WEBVTT

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 Paul stood in the meeting of the Arropocos and said,

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 Men of Athens, I see in every way you are very religious.

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 I guess that you've worked out now that we're talking about evangelism today,

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 and I'll just explain a little bit about that word for a moment.

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 But I want to just, forgive me if this kind of starts with a slightly depressing note,

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 and don't check out, but just hang on in there.

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 So recently, the statistics were published from the Church of England about the health of our churches.

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 And what you need to know is that between 1983, which was the year that I first became a senior pastor of a church,

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 in that year, 40.3% of the people of this country claimed some kind of allegiance to the Christian faith.

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 In 2014, that 40.3% had reduced to 16%.

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 In the first 10 years of the 21st century, that decline started to plateau a little bit.

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 And unfortunately, it then has accelerated since 2010,

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 although those statistics are slightly pulled out of shape because of COVID,

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 and the fact that we couldn't attend worship services during that time.

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 On Friday, I had breakfast with somebody who works at the heart of the church's bureaucracy.

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 And he said to me that nationally, the way the church is thinking is that during lockdown,

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 40% of our regular membership have not turned up in church again.

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 But the one bright bit of news on the horizon is that 15% of people have arrived who are new people.

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 It's not clear what that means entirely.

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 It might mean that people have come from other churches and gone to another church to kind of give it a shot, so to speak.

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 You don't have to look, and you don't have to have a PhD in statistics to see

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 that actually the Church of England is declining.

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 You remember at the beginning of the pandemic, we were all obsessed by something called the R number.

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 Do you remember that?

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 Someone say yes.

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 And the R number was that figure that if it went below one, the disease was spreading in your region.

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 But if it dropped below one, it was starting to rescind.

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 Well, some bright spark, a professor of statistics, decided he'd work out the R number of the Church of England.

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 And you'll have guessed, the news is that it came out at just under 0.9.

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 In other words, we are continuing to decline.

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 I should say, and this should worry you, especially those of you who have been around churches for a long time,

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 that in 2014, the percentage of people in the age range between 18 and 24,

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 the percentage of people in that age range who claimed any affiliation with the local church was just 2%.

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 In other words, at the moment, it doesn't look like there are many people kind of waiting to take the places of your seats

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 when God decides to call you home to glory.

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 I'm not saying that to depress you, but it seems to me, and this is why I've always had a problem with the House of Bishops in the Church of England.

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 It seems to me we can only talk about reality, because if we talk about anything else other than reality,

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 we can never get a plan together to deal with that reality.

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 One of my massive frustrations as a bishop was that nobody really wanted to know that the church was declining.

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 The data was in front of them, but they didn't want to know.

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 I remember once in the Church Times, by the way,

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 only get the Church Times if your blood pressure is running low and you want to raise it.

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 It said on the front of the Church Times that the headline was,

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 Peter Braley had just produced his church statistics for the last decade saying,

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 Church in Decline.

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 Then the subheading was, Bishops Not Worried.

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 And I wrote a letter to the Church Times and I said,

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 so what will worry them?

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 I still don't have an answer to that question, as a matter of fact,

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 20 years as a bishop almost.

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 So whatever evangelism is,

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 despite Alpha, and thank God for Alpha,

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 Christianity Explored and these process evangelism courses,

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 which have definitely had some impact on a very small number of people nationally,

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 more so internationally.

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 And if you want to be encouraged,

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 know that the R figure for the global church,

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 taking into account that most of the Western churches are in decline,

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 the R figure for the global church is 1.3.

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 It's growing.

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 But the one thing you could say is,

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 in the Western Church,

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 and the Church of England, I think,

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 would be particularly in sharp focus,

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 to conclude this introduction,

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 is that whatever evangelism is,

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 we're not very good at it.

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 We don't spread it very well.

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 And the net result is,

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 we're all growing old together in church,

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 which is a rewarding process to an extent.

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 But it's not the way that it's meant to be.

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 The root word, the Hebrew word,

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 of the word that is translated evangelism,

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 is a word that means the announcement of good news,

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 largely used in the context of good news in relation to battles.

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 It's about the announcement of victory.

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 The Greek word that interprets the Hebrew word,

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 before we get the English word evangelism,

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 is a word that means the announcement of good news,

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 the evangel, the euangelion in Greek.

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 The Church of England loves that oft-quoted,

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 cliched phrase of Francis of Assisi.

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 Francis of Assisi said this.

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 He said,

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 Preach the gospel at all times.

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 Someone say, Amen.

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 And then he said,

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 Use words if necessary.

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 The Church of England loves that.

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 Because it gets them off the hook of preaching the gospel.

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 The gospel that changed my life,

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 and if you're prepared to embrace it if you haven't already,

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 will change your life dramatically for the good.

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 The reason why St. Francis is so wrong,

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 I mean, we all know broadly what he was talking about,

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 but he wasn't talking about evangelism.

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 We all know what he meant,

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 but in Romans 10, verses 14 and 15,

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 Paul is speculating to this church in Rome

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 as to how it is that people become Christians.

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 And what he says is,

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 I don't have time to read this order,

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 but the conclusion is,

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 faith comes through hearing,

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 and hearing through the word of Christ.

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 And Paul goes through this thing saying,

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 How will people hear

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 if no one ever preaches it to them?

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 No, says Paul.

