WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:04.839 Hello, my name is Margo. Our reading is from Psalm 67. 00:00:06.379 --> 00:00:12.339 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us. 00:00:13.179 --> 00:00:17.539 May your ways be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:22.740 May the peoples praise you, O God. May all the peoples praise you. 00:00:23.400 --> 00:00:26.000 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:30.839 for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:36.299 May the peoples praise you, O God. May all the peoples praise you. 00:00:37.219 --> 00:00:42.600 Then the land will yield its harvest and God, our God, will bless us. 00:00:43.379 --> 00:00:47.600 God will bless us and all the ends of the earth will fear him. 00:00:48.820 --> 00:00:54.460 Hi, my name is Hannah and the New Testament reading is from Acts chapter 17, verses 1 to 15. 00:00:54.460 --> 00:01:01.640 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:08.659 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the scriptures, 00:01:09.260 --> 00:01:13.000 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:16.560 This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, he said. 00:01:17.260 --> 00:01:24.640 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:32.799 But the Jews were jealous, so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mall, and started a riot in the city. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:37.939 They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas, in order to bring them out to the crowd. 00:01:38.620 --> 00:01:43.379 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials shouting, 00:01:43.899 --> 00:01:49.479 These men have caused trouble all over the world and have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. 00:01:50.140 --> 00:01:54.200 They are all defying Caesar's decree, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus. 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:59.120 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 00:02:00.500 --> 00:02:03.700 Then they put Jason and the others on bail and let them go. 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:08.300 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. 00:02:09.140 --> 00:02:11.319 On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.539 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, 00:02:15.980 --> 00:02:22.219 for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 00:02:22.219 --> 00:02:29.180 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:34.259 Then the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea. 00:02:34.620 --> 00:02:37.340 They went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:42.079 The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:50.240 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:52.280 Amen. This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:53.480 --> 00:02:59.200 I love some of the amazing resources that are available today to make Jesus known. 00:02:59.320 --> 00:03:05.680 There's things like the Alpha Course or Christianity Explored or the word 1-2-1. 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:10.379 These are great tools that help introduce Jesus. 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:15.319 And could I say, if you don't know him, if you're listening into this and you don't know him, 00:03:15.579 --> 00:03:18.159 then please get in touch with this church. 00:03:18.259 --> 00:03:22.900 They'd love to help you and maybe take you through one of these particular courses. 00:03:23.620 --> 00:03:33.079 But actually, the greatest resource for making Jesus known is largely untapped and underused. 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:35.440 It's Christians. 00:03:36.340 --> 00:03:38.160 It's the members of the church. 00:03:39.040 --> 00:03:41.020 It's those who've been born again. 00:03:41.160 --> 00:03:49.540 It's those who've had their lives turned around and filled with peace and forgiveness and purpose. 00:03:49.539 --> 00:04:01.419 And many of you Christians are listening in, but you feel uncomfortable about this because you think evangelism is the work of specialists, 00:04:02.019 --> 00:04:06.780 of professionals, of evangelists. 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:15.000 And whilst it's true that God does give the church people with particular gifts of evangelising, 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:23.819 it's also true that sharing the gospel should be as natural to any Christian as drawing breath. 00:04:24.860 --> 00:04:30.639 So as we turn our attention back to Paul, to his second missionary journey, 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:36.680 and particularly his visit to Thessalonica and Berea that we're looking at today, 00:04:36.779 --> 00:04:41.119 that's outlined there in Acts 17 verses 1 to 15, 00:04:41.559 --> 00:04:47.779 we'll discover some vital lessons as to how we can make Jesus better known. 00:04:48.739 --> 00:04:53.339 Now, at first glance, what's recorded for us in these verses 00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:59.139 seems very familiar to anyone who's been working through the book of Acts. 00:04:59.139 --> 00:05:08.300 It seems like a replay of previous scenarios of things that we've ever read in Luke's account. 00:05:08.300 --> 00:05:13.240 It seems to be just like the other cities that Paul ventured into. 00:05:14.479 --> 00:05:19.680 And certainly there are a number of similarities with what goes on here in Acts 17 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:23.759 and what went on in other cities that he visited. 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:33.719 For example, Paul and his companions continue to target significant centres of population and influence. 00:05:34.159 --> 00:05:39.300 In fact, that's why they make a hundred-mile journey along the main road, 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:41.539 what was known as the Via Ignatia, 00:05:42.599 --> 00:05:46.120 passing quickly through Amphipolis and Apollonia 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:52.300 so that they can reach the capital city of that province, Thessalonica. 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:58.759 And by the way, that's why the ministry here in Edinburgh is so vital and significant. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:00.800 It is a key city. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:05.720 It is a strategic city where we need to make the word of God known. 00:06:05.819 --> 00:06:08.560 The gospel of Jesus needs to be declared. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:13.879 And then they once again target the Jewish synagogue. 00:06:14.540 --> 00:06:19.519 The only difference being that they only spend three Sabbaths there 00:06:19.519 --> 00:06:22.600 out of a stay that probably lasted several months. 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:27.480 And once again, as we've seen in other episodes, 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:31.500 they're the victims of violent persecution. 