WEBVTT

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 Well, folks, maybe you want to grab your Bibles at this point and turn to Acts chapter 17.

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 And as we mentioned this morning, we're starting a new series looking at the book of 1 Thessalonians.

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 Maybe, Johnny, you could chuck the PowerPoint on the screen. Acts 17.

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 We went on holiday a few years ago with a company called Jet2.

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 Has anyone ever flown with Jet2? Yeah?

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 Getting to that stage of life where it's all about the package holiday.

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 Love about Jet2.

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 So we went on holiday with Jet2.

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 And at that time, I made the mistake of ticking the box that said,

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 I would love to receive future notifications and emails.

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 Someone never fallen for that one before.

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 Thank goodness for GPDR. I'll tell you that.

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 So there we are.

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 So I'm hearing from Jet2 all throughout the last couple of years.

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 And I find out last summer that Jet2 have now got a flight route from Edinburgh to this city in Greece called Thessalonica.

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 Now, why should I go there on my holidays, you're asking?

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 Well, let me, this is what they say on their website.

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 If you haven't got summer plans, Thessalonica, okay, this is what they write.

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 Greece's second biggest city is a cultural treasure trove of ancient delights and modern entertainment.

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 You can see shimmering Macedonian gold and Byzantine works in world-famous museums.

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 Immerse yourself in the atmosphere at historic districts dotted with inventive restaurants and arty cafes.

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 Fancy that one?

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 No?

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 Thessalonica?

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 Well, tonight we're going to meet some people who travelled to Thessalonica.

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 Paul, Silas and Timothy travelled to this city roughly 50 AD.

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 Thessalonica back then was a very different place to what it is today.

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 Very different place.

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 In the context of Acts, with your Bibles open there, chapter 17, we're on Paul's second missionary journey.

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 God's spirit, remember the driving force behind the proclamation of the risen Jesus to the world.

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 The spirit has taken Paul and his companions into Europe.

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 And praise God that that was true at that point, because we wouldn't be here if it wasn't.

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 Firstly, they go to Philippi.

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 And having spent some time there and having seen God do some incredible things through the gospel message

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 as it was proclaimed from the lips of Paul and his companions,

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 they've left Philippi and they've made the 100 mile trip south.

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 And you'll see it there along the Ignatian Way, which is the superhighway connecting the east to the west.

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 And they've arrived at this city called Thessalonica.

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 Now, three things to know about this city in 50 AD.

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 In fact, four things to know about this city in 50 AD.

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 Here's the first thing.

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 It's a large city.

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 Paul's day, you're looking at well over 100,000 people.

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 In fact, if you read some commentators, they'll tell you, some historians,

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 they'll tell you that it was maybe even closer to 200,000 in this city in 50 AD.

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 Now, that's a lot of people.

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 A lot of people.

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 Put that into context.

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 Dundee has a population of 130,000 people.

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 So this is no backwater village that Paul and his companions have hit.

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 It's a major city, a large city.

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 And the reason that it's going to be a large city is because it's an affluent city.

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 We see it there on the map.

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 It's a city that sits on the coastline of the Agen Sea on an important trading route.

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 So people all around the region are coming to Thessalonica to do business

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 because there's money and there's fame to be made in Thessalonica.

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 Because of that influx of people.

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 Thirdly, it's a diverse city.

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 Many different people from many different places,

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 each bringing with them many different cultures,

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 many different ideas,

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 many different philosophies.

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 It's a diverse city.

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 And lastly,

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 it's a religious city.

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 A mixture of Greco-Roman religions.

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 A mixture of people who are loyal to Rome,

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 everything of Rome and to Caesar.

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 And in this city,

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 you've got a sizable Jewish population.

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 Big enough that it justifies having a synagogue in this city.

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 And of course,

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 that's when,

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 sorry,

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 that's where Paul and his traveling companions head straight forward

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 when they get to this city.

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 That's Thessalonica in a nutshell.

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 50 AD.

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 Large,

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 affluent,

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 diverse,

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 religious.

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 And God births a church

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 in this city.

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 Through Paul's preaching of the gospel of the risen Jesus,

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 God births a church

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 as this message takes root

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 in the hearts of men and women

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 as people are saved.

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 Now that gives me at this point,

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 I don't know about you,

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 but it gives us great confidence

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 as we think about our city.

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 That even when we think we're up against it,

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 even when it's so hard

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 that we think God couldn't do that,

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 yes he could.

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 God births a church

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 in this city.

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 So if you've got your Bibles there,

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 let's turn to Acts 17

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 and let's see what happened

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 when the gospel hit Thessalonica.

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 And as we read it through,

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 and Brenna's going to come in just a minute

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 and read it to us,

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 I want you to look for the two different reactions

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 that we see to Paul's message.

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 Two different reactions

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 that we see all the way through.

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 And I'll invite Brenna up at this point

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 to read it to us.

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 Acts 17.

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 Well folks, if you have your Bibles there,

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 then let's continue the story.

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 Let's read 1 Thessalonians chapter 1

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 and the first 10 verses.

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 Maybe you want to turn there just now.

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 Glorious message of Acts 17.

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 The gospel has hit Thessalonica.

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 And through his word,

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 despite great opposition,

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 did you notice it,

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 God has birthed this church.

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 And Paul,

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 having been forced to leave this city

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 after only such a short time,

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 wonder you've got that in Acts 17 as well,

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 something between two to four weeks.

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 He's desperate to hear,

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 desperate to hear that these Christians

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 are still standing.

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 So desperate, in fact,

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 that he sent Timothy,

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 his traveling companion,

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 back to them

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 to find out how they're getting on.

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 And Timothy's returned to Paul,

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 who's most likely at this point

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 in the story in Corinth.

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 And he's brought with him

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 encouraging news

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 about these Thessalonian Christians

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 that although there are a few issues,

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 that although it is hard,

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 that these guys are still going strong.

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 And that news has thrilled Paul's heart.

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 And he pens this affectionate letter

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 back to his beloved Thessalonians.

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 And we pick it up

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 from verse one of chapter one.

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 Here's the heart of Pastor Paul,

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 as I've got to know him this week.

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 Here's where he writes.

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 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

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 to the church of the Thessalonians

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 in God the Father

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 and the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 grace and peace to you.

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 We always thank God for all of you

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 and continually mention you

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 in our prayers.

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 We remember before our God and Father

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 your work produced by faith,

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 your labor prompted by love,

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 and your endurance inspired

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 by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 For we know,

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 brothers and sisters loved by God,

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 that he has chosen you

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 because our gospel came to you

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 not simply with words,

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 but also with power,

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 with the Holy Spirit

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 and with deep conviction.

