WEBVTT

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 In Matthew chapter 2 and verse 11, we read these words,

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 Then they, the wise men, opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

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 I suspect with many of you, I have a kind of unease about the way we celebrate Christmas.

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 Just the idea of our shops being decorated from mid-November and then, of course, followed by the sales.

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 Would make it seem, I think, if a Martian were to land on earth, that this is just one massive celebration of materialism, of things.

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 I look in my own family's homes, my grandchildren, and the absolute piles of presents under the Christmas tree, and I shudder a little bit.

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 I see children who are overexcited, and that's part of the joy of Christmas in a way, isn't it?

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 Ripping into their presents, so carefully wrapped, but ultimately bored with much of what they've received unless it can be played on a screen.

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 I admired the man on the radio chat show I heard about this year, who told us, and was slightly esconced,

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 that his wife was very upset when she unwrapped her gift and found it was a dishcloth.

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 And then he said, actually, that was a joke, he said, and he presented her with a large box, which was beautifully wrapped.

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 We all thought this was going to have a nice ending, this story, until we discovered that in the big box there was a hoover.

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 I'm rather in favour of the Icelandic tradition at Christmas, where on Christmas Eve, a gift is exchanged, one gift, and it's usually a book, and it's given on Christmas Eve.

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 I know that would be hugely unpopular, and I'm not seriously suggesting it, but there is something about that that appeals to me.

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 The story of the wise men, the magi, as we call them, comes from a Greek word, magoi, which means wise,

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 is a fascinating addition to the birth narratives.

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 And only Matthew, in his Gospel, records this particular story.

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 You will note that history and the Church have added details to that story, which actually don't exist in the original text.

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 I'm always vaguely amused by we three kings of Orient are.

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 I mean, firstly, because we have no idea how many wise men there were.

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 We assume there were three, because there were three gifts.

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 But we haven't got a clue.

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 There could have been a football team of wise men, as far as we know.

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 And the likelihood that they came from the Orient is very unlikely.

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 Much more likely they came from the ancient Middle East, places like Iraq or Iran or Syria or places like that.

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 Even as far afield as Yemen, one scholar says.

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 And of course, and this is where I take issue with the scholars,

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 a good many modern scholars think that this event never took place at all.

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 It's just a bit of made-up history.

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 I have to say that I cannot believe that myself.

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 As far as I'm concerned, whatever happened, three kings or a football team of kings coming from wherever,

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 I believe in my head and in my heart this story to be a historical story.

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 And a number of things strike me about this story very immediately.

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 Firstly, the courage of these wise men.

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 Not only was making a long journey in those times a highly difficult and dangerous thing to do.

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 But then they had to confront Herod and his wily scheme to use the wise men to find the baby Jesus.

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 He lied through his teeth when he said, so I could go and worship him.

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 What he really meant was, so I could go and kill him.

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 He was threatened by anybody who might be a threat to his kingship.

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 The wise men decided that they would sidestep Herod and didn't go back to him and tell him where they found the Christ child.

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 Their commitment strikes me.

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 Many of us, I think, are too easily put off owning our own faith.

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 And they were not put off from their journey to find the Christ child, to follow the star.

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 Their kindness, they brought gifts.

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 And the consequences of them meeting the Christ child.

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 It is thought by many scholars that these wise men were astrologers.

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 You know, the kind of people who write stuff in newspapers telling you what your future might look like.

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 In other words, they might have been of extremely spurious theological background.

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 And yet, the consequence of coming and seeing a baby in a stable was that they bowed down and they worshipped him and they offered their gifts.

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 And that's what I want to talk to you about this morning.

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 I want to talk to you about the offering of gifts.

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 And before you put your hand in the pocket and hope that you left your wallet at home, I'm not talking about money.

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 I want to talk to you about the reality that God has given to you, if you are a believer in Christ, charismata.

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 Where our word charismatic comes from.

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 Charismata means gifts of grace.

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 Every believer is given these gifts of grace.

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 It doesn't matter how young you are or how old you are.

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 God has given you these gifts.

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 And I need to say that at the beginning of this new year,

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 the way that we're meant to offer our gifts will make a huge difference to your life as a Christian,

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 will make a huge difference to the life of this church,

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 and ultimately will make a huge difference to the wider community of Clevedon.

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 But before I talk to you directly about the gifts,

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 just one or two more introductory comments, if I may.

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 If you are a Christian, and I need to say that I never take it for granted

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 that people sitting in front of me in a church building are truly Christian.

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 I never take that for granted.

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 Funnily enough, as somebody who worked in the Church of England for 40-odd years,

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 I've never taken it for granted in the Church of England

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 that the people sitting in front of me are actually genuine believers.

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 It's a bit like Billy Graham said once,

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 that going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more

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 than going into a garage makes you a car.

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 Because it's about a personal relationship with God.

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 It's about knowing that your sins are forgiven.

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 It's about being assured that when you die,

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 you will not hit a brick wall,

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 but you will go through a gateway into a state of existence called heaven.

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 A lot of confusion about what happens to Christians when they die.

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 I dare say that confusion is represented in this church,

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 and it would be another sermon for me to explain to you exactly what happens.

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 There's some really strange ideas,

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 and I don't want to go into them right now,

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 but listen, you can have assurance.

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 If you have a relationship with Jesus,

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 know your sins are forgiven,

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 you can have an assurance that when you die,

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 you will receive eternal life.