00:06:32.139 --> 00:06:36.360 This time, the only difference being that the violence didn't come directly 00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:41.319 from the Jewish leadership, but from a group of yobs that they'd recruited. 00:06:41.500 --> 00:06:44.620 We see this in verse 5 of chapter 17. 00:06:44.819 --> 00:06:48.300 They rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:53.600 formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. 00:06:55.139 --> 00:07:01.620 And so, Paul and Silas were again, once again, ejected from a city. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:05.259 This time, the only difference being that the city magistrates, 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:12.659 we're told in verse 9, put Jason and the others on bail and let them go. 00:07:13.579 --> 00:07:17.759 Which probably means that the new church leaders there at Thessalonica 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:23.279 gave an undertaking that Paul and Silas would leave town and would never return. 00:07:23.980 --> 00:07:29.699 Which actually would explain why Paul was unable to visit them on later occasions. 00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:35.479 So, with all these similarities here in the account we're looking at, 00:07:35.479 --> 00:07:38.839 all these repetitions, we have to ask ourselves, 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:44.139 what is it that Luke wants to add to his history? 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:47.199 What new information is he adding? 00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:50.000 What new lessons does he want to teach us? 00:07:50.219 --> 00:07:54.159 Why is this episode recorded for us? 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:58.300 Well, I want to suggest to you that what's new here 00:07:58.300 --> 00:08:02.640 is the way that Luke explains how Paul and Silas 00:08:02.640 --> 00:08:07.260 went about their business of making Christ known. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:10.680 In this passage, he gives us insight 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:15.879 into their methods and their means of evangelism. 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:21.060 We find this encapsulated in verses 2 to 4. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:22.680 Let me read it to you. 00:08:22.680 --> 00:08:26.160 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:30.780 and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 00:08:31.600 --> 00:08:37.000 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:42.120 This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, he said. 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:47.019 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:53.600 as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. 00:08:54.860 --> 00:09:00.179 Look, for convenience sake, let's divide it up into three simple ways. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.720 How they went about making Christ known. 00:09:02.939 --> 00:09:04.240 First of all, they proved. 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:06.759 Secondly, they proclaimed. 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:10.319 Thirdly, they practised. 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:13.900 So firstly, they proved. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:18.940 Luke here uses three Greek words, special Greek words, 00:09:19.040 --> 00:09:22.379 to describe what Paul and Silas did. 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:25.320 Verse 2, he says they reasoned. 00:09:26.280 --> 00:09:28.320 Verse 3, he said they explained. 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:33.000 And then also in verse 3, we find that they proved. 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:37.240 Now together, they show that part of Paul's gospel strategy 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:41.600 was to address the mind, to provide evidence, 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:46.500 to convince, to deal with objections. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:50.820 Just let's have a quick look at each of these words in turn 00:09:50.820 --> 00:09:54.940 and we'll get some idea of the impact of what they were doing. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:58.379 So first of all, we're told they reasoned. 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:00.799 The Greek word for that is dialighetto. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:06.779 No, it's actually related to the word that we get the word dialogue from. 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:11.039 And this is the first time that Luke uses this word. 00:10:11.719 --> 00:10:15.199 But he actually then goes on to use it nine times more 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:19.319 to describe this way of communicating the gospel. 00:10:20.099 --> 00:10:25.039 It's also translated elsewhere as arguing or discussing. 00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:29.139 It has the sense of putting forward a proposal 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:31.799 and then dealing with objections. 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:37.100 You see, there's a two-way flow to this particular communication. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:38.419 So they reasoned. 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:42.139 But then secondly, we're told that they explained. 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:43.580 They explained. 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:45.139 The Greek word there is dionogon. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:49.340 This literally means opening up. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:53.500 In fact, Luke uses this word in a variety of ways. 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:59.879 In Luke 2 verse 23, he talks about the firstborn who opens the womb. 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:04.480 Luke 24 verse 31, their eyes were opened. 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:09.059 Luke 24 verse 32, the scriptures were opened. 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:13.240 Luke 24 verse 45, their minds were opened. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:17.620 Acts 16 verse 14, Lydia's heart was opened. 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:23.600 So this word has the sense of revealing something for the first time. 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:31.120 And in this context, explaining that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, 00:11:32.019 --> 00:11:36.320 you can get the idea that these Jews were shown for the first time 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:42.440 the evidence from scripture concerning a suffering Messiah. 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:44.399 So they reasoned. 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:46.399 They explained. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:48.179 Thirdly, they proved. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:51.039 The Greek word here is paratathemenos. 