WEBVTT

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 Reading Matthew chapter 27 verses 45 to 54 which is on page 999 of the Church Bibles.

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 Page 999 of the Church Bibles, Matthew 27.

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 Starting from verse 45.

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 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came over all the land.

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 About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

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 Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani, which means, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, he's calling Elijah.

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 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge.

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 He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick and offered it to Jesus to drink.

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 The rest said, now leave him alone.

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 Let's see if Elijah comes to save him.

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 And when Jesus has cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

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 At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

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 The earth shook and the rocks split.

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 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

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 They came out of the tombs.

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 And after Jesus' resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

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 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened,

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 they were terrified and exclaimed, surely he was the Son of God.

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 For the second reading, we'll be looking at Hebrews chapter 10.

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 I don't know if Johnny has the page in the church Bible.

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 On page 1208.

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 Hebrews chapter 10.

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 Starting in verse 19.

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 I'll read 19 to 25.

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 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus,

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 by a new and living way open for us through the curtain that is his body,

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 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

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 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith,

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 having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience

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 and having our bodies washed with pure water.

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 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,

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 for he who promised is faithful.

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 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

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 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,

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 but let us encourage one another, and all the more, as you see the day approaching.

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 Thanks very much.

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 Well, let's pray and ask for God's help.

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 Our Father God, we thank you for the church family.

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 Thank you that we can meet and gather together.

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 Thank you for the provision of this building.

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 Thank you for the gifts of all the people here

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 who serve in so many different ways to make this gathering possible.

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 Thank you for all.

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 Thank you for all that we've been able to do together so far,

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 for being able to sing,

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 to read, to pray,

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 to talk over tea and coffee.

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 Thank you, Father,

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 thank you, Father,

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 that we can meet in this way in freedom,

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 without fear of authorities,

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 without persecution.

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 And we ask that you would help us to better understand what it means for us

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 to meet together and to gather as your people.

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 Teach us then, through your word we pray.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, meeting with God's people or gathering as a family,

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 I want us to start with a question.

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 And it's simply this.

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 Why bother with church?

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 Why did any of us bother to get up this morning to come and meet?

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 Why did we do that?

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 Is it really worth all the effort?

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 Rushing around, trying to get the kids sorted,

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 in and out of the showers,

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 getting the lunch organised before you leave?

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 Or is that just our house?

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 Why bother?

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 Why don't we just stay at home?

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 After all, it is a lot warmer,

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 and so much more comfortable,

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 to be in our own living rooms.

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 We could just stay at home and listen to the sermon online,

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 in our own time,

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 or you could choose whoever you wanted to listen to,

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 online.

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 What's the point of gathering together like this?

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 Well, to be a Christian person,

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 is to be a church person.

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 Because the Bible's view is this.

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 If you are committed to Christ,

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 you are also committed to church.

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 You can't have one without the other.

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 It's two sides of the one coin.

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 You are committed to Christ,

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 and you are committed to church.

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 You can't separate them.

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 In fact, if we are to experience Christ in our life,

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 the Bible says we must participate in church life.

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 Because the way in which the Gospel,

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 the good news about Jesus,

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 gets worked into our hearts,

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 and the way it gets worked out through our lives,

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 is in our involvement and participation

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 with and in the church family.

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 The church family,

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 the gathering of God's people,

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 is God's means of enabling us

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 to experience the full effects of the Gospel.

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 So why bother with church?

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 Why bother getting up and coming together?

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 Well, without the church family,

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 we are never going to grow,

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 we are never going to change as people,

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 and we're never going to know Christ

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 in all his fullness

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 and all that he has to give us.

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 Because it is through the church family

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 that he works

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 so that we experience the full effects

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 of the Gospel.

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 So it's essential that we are gathering together.

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 But let's try and unpack this a little bit more

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 and get the connection between Christ on the one hand

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 and church on the other

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 and see how they are integral

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 and fit together.

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 First of all, our faith in Christ.

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 Look at verse 19 of our reading from Hebrews 10.

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 Therefore, brothers and sisters,

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 since we have confidence

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 to enter the most holy place

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 by the blood of Jesus.

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 Now, verse 19 is almost a summary

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 of all of chapters 1 to 9.

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 In chapters 1 to 9,

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 it goes into great detail,

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 looking back through the Old Testament,

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 to show us that without Christ,

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 without his sacrifice,

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 we can't come to God.

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 In the past,

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 people couldn't get close to God.

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 But now, again, look at verse 19.

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 Since we have confidence

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 to enter the most holy place

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 by the blood of Jesus,

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 by a new and living way

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 opened up for us through the curtain,

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 that is his body.

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 And we've got all this religious language

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 through here.

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 We've got this most holy place,

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 the blood of Jesus,

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 and the curtain.

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 Strange language.

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 But it's taking us back

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 to a miraculous event

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 of when Christ died on the cross.

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 we read about it

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 from Matthew's Gospel.

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 The most holy place

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 was a room in the temple

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 which marked or symbolised

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 the presence of God.

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 And blocking the way,

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 the entrance into that room,

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 was this large curtain.

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 It acted as a barrier,

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 an enormous signpost

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 that was telling everybody,

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 stop, no entry.

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 It's a little bit like

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 this room here.

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 If you could imagine

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 that we here are the people,

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 and in behind that screen

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 is the most holy place

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 which symbolised

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 where God's presence was,

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 where God dwelt.

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 And the screen here

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 is an enormous curtain

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 except for it would have gone

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 from top to bottom.

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 And it was this great big sign

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 that meant we couldn't enter,

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 we couldn't get to God.

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 God was making it clear

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 that our sin means

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 we can't enjoy God

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 as we are meant to.

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 We've been shut out.

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 We're here.

