WEBVTT

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 in your Bibles, if you have one, to 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

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 If you're using one of the Pew Bibles, it's page 961.

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 We are continuing in our series through this book

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 on the home stretch as we've been going through this book

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 throughout the year.

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 As you turn there, I want to thank you to the church

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 for allowing and encouraging us as your pastors

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 and staff members to take vacation time

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 with our families this summer.

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 Jane and I were certainly blessed by our time away

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 over the last couple weeks.

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 So thank you for giving us that flexibility

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 in our employment contracts and also bearing with us

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 in the practicalities of when you call the office

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 and you don't know who will answer.

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 But we will always have somebody here,

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 even if some of us are in and some of us are out.

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 You know, it's a good reminder that God's work continues

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 and that God's work in this church is not dependent

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 exclusively on one particular individual.

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 And, you know, it's a good sign.

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 That we can go away for a couple weeks and come back

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 and God's continuing and doing good work here.

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 During our time away, I had a little time to reflect.

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 And so before I read this passage this morning,

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 I want to just share some reflections

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 on the last five years.

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 It's been five years since Pastor Matt and I came on staff

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 and Pastor Nick, we became the three co-pastors.

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 And so I was thinking a little bit of what God has taught us

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 as a church.

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 Some of you have been here for those five years.

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 Some of you have come more recently.

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 You know, but if you think five years ago,

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 we were just emerging from a two-and-a-half-year

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 interim leadership period after our senior pastor had left.

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 We were venturing into this team leadership model

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 with three co-pastors.

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 None of us had had previous experience on a church staff

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 outside of Trinity.

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 And so we moved into our offices.

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 And then, as you may remember, a week later,

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 Matt's wife, Brandy, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

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 And so over the last five years, as a church,

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 we've been brought to face realities that many of us

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 and many of us in our culture try to avoid.

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 Sickness and pain and death.

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 And we've prayed fervently and boldly for healing.

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 We've come to trust the Lord's providence,

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 even through grief and pain.

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 We've been reminded that our true home,

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 our true home is with the Lord,

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 that our hope and our help come from Him.

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 I think also the message that we preached about

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 in 1 Corinthians 13, about the supremacy of love,

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 the excellence of love, the importance of love,

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 that above all else, we as Jesus' disciples

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 must be characterized by love for one another.

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 I think that message has sunk in more deeply

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 over the last five years.

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 I think we live in a culture where many of us

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 might be tempted to focus on our performance

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 or our knowledge.

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 We're in a church where there's always people coming in,

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 moving to town and leaving town,

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 and our relationships might wear thin

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 in a context like this.

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 But I think God has brought us to a deeper level

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 of community and love for one another as a church.

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 I think we've learned to rejoice together

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 and to mourn together, to care for each other,

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 not just for Pastor Matt and his family,

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 but to really care for each other

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 as we go through our own struggles and trials

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 and to rejoice as we share joys and victories.

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 And so I think our community has grown deeper,

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 more vulnerable, and also more hospitable as a result.

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 So that's, I think, sort of the first way we've grown

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 is in our love for one another

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 and in our depth as a community.

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 But we've also grown outwardly.

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 Our building is, especially during the school year,

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 it's more crowded on Sunday mornings.

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 Sometimes you have trouble finding a seat.

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 Some people are up in the balcony sometimes.

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 The youth group has grown on Wednesday nights.

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 Some of the small groups are outgrowing

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 people's living rooms.

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 That's all a good thing.

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 And God is bringing not just more people,

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 but I think more different people.

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 You know, you look around and you talk to people

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 and you're like, we're not all the same here.

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 And, you know, sometimes it takes a little while

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 to figure out what we have in common.

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 But what draws us together above everything else

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 is the message we're preaching about this morning

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 of Jesus Christ crucified and risen.

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 And as we look into the,

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 and God has also brought opportunities

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 for outreach our way,

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 even ones that we wouldn't have looked for.

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 Planting a church in New London

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 was not on our strategic plan,

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 but God brought that to pass

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 over the last five years.

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 The idea of joining together with other churches

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 in a partnership in New Haven

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 for ministry like Bridges of Hope,

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 that didn't exist two years ago.

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 Might have thought,

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 well, that's sort of a nice idea,

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 but when does that ever really happen?

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 But God has brought that together

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 and is beginning to grow that.

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 And Lord willing, may that continue to have

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 a greater impact over the next five years.

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 I think the Lord's also giving us

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 a growing love for internationals,

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 for people from all parts of the world.

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 God has brought many of you here

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 from different parts of the world

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 and to contribute to our church life

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 and to help us more effectively reach out

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 to our international neighbors.

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 So as we look to the next five years,

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 what will the next five years hold

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 for us as a church and for the kingdom of God

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 in New Haven more broadly?

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 You know, some days I have ideas.

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 I could give you lots of ideas

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 that I think have a lot of potential.

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 Sometimes I can be an optimist.

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 And other days I can come up

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 with all kinds of obstacles

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 and difficulties and anxieties

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 and things that could go wrong.

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 But the passage we're looking at today

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 is I think what can serve it

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 as an anchor point for us.

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 It provides an anchor for us personally.

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 It provides an anchor for us as a church.

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 It reminds us the ground that we stand on,

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 the foundation that this church

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 and every true church is built on.

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 And it gives us a reason

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 that we can look into the future

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 with both humility and confidence.

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 So that's what we're going to read together.

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 And I want to sort of frame the passage

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 by thinking about what might God have for us

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 in the next few years.

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 So let me read this passage,

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 1 Corinthians 15, 1 to 11,

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 and then we'll jump in.

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 Paul writes this,

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 Now I would remind you,

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 brothers of the gospel I preach to you,

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 which you received,

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 in which you stand,

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 and by which you are being saved.

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 If you hold fast to the word I preach to you,

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 unless you believed in vain.

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 For I delivered to you,

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 as of first importance,

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 what I also received,

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 that Christ died for our sins

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 in accordance with the Scriptures,

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 that he was buried,

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 that he was raised on the third day

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 in accordance with the Scriptures,

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 and that he appeared to Cephas

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 and then to the 12th.

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 Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers

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 at one time,

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 most of whom are still alive,

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 though some have fallen asleep.

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 Then he appeared to James,

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 then to all the apostles.

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 Last of all,

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 as to one untimely born,

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 he appeared also to me.

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 For I am the least of the apostles,

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 unworthy to be called an apostle

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 because I persecuted the church of God.

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 But by the grace of God,

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 I am what I am,

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 and his grace toward me

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 was not in vain.

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 On the contrary,

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 I worked harder than any of them,

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 though it wasn't I,

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 but the grace of God that is with me.

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 Whether then it was I or they,

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 so we preach,

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 and so you believed.

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 This morning,

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 the apostle Paul

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 wants to remind us of two things

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 that matter more than anything else.

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 Number one,

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 one,

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 the historical reality

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 of Jesus' bodily resurrection.

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 Number two,

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 the present reality

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 of his transforming grace.

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 Those are the two points

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 I want to look at this morning.

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 Let's begin with the first one.

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 Now, as I said,

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 we're on the home stretch of our journey

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 through 1 Corinthians.

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 We've made it through

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 chapter one to four

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 about divisions in the church,

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 chapters five

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 about church discipline,

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 chapter six and seven

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 about sex and singleness

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 and marriage,

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 chapter eight and nine and ten

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 about idol worship,

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 chapter 11

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 about head coverings

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 and the Lord's Supper,

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 chapter 12, 13, and 14

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 about spiritual gifts,

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 tongues, and prophecy.

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 We've made it through

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 a lot of different topics.

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 This is the last major topic

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 of the book.

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 But it's not just one more topic

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 on sort of Paul's laundry list

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 of problems and issues

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 that he wants to address

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 with the Corinthian church.

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 This is really the capstone

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 of the book.

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 Paul began, if you remember,

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 in chapter two

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 by talking about

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 the message of the cross.

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 He said,

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 I've resolved to know

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 nothing among you

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 except Christ

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 and him crucified.

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 So he begins

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 by speaking about the cross

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 and now he's going to end

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 by speaking about

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 the resurrection.

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 And those are sort of

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 the two pillars

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 that hold up

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 the whole book.

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 And everything in the middle

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 only makes sense

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 if you see these two things.

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 That Jesus Christ died

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 on the cross for our sins

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 and that he was raised

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 for us on the third day.

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 And so he's,

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 we see the implications

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 of those things.

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 Karl Barth wrote,

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 this chapter

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 forms not only

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 the clothes and crown

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 of the whole epistle

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 but also provides

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 the clue to its meaning.

