WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:16.780
 Hi, my name is George Sinclair. I'm the lead pastor of Church of the Messiah. It is wonderful

00:00:16.780 --> 00:00:20.519
 that you would like to check out some of the sermons done by Church of the Messiah,

00:00:20.620 --> 00:00:24.359
 either by myself or some of the others. Listen, just a couple of things. First of all,

00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:30.839
 would you pray for us that we will open God's Word well to His glory and for the good of people

00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:36.939
 like yourself? The second thing is, if you aren't connected to a church and if you are a Christian,

00:00:37.460 --> 00:00:42.239
 we really, I would really like to encourage you to find a good local church where they believe the

00:00:42.239 --> 00:00:48.899
 Bible, they preach the gospel, and if you have some trouble finding that, send us an email. We will do

00:00:48.899 --> 00:00:55.039
 what we can to help connect you with a good local church wherever you are. And if you're a non-Christian

00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:00.259
 checking us out, we're really, really, really glad you're doing that. Don't hesitate to send us

00:01:00.259 --> 00:01:05.259
 questions. It helps me actually to know, as I'm preaching, how to deal with the types of things

00:01:05.259 --> 00:01:07.759
 that you're really struggling with. So God bless.

00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:21.780
 Let's just bow our heads in prayer, just before we open God's Word. Father, we are Canadian Christians,

00:01:22.380 --> 00:01:26.880
 and sometimes, Father, we're very Canadian, and sometimes, Father, we're very Christian,

00:01:27.080 --> 00:01:34.480
 and we often get them confused. Father, the text before us is good news from you,

00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:41.900
 but it is good news that troubles many Canadians. We ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would work

00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:47.980
 a work of healing in our hearts, that we might love this good news, that we might trust it,

00:01:48.460 --> 00:01:53.780
 that we might be willing to share it, and that you would use us, Father, so that many would come

00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:58.760
 to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, Father, we ask that you would do this gentle but

00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:04.100
 powerful work in our lives today, and we ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:05.680
 Please be seated.

00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:14.620
 Just setting my timer, not checking Instagram or anything like that, just setting the timer.

00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:21.520
 So I know that some people will be watching this service downstream, and they didn't hear any of

00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:26.360
 the other service, and so what I'd like to do is I want to read that the passage that we're going to

00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:35.120
 be looking at today is very un-Canadian and makes Canadians squirm. What Victor read just earlier,

00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:38.120
 at sort of the very center of the text, is we read,

00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:57.200
 Now, as I said, this is a very un-Canadian text, and if you're here and you're maybe outside of the

00:02:57.200 --> 00:03:01.319
 Christian faith or you're trying to figure out whether you'll stay within the Christian faith,

00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:06.359
 or if you're watching this and you're just trying to figure things out, a lot of Christians feel a

00:03:06.359 --> 00:03:11.259
 little bit uncomfortable with a text like this. So let's walk towards it. We're going to look at the

00:03:11.259 --> 00:03:17.359
 text. It's in the Bible, but we're going to look at it sort of in the whole context. And by the way,

00:03:17.419 --> 00:03:22.799
 just so you know, the context doesn't mean that we can undermine the text. The context is going to make

00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:28.960
 the text even more precious and even more important. So we're not looking at the context so we can go,

00:03:29.320 --> 00:03:35.040
 Oh, okay, we don't have to care about. No, no, no, no. When you look at the context, the verse becomes even

00:03:35.040 --> 00:03:43.120
 more important and even more precious. So let's look. It begins Acts chapter 4, verse 1. And what we're doing

00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:51.420
 is the book of Acts is an ancient eyewitness-based history of the early Jesus movement.

00:03:51.419 --> 00:04:00.259
 It was probably written in the mid-60s. If you go on Wikipedia and Google when Luke was written,

00:04:00.359 --> 00:04:05.619
 they're going to tell you that it was written like 80s or 90s. There's actually no evidence at all that

00:04:05.619 --> 00:04:09.879
 the text was written that late. All of the evidence is that the text was written sort of when I'm

00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:16.120
 describing it, which is in the mid-60s. So it's been written. It's describing the first 30 years or so

00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:21.060
 of the Jesus movement. And Luke, as a historian, is telling you true stories. But he's, of course,

00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:24.980
 selecting. He can't tell everything that happened throughout the Mediterranean over 30 years.

00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:32.420
 And so in the flow of the book, we don't have a precise time marker here. But it's probably,

00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:38.500
 I don't know, a couple of weeks, maybe a month or so after Pentecost. And so the other way to look

00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:43.300
 at it is it's maybe somewhere between three to four months after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

00:04:43.300 --> 00:04:49.040
 Jesus. And the story is taking place in Jerusalem. And what we just looked at last week, the part just

00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:55.879
 before this, is that Peter and James go to the temple to pray. And on their way, they see a regular

00:04:55.879 --> 00:05:02.580
 beggar, a beggar who's sort of a local, a guy who begs there all the time. And he's been crippled from

00:05:02.579 --> 00:05:08.740
 birth. And they heal him. In the name of Jesus, he gets healed. He stands up. He walks around and

00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:14.759
 draws a huge crowd. And then Peter gives an impromptu speech. He's filled with the Holy Spirit,

00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:20.819
 gives an impromptu speech. And now the story takes place immediately as the speech is coming to an end.

00:05:20.919 --> 00:05:23.939
 And here's what happens. Chapter 4, verse 1.

00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:30.420
 And as they, that's Peter and John, were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the

00:05:30.420 --> 00:05:37.459
 temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and

00:05:37.459 --> 00:05:45.240
 proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until

00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:52.040
 the next day, for it was already evening. But note this. But many of those who had heard the word

00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:59.819
 believed. And the number of the men came to about 5,000. We don't really know why he only counts

00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:04.220
 men in this case. It could just be that in the ancient world, it's a bit of a mark of strength,

00:06:04.260 --> 00:06:07.980
 either in terms of religious strength to set up synagogues or military strength.

00:06:08.840 --> 00:06:14.960
 But that means if there's 5,000 men, if you include then children and women, there's well over 10,000

00:06:14.960 --> 00:06:19.800
 people who've become Christians, who've come to believe that Jesus actually did rise from the dead,

00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:24.879
 and he is the Savior. And this is in Jerusalem, and this is in the city where that entire thing,

00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:28.460
 as we're going to see in a moment, could have been put to death if they just showed the body.

00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:34.100
 You know, one of the things I'll say time and time and time again, and it's because it's true,

00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:40.100
 is that most Canadians don't look at the evidence for the resurrection. If they did, they would be

00:06:40.100 --> 00:06:47.360
 shocked at how the best explanation for how the Jesus movement gets going and is underway is found in

00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:52.879
 this text. Now, many Canadians will say, you know, well, those people were a bit primitive. They

00:06:52.879 --> 00:07:01.040
 didn't understand science and stuff like that. It's actually, unlike us, the Jewish people had two

00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:06.939
 reasons why they didn't think the resurrection happened. We only have one. So the ancient people

00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:10.840
 back then, they would have had the same reason that we do. They would have had unbroken human

00:07:10.840 --> 00:07:17.199
 experience. We would try to mistakenly call it things like scientific laws. Scientific laws just

00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:22.719
 express regularities. That's actually basically just what they do. These things regularly happen.

00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:30.439
 And so we would just have, they would say in the ancient world that they had unbroken human

00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:35.300
 experience that what happens after death is decomposition of the body, not resurrection.

00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:39.879
 They have unbroken human experience, and they have face-to-face experience with this.

00:07:40.419 --> 00:07:46.219
 We often don't see death because, you know, funeral homes handle it and all of that type of stuff.

00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:51.400
 But the Jewish people in the day had two, another reason why they didn't believe that the resurrection

00:07:51.400 --> 00:07:56.980
 of Jesus was possible. It depends on which denomination you're part of. If you were part of the Sadducees,

00:07:57.180 --> 00:08:02.140
 you would say, well, not only do we have unbroken human experience that Jesus didn't rise from the dead,

00:08:02.220 --> 00:08:08.140
 that dead people don't rise. The second thing is that the Bible teaches us that there is no such

00:08:08.140 --> 00:08:12.880
 thing as resurrection. That's the Sadducees. If you were in a different denomination, they have a different

00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:19.959
 few, and they would just say, the Bible teaches that when the resurrection happens, everybody gets

00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:26.019
 resurrected at the same time. So why would people have been uncurious about the fact that the grave

00:08:26.019 --> 00:08:30.439
 was empty? They would just say, hey, listen, you say that Jesus rose from the dead and you see him,

00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:35.879
 but if that's the case, then why is it that two weeks ago your Aunt Sarah, she died? Why is it that a

00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:40.539
 month ago, you know, your Uncle Moishe, he died? He didn't come back to life. So therefore,

00:08:40.539 --> 00:08:44.279
 the resurrection is impossible. The Bible tells us that. That's what they would think.

