WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.219 Jesus, we thank you. 00:00:07.100 --> 00:00:12.439 We thank you that in a room full of people, in a room full of laughter, you are here. 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:18.140 And you are here because of what happened 2,000 years ago when you died and when you rose again. 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:24.440 We also know that you are coming back again, that the world right now is not perfect. 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:28.900 Just as we hear the drilling happening upstairs, this world is still under construction. 00:00:28.899 --> 00:00:31.079 But you are making all things new. 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:31.919 You will return. 00:00:32.519 --> 00:00:33.979 You will wipe away every tear. 00:00:34.119 --> 00:00:39.320 You will remove every crevice of darkness that exists in this world. 00:00:40.019 --> 00:00:42.560 You, Jesus, are the light of the world and we seek to follow you. 00:00:44.179 --> 00:00:44.980 We thank you. 00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:51.399 So be with us now as we continue together, as we continue to open up your word. 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:57.359 And ask that question, what it means to live with you and what it means to live without you. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:00:59.740 We pray that you would be in our midst. 00:00:59.899 --> 00:01:01.500 And Holy Spirit, we welcome you here. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:03.859 We know you have something to say. 00:01:04.739 --> 00:01:05.680 So we're receptive. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:06.920 Speak. 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:12.900 Today we do not want our hearts to be hardened when we hear your voice. 00:01:14.579 --> 00:01:15.260 Thank you, Lord. 00:01:16.420 --> 00:01:17.340 In your name we pray. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:18.680 Amen. 00:01:18.680 --> 00:01:25.920 Well, thank you so much to Cubon and Jamie for doing that video. 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:27.620 I confess I had not watched it. 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:29.940 But Jamie messaged me last night. 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.380 I was like, I hope you don't kill me after you've watched the video. 00:01:32.460 --> 00:01:33.280 I was like, why would I do that? 00:01:33.320 --> 00:01:36.040 It's a video about Jesus and testimonies. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:37.160 Now I know. 00:01:38.460 --> 00:01:39.160 Now I know. 00:01:40.020 --> 00:01:41.500 You made it about my hair again. 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:45.359 But thank you, Jamie. 00:01:49.060 --> 00:01:49.920 It's the resurrection. 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:51.219 This is it. 00:01:51.960 --> 00:01:53.460 It's all about this day. 00:01:54.460 --> 00:01:57.379 You and I don't live the lives that we have. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:58.599 We're not for this day. 00:01:59.260 --> 00:02:04.019 We don't live because Jesus came and was a good teacher and dying for our sins. 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:05.599 It was because of today. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:07.039 Something happened today. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:09.939 That's important that we need to remember. 00:02:10.340 --> 00:02:13.159 And at the beginning of the service, we read through 1 Corinthians 15. 00:02:13.300 --> 00:02:16.439 There is no getting away from this passage today. 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:17.400 This is it. 00:02:17.700 --> 00:02:25.340 If you want to find out about what Christianity is all about, you look at 1 Corinthians 15 and you see that it is about the resurrection. 00:02:25.580 --> 00:02:27.180 It is all just about that. 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:30.860 So as you can see, if we just turn there now, we are opening up the word. 00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:33.980 So if you have your Bibles, have your apps. 00:02:33.979 --> 00:02:44.739 1 Corinthians 15 is the most majestic piece on why the resurrection is important, why it really is only the thing, the only thing that is really important. 00:02:44.839 --> 00:02:51.939 I'm going to be sharing only a short while today, as we've had so many other people sharing, because that's really the spirit of what Christianity is. 00:02:51.939 --> 00:02:56.919 It isn't just one person sharing about the good news, because I don't know how far that would have gotten. 00:02:57.139 --> 00:03:01.280 It's when everyone takes on the message and shares the good news of Jesus Christ. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:04.699 It's when not just one person does it because their life is transformed. 00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:12.439 It's because, can you imagine if every single person in this room goes out and the next person that you meet, hey, do you know about Jesus? 00:03:13.079 --> 00:03:14.719 Do you know why we have this public holiday? 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:17.460 Do you know why we get to have time off tomorrow? 00:03:17.460 --> 00:03:21.620 Can you imagine the effect that would have if we all went out and did that? 00:03:22.260 --> 00:03:28.140 And one thing I will say about that is there is true purpose in one person standing on the pulpit, opening up the word and preaching. 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:30.939 But that can't be the only type. 00:03:31.620 --> 00:03:36.760 Why we had the interviews is because the majority of times when we share the gospel, it is with people. 00:03:36.900 --> 00:03:38.420 It is through conversation. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:40.819 It is unscripted. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:43.799 But that's the question I want to ask you today. 00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:46.359 Where would you be without Christ? 00:03:46.959 --> 00:03:49.680 And where are you now with him? 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:52.439 Has he changed the way you live at all? 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:54.919 This passage says here, chapter 15, verse 1. 00:03:55.259 --> 00:04:02.319 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and which you stand, by which you are being saved. 00:04:03.180 --> 00:04:03.680 Verse 3. 00:04:03.780 --> 00:04:07.039 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received. 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:09.079 He's saying, you've received this message. 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:10.219 I told you this message. 00:04:10.420 --> 00:04:10.900 And guess what? 00:04:10.920 --> 00:04:11.620 I didn't make it up. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:14.740 I passed it on to you because someone passed it on to me. 00:04:14.980 --> 00:04:17.939 That's the nature of the good news, that it must keep spreading. 00:04:18.080 --> 00:04:19.600 You must keep sharing it. 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:24.639 When there is a good news, whether it's a good Friday sale or a Black Friday sale, it doesn't matter. 00:04:24.740 --> 00:04:33.139 We must go and share it with the people when we know that Lululemon has a sale and we all need to go to Francis so we can buy some Lululemon stuff on discount. 00:04:33.379 --> 00:04:34.220 That's good news. 00:04:34.259 --> 00:04:35.720 And we spread it and we share it. 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:44.760 But for some reason, the greatest news of all, that the thing that we are most afraid of, death itself, has been defeated. 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:51.140 It's the last enemy standing, is what it says here in 1 Corinthians 15, has been defeated and yet we don't share it. 00:04:51.139 --> 00:05:03.159 And when we are talking to our friends and our colleagues who are just down and just burdened by the things of this world, when they're grieving because of death in their family, we stand there silent. 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:10.860 When we have this news, when we received it, we must pass it on. 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:14.600 Verse 9 is what I'm going to kind of focus on and use as a springboard today. 00:05:15.140 --> 00:05:17.120 Paul says, actually verse 8, 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:33.780 What we see here is Paul saying, hey, I turned 180. 00:05:34.780 --> 00:05:37.939 There was a transformation in me because I met the living Christ. 00:05:37.939 --> 00:05:44.060 If you know scripture, you'll know that in Acts 8, Saul was a Pharisee, a very highly ranked one. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.680 And he was standing witnessing the murder of Stephen, the deacon. 00:05:48.540 --> 00:05:50.699 And he was basically saying, this is okay. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:55.420 But then one chapter later in Acts chapter 9, he meets Jesus. 00:05:56.259 --> 00:06:00.959 And he goes from Saul to Paul and Christ says to him, why are you persecuting me? 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:05.639 And in one interaction, one encounter, Saul is turned to Paul. 