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 Faith comes through hearing,

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 and hearing through the word of Christ.

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 You can preach the gospel without words.

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 You can do as many good works

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 as God calls you to be,

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 but on their own,

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 they will never ever

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 lead people to Christ

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 via the good news about Jesus.

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 Incidentally,

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 I slightly struggle with the book that we're using

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 because I don't ultimately believe

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 that evangelism is a spiritual discipline.

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 And I say that because

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 evangelism is a gift given to people

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 who have the gift of evangelism.

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 The people whose gift is

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 to help other people find Christ

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 via the proclamation of the gospel.

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 So it can't be a spiritual discipline,

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 but this is where you come in, folks.

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 You may not all be called to be evangelists,

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 although Michael Green always reckoned

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 that there are more evangelists

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 in church congregations

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 than nobody ever knows.

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 Not even the people

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 who might have that gift, incidentally.

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 About 10%

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 congregations

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 have a gift of evangelism,

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 says Michael Green.

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 But,

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 and this is why

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 you can't get off the hook, folks.

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 All of us,

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 if we're followers of Christ,

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 are called to be witnesses.

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 Acts chapter 1,

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 end verse 8.

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 You will be witnesses

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 to the ends of the earth.

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 What does a witness do?

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 A witness shares their experience of God.

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 And of course,

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 that makes an assumption.

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 And the assumption is,

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 you have some experience of God

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 to talk about.

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 Like I told you this before,

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 but when I was in local church ministry,

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 I was really keen

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 to kind of see

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 if I could persuade

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 this congregation

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 to take their part

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 in evangelism

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 by acting as witnesses

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 the other six days of the week.

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 We started that

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 with a little research

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 amongst the congregation.

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 We said to them,

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 suppose somebody

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 came to you

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 and said,

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 you know what,

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 I've been reading

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 about Christianity.

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 You know,

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 you gave me that book

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 and I've been reading about it.

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 I really want to become

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 a Christian.

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 What should I do?

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 Do you know what most members

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 of my congregation

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 would do

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 at the beginning

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 of this adventure?

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 They would say,

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 go and see Mike.

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 Not good enough.

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 So I want to talk to you really

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 about being witnesses

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 and what that looks like.

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 But let me tell you something

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 that really doesn't help.

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 The reasons for church decline

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 are far too complicated

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 and far too wide-ranging

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 for me to have time

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 to tell you them today.

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 You'll be very relieved to know.

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 But there is a modern aspect

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 of that

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 which is very troubling.

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 And that is,

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 the church seems to have joined in

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 with that thing in our culture

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 where we're entering

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 a kind of season

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 of self-hatred.

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 Let me read that one commentator

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 has written about this,

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 specifically about the Church of England

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 in a book that came out this year.

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 Talking about the trend

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 of self-hatred in our culture,

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 not allowed to love our country anymore,

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 don't talk about the Commonwealth,

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 don't talk about the Empire.

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 The Church of England,

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 writes Douglas Murray,

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 has long led the way in this trend.

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 For a generation,

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 it has found itself

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 in a position of having to apologise

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 for spreading its gospel

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 around the world

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 and being embarrassed

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 by its former missionary zeal.

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 In recent years,

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 it has also decided

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 to take upon itself

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 the most hostile possible critique

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 of itself.

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 If you really don't believe

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 in this thing,

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 if you really think

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 that everything to do

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 with the church

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 is something to be despised

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 and we need a new game plan,

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 this is not a message for you.

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 So let me just offer you

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 some thoughts

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 as we go through.

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 One of the things,

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 we read that

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 the risen Christ

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 told us we're all witnesses.

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 The closing words of Matthew,

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 and I know that

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 people's final words

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 on planet Earth

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 are either very helpful

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 or very not.

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 Remember what Jesus said

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 before he parted company

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 with his disciples.

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 You,

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 sorry,

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 go

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 and make disciples

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 of all nations.

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 Go.

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 We're obsessed

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 with getting people

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 to come to church.

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 Jesus says,

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 no,

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 go.

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 Go into all the world

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 and make disciples

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 of all nations.

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 Peter,

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 writing in

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 1 Peter 3

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 in verse 15,

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 says,

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 be prepared

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 to give a reason

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 for the hope

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 that's in you.

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 And what would you say?

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 Somebody came to you

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 and said,

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 I'd love

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 to become

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 a Christian.

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 What should I do?

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 I know what you say.

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 Go and see Mike.

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 Go and see Clive.

00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:12.539
 Go and see Ross.

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 Go and see Susie.

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 But being a witness

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 means

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 you have to take

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 some responsibility.

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 And as an evangelist

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 myself,

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 I can tell you

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 that my job,

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:26.759
 our job,

00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:28.259
 is made so much easier

00:14:28.259 --> 00:14:29.900
 when you do your job.

00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:32.820
 It's an awesome

00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:33.639
 responsibility

00:14:33.639 --> 00:14:34.940
 to be a witness

00:14:34.940 --> 00:14:35.400
 for Christ.

00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:36.240
 Do you get that?

00:14:37.280 --> 00:14:38.379
 That some people

00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:39.220
 will make up

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:39.720
 their minds

00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.860
 about Jesus Christ

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:41.860
 on the basis

00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:43.139
 of what they see

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.019
 in your life

00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:44.920
 when you're not

00:14:44.920 --> 00:14:45.540
 in church.

