WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:06.719 So the reading is from 1 Peter chapter 2, verses 4 to 12. 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:13.980 And it says this, 00:00:14.439 --> 00:00:18.760 As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by humans, 00:00:19.260 --> 00:00:21.719 but chosen by God and precious to him, 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:28.339 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:34.200 to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices 00:00:34.200 --> 00:00:37.420 acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:00:38.299 --> 00:00:40.500 For in the scripture it says, 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:46.659 See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:50.920 and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame. 00:00:52.840 --> 00:00:57.640 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious, 00:00:58.340 --> 00:01:00.180 but to those who do not believe, 00:01:00.760 --> 00:01:04.700 the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, 00:01:06.060 --> 00:01:10.040 and a stone that causes people to stumble, 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:12.800 and a rock that makes them fall. 00:01:15.420 --> 00:01:19.080 They'll stumble because they disobey message, 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:23.280 which is also what they were destined for. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:26.500 But you are a chosen people, 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:28.640 a royal priesthood, 00:01:29.320 --> 00:01:30.439 a holy nation, 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:32.740 God's special possession, 00:01:33.740 --> 00:01:36.439 that you may declare the praises of him 00:01:36.439 --> 00:01:40.500 who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 00:01:42.280 --> 00:01:44.579 Once you were not a people, 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:46.980 but now you are the people of God. 00:01:46.980 --> 00:01:49.859 Once you had not received mercy, 00:01:50.260 --> 00:01:52.120 but now you have received mercy. 00:01:53.659 --> 00:01:54.939 Dear friends, 00:01:55.340 --> 00:01:56.200 I urge you, 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:57.880 as foreigners and exiles, 00:01:58.380 --> 00:02:00.659 to abstain from the sinful desires 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:03.120 which wage war against your soul. 00:02:04.300 --> 00:02:06.780 Live such good lives among the pagans, 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:10.620 that though they accuse you of doing wrong, 00:02:11.219 --> 00:02:13.080 they may see your good deeds 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:16.060 and glorify God on the day he visits us. 00:02:17.320 --> 00:02:17.760 Amen. 00:02:20.100 --> 00:02:20.920 Thanks, Yvonne. 00:02:21.720 --> 00:02:22.840 Over the last few weeks, 00:02:22.880 --> 00:02:24.600 I don't know whether you've been with us, 00:02:24.640 --> 00:02:25.980 but over the last six weeks, 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:30.220 I've been trying to build really a sort of a foundation 00:02:30.220 --> 00:02:32.040 for our church family. 00:02:32.920 --> 00:02:36.280 The sort of theological foundations for us as a church. 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:38.700 What is it that's going to be important to us 00:02:38.700 --> 00:02:39.900 as we move forwards? 00:02:40.620 --> 00:02:42.980 So you might remember at the beginning of July, 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:44.560 we started with this idea 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:46.240 that our church is to be centered 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:48.560 on the cross of Jesus Christ. 00:02:49.420 --> 00:02:52.120 That the message of the cross of Christ, 00:02:52.200 --> 00:02:53.939 which is the message of the whole Bible, 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:55.400 it's right at the center of the scriptures, 00:02:55.920 --> 00:02:58.500 is to be at the center of our church life. 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:02.939 It's the message of the cross which makes the church. 00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:05.659 It's the preaching of the message of Jesus Christ 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:09.180 in God's word that makes us the people of God. 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:10.439 That's where we started. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:13.260 We then went on to say that as a church, 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:16.120 we rely absolutely on the Spirit. 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:21.200 We know that we are absolutely powerless in ourselves 00:03:21.200 --> 00:03:23.640 to convert anybody, to change people, 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.980 or to equip one another for the Christian life. 00:03:26.100 --> 00:03:29.080 There is nothing that we can do on our own 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:31.819 to open blind eyes to the truth of the gospel. 00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:34.580 If our church is going to be revitalized, 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:37.460 if our church is going to grow by people coming to know 00:03:37.460 --> 00:03:38.740 and love and trust the Lord Jesus, 00:03:39.020 --> 00:03:42.040 it's going to be because God does it by his Spirit, 00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:44.120 not because we do it in our strength. 00:03:45.540 --> 00:03:47.280 Following on from that, then you might remember 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:49.719 that we said that we were going to be a local church 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:51.719 that are committed to corporate prayer. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:54.879 We were startled by the book of Acts 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:57.920 just how many times the local church 00:03:57.920 --> 00:04:00.040 gathers together to pray. 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:02.340 It's like breathing for them. 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:04.400 They can't live without it. 00:04:04.819 --> 00:04:07.800 We know that in a way that we don't really fully understand, 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:10.340 God, in his sovereign power, 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:13.580 chooses to work through the prayers of his people. 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:19.459 Then we thought next about diversity, didn't we? 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:21.160 The fact that God is bringing us together. 00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:22.759 He hasn't made us all the same. 00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:27.000 In fact, God is glorified by stitching together 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.519 a group of people who are very different to one another, 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.560 both in the gifts that they have, 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:33.279 but also that the cultures that they're from, 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:34.699 the languages that they speak. 00:04:36.159 --> 00:04:38.939 And so we found that God is stitching together 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:40.759 something that is beautiful and glorious 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:42.279 because of our difference. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:46.339 Our fifth foundation, which we were looking at last week, 00:04:46.379 --> 00:04:47.779 was then discipleship. 00:04:48.599 --> 00:04:49.839 And you might remember this. 00:04:49.939 --> 00:04:51.779 It's only last week, so I'm hoping that you might. 00:04:52.299 --> 00:04:54.560 That our single biggest contribution 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:56.659 to the life of the church is what? 00:04:56.660 --> 00:04:58.460 To grow as a Christian. 00:04:59.300 --> 00:05:01.200 That's the biggest contribution that we make. 00:05:01.580 --> 00:05:03.680 It doesn't matter whether we give thousands of pounds 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:05.140 or hundreds of volunteer hours. 00:05:05.180 --> 00:05:07.040 If we are not growing as Christians, 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:09.360 if we're not growing in our love of the Lord 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:11.680 and our Christ-likeness and our eagerness to live for him, 00:05:11.940 --> 00:05:14.820 we will fundamentally be damaging the church, 00:05:15.340 --> 00:05:16.680 not blessing the church, 00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:20.500 because the greatest contribution we can make 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:22.420 is to grow in Christ-likeness. 00:05:22.420 --> 00:05:24.259 And now that brings us to this week, 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:27.600 and that is this one, engaged in evangelism. 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:29.879 And that means we've got one more to go, 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:31.620 which I'm going to do when we get back from holiday. 00:05:32.340 --> 00:05:33.840 And you might know what that is, 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:34.660 but if you don't, 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:37.080 I'm going to leave it as a surprise for you 00:05:37.080 --> 00:05:38.439 for when I come back from holiday. 00:05:38.860 --> 00:05:40.400 So this week, we're thinking about evangelism, 00:05:40.520 --> 00:05:41.960 telling others about Jesus. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:45.259 This is the idea that our church exists 00:05:45.259 --> 00:05:46.379 not just for itself, 00:05:46.420 --> 00:05:50.040 but to be a witness to the world about the gospel. 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:52.140 We want to grow, don't we, 00:05:52.160 --> 00:05:53.879 as a church, numerically, 00:05:53.980 --> 00:05:56.540 not from stealing people from other churches, 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:58.900 but from people coming from our friends 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:00.260 and our families, our community, 00:06:00.520 --> 00:06:02.080 to know Jesus for themselves. 00:06:03.060 --> 00:06:06.360 So we're a church that engages in evangelism, 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:07.720 telling people about Jesus. 00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:10.240 Now, to tackle that subject, 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:12.080 I want, if I can, to draw your attention 00:06:12.080 --> 00:06:13.759 to just a single phrase 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:15.379 in the reading that we've just had. 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:18.060 If I were an old-fashioned preacher, 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:20.579 I would say this is my text for this morning. 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:21.920 Do you remember when you used to go to church 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.180 and they used to announce the text for the morning? 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:26.160 Well, that's what we're doing this morning. 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:28.660 We're just looking at a single phrase. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.800 It's there in the second half of verse nine 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:32.220 that we read with the children earlier. 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:33.379 It's this, 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:36.100 that you may declare the praises of him 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:37.980 who called you out of darkness 00:06:37.980 --> 00:06:40.180 into his wonderful light. 00:06:41.459 --> 00:06:43.800 Now, before we get to all of the detail of this, 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:46.000 I want you to notice that that phrase 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.480 is essentially a purpose statement. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:49.660 It's a purpose statement. 00:06:50.420 --> 00:06:51.500 It starts, isn't it, 00:06:51.780 --> 00:06:53.560 with that you may. 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:54.460 In other words, 00:06:54.540 --> 00:06:57.020 that statement is the outworking 00:06:57.020 --> 00:06:58.800 of something that's gone before. 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:02.199 The declaration of the praises of God 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:04.240 is the purpose of what precedes it. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:07.000 So like a delivery driver 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.819 is given a van full of parcels 00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:11.139 that she might deliver them 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:14.519 or a student is given an exam paper 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:16.740 that they might answer the questions 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:19.139 or at least try to answer the questions. 