 00:31:36.939
 of different

00:31:36.939 --> 00:31:37.519
 people with

00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.059
 any number

00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.519
 of different

00:31:38.519 --> 00:31:39.200
 backgrounds.

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.720
 But he

00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.099
 says he's

00:31:41.099 --> 00:31:41.939
 given proof

00:31:41.939 --> 00:31:42.659
 in verse

00:31:42.659 --> 00:31:43.139
 31.

00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:44.119
 For he

00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:44.519
 has set

00:31:44.519 --> 00:31:44.919
 a day

00:31:44.919 --> 00:31:45.259
 when he

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:45.740
 will judge

00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:46.220
 the world

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:46.919
 with justice

00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.379
 by the

00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:47.859
 man he

00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.439
 has appointed.

00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.259
 He has

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:49.879
 given proof

00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.319
 of this

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.679
 to all

00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:52.159
 men by

00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:52.720
 raising

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.319
 him

00:31:53.319 --> 00:31:54.099
 from

00:31:54.099 --> 00:31:55.139
 the dead.

00:31:56.179 --> 00:31:56.679
 The time

00:31:56.679 --> 00:31:57.159
 is coming.

00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.200
 The message

00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:58.679
 now is

00:31:58.679 --> 00:31:59.119
 repent.

00:31:59.899 --> 00:32:00.179
 And you

00:32:00.179 --> 00:32:00.279
 see,

00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:00.859
 sometimes the

00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.779
 Bible uses

00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.700
 shorthand.

00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:03.439
 You see,

00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:04.059
 when you're

00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.839
 commanded to

00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:06.299
 repent,

00:32:06.839 --> 00:32:07.659
 implied in

00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.119
 a command

00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:08.779
 to repent

00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.879
 is believe.

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:10.940
 When you're

00:32:10.940 --> 00:32:11.539
 commanded to

00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.079
 believe,

00:32:12.399 --> 00:32:13.180
 implied in

00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:13.599
 the command

00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.079
 to believe

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.579
 is repent.

00:32:14.660 --> 00:32:14.920
 The two

00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.279
 things go

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:15.599
 together.

00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.000
 You can't

00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.639
 separate them.

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:17.579
 Jesus'

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.420
 first sermon,

00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.559
 repent and

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.220
 believe the

00:32:20.220 --> 00:32:20.680
 good news.

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.119
 The kingdom

00:32:21.119 --> 00:32:21.639
 of God is

00:32:21.639 --> 00:32:22.059
 at hand.

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.759
 The time

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.339
 has come.

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.740
 Repent and

00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.700
 believe the

00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:26.899
 good news.

00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:28.240
 God is

00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:29.380
 God is

00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:30.080
 proclaiming

00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:30.740
 Jesus to

00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.080
 a Jewish

00:32:31.080 --> 00:32:31.660
 audience.

00:32:31.660 --> 00:32:32.300
 In

00:32:32.300 --> 00:32:32.980
 Thessalonica,

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.640
 he's

00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.120
 proclaiming

00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:34.680
 Jesus to

00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.420
 a Greek

00:32:35.420 --> 00:32:35.920
 audience,

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.240
 to a

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:36.720
 philosophical

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.560
 audience in

00:32:37.560 --> 00:32:37.960
 Athens.

00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.080
 And in

00:32:39.080 --> 00:32:39.500
 each of

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:39.700
 these

00:32:39.700 --> 00:32:40.360
 situations,

00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.380
 something

00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:42.100
 happens.

00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.500
 When you

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.040
 share the

00:32:44.040 --> 00:32:44.420
 gospel,

00:32:44.600 --> 00:32:44.820
 something

00:32:44.820 --> 00:32:45.400
 happens.

00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:46.420
 When the

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:46.920
 gospel is

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.320
 proclaimed,

00:32:47.500 --> 00:32:47.759
 something

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.200
 happens.

00:32:48.280 --> 00:32:48.620
 The one

00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.040
 thing that

00:32:49.040 --> 00:32:49.580
 can never

00:32:49.580 --> 00:32:50.600
 happen when

00:32:50.600 --> 00:32:51.180
 the gospel

00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:51.880
 is proclaimed

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:52.540
 is nothing.

00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:53.700
 Because God

00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.420
 promises that

00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:54.940
 whenever his

00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.440
 word goes

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.220
 forth, it

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.900
 will accomplish

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.600
 what he

00:32:57.600 --> 00:32:58.340
 purposes.

00:32:58.980 --> 00:32:59.440
 And that

00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:00.240
 for which he

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.160
 has sent

00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:01.420
 it.

