Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Back to Work

Transcript

Back to Work · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
Well, at the start of every week, God calls us to come to worship him in the name of his Son and in the presence of God the Holy Spirit.
0:09
And we are so thankful that we can respond to that invitation from God as we come together to worship.
0:14
And we're going to begin by singing from Psalm 100 on page 362.
0:23
Psalm 100, and we'll sing the first version of the psalm.
0:27
And one of the things I love about this psalm is that it speaks about all the nations gathering to praise the name of God.
0:40
And I think it's so exciting for us to start a new week together, knowing that it's not just us that are praising Jesus.
0:46
There's people all across the world gathering to praise his name today.
0:49
And we can add our voices to that great multitude as we sing these words together.
0:54
All people that on earth to dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
0:58
Let's stand and sing together.
0:59
O people that on earth to dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
1:21
And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
1:51
O people that on earth to dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
1:53
And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
1:54
And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
1:56
And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
2:00
And we'll sing with you, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
2:01
walk he doth
2:04
us
2:06
be
2:07
and for
2:10
his sheep
2:11
he doth
2:13
us
2:15
take
2:17
enter
2:19
then his
2:21
gates with
2:24
grace
2:26
and broached
2:29
with joy
2:30
his course
2:32
and truth
2:35
praise
2:37
God and bless
2:40
his
2:40
name
2:41
always
2:43
are
2:45
it
2:47
his
2:48
soul
2:50
to
2:51
do
2:54
for
2:55
why
2:57
the Lord
2:59
our God
3:01
is good
3:03
his mercy
3:07
is forever
3:09
sure
3:11
his truth
3:15
at all times
3:18
he is good
3:22
and shall
3:25
promise
3:26
to
3:27
his
3:29
death
3:29
do
3:30
let's pray
3:40
together
3:41
dear God
3:44
our Father
3:44
we are so
3:45
thankful that
3:46
as a new
3:47
week begins
3:47
that we can
3:48
come together
3:48
publicly to
3:50
worship you
3:50
to bow down
3:52
before you
3:52
our God
3:53
and to come
3:53
rejoicing in
3:55
the reality of
3:55
the resurrection
3:56
of your son
3:57
our saviour
3:58
Jesus
3:58
we thank you
3:59
that as we
3:59
come together
4:00
you have
4:01
promised to
4:01
be with us
4:02
by your
4:02
spirit
4:03
we thank
4:03
you
4:03
that you
4:05
are building
4:05
your temple
4:06
the people
4:07
of God
4:07
where your
4:08
spirit
4:08
dwells
4:09
and we
4:09
thank you
4:09
so so
4:10
much
4:10
that we
4:11
have this
4:12
time
4:12
where we
4:12
can come
4:13
together
4:13
knowing that
4:14
you are
4:15
with us
4:15
and knowing
4:17
that we can
4:17
hear your
4:18
voice speaking
4:18
to us
4:19
so we want
4:19
to start
4:20
our week
4:20
bowing down
4:21
before you
4:22
our God
4:23
Father
4:24
Son
4:24
and Holy
4:26
Spirit
4:26
the only
4:27
God
4:27
the awesome
4:28
God
4:29
the God
4:30
who has
4:30
been so
4:31
so good
4:31
to us
4:32
and so we
4:33
come today
4:34
rejoicing
4:34
we thank you
4:35
so much
4:36
that you
4:37
have not
4:38
abandoned us
4:39
we thank you
4:40
so much
4:40
that you are
4:41
a God
4:41
full of
4:42
mercy
4:42
and compassion
4:43
because we