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 Light is shed upon the whole

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 from this place

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 on the book as a unity.

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 What we'll see

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 as we look at this chapter

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 for the next five weeks

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 is that the resurrection

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 of Jesus

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 not only gives us hope

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 for the future

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 and eternity

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 but it also transforms

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 our life in the present.

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 It does both

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 of those things

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 and they're both

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 essential and important.

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 But Paul starts

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 this morning

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 by bringing us back

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 to the basics.

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 Verse three.

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 He says,

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 I deliver to you

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 as of first importance

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 what I also received.

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 Now there are some translations

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 that it's possible

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 to translate that

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 slightly differently

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 to say,

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 I deliver to you

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 at the first.

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 In other words,

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 this was the first thing

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 I told you.

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 But the reason why

00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:47.579
 Paul would have told them

00:10:47.579 --> 00:10:48.059
 this first

00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:48.899
 is because it was

00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:49.559
 a first importance

00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:50.419
 so it doesn't actually matter

00:10:50.419 --> 00:10:51.340
 how you translate it.

00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:53.340
 But Paul wants us

00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:53.799
 to remember

00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:54.819
 this matters more

00:10:54.819 --> 00:10:55.759
 than anything else.

00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:58.019
 as you read

00:10:58.019 --> 00:10:58.639
 1 Corinthians

00:10:58.639 --> 00:10:59.319
 and talk about

00:10:59.319 --> 00:10:59.980
 all these topics

00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:00.319
 he says,

00:11:00.539 --> 00:11:01.279
 don't lose the forest

00:11:01.279 --> 00:11:02.100
 for the trees.

00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:04.159
 This is what

00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:04.899
 it's all about.

00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:07.059
 This is what

00:11:07.059 --> 00:11:07.960
 matters more

00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:08.679
 than anything else.

00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:09.679
 This is the good news

00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:10.399
 I preached.

00:11:11.100 --> 00:11:12.679
 It's what you believed.

00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:13.960
 It's

00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:15.919
 the message

00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:16.480
 through which

00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.059
 you are being saved.

00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:20.519
 And Paul says,

00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.120
 this isn't just

00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:23.039
 my distinctive message.

00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.639
 it's the message

00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.939
 of every true

00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:28.139
 Christian believer

00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:30.639
 since the earliest days

00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:32.740
 of the Christian church.

00:11:34.079 --> 00:11:34.519
 Paul says,

00:11:34.579 --> 00:11:35.459
 I delivered to you

00:11:35.459 --> 00:11:36.759
 what I also received.

00:11:37.319 --> 00:11:37.959
 In other words,

00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:38.559
 he's sort of like

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:39.439
 the UPS guy.

00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:40.779
 Right?

00:11:41.699 --> 00:11:42.719
 He got the package

00:11:42.719 --> 00:11:44.759
 and he faithfully

00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:45.919
 delivered it to you.

00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:47.679
 He didn't open the package,

00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:49.799
 take out half the stuff inside,

00:11:50.439 --> 00:11:51.439
 throw in some other stuff

00:11:51.439 --> 00:11:52.559
 that he wanted to throw in,

00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.879
 and then deliver it to you.

00:11:54.619 --> 00:11:55.139
 He's saying,

00:11:55.239 --> 00:11:55.759
 I got it

00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:57.079
 and I've passed it

00:11:57.079 --> 00:11:57.599
 on to you

00:11:57.599 --> 00:11:58.439
 faithfully

00:11:58.439 --> 00:11:59.779
 the message

00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:01.259
 that you believe.

00:12:03.119 --> 00:12:04.899
 Paul is quoting here

00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:07.839
 from an early Christian creed

00:12:07.839 --> 00:12:08.519
 or summary

00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:09.639
 of the faith.

00:12:10.839 --> 00:12:11.659
 That's why he says,

00:12:11.739 --> 00:12:12.379
 I deliver to you

00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:13.199
 what I received.

00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:17.439
 And just as he did

00:12:17.439 --> 00:12:18.239
 in chapter 11,

00:12:18.479 --> 00:12:19.699
 he used the same language

00:12:19.699 --> 00:12:20.479
 when talking about

00:12:20.479 --> 00:12:21.219
 the Lord's Supper.

00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:22.079
 Right?

00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:22.780
 Not just something

00:12:22.780 --> 00:12:24.200
 that Paul's churches

00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:24.980
 observed,

00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:25.500
 but something

00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:26.320
 that all Christians

00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:28.280
 have always shared.

00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:30.000
 The meal to remember

00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:30.700
 Jesus' death

00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:31.759
 on the cross

00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:32.520
 for our sins.

00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:34.879
 Now,

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.639
 look for a minute

00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:38.080
 at what Paul

00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:39.360
 delivers to them.

00:12:39.420 --> 00:12:39.639
 He says,

00:12:39.700 --> 00:12:40.860
 Christ died for our sins

00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:41.520
 in accordance with

00:12:41.520 --> 00:12:41.940
 the Scriptures.

00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:42.759
 He was buried.

00:12:43.280 --> 00:12:44.060
 He was raised

00:12:44.060 --> 00:12:44.759
 in accordance with

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.160
 the Scriptures

00:12:45.160 --> 00:12:46.140
 and then he appeared.

00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:47.100
 So,

00:12:47.160 --> 00:12:48.920
 there's four sections.

00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:50.340
 There's a symmetry

00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:50.780
 to it.

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.720
 It's easy to remember.

00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:52.399
 Right?

00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:52.840
 In accordance

00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:53.399
 with the Scriptures.

00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:53.759
 In accordance

00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:54.240
 with the Scriptures,

00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:56.560
 there's a rhythm to it.

00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:57.519
 It's very simple.

00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:58.019
 Right?

00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:58.480
 Paul says,

00:12:58.560 --> 00:12:59.580
 this is the core.

00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:03.300
 And this message

00:13:03.300 --> 00:13:04.120
 that Paul's quoting

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.240
 goes back to the earliest

00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:06.500
 days of the Christian movement.

00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:06.840
 So,

00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:09.120
 just let me give you

00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:09.460
 a little bit

00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:11.060
 of the background here.

00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:12.259
 1 Corinthians is written

00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:14.340
 sometime between 52

00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:16.240
 and 55 A.D.

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:17.820
 That would be about

00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:19.180
 20 to 25 years

00:13:19.180 --> 00:13:20.740
 after Jesus was crucified

00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:22.300
 under Pontius Pilate.

00:13:22.360 --> 00:13:23.879
 Either 30 or 33 A.D.

00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.759
 was when that happened.

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.680
 But Paul says,

00:13:26.780 --> 00:13:27.960
 I delivered this to you.

00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:28.800
 That means

00:13:28.800 --> 00:13:30.080
 he taught it to them

00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:31.220
 when he was there

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:31.720
 with them,

00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.259
 which was back in A.D. 50

00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:34.240
 a few years earlier.

00:13:35.259 --> 00:13:36.000
 And then Paul said,

00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:36.620
 before that,

00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:37.720
 I received this.

00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:38.879
 You might think,

00:13:38.940 --> 00:13:39.000
 well,

00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:40.300
 where did Paul receive this?

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:41.580
 Right?

00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.900
 Where would he have received

00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:43.819
 this sort of summary

00:13:43.819 --> 00:13:45.220
 of the Christian faith

00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:46.779
 from someone else

00:13:46.779 --> 00:13:48.579
 or some other group

00:13:48.579 --> 00:13:49.000
 of Christians?

00:13:49.179 --> 00:13:49.399
 Well,

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:51.279
 in Galatians 1,

00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:53.360
 one of Paul's earliest letters,

00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:54.039
 he says,

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:55.519
 three years after

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:57.059
 he came to faith in Jesus,

00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:58.199
 he went up to Jerusalem

00:13:58.199 --> 00:14:00.879
 to visit James

00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.539
 and Peter

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.459
 or Cephas,

00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:04.480
 both of whom

00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.659
 are prominently mentioned

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:07.240
 in this list of people

00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:08.039
 Jesus appeared to.

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:08.840
 Take note.

00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:10.600
 That would have been back

00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.879
 in the mid to late 30s A.D.

00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:14.679
 Most likely,

00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:15.500
 that's when and where

00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.600
 Paul received this summary

00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:17.579
 of Christian beliefs.

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:18.159
 Now,

00:14:18.199 --> 00:14:19.100
 other scholars suggest

00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.740
 he might have got it

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:21.179
 at Antioch or Damascus.

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:21.799
 That was basically

00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:22.639
 around the same time.

00:14:23.079 --> 00:14:23.240
 Now,

00:14:23.299 --> 00:14:23.840
 here's the point.

