WEBVTT

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 Good morning, my name is Jill and our reading today is taken from Psalm chapter 16 verses 1 to 8.

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 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.

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 I say to the Lord, you are my Lord. Apart from you I have no good thing.

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 I say of the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.

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 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.

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 I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

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 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup, you make my lot secure.

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 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Surely I have a delightful inheritance.

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 I will praise the Lord who counsels me. Even at night my heart instructs me.

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 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand I shall not be shaken. Amen.

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 Good morning, my name is Alistair. Our second reading this morning comes from Acts chapter 17 verses 16 to 34.

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 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

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 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks,

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 as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.

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 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him.

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 Some of them asked, what is this babbler trying to say?

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 Others remarked, he seems to be advocating foreign gods.

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 They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

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 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him,

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 may we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?

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 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears and we would like to know what they mean.

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 All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.

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 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said,

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 People of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious.

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 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship,

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 I even found an altar with this inscription to an unknown God.

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 So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship.

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 And this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

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 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth

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 and does not live in temples built by human hands.

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 And he is not served by human hands as if he needed anything.

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 Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

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 From one man he made all the nations that they should inhabit the whole earth.

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 And he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

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 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him,

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 though he is not far from any one of us.

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 For in him we live and move and have our being.

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 As some of your own poets have said, we are his offspring.

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 Therefore, since we are God's offspring,

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 we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone,

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 an image made by human design and skill.

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 In the past God overlooked such ignorance,

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 but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

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 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice

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 by the man he has appointed.

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 He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.

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 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead,

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 some of them sneered, but others said,

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 we want to hear you again on this subject.

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 At that, Paul left the council.

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 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed.

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 Among them was Dionysus, a member of the Areopagus,

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 also a woman named Demaris, and a number of others.

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 Amen.

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 Thank you for God's word.

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 So let's just pray for Alistair as he comes to speak to us

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 on what we've just read this morning.

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 Father God, we just thank you for your word.

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 And we just pray for Alistair as he comes to share with us this morning.

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 We pray that you are with him

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 and that you can just help him to deliver what's on his heart.

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 We just thank you for all of the work he's done

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 in preparing your message.

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 And we just pray for him now as he comes to speak to us.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Good morning, everyone, and welcome to this service.

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 Let me add my welcome to Graham's.

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 My name is Alistair.

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 I have the privilege of being the assistant pastor

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 here at Brunsfield.

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 And the privilege of leading us through

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 that passage that was just read to us

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 from Acts chapter 17, verses 16 to 34.

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 But to start off, I want you to imagine

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 that you're on holiday in a new city,

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 one of the cultural capitals of the world.

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 It's probably a wonderful dream that many of us are having

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 during this lockdown.

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 But when you go on holiday,

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 when you visit a large, prominent city,

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 what is it that grabs your attention?

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 Prior to my wife, Sabina, and I moving to Edinburgh,

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 we lived in Vienna for a few years.

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 And when we used to walk around,

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 I would constantly be looking up.

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 Because we were walking past buildings

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 that were hundreds of years old.

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 You'd look up and you would see intricate wreaths

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 made of stone.

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 And you would almost think that they were made

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 of real leaves and flowers.

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 And then you'd see sculptures and statues

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 that were so lifelike.

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 With every step, you couldn't help but be drawn

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 into the beauty of the city.

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 And on top of that, you'd walk past opera halls.

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 You'd hear masterful artists playing their instruments.

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 Talented opera singers belting out tunes

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 in the middle of the city centre.

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 And you'd walk past birthplaces of famous composers.

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 And you couldn't help but marvel

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 at the beauty of a city like that.

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 Most of us are probably like this

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 when we go and visit somewhere new.

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 We walk around and the things that grab our attention

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 are the architecture, the culture,

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 the atmosphere of the city, right?

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 Well, this morning we're going to go on a journey

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 with the Apostle Paul back in time

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 to the ancient city of Athens

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 at the height of its cultural significance.

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 It was a prominent city.

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 A place where philosophers would gather

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 and debate and discuss the newest ideas.

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 An intellectual hub for the greatest minds

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 of the ancient world.

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 An ancient city filled with hustle and bustle.

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 But we're going to focus on two things this morning.

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 Firstly, what the Apostle Paul saw

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 as he wandered around Athens.

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 And then secondly, what he did because of that.

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 So the first thing that we see in this passage

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 is seeing the reality.

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 In verses 16 to 21.

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 Seeing the reality.

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 So Paul, Silas and Timothy have just been in Berea.

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 A town where the Jews listened to Paul's message.

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 And they examined the scriptures every day

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 to see whether what he was saying was right.

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 And we see that from verse 11 in chapter 17.

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 But then people from Thessalonica came

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 and caused a riot and made trouble

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 so that Paul had to leave.

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 And he was taken to this city of Athens.

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 A city that, as far as we know,

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 he had never visited before.

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 And he was to wait there

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 until Silas and Timothy would join him.

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 So what would you do

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 if you had a few days to kill

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 in a city you'd never been to before?

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 Well, you'd go sightseeing.

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 You'd go and check out the local hotspots.

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 You'd try the local food.

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 You'd look at the tourist attractions, right?

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 If you go to Paris,

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 you're going to try your hardest

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 and bend over backwards almost

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 to get the whole Eiffel Tower

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 into your picture frame.

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 30 attempts later

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 and 28 fake smiles

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 and you finally get the picture you wanted.

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 But what does Paul see

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 as he walks around Athens?

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 Well, look with me at verse 16.

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 Paul's eyes aren't drawn to the architecture

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 or to the culture

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 or the sophistication

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 or the philosophical significance

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 of the people in Athens.

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 His eyes are drawn to the idolatry

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 and he is deeply, deeply distressed.

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 Now, Sabina and I spent a few weeks

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 in the Middle East last year

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 and we visited a number of touristy hotspots

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 in the area.

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 We stood next to and took pictures

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 of ourselves in the ancient temples

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 of Zeus, of Hercules and of Diana,

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 just to name a few.

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 But one day as we were in

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 one of these temples,

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 we were talking about how

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 thousands of years ago

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 that place would have been

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 heaving with worshippers

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 and stalls of people

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 selling small household gods,

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 people selling false gods

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 and false hope.

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 And we were amazed

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 at the absurdity

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 and the evil

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 of the idolatry

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 that we were now standing next to

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 and taking pictures of.

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 But Paul wasn't standing

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 in an empty city.

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 He was walking through a city

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 that was full of idols,

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 a new idol around every corner.

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 It's as if they were drowning

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 in a ton of false deities.

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 And this upset.

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 It provoked

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 and it compelled Paul

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 to see the reality

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 of the situation

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 and to preach the gospel to them.

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 Paul sees the idolatry

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 in the city

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 and he knows

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 the deeper reality

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 that it conveys.

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 That these people

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 are giving glory

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 and honour

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 to created things

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 instead of to God,

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 the creator.