4:44
are so aware
4:45
that we
4:45
on our own
4:46
we have
4:47
no right
4:47
to come
4:48
before you
4:48
we've
4:48
sinned
4:49
against you
4:49
and in
4:51
so many
4:51
ways
4:52
we have
4:52
turned away
4:54
from you
4:54
and we
4:55
have followed
4:55
after idols
4:56
and we
4:57
have made
4:58
many
4:59
many
4:59
mistakes
5:00
and there
5:01
are so
5:01
many
5:01
things
5:02
that you
5:02
have
5:02
commanded
5:04
us
5:04
and made
5:05
us
5:05
to do
5:05
and yet
5:06
we've
5:06
failed
5:07
to do
5:07
them
5:07
and so
5:08
we come
5:09
confessing
5:10
our sin
5:10
before you
5:11
we are
5:11
frustrated
5:12
by our
5:12
sin
5:12
we're
5:12
sorry
5:13
for it
5:13
but we
5:15
are also
5:15
so so
5:16
thankful
5:16
that in
5:16
Jesus
5:17
we can
5:18
have
5:19
full
5:19
and free
5:20
and perfect
5:21
forgiveness
5:21
and we
5:22
just come
5:22
rejoicing
5:23
in the
5:23
reality
5:24
of the
5:24
gospel
5:24
that the
5:25
blood of
5:25
Jesus
5:25
cleanses
5:26
us
5:26
from all
5:26
sin
5:27
that all
5:28
who come
5:28
to you
5:28
you will
5:29
never
5:29
cast out
5:30
that if
5:31
we confess
5:31
our sins
5:32
you're
5:33
faithful
5:33
and just
5:33
to forgive
5:34
them
5:34
and oh
5:35
these
5:35
and so
5:35
many other
5:36
gospel
5:36
promises
5:37
are so
5:38
good
5:38
and we're
5:38
so thankful
5:39
for them
5:40
and we pray
5:40
that the
5:41
reality of
5:41
that gospel
5:42
would just
5:42
fill and
5:43
enrich all
5:44
of our
5:44
hearts
5:44
today
5:45
and that it
5:45
would shape
5:46
every part
5:47
of our
5:47
lives
5:48
we pray
5:49
that as we
5:49
come together
5:50
we will be
5:51
drawn closer
5:52
to you
5:52
and closer
5:53
to one
5:53
another
5:54
and we
5:54
pray that
5:55
we will be
5:55
prepared
5:56
and equipped
5:56
for the
5:57
week ahead
5:57
we want
5:58
to live
5:59
this week
5:59
for you
6:00
and so
6:00
we come
6:01
today
6:02
with
6:03
repentant
6:04
hearts
6:04
we want
6:05
to turn
6:05
away from
6:06
sin
6:06
and we
6:06
want to
6:07
refocus
6:08
on you
6:08
and follow
6:08
you
6:09
in every
6:09
part of
6:10
our lives
6:10
in the
6:11
week
6:11
ahead
6:11
thank you
6:13
for everybody
6:13
who has
6:14
come here
6:14
today
6:14
those
6:15
gathering
6:16
in the
6:16
building
6:16
those
6:17
joining
6:17
us
6:17
online
6:17
thank you
6:18
for the
6:18
privilege
6:19
of being
6:19
able to
6:19
worship
6:19
together
6:20
we pray
6:21
father
6:21
that you
6:22
would help
6:22
each one
6:23
we all
6:23
come with
6:24
different
6:24
circumstances
6:25
maybe some
6:27
of us have
6:28
had a really
6:28
good week
6:29
maybe others
6:30
have had a
6:31
hard week
6:31
maybe for
6:32
some it's
6:32
been a
6:33
mixture of
6:33
both
6:33
you know
6:34
lord
6:35
and so
6:35
we come
6:36
and we
6:37
lay our
6:38
hearts
6:39
open before
6:40
you
6:41
and we
6:42
pray father
6:42
that you
6:42
would meet
6:43
with all
6:43
of us
6:44
that your
6:44
word would
6:45
speak to
6:45
us
6:46
and that
6:46
that you
6:47
would
6:48
nourish
6:48
us
6:48
and heal
6:49
us
6:49
where
6:50
we're
6:50
bruised
6:50
and that
6:51
you would
6:52
teach us
6:52
and guide
6:53
us where
6:53
we need
6:54
to be
6:54
led by
6:55
you
6:55
that you'd
6:56
encourage
6:56
us and
6:57
strengthen
6:57
us where
6:58
we feel
6:58
weak
6:59
that you
7:00
would
7:01
challenge
7:01
us where
7:02
our hearts
7:02
are hard
7:03
and that
7:04
you would
7:04
enable us
7:06
by your
7:06
grace to
7:07
live this
7:08
week and
7:08
every week