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:10.479 He is transformed 180 and he becomes the greatest evangelist the church has ever known. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:14.799 God says, you were killing my people. 00:06:14.979 --> 00:06:17.879 Now you're going to be my chosen instrument. 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:22.099 I'm going to choose you to spread the good news. 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:24.740 That's an incredible transformation, people. 00:06:25.179 --> 00:06:29.599 When you meet Christ, you will transform is the point of today's sharing. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:32.900 When you meet Christ, you will transform. 00:06:33.820 --> 00:06:35.860 Look at Peter or Cephas. 00:06:36.420 --> 00:06:38.879 He's given a new name when he meets Christ. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:39.920 He was impulsive. 00:06:40.060 --> 00:06:40.780 He was violent. 00:06:41.220 --> 00:06:43.620 And yet after he meets Christ, he completely turns. 00:06:43.900 --> 00:06:48.280 And while Paul is the greatest evangelist in the church, Peter is the one who. 00:06:48.980 --> 00:06:51.160 Oh, that's a really fun sound. 00:06:52.780 --> 00:06:55.040 Peter is the one who Christ builds the church. 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:56.840 He's the rock that he builds the church on. 00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:59.220 Again, 180 turn. 00:06:59.980 --> 00:07:01.660 Again, a name change. 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:07.340 Jacob goes to, from Jacob to Israel because of he wrestled, because he wrestles with God. 00:07:07.420 --> 00:07:08.780 There's another lady in Luke. 00:07:08.939 --> 00:07:13.720 You see here this lady called Mary who is probably mentally and spiritually oppressed. 00:07:14.140 --> 00:07:18.920 She has seven demons inside her, cast out by society, cast out most likely by her family. 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:28.000 And yet in her encounter with Christ, she goes from one who is cast out by society by the first witness of the risen Christ. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:33.000 Let me just retell the story of John 20 just for a second here again. 00:07:33.339 --> 00:07:35.339 So Good Friday was when Christ died. 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:39.219 And then on Sunday morning, Mary, she has nowhere else to go. 00:07:39.299 --> 00:07:40.899 She had seven demons inside her. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:43.039 People were avoiding her like the plague. 00:07:44.219 --> 00:07:46.219 And Sunday morning, she has nowhere else to go. 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:49.800 So whilst it's still dark, she goes out to the tomb. 00:07:50.880 --> 00:07:52.420 I don't really know what she's going for. 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:55.100 To be honest, I'm pretty sure she doesn't really know what she's going there for. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:56.840 She's just like, what do I do now? 00:07:57.580 --> 00:08:02.160 I thought I had, I thought this was my chance at transformation for good. 00:08:02.400 --> 00:08:06.600 And yet it's going down the same way just as it did in the past. 00:08:07.140 --> 00:08:09.720 So she stands at the tomb, but then she realizes it's open. 00:08:09.780 --> 00:08:10.360 And she's like, whoa. 00:08:11.080 --> 00:08:13.020 So then she goes back and she tells the disciples. 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:14.480 And then Peter and John, they run. 00:08:14.820 --> 00:08:17.780 John is quite amusing because then he notes because he's writing this story. 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:20.620 He wants all of us to know that he's a faster runner than Peter. 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:22.760 And he says, hey, I got there first. 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:24.540 Peter is a slow guy. 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:25.540 He got there afterwards. 00:08:25.640 --> 00:08:28.120 But both of us realize that the tomb is empty. 00:08:28.520 --> 00:08:30.820 And so then they ran back and they were like, well, we're going to go home. 00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:32.019 We're going to figure out what this means. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:34.600 Maybe we'll find out what happened to the body. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:35.819 Maybe the Romans took him. 00:08:36.079 --> 00:08:37.139 Maybe the Pharisees took him. 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:40.199 Let's go home and recollect ourselves and find out. 00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:41.240 What does Mary do? 00:08:42.719 --> 00:08:44.120 Mary goes back to the tomb again. 00:08:44.179 --> 00:08:44.959 She's like, this can't be. 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:46.379 This can't be. 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:51.100 The guys won't let me have that conversation with them about the strategy that they're going to dream up. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:56.959 I'm just going to go back to the tomb again where I last saw my Lord's body. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:58.679 And what does she meet? 00:08:58.779 --> 00:09:01.459 She does meet the body, but not in the form that she last saw. 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:03.519 She meets the risen Lord. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:04.879 She is the first witness. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:07.480 What a transformation that she had. 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:10.240 And I've said this before. 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:14.320 If you're making up a story of Christianity, you do not have Mary be the first witness. 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:22.080 Actually, you do not even choose women to be the first witness because they wouldn't be invited into court to even be witnesses. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:24.040 And yet here we are. 00:09:24.259 --> 00:09:30.820 The truth of the gospel shows us that Christ decides, I'm going to introduce myself to the least of these. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:32.340 I say least of these. 00:09:32.420 --> 00:09:35.900 It's because what us people think are the least of these. 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:37.600 But that is not how the kingdom of heaven works. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:41.100 In fact, he runs towards the least of these. 00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:44.420 We are the least of these. 00:09:45.560 --> 00:09:47.940 And so Mary is completely transformed. 00:09:48.040 --> 00:09:50.080 Think about Zacchaeus in Luke 19. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:53.060 Hated by his people because he was a chief tax collector. 00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:54.620 Robbing their money. 00:09:55.060 --> 00:09:56.340 And what happens when he meets Jesus? 00:09:56.440 --> 00:09:57.500 He does a 180. 00:09:57.500 --> 00:10:01.299 And says, hey, whatever I took, I'm going to give back. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:02.320 Fourfold. 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:04.159 Transformation. 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:08.039 What about in modern day society? 00:10:08.940 --> 00:10:12.700 The people that we see who make these 180 turns. 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:14.799 Do you have a turn? 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:17.080 Have you changed much? 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:22.179 I've had the privilege of meeting some of you before you met Christ and after you met Christ. 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:23.120 And you're different. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:24.220 You're different. 00:10:24.419 --> 00:10:25.639 The language you use is different. 00:10:25.720 --> 00:10:26.779 The word you use most of the time. 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.320 There's a process. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:29.120 Right? 00:10:29.779 --> 00:10:30.740 I think about Augustine. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:34.120 Who is just one of the founding fathers of just theology. 00:10:34.539 --> 00:10:37.379 But was a young man who was trapped in sin and lust and philosophy. 00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:39.379 But then he meets Christ. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:41.940 He hears a voice telling him, hey, open up Romans 13. 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.120 And then he completely changes. 00:10:44.899 --> 00:10:47.159 And he finds his rest in God. 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:49.779 Think about a slave trader called John. 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:53.960 Who was born to a father who was the captain of a ship. 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:55.519 A mother who was a devout Christian. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:00.419 But when he was in his teens, he followed his dad into sea and really kind of just abandoned the faith. 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:04.379 Became someone who actually trafficked slaves around on the ship. 00:11:05.579 --> 00:11:08.139 So one day he was caught at sea in a storm. 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:11.100 And he cries out to this God that his mother knew. 00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:13.319 And says, please, save me. 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:13.860 Help me. 00:11:15.960 --> 00:11:17.319 And God does save him. 00:11:18.960 --> 00:11:22.120 And then through a series of years, he starts to transform. 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:26.580 Hey, when I'm talking about transformation, I'm not expecting, hey, you know Jesus. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:27.519 You meet Jesus. 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:28.319 Boom, you transform. 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:29.120 That's not how it works. 00:11:29.319 --> 00:11:31.439 Those of us who have followed Christ know that isn't how it works. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:34.540 You are justified immediately the moment you put your faith in him. 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:40.020 But the process of sanctification, which is you becoming more like Christ, will take a whole lifetime before you meet him. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:45.480 And so this John goes on this journey and starts to become more and more like Christ. 00:11:45.700 --> 00:11:48.760 And ends up being so uncomfortable with the slave trade, he has to leave it. 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:52.200 And eventually writes the words, amazing grace. 00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:53.640 How sweet the sound. 00:11:53.639 --> 00:11:53.939 I was blind. 00:11:54.939 --> 00:11:56.000 I was blind. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:59.519 But now I see. 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:02.480 What's your story? 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:05.799 Where would you be without Jesus? 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:08.019 Imagine. 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:12.120 Trevor shared with us a little bit of where he thinks he would be. 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:13.919 Where would you be without Jesus? 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:19.379 Or maybe I'll go a step further and go, hey, you've got Jesus now. 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:20.600 How is your life different? 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:22.860 How has it changed? 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:28.379 This is an important question because when you meet the living Christ, you can't help but change. 00:12:29.819 --> 00:12:31.399 Because his love compels you to change. 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:33.720 He doesn't love you because you've changed, by the way. 00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:36.879 You might be sat here going, well, I don't deserve that because I'm not really committed to change. 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:38.120 Well, he loves you regardless. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:40.000 He loved you first. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:42.879 But hopefully that love compels you to change. 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:47.139 The question is, do we actually really want to? 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:50.240 You might say, well, I don't know. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.500 I don't know whether I need to change. 00:12:51.559 --> 00:12:53.200 I think I'm actually quite a good person. 00:12:53.200 --> 00:13:00.840 I had a coffee many, many years ago with a dear friend who I would say, hey, what do you think about Christianity? 00:13:01.020 --> 00:13:02.800 Do you want to follow Christ? 00:13:02.860 --> 00:13:03.580 And he said, I don't know. 00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:04.740 My life's quite good right now. 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:05.879 Things are okay. 00:13:06.660 --> 00:13:08.280 I don't really know if I need to change. 00:13:08.300 --> 00:13:09.220 I'm quite a good person. 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:14.759 Until we realize that there is a deep need for us to change in our hearts. 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:17.899 Until we realize that actually we do need Christ. 00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:20.800 And often it happens through bad things that happen. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.940 When you start losing health. 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:24.080 When you start losing loved ones. 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:26.340 And when you start losing all the things that you thought you had. 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:29.500 And you realize, wow, I really need Jesus. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:34.580 And I really need to have him change and transform my life. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:37.460 Where would you be without Jesus? 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:39.480 We're going to have a quick practice now. 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:42.080 I know that most of you are sat next to people who you do know. 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:43.700 Some of you are sat next to people you don't. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:45.779 We're going to practice this a little bit now. 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:47.360 Or even just a reflection. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:49.019 Go, hey, where would you be without Jesus? 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:52.480 If you're a follower of Christ, I want you to, I want us to be able to practice. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:53.960 Can we actually articulate that? 00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:55.939 This before and after is super important. 00:13:56.340 --> 00:13:57.120 Because why else? 00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:59.000 How else are we going to share the good news to people? 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:01.460 If we don't realize the bad news that we've had inside us. 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:02.899 So have a think. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:05.720 Now, if you're a non-Christian and if you're here just to, hey, is this a Sunday? 00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:06.799 So a friend invited me. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.879 I don't know anything about Jesus. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:08.879 Then please say so. 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:12.519 If there's anything that you've gleaned from our service and the video and everything is. 00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:15.860 We are all real people trying to figure things out. 00:14:16.199 --> 00:14:18.919 And if you don't know Christ at all, please tell the person next to you. 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:19.719 Hey, I don't know at all. 00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:20.939 That's okay. 00:14:21.459 --> 00:14:22.079 Completely okay. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:26.099 But if you're sat next to a Christian, I would encourage you to, hey, but what about you? 00:14:27.319 --> 00:14:28.299 What's Christ meant to you? 00:14:28.479 --> 00:14:29.439 Where would you be without Christ? 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:34.659 And let me just kind of do a little disclaimer for the Christian who sat next to you. 00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:36.319 We're not perfect people. 00:14:37.099 --> 00:14:38.659 We don't have a perfect answer. 00:14:39.599 --> 00:14:41.799 But before Christ we were here and after Christ we were here. 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:42.939 It is a journey. 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:45.120 But I think it's important. 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:47.659 I think it's helpful for us to be able to articulate that journey. 00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:49.579 Because how else are we going to spread the good news? 00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:54.120 If my dream is for all of us here to head out there and be able to gather and then scatter, 00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:56.919 then we must equip each other with at least practice. 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:58.120 Go, hey, what does that mean for me? 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.299 What does Christ mean to me? 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:00.100 All right. 00:15:00.459 --> 00:15:01.279 I've said a lot of things. 