00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:49.500
 That's an awesome

00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:50.259
 responsibility

00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:51.720
 in my view.

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:56.060
 So we come to

00:14:56.060 --> 00:14:57.860
 Acts chapter 17.

00:14:59.139 --> 00:14:59.860
 This,

00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:00.800
 incidentally,

00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:02.280
 is a very

00:15:02.280 --> 00:15:03.500
 interesting chapter,

00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:04.259
 in case it's

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.019
 escaped you,

00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.860
 because it is the

00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:08.040
 only recorded

00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:09.300
 sermon we have

00:15:09.300 --> 00:15:10.920
 in the New Testament

00:15:10.920 --> 00:15:12.879
 where Paul was

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.440
 preaching

00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.900
 to Gentiles,

00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:17.420
 to non-Jews.

00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:20.279
 we didn't read

00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:20.839
 this verse,

00:15:20.979 --> 00:15:21.879
 but in verse

00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:24.379
 16,

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.079
 verse 10,

00:15:25.199 --> 00:15:25.319
 sorry,

00:15:25.319 --> 00:15:26.039
 I beg your pardon,

00:15:26.319 --> 00:15:26.519
 sorry,

00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:27.360
 verse 16,

00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:28.439
 while Paul was

00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:29.259
 waiting for them

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:29.759
 in Athens,

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.120
 he was greatly

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.360
 distressed to see

00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.079
 that the city

00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:34.079
 was full of idols.

00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.000
 Look,

00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.299
 our church,

00:15:37.579 --> 00:15:38.639
 the church of England,

00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.559
 the church in the

00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:39.839
 West,

00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:41.079
 needs to become

00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:42.659
 more distressed

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.899
 distressed

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.120
 about the state

00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:45.879
 of our life

00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:46.659
 and our culture

00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.459
 as a nation.

00:15:47.699 --> 00:15:48.579
 If you look at

00:15:48.579 --> 00:15:49.919
 the world as it is,

00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:50.740
 and you're very

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.519
 comfortable with

00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:52.139
 the direction

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.959
 it's taking,

00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.819
 it's not a message

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.299
 for you.

00:15:57.179 --> 00:15:58.259
 I can't

00:15:58.259 --> 00:16:00.219
 compel you

00:16:00.219 --> 00:16:01.179
 to be distressed,

00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.459
 but I can plead

00:16:03.459 --> 00:16:04.539
 with you to be

00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.480
 distressed for the

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.500
 way the world is.

00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:08.600
 Paul tells us

00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.379
 that in

00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:10.759
 verse 16.

00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:12.519
 He also

00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:13.500
 tells us,

00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:14.279
 or implies

00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:16.139
 in these verses,

00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:18.120
 that Athens

00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:19.379
 was a culture

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.620
 like ours

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:21.620
 in this sense.

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:23.039
 It was

00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:24.679
 gospel-averse.

00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:26.659
 Athens

00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.399
 was a great

00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:27.860
 center

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.039
 of something

00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:29.539
 that

00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:31.240
 really is

00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:34.439
 impressive.

00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.279
 It was a

00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:36.700
 center,

00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:37.720
 the philosophical

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.419
 center

00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:39.620
 of the world.

00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.600
 Amazing.

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.819
 Amazing thinkers,

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.980
 Aristotle and

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.399
 Plato,

00:16:46.039 --> 00:16:46.840
 people who

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:48.200
 300 years

00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:49.120
 before Christ

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:49.980
 have had a

00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.779
 major impact

00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:51.360
 and have a

00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:52.139
 major impact

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.519
 today,

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.379
 for instance,

00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.039
 on how we

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.860
 think about

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.360
 political

00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:56.080
 governance.

00:16:57.319 --> 00:16:58.299
 Great minds,

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.179
 but it was

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:01.240
 gospel-averse.

00:17:01.399 --> 00:17:02.139
 There is no

00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:03.139
 philosophy,

00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.579
 particularly those

00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.359
 mentioned here,

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.079
 Stoicism,

00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:08.740
 philosophies like

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.099
 that,

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:09.900
 that would

00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.539
 have any

00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:11.200
 time for

00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:11.839
 the idea

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.579
 that God

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:13.220
 became a

00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:13.519
 man.

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.460
 They didn't

00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:16.839
 have much

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.680
 problem believing

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:18.079
 that their

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:18.720
 gods might have

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.120
 become monsters

00:17:20.120 --> 00:17:21.019
 who arrived

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.880
 out of the sea,

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:22.240
 but they

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.759
 couldn't believe

00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:23.240
 that God

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.099
 would ever

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:24.620
 become a

00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:24.900
 man.

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:26.779
 It was

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.680
 culture-averse.

00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:28.880
 Paul was

00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.900
 seen as a

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:30.299
 threat.

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.900
 But here's

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.640
 some thoughts.

00:17:34.420 --> 00:17:35.539
 Paul had a

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.019
 plan for

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.720
 evangelism.

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.420
 If you

00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:39.079
 look in

00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:40.240
 Acts from

00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:40.980
 about chapter

00:17:40.980 --> 00:17:41.779
 12 through

00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.279
 to chapter

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.480
 17, you

00:17:43.480 --> 00:17:43.900
 will see

00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:44.680
 Paul's plan

00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.640
 for evangelism

00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.700
 was consistent.