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 You know how we lived among you

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 for your sake.

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 You became imitators of us

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 and of the Lord,

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 for you welcomed the message

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 in the midst of severe suffering

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 with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

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 And so you became a model

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 to all the believers

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 in Macedonia and Achaia.

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 The Lord's message rang out from you

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 not only in Macedonia and Achaia.

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 Your faith in God

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 has become known everywhere.

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 Therefore, we do not need to say

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 anything about it,

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 for they themselves report

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 what kind of reception you gave us.

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 They tell how you turn to God

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 from idols

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 to serve the living and true God

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 and to wait for his son from heaven

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 whom he raised from the dead,

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 Jesus who rescues us

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 from the coming wrath.

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 Amen.

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 And we trust that God would bless

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 the reading of his word to us

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 this evening.

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 Well, I wonder if you were like me

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 when you were young.

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 Did you read these books?

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 Remember these books?

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 Where's Wally?

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 I used to love these books

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 when I was young.

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 Here's a question for you

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 really simply.

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 How did you spot Wally?

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 How did you spot him?

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 The first hat.

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 Okay.

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 Anything else?

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 Come on.

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 His glasses, okay.

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 I'm looking for an answer here.

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 What else was he wearing?

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 The stripy top

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 to put out your misery.

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 Here he is.

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 Okay.

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 He was the one wearing

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 the red and white stripy top.

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 That's how you spotted Wally.

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 Now here's my question

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 for you this evening

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 and this is going to be

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 the question we're going to

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 try and answer this evening

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 in the next 20, 25 minutes or so.

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 How do you spot a Christian?

00:09:16.659 --> 00:09:17.500
 How do you spot one?

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 Park the question

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 and we're going to move through

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 and see if we can answer it

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 by the end of tonight.

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 How do you spot a Christian?

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 Because here's how this works out

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 in my everyday life.

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 This is my walk to the office

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 every morning.

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 I walk George Street,

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 Princess Street,

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 Royal Mile,

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 Meadows, Brunsfield.

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 That's my walk every morning

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 and I see hundreds of people

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 on that walk

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 and I can spot the workers

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 and I can spot the students

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 and I can spot the football fans

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 and I can spot the mums,

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 I can spot the dads,

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 I can spot the Jehovah's Witnesses

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 and I can spot the Mormons.

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 I was really up for a chat this week

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 and I went towards two groups

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 of Mormons walking

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 through the Meadows

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 and they both beelined me.

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 I couldn't believe it.

00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:02.840
 Really up for a talk.

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 I can spot all those kinds

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 of groups of people

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 on my walk to work each morning.

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 Here's the question.

00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:08.860
 How do you spot the Christians?

00:10:09.820 --> 00:10:10.800
 How do you spot a Christian?

00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:14.000
 These verses are going to help us

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 answer this question.

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 You'll spot a question

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 not by what they're wearing.

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 You'll spot a Christian

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 by how they're living.

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 I love Luke's account in Acts

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 of what happened

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 when the gospel hit Thessalonica.

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 What happened there?

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 I wonder if you've noticed

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 that the two reactions

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 as the gospel hit.

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 It's kind of the same reaction

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 as you see all the way

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 through the book of Acts,

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 is it not?

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 And it's kind of the same reaction

00:10:40.160 --> 00:10:40.860
 that you see today

00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:42.140
 when you tell people about Jesus.

00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:44.200
 Revival or riot?

00:10:45.160 --> 00:10:45.340
 Yeah?

00:10:46.020 --> 00:10:47.200
 Revival or riot?

00:10:47.680 --> 00:10:48.940
 Or as Rico Tice puts it

00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:50.379
 in his book Honest Evangelism,

00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:52.200
 hunger or hostility?

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 It's the same thing.

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 Hunger or hostility.

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 That's the pattern.

00:10:57.320 --> 00:10:58.180
 Here is a church

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 that's been birthed

00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:00.840
 in a pressure cooker.

00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:02.060
 I think it's fair to say that.

00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:03.700
 They didn't get eased

00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:05.140
 into Christian life, did they?

00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:05.660
 It wasn't like

00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:07.059
 they got a honeymoon period.

00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:08.500
 They are straight in

00:11:08.500 --> 00:11:10.620
 and they are straight up against it.

00:11:11.579 --> 00:11:13.699
 Now, try and get into their shoes

00:11:13.699 --> 00:11:14.939
 at this point in the story.

00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.179
 Paul's only been there for what?

00:11:17.339 --> 00:11:18.579
 Between two to four weeks?

00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:20.059
 Three Sabbath days?

00:11:20.699 --> 00:11:22.059
 That's a short amount of time.

00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:22.919
 You think how quickly

00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:24.279
 three weeks goes in your life.

00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.379
 Would it not be

00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:29.279
 such an easy thing to do

00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.699
 for these jealous Jews

00:11:30.699 --> 00:11:31.779
 to come along

00:11:31.779 --> 00:11:33.480
 to these new Thessalonian Christians

00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:35.279
 and begin to attack

00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:36.299
 Paul and his message?

00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:38.899
 Can you really trust

00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:39.659
 what Paul said?

00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:43.059
 Is Jesus really the Messiah?

00:11:46.259 --> 00:11:48.620
 Have you got it wrong?

00:11:50.319 --> 00:11:51.059
 Would it not be

00:11:51.059 --> 00:11:52.039
 the easiest thing

00:11:52.039 --> 00:11:54.159
 for these Thessalonian Christians

00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:55.100
 to think in their mind?

00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:55.980
 Have we been duped?

00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.919
 Have we got it all?

00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:59.679
 Do we understand it?

00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:02.219
 No one likes being conned, do they?

00:12:02.319 --> 00:12:03.360
 Nobody likes being conned.

00:12:03.439 --> 00:12:04.599
 I think about it all the time

00:12:04.599 --> 00:12:05.799
 when I find out

00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:06.779
 that somebody's paying

00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:07.919
 less a month

00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:09.079
 on their mobile phone contract

00:12:09.079 --> 00:12:09.399
 than me.

00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.599
 Nobody likes finding out

00:12:10.599 --> 00:12:11.479
 that they've been conned.

00:12:12.839 --> 00:12:13.659
 It'd be the easiest thing

00:12:13.659 --> 00:12:14.019
 in the world

00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:14.879
 for these new believers

00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.919
 to ask themselves,

00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.120
 are we really Christians?

00:12:17.319 --> 00:12:18.519
 To doubt it in their minds.