00:08:45.599 --> 00:08:50.679
 And that's one of the things why, if you'll notice, if you now go back and you read the book of Acts,

00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:55.620
 you'll see that when Peter and others talk about the resurrection of Jewish people, they'll always

00:08:55.620 --> 00:09:01.740
 bring in Bible texts to help show them that they've misread the Bible, that in fact the Bible points

00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:10.680
 to the fact that the Messiah would die and rise from the dead. But a bit of an aside. What happened

00:09:10.680 --> 00:09:16.740
 in this story here right now? Remember the whole thing begins, a man's healed, there's a speech,

00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:23.340
 Peter and John say it's because of Jesus that the man is healed, and now they're arrested. So what we

00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:29.639
 actually see here, it's a very helpful thing to remember. What that Peter and John are experiencing

00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:35.539
 is what most of the world experiences today, and what most human beings have experienced throughout

00:09:35.539 --> 00:09:45.299
 history, which is, you get arrested if you annoy the powerful. Like, just be very honest,

00:09:46.199 --> 00:09:53.600
 if you were in Gaza under Hamas, they don't care about what's legal. I mean, if they have laws,

00:09:53.600 --> 00:10:00.480
 the laws are completely and utterly empty. If you annoy Hamas, you get arrested. It's as simple as

00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:04.860
 that. And that's how it's been throughout most of human history, and it's still true for most of

00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:10.320
 the world cultures today. It's still basically true in Canada that you can't get arrested just

00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:16.040
 because you annoy powerful people. But some of us have come from countries where we know that's just

00:10:16.040 --> 00:10:20.639
 what happens. You annoy the powerful people, you get arrested. So Peter and John haven't done anything

00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:26.659
 wrong, but they've annoyed the powerful people. And so even though there's this wonderful miracle,

00:10:26.819 --> 00:10:32.600
 they get arrested, and they spend the night in jail. So what happens next? Well, verse 5.

00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:39.500
 On the next day, their rulers, their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem

00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:45.360
 with Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly

00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:50.500
 family. And when they had set them, that is Peter and John, in their midst, they inquired,

00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:56.980
 by what power or by what name did you do this? Now, I just sort of have to pause for a second.

00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:05.300
 Peter and John are two lower working class, uneducated guys. I mean, they might have known

00:11:05.300 --> 00:11:10.539
 how to read. They probably did know how to read. But they were basically fundamentally uneducated.

00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:17.539
 Most people in the ancient world at that time were not educated. And the language that he has used

00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:24.179
 is to describe what we now know of as the Sanhedrin. And so there were 71 people. So Peter and John are

00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:34.159
 crammed into a relatively small room. There's 71 people made up of the educational and wealth elite

00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:42.259
 of the country. And the Sanhedrin met in a semicircle. So literally, Peter and John are in the middle of

00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:50.039
 this semicircle, 71 people plus guards and secretaries and scribes. And Peter and John are in the middle.

00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:57.159
 They've just spent a night in jail. And one of the things which they would have been very, very conscious

00:11:57.159 --> 00:12:03.799
 of is that these are the very same men who three or four months earlier sentenced Jesus to death.

00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:15.079
 And that's where they are. They're surrounded by the powerful. And these are the same guys that's

00:12:15.079 --> 00:12:20.879
 charged, had Jesus put to death. And Jesus was innocent. He was not guilty of any crime.

00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:27.419
 Now, so one of the things that's very helpful for you when you're reading a biblical narrative is to ask

00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:33.700
 yourself a question. For those of you who are watching and you're maybe not familiar with the Bible,

00:12:33.779 --> 00:12:38.519
 you don't know that this is a bit of a problem that Christians who know the Bible very well can start to have.

00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:44.299
 And the problem is this. We're so familiar with the story, some of us, that we just assume that everything

00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:50.200
 that happens is necessary, but it's not necessary. Imagine for a moment, not knowing what's going to happen next,

00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:56.480
 we got to go back in time. We were able to speak Aramaic and speak to Peter and John. What advice would we give them?

00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.920
 Like, what advice would we give them?

00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:05.200
 Let's say it was me. A similar type of situation.

00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:09.840
 Probably some of you would be shaking your head and saying, you know that Sinclair,

00:13:10.540 --> 00:13:14.640
 he should have known that if he said that in the temple, they're going to arrest him.

00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:17.680
 Like, that was a bit foolish on George's part, don't you think?

00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:21.059
 And probably many of you would have said, yeah, it's a little bit foolish.

00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:23.799
 You know, he should have had a lawyer with him.

00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:28.339
 And so if you got a chance to be with me just before I went out, you might say, you know, George,

00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:33.899
 don't lie, but why don't you put a little bit of, figure out if there's a way to have some oil on troubled

00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:38.799
 waters, like, you know, to maybe just dampen the fire, like, don't get people excited.

00:13:39.859 --> 00:13:42.939
 You wouldn't say this to me because I'm ancient of days.

00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:48.140
 You know, John was probably only about 15, and Peter was maybe 30-ish.

00:13:48.920 --> 00:13:51.680
 And so you might say to them, you know, John, listen, you have years ahead of you.

00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:53.160
 Peter, you have years ahead of you.

00:13:53.520 --> 00:13:54.960
 Peter, you have a wife and kids.

00:13:55.920 --> 00:13:57.580
 John, you'd like to have a wife and kids.

00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:01.740
 Like, this isn't a time to do something that's going to get you into further trouble.

00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.660
 That's probably what we'd say.

00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:06.060
 Maybe not, but my guess is that's what we tell them to do.

00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:07.100
 That would be our advice.

00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:10.080
 So what do Peter and John do?

00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.779
 Well, let's look.

00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:12.460
 Verse 8.

00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:18.040
 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:26.120
 Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man,

00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:29.300
 and by what means this man has been healed,

00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:34.579
 let it be known but to all of you and to all the people of Israel

00:14:34.579 --> 00:14:39.299
 that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified,

00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.979
 whom God raised from the dead,

00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:46.059
 by him this man is standing before you well.

00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:52.519
 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders,

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:54.879
 which has become the cornerstone.

00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:56.319
 It's an Old Testament reference.

00:14:56.320 --> 00:15:00.760
 And there is salvation in no one else,

00:15:01.300 --> 00:15:07.100
 for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

00:15:10.040 --> 00:15:14.580
 In other words, we would have counseled them to do something and they would have ignored us.

00:15:15.020 --> 00:15:19.140
 They were filled with the Holy Spirit and they were very, very, very bold.

00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:23.700
 Now, I'm going to talk about this text,

00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:26.280
 but what I want to do is I want to look at what happens after it,

00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:30.440
 because actually what happens after it helps us to understand the text better

00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:32.800
 and helps us to understand why we have problems.

00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:35.240
 Some Christians have problems with this text.

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.320
 When I say that, I mean,

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:41.740
 no well-trained Christian is going to publicly say they have problems with it.

00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:45.740
 The problems come when we live it in Canada.

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:48.759
 Not what we'd say in church, but when we're outside of church.

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:51.279
 That's when we start to have problems with texts like this.

00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:55.319
 If we're honest with ourselves, we can have problems with it.

00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:57.340
 So let's see what happens,

00:15:57.419 --> 00:16:00.960
 because actually what happens next helps us to understand the text.

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:04.980
 And one of the things which is so brilliant about what goes on in the text

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:09.659
 is we all know that in Canada there's a very growing number of nuns,

00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:11.720
 not like nuns in a religious order,

00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:13.639
 but nuns, N-O-N-E.

00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:16.939
 They'd say that they have no religious affiliation whatsoever.

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:20.659
 And it's very commonplace to critique religion.

00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:25.840
 And what you're seeing in this story is a very profound critique of religion

00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:29.620
 that would outstory whatever a nun would tell you

00:16:29.620 --> 00:16:33.000
 about why they don't believe in any type of religion or spirituality.

00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:37.799
 There's a very profound critique of religion in this text.

00:16:38.019 --> 00:16:39.039
 So see how it works.

00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:40.799
 Verse 13.

00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:42.959
 Now when they saw the...

00:16:42.959 --> 00:16:46.500
 Actually it already comes the mere fact that they've arrested them.

00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:49.579
 Because you see, if you think about it,

00:16:50.719 --> 00:16:52.259
 like...

00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:56.199
 And this would probably be what the average Canadian would say about religion.

00:16:56.479 --> 00:16:58.019
 They'd say they're just hypocrites.

00:16:58.759 --> 00:17:00.439
 They're just giving you their opinions.

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.139
 It's just about power.

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:05.960
 It's just about trying to get other people to do what you want.

00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:07.480
 They give themselves a pass.

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:10.359
 It makes them feel better about themselves than other people.