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:21.420 So here we see that 00:07:21.420 --> 00:07:23.959 the declaration of the praises of God 00:07:23.959 --> 00:07:25.639 is the result of something 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:27.699 that has been given or done. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:30.819 So the declaration of the praises of God 00:07:30.819 --> 00:07:32.740 in our passage 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:34.899 are what comes from what comes before it, 00:07:34.980 --> 00:07:36.539 which is being a chosen people, 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:37.959 a royal priesthood, 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:39.180 a holy nation, 00:07:39.599 --> 00:07:40.639 God's special possession. 00:07:41.979 --> 00:07:43.180 Now Peter's point is that 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:45.180 the church is like the new Israel 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:46.139 and I would love to, 00:07:46.180 --> 00:07:47.060 we don't have time to do it, 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:48.000 but to go into all the ways 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.399 that this reflects Old Testament passages. 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:52.099 But Peter's point essentially 00:07:52.099 --> 00:07:53.419 is that when you read Israel 00:07:53.419 --> 00:07:54.060 in the Old Testament, 00:07:54.179 --> 00:07:55.419 now you're looking at church 00:07:55.419 --> 00:07:56.199 in the New Testament, 00:07:56.659 --> 00:07:58.219 the chosen people of God, 00:07:58.659 --> 00:07:59.919 people selected by him 00:07:59.919 --> 00:08:00.859 to be his servants, 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:02.560 a royal priesthood, 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:04.139 people who have access 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:04.879 to God's presence, 00:08:04.979 --> 00:08:05.839 a holy nation, 00:08:06.299 --> 00:08:07.879 people with special status, 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:08.419 before God, 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:10.299 his special possession, 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:12.279 people who are cared for 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:13.359 and protected by God. 00:08:13.719 --> 00:08:15.459 They are all of those things, 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:16.019 says Peter, 00:08:16.299 --> 00:08:18.439 that they may declare my praises, 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:20.859 praises of God in the world. 00:08:22.099 --> 00:08:22.639 Now that means, 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:23.019 and again, 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:23.579 listen, 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:24.019 this is just, 00:08:24.179 --> 00:08:26.439 I'm just showing you obvious stuff here, 00:08:26.659 --> 00:08:28.339 but it's worth stating this clearly. 00:08:28.859 --> 00:08:30.579 It means that the church 00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:31.819 is the church 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:33.860 not because they declare 00:08:33.860 --> 00:08:34.899 the praises of God. 00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:35.639 You get that? 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.340 It's not the church 00:08:37.340 --> 00:08:38.120 becomes the church 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:39.819 as it declares the praises of God. 00:08:39.899 --> 00:08:40.819 It's the other way around, 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:41.299 isn't it? 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:43.379 They declare the praises of God 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:44.840 because they have been made 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:46.480 the church by God. 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:49.259 God makes the church, 00:08:49.340 --> 00:08:50.059 not us. 00:08:50.579 --> 00:08:51.819 You don't become the church 00:08:51.819 --> 00:08:53.299 by coming and declaring 00:08:53.299 --> 00:08:53.980 the praises of God. 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:55.079 You become the church 00:08:55.079 --> 00:08:57.319 by God being at work in us. 00:08:57.699 --> 00:08:59.000 And then he gives us a purpose. 00:08:59.860 --> 00:09:00.559 A purpose which, 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:01.259 if you notice, 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:02.419 the purpose of the church then 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:03.440 is not really so much 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:04.779 about me or you. 00:09:05.480 --> 00:09:06.299 The purpose of the church 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:08.259 is not that we make cups of tea 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:08.879 for one another, 00:09:08.919 --> 00:09:11.059 that we might feel nice about life. 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:12.639 The church's purpose 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:14.200 isn't even about self-help 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:15.440 or self-improvement. 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:16.899 God hasn't made us 00:09:16.899 --> 00:09:17.840 a chosen people 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:18.600 and a holy nation 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:20.419 so that we might 00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:22.460 get better versions of ourselves. 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:23.980 It's not that, is it? 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:26.000 It's not even that 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:27.399 we might look down our noses 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:28.240 at everybody else. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:29.659 Oh, I'm God's chosen 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:30.220 and special people, 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:30.840 not like you. 00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:32.139 It's not that either, is it? 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:33.840 It's not so that 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:35.019 we might have a nice club 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:36.620 where everyone is like us 00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:37.519 and we feel normal. 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.120 No, the that of church life, 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:41.919 the so that of church life 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:43.879 is so that you might declare 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:45.200 the praises of him, 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:46.680 of God. 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:47.519 That's why we're here. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.560 That's why God has saved us. 00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:49.399 It's about him 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:52.060 and his glory and not us. 00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:54.960 Let me try and say this carefully, 00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:56.159 but I want to kind of land 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:57.120 this practically for us 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:57.720 if I can. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:09:59.500 I want to suggest 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:00.419 that one of the reasons 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:01.779 that you and I struggle 00:10:01.779 --> 00:10:03.519 so much with church life, 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:05.580 one of the reasons 00:10:05.580 --> 00:10:07.560 why we get so easily upset 00:10:07.560 --> 00:10:08.960 and diverted into conflict 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:09.600 with one another 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:11.220 is because we have missed 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:13.080 the point of church life. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:17.539 Church exists not so much 00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:18.480 for the comfort 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.779 of the people who come 00:10:19.779 --> 00:10:20.899 or belong. 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:24.439 it's not existing 00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:25.539 to give them an opportunity 00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:26.939 to express themselves. 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:28.459 The church exists 00:10:28.459 --> 00:10:30.139 for the glory of God. 00:10:31.240 --> 00:10:32.459 Now that's not to mean 00:10:32.459 --> 00:10:33.480 that comfort 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:35.519 or opportunity to contribute 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:36.480 are not important. 00:10:36.819 --> 00:10:37.980 I'm not saying that, 00:10:38.319 --> 00:10:39.840 but rather that they flow 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:41.100 from the glory of God. 00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:43.139 The point is, 00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:44.120 if you come to church 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.360 thinking mostly about 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:46.539 your own feelings 00:10:46.539 --> 00:10:48.860 or mostly about 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:50.199 what you need 00:10:50.199 --> 00:10:51.459 and not about 00:10:51.459 --> 00:10:52.319 the glory of God, 00:10:52.439 --> 00:10:54.219 you will leave disappointed 00:10:54.219 --> 00:10:55.860 because the gatherings 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:56.379 of the church 00:10:56.379 --> 00:10:57.620 are about the glory of God. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:10:58.539 Church exists 00:10:58.539 --> 00:11:00.000 for the glory of God 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:01.879 so that we might 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:02.599 declare his praises. 00:11:02.959 --> 00:11:04.000 Now, there's one other thing 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:05.039 to notice as well here 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.819 before we move on, 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:06.399 and that is that 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:07.299 this is circular. 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:09.500 So, let me try 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:10.559 and explain this 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:11.099 if I can. 00:11:11.439 --> 00:11:12.279 So, God here 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.319 makes the church 00:11:13.319 --> 00:11:14.059 to new Israel 00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:15.679 that she might declare 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:16.699 the praises of God. 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.519 But think about it. 00:11:19.319 --> 00:11:20.939 What are God's praises? 00:11:21.699 --> 00:11:22.500 What does it mean 00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:23.559 to declare his praises? 00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:24.620 It's a very Christian phrase, 00:11:24.699 --> 00:11:24.899 isn't it? 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:25.979 We might think 00:11:25.979 --> 00:11:26.559 we know what it means, 00:11:26.599 --> 00:11:27.699 but what does it actually mean? 00:11:28.859 --> 00:11:29.479 Well, Peter again 00:11:29.479 --> 00:11:30.859 is borrowing a phrase 00:11:30.859 --> 00:11:31.620 from the Old Testament, 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:32.639 and the idea is 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.779 that this is declaring 00:11:33.779 --> 00:11:36.139 what God has already done. 00:11:36.139 --> 00:11:39.759 When we praise God, 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:41.199 we are not adding to God 00:11:41.199 --> 00:11:42.819 something that's lacking from him. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:43.980 Do you understand that? 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.860 It's not the idea 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:47.720 that we are adding something 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:48.980 to God who would be less 00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.360 if we weren't doing it. 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:52.720 Rather, we are articulating 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:53.860 something in our praises 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:55.299 that's already true. 00:11:56.679 --> 00:11:57.639 God is not like that 00:11:57.639 --> 00:11:59.240 year seven child 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:00.879 who just needs lots of encouragement 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.759 to get on with their work. 