00:33:01.860 --> 00:33:02.380
 That's his

00:33:02.380 --> 00:33:02.779
 commitment.

00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.720
 And that's

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.400
 his promise.

00:33:05.580 --> 00:33:06.200
 One of the

00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:06.779
 great voices

00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.440
 in the

00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.920
 18th century

00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.400
 was a man

00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:09.940
 called George

00:33:09.940 --> 00:33:10.420
 Whitefield.

00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:11.820
 He said

00:33:11.820 --> 00:33:12.180
 this, he

00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:12.340
 said,

00:33:12.420 --> 00:33:12.860
 other men

00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:13.440
 may preach

00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:13.960
 the gospel

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.519
 better than

00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.059
 I, but

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.820
 no man

00:33:15.820 --> 00:33:16.900
 can preach

00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:17.799
 a better

00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.640
 gospel.

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:21.019
 The gospel

00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.940
 is powerful.

00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.100
 Paul said

00:33:23.100 --> 00:33:23.640
 it himself.

00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.680
 I'm not

00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.160
 ashamed of

00:33:25.160 --> 00:33:25.660
 the gospel

00:33:25.660 --> 00:33:26.220
 because it

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:26.500
 is the

00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.000
 power of

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.480
 God unto

00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:28.040
 salvation

00:33:28.040 --> 00:33:28.980
 for all

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.700
 who believe.

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:30.779
 So when

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.320
 you find

00:33:31.320 --> 00:33:31.900
 that bridge,

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:32.220
 when you

00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:32.700
 find that

00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.120
 point of

00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:33.720
 contact,

00:33:34.080 --> 00:33:34.560
 you have

00:33:34.560 --> 00:33:35.100
 to make

00:33:35.100 --> 00:33:35.940
 a beeline

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.620
 to the

00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:37.100
 gospel.

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:37.740
 You need

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:37.980
 to make

00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.540
 a beeline

00:33:38.540 --> 00:33:39.060
 to Jesus

00:33:39.060 --> 00:33:39.980
 because just

00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.740
 building bridges

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.200
 is not

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.640
 sufficient.

00:33:41.800 --> 00:33:42.060
 We need

00:33:42.060 --> 00:33:42.600
 to proclaim

00:33:42.600 --> 00:33:43.160
 the good

00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:43.660
 news.

00:33:44.080 --> 00:33:44.420
 We need

00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:44.759
 to tell

00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.200
 something

00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:45.880
 about Jesus'

00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:46.480
 death.

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:47.120
 We need

00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:47.420
 to tell

00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:47.880
 something

00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:48.320
 about his

00:33:48.320 --> 00:33:48.779
 resurrection.

00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:49.580
 We need

00:33:49.580 --> 00:33:49.940
 to convey

00:33:49.940 --> 00:33:50.460
 something

00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:50.960
 about his

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:51.560
 call to

00:33:51.560 --> 00:33:51.980
 repentance,

00:33:52.360 --> 00:33:52.800
 and we need

00:33:52.800 --> 00:33:53.160
 to convey

00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.640
 something,

00:33:53.779 --> 00:33:54.180
 as Fraser

00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:55.060
 said to

00:33:55.060 --> 00:33:55.680
 that Chinese

00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:56.440
 audience about

00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.200
 that promise

00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:57.700
 that to

00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:58.200
 those who

00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:58.620
 repent,

00:33:59.039 --> 00:33:59.799
 their sins

00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:00.840
 will be

00:34:00.840 --> 00:34:01.580
 forgiven.

00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:03.120
 This simple

00:34:03.120 --> 00:34:04.580
 formula is

00:34:04.580 --> 00:34:05.240
 powerful.

00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.420
 When the

00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:07.039
 gospel is

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.600
 proclaimed,

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.619
 step back

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.720
 and watch

00:34:09.720 --> 00:34:10.860
 out because

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:11.880
 God will

00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.840
 do something.

00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:13.780
 We don't

00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.240
 know what,

00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:14.599
 we don't

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.019
 know when,

00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.360
 we don't

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:15.900
 know how,

00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.519
 but we

00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.559
 know that

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:18.720
 he will

00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:19.940
 do something.

00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:21.480
 I want

00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:21.780
 to close

00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:22.119
 by reading

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:22.579
 a passage

00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:22.840
 at the

00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:23.200
 very end

00:34:23.200 --> 00:34:23.380
 of the

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:23.659
 Bible,

00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:24.280
 Revelation.

00:34:24.720 --> 00:34:25.039
 It's in

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.700
 chapter 7

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.039
 of that

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.539
 wonderful

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:26.920
 book.