00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:26.019
 Paul is quoting something here

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:27.439
 that goes back to

00:14:27.439 --> 00:14:29.699
 within five to ten years

00:14:29.699 --> 00:14:31.079
 of Jesus' death

00:14:31.079 --> 00:14:31.720
 and resurrection.

00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:33.779
 And by then,

00:14:34.459 --> 00:14:35.220
 this was such

00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.399
 an established belief

00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:37.360
 in the Christian community,

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:38.039
 he could say,

00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.899
 this is what we believe.

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:41.120
 This is the package.

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.500
 It wasn't somebody's

00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.340
 new idea then.

00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:45.740
 It was already

00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.960
 a settled consensus.

00:14:48.220 --> 00:14:48.600
 Now,

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:49.080
 here's the point

00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:50.379
 about all this chronology.

00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:52.159
 If you read about,

00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:53.179
 if you go on Wikipedia,

00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:54.460
 right,

00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:55.580
 the fount of all knowledge,

00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:56.560
 right,

00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.940
 and you read about

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.960
 early Christianity,

00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.340
 or even if you read

00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:00.940
 some books

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:01.639
 by scholars

00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.580
 with PhDs

00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:02.980
 from Yale

00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:03.759
 and other places,

00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:05.620
 some of them will say

00:15:05.620 --> 00:15:08.039
 the early Jesus movement

00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.219
 didn't believe

00:15:09.219 --> 00:15:10.459
 in the bodily resurrection

00:15:10.459 --> 00:15:11.019
 of Jesus

00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:12.980
 and didn't believe

00:15:12.980 --> 00:15:14.299
 that Jesus' death

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.719
 was an atoning sacrifice,

00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:17.919
 they only expected

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.099
 his imminent return

00:15:19.099 --> 00:15:19.719
 as king.

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.279
 And later on,

00:15:21.339 --> 00:15:22.279
 when he didn't return

00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.579
 as soon as they hoped for,

00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:25.240
 then they came up

00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.599
 with these other ideas

00:15:26.599 --> 00:15:28.179
 to give meaning

00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:30.439
 to what had happened.

00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:32.780
 Well,

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.680
 there are many problems

00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:34.320
 with this view.

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:35.860
 One problem

00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:37.080
 is it simply doesn't fit

00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:38.140
 any of the evidence

00:15:38.140 --> 00:15:39.400
 that we have

00:15:39.400 --> 00:15:40.620
 for what the earliest Christians

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:41.700
 actually believed.

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:42.940
 Right?

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:44.140
 This is one of the earliest

00:15:44.140 --> 00:15:46.400
 Christian creeds.

00:15:46.660 --> 00:15:46.760
 Right?

00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:47.960
 It's in one of Paul's

00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:49.060
 relatively early letters,

00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.060
 and it's something

00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:51.160
 that he delivered,

00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:51.900
 had received,

00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.680
 and had previously

00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:53.480
 become a consensus.

00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:55.420
 That's going three steps back,

00:15:55.620 --> 00:15:56.540
 pretty far back.

00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:59.820
 And this affirms

00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:01.340
 the atoning death

00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:02.180
 of Jesus, right?

00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.260
 He died for our sins

00:16:03.260 --> 00:16:04.060
 as a sacrifice,

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:06.600
 and he was buried

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.680
 and he was raised.

00:16:07.760 --> 00:16:08.400
 In other words,

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.740
 he ain't still in the tomb.

00:16:10.400 --> 00:16:11.080
 Because you don't say

00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:11.780
 he was buried

00:16:11.780 --> 00:16:13.140
 and then he was raised

00:16:13.140 --> 00:16:14.160
 if his body's still there

00:16:14.160 --> 00:16:14.600
 in the tomb.

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:16.820
 So,

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.320
 and the other time

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.060
 in 1 Corinthians,

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:19.680
 Paul quotes

00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.600
 an early Christian creed

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:21.580
 one other time

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.680
 in chapter 8,

00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:23.300
 verse 6,

00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:24.820
 and it refers to Jesus

00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:26.100
 as God,

00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:27.560
 the Lord,

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:29.400
 from whom are all things.

00:16:29.820 --> 00:16:31.640
 So,

00:16:31.780 --> 00:16:33.140
 these are not beliefs

00:16:33.140 --> 00:16:33.879
 that Paul

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.540
 or Mark

00:16:34.540 --> 00:16:35.140
 or Luke

00:16:35.140 --> 00:16:36.020
 developed

00:16:36.020 --> 00:16:37.480
 a couple of decades

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.500
 after the facts.

00:16:39.020 --> 00:16:39.500
 This is what

00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:40.560
 the earliest Christians

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:42.180
 consistently believed

00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:42.920
 and proclaimed.

00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:44.060
 Right?

00:16:44.120 --> 00:16:44.860
 All the way back

00:16:44.860 --> 00:16:45.660
 to the apostles

00:16:45.660 --> 00:16:46.520
 in Jerusalem

00:16:46.520 --> 00:16:47.720
 where Jesus lived

00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:48.460
 and died

00:16:48.460 --> 00:16:49.379
 and was raised.

00:16:50.520 --> 00:16:50.660
 So,

00:16:50.760 --> 00:16:51.960
 you can be confident

00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:53.240
 that there's reasons

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.120
 to believe this.

00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:55.500
 And this wasn't

00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.040
 just something

00:16:56.040 --> 00:16:56.760
 that some people

00:16:56.760 --> 00:16:57.560
 sort of cooked up

00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:58.579
 later on

00:16:58.579 --> 00:16:59.579
 or developed

00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:00.179
 somewhere

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:01.199
 long ago

00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:01.879
 and far away

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.339
 from what had

00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:03.039
 actually happened.

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.599
 This is what

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.220
 Christians have

00:17:07.220 --> 00:17:08.500
 believed and proclaimed

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:09.559
 from the first.

00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.579
 And Paul makes

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.059
 the point

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:13.700
 that this wasn't

00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.259
 an accident

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.960
 what had happened,

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:15.759
 that it happened

00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.099
 according to

00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:17.940
 the scriptures.

00:17:19.159 --> 00:17:19.539
 That is,

00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:20.319
 according to

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.599
 the story

00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:22.200
 of the old,

00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.799
 in fulfillment

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.799
 of the Old Testament

00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.679
 story.

00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:27.200
 Paul says,

00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:27.860
 Christ died

00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:28.700
 for our sins

00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:30.220
 according to

00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:30.700
 the scriptures.

00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:31.279
 You might say,

00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:31.440
 well,

00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:32.259
 where does it say

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.500
 in the Old Testament?

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.120
 That's the scriptures

00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:36.180
 Paul would be referring to.

00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:36.799
 Where does it say

00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:37.519
 in the Old Testament

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.759
 that Christ,

00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.340
 the Messiah,

00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:40.000
 would die

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.539
 for people's sins?

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:42.740
 Well,

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.779
 one place it says it

00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:45.120
 is in Isaiah 53.

00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:46.740
 You can read

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.299
 that chapter.

00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:47.799
 It talks about

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.900
 the suffering servant.

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:50.840
 One verse in it

00:17:50.840 --> 00:17:51.080
 says,

00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:51.860
 all we,

00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:52.940
 like sheep,

00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.860
 have gone astray.

00:17:53.859 --> 00:17:55.439
 Each of us

00:17:55.439 --> 00:17:55.859
 has turned

00:17:55.859 --> 00:17:56.659
 to his own way.

00:17:57.439 --> 00:17:58.039
 And the Lord

00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:58.879
 has laid on him,

00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:00.939
 on this suffering servant,

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.559
 the iniquity,

00:18:01.659 --> 00:18:02.559
 the sin of us all.

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.399
 But you know,

00:18:04.439 --> 00:18:05.199
 it wasn't just a few

00:18:05.199 --> 00:18:06.439
 isolated prophecies

00:18:06.439 --> 00:18:07.539
 Paul's referring to.

00:18:08.199 --> 00:18:09.019
 This is a theme

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.439
 that runs through

00:18:09.439 --> 00:18:10.559
 the whole Old Testament.

00:18:12.579 --> 00:18:14.299
 That humanity

00:18:14.299 --> 00:18:15.079
 as a whole

00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:16.519
 and God's people

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.339
 included

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.279
 have fallen

00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:18.959
 into sin.

00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.259
 That is,

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:19.539
 we've

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:21.119
 turned,

00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:22.059
 we don't want

00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.000
 God to be in charge

00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.779
 and everything

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.599
 is falling apart.

00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.880
 And the result

00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:28.359
 of that sin

00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:29.339
 is ultimately death.