00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:19.740
 And in this story, you'd think that the Jewish leaders would like God to show up.

00:17:19.740 --> 00:17:23.079
 Like you'd think they'd like that.

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:26.500
 Like they're in the God showing up business.

00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:28.900
 And now God shows up.

00:17:29.620 --> 00:17:32.319
 Like you'd think that if this was in modern day and age,

00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.480
 they'd be hoping that hopefully they'd say,

00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.599
 going around saying,

00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:37.500
 I hope a couple of you got this on camera.

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.039
 On video.

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:40.940
 So we can put it on our webpage.

00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:42.799
 And so we can put it on X.

00:17:42.900 --> 00:17:43.779
 Used to be called Twitter.

00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:45.519
 And we can put it on Instagram and TikTok.

00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:46.759
 And hopefully it'll go viral.

00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:47.759
 And everybody will want to come.

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.119
 That's what they'd be hoping.

00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:51.660
 But instead, they want to shut them up.

00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:54.240
 Right?

00:17:54.299 --> 00:17:54.940
 Well, look what happens.

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.539
 Verse 13.

00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.740
 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John

00:17:57.740 --> 00:18:01.339
 and perceived that they were uneducated common men,

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.579
 they were astonished.

00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:06.379
 And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

00:18:08.119 --> 00:18:09.019
 But by the way, you know,

00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:11.059
 one of the reasons many people in our culture

00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:13.679
 dismiss the evidence of the apostles and Luke

00:18:13.679 --> 00:18:16.359
 is because we think they're uneducated common men.

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:21.359
 I mean, good grief, they didn't even have flush toilets.

00:18:22.179 --> 00:18:23.220
 Definitely didn't have an iPhone.

00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:25.599
 We all know that flush toilets and iPhones

00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:28.439
 are a sign of profound intelligence and wisdom.

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:33.940
 And, but we dismiss them

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:35.640
 because we think they're uneducated in common.

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.660
 They don't know science.

00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:38.500
 Verse 14.

00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:41.259
 But seeing the man who had been healed standing beside them,

00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:42.940
 they had nothing to say in opposition.

00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:46.420
 But when they had commanded them to leave the council,

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:48.340
 they conferred with one another, saying,

00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:49.920
 what shall we do with these men?

00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:53.820
 For that a notable sign has been performed through them

00:18:53.820 --> 00:18:56.080
 as evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem,

00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:57.940
 and we cannot deny it.

00:18:58.440 --> 00:19:01.940
 But in order that it may spread no further among the people,

00:19:02.080 --> 00:19:06.420
 let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.

00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:09.180
 So they called them together.

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:11.960
 They called them and charged them not to speak

00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:14.720
 or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

00:19:15.340 --> 00:19:17.059
 And just sort of pause there for a second.

00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:21.680
 Now, as I said, you know, to many,

00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.900
 I mean, it might very well be

00:19:23.900 --> 00:19:26.600
 that a person who would describe themselves as a nun

00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:28.500
 who's given up on religion and spirituality,

00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:31.599
 who's articulated why religion and spirituality

00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:33.779
 isn't good and valid.

00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:34.980
 They might look at this story and go,

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:36.199
 that's actually pretty surprising,

00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:37.439
 although it sort of contradicts

00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:39.339
 there's no other name under Jesus to be saved.

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.799
 But here's the thing.

00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:46.980
 What this Bible text reveals to us is a profound human problem.

00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:51.039
 And the profound human problem is this,

00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:55.619
 that you and I often confuse calculating

00:19:55.619 --> 00:20:00.460
 how something affects our power or prestige.

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:03.500
 and we confuse that with thinking

00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:07.220
 about whether it's true or right or just.

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:11.700
 It's a very common human problem.

00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:14.240
 So we get some information

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:17.220
 and we start to calculate

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:21.400
 how this situation or this information or this idea,

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:25.880
 how this will affect my power, my prestige,

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.759
 my reputation, my place.

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.879
 I calculate that.

00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:31.980
 But I think I'm thinking

00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:34.220
 about whether it's true or right.

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.640
 It's a very, very common human problem.

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.420
 We don't recognize that we actually aren't thinking,

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.400
 we're just calculating.

00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.920
 And that's a human problem.

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.819
 It happens to Christians.

00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:55.659
 Why do Christians get uncomfortable

00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:58.179
 with the statement,

00:20:58.379 --> 00:21:00.200
 and there is salvation in no one else,

00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.819
 for there is no other name under heaven

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.980
 given among men by which we must be saved?

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.339
 We get uncomfortable with it,

00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:07.839
 not because we think about the text,

00:21:07.919 --> 00:21:09.159
 whether it's true or false,

00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:11.379
 but because we calculate

00:21:11.379 --> 00:21:14.819
 how that text being revealed

00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:17.480
 will affect our power,

00:21:17.639 --> 00:21:18.339
 our prestige,

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.799
 our influence,

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:22.039
 our place in work

00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:23.019
 and in our community.

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.579
 We don't sort of think about it

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:26.779
 and say,

00:21:26.839 --> 00:21:28.000
 well, actually, that's true, isn't it?

00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.179
 You know, I guess it's really true

00:21:29.179 --> 00:21:29.679
 and it's right

00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.240
 and it's good news

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.299
 so I should do something about it.

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:32.019
 No, we think about

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.240
 what would it be like

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.500
 if our neighbors found this out?

00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:35.200
 What would it be like

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.759
 if our coworkers found this out?

00:21:36.839 --> 00:21:38.980
 Like, what would it be like

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:40.460
 if our parents found out

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:42.019
 that this is what we believe and think?

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:44.920
 And then we do the calculation

00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:46.900
 and it's not going to help our power,

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.339
 it's not going to help our prestige,

00:21:48.579 --> 00:21:50.279
 it's not going to help us in society,

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.879
 so we are silent.

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.259
 We've engaged in calculation,

00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:56.980
 not thinking.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.660
 It's a human problem.

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:05.279
 It's a human problem.

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.639
 See, one of the reasons,

00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.740
 there's lots of reasons

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.520
 why I,

00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:17.060
 the more I learn about Christianity,

00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.740
 the more I learn about the Bible,

00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:20.280
 the more I learn about Jesus,

00:22:20.580 --> 00:22:21.780
 the more I love it

00:22:21.780 --> 00:22:23.940
 and the more I believe it's true

00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:26.140
 and the more I believe it's good news.

00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:27.720
 And you know one of the things

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.440
 which is so brilliantly illustrated

00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.480
 in this short story?

00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.240
 No religion,

00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:34.280
 no philosophy,

00:22:34.780 --> 00:22:36.040
 no spirituality,

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:38.720
 no system of human thought

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:42.180
 is able to capture the wretchedness

00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:44.960
 and the glory of human beings

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.779
 like Christianity does.

00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:49.680
 And this story brilliantly captures that.

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:52.100
 You see, that's the fact the matter is,

00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:53.200
 is that the fact the matter is

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.259
 that there's something wretched

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.360
 about human beings

00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:56.700
 and there's also something

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:58.500
 very glorious about human beings.

00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:00.220
 And Christianity doesn't say

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:01.600
 that human beings are only wretched

00:23:01.600 --> 00:23:02.380
 and it doesn't say

00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:05.380
 that human beings are only glorious.

00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.120
 It says,

00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.980
 it has this profound message

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.840
 that there's something

00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:09.660
 that human beings

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.640
 are this mixture

00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:13.340
 of wretchedness and glory.

00:23:13.880 --> 00:23:14.560
 This, by the way,

00:23:14.840 --> 00:23:15.520
 was discovered,

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.740
 this idea was discovered

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:19.920
 in the lining of Blaise Pascal's coat

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.840
 after he died.

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:23.440
 And it goes back to the 1600s.

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.680
 So what do I mean?

00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:26.160
 Well, surely,

00:23:26.320 --> 00:23:27.420
 isn't it part of the wretchedness

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.300
 of human beings

00:23:28.300 --> 00:23:30.300
 that we can't even recognize

00:23:30.300 --> 00:23:31.780
 that we don't think sometimes

00:23:31.780 --> 00:23:32.680
 that all we're doing

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.380
 is calculating our own advantage

00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:36.000
 and we don't even recognize

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.900
 that we're not thinking

00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.660
 about whether something

00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.520
 is true or good

00:23:38.520 --> 00:23:40.080
 or just or beautiful or moral?

00:23:41.020 --> 00:23:42.180
 Like, that surely shows

00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:42.960
 something wretched

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.840
 about human beings

00:23:43.840 --> 00:23:45.060
 that we can't even see

00:23:45.060 --> 00:23:46.140
 that about ourselves.

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.420
 We can maybe often see it

00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:50.940
 in other people,

00:23:51.020 --> 00:23:51.840
 but we can't see it

00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:52.560
 in ourselves.