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 God is there.

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 Denied accent.

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 Barred from coming to God.

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 Just like Adam and Eve

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 were shut out of the garden

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 and it was barred from re-entry.

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 And it has been ever since.

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 But something has happened,

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 verse 20.

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 A new and living way

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 has opened up for us

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 through the curtain.

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 That is his body.

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 You see, the moment

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 that Jesus died on the cross,

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 and you'll remember that

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 from the reading in Matthew,

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 the moment Jesus died,

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 the curtain in the most holy place

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 was torn from top to bottom,

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 ripped open.

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 It was a divine intervention by God.

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 The barrier that stood in the way

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 was removed.

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 And access to God

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 was now possible.

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 Entrance into the family of God

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 was now open

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 to everybody

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 who had faith in Jesus.

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 Because Jesus,

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 through his death on the cross,

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 was taking the punishment

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 for our sin.

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 He was dealing with the wrath

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 that we deserve.

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 And we are forgiven.

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 His body

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 was the one that was torn open.

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 His body, if you like,

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 was ripped apart

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 on the cross

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 so that the way

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 is open for us now

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 to go through

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 to meet with God.

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 And now we can come,

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 verse 19,

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 with confidence,

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 without fear of rejection,

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 without God telling us,

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 no, you can't.

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 We can come

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 with confidence,

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 and that's why

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 we are gathered here today

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 because of what Jesus did

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 2,000 years ago

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 on the cross,

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 his people gathering

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 to God

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 because of what Jesus

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 has done.

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 So the way is open

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 for us to enter

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 by faith in Christ.

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 But not only

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 do we have access

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 to God

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 through our faith

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 in Christ,

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 we also become

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 part of the church

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 family.

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 Look at verse 21.

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 So we have access

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 to God

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 because of Christ,

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 but not only that,

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 we have access

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 to the church family.

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 Verse 21,

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 and since we have

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 a great priest

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 over

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 the house of God.

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 Now Jesus here

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 is our ultimate priest.

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 He's the one

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 who makes it possible

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 to come to God.

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 But he also makes it

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 possible to be part

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 of the house of God.

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 And the house of God

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 is simply another way

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 of saying

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 the family of God,

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 the church,

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 God's people.

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 Hold your finger there

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 in chapter 10

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 and go back

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 to chapter 3,

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 verse 6.

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 Where this is spelt out

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 clearly for us.

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 Chapter 3,

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 verse 6.

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 But Christ is faithful

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 as a son

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 over God's house.

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 And we are

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 his house

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 if we hold on

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 to our courage

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 and the hope

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 of which we boast.

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 Do you see that?

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 Christ is the faithful son.

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 He was the only

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 faithful one

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 who by his death

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 has not only

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 given us access

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 to God,

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 but he has welcomed us

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 into the house of God.

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 And it says here

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 that we,

00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:24.800
 the people,

00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:26.120
 are the house of God.

00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:28.279
 We are in his family.

00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:30.440
 Now it's crucial

00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:31.480
 for us to make

00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.300
 that connection.

00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:34.820
 There is faith in Christ.

00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.700
 That's one side

00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:37.279
 of the coin.

00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:39.080
 But through our faith

00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:39.580
 in Christ

00:13:39.580 --> 00:13:40.840
 we are also part

00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:42.000
 of the church family.

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.600
 That is the other side

00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.139
 of the coin.

00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.639
 And look how

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.919
 all of this works out

00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.159
 back in chapter 10,

00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.139
 verse 22.

00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:53.700
 Because of our faith

00:13:53.700 --> 00:13:54.259
 in Christ

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:56.500
 we are now part

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.700
 of the church family

00:13:57.700 --> 00:13:58.580
 so,

00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.379
 verse 22,

00:13:59.820 --> 00:14:01.180
 let us

00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:02.220
 together

00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:03.800
 draw near

00:14:03.800 --> 00:14:04.420
 to God.

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.540
 It doesn't say

00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:06.200
 let me.

00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:07.500
 Our life

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:08.100
 with Christ

00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:08.820
 is not an

00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:10.200
 individual exercise

00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.740
 that we sit at home

00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:13.379
 and do our own thing.

00:14:13.920 --> 00:14:14.340
 It says

00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:14.900
 let us

00:14:14.900 --> 00:14:15.420
 together.

00:14:15.980 --> 00:14:16.940
 Verse 23,

00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.100
 let us

00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:19.960
 together

00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:21.440
 hold unswervingly

00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.180
 to the hope.

00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:23.060
 The Christian life

00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:23.519
 is something

00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.239
 that we do

00:14:24.239 --> 00:14:25.159
 together.

00:14:26.079 --> 00:14:27.079
 Verse 24,

00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:29.319
 and let us

00:14:29.319 --> 00:14:30.279
 consider

00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.179
 how we spur

00:14:31.179 --> 00:14:32.019
 one another on.

00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:33.419
 We can't do

00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:34.399
 the Christian life

00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:34.739
 alone.

00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:36.179
 You need me

00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:37.639
 and I need you.

00:14:37.959 --> 00:14:38.519
 We need

00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:39.299
 each other.

00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.019
 Verse 25,

00:14:41.579 --> 00:14:42.559
 let us

00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:43.959
 not give up

00:14:43.959 --> 00:14:44.939
 meeting together.

00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:45.020
 together.

00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:46.900
 You see,

00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:47.540
 the church

00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:48.060
 family

00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:49.440
 is God's

00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:50.000
 means of

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:50.720
 enabling us

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.660
 to experience

00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:52.380
 the full

00:14:52.380 --> 00:14:52.960
 effects of

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:53.460
 the gospel,

00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:54.160
 the good news

00:14:54.160 --> 00:14:54.580
 of Jesus

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:55.100
 Christ.

