WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.500 In 2016, the Oxford Dictionary selected post-truth as its word of the year, as it does every year. 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:19.160 It selects a word that sort of captures Western civilisation's vibe at that time. 00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:21.679 So post-truth was 2016. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:39.179 And it defines post-truth as an adjective relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal beliefs. 00:00:39.179 --> 00:00:53.019 It's a word that dates back to 1992, but its usage exploded by 2000% in 2016. 00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:55.340 Sorry, 2016. 00:00:55.899 --> 00:00:57.239 In 2016. 00:00:59.760 --> 00:00:59.939 Why? 00:01:01.379 --> 00:01:06.539 The US presidential election, which saw Donald Trump elected as president. 00:01:06.540 --> 00:01:18.540 An election campaign marked by so many competing and false claims, allegations of fraud and proven mistruths. 00:01:19.820 --> 00:01:31.160 Voices across the political spectrum were quick to condemn the opposition with little or no facts and quick to defend their stance regardless of facts. 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:41.099 Fake news allowed agendas to advance regardless of and often contrary to the actual facts, the truth. 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:48.539 It's hard to think of a better word suited to the spirit of our age than that of post-truth. 00:01:49.479 --> 00:01:55.340 Post-truth has now blossomed into a culture of confusion. 00:01:55.340 --> 00:02:04.939 In a post-truth world, answers to life's big questions no longer need to correspond to reality at all. 00:02:05.620 --> 00:02:10.300 They only need to cater to whatever we personally desire. 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:16.659 The question is, as a society, are we better off? 00:02:18.480 --> 00:02:22.360 You see, confusion only gives birth to more questions. 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:24.900 That's the nature of confusion. 00:02:26.100 --> 00:02:32.420 And more questions only builds anxiety and uncertainty. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:38.500 So we need answers, not just questions. 00:02:38.700 --> 00:02:44.720 And so the title of this series that we're currently in, Your Word, is Truth. 00:02:44.719 --> 00:02:55.500 Now, I understand that we exist in a culture that many people would think that the Bible fits in that category of fake news. 00:02:56.740 --> 00:03:01.719 It was written thousands of years ago over a long period of time. 00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:05.840 And it makes some incredible, in fact, startling claims. 00:03:06.460 --> 00:03:09.099 It claims that there is a God who made the universe. 00:03:09.099 --> 00:03:15.699 It claims that this God sent his son into the world to die on a cross for humanity. 00:03:16.759 --> 00:03:22.659 It claims that Jesus, the son of God, performed miracles, that he was raised from the dead, 00:03:22.919 --> 00:03:29.259 and he is now present with his followers by the Holy Spirit through his word right now. 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:36.060 It claims that he will come back to this earth one day as the universal judge and king, 00:03:36.239 --> 00:03:40.079 wind up history, right every wrong that has ever happened, 00:03:40.259 --> 00:03:44.379 and with his people exist forever in eternal bliss. 00:03:45.519 --> 00:03:47.180 They're extraordinary claims. 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:49.840 Extraordinary claims. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:53.539 And we need some pretty serious evidence to believe them. 00:03:53.539 --> 00:04:02.079 And yet, on the other hand, billions of people over time have believed these claims, 00:04:02.299 --> 00:04:09.099 including some of the smartest people in our world to this day. 00:04:10.979 --> 00:04:13.299 And, in fact, smartest people throughout history. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:18.920 They have believed the claims, and from all different cultures, 00:04:19.699 --> 00:04:22.480 have believed the claims of the Bible are true, 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:26.259 and that they are authoritative over their lives. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.340 And so today, if you've got the St. Paul's app in front of you, 00:04:31.580 --> 00:04:33.939 I encourage you to open it up, open up your Bibles. 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:38.060 We've got really three points here to kind of, 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:41.740 each point's got, well, the first two have got three sub-points, 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:49.160 but to build on last week's assertion that the Bible is true, 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:54.280 and it is reliable for everything in life and faith. 00:04:54.860 --> 00:04:59.160 And the three points are, it's historically reliable, culturally reliable, 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:00.740 and it's personally reliable. 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:03.060 So, first of all, historically reliable. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.720 One of the common accusations today is that the Bible, 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:10.400 and particularly the New Testament accounts about Jesus, 00:05:11.220 --> 00:05:15.140 are written by, if you like, the winners in history. 00:05:16.820 --> 00:05:19.340 And therefore, because it's written by the winners in history, 00:05:19.780 --> 00:05:24.920 no one can really know the original Jesus, what he was really like. 00:05:24.920 --> 00:05:32.620 In fact, the claim is that the claims about his miracles 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:37.100 and the fact that he was divine and that he rose again 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:43.740 were all written much later in history by church leaders 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:47.660 in order to try and get Christianity to spread. 00:05:48.960 --> 00:05:52.660 In other words, it's an attempt for them to build their power base. 00:05:52.660 --> 00:06:00.460 There are, in fact, multiple reasons 00:06:00.460 --> 00:06:05.580 why those particular modern accusations are simply not right 00:06:05.580 --> 00:06:07.940 and, in fact, unfair. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:11.220 But I want to just give you three, very briefly, 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:14.960 three reasons why you can trust the Bible historically 00:06:14.960 --> 00:06:16.420 about what it says about Jesus. 00:06:16.420 --> 00:06:22.759 Firstly, the New Testament accounts about Jesus 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:26.220 are written way too early for them to be legends. 00:06:27.340 --> 00:06:30.460 Take the beginning of Luke that Anne just read out for us. 00:06:31.939 --> 00:06:34.580 Luke has written a biography about Jesus 00:06:34.580 --> 00:06:37.600 and he points out to his readers in verses 2 and 3, 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:39.939 many have undertaken to draw up an account 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:42.160 of the things that have been fulfilled among us 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.360 just as they were handed down to us 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:48.240 by those who from the first were eyewitnesses. 00:06:48.840 --> 00:06:52.520 I myself have carefully investigated everything 00:06:52.520 --> 00:06:54.020 from the beginning. 00:06:54.980 --> 00:06:58.480 I too decided to write an orderly account for you. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:03.920 Now, Luke is writing 30 to 40 years after Jesus 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:06.680 and he makes the point 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:09.580 that lots of people 00:07:09.580 --> 00:07:13.379 who were eyewitnesses of Jesus 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:15.720 post his resurrection 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:18.319 are still alive 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.040 and you can check the facts with them. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:26.140 Now, writing even closer 00:07:26.140 --> 00:07:28.960 than Luke, 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:31.720 closer to the events of Jesus' life 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:32.860 was the Apostle Paul. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.660 He wrote letters only 15 to 20 years 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:37.360 after the events of Jesus' life 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:38.600 and he says this 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:40.980 in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 6 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:42.360 about the resurrection of Jesus. 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:44.759 He appeared to more than 500 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:46.100 of the brothers and sisters 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:47.420 at the same time, 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:49.759 most of whom are still 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:51.199 living. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:55.519 Paul could not have possibly written 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:57.719 a public document 00:07:57.719 --> 00:07:59.579 promoting Christianity 00:07:59.579 --> 00:08:02.779 and make a statement like that 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:04.699 unless it was, in fact, 00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:07.399 provable by other eyewitnesses 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:08.240 apart from himself. 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:12.199 Or in Philippians chapter 2, 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:14.879 Paul quotes a hymn 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:16.420 of Jesus' divinity 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:19.300 and if Philippians is written 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:20.540 so close, 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:20.980 in fact, 00:08:21.340 --> 00:08:23.160 potentially his very first letter 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:23.759 that he wrote, 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:25.439 so close to the events 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:26.360 of Jesus' life 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:28.319 and Paul is quoting 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:29.500 in Philippians 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:31.580 something that Christians 00:08:31.580 --> 00:08:32.639 have been declaring 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:35.779 from outside of Philippians, 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:38.600 right from the very early days 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:39.680 as the gathering 00:08:39.680 --> 00:08:40.759 of the early church, 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:43.740 Christians have been worshipping Jesus 00:08:43.740 --> 00:08:45.320 as God himself 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:46.860 from the very beginning. 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:49.740 Not hundreds of years later, 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:52.040 from the very beginning, 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:54.740 they saw him as divine. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:09:00.480 The documents of the New Testament 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:01.920 are way too early 00:09:01.920 --> 00:09:03.620 for people just simply to say 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:05.820 that they just said 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:07.480 whatever they wanted about Jesus 00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:10.020 while thousands of people 00:09:10.020 --> 00:09:11.120 witnessed him in person 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:12.120 were still alive. 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:14.980 You just simply cannot do that 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:15.639 historically. 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:18.240 Secondly, 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:19.639 the documents of the New Testament 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:20.879 are too counterproductive 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:23.179 to be legends. 00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:26.960 Remember that the accusation here 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:27.580 is the Bible 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:29.340 is what the early church leaders 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:31.799 wanted people to believe 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:33.500 in order to build their own power base 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:34.340 and spread Christianity. 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:38.200 So imagine you're one of those church leaders 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:40.700 living, you know, 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:43.840 70, 80, 100, 300 years afterwards 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:48.700 and you make up stories about Jesus 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:50.220 so that people will believe 00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:51.920 your stories about Jesus. 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:55.399 Would you put in those stories 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:56.899 when you're trying to convince people 00:09:56.899 --> 00:09:58.980 that Jesus is divine son of God, 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:00.320 saviour of the whole world, 00:10:01.040 --> 00:10:02.400 a person of perfection, 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.679 would you put in there 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:05.159 stories of Jesus, 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:05.620 for instance, 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:06.959 in the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:10:07.539 --> 00:10:09.019 asking his father 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:10.059 if there's any other way, 00:10:10.199 --> 00:10:10.379 take, 00:10:10.539 --> 00:10:11.899 I don't want this plan, 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:13.139 come up with another plan. 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:16.639 Sweating tears of blood. 00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:18.699 Would you put in there 00:10:18.699 --> 00:10:20.120 Jesus on the cross 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:21.799 crying out to God, 00:10:21.939 --> 00:10:24.100 why have you forsaken me? 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:29.100 Those accounts make look, 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:30.980 Jesus make look like he's, 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:32.360 he wants a different way. 00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:33.459 He wants something, 00:10:33.819 --> 00:10:34.720 some other option. 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:36.879 Makes him look weak. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:40.059 Would you include 00:10:40.059 --> 00:10:41.959 in your first century stories 00:10:41.959 --> 00:10:45.319 that all of the first eyewitnesses 00:10:45.319 --> 00:10:46.759 to the resurrection were women? 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:48.059 You know, 00:10:48.079 --> 00:10:48.980 I know this is Mother's Day, 00:10:49.059 --> 00:10:50.019 so bear with me on this one. 00:10:52.299 --> 00:10:53.679 This was a time 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:55.360 when women's evidence 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:57.539 was not admissible in court 00:10:57.539 --> 00:11:00.980 because of their low social status. 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:03.159 And so on today, 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:04.419 we want to give thanks 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:06.839 to the New Testament documents 00:11:06.839 --> 00:11:07.759 and early Christianity 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:08.779 that changed that. 00:11:10.719 --> 00:11:12.659 Does not oppress women at all. 00:11:12.659 --> 00:11:17.480 all the gospel accounts 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:19.399 say that the original eyewitnesses 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.159 were women? 00:11:20.699 --> 00:11:21.899 And not only that, 00:11:22.539 --> 00:11:23.600 but when you get into 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:24.500 the New Testament, 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:26.919 you see that the apostles themselves 00:11:26.919 --> 00:11:29.259 are far from glowing figures. 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:31.439 They're cowardly, 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:33.079 they're slow to believe, 00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:34.199 they're self-interest. 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:35.600 Why would you include 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.900 any of that 00:11:36.900 --> 00:11:38.879 if you're making it up? 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.520 These stories 00:11:40.520 --> 00:11:41.820 are totally 00:11:41.820 --> 00:11:43.320 counterproductive 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:44.940 for consolidating power 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:46.340 for the early leaders 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.440 of the Christian movement. 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:49.520 Thirdly, 00:11:50.400 --> 00:11:51.920 they're also too detailed 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:53.300 to be legends. 00:11:54.020 --> 00:11:55.640 Ancient myths and novels 00:11:55.640 --> 00:11:57.700 were never written like this. 00:11:58.800 --> 00:12:00.660 Never written like this. 00:12:01.620 --> 00:12:02.860 That is the current form 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:04.100 that we have with novels today, 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:04.960 I think, for instance, 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:06.440 the Da Vinci Code, 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:07.740 where it mixes 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:09.720 a little bit of history, 00:12:10.640 --> 00:12:12.020 historical facts, 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:14.320 with a completely 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:17.460 a bunch of legends in there 00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:19.100 to make people think 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:20.320 that it's written as history. 00:12:21.160 --> 00:12:25.320 That is a very modern phenomenon 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.100 in terms of a writing style. 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:29.540 Ancient legends 00:12:29.540 --> 00:12:31.879 were never written in that way. 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.700 The New Testament doctrines 00:12:35.700 --> 00:12:36.320 of Jesus 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.840 don't have the forms 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:38.340 of legend. 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:39.240 They are written 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.820 too early to be legends 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:42.620 and they are too 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:43.540 counterproductive 00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:44.240 to be legends. 00:12:47.420 --> 00:12:48.379 You need to be able 00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:49.140 to trust them. 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:51.520 You go, 00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:52.220 hang on a bit, Steve, 00:12:52.259 --> 00:12:52.759 you haven't seen anything 00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:53.620 about the Old Testament. 00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:55.280 I haven't got time 00:12:55.280 --> 00:12:56.180 to go into that detail. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:57.040 There are plenty of books 00:12:57.040 --> 00:12:58.020 written about that as well 00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:59.020 in terms of the reliability 00:12:59.020 --> 00:12:59.960 of the Old Testament. 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:01.700 But briefly, 00:13:01.820 --> 00:13:02.560 let me just say, 00:13:03.300 --> 00:13:04.180 if you can trust 00:13:04.180 --> 00:13:05.560 what the New Testament 00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:06.680 says about Jesus, 00:13:07.180 --> 00:13:07.759 you can trust 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:08.460 what Jesus says 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.300 about the Old Testament. 00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:10.940 And Jesus saw 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:11.780 the Old Testament 00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:13.740 as authoritative. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.960 And it was true. 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:19.160 He quoted virtually 00:13:19.160 --> 00:13:20.660 every book 00:13:20.660 --> 00:13:21.500 of the Old Testament 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:24.860 and called them 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:25.440 the Scriptures, 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:26.820 God's Word. 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:29.659 Secondly, 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.580 my second point 00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:32.340 is that we can trust 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:33.480 the Bible culturally. 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:34.639 Now, I think it's true 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:35.879 to say that modern people 00:13:35.879 --> 00:13:37.179 care less about 00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:38.360 historical reliability 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:40.720 of the Bible 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:41.700 because they're more 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:42.919 troubled by the cultural 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:44.159 aspects of the Bible. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:46.460 That's more of a problem 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.399 for the modern person. 