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:02.679 Maybe you were like that 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:03.620 year seven child. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:04.620 I think I probably was a bit. 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:06.279 Oh, you're doing a great job. 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:07.620 Carry on, won't you? 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:08.960 Oh, look at that. 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:10.500 You've done some great work, 00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:11.159 haven't you? 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:12.200 Keep going. 00:12:12.700 --> 00:12:13.560 That's not how 00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:14.840 we're to talk to God. 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:15.560 That's not what 00:12:15.560 --> 00:12:17.039 praising God means. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:17.799 Rather, here, 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:18.600 the sense is that 00:12:18.600 --> 00:12:20.060 the praises of God 00:12:20.060 --> 00:12:20.879 are something 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.779 that already belong to him 00:12:22.779 --> 00:12:24.240 because of who he is. 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:27.080 So declaring his praises 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:27.860 isn't making up 00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:29.080 for something lacking in God 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:30.240 so much as it is 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.240 saying aloud 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:31.899 who God is 00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:32.600 and what he's done. 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:35.300 Listen, this is what God is like. 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:36.779 He is praiseworthy 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:37.340 in his being. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:38.379 Look at what he's done. 00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:42.019 Which, if you notice this, 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:43.720 this is then a giant circle 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:45.820 because if you look down 00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:46.580 at our little phrase, 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:47.680 how is it that the church 00:12:47.680 --> 00:12:48.720 become the church 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:50.420 to declare the praises of God? 00:12:51.180 --> 00:12:52.680 How is it that they become the church? 00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:54.180 How do we become a chosen people, 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:54.960 a royal priesthood, 00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.600 a holy nation? 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:58.940 Well, God did it through choosing. 00:12:59.560 --> 00:13:00.759 And how did he choose? 00:13:00.759 --> 00:13:02.340 Well, he called, notice, 00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:04.080 he called us out of darkness 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.299 into his wonderful light. 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:06.819 In other words, 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:08.620 God speaks 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:11.159 and calls out his people. 00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:13.740 So he speaks the gospel 00:13:13.740 --> 00:13:15.539 and calls his people 00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:16.439 out of the world, 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:17.500 out of darkness 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.399 and into light. 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:19.819 People who are living 00:13:19.819 --> 00:13:20.439 in the darkness 00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:21.340 of their own sin 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:22.039 and lostness, 00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:23.500 people who are ignorant of God, 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.700 the God who made them, 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:26.200 estranged from the purpose 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:26.919 of our existence. 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.480 God calls those people 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:30.180 through what he says 00:13:30.180 --> 00:13:30.800 in verse 8 00:13:30.800 --> 00:13:31.480 is a message. 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:33.639 What is the message? 00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:35.200 Well, the message 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.820 is the praiseworthy deeds 00:13:36.820 --> 00:13:37.480 of God. 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.560 You get it? 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:40.159 God calls his people 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:40.820 into existence 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:42.120 as they hear 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:42.840 the declaration 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:44.279 of his praiseworthy deeds. 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.580 So, let me try 00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:47.300 and put it on the slide. 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:48.360 The deeds 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:49.740 of the praiseworthy God 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:50.779 are declared. 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:52.539 You hear them 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:54.120 and it calls out 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:54.840 God's people. 00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:56.320 Oh, God is the God 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:57.820 who saves his people. 00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:59.340 He's saving me. 00:14:00.020 --> 00:14:01.300 And as he calls you, 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:02.860 you then become somebody 00:14:02.860 --> 00:14:04.000 who declares 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.040 the praises of God, 00:14:05.160 --> 00:14:05.980 which does what? 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:06.920 It calls out 00:14:06.920 --> 00:14:08.040 the other people of God. 00:14:08.920 --> 00:14:11.280 So in this giant circle, 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:14.000 generation upon generation, 00:14:14.260 --> 00:14:15.800 declaring the praiseworthy deeds 00:14:15.800 --> 00:14:16.140 of God, 00:14:16.280 --> 00:14:17.660 calling out the people of God 00:14:17.660 --> 00:14:18.320 who will declare 00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.280 the praises of God, 00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:20.020 which will call out 00:14:20.020 --> 00:14:20.860 the people of God, 00:14:21.460 --> 00:14:22.840 which will declare 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:23.700 the praises of God, 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:24.440 which will call out 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:25.000 the people of God, 00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:25.660 which will declare, 00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.379 and it goes on 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.139 from generation 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:27.959 to generation, 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:29.419 from city to city, 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.339 from nation to nation. 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:33.139 The message has been heard 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:33.659 and God's people 00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:34.500 have been called out. 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:35.579 Here's the thing. 00:14:35.959 --> 00:14:36.679 Jesus says that 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:38.360 that circle is so solid 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:39.240 and unbreakable 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.439 that the gates of hell 00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:41.719 will not prevail against it. 00:14:46.719 --> 00:14:47.639 No one will be able 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.279 to stop it 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:49.480 from generation 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:50.220 to generation. 00:14:51.339 --> 00:14:52.240 Now, put all of that 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.919 together for a moment, 00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:53.759 and I think the point 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.919 of our text is this, 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:56.620 that hearing the message 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.699 of Christ creates 00:14:57.699 --> 00:14:59.059 a church who exists 00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:00.259 to declare the message 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.919 of Christ. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:02.219 I'll say that again. 00:15:03.219 --> 00:15:03.959 Hearing the message 00:15:03.959 --> 00:15:05.360 of Christ creates 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.839 a church who exists 00:15:06.839 --> 00:15:08.299 to declare the message 00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:08.939 of Christ. 00:15:09.699 --> 00:15:10.479 That's how God 00:15:10.479 --> 00:15:11.539 gets glory in the world. 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:14.240 Now, there are literally 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.360 thousands and thousands 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.339 of implications of that 00:15:16.339 --> 00:15:17.179 for us this morning, 00:15:17.439 --> 00:15:18.279 but I'm going to be kind 00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:18.500 to you. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:19.199 I'm going on holiday 00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:19.639 tomorrow, 00:15:20.199 --> 00:15:21.039 and so I don't still want 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:22.019 to be here on Monday morning, 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:23.460 and so I'm going to give you 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:25.039 three rather than a thousand. 00:15:25.439 --> 00:15:27.079 Let me show you three ways 00:15:27.079 --> 00:15:28.399 this particularly relates 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.240 to evangelism, 00:15:29.579 --> 00:15:30.240 particularly relates 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:31.019 to our evangelism. 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:32.240 First one is this. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:36.360 Evangelism is leaky worship. 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:38.799 Evangelism is leaky worship. 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:40.939 In other words, evangelism, 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:42.579 this idea of telling other people 00:15:42.579 --> 00:15:43.299 about Jesus, 00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:44.919 is what happens 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:47.100 because we are unable 00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:48.079 to keep the gospel 00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:48.779 to ourselves. 00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:51.000 Churches quite often, 00:15:51.079 --> 00:15:51.299 I think, 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:53.339 will nag their church members 00:15:53.339 --> 00:15:54.620 into doing evangelism, 00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:54.919 won't they? 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:55.480 Say, listen, 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:56.419 if you're not going 00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:56.980 to share the gospel, 00:15:57.079 --> 00:15:57.799 then you're not really 00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.519 a proper Christian. 00:15:58.959 --> 00:15:59.339 If you're not going 00:15:59.339 --> 00:15:59.879 to tell other people 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:00.399 about Jesus, 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.319 you're not a proper Christian. 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:02.679 You need to sign up 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:03.339 to be involved 00:16:03.339 --> 00:16:04.699 in this evangelistic crusade. 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.919 You need to give out leaflets 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:07.159 with me on this street corner. 