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 The Apostle John,

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 writing in his first epistle at the end of the Bible,

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 says that,

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 these things,

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 meaning these things I have written,

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 these things I have written,

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 said John,

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 are written that you may know

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 that you may have eternal life.

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 Not that you may keep your fingers crossed

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 and wildly hope that you might have a place in heaven,

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 but that you may know.

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 Friend, if you have no assurance

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 that you will go to heaven when you die,

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 I want to reassure you

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 that if you trust Jesus Christ,

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 you will be accepted into heaven.

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 That's the amazing thing about grace.

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 It's God's gifting to us,

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 even though we don't necessarily deserve it.

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 The second thing about gifts

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 is that they can be natural gifts.

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 Some of you are great musicians.

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 Some of you, no doubt,

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 were great sportsmen.

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 Looking at you a few years ago now,

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 let's admit it.

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 A lot of you are great hosts and hostesses.

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 A lot of you have a lot of natural gifts.

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 Are those natural gifts,

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 spiritual gifts?

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 Well, they are

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 when you hallow those gifts

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 to serving Jesus through them.

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 When I was a young fellow

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 and trying to witness

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 to my non-Christian friends

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 up in the north of England,

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 it amazed me

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 how often they would say

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 Christianity,

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 I can't use the word

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 that they actually describe,

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 but basically it means

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 Christianity is for wimps.

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 Fellows up north

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 believed then

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 that nobody who was a man,

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 a real man,

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 would ever

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 give their life to Jesus Christ.

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 They talk about crutches.

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 Well, I can tell you

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 there are times in your life

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 when you'd be very grateful

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 for a crutch.

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 And now I see

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 the embodiment

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 of kind of

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 1970s macho man,

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 our premiership footballers.

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 How many of them

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 are people of faith?

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 I mean,

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 I have no idea

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 whether that's genuine faith.

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 I have no idea

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 what it would be like

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 to be a Christian

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 and earn 350 grand a week.

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 Though I wouldn't mind

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 the opportunity

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 of trying to find out.

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 Look,

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 here's the thing.

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 God has given you

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 these spiritual gifts.

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 They may be natural gifts.

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 I had a man

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 in a congregation

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 in which I worked

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 who was a very good pianist

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 and purely

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 before he became a Christian

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 played it for his own enjoyment

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 and for the entertainment

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 of others.

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 There's nothing he loved

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 more than applause.

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 I don't want to say

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 there's anything wrong with that

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 but when he became a Christian

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 he hallowed this gift to God.

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 He offered it to God

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 and said,

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 use me.

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 Funnily enough,

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 he became a bishop

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 in the Church of England

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 and did a wonderful

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 evening of testimony

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 where he played music

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 throughout the whole

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 of his life.

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 He was actually

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 a trained concert pianist

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 and it was a very,

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 very poignant evening

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 for him to play his music

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 but talk about

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 the way he had

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 become a Christian.

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 We have music

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 from the Beatles

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 and we have music

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 from Rachmaninoff,

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 whoever he was.

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 So it could be

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 a natural gift.

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 The most important thing is

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 you need to discover

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 what your spiritual gifts are.

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 And a lot of Christians

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 are very frustrated

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 with their walk with God

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 because they don't know

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 what their spiritual gifting is.

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 Some of you

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 will be very frustrated.

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 Some of you will be here

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 because church going

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 is actually a Sunday habit

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 for you

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 rather than you come

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 to the reality

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 of the risen Christ

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 who died for you

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 and forgave your sins

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 and you want to come

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 like those wise men of old

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 and worship him.

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 I made a comment

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 at the beginning

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 of the service

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 about singing carols.

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 I should never have said that.

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 We haven't come here

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 to sing songs.

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 If you want to do that,

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 you can go down

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 to the football.

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 We've come here

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 to worship

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 the living God.

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 Someone say amen.

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 Someone say hallelujah.

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 Hallelujah.

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 And look,

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 these spiritual gifts

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 have three primary directions.

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 Firstly,

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 our spiritual gifts

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 are given

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 that we might glorify

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 God ourselves.

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 that we might bring

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 honor to him

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 through the exercise

00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:58.399
 of those spiritual gifts.

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 The thing about

00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.660
 spiritual gifts

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 is they are never

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 about drawing attention

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 to yourself.

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 I've been in a load

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 of churches

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 in my life.

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 That was my ministry

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 in a way.

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 Every week,

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 a different church.

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 And I have to say,

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 I veered on the edge

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 of being a little judgmental

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 when I saw some people

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 in the music group

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 who it seemed

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 to be more about them

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 than it did seem

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 to be about God.

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 No,

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 spiritual gifts

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 are given

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 to glorify God,

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 to bring honor

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 to him.

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 Secondly,

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 to edify the church.

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 I want you to

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 imagine

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 for a moment,

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 and it would

00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:45.680
 take imagination,

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 that we were

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 in churches

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 where people

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 who undertook

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 ministries

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 were gifted

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 to undertake

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 those ministries.

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 I want to say,

00:15:57.679 --> 00:15:58.859
 I think this is,

00:15:59.099 --> 00:15:59.819
 in my view,

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:00.899
 I would give

00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:01.479
 Christchurch

00:16:01.479 --> 00:16:02.659
 a pretty good score

00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:03.099
 on that.

