1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:07,600 So it's Acts Chapter 11, and from verse 19 to verse 30 it's 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:16,520 page 1105 in the Church Bible. Now those who had been scattered 3 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:20,560 by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed 4 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:26,920 travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading 5 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:32,080 the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from 6 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:37,920 Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to 7 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:43,200 Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 8 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:48,880 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people 9 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:54,600 turned to the Lord. News of this reached the church 10 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:59,160 in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 11 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:06,360 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was 12 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:12,920 glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all 13 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:17,040 their hearts. He was a good man, full of the 14 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:22,040 Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were 15 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:26,400 brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to 16 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,240 look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. 17 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:37,560 So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and 18 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:41,680 taught great numbers of people. Their disciples were first 19 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:47,120 called Christians at Antioch. During this time, some prophets 20 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,080 came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 21 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,760 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit 22 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:59,400 predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire 23 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,960 Roman world. This happened during the reign 24 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,680 of Claudius. The disciples, as each one was 25 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:11,480 able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters 26 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,000 living in Judea. This they did, sending their 27 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:19,160 gifts to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. 28 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:20,640 So Joe's going to come and preach. 29 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:22,840 Let me just pray for him as he comes. 30 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,320 Father God, thank you for your word, the Bible. 31 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:29,000 Thank you that it speaks to us even now. 32 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,480 Thank you for Joel and the work he's done to help us to 33 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,200 understand what you want to say to us today. 34 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,600 Please, would you be with him as he speaks and with us as we 35 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:40,960 listen. Amen. 36 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,480 And would you mind with the question sheets before you sit 37 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:49,120 down? Thank you. 38 00:02:49,640 --> 00:02:51,320 So yeah, there's some question sheets that's going to help you 39 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,240 to follow along and maybe to think for yourself what we're 40 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,560 talking about through Acts Chapter 11. 41 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,280 So stick your hand up nice and high if you'd like a question. 42 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:01,240 Oh, Laura's going to do some as well. 43 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:02,840 Thanks. Nice and high. 44 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:04,120 If you like the question sheets, follow along. 45 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,880 You might have seen on the way in a word search with some 46 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,840 keywords as well. So if you'd like to do your word 47 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,200 search whilst you're listening to find some keywords, then you 48 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:13,880 can grab one of those ones as well if you haven't done that 49 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,360 too already. OK, whilst we're handing those 50 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,720 ones out and getting ready, got a little activity for us to do. 51 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:26,880 Sometimes we use labels, words to describe what a group of 52 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:30,680 people are like. So the word we use explains what 53 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,280 they do or what they value, what they're like, what gives them a 54 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,000 sense of belonging. To prove that, I've got 3 55 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:38,960 examples that are going to come up on the screen. 56 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:44,000 Geeks, Swifties. Goonas, so just whoever's next 57 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,920 to you, whoever you came with, have a little chat. 2 minutes. 58 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,960 What When you see these words, what do you what comes to mind 59 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:53,640 about the people that are being described? 60 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,360 If you know it all, maybe we'll see. 61 00:03:55,920 --> 00:04:07,040 So have a go. OK, that was very exciting for a 62 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:08,720 minute and maybe you're realising that you're in one of 63 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,520 these groups now, which is a little bit embarrassing. 64 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:11,920 I don't know. I'm definitely in one of them. 65 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,840 So who wants to shout out? What do you think is a geek? 66 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:23,000 Anyone want to shout out just someone who's too smart for 67 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,600 their own good? Well, maybe. 68 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:26,080 Maybe. Chloe. 