00:23:54.520 --> 00:23:57.400
 And we would all want to say

00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:59.160
 that if we went back in time,

00:23:59.260 --> 00:24:00.720
 we wouldn't be like Caiaphas

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.420
 and these guys,

00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:02.040
 that we would want

00:24:02.040 --> 00:24:03.120
 to celebrate the miracle,

00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:04.939
 but the fact of the matter is

00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:06.399
 is that there is something

00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.359
 in human beings

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.239
 which is broken,

00:24:08.459 --> 00:24:09.239
 which is wretched,

00:24:09.439 --> 00:24:10.979
 which causes all sorts of trouble.

00:24:11.179 --> 00:24:12.299
 What goes on in the world

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.139
 that causes trouble

00:24:13.139 --> 00:24:13.899
 all of the time?

00:24:14.299 --> 00:24:15.819
 So why is it that people

00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.979
 don't want to say in Canada

00:24:16.979 --> 00:24:18.539
 something strong about Hamas?

00:24:18.639 --> 00:24:20.679
 They're doing electoral politics.

00:24:21.699 --> 00:24:22.579
 They're thinking about

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.879
 how it's going to affect

00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:26.199
 their electoral chances.

00:24:27.139 --> 00:24:28.559
 And they think that thinking

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.139
 about that,

00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.299
 calculating what's going

00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.619
 to help them is thinking.

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:33.159
 But it's not.

00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:34.819
 There's something wretched

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.779
 about human beings.

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.680
 On the other hand,

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.740
 there's something glorious

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.740
 about human beings.

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.980
 And it's perfectly seen

00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.579
 in the text.

00:24:41.159 --> 00:24:42.440
 A 15-year-old,

00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:43.740
 working-class,

00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:45.200
 uneducated kid

00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:46.899
 and a 30-something,

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:48.039
 uneducated,

00:24:48.419 --> 00:24:49.680
 working-class guy

00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:51.119
 stand in front

00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:52.119
 of the intellectual

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.379
 and religious

00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:54.480
 and cultural

00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.339
 and political

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:58.179
 and financial elite.

00:24:58.659 --> 00:24:59.659
 And they give

00:24:59.659 --> 00:25:00.539
 a clear,

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:03.119
 unambiguous testimony

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:04.519
 to the truth.

00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.959
 And that's glorious.

00:25:10.199 --> 00:25:11.879
 I mean, we'd all say,

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:14.279
 make me more and more

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.480
 like Peter and John,

00:25:15.559 --> 00:25:16.500
 not just about this,

00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.439
 but about everything.

00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:19.399
 And make me less

00:25:19.399 --> 00:25:20.419
 and less like them.

00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:23.019
 And we see both

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.839
 of these things

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.939
 about human beings

00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:26.179
 in the same story

00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:26.980
 with the gospel

00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.720
 in the center.

00:25:29.199 --> 00:25:29.480
 You see,

00:25:29.559 --> 00:25:30.519
 because only the gospel

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:32.000
 helps us to see that

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.159
 and only the gospel.

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:35.519
 It's only if you've grasped

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:38.419
 that there is salvation

00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.779
 in no one else.

00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:42.119
 There's no salvation in me.

00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.240
 There's no salvation

00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:44.359
 in my accomplishments.

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:46.599
 There's no salvation in me

00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:48.980
 because of my economic status

00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.980
 or my class

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.819
 or my culture

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:52.199
 or because I'm a victim

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:53.120
 or because I'm able

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:54.799
 to beat other people up.

00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:56.120
 There is salvation

00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:58.180
 in no one else

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.559
 for there is no other name

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.100
 under heaven

00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:01.080
 given among men

00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:02.700
 by which we must be saved.

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:04.059
 I'm saved by what Jesus

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:05.039
 has done for me.

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:07.039
 And God has vindicated this

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.160
 by raising Jesus

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.840
 from the dead.

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.059
 What could be

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:12.539
 a more electrifying sign

00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:14.559
 that there is a God

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.500
 that does exist

00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.980
 who loves you

00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.819
 than the resurrection

00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:20.480
 from the dead?

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:22.319
 what's a more electrifying

00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.579
 sign than that?

00:26:29.799 --> 00:26:31.559
 And we need that salvation.

00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:31.900
 Why?

00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:33.079
 Because there's something

00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.220
 wretched about me.

00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.019
 There's something wretched

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.599
 about me

00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:41.640
 and broken and crooked

00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:44.059
 and in every human being.

00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:47.259
 And it's only as I start

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:48.339
 to have the security

00:26:48.339 --> 00:26:48.960
 of knowing

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.679
 that I actually

00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:50.659
 can be made right

00:26:50.659 --> 00:26:51.679
 with the living God

00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:52.579
 my creator

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:54.619
 my sustainer

00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:56.379
 the one who is sovereign

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.619
 over all of history

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.720
 and the entire universe

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.899
 who will bring all things

00:26:59.899 --> 00:27:00.559
 to the end

00:27:00.559 --> 00:27:01.519
 that he determines

00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.639
 when that end should be

00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.859
 in such a way

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.579
 and who will judge

00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:05.480
 the living and the dead.

00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:06.759
 And it's only as I have

00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:07.519
 the security

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.799
 that I have been made right

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.259
 with him

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.299
 not because of anything

00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.139
 that I have done

00:27:11.139 --> 00:27:11.960
 but because of what

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:13.220
 Jesus has done for me.

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.680
 And he does that for me

00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:16.339
 knowing my wretchedness

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:18.579
 and still he does it for me

00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.700
 and when I put my faith

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.640
 and trust in Christ

00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:22.319
 I am made right with God

00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:26.480
 that I start to have

00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:28.380
 the type of security

00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:29.160
 as that truth

00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:30.460
 becomes more real to me

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:31.480
 that I start to have

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.160
 the security

00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.779
 that I can look

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.539
 and say you know what

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:36.600
 that thing that was going on

00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:37.420
 in my denomination

00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:38.400
 that thing that was going on

00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:38.960
 in my church

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.860
 that thing that's going on

00:27:39.860 --> 00:27:40.600
 with my family

00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:41.460
 that way that I'm thinking

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.200
 about my kids

00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:43.079
 that way that I'm thinking

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.779
 about my wife

00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.639
 that way that I'm thinking

00:27:44.639 --> 00:27:45.460
 about my neighbors

00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.740
 that way that I'm thinking

00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:47.399
 about politics

00:27:47.399 --> 00:27:48.419
 you know really what I'm doing

00:27:48.419 --> 00:27:49.059
 is I'm not actually

00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:50.059
 trying to think what's right

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.599
 and what's good

00:27:50.599 --> 00:27:51.220
 and what's beautiful

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.919
 and true and trust

00:27:51.919 --> 00:27:53.439
 really I'm just calculating

00:27:53.439 --> 00:27:54.720
 whether it's going to make me

00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.619
 look good

00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.779
 or give me more power

00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:58.919
 or help me to keep my position

00:27:58.919 --> 00:28:00.139
 and I don't trust

00:28:00.139 --> 00:28:01.659
 that if these things happen

00:28:01.659 --> 00:28:02.039
 that I'll

00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.279
 God can have some other

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.039
 good thing for me

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:04.899
 and you know

00:28:04.899 --> 00:28:06.159
 it's only as the gospel

00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:07.399
 becomes more real to our heart

00:28:07.399 --> 00:28:08.019
 that we can start

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.919
 to look at these things

00:28:08.920 --> 00:28:10.160
 and it's only as the stories

00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:10.620
 like this

00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:13.539
 the stories like this form us

00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:16.220
 see the fact of the matter is

00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.060
 is in the story

00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:19.519
 I am both Caiaphas

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.800
 and those guys

00:28:20.800 --> 00:28:22.600
 and I am Peter and John

00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.980
 it's not been that

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:25.100
 I've always had my life

00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:25.980
 just calculating

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:28.360
 see that's what's so wrong

00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:29.420
 about most philosophies

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:30.000
 and it's not like

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.680
 I've always been like

00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:31.320
 Peter and John

00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:32.580
 no I've done both

00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:33.259
 in my life

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.620
 so have you

00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:36.659
 only the gospel

00:28:36.659 --> 00:28:37.500
 makes it clear

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.539
 that you have a glory

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.000
 about you

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.719
 because you are made

00:28:39.719 --> 00:28:40.759
 in the image of God

00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:43.119
 you're not a result

00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:43.859
 of accident

00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:45.319
 God designed you

00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:46.219
 and he made you

00:28:46.219 --> 00:28:46.939
 something to be

00:28:46.939 --> 00:28:47.799
 something glorious

00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.179
 and there's something

00:28:49.179 --> 00:28:50.039
 about human beings

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.059
 that can be so glorious

00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.639
 that God

00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:52.359
 the son of God

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:53.359
 could take human flesh