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.339 I'm going to give you a couple minutes. 00:15:02.699 --> 00:15:04.019 Where would you be without Christ? 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:07.120 Is the question I want you to answer to the person next to you. 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:07.639 Can we do that? 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:08.480 Very quick. 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:08.980 Go, go, go, go. 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.039 Go. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:09.100 Go. 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:09.100 00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:09.620 Go. 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:09.620 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:10.100 Go. 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:11.100 Go. 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:11.620 Go. 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.100 Go. 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:12.620 Go. 00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:13.139 Go. 00:15:13.139 --> 00:15:13.620 Go. 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:13.620 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.100 Go. 00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:14.620 Go. 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.620 Go. 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:15.620 00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:15.620 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:15.779 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:30.919 All right, okay. Gather around, gather around. Gather around. Here comes the moment of truth that keeps us all on the edge of our seats. Let me look around who I can ask. 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:53.339 I am going to ask the people who are still talking because clearly that means there's some serious stuff going on. JP, you're sat next to someone who is wearing a glorious football shirt, one that is going to win the Champions League this year. Tell us what Lucas said. 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:04.740 Would be parting a lot if he didn't know Christ. 00:16:09.659 --> 00:16:15.439 But like after Christ, he is working young life. 00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:26.079 He's walking with people. He wants to be a light to his friends. 00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:30.599 That just reminds me of what Paul says in Ephesians 2. 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:36.079 That when we were before Christ, actually all the focus is on us. 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:38.659 It's all on our own desires, on how we can have fun. 00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:44.620 But then the moment you turn and follow Christ, actually the transformation that happens is suddenly you're like, actually, it's not even just about me. 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:47.399 It's about other people. And it changes the way you use your time. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:52.199 Because I would say, I would probably argue that partying itself isn't the wrong thing. 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.779 It's who you're partying with. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:56.719 As Melissa now parties with Jesus all the time. 00:16:56.779 --> 00:16:59.339 We need to get some tips from her to see what that looks like. 00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:02.019 But it's how you use your time. 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:03.740 That's the biggest thing. 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:08.240 When we are with Christ, it should change the priorities that we have. 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:10.220 Aaron, you're stood next to Matthew. 00:17:10.340 --> 00:17:12.799 What did he share that you can share with us? 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:15.039 I think it was similar to what you just said. 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:17.139 We both shared a common theme. 00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:20.079 I think before Christ, it would have been all about us. 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:20.500 Yeah. 00:17:20.859 --> 00:17:23.960 You know, money and pleasure and everything about us. 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:24.940 We could have done something. 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:25.440 Yeah. 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.139 But after Christ, yeah, it was about us. 00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:28.559 Yeah. 00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:32.379 Which almost seems counterintuitive. 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:36.840 Because when we're, you'd think that, hey, society says, focus on yourself. 00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:38.680 Focus on whatever you enjoy. 00:17:38.840 --> 00:17:40.900 And you will find the contentment and the satisfaction. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:44.300 Following Christ is basically deny yourself. 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:45.900 It's die to yourself. 00:17:47.040 --> 00:17:49.600 And in doing so, you will then have life to the full. 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:55.699 I think it's a key theme here, which is the moment you start looking away from yourself, 00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:58.199 that's when life changes. 00:17:58.899 --> 00:18:00.519 That's when fulfillment comes. 00:18:01.139 --> 00:18:04.139 And we wonder when we spend so much time just on ourselves. 00:18:04.219 --> 00:18:07.299 And then we wonder why we're still in the same state that we were in. 00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:11.899 Uday, what about that handsome gentleman next to you? 00:18:12.419 --> 00:18:13.459 What did he share? 00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:17.839 Mainly, in summary, with a change of heart. 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:22.179 So it seems like it is from beauty to gift. 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:22.879 Yeah. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:29.259 From feeling that you need to do all these things to wanting to do things that you need to do. 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:29.759 Yeah. 00:18:30.199 --> 00:18:31.859 There's a change of heart is what he talks about. 00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:33.419 So there's a change in priorities. 00:18:33.919 --> 00:18:35.179 There's a change in focus. 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:38.000 All of that really comes from because there's a change in heart. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:42.199 What we don't want, by the way, is when you become a Christian, 00:18:42.699 --> 00:18:45.740 you become a Christian and your behavior starts to change, 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:50.799 but mostly really restricted to the fact that now you choose to spend your Sunday mornings in a church, 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:56.099 listening to someone talk, and then you kind of just carry on with your everyday life. 00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:56.620 That's not it. 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:58.339 It's not behavior modification. 00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.500 It's heart transformation. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:02.220 It's when you meet Christ, he does something to your heart. 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:05.420 He tugs on your heart in a different way, where you start thinking of other people, 00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:07.700 where you start giving yourself to other people. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:10.579 And from a place where, actually, this isn't a duty. 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.179 I want to do this. 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:16.379 I know for sure Josh will never say this, but after a long day of work, 00:19:16.419 --> 00:19:21.240 he would still drag himself to whatever place that he needs to go because he feels compelled to show love, 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:24.159 to go out of his way, which is what we talk about all the time. 00:19:24.199 --> 00:19:29.220 When was the last time we went out of our ways to do anything for other people? 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:34.299 Imagine if this group of people went out and said, 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:36.360 the next thing I'm going to do won't be for myself. 00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:38.440 It'll be for someone else. 00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:39.079 Why? 00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:40.940 Because Christ transformed me. 00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:42.779 Because Christ changed me. 