00:14:55.760 --> 00:14:56.360
 And we're

00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:56.940
 never going

00:14:56.940 --> 00:14:57.340
 to know

00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:57.840
 all that

00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.280
 Christ

00:14:58.280 --> 00:14:58.740
 has to

00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.380
 give us

00:14:59.380 --> 00:15:01.960
 apart from

00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:02.780
 the church.

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:02.819
 church.

00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:04.459
 That's why

00:15:04.459 --> 00:15:05.179
 we bother

00:15:05.179 --> 00:15:05.819
 with church.

00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:06.600
 That's why

00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.139
 we've gotten

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:07.659
 up out of

00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.079
 our beds

00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:08.600
 this morning

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.000
 and that's

00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:09.500
 why we've

00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:09.779
 gathered

00:15:09.779 --> 00:15:10.279
 together.

00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:10.959
 And of

00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:11.199
 course,

00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:11.699
 it's not

00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:12.199
 just a

00:15:12.199 --> 00:15:12.600
 couple of

00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:13.220
 hours here,

00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:14.559
 it's 24-7,

00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.139
 it's throughout

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:15.759
 the week.

00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:17.240
 But the

00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:17.939
 emphasis here

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.459
 I want us

00:15:18.459 --> 00:15:19.000
 to see is

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.220
 this,

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.399
 let us

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.339
 come together.

00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.299
 Because to

00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:25.019
 cut yourself

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.779
 off from

00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:26.480
 the church

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.459
 is like a

00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:28.899
 deep sea

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.720
 diver cutting

00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.120
 off his

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.299
 oxygen supply.

00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:33.079
 we'll die

00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:33.679
 spiritually,

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.639
 we'll drown,

00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:35.699
 we'll not

00:15:35.699 --> 00:15:36.059
 cope,

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:36.539
 we won't

00:15:36.539 --> 00:15:37.019
 survive.

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:39.059
 The church

00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:40.199
 family is

00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:40.799
 God's

00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.199
 means for

00:15:42.199 --> 00:15:42.639
 us to

00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.839
 experience the

00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:44.620
 workings out

00:15:44.620 --> 00:15:44.959
 of the

00:15:44.959 --> 00:15:46.219
 gospel in

00:15:46.219 --> 00:15:46.859
 our lives.

00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.219
 So we're

00:15:49.219 --> 00:15:49.579
 going to look

00:15:49.579 --> 00:15:50.479
 at four ways

00:15:50.479 --> 00:15:51.120
 this works

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.139
 out in

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.740
 practice.

00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:54.699
 You know

00:15:54.699 --> 00:15:55.259
 how we all

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:55.699
 need our

00:15:55.699 --> 00:15:56.579
 greens to

00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:57.039
 survive,

00:15:57.199 --> 00:15:57.479
 don't we?

00:15:57.539 --> 00:15:57.699
 Our

00:15:57.699 --> 00:15:58.219
 vegetables.

00:15:59.179 --> 00:15:59.679
 We need

00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.139
 to have our

00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:01.059
 four vegetables

00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:01.739
 or whatever

00:16:01.739 --> 00:16:02.539
 to have

00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.219
 every day

00:16:03.219 --> 00:16:03.519
 if we're

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:04.039
 to survive.

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:04.839
 Well here

00:16:04.839 --> 00:16:05.259
 we've got

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:05.579
 four

00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:06.079
 lettuces.

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.379
 Okay?

00:16:08.239 --> 00:16:08.719
 The lettuce

00:16:08.719 --> 00:16:09.179
 of verse

00:16:09.179 --> 00:16:09.819
 22,

00:16:10.579 --> 00:16:11.079
 lettuce of

00:16:11.079 --> 00:16:11.819
 verse 23,

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.379
 and lettuce

00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:12.799
 of verse

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:13.319
 24,

00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:13.759
 and lettuce

00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.219
 of verse

00:16:14.219 --> 00:16:14.859
 25.

00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.619
 Four good

00:16:16.619 --> 00:16:17.419
 greens to

00:16:17.419 --> 00:16:17.899
 get into

00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.179
 us,

00:16:18.319 --> 00:16:18.819
 to help us

00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:19.459
 understand

00:16:19.459 --> 00:16:20.619
 what it

00:16:20.619 --> 00:16:21.259
 is to be

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.739
 in church

00:16:21.739 --> 00:16:22.139
 family.

00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:22.659
 The first

00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.159
 one then,

00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.339
 the first

00:16:24.339 --> 00:16:24.859
 lettuce,

00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.139
 experience

00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:27.259
 grace

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:27.899
 together.

00:16:28.699 --> 00:16:29.579
 Verse 22,

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:31.000
 let us

00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:31.680
 draw near

00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:32.200
 to God

00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:32.660
 with a

00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:33.280
 sincere

00:16:33.280 --> 00:16:33.840
 heart,

00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.100
 in full

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:35.620
 assurance

00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:36.139
 of faith,

00:16:36.580 --> 00:16:37.120
 having our

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:38.440
 hearts sprinkled

00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:39.060
 to cleanse

00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:39.560
 us from a

00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:40.360
 guilty conscience,

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:41.440
 and having

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.040
 our bodies

00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:42.639
 washed

00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:43.879
 with pure

00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:44.340
 water.

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:45.879
 Now because

00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:46.520
 of Jesus'

00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:47.120
 death,

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.180
 we can

00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:48.560
 come

00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:49.500
 confidently

00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.540
 with

00:16:50.540 --> 00:16:51.200
 absolute

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:51.920
 assurance.