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:47.960
 Start in the

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.339
 synagogue,

00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:49.640
 open the

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.299
 Old Testament,

00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.319
 preach to

00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.339
 warm contacts

00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:53.759
 people who

00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:54.140
 at least

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.799
 believed in

00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:56.019
 God, and

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.880
 try and show

00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.680
 them that

00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:59.140
 Jesus was

00:17:59.140 --> 00:17:59.779
 the Messiah.

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.400
 When he got

00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:02.079
 kicked out of

00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:02.579
 the synagogue,

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.480
 he went out

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:03.759
 in the

00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.880
 marketplace and

00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.519
 started to

00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:05.940
 preach, and

00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.420
 that's what

00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:06.940
 we're reading

00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:07.840
 about in

00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:08.900
 Acts 17.

00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.800
 Paul didn't

00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:14.000
 stand up by

00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:15.220
 rubbishing

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:15.940
 their culture,

00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:16.759
 by shouting

00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:17.320
 at them.

00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:18.519
 No, he

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.480
 started by

00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.900
 engaging with

00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:21.620
 that culture.

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.420
 I don't know

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:23.900
 about you, but

00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:24.420
 I never get

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.000
 the impression

00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:25.840
 that St.

00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.940
 Paul could

00:18:26.940 --> 00:18:27.400
 have had a

00:18:27.400 --> 00:18:28.560
 kind of

00:18:28.560 --> 00:18:29.759
 alternative

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.800
 profession and

00:18:31.800 --> 00:18:32.100
 been a

00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:32.500
 stand-up

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.900
 comic.

00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.640
 My impression

00:18:35.640 --> 00:18:36.140
 of him is

00:18:36.140 --> 00:18:36.420
 he's a

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:36.580
 little

00:18:36.580 --> 00:18:37.220
 intense.

00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:38.880
 He's

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:39.180
 the kind

00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:39.600
 of person

00:18:39.600 --> 00:18:40.140
 who quietly

00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:40.680
 drives me

00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.259
 mental, but

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:41.800
 that's another

00:18:41.800 --> 00:18:42.280
 story.

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.500
 And Paul

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:46.100
 engaged in

00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:46.480
 their culture.

00:18:46.580 --> 00:18:46.920
 Remember, he

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:47.380
 said, look, I've

00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:47.780
 been walking

00:18:47.780 --> 00:18:48.360
 around your

00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:50.320
 city, and

00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:50.860
 I see there

00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:51.360
 are thousands

00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:52.920
 of altars

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:54.500
 dedicated to

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:54.960
 idols.

00:18:56.320 --> 00:18:56.900
 He said,

00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:57.500
 and then I

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.840
 found an

00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.440
 altar which

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.360
 wasn't

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:02.140
 designated to

00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:02.920
 any idol,

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.080
 so I want to

00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:04.519
 talk to you

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:04.879
 about the

00:19:04.879 --> 00:19:05.859
 God who

00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:06.599
 is unnamed.

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:08.720
 He started

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.799
 to preach a

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.399
 sermon to

00:19:10.399 --> 00:19:11.599
 them, and

00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.419
 this really

00:19:12.419 --> 00:19:13.539
 irritates very

00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:14.199
 conservative

00:19:14.199 --> 00:19:15.379
 evangelicals.

00:19:15.899 --> 00:19:16.679
 He preached

00:19:16.679 --> 00:19:17.799
 to these

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:20.919
 philosophers,

00:19:21.439 --> 00:19:22.220
 and he

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.819
 never mentioned

00:19:22.819 --> 00:19:23.339
 the cross.

00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:28.319
 He had a

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.639
 plan to

00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:30.139
 preach the

00:19:30.139 --> 00:19:30.859
 gospel to

00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:31.740
 Gentiles that

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.500
 started with

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.119
 creation.

00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.879
 ended with

00:19:34.879 --> 00:19:36.179
 judgment and

00:19:36.179 --> 00:19:37.199
 a call to

00:19:37.199 --> 00:19:37.720
 repentance.

00:19:40.599 --> 00:19:41.919
 So, let me

00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.279
 give you

00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:42.759
 something to

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.839
 take home with

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.460
 you today.

00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.099
 Let me tell

00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:46.539
 you what the

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:47.199
 nature of a

00:19:47.199 --> 00:19:47.759
 witness is,

00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:48.299
 what you're

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.980
 meant to be

00:19:48.980 --> 00:19:49.240
 like.

00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:49.799
 First thing

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.460
 is, you're

00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:50.980
 supposed to

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.439
 be filled

00:19:51.439 --> 00:19:52.259
 with faith

00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.539
 in the

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.039
 Holy Spirit.

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:53.500
 That's a

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:55.319
 precursor of

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:56.279
 your life the

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:56.759
 other six

00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:57.339
 days of the

00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:57.779
 week, and

00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.179
 the seventh

00:19:58.179 --> 00:19:58.659
 day of the

00:19:58.659 --> 00:19:58.879
 week.

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.720
 Witnesses

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.399
 share their

00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:03.240
 experience of

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.519
 God.

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.500
 Secondly,

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.460
 their priority

00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:08.059
 is to live

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.319
 their lives as

00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.259
 God calls

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:10.579
 them to

00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:10.980
 live it.

00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:13.299
 Thirdly, you

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.059
 are meant to

00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.680
 be able to

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.420
 give a reason

00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:16.180
 for the hope

00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:16.880
 that is in

00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.140
 you.