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:45.339 Not just because Christ is a nice guy, by the way. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:48.860 Not just because he was a good guy who came, gave some good teaching. 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:51.779 No, because he died and then he rose again. 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.740 That changes everything. 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:58.680 You see, when he did that, as C.S. Lewis puts it, a change happened. 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:02.079 Once he died and once he rose again and said, 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:05.640 all authority has now been given to me, follow me and go and tell people about this. 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.920 You now have to decide. 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:08.860 Every single person in this room has to decide. 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.279 Was that person a liar? 00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:11.539 Was he a lunatic? 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.779 Or was he truly Lord? 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:16.940 Was he a liar? 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:17.640 Was he a lunatic? 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.460 Or was he truly Lord? 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:21.380 C.S. Lewis himself had a transformation. 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:25.860 As someone who was an atheist, a staunch atheist, who would mock his friends. 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:28.180 And he had a friend called J.R. Tolkien who wrote The Lord of the Rings. 00:20:28.180 --> 00:20:30.560 Can you imagine just being in that friendship? 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.880 Oh, what are you writing? 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:33.000 Oh, there's just some story. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:33.620 What's it called? 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:33.960 I don't know. 00:20:34.060 --> 00:20:35.180 I'm kind of thinking of a name. 00:20:35.320 --> 00:20:36.440 It's end with Narnia probably. 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.860 And then you've got Tolkien going, oh, what's your word? 00:20:38.860 --> 00:20:39.299 I don't know. 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:42.240 Mine's going to be about little dwarves and maybe a ring. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:45.359 And they both write these crazy stories. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.640 But Tolkien goes on this journey with him. 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.099 Converses with him. 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.079 Answers his questions. 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:56.059 And now probably, if you did an audit of all my quotes, C.S. Lewis is probably the one I quote the most. 00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:58.319 This transformation that happens. 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.460 We all have to decide what we're doing. 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:04.220 Because the moment he resurrected, we all have to decide. 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:09.519 Tim Keller says you cannot react and respond moderately to the resurrected Christ. 00:21:09.819 --> 00:21:10.559 You cannot. 00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:13.000 He doesn't give you that choice anymore. 00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:17.440 You either take what he says seriously and you follow it with the whole of your life. 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:20.579 And you let your life be completely transformed from the inside out. 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:23.259 And let everything that you do be impacted by that. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:26.519 Now, there's other people who say, I like Christians. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.620 I like Christianity. 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.980 I like this Jesus. 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:31.180 But hey, that's my Sunday. 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:33.560 But you don't know about my work. 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:36.980 You don't know about the consulting firm I'm working in. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.980 It's a dog-eat-dog world. 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:40.380 You don't know about the law firm that I'm working in. 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:42.640 I've got to act like them. 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:44.420 To compete with them to survive. 00:21:46.580 --> 00:21:47.880 But here's where I say, no. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:51.140 That's where the resurrected Christ shows you a different way. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:55.360 He can subject himself to the ultimate horrors and to the ultimate injustice. 00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:56.860 And yet he still comes out victorious. 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:59.759 That's the transformation that we are looking for. 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:03.680 Maybe a question you might have is, if you're not a Christian here, is, well, okay, why must I change? 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:05.559 I'm actually a pretty decent person here. 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:07.619 Well, let me tell you this and I'll do a quick run through. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:12.279 If we're talking about why he had to die, there's no better book than the book of Romans. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.200 And I'll tell you why. 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:16.859 Chapter 3, and we'll whiz through the few chapters here. 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:17.640 It says this. 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:19.059 Chapter 3 says this. 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.940 For all fall short. 00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:22.019 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.660 You and I, we've all made mistakes. 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.240 We've all turned our backs on God. 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:28.980 We've all decided at one moment in our lives, God, I can't trust you anymore. 00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:31.140 I've got to take matters into my own hand. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:34.500 I've got to do this in order to fight for what I want. 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:36.599 And we've turned our backs on him. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:38.160 And we've all fallen short. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.299 We've all made mistakes. 00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:42.240 And then it carries on into Romans 5. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.359 He says this. 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:49.640 And because we were sinners, it was that whilst we were still sinners, he then died for us. 00:22:49.859 --> 00:22:51.500 To reconcile us back to God. 00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.420 Because what is sin? 00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:54.460 And sin is basically saying, God, I don't trust you. 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.600 I'm going to do this on my own. 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:58.160 It's going to be much easier if I do it on my own. 00:22:58.380 --> 00:23:00.740 And then we're shocked when it doesn't work out. 00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:04.420 But while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.580 Romans 6 says this. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:09.360 And when we choose our own path, the ultimate consequence is death. 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:12.180 The wages of sin is death. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:18.320 So it would be wrong of me to not talk about the resurrection without talking about why the resurrection needed to take place. 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:20.700 He needed to die for us. 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:23.160 Because we were heading down that route. 00:23:23.819 --> 00:23:26.700 The choices that we'd made, we were heading down that route. 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:31.720 And the consequence, it would only be fair if we were put to death. 00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:34.720 Or we would be led to death by the decisions that we made. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.860 Romans 7 then says this. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:39.220 Just when you're thinking, oh man, what hope do I have? 