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.440
 Physical,

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.000
 spiritual,

00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.460
 all kinds of other ways.

00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:34.480
 But,

00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.460
 there's a promise

00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:36.240
 that one day

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:36.839
 God would deal

00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.359
 with sin

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.940
 and conquer death.

00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:40.279
 Right?

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.579
 It goes through

00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.259
 the whole Old Testament.

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:41.759
 So,

00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:42.759
 story of Adam and Eve

00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:43.700
 right at the beginning.

00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:45.599
 What happens?

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.900
 They disobey

00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:47.559
 God's command.

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.279
 They're prohibited

00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:48.759
 from eating

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.680
 of the tree of life.

00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:51.519
 But,

00:18:51.560 --> 00:18:52.200
 they're promised

00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.019
 one day

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.900
 the seed of the woman

00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:54.560
 will crush

00:18:54.560 --> 00:18:55.720
 the serpent's head.

00:18:56.600 --> 00:18:57.460
 Will defeat

00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.240
 the enemy.

00:18:59.440 --> 00:18:59.900
 Then you have

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.660
 the story of Abraham.

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.060
 Right?

00:19:01.120 --> 00:19:02.060
 Abraham and Isaac.

00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.580
 A haunting story

00:19:04.580 --> 00:19:05.019
 that sort of

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:05.640
 hangs over

00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.779
 the whole Old Testament

00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.220
 when he

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.519
 is called to offer

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.720
 his one and only son

00:19:09.720 --> 00:19:11.080
 as a burnt offering.

00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:12.700
 But then he's rescued

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:14.220
 at the last moment

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.720
 by God's provision

00:19:15.720 --> 00:19:17.000
 of a substitute sacrifice.

00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.920
 And then you read

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.420
 the laws

00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:20.119
 and they have

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:21.099
 all these laws

00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:22.400
 about all the ways

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:23.660
 you become unclean.

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.839
 Sort of reminds you

00:19:24.839 --> 00:19:27.279
 all the stuff,

00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.039
 all the junk

00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:29.099
 that's in the world

00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.920
 and in our hearts

00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.000
 and all the ways

00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:31.599
 that we can become

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.059
 unclean before a holy God

00:19:33.059 --> 00:19:34.460
 and then all the remedies.

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.099
 But then there's

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:35.720
 one chapter

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:36.720
 in the middle of Leviticus

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.259
 that says

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:38.539
 once a year

00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:41.740
 on the day of atonement

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:43.079
 the people of Israel

00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:43.859
 can be cleansed

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:45.059
 from all their sins.

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.519
 And you think,

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:48.019
 well, what's going on here?

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.160
 Right?

00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:50.379
 It's sort of,

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.259
 it's looking forward

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.379
 and the prophets,

00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.639
 Zachariah said,

00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.339
 one day

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:56.740
 the Lord will remove

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.559
 the iniquity

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.579
 of the whole land

00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:00.220
 in a single day.

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.180
 All right?

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:02.579
 So there's a,

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.019
 there's,

00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.319
 you see the problem

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:06.160
 and you see a promised solution

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.379
 which hasn't come yet.

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.779
 The problem of sin and death

00:20:08.779 --> 00:20:10.119
 and a promised solution

00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:11.339
 which God says

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.420
 it's coming one day.

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.000
 You see that

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.859
 throughout the whole Old Testament

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.479
 Paul says

00:20:16.479 --> 00:20:18.179
 that's why Jesus came

00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:18.899
 into the world.

00:20:19.699 --> 00:20:21.859
 To reconcile us to God.

00:20:21.939 --> 00:20:23.219
 To pay for our sins.

00:20:28.219 --> 00:20:29.759
 That's why Christ died

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.219
 for our sins

00:20:30.219 --> 00:20:31.219
 according to the scriptures.

00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.319
 If you have younger kids

00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:35.279
 there's a great children's book

00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.679
 that puts

00:20:36.679 --> 00:20:37.679
 the sacrifice,

00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:39.339
 the sacrificial death

00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:39.799
 of Jesus

00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:41.119
 in the context

00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.679
 of the story

00:20:41.679 --> 00:20:42.319
 of the whole Bible.

00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:42.679
 It's called

00:20:42.679 --> 00:20:43.179
 The Garden,

00:20:43.679 --> 00:20:44.299
 The Curtain,

00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.240
 and The Cross.

00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:46.939
 It's a great book

00:20:46.939 --> 00:20:47.740
 if,

00:20:47.899 --> 00:20:49.480
 if I highly recommend it

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.759
 and,

00:20:50.919 --> 00:20:51.799
 and it's one of those books

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:52.559
 that if you read it

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.139
 as an adult

00:20:53.139 --> 00:20:53.879
 it's like wow

00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.679
 that was a really good

00:20:54.679 --> 00:20:55.159
 children's book

00:20:55.159 --> 00:20:56.139
 because it's,

00:20:56.439 --> 00:20:57.399
 it spoke to me too.

00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:57.879
 Right?

00:20:59.319 --> 00:20:59.720
 And,

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.359
 anyway,

00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:01.240
 so I recommend that.

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:03.279
 So Christ died for our sins

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.079
 according to the scriptures.

00:21:04.399 --> 00:21:04.899
 But second,

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:05.419
 Paul says,

00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.579
 Christ was raised

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.460
 on the third day

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.359
 according to the scriptures.

00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:08.779
 And again,

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.460
 you might say,

00:21:09.460 --> 00:21:10.880
 and some people have asked,

00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.420
 well where in the Bible

00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:13.279
 does it say

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.799
 that the Messiah

00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:15.420
 will be raised

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:15.840
 from the dead

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.680
 on the third day?

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.640
 Well,

00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:19.980
 again,

00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:20.440
 interesting,

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.640
 it's not just one verse,

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:21.960
 it's,

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:22.759
 there's a pattern

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.680
 in the Old Testament

00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.380
 that very often

00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:27.000
 God's saving intervention

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.039
 happens

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.640
 on the third day.

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.640
 So when Abraham

00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:33.500
 takes Isaac up the mountain,

00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:35.740
 it's on the third day

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.660
 when the,

00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:38.140
 when,

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.279
 when,

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.460
 when he sees

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.940
 the animal

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.539
 and the thicket

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.660
 and his son

00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:43.460
 is saved from death.

00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:45.579
 And Exodus 19,

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:46.620
 it's on the third day

00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:48.339
 when God comes down

00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.160
 on Mount Sinai

00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:49.720
 in glory.

00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:51.660
 The story of Jonah,

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.599
 it's on the third day

00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:54.160
 when he's rescued

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.000
 from the belly

00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:55.620
 of the fish.

00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.720
 Hosea chapter 6,

00:21:58.819 --> 00:21:59.079
 again,

00:21:59.220 --> 00:21:59.859
 one of the prophets

00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:00.420
 says,

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:01.779
 after two days

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.660
 he will revive us

00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.640
 on the third day.

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.819
 He will raise us up.

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.799
 So the third day

00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:07.319
 represents

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.740
 completeness

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.939
 or finality.

00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:12.319
 God's saving intervention.

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.619
 God's gonna come

00:22:14.619 --> 00:22:15.759
 and rescue you

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.960
 on the third day.

00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.679
 You see that

00:22:18.679 --> 00:22:19.559
 throughout the Old Testament

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.379
 and Paul says,

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.659
 don't you see?

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.379
 That's exactly

00:22:23.379 --> 00:22:24.179
 what just happened

00:22:24.179 --> 00:22:25.299
 in the resurrection

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:25.740
 of Jesus.

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.960
 Nobody put it all together

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.679
 beforehand.

00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:28.980
 Right?

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.740
 Nobody could see

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.759
 exactly where the story

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.259
 was leading.

00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.619
 Nobody expected

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.559
 Jesus to be raised

00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:35.119
 on the third day

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:35.460
 even though

00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:36.179
 he said he would.

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.879
 But when you look back

00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:39.319
 you say,

00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:40.679
 oh,

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:41.899
 it makes sense.

00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.259
 The pieces fit together.

00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.720
 Now Paul reminds us

00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:50.179
 verse 5 through 7,

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:52.200
 there were several witnesses

00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:53.940
 to Jesus' resurrection.

00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:55.319
 Again,

00:22:55.379 --> 00:22:56.159
 he's reminding them.

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.059
 This isn't just something

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.659
 I said.

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.119
 There's other witnesses too.

00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.159
 So he mentions Peter

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:01.259
 or Cephas.

00:23:02.040 --> 00:23:03.300
 Cephas is just the Greek word

00:23:03.300 --> 00:23:04.040
 that means rock

00:23:04.040 --> 00:23:05.759
 or maybe it's the Hebrew.

