WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:17.120 Well, great to see you this morning. Folks, how good has it been to hear the stories from two very different individuals, from two very different places, but with one common theme to what they both said, and it's that this God is in the business of transforming lives. 00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:24.280 It's a testimony of everybody who's a Christian, that I was lost, as we've been singing, and Jesus found me. 00:00:25.060 --> 00:00:30.380 So here's what I want you to do. We're just going to go for 15, 20 minutes this morning. If you've got a Bible, there's some in the pews there. 00:00:30.500 --> 00:00:36.840 Turn to Matthew chapter 9 and verse 9, and this is where we're going to be just for a few moments' time. 00:00:36.840 --> 00:00:46.260 But let me ask you, as we try and get into this passage this morning, to consider when was the last time you went to a really good party, right? 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:50.640 And I mean a really good party, that you left and you thought, oh, wasn't that great? 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:59.320 People throw all sorts of different parties in our day. I had a wee go at thinking of the parties that I've heard of in our day. 00:00:59.380 --> 00:01:01.439 I've been to a few of these. I won't tell you which. You can guess. 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:05.299 But maybe raise your hand if you've been to some of these. We'll start it easy. What about a birthday party? 00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:09.280 Yeah, a few of us have been to a birthday party. What about an anniversary party? 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:13.840 A few of us have been to an anniversary party. Let me just up the temperature slightly. 00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:19.640 Who's been to a royal wedding party? Nobody's been to a royal wedding party. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:23.700 Too embarrassed to admit it. How about this one then? What about a bake-off party? 00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:31.740 Thane's been to a bake-off party. What about an X-Factor party? These were all the rage a few years ago. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:34.820 Some of us. What about a murder mystery party? 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:38.080 Yeah, an 80s themed party. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:40.640 What about a Hogmanay party? 00:01:41.739 --> 00:01:45.340 And let's take it right back to the 90s. What about a roller disco party? 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:47.500 Do you remember those things? They were great when I was growing up. 00:01:48.459 --> 00:01:51.859 But let me tell you the one that I'm on the hunt for at the minute with two little girls. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:56.759 The one that my wife and I have our ears to the ground for at the minute are chicken pox parties. 00:01:57.039 --> 00:01:58.980 Can't wait for a chicken pox party. 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:05.420 So if you know any children who have the sudden urge to itch, do you give me a call, okay? 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:06.579 Chicken pox party. 00:02:06.579 --> 00:02:09.139 I didn't even know that was a thing until last year, I tell you. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:12.599 But here's what I want to do just for a few minutes as we close this service today. 00:02:13.340 --> 00:02:16.680 I want to tell you about a man in the Bible that we read about who threw a party. 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:20.120 He threw a party. Now what kind of party was it? 00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:24.800 Well, come with me to these verses and we'll meet this guy and we'll see what kind of party he threw. 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:26.680 This guy is called Matthew. 00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:33.199 And Matthew lives in and around this little place in the north of Israel called Capernaum. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:36.060 And I'll tell you just a little bit about Matthew. 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:39.219 Matthew, he's, for starters, he's not a very popular guy. 00:02:40.659 --> 00:02:43.780 Okay, I think that's probably, actually, it's an understatement really. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:46.219 The truth is that he's hated by the locals. 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:51.900 Matthew's the kind of guy that gets spat at every time he walks down the street. 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:55.020 Matthew's the kind of guy who gets heckled every time he goes to the shops. 00:02:55.420 --> 00:02:59.599 Matthew's the kind of guy that as soon as he enters a bar, the tumbleweed begins to roll. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:00.400 This is Matthew. 00:03:01.859 --> 00:03:03.419 And I'll tell you why he's hated. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:05.560 It's because of what he does for a living. 00:03:06.659 --> 00:03:07.900 He's a tax collector. 00:03:09.579 --> 00:03:12.719 You see, in this day, the occupying force in Israel are the Romans. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:19.319 And what the Romans did to fund their empire is that they collected taxes from the locals. 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:23.419 And what they did to collect those taxes, and if you think about this, this is really clever, 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:29.020 is that they hired local citizens to do their dirty work for them. 00:03:29.020 --> 00:03:37.760 So when we read about a tax collector in the Bible, we're reading about a Jew who has sold out, as it were, to the Romans. 