00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.019
 And you

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.200
 see,

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.619
 the Bible

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:31.280
 is pluralistic

00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:33.059
 in its

00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:34.320
 content and

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:35.099
 describing the

00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:35.800
 world of the

00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:36.599
 first century,

00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.740
 but the Bible

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.159
 is also

00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:39.240
 pluralistic in

00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:40.139
 describing heaven

00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:41.420
 because it

00:34:41.420 --> 00:34:42.059
 tells us about

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.659
 all nations

00:34:42.659 --> 00:34:43.039
 and all

00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:43.539
 peoples and

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:44.119
 all tribes

00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:44.480
 and all

00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:44.980
 tongues.

00:34:45.820 --> 00:34:46.900
 Revelation 7

00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:47.280
 and verse

00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:47.720
 9.

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:49.599
 After this

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.079
 I looked

00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:50.379
 and there

00:34:50.379 --> 00:34:50.879
 before me

00:34:50.879 --> 00:34:51.439
 was a great

00:34:51.439 --> 00:34:51.899
 multitude

00:34:51.899 --> 00:34:52.439
 that no

00:34:52.439 --> 00:34:52.839
 one could

00:34:52.839 --> 00:34:53.259
 count.

00:34:53.759 --> 00:34:54.279
 From every

00:34:54.279 --> 00:34:54.659
 nation,

00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:55.079
 tribe,

00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:55.439
 people,

00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:55.959
 and language

00:34:55.959 --> 00:34:56.500
 standing

00:34:56.500 --> 00:34:57.119
 before the

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:58.019
 throne and

00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.579
 before the

00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:58.919
 Lamb.

00:34:59.319 --> 00:34:59.980
 They were

00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:00.699
 wearing white

00:35:00.699 --> 00:35:01.259
 robes and

00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:01.500
 they were

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.299
 holding palm

00:35:02.299 --> 00:35:02.939
 branches in

00:35:02.939 --> 00:35:03.519
 their hands

00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:04.259
 and they

00:35:04.259 --> 00:35:05.039
 cried out

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.599
 in a loud

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.019
 voice,

00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:06.699
 salvation

00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:07.539
 belongs to

00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.259
 our God

00:35:08.259 --> 00:35:09.199
 who sits

00:35:09.199 --> 00:35:09.519
 on the

00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:10.619
 throne and

00:35:10.619 --> 00:35:10.919
 to the

00:35:10.919 --> 00:35:11.299
 Lamb.

00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.399
 So here

00:35:13.399 --> 00:35:14.119
 we have

00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:15.099
 all nations,

00:35:15.259 --> 00:35:15.699
 all peoples,

00:35:15.799 --> 00:35:16.239
 all tribes,

00:35:16.339 --> 00:35:16.839
 all tongues,

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:17.500
 and what do

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:17.980
 we have?

00:35:18.059 --> 00:35:18.900
 One place,

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.119
 one throne,

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:21.539
 one song,

00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:22.800
 one savior,

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:24.179
 one way,

00:35:24.500 --> 00:35:25.360
 one hope.

00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:26.980
 That's what

00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.739
 we have in

00:35:27.739 --> 00:35:28.219
 the gospel.

00:35:28.380 --> 00:35:28.880
 We have a

00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:29.599
 message of

00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:30.340
 universal

00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:31.440
 relevance,

00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:32.480
 universal

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:33.380
 application,

00:35:33.860 --> 00:35:34.739
 of universal

00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:36.260
 invitation to

00:35:36.260 --> 00:35:37.639
 all peoples,

00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:38.980
 all world

00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:39.340
 views,

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:40.719
 all philosophies,

00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:41.559
 all world

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.079
 religions,

00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.039
 whoever,

00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:43.559
 wherever,

00:35:43.780 --> 00:35:44.139
 whenever.

00:35:45.900 --> 00:35:46.539
 There's again

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.119
 a great quote

00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.500
 I love

00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:48.119
 quotations.

00:35:48.299 --> 00:35:48.900
 I'm sure

00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.380
 Graham is

00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:49.739
 sick of

00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:50.219
 me quoting

00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:51.559
 in class,

00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:51.920
 but I'll

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.539
 close with

00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:54.019
 a man who

00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.759
 himself has

00:35:54.759 --> 00:35:55.319
 a level of

00:35:55.319 --> 00:35:55.839
 enthusiasm.

00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:57.099
 He has a

00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:57.699
 similar accent

00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.000
 to mine,

00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:58.539
 but I can't

00:35:58.539 --> 00:35:59.599
 do John

00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.000
 Piper.

00:36:00.799 --> 00:36:01.359
 But if I

00:36:01.359 --> 00:36:01.679
 could,

00:36:01.779 --> 00:36:02.239
 I would say

00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:02.699
 this.