00:12:18.579 --> 00:12:19.799
 Have we really got it?

00:12:20.979 --> 00:12:22.319
 Well, this letter,

00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:24.219
 Paul writes from his heart

00:12:24.219 --> 00:12:25.319
 to let them know

00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:28.000
 that from what he knows

00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:28.480
 about them,

00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.320
 from what he's heard

00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:29.860
 about them,

00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.200
 he writes this letter

00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.000
 with great words

00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:33.620
 of assurance

00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.720
 as if to say,

00:12:35.260 --> 00:12:36.340
 I look at you guys

00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:39.080
 and I spot Christians.

00:12:41.160 --> 00:12:42.040
 As we'll journey

00:12:42.040 --> 00:12:43.500
 through these verses,

00:12:43.660 --> 00:12:44.280
 we'll come on to see

00:12:44.280 --> 00:12:45.100
 that Paul looks at them

00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:46.280
 and there's three things

00:12:46.280 --> 00:12:46.940
 that he sees,

00:12:47.060 --> 00:12:47.900
 three marks

00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:49.620
 of a real deal Christian.

00:12:49.760 --> 00:12:50.360
 And verse four,

00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:50.640
 I think,

00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:51.460
 is the key for us

00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:51.900
 to understand

00:12:51.900 --> 00:12:52.760
 what's going on here.

00:12:53.180 --> 00:12:54.080
 What does Paul say

00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:55.200
 as he thinks about these people?

00:12:56.660 --> 00:12:58.020
 I think you might be Christians.

00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:59.960
 I'm pretty confident of it.

00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:00.320
 No, he says,

00:13:00.400 --> 00:13:00.960
 we know.

00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:02.300
 Get a certainty

00:13:02.300 --> 00:13:03.240
 in his language there.

00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:04.060
 We know.

00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:06.259
 Know what?

00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:08.440
 That God chose you.

00:13:09.680 --> 00:13:10.680
 That you were,

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:11.560
 spiritually speaking,

00:13:11.560 --> 00:13:12.280
 in the dark.

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:13.820
 You were separated

00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:14.759
 from the God

00:13:14.759 --> 00:13:15.340
 who made you.

00:13:15.400 --> 00:13:17.100
 You had no interest in him.

00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:18.500
 You preferred the darkness.

00:13:19.320 --> 00:13:20.020
 And God,

00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:21.440
 moved by nothing

00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.820
 other than his sheer grace

00:13:23.820 --> 00:13:24.420
 and love.

00:13:25.760 --> 00:13:26.880
 Moved into your life

00:13:26.880 --> 00:13:27.680
 by his spirit.

00:13:27.800 --> 00:13:29.180
 He reached into your hearts

00:13:29.180 --> 00:13:29.680
 and if you like,

00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.580
 he flicked on the light.

00:13:30.660 --> 00:13:31.700
 He turned on the light.

00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:33.660
 And in that moment,

00:13:33.760 --> 00:13:34.700
 he took you

00:13:34.700 --> 00:13:36.420
 in the palm of his hand

00:13:36.420 --> 00:13:38.280
 and he declared over you,

00:13:38.640 --> 00:13:40.040
 you are mine.

00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:42.700
 Isn't it how often

00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:43.860
 we think that being a Christian

00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:45.260
 is a small thing?

00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:47.100
 Here is Paul saying

00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:48.080
 to these Christians,

00:13:48.280 --> 00:13:49.280
 it is a big thing

00:13:49.280 --> 00:13:49.840
 that the Lord has done

00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:50.420
 in your life.

00:13:51.660 --> 00:13:52.639
 He chose you.

00:13:53.440 --> 00:13:54.399
 He chose you.

00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.759
 How do you know that, Paul?

00:13:56.759 --> 00:13:57.780
 How do you know that?

00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.480
 Well, two reasons,

00:13:59.620 --> 00:14:00.139
 verse six.

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.000
 Here's the first one.

00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.379
 You welcomed.

00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.860
 You welcomed the message.

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.560
 So in that moment

00:14:06.560 --> 00:14:07.500
 when you heard the message

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.340
 about what God

00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:09.120
 had done for you

00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.639
 in sending his son

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.899
 to die for your sin

00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:13.180
 and the son

00:14:13.180 --> 00:14:14.480
 whom he raised to life

00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.120
 to demonstrate

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.960
 to the world

00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:17.460
 that he is my king,

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:19.019
 this Jesus

00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:19.879
 who will return

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.860
 as we heard this morning

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:22.159
 to judge the world.

00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.639
 When you heard this message,

00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:25.220
 it didn't just make sense to you.

00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:27.199
 It became

00:14:27.199 --> 00:14:29.059
 wonderful to you.

00:14:29.799 --> 00:14:30.500
 It hit you.

00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:31.179
 Get the language

00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:32.079
 of what he's writing here.

00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.159
 It hit you with what?

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.319
 Deep conviction.

00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:36.079
 Deep conviction.

00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.639
 As if to say

00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:38.519
 through the power

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:39.340
 of the Holy Spirit

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:40.299
 working in you,

00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:41.419
 you knew

00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:43.360
 deep down in your gut

00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:45.000
 all of you

00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:46.899
 you knew it was true.

00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:47.919
 What the scriptures say

00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:48.600
 about God,

00:14:48.699 --> 00:14:49.419
 what the scriptures say

00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:50.079
 about the world,

00:14:50.179 --> 00:14:50.879
 what the scriptures say

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:51.480
 about you.

00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:53.100
 You knew it was true.

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:55.399
 Isn't that?

00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:56.779
 I was reflecting on it

00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:57.299
 this week.

00:14:57.439 --> 00:14:57.879
 Remember the

00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:00.439
 gospel made sense

00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:01.360
 to me for the first time.

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.340
 It's true.

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:05.179
 It's just true.

00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.240
 Deep conviction.

00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.480
 And these guys did it.

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.139
 And I find this

00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.799
 so encouraging.

00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:11.799
 They did it

00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:12.759
 even when it didn't

00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:14.279
 make sense to do it.

00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:15.959
 Because when they

00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:16.839
 put their hands up

00:15:16.839 --> 00:15:17.980
 and declared to the world

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:19.439
 that Jesus is my king,

00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.959
 it cost them big time.

00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:22.779
 Not just a few

00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:23.699
 raised eyebrows.

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.019
 What does he say?

00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:26.199
 Severe suffering.

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.019
 Severe suffering.

00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:28.299
 I mean,

00:15:28.339 --> 00:15:29.379
 think back to the character

00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:30.679
 Jason that we met

00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:31.439
 in Acts 17.