7:08
of our
7:09
lives for
7:09
your glory
7:10
we pray
7:11
for the
7:11
work of
7:11
this
7:12
congregation
7:12
we thank
7:13
you for
7:13
all the
7:14
work of
7:14
the gospel
7:14
that has
7:15
been done
7:16
here over
7:16
many years
7:17
and that
7:17
continues
7:18
at the
7:18
moment
7:19
we pray
7:19
that you
7:19
would
7:20
bless
7:20
abundantly
7:21
bless
7:22
the
7:22
congregation
7:22
here
7:23
we pray
7:23
for
7:24
Colm
7:24
and for
7:25
all the
7:26
office
7:26
bearers
7:26
and for
7:27
everybody
7:27
involved
7:27
in the
7:28
different
7:28
ministries
7:29
that are
7:29
undertaken
7:29
week by
7:30
week
7:31
we pray
7:31
that you
7:31
would
7:31
bless
7:32
all of
7:32
these
7:32
bless
7:33
every
7:34
family
7:34
here
7:35
every
7:35
individual
7:36
and we
7:37
pray
7:38
especially
7:38
for the
7:39
opportunity
7:40
to invite
7:41
people to
7:42
a back
7:42
to church
7:42
Sunday
7:43
in a couple
7:43
of weeks
7:43
time
7:44
father we
7:44
pray that
7:45
you would
7:45
give
7:46
everyone
7:46
the courage
7:47
to share
7:48
an invitation
7:48
and we
7:49
pray that
7:50
you would
7:50
be pressing
7:50
it onto
7:51
people's
7:51
hearts
7:51
to return
7:53
and we
7:54
pray that
7:54
over coming
7:55
weeks they
7:55
would see
7:56
both
7:56
people coming
7:58
back who
7:59
may be
7:59
drifted
8:00
and also
8:01
new people
8:01
coming
8:01
who've
8:02
never been
8:03
before
8:03
and we
8:03
pray that
8:04
you will be
8:04
building up
8:05
the work
8:05
of the
8:05
gospel
8:06
here
8:06
and also
8:07
across the
8:08
town and
8:08
all the
8:08
congregations
8:09
we pray
8:10
that you
8:10
would bless
8:10
all the
8:11
work of
8:11
the gospel
8:12
that's been
8:12
undertaken
8:13
here in
8:13
Stornoway
8:14
and may
8:14
the weeks
8:16
ahead be
8:16
a time
8:16
of great
8:18
blessing
8:18
and a
8:19
time where
8:19
all of
8:20
your people
8:20
shine as
8:22
a bright
8:23
and a
8:23
beautiful
8:24
light
8:24
in a
8:25
town that
8:26
so desperately
8:27
needs the
8:27
gospel
8:27
so we
8:29
just commit
8:29
the congregation
8:30
and everybody
8:30
here to
8:31
your care
8:32
and we
8:33
pray father
8:33
for your
8:34
help as we
8:35
continue on
8:36
worshipping you
8:36
just now
8:37
we also
8:38
want to
8:38
remember
8:39
those in
8:40
need and
8:40
in difficulty
8:41
throughout the
8:41
world
8:41
praying for
8:42
those who
8:43
are suffering
8:44
especially those
8:45
caught up in
8:46
conflict
8:46
and we pray
8:47
for those in
8:48
authority and
8:48
those who have
8:49
power and
8:49
influence that
8:50
they would use
8:51
that power
8:51
for good
8:52
and that they
8:54
would seek to
8:56
find solutions
8:56
to so much
8:58
suffering that we
8:58
see around us
8:59
we thank you
9:00
father that
9:01
as we are so
9:02
often grieved by
9:03
the broken world
9:04
that we live in
9:04
we thank you
9:05
that we can
9:05
come to you
9:06
and see that
9:07
in Jesus you
9:08
have provided
9:09
healing and
9:10
restoration for
9:10
every individual
9:11
for the whole of
9:12
humanity and
9:13
ultimately for all
9:14
of the creation
9:14
how we thank you
9:16
for the gospel
9:16
and may our time
9:17
together just now
9:18
fill us anew
9:19
with the joy of
9:20
the gospel as we
9:21
learn more about
9:23
what you've done
9:23
for us and may
9:24
we be equipped to
9:25
go on from here
9:26
looking to Jesus
9:27
serving you
9:28
led by your spirit
9:29
all to your glory
9:30
we pray it in
9:31
Jesus name
9:32
Amen