69 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:35,640 Would you think Greeks. Someone from Greece nearly 70 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:37,040 missing a letter? Greek. 71 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:37,960 Yeah. Geek. 72 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:47,120 Well, I would say go on, Thomas. Yeah, someone, someone who 73 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,400 thinks, thinks something is cool, maybe someone who thinks a 74 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:50,880 lot cool, but they might still be a geek. 75 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:52,720 This is what the Cambridge Dictionary says. 76 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,280 Someone who's very interested in a particular subject and knows a 77 00:04:56,280 --> 00:05:02,600 lot about it. So dinosaurs, superheroes, video 78 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:03,760 games. OK, I'm going to put my hand 79 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,080 down now. Swifty. 80 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:16,080 Who knows what Swifty is, Laura, some obsessed with Taylor Swift. 81 00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,440 There you go. Hands off if you're a Swifty. 82 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,080 If you're, if you're willing to admit it. 83 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:21,840 There's a few around, even Chris. 84 00:05:21,840 --> 00:05:24,440 There we go. They listen to her music. 85 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,760 They watch her music videos. They buy her merch. 86 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:28,600 They wear her drums. They go to her concerts. 87 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,320 Maybe as well, getting a bit deeper. 88 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,920 They relate to her lyrics and the things that she's talking 89 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:33,880 about in her songs. I don't know. 90 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,520 That's a Swifty and a gooner. There's at least one gooner in 91 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:38,360 the room. There he is. 92 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:42,000 Go on, Mark. What's a Gooner? 93 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,400 Someone who's a big fan of the Guineas. 94 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:46,760 Big fan of the. No, no, no, no, no. 95 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:47,520 Sorry. Sit down. 96 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:51,800 Sit down. Someone who is an Arsenal. 97 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,320 Arsenal Football Club fan. Yeah, they're the Gunners. 98 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:55,760 Gooner Dinner. There's something about that. 99 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:58,480 They love Arsenal. They may they go to their 100 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,480 football matches. They wear their red and white 101 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,360 football shirts or or other curves. 102 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:04,600 They feel very happy at the moment. 103 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:05,960 But it's not always been the case. 104 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:07,720 Depends how the football club is doing. 105 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:09,320 This is it. OK. 106 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,760 So how would you, what would you maybe say if I was to suggest 107 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,800 the group of people in our passage today, Christians. 108 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:18,240 What is a Christian? What makes a Christian? 109 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:19,680 Why would someone be called a Christian? 110 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,440 In Acts? So far we've seen the apostles, 111 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,320 the people who knew Jesus before. 112 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,120 He has sent it to heaven. That's what the apostles are. 113 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,720 They're sharing the gospel in Jerusalem and then in all Judea 114 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,640 and Samaria. We've seen that in that so far, 115 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,600 those who believed so far have been called the believers. 116 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,880 That's in chapter 4, chapter 6, they're called the disciples. 117 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,520 In chapter 8, they're called the church. 118 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:47,120 In Chapter 9, they're called those who are belonging to the 119 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,200 way. This is the way different way. 120 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:55,440 But finally, here in Chapter 11 verse 36, those who follow 121 00:06:55,520 --> 00:07:01,320 Jesus, who belong to Jesus are called Christians first. 122 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,800 One says the disciples were called Christians first. 123 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:06,920 Antioch Christian literally means follower of Christ or 124 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,840 someone who belongs to Christ. They clearly gave this name to 125 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:12,840 them because this group were different from everyone else. 126 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,480 They needed to give a name to to these people. 127 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,920 They stood out from the crowd and the things they did, the 128 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:20,640 things they stood for, how they acted. 129 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,000 Potentially it was an insult to begin with us, the Christians. 130 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:30,160 That has been the case throughout history, but billions 131 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,000 of people today would identify as Christians. 132 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:36,040 So as we're looking at the church in Antioch in this part 133 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:39,640 of Chapter 11, we're going to see three things in this passage 134 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,440 at least that make Christians Christians. 135 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,040 First, they share the good news wherever they go. 136 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,240 Second, they see God's grace in one another. 137 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,600 And 3rd, they sacrificially love those who are in need. 138 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,680 And as we see these things, we'll see that being a Christian 139 00:07:56,680 --> 00:07:59,480 isn't just to do these things, but it's actually to reflect the 140 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,480 one that they follow, to reflect Jesus. 