00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.700 They consider the Bible 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:49.200 offensive, 00:13:49.679 --> 00:13:49.980 primitive, 00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:51.259 backward, 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.539 in its views. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:54.840 The Bible offends 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:56.080 Sydney-siders 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:58.220 in multiple ways. 00:13:58.779 --> 00:13:59.840 Multiple ways. 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:02.019 And it's a long list 00:14:02.019 --> 00:14:02.759 of ways 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:04.720 that's constantly 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:06.399 moving 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:07.279 and changing. 00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:09.360 So here's 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:10.399 three considerations 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:11.580 of any bit 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:12.139 of the Bible 00:14:12.139 --> 00:14:13.179 that might offend you. 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:14.179 Three considerations. 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:15.179 Firstly, 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:17.220 consider the possibility 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:18.960 that it isn't teaching 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:19.700 what you think 00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:20.279 it's teaching. 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:22.360 when you read it. 00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:23.799 For instance, 00:14:24.139 --> 00:14:25.659 I could never understand 00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:27.379 why some of the 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:29.059 great spiritual heroes 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:30.500 of the Old Testament 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:32.439 had so many wives. 00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.639 When I first read it, 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.799 and I see in the New Testament, 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:36.240 you know, 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:39.059 the leaders of God's church 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:39.419 must have been 00:14:39.419 --> 00:14:40.139 a husband 00:14:40.139 --> 00:14:41.360 of one wife. 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:42.120 And it's like, 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.459 polygamy didn't seem 00:14:43.459 --> 00:14:44.459 to be a New Testament thing, 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:45.860 but was in the Old Testament thing. 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.759 And I could never understand 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.540 why 00:14:48.540 --> 00:14:50.360 that was the case. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:52.480 Until I realized 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.480 that the Bible 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.580 was not in any way 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:55.360 endorsing it. 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:57.460 It was actually, 00:14:57.700 --> 00:14:59.000 when you read the accounts 00:14:59.000 --> 00:14:59.940 in the Old Testament, 00:15:00.420 --> 00:15:00.980 the Bible 00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:02.060 is actually 00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:03.180 subverting it. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:05.940 In every case 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:07.480 where polygamy 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:08.500 is practiced, 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:10.400 it goes bad. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:11.159 And the Bible 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:12.139 records it 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:13.779 going bad. 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.980 There's never a case 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.439 of polygamy 00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:17.279 in the Old Testament 00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:18.100 where it, 00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:19.139 and they lived 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:20.240 happily ever after, 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:22.659 husband with 700 wives. 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:24.340 Never 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.539 do you see that 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:26.559 in the Old Testament. 00:15:27.659 --> 00:15:28.779 Families break down, 00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.860 lives are ruined, 00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.439 physically, 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:31.340 spiritually, 00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:31.980 emotionally, 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:32.759 relationally. 00:15:33.159 --> 00:15:34.299 The Bible shows us 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:36.379 consistently how bad it is, 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:38.179 even as it records it. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.139 That is, 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:42.659 the Bible 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.779 wasn't endorsing 00:15:43.779 --> 00:15:44.459 something that I 00:15:44.459 --> 00:15:45.539 thought it was endorsing. 00:15:45.579 --> 00:15:46.220 It wasn't teaching 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.899 something that I 00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:47.720 thought it was teaching. 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:48.939 Secondly, 00:15:49.459 --> 00:15:50.379 please consider the 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:51.840 possibility that you 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.819 are misunderstanding 00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:53.720 what the Bible 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.879 teaches because of 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.559 your own cultural 00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:57.899 blind spots 00:15:57.899 --> 00:15:59.059 and personal 00:15:59.059 --> 00:15:59.620 preferences. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.980 Luke 24, 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:04.240 verses 20 and 21. 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:05.220 Anne just read that 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:05.919 out to us on the 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:06.679 road to Emmaus. 00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.340 Sorry, 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.379 it's the account 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:09.059 of the road to Emmaus. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:09.879 Anne wasn't there. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:12.399 We see these early 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:14.779 disciples 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:16.699 had misunderstood 00:16:16.699 --> 00:16:18.639 the prophecies 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.899 about the Messiah, 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.639 the Old Testament 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.199 Messiah. 00:16:21.959 --> 00:16:23.179 As Jews, 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:26.019 their blind spots 00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:26.659 were they were 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:27.899 only thinking 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.120 about the redemption 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.860 of Israel, 00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:32.279 not the whole world. 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:35.120 They had a cultural 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.100 blind spot 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:36.759 that meant 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.779 that they in fact 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:38.819 misread 00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:39.639 scripture 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:41.439 and couldn't 00:16:41.439 --> 00:16:41.919 therefore 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:43.019 understand 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.799 Jesus. 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.919 And the modern 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:47.699 person does the 00:16:47.699 --> 00:16:48.179 same thing 00:16:48.179 --> 00:16:49.179 on so many ways. 00:16:49.620 --> 00:16:50.500 So many ways. 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.879 That long list 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.480 of offensive 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.319 to Sidneysiders. 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.679 Let me just 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:56.559 raise one. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:57.819 Slavery. 00:16:59.199 --> 00:17:00.259 One accusation 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.439 is that the Bible 00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.639 condones slavery 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:04.400 when we clearly 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:05.059 know as modern 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:05.879 people that it's 00:17:05.879 --> 00:17:06.240 wrong. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:06.299 wrong. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.460 And therefore, 00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:09.000 if it's wrong 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.059 on this issue, 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.900 then how can we 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:12.539 trust the Bible 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:13.579 on any 00:17:13.579 --> 00:17:14.559 moral and 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.380 ethic issue? 00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:17.539 It just needs 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:18.480 to update itself. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:20.940 So the question 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.180 is, 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:22.019 does the Bible 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:23.180 actually condone 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:23.620 slavery? 