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 But we can't look at this

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 and think that we're any different

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 or that somehow

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 our world has overcome

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 this problem of idolatry.

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 Sure, our idols look different

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 but just take a wonder

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 down Princess Street

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 here in Edinburgh.

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 Or look at the advertisements

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 on television

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 and you will see

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 what the idols are

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 that we worship today.

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 Popularity,

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 material wealth,

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 a good reputation,

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 having the perfect body,

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 relationships,

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 sex,

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 being liked by everyone

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 and so on.

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 None of these

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 are bad things

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 in and of themselves

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 but

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 they are terrible gods.

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 Terrible things

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 to worship.

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 We are no different

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 from the city of Athens.

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 As John Calvin,

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 the pastor and theologian

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 from many years ago

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 once said,

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 man's mind

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 is a perpetual

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 factory

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 of idols.

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 Idols are the things

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 that we,

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 that take up our time,

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 that take up our energy,

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 our money,

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 our effort.

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 The things that we

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 prioritize

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 over God.

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 Do you want to know

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 what your idols are?

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 think about

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 what you miss most

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 during this lockdown.

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 Think about

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 what your mind

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 is consumed with

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 and what you give

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 all of your time to.

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 Idols

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 are the things

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 in our lives

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 that take the place

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 that should be reserved

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 only for God.

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 And so Paul

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 sees this

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 and he is compelled

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 to speak

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 and he reasons

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 with the Jews

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 in the synagogue

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 and goes into

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 the marketplace

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 and in verse 18

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 it says that he

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 preached the good news

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 about Jesus

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 and the resurrection.

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 So Paul sees

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 the reality

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 of idolatry

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 and he is compelled

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 to preach.

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 Friends,

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 how do we respond

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 to idolatry?

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 we are surrounded

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 in a world

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 that is trying

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 to find satisfaction

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 and fulfillment

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 and meaning

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 in things

00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:14.019
 that won't deliver.

00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:16.360
 We try to find

00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.019
 satisfaction

00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.379
 in our jobs,

00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:20.299
 in our university

00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:20.899
 grades,

00:13:21.339 --> 00:13:22.079
 in our material

00:13:22.079 --> 00:13:22.600
 possessions,

00:13:22.819 --> 00:13:24.039
 in our marital status

00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:25.980
 and many more things.

00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:28.000
 but in reality

00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:29.279
 that points

00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.240
 to one truth

00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.960
 that humans

00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:33.460
 are born

00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:34.539
 worshippers

00:13:34.539 --> 00:13:37.320
 and we are

00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:38.060
 naturally born

00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:38.680
 worshipping

00:13:38.680 --> 00:13:40.120
 the wrong things.

00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.080
 We shouldn't

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.840
 be worshipping

00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:43.720
 things that are

00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.759
 gone in a flash,

00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:47.100
 things that can break

00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:47.779
 and things that

00:13:47.779 --> 00:13:48.480
 don't satisfy.

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:48.800
 Friends,

00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:49.580
 we should only

00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:51.000
 be worshipping

00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:51.920
 God

00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:55.219
 and in the face

00:13:55.219 --> 00:13:56.059
 of idolatry

00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:57.620
 our response

00:13:57.620 --> 00:13:58.339
 shouldn't be

00:13:58.339 --> 00:13:59.019
 apathy.

00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.439
 We shouldn't

00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:01.059
 walk away

00:14:01.059 --> 00:14:01.879
 and not care

00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:02.740
 at what people

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:03.219
 are doing

00:14:03.219 --> 00:14:04.579
 but we should

00:14:04.579 --> 00:14:05.360
 point people

00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:07.139
 to the only person

00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:08.120
 who is worth

00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:08.799
 worshipping,

00:14:09.479 --> 00:14:10.199
 the person

00:14:10.199 --> 00:14:11.979
 who created us

00:14:11.979 --> 00:14:12.959
 to worship

00:14:12.959 --> 00:14:14.639
 and glorify him

00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:15.279
 and that is

00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.539
 God alone.

00:14:17.939 --> 00:14:19.179
 When we see

00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:19.980
 idolatry

00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:21.599
 we need to see

00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:22.360
 the reality

00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.060
 of it

00:14:23.060 --> 00:14:24.240
 and it must

00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:24.920
 lead us

00:14:24.920 --> 00:14:25.680
 it must

00:14:25.680 --> 00:14:26.820
 lead us

00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:28.120
 to boldly

00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.779
 proclaim

00:14:28.779 --> 00:14:29.399
 Jesus

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.480
 to a world

00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.659
 that is hardwired

00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:32.639
 to worship.

00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:34.120
 The second thing

00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:34.740
 that we see

00:14:34.740 --> 00:14:35.639
 in this passage

00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:36.700
 is speaking

00:14:36.700 --> 00:14:37.420
 the truth

00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:39.100
 in verses 22

00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.040
 to 34

00:14:40.040 --> 00:14:41.200
 speaking

00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:42.180
 the truth.

00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:43.659
 So Paul

00:14:43.659 --> 00:14:44.340
 has preached

00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:45.139
 to the people

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:45.620
 of Athens

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.100
 and they called

00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:47.840
 him a babbler.

00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:49.360
 They accused

00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.220
 him of advocating

00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:51.120
 foreign gods

00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:52.440
 in verse 18

00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:53.480
 and he was

00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:54.159
 told that he

00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:55.000
 was promoting

00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.679
 strange ideas

00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.580
 in verse 20

00:14:57.580 --> 00:14:59.200
 but this

00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.159
 doesn't deter him.