141 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:07,000 So first verse between 19 to 21, they share the good news. 142 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,600 Anne's already helped us remember about chapter 8 when 143 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:15,040 Stephen was martyred and everyone thought, OK, what we're 144 00:08:15,040 --> 00:08:16,440 going to do, I'm getting out of here. 145 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,040 They're scattered, terrible thing that's happened to 146 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,120 Stephen, but actually a great thing that is forced the people 147 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,400 to start scattering, to leave Jerusalem, to grant Judea to 148 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,080 Judea and Samaria to be Jesus witnesses just as he said that 149 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,880 they would be. And now they're following even 150 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:34,559 further to get to the ends of the earth. 151 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,080 Not quite there yet, but they're getting there. 152 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:37,320 They're out of Judea and Samaria. 153 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,400 They're getting further and further and further across and 154 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,760 they're taking the gospel across national boundaries now, maybe 155 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,680 into a new, into new countries, into new regions, onto an 156 00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:50,440 island. But still to begin with, just to 157 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,960 the Jews, because Jesus is the promised Messiah, the promised 158 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:56,520 one that the Jews have all been waiting for. 159 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,200 They need to know that Jesus is the fulfilment, all the things 160 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:02,560 they've been waiting for. But as we heard with Cornelius 161 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:06,440 in the past couple of chapters of Acts, they said even the 162 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,480 Gentiles, to the Gentiles, God has granted repentance that 163 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,360 leads to life. It's not just the Jews. 164 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:12,800 Christianity is not just for the Jews. 165 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,360 Jesus is not just for the Jews. So here are some believers that 166 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,240 are not only crossing those national boundaries, but 167 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,800 cultural boundaries as well to share Jesus with those Greek 168 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:27,720 Gentiles that are in Antioch. So Anne already already beat me 169 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:29,320 through it to show the map. I like a map. 170 00:09:29,560 --> 00:09:30,840 Here we go. Here's Phoenicia. 171 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:32,680 Some people think that's where Troy was. 172 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:33,920 That's another, that's another thing. 173 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,480 Cyprus, Antioch, they're getting further and further out of 174 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:44,120 Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria. This is what Christians do. 175 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,520 They go out. They go out and they share the 176 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,720 good news of Jesus with people. They're following Jesus command 177 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,800 to be his witnesses. In Matthew we see his command to 178 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,280 make disciples of all nations, but they just can't help but 179 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,480 talk about Jesus, about this this man who's changed their 180 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,040 life. So that's what they go out and 181 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,080 do. The message of the gospel to the 182 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:06,120 Gentiles though is slightly different to the Jews because 183 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,680 Peter and Stephen we already heard explaining about to the 184 00:10:08,680 --> 00:10:11,240 Jews about how the history of Israel is then fulfilled in 185 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:14,280 Jesus. But for the Gentiles, they say 186 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:17,280 in Antioch, they were worshipping Pagan gods. 187 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:22,720 They had their statues, they had their temples, they had all the 188 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:24,720 stories and the myths. These are the gods that they 189 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:28,720 were, they were following. Maybe they'd even been enemies 190 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:33,120 of Israel, not part of it. So the message has to change 191 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,280 here for them. Antioch was actually the third 192 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:39,520 largest city in the entire Roman Empire after Rome and Alexandria 193 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:42,360 at that time. So it was big, and it was full 194 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,560 of what Roman, the Roman Empire is all about, full of false 195 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:53,160 idols known for its immorality. So the good news of the Lord 196 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,640 Jesus, though, is still for them. 197 00:10:56,560 --> 00:10:59,560 It's still ultimately the same for everyone, even if it has to 198 00:10:59,560 --> 00:11:01,600 come from a different cultural context. 199 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:05,440 For those pagans, it's still important to say that Jesus is 200 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,120 the Messiah. It's a bit of explanation about 201 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,640 what Messiah is, but Jesus is the Messiah. 