00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:19.279
 Fourthly, they

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:19.839
 didn't let

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.700
 their fear

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:22.319
 mess them

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:22.620
 up.

00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:24.120
 They rose

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:24.759
 above their

00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.120
 fear.

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.039
 And fifthly,

00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.799
 and this is a

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:30.579
 problem for some

00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.159
 Christians.

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.500
 Try and avoid

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.279
 being weird.

00:20:37.419 --> 00:20:38.559
 But always

00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:39.519
 be honest.

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.980
 People are

00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.720
 not that

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:44.720
 interested in

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.339
 your minor

00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:46.119
 triumphs in

00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:46.500
 life.

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.859
 They are far

00:20:47.859 --> 00:20:48.740
 more interested

00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.119
 when you've

00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:50.519
 had something

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.279
 go wrong in

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.079
 your life and

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:52.839
 somehow your

00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:53.599
 life is still

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.319
 hung together.

00:20:54.319 --> 00:21:01.319
 So, some

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:02.539
 practical things

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:03.339
 for you.

00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.720
 One is, I

00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:06.480
 want to invite

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.379
 you today, if

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:07.879
 you've never

00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.539
 taken this

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.259
 witness thing

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:11.139
 seriously, start

00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:11.539
 now.

00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:15.339
 Start now.

00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:16.639
 Start to think

00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:17.759
 about that as

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.419
 you leave this

00:21:18.419 --> 00:21:19.079
 church this

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:19.419
 morning.

00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:24.060
 Secondly, start

00:21:24.060 --> 00:21:24.840
 by praying.

00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.340
 Pray about the

00:21:27.340 --> 00:21:28.000
 people you

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:29.000
 know, and

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.820
 please God, you

00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:30.460
 do know some

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.539
 people who are

00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.320
 not Christians,

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.900
 and pray for

00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.100
 them.

00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.440
 Pray that you

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:39.019
 will become a

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:40.440
 meaning maker in

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.279
 their lives.

00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:46.560
 Thirdly, get

00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:48.100
 exercised in

00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:49.019
 your faith by

00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:50.679
 exercising menial

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.779
 and undramatic

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.159
 acts of love.

00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:58.480
 See, I

00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:58.959
 told you at

00:21:58.959 --> 00:21:59.459
 the beginning

00:21:59.459 --> 00:22:00.599
 that you're

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.019
 supposed to

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.899
 bring cake to

00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:02.519
 church next

00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:02.919
 week.

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.379
 That means we

00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:06.139
 can feed our

00:22:06.139 --> 00:22:09.039
 faces, but how

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:09.579
 many of you

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.279
 will think about

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.059
 baking a cake

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.919
 for an unbeliever

00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:14.139
 this week, and

00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:14.879
 taking it round,

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:16.879
 and just giving

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:17.839
 it over to

00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.119
 them.

00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.740
 It says in

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.579
 our culture that

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:24.419
 the act of

00:22:24.419 --> 00:22:25.179
 writing a

00:22:25.179 --> 00:22:25.899
 letter is gone

00:22:25.899 --> 00:22:26.139
 now.

00:22:26.199 --> 00:22:26.500
 We're all

00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:27.259
 emails, aren't

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:27.459
 we?

00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:29.899
 Well, I

00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:30.439
 suppose an

00:22:30.439 --> 00:22:31.099
 email can

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:31.980
 convey God's

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:32.179
 love.

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.099
 I personally

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.240
 like to

00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:34.919
 handwrite a

00:22:34.919 --> 00:22:35.639
 note myself.

00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.539
 That's probably

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.339
 you're thinking,

00:22:37.459 --> 00:22:37.919
 he's just told

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:38.519
 us not to be

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:38.819
 weird.

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.399
 Drop a note

00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:45.259
 to somebody,

00:22:45.899 --> 00:22:46.819
 an unbeliever,

00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:48.480
 especially if

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.240
 you know any

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.019
 unbelievers who

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.399
 are going

00:22:50.399 --> 00:22:51.460
 through a

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.019
 very hard

00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:53.039
 time in

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.460
 life.

00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.079
 You could

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.639
 pick up a

00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:58.439
 phone and

00:22:58.439 --> 00:22:59.359
 call somebody

00:22:59.359 --> 00:22:59.759
 who's an

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.419
 unbeliever.

00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.159
 Try and

00:23:03.159 --> 00:23:03.819
 encourage them,

00:23:03.919 --> 00:23:04.519
 try and say

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.019
 something.

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:06.939
 It says,

00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.659
 seriously,

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:08.939
 anybody in

00:23:08.939 --> 00:23:09.460
 this church

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.159
 this morning

00:23:10.159 --> 00:23:11.759
 who couldn't

00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:12.079
 do that,

00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:12.740
 incidentally,

00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.399
 if you're a

00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:14.119
 lousy baker,

00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:14.699
 don't bake

00:23:14.699 --> 00:23:15.439
 anybody else

00:23:15.439 --> 00:23:15.919
 a cake.

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.439
 Is there

00:23:21.439 --> 00:23:22.339
 anybody here

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.959
 who couldn't

00:23:23.959 --> 00:23:24.439
 do that?

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:24.919
 And who

00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:25.419
 knows?