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:44.720 Even the holiest of holiest people, the greatest evangelist, the apostle Paul says, hey, I'm still right there. 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:50.120 My inner self really delights in the Lord, but every time I want to do something good, the bad is right next to me. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.120 Do you feel that? 00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:55.480 Every time you want to do something good, suddenly there's an excuse that comes around and says, hey, don't do that. 00:23:56.539 --> 00:24:00.039 Every time you want to go out of your way for someone, suddenly someone says, hey, but what about you? 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:04.240 There's that voice that's inside that Paul talks about in Romans 7. 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:07.480 It is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells within me. 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:10.259 And last week I talked about the fact that we all have sin. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:13.460 The King David said he was born in sin. 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.660 And then it carries on. 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:21.940 For I delight in the law of God in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind. 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:24.019 What a wretched man that I am. 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:25.740 Who will deliver me from this body of death? 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.799 You've sat there before. 00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.440 I know you have. 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.079 I know I have. 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:30.940 Where I want to do something good and evil is right there with me. 00:24:31.579 --> 00:24:32.860 And I suck. 00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:33.779 This is. 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:36.099 How am I ever going to get out of this? 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:37.719 What a wretched man I am. 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:42.339 And when I say that word, I'm reminded, man, I'm not the first person who's ever said that. 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:44.480 The Apostle Paul said that. 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:49.419 And then he says, thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:52.679 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:56.659 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:24:57.699 --> 00:25:00.399 When we set our minds on the things of the flesh, it will lead to death. 00:25:00.439 --> 00:25:04.439 But if we set our mind on the spirit, it will lead to life and peace is what he's saying. 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:11.000 And if we follow that way, if we follow the spirit, then it will lead us to life. 00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.360 Why did he die? 00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:15.140 He died because of us. 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:20.240 And now the debt has been paid. 00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:21.800 That's good news. 00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.900 Uday is in debt. 00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:30.340 He can't pay his way out of this debt. 00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:34.660 Gabs can't help him because Gabs is in debt. 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:38.140 So it's not as though Gabs can say, hey, let me pay for Uday's debt. 00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:39.360 No, because Gabs still has debt. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:43.959 But it's not as though I can then pay for these two because I have debt. 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:48.879 And so you look around here and you see a whole room of people who are all in debt. 00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:53.339 Who all have no way to pay ourselves out of that debt. 00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:57.679 Even the richest of us here cannot pay all of us out of this debt. 00:25:58.639 --> 00:26:01.479 There can only be one who pays out of that debt. 00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:03.000 The one who does not have any debt. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:05.079 And that's where 2 Corinthians 5 comes in. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:11.319 The one who knew no sin was made sin so that we could be the righteousness of God. 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.279 That is good news. 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.619 That is good news. 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:20.960 That whatever debt that you've been holding on to, that weight of sin that is holding you down, that's been paid off. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.980 That can be gone. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.480 That is good news. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:26.920 But that's actually only just half the good news. 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:32.220 See, why was Paul even writing in 1 Corinthians 15 about the resurrection? 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:36.420 It's because there were certain people in the church who were like, hey, that Jesus guy was a good guy. 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.620 He gave some great teachings. 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:41.519 He even died for us. 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:42.319 Sure, cool. 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:45.779 But that resurrection bit, we don't know. 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:47.460 Because we don't know anyone who's actually done that. 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:49.120 That seems a bit too far. 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.100 Is what they were saying. 00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:54.559 Maybe he died but in a kind of like a spiritual sense and resurrected in a spiritual sense. 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.380 So maybe that's okay. 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:58.660 Maybe he, they were just making excuses. 00:26:58.660 --> 00:27:03.019 So then Paul had to write 1 Corinthians 15 saying, no, this is it. 00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:05.820 Everything hinges on whether he lived. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.320 He says, my preaching is useless. 00:27:08.400 --> 00:27:12.640 Your faith is futile unless Jesus died and rose again. 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:15.180 That's why the first point why we must change is because he died. 00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:18.120 But the second point must be because he lives. 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:28.079 The fact that that empty tomb still remains unchanged, changes every part of our lives right now. 00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.859 If you don't know that, let me tell you why. 00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.699 Very quickly as I finish up. 00:27:32.219 --> 00:27:32.979 First thing is this. 00:27:33.219 --> 00:27:35.939 Because he died and then he rose again, it tells us there's something beyond the grave. 00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.899 There's something beyond this life. 00:27:37.979 --> 00:27:42.419 Everything that you and I see, this material world right here, that shows us there is something beyond. 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:45.320 There is something beyond the grave. 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.779 There's something beyond what we see here. 00:27:46.840 --> 00:27:49.560 That is important because that will then change the way you live. 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:55.400 If this isn't the end of it, because imagine if this was the end, then you and I should just be like, hey, let's just do whatever we want. 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.620 This is it anyway. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:59.300 There should just be carnage and chaos. 00:28:00.320 --> 00:28:02.920 But if there is something else, that changes the way we live. 00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:04.180 Our destination is different. 00:28:04.840 --> 00:28:08.360 If your destination has changed, it changes the way you head towards that destination. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.360 There is something beyond the grave. 00:28:10.359 --> 00:28:14.639 Secondly, it defeats death, the biggest enemy that we face. 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:16.679 Fear itself is gone. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.399 Who lives in fear? 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.979 I don't even need you to put your hands up. 