WEBVTT

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 It's this idea about sharing good news and proclaiming, proclaiming Jesus in all that we do and all that we say.

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 There was a vicar, a new vicar in a church, and he thought on this thought it would be a good idea to actually encourage people to proclaim the name of Jesus.

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 So he said, just at the beginning, let's shout out a word, shall we? And then Doris on the organ will find something suitable to play with regards to the thing that you shouted out.

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 So first of all, we had this great shouting out, and it was shepherd. So Doris, Julie, well, shepherd, that was great.

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 The next one, of course, is somebody shouted out grace. So we had amazing grace.

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 There was a young lad in the congregation who thought, this is good fun. So he shouted out sex, whereupon Doris played memories all alone.

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 The thing is, we are called to proclaim. We are called to proclaim. And I'd like you to think maybe, have you ever been to a major concert?

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 Maybe the biggest concert that you've ever been to. We, maybe it's the O2, a big gig that you went to, where you wait for that main artist to come on.

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 You've waited, you've paid a lot of money, maybe you've had a hotel overnight, you've had transport to get there, you've paid a lot for your ticket.

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 But there's an anticipation that grows within us all the time of the person that's going to come on.

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 Mandy and I, this year, as part of our 40th wedding anniversary, we went to see Ed Sheeran.

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 Here's a little picture of us there.

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 Whoa!

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 Ed Sheeran.

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 And of course, what they do is you arrive, and already by the time you get there, it's building, isn't it?

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 You've queued up, you've gone through security, you get in, and then as people, the stadium fills up, you get the first act that comes on, that's really warming up.

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 Then the second act, there was a second act as well.

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 And then, then you see all the roadies come on, and they start to change the stage around.

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 And you think, this is it.

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 And there's an electricity amongst in there, you know, and then on comes, even before that, and you've got ladies and gentlemen.

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 And that is it, isn't it?

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 Once you get ladies and gentlemen, and the place goes berserk.

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 Maybe not with all the glitz and sparkle, John the Baptist comes to proclaim the greatest event ever.

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 He comes to proclaim that the Messiah is here.

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 Not with all the glitz, not with all the glamour, but to announce Jesus's ministry to a waiting world.

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 And that's what we capture this morning.

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 This idea of announcing and pronouncing Jesus to a waiting world.

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 John has waited, he's been waiting a long time to do this introduction.

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 He knew that Jesus was coming.

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 He knew that Jesus' time was coming.

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 And as he and the prophets have been preparing the whole community and the Jewish people, many of them who weren't listening,

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 but he didn't stop pronouncing Jesus.

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 John had made many enemies in speaking the truth.

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 And in fact, John would be decapitated at the behest of a dancing girl's mother who wanted his head on a plate.

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 He wasn't afraid to pronounce Jesus.

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 This is the first reference.

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 No wonder Matthew begins by introducing us to John the Baptist, who comes into this Judean wilderness in the middle of seemingly nowhere,

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 and makes this amazing announcement for the world that this is Jesus's time.

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 This is his ministry.

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 This is the first reference to the kingdom in Matthew.

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 Kingdom language signaled to John's listeners who had long awaited to hear this.

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 They'd long awaited to hear this kingdom is coming.

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 The kingdom is now here.

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 It heralds a person that they were waiting for.

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 God's promises to restore God's people, as we heard in Isaiah.

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 In Isaiah 40, it's no coincidence that Matthew then actually cites Isaiah 40.

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 Described John as a voice crying in the wilderness.

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 A voice crying in the wilderness.

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 Hold that picture for a moment of a voice that is crying in what seemingly feels like a wilderness.

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 What does John ask of the people that have been waiting?

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 Does he ask for a round of applause?

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 Does he ask for clapping and cheering?

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 Does he ask for streamers and party cannons?

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 Pyrotechnics?

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 No.

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 He doesn't even ask for a big thank you.

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 But what John is asking for something is far more for those who have been waiting to receive Jesus.

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 Is he asks for repentance.

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 And as I read this chapter, that was the word that stuck out for me.

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 Repentance.

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 Repent for the kingdom of heaven is come near.

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 Is what John proclaims.

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 And for some people, that repentance is mostly about feelings.

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 You know, feeling maybe sorry for your sin.

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 I'm sorry to say, but in these days there has been a whole industry that has been built around feeling sorry for your own sin.

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 And the church in many ways sometimes has colluded with that as well.

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 When some people, you know, really don't really want to do anything about their sin.