00:03:38.300 --> 00:03:41.700 And what he does for a living is that he takes taxes from his own people, 00:03:41.760 --> 00:03:45.460 and he gives them to the people who are considered the enemy, gives them to the Romans. 00:03:45.860 --> 00:03:48.280 And he takes a little slice of the pie for his trouble. 00:03:49.020 --> 00:03:52.980 So you can imagine if the two defining features of your life are, 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:56.400 firstly, that you've sold your soul to the dark side, 00:03:56.400 --> 00:04:00.800 and then secondly, that you're stinking rich because of that thing, 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:06.599 then you can imagine that you are the face on every single person's dark board at home. 00:04:07.259 --> 00:04:08.780 Okay, this is Matthew. 00:04:10.020 --> 00:04:16.019 But one day, Matthew meets Jesus, and everything changes for him. 00:04:16.980 --> 00:04:17.860 Here is what we read. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:19.759 This is Matthew chapter 9, verse 9. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:20.800 It reads this, 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:22.519 And Jesus went on from there. 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:30.500 Okay, so here we are. 00:04:30.759 --> 00:04:34.539 It's just an everyday, it's just another day for Matthew. 00:04:34.919 --> 00:04:36.139 He's going about his everyday business. 00:04:36.259 --> 00:04:36.859 What's he doing? 00:04:36.939 --> 00:04:37.439 Do you see it? 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:38.120 What's he doing? 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:40.120 He's just sitting there. 00:04:41.979 --> 00:04:42.899 He's just sitting there. 00:04:44.219 --> 00:04:46.419 But this is more than just an eyewitness detail. 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:50.719 Remember, this is Matthew himself that's telling us about how he met Jesus. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:52.080 This is more than an eyewitness detail. 00:04:52.420 --> 00:04:55.020 This is telling us where Matthew's at in life. 00:04:56.280 --> 00:04:56.540 Right? 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:58.900 He's not standing to attention for Jesus. 00:04:59.060 --> 00:05:01.300 He's not standing on his tiptoes looking for Jesus. 00:05:01.420 --> 00:05:04.420 He's just sitting there, not all that interested in Jesus. 00:05:05.980 --> 00:05:07.280 What's he interested in? 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:09.060 You can imagine, what's he interested in? 00:05:09.840 --> 00:05:10.600 In his money. 00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:11.780 Right? 00:05:12.440 --> 00:05:14.100 He's planning how he's going to spend it. 00:05:14.100 --> 00:05:17.780 He's counting it up, thinking about that extension he's going to put on the house. 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:22.300 He's thinking about that cruise he's going to go on around the med because I just need a bit of time off. 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:24.160 Matthew's not thinking about Jesus. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:26.580 But do you know what? 00:05:28.240 --> 00:05:29.800 Jesus is thinking about Matthew. 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:35.720 And what happens as Matthew is sitting there, and you can picture it in your minds. 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:36.400 Get into this. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:41.399 He's sitting there, and he looks up, and there's this man staring right at him. 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:42.339 Right? 00:05:44.259 --> 00:05:48.439 And he thinks to himself, that's this Jesus character I've heard all about. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:55.219 And Jesus doesn't say, hey, Matthew, do you fancy grabbing a coffee, going through Christianity Explored? 00:05:56.179 --> 00:05:57.779 He says two words to Matthew. 00:05:57.899 --> 00:05:58.439 Get this. 00:05:58.439 --> 00:05:59.740 Not get out. 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:01.560 Not be better. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:02.959 Not clean up. 00:06:03.079 --> 00:06:06.100 He says, verse 9, follow me. 00:06:07.620 --> 00:06:09.339 Follow me. 00:06:10.120 --> 00:06:11.040 Isn't that interesting? 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:16.519 Because what this tells us is that Jesus Christ is no surface level saviour. 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:21.620 He's not in the business of simply seeing people behave better. 00:06:21.620 --> 00:06:32.120 And this is what we've heard from both Pete and Garrett today, that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, is in the business of holistically transforming lives from the inside out. 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:39.600 Of taking hearts of stone, and by his grace, through the work of the Spirit, giving us a heart of flesh that beats for him. 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:43.439 And here he is in pursuit of Matthew's life. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:53.980 And even more amazing than that, in response to what Jesus says, Matthew doesn't think about it. 00:06:54.779 --> 00:06:56.240 Matthew doesn't weigh it up in his head. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:59.879 Matthew gets up and he follows. 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:02.480 Just like that. 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:03.240 Isn't that amazing? 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:05.759 He just gets up and he follows. 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:09.500 This man, Jesus, speaks and people respond to him. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:12.740 And let's not kid ourselves, this is a massive call for Matthew here. 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:13.780 A massive call. 00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:14.939 Think about it. 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:19.699 In one sense, he has got absolutely everything to lose. 00:07:19.780 --> 00:07:28.439 I mean, if you're the guy that's got tax collector on your CV, and this one goes belly up, and you have to look for another job, you've got tax collector on your CV. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:31.340 I tell you what, every interview that you go for, do you know what they're going to say? 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:32.439 Listen, don't call us. 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:34.240 We'll call you. 00:07:35.660 --> 00:07:36.439 Because do you know what? 00:07:37.540 --> 00:07:39.960 Business you used to be in, not a chance. 00:07:41.280 --> 00:07:42.439 Matthew's giving it all up. 00:07:42.740 --> 00:07:43.460 To follow Jesus. 00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:47.780 That's in one sense, but in a much greater sense. 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:53.620 As Matthew stares this man in the face, there's something about him. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:08:01.120 But as Matthew calls, sorry, as Jesus calls, Matthew can't not but say yes. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:08.980 It's as if Jesus has reached into his heart, into the darkness of his heart, and he's flipped on the lights. 00:08:10.100 --> 00:08:11.519 And says, let there be light. 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:18.199 And for Matthew, his life in this moment, in an instant, is flipped upside down. 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:22.099 And that's the story of every single Christian. 00:08:22.099 --> 00:08:24.620 That we were not looking for Jesus. 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:28.980 But boy, are we glad that he came looking for us. 00:08:29.399 --> 00:08:30.860 That he cared enough. 00:08:31.100 --> 00:08:34.560 That he loved me enough to come and seek me out. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:38.379 And as people told us about him. 00:08:38.379 --> 00:08:39.159 That's how we heard. 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:40.139 This is how we heard. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:42.039 People told us about him. 00:08:42.119 --> 00:08:52.099 And as we met him, as we read about him in the pages of the Bible, as he stepped off the pages, and he called us to follow him, we could not but say yes. 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:54.480 That's who this guy is. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:09:04.580 And maybe you're here today, and Jesus, as you hear him speak from the pages of Scripture, is looking at you in the eye today, and he's saying to you, turn around, come to me. 00:09:05.460 --> 00:09:06.360 Follow me. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:20.360 And so Matthew thinks to himself, see if Jesus is interested in a failure like me, if he's interested in what we sang earlier, in a wretch like me. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:21.940 And do you know what? 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:23.840 I've got to introduce him to my mates. 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:26.600 I've got to introduce him to my friends. 00:09:26.680 --> 00:09:27.540 And who are his mates? 00:09:27.639 --> 00:09:29.300 Who's in his phone book? 00:09:29.379 --> 00:09:30.560 Who's on his Facebook? 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:32.560 Tax collectors and sinners. 00:09:32.680 --> 00:09:35.180 I mean, these are the worst of the worst in society. 00:09:35.180 --> 00:09:42.060 These outcasts, the notorious, the moral messes, the spiritual and religious failures. 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:43.779 This is the most motley of crews. 00:09:43.899 --> 00:09:45.340 This is who Matthew hangs out with. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:50.500 But what Matthew says to himself is, if Jesus is interested in me, do you know what? 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:51.800 I've got to tell my friends. 00:09:52.100 --> 00:09:53.540 Because he'll be interested in them too. 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:58.379 And what he does, if you've been watching Michael McIntyre, this is where I got this idea from, right? 00:09:58.440 --> 00:09:59.240 He gets his phone. 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:00.680 And what does he do? 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:02.220 He does assent it all. 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:05.259 And he says, hey guys, do you know what? 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.660 Come to mine for dinner tonight. 00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:12.279 Come to mine for dinner tonight and meet a man who has transformed my life. 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:14.440 And verse 10, here's what goes on. 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:22.340 Verse 10, while Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:26.720 So what's amazing is that they came to the party, his friends. 00:10:26.780 --> 00:10:30.240 But what's even more amazing is that Jesus and his disciples came to the party. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:36.080 So there is Jesus and there he is right there with the shunt of society. 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:38.980 There he is listening to them. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:47.299 There he is chatting with them, eating with them, interested in them, getting up close into their lives and saying, I'm here. 