00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:04.899
 I think we have

00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:05.859
 people who undertake

00:16:05.859 --> 00:16:06.419
 ministries

00:16:06.419 --> 00:16:08.039
 who are really gifted

00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:08.719
 to take them.

00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:09.479
 I thank God

00:16:09.479 --> 00:16:10.919
 for our youth work

00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:11.699
 and for our work

00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:12.319
 with children.

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:14.820
 I thank God

00:16:14.820 --> 00:16:15.879
 for my colleague

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:16.580
 minister,

00:16:17.160 --> 00:16:17.900
 who I think

00:16:17.900 --> 00:16:19.780
 attempts week by week

00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:20.379
 to preach

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.260
 the living word

00:16:21.260 --> 00:16:21.700
 to you.

00:16:24.780 --> 00:16:25.720
 I'm grateful

00:16:25.720 --> 00:16:26.300
 for those

00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:27.340
 who have the gift

00:16:27.340 --> 00:16:28.360
 of hosting

00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:30.160
 and provide us

00:16:30.160 --> 00:16:30.879
 with coffee

00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.700
 and all that.

00:16:31.900 --> 00:16:32.840
 I'm very grateful

00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:33.300
 for that.

00:16:33.660 --> 00:16:34.220
 And I think

00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:34.740
 as a church,

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.080
 we might score

00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:38.220
 well,

00:16:38.520 --> 00:16:39.180
 were there ever

00:16:39.180 --> 00:16:40.500
 to be a competition,

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.420
 and there never

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:41.919
 will be.

00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.740
 The third reason

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:48.459
 God has given us

00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:50.279
 two spiritual gifts,

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.500
 one is to glorify

00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.059
 himself,

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:54.279
 two is to serve

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:54.860
 the church,

00:16:55.199 --> 00:16:56.120
 that the church

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.979
 might be

00:16:56.979 --> 00:16:58.979
 what the church

00:16:58.979 --> 00:16:59.819
 is meant to be.

00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:02.360
 And the third thing

00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:04.200
 is that some

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:04.879
 of those gifts

00:17:04.879 --> 00:17:05.759
 need to be given

00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.359
 to serve the world.

00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:11.379
 when I

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:15.179
 look around

00:17:15.179 --> 00:17:15.859
 our town,

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.899
 I think we have

00:17:17.899 --> 00:17:19.159
 a huge assignment.

00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:21.740
 And the huge

00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:22.519
 assignment is

00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.539
 how are we going

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.879
 to re-evangelize

00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:25.579
 this town?

00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.639
 And I want

00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:29.279
 people who are

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:31.139
 gifted in evangelism

00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:33.400
 to play their

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.240
 part in that.

00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.040
 Billy Graham

00:17:36.040 --> 00:17:36.920
 once said that

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.600
 we don't all

00:17:37.600 --> 00:17:38.180
 have the gift

00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.100
 of evangelism,

00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:40.420
 so most of you

00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:41.140
 can relax.

00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:44.180
 But he did say

00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:45.900
 we're all called

00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:46.740
 to be witnesses.

00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.300
 That is,

00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:51.800
 to take responsibility

00:17:51.800 --> 00:17:53.280
 in your walk

00:17:53.280 --> 00:17:53.780
 with God

00:17:53.780 --> 00:17:55.060
 that some people

00:17:55.060 --> 00:17:56.040
 will make their

00:17:56.040 --> 00:17:56.980
 minds up about

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.380
 God on the basis

00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.720
 of what they see

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.500
 in your life.

00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.759
 Can you imagine

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.100
 that?

00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.559
 Can you imagine

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.600
 if you took

00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:08.620
 that responsibility

00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:09.640
 seriously

00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.920
 how the world

00:18:10.920 --> 00:18:11.420
 would be a

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:12.299
 different place?

00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:14.559
 But I want

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.559
 Christians with

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.400
 gifts of leadership

00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.220
 to get in

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.259
 prominent positions

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.059
 in commerce

00:18:19.059 --> 00:18:20.259
 and in charities

00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:21.740
 and in organisations

00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:23.220
 that the church,

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.079
 that the world

00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.799
 might be served

00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:25.220
 better.

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.140
 God has promised

00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:27.819
 these gifts

00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:29.079
 and right now

00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:30.019
 don't let the

00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.639
 devil or your

00:18:31.639 --> 00:18:32.759
 sense of low

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.599
 self-esteem

00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:34.759
 start to say

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.139
 to you,

00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.179
 oh, he couldn't

00:18:36.179 --> 00:18:36.819
 use me.

00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:38.980
 Oh, poor little me.

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.000
 I'm too old.

00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.519
 I'm too young.

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:45.599
 You know,

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.720
 it's interesting,

00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:47.139
 isn't it,

00:18:47.179 --> 00:18:50.740
 that many of those

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.599
 great prophets

00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:52.000
 of old,

00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:52.980
 when God called

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.819
 them to a life

00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.500
 of prophecy,

00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.619
 what was their

00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.639
 first response?

00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.359
 Jeremiah,

00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:57.559
 Jeremiah,

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.019
 I'm too young.

00:19:00.939 --> 00:19:01.699
 God said,

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.319
 and here I

00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.219
 paraphrase the

00:19:03.219 --> 00:19:03.559
 Bible,

00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:04.539
 God said to

00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:04.899
 Jeremiah,

00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:05.759
 get over it.