202 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,360 He's the one chosen. He's the chosen one. 203 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,800 He's God's chosen one who's going to come and save all of us 204 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:21,440 from our sins. The good news is about the 205 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:23,480 Kingdom of God. We heard Philip talk about the 206 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:28,280 Kingdom of God in chapter 8, that all evil and all suffering 207 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,160 in this world, all the bad things and the wrong things in 208 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:35,840 this world will come to an end when God's perfect and a joyful 209 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,880 Kingdom finally arrives. And Jesus says the Kingdom of 210 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,800 God has already come in him. It's already here, but it will 211 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:44,240 come as well. This is the good news that God's 212 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:49,120 Kingdom is coming. And then just in chapter 10 to 213 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:53,280 Cornelius, peace said that there was peace through Jesus Christ. 214 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:57,200 Our natural state is that we are enemies with God. 215 00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:58,960 By ourselves. We're enemies of God. 216 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,720 We're rejecting him and living against who he is and what he's, 217 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:04,880 what he wants for the people he's created. 218 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,280 But through Jesus we can have peace with God. 219 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,960 Through Jesus life and his death and his resurrection, we can 220 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:13,680 become God's friend, not his enemy. 221 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:18,520 We've become his child, part of God's family, and then we have 222 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,400 peace with one another as Christians unite around this 223 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:27,000 identity, as Christians as they all know the Jesus who has loved 224 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,920 them. And there's unity between 225 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,760 believers as well as between humans and with God. 226 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,840 So that's what the good news is that the Christians are sharing. 227 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,720 They're going out. They're showing the good news of 228 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,640 Jesus, the one who came to save people from their sins of the 229 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:47,200 Kingdom of God that is coming to make all wrong things right and 230 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,800 with peace where there where there used to be enmity. 231 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,840 But they're only doing what Jesus did himself. 232 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,360 We went through Mark a couple of years ago here and there's four 233 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,840 gospels that talk about what Jesus came to do and what he did 234 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,800 in the New Testament that you can read in Luke 4 especially, 235 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,000 Jesus was healing people in a place called Capernaum. 236 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,520 They wanted him to stay. But Jesus said I must proclaim 237 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,320 the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, 238 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:17,520 because that is why I was sent. Jesus was sent to proclaim the 239 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:22,200 good news, and now he's sending the apostles, the disciples of 240 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:23,920 Christians. He's sending Christians to go 241 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:28,120 and do just as Jesus did, to share the good news with all the 242 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,600 people who will hear that they might trust in him. 243 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:35,120 And what happens when the good news is proclaimed where we'd 244 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,320 hear in Chapter 11? A great number of people turned 245 00:13:38,320 --> 00:13:42,080 to the Lord. This isn't always how it goes. 246 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,800 There is often opposition. You might have experienced it 247 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,280 yourself. But when Christians go out and 248 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:51,920 tell the good news to those around, then the Lord's hand is 249 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,840 with them. And then he saves men and women 250 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,480 who hear as they hear, and they believe, and they put it their 251 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:02,520 trust in Jesus. So Christians go out and they 252 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:05,880 share the good news. Next, Christians see God's 253 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:11,640 grace, verses 22 to 26. In chapter 1011, we saw 254 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:16,120 Cornelius and his family saved, and then Peter reported back 255 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,040 what happened to the apostles and believes in Jerusalem. 256 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:23,760 And now they hear not only Cornelius, there's more people 257 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:25,440 who returned to the Lord, there's more people who are 258 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:28,480 being saved in Antioch. Was Cornelius just a one off? 259 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:30,520 Was it just a freak? Was he the exception? 260 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,080 Clearly not now. So they send Barnabas down, up. 261 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:37,160 Yeah, that's where the map was. They send Barnabas up to Antioch 262 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,920 to go and find out more. We heard about Barnabas in 263 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:41,520 chapter 4. If you have a really good 264 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:44,040 memory, if you want to flick back, Barnabas was the one who 265 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,840 sold his field to, to donate the money to the work of the church. 266 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,880 In Chapter 9, we met him as he was defending Saul. 267 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:54,320 Saul arrived and the and the disciples was like, well, this 268 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,400 is Saul, we can't have him. And Barnabas just said, no, no, 269 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:58,440 no, no. God has done something amazing 270 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:00,640 in Saul's life. Barnabas was defending Saul 271 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,360 there. I love Barnabas, he's a great 272 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,480 example for anyone who calls himself a Christian. 