00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:54.259
 into himself

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:56.279
 there is a profound glory

00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:57.419
 about being a human being

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.000
 but there's also

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.239
 something deeply wretched

00:28:59.239 --> 00:29:00.219
 because I want to be

00:29:00.219 --> 00:29:00.919
 like God

00:29:00.919 --> 00:29:03.919
 and there's something

00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:04.779
 in me fundamentally

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.779
 crooked and bent

00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:06.300
 and broken

00:29:06.300 --> 00:29:07.980
 that I cannot fix myself

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:09.100
 and only the gospel

00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:09.980
 makes that clear

00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:11.400
 only the gospel

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.120
 is the key

00:29:12.120 --> 00:29:13.000
 that fits that

00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:19.360
 so let's look back

00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:22.240
 there is no

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.440
 there is salvation

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.120
 in no one else

00:29:24.120 --> 00:29:25.100
 for there is no other name

00:29:25.100 --> 00:29:25.620
 under heaven

00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:26.480
 given among men

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.720
 by which we must be saved

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.519
 and we look at it

00:29:28.519 --> 00:29:29.240
 and we say okay

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:31.160
 George

00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:32.660
 you've maybe convicted me

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.519
 that I look at texts

00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.039
 like that

00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.619
 and I don't want

00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:35.639
 to live like this

00:29:35.639 --> 00:29:36.879
 and talk like this

00:29:36.879 --> 00:29:37.700
 and think like this

00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.539
 and pray like this

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.799
 and spend our church's

00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.660
 budget like this

00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:41.539
 because I feel a bit

00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.519
 uncomfortable about that

00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:42.940
 and how it's going

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:43.599
 to make me feel

00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.559
 but maybe I should look

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.759
 and see how it's true

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.700
 George

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.720
 you do realize

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.720
 that a text like this

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.379
 most Canadians

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.660
 find it deeply offensive

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.859
 they think it's foolish

00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:53.440
 they think it's arrogant

00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.639
 they think it shows

00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:56.639
 that you're uneducated

00:29:56.639 --> 00:29:57.519
 they think it encourages

00:29:58.039 --> 00:30:01.480
 violence

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:01.680
 violence

00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:03.539
 and we go on

00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:03.779
 and on

00:30:03.779 --> 00:30:04.180
 and on

00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:06.400
 well I mean

00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:06.900
 the first thing

00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:07.599
 about it is

00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:11.160
 Peter and John

00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:12.299
 knew there were

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.940
 lots of other

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:14.180
 religions and gods

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:15.860
 I mean they saw

00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:16.920
 the Romans all the time

00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:17.620
 they weren't ignorant

00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.120
 of that

00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:20.880
 and when they're saying

00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:22.099
 to the Sanhedrin

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:23.980
 and there is salvation

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.700
 in no one else

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.620
 for there's no other name

00:30:25.620 --> 00:30:26.059
 under heaven

00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:26.860
 given among men

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:29.059
 by which we must be saved

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.879
 they were challenging

00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:30.899
 them and their authority

00:30:30.899 --> 00:30:33.740
 well you see

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:36.359
 the problem we have

00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:36.799
 with it

00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:38.299
 is that our culture

00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:39.359
 has formed us

00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:40.819
 to believe that

00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.940
 statements like this

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.839
 aren't real

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:44.460
 they're not true

00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:46.399
 they're a statement

00:30:46.399 --> 00:30:47.799
 of personal preference

00:30:47.799 --> 00:30:49.359
 they're a statement

00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:51.119
 of a taste

00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:53.240
 and so it's alright

00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.500
 if we have a preference

00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.099
 for something

00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:56.240
 or a taste for something

00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.299
 or something that gives us

00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:58.460
 peace or security

00:30:58.460 --> 00:31:00.480
 but as long as we keep

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.620
 that very private

00:31:01.620 --> 00:31:03.579
 then people will maybe

00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.720
 be alright with us

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.720
 but as soon as it becomes

00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.980
 public in such a way

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:08.380
 that our faith

00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:09.120
 is going to affect

00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.000
 how we think about

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.620
 medically assisted dying

00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:12.420
 how it affects

00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.640
 how we think about abortion

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:15.640
 how we think about sexuality

00:31:15.640 --> 00:31:16.460
 how we think about

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.660
 the transgender issue

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.960
 at that point in time

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:19.860
 our culture gets

00:31:19.860 --> 00:31:21.360
 very very very uncomfortable

00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:22.220
 and in fact

00:31:22.220 --> 00:31:23.620
 increasingly wants

00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.799
 to persecute us

00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:26.640
 because we

00:31:26.640 --> 00:31:28.460
 our personal

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.400
 type of thing

00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:29.980
 we think

00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:31.100
 is not just personal

00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:32.780
 but is leading us

00:31:32.780 --> 00:31:33.440
 to these ways

00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:35.040
 that Canadians think

00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:35.860
 well

00:31:35.860 --> 00:31:37.000
 in fact actually

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.680
 most Canadians

00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:38.580
 haven't actually thought

00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:39.420
 whether their positions

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.140
 on these things

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.920
 are true or false

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:42.100
 they've done a calculation

00:31:42.100 --> 00:31:43.560
 and so

00:31:43.560 --> 00:31:45.960
 that's a problematic thing

00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:46.759
 for us

00:31:46.759 --> 00:31:49.340
 but you see

00:31:49.340 --> 00:31:50.600
 what Peter and John

00:31:50.600 --> 00:31:51.500
 are saying is

00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:55.319
 we all saw Jesus

00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:56.519
 die by crucifixion

00:31:56.519 --> 00:31:57.160
 on the cross

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:59.400
 and every single one of you

00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:00.559
 all of you who are out

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.180
 out there

00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:02.160
 you know that Jesus

00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:03.180
 said he was going to die

00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.960
 a particular way

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.759
 and he said he was going to

00:32:04.759 --> 00:32:05.599
 rise from the dead

00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:07.579
 and Peter and John

00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.299
 can say listen

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.720
 we didn't think Jesus

00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.420
 was going to rise

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.079
 from the dead either

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:12.500
 we thought it was all over

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.619
 when he died on the cross

00:32:13.619 --> 00:32:15.440
 and we were hiding

00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:16.180
 and in fear

00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:18.860
 and there was

00:32:18.860 --> 00:32:20.519
 no one more surprised

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.080
 than us

00:32:21.080 --> 00:32:22.340
 when on the third day

00:32:22.340 --> 00:32:23.460
 we went to the grave

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.500
 and found out

00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.640
 that the grave was empty

00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:27.600
 and that the grave clothes

00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:28.120
 were still there

00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:29.400
 there was no one more surprised

00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:29.960
 than us

00:32:29.960 --> 00:32:32.460
 and we can tell you

00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.840
 we've seen Jesus alive

00:32:33.840 --> 00:32:35.400
 and we've eaten with him

00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:36.340
 and we've touched him

00:32:36.340 --> 00:32:37.700
 and we've smelt him

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.560
 we know he's alive

00:32:38.560 --> 00:32:39.660
 and listen for you guys

00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.660
 you want to disagree with it

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.640
 well show us the body

00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:43.500
 and you can't find the body

00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.480
 you can't find the body

00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.580
 because it really happened

00:32:45.579 --> 00:32:47.659
 see the fact of the matter is

00:32:47.659 --> 00:32:49.460
 that if we think

00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.099
 that statements

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:51.079
 like there's salvation

00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:52.599
 and if we think

00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:53.679
 that there is salvation

00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:54.379
 and no one else

00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:55.299
 for there is no other name

00:32:55.299 --> 00:32:55.839
 under heaven

00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.099
 given among men

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:58.339
 by which we must be saved

00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:59.240
 if we just think

00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.539
 that that's a type of statement

00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.659
 about our preference

00:33:01.659 --> 00:33:02.939
 our aesthetics

00:33:02.939 --> 00:33:05.319
 something that just gives me

00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:06.399
 personal hope

00:33:06.399 --> 00:33:07.579
 if that's all we think it is

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.759
 then of course it's arrogant

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.480
 and foolish

00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:11.019
 but Paul is saying

00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:12.119
 this is just as real

00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:13.079
 as the Rockies

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:15.319
 it's as real as the Atlantic Ocean

00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:16.519
 or the Pacific Ocean

00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:18.299
 it's as real

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.319
 as the Grand Canyon

00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:20.059
 it's as real

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:21.200
 as income tax

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:23.139
 and as your bank balance

00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:23.919
 it's as real

00:33:23.919 --> 00:33:24.919
 as all of that

00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:26.379
 that's what they're claiming

00:33:26.379 --> 00:33:28.659
 and now if you're claiming that

00:33:28.659 --> 00:33:30.139
 then you've got to think about it

00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:32.460
 because if we think about it