00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:32.159
 Did you get him?

00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:33.679
 Jason.

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.639
 People banging

00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.379
 on his door.

00:15:36.839 --> 00:15:37.939
 People dragging him

00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:39.100
 out to face trial.

00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:41.740
 Why would you keep

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:42.139
 on going?

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:44.799
 There is no other

00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:46.120
 explanation for that

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:47.639
 other than the work

00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.740
 of God in your life

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:50.360
 helping you to understand

00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:51.399
 that in Jesus Christ

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.379
 you have something

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:54.179
 that's worth standing for

00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:55.399
 and something that's

00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:56.939
 far greater

00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:58.439
 than any fleeting

00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.559
 pleasure of the world

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.899
 that you used to chase after.

00:16:02.319 --> 00:16:03.019
 That's what we were singing

00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:03.879
 at the start, wasn't it?

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:04.980
 Lord, there's none like you.

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:06.759
 There is none like you.

00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:09.960
 There's a Christian man

00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:10.919
 called Augustine.

00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:13.120
 Prominent in the church

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.039
 in the third century

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.399
 and in his previous life

00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:16.399
 by his own admission

00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:17.679
 he was anti-God.

00:16:18.339 --> 00:16:19.059
 Anti-God.

00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:20.219
 Didn't want to hear about it.

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:20.799
 In fact,

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:22.259
 reveled in his sin.

00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.939
 Shoved it in God's face.

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.419
 Loathed the very mention

00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.199
 of God's name.

00:16:27.459 --> 00:16:28.159
 He was,

00:16:28.459 --> 00:16:29.299
 as he writes

00:16:29.299 --> 00:16:29.939
 about himself,

00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:31.839
 he was a pleasure seeker.

00:16:32.839 --> 00:16:33.979
 And here is what he writes

00:16:33.979 --> 00:16:34.639
 in his little book

00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:35.799
 called The Confessions

00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:37.059
 which if you haven't read it

00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:38.199
 can I encourage you to do it?

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:40.620
 Really just his spiritual autobiography

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.400
 of what happened

00:16:41.400 --> 00:16:42.400
 when he became a Christian.

00:16:42.660 --> 00:16:43.520
 Here's what he writes

00:16:43.520 --> 00:16:44.540
 and here is this language.

00:16:45.520 --> 00:16:47.020
 This is what the gospel

00:16:47.020 --> 00:16:48.060
 felt to him like

00:16:48.060 --> 00:16:49.040
 when he first heard it.

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.340
 How sweet

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:52.360
 all at once it was for me

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:54.460
 to be rid of those fruitless joys

00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:56.620
 which I once feared to lose.

00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:58.520
 And here's his prayer.

00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:00.960
 You drove them from me, Lord.

00:17:01.680 --> 00:17:03.180
 You who are the true

00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:05.019
 and the sovereign joy.

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.799
 You drove them from me

00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:07.619
 and get this

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:09.940
 and you took their place.

00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.359
 Oh Lord my God,

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.240
 my light,

00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:14.579
 my wealth

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:16.240
 and my salvation.

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.619
 So what Augustine is saying there

00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.539
 that in God

00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:21.960
 he found a greater joy.

00:17:22.639 --> 00:17:24.039
 A far superior joy

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:24.799
 than anything

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.680
 that he was previously

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.940
 basing his life upon

00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:27.500
 and chasing.

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.379
 That's what's been true

00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:31.639
 about these Thessalonian believers.

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:34.820
 This message of the risen Jesus

00:17:34.820 --> 00:17:36.360
 it became to them life

00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:40.080
 and they welcomed the message.

00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:41.720
 You welcomed,

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.880
 secondly you became.

00:17:43.580 --> 00:17:44.300
 Became what?

00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:45.900
 Imitators.

00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.800
 You see that word in the passage here?

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.500
 Imitators.

00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.120
 Greek word,

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.259
 mimitai.

00:17:51.040 --> 00:17:51.820
 Now you see

00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:52.520
 that's where we get

00:17:52.520 --> 00:17:54.320
 our English word mimic from.

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.640
 So you saw something

00:17:56.180 --> 00:17:59.100
 and you copied something.

00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:02.079
 Now my colleagues here at the church

00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.980
 and I'm not going to look at them

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.459
 at this point.

00:18:04.139 --> 00:18:04.759
 They'll tell you

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.539
 that one of my most annoying traits

00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:08.139
 is that when I get excited

00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:08.719
 about something

00:18:08.719 --> 00:18:10.000
 I do the clap and rub.

00:18:10.919 --> 00:18:12.059
 Does anyone else do the clap and rub

00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:12.819
 when they get excited?

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.279
 Do you know where I learnt that from?

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.719
 I learnt it from my dad.

00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:17.599
 Okay?

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.639
 And my brother

00:18:18.639 --> 00:18:20.659
 does exactly the same thing.

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.539
 In fact it's a sight

00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.659
 when we get together

00:18:22.659 --> 00:18:23.539
 at Christmas time

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:25.419
 and we go to watch a football game

00:18:25.419 --> 00:18:26.539
 and see when our team

00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.899
 is looking like it's doing well

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:29.280
 the three of us sitting next to each other.

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.460
 It's a sight to behold.

00:18:32.040 --> 00:18:33.560
 But I learnt it from my dad.

00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:36.700
 I mimicked my dad.

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.180
 That's what Paul is saying here

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:38.940
 about these Christians.

00:18:39.060 --> 00:18:40.200
 They began to mimic

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:42.360
 their family.

00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:44.080
 They began to copy

00:18:44.080 --> 00:18:45.560
 the family traits.

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:47.680
 They started copying Paul.

00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:49.300
 And Paul is saying here

00:18:49.300 --> 00:18:50.420
 that's incredible

00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.000
 because do you know

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.040
 where we learnt it from?

00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:53.440
 Do you know who we're trying to copy?

00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:55.300
 The Lord Jesus Christ.

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:58.159
 This is who we are living for.

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.379
 This is who we are copying.

00:18:59.539 --> 00:18:59.940
 Together

00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:01.759
 we are heading for him.

00:19:03.799 --> 00:19:04.159
 Friends,

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.000
 is it not a beautiful

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.259
 little example right here?

00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.099
 And we'll think more

00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:07.960
 about this next week

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.759
 so I'm conscious

00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:09.759
 of not stepping on toes

00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.299
 for next week.

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:11.599
 Is it not a lovely

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.579
 biblical example

00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:14.220
 of what discipleship looks like?