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.579 Now there are 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:26.299 parts of the New 00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.700 Testament 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.519 when Paul tells 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.299 slaves to obey 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:28.920 their masters 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.839 and we go, 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.120 ah, 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:30.680 there we go, 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.420 there it is, 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:31.920 right there. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:35.340 In the New 00:17:35.340 --> 00:17:36.539 Testament letter 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:39.460 of Philemon, 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:41.220 Paul is 00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.600 addressing a 00:17:42.600 --> 00:17:43.420 relationship between 00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:44.259 a master and 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:44.900 his servant. 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:46.800 And as Paul 00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:47.620 unpacks this 00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:48.400 relationship, 00:17:49.060 --> 00:17:50.340 it is clear 00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.779 that it's not 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.920 the same kind 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.660 of relationship 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.360 that we would 00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:55.060 call slavery. 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:55.159 slavery. 00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:58.339 When we read 00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:58.819 the word 00:17:58.819 --> 00:18:01.019 slave in our 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:02.379 cultural context, 00:18:02.579 --> 00:18:04.059 we automatically 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:05.339 turn our minds 00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:06.539 back to the 00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.139 17th, 00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:07.799 18th and 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:08.960 19th century 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.159 and modern 00:18:10.159 --> 00:18:10.839 slavery. 00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:14.319 Race-based, 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.460 ethnic minority 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.740 slavery. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:17.839 slavery. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.599 And we 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:20.519 import our 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.440 cultural blind 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.880 spot into 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:24.120 every time we 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:24.779 read the word 00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.319 slavery. 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.259 When we read 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.940 the Bible with 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.620 those cultural 00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.599 blinders on, 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.299 we are 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.140 misunderstanding 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:32.420 what the 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:32.940 Bible is 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:33.339 teaching. 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:34.640 In the 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.380 Greco-Roman 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:36.019 world, 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:37.120 slaves were 00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:37.740 not 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.960 distinguishable 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.620 from everyone 00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:40.660 else by race 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:41.500 or by the 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.000 way that they 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.740 spoke or by 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:43.200 the clothing 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:43.579 that they 00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:43.960 wore. 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.019 They looked 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:45.819 and lived 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:46.660 like everyone 00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.500 else and 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:47.960 were not 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:49.180 segregated off 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:50.220 as part of 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.779 society. 00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.259 Slaves were 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.180 often quite 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.119 educated and 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:54.859 even more 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:56.279 highly educated 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.160 than their 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:57.920 masters and 00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.420 therefore they 00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.000 held high 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.559 positions. 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:00.480 Therefore you 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.119 see that in 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:03.339 Luke 16. 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.180 High 00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:05.859 managerial 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:06.440 positions. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.359 Slaves also 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.119 made the same 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:10.119 wages as 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:11.339 free labourers 00:19:11.339 --> 00:19:12.940 and therefore 00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.940 over time 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.720 they were able 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.299 to save 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:15.740 themselves, 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:16.259 save the 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.019 money up and 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.339 to buy 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.019 themselves out 00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.559 of slavery. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.779 The average 00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:21.420 slave worked 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:22.339 for a master 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:23.900 in the first 00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:25.559 century for 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:26.400 less than 10 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:26.960 years. 00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:28.599 It was not a 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:30.359 lifelong oppressive 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.480 relationship. 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.799 It was the 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.400 purpose of 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:34.000 paying back 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.500 debts. 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:37.500 So as soon 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.220 as we get 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:38.879 our modern 00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:39.660 mindset of 00:19:39.660 --> 00:19:40.299 slavery and 00:19:40.299 --> 00:19:41.019 impose it on 00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.559 the Bible, 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.139 we have 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.680 completely 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.279 misunderstood 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:45.700 scripture and 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.039 what it's 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.779 actually teaching 00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.079 in that 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:47.420 moment. 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.839 So and I 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.399 want to add 00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.180 those who 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.319 historically have 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.099 to use the 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:57.980 Bible to 00:19:57.980 --> 00:19:58.680 defend the 00:19:58.680 --> 00:19:59.859 practice of 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.879 kidnapping and 00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:03.160 enslaving people 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:04.599 such as in the 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:06.599 slave trade of 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.500 the modern era, 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:10.380 they have read 00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:11.279 the Bible through 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.319 their own cultural 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.299 blind spots as 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.640 well and they 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:15.259 are wrong. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.759 In the same 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.619 way we are 00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:20.599 wrong if we 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.200 read the Bible 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.759 through our own 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.240 cultural blind 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.839 spots now. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:26.480 Thirdly, 00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:28.299 consider the 00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.319 possibility that 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:29.779 you are being 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.779 offended by the 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:32.440 Bible because of 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:33.119 an assumption 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:34.279 that your cultural 00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.480 moment is in fact 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.740 superior to all 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.279 others. 