00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:01.840
 Paul is still

00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.080
 deeply distressed

00:15:03.080 --> 00:15:04.019
 by the idolatry

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.860
 that he sees

00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:06.100
 and now he's

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:06.720
 brought before

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.360
 a council

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.620
 a group of

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.519
 prominent people

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.080
 who were

00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.560
 responsible for

00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:12.039
 the moral

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.799
 for the education

00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:15.100
 and for the

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.460
 religious act

00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:17.480
 of Athens

00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:18.759
 and he's

00:15:18.759 --> 00:15:19.139
 asked to

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:19.600
 explain

00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.340
 his message

00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:22.139
 and look

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:22.519
 where he

00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:22.920
 begins

00:15:22.920 --> 00:15:23.440
 in verse

00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:24.340
 22

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.160
 read with me

00:15:25.160 --> 00:15:26.400
 people

00:15:26.400 --> 00:15:27.400
 of Athens

00:15:27.400 --> 00:15:28.639
 I see

00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:28.980
 that in

00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:29.740
 every way

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.080
 you are

00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:30.900
 very religious

00:15:30.900 --> 00:15:32.320
 for as I

00:15:32.320 --> 00:15:33.120
 walked around

00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:33.560
 and looked

00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:34.180
 carefully

00:15:34.180 --> 00:15:34.920
 at your

00:15:34.920 --> 00:15:35.440
 objects

00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:35.980
 of worship

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.540
 I even

00:15:37.540 --> 00:15:38.100
 found an

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:38.320
 altar

00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:38.860
 with this

00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:39.379
 inscription

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:40.740
 to an

00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:41.259
 unknown

00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:41.879
 God

00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.759
 so you

00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.360
 are ignorant

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.439
 of the

00:15:45.439 --> 00:15:46.080
 very thing

00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:46.740
 you worship

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:48.100
 and that

00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:48.460
 is what

00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:48.939
 I am going

00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:49.539
 to proclaim

00:15:49.539 --> 00:15:50.080
 to you

00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:52.120
 now in

00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:53.039
 this verse

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.120
 Paul isn't

00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:54.879
 approving

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.259
 of their

00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:56.019
 polytheism

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:57.240
 their love

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:57.720
 for a

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.299
 plethora of

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:58.639
 idols

00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:00.200
 he isn't

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.019
 saying this

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.960
 unknown God

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.240
 that you

00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:02.740
 worship I'm

00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:02.980
 going to

00:16:02.980 --> 00:16:03.419
 tell you

00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:03.980
 about him

00:16:03.980 --> 00:16:05.259
 and he

00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.000
 isn't saying

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.320
 that there

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:06.799
 are multiple

00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:07.340
 ways to

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:07.659
 God

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:09.740
 he's pointing

00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.299
 out the

00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.100
 absurdity

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:12.080
 that they

00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:12.800
 are worshipping

00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:13.480
 something they

00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.159
 have no idea

00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:14.540
 about

00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:17.060
 and he

00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:17.759
 goes on to

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.580
 proclaim to

00:16:18.580 --> 00:16:18.980
 them the

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:19.659
 one true

00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:20.100
 God

00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:20.860
 who is

00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:21.300
 deserving

00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:22.420
 of worship

00:16:22.420 --> 00:16:24.460
 Paul

00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:25.440
 draws out

00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.800
 five wonderful

00:16:26.800 --> 00:16:27.639
 truths about

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.220
 God that I

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.139
 hope will

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:29.800
 encourage us

00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:30.259
 all as

00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:31.019
 Christians this

00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:31.340
 morning

00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:32.379
 that will

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.300
 comfort us

00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:34.100
 and lead us

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.820
 to worship

00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:35.340
 our all

00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:35.899
 powerful

00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:37.200
 our almighty

00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:37.800
 and our

00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.779
 amazing God

00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:39.759
 God

00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:40.959
 and this

00:16:40.959 --> 00:16:41.120
 should

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:41.779
 encourage us

00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:42.959
 because Paul

00:16:42.959 --> 00:16:43.639
 doesn't do

00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:44.480
 anything special

00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:44.939
 in this

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:45.419
 passage

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:47.439
 you don't

00:16:47.439 --> 00:16:48.480
 require a

00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.759
 PhD in

00:16:49.759 --> 00:16:50.600
 theology to

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.139
 do what he

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.740
 does here

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:53.659
 Paul simply

00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.679
 explains who

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:55.339
 God is

00:16:55.339 --> 00:16:56.799
 and he calls

00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.519
 the people of

00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.120
 Athens to

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.459
 repent

00:16:58.459 --> 00:17:00.379
 every single

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:01.620
 Christian can

00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.120
 do that

00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:05.279
 and I

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.940
 hope that if

00:17:05.940 --> 00:17:06.400
 you're listening

00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.000
 to this

00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.039
 service this

00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.460
 morning and

00:17:08.460 --> 00:17:08.880
 you're not a

00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:09.200
 Christian

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.599
 that these

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.420
 five truths

00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:12.079
 about God

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:13.039
 will challenge

00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:14.140
 you to

00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:14.920
 consider who

00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.460
 he really

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:15.960
 is

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.440
 God is not

00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:18.519
 some distant

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.660
 far off deity

00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:21.019
 or a fairy

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.460
 tale

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.900
 but he is the

00:17:22.900 --> 00:17:23.819
 one true God

00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:25.220
 and he alone

00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:25.920
 is worthy

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.119
 of our

00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:27.680
 praise

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:30.100
 and so we

00:17:30.100 --> 00:17:30.480
 get our

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.519
 first truth

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.140
 about God

00:17:32.140 --> 00:17:33.060
 in verse 24

00:17:33.060 --> 00:17:33.960
 read with me

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:35.539
 the God who

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.380
 made the

00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:36.920
 world and

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:37.700
 everything in

00:17:37.700 --> 00:17:39.700
 it is the

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.299
 Lord of

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:41.000
 heaven and

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.560
 earth and

00:17:41.560 --> 00:17:42.120
 does not

00:17:42.120 --> 00:17:42.779
 live in

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.640
 temples built

00:17:43.640 --> 00:17:44.299
 by human

00:17:44.299 --> 00:17:44.840
 hands

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:47.060
 God is

00:17:47.060 --> 00:17:47.660
 creator

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:49.400
 he is the

00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.140
 all powerful

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:50.820
 one who put

00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:51.680
 the stars in

00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.340
 their place

00:17:52.340 --> 00:17:53.100
 the one who

00:17:53.100 --> 00:17:53.960
 created this

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.940
 wonderful world

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:55.920
 that we live

00:17:55.920 --> 00:17:57.539
 in as Psalm

00:17:57.539 --> 00:17:58.500
 97 so

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.580
 wonderfully puts

00:17:59.580 --> 00:18:00.420
 it the heavens

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.880
 proclaim his

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.519
 righteousness

00:18:02.519 --> 00:18:04.019
 and all

00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:05.440
 peoples see

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.900
 his glory

00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:10.440
 everyone is

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.560
 without excuse

00:18:11.560 --> 00:18:12.740
 because when we

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.220
 look at the

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.900
 skies when we

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:15.700
 see the ocean

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.440
 when we see

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:16.980
 the snow

00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:18.080
 capped mountains

00:18:18.080 --> 00:18:18.759
 and the

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.820
 wonderful creation

00:18:19.820 --> 00:18:20.440
 that God has

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:20.960
 made there

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.180