00:19:15.220 --> 00:19:15.559
 Seeing

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.720
 and copying.

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:17.759
 Seeing

00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:18.899
 and copying.

00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:21.379
 Just as a little side,

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.399
 we'll come into the lay-by here.

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.039
 A little side

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.019
 from my heart

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.379
 at the minute.

00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:26.240
 I wonder if you're so encouraged

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:26.859
 when you look around

00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:27.720
 this church at the minute,

00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.420
 this church family

00:19:28.420 --> 00:19:29.879
 and we see so many young people.

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.680
 So many young people.

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.799
 What a privilege it is

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.440
 to be able to have

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.379
 so many kids

00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:36.799
 as part of this church family.

00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:39.000
 But with that privilege,

00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:40.200
 does it not come

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:42.579
 an incredible responsibility

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:44.659
 to take seriously

00:19:44.659 --> 00:19:46.319
 modelling the Christian life

00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.099
 to these young minds?

00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:50.460
 Saying,

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.000
 do you know what?

00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.880
 Do you want to see

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.660
 what the Christian life

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:53.119
 looks like?

00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:53.900
 Do you want to see

00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:55.539
 what pursuing righteousness

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.119
 looks like?

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.660
 Do you want to see

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.240
 what it looks like

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.019
 to seek first

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.900
 the kingdom of God

00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.220
 and his righteousness?

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.880
 Do you want to see

00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:02.680
 what a life

00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:04.259
 lived in love

00:20:04.259 --> 00:20:05.460
 and in service

00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.099
 of the Lord Jesus

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:06.599
 looks like?

00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.339
 Then look to us.

00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:08.200
 Look to me.

00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:09.700
 Copy me.

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.119
 I think about,

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.079
 I just think about

00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:13.720
 my little girls

00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.440
 growing up in the world,

00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.079
 the world that they're

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.779
 growing up in.

00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.480
 And the truth is,

00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.160
 if we're not discipling

00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.740
 these children,

00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.120
 the world will be

00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:22.100
 discipling these children.

00:20:22.820 --> 00:20:23.820
 What an incredible

00:20:23.820 --> 00:20:25.640
 responsibility we have

00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.779
 to these young minds

00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.840
 to say,

00:20:28.100 --> 00:20:28.779
 do you want to see

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.500
 what real authentic

00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.700
 Christian faith looks like?

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.900
 Watch us as we model it.

00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:35.300
 Watch us as we model it.

00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:38.259
 Sharing word and heart,

00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:41.100
 sharing gospel and life,

00:20:42.540 --> 00:20:43.440
 being disciples

00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.680
 that seek to make disciples,

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:47.960
 passing this on,

00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.900
 mimicking the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.299
 seeking to imitate those

00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:52.980
 who are also running

00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:54.799
 this race of faith.

00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:55.820
 Because Paul looks

00:20:55.820 --> 00:20:56.900
 at these Thessalonians,

00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.600
 he looks at the way

00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.180
 they welcome,

00:20:58.539 --> 00:20:59.200
 he looks at the way

00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.740
 they imitate,

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.720
 and look what he writes

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.340
 at verse 7.

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.180
 This is incredible.

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:04.100
 Other people

00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:06.259
 in the surrounding regions,

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.400
 people that they've

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.120
 never met,

00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:08.799
 people that they

00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:10.080
 never will meet,

00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.900
 they've heard about them.

00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:12.860
 Is that not encouraging?

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.019
 How encouraging

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:14.759
 must that have been

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.819
 for these Thessalonians

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.819
 to hear?

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.859
 So presumably Paul,

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:19.440
 as he continues

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:20.619
 to travel around

00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:21.839
 speaking to others

00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.480
 about Jesus,

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:24.379
 he hears that people

00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.519
 have heard about

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.460
 what God has done

00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:27.079
 in the lives

00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:28.599
 of these Thessalonian Christians.

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.579
 He's heard about it.

00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:33.539
 The Lord's message

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.319
 has rang out.

00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.440
 See the language

00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:35.900
 he's using?

00:21:36.420 --> 00:21:37.180
 Through you,

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.279
 the bell was sounded.

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.819
 God shouted his message

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.599
 loud and creel

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.500
 and people heard.

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.079
 God has used you

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:45.119
 and through you

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.059
 he's used it

00:21:46.059 --> 00:21:48.059
 to spread the gospel message

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:49.200
 and encourage people

00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:50.500
 around the world

00:21:50.500 --> 00:21:51.859
 to live for him.

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.799
 Now I find

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:55.759
 that an incredible thought.

00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:57.619
 I find it incredible

00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:58.319
 hearing how God

00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.400
 is at work in Barcelona

00:21:59.400 --> 00:21:59.940
 through people

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:01.079
 that I will never meet.

00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.240
 To have an example

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.000
 of this in my life

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.400
 this week,

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.680
 I came to our

00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.680
 Wednesday night prayer meetings.

00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.660
 I love our Wednesday

00:22:07.660 --> 00:22:08.480
 night prayer meetings.

00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:09.460
 Love them.

00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.000
 Becky was telling us

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.559
 a bit about Sudan,

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.619
 the country of Sudan

00:22:13.619 --> 00:22:14.980
 and particularly

00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:15.700
 how we can pray

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.440
 for that country

00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:17.940
 and pray for the Christians there.

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:19.119
 And Becky told us

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:19.880
 that in Sudan

00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:20.680
 the government there

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.519
 are seeking to create

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.079
 a country

00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.920
 with one culture,

00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:25.259
 one language,

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.460
 one religion

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.619
 and it's not Christianity.

00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.980
 So for anybody

00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.019
 who wants to convert

00:22:31.019 --> 00:22:32.460
 from Islam to Christianity,

00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.559
 the death penalty

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:35.500
 is a serious possibility

00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.259
 for you.

00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:39.099
 And I heard that

00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:40.299
 and I thought,

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.079
 wow,

00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:42.180
 wonder if anybody's

00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:42.859
 becoming a Christian.

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:46.220
 But despite that threat,

00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.559
 people are still

00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.319
 becoming Christians

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.960
 in Sudan.

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.700
 Isn't it encouraging

00:22:50.700 --> 00:22:51.200
 to hear

00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.980
 that they have weighed up

00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:54.400
 the cost of following Jesus

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:56.099
 and it's worth it.

00:22:57.460 --> 00:22:59.839
 God has been at work

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.480
 in the lives

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.339
 of those people there.

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.379
 People that I will never

00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.279
 meet in this life.