00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:32.980
 for a second

00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:33.839
 if for instance

00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:35.200
 it was announced today

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:37.319
 that some group of

00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:39.139
 some group of doctors

00:33:39.140 --> 00:33:40.380
 doctors in Kenya

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:42.259
 have found a cure

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:45.220
 for Alzheimer's

00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:47.520
 and for a variety of reasons

00:33:47.520 --> 00:33:49.040
 you can't get that cure

00:33:49.040 --> 00:33:49.759
 anywhere else

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:51.080
 but it's now been documented

00:33:51.080 --> 00:33:51.780
 you can get a cure

00:33:51.780 --> 00:33:52.680
 from Alzheimer's

00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:54.400
 you can't get it in Manhattan

00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:55.780
 you can't get it in Singapore

00:33:55.780 --> 00:33:57.100
 you can't get it in Ottawa

00:33:57.100 --> 00:33:58.080
 you can only get it

00:33:58.080 --> 00:33:59.000
 if you go to Nairobi

00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:00.080
 and you can only get

00:34:00.080 --> 00:34:00.980
 that's the only treatment

00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.660
 that saves it

00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:02.259
 we wouldn't think

00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:03.040
 that was arrogant

00:34:03.040 --> 00:34:04.660
 if it worked

00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.420
 if it's real

00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:06.400
 it's not arrogant

00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:08.220
 doesn't matter

00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:08.900
 you can't say

00:34:08.900 --> 00:34:10.380
 well it can't possibly be true

00:34:10.380 --> 00:34:11.559
 because I have my own cures

00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:12.400
 for Alzheimer's

00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:13.380
 you do?

00:34:13.680 --> 00:34:14.720
 no you don't

00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:16.260
 that's ridiculous

00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:19.639
 if it was to be announced today

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.680
 that there was a place

00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:22.420
 in Sri Lanka

00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:24.539
 where cancer can be cured

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.700
 and it's the only place

00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:26.280
 you can go

00:34:26.280 --> 00:34:27.099
 and if it's real

00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:28.079
 and if it's real news

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.940
 it would be understood

00:34:28.940 --> 00:34:29.860
 as good news

00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:30.900
 because it's true

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:32.019
 and you wouldn't say

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:33.480
 well it can't be a cure there

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:34.180
 because I don't know

00:34:34.180 --> 00:34:35.340
 because it's from Sri Lanka

00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:36.300
 because it didn't come

00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.340
 from Oxford

00:34:37.340 --> 00:34:37.960
 or Cambridge

00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:39.539
 or from the University of Toronto

00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.700
 or because the Supreme Court

00:34:40.700 --> 00:34:41.160
 of Canada

00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:41.940
 doesn't agree with it

00:34:41.940 --> 00:34:43.019
 that would all be viewed

00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.840
 as being completely

00:34:43.840 --> 00:34:44.860
 and utterly ridiculous

00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.460
 and nonsense

00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:46.380
 if it's true

00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:47.519
 and the claim

00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.460
 of Peter and John

00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:49.480
 is that Jesus really

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.820
 did rise from the dead

00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:52.519
 and he did it

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:54.080
 because God sent him

00:34:54.080 --> 00:34:56.000
 so that you could have salvation

00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:57.280
 and be made right with him

00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:58.000
 and he proved

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:59.440
 that this is not just a fantasy

00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:01.100
 by raising him from the dead

00:35:01.100 --> 00:35:02.700
 and it's real

00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:03.720
 it's as real

00:35:03.720 --> 00:35:05.240
 as the Rockies

00:35:05.240 --> 00:35:06.200
 as the Atlantic

00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:07.099
 as the Pacific

00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:07.919
 as the moon

00:35:07.919 --> 00:35:08.379
 and the sun

00:35:08.379 --> 00:35:09.019
 and the stars

00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:12.699
 and it's good news

00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:17.739
 it's news to you

00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:20.839
 that today

00:35:20.839 --> 00:35:22.519
 you can be made right

00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.199
 with God

00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:24.559
 and you can live your life

00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.699
 from the rest of your life

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:26.279
 on today

00:35:26.279 --> 00:35:27.500
 and into eternity

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.939
 made right with God

00:35:28.939 --> 00:35:31.179
 God knows every single thing

00:35:31.179 --> 00:35:31.679
 about you

00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:32.960
 and still he loved you

00:35:32.960 --> 00:35:34.400
 and loves you

00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:35.519
 and sent his son

00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.519
 to die for you

00:35:36.519 --> 00:35:37.559
 and you receive that

00:35:37.559 --> 00:35:39.199
 empty handed by faith

00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:40.740
 and when you receive it

00:35:40.740 --> 00:35:41.820
 empty handed by faith

00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.760
 he really comes in

00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:44.159
 and he really saves you

00:35:44.159 --> 00:35:45.420
 you know the end

00:35:45.420 --> 00:35:46.300
 of your story

00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:47.920
 the end of your story

00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:49.179
 isn't had Alzheimer's

00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:49.980
 or died poor

00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.039
 or died friendless

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:52.139
 or died without children

00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:53.139
 the end of your story

00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:54.740
 is made right with God

00:35:54.740 --> 00:35:55.579
 and come in to live

00:35:55.579 --> 00:35:56.539
 with him for eternity

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:58.440
 and it can begin today

00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:59.380
 if you put your faith

00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:00.500
 and trust in Christ

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:03.680
 that's unbelievably good news

00:36:03.680 --> 00:36:12.559
 for us

00:36:12.559 --> 00:36:14.220
 we need to live

00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:15.700
 we need to do some honest work

00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:16.119
 with God

00:36:16.119 --> 00:36:16.820
 and ask that God

00:36:16.820 --> 00:36:17.700
 would help us to live

00:36:17.700 --> 00:36:18.680
 as if this matters

00:36:18.680 --> 00:36:21.059
 and pray as if this matters

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:23.280
 that's what we need

00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:24.079
 to learn how to do

00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:26.360
 I want to encourage you

00:36:26.360 --> 00:36:27.340
 just as I bring this

00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:28.000
 to a close

00:36:28.000 --> 00:36:29.539
 I'll be up front with you

00:36:29.539 --> 00:36:30.719
 and you guys know this

00:36:30.719 --> 00:36:31.440
 I don't have the gift

00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:32.440
 of an evangelist

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:34.679
 I tell people the gospel

00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:35.380
 but I'm not

00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:36.000
 you know

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:37.539
 Bishop Charlie

00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:39.119
 used to be the diocesan bishop

00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.940
 he was that guy

00:36:39.940 --> 00:36:40.500
 who could sit

00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:41.179
 go on a plane

00:36:41.179 --> 00:36:42.119
 and by the end of the plane

00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:43.099
 lead somebody to Christ

00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:44.380
 like he was that guy

00:36:44.380 --> 00:36:46.219
 but God doesn't tell everybody

00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:47.699
 give that gift to everybody

00:36:47.699 --> 00:36:49.559
 but he does give to everybody

00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:50.699
 that we have an obligation

00:36:50.699 --> 00:36:52.059
 to pray for our loved ones

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.420
 why?

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.199
 because it's true

00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:54.000
 there is salvation

00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:55.599
 in no other name

00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:56.300
 other than Christ

00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:57.519
 there's no other salvation

00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.639
 other than in Christ

00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:00.579
 no other salvation

00:37:00.579 --> 00:37:01.619
 but there is

00:37:01.619 --> 00:37:02.340
 the wonderful news

00:37:02.340 --> 00:37:03.280
 is there is salvation

00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:05.539
 and we need to pray about it

00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:07.380
 and pray for our loved ones

00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:07.940
 and our family

00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:08.400
 and our friend

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:09.400
 and pray for opportunities

00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:10.480
 to bear witness to Jesus

00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.440
 and don't worry about

00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:12.440
 being an evangelist

00:37:12.440 --> 00:37:14.019
 what we just need to think about

00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.699
 is the fact that

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.559
 God has called us

00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:16.539
 to plant seeds

00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.599
 and to place pebbles

00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:18.659
 in people's shoes

00:37:18.659 --> 00:37:21.340
 that's what he's called us to do

00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:24.059
 you know

00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:24.759
 as I think back

00:37:24.759 --> 00:37:25.960
 to how I became a Christian

00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:27.099
 there's different seeds

00:37:27.099 --> 00:37:28.119
 that came into my life

00:37:28.119 --> 00:37:29.599
 that began to make me think

00:37:29.599 --> 00:37:30.559
 that maybe Christianity

00:37:30.559 --> 00:37:31.440
 was true

00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:33.059
 and there began to be

00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:33.800
 it's as if almost

00:37:33.800 --> 00:37:34.280
 there was like a

00:37:34.280 --> 00:37:35.159
 you know how you get a pebble

00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:35.639
 in your shoe

00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:36.619
 and you can't

00:37:36.619 --> 00:37:38.159
 you maybe try to walk on it

00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:38.639
 a little bit

00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:39.820
 because it's sort of irritating