 should be no

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:22.820
 doubt in our

00:18:22.820 --> 00:18:24.220
 minds that

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:24.680
 there is a

00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:25.140
 creator

00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:26.300
 and we are

00:18:26.300 --> 00:18:27.280
 called to

00:18:27.280 --> 00:18:28.020
 worship him

00:18:28.020 --> 00:18:30.420
 and as if

00:18:30.420 --> 00:18:31.000
 that wasn't

00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.880
 amazing enough

00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:32.800
 verse 25

00:18:32.800 --> 00:18:33.880
 continues and

00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:35.100
 says God is

00:18:35.100 --> 00:18:36.040
 the sustainer

00:18:36.040 --> 00:18:37.040
 of life

00:18:37.040 --> 00:18:39.040
 God gives

00:18:39.040 --> 00:18:40.200
 everyone life

00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:40.920
 and breath

00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:41.660
 and everything

00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.200
 else

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:44.280
 as you woke

00:18:44.280 --> 00:18:45.020
 up this morning

00:18:45.020 --> 00:18:45.740
 you probably

00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:46.800
 rubbed your

00:18:46.800 --> 00:18:47.280
 eyes

00:18:47.280 --> 00:18:48.600
 gave a wee

00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:49.160
 stretch

00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:50.060
 probably a

00:18:50.060 --> 00:18:50.680
 little yawn

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:51.600
 and started

00:18:51.600 --> 00:18:52.100
 your day

00:18:52.100 --> 00:18:52.640
 like every

00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.200
 other day

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.440
 but every

00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.700
 single thing

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.360
 you have

00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:59.340
 everything that

00:18:59.340 --> 00:19:00.059
 you are

00:19:00.059 --> 00:19:01.799
 is a gift

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.900
 from God

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:03.539
 even the

00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.360
 breath that

00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:05.180
 you breathe

00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:06.640
 is a gift

00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.180
 from the God

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:07.759
 who created

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:09.019
 you and the

00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:09.420
 God who

00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.259
 sustains you

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:12.360
 as verse 28

00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:13.380
 says for in

00:19:13.380 --> 00:19:14.299
 him we live

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.279
 and move

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.360
 and have our

00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:16.799
 being

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:19.039
 God is the

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.720
 sustainer

00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:20.720
 of life

00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:23.120
 and in

00:19:23.120 --> 00:19:23.799
 verse 26

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:24.559
 we see that

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.120
 God is the

00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:26.180
 ruler of

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:26.740
 the nations

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:28.279
 he knows

00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:28.980
 the rise

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.620
 and fall

00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:30.279
 of all the

00:19:30.279 --> 00:19:30.960
 nations that

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.740
 span throughout

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.259
 history

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:34.200
 the nations

00:19:34.200 --> 00:19:34.900
 that once

00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:36.819
 were mighty

00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.559
 and powerful

00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.500
 attributed their

00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:39.319
 success to

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:40.220
 military might

00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:42.500
 but God is

00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:42.900
 the one

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.640
 who has

00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:44.339
 appointed their

00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:44.839
 times

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:46.779
 their success

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:47.579
 should not lead

00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.319
 them to rely

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:48.960
 on themselves

00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.600
 or think of

00:19:49.600 --> 00:19:50.140
 how great

00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:50.579
 they are

00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:50.960
 but as

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.380
 verse 27

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.440
 says God

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.200
 did this

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.200
 so that they

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.799
 would seek

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.000
 him and

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.779
 perhaps reach

00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.819
 out for him

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.720
 and find him

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:00.720
 though he is

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.500
 not far from

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.500
 any of us

00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:04.980
 do you see

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:05.680
 that wonderful

00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:07.259
 that mind

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.100
 blowing and

00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:08.759
 that comforting

00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:09.680
 truth at the

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.180
 end of that

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:10.640
 verse

00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:13.220
 God is not

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:14.140
 far from

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:15.140
 any one

00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:15.779
 of us

00:20:15.779 --> 00:20:18.619
 maybe you're

00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:19.059
 struggling

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:20.259
 during this

00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:20.599
 lockdown

00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:21.139
 period

00:20:21.139 --> 00:20:23.019
 maybe you're

00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.420
 lonely

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.619
 maybe you're

00:20:24.619 --> 00:20:25.180
 hurting and

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:25.740
 afraid

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.539
 friends the

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.339
 wonderful truth

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:28.920
 is that God

00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.700
 is not far

00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:30.339
 from you

00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:32.220
 call out

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.099
 to him

00:20:33.099 --> 00:20:33.819
 call on him

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.440
 maybe even

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:35.119
 for the first

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:35.619
 time

00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:37.000
 and hear the

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:38.359
 voice of the

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.279
 one true

00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.539
 loving God

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.879
 who calls you

00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:42.539
 to himself

00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:44.019
 and he promises

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.740
 to be with

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.680
 you all

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:46.220
 the time

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:49.099
 and then

00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:49.659
 Paul goes

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:50.399
 even further

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:52.220
 and he

00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:52.819
 presents the

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.399
 next truth

00:20:53.399 --> 00:20:53.940
 about God

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.279
 that shall

00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.899
 blow our

00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.639
 minds every

00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:56.539
 single time

00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:56.960
 we think

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.480
 about it

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.740
 God is the

00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.920
 father of

00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:00.559
 humanity

00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:02.379
 verse 29

00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:03.740
 says since

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.659
 we are God's

00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:06.200
 offspring we

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.720
 should not

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.420
 think that the

00:21:07.420 --> 00:21:08.240
 divine being

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.639
 is like gold

00:21:09.639 --> 00:21:10.240
 or silver

00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:10.960
 or stone

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.519
 an image

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.079
 made by

00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.099
 human design

00:21:13.099 --> 00:21:13.740
 and skill

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:16.519
 we are God's

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.059
 offspring

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:18.980
 and our

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:19.699
 response

00:21:19.699 --> 00:21:20.980
 because of

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.399
 that should

00:21:21.399 --> 00:21:22.039
 never be

00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:23.199
 to worship

00:21:23.199 --> 00:21:24.279
 anything else

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.879
 but God

00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:25.319
 himself

00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:28.839
 and God

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.339
 as the

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.399
 father of

00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:30.879
 humanity

00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:32.359
 is not

00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:33.539
 some stern

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.519
 father standing

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.179
 with the rule

00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:35.839
 book ready

00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.779
 and eager to

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.599
 punish those

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.179
 who defy

00:21:38.179 --> 00:21:38.439
 him

00:21:38.439 --> 00:21:40.639
 he is a

00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:41.419
 loving father

00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:42.700
 who has

00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.100
 made a

00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:43.480
 way for

00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:43.880
 us

00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:44.620
 wayward

00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.660
 sinful

00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:46.240
 children

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.860
 to be

00:21:47.860 --> 00:21:48.580
 made right

00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:49.700
 with him

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.580
 through the

00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.539
 death and

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:52.080
 resurrection

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.980
 of Jesus

00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.539
 Christ

00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:57.480
 and God

00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:57.960
 is calling

00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:58.580