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:04.899
 But people

00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:05.859
 who I think

00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.599
 it will be a joy

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.700
 to say to

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:08.819
 when I meet them in glory,

00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:09.960
 all of God's people

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.740
 worshipping are three

00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.519
 in one God together.

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.599
 I'll be able to say to them,

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.240
 see the way that you

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.259
 welcomed that message.

00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:15.279
 See the way that you

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.740
 imitated Jesus Christ

00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:19.139
 in such severe suffering.

00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.519
 I heard about it

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:21.180
 around the other side

00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:21.740
 of the globe

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:22.819
 and let me tell you

00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:24.160
 what encouragement it was

00:23:24.160 --> 00:23:25.220
 to hear about your faith.

00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:28.720
 Friends,

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.700
 how do you spot a Christian?

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:33.440
 Look at what the people

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.140
 in Macedonia

00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:35.340
 and Achaia are saying

00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:37.140
 about these

00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:38.319
 Thessalonian Christians

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.980
 at the second half

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.559
 of verse 9

00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.240
 and verse 10

00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.220
 and here's where we come

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.120
 to our three marks

00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:44.220
 of the real deal Christian.

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.940
 What is it people

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.940
 are saying about them?

00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.860
 Here's the first thing

00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:50.160
 that they've turned.

00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:52.180
 They've turned.

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.920
 They were heading one way

00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:56.180
 and now because God

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.120
 has so graciously

00:23:57.120 --> 00:23:58.700
 acted to transform them,

00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.559
 now they're heading

00:23:59.559 --> 00:24:00.240
 another way.

00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.940
 From what?

00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:02.600
 Idols.

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.940
 Maybe physical idols.

00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:06.539
 The false gods

00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.180
 of the culture

00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.880
 that people up

00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:08.680
 and down that land,

00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.539
 up and down their city

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.360
 are bowing to.

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.799
 Maybe just the values

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:13.059
 and dreams of the world

00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.519
 that they chase

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.620
 along with everyone else.

00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.340
 Money, comfort,

00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:19.559
 sex, power, fame.

00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:23.059
 Tim Keller in his book

00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:24.080
 Counterfeit Gods,

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:24.720
 another one of you

00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.779
 looking for a summer read

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.840
 to kind of recommend that one.

00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.059
 He defines an idol

00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:28.659
 like this.

00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:29.659
 What is an idol?

00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:32.119
 It is anything more important

00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:33.059
 to you than God.

00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.740
 Anything that absorbs

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.980
 your heart and imagination

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.980
 more than God

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:38.339
 and anything you seek

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:38.839
 to give,

00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:40.419
 anything you seek

00:24:40.419 --> 00:24:41.220
 to give you

00:24:41.220 --> 00:24:42.480
 what only God alone

00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.139
 can give.

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.619
 Well, these Thessalonians,

00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.639
 they used to live

00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:49.059
 for these things,

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:52.299
 but they've turned

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.220
 and now they're living

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.460
 for what?

00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.799
 The living and true God.

00:24:59.180 --> 00:25:00.420
 Living and true God.

00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.120
 Paul said,

00:25:01.759 --> 00:25:02.860
 you've turned to worship

00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.660
 and serve what?

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.559
 The substance,

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:05.600
 the reality,

00:25:06.140 --> 00:25:07.140
 the giver of life,

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.360
 the God who speaks

00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:09.019
 and lives

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:10.660
 and acts in this world

00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:11.960
 and the God

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.720
 who acts

00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.519
 to save,

00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:14.100
 to forgive,

00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.019
 to restore,

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.819
 to give life

00:25:15.819 --> 00:25:16.640
 by His Spirit

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.940
 to His people

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:19.059
 through the message

00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.640
 about His Son.

00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:20.180
 That's the God

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.000
 who you serve now.

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.840
 The living God.

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:26.440
 It's a wonder

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.160
 if you're here tonight

00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.420
 and you're still

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:30.320
 living for idols,

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.960
 longing for the things

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.759
 of the world

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:35.080
 that you think

00:25:35.080 --> 00:25:35.860
 will give you purpose

00:25:35.860 --> 00:25:36.520
 in life.

00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:38.900
 The things that will be

00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:39.880
 here one day

00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:40.980
 and they will be gone

00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:41.620
 tomorrow.

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.180
 Well, God beckons you

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:44.960
 in His Word tonight

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.480
 to come to Him.

00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.700
 To come to Him,

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.880
 the living

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:51.660
 and the true God.

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.660
 The one who is

00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.980
 eternally the same

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:55.539
 yesterday,

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.819
 today and forever.

00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:58.019
 To come to Him

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:59.660
 and to have life

00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:01.120
 in His name.

00:26:01.840 --> 00:26:03.700
 To become a worshiper

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:05.519
 of this living

00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.319
 and true God.

00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:07.539
 The reason that you were made

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.920
 in the first place.

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.480
 These Thessalonians

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.519
 are known for their turning.

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.279
 Secondly,

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.240
 they are known

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.360
 for their serving.

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.620
 Not themselves.

00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:19.379
 but the living

00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.199
 and true God.

00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.139
 Because they've got hearts

00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:22.899
 that have been grasped

00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:23.839
 by God's grace,

00:26:24.219 --> 00:26:25.639
 they now serve Him.

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.919
 It is not a duty,

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:28.119
 it's a delight.

00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:29.739
 His purposes

00:26:29.739 --> 00:26:30.719
 are their purposes.

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.439
 Their money

00:26:31.439 --> 00:26:32.199
 is His money.

00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:32.799
 His mission

00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:33.459
 is their mission.

00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.139
 Their possessions

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:35.019
 are His possessions.

00:26:35.399 --> 00:26:36.099
 And together,

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:37.819
 they have become

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.939
 the people

00:26:38.939 --> 00:26:40.679
 of the living God.

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:43.380
 and these Christians

00:26:43.380 --> 00:26:44.600
 have become known

00:26:44.600 --> 00:26:49.980
 for their loving service.

00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.960
 And not just how they serve,

00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.519
 but who they serve.

00:26:58.740 --> 00:26:59.820
 Let me ask you this evening,

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.600
 think about the people

00:27:00.600 --> 00:27:01.660
 that you work with.

00:27:02.320 --> 00:27:03.180
 Think about the people

00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.100
 that you rub shoulders

00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:05.000
 with every day.

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.019
 Family, friends,

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.860
 people that live

00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.920
 in your stairwell.