00:37:39.820 --> 00:37:41.220
 and then you maybe hope

00:37:41.220 --> 00:37:42.039
 it moves out of the way

00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.619
 and then eventually

00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.400
 you have to try to take

00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:44.220
 the pebble out of your shoe

00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:46.440
 well that's what happened to me

00:37:46.440 --> 00:37:46.960
 I started to have

00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:47.760
 these little pebbles

00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:48.420
 in my shoe

00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.199
 about Christianity

00:37:49.199 --> 00:37:50.500
 that made me think about it

00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:52.440
 and we're just called

00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:53.920
 to bear witness to Jesus

00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:55.280
 in simple ways

00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:57.099
 it might be something

00:37:57.099 --> 00:37:57.840
 just as simple

00:37:57.840 --> 00:37:59.219
 as when people ask you

00:37:59.219 --> 00:37:59.639
 on Monday

00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:00.719
 what you did on Sunday

00:38:00.719 --> 00:38:01.000
 you said

00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:02.360
 well I did what I normally do

00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:02.880
 I go to church

00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:03.639
 on Sunday morning

00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:06.800
 and then you know

00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:07.579
 I did this and that

00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:09.159
 and people might go after

00:38:09.159 --> 00:38:10.099
 like you went to church

00:38:10.099 --> 00:38:11.340
 like people still do that

00:38:11.340 --> 00:38:12.199
 like in Canada

00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:12.760
 in Ottawa

00:38:12.760 --> 00:38:15.280
 people go to church

00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:18.219
 and then they might say

00:38:18.219 --> 00:38:18.639
 to each other

00:38:18.639 --> 00:38:19.559
 he seems normal

00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:21.099
 like that's really weird

00:38:21.099 --> 00:38:22.400
 like that's a weird thing to do

00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:22.980
 but you know what

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:24.139
 that's putting a seed

00:38:24.139 --> 00:38:25.119
 or a stone

00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:25.579
 a pebble

00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:26.539
 that they have to think about

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.079
 in their shoe

00:38:27.079 --> 00:38:28.759
 it might just be

00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:29.739
 that you have some opportunity

00:38:29.739 --> 00:38:30.619
 I'll just share one thing

00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:31.099
 in closing

00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:32.420
 I was sharing

00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:34.380
 on Monday

00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:34.960
 there's a fellow

00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:35.500
 that I know

00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:36.619
 he knows I'm a pastor

00:38:36.619 --> 00:38:38.360
 and he was complaining

00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:39.019
 about the fact

00:38:39.019 --> 00:38:39.799
 that the woman

00:38:39.799 --> 00:38:40.920
 he's going to be marrying

00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:42.719
 and this man

00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:43.360
 is a very very

00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:44.699
 very hard working man

00:38:44.699 --> 00:38:45.500
 he's become a very

00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:47.460
 successful business person

00:38:47.460 --> 00:38:48.480
 and the woman

00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:49.139
 he's going to marry

00:38:49.139 --> 00:38:51.579
 she has a teenage son

00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:53.299
 and the teenage son

00:38:53.299 --> 00:38:54.519
 doesn't care about working

00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:57.119
 and the teenage son

00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:57.859
 had said to

00:38:57.859 --> 00:38:58.960
 this fellow

00:38:58.960 --> 00:38:59.559
 who's going to become

00:38:59.559 --> 00:39:00.259
 his stepdad

00:39:00.259 --> 00:39:01.519
 what's the point of working

00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:03.819
 you just work

00:39:03.819 --> 00:39:04.299
 and you work

00:39:04.299 --> 00:39:04.779
 and you work

00:39:04.779 --> 00:39:05.219
 and you work

00:39:05.219 --> 00:39:05.879
 and then you die

00:39:05.879 --> 00:39:07.319
 like what's the point

00:39:07.319 --> 00:39:07.699
 of working

00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:09.900
 and so I almost

00:39:09.900 --> 00:39:10.579
 said his name

00:39:10.579 --> 00:39:11.019
 so this fellow

00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:11.639
 we'll call him Bob

00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.319
 he said you know

00:39:12.319 --> 00:39:12.619
 I don't know

00:39:12.619 --> 00:39:13.679
 I don't know what to say to him

00:39:13.679 --> 00:39:14.539
 like I sort of know

00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:15.039
 what to say to him

00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:15.299
 but I don't know

00:39:15.299 --> 00:39:15.759
 what to say to him

00:39:15.759 --> 00:39:16.519
 what do you say to him

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:18.719
 I'd say two things to him

00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:20.179
 and unlike you

00:39:20.179 --> 00:39:21.159
 one of those things

00:39:21.159 --> 00:39:22.019
 I think would be something

00:39:22.019 --> 00:39:22.960
 you would say as well

00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:23.739
 but unlike you

00:39:23.739 --> 00:39:25.360
 you don't have the second thing

00:39:25.360 --> 00:39:25.759
 to say

00:39:25.759 --> 00:39:26.940
 and by the way

00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:27.880
 this is somebody

00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:28.679
 was praying for me

00:39:28.679 --> 00:39:29.099
 at this time

00:39:29.099 --> 00:39:30.059
 because I'm not that clever

00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:32.000
 I had had my second cup of coffee

00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:33.179
 which means I had sort of

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:34.960
 three quarters of my brain

00:39:34.960 --> 00:39:35.360
 working

00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:35.960
 but

00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:37.300
 and he said

00:39:37.300 --> 00:39:38.139
 well what do you say to him

00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:38.639
 and I'd say

00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.920
 well I'd say to him

00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:40.259
 that

00:39:40.260 --> 00:39:44.200
 I'd say to him

00:39:44.200 --> 00:39:45.200
 that especially for men

00:39:45.200 --> 00:39:46.020
 work matters

00:39:46.020 --> 00:39:49.020
 that you get your dignity

00:39:49.020 --> 00:39:49.940
 and self-worth

00:39:49.940 --> 00:39:51.340
 and a sense of accomplishment

00:39:51.340 --> 00:39:52.040
 from working

00:39:52.040 --> 00:39:55.260
 and that it matters

00:39:55.260 --> 00:39:56.800
 it matters just to how

00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.720
 you understand yourself

00:39:57.720 --> 00:39:58.840
 as a person

00:39:58.840 --> 00:40:00.760
 it gives you dignity

00:40:00.760 --> 00:40:02.620
 and

00:40:02.620 --> 00:40:04.580
 and I said

00:40:04.580 --> 00:40:05.300
 you'd probably say

00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:05.900
 something like that

00:40:05.900 --> 00:40:06.160
 and he said

00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:06.540
 yeah actually

00:40:06.540 --> 00:40:07.180
 I would say that

00:40:07.180 --> 00:40:08.200
 I agree with what

00:40:08.200 --> 00:40:09.080
 Ronald Reagan said

00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:10.259
 the best welfare treatment

00:40:10.259 --> 00:40:11.779
 the best welfare program

00:40:11.779 --> 00:40:12.239
 in the world

00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:12.880
 is a job

00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:14.099
 and

00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:16.000
 that there is something about it

00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.960
 the dignity of work

00:40:17.960 --> 00:40:18.360
 and I said

00:40:18.360 --> 00:40:18.819
 but you see

00:40:18.819 --> 00:40:19.739
 what I'd also say

00:40:19.739 --> 00:40:20.679
 that you can't say

00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:21.340
 is this

00:40:21.340 --> 00:40:21.840
 that

00:40:21.840 --> 00:40:22.860
 he's right

00:40:22.860 --> 00:40:23.420
 that you die

00:40:23.420 --> 00:40:24.340
 and you lose everything

00:40:24.340 --> 00:40:25.940
 and unless there's a meaning

00:40:25.940 --> 00:40:26.579
 to your life

00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.440
 and a meaning to work

00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:28.559
 that goes beyond death

00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:32.639
 it all just comes crashing down

00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:33.039
 and it's like

00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:33.739
 it's worth nothing

00:40:33.739 --> 00:40:36.900
 and

00:40:36.900 --> 00:40:38.139
 he said

00:40:38.139 --> 00:40:38.759
 well I was hoping

00:40:38.760 --> 00:40:39.900
 you'd give me better advice

00:40:39.900 --> 00:40:43.720
 but he said it with a big smile

00:40:43.720 --> 00:40:44.440
 he said

00:40:44.440 --> 00:40:45.220
 yeah you know

00:40:45.220 --> 00:40:46.200
 yeah yeah

00:40:46.200 --> 00:40:46.600
 you know

00:40:46.600 --> 00:40:47.240
 he sort of knows

00:40:47.240 --> 00:40:47.940
 because we've talked about

00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:49.020
 some of those things before