00:16:52.139 --> 00:16:52.740
 The invitation

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:53.500
 is open,

00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.040
 it's given,

00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:55.220
 by faith we

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:56.000
 draw near

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.600
 to God

00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:57.440
 to experience

00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:58.300
 his grace.

00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:00.120
 And coming

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:00.819
 to God,

00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:02.639
 as the

00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.240
 picture here

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:03.579
 in verse

00:17:03.579 --> 00:17:04.500
 22 is,

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.240
 is like

00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.059
 stepping into

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.539
 a hot

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:06.940
 shower,

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.159
 or into

00:17:08.159 --> 00:17:08.559
 a big

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:09.339
 deep bath,

00:17:09.659 --> 00:17:10.220
 after a

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.700
 muddy day

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.000
 in the

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.319
 garden,

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:11.940
 or after

00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:12.599
 rolling about

00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:12.819
 in the

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.399
 rugby pitch.

00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:13.680
 Look at

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:13.960
 what it

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.339
 says in

00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.039
 verse 22.

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.819
 Our hearts

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:18.619
 are sprinkled

00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.119
 clean,

00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.200
 our conscience

00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.440
 cleansed,

00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:23.819
 and the

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.599
 sin that

00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:25.419
 ruins our

00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.119
 life is

00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.319
 washed away

00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.379
 with pure

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:28.899
 water,

00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.240
 the pure

00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:30.919
 water of

00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:31.639
 Christ's

00:17:31.639 --> 00:17:32.059
 forgiveness.

00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.000
 It's an

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.000
 invitation to

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.639
 tell us that

00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.259
 there is no

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.339
 sin that

00:17:37.339 --> 00:17:37.839
 is so

00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.779
 great that

00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.859
 God's grace

00:17:39.859 --> 00:17:40.639
 cannot

00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:41.200
 clean.

00:17:42.899 --> 00:17:43.720
 So together

00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.659
 by faith in

00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.039
 Christ,

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:45.939
 it's an

00:17:45.939 --> 00:17:46.859
 invitation to

00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:48.000
 bathe and

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.200
 wash in

00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:50.079
 God's grace.

00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:52.779
 But why

00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:53.740
 do we have

00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:54.279
 to do this

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:54.700
 together?

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:54.799
 together?

00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:56.920
 Why can't

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.539
 I just

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:57.980
 come to

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.480
 God on

00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.039
 my own

00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.480
 and experience

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.420
 his grace

00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:02.299
 without involving

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:02.819
 other people?

00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:03.500
 Why can't I

00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.140
 just do this

00:18:04.140 --> 00:18:04.539
 at home?

00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:06.819
 Why is there

00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.640
 a let us

00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:08.740
 draw near?

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.840
 Well, it

00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:11.660
 doesn't rule us

00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:12.620
 out coming to

00:18:12.620 --> 00:18:13.340
 God on our

00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:13.519
 own.

00:18:13.600 --> 00:18:14.100
 It's important

00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:15.000
 we do that.

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.380
 But the

00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:17.240
 reality is,

00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:18.279
 on our own,

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.580
 we are not

00:18:19.580 --> 00:18:20.500
 always going to

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.220
 be people who

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:21.779
 are seeking

00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:22.840
 after God's

00:18:22.840 --> 00:18:23.200
 grace.

00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.799
 You see,

00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.240
 when we

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.860
 fail and

00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.240
 fall,

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:27.380
 and we

00:18:27.380 --> 00:18:27.940
 do it all

00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.400
 the time,

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.519
 Satan is

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.059
 quick to

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.660
 remind us

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.000
 of just

00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.799
 how bad

00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.440
 and useless

00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:33.039
 we are.

00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.080
 And the

00:18:34.080 --> 00:18:34.660
 last thing

00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:34.980
 that we

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.400
 want to

00:18:35.400 --> 00:18:35.860
 do is

00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:36.400
 come to

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:36.779
 God.

00:18:37.340 --> 00:18:38.080
 When we've

00:18:38.080 --> 00:18:38.580
 messed up

00:18:38.580 --> 00:18:39.039
 and things

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.440
 have gone

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:39.799
 wrong,

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.319
 we don't

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:41.799
 want to

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.360
 get anywhere

00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:42.860
 near to

00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:43.180
 God.

00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.880
 We feel

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:45.559
 too ashamed,

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.039
 we feel

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:46.640
 too dirty,

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.259
 too messed

00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:47.440
 up,

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.100
 and we

00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:48.500
 kind of

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.160
 withdraw and

00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:49.680
 we hide

00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:50.340
 from God.

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.319
 And if

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:51.959
 that cycle

00:18:51.959 --> 00:18:52.759
 continues for

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.179
 long enough,

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:53.839
 we'll end

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.619
 up completely

00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:55.039
 away.

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.919
 But when

00:18:57.919 --> 00:18:58.579
 we come

00:18:58.579 --> 00:18:59.179
 together,

00:19:00.179 --> 00:19:00.879
 we are

00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:02.839
 reminded that

00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:03.240
 we are

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:03.899
 meeting with

00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:04.899
 a whole bunch

00:19:04.899 --> 00:19:05.639
 of messed

00:19:05.639 --> 00:19:06.259
 up sinners

00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.319
 and failures

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.179
 dependent on

00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:08.980
 God's grace.

00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.179
 And that's

00:19:10.179 --> 00:19:10.919
 why I love

00:19:10.919 --> 00:19:11.720
 coming here

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.740
 on a Sunday,

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.059
 because I'm

00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:14.699
 meeting a whole

00:19:14.699 --> 00:19:15.299
 load of other

00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:17.119
 messed up

00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.679
 sinners,

00:19:17.939 --> 00:19:18.339
 because that's

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:19.019
 what we all

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.740
 are, and

00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.220
 we're all

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.000
 dependent on

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.839
 God's grace.