 you home

00:21:58.580 --> 00:22:00.460
 God is

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:00.980
 calling his

00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.220
 people to

00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.759
 himself

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:04.640
 will you

00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:06.000
 listen to

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.640
 the call

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.059
 of a

00:22:07.059 --> 00:22:07.500
 loving

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:08.519
 of a

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.039
 good

00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:10.119
 of an

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:10.740
 almighty

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.779
 father

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.299
 God

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.579
 and repent

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:17.119
 how you

00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:17.799
 respond to

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.519
 that question

00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.819
 is important

00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:20.419
 because of

00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:20.839
 the final

00:22:20.839 --> 00:22:21.500
 truth that

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.079
 Paul draws

00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.379
 to our

00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:22.720
 attention

00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.319
 this morning

00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.359
 in verse

00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:24.859
 31

00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:26.960
 for he

00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:27.519
 has set

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.399
 a day

00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:28.879
 when he

00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.460
 will judge

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:29.960
 the world

00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.799
 with justice

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:32.019
 by the man

00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:32.419
 he has

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:32.879
 appointed

00:22:32.879 --> 00:22:34.059
 he has

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.679
 given proof

00:22:34.679 --> 00:22:35.099
 of this

00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:35.759
 to everyone

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.419
 by raising

00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:36.960
 him from

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.439
 the dead

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:40.360
 the final

00:22:40.360 --> 00:22:41.120
 truth

00:22:41.120 --> 00:22:41.880
 this morning

00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:43.420
 is that

00:22:43.420 --> 00:22:43.820
 God is

00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.400
 the judge

00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:44.960
 of all

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:45.480
 the world

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:47.380
 there will

00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:47.960
 be a day

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:49.120
 when every

00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:49.740
 person who

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.400
 has ever

00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:51.160
 lived will

00:22:51.160 --> 00:22:51.960
 stand before

00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:52.620
 God as

00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.100
 he judges

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:53.660
 the world

00:22:53.660 --> 00:22:55.759
 there is

00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.860
 no naughty

00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:57.420
 or nice

00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:57.900
 list

00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.100
 there will

00:22:59.100 --> 00:22:59.640
 not be a

00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.320
 final chance

00:23:00.320 --> 00:23:00.799
 to say but

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:01.340
 God I was

00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:01.920
 a good

00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.440
 person

00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:04.840
 as we all

00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:05.620
 stand before

00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.080
 God

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.519
 there will

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.000
 be those

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.319
 who are

00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:08.779
 called to

00:23:08.779 --> 00:23:09.119
 live in

00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.519
 harmony

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.379
 with him

00:23:10.379 --> 00:23:10.899
 forever

00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:11.359
 in his

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:11.779
 perfect

00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:12.379
 presence

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:14.240
 and then

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.519
 there are

00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:14.899
 those who

00:23:14.899 --> 00:23:15.119
 will be

00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.740
 cast out

00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:16.079
 of his

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.579
 presence

00:23:16.579 --> 00:23:17.899
 who will

00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:18.199
 spend

00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:18.779
 eternity

00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:20.599
 in his

00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.059
 just

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:22.299
 judgment

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.119
 against

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:23.619
 sin

00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:26.199
 so why

00:23:26.199 --> 00:23:27.240
 would we

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.639
 worship

00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:28.119
 idols

00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:29.519
 because on

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.139
 that final

00:23:30.139 --> 00:23:30.819
 day no

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.839
 no idol

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.119
 nothing

00:23:33.119 --> 00:23:34.240
 will be able

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:34.919
 to save

00:23:34.919 --> 00:23:35.799
 us as we

00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:36.539
 stand before

00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:37.059
 a holy

00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:37.399
 God

00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:38.039
 we shouldn't

00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:39.019
 worship idols

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.079
 but we

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.659
 should only

00:23:40.659 --> 00:23:41.359
 worship

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.039
 God

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:43.180
 because he

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:44.359
 alone is

00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:44.899
 the one who

00:23:44.899 --> 00:23:45.399
 can save

00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:45.779
 us

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:48.319
 friends this

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:48.779
 is not a

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.460
 point that we

00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.419
 can take

00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:50.839
 lightly

00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:52.680
 or a decision

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.220
 that we can

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.419
 put off to

00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:55.200
 some future

00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.659
 event

00:23:55.659 --> 00:23:57.639
 we must take

00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:58.299
 this seriously

00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.200
 because God

00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.839
 as just

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:02.720
 must punish

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.620
 sin

00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.819
 and that

00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.319
 starts

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.160
 with us

00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:10.000
 he proved

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.519
 this by

00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:10.940
 sending

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.360
 Jesus

00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.120
 his perfect

00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:12.500
 son

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.620
 who paid

00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.180
 the punishment

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.339
 for every

00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:15.920
 Christian

00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.839
 on the

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.279
 cross

00:24:17.279 --> 00:24:18.600
 so for all

00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:19.100
 those who

00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:19.839
 have repented

00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:20.220
 and put

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.779
 their trust

00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.380
 in Jesus

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.700
 we do not

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.220
 await the

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:23.539
 day of

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:23.920
 judgment

00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.799
 with fear

00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:25.500
 and with

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:25.980
 trembling

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:28.360
 but we

00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:28.860
 await the

00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:29.400
 return of

00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:29.720
 the Lord

00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:30.400
 with eager

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.059
 anticipation

00:24:31.059 --> 00:24:32.440
 because we

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.019
 will be with

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.660
 him forever

00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:36.759
 and that is

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.420
 why Paul

00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:37.960
 is standing

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.519
 before the

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.019
 people of

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.380
 Athens

00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:41.380
 and that is

00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:41.819
 why I am

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:42.539
 standing here

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.120
 before you

00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:43.640
 this morning

00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.420
 begging you

00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:45.839
 to listen

00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:47.079
 to the call

00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:48.099
 of a loving

00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:48.559
 father

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.960
 to repent

00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:50.640
 and come to

00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:50.900
 him

00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.860
 to put your

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.640
 trust in

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:52.940
 Jesus

00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.880
 and be

00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.240
 forgiven

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:58.759
 people will

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.240
 respond

00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:00.099
 differently

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:00.559
 to this

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.019
 message

00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.180
 there were

00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.640
 those in

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.319
 verse 32

00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.480
 who sneered

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.120
 at Paul

00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.779
 and then