00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:09.500 But our text this morning 00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.519 shows us that that approach 00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:11.519 is not quite right, 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:14.519 not because evangelism 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.179 and telling others 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.939 about Jesus is not important, 00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:18.520 or because handing out 00:16:18.520 --> 00:16:19.340 leaflets is wrong. 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:20.300 Of course it's not, 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.720 but rather because it's 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:22.380 putting things 00:16:22.380 --> 00:16:23.200 the wrong way around, 00:16:23.260 --> 00:16:23.680 isn't it? 00:16:23.800 --> 00:16:26.000 The cart before the horse. 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:27.640 Our text this morning 00:16:27.640 --> 00:16:28.920 reminds us that the purpose 00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:29.700 of the Christian life 00:16:29.700 --> 00:16:31.720 is not evangelism 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.480 so much as it is 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:35.160 praising God 00:16:35.160 --> 00:16:36.800 for who he really is. 00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:38.820 And Peter's point here 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:40.080 is that praising God 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.220 for who he really is 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:43.700 leaks into evangelism. 00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:45.360 It pours out of us 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.200 in lots of different ways. 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:47.360 It spills over. 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:49.140 Look down at verse 11. 00:16:49.640 --> 00:16:50.180 What does he say? 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:50.640 Dear friends, 00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:51.759 I urge you as foreigners 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.520 and exiles 00:16:52.520 --> 00:16:54.100 to abstain from sinful desires 00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.879 which wage war 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.620 against your soul. 00:16:56.160 --> 00:16:57.120 Live such good lives 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.740 among the pagans 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.940 that though they accuse you 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:00.500 of doing wrong, 00:17:00.580 --> 00:17:01.820 they may see your good deeds 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.080 and glorify you on the day 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:04.660 when God visits us. 00:17:05.580 --> 00:17:07.059 You see, the idea is 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:08.960 that they are spilling over 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.740 into the world. 00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.980 Read across in chapter 3, 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.779 verse 15. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.840 He says it again there, 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:14.299 doesn't he? 00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:15.639 But in your hearts 00:17:15.639 --> 00:17:17.079 revere Christ as Lord. 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.359 Always be prepared 00:17:18.359 --> 00:17:18.940 to give an answer 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:20.159 to everyone who asks you 00:17:20.159 --> 00:17:20.919 to give a reason 00:17:20.919 --> 00:17:22.019 for the hope that you have. 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:23.879 How do you prepare 00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:25.339 to give an answer 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:26.659 for the hope that you have? 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:29.240 Not simply by swatting up, 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:30.099 but by what? 00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.119 Revering Christ as Lord 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:32.859 in your heart. 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:35.559 Christ will spill out. 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:36.680 This is what I was trying 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.599 to illustrate with the kids 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.099 this morning. 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:39.279 As our Christian lives 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:41.139 are full to the brim 00:17:41.139 --> 00:17:43.219 with the glory of God 00:17:43.219 --> 00:17:43.740 and the goodness 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.419 of the Lord Jesus, 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.480 we are spilling it 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:46.480 all over the place. 00:17:47.419 --> 00:17:48.079 You know, declaring 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:48.980 the praises of God, 00:17:49.419 --> 00:17:50.819 you'll spill it out 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.539 at work, 00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:53.019 in your family, 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.559 you'll spill it out 00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:54.919 with the people 00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:55.879 who live in your block, 00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:57.819 on your social media posts, 00:17:57.959 --> 00:17:59.179 at your mates at uni 00:17:59.179 --> 00:18:00.059 or at school. 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:02.159 Because this worship of God, 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.139 this amazement 00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.559 at the greatness of God 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.500 and his works in Christ, 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.720 he doesn't switch off 00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.460 when you walk out 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.720 those doors at the back. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.440 He's there all the time. 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:15.380 Now, let me try and suggest 00:18:15.380 --> 00:18:15.920 this means there's 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:16.900 a principle at work. 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:18.660 It's at work in us corporately, 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.680 but it's at work in us 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.559 individually as well. 00:18:20.619 --> 00:18:21.339 So this is at work 00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.579 in you and me this morning, 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:23.220 if we're a Christian 00:18:23.220 --> 00:18:23.779 this morning. 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:25.799 And that is 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:28.799 our evangelistic usefulness, 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.279 our effectiveness 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.279 at telling other people 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:31.920 about Jesus 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.000 is a direct function 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:37.259 of how excited I am 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:38.680 by what the Lord Jesus 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.460 has done for me. 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:40.859 Do you get that? 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.720 My effectiveness 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.640 in evangelism, 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:44.640 sharing the gospel 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.500 with my friends, 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.359 my family 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:47.579 who don't know Christ, 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.500 is directly related 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:51.599 to how encouraged I am 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.019 or how enthusiastic I am 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:54.200 or how excited I am 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:54.799 about what Jesus 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.559 has done for me. 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.140 And that means 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.099 that for us as a church, 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:00.259 we don't encourage evangelism 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:01.440 so much by starting 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.279 new activities 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:04.139 as we do by reminding 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:04.639 one another 00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.279 of the greatness 00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:06.039 of the Lord Jesus 00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:07.420 and making sure 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.980 that we are all excited 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.779 by what Christ 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:11.139 has done for us. 00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:14.079 Because if we are excited 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.559 by Christ, 00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:15.339 it will spill out 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.139 all over the place 00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:17.019 and you won't be able 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.740 to stop it. 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.859 Let me try, 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.019 if I can this morning, 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:23.180 to try and motivate us 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:23.799 for evangelism 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.700 in the way that Peter's 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.460 trying to get it 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:26.339 to happen. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.920 Look down at verse 9 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:28.460 and let's just 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:30.119 have a think about it 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.519 with me. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.439 Let me ask you, 00:19:32.479 --> 00:19:33.279 if you're a Christian 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:33.859 this morning, 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:35.919 have you really reckoned 00:19:35.919 --> 00:19:36.639 with this idea 00:19:36.639 --> 00:19:38.299 that together 00:19:38.299 --> 00:19:39.619 we are God's chosen people? 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.759 Just ponder on that 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.219 for a moment. 00:19:43.239 --> 00:19:44.879 God has chosen us. 00:19:45.219 --> 00:19:46.279 Not because there's 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.359 something worthy in us, 00:19:47.399 --> 00:19:48.039 not because he saw 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:49.000 that we were good people. 00:19:49.219 --> 00:19:49.959 That's the great 00:19:49.959 --> 00:19:50.699 stumbling block 00:19:50.699 --> 00:19:51.639 of the previous verses 00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:52.579 that Yvonne read to us. 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.739 That's why hell 00:19:53.739 --> 00:19:54.500 will be full of 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:55.359 religious people 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:56.379 who relied on 00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:56.939 their own efforts 00:19:56.939 --> 00:19:57.459 and thought they were 00:19:57.459 --> 00:19:58.379 better than other people. 00:19:58.380 --> 00:19:59.800 That is not the gospel, 00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.260 is it? 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:01.680 The gospel is that 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.960 God has chosen us 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.660 because God 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.980 in himself 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.480 loves. 