00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.099
 And when I

00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:23.599
 come here

00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.259
 with everybody

00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.940
 else, everybody

00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:26.839
 together is

00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:28.019
 focusing us on

00:19:28.019 --> 00:19:28.819
 the need for

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.720
 God's grace.

00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:31.960
 Because when

00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:33.480
 my sin is

00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.099
 so great, and

00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:35.660
 when I've

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.500
 lost sight of

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.400
 God's grace,

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.019
 meeting with

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.920
 other people who

00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.940
 are talking about

00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:41.920
 grace, when

00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:42.420
 people are

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:43.299
 singing about

00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.139
 grace, when

00:19:44.139 --> 00:19:44.879
 they're preaching

00:19:44.879 --> 00:19:46.240
 about grace, it

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:48.779
 encourages me to

00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.779
 seek God's

00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:50.220
 grace.

00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:55.420
 Just a

00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:55.940
 personal

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:56.879
 experience.

00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:57.819
 There are

00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.440
 times, it

00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:59.019
 doesn't happen

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.879
 all the time,

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.500
 but there have

00:20:00.500 --> 00:20:01.899
 been times where

00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:03.000
 the last place I

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.359
 want to be is

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:06.160
 standing here and

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.000
 speaking and

00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.440
 preaching.

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.139
 There's things

00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:09.940
 weighing in my

00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:10.220
 life.

00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:11.379
 I'm conscious of

00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:12.599
 sin, and I

00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:13.740
 just don't feel

00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:14.899
 good enough, I

00:20:14.899 --> 00:20:15.819
 don't feel worthy

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.940
 enough, and I

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.019
 just don't want to

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:18.539
 do it.

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.759
 But as I am

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.779
 here, as I

00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:22.480
 hear people

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:23.279
 singing, as

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.160
 we're focused

00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.180
 in on God's

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.279
 grace, it

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.059
 lifts me, it

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:28.240
 encourages me, it

00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:28.900
 builds me up, and

00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:30.460
 it says, it's

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.379
 all been cleaned.

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.000
 My sin has been

00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.579
 washed away, my

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.500
 heart has been

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.400
 sprinkled, my

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:36.980
 conscience

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.859
 cleansed.

00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:40.420
 That's why we

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.599
 need to come

00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.879
 together, to

00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:44.559
 experience grace

00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:46.460
 together, because

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:47.319
 without each

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:48.759
 other, we will

00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.640
 lose sight, and

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.240
 we won't do

00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:50.559
 it.

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.460
 So that's our

00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:54.200
 first letter that

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.900
 we need to get

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.700
 into our lives.

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.460
 The second is

00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.440
 this, experience

00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.279
 support together,

00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.180
 verse 23.

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.440
 Let us hold

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.559
 unswervingly to

00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:04.200
 the hope we

00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:05.700
 profess, for he

00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:07.539
 who promised is

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.039
 faithful.

00:21:09.100 --> 00:21:09.740
 You know, the

00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.680
 reality is, as you

00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.420
 and I go about

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.960
 this week, and

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.680
 it's probably been

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.580
 the experience of

00:21:14.580 --> 00:21:15.380
 the past week, we

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.600
 face pressure

00:21:16.600 --> 00:21:17.440
 after pressure,

00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:19.279
 challenge after

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:21.180
 challenge, to

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:22.060
 let go and to

00:21:22.060 --> 00:21:22.759
 give up of the

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.320
 hope of the

00:21:23.320 --> 00:21:23.680
 gospel.

00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:25.360
 Because we live

00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:26.200
 in a world where

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.000
 people live in

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.060
 opposition to the

00:21:28.060 --> 00:21:29.320
 gospel, and they

00:21:29.320 --> 00:21:30.380
 think that Christ is

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:30.840
 irrelevant.

00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:33.480
 Think about it, how

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:34.320
 many times did

00:21:34.320 --> 00:21:35.019
 somebody in your

00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:35.820
 work or one of

00:21:35.820 --> 00:21:36.240
 your neighbours

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.920
 come round and

00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.960
 say, go on, keep

00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:38.539
 going as a

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:38.880
 Christian?

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:41.539
 It doesn't

00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.100
 happen very

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.459
 often.

00:21:43.879 --> 00:21:44.639
 And if that's

00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:44.980
 what we're

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.899
 facing every

00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:46.740
 day, just the

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:48.319
 sheer struggle of

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.079
 being a Christian

00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.899
 in the world,

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.159
 holding on to the

00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:51.939
 hope is going to

00:21:51.939 --> 00:21:52.839
 be very hard.

00:21:53.899 --> 00:21:54.799
 And of course, we

00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.740
 can try and play

00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.639
 the Lone Ranger

00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:57.879
 and do it my

00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:59.259
 way, but

00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:00.379
 experience shows

00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:00.919
 it doesn't

00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:01.319
 work.

00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:02.779
 That's why we

00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.599
 need to hold on

00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.139
 to the hope

00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:05.019
 together.

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.019
 Look at what

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.699
 it says.

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.319
 Let us

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:10.519
 hold unswervingly

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.719
 to the hope.

00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:13.579
 we're to hold

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.339
 on to it for

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.179
 all that we

00:22:15.179 --> 00:22:15.939
 are, everything

00:22:15.939 --> 00:22:16.839
 that's inside of

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.439
 us, and

00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:18.319
 everything that's

00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:19.039
 inside of you

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:20.359
 together, we are

00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.259
 to hold and

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:22.459
 grasp this hope.

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.139
 Because on our

00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:24.679
 own, we're

00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:25.119
 weak.

00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:26.539
 We give in and

00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.419
 we give up.