00:40:49.020 --> 00:40:50.780
 now did I convert him

00:40:50.780 --> 00:40:51.620
 no I didn't convert him

00:40:51.620 --> 00:40:52.680
 hopefully I planted

00:40:52.680 --> 00:40:53.400
 a bit of a seed

00:40:53.400 --> 00:40:54.520
 maybe a bit of a stone

00:40:54.520 --> 00:40:55.020
 that

00:40:55.020 --> 00:40:56.300
 you know

00:40:56.300 --> 00:40:56.960
 because I also know

00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:57.660
 that he does think

00:40:57.660 --> 00:40:58.340
 a little bit about

00:40:58.340 --> 00:41:00.080
 the meaning of his life

00:41:00.080 --> 00:41:01.420
 and having all that money

00:41:01.420 --> 00:41:03.360
 anyway

00:41:03.360 --> 00:41:04.460
 friends

00:41:04.460 --> 00:41:06.900
 I just want to really

00:41:06.900 --> 00:41:07.800
 encourage you

00:41:07.800 --> 00:41:09.760
 yes it can be

00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:10.539
 very difficult

00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:11.240
 and awkward

00:41:11.240 --> 00:41:12.679
 to reveal to people

00:41:12.679 --> 00:41:13.720
 that you

00:41:13.720 --> 00:41:15.280
 that you're a Christian

00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:17.619
 I'm very Canadian

00:41:17.619 --> 00:41:18.659
 I know it

00:41:18.659 --> 00:41:21.199
 but God has placed you

00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:22.380
 in your situation

00:41:22.380 --> 00:41:23.679
 God has placed you

00:41:23.679 --> 00:41:24.480
 in your job

00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:25.280
 he's placed you

00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:25.960
 in your neighborhood

00:41:25.960 --> 00:41:27.199
 he's placed you

00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:27.960
 to be a regular

00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:29.119
 at that Tim Hortons

00:41:29.119 --> 00:41:30.199
 or that Starbucks

00:41:30.199 --> 00:41:31.139
 or that restaurant

00:41:31.139 --> 00:41:32.679
 he's placed you there

00:41:32.679 --> 00:41:33.359
 for a reason

00:41:33.359 --> 00:41:34.279
 and part of that reason

00:41:34.279 --> 00:41:35.139
 is that you will pray

00:41:35.139 --> 00:41:35.900
 that people come

00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:36.779
 to a saving faith

00:41:36.779 --> 00:41:37.319
 in Jesus

00:41:37.319 --> 00:41:39.159
 and he's placed you there

00:41:39.159 --> 00:41:39.879
 with a purpose

00:41:39.879 --> 00:41:41.059
 that maybe at some point

00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:41.379
 in time

00:41:41.379 --> 00:41:42.699
 an opportunity will come

00:41:42.699 --> 00:41:43.679
 that you can just

00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:44.759
 bear witness to Jesus

00:41:44.759 --> 00:41:46.339
 in some very simple way

00:41:46.339 --> 00:41:48.339
 or maybe invite them

00:41:48.339 --> 00:41:49.000
 to church

00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:50.079
 or invite them

00:41:50.079 --> 00:41:53.119
 to look at the Bible

00:41:53.119 --> 00:41:54.000
 together or something

00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:56.159
 and God is the one

00:41:56.159 --> 00:41:56.960
 who's in control

00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:58.500
 and he uses ordinary people

00:41:58.500 --> 00:41:59.319
 like you and me

00:41:59.319 --> 00:42:00.059
 but one of the things

00:42:00.059 --> 00:42:00.819
 which is so important

00:42:00.820 --> 00:42:02.000
 is we need to know

00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:02.920
 at a very

00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:04.100
 we need to know

00:42:04.100 --> 00:42:04.880
 that it's true

00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:05.840
 it's good news

00:42:05.840 --> 00:42:07.039
 it's unembarrassed news

00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:07.580
 to know

00:42:07.580 --> 00:42:09.620
 to know that there is

00:42:09.620 --> 00:42:11.000
 salvation in no one else

00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:12.180
 for there is no other name

00:42:12.180 --> 00:42:12.700
 under heaven

00:42:12.700 --> 00:42:13.500
 given among men

00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:14.920
 by which we must be saved

00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:16.760
 but the important thing

00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:17.280
 is to know

00:42:17.280 --> 00:42:18.160
 there is a name

00:42:18.160 --> 00:42:20.880
 you can be saved

00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:22.660
 there is a name

00:42:22.660 --> 00:42:23.860
 just one

00:42:23.860 --> 00:42:24.640
 not 53

00:42:24.640 --> 00:42:25.640
 not 175

00:42:25.640 --> 00:42:26.720
 just one

00:42:26.720 --> 00:42:27.660
 but there is one

00:42:27.659 --> 00:42:31.960
 one way to be made

00:42:31.960 --> 00:42:32.940
 right with your creator

00:42:32.940 --> 00:42:34.879
 and to begin to be made

00:42:34.879 --> 00:42:35.679
 right on this side

00:42:35.679 --> 00:42:36.239
 of the grave

00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:37.079
 and made right

00:42:37.079 --> 00:42:37.519
 in a way

00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:38.440
 that goes into

00:42:38.440 --> 00:42:39.159
 all of eternity

00:42:39.159 --> 00:42:40.819
 I invite you to stand

00:42:40.819 --> 00:42:42.219
 please stand

00:42:42.219 --> 00:42:47.359
 bow our heads

00:42:47.360 --> 00:42:51.680
 father if

00:42:51.680 --> 00:42:53.200
 there are any here

00:42:53.200 --> 00:42:53.920
 or watching

00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:55.480
 who have not yet

00:42:55.480 --> 00:42:56.300
 come to know Jesus

00:42:56.300 --> 00:42:57.099
 I ask father

00:42:57.099 --> 00:42:58.000
 your holy spirit

00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:59.760
 would move in their minds

00:42:59.760 --> 00:43:00.360
 and their hearts

00:43:00.360 --> 00:43:02.059
 and even at this moment

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:02.640
 lead them

00:43:02.640 --> 00:43:03.780
 to call out to Jesus

00:43:03.780 --> 00:43:05.440
 that Jesus would become

00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:06.000
 their savior

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:06.680
 and their lord

00:43:06.680 --> 00:43:08.360
 and I ask father

00:43:08.360 --> 00:43:08.940
 that you would do

00:43:08.940 --> 00:43:10.000
 that work in their hearts

00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:10.620
 to move them

00:43:10.620 --> 00:43:11.660
 to call out

00:43:11.660 --> 00:43:12.280
 to Jesus

00:43:12.280 --> 00:43:13.180
 to be their savior

00:43:13.180 --> 00:43:13.680
 and lord

00:43:13.679 --> 00:43:15.399
 and father

00:43:15.399 --> 00:43:16.000
 for us

00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:18.839
 help us father

00:43:18.839 --> 00:43:19.179
 to

00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:21.739
 to know

00:43:21.739 --> 00:43:22.500
 that you love us

00:43:22.500 --> 00:43:23.419
 and care for us

00:43:23.419 --> 00:43:24.419
 and that the good news

00:43:24.419 --> 00:43:25.039
 is good

00:43:25.039 --> 00:43:26.059
 and it's

00:43:26.059 --> 00:43:27.039
 good news

00:43:27.039 --> 00:43:29.719
 and put it on our hearts

00:43:29.719 --> 00:43:30.079
 father

00:43:30.079 --> 00:43:31.440
 to pray for our friends

00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:32.059
 and our neighbors

00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:33.059
 and family members

00:43:33.059 --> 00:43:33.819
 who do not yet know

00:43:33.819 --> 00:43:34.719
 Jesus as savior

00:43:34.719 --> 00:43:35.159
 and lord

00:43:35.159 --> 00:43:36.299
 and help us

00:43:36.299 --> 00:43:37.199
 to pray for them

00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:38.199
 and father

00:43:38.199 --> 00:43:39.440
 in your kindness

00:43:39.440 --> 00:43:40.539
 help us to recognize

00:43:40.539 --> 00:43:41.679
 those opportunities

00:43:41.679 --> 00:43:43.000
 those open doors

00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:44.019
 that you will give us

00:43:44.019 --> 00:43:44.619
 to bear witness

00:43:44.619 --> 00:43:45.199
 to Jesus

00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:47.239
 and help us father

00:43:47.239 --> 00:43:48.139
 to have the courage

00:43:48.139 --> 00:43:49.019
 to do that

00:43:49.019 --> 00:43:50.559
 and we ask these things

00:43:50.559 --> 00:43:51.440
 in the name of Jesus

00:43:51.440 --> 00:43:52.019
 your son

00:43:52.019 --> 00:43:52.639
 and our savior

00:43:52.639 --> 00:43:53.820
 amen