00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:09.900 He loves us 00:20:09.900 --> 00:20:11.280 because of his own 00:20:11.280 --> 00:20:11.960 loveliness, 00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:12.940 not ours. 00:20:13.300 --> 00:20:14.460 And he has chosen us 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.200 out of the world 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:16.000 to belong to him 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:16.880 as his people 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.740 for a reason 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:19.040 that we cannot explain. 00:20:22.040 --> 00:20:22.900 A people who then 00:20:22.900 --> 00:20:23.420 get described 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.840 as a royal priesthood. 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.760 People who have 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:28.279 access to God's 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:29.119 very presence 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:29.779 through the work 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.740 of Christ's cross. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.460 So much so that 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.099 if you're a Christian 00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:33.640 this morning, 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.019 at any time, 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.099 any of us 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:37.319 in any place 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.740 can call out to God, 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:39.700 the God who made us, 00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.500 the God who rules 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:41.619 and governs the world, 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:43.059 and know 00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:44.180 that that God 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:45.339 hears us. 00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:47.259 We have access to him 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:47.839 like a child 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:48.900 has access to a parent. 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:50.879 And then we find, 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:51.879 what does he say next? 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:53.240 That we're a holy nation. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.120 That means that we are 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:57.500 outside of the condemnation 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.799 that our world faces 00:20:58.799 --> 00:21:00.299 for its sinful rebellion 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:00.960 against the God 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.620 who made us. 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:03.720 We are free 00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.680 from the fear of hell. 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:06.000 Death has no claim on us 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.000 because through the action 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.940 of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.400 on the cross, 00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:09.559 God has made us 00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:10.620 despite our sin 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:11.480 holy, 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.140 perfect, 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.240 justified, 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.200 and sanctified. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:16.960 But I wonder 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:17.799 if maybe best of all 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:18.720 is the next phrase, 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:19.019 isn't it? 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.660 What does he say? 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.319 You are God's 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.299 special possession. 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.240 His treasure. 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.259 I don't know, 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:29.039 if you're a young Christian 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:29.639 or maybe you're 00:21:29.639 --> 00:21:30.139 a new Christian, 00:21:30.700 --> 00:21:31.720 it's easy to think 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:32.460 that maybe the blessings 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.119 of being a Christian 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:33.899 are the stuff 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.700 that God gives you. 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:36.039 Maybe you think 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.480 the blessings 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:37.200 of the Christian life 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.759 are mostly things 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.779 that God might give you. 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.659 Maybe he might give you 00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:41.599 good health 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.519 or a nice family 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:43.419 or a nice job 00:21:43.419 --> 00:21:45.539 or whatever it is. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:46.460 Actually, 00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.579 the blessing of the gospel 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.319 is that God 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.619 gives you himself 00:21:49.619 --> 00:21:51.699 and calls you 00:21:51.699 --> 00:21:52.919 his treasured possession. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.799 You're mine. 00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:56.099 You belong to me. 00:21:57.919 --> 00:21:58.859 Of all the things 00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.500 that I have, 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.039 says God, 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.599 and God owns everything, 00:22:01.739 --> 00:22:01.879 right? 00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:03.079 Of all the things 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:03.879 that God has, 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:07.000 you are my treasured 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.339 possession, 00:22:07.459 --> 00:22:07.759 he says. 00:22:08.479 --> 00:22:09.179 Can you imagine that? 00:22:09.439 --> 00:22:10.500 I'm not going to let you go. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:13.160 I'm not going to let 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.160 anything snatch you 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.099 out of my hand. 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.440 I want you to know, 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:16.819 says God, 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:17.940 that there's nothing 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.000 that can separate you 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.599 from my love. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.279 There's no height, 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:20.759 nor depth, 00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.279 no trouble, 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:21.980 no hardship, 00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:22.819 no persecution, 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.480 no poverty, 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.259 no danger, 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.220 no sword, 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.519 nothing in all creation, 00:22:26.619 --> 00:22:28.400 even angels or demons 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.539 that can separate you 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.599 from my love 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:32.200 in Christ Jesus. 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.160 And listen, 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.279 if you're a Christian 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.900 this morning, 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.200 that's true for you, 00:22:37.319 --> 00:22:37.579 right? 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:39.400 That's true of you. 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.519 And I defy you 00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:43.339 to keep it to yourself 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.319 if you understand it. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.240 You just won't be able to. 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:47.460 I bet you. 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.900 If you really get this, 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.759 you won't be able 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.859 to stop talking about it. 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:52.880 You'll be like a new parent 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:54.000 who just can't shut up 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.940 about their child 00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:56.039 or the colleague 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.640 who's returned 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.539 from that fantastic 00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.480 holiday of a lifetime 00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:59.859 and is just constantly 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:01.000 showing you photos 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:01.539 on their phone 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:01.779 of, oh, 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.700 did I show you this one? 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.619 Oh, what about this one? 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.759 What about that one? 00:23:05.859 --> 00:23:06.880 Or the guy on the bus 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:08.420 who's just won 100 pounds 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:09.180 on a scratch card 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.740 and is going around 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.599 high-fiving everyone 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.220 on the bus? 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.839 You'll be like that guy. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.299 Let me tell you, 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.799 I'm God's special possession. 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:17.240 He loves me. 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:19.079 He gave his son for me. 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.140 I'm holy. 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:22.000 I'm free from the condemnation 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.920 that the world faces. 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:23.940 God loves me. 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:26.299 It will leak out of you 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:26.880 all over the place. 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.920 Right, second implication. 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:29.019 We need to move 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.680 a little bit faster. 00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:32.400 Evangelism requires the church. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.740 Evangelism requires the church. 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:37.039 Now, I think this could 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.920 be misunderstood here, 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:39.060 so I want to be very careful 00:23:39.060 --> 00:23:40.200 and you need to listen carefully. 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.660 I'm not saying 00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.680 that individuals 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.720 cannot engage 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.519 in evangelism, 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:46.660 nor am I saying 00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.900 that all you need to do 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.720 is drag your 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.560 non-Christian friends 00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:51.019 to church 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.100 and I will do the rest. 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:52.920 That's not right. 