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:55.620 This literally means to place alongside. 00:11:57.120 --> 00:12:02.840 Sometimes in the scriptures, it's used of food being set before people. 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:07.319 At other times of people being set before the Lord. 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:13.899 And here it has the idea of truth being set before inquiring minds. 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:17.139 Maybe at its simplest level. 00:12:18.019 --> 00:12:19.860 Think of the washing adverts. 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:20.959 The washing powder adverts. 00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:25.019 They used to be where, you know, they took a shirt that was washed in a particular powder. 00:12:25.579 --> 00:12:30.039 And then they put it alongside another shirt that was washed in another powder. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:35.379 And the brightness of the shirt washed in the first powder proves the case. 00:12:35.379 --> 00:12:36.379 They put them alongside. 00:12:36.379 --> 00:12:39.419 They put them alongside to make the case. 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:47.100 And here it is with truth placed alongside misconceptions and prejudices. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:51.460 Prophecies placed alongside fulfilments. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:53.659 They proved. 00:12:53.659 --> 00:13:02.959 So what we have here is Paul and Silas addressing the minds of those they meet. 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:05.719 They face up to their questions. 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:07.759 They answer their objections. 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:09.480 They present their evidence. 00:13:09.480 --> 00:13:17.240 And could I say, I think that's something that every believer is called upon to be ready to do. 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:20.100 To be ready and able to dialogue. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:23.080 To explain. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:25.420 To prove. 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:29.480 For example, we read this in 1 Peter 3 verse 15. 00:13:29.480 --> 00:13:34.440 But in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord. 00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:41.300 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you. 00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:44.960 To give the reason for the hope that you have. 00:13:45.659 --> 00:13:49.759 But do this with gentleness and respect. 00:13:50.920 --> 00:13:53.340 Or Colossians chapter 4 verse 6. 00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:58.360 Let your conversation be always full of grace. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:00.120 Seasoned with salt. 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:03.360 So that you may know how to answer. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.800 Everyone. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:12.300 So look, we must be ready to help unbelievers in the area of their questions. 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.500 We must know our stuff. 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:17.220 We must prepare our minds. 00:14:17.820 --> 00:14:21.240 There's no excuse for mental laziness here. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:26.620 We must do all we can to understand the faith. 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:34.580 And could I say, if you're listening in to this online broadcast. 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:38.700 And you're someone who's just curious about the Christian faith. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:40.259 Let me tell you. 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:42.860 Could I say, please engage your mind. 00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:44.220 Engage your brain. 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:45.519 And explore. 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:49.379 Please investigate the truth claims of the Christian faith. 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:51.980 Don't close your eyes. 00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.539 Think about it. 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:56.919 Call a friend. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:59.259 Ask Google. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:03.139 Read the Bible for yourself. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:07.379 So first of all, they proved. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.840 Secondly, they proclaimed. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.419 We read this in verse 3. 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:17.620 This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, he said. 00:15:19.099 --> 00:15:22.659 And I want to suggest that this is another category of evangelism. 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:28.539 Now, to explain myself, we need to have another little look at the Greek expression. 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:30.120 Forgive me for all of this. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.599 But it helps. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:36.540 You see, in Luke's day, the word was used in a government sense. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:41.700 If a government official went around to make known official reports. 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:49.220 And it was used in a social sense to announce special games or festivals. 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:56.320 So this word carries with it the sense of an authoritative proclamation. 00:15:57.139 --> 00:16:00.500 Letting you know some important information. 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:11.960 And this is how Luke uses it to describe the proclamation that the apostles engaged in as they declared the good news about Jesus. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:15.860 You see, what Jesus did was not really a subject that was up for debate. 00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:17.920 It was up for declaration. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:20.639 He really lived. 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:22.159 He really died. 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:24.860 He really rose again. 00:16:25.179 --> 00:16:27.779 And that must be announced. 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:37.759 The fact that God has entered into our world in grace to be our redeemer and deliverer must be made known. 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:45.599 And the proclamation that Christians have always been involved in and are called upon to continue 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:54.800 is the full news of who Jesus is, what he has done, and the implications for each one of us. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:17:01.159 You see, we don't have the right to replace the certainties of Scripture with sort of vague maybes. 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:03.100 He says, oh yeah, yeah, maybe it will happen. 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:04.039 No, no, no, no. 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:08.960 We speak with authority because of the authority of the word itself. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:13.519 The apostle Paul had to face up to this. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:17.720 There in 1 Corinthians 1 verses 22 to 24. 00:17:17.720 --> 00:17:19.220 He said, 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:26.220 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified. 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:30.160 A stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:38.759 But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:47.099 You see, here's a message we can declare with confidence and with certainty and with passion 00:17:47.099 --> 00:17:52.680 that Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. 00:17:53.500 --> 00:18:02.259 So they proved, they proclaimed, and finally, I just want us to notice that they practiced. 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:09.859 You see, we've seen the verbal means that Paul and Silas used to communicate the gospel. 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:16.480 But any consideration of what it takes to make Christ known would be incomplete 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:22.859 without considering how they backed up what they said with how they lived. 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:30.839 See, Acts 17, the passage we're looking at, only gives us a summary of the main dramatic events 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:33.919 that took place in Thessalonica. 00:18:34.159 --> 00:18:38.059 It's only actually when we go to the letter that Paul wrote to that church 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:42.959 that we get an insight into the way that they conducted themselves. 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:47.039 Now, it's a fairly large chunk I'm going to read to you, 00:18:47.199 --> 00:18:53.019 but forgive me because it gives a real picture of how they carried on when they were in Thessalonica. 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:57.799 In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, the first 12 verses, it goes like this. 00:18:58.339 --> 00:18:58.859 Paul writes, 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:28.859 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:58.859 00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:28.859 00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:50.719 You see, what backed up their gospel proclamation was their gospel living. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:55.620 There was honesty and openness. 00:20:56.579 --> 00:20:58.660 There was passion and involvement. 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:01.980 There was blameless and holy living. 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:05.740 There was hard work and commitment. 00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:11.720 In fact, this passage that we've just read requires a whole message in itself. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:15.839 So let me just draw your attention to one description that Paul uses. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.459 He says this in verse 7, 00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:23.599 But we were gentle among you like a mother caring for her little children. 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:29.299 And the word that Paul uses there for mother is not the usual word, 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:34.199 but rather he uses a word to describe a nursing mother, 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:37.359 one who is breastfeeding her children. 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:48.459 Indeed, it's such a tender and a precious thing, isn't it? 00:21:48.459 --> 00:21:53.539 The way that a mother nurses her children. 00:21:54.219 --> 00:21:58.039 Her love, her involvement, her gentleness, her care. 00:21:58.039 --> 00:22:04.500 Now you're beginning to see something of what should characterize the lives of believers. 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:09.700 Do you see how we should cherish those God is calling to himself? 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:15.399 Do you grasp something of the patience and commitment that is required? 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:22.280 Are you living a life which commends the gospel of Jesus in every way? 00:22:23.340 --> 00:22:30.259 Are you using the needs and opportunities of these lockdown days to show the reality of Christ? 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:36.060 Are you concerned for your neighbour and your street and your apartment? 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:39.759 Are you helping out with the shopping for others? 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:43.080 Are you keeping in touch with the lonely and isolated? 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:47.519 Look, is Jesus seen in you? 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:57.799 And then when opportunity arises, will you be ready to reason, to explain, 00:22:58.419 --> 00:23:06.279 to prove, to proclaim the saving, wonderful message about such a wonderful saviour? 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:13.359 A brief, simple but expressive eulogy was pronounced by Martin Luther 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:18.720 upon a pastor at Zwickau in 1522 named Nicholas Hausmann. 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.519 Luther said this, 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:25.740 What we preach, he lived. 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:31.879 Well, let's pray that that will be the testimony to our lives. 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:41.320 Well, thank you so much, Andy, for taking us through that passage and for bringing out its challenge. 00:23:41.520 --> 00:23:48.720 And I do hope that as you've watched, that you've been stimulated to think upon the claims of the Christian faith 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:53.780 and what it means to share the news of Jesus with our neighbours and our friends and our families. 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:58.619 And it takes us so nicely to what we're going to hear in just a few moments' time. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:02.680 So one of the things that we started doing last Sunday, 00:24:02.899 --> 00:24:06.220 and one of the things we're going to be doing over the next number of weeks, 00:24:06.420 --> 00:24:09.440 is hear from people in our church family 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:16.599 and to listen to them tell us their stories about how they came to know Jesus for themselves. 