00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:04.219
 God is

00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:04.980
 pursuing with

00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.699
 omnipotent

00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:06.579
 passion a

00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:07.819
 worldwide purpose

00:36:07.819 --> 00:36:08.679
 of gathering

00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:10.000
 joyful worshipers

00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:10.659
 for himself.

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:11.739
 From every

00:36:11.739 --> 00:36:12.420
 tribe and

00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:12.880
 tongue and

00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:13.319
 people and

00:36:13.319 --> 00:36:13.679
 nation,

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.539
 he has

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:14.739
 an

00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:15.659
 inexhaustible

00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:16.359
 enthusiasm

00:36:16.359 --> 00:36:17.039
 for the

00:36:17.039 --> 00:36:17.960
 supremacy of

00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:18.639
 his name

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:19.480
 among the

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:19.919
 nations.

00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:21.000
 Therefore,

00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:21.739
 let us bring

00:36:21.739 --> 00:36:22.559
 our affections

00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.099
 into line

00:36:23.099 --> 00:36:23.699
 with his,

00:36:23.879 --> 00:36:24.519
 and for the

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.059
 sake of his

00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:25.339
 name,

00:36:25.419 --> 00:36:25.699
 let us

00:36:25.699 --> 00:36:26.440
 renounce the

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.179
 quest for

00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:27.619
 worldly

00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:28.819
 comforts and

00:36:28.819 --> 00:36:29.980
 join his

00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:31.819
 global purpose.

00:36:32.819 --> 00:36:33.739
 There is going

00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:34.460
 to be a day

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.599
 when all tribes,

00:36:35.779 --> 00:36:35.980
 tongues,

00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:36.699
 and nations are

00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:37.559
 gathered in

00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:38.039
 front of the

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.379
 throne.

00:36:38.380 --> 00:36:39.440
 In that

00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:40.059
 day,

00:36:40.240 --> 00:36:40.599
 we will

00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:41.980
 see what

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.680
 God has

00:36:42.680 --> 00:36:43.119
 done.

00:36:43.680 --> 00:36:44.619
 Until that

00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:45.059
 day,

00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:45.980
 let us

00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:46.380
 seek,

00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:47.440
 with all the

00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:47.820
 strength,

00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:48.360
 with all the

00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:48.619
 wisdom,

00:36:48.740 --> 00:36:49.180
 with all the

00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:49.579
 courage,

00:36:49.780 --> 00:36:50.720
 to bring

00:36:50.720 --> 00:36:52.140
 people to

00:36:52.140 --> 00:36:52.740
 a knowledge

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.340
 of Jesus.

00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:54.420
 We cannot

00:36:54.420 --> 00:36:55.140
 save them,

00:36:55.200 --> 00:36:55.640
 but we can

00:36:55.640 --> 00:36:56.500
 convey something

00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.260
 of this truth

00:36:57.260 --> 00:36:57.720
 to them.

00:36:58.200 --> 00:36:58.760
 And when we

00:36:58.760 --> 00:36:59.400
 do so,

00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:00.340
 we can

00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:01.380
 confidently state

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:01.780
 and be

00:37:01.780 --> 00:37:02.980
 confident that

00:37:02.980 --> 00:37:03.599
 God will

00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:04.559
 use even

00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:05.380
 our feeble,

00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:06.340
 weak efforts

00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:07.579
 to accomplish

00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:08.340
 his steadfastness

00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:09.980
 and powerful

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.960
 purposes.

00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:12.280
 So may God

00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:13.000
 bless you.

00:37:13.480 --> 00:37:13.940
 And if you

00:37:13.940 --> 00:37:14.680
 happen to be a

00:37:14.680 --> 00:37:15.340
 pluralist here

00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:15.740
 tonight,

00:37:16.140 --> 00:37:16.559
 I would

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:18.340
 ask you to

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:19.460
 please consider

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:20.320
 the Lord

00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:21.160
 Jesus Christ.

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.160
 You will

00:37:22.160 --> 00:37:23.099
 find no

00:37:23.099 --> 00:37:23.940
 greater Savior.

00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:24.920
 You will

00:37:24.920 --> 00:37:25.860
 find no

00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:27.039
 greater gospel.

00:37:27.660 --> 00:37:28.019
 And you

00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:29.000
 will find no

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:30.420
 greater assurance

00:37:30.420 --> 00:37:31.700
 for the future

00:37:31.700 --> 00:37:32.680
 than when you

00:37:32.680 --> 00:37:33.460
 find him.

00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.400
 May God

00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:34.740
 bless you

00:37:34.740 --> 00:37:35.019
 all.