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:54.120 If you're a non-Christian friend 00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.500 this morning, 00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:55.940 you've been dragged here, 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.779 I'm very sorry. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:58.940 That is not our intention. 00:23:59.800 --> 00:24:00.779 I can only apologize. 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.060 The truth is, 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.200 as individuals, 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.279 we do need to make 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.420 the most of the opportunities 00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.200 that God gives us 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.019 to share the gospel. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.120 You know, 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:08.700 whether that's 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.640 over the dinner table 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:10.740 with an unbelieving spouse 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:12.259 or walking to school 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:12.920 with a child 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.440 or on the bus 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:14.100 with a stranger. 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.900 But I think the point 00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:16.980 of our text this morning 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.480 is that there is a sense 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.559 in which the most 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:21.559 evangelistically effective 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:23.120 thing that we have, 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.880 or, if you like, 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.340 our sharpest tool 00:24:26.340 --> 00:24:27.580 for gospel declaration, 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.140 if you like, 00:24:28.580 --> 00:24:30.019 is our life together. 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:30.980 Yeah? 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:33.220 The church itself, 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:35.000 the church corporate, 00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.860 is evangelistic 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:38.000 in its leaky worship. 00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:39.700 In other words, 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.200 the evangelistic strategy 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.900 of our church 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:43.059 can't just be, 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:43.700 hey, listen, 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:45.279 go and tell as many people 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.299 as you can about Jesus. 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:48.099 Take the gospel out there, 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.360 convert the nations, 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.160 and when they're converted, 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.900 bring them here. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.319 Rather, 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:54.400 we must go out and tell, 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:54.779 mustn't we? 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.620 That's really clear 00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:55.920 in the Bible. 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:56.700 But also, 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:57.620 as we go out and tell, 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.420 we are also saying, 00:24:58.559 --> 00:24:59.360 come and see. 00:24:59.740 --> 00:25:00.380 Come and see. 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.400 Come and see 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.280 what God is doing. 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:04.020 He's choosing a people 00:25:04.020 --> 00:25:04.560 for himself. 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.840 Let me introduce you to them. 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.520 He's got a royal priesthood. 00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:09.100 Let me show you 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:09.640 where they are 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.800 so that you can engage with them. 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.820 He's got a group of people 00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:12.780 whose very purpose 00:25:12.780 --> 00:25:13.620 is to declare 00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:15.000 the praiseworthy deeds of God. 00:25:15.280 --> 00:25:15.820 Come and listen 00:25:15.820 --> 00:25:16.660 to what they're saying. 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:19.540 So this is for you 00:25:19.540 --> 00:25:20.520 if you're here this morning 00:25:20.520 --> 00:25:21.240 and not a Christian. 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:21.760 It's brilliant 00:25:21.760 --> 00:25:22.660 that you're here this morning. 00:25:22.780 --> 00:25:24.280 So glad you've come this morning 00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:25.060 if you're not a Christian. 00:25:25.620 --> 00:25:26.300 Because I think, 00:25:26.760 --> 00:25:27.880 not only do we want 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.500 to welcome you, 00:25:28.560 --> 00:25:29.180 but also I think 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.240 this is the best place 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.940 for you to understand 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.700 what being a Christian 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.220 is about. 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.000 Being a Christian 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.859 is not just 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:36.500 a private belief 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.400 in a set of historical facts 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.420 about a man called Jesus. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.359 It does involve that. 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.500 But being a Christian 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.740 is about more than that. 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.140 Being a Christian 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.759 is about coming 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.960 to realize and love 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.759 and give yourself 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.240 to the God 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.140 who made you 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.220 and who is now 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.380 making a new humanity. 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.819 A people who love 00:25:53.819 --> 00:25:54.420 their maker, 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.680 who know him personally, 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.599 who worship him 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:57.480 in all of life 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.620 and who praise him together. 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.000 A new humanity 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.120 who are forgiven 00:26:01.120 --> 00:26:01.839 of their sins, 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.220 cleared of future judgment 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.220 by the atoning work 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.160 of Christ on the cross. 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.839 A group of people 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.819 who are now gathered 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:08.380 into local churches 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:09.120 before one day 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:10.279 being gathered all together 00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.880 with all of God's people 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.660 from all history 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.360 and all geography. 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.559 Now it might be 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.000 this morning, 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.680 if you're not a Christian, 00:26:16.779 --> 00:26:17.420 that you've got loads 00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.220 of questions about that 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.160 and I'd love to speak 00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:19.720 to you about them. 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:20.640 Please come and find me 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:21.180 at the end. 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.740 But there is a sense 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:24.720 in which right now, 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:26.380 in this moment, 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.400 in this place, 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.420 you are getting 00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:29.960 the clearest glimpse 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.960 of who God is 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.519 and what he's doing. 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.740 And if you are 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.539 a Christian this morning, 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.380 if you're a member 00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:37.180 of the church here, 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.500 then let me say to you 00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:40.359 that your personal evangelism, 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.900 your own sharing 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.440 of the gospel, 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:44.380 must at some stage 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:45.900 include an invitation 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.740 to church 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:48.019 and exposure 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.779 to the family 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.559 of the church. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:51.660 If you look over 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:53.060 at verse 12 again, 00:26:53.540 --> 00:26:54.180 you can see that 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.000 Peter's assumption 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.019 is that the corporate 00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:56.960 life of the church 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.759 is seen and witnessed. 00:26:59.340 --> 00:26:59.460 Yeah? 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.580 When he says, 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.040 live such good lives 00:27:02.040 --> 00:27:03.100 among the pagans, 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:04.860 his assumption is 00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:05.840 that the pagans, 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:07.060 i.e. people in the world 00:27:07.060 --> 00:27:07.920 who don't believe in Jesus, 00:27:08.300 --> 00:27:11.340 they will see your life. 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.460 How are they going 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:13.840 to see your life 00:27:13.840 --> 00:27:15.380 if you are hiding it 00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:16.600 or you're only living 00:27:16.600 --> 00:27:17.560 it among Christians? 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.140 You see, 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:20.980 there are two mistakes, 00:27:21.060 --> 00:27:21.259 aren't there, 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.900 what you can make here. 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.680 One is to think, 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:24.299 oh, all I have to do 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.279 is just drag people 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.619 to church 00:27:25.619 --> 00:27:26.420 and Steve will do 00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:27.599 the evangelism for me. 