00:19:08.439 --> 00:19:09.079
 When God

00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:09.759
 called Moses,

00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:10.439
 Moses said,

00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.339
 you know what,

00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.039
 I'm not a great

00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.199
 leader,

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:12.679
 I don't want to

00:19:12.679 --> 00:19:13.199
 do this.

00:19:13.919 --> 00:19:14.899
 So God gave him

00:19:14.899 --> 00:19:15.259
 Aaron,

00:19:15.419 --> 00:19:16.079
 who admittedly

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:16.619
 was a mixed

00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.039
 blessing,

00:19:17.179 --> 00:19:17.699
 but nevertheless

00:19:17.699 --> 00:19:18.579
 they got through.

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.479
 When God

00:19:22.479 --> 00:19:23.799
 called Ezekiel,

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.220
 Ezekiel said,

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.119
 I'm a man

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:26.980
 of unclean

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.480
 lips.

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:31.039
 And God

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:33.500
 metaphorically

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.159
 touched his

00:19:34.159 --> 00:19:34.799
 lips with

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.960
 burning coal

00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.700
 and set him

00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:40.059
 free to do

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.180
 his weird

00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:41.639
 stuff.

00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:41.700
 love.

00:19:47.880 --> 00:19:48.440
 So,

00:19:48.840 --> 00:19:50.080
 you have

00:19:50.080 --> 00:19:50.780
 these gifts

00:19:50.780 --> 00:19:52.060
 if you're

00:19:52.060 --> 00:19:52.560
 a believer.

00:19:55.040 --> 00:19:55.680
 And the

00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:56.420
 great shame

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:58.040
 is the

00:19:58.040 --> 00:19:58.460
 shame

00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.880
 of an

00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.380
 unopened

00:20:00.380 --> 00:20:00.880
 gift.

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:04.120
 Of a gift

00:20:04.120 --> 00:20:04.759
 that you may

00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.640
 have that you

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.400
 choose not

00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:06.920
 to offer.

00:20:06.920 --> 00:20:07.000
 father.

00:20:09.820 --> 00:20:10.460
 And you

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:10.900
 sit in

00:20:10.900 --> 00:20:11.380
 church

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.360
 week by

00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:12.860
 week

00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:14.840
 with a

00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:15.380
 faith in

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:15.920
 your heart

00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.519
 wondering,

00:20:17.580 --> 00:20:18.180
 why is my

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.680
 walk with

00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:19.740
 God not

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.300
 more

00:20:20.300 --> 00:20:21.560
 stimulating?

00:20:23.320 --> 00:20:24.100
 Why is it

00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:24.759
 not more

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.660
 exciting?

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.259
 How many

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.220
 gifts do

00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.820
 you have?

00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:31.920
 Well,

00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.340
 I can't

00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:33.000
 answer that

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:33.460
 for each

00:20:33.460 --> 00:20:33.860
 one of you

00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:34.460
 individually.

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.300
 And I do

00:20:35.300 --> 00:20:35.820
 want to say

00:20:35.820 --> 00:20:36.420
 when I tell

00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:36.779
 you this,

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.720
 I did not

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.100
 go to

00:20:38.100 --> 00:20:38.840
 Mount Sinai

00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.300
 and come

00:20:39.300 --> 00:20:39.820
 down with

00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:40.060
 this.

00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.580
 But in

00:20:40.580 --> 00:20:41.500
 my experience,

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.880
 most people

00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:43.820
 have three

00:20:43.820 --> 00:20:44.460
 primary

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.100
 spiritual

00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.440
 gift

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.960
 areas.

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.519
 I once

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:48.900
 sat with

00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.360
 a group

00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:50.460
 of mega

00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:50.900
 church

00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:51.539
 leaders in

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.160
 the USA.

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:52.519
 Goodness

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.320
 knows how

00:20:53.320 --> 00:20:53.880
 a minnow

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.400
 like me

00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:54.920
 ended up

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.279
 with them.

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.300
 And the

00:20:57.300 --> 00:20:57.900
 purpose of

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.279
 the day

00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.680
 with these

00:20:58.680 --> 00:20:59.380
 great leaders,

00:20:59.500 --> 00:20:59.920
 people like

00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.480
 Rick Warren

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.880
 and Bill

00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:01.420
 Hybels

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.460
 and Stuart

00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.140
 Briscoe,

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.000
 the purpose

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.580
 of the day

00:21:04.580 --> 00:21:05.220
 was for us

00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:05.720
 to have an

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.640
 honest discussion

00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:07.140
 with each

00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:08.080
 other and

00:21:08.080 --> 00:21:08.640
 tell each

00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:09.000
 other in

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.360
 the end

00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:09.840
 of the day

00:21:09.840 --> 00:21:10.580
 what did

00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:10.980
 we think

00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:11.520
 each other's

00:21:11.520 --> 00:21:12.259
 spiritual gifts

00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:12.820
 would be.

00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:13.980
 It started

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.680
 out that we

00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.540
 filled in this

00:21:15.540 --> 00:21:16.360
 kind of matrix

00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:17.220
 of questions

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:17.780
 and we filled

00:21:17.780 --> 00:21:18.280
 that in and

00:21:18.280 --> 00:21:18.600
 then they

00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.380
 were distributed

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.600
 and then we

00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:21.320
 prayed for an

00:21:21.320 --> 00:21:21.560
 hour.

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.220
 It was an

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.180
 amazing day.