00:20:38.360 --> 00:20:39.099 This is 00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:40.779 offence 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:42.700 because I 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:43.279 am superior. 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.319 Often that 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.519 assumption has 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.500 never been tested 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.940 and it's actually 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.519 never been 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.019 personally 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.680 acknowledged. 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:53.460 The reason we 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.299 are offended by 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.140 some biblical 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:57.019 passages is 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.099 because it is 00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:59.200 culturally offensive 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.559 in my own 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.819 cultural moment. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.180 But 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:06.779 in other 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:08.299 cultures in 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.120 this moment 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:10.799 and in other 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:11.480 cultures from 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.460 the past, 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:14.620 they have no 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.680 problem with 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.759 the exact same 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.299 text. 00:21:21.060 --> 00:21:22.160 On the other 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:22.700 hand, the 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.700 passage we think 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.880 is fine today, 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.360 we're happy 00:21:26.360 --> 00:21:26.880 with, 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.500 they have a 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.140 problem in 00:21:31.140 --> 00:21:31.779 their culture 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:32.519 right now with 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.240 those texts 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.379 and in the 00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:34.940 past. 00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.700 You see, in 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:37.920 our progressive 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:39.379 individualistic 00:21:39.379 --> 00:21:40.319 Western society, 00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:40.920 what the Bible 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:41.500 says about 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:43.259 sex is like 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.379 such a 00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:44.720 problem. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:46.639 But what it 00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:47.139 says about 00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:47.940 forgiveness, 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.519 that's pretty 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:49.859 good. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:51.720 Love each 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:51.980 other. 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.139 Go to the 00:21:55.139 --> 00:21:55.599 Middle East 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:57.200 today and 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.700 what the Bible 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.240 says about 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.420 sex is pretty 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.279 good, probably 00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:01.019 not strict enough 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.400 but pretty 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:01.720 good. 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.279 What it 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.799 says about 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.240 forgiveness, 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.379 that's a 00:22:05.379 --> 00:22:05.720 problem. 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:07.819 That's a 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.259 problem in 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.059 a shame and 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.819 honour culture 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:10.779 and particularly 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.200 a shame 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:11.599 culture. 00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:12.960 That's a 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.220 problem. 00:22:14.819 --> 00:22:15.680 If we are 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.339 offended by 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:16.980 something in 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:17.619 the Bible, 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.379 I'd want to 00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:20.220 ask, why 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.019 should your 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.660 cultural 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.619 sensibilities 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.480 trump everyone 00:22:23.480 --> 00:22:24.240 else's? 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:29.720 it's a 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:29.980 little bit 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.339 arrogant? 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.740 Could even 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:37.120 say it's a 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:37.339 little bit 00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:37.900 racist. 00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:41.539 Why get 00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.160 rid of the 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.799 Bible because 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.700 it offends my 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.460 culture at 00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.140 certain points? 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.059 After all, 00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.240 for the 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.599 liberal 00:22:50.599 --> 00:22:51.259 progressives 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.059 amongst us, 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:53.700 the young 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.500 ones who 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.339 sit over 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:55.879 the authority 00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.099 of the 00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.359 Bible, 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:56.759 the old 00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.200 ones who 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:57.599 sit over 00:22:57.599 --> 00:22:58.099 the authority 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.299 of the 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.659 Bible in 00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.179 this moment, 00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.039 just a 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.319 little bit 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:01.799 of a tip. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:02.679 Your 00:23:02.679 --> 00:23:03.319 grandchildren 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:03.879 and great 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.440 grandchildren 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:04.799 are going 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.379 to find a 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:05.659 lot of 00:23:05.659 --> 00:23:06.079 what you 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.899 think today 00:23:06.899 --> 00:23:09.000 is very 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.579 embarrassing. 00:23:11.559 --> 00:23:12.039 They're going 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:12.359 to think 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:13.119 exactly the 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.519 same of 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:13.720 you. 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:15.839 Your 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:16.419 cultural 00:23:16.419 --> 00:23:17.240 progressiveness 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:17.819 is going 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.659 to be seen 00:23:18.659 --> 00:23:19.679 as conservative 00:23:19.679 --> 00:23:20.440 and traditional. 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:21.640 in about 00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:22.440 50 years. 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:23.960 Of course, 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:24.220 you don't 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:24.660 know which 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.080 bits, 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:26.259 but it 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:26.559 will be 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:26.820 true. 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:30.240 Don't 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:30.720 miss out 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.180 on all 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.860 the Bible 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:32.400 and the 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:32.680 Christian 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:33.200 faith has 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.700 to offer 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.380 just because 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:34.960 you won't 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.900 let go 00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.460 of some 00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.620 cultural 00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.500 truth 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:41.480 that in 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.480 50 years 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:42.779 will be 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.180 considered 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.779 a joke. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.799 If the 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:48.740 Bible really 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.599 is God 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:50.059 revealing 00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:50.720 himself to 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:51.339 creation 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:53.220 and it's 00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.819 not the 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.480 product of 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.339 any specific 00:23:55.339 --> 00:23:56.440 culture as 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.259 I have said 00:23:57.259 --> 00:23:58.380 multiple times 00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.039 over the last 00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.599 five to ten 00:23:59.599 --> 00:23:59.960 years, 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.539 wouldn't it 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:02.980 therefore 00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:04.640 contradict 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:06.539 every culture 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:07.500 at some 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:07.920 point 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:10.839 and even 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.299 have to 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:11.940 offend 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.940 every culture 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:13.620 at some 00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:13.980 point? 00:24:13.980 --> 00:24:18.360 So if 00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:18.880 you read 00:24:18.880 --> 00:24:19.319 it and 00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.019 find some 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:20.319 things 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:20.779 beautiful 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.480 and other 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:21.819 things 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.339 offensive, 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:25.059 then it's 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.440 probably 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.000 true 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:27.819 and from 00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.160 God. 00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:31.140 Lastly, 00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:31.660 it's 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:32.039 personally 00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:32.519 reliable. 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.279 A 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.059 completely 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.660 authoritative 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.980 Bible is 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.940 the prerequisite 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.960 for a 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.519 warm 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.460 personal 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.039 relationship 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.659 with God. 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.420 It is 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:43.839 not the 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:44.180 enemy 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:44.740 of a 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:44.980 warm 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.440 personal 00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:46.000 relationship 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.559 with God. 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:47.799 As I 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.240 said last 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.480 week, 00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:48.799 in fact, 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:49.240 you cannot 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.980 have a 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.359 relationship 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:50.859 with God 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.180 without 00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:51.500 his 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:51.799 word. 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.619 It's 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:56.480 like for 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.119 you who 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:57.639 are Christian 00:24:57.639 --> 00:24:58.420 and you 00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:58.700 are not 00:24:58.700 --> 00:24:59.440 regularly in 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.059 your word, 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.139 it's like a 00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:01.700 wedding day 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.740 where you 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.519 make promises 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.019 and don't 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.460 communicate 00:25:04.460 --> 00:25:05.159 with your 00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:05.639 spouse from 00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:05.960 then on 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.220 in. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:11.500 have a 00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:11.779 look at 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.660 Luke 24 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.160 32 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.620 where the 00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:15.079 disciples 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:15.980 reflect back 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.319 on their 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.019 journey along 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:17.680 the road to 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.259 Emmaus. 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.420 Were not 00:25:19.420 --> 00:25:20.100 our hearts 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:21.259 burning within 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.799 us while 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.740 he talked 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.339 with us on 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.059 the road and 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.000 opened the 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.660 scriptures to 00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.059 us? 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.799 In the 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.200 Bible, 00:25:31.140 --> 00:25:32.100 the heart 00:25:32.100 --> 00:25:32.720 is the 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:33.700 centre of 00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:34.100 the whole 00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.559 person. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.879 It's not 00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:36.399 just the 00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:37.119 seat of 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.859 the emotions. 00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:39.500 Hearts 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.419 burning here 00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:40.859 in Luke 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:42.099 24 means 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:43.379 a full 00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:44.859 life-changing 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.980 personal 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.720 encounter with 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.139 God. 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:50.259 And they 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:50.960 experienced 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:51.720 something here 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.000 in this 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.440 moment that 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:52.700 they have 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:52.980 never 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.460 experienced 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.000 before. 00:25:54.919 --> 00:25:55.899 And when 00:25:55.899 --> 00:25:56.240 did they 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:56.839 experience 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:57.119 it? 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.579 When he 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.399 opened the 00:26:01.399 --> 00:26:02.000 scriptures to 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.379 us. 00:26:02.380 --> 00:26:04.680 when the 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.100 Bible, 00:26:05.260 --> 00:26:05.920 its meaning 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.760 was properly 00:26:06.760 --> 00:26:07.460 open to 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:07.720 them, 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:08.760 when they 00:26:08.760 --> 00:26:09.460 understood 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:09.960 what it 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.360 meant, 00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:12.280 that is 00:26:12.280 --> 00:26:12.840 the way 00:26:12.840 --> 00:26:14.480 into this 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:14.800 deep 00:26:14.800 --> 00:26:15.440 relationship. 00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:16.520 And notice 00:26:16.520 --> 00:26:16.800 how it 00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:17.100 happens. 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.460 Verses 00:26:17.460 --> 00:26:18.080 20-21, 00:26:18.280 --> 00:26:18.600 they say 00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:19.680 Jesus died, 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:21.360 but we had 00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:22.360 hoped that 00:26:22.360 --> 00:26:22.760 he would be 00:26:22.760 --> 00:26:23.480 the one who 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:24.020 would save 00:26:24.020 --> 00:26:24.440 us. 00:26:26.020 --> 00:26:26.900 And Jesus 00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.500 calls them 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:27.960 out for 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:28.860 being foolish 00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:30.200 and slow 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.620 to believe 00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:31.120 the Bible. 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:32.839 way to 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:33.279 win friends 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:33.679 and influence 00:26:33.679 --> 00:26:34.079 people. 