00:23:26.419 --> 00:23:27.059
 That might

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.779
 trigger a

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.479
 conversation

00:23:28.479 --> 00:23:30.439
 that becomes

00:23:30.439 --> 00:23:31.659
 life-changing.

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:34.680
 how many

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.240
 of you

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:37.460
 invite people

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.019
 to come

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:38.580
 to church

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:38.900
 with you

00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:39.180
 on a

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.480
 Sunday?

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.259
 I've been

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:43.580
 meeting with

00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:44.120
 a bunch of

00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.660
 guys for

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.100
 four and a

00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:45.620
 half years

00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.320
 nearly now,

00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.000
 every day

00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:48.779
 in the weekday,

00:23:49.360 --> 00:23:50.160
 and none of

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.440
 them are

00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:50.860
 Christian,

00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:51.519
 and they give

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.080
 me a hard

00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:52.820
 time in some

00:23:52.820 --> 00:23:52.960
 ways.

00:23:53.040 --> 00:23:53.420
 I'm not

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.019
 worried about

00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:54.360
 that.

00:23:54.800 --> 00:23:55.200
 But in

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.740
 that four and

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.279
 a half years,

00:23:56.360 --> 00:23:57.240
 I've constantly

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:58.140
 invited them to

00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:58.800
 come to church.

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.620
 I thought it'd

00:23:59.620 --> 00:23:59.960
 be a big

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.700
 attraction to

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.140
 say to them,

00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.100
 come Sunday,

00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.740
 I'm preaching.

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.420
 Yeah, that

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.059
 worked well.

00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.420
 Except on

00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.120
 Easter Sunday

00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.660
 this year,

00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:14.279
 one of them

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:16.100
 turned up

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:17.220
 at St.

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.640
 John's

00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.140
 Clevedon.

00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.580
 I saw him

00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:20.640
 through the

00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:21.039
 smoke.

00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:27.620
 I'm just,

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:27.960
 you know,

00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:28.420
 I'm claiming

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:28.940
 that before

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.680
 God as a

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.100
 minor,

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:30.680
 minor,

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:31.279
 minor triumph,

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.000
 but maybe

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.440
 it's a

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:32.779
 start.

00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.580
 Suddenly,

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.259
 we can

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:34.820
 talk more

00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:36.279
 openly about

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.860
 the gospel.

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.640
 I mean,

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.680
 most of

00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.240
 these guys,

00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:42.799
 like a lot

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.320
 of people,

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:43.820
 like some

00:24:43.820 --> 00:24:44.160
 of you,

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:45.759
 got lives

00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:45.960
 that are

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.720
 total train

00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.060
 wrecks.

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.240
 God knows

00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.680
 you need

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.240
 his help

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.060
 to help

00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.420
 you get

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:51.740
 through.

00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:54.900
 So,

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.100
 menial and

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.680
 undramatic

00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:57.740
 acts of love

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.500
 are things

00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.120
 that any

00:24:59.120 --> 00:24:59.480
 of us

00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.000
 could do.

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.440
 maybe that's

00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:02.799
 what St.

00:25:02.859 --> 00:25:03.599
 Francis meant.

00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:07.799
 Fourthly,

00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:09.559
 commit to

00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:10.220
 learning an

00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.960
 outline of

00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.500
 the gospel.

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:13.759
 There are

00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.140
 plenty of

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:14.740
 them around.

00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:17.720
 You just

00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.099
 need to have

00:25:18.099 --> 00:25:18.539
 a plan

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.480
 what to do.

00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.140
 Paul had a

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:20.359
 plan.

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:20.779
 Why can't

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.240
 we have a

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.480
 plan?

00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.299
 Why doesn't

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:22.700
 the Church

00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.059
 of England

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.440
 have a

00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:23.680
 plan?

00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:26.700
 plan to

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:28.060
 re-evangelize

00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:29.240
 this nation.

00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.140
 Become

00:25:32.140 --> 00:25:33.080
 invitational.

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.539
 Listen to

00:25:33.539 --> 00:25:33.700
 me.

00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:34.840
 You know,

00:25:35.400 --> 00:25:36.180
 I know

00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:36.799
 this is the

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:37.120
 way you

00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:37.299
 think.

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:37.740
 If you

00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.200
 asked a

00:25:38.200 --> 00:25:38.640
 friend to

00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.019
 come to

00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.480
 church and

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.460
 they rejected

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.480
 your invitation,

00:25:42.120 --> 00:25:43.060
 you're scared

00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:43.700
 that that might

00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.240
 mean the end

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:44.519
 of your

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.160
 relationship

00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.560
 forever.

00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.019
 Here's my

00:25:46.019 --> 00:25:46.500
 question.

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:48.240
 If somebody

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.960
 ditches a

00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.759
 friendship with

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.299
 you on the

00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.059
 basis that you

00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:52.160
 once invited

00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:52.599
 them to

00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:53.339
 church, what

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:53.700
 kind of

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.299
 friendship was

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.700
 it in the

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.319
 first place?

00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.579
 Stick your

00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:59.319
 neck out for

00:25:59.319 --> 00:25:59.980
 Jesus, for

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.799
 crying out loud.

00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:01.619
 I think I'll

00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:02.440
 write a chorus

00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.319
 called that.

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.759
 And finally,

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.200
 finally,

00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:13.220
 I started

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:14.019
 out by being

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.480
 really depressing,

00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.640
 giving you

00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:18.079
 the news.