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.200
 I don't know.

00:23:06.340 --> 00:23:07.100
 It's one language

00:23:07.100 --> 00:23:08.080
 and Peter's the other language.

00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.019
 I don't remember which language.

00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:10.259
 But they both mean rock

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:12.440
 and he went by both names.

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:12.980
 Right?

00:23:13.060 --> 00:23:13.480
 But Peter

00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:15.600
 and then James.

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.980
 This is not James the apostle

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:19.060
 but James the half-brother

00:23:19.060 --> 00:23:19.680
 of Jesus.

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:20.900
 The younger brother

00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:21.540
 of Jesus

00:23:21.540 --> 00:23:24.740
 who had become

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.779
 the leader of the church

00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:26.340
 in Jerusalem

00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.779
 and Paul.

00:23:29.139 --> 00:23:29.819
 Now if you notice

00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:31.039
 all three of these

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:35.240
 Peter had denied Jesus publicly.

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.619
 It says James

00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:38.539
 and Jesus' other siblings

00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.639
 didn't believe in him

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.899
 during his earthly ministry

00:23:40.899 --> 00:23:43.179
 and Paul had persecuted the church.

00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:44.319
 So Jesus didn't just appear

00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.759
 to his most loyal supporters.

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.720
 Right?

00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.699
 Like John the apostle

00:23:48.699 --> 00:23:49.480
 and the women

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:51.439
 who stood around the cross

00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:52.659
 and went to the tomb.

00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:53.459
 Right?

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.839
 They were his most loyal supporters

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:56.119
 but Jesus didn't just appear

00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:56.619
 to them.

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.099
 He also appeared

00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.859
 to people who were

00:23:58.859 --> 00:24:00.559
 who had failed him

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:02.159
 and who were against him

00:24:02.159 --> 00:24:03.019
 and who were skeptical.

00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.519
 And that's another reason

00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:07.199
 why we can be confident

00:24:07.199 --> 00:24:08.739
 these are credible witnesses.

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.239
 They weren't exactly

00:24:10.239 --> 00:24:11.219
 the most likely people

00:24:11.219 --> 00:24:12.059
 to believe this stuff

00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.659
 on their own.

00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:15.239
 So Jesus

00:24:15.239 --> 00:24:17.579
 appeared to individuals.

00:24:17.719 --> 00:24:18.619
 He also appeared to groups.

00:24:18.699 --> 00:24:19.500
 The twelve disciples.

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.899
 Paul mentions all the apostles.

00:24:21.139 --> 00:24:21.899
 Perhaps that includes

00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:22.399
 some others

00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:23.359
 who had accompanied Jesus

00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.239
 besides the twelve.

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.939
 More than five hundred brothers

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.519
 and sisters.

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:28.340
 Perhaps that's when

00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:30.900
 what Matthew recorded

00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.820
 in chapter 28

00:24:31.820 --> 00:24:33.080
 when Jesus gave

00:24:33.080 --> 00:24:33.740
 the Great Commission.

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:34.980
 Paul says

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.900
 most of them are still alive.

00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:36.320
 In other words

00:24:36.320 --> 00:24:37.140
 ask them if you want.

00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:39.600
 So what do we take

00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.460
 from this first point?

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.440
 Besides the fact

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.220
 that I need a drink of water

00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:44.680
 just a second.

00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:50.340
 What do we take

00:24:50.340 --> 00:24:51.019
 from this first point?

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.559
 Well during

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.819
 during my sophomore

00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.920
 and junior year in college

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:56.200
 I wrestled with a number

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.339
 of doubts about Christianity.

00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:58.660
 And there were

00:24:58.660 --> 00:25:00.059
 a few Christian doctrines

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.779
 that I just

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:02.259
 really struggled

00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:02.980
 to figure out

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.279
 how do they all make sense?

00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.099
 How can these

00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.700
 all be true

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.420
 at the same time

00:25:06.420 --> 00:25:07.579
 and all make sense together?

00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:10.500
 Thinking about questions

00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.700
 that I didn't have

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.480
 complete answers to.

00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.079
 What about people

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:14.480
 who've never heard of Jesus?

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.680
 How is God sovereign

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.519
 over everything?

00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.220
 And we have

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.819
 meaningful human responsibility

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.740
 in a world of evil

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.279
 and suffering.

00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.639
 And I spent hours

00:25:22.639 --> 00:25:23.779
 thinking about these questions.

00:25:23.879 --> 00:25:25.000
 I spent sleepless nights

00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:26.500
 pondering and thinking

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.079
 I was probably

00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.639
 the only one

00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:28.480
 who spent sleepless nights

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.519
 pondering these questions.

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:31.099
 But then I would come back

00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:32.240
 to passages like these.

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.500
 Christ died for our sins.

00:25:35.139 --> 00:25:35.839
 He was buried.

00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.160
 He was raised.

00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:37.980
 He appeared.

00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:40.019
 And I was like

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.619
 I can't deny this.

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.799
 You know whatever else

00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:45.400
 doesn't quite make sense

00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:46.000
 in your mind.

00:25:46.119 --> 00:25:46.639
 Whatever else

00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.620
 you're wrestling with

00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.380
 or doubting.

00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:50.140
 Whatever other teachings

00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.740
 in the Bible

00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.720
 you struggle with.

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:54.000
 Come back to this.

00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:56.340
 And look at

00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:58.020
 the people Jesus appeared to.

00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:58.440
 Look at

00:25:58.440 --> 00:26:00.740
 this is the core message

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.280
 of Christianity.

00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.180
 Everything else

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:03.420
 will only make sense

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:05.680
 if you start here.

00:26:07.020 --> 00:26:07.500
 Right?

00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:08.680
 This is the foundation.

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.680
 You can build

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.360
 the rest of the house

00:26:10.360 --> 00:26:11.000
 after you have

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.560
 the foundation.

00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:13.540
 And I looked into

00:26:13.540 --> 00:26:14.680
 the alternate explanations

00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:16.600
 that skeptical historians

00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:16.980
 offered.

00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:17.640
 None of them

00:26:17.640 --> 00:26:19.060
 were ultimately convincing.

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.860
 So let me encourage

00:26:19.860 --> 00:26:20.700
 if you're having doubts

00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.779
 this is the anchor

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.880
 that you can hold on to.

00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.500
 The central reality

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.080
 of the scriptures.

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:25.920
 The heart

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:27.180
 of the Christian faith.

00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:28.960
 The bodily resurrection

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.440
 of Jesus.

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.539
 So that's the first thing

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.500
 Paul wants us

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:33.240
 to be anchored in.

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:35.039
 The historical reality

00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.640
 of Jesus' resurrection.

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.580
 Second point.

00:26:39.960 --> 00:26:41.160
 The present reality

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:42.580
 of his transforming grace.

00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:46.240
 Now there's a connection

00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.359
 between these two points.

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.039
 Jesus' resurrection

00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:51.500
 and Jesus' transforming grace.

00:26:52.159 --> 00:26:52.839
 Paul doesn't make it

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.539
 explicit here

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.259
 but he does

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.359
 in some of his other letters.

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.099
 So Romans 8

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:58.379
 Paul says

00:26:58.379 --> 00:27:00.500
 he who raised Christ Jesus

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.259
 from the dead

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:03.259
 will also give life

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:05.460
 to your mortal bodies

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:06.859
 through his spirit

00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:08.220
 who dwells in you.

00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:10.439
 In Ephesians 1

00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:11.139
 Paul speaks about

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.280
 the immeasurable greatness

00:27:12.280 --> 00:27:13.100
 of God's power

00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:14.540
 toward us who believe

00:27:14.540 --> 00:27:16.720
 according to the working

00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.720
 of his great might

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.840
 that he worked in Christ

00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:19.520
 when he raised him

00:27:19.520 --> 00:27:20.020
 from the dead.

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:20.740
 In other words

00:27:20.740 --> 00:27:22.180
 the same power of God

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:24.020
 that raised Jesus

00:27:24.020 --> 00:27:24.660
 from the dead

00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:27.300
 is at work within us.

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:28.920
 Transforming us

00:27:28.920 --> 00:27:30.620
 by his mercy and grace.

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:33.220
 I mean just consider

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:34.759
 the three people

00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:35.860
 Paul mentions by name.

00:27:37.320 --> 00:27:38.060
 Think about Peter.

00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.179
 Peter.

00:27:39.359 --> 00:27:40.059
 I mean Peter

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:40.460
 was a guy

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.259
 who talked smack

00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:42.399
 and then he didn't

00:27:42.399 --> 00:27:43.079
 do what he said.