00:26:35.239 --> 00:26:35.599 Why did 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:35.759 they 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.339 misunderstand? 00:26:36.719 --> 00:26:37.619 Verse 27, 00:26:38.719 --> 00:26:39.479 beginning with 00:26:39.479 --> 00:26:41.019 Moses and 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.639 all the 00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:42.059 prophets, 00:26:42.179 --> 00:26:42.479 in other 00:26:42.479 --> 00:26:42.859 words, 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:44.659 Old 00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:45.119 Testament, 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.179 he explained 00:26:47.179 --> 00:26:47.559 to them 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:48.239 what was 00:26:48.239 --> 00:26:49.019 said in 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.859 all the 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.500 scriptures 00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.559 concerning 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.059 himself. 00:26:53.419 --> 00:26:53.939 He is 00:26:53.939 --> 00:26:54.379 saying that 00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.359 every single 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:55.859 thing in the 00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.439 Bible is 00:26:56.439 --> 00:26:57.079 about him. 00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:00.379 Too many 00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:01.020 people have 00:27:01.020 --> 00:27:01.840 walked away 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:02.320 from the 00:27:02.320 --> 00:27:02.660 Christian 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:04.060 faith and 00:27:04.060 --> 00:27:04.580 the Bible 00:27:04.580 --> 00:27:05.580 because they 00:27:05.580 --> 00:27:06.320 have misunderstood 00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:07.780 that central 00:27:07.780 --> 00:27:08.480 point in 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:09.260 verse 27. 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.600 It's all 00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.460 about Jesus. 00:27:13.520 --> 00:27:14.560 If we think 00:27:14.560 --> 00:27:15.500 the Bible is 00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.320 somehow about 00:27:16.320 --> 00:27:18.820 us and 00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:19.200 what we 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.020 must do 00:27:20.020 --> 00:27:21.300 and how 00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:21.760 we must 00:27:21.760 --> 00:27:22.480 live, 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.680 then we 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.200 don't need 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:26.620 it as a 00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.020 saviour who 00:27:27.020 --> 00:27:27.320 will die 00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:27.900 for us. 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:30.360 all we 00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.140 need is 00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:32.080 simple rules 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:32.420 and a 00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:32.780 code of 00:27:32.780 --> 00:27:33.320 conduct 00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:35.160 and therefore 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:36.000 in the 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.740 modern times 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.580 it is 00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.180 regressive. 00:27:40.180 --> 00:27:40.800 There are 00:27:40.800 --> 00:27:41.240 only two 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.680 ways to 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:41.960 read the 00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:42.259 Bible. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.660 Read it 00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.160 as if it 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:45.460 was all 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.080 about us 00:27:46.080 --> 00:27:46.320 and what 00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:46.720 we must 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.440 do or 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:48.800 we can 00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:49.560 read every 00:27:49.560 --> 00:27:50.160 part of 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.160 it as 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:51.720 if it 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.220 is about 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.780 him. 00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:53.940 It is 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.259 about 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.820 Jesus 00:27:54.820 --> 00:27:56.080 and what 00:27:56.080 --> 00:27:56.460 he has 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:56.860 done. 00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.480 And if 00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:58.720 you're in 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.140 a community 00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.800 group right 00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:00.220 now, 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.960 you're 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.340 working 00:28:02.340 --> 00:28:02.980 through that 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.640 process of 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:04.180 understanding 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.560 how the 00:28:04.560 --> 00:28:05.700 whole Bible 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:07.519 is connected 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.160 to Jesus. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.540 If you're 00:28:09.540 --> 00:28:09.940 not in a 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.200 community 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.580 group, 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.420 jump into 00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.160 that space 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.080 and have 00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:13.560 your eyes 00:28:13.560 --> 00:28:14.040 opened. 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.460 The whole 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.360 Bible points 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:17.940 to Jesus 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:18.780 and explains 00:28:18.780 --> 00:28:19.720 Jesus and 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.400 everything is 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.120 achieved for 00:28:21.120 --> 00:28:21.620 us in 00:28:21.620 --> 00:28:22.100 dying in 00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:22.759 our place 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.900 for our 00:28:23.900 --> 00:28:24.259 sin. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:24.900 The 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:25.660 exodus from 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:27.360 slavery in 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:27.819 Egypt, 00:28:27.959 --> 00:28:28.859 where Jesus 00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:29.599 started with 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.119 these guys 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.599 on the road 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.219 to Emmaus, 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.039 the sacrificial 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:32.859 lamb and 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:33.439 the passing 00:28:33.439 --> 00:28:34.240 over of 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.619 God's 00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.659 judgment is 00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.399 all about 00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:36.839 Jesus. 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.139 When the 00:28:38.139 --> 00:28:38.859 Bible is 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.399 all about 00:28:39.399 --> 00:28:40.099 Jesus and 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:40.439 what he's 00:28:40.439 --> 00:28:41.079 achieved for 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:42.279 us out of 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.740 his love 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.399 for us, 00:28:43.719 --> 00:28:44.759 that's when 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.159 the Bible 00:28:45.159 --> 00:28:45.959 gets personal. 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.500 That's when 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:49.059 it becomes 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.740 an encounter 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.379 with him, 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:51.819 a deep 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.359 relationship 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:52.899 with him. 00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:54.780 And so 00:28:54.780 --> 00:28:55.620 my conviction 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.800 from both 00:28:56.800 --> 00:28:57.840 experience and 00:28:57.840 --> 00:28:58.340 the teaching 00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:58.640 of the 00:28:58.640 --> 00:28:59.580 Bible itself 00:28:59.580 --> 00:29:00.740 is that the 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.940 most effective 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:03.840 means for 00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:04.620 bolstering 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:06.620 confidence in 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:08.720 the Bible is 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.940 not so much 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.860 what I'm doing 00:29:11.860 --> 00:29:12.660 right now and 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:13.560 did last week, 00:29:14.460 --> 00:29:15.680 building arguments 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:16.320 about the 00:29:16.320 --> 00:29:17.340 authority and 00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:18.140 the truthfulness 00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:19.420 of the Bible, 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:21.259 but in fact 00:29:21.259 --> 00:29:21.960 to spend time 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.779 in the Bible, 00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:24.420 reading the 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.960 Bible with 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:25.660 Jesus at 00:29:25.660 --> 00:29:26.160 the centre. 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.860 Put it like 00:29:27.860 --> 00:29:28.279 this, 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.560 I could tell 00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:31.580 you right 00:29:31.580 --> 00:29:33.539 now that 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.600 honey is a 00:29:34.600 --> 00:29:35.640 substance made 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.680 from several 00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.640 bee species. 