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.680 Or the other mistake 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:30.339 to make is to think 00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:31.319 that the most evangelistically 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.140 effective thing 00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:32.799 that we do 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:35.740 is outside of church, 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.200 you know, 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.400 talking to people 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:38.240 at Hyde Park 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.059 or in the open air, 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.339 when the truth is 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:41.299 that it's the corporate 00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.200 life of the church, 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:43.299 seen in the gatherings 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:44.079 of the church, 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.279 experienced in the 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.519 relationships of the church, 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.299 which is the witness 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:47.779 to the truth 00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.319 of the gospel. 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:50.179 If you like, 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:51.019 evangelism, 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:52.019 a team sport, 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.139 something we're doing 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:53.539 together. 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:54.879 Oh, you've got lots 00:27:54.879 --> 00:27:55.899 of questions about that, 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.179 have you? 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.799 I've got a friend 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:57.559 at church who's really 00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.039 good at answering 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.399 those questions, 00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:58.919 why don't you come 00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.319 and meet them? 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.099 Actually, we're really 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:00.319 good friends, 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.000 we're totally different, 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.599 but we're really good 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:01.899 friends. 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.159 Actually, we call each 00:28:03.159 --> 00:28:04.059 other brother and sister. 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:08.379 So here's the two-pronged 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:09.399 evangelistic strategy 00:28:09.399 --> 00:28:10.179 for us as a church. 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:12.019 One, if you're a member 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.539 of the church here, 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.240 you go and build 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.639 friendships and talk 00:28:14.639 --> 00:28:15.679 to as many people 00:28:15.679 --> 00:28:16.359 as the Lord gives you 00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:17.200 opportunity to speak 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:17.839 to about Jesus. 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.740 Don't spend all your 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.440 time in a Christian 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:20.740 bubble. 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.139 Go make friends with 00:28:22.139 --> 00:28:22.500 people. 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.819 Tell them about Jesus. 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.119 And secondly, 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.279 we're going to organise 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.319 our church life, 00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:28.099 our friendships, 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.559 our socialising, 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.179 our formal gatherings 00:28:31.179 --> 00:28:32.480 in such a way 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.940 as their accessible, 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.180 clear witness 00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:36.420 to the good news 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.460 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:38.579 And so that you can 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.259 bring your friends 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.900 to any of them. 00:28:40.360 --> 00:28:40.779 That's what we're 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.039 going to do. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.900 And if we do that, 00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.059 and if the Lord 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.920 blesses us, 00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:46.059 then the normal 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.920 testimony of someone 00:28:46.920 --> 00:28:48.039 coming to faith 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:49.200 and getting baptised 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.680 in our church 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.120 will be something 00:28:50.120 --> 00:28:50.799 like this. 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:54.519 Oh, I met Clifford. 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.180 I met David. 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.200 I met Jeff. 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:57.980 I met Joe. 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.380 And they were 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.079 chatting to me. 00:29:01.240 --> 00:29:02.120 And they talked 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:02.979 to me about Jesus. 00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:04.639 And they brought me 00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:05.479 around for a meal. 00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.539 And there were other 00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.539 people from the church 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:07.819 there. 00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.659 And I got to meet them. 00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.299 And there was something 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:10.099 about the way 00:29:10.099 --> 00:29:11.339 that they related 00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.699 and spoke to one another 00:29:12.699 --> 00:29:13.339 and loved one another. 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.619 I'd never seen that before. 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.899 And then I came to church 00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:18.000 and week in, 00:29:18.099 --> 00:29:18.519 week out, 00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.619 I heard the message 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:21.319 of Jesus who died 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.399 for me to forgive me 00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:22.979 of my sins, 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:24.199 that I might belong to him. 00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:26.199 And I found that actually 00:29:26.199 --> 00:29:27.899 my heart was moving 00:29:27.899 --> 00:29:29.059 to trust in Jesus 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.659 for myself. 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:31.820 That's the testimony 00:29:31.820 --> 00:29:32.500 that we long for, 00:29:32.560 --> 00:29:32.900 isn't it? 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.160 Let's pray that God 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:35.080 does that for his glory. 00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:38.060 Finally, evangelism 00:29:38.060 --> 00:29:39.040 is about God's glory. 00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:41.680 I think essentially 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.340 what the text 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.300 is telling us here 00:29:43.300 --> 00:29:45.140 is that evangelism 00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:45.860 in the life of the church, 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.160 if you like, 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.320 is a subset 00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:47.980 of something 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:49.220 over the top of it. 00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:51.040 In other words, 00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:52.400 our great passion 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:53.720 in taking the Gospels 00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.500 to the nations, 00:29:55.320 --> 00:29:56.560 to the lost members 00:29:56.560 --> 00:29:57.220 of our family, 00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.819 is not so much 00:29:58.819 --> 00:30:00.140 a passion for evangelism 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.140 as it is a passion 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:02.200 for God's glory. 00:30:05.120 --> 00:30:05.640 You see, 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:07.180 the tragedy in unbelief 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:09.059 is not so much 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.059 that people are missing out 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.559 on the blessings 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.019 of the Gospel 00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:11.920 for themselves, 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.519 but that they're missing out 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.900 on the glory of God. 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:17.839 John Piper has a brilliant, 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.880 brilliant book on mission. 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.259 It's called 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.579 Let the Nations Be Glad, 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.579 and he puts it this way 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:23.279 in the very first paragraph 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.000 of his book. 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.579 It's this. 00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:25.359 He says, 00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:26.740 missions, 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.139 or evangelism, 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.759 telling other people 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.199 about Jesus, 00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.740 is not the ultimate goal 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.359 of the church. 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:32.500 Worship is. 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.859 Missions exist 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:36.419 because worship doesn't. 00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:38.259 Worship is ultimate, 00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:38.980 not missions, 00:30:39.139 --> 00:30:40.319 because God is ultimate, 00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.000 not man. 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.079 When this age is over 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:44.419 and the countless millions 00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:45.179 of the redeemed 00:30:45.179 --> 00:30:46.240 fall on their faces 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.480 before the throne of God, 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:49.559 missions will be no more. 00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:51.879 It's a temporary necessity, 00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:54.480 but worship abides forever. 00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:58.519 Now, I know, 00:30:58.599 --> 00:30:59.460 because we've said this 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.259 over and over 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:01.240 in these Sundays together, 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:02.599 that we are absolutely 00:31:02.599 --> 00:31:04.599 reliant on the work of God 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:06.619 to open people's hearts 00:31:06.619 --> 00:31:07.119 to the Gospel. 00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:09.299 But I want to suggest to you 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.439 that he does that 00:31:10.439 --> 00:31:12.980 as we make the Gospel clear. 