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.519
 You know,

00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:19.079
 there's only

00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:20.120
 one statistic

00:26:20.120 --> 00:26:21.259
 in the whole

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.799
 of the Church

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.259
 of England

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.299
 that's vaguely

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:23.799
 positive.

00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.339
 And it's

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.940
 this, that

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.539
 apparently

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.900
 children's work

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.779
 in cathedrals

00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.740
 has increased

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.680
 by 4%.

00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:33.640
 Throw your

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.279
 hats in the

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:34.519
 air.

00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:39.160
 And that's

00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:39.759
 certainly true

00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.140
 of Bristol

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.940
 Cathedral, and

00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:42.480
 that's partly

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.960
 because quite a

00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:45.019
 lot of overseas

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.420
 people,

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:45.920
 who came to

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.480
 the cathedral

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:46.880
 thought it

00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.120
 was a

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.440
 Catholic

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:47.980
 cathedral.

00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.019
 And we

00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:51.339
 were not

00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:51.759
 quick to

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.519
 disavow them

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:52.799
 of that.

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.799
 But I

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.400
 want to end

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:57.960
 by saying

00:26:57.960 --> 00:26:58.579
 there is a

00:26:58.579 --> 00:27:00.039
 great, great

00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.620
 opportunity

00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:01.220
 here.

00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:04.819
 Every day,

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.700
 you pick up

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.420
 your newspaper,

00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.140
 you turn on

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.779
 the television,

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:09.700
 we're in for

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.480
 hard times,

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:10.860
 guys.

00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.860
 Some of you

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:13.339
 are going to be

00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:13.980
 in for hard

00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.419
 times.

00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.240
 I don't

00:27:15.240 --> 00:27:15.539
 know what

00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.159
 your financial

00:27:16.159 --> 00:27:17.179
 situation is,

00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:17.959
 but I

00:27:17.959 --> 00:27:18.539
 imagine if

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.240
 it's anything

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.899
 less than

00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:21.119
 stable, you're

00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:21.339
 a little

00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.220
 concerned about

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.559
 what you're

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:22.819
 going to have

00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:23.399
 to pay to

00:27:23.399 --> 00:27:23.899
 switch your

00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:25.179
 heating on

00:27:25.179 --> 00:27:26.179
 and to

00:27:26.179 --> 00:27:27.159
 eat and to

00:27:27.159 --> 00:27:27.779
 do the

00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.539
 things that

00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:30.339
 we've enjoyed

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.679
 probably in a

00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.319
 way that we've

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:32.839
 taken for

00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:33.639
 granted for a

00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.220
 long time.

00:27:36.139 --> 00:27:36.659
 But it's not

00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:37.079
 just going to

00:27:37.079 --> 00:27:37.699
 happen to people

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.059
 in the

00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.539
 church.

00:27:39.819 --> 00:27:40.600
 It's going to

00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:42.059
 happen in

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:42.940
 this community.

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.680
 And one of

00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:47.100
 the things that

00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:47.860
 the church has

00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.779
 always brought

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.559
 to the table,

00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.799
 I don't mean

00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.380
 your kitchen

00:27:51.380 --> 00:27:52.059
 table, I

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.180
 mean speaking

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.080
 figuratively,

00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:56.240
 is the church

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.000
 has always been

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.900
 an institution

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:59.299
 which is added

00:27:59.299 --> 00:27:59.980
 to social

00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.519
 capital.

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.299
 That is

00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.120
 community,

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.039
 networks.

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:06.920
 And if

00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.420
 ever there

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.159
 was a time

00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:10.200
 needed for

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.960
 the church to

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.399
 stand up and

00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.279
 build social

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:14.180
 capital in our

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:15.180
 culture, not

00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.299
 instead of the

00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:18.839
 gospel, but

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.720
 alongside the

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:21.019
 gospel, surely

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:23.159
 to God, this

00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.639
 is it.

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.619
 This is it.

00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:28.480
 Started out by

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.200
 saying if you're

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.720
 going to take

00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:31.039
 your calling as

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:31.639
 a witness

00:28:31.639 --> 00:28:33.779
 seriously, you

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.480
 need to start

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:34.980
 to pray.

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.200
 Years ago, when

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:36.619
 I was a

00:28:36.619 --> 00:28:40.339
 curate, you

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.639
 could say all

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:42.180
 the gear and

00:28:42.180 --> 00:28:42.799
 no idea.

00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:46.420
 And I had

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.180
 this idea, I

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.819
 read it in a

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.519
 book about

00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:49.240
 charismatic

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.980
 renewal.

00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.519
 It's a good

00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.299
 thing to walk

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.220
 around the

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:52.819
 area of your

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.379
 church and

00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:53.819
 pray for

00:28:53.819 --> 00:28:54.200
 people.

00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:56.420
 And I read

00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:56.940
 that and never

00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.500
 did it.

00:28:57.839 --> 00:28:59.619
 I was walking

00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.160
 along one

00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.059
 day, I

00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.579
 suddenly thought,

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:03.759
 oh, I

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.740
 could pray.

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.339
 So I

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:05.980
 prayed, Lord,

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.180
 send me

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.279
 somebody who

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:09.019
 I can witness

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.339
 to.