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.779 Bees produce 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.600 honey by 00:29:40.600 --> 00:29:42.539 gathering and 00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.460 then refining 00:29:43.460 --> 00:29:45.080 the sugary 00:29:45.080 --> 00:29:46.360 secretments of 00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:47.279 plants or 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:48.180 secretments of 00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:49.160 other insects. 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:51.279 this refinement 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.120 takes place 00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:52.759 within the 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:53.779 individual bees 00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:55.519 through regurgitation 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.480 and enzymic 00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.120 activity. 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.259 And honey 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.259 is sweet 00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:04.060 because of 00:30:04.060 --> 00:30:04.539 its high 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.400 concentrations 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:06.420 of simple 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.120 sugars like 00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:08.500 fructose and 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:08.860 glucose. 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:10.240 In fact, 00:30:10.300 --> 00:30:10.740 it has the 00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.500 same relative 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.900 sweetness as 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.539 white sugar. 00:30:14.060 --> 00:30:14.860 One standard 00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:15.920 teaspoon of 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.220 honey provides 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.140 over 190 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:20.460 kilojoules of 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.360 food energy. 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.319 It is a 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:24.019 remarkable, 00:30:24.380 --> 00:30:25.259 remarkable 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:28.240 sweet bit 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.600 of food. 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.380 And I 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:30.819 could tell you 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.059 that. 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:32.980 It's all 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:33.480 true, 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:35.319 but the best 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:35.759 thing I could 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.420 do for you is 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.100 not tell you 00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:37.519 about the 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.039 sweetness of 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.279 honey, 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:38.319 honey, 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:41.440 but to 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.000 get some 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.799 and to 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.180 put it 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:44.559 on a 00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.019 spoon 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:49.519 and taste 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:49.819 it. 00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:53.819 And of 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:53.960 course, 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.960 then do 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.399 something with 00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:56.759 your insulin 00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.119 pump. 00:31:02.399 --> 00:31:03.000 I'll do 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.379 that in a 00:31:03.379 --> 00:31:03.599 moment. 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:05.659 Make some 00:31:05.659 --> 00:31:06.279 adjustments for 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:06.500 that. 00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.319 In other 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.740 words, 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.819 if you 00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.500 don't get 00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:13.960 it then, 00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:14.639 I could sit 00:31:14.639 --> 00:31:14.899 here and do 00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:15.359 a lecture 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:16.539 about the 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.059 sweetness of 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:17.319 honey, 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.299 and you 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:18.639 can walk 00:31:18.639 --> 00:31:19.159 away with a 00:31:19.160 --> 00:31:19.519 bunch of 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:19.920 facts. 00:31:21.120 --> 00:31:21.519 Reliable 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.019 facts. 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.860 But what 00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:25.519 you need to 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:25.880 do to 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:26.740 really get 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.380 the facts, 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:28.580 you need to 00:31:28.580 --> 00:31:29.140 stick it on 00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.160 a spoon, 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:30.700 you need to 00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:31.420 taste it. 00:31:32.800 --> 00:31:33.400 Taste that 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:33.759 it is, 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.300 in fact, 00:31:34.580 --> 00:31:35.220 good. 00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:37.320 And if at 00:31:37.320 --> 00:31:37.980 that point, 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.380 that is, 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.140 you don't get 00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.660 it until you 00:31:40.660 --> 00:31:41.380 taste it, 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:41.980 and if you 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.680 don't get it 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.200 once you've 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:43.900 tasted it, 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:46.180 there's 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.540 nothing more 00:31:46.540 --> 00:31:46.880 I can do 00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:47.220 for you. 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:50.060 there's 00:31:50.060 --> 00:31:50.400 nothing more 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:50.720 I can do 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.060 for you. 00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:52.680 And so, 00:31:52.800 --> 00:31:53.320 as King 00:31:53.320 --> 00:31:54.420 David invited 00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.100 others to 00:31:55.100 --> 00:31:55.620 join him 00:31:55.620 --> 00:31:56.100 in Psalm 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:56.600 34, 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.340 verse 8, 00:31:57.440 --> 00:31:57.700 so I 00:31:57.700 --> 00:31:58.259 invite you 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.820 to taste 00:31:58.820 --> 00:31:59.400 and see 00:31:59.400 --> 00:31:59.779 that the 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.100 Lord is 00:32:00.100 --> 00:32:00.400 good. 00:32:02.580 --> 00:32:03.120 God 00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:03.940 promises to 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:04.519 bless the 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.240 reading and 00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:05.779 teaching of 00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.440 his word. 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.660 The word 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.140 of God 00:32:09.140 --> 00:32:10.040 itself is 00:32:10.040 --> 00:32:10.580 more than 00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:11.140 enough to 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:11.900 accomplish the 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.400 work of 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:13.420 God in 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:13.900 the people 00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:14.420 of God. 00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:14.900 God 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.660 and there 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.080 is no 00:32:16.080 --> 00:32:16.720 better way 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.900 to understand 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.560 and come 00:32:18.560 --> 00:32:19.440 to embrace 00:32:19.440 --> 00:32:20.560 the truth 00:32:20.560 --> 00:32:20.960 and the 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.500 authority 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.140 and the 00:32:22.140 --> 00:32:22.480 goodness 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:22.980 and the 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.420 rightness 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:23.980 of scripture 00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:24.940 than in 00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.340 fact to 00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:26.019 open it 00:32:26.019 --> 00:32:26.320 up 00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:28.080 and let 00:32:28.080 --> 00:32:28.380 it out 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:28.600 in your 00:32:28.600 --> 00:32:29.100 life. 00:32:34.060 --> 00:32:34.940 And as 00:32:34.940 --> 00:32:35.519 you do, 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:38.519 as you 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:38.860 do, 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:39.840 pray, 00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:41.559 Lord, 00:32:42.179 --> 00:32:42.859 help me 00:32:42.859 --> 00:32:43.359 to taste 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:43.819 and see 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.220 that you 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.639 are good. 00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:44.699 Amen.