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:29.059
 But with the

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:30.399
 support of other

00:22:30.399 --> 00:22:32.279
 people, we are

00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.339
 able to hold on

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.119
 and we are able

00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:34.939
 to keep going.

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.039
 people.

00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.720
 In fact, that's

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.640
 what chapter 11

00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:40.580
 is all about, as

00:22:40.580 --> 00:22:41.360
 it goes through

00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:42.480
 all this great

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.140
 big list of

00:22:43.140 --> 00:22:43.700
 people of the

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.500
 past and how

00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.799
 they had held

00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.600
 to the faith.

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:47.600
 It is

00:22:47.600 --> 00:22:48.680
 encouragement for

00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:48.980
 us.

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.160
 So when we

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:52.039
 gather together,

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.900
 as we do like

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.460
 this, when we

00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.340
 come early, and

00:22:56.340 --> 00:22:57.080
 that's one of the

00:22:57.080 --> 00:22:58.180
 good reasons to

00:22:58.180 --> 00:22:59.880
 come early, or

00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:00.640
 whether we stay

00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:02.279
 late, one of the

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.320
 good questions to be

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.519
 asking is this, of

00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:06.079
 each other, how

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.779
 is your faith?

00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:11.019
 Nobody else is

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.939
 going to ask you

00:23:11.939 --> 00:23:12.679
 that question.

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.879
 The only person

00:23:13.879 --> 00:23:14.639
 who's going to ask

00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:15.119
 you that is

00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.179
 somebody within the

00:23:16.179 --> 00:23:16.939
 church family.

00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.579
 How is your

00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.000
 faith?

00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.439
 How are you

00:23:20.439 --> 00:23:21.059
 getting on?

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.299
 And one of the

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.259
 greatest supports

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.159
 that we could give

00:23:25.159 --> 00:23:26.359
 to help each

00:23:26.359 --> 00:23:27.159
 other, look at

00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:27.639
 the rest of

00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:28.439
 verse 23.

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:33.019
 He who promised

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:34.460
 is faithful.

00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:37.139
 You know what?

00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.000
 We give up and

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.539
 we fail.

00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:40.480
 We mess up and

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.200
 we let go.

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.039
 But here's

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.619
 encouragement.

00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:45.480
 He who promised

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.180
 is faithful.

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.400
 God is faithful

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:47.819
 to us.

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:48.980
 He will never,

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.359
 ever let go of

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:50.879
 his people.

00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.319
 And sometimes it

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.220
 takes one other

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:55.039
 person to remind

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.639
 us that he is

00:23:56.639 --> 00:23:58.259
 faithful to us.

00:23:59.139 --> 00:24:00.559
 So we experience

00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.220
 this support

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:01.559
 together.

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.519
 we hold on to

00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.000
 the hope

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:04.599
 that we have.

00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:07.279
 So we experience

00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.099
 grace together.

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.059
 We experience

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:10.179
 support together.

00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:12.019
 And third, we

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.679
 experience compassion

00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:14.419
 together.

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.379
 Verse 24.

00:24:15.380 --> 00:24:19.260
 And let us

00:24:19.260 --> 00:24:20.500
 consider how we

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:21.300
 may spur

00:24:21.300 --> 00:24:21.960
 one another

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:23.040
 on towards

00:24:23.040 --> 00:24:24.480
 love and

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.200
 good deeds.

00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:26.260
 I'm summarising

00:24:26.260 --> 00:24:26.900
 love and good

00:24:26.900 --> 00:24:27.660
 deeds there as

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.360
 compassion.

00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.800
 Compassion is

00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:31.780
 responding to

00:24:31.780 --> 00:24:32.640
 the needs and

00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.520
 concerns of other

00:24:33.520 --> 00:24:34.620
 people in

00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.560
 active love.

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.580
 Not just words,

00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:37.720
 but action,

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.680
 in deeds.

00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.420
 So the church

00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.420
 family is to be a

00:24:41.420 --> 00:24:42.380
 place where we do

00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:43.840
 experience compassion.

00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:43.959
 compassion.

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.419
 Now there's a

00:24:46.419 --> 00:24:47.480
 difficulty with that.

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.679
 And that is because

00:24:49.679 --> 00:24:50.740
 we're all naturally

00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:51.759
 selfish people.

00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:53.579
 Looking out for

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.459
 others, surprise,

00:24:54.619 --> 00:24:56.099
 surprise, is not

00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:57.259
 always the top of our

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.699
 agenda.

00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.439
 We're looking out for

00:24:59.439 --> 00:25:00.759
 me, for number one.

00:25:02.199 --> 00:25:03.319
 In fact, the truth be

00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.799
 told, we don't even

00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.839
 know what the needs

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.819
 of other people are.

00:25:08.199 --> 00:25:09.599
 We could maybe do a

00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.919
 mental check of that

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.720
 right now for the

00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.740
 person sitting beside

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:12.980
 you.

00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:14.180
 What are their needs?

00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.680
 Do you know what

00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:15.059
 they are?

00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.299
 Do I know what

00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:16.680
 they are?

00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:20.620
 And that's why we

00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.539
 gather together.

00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.819
 That's why we come

00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:23.839
 together as God's

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:25.160
 people, not just on

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.539
 a Sunday.

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.740
 That's why we meet

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.839
 in our home groups.

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.519
 That's why we

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.400
 encourage people to

00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:31.259
 meet throughout the

00:25:31.259 --> 00:25:31.539
 week.

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.180
 Because by meeting

00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:34.299
 together, we get to

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.200
 know each other.

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.539
 We get to know what

00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.400
 the needs are.

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.599
 Not just about the

00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.319
 weather or what did

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:39.859
 you think of the

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.759
 rugby and wasn't that

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.920
 disappointing that they

00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.039
 did.