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:49.059 I'm here. 00:10:51.199 --> 00:10:51.979 And do you know what? 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:56.159 He is breaking all sorts of religious and social etiquette here, right? 00:10:56.219 --> 00:10:57.759 He's not just eating with the wrong hand. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:07.899 What he's doing here is crossing all sorts of religious and social borders that have been put up by people in this society. 00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:12.439 Because in this day, to eat with somebody is more than to associate with them. 00:11:12.519 --> 00:11:16.199 It's almost to approve of them, to say that you're interested in them. 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:21.920 And that's why the Pharisees, the religious leaders of this day, they can't quite get their heads around this. 00:11:22.020 --> 00:11:23.320 And did you see how they don't go for Jesus? 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:24.360 They go for his disciples. 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:26.480 And they say, why does your teacher eat with these people? 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:32.080 And verse 11, what would they say? 00:11:34.220 --> 00:11:36.980 Why does your teacher eat with these tax collectors and sinners? 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:37.820 Well, why does he? 00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:42.620 I mean, on the one hand, this is so weird, isn't it not? 00:11:42.620 --> 00:11:46.779 God in the flesh and here he is at this party with these people. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.740 This is so weird. 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:54.720 But once you understand who Jesus is, then this is classic Christ. 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:56.240 Right? 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:05.480 Here he is, involved in people's lives, calling people to leave their life of sin and to repent and come to him and have life. 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:08.580 And explains what he's doing. 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:09.139 Do you see it? 00:12:09.300 --> 00:12:11.800 Using an everyday illustration from the world of medicine. 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:16.200 And you don't need to have spent five years at medical school to get this one. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:19.620 You don't need to have spent five years playing theme hospital to get this one. 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:23.039 You don't need to have spent five years playing operation to get this one. 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:23.759 What does he say? 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:24.620 Verse 12. 00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:28.159 It's not the healthy who need a doctor. 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:30.300 But the sick. 00:12:32.539 --> 00:12:33.300 There it is. 00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:37.359 Jesus is saying the sick need a doctor. 00:12:39.079 --> 00:12:40.599 And they'll die if they don't get a doctor. 00:12:40.719 --> 00:12:42.259 They'll die if they don't get medical treatment. 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:44.719 He's not talking about physical sickness. 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:46.899 I'm sure these people, they're wealthy, they're healthy. 00:12:47.699 --> 00:12:49.479 He's talking about spiritual sickness. 00:12:50.859 --> 00:12:53.919 And the thing is, we're all sin sick. 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:58.500 Our sin, our rebellion, this is what the guys both said, 00:12:58.500 --> 00:13:02.139 against God, our creator, the one who made us gloriously in his image. 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:06.779 Our sin, our rebellion against him, that we want to go our way, not his way. 00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:09.179 That sin, it deserves his judgment. 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:11.159 And it means left to ourselves. 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:13.139 We are all running a hell-bound race. 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:15.100 And we need forgiveness. 00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:21.059 And we need to be made right with the God who made us. 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:28.539 And God so loved us that he sent his son, Jesus, 00:13:29.739 --> 00:13:32.459 who came not just to prescribe the cure, 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:39.079 but who came to be the cure for sin-sick sinners like you and like me. 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:46.879 And this great physician would trade places with us as he gives his life on the cross, 00:13:46.940 --> 00:13:49.780 taking the punishment that our sins deserve on himself, 00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:54.960 and giving us forgiveness in life as he reaches in to the recesses of our hearts 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:55.840 and says, do you know what? 00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:56.320 You're mine. 00:13:57.180 --> 00:13:57.879 You're mine. 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:02.580 You see, Jesus isn't saying that it's only the really bad people of the world 00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:04.660 who are sick and the rest are healthy. 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:06.759 This is him outing the Pharisees, 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:08.939 these religious teachers who are in the background here. 