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.039
 there were

00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.500
 those in

00:25:07.500 --> 00:25:08.299
 verse 34

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.339
 who became

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:10.160
 followers of

00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:11.120
 Jesus upon

00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:11.900
 hearing that

00:25:11.900 --> 00:25:12.799
 wonderful message

00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:13.420
 of who God

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:13.720
 is

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:15.900
 how will you

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:16.859
 respond this

00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:17.200
 morning

00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:20.799
 think back

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.740
 to where we

00:25:21.740 --> 00:25:22.500
 started off

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.599
 traveling

00:25:23.599 --> 00:25:24.579
 in a new

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:24.959
 city

00:25:24.959 --> 00:25:26.299
 looking at

00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:26.899
 the sights

00:25:26.899 --> 00:25:28.039
 and taking

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.500
 in the

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:28.879
 beautiful

00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:29.419
 scenery

00:25:29.419 --> 00:25:32.159
 our world

00:25:32.159 --> 00:25:32.879
 is just

00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:33.519
 like Athens

00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.779
 we can walk

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.240
 around the

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:37.119
 cultural centers

00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:37.939
 of the world

00:25:37.939 --> 00:25:38.679
 and see just

00:25:38.679 --> 00:25:39.240
 as many

00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.359
 idols as

00:25:40.359 --> 00:25:41.059
 Paul saw

00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:44.059
 Christian

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:46.079
 how do you

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.059
 respond at

00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.639
 the sight

00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.959
 of idolatry

00:25:48.959 --> 00:25:49.579
 do you see

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.279
 the reality

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.919
 of it and

00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:51.559
 speak into

00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.459
 that situation

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:54.259
 we need

00:25:54.259 --> 00:25:55.019
 to take

00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:55.640
 the message

00:25:55.640 --> 00:25:56.059
 to the

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.340
 world

00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:56.720
 that we

00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.259
 serve a

00:25:57.259 --> 00:25:57.700
 wonderful

00:25:57.700 --> 00:25:58.100
 God

00:25:58.100 --> 00:25:58.440
 who is

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.019
 creator

00:25:59.019 --> 00:26:00.740
 sustainer

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:02.079
 ruler

00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:03.440
 father

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:05.000
 and judge

00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.019
 we need

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.440
 to tell

00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.019
 people the

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.340
 truth

00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:08.980
 because he

00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.779
 alone is

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.200
 the one

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.860
 who deserves

00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.559
 our worship

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:13.840
 and we

00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:14.240
 should be

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:14.880
 disturbed

00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:16.559
 and deeply

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.319
 distressed

00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.200
 by idolatry

00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:18.680
 and if

00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.360
 we aren't

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:21.080
 what does

00:26:21.080 --> 00:26:21.660
 that say

00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.660
 about our

00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.100
 lives

00:26:23.100 --> 00:26:25.559
 imagine if

00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:26.480
 God were

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:26.980
 to take a

00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:27.420
 look into

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.140
 our homes

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:29.720
 into our

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.220
 minds

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:31.700
 into our

00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.480
 lives

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:34.080
 what idols

00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:34.440
 would he

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:34.840
 find

00:26:34.840 --> 00:26:37.819
 as we

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.440
 engage with

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:38.980
 our friends

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:39.600
 we need to

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.600
 be so grieved

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.140
 by their

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.539
 sin

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.840
 distressed

00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.460
 by their

00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.380
 idolatry

00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:46.740
 that we

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.240
 have a

00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:47.600
 burning

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.240
 desire

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.280
 and we

00:26:49.280 --> 00:26:50.180
 are burdened

00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:51.100
 to share

00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:51.720
 the gospel

00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.800
 with them

00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:53.940
 we need to

00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:55.000
 speak the

00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.760
 gospel of

00:26:55.760 --> 00:26:56.100
 Jesus

00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:57.240
 and not be

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.020
 apathetic

00:26:58.020 --> 00:26:59.080
 in the light

00:26:59.080 --> 00:27:00.320
 of idolatry

00:27:00.320 --> 00:27:02.220
 and if you're

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.820
 not a Christian

00:27:02.820 --> 00:27:03.460
 this morning

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.740
 let me

00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.520
 challenge you

00:27:05.520 --> 00:27:06.940
 and say

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:07.460
 that no

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.600
 amount of

00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:09.300
 idols will

00:27:09.300 --> 00:27:09.760
 satisfy

00:27:09.760 --> 00:27:11.820
 no amount

00:27:11.820 --> 00:27:12.480
 of idols

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:12.860
 will

00:27:12.860 --> 00:27:14.320
 fulfill

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.480
 that hunger

00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:16.099
 that you

00:27:16.099 --> 00:27:16.500
 have

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:18.359
 the only

00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:18.919
 person

00:27:18.919 --> 00:27:20.339
 that deserves

00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:21.039
 all of your

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.399
 worship

00:27:21.399 --> 00:27:22.539
 is the

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.179
 living God

00:27:23.179 --> 00:27:24.220
 and he

00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:24.859
 calls you

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.720
 to come

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.159
 to him

00:27:26.159 --> 00:27:27.639
 to repent

00:27:27.639 --> 00:27:28.659
 and to put

00:27:28.659 --> 00:27:29.259
 your trust

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:29.720
 in his

00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.019
 son

00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:30.859
 Jesus

00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.379
 Christ

00:27:31.379 --> 00:27:33.339
 let's pray

00:27:33.339 --> 00:27:33.740
 together

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:37.839
 heavenly

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.519
 father we

00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.339
 ask for

00:27:39.339 --> 00:27:39.799
 forgiveness

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.899
 for the

00:27:40.899 --> 00:27:41.639
 times that

00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:42.419
 we have

00:27:42.419 --> 00:27:43.460
 worshipped

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:43.919
 idols

00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.480
 instead

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.980
 of you

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:46.300
 father

00:27:46.300 --> 00:27:46.759
 would you

00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.600
 reveal to

00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:47.980
 us the

00:27:47.980 --> 00:27:48.700
 idols of

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.420
 our hearts

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.660
 the things

00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.060
 that we

00:27:51.060 --> 00:27:52.140
 have put

00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:53.240
 above you

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.820
 in our

00:27:53.820 --> 00:27:54.480
 lives and

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:54.920
 the things

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.200
 that we

00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.360
 prioritize over

00:27:56.360 --> 00:27:57.060
 you father

00:27:57.060 --> 00:27:58.560
 forgive us

00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:00.899
 and father

00:28:00.899 --> 00:28:01.819
 help us take

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:02.539
 that wonderful

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.240
 message to

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.599
 the world

00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:03.960
 that we

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.539
 serve an

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.059
 almighty

00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.539
 God

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.659
 a God

00:28:06.659 --> 00:28:07.019
 who is

00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:07.679
 creator

00:28:07.679 --> 00:28:09.779
 sustainer

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:11.240
 ruler

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:13.179
 father

00:28:13.179 --> 00:28:14.799
 and judge

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.279
 and help us

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.899
 call people

00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:17.659
 to repent

00:28:17.659 --> 00:28:18.500
 and believe

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.819
 because the

00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.440
 kingdom of

00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.139
 God is at

00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:21.519
 hand

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.519
 and we

00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.039
 pray this

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.339
 in the

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:23.720
 precious

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.960
 and holy

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.460
 name of

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.680
 our

00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.140
 saviour

00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:26.960
 Jesus

00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:27.559
 Christ

00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.660
 amen

00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:32.279
 well thank

00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:32.700
 you so much

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.299
 Alistair for

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.160
 taking us

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.680
 through that

00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.480
 passage and

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.480
 I trust

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.539
 that it's

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.039
 caused all

00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.500
 of us to

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.339