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:44.359
 Right?

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.399
 He didn't always

00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:46.259
 live up to his talk.

00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.500
 He said to Jesus

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.460
 I'll stand by you

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.319
 I'll die for you

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.279
 even if everybody else

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:50.839
 abandons you

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.859
 I'll be there with you.

00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:52.819
 And then that night

00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.619
 he denied Jesus

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:54.339
 three times.

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:56.940
 But Jesus appeared

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:57.359
 to him

00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:59.619
 in particular

00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:01.879
 alone

00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.700
 not just with all

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.220
 the other people

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:03.659
 in a group

00:28:03.659 --> 00:28:04.720
 but him.

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.220
 and then Jesus

00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.200
 talked to him

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:09.240
 in John chapter 21

00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.720
 he brought him

00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.400
 face to face

00:28:10.400 --> 00:28:11.420
 with his past failure

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:13.200
 and he said to Peter

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:13.559
 come

00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:14.740
 you follow me

00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.980
 I have a plan

00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:16.640
 for your future

00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:17.339
 I'm not done

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:17.980
 with you yet.

00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.400
 And so Peter

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.160
 became a powerful

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.579
 preacher

00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.779
 and evangelist

00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.559
 and writer

00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:24.460
 of two New Testament

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:24.920
 epistles.

00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:27.259
 Then you have James

00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:29.500
 Jesus' younger brother.

00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:30.980
 I mean imagine

00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.960
 being Jesus'

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.519
 younger brother

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:34.240
 seemed like he had

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.539
 a few

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:36.119
 from the reference

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.980
 in Mark chapter 6

00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:38.279
 but it says

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.440
 in the gospels

00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:40.980
 John chapter 7

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.399
 verse 5

00:28:41.399 --> 00:28:42.180
 says even Jesus'

00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:42.859
 own brothers

00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:43.579
 did not believe

00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:43.960
 in him.

00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:47.000
 And at one point

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.180
 Mark chapter 3

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.039
 it says his family

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:50.019
 went to take charge

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.339
 of him

00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:51.180
 or to seize him

00:28:51.180 --> 00:28:51.740
 because they were

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.659
 saying to each other

00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:54.180
 he's out of his mind.

00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:55.839
 Right?

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.059
 In other words

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.200
 they wanted to commit him.

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:58.879
 Right?

00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.599
 It wasn't such a thing

00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:01.259
 as a psych hospital

00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:01.700
 back then

00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.819
 but they were like

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.859
 he's crazy.

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:08.319
 But then what happens

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:08.759
 to James

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:10.220
 after the resurrection?

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.299
 He becomes

00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:13.399
 a respected

00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:14.519
 and courageous

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.440
 leader of the

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.200
 Christian church

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.339
 in Jerusalem.

00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:17.539
 Right?

00:29:18.899 --> 00:29:19.399
 One who had

00:29:19.399 --> 00:29:21.680
 in his skepticism

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.539
 and cynicism

00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.759
 had dismissed Jesus

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:25.559
 and thought

00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.720
 no he can't be.

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:29.079
 He becomes convinced

00:29:29.079 --> 00:29:30.740
 and he

00:29:30.740 --> 00:29:31.439
 again

00:29:31.439 --> 00:29:32.240
 he wrote

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.379
 a New Testament book

00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:34.259
 the epistle of James

00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:37.279
 and at the council

00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.899
 in Jerusalem

00:29:37.899 --> 00:29:39.439
 in Acts chapter 15

00:29:39.439 --> 00:29:39.980
 which was sort of

00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.980
 a crucial turning point

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.500
 for the church

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.079
 he's the one

00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:42.899
 who stands up

00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:44.199
 just at the right time

00:29:44.199 --> 00:29:44.960
 and says exactly

00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.939
 what needed to be said

00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:47.559
 and people say

00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.699
 yes that's right.

00:29:50.179 --> 00:29:50.919
 So there's Peter

00:29:50.919 --> 00:29:51.720
 James

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.819
 and then Paul.

00:29:53.980 --> 00:29:54.079
 Right?

00:29:54.179 --> 00:29:54.799
 Paul hadn't just

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.519
 denied Jesus

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.639
 by his words

00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.440
 or been skeptical

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.020
 of him.

00:29:58.860 --> 00:29:59.580
 Paul had actively

00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:00.259
 persecuted

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.160
 Jesus' followers

00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:01.800
 violently

00:30:01.800 --> 00:30:03.860
 and Paul doesn't

00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.420
 try to hide

00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:05.020
 that aspect

00:30:05.020 --> 00:30:05.840
 of his past.

00:30:07.060 --> 00:30:07.759
 He doesn't try

00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:08.259
 to sweep it

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.920
 under the rug

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:10.660
 and hope nobody

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.420
 figures it out.

00:30:12.580 --> 00:30:13.460
 He confesses

00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:13.940
 and freely

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.600
 in verse 9

00:30:14.600 --> 00:30:14.840
 he says

00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.360
 I'm the least

00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:15.960
 of the apostles

00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.840
 I don't deserve

00:30:16.840 --> 00:30:18.780
 to be an apostle

00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:21.539
 because I persecuted

00:30:21.539 --> 00:30:22.799
 the church of God.

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:25.319
 Paul didn't put

00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:25.960
 on a mask

00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:27.599
 of self-reliance

00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:29.059
 and flawlessness

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.680
 he knew

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:31.359
 that he was a sinner

00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:32.899
 saved by God's grace.

00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:33.980
 He said

00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.579
 it's only

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:36.039
 by the grace of God

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.819
 that I am

00:30:36.819 --> 00:30:38.099
 what I am.

00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:42.480
 You know this week

00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:42.799
 I was

00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:44.279
 this week I was

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.200
 talking with Pastor Nick

00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:47.059
 and we were reminiscing

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:48.339
 about our brother

00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:49.299
 Randall Perkins

00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:50.440
 who recently passed away

00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:52.119
 and Nick said

00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:52.519
 I remember

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.399
 several years ago

00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:54.559
 I was teaching

00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.220
 Sunday school

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:57.240
 and Randall piped up

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.639
 and said

00:30:57.639 --> 00:30:59.379
 wasn't there a guy

00:30:59.379 --> 00:30:59.940
 in the Bible

00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.500
 who was a murderer

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:03.220
 and killed Christians

00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:04.339
 and then God

00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:05.039
 forgave him

00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:06.460
 and Nick said

00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:06.980
 that's right

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:08.200
 it was the apostle Paul

00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.899
 and Randall said

00:31:09.899 --> 00:31:11.480
 well if God

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.419
 can forgive him

00:31:12.419 --> 00:31:14.240
 then he can forgive me

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:16.899
 and that's exactly

00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:17.480
 the point

00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:19.440
 Randall wasn't

00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:19.780
 a murderer

00:31:19.780 --> 00:31:20.320
 by the way

00:31:20.320 --> 00:31:22.120
 don't get a misconception

00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:22.660
 here

00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:25.600
 but God

00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:26.759
 can forgive

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:28.060
 anyone

00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:30.519
 whatever their past

00:31:30.519 --> 00:31:31.820
 whatever your past

00:31:31.820 --> 00:31:32.380
 includes

00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:37.100
 now it seems

00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:37.660
 that some people

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.160
 in Corinth

00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:38.860
 were questioning

00:31:38.860 --> 00:31:39.500
 Paul

00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:41.000
 questioning his

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:42.019
 credentials as an apostle

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.600
 not just because

00:31:43.600 --> 00:31:44.180
 of his past

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:44.680
 but also because

00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:45.120
 he didn't seem

00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:45.640
 that impressive

00:31:45.640 --> 00:31:46.220
 in the present

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.940
 you know

00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:49.040
 the New Testament

00:31:49.040 --> 00:31:49.900
 doesn't describe

00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:50.860
 what Paul looked like

00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:51.960
 but there's a

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:53.020
 second century document

00:31:53.020 --> 00:31:54.600
 that describes Paul

00:31:54.600 --> 00:31:55.140
 this way

00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:56.960
 small in size

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:58.280
 bald headed

00:31:58.280 --> 00:31:59.520
 bow legged

00:31:59.520 --> 00:32:00.640
 well built

00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:02.259
 with eyebrows that met

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.160
 got a unibrow

00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:04.720
 and rather long nosed

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:06.780
 if this is accurate

00:32:06.780 --> 00:32:09.080
 we don't know if it is

00:32:09.080 --> 00:32:10.440
 but it very well could be

00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.420
 Paul didn't exactly

00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:12.320
 have the most impressive