273 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:11,400 Not only does he give generously as he did with the field and see 274 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,640 the good in other people, we read here that he sees the grace 275 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:16,840 of God in action. He sees that he's got his eyes 276 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,600 open to what God is doing, and then he's glad. 277 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,360 When he sees God at work, He's happy. 278 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,640 It brings him joy when he sees what God is doing. 279 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:29,200 He encourages the believers to remain true to the Lord with all 280 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,840 their hearts, to keep believing in Jesus, and to do it with 281 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:36,440 everything that they have. It says that he was a good man. 282 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,720 It doesn't mean that he never sinned because we we're all 283 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,880 sinners and we all submit to temptation in sin, but that his 284 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,760 conduct was above reproach. People saw goodbye but thought 285 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,200 he's a good guy. I can't, I can't imagine he'd 286 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:50,560 ever do anything to hurt someone. 287 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,480 That's that's what people thought of him and he was full 288 00:15:54,480 --> 00:15:58,160 of the Holy Spirit and faith. I think this is to say that we 289 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,880 see people could see the fruit of the Spirit that Paul talks 290 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,320 about, Lovejoy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 291 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,200 faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 292 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,800 Those things were coming out of Barnabas which showed that he 293 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,160 was full of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit dwelt in him as a 294 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:14,800 Christian as it does for all Christians. 295 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:20,400 The Spirit is working in him. We could do a whole sermon 296 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:23,360 really on on Barnabas and what he has to teach us. 297 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,640 But I think I'd like to focus on how he saw God's grace in action 298 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,680 and how he encouraged one another because I think this is 299 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,040 a good example of what it means to be a Christian. 300 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:38,080 The grace of God means all that God has given, but all that God 301 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:42,120 is doing in his people. Grace by definition is a gift. 302 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:43,200 It's something that God has done. 303 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:45,360 It's not deserved, but it's God's doing. 304 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:47,800 So Barnabas we saw saw this in Saul. 305 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,800 When he heard about Saul's conversion, he saw how Saul's 306 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,360 life had changed. He said no, God's grace is at 307 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:57,600 work in this man, and God's grace is at work in anyone who 308 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,320 puts their faith in Jesus and trusts in him and becomes more 309 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,319 like him. He saw the grace of God and the 310 00:17:04,319 --> 00:17:06,000 difference in the Christians in Antioch. 311 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,760 He went to Antioch, a Pagan city, and thought what is going 312 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,440 on here? And he saw God's work at God at 313 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:16,240 work in their lives changed from worshipping idols to worshipping 314 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:19,920 Jesus. That doesn't happen in normal 315 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:21,400 life. People don't normally do that. 316 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:23,160 So it must have been God at work. 317 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:27,480 He arrived at Antioch expecting to see what God is doing and he 318 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:32,000 saw it and was glad. Barnabas's name means son of 319 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:33,920 encouragement. That's what acts as early on in 320 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:36,640 chapter 4. So this is how he encourages the 321 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,120 Christians that are in the Antioch. 322 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:42,480 He's glad as he does it. He doesn't patronize them or or 323 00:17:42,520 --> 00:17:46,720 he's not condescending to them. He's genuinely glad for these 324 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:48,480 people and sees the best in them. 325 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:50,840 He doesn't just encourage them to do better. 326 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,960 He's like, Oh yeah, keep going. Keep being, keep being really 327 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:53,880 good. Keep being really good 328 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:55,960 Christians. His encouragement is for their 329 00:17:55,960 --> 00:18:00,560 spiritual life to remain true to the Lord, to keep believing in 330 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:05,320 him, to keep following Jesus commands as Jesus asked us to. 331 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,440 To keep showing up for Jesus even when it's hard and they're 332 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,520 tired. To do this with all of their 333 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:17,760 hearts, not just if they've got time remaining Jesus, not just 334 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:20,360 if you feel like it. Keep trusting in Jesus, not just 335 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:24,000 half heartedly with whatever's left over, but with everything 336 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:28,280 that they have. I'm fairly sure that Barnabas 337 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:30,360 was exemplifying this in his own life. 338 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,560 I don't think he was a hypocrite in this from what we, from what 339 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,120 we read about him. And he encouraged the Christians 340 00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:41,800 in Antioch to do so too, because Barnabas, like the Antioch 341 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:44,120 Christians, did. He knew the good news about 342 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:46,400 Jesus that leads to eternal life. 343 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:49,040 He knew that it's worth it. He knew that living for Jesus in 344 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,520 this way, keeping true to Him with all your heart, is the most 345 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,800 important thing because it's the thing that leads to life. 346 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,920 And whilst Barnabas encouraged the Christians by pointing them 347 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:05,960 to the Lord Jesus, Jesus we see, encouraged the disciples by 348 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,600 pointing them to himself as well. 349 00:19:08,360 --> 00:19:11,960 John 16 Jesus is talking to the disciples during the Last 350 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,080 Supper, just before he'd be taken away and crucified. 