00:25:42.539 --> 00:25:43.680
 Yes, important

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:45.200
 conversation, but it's

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.539
 not as important as

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.320
 knowing what are the

00:25:47.320 --> 00:25:49.259
 real needs and what are

00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:51.019
 the real concerns that

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:52.160
 we have in our lives.

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:54.180
 And when we know what

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.880
 they are, then we're

00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:56.200
 able to respond with

00:25:56.200 --> 00:25:58.700
 compassion, love and

00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.460
 good deeds.

00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:02.460
 So again, before the

00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.860
 meeting starts, or even

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:05.080
 over tea and coffee,

00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:06.460
 that's why we have tea

00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:06.980
 and coffee.

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:09.240
 an opportunity to talk

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:11.519
 to each other and to

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:13.460
 ask each other, how

00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:13.940
 are you?

00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:16.519
 And don't give the all

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:18.579
 too common phrase, fine,

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:20.480
 I'm sure I'm grand.

00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:21.860
 Hmm?

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:24.059
 Well, I'm sure we are

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:25.140
 grand and I'm sure we

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:26.740
 are fine, but how are

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.000
 we?

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:31.200
 Is there anything that I

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.700
 can do to help in that

00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:33.380
 situation?

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:35.520
 And one of the

00:26:35.520 --> 00:26:36.760
 responses to that might

00:26:36.760 --> 00:26:37.880
 be to pray for that

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.320
 person.

00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:39.980
 Might be just praying

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:41.260
 quietly for them in your

00:26:41.260 --> 00:26:41.900
 own time.

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.420
 If you know them well

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.300
 enough and you're

00:26:44.300 --> 00:26:45.540
 comfortable enough with

00:26:45.540 --> 00:26:47.160
 it, it might be to pray

00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:48.840
 with that person right

00:26:48.840 --> 00:26:49.220
 there.

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:52.600
 It might be to arrange

00:26:52.600 --> 00:26:54.100
 to meet up for coffee or

00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:55.100
 for lunch during the

00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:55.400
 week.

00:26:56.080 --> 00:26:57.240
 We've all got to eat,

00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:57.780
 haven't we?

00:26:58.619 --> 00:26:59.460
 Why don't we meet at

00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.700
 lunchtime or at a coffee

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:03.220
 time and meet up with

00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:03.839
 that person?

00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:05.920
 Read with them, pray

00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:07.019
 with them, encourage

00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.379
 them.

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.559
 We try to develop what

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:11.119
 we call one-to-one,

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.680
 which is simply meeting

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.960
 with another believer,

00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:15.079
 another Christian within

00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.940
 the church family, just

00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:18.359
 to read 15 minutes,

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.579
 whatever time you have,

00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.079
 to pray together.

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.139
 In some cases, there

00:27:24.139 --> 00:27:25.500
 might be practical help

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.519
 that's required for

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:26.879
 people.

00:27:27.839 --> 00:27:28.720
 There might even be

00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.920
 financial assistance.

00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.420
 Who knows?

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.359
 We don't know what the

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.639
 needs are, the concerns

00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:37.700
 are, until we talk.

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.819
 And let's be full of

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.299
 grace in all of this.

00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:46.680
 We are sinful, aren't

00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:46.839
 we?

00:27:46.859 --> 00:27:47.779
 We are failures.

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:50.200
 We don't always look out

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.339
 for people as we ought

00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.619
 to.

00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.879
 So look what it says in

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.700
 verse 24.

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:57.360
 Consider, think about,

00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:59.200
 apply, work it out, how

00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:01.220
 we can spur one another

00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.759
 on towards love and good

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.160
 deeds.

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.880
 I've got to be thinking,

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:07.880
 how can I motivate each

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:10.319
 other to be compassionate?

00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:13.840
 How can I help us to do

00:28:13.840 --> 00:28:14.660
 that more and more?

00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.500
 Well, you know what?

00:28:15.539 --> 00:28:16.940
 The best way that we can

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.620
 spur each other to be

00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:21.340
 compassionate is to be

00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.420
 compassionate to one

00:28:22.420 --> 00:28:22.779
 another.

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.640
 If you come and you're

00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:26.200
 thinking, nobody shows me

00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.460
 compassion around here.

00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:30.060
 Well, demonstrate that

00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:31.000
 compassion and maybe

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:32.100
 others will follow you.

00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:34.380
 We're in it together.

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.640
 We're a church family.

00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:37.800
 And this isn't a kind of

00:28:37.800 --> 00:28:38.920
 beat us on the head.

00:28:39.060 --> 00:28:40.100
 Because there is

00:28:40.100 --> 00:28:41.200
 compassion, there is

00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.320
 support, there is

00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:43.259
 grace, there is

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:43.820
 encouragement.

00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:45.820
 It's just simply

00:28:45.820 --> 00:28:48.420
 reminding us of why we

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.519
 are gathering together.

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:54.279
 So, grace, support,

00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:55.779
 compassion.

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:59.019
 The fourth lettuce that

00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:01.259
 we need is verse 25.

00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:05.400
 Let us not give up

00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:07.180
 meeting together as some

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:08.079
 are in the habit of

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:10.319
 doing, but let us

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.960
 encourage one another

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.779
 and all the more as you

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:15.019
 see the day approaching.

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.039
 You know what?

00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:17.799
 None of what we've

00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.899
 looked at so far.

00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:21.779
 Grace, support,

00:29:22.339 --> 00:29:24.440
 compassion can happen.

00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.519
 None of these things

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.700
 can be experienced

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:29.319
 unless we are actually

00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:30.779
 meeting together.

00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:31.940
 Sounds obvious,

00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.240
 but that's the truth.