00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.259
 thing.

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:28.940
 And at the

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.519
 end of it

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:31.400
 I was told

00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:32.080
 very clearly

00:21:32.080 --> 00:21:32.539
 what my

00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.360
 three primary

00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.200
 gift areas

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:34.580
 were.

00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.340
 It completely

00:21:37.340 --> 00:21:38.220
 reshaped the

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.500
 way I thought

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.060
 about my

00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.560
 ministry.

00:21:43.840 --> 00:21:44.740
 And I think

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.320
 if you knew

00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:45.740
 what your

00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.560
 spiritual gifts

00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.039
 were,

00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:50.160
 it would

00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:50.640
 reshape

00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.400
 your life

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.040
 and your

00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:52.740
 walk with

00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:53.120
 God.

00:21:54.800 --> 00:21:55.680
 So I

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.220
 would say

00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.660
 most people

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.120
 have three

00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:58.880
 spiritual gifts

00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.640
 and then

00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:01.300
 you come

00:22:01.300 --> 00:22:01.900
 across these

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:03.700
 people who

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.759
 have far

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.280
 more than

00:22:05.280 --> 00:22:06.300
 three spiritual

00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:08.320
 gifts and

00:22:08.320 --> 00:22:09.080
 you pray for

00:22:09.080 --> 00:22:09.580
 the grace

00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:10.160
 from God

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:10.840
 not to hate

00:22:10.840 --> 00:22:11.100
 them.

00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:15.319
 and they

00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:15.799
 are

00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.740
 world

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.359
 changes.

00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:25.199
 So how

00:22:25.199 --> 00:22:25.819
 will I

00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.579
 know my

00:22:26.579 --> 00:22:27.019
 gifts?

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.379
 That's a

00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:32.199
 great question

00:22:32.199 --> 00:22:33.619
 and here

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.119
 I have to

00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:35.480
 say there

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.199
 is a major

00:22:36.199 --> 00:22:36.839
 problem

00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:39.240
 which besets

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.839
 us human

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.419
 beings.

00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:42.459
 And the

00:22:42.459 --> 00:22:43.259
 problem is

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.899
 what

00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:45.699
 psychologists

00:22:45.699 --> 00:22:47.019
 call delusion.

00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.179
 That we

00:22:50.179 --> 00:22:50.759
 can think

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.299
 we're really

00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:51.740
 good at

00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:52.399
 stuff that

00:22:52.399 --> 00:22:53.179
 nobody else

00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:53.699
 on planet

00:22:53.699 --> 00:22:54.419
 earth thinks

00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:55.019
 we are good

00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.240
 at.

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.480
 And that's

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.099
 why it's

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:02.139
 really important

00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:02.859
 I think

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:03.899
 that we need

00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:04.599
 to check out

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.219
 with people

00:23:05.219 --> 00:23:06.759
 who spiritual

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:07.599
 counsel we

00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:08.899
 respect and

00:23:08.899 --> 00:23:09.579
 who love us

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.319
 enough to tell

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:10.899
 us the truth.

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.459
 We need

00:23:11.459 --> 00:23:11.939
 to check

00:23:11.939 --> 00:23:13.579
 out whether

00:23:13.579 --> 00:23:14.399
 or not our

00:23:14.399 --> 00:23:16.000
 inclination that

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.619
 we are a

00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.399
 future opera

00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:18.099
 star or

00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:19.919
 whatever has

00:23:19.919 --> 00:23:20.439
 actually got

00:23:20.439 --> 00:23:21.859
 any basis in

00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.419
 reality.

00:23:23.559 --> 00:23:24.259
 Maybe a

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.859
 talk with a

00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:25.599
 minister from

00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.079
 the church

00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:27.279
 maybe and

00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.759
 this is a

00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:28.379
 great way of

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:29.139
 discovering your

00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:30.179
 spiritual gifts

00:23:30.179 --> 00:23:32.480
 join a home

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:32.879
 group.

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.079
 A home

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:35.839
 group which is

00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.679
 small enough for

00:23:36.679 --> 00:23:37.279
 you to build

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.459
 relationships of

00:23:38.459 --> 00:23:39.159
 honesty and

00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:40.040
 integrity with

00:23:40.040 --> 00:23:40.620
 one another

00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.600
 where there

00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:42.279
 can be an

00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:43.660
 exchange of

00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.840
 feedback which

00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:46.100
 is vital in

00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:46.779
 helping us

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:48.360
 discover our

00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:50.700
 spiritual gifts.

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:50.759
 gifts.

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.420
 And if like me

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:54.980
 you're a

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:57.240
 senior I

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.700
 just want to

00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.180
 say one

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.920
 thing to you

00:23:58.920 --> 00:24:00.240
 in relation to

00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.259
 this issue of

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.160
 spiritual gifts.

00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:04.059
 God is not

00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:05.000
 finished with you

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.340
 yet.

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.500
 God is not

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.299
 finished with you

00:24:10.299 --> 00:24:10.620
 yet.

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.700
 Go home

00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.680
 stand in front of

00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:15.059
 a mirror

00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:15.920
 say to

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.240
 God you're

00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:17.759
 not finished

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:18.140
 with me

00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:18.460
 yet.

00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:21.840
 There's this

00:24:21.840 --> 00:24:22.300
 thing in

00:24:22.300 --> 00:24:23.000
 churches isn't

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.380
 there the

00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:24.500
 80-20

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.440
 thing.