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.279 I live in fear. 00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.459 You live in fear. 00:28:24.699 --> 00:28:27.919 But we have someone who has overcome all of that. 00:28:29.979 --> 00:28:33.099 If I asked you, hey, how does being with Jesus change the way you live? 00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:37.719 My prayer, I hope one day the answer is, I don't have to live in fear anymore. 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:42.200 Because I know that my Savior has my back. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:49.360 Actually, I'm not worried about which university I end up at, because I know Jesus is going to be there with me. 00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:54.339 Whether I'm going to Princeton or whether I'm going to UCL or whether I'm not even going to university at all. 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:57.179 Jesus is there with me. 00:28:58.779 --> 00:29:00.099 There is no need for any fear. 00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:01.899 There is no need for any guilt or condemnation. 00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:04.539 Because his love covers a multitude of sins. 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:12.459 Everything that I've done in the past, everything that I'm doing right now, everything that I will do in the future, all the messing up that I will do, Christ has paid for. 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:16.700 You should be able to live as a free child of God. 00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:20.180 Not held back by sin and shame. 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:23.039 It also means he is alive and present right now. 00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:24.720 Sadly, there's not that many empty seats next to us. 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:26.819 But can you just imagine if Christ was here right now? 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:29.360 This is how I do church. 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:34.100 Every Sunday I come and I'm just, God, remind me that you're here right now. 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:38.559 Remind me, if you walked through the door right now, how I would respond. 00:29:39.819 --> 00:29:41.480 Because that is what is happening. 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:44.279 Christ is here right now. 00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:47.399 Imagine you taking Christ to work with you. 00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:50.279 Imagine you taking Christ to school with you. 00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:56.759 Talking to a young man the other day who I was so inspired by, who decided to follow Christ two years ago. 00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:59.299 And then he says he goes to school and he tries to share the message. 00:29:59.679 --> 00:30:01.000 And he's like, he just gets slandered. 00:30:01.699 --> 00:30:03.480 People just get ridiculed and laughed. 00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:08.959 But can you imagine if, yeah, that does happen and that will happen. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:09.659 Jesus says that. 00:30:09.719 --> 00:30:11.439 He kicks his sermon off and says that. 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:12.899 Blessed are those who are persecuted. 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:17.299 When other people utter all kinds of evil against you because of me. 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.679 And he says, hey, don't worry. 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:20.139 They did that to me and they'll do that to you. 00:30:21.219 --> 00:30:25.379 But imagine when that's happening to you, Christ himself is stood right next to you. 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.439 That changes everything. 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:32.779 Imagine when that boss that has been treating you unfairly. 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:38.619 And in that moment when he's doing it, Christ has stood right next to you. 00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:40.199 That changes everything. 00:30:42.239 --> 00:30:43.779 He died and then he rose again. 00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:45.879 And because he rose again, that means he's alive and present. 00:30:45.959 --> 00:30:48.859 I think, I don't know about you, I think I lose sight of that. 00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:51.019 I say, yay, Jesus died and he rose again. 00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:51.799 Where is he? 00:30:51.879 --> 00:30:52.159 I don't know. 00:30:52.219 --> 00:30:52.979 But he's right here. 00:30:55.079 --> 00:30:56.039 Don't we take that for granted? 00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:59.799 He said, his spirit is right here with us. 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:03.319 And then it changes the way you live. 00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.659 It must. 00:31:06.139 --> 00:31:10.680 If that whole, let's say the video that we watched or even just sharing there, you're like, yeah, I don't know. 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:13.359 I don't know really what changed before and after Christ. 00:31:14.379 --> 00:31:15.139 Here's my fear. 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:19.620 Then I wonder whether we have met Christ yet. 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:21.780 Truly. 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:26.400 Because if you met him, there would be change. 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:35.300 I think my fear is there are those of us here who are so acquainted with just hearing his name, singing songs during Easter. 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:38.060 Kind of like, yeah, Jesus, nice guy. 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:39.240 Help me be a good person. 00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:40.840 Oh, it is so much more than that, my friend. 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:44.180 It is so much more than just you being a good person. 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:47.220 The whole point of the gospel is that there is no one good. 00:31:47.300 --> 00:31:47.780 Not one. 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:49.280 Just him. 00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:54.420 Don't sell yourself short of what the gospel is. 00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:58.480 Let your life be transformed by the living Christ. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:01.380 And you might say, well, okay, I want to change, but I don't know how. 00:32:01.700 --> 00:32:02.120 Well, great. 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:06.779 Galatians 2 is perfect for you because it's no longer you who live, but Christ who lives in you. 00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:15.240 The way you live, the way you posture yourself is simply with your hands wide open, with your heart open and go, Christ, take over. 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:17.500 Live in me. 00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:23.080 So that when I want to do something good, but I can't, you will help me do it. 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:28.279 When I want to read scripture and I don't understand, your Holy Spirit will help me understand it. 00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:37.779 When I'm facing the same demons again, time in and time out, I sit and I go, Christ, you are the one that has overcome. 00:32:38.100 --> 00:32:38.820 I take heart. 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.460 You have overcome the world, not me. 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.100 And that is enough. 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:48.279 Can I encourage you, if you have been following Christ for many years, let your life be transformed. 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:54.720 My prayer is that we look back, even on just the year before and go, okay, I am a different person. 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.799 I have changed. 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:58.379 I'm becoming more like him. 00:32:58.660 --> 00:33:01.980 And if you've never experienced that change before, I pray that this year will be the year that you start. 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:06.859 That the spirit of the living God would be inside you and you wouldn't be able to help it. 00:33:06.859 --> 00:33:11.539 That change will just happen and there will be a glow about you. 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:15.519 We met some old friends yesterday visiting us from Birmingham. 00:33:15.659 --> 00:33:20.019 And the first thing they said when they saw me was, wow, you're glowing even more than you did last time. 00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:23.799 Now they said it in a, again, just the whole hair thing. 00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:25.879 It's like, seriously, not creative. 