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:23.039 You see, the thing about the Church of Jesus Christ is it's made up of many different people 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:25.759 from many different parts of the world, 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:29.659 with different backgrounds, doing lots of different things, 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:32.199 and with lots of different stories to tell. 00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:36.679 But all those stories testify to the one truth 00:24:36.679 --> 00:24:42.959 that we've all come to know and to love the one same Saviour. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:46.059 And so here is our good friend Florence. 00:24:46.340 --> 00:24:48.940 Him and his family are part of our church family. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:54.759 And Florence is going to tell us his story about how he came to know Jesus as his King. 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:58.539 And then once Florence is finished, we'll have our final song. 00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:01.160 Hello, everybody. 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:06.900 My name is Florence, and I come from a small nation in Southeastern Europe, Albania. 00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:09.620 Until 1991, for 50 years, 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:14.419 Albania had been a communist state with atheism in its constitution. 00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:19.699 The word God could not even be mouthed by anyone. 00:25:20.479 --> 00:25:22.619 Otherwise, you'd go to prison or worse. 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.199 So I'd never heard about God, 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:29.599 but I had this inner earning for something bigger than me. 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:32.339 One day I was walking home as a young teenager, 00:25:33.079 --> 00:25:35.459 and I saw right on that dirt path, 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:37.779 I saw this book lying down, 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.799 and I picked it up, 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.299 and it was a New Testament. 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:42.279 I took it home and read it, 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:45.779 and I found out about the person of Jesus. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.539 But I had so many questions 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:49.100 that nobody could answer, 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:51.640 as there was no church at that point in my hometown. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.819 So a friend of mine who was a Muslim 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.759 took me to the mosque, 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:59.140 and he took me to his Muslim imam, 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.879 who for hours on end 00:26:00.879 --> 00:26:04.519 instructed me about Islam 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:06.480 and told me that Christianity is wrong 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:10.779 and that Christ is a well-respected prophetic figure in Islam, 00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:11.460 but that's it. 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:15.819 We do not need anyone to stand between us and God, 00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:16.299 he said. 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:18.119 You don't need any mediator. 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:20.359 You just go to God by praying, 00:26:20.599 --> 00:26:23.019 and then you can trust Him that He will forgive you 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.180 because He is merciful, 00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:25.519 He is compassionate. 00:26:26.879 --> 00:26:29.339 So I became a Muslim from that point on 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.500 for a number of years, 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.619 and in fact, 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.319 after some time, 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:34.400 I decided to go into full-time studies 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:36.740 because I had this great zeal 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.859 to explain to people 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:39.359 that Christianity is wrong. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.119 Whatever that was, 00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:43.619 it's not the path to life, 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:46.119 and that Islam was the true way to God. 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:49.079 And I started reading the Quran 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:50.119 and the hadiths 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:53.000 and everything else 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:56.179 that has to do with Muhammad as a prophet. 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:59.379 And I thought I knew all the answers. 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:02.199 But I had this one question 00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:05.779 that kept nagging me from time to time. 00:27:06.419 --> 00:27:07.500 How can God, 00:27:07.939 --> 00:27:08.699 who is holy, 00:27:09.179 --> 00:27:10.500 who is righteous, 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:13.099 accept sinful people 00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:14.419 into His presence? 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:16.700 How can He say, 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:18.200 you go to paradise 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:20.259 even though you're a sinner? 00:27:20.560 --> 00:27:21.580 How can He do that 00:27:21.580 --> 00:27:23.759 while remaining a holy God 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:26.500 without compromising His justice? 00:27:27.380 --> 00:27:29.480 Islam has no real answer for that, 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:32.860 and I did not want to admit that to myself. 00:27:33.560 --> 00:27:35.460 But one day after some time, 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.900 I met this Christian missionary 00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:39.140 who was aptly called Emmanuel. 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.860 He was from Brazil, 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:42.840 a very mild-mannered man 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:45.740 with limited knowledge of Albanian. 