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:25.840
 You know

00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:27.620
 80% of

00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.200
 the people

00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.060
 sit there

00:24:29.060 --> 00:24:30.360
 passively

00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:31.160
 sometimes

00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:31.980
 aggressively

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.660
 week in

00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:34.259
 week out

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:36.080
 who haven't

00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:36.640
 got a clue

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.039
 what their

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.800
 ministry is.

00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:38.340
 And then on

00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:38.779
 the other

00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.500
 side of the

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.320
 church there

00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:40.960
 are ministers

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.360
 with the

00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:42.039
 Colgate ring

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.660
 of confidence

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.340
 around their

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:45.539
 necks who

00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.059
 think that

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.740
 their job

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.779
 is to get

00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.599
 you to help

00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.099
 them with

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:50.059
 their ministry

00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:51.119
 whereas I

00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:51.579
 have always

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.079
 thought that

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.059
 my job was

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.740
 to help you

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.259
 with your

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:54.960
 ministry to

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:55.720
 discover it

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.279
 and to

00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:56.879
 offer it.

00:25:00.819 --> 00:25:01.460
 Imagine

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:04.240
 a church

00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:05.019
 where ministries

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.879
 were undertaken

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:06.980
 by people who

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.799
 were gifted to

00:25:07.799 --> 00:25:08.680
 undertake them.

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.200
 Cherish the

00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.259
 church where

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:12.899
 the ministers

00:25:12.899 --> 00:25:14.200
 understand that

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:16.360
 their ministry

00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:17.819
 is in part

00:25:17.819 --> 00:25:18.840
 to help you

00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:20.180
 discover your

00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:20.799
 ministry.

00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.160
 All right

00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.580
 well you're

00:25:24.580 --> 00:25:25.500
 sitting there

00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:25.920
 and you say

00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.620
 well what will

00:25:26.620 --> 00:25:27.319
 this do for

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:27.580
 me?

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:27.980
 You know

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.660
 I'm already

00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.539
 I've already

00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.019
 got enough

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.420
 to do

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:30.740
 you know

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:32.080
 I got my

00:25:32.080 --> 00:25:33.120
 daytime television

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:33.680
 I got

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.580
 you know

00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:35.420
 mindless stuff

00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:35.980
 to watch

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.600
 and do.

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:38.700
 Listen

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.700
 if you

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:41.460
 set yourself

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.319
 to discover

00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:43.160
 your spiritual

00:25:43.160 --> 00:25:43.840
 gifts and

00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:44.420
 you offer

00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:44.700
 them.

00:25:45.740 --> 00:25:46.200
 You will

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.140
 have a renewed

00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:47.819
 sense of

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.380
 fulfillment

00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:50.120
 you will

00:25:50.120 --> 00:25:50.759
 have a new

00:25:50.759 --> 00:25:51.900
 excitement in

00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:52.620
 your faith

00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:54.319
 and you

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.019
 will have a

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:56.019
 new impact

00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.880
 with the

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.860
 ministries of

00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:58.600
 this church.

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:01.779
 We stand

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.400
 at the

00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.000
 threshold

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.319
 of a new

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:04.680
 year.

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:08.019
 a year

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:10.100
 which is

00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:11.360
 full of

00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:13.299
 anxieties

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.299
 and worries.

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.799
 I hesitate

00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:18.140
 to say

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.700
 that I've

00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.680
 read anybody

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.620
 who can

00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.200
 tell you

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.700
 what the

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.120
 end of

00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:23.220
 2025 is

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:23.480
 going to

00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:23.920
 look like

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:24.259
 in the

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.580
 world

00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:25.000
 in our

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.400
 local

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.560
 in our

00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:27.019
 country

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.480
 in our

00:26:27.480 --> 00:26:27.820
 local

00:26:27.820 --> 00:26:28.539
 community.

00:26:30.580 --> 00:26:31.200
 Nobody

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.880
 it seems

00:26:31.880 --> 00:26:33.560
 can work

00:26:33.560 --> 00:26:34.420
 out what

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:34.840
 is going

00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:35.340
 to happen.

00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:38.860
 Whilst

00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:40.759
 we kind

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.320
 of worry

00:26:41.320 --> 00:26:42.960
 about the

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.360
 way the

00:26:43.360 --> 00:26:43.860
 world is

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.279
 going,

00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:48.039
 whilst we

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.720
 worry about

00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:49.060
 that,

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.700
 I want to

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.140
 say to

00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:51.340
 you,

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.259
 I think

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:55.920
 that in

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.440
 the whole

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:56.820
 of my

00:26:56.820 --> 00:26:57.300
 ministry

00:26:57.300 --> 00:26:58.100
 I've never

00:26:58.100 --> 00:26:59.980
 felt that

00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.840
 the opportunity

00:27:00.840 --> 00:27:01.480
 for the

00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.279
 gospel is

00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:02.800
 greater

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:04.220
 than it

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.779
 is now.

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:07.899
 There are

00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.399
 amazing

00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:09.319
 things happening

00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:09.839
 in our

00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:10.440
 culture which

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.159
 maybe many

00:27:11.159 --> 00:27:12.180
 of you are

00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:13.180
 unaware of.