00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:35.759
 So we've got to be

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:37.500
 encouraged to make

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.799
 our gathering together

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.740
 formally on a Sunday

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:42.480
 morning, through the

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.419
 week at home group,

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.839
 and at other informal

00:29:44.839 --> 00:29:45.700
 times through the week,

00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:47.319
 to make it a priority.

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.840
 Now, I understand

00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:50.920
 that it's not always

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.420
 possible.

00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.559
 I am married,

00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.600
 and I've got children,

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:56.059
 and family,

00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:56.819
 there can be family

00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.380
 concerns.

00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.680
 Some people might even

00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.660
 have to be working.

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:01.180
 I understand all of

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:01.500
 that.

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:03.519
 There can be genuine

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:05.200
 reasons, but as verse

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.519
 25 is saying,

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.180
 let's be in the habit.

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:09.380
 Let's set good

00:30:09.380 --> 00:30:09.799
 habits.

00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.259
 Let's plan our

00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.680
 diaries.

00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:13.940
 Let's think about what

00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.840
 we're going to be doing

00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:16.000
 as a family, where

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.799
 we're going to be,

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:17.899
 who's going to be

00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:19.019
 going out on Wednesday

00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.859
 to home group.

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:23.799
 Let's make that

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:24.240
 effort.

00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:26.559
 Why do we need to

00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.159
 make the effort?

00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:28.279
 Well, life is tough,

00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:28.799
 isn't it?

00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.919
 We're going to face

00:30:30.919 --> 00:30:32.000
 pressures at work.

00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:33.799
 There's difficulties

00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.779
 in relationships.

00:30:35.399 --> 00:30:36.539
 We have the demands

00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.599
 of family life.

00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.779
 We might even be

00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.899
 struggling with health.

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.240
 And all of these

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.339
 things can weigh us

00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:44.079
 down, but in God's

00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:45.279
 grace is given to us,

00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.439
 the family, one

00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:48.299
 another, a source of

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:49.899
 constant encouragement.

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:54.419
 Let us encourage

00:30:54.419 --> 00:30:56.679
 one another all the

00:30:56.679 --> 00:30:57.740
 more as you see the

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.019
 day approaching.

00:30:59.199 --> 00:31:00.699
 The day, capital D,

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.460
 is the day of Christ's

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:02.879
 return.

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:05.139
 And it says it's

00:31:05.139 --> 00:31:05.839
 happening soon.

00:31:05.919 --> 00:31:06.879
 He's coming soon.

00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:08.720
 As Christ is coming,

00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:10.960
 be encouraging each

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.240
 other.

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.259
 Because the only

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.400
 things, or the only,

00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.340
 all that's going to

00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:17.860
 survive are people.

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:20.299
 So we give our

00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.019
 efforts and our

00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:22.559
 attention to people.

00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:26.240
 How do we encourage

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.140
 each other then when

00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:27.779
 we do meet?

00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.259
 Well, by bringing

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.319
 each other back to

00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:31.740
 grace.

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.799
 To have our hearts

00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:36.200
 sprinkled, to remind

00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:37.279
 each other of the

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.400
 depth of God's

00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:39.300
 amazing grace.

00:31:40.380 --> 00:31:41.280
 By getting

00:31:41.280 --> 00:31:42.500
 alongside each

00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.280
 other, giving that

00:31:43.280 --> 00:31:45.880
 vital support to

00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:46.920
 hold on to the

00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.980
 hope that we have.

00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:51.040
 By responding to

00:31:51.040 --> 00:31:51.860
 the needs and

00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.820
 concerns of each

00:31:52.820 --> 00:31:53.220
 other with

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.860
 compassion.

00:31:55.180 --> 00:31:56.480
 And by making it a

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.800
 priority to gather

00:31:57.800 --> 00:31:59.660
 with God's people.

00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:02.019
 The church family

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:04.460
 is God's means of

00:32:04.460 --> 00:32:05.319
 enabling us to

00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:07.200
 experience the

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.200
 full effects of

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.980
 the gospel, the

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.039
 good news of

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:11.000
 Jesus Christ.

00:32:11.940 --> 00:32:12.799
 And we're never

00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.859
 going to know all

00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.819
 that Christ has to

00:32:14.819 --> 00:32:15.139
 give us.

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.920
 We'll never explore

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:18.519
 the depths of the

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.619
 riches of Christ

00:32:19.619 --> 00:32:22.059
 apart from the

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:22.519
 church.

00:32:23.339 --> 00:32:24.440
 He's given us the

00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.299
 church so we can

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:27.859
 go deeper with

00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.660
 all that he has

00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:29.339
 to give us.

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:32.059
 That's why we

00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:32.659
 bother with

00:32:32.659 --> 00:32:33.179
 church.

00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:36.119
 That's why we

00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:37.740
 meet together.

00:32:39.439 --> 00:32:41.039
 Let's pray.

00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:56.980
 This is a prayer

00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:57.859
 that comes from

00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:59.279
 2 Thessalonians

00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.740
 chapter 2

00:33:00.740 --> 00:33:01.500
 verse 16.

00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:03.539
 Just listen to

00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.039
 this prayer.

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.299
 May our Lord

00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.379
 Jesus Christ

00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:08.859
 himself and God

00:33:08.859 --> 00:33:09.899
 our Father who

00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.859
 loved us,

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.940
 and by his

00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:14.259
 grace gave us

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:15.299
 eternal

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:17.339
 encouragement and

00:33:17.339 --> 00:33:18.059
 good hope.

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.460
 Encourage our

00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:22.460
 hearts and

00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:24.639
 strengthen us in

00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:26.019
 every good deed

00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:27.460
 and word.

00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:30.259
 And all God's

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.000
 people said,

00:33:31.879 --> 00:33:32.559
 Amen.