00:33:26.459 --> 00:33:29.039 I am trimming a little bit closer to the skin now. 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:36.740 But my prayer is that they would also say, James, there is something different about you. 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.920 You know God's word more. 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:44.700 You act more like God. 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:52.839 In fact, I look at you, Nathan, and I think, and I guess, there is a little glimpse of God. 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:58.399 If you met Nathan's dad, you'll know the glory that awaits him. 00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:00.420 And awaits Nathan as well. 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.860 His dad has the same hairstyle as me. 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:05.580 So one day, Nathan, one day, you will. 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:12.019 But can we be able to look at each other and go, something is different about you this year? 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:15.280 It doesn't have to be a big step, but it has to be a change. 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:20.059 When you meet, when you encounter the living Christ. 00:34:20.860 --> 00:34:21.440 Final thing. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:24.800 Once you've met, you can't stop talking about it. 00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:27.460 If you've stopped talking about it, then let's start again. 00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:31.320 Because Jesus comes back and he says, hey, I've done the thing. 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:33.700 And now authority has been given to me. 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:35.680 You go. 00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:36.780 Matthew 28. 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:38.559 You go and make disciples of all nations. 00:34:38.680 --> 00:34:39.019 You go. 00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:40.900 You share this good news. 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:46.920 Holy Spirit, I ask that you put just even just a name in each of our minds right now. 00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.139 Someone who doesn't know you yet. 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:52.500 And go, hey, I have to tell you some good news. 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:55.280 If there's one day in the year I need to tell you this, it is today. 00:34:56.160 --> 00:34:58.900 That the thing that you're facing, you don't have to be afraid. 00:34:58.900 --> 00:35:01.360 Because Christ died and he rose again. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.740 You have to share it. 00:35:03.880 --> 00:35:05.280 You can't not share it. 00:35:06.740 --> 00:35:09.820 Whether it's Paul transforming to being the greatest evangelist. 00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:11.240 Or Peter being the head of the church. 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:13.260 Or Mary Magdalene being the first witness. 00:35:13.660 --> 00:35:16.099 What happens is, when you are transformed, you move. 00:35:16.720 --> 00:35:17.220 You go. 00:35:18.180 --> 00:35:19.740 That's why next week we're starting a series. 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:20.960 And we're starting the book of Acts. 00:35:21.619 --> 00:35:22.780 Which is all about going. 00:35:22.780 --> 00:35:25.980 You know they said that Mary Magdalene is basically the apostle to the apostles. 00:35:27.060 --> 00:35:30.980 Because she's the one who first saw and says, I have seen the Lord. 00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:34.620 That's our job. 00:35:35.760 --> 00:35:37.980 I'm talking only to those who are following Christ now. 00:35:39.100 --> 00:35:40.019 Please, this week. 00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:41.280 Please, today. 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:43.040 Can you share with someone who doesn't know? 00:35:44.540 --> 00:35:46.060 And I'll tell you from personal experience. 00:35:46.160 --> 00:35:47.019 When you do that. 00:35:47.100 --> 00:35:49.000 If you're still there going, yeah, but I'm not in a great place. 00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:50.260 My faith is a bit stale. 00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:52.700 I'll tell you there's nothing that helps your faith. 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:54.240 More than sharing it. 00:35:55.700 --> 00:35:57.680 Your faith is stale because you've stopped sharing it. 00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:02.360 The good news isn't powerful to you because it's stopped becoming news. 00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:04.700 Because it's stopped becoming good. 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:07.660 Share it. 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:09.460 Share it. 00:36:12.080 --> 00:36:12.840 He has risen. 00:36:13.700 --> 00:36:15.080 And today is a good day. 00:36:16.640 --> 00:36:19.000 Friday is good because Sunday has arrived. 00:36:20.720 --> 00:36:21.740 That is why we're here. 00:36:21.980 --> 00:36:22.260 We're here. 00:36:22.780 --> 00:36:29.700 Can I ask you now just to spend a final moment to reflect what the resurrected Christ means for you. 00:36:30.760 --> 00:36:34.260 As we invite the team back up just to lead us in the final song of celebration. 00:36:34.260 --> 00:36:42.240 Holy Spirit, we do not want to. 00:36:42.240 --> 00:36:43.780 We do not want to. 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:44.240 We cannot. 00:36:44.640 --> 00:36:45.320 We should not. 00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:50.080 Receive this good news and then just keep it. 00:36:50.180 --> 00:36:50.780 Just like Paul. 00:36:51.040 --> 00:36:51.700 Just like Peter. 00:36:51.820 --> 00:36:52.460 Just like Mary. 00:36:53.580 --> 00:36:54.620 We must share it. 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:57.080 Today is a good day. 00:36:57.079 --> 00:37:06.460 Christ, you are here. 00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:15.139 You are closer to us than we realize. 00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:24.679 You are closer to us than the humidity that swarmed around us yesterday. 00:37:26.319 --> 00:37:28.379 You are closer to us than the air that we breathe. 00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:30.380 You are living inside us. 00:37:30.380 --> 00:37:31.140 You are living inside us. 00:37:33.720 --> 00:37:37.840 And would that spirit that raised you from the dead be the same spirit that lives inside us. 00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:42.340 The same spirit that allows us to call you Abba, Father. 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:46.820 God, would you remind us again of your presence, of your love. 00:37:46.820 --> 00:37:49.860 And that today is a good day. 00:37:52.240 --> 00:37:54.019 It is a day worth celebrating. 00:37:54.200 --> 00:37:56.900 We rejoice because today is a day that you have made. 00:37:57.700 --> 00:38:04.300 And because of today, we get to look forward to that day when we see you again. 00:38:09.980 --> 00:38:10.700 Thank you, Lord. 00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:12.140 Thank you, Lord. 00:38:14.620 --> 00:38:15.680 Jesus, we thank you. 00:38:16.820 --> 00:38:19.039 That truly today is a good day. 00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:21.600 Because of you, we live. 00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:23.400 Because of you, we live life to the full. 00:38:23.460 --> 00:38:24.480 And we thank you for that. 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:27.940 So would you be with us as we go from here? 00:38:28.580 --> 00:38:31.720 That we would continue to be people of the cross and people of the resurrection. 00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:34.920 That we would go out and we would share good news. 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:38.620 We would share peace and joy to those you've placed around us. 00:38:39.280 --> 00:38:42.440 Lord, empower us with your spirit so that we would have the words to say. 00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:50.000 But most importantly, Lord, can we just admit this joy that comes from knowing that you are here. 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:54.239 In your presence, there is truly fullness of joy. 00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:58.059 Let us be that people. 00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:00.820 Thank you, Lord, for the Caesar Sunday. 00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:03.940 Thank you for the celebrations that we will continue to have today. 00:39:04.739 --> 00:39:05.820 Be with us as we gather. 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:06.719 Thank you. 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:08.079 In your name we pray. 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:09.360 Amen. 00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:10.760 Happy Easter, everyone. 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920 00:39:10.920 --> 00:39:10.920