00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.420
 If we were to ask them tonight

00:27:10.420 --> 00:27:11.340
 as they look into

00:27:11.340 --> 00:27:12.259
 our lives,

00:27:13.160 --> 00:27:14.180
 we had to ask them,

00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.440
 who do you think

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.360
 that they serve?

00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:18.640
 I wonder what they would say.

00:27:21.420 --> 00:27:21.779
 Friends,

00:27:21.860 --> 00:27:22.680
 to quote Bob Dylan,

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:25.060
 you're going to have

00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:25.920
 to serve somebody.

00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.940
 I was almost singing it there,

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.560
 I'm not going to sing it.

00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.480
 Indeed,

00:27:29.560 --> 00:27:29.960
 you're going to have

00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:30.820
 to serve somebody.

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.620
 It may be the devil

00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.740
 or it may be the Lord,

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.820
 but you're going to have

00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:34.700
 to serve somebody.

00:27:36.060 --> 00:27:36.680
 What do people,

00:27:36.680 --> 00:27:38.400
 as they look into our lives,

00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.880
 who is it that they see

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.620
 that we serve?

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:43.740
 See,

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.340
 the watching world

00:27:44.340 --> 00:27:45.279
 was in no doubt

00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.720
 as to who these

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.259
 Thessalonian Christians serve.

00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:50.480
 No doubt whatsoever.

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.420
 The question is,

00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.240
 who do people think

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.880
 that we serve?

00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:56.140
 Remember when I used

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.779
 to work in law,

00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.940
 I had a good friend,

00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:58.740
 Christian friend

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.380
 who I worked with,

00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.320
 we were at the same firm

00:28:00.320 --> 00:28:01.460
 for a couple of years.

00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.720
 And I moved on

00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.400
 from that company,

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:04.360
 went to work down

00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:05.200
 in Bristol for a while.

00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:05.840
 We moved back

00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:07.000
 a couple of years later

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.360
 and I met him

00:28:08.360 --> 00:28:08.900
 in the street

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:09.779
 when I was out and about

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.140
 in Edinburgh

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.200
 when I first moved back.

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:11.500
 I said,

00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:11.759
 mate,

00:28:11.840 --> 00:28:12.779
 great to see you.

00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:13.860
 And you can imagine

00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:14.539
 the first question

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.080
 I asked him,

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.160
 you still at that firm?

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.620
 You still at that firm?

00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.420
 And he said,

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:19.960
 no,

00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.799
 I've moved on

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.279
 from that firm,

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.200
 I've got another job.

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:22.380
 I said,

00:28:22.380 --> 00:28:23.400
 why did you leave your job?

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.240
 And he said to me,

00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:27.420
 I had to move on

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.620
 because it got to the point

00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:29.279
 that the hours

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.500
 they were asking me to work,

00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.759
 they were just getting

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.259
 in the way.

00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:33.240
 I said,

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:33.900
 what do you mean?

00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:35.180
 And he said,

00:28:35.240 --> 00:28:35.380
 well,

00:28:35.400 --> 00:28:36.440
 in the midst of other things,

00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.540
 the hours they were asking me

00:28:37.540 --> 00:28:38.040
 to work,

00:28:38.580 --> 00:28:39.140
 do you know what?

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.740
 It was stopping me

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.880
 ever going to the prayer meeting.

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.080
 That's what he said.

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.640
 It was stopping me

00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:47.080
 ever going to the prayer meeting.

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.340
 And the application of that

00:28:49.340 --> 00:28:50.460
 is not give up your job.

00:28:51.560 --> 00:28:52.960
 The application of that

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:55.560
 is to look at somebody

00:28:55.560 --> 00:28:56.580
 and know who they serve.

00:28:56.579 --> 00:28:59.720
 I was in no doubt

00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.460
 as to who that

00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.699
 brother of mine

00:29:01.699 --> 00:29:02.980
 served

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:04.059
 when I heard him say that.

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.119
 Friends,

00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:05.559
 do people know

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.259
 who we serve?

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.319
 These Thessalonians

00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.019
 are known

00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:12.240
 for their serving

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.439
 of the living

00:29:13.439 --> 00:29:14.259
 and true God.

00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:14.919
 Second mark,

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.419
 they serve.

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.079
 Third mark,

00:29:16.159 --> 00:29:16.679
 they wait.

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.679
 For who?

00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.379
 Jesus.

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:21.559
 The son of the living God

00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.139
 to return.

00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.579
 The same Jesus,

00:29:23.679 --> 00:29:24.859
 do you see in the verses there?

00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:26.599
 That God raised from the dead?

00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:28.159
 Says Paul is at the underscore

00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.019
 the certainty

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.559
 of his return.

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.819
 That is now the event

00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:34.039
 that should shape your life.

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:35.139
 That is now the moment

00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:35.859
 that should be fixed

00:29:35.859 --> 00:29:36.939
 on your horizons.

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.339
 And they longingly wait

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.579
 for Jesus to return.

00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:41.219
 In fact,

00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.099
 as we're going to journey

00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.139
 through this letter together

00:29:43.139 --> 00:29:43.679
 over the summer,

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.559
 that we'll see that

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:46.439
 waiting for Jesus to come back

00:29:46.439 --> 00:29:47.879
 is such a prominent theme

00:29:47.879 --> 00:29:48.579
 in this letter.

00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:49.839
 And Paul wants them

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:50.839
 to be in no doubt

00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.899
 that it's going to happen.

00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:54.279
 Because he realizes,

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:54.980
 and it's true

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.759
 in the Christian life,

00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:56.160
 isn't it?

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.220
 To be focused

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.160
 and to be certain

00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:59.359
 on that day

00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:01.299
 finds it affects

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.000
 our every day.

00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.680
 And waiting while

00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:05.259
 is not a matter

00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.899
 of resting

00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:06.720
 nor is it a matter

00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.460
 of hesitating.

00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.299
 It's a matter

00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:09.160
 of anticipating.

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.639
 Waiting is not a matter

00:30:11.639 --> 00:30:12.879
 of twiddling your thumbs,

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:13.700
 wondering whether

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.599
 it's going to happen.

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.720
 Waiting is not a matter

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.700
 of crossing your fingers,

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.480
 hoping that it might

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.200
 one day happen.

00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:19.460
 Waiting is a matter

00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:20.379
 of lifting our hands

00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:20.859
 in worship

00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:22.200
 and using our hands

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:22.720
 in service,

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:23.480
 knowing the truth

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.339
 and living in the truth

00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:25.180
 that one day

00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:27.019
 is going to happen.

00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:30.200
 Jesus will return.

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.819
 And what will he do?

00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:34.480
 When he comes,

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.599
 he will deliver us

00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.599
 from the wrath to come.