351 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,840 He knows exactly what's coming and he knows that following Him 352 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,360 will be difficult, especially when the authorities come 353 00:19:22,360 --> 00:19:25,000 knocking and they fear for their lives. 354 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:29,120 So what does Jesus say? He says in this world you will 355 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:32,760 have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. 356 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,680 Jesus came to proclaim the good news, but he knew that his 357 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,040 followers would need encouragement to remain faithful 358 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,640 to Him. The Christian life isn't easy or 359 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:47,600 plain sailing, but it is the best life. 360 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:50,160 It's the life that leads to eternal life. 361 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:54,480 It could be easy just to give up when it's hard, But we need to 362 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,320 be encouraged to be faithful. That's what Barnabas did for the 363 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,120 Christians in Antioch. That's what Jesus did for the 364 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:02,000 disciples when he knew that trouble was coming. 365 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:06,360 Christians need to look to see God's work in in one another, 366 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,400 and they encourage one another to stay faithful to the Lord. 367 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,200 And third, they love sacrificially. 368 00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:22,920 This in verses 27 to 30. The church in Antioch get a 369 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,520 pastor teacher to come and lead, to come and lead them. 370 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:30,360 As we read in verse 24, a great number were brought to the Lord 371 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,920 through the faithfulness of Barnabas and the teaching of 372 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:37,280 Saul. So that's where they are. 373 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:41,000 And suddenly these prophets arrive from Jerusalem up to 374 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,360 Antioch, just as Barnabas did, came from Jerusalem. 375 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:47,800 And they have a word to share that a famine is coming in 376 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,680 Judea. Luke adds this note in brackets 377 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,120 that the famine happened during Emperor Claudius's reign. 378 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,600 Why do we need to know that? It's just a famine is a famine, 379 00:20:58,600 --> 00:20:59,760 isn't it? But I think it's a really 380 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,440 helpful thing to show that this story is based in history. 381 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,680 It's not just a helpful story to teach us and to that's going to 382 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:09,400 be interesting, but it's a real a real eyewitness accounts. 383 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:14,160 Claudius's reign was between AD 41 and 54. 384 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,120 So that helps us to time what's going on here. 385 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,320 There are other historical records to prove it, to prove 386 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:21,760 about Claudius and to prove that there are famines during 387 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:25,560 Claudius's reign. Access is a real story that 388 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,280 happened. Claudius had a really bad time, 389 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:28,640 by the way. It was famine everywhere. 390 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,240 He no one really liked him. It wasn't really his fault, but 391 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,960 anyway, that's Claudius. This isn't a famine, though, 392 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:38,480 like we read in Exodus, where food is nowhere and no one has 393 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:39,800 any food and they need to store it up. 394 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,360 There is food available, but there's a shortage which means 395 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:48,840 that the prices go sky high and the Christians in Judea can't 396 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:52,040 afford it. They're struggling more than the 397 00:21:52,120 --> 00:21:55,480 Christians in Antioch are. They're vulnerable at this 398 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:56,440 moment. They need help. 399 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:01,040 So the Christians in Antioch see this, they hear about it, they 400 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,760 trust God and they club together. 401 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:05,960 They steward what God has given to them, steward the money they 402 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:10,880 have, and they gave to the Christians in Judea, those who 403 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:15,400 had, gave to those who hadn't. They sent it with Barnabas and 404 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,960 Paul and they they went and passed it on to the church. 405 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:23,000 There were churches that were there in Judea, just like those 406 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:24,160 first believers that we've read about. 