 just stop

00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:39.759
 and to

00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.480
 think about

00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.539
 the world

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.140
 in which we

00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:43.220
 live and

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:43.720
 perhaps the

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.299
 things that

00:28:44.299 --> 00:28:45.120
 we are doing

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:45.539
 and the

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:45.860
 things that

00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:46.039
 we're

00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.680
 pursuing

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:48.039
 in our

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.839
 lives

00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:50.179
 one of the

00:28:50.179 --> 00:28:50.459
 things that

00:28:50.459 --> 00:28:50.679
 we've been

00:28:50.679 --> 00:28:51.139
 doing over

00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:51.539
 the last

00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:52.259
 few Sundays

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.119
 is we've

00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:53.379
 just been

00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:54.019
 hearing from

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.619
 people in

00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:55.159
 our church

00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:56.599
 family and

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:56.839
 they've been

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.279
 telling us

00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.259
 their stories

00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.779
 about how

00:28:58.779 --> 00:28:59.699
 they came

00:28:59.699 --> 00:29:00.519
 to first

00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.339
 meet Jesus

00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:02.399
 and it's

00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:02.779
 been so

00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.339
 encouraging to

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:03.759
 hear so

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.139
 many people

00:29:04.139 --> 00:29:05.299
 feedback to

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.099
 us how

00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.519
 they've been

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.399
 connecting with

00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:08.059
 these stories

00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.959
 as we've

00:29:08.959 --> 00:29:09.299
 just been

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.799
 hearing from

00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:10.159
 people

00:29:10.159 --> 00:29:11.119
 and we

00:29:11.119 --> 00:29:11.439
 said this

00:29:11.439 --> 00:29:11.679
 is the

00:29:11.679 --> 00:29:12.059
 truth about

00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.439
 the church

00:29:12.439 --> 00:29:12.959
 of Jesus

00:29:12.959 --> 00:29:13.459
 that it's

00:29:13.459 --> 00:29:14.019
 made up of

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.699
 many different

00:29:14.699 --> 00:29:15.879
 people who

00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.220
 are doing

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.879
 many different

00:29:16.879 --> 00:29:17.659
 things all

00:29:17.659 --> 00:29:18.139
 with very

00:29:18.139 --> 00:29:18.579
 different

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.919
 stories about

00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:20.579
 how we all

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.019
 came to

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.439
 meet the

00:29:21.439 --> 00:29:22.699
 one same

00:29:22.699 --> 00:29:23.699
 saviour

00:29:23.699 --> 00:29:24.839
 and so we're

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.099
 going to hear

00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.799
 another story

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:26.439
 now from one

00:29:26.439 --> 00:29:27.119
 of our members

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.779
 who's called

00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.299
 Declan

00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.519
 Declan's going

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.079
 to tell us a

00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:30.720
 little bit of

00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.439
 his story

00:29:31.439 --> 00:29:32.759
 and particularly

00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:33.720
 about how he

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.879
 now seeks

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.639
 to use the

00:29:35.639 --> 00:29:36.559
 everyday things

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:37.119
 that he does

00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:37.839
 in his life

00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:39.039
 to lovingly

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:39.720
 connect with

00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.919
 people and

00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:41.759
 tell them about

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.199
 Jesus

00:29:42.199 --> 00:29:43.500
 and once

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.059
 Declan's

00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:45.079
 finished we're

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.480
 going to have

00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.119
 our final

00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:46.559
 song

00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:49.379
 hi my

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:49.720
 name is

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.179
 Declan

00:29:50.179 --> 00:29:50.720
 I'm a

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.099
 member at

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.480
 Brunsfield

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.139
 Evangelical

00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:52.500
 Church

00:29:52.500 --> 00:29:53.519
 I'm 29

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.079
 and an

00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:54.480
 air traffic

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:54.940
 controller

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:55.980
 I'm a

00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.259
 Christian

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:56.919
 I believe

00:29:56.919 --> 00:29:57.339
 in God

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:57.740
 I'm just

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:57.899
 going to

00:29:57.899 --> 00:29:58.220
 take a

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.559
 couple of

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:58.779
 minutes

00:29:58.779 --> 00:29:59.359
 now to

00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.000
 explain a

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.319
 little bit

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:01.079
 about why

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.639
 I do

00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:02.179
 and how

00:30:02.179 --> 00:30:02.639
 that happened

00:30:02.639 --> 00:30:03.019
 for me

00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.339
 so I

00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:04.720
 grew up in

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:04.980
 a lovely

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.700
 place called

00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.539
 Peebles in

00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.119
 a Christian

00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:08.059
 household and

00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.679
 we always

00:30:08.679 --> 00:30:09.000
 went to

00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:09.440
 church and

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:09.960
 I had a

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.659
 very positive

00:30:10.659 --> 00:30:11.519
 experience going

00:30:11.519 --> 00:30:12.059
 to church

00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.599
 growing up

00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:12.899
 there was

00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:13.519
 people who

00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.379
 leaked out

00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:14.700
 for me

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:14.920
 and were

00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.480
 very good

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:15.800
 for me

00:30:15.800 --> 00:30:16.740
 so growing

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.160
 up I

00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:18.040
 always believed

00:30:18.040 --> 00:30:18.560
 in God

00:30:18.560 --> 00:30:19.840
 and as a

00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:20.640
 young teenager

00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:21.980
 I helped

00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.660
 out at a

00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.320
 holiday club

00:30:23.320 --> 00:30:23.740
 in Peebles

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.740
 and there I

00:30:24.740 --> 00:30:25.160
 got to meet

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:25.660
 some older

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:26.740
 teenagers and

00:30:26.740 --> 00:30:27.400
 young adults

00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:27.980
 who were also

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.360
 Christians

00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:29.100
 and that was

00:30:29.100 --> 00:30:29.500
 the first time

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.460
 I'd met some

00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:31.000
 other young

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.820
 Christians and

00:30:31.820 --> 00:30:33.080
 I got to make

00:30:33.080 --> 00:30:33.640
 some great

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:34.440
 friendships and

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:34.840
 get to know

00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.240
 them more

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.740
 and I saw

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.340
 that they were

00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:38.400
 quite cool and

00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.320
 there was

00:30:39.320 --> 00:30:39.860
 something different

00:30:39.860 --> 00:30:40.360
 about them

00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:40.900
 the way they

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:41.800
 acted and

00:30:41.800 --> 00:30:42.900
 the way they

00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.740
 interacted with

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:44.140
 each other

00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:45.120
 and just

00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:45.960
 their priorities

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.440
 in life were

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.940
 a bit different

00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.660
 and I liked

00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:48.020
 it I thought

00:30:48.020 --> 00:30:48.600
 it looked good

00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:49.400
 and I could

00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:49.960
 see that the

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:50.340
 thing that was

00:30:50.340 --> 00:30:50.800
 different about

00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:51.220
 them was that

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.400
 they were

00:30:51.400 --> 00:30:52.420
 Christians and

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.700
 I decided then

00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.259
 you know I

00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:54.880
 want some of

00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.960
 that and so

00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.580
 I thought this

00:30:56.580 --> 00:30:57.220
 being a Christian

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.300
 was a good

00:30:58.300 --> 00:30:59.700
 thing and so

00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.420
 when I was 16

00:31:00.420 --> 00:31:01.540
 I made a formal

00:31:01.540 --> 00:31:02.300
 commitment you could

00:31:02.300 --> 00:31:02.800
 say and I was

00:31:02.800 --> 00:31:04.180
 baptized and from

00:31:04.180 --> 00:31:04.800
 then on I would

00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:05.440
 always say I've

00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:05.940
 been a Christian

00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.360
 I've always

00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.280
 believed in God

00:31:07.280 --> 00:31:08.800
 but as I got

00:31:08.800 --> 00:31:09.800
 slightly older and

00:31:09.800 --> 00:31:10.500
 I went to

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:11.660
 university I

00:31:11.660 --> 00:31:12.780
 maybe became what

00:31:12.780 --> 00:31:13.720
 you might call a

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.579
 part-time Christian

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.620
 I was still going

00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.440
 to church I was

00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:17.240
 still involved in