00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:38.420
 He will save us

00:30:38.420 --> 00:30:40.200
 from God's righteous judgment

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.920
 of all things.

00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.460
 It's amazing there

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.339
 in the English.

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.240
 We don't quite get

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.259
 the sense of the

00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:50.299
 full justice

00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.339
 of the Greek word there.

00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:53.119
 Jesus, literally the one

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:54.039
 delivering us

00:30:54.039 --> 00:30:55.079
 from the wrath to come.

00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:56.000
 As if to say,

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:57.339
 not only will he deliver us

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:57.839
 that day,

00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:58.539
 but even now,

00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:00.699
 in some small measures

00:31:00.699 --> 00:31:01.579
 we were saying earlier,

00:31:01.679 --> 00:31:02.779
 as God transforms us

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.500
 by his spirit

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:04.379
 more into the image

00:31:04.379 --> 00:31:05.039
 of Christ,

00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:07.019
 even now, friends,

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.679
 we're being delivered

00:31:07.679 --> 00:31:08.220
 for the things

00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:08.899
 that used to dominate

00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:09.439
 our lives.

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.480
 And one day God will judge.

00:31:11.199 --> 00:31:12.019
 Even now,

00:31:13.059 --> 00:31:13.699
 God is,

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.099
 through Jesus,

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.980
 delivering us.

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:19.880
 And until he does,

00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.180
 friends,

00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:21.120
 we would devote ourselves

00:31:21.120 --> 00:31:22.099
 to his service

00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:23.460
 to be met one day

00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.079
 with those words,

00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:24.720
 well done,

00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:26.200
 good and faithful servant.

00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.160
 You waited well.

00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:29.720
 Somebody once asked

00:31:29.720 --> 00:31:30.279
 John Wesley

00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.500
 what you would be doing today

00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.460
 if he knew that Jesus

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:33.599
 would be returning tomorrow.

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:36.099
 And he looked at his diary,

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:38.079
 he looked at what he had on today

00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:38.480
 and he said,

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.519
 I would be doing just that.

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:41.880
 Just that.

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:43.799
 Friends,

00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.259
 do we model

00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:45.259
 that same kind of readiness?

00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:47.559
 These Thessalonians

00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.180
 are known

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:49.220
 for their waiting.

00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:51.720
 What does Paul see

00:31:51.720 --> 00:31:52.000
 in them?

00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.619
 Verse 3,

00:31:53.339 --> 00:31:54.379
 his famous triad

00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:54.759
 that you see

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.240
 all the way through

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.759
 his letters,

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.599
 faith,

00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:57.579
 love,

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.559
 and hope.

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:01.099
 What do people

00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:01.799
 know about them?

00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:03.480
 That they've turned,

00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.799
 that they serve,

00:32:05.140 --> 00:32:05.839
 that they wait.

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.400
 Of course,

00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:07.359
 the two sets of three

00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:08.619
 are intrinsically linked,

00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:09.019
 aren't they?

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:10.480
 Faith,

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.240
 how is that faith

00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:12.420
 manifesting itself?

00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:14.759
 How has it manifested itself?

00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.819
 In their turning.

00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:17.839
 Love,

00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:18.640
 how is that love

00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:19.980
 manifesting itself

00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.640
 for the Lord,

00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.500
 for their fellow brothers

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.019
 and sisters,

00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:23.220
 for the people of the world

00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:24.559
 in their serving?

00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:26.059
 And hope,

00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:26.839
 remember,

00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:28.299
 not clutching at straws,

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:30.039
 hope based on the facts

00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.900
 about God.

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.740
 How is that hope

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:34.200
 manifesting itself?

00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.980
 In their waiting.

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:37.879
 Turn,

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:38.819
 serve,

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:39.519
 wait.

00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:40.900
 Turn,

00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:41.879
 serve,

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:42.700
 wait.

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:44.539
 Turn,

00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:44.819
 serve,

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.160
 wait.

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:45.799
 Friends,

00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.440
 as we close,

00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.799
 how do you spot a Christian?

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.740
 Not by what they're wearing,

00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:53.080
 but by how they're living.

00:32:54.080 --> 00:32:55.660
 Three marks of a real dull Christian.

00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:57.720
 Someone who's turned.

00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:00.160
 Someone who serves.

00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:02.319
 Someone who weighs.

00:33:04.600 --> 00:33:05.360
 Acts 17.

00:33:05.580 --> 00:33:07.160
 These men who have caused trouble

00:33:07.160 --> 00:33:08.200
 all over the world

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:09.180
 have now come here

00:33:09.180 --> 00:33:11.200
 and Jason has welcomed them

00:33:11.200 --> 00:33:12.080
 into his house.

00:33:12.360 --> 00:33:14.519
 They're all defying Caesar's decrees

00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.120
 saying

00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:17.160
 that there is another king,

00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:19.000
 one called Jesus.

00:33:20.100 --> 00:33:20.940
 And I was thinking in my head

00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.680
 just as we close,

00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.420
 I was thinking in my head

00:33:22.420 --> 00:33:23.039
 when this first,

00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:25.160
 when this group of Christians,

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.299
 when they first met together,

00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.320
 can you imagine that meeting?

00:33:28.299 --> 00:33:29.140
 Can you imagine that meeting

00:33:29.140 --> 00:33:30.400
 the first time they got together?

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.519
 Looking at each other,

00:33:31.580 --> 00:33:31.779
 thinking,

00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:32.480
 why are we here?

00:33:33.060 --> 00:33:33.700
 Why are we here?

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.519
 Oh, I know why we were here.

00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:37.240
 What's the first song

00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:37.759
 we're going to sing?

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.500
 What's the first hymn

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.119
 that we're going to sing

00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:40.220
 in this very first meeting

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.640
 of this church in Thessalonica?

00:33:42.980 --> 00:33:43.960
 Jesus is Lord.

00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.660
 Yet from his throne eternal,

00:33:46.879 --> 00:33:47.980
 in flesh he came

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:49.099
 to die in pain

00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:50.400
 on Calvary's tree.

00:33:50.539 --> 00:33:51.500
 Jesus is Lord.

00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:53.900
 From him all life proceeding,

00:33:54.359 --> 00:33:55.839
 yet gave his life a ransom,

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:56.920
 thus setting us free.

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.220
 Jesus is Lord.

00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.700
 Jesus is Lord.

00:34:00.140 --> 00:34:02.900
 Praise him with hallelujahs

00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:05.680
 for Jesus is Lord.

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 Mears.

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 The First