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.019 And every single heart like theirs ever since 00:14:13.019 --> 00:14:17.419 that refuses to accept the diagnosis that we are sick and it's terminal. 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:21.679 And the result of their hardness of heart, 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:26.000 they turn down that gracious offer from Jesus to intervene and to save them. 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:27.419 Let me ask you, is that you today? 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:33.480 Thinking that it's what's going on on the outside 00:14:33.480 --> 00:14:36.600 that matters before God rather than what's going on on the inside 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.740 that God is interested in. 00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:39.500 That's these religious leaders to a T. 00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:43.639 And Jesus says lovingly to them, 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:47.320 chaps, if that's what you think makes you right before God, 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:49.720 listen, let me tell you lovingly, you're kidding yourself. 00:14:51.420 --> 00:14:54.180 And he says, quoting from Hosea chapter 6, 00:14:54.340 --> 00:14:56.720 that passage, if you want to check it out in your own time, 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:59.720 is where God is rebuking a generation of his people 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:02.039 for having immaculate sacrifices, right? 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:04.339 Immaculate by having rotten hearts in the inside. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:09.120 And Jesus is saying to this generation and here, 00:15:09.299 --> 00:15:10.240 that you're just like that. 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.860 And God, do you know what? 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:14.419 He desires not your sacrifice. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:16.299 He desires mercy. 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.839 Desires mercy. 00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:22.199 Because if you truly had a heart for God, 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.779 you'd be doing exactly what I'm doing. 00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:26.860 You'd be running towards these people who do not know God. 00:15:27.079 --> 00:15:29.339 You'd be running towards these people who are far from him. 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.620 And you'd be caring for them. 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:32.019 You'd be pleading with them. 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:35.440 And you'd be calling them to turn around and to run to the God 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:37.800 who offers life, forgiveness, and peace. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.420 And I think this massively challenges us as a church. 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.820 It massively challenged me this week as I thought about it 00:15:44.820 --> 00:15:48.899 to ask myself whether I share Jesus' heart for people. 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:52.899 You know, and whether I'm... 00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:56.899 Even got that on my radar to pursue people. 00:15:57.579 --> 00:15:59.179 Meeting them not where I'm at. 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.600 Meeting them where they're at. 00:16:00.819 --> 00:16:03.620 With the aim of introducing them to Jesus. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:07.120 It's a big challenge, isn't it? 00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:10.179 But this is the kind of saviour that we have. 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:13.220 And praise God that that is the case. 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:17.779 Because people throw all sorts of parties, don't they? 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:20.899 Throw all kinds of parties. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.639 Well, let me ask you the question I asked you at the start. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:23.879 What kind of party is this? 00:16:25.160 --> 00:16:26.279 What kind of party is this? 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.420 This is an 80s themed party. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.600 Probably not given the date. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:30.240 But what's going on here? 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.779 What's Matthew throwing? 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:33.879 What title would you give it? 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:35.920 Do you know what I'd give it? 00:16:36.920 --> 00:16:38.519 This is a come and meet Jesus party. 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:41.180 It's kind of what's going on this morning, isn't it? 00:16:41.179 --> 00:16:43.299 And these two are saying to us, 00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.959 listen, come and meet a man. 00:16:45.459 --> 00:16:48.219 Come and let me tell you about a man who's transformed my life. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.279 And the thing about this party 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.819 is that Matthew's still inviting people to it. 00:16:56.059 --> 00:16:59.419 Because so enthralled was Matthew with Jesus. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:02.159 Do you know what Jesus called him when he wasn't looking for him? 00:17:02.199 --> 00:17:04.019 He said, come and be one of my 12 disciples. 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:05.419 What an incredible privilege. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:08.700 But Matthew took the time to write a whole book about Jesus. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.880 Who he is. 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.400 What he did. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:14.120 The people that he met. 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:16.600 And why there's simply nobody like him. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.700 And why did he write that? 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:23.519 He wrote it because he wanted people in the generations to come 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:26.259 to pick up Matthew's gospel. 00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:30.140 And to come to know Jesus for themselves. 00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:33.680 And let me ask you, if you're here today, 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:36.120 have you ever done that? 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:39.959 Was it not fascinating that Garrett said in his story 00:17:39.959 --> 00:17:42.859 that he researched the facts for himself? 00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:46.039 Let me ask you, do you need to go and research the facts? 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:47.599 Do you know where you'll find the facts? 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:49.039 You'll find the facts here. 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:52.500 Matthew's taking the time to write to us 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.799 so we can know about Jesus. 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.219 The best place to start 00:17:56.219 --> 00:17:58.479 is to read about them for yourself. 00:17:59.739 --> 00:18:00.939 Another great place to come, 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.219 mentioned it earlier, 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.379 to come to Costa tonight, 00:18:03.459 --> 00:18:04.119 just around the corner, 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.739 six o'clock, 00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:07.419 we'll be thinking about more encounters 00:18:07.419 --> 00:18:09.239 with people that Jesus had. 00:18:10.199 --> 00:18:12.359 And our prayer for everybody 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.719 that comes into this church, 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:15.279 and our prayer for our world, 00:18:15.959 --> 00:18:19.599 is that people would come to meet him for themselves 00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:21.559 and they would share in the song 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.579 that's right at the heart 00:18:22.579 --> 00:18:24.399 of every single Christian testimony 00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.519 as we sing about Jesus. 00:18:25.659 --> 00:18:26.199 And it's this. 00:18:26.439 --> 00:18:27.319 We sang it earlier. 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:28.960 Amazing grace. 00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:31.019 How sweet the sound 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:33.480 that saved a wretch like me. 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.439 I once was lost, 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.439 but now I'm found. 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.179 Was blind, 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:39.960 but now I see. 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.079 This is the Jesus 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.179 who we meet 00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:44.879 in the Gospels. 00:18:45.299 --> 00:18:45.879 Let me ask you, 00:18:45.919 --> 00:18:47.899 do you know him as your saviour and king this morning? 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:49.359 I'm going to pray 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.519 and then we're going to stand 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:51.619 and sing our closing song. 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:52.399 But just as we pray, 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:54.639 why don't we take just 30 seconds or so 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.680 and let's just be quiet 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.020 as we respond to everything 00:18:57.020 --> 00:18:59.280 that's gone on this morning. 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.440 And then I'll close in prayer. 00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:09.259 Heavenly Father, 00:19:09.320 --> 00:19:10.800 we thank you so much for today. 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:14.700 And this service 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:17.300 that has helped us 00:19:17.300 --> 00:19:19.500 re-grasp that truth 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:21.880 and to celebrate it, 00:19:22.600 --> 00:19:23.800 that you are the God 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.940 who is in the business 00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:26.720 of transforming lives. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.480 And so, Father, 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:30.200 I pray that you would help us this week 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:32.799 as we continue to think on these things 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:35.779 to glory in the person 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:37.240 of your son, Jesus Christ. 00:19:37.579 --> 00:19:39.000 And it's in his wonderful name 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.519 that we pray. 00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:40.180 Amen. 00:19:40.180 --> 00:19:40.319 Amen.