407 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,920 In Acts 4. It says they shared everything 408 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,240 they had, so there were no needy persons among them. 409 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:34,040 The money was distributed to anyone who is in need. 410 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:38,120 In Acts 4, that was a bit easier. 411 00:22:38,120 --> 00:22:40,440 They're kind of a smaller group in Jerusalem. 412 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,480 But as the church grows, Christians more and more need to 413 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:47,000 look out for one another in the church that are in need, even if 414 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:48,400 they don't expect to ever even meet them. 415 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,720 I wonder if the anti our Christians ever met. 416 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:54,360 The Judean Christians probably didn't, but because of Jesus 417 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:56,960 they sent their money to go and help those that are in need. 418 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,120 There's another evidence of the grace of God at work in those 419 00:23:01,120 --> 00:23:04,680 new believers. Their unity in Christ, knowing 420 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:06,760 that they were Christians as those in Judea who were 421 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,080 Christians, meant that they were glad to give it. 422 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,160 They were glad to give their money to brothers and sisters 423 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:15,680 who are in need. And they're reflecting Jesus, 424 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,800 aren't they? Jesus so often had compassion on 425 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:20,920 those that he met, those who are in need. 426 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:23,920 Sometimes because they were hungry and they had nothing to 427 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,680 eat, sometimes because they were sick and needed healing, 428 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,160 sometimes because they were outcasts and they needed to be 429 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:35,240 loved. Every time a Christian 430 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:39,080 sacrificially gives and loves them brothers and sisters in 431 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:43,800 need, it's Jesus at work again through his people as they 432 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,400 reflect Jesus compassion and as they reflect Jesus desire for 433 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:51,600 unity in the church. It doesn't just have to be 434 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,760 money. It was money in this case. 435 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,760 It could be time, it could be other resources that you have. 436 00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,160 This is the way that we can be Christians by because we love 437 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:06,160 others who are in need. So what what does this have to 438 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:07,920 do for us? Maybe you can starting to see 439 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,400 some things that that you can learn and that you can take from 440 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:12,160 what the Christians and Antioch were like. 441 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:15,320 Let's go back to those groups that we thought about before. 442 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:18,400 We kind of have a bit of an idea about what a geek is like, what 443 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,200 a swifty is like, what a gooner is like, what makes them tick. 444 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:24,000 So here we go. Here's Christians. 445 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,600 The church in Antioch helps us to understand what a Christian 446 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:33,040 is like, someone who belongs to Christ, what makes them tick. 447 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:35,600 What can we learn from the church in Antioch? 448 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,880 How can we then follow their examples to live distinctly as 449 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,800 Christians? Share the news of Jesus Wherever 450 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,720 you go. If you're a Christian, then you 451 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,320 know the good news because you believed in it, and you know the 452 00:24:49,320 --> 00:24:50,920 good news because it has changed your life. 453 00:24:51,360 --> 00:24:55,880 So go and tell others and know that as you do, the Lord's hand 454 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,480 is with you. He said you will be my 455 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,400 witnesses. He said go and make disciples. 456 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,560 His hand is with us as we do so, He'll give us the strength and 457 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,160 boldness to do it. We just need to ask Him. 458 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:10,440 Ask Him and He'll be very glad to help us and for us to know 459 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:13,160 His help and be expecting to see God at work. 460 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:17,720 We're told time and time again how people hear the good news, 461 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,000 they believe, and they turn to the Lord. 462 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:24,920 Let's expect God to work again. It might not be instantaneous. 463 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:26,280 It might be a really long process. 464 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:29,280 You might never ever see the grace of God in that person's 465 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:31,240 life that you share it with. But let's trust that God is 466 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,040 going to do that work. As we share the gospel. 467 00:25:34,360 --> 00:25:36,320 Let's think where are the places where you can go? 468 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:40,800 We don't need to go to Antioch, but we do need to go out and 469 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,880 share the good news. Where could you share it? 470 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:45,240 Is it at school? In the classroom? 471 00:25:46,080 --> 00:25:49,600 Is it at the office water cooler or the coffee machine? 472 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,640 Is it at your running club? Is it with your neighbors on 473 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:57,160 your streets? Ask for God's help as you go out 474 00:25:57,960 --> 00:25:59,400 and know that His hand is with you. 475 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:03,520 We should see God's grace in others. 