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.299
 And literally,

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.160
 I'm not

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:13.680
 kidding, suddenly

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:14.559
 this woman fell

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.319
 on the floor in

00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:15.879
 front of me.

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.299
 I mean, I

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:16.759
 know it's my

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.559
 normal impact,

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:20.680
 but fell on

00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.259
 the floor in

00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.879
 front of me.

00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:23.160
 And she was a

00:29:23.160 --> 00:29:24.259
 disabled person and

00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:24.940
 she tripped over

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:26.259
 the step between

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.240
 her drive and

00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.740
 the pavement.

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:31.259
 I helped her

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.380
 up, took her

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:33.240
 into her house

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.019
 and she offered

00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.700
 me a cup of

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.079
 coffee.

00:29:37.319 --> 00:29:38.099
 And three

00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:38.839
 months later,

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.380
 she was

00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:40.160
 baptized in

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:40.700
 the church.

00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.319
 Health

00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:44.720
 warning.

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.759
 Don't pray for

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.880
 opportunities to

00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:48.640
 witness unless

00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.519
 you're prepared to

00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:50.880
 act on it.

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:52.839
 So listen,

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:54.240
 friends, I think

00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:55.039
 this is a great

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.620
 challenge.

00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.819
 And I think

00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.500
 you could do

00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.779
 this, but all

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.939
 it needs is your

00:29:59.939 --> 00:30:00.500
 willingness.

00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.179
 And I'm not

00:30:01.179 --> 00:30:02.139
 going to stand

00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:03.659
 up or put your

00:30:03.659 --> 00:30:04.459
 hands up if you're

00:30:04.459 --> 00:30:05.339
 prepared to take

00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.459
 this on.

00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:08.419
 I'm going to

00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:10.119
 assume that you

00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.859
 are committed

00:30:10.859 --> 00:30:11.619
 Christians.

00:30:14.419 --> 00:30:15.159
 I'm going to

00:30:15.159 --> 00:30:16.079
 assume that you

00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:16.939
 may not have been

00:30:16.939 --> 00:30:18.259
 doing this for a

00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.919
 whole bunch of

00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:19.279
 reasons.

00:30:19.459 --> 00:30:20.739
 Fear, can't be

00:30:20.739 --> 00:30:21.799
 bothered, whatever.

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.479
 But I want to

00:30:24.479 --> 00:30:25.500
 ask you today to

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.480
 think about this

00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.420
 as you leave this

00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:29.920
 church and decide

00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.640
 what you're going

00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.759
 to do about it

00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:34.180
 starting today.

00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:39.960
 Paul, in a

00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:41.240
 very adverse

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.599
 gospel culture,

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.119
 preached his

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.799
 funny little

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:47.799
 sermon and

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:48.480
 we're told a

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:49.400
 few people came

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:49.920
 to Christ,

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:50.980
 including a man

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:52.180
 called Dionysius,

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.819
 who was an

00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.940
 influential person

00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:55.740
 in that city.

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:58.559
 The revolution

00:30:58.559 --> 00:31:00.039
 had started

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.480
 there.

00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:02.380
 And it can

00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:03.059
 start in

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.480
 Cleveland.

00:31:04.320 --> 00:31:05.019
 And it's not

00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.980
 just down to me.

00:31:07.259 --> 00:31:08.600
 It's down to us.

00:31:09.080 --> 00:31:09.620
 Let's pray.

00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:14.699
 I'm just going to

00:31:14.699 --> 00:31:16.059
 leave a moment

00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.619
 of silence.

00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.439
 And I'm going

00:31:17.439 --> 00:31:18.159
 to pray that

00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:18.679
 during that

00:31:18.679 --> 00:31:19.139
 silence,

00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.019
 God's holy

00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.699
 fire will

00:31:20.699 --> 00:31:21.179
 come upon

00:31:21.179 --> 00:31:21.599
 us.

00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.139
 ...

00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.439
 ...

00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:44.460
 Lord, your word tells us

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:46.759
 that the gates of hell will not prevail

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:48.740
 against your church.

00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:52.900
 But Lord, you didn't particularly have

00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:54.460
 the Church of England in mind

00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.480
 when you said that.

00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:59.680
 And neither did you have the church

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:01.559
 in Western Europe.

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:04.839
 With all its material advantage,

00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:08.980
 with all its buildings and plant,

00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:13.299
 and Lord, we confess to you,

00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:17.120
 we're sick of sitting on a disaster.

00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:20.839
 And Lord, I don't know whether

00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:22.779
 the guy who invented the R figure

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.900
 is right or wrong,

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:26.599
 but I do know the evidence is abundant.

00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:30.500
 And unless together we do something about it,

00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:34.380
 we shall just continue to fail slowly.

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:38.800
 So Lord, I pray for these dear people

00:32:38.800 --> 00:32:40.080
 gathered here today.

00:32:40.940 --> 00:32:42.340
 Lord, would you visit them

00:32:42.340 --> 00:32:43.640
 with the Holy Spirit

00:32:43.640 --> 00:32:47.120
 and provoke them to do something

00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:50.240
 as an act of witness this week.

00:32:50.820 --> 00:32:53.080
 And I pray these things in Jesus' name

00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:54.640
 and the people who agreed

00:32:54.640 --> 00:32:55.840
 said together,

00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.379
 Amen.

00:32:57.379 --> 00:32:57.819
 Amen.

00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.819
 Amen.