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 They just want to feel sorry about their sin.

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 The thing is, is that repentance is a doing word.

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 It's not a feeling word.

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 It says, repent.

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 To do something.

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 I think Jesus had a really great counselling technique when he was talking to people about sin.

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 You know, if your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.

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 You know, no messing.

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 It's a doing word.

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 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away.

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 You know, it's not literal, of course, but those who heard it actually got the point.

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 This is a doing word.

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 I've got to do something about my sin.

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 Because I'm being called, in that call, to repentance.

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 That's why repent is such an acting word.

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 It means a shift.

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 It means a shift in us in order to do something.

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 Repent means to turn.

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 To turn away from your sin.

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 Not merely to feel sorry for what you've done.

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 Repentance means to speak of change.

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 A change of direction.

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 A change of heart.

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 Repentance means freedom that Jesus brings.

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 Repent is what grace and coming to God is all about.

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 And how can we engage what the kingdom of heaven is unless we leave our sinful ways and our self-seeking, maybe in selfish ways, and habits behind, and turn and face God?

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 That's what John was proclaiming.

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 Turn around.

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 Turn around.

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 Repent.

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 That's why I'm here, says John.

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 Because this person is now here.

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 Don't leave it too late.

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 There's a little picture on the screen.

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 I remember when I worked on the Broadmead in Bristol.

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 In the place, there was a guy, not this guy here, but very similar.

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 Each day, he used to walk up and down the Broadmead.

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 You might have seen him.

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 And he would shout at people.

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 And he would say, repent.

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 The end is nigh.

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 Repent.

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 You know, I'm not sure how many people actually really repented there on the spot.

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 I'd like to think that they did.

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 In fact, there are people, frankly, I thought at the time that he might have been a little bit unstable.

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 But I'd take my hat off to him, you know, and he was out there proclaiming, probably not in a way in which we would do.

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 But many thought the same of John the Baptist.

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 There was no difference.

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 John the Baptist was in a culture where he was calling people to repentance.

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 The message is right in your face.

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 You know, we know that we're called to turn from our sin.

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 But most people will acknowledge that they've done wrong and fallen short.

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 We all did.

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 We've just repented at the beginning of our service.

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 Many people want to turn from their sin and seek a new life.

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 Many people, you know, in that turning, want to turn.

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 But this is where the rubber hits the road.

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 You see, if you're going to turn away from something, you need to know what you're turning to.

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 That's the issue.

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 If we're asking people to repent and to make a change, what are you actually turning from and to?

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 And they won't know what you're turning to until you actually introduce them to the person that they're turning to.

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 It's that basic thing.

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 You know, this is your sin.

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 This is Jesus.

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 This is death.

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 This is life and hope.

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 It's that simple.

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 But it means turning and facing.

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 John was proclaiming that.

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 John was wanting to do that.

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 And we'll sing again over the coming weeks.

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 A place where the hopes and fears of all the years are met in you tonight.

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 You know, I don't know about you.

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 I'm meeting people with lots of fears at the moment.

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 You know, fears of this, fears of that.

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 Seems to be you turn on the news.

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 It's all about fears.

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 Turn to a place of hope where Jesus actually encompasses those and can actually meet us in that place.

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 And if I leave something behind, I want to know where I'm going to.

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 Repent is central to the proclamation of John the Baptist.

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 Repent is central to Jesus' message.

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 Repent was an essential element in the disciples' lives.

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 Repent is a call which in many areas of his church today needs to heed if we are introducing people to Jesus, the person that we need to meet with.

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 We, the church, live by what it says in the book.

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 And it's Matt Redman.

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 I think that Matt Redman's song reduces me again and again to a place of emotion where it says,

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 I'm coming back to the heart of worship.

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 It's all about you.

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 It's all about you, Jesus.

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 And I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing that we've made it.