00:27:13.919 --> 00:27:15.000
 The death

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.879
 of the new

00:27:15.879 --> 00:27:17.039
 atheist movement,

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:19.740
 very well

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.619
 charted now

00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.440
 in social

00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:22.419
 media and

00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:23.619
 in serious

00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.440
 academic

00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:25.859
 circles.

00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.079
 else.

00:27:27.919 --> 00:27:28.979
 I've never

00:27:28.979 --> 00:27:30.039
 felt that

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.799
 opportunity

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:32.279
 more and

00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:32.639
 I want to

00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:33.659
 give myself

00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:34.759
 afresh to

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.000
 it.

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.279
 And I

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.719
 wonder

00:27:37.719 --> 00:27:39.759
 who amongst

00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.240
 you will

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:40.879
 join me?

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:43.919
 Who of

00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:45.119
 you on

00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:45.799
 this first

00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:46.439
 Sunday of

00:27:46.439 --> 00:27:47.319
 2025

00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:50.119
 will say

00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:52.240
 I'm going

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.539
 to get

00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.699
 serious about

00:27:53.699 --> 00:27:54.519
 my spiritual

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.019
 gifting.

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.000
 For those

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.319
 of you who

00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:57.720
 don't know

00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.059
 what it

00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.420
 is you

00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:58.759
 need to

00:27:58.759 --> 00:27:59.119
 say I'm

00:27:59.119 --> 00:27:59.359
 going to

00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.119
 discover what

00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.639
 those gifts

00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.019
 are.

00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.279
 They're not

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.139
 all spooky

00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.579
 things.

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.220
 If you

00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:05.660
 turn in

00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:06.319
 your Bible

00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:08.440
 when you

00:28:08.440 --> 00:28:09.099
 get home

00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.000
 turn to

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.539
 1 Corinthians

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.460
 chapter 12

00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:13.639
 this is an

00:28:13.639 --> 00:28:14.680
 amazing passage

00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:15.319
 of scripture.

00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:16.319
 You get the

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.940
 same kind of

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.299
 thing in

00:28:17.299 --> 00:28:18.019
 Romans chapter

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.579
 12.

00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:19.440
 It's as if

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:19.799
 the Holy

00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:20.599
 Spirit made

00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.420
 it easy for

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:21.940
 us by saying

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:22.279
 you've got to

00:28:22.279 --> 00:28:23.119
 remember chapter

00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:23.660
 12.

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.359
 Now to

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:25.940
 each one

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:26.799
 the manifestation

00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.339
 of the

00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:27.920
 Spirit is

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.440
 given for

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:28.900
 the common

00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.279
 good.

00:28:29.639 --> 00:28:29.859
 Amen.

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.720
 To one

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.440
 is given

00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:35.920
 through the

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.519
 Spirit the

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.160
 message of

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:38.379
 wisdom to

00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.019
 another the

00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:39.700
 message of

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:40.400
 knowledge by

00:28:40.400 --> 00:28:40.879
 means of

00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:41.259
 the same

00:28:41.259 --> 00:28:41.680
 Spirit.

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.539
 It goes

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:42.839
 on.

00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:44.440
 Some of

00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:44.940
 those gifts

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.359
 are going to

00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:45.980
 spook some

00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:46.940
 of you and

00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.519
 it may well

00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.059
 be that some

00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:48.440
 of the gifts

00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:49.160
 that spook you

00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:49.879
 today will be

00:28:49.879 --> 00:28:50.319
 your gift

00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:50.740
 tomorrow.

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:54.000
 I don't

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:54.299
 know about

00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:54.779
 you but the

00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.420
 first time I

00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:55.960
 heard anybody

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.640
 speak in

00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.259
 tongues I'm

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.720
 like show

00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:58.039
 me the

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.359
 door.

00:29:01.579 --> 00:29:02.380
 I got a

00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:04.440
 little impatient

00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.299
 with prophecy

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.460
 where basically

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.319
 the strap line

00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.000
 of the prophecy

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:08.980
 was God

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:09.620
 says you

00:29:09.620 --> 00:29:10.299
 scratch my

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.759
 back and

00:29:10.759 --> 00:29:11.299
 I'll scratch

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.740
 yours.

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:16.359
 I compared

00:29:16.359 --> 00:29:16.900
 it to those

00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.620
 prophecies of

00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.319
 old where

00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.779
 people like

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.599
 Ezekiel

00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:22.480
 had to say

00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:23.259
 to the people

00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.480
 of God the

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.299
 glory of the

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:25.779
 Lord has

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.700
 departed from

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.380
 your temple.

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:30.900
 I don't

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:31.620
 think prophecy

00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:32.859
 is about

00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:33.680
 just saying

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.299
 what we want

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.759
 to hear.

00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:36.900
 It's about

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.500
 saying what

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.259
 we don't

00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:38.680
 want to

00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.000
 hear.

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:42.000
 when I

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.460
 was a

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.940
 young

00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:44.680
 minister

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:47.539
 family

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.240
 services

00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.779
 were just

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.380
 coming onto

00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:50.099
 the agenda

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.440
 for churches.

00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.359
 Because I

00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.099
 was young

00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:55.000
 it was

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.700
 assumed

00:29:55.700 --> 00:29:56.660
 that I

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.299
 would be

00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.880
 great at

00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:58.220
 family

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.980
 services.

00:30:02.660 --> 00:30:03.440
 And so I

00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:03.819
 tried to

00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.519
 teach myself

00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:05.279
 a few skills

00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:06.039
 to do that.