00:27:46.179 --> 00:27:48.319 But He sat with me for about a month, 00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:49.779 and I asked Him 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:51.319 a hundred or more questions 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:52.899 about life, 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:53.740 spirituality, 00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:54.519 salvation, 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.659 and I said, 00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:56.559 I want all the answers 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.679 to come from the Bible. 00:27:58.299 --> 00:28:00.299 And that's what He gave to me, 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.659 very faithfully. 00:28:02.179 --> 00:28:03.159 And after some time, 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.119 I realized 00:28:04.119 --> 00:28:05.539 that there was 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:07.319 a perfect answer to my question. 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:09.819 How can God save sinners 00:28:09.819 --> 00:28:10.919 while remaining 00:28:10.919 --> 00:28:13.139 just and righteous Himself? 00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.720 He did that 00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:17.359 by becoming man. 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.399 Jesus was not a man 00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:20.179 who became God. 00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:21.319 He was God 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.720 who stooped down 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:25.279 to the level of sinful humankind 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:27.220 by taking on our plight, 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.139 dying on the cross, 00:28:29.740 --> 00:28:31.179 fulfilling God's justice 00:28:31.179 --> 00:28:32.319 and righteousness, 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:34.220 and also His love. 00:28:34.220 --> 00:28:35.860 And one day, 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:37.160 three days later, 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:38.059 He was resurrected 00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:40.920 and He opened the path to life 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.360 to anyone 00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:42.500 who wants to accept Him. 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:44.500 And I accepted Him 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.180 at that point. 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:47.400 After months and months 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.059 of searching, 00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:50.660 I now came face to face 00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.240 with Jesus 00:28:51.240 --> 00:28:52.680 who I really knew. 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:54.420 And I believed in Him. 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.559 And from that point on, 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:58.660 I basically went back 00:28:58.660 --> 00:29:00.180 to my Muslim school 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:01.059 for one more year 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:02.380 to evangelize my friends, 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:03.860 which I did cautiously. 00:29:05.040 --> 00:29:06.460 But then I was found out 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.180 and kicked out 00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:09.640 and was forced to finish 00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:11.480 my high school education elsewhere. 00:29:12.540 --> 00:29:13.960 It was the happiest year 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.940 of my life, however, 00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:16.720 as I could tell people now 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.240 that I did have the truth 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:19.800 I had always craved for. 00:29:20.080 --> 00:29:20.780 And that's why 00:29:20.780 --> 00:29:22.540 now at the University of Edinburgh, 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:25.500 I'm writing a PhD dissertation 00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.740 on the transmission 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.700 of the New Testament, 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:29.140 particularly port letters, 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.820 from the first century 00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.639 to the 10th, 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:33.599 because I really want people 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.299 to get to know 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.179 the earliest documents 00:29:35.179 --> 00:29:35.879 of Christianity 00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:37.720 and to show that the Bible 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:39.019 has been faithfully transmitted 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:40.200 ever since the beginning. 00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:42.559 May God bless you, everybody, 00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.439 and thanks so much 00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:46.039 for listening to my testimony. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.460 And I hope it's been 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.460 of some encouragement 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.240 to all of you. 00:29:49.659 --> 00:29:50.299 God's blessings. 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:50.859 Bye. 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:50.919 Bye. 00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:50.980 Bye. 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:51.000 Bye. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.019 Bye. 00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.039 Bye. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:51.079 Bye. 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:51.139 Bye. 00:29:51.139 --> 00:29:52.980 Bye. 00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.079 Bye. 00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.099 Bye. 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:55.039 Bye. 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.079 Bye. 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:55.119 Bye. 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:55.139 Bye. 00:29:55.139 --> 00:29:55.159 Bye. 00:29:55.159 --> 00:29:55.179 Bye. 00:29:55.179 --> 00:29:55.200 Bye. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:57.000 Bye. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:57.119 Bye. 00:29:57.119 --> 00:29:57.139 Bye. 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:57.159 Bye. 00:29:57.159 --> 00:29:59.159 Bye. 00:29:59.159 --> 00:29:59.200 Bye. 00:29:59.200 --> 00:29:59.220 Bye. 00:29:59.220 --> 00:30:00.799 Bye.