00:32:12.320 --> 00:32:12.820
 physique

00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:14.740
 by ancient standards

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:17.439
 and in verse 8

00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:18.339
 Paul refers to himself

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:20.079
 as one untimely born

00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.579
 that was actually a word

00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:22.480
 that was sometimes used

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.879
 as a derogatory insult

00:32:23.879 --> 00:32:25.439
 sometimes it referred

00:32:25.439 --> 00:32:26.839
 to someone born prematurely

00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:28.079
 or even born

00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:28.700
 as a result

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.679
 of a failed abortion

00:32:29.679 --> 00:32:31.200
 and someone who might

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:32.039
 have been disfigured

00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.720
 or deformed

00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:33.439
 as a result

00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:35.659
 it was a term

00:32:35.659 --> 00:32:36.319
 that's sort of like

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.159
 the word freak

00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:37.879
 today

00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:40.859
 used in a negative way

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.740
 often about people

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.639
 and some people

00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.299
 might have even

00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:44.439
 used that term

00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:45.539
 to talk about Paul

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.199
 and said this guy's

00:32:46.199 --> 00:32:46.779
 a freak

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:49.099
 he's crazy

00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:50.279
 he's weird

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:51.479
 he's messed up

00:32:51.479 --> 00:32:54.559
 and Paul

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:55.319
 Paul wasn't

00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:56.459
 Paul wasn't fazed

00:32:56.459 --> 00:32:56.879
 by that

00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:57.740
 he said the foundation

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.799
 on which I stand

00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:00.579
 is not my physical

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.199
 appearance

00:33:01.199 --> 00:33:02.659
 it's not

00:33:02.659 --> 00:33:04.219
 my past accomplishments

00:33:04.219 --> 00:33:06.000
 it's by the grace

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.500
 of God

00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:08.500
 he says it's by the grace

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:08.819
 of God

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.519
 I am what I am

00:33:09.519 --> 00:33:10.059
 and so Paul

00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:10.779
 could live

00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:11.339
 with humility

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:12.440
 and with confidence

00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:16.220
 you know

00:33:16.220 --> 00:33:16.579
 maybe you

00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.039
 maybe you're

00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.639
 like Peter

00:33:17.639 --> 00:33:19.639
 maybe you feel

00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:20.019
 insecure

00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.720
 because you can

00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.319
 look back

00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:22.119
 on ways

00:33:22.119 --> 00:33:22.960
 you've screwed up

00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:24.460
 during your time

00:33:24.460 --> 00:33:24.980
 as a follower

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.480
 of Jesus

00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.420
 like Peter could

00:33:26.420 --> 00:33:27.240
 maybe you're

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.900
 like James

00:33:27.900 --> 00:33:28.379
 and you're

00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:29.279
 you have a

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.680
 skeptical

00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.299
 cynical

00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:31.619
 side of you

00:33:31.619 --> 00:33:33.559
 that seems

00:33:33.559 --> 00:33:34.220
 hard to shake

00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:34.579
 maybe you're

00:33:34.579 --> 00:33:35.059
 like Paul

00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.500
 you have a

00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.139
 pre-Christian

00:33:36.139 --> 00:33:36.779
 past

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.720
 that you're

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.500
 deeply ashamed

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:38.920
 of

00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:39.620
 and you

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:39.880
 think

00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:40.420
 if people

00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:40.940
 in the church

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.560
 knew about

00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:42.000
 everything

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.740
 I used

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.220
 to do

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:44.019
 maybe

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.259
 they

00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.580
 wouldn't

00:33:44.580 --> 00:33:45.120
 love me

00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:45.880
 or accept

00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:46.180
 me

00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:47.060
 maybe

00:33:47.060 --> 00:33:47.300
 I

00:33:47.300 --> 00:33:47.519
 wouldn't

00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:47.960
 be welcome

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.220
 here

00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:48.440
 and I

00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:48.640
 wouldn't

00:33:48.640 --> 00:33:48.980
 have

00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.960
 a purpose

00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.259
 here

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:50.800
 anymore

00:33:50.800 --> 00:33:53.100
 you know

00:33:53.100 --> 00:33:53.420
 what this

00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:53.980
 passage says

00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.320
 to you

00:33:54.320 --> 00:33:54.940
 is trust

00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.340
 in

00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:56.400
 the reality

00:33:56.400 --> 00:33:57.000
 of Jesus

00:33:57.000 --> 00:33:57.680
 transforming

00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.500
 grace

00:33:58.500 --> 00:34:00.200
 wherever

00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:00.600
 you're

00:34:00.600 --> 00:34:00.880
 coming

00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:01.320
 from

00:34:01.320 --> 00:34:03.420
 you can

00:34:03.420 --> 00:34:04.060
 be empowered

00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:04.420
 by the

00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:04.980
 Holy Spirit

00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.539
 despite

00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:06.720
 your past

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.339
 failures

00:34:07.339 --> 00:34:09.000
 and

00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:10.239
 whatever

00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:10.699
 you've

00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.300
 accomplished

00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:12.340
 it's

00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:12.699
 interesting

00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.259
 Paul talks

00:34:13.259 --> 00:34:13.659
 about his

00:34:13.659 --> 00:34:14.300
 worst

00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.679
 failures

00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:14.980
 in the

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.300
 past

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:15.800
 and his

00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:16.079
 greatest

00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.579
 accomplishments

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:16.900
 in the

00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:17.159
 present

00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:17.579
 verse 10

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:17.840
 he says

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.179
 I worked

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:18.440
 harder

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:18.759
 than all

00:34:18.759 --> 00:34:19.079
 the rest

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:19.380
 of them

00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:21.079
 and it's

00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.420
 probably

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:21.800
 true

00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.059
 right

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:22.340
 Paul

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:22.800
 planted

00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:23.099
 more

00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:23.539
 churches

00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.420
 in more

00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:24.820
 cities

00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.739
 than anyone

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.279
 else we

00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:26.679
 know of

00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:26.980
 in the

00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:27.259
 ancient

00:34:27.259 --> 00:34:27.619
 world

00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:28.380
 he traveled

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.219
 more miles

00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:30.039
 around the

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:30.519
 Roman Empire

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.099
 than any of

00:34:31.099 --> 00:34:31.400
 the other

00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:31.860
 apostles

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:34.179
 it's true

00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:34.839
 he worked

00:34:34.839 --> 00:34:35.259
 harder than

00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:35.860
 everybody else

00:34:35.860 --> 00:34:36.339
 but then he

00:34:36.339 --> 00:34:36.920
 could say

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:38.559
 it's not

00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:38.940
 I

00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.799
 but the

00:34:39.799 --> 00:34:40.159
 grace of

00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:40.460
 God

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:43.779
 and so

00:34:43.779 --> 00:34:47.159
 if you're

00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.719
 haunted by

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.400
 your failures

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:49.159
 and weaknesses

00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:50.219
 and insecurities

00:34:50.219 --> 00:34:52.019
 you need to be

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:52.659
 encouraged by

00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:53.400
 this passage

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.079
 that God

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:54.759
 can use you

00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.179
 and he can

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:55.779
 transform you

00:34:55.779 --> 00:34:56.440
 by his grace

00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.619
 and it's not

00:34:57.619 --> 00:34:57.779
 too

00:34:57.779 --> 00:34:58.500
 we are past

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.099
 and your present

00:34:59.099 --> 00:34:59.880
 struggles are not

00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.380
 too big for

00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:01.079
 God to handle

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.679
 and if you're

00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:03.860
 really accomplished

00:35:03.860 --> 00:35:04.719
 like Paul

00:35:04.719 --> 00:35:06.360
 if you've

00:35:06.360 --> 00:35:06.819
 succeeded

00:35:06.819 --> 00:35:08.599
 if you've

00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:09.279
 done a lot

00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:10.759
 in the world

00:35:10.759 --> 00:35:11.519
 or in the church

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:13.039
 or if you

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:13.579
 have a high

00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:14.019
 status

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.639
 in one way

00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:14.940
 or other

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.340
 you need to

00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:15.779
 be reminded

00:35:15.779 --> 00:35:16.099
 of what

00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:16.619
 Paul said

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.079
 it's not

00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:17.539
 I

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.079
 but the

00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:18.480
 grace of

00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:18.840
 God

00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.360
 that's

00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:19.880
 within me

00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:20.619
 you know

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:20.920
 if you can

00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:21.500
 look around

00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:22.319
 and honestly

00:35:22.319 --> 00:35:22.840
 like Paul

00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:23.319
 say I

00:35:23.319 --> 00:35:24.019
 worked harder

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:25.480
 than most

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:25.860
 of the people

00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:26.500
 around me

00:35:26.500 --> 00:35:27.440
 can you also

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:27.880
 say

00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:29.319
 but not

00:35:29.319 --> 00:35:29.519
 I

00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:29.819
 yet the

00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:30.139
 grace of

00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.420
 God

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:32.159
 because if

00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:32.480
 you don't

00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:32.880
 say that

00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.079
 you're

00:35:33.079 --> 00:35:33.460
 vulnerable

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:33.980
 to fall

00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:34.579
 into being

00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:35.320
 condescending

00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:36.519
 and arrogant

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.619
 and looking

00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:38.159
 down on other

00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:38.539
 people

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:41.400
 and God's

00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:41.780
 not pleased

00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:42.300
 by that

00:35:42.300 --> 00:35:44.460
 but you see

00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:45.139
 what this message