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 I sing that to say I'm sorry Lord with the thing I've made it you know when it's all about you

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 it's that turning that we're asking this is why John was so urgent in his call

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 to repentance because he said the kingdom of heaven is at hand this week we heard the statistics

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 you've probably heard them the same as I have on the television and on the radio that Christians

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 now account for less than half of England and Wales's population for the first time in the census

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 and in government figures the Christians are now less than half in our population the ONS results

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 show that 46.2 percent of the population described themselves as Christian in 21 and this marks a

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 decrease from 59 percent in 2011 people who declared that they had no religion or as somebody

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 said on the radio this morning they're called nuns I think that's I don't think that's very helpful

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 really but they said that people with no religion has risen increased to 37 percent how do you feel

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 about that as a disciple do you feel like a voice crying in the wilderness

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 personally I am fired and excited by those figures because if there are people who have declared

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 themselves that they have no religion that they are nuns that is a great pool to fish in

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 if we're going to go fishing and proclaim Jesus in what we do what a great pond to fish you know we are

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 disciples we what could the church look like if we caught that renewed sense of urgency that was there in

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 the desert with John calling people to repentance Jesus about to arrive the Holy Spirit comes on

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 Jesus and suddenly there's this explosion in Jesus his ministry and then at Pentecost we all get the same

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 Jesus Messiah and Savior if we're asking people to turn away from something then let's be clear and

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 proclaim what people are turning towards and let's get enthusiastic intentional and missional about that

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 in the weeks and the months to come as we will hear again Jesus and scripture people left the safety of the ordinary to follow Jesus

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 Jesus as we say in our creeds will come again that's worth turning away from sin because repenting may be of our apathy

00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:53.779
 repenting of our love of our love of our love of our love of our love of our love of power and privilege in denomination

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 maybe repenting of self-sufficiency rather than trusting fully in Jesus

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 repenting of our lack of faith and trust in what the Holy Spirit is and can do through us

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 and yes with a large majority of young people having little or no interest in who we are in this country

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 what a great lake to fish in

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 and maybe we need to throw our nets where Jesus is showing us

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 where to fish rather than to fish in old waters

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 from this week onwards as it was this morning this place will be filled with young people

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 tomorrow there will be preschools then there will be scouts and

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 cubs and everybody then there will be the schools that will come in

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 hundreds and hundreds of young people will hear the message of Jesus at this time of the year

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 I think our challenge is is who is there to tell them about Jesus for the rest of the year

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 and that is us

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 and how will we do that

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 what is our challenge to proclaim and to turn back

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 you and me rising up proclaiming Jesus the urgency of the season to make him known in 2023

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 to a waiting world to the 37 percent of nuns

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 who are lost

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 the axe is ready to fall at the root of the tree

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 and the tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire

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 I baptise you with water for repentance

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 for turning around

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 but after me comes one who is more powerful than I

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 whose sandals I'm not worthy to carry he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit

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 and fire

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 his winnowing fork is in his hand and he will clear his threshing floor

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 gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with inquenchable fire

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 people are talking about warm spaces at the moment

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 hell is amazingly warm

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 let's introduce people to the warm space that Jesus invites us to

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 and not the warmer place that the world is talking about

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 let's make sure it's the right sort of place

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 a place where Jesus is proclaimed

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 a place where scripture and the gospel is upheld and lived out in love and peace

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 a place where the power of the Holy Spirit is alive

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 active and burning brightly

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 in his people

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 in the everyday

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 a place where we acknowledge sin

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 and a safe place to repent

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 amongst ourselves

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 and not be judged

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 a place of grace

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 a place where truth and love abounds

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 how will we personally and as disciples

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 proclaim Jesus

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 in 2023

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 how will we do that during this Advent season

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 what is the Holy Spirit saying to us

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 personally

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 about how we do that

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 corporately

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 as a church

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 individually

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 as individuals

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 because it's a call on each of our lives

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 I talk about bringing five people to faith in 2023

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 2023

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 if each of us brought five people into relationship to meet with Jesus

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 in 2023

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 we'll need a few more seats

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 yeah

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 wouldn't that be a great day

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 yeah

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 honestly

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 you bought it

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 let's do it

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 let's do it

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 because if we're moving in the power of the Holy Spirit

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 we repent

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 we turn

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 how many will make an active commitment to bring friends to Alpha

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 if you're turning from something you want to know what you're turning to

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 bring people to Alpha

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 they'll know what they're turning to

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 about the Christian faith

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 they're not buying into something

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 that they don't know

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 and I'm just going around with a picture

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:22.519
 I don't know whether you get pictures in your shower

00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:26.579
 it's probably the only place that's quiet for me in the morning

00:19:26.579 --> 00:19:27.279
 maybe

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:27.960
 I don't know

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:30.339
 but I just sensed this morning

00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.059
 of

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:33.399
 if this is your sin

00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:36.059
 and you're backing away

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:39.960
 and suddenly

00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.579
 you bump in

00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.599
 to somebody

00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:43.960
 that makes you turn

00:19:43.960 --> 00:19:46.400
 I believe

00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:47.680
 there's a whole load of people