00:31:13.899 --> 00:31:15.119 And I can't help but wonder 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:16.259 if at times we share 00:31:16.259 --> 00:31:18.579 the Gospel in a really unclear way, 00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:19.740 because we are unclear 00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.960 about this primacy 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.419 of the glory of God. 00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:24.519 I don't know about you, 00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.440 but I think often 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.380 I can tend to share 00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:27.440 the Gospel something like this. 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:27.860 Do you know what? 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:29.180 You and I, we're sinners. 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.539 We've done stuff wrong. 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:32.840 And because of that, 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.680 we're going to hell 00:31:33.680 --> 00:31:34.700 to be judged by God 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:35.360 for eternity. 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.279 But Jesus came to die 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:37.820 on the cross 00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:38.900 to forgive us of our sins 00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.519 so that we can get 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.840 eternal life when we die. 00:31:41.800 --> 00:31:42.380 And that's how we share 00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:42.960 the Gospel, isn't it? 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.480 Something like that. 00:31:43.480 --> 00:31:45.120 And that's true. 00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.599 None of that's wrong. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.980 But it's wrong in its emphasis 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:52.460 because it's very human-centered. 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:55.019 It makes the Gospel 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:56.140 as being the means 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:57.460 that God achieves something 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:59.339 for us that we really want, 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.799 rather than the Gospel 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.740 being something about 00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.480 who God is 00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.980 and what God really wants 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.640 in the world. 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.940 Actually, the Gospel 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:09.579 is about the glory of God 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:11.039 first and foremost, 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:12.519 before it's about anything else. 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:15.480 And when most of our friends 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:16.140 hear the Gospel 00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:17.480 as we present it about them, 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.339 quite often they say, 00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.700 well, I don't really feel sinful. 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:21.160 I don't really feel 00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:21.700 as if my life 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.700 is missing something. 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.759 I'm not that bothered 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:25.620 about God and His glory. 00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:26.579 I don't see the importance 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.799 of what you're talking about. 00:32:29.380 --> 00:32:31.099 But Peter's point 00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:31.880 is that the Gospel 00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:34.259 isn't really about us like that. 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:35.480 It's about God and His glory. 00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.680 We're better off sharing 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:36.940 the Gospel 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.599 or something like this, 00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:38.160 saying, listen, 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:40.200 have you thought about this? 00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.019 Do you realize 00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:43.660 that you exist, 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:45.660 you live on a ball 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.400 that is spinning 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.879 at thousands of miles an hour 00:32:47.879 --> 00:32:50.299 around another ball of fire? 00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:53.259 Actually, your existence itself 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:54.299 is a miracle. 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.700 And you are being sustained 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:58.000 in every moment 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.819 by the God who made you. 00:33:00.259 --> 00:33:01.099 Have you thought about that? 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.900 That even the breath 00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:03.639 that we have 00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:05.339 that we use to deny God 00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:06.279 is the breath 00:33:06.279 --> 00:33:07.339 that He has given us 00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.000 in that moment. 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.720 Have you thought about that? 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:12.579 Can you imagine 00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:14.100 that God 00:33:14.100 --> 00:33:16.720 as the sustaining creator 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.600 of all things 00:33:17.600 --> 00:33:19.799 is just offended 00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:20.519 by the fact 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.319 that you use 00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.880 the life that He's given you 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:24.559 on this amazing spinning ball 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:25.640 around a ball of fire, 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:27.200 the breath that He's given you, 00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:29.059 you use that to deny Him, 00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:30.940 to live as if you've 00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:32.019 worked it out yourself, 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.059 as if this life 00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:34.000 is all about you? 00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.460 Well, let me tell you 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.079 what I've discovered 00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:37.600 about God 00:33:37.600 --> 00:33:38.519 through His Word, the Bible. 00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.559 I've discovered 00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.299 that God is not just 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.160 the creator, 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.079 but He's also 00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:44.480 the loving Savior. 00:33:45.460 --> 00:33:46.720 And He's come into this world 00:33:46.720 --> 00:33:47.819 in the person of the Son 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:49.379 to defeat our ignorance 00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:50.059 and unbelief, 00:33:50.379 --> 00:33:51.379 but not with a sword 00:33:51.379 --> 00:33:51.900 or a gun, 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:53.379 but by dying in our place 00:33:53.379 --> 00:33:54.480 and bearing our judgment 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.480 and rising to new resurrection life. 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.319 So that now, 00:33:57.819 --> 00:33:58.920 through the Son, 00:33:59.259 --> 00:34:00.920 you and I get to live life 00:34:00.920 --> 00:34:01.759 for God's glory. 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:04.420 The glory not only of a creator, 00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.379 but of a lover. 00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:08.019 So that God gets glory 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:09.140 and we get joy. 00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:11.220 A joy that stretches 00:34:11.220 --> 00:34:12.059 through the ups and downs 00:34:12.059 --> 00:34:12.460 of life 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.640 and into resurrection, 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.500 eternal life 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:15.420 that the Son of God 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:16.340 has started already. 00:34:16.740 --> 00:34:18.079 Doesn't that sound pretty good? 00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:21.119 That's the glory of God. 00:34:22.320 --> 00:34:23.800 That's what calls people 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:24.640 to Himself, 00:34:25.180 --> 00:34:26.640 to be a chosen people, 00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:28.300 a holy nation, 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.480 a royal priesthood, 00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:31.760 His special possession, 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:33.019 who live their lives 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:34.980 to declare His praises. 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.440 Let me close in prayer. 00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:40.659 Let's just take a moment. 00:34:40.800 --> 00:34:41.480 You can think through 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.219 and ponder on 00:34:42.219 --> 00:34:44.000 the wonder of what God 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.820 has done for us 00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:45.320 that we might 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:47.239 declare His praises together. 00:34:47.239 --> 00:35:03.579 Heavenly Father, 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:05.159 we thank you so much 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:06.899 that you are passionately committed 00:35:06.899 --> 00:35:08.279 to your own glory 00:35:08.279 --> 00:35:11.859 and that that's the right thing 00:35:11.859 --> 00:35:12.500 for you to be. 00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:13.359 It's the right way 00:35:13.359 --> 00:35:14.219 for you to be. 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:17.579 It's the right thing 00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:18.819 for us to acknowledge 00:35:18.819 --> 00:35:20.119 that you are glorious 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.839 and wonderful. 00:35:21.839 --> 00:35:22.739 And we pray, please, 00:35:22.799 --> 00:35:23.639 that as a church family 00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.639 we might be leaky 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:25.679 in our worship of you, 00:35:25.739 --> 00:35:27.299 that it might spill out of us 00:35:27.299 --> 00:35:29.079 into the people around us 00:35:29.079 --> 00:35:30.739 wherever you put us tomorrow, 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:33.000 that people might hear from us 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:34.259 the good news of the Lord Jesus 00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:35.839 because it's just spilling out 00:35:35.839 --> 00:35:37.679 from us at every turn. 00:35:38.639 --> 00:35:40.219 So you pray, please, Lord, 00:35:40.259 --> 00:35:41.179 that you would do this work 00:35:41.179 --> 00:35:41.959 in our hearts 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:43.360 for the sake of your name 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:44.639 and for the good 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.780 of the lost around us 00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:47.059 that they might hear of Jesus 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:48.420 and come and trust in Him 00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:48.980 for themselves. 00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:51.360 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:52.440 Amen. 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:53.720 Amen. 00:35:53.720 --> 00:35:53.800 Amen.