00:35:45.139 --> 00:35:45.860
 does is it

00:35:45.860 --> 00:35:46.200
 humbles

00:35:46.200 --> 00:35:46.619
 is it

00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.740
 humbles us

00:35:47.740 --> 00:35:48.960
 and it makes

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.539
 us confident

00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:51.440
 it humbles

00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:51.460
 it humbles

00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:51.639
 us

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:52.079
 because it's

00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:52.500
 only by

00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:52.840
 the grace

00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:53.179
 of God

00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:53.480
 that we

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:53.820
 are what

00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.139
 we are

00:35:54.139 --> 00:35:54.480
 and it

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.019
 gives us

00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.440
 confidence

00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.420
 because it's

00:35:56.420 --> 00:35:56.980
 by the grace

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.440
 of God

00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:59.519
 that God

00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.259
 deals with

00:36:00.259 --> 00:36:00.800
 our sin

00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:01.679
 and our

00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.119
 past

00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:03.179
 and he

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:03.480
 gives us

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:03.900
 hope and

00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:04.420
 confidence

00:36:04.420 --> 00:36:05.400
 for our

00:36:05.400 --> 00:36:05.820
 work in the

00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:06.079
 future

00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:06.340
 that he

00:36:06.340 --> 00:36:06.739
 calls us

00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:06.960
 to

00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:08.860
 so that's

00:36:08.860 --> 00:36:09.079
 how we

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.420
 can look

00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:09.739
 forward

00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:10.139
 into the

00:36:10.139 --> 00:36:10.480
 future

00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:12.320
 with humility

00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:13.239
 and with

00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:13.820
 confidence

00:36:13.820 --> 00:36:15.680
 God's done

00:36:15.680 --> 00:36:16.780
 good things

00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:17.320
 among us

00:36:17.320 --> 00:36:17.740
 in the last

00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:18.420
 five years

00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:19.580
 you know

00:36:19.580 --> 00:36:19.920
 as you look

00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:20.080
 through

00:36:20.080 --> 00:36:20.420
 as you

00:36:20.420 --> 00:36:21.019
 think of

00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:21.320
 the past

00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:22.080
 five years

00:36:22.080 --> 00:36:22.519
 in your own

00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:22.740
 life

00:36:22.740 --> 00:36:23.280
 whatever your

00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:23.580
 journey

00:36:23.580 --> 00:36:24.800
 has been

00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:26.360
 you can think

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:26.800
 about what's

00:36:26.800 --> 00:36:27.140
 led you

00:36:27.140 --> 00:36:27.920
 to this day

00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:28.559
 what's led

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.019
 you here

00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:30.140
 but if you

00:36:30.140 --> 00:36:30.600
 take your

00:36:30.600 --> 00:36:31.280
 stand on

00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.240
 this foundation

00:36:32.240 --> 00:36:33.240
 that Christ

00:36:33.240 --> 00:36:33.940
 died for your

00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:34.400
 sins

00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:35.600
 and he was

00:36:35.600 --> 00:36:36.160
 buried and he

00:36:36.160 --> 00:36:36.740
 was raised

00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:37.200
 on the third

00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:37.519
 day

00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:39.760
 and if you

00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:40.400
 trust in his

00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:41.360
 transforming grace

00:36:41.360 --> 00:36:43.019
 you can face

00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:43.780
 you can go

00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:44.120
 into the

00:36:44.120 --> 00:36:44.760
 future

00:36:44.760 --> 00:36:45.660
 with hope

00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:46.540
 and with

00:36:46.540 --> 00:36:47.100
 confidence

00:36:47.100 --> 00:36:48.220
 and with

00:36:48.220 --> 00:36:48.600
 humility

00:36:48.600 --> 00:36:49.640
 and graciousness

00:36:49.640 --> 00:36:50.840
 let us

00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:51.100
 pray

00:36:51.100 --> 00:36:55.880
 oh God

00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:56.420
 we thank you

00:36:56.420 --> 00:36:56.920
 for this

00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:57.380
 message

00:36:57.380 --> 00:36:58.240
 we thank you

00:36:58.240 --> 00:37:00.019
 for the

00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:00.880
 central reality

00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:02.519
 that brings us

00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:02.860
 here this

00:37:02.860 --> 00:37:03.260
 morning

00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:05.019
 Lord we thank

00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:05.320
 you for the

00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:05.720
 grace to

00:37:05.720 --> 00:37:06.700
 transform Paul

00:37:06.700 --> 00:37:08.100
 and James

00:37:08.100 --> 00:37:08.940
 and Peter's

00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:09.320
 life

00:37:09.320 --> 00:37:11.519
 we thank you

00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:11.920
 for the grace

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.420
 that empowered

00:37:12.420 --> 00:37:12.900
 them to do

00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:13.500
 mighty works

00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:13.900
 for your

00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:15.219
 kingdom

00:37:15.219 --> 00:37:18.019
 Lord to

00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:18.460
 bring many

00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:18.940
 people to

00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:19.340
 faith in

00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:19.619
 you

00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:21.719
 to write

00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:22.139
 letters

00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:22.579
 that are

00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:24.320
 still used

00:37:24.320 --> 00:37:24.639
 by your

00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:25.219
 Holy Spirit

00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:25.960
 to instruct

00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:26.780
 and guide

00:37:26.780 --> 00:37:27.360
 your church

00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:31.480
 Lord we pray

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:31.820
 that your

00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:32.559
 transforming grace

00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:32.860
 will be at

00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:33.500
 work among us

00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:33.820
 give us

00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:34.460
 confidence

00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:35.400
 Lord

00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:37.639
 where we see

00:37:37.639 --> 00:37:38.599
 and are aware

00:37:38.599 --> 00:37:38.920
 of our

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.280
 weaknesses

00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:39.980
 and failures

00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:40.559
 we pray

00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:40.880
 that we

00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:41.400
 would come

00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:42.260
 and receive

00:37:42.260 --> 00:37:43.019
 the forgiveness

00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:43.460
 of our

00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:43.860
 sins

00:37:43.860 --> 00:37:45.420
 and Lord

00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:45.760
 where we

00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:46.160
 need your

00:37:46.160 --> 00:37:46.619
 empowerment

00:37:46.619 --> 00:37:47.059
 and your

00:37:47.059 --> 00:37:47.380
 wisdom

00:37:47.380 --> 00:37:47.900
 to guide

00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:48.099
 us

00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:48.800
 for the

00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:49.099
 task

00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:49.360
 that you

00:37:49.360 --> 00:37:49.559
 lay

00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:50.119
 before us

00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:50.519
 we pray

00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:50.800
 that we

00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:51.119
 would come

00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:51.579
 before you

00:37:51.579 --> 00:37:51.880
 and be

00:37:51.880 --> 00:37:52.300
 empowered

00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:53.320
 only by your

00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:53.720
 grace

00:37:53.720 --> 00:37:56.160
 Lord we pray

00:37:56.160 --> 00:37:56.420
 that you

00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:56.880
 would continue

00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:57.300
 your work

00:37:57.300 --> 00:37:57.579
 in this

00:37:57.579 --> 00:37:57.980
 church

00:37:57.980 --> 00:38:00.079
 in the next

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.840
 years ahead

00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:03.119
 we pray

00:38:03.119 --> 00:38:03.480
 that you

00:38:03.480 --> 00:38:04.260
 would continue

00:38:04.260 --> 00:38:04.680
 your work

00:38:04.680 --> 00:38:05.099
 in each one

00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.380
 of us

00:38:05.380 --> 00:38:05.660
 for your

00:38:05.660 --> 00:38:06.019
 glory

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:07.340
 we pray

00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:07.719
 these things

00:38:07.719 --> 00:38:08.059
 in Jesus

00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:08.420
 name

00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:09.239
 amen