476 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:07,160 When you're with other Christians, encourage one 477 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,000 another and point out where you can see God's grace in their 478 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,680 lives. The way that they love their 479 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:16,600 husband and wife, husband or wife, the way that they support 480 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,960 their friends, the way that they serve in church. 481 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,200 Maybe just the fact that they keep on trusting in Jesus even 482 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:29,440 though life is difficult. Let's encourage one another that 483 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,320 we see God's grace at work in their hearts to remain true to 484 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:36,320 the Lord with all of our hearts. There might be a quick word on a 485 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:38,760 Sunday morning after the service, could be a WhatsApp 486 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:42,320 message during the week. It could be a handwritten card. 487 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,840 These are great ways that we can encourage one another. 488 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,120 They can have a huge impact on our witness to Jesus. 489 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:52,680 They keep have a huge impact on us. 490 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:56,040 Keeping believing in Him, remaining true to Him 491 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:00,280 sacrificially. Love those in need. 492 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,120 Consider how you can support and help those in need in the 493 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:06,400 church. Maybe you are in a position to 494 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,160 financially give a gift. That could be something. 495 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:12,600 Maybe you could cook a meal for a family, a family that having a 496 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:15,800 hard time. Maybe you can give an afternoon 497 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:19,080 to help someone in the house or just spend some time with them. 498 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:24,160 And we should consider as a church how we can support other 499 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:28,120 Christians in need in our church but also across the world. 500 00:27:29,120 --> 00:27:32,000 Maybe we could be supporting a ministry that trains, equips, 501 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:35,200 churches in poorer countries. That could be one thing. 502 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:39,160 Or getting involved with Christian Aid organisations. 503 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,640 Or supporting smaller churches, smaller church plants nearby, Or 504 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,200 churches that in more deprived areas that are in need more than 505 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:53,760 maybe we are these Christians. What does a Christian look like? 506 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:56,960 Ultimately, these are some things that Christians do, maybe 507 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,200 some things that Christians can be like, but ultimately they 508 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,240 look like Jesus. When you think of a Christian, 509 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,320 you should hopefully think of Jesus working through people. 510 00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:08,400 They're proclaiming the Kingdom of God just as he did 511 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,960 proclaiming forgiveness of sins in Jesus life and death and 512 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:15,520 resurrection, spurring one others on to live for him, 513 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,520 having compassion on those who are in need. 514 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,040 It doesn't come naturally, it's not an easy thing. 515 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:26,880 It's not something we can do on our own strength, but the grace 516 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:30,520 of God is at work here at Ave. The grace of God is at work in 517 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:35,360 your lives. And by that grace, Christians 518 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,200 can be Jesus witnesses to the ends of the earth. 519 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:43,560 So we'll have a couple of minutes. 520 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:45,240 Let's have spend a couple of minutes just reflecting. 521 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:46,840 Here's a few things that you can think about. 522 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:50,560 How can you live for Jesus in these ways in your life? 523 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,960 Let's praise Jesus for his example of compassion and love. 524 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:59,360 Let's ask God for help to become more like him than the things 525 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,520 that we do. So have a couple minutes and 526 00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:12,700 then I'll pray. Our Father, we praise you for 527 00:29:13,300 --> 00:29:17,580 the change that you made in the lives of those in Antioch, to 528 00:29:17,580 --> 00:29:22,700 move from worshipping Pagan gods to worshipping the one true God. 529 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,360 We praise you for the good news of Jesus that changes lives, 530 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:30,720 that brings your people together. 531 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:37,320 Pray that you'd help each of us to follow that example of 532 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:40,960 sharing the good news, of encouraging one another, of 533 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:46,080 loving those who are in need. These are the ways that you wish 534 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:47,880 your people to live, but they're not easy. 535 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,800 We pray that you would help each of us to see the places where we 536 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:55,680 can do that and to know Your help as we do so. 537 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:59,040 Please give us strength and boldness to live for you with 538 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:02,840 all of our hearts. We praise you for Jesus, who is 539 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:07,040 the greatest example of these things, for His compassion, His 540 00:30:07,040 --> 00:30:11,560 love, His boldness, His encouragement. 541 00:30:12,160 --> 00:30:16,280 Please may we know that each of us, as we follow Him and trust 542 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:20,560 in Him in our lives, His name and for His sake, we pray. 543 00:30:20,800 --> 00:30:21,200 Amen.