00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:50.079
 who are wanting to back away from their life

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.559
 of sin

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.900
 of money

00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:54.220
 of everything

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:57.779
 and are suddenly going to meet with Jesus

00:19:57.779 --> 00:20:00.259
 I pray

00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:02.079
 that we will be there at that time

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.059
 to encourage

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.840
 support them

00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:04.519
 enthuse them

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.319
 empower them

00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:08.640
 and bring them into that place

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:10.180
 that Jesus calls

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:12.180
 and as John the Baptist calls us to

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:14.000
 to proclaim him

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.180
 in all that we do

00:20:15.180 --> 00:20:17.180
 can we do that?

00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.700
 we can

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.600
 let's pray

00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:20.660
 Holy Spirit

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.360
 would you come

00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:24.660
 Holy Spirit

00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.519
 would you come

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.519
 on each

00:20:26.519 --> 00:20:28.019
 and every one of us now

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:30.519
 I pray for maybe

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.900
 those who are here this morning

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.920
 or those listening

00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:34.640
 now on the podcast

00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:35.779
 for whom

00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:37.779
 there is a real call

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.380
 away

00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:39.600
 from maybe

00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:40.380
 something

00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:42.340
 but you haven't

00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:43.660
 really yet engaged

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:44.220
 and committed

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.900
 to Jesus

00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:48.960
 I pray Lord

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:51.040
 that maybe

00:20:51.040 --> 00:20:51.840
 if that is a

00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:52.600
 now moment

00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.040
 now

00:20:53.040 --> 00:20:55.800
 you would just say

00:20:55.800 --> 00:20:56.740
 Lord I repent

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:58.080
 of my past

00:20:58.080 --> 00:21:00.700
 and I'll meet with you

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:04.260
 and if that is for you

00:21:04.260 --> 00:21:04.960
 this morning

00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.380
 here

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.860
 or if you're listening

00:21:06.859 --> 00:21:07.319
 now

00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:09.159
 whatever you're doing

00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:10.240
 especially if you're driving

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:11.359
 not on the motorway

00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:12.459
 but if you're driving

00:21:12.459 --> 00:21:14.079
 just maybe pull over

00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:15.319
 at the next available time

00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:17.639
 and just

00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:19.559
 seal the deal

00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.139
 with Jesus

00:21:20.139 --> 00:21:22.399
 Lord I'm yours

00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:23.439
 I turn from everything

00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:24.079
 that is wrong

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:27.479
 Lord I want to get

00:21:27.479 --> 00:21:28.439
 to know you better

00:21:28.439 --> 00:21:31.079
 just pray for that

00:21:31.079 --> 00:21:31.679
 as an answer

00:21:31.679 --> 00:21:32.759
 for a waiting world

00:21:32.759 --> 00:21:34.079
 and the community

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.759
 that we're called

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.319
 to serve

00:21:36.319 --> 00:21:38.579
 I pray now

00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.159
 is maybe

00:21:39.159 --> 00:21:40.059
 there are pictures

00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.079
 coming to mind

00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:42.019
 of people

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.879
 maybe three

00:21:42.879 --> 00:21:43.879
 or five people

00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:45.599
 that you are praying for

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:48.460
 for whom

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:50.759
 that

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:53.000
 you would long

00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:53.460
 for that

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.359
 to be a moment

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:55.819
 for them to do that

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:57.980
 trust in the Lord

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.859
 with all your heart

00:21:58.859 --> 00:22:02.480
 just trust in the Lord

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.319
 with all your heart

00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:06.940
 don't lean on your own

00:22:06.940 --> 00:22:07.620
 understanding

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:09.000
 fall into what

00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.660
 the Holy Spirit

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.420
 wants to do

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:10.940
 in them

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.819
 and through them

00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:16.460
 so Lord

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:17.140
 empower us

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:17.860
 and infuse us

00:22:17.860 --> 00:22:18.559
 excite us

00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:19.299
 and encourage us

00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:19.920
 this Advent

00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:22.559
 as we wait

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:23.720
 for that great event

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:26.559
 because Jesus

00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.920
 is coming again

00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.160
 and that's what

00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:30.079
 we're getting ready for

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:31.380
 he will come again

00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:33.760
 and let's be ready

00:22:33.760 --> 00:22:35.480
 along with those

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.440
 who are coming to him

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.820
 whenever that moment is

00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:39.360
 in Jesus name

00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:40.280
 Amen