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.660
 I mean I

00:30:06.660 --> 00:30:07.240
 love the way

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:07.619
 in this

00:30:07.619 --> 00:30:07.880
 church

00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:08.420
 Ross could

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:08.900
 use his

00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.740
 magic gifts

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.820
 to occupy

00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:11.760
 I mean not

00:30:11.760 --> 00:30:12.300
 just children

00:30:12.300 --> 00:30:12.760
 I love

00:30:12.760 --> 00:30:13.220
 them but

00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:14.520
 you know

00:30:14.520 --> 00:30:14.920
 good thing

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.420
 to do.

00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:16.680
 And make

00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.320
 a great

00:30:17.320 --> 00:30:17.800
 kind of

00:30:17.800 --> 00:30:18.180
 teaching

00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.900
 point out

00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.280
 of that.

00:30:21.260 --> 00:30:21.960
 But one

00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:22.200
 of the

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:22.880
 things I

00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:23.460
 devised

00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:23.740
 it was

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.220
 actually a

00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:24.620
 stolen

00:30:24.620 --> 00:30:25.240
 idea

00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.260
 and I

00:30:26.260 --> 00:30:26.680
 stole it

00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:26.980
 from the

00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.380
 guy who

00:30:27.380 --> 00:30:27.600
 was at

00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:27.760
 St.

00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:28.400
 George's

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.220
 in Leeds.

00:30:30.580 --> 00:30:31.200
 And to

00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:31.700
 make the

00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.500
 point about

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.240
 the importance

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:33.780
 of you

00:30:33.780 --> 00:30:34.420
 knowing your

00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:34.860
 gifts and

00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:35.520
 offering them

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.660
 I made

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.500
 a giant

00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:38.180
 jigsaw.

00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.220
 I get

00:30:40.220 --> 00:30:40.599
 the kids

00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:40.940
 to come

00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:41.200
 up and

00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.599
 help me

00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.039
 put the

00:30:42.039 --> 00:30:42.359
 pieces

00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:42.920
 together.

00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:43.720
 What the

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.200
 kids didn't

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:44.839
 know was

00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:46.519
 there was

00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:46.920
 a piece

00:30:46.920 --> 00:30:47.359
 missing

00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:49.660
 right in

00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.099
 the center

00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:50.400
 of the

00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:50.960
 jigsaw.

00:30:53.619 --> 00:30:54.019
 At the

00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.400
 end of it

00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:54.720
 I had the

00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:55.279
 kids hunting

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.720
 around the

00:30:55.720 --> 00:30:56.160
 church for

00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:56.579
 the missing

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.099
 piece.

00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.960
 I had it

00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.619
 hidden under

00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:01.059
 the altar

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:02.980
 cloth on

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:03.879
 the Lord's

00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.319
 table.

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.000
 And at

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.359
 the end

00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:06.720
 of it

00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:08.139
 to make

00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:08.740
 myself a

00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:10.200
 hero I

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.680
 pulled out

00:31:10.680 --> 00:31:11.139
 the piece

00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:11.400
 and I

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:11.700
 put it

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.000
 there.

00:31:13.639 --> 00:31:14.160
 My

00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:14.819
 message was

00:31:14.819 --> 00:31:15.240
 this.

00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:17.019
 If you

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.579
 don't know

00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.400
 your spiritual

00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:18.920
 gifts,

00:31:19.960 --> 00:31:20.420
 if you

00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:21.000
 don't like

00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:21.700
 those wise

00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.099
 men of

00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.599
 old come

00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.039
 and offer

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.379
 them,

00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:28.039
 sadly the

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.579
 church is

00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:28.980
 always going

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:29.359
 to have a

00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.139
 missing piece

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:31.099
 in the

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:31.819
 jigsaw of

00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.019
 its

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.619
 ministry.

00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:35.619
 who,

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:39.079
 who will

00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:39.599
 bring their

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.179
 gifts and

00:31:40.179 --> 00:31:40.739
 offer them?

00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.479
 The wise

00:31:45.479 --> 00:31:47.299
 men followed

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.959
 the star

00:31:47.959 --> 00:31:50.019
 and the

00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.899
 wise today

00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:52.419
 will follow

00:31:52.419 --> 00:31:53.039
 that same

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.939
 star and

00:31:54.939 --> 00:31:55.839
 discover that

00:31:55.839 --> 00:31:57.579
 same Christ

00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:59.579
 child and

00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.759
 discover a

00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.459
 new way of

00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.900
 living through

00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:03.600
 him and

00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:04.240
 in him.

00:32:06.340 --> 00:32:07.240
 The wise

00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:07.900
 men came,

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:09.840
 they opened

00:32:09.840 --> 00:32:10.620
 their treasures

00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:12.459
 and they

00:32:12.459 --> 00:32:13.079
 offered their

00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.599
 gifts.

00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.339
 In the

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.679
 end,

00:32:19.699 --> 00:32:20.379
 it's down

00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:20.839
 to you.

00:32:22.219 --> 00:32:23.019
 In the name

00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:23.500
 of God,

00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.179
 Father,

00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:24.699
 Son,

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.519
 and Holy

00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:26.039
 Spirit,

00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.039
 the people

00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:27.539
 who agreed,

00:32:27.719 --> 00:32:28.359
 said together,

00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:29.719
 Amen.

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:49.500
 they

00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:50.339
 get

00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.160
 out