00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:17.759
 some church

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.500
 activities but

00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:21.620
 outside of that I

00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:22.259
 wasn't really giving

00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.519
 God much respect I

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.680
 wasn't considering

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:26.200
 him in the things I

00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.059
 was choosing to do

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:27.799
 and the way I was

00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:29.740
 living my life and

00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:30.339
 around about this

00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:31.200
 time I got involved

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.339
 with an organization

00:31:32.339 --> 00:31:33.160
 called Christians in

00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.220
 Sport and when I

00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:35.059
 was at university I

00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:36.559
 was very sporty and

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.299
 Christians in Sport

00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:38.339
 was great for me I

00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.240
 got to meet other

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.640
 like-minded individuals

00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:41.839
 who were Christian and

00:31:41.839 --> 00:31:42.980
 also into their sport

00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.779
 and we'd do little

00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:45.519
 Bible studies and

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:46.960
 discuss issues that

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:48.559
 were really specific

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.500
 to being a Christian

00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:51.059
 in sport and it was

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:52.160
 then I learned how to

00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.220
 match up having a

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:56.000
 faith and living that

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.960
 out and matching it

00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.900
 up with sport or

00:31:57.900 --> 00:31:58.819
 generally matching it

00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:00.500
 up with your lifestyle

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:02.099
 and it was someone I

00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.960
 met through Christians

00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:04.519
 in Sport who was I

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.579
 think aware of this

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.339
 sort of part-time

00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:07.420
 Christian lifestyle that

00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:08.400
 I was living and one

00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:09.120
 day he just said to

00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:10.400
 me what are you doing

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.740
 and that was a

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:13.200
 catalyst for me to

00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:15.259
 think about the way

00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:16.019
 I was living my life

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:17.280
 and I decided if I was

00:32:17.280 --> 00:32:18.080
 going to be a Christian

00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:18.940
 I wanted to do it

00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:20.540
 properly and so I

00:32:20.540 --> 00:32:21.900
 wanted to look into

00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:23.180
 the Bible more and

00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:24.360
 see what it said and

00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:25.440
 actually if it was true

00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:27.360
 and so that was the

00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:28.280
 beginning of a process

00:32:28.280 --> 00:32:29.340
 which is still going on

00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:30.720
 for me where I studied

00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:31.940
 the Bible and looked at

00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:33.140
 what it said and

00:32:33.140 --> 00:32:34.460
 scrutinized parts of it

00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:35.920
 and I've come to the

00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:36.620
 point where you've

00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.360
 probably guessed it

00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:39.179
 that I really believe

00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:40.199
 in God and the Bible

00:32:40.199 --> 00:32:42.559
 and I think it's all

00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:44.379
 true and I think it's

00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:47.139
 also good news which

00:32:47.139 --> 00:32:47.679
 might sound a little

00:32:47.679 --> 00:32:48.619
 bit cheesy but I do

00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:50.199
 think it's good and

00:32:50.199 --> 00:32:52.000
 the Bible tells us that

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:53.119
 when we become a

00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:53.959
 Christian there is a

00:32:53.959 --> 00:32:54.879
 transformation we're

00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.779
 transformed from

00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:56.419
 before we're a

00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:57.639
 Christian until

00:32:57.639 --> 00:32:59.379
 afterwards and for me

00:32:59.379 --> 00:33:01.119
 that wasn't a sort of

00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.279
 instantaneous moment

00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:04.519
 it's taken years and

00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:06.719
 it's still ongoing but

00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:08.059
 the more I study the

00:33:08.059 --> 00:33:09.100
 Bible the more I get

00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:10.500
 to know God and the

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:12.160
 more I am transformed

00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:13.079
 you could say and the

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:14.000
 more I'm convinced that

00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:15.120
 God exists and that the

00:33:15.120 --> 00:33:17.120
 Bible is a good news

00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:19.660
 story and as I

00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:20.480
 mentioned Christians in

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:21.299
 Sport was really

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:22.740
 important for me and

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:24.779
 knowing that the Bible

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:26.079
 is true and that God

00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:27.000
 exists and that it's

00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:28.319
 good news I want to

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.839
 share it and Christians

00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:30.819
 in Sport has been

00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:32.880
 really helpful for giving

00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:34.539
 me a way to do that and

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.279
 something we used to

00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.380
 speak about the

00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:36.940
 Christians in Sport

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:39.080
 meetings was worshipping

00:33:39.080 --> 00:33:40.260
 God and being a witness

00:33:40.260 --> 00:33:41.920
 for God so in my sport

00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.020
 and triathlon I can do

00:33:43.020 --> 00:33:44.560
 that now when we're in

00:33:44.560 --> 00:33:45.320
 church and we're singing

00:33:45.320 --> 00:33:45.960
 we're all quite

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.800
 comfortable that we're

00:33:46.800 --> 00:33:47.860
 worshipping God then

00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:49.220
 but I'm not a

00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:50.140
 particularly good singer

00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:51.360
 but I'm an okay

00:33:51.360 --> 00:33:52.360
 swimmer and when I'm

00:33:52.360 --> 00:33:53.320
 swimming I can still

00:33:53.320 --> 00:33:54.900
 worship God and the

00:33:54.900 --> 00:33:55.640
 Bible tells us that

00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:57.080
 actually anything that

00:33:57.080 --> 00:33:57.700
 we do and everything

00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:58.520
 that we do we can

00:33:58.520 --> 00:34:00.100
 worship God so when I'm

00:34:00.100 --> 00:34:01.380
 doing my sport I can

00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:02.600
 worship God but I can

00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:03.860
 also be a witness for

00:34:03.860 --> 00:34:05.260
 God and through my

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.359
 sport I get a chance

00:34:06.359 --> 00:34:07.359
 to make great

00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:08.300
 friendships and get

00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:09.420
 to know people and

00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.400
 that's really good and

00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.780
 I enjoy that but it's

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.940
 also a chance to share

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:14.079
 sometimes a little bit

00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:15.559
 and sometimes a lot of

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:17.440
 the gospel and some of

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.679
 what the Bible tells us

00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:20.579
 and so through my sport I

00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.659
 can worship God and I

00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:23.480
 can be a witness for him

00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:25.039
 and that's some of what

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:26.840
 God asks us to do and

00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:28.300
 so that's what I try and

00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:31.019
 do each day and that

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:33.260
 more or less is my story

00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:34.120
 and if you have any

00:34:34.120 --> 00:34:35.260
 questions about it then

00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:36.440
 feel free to get in

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:36.680
 touch