9:33
well boys and
9:36
girls it's really
9:36
nice to see you
9:37
all here today
9:38
I hope you're all
9:38
well I hope you've
9:39
all had a really
9:40
good summer holiday
9:41
so I'm going to
9:42
need your help
9:42
today I know
9:43
you're a wee bit
9:43
far away from me
9:44
but I'm going to
9:45
need your help
9:45
and I'm actually
9:46
I'm glad that
9:47
you're far away
9:47
from me because
9:48
today we're going
9:49
to play a wee
9:49
game it's called
9:51
hearing test
9:52
so I'm going to
9:54
test your hearing
9:55
okay and so you
9:57
have to listen
9:57
very carefully to
9:58
what I'm going to
9:59
say so I'm going
9:59
to say some words
10:00
very quietly and
10:02
you have to tell
10:03
me if you can
10:03
hear them now
10:04
you guys are the
10:05
only people who
10:06
can play this
10:07
game the old
10:07
people in here
10:08
they've got no
10:09
chance they're not
10:09
going to hear
10:10
anything but you
10:11
guys can hear the
10:12
words and so you
10:13
have to listen
10:13
really carefully and
10:15
if you hear the
10:16
word you have to
10:17
put your hand up
10:17
and tell me what
10:18
I'm saying okay so
10:18
do you understand
10:19
the game yeah you
10:20
ready listen really
10:21
carefully tell me if
10:22
you can hear what
10:23
I'm going to say
10:23
it's going to get
10:24
harder and harder
10:25
so I'll start off
10:25
with an easy one
10:26
okay
10:26
sausages
10:30
did you hear what
10:33
I said
10:34
let's say it
10:36
again did anyone
10:37
hear what I said
10:37
what was it
10:40
well done
10:41
that was very
10:44
good how did you
10:45
hear you're so
10:46
far away
10:46
okay right
10:48
I'll have to step
10:49
back a wee bit
10:50
okay make it
10:51
harder let's see if
10:52
you can hear what
10:52
I say this time
10:53
bananas
10:57
did you hear me
11:00
again what did
11:01
what did I say
11:01
bananas
11:02
I said bananas
11:04
very good right
11:06
I'm going to have
11:06
to make this even
11:07
harder right
11:08
I'm going to I'm
11:09
going to stand
11:10
further back I'm
11:10
going to put a
11:11
book in front of
11:11
me okay let's
11:12
see you can hear
11:13
me this time
11:13
tomatoes
11:16
tomatoes
11:18
how did you hear
11:21
that that's so
11:23
good right last
11:24
all right I'm
11:24
going to make it
11:24
really hard I'm
11:25
going to go right
11:25
back here stand
11:27
right here see if
11:27
you can hear me
11:28
now okay
11:28
fish and chips
11:31
you're nearly
11:35
right it was
11:37
fish and chips
11:38
very good oh
11:39
well that was
11:40
fantastic you guys
11:41
have got really
11:41
really good hearing
11:42
that was so so
11:44
good well I'm
11:45
very impressed that
11:47
was very very good
11:48
for the older people
11:49
in here that was
11:50
just silence
11:51
but you guys have
11:54
got really good
11:54
hearing well done
11:56
do you know who's
11:59
got the best
11:59
hearing of all
12:00
God does
12:04
the best hearing
12:07
of all is God's
12:10
he hears everything
12:14
never misses a word
12:17
nothing is too quiet
12:19
for him in fact
12:20
even when we
12:21
don't open our
12:22
mouths and speak
12:24
quietly in our
12:25
hearts he hears
12:28
us and I want you
12:30
all to remember
12:32
that today and to
12:33
never forget it
12:34
because what it
12:35
means is that
12:37
every single time
12:39
you talk to God
12:40
he hears you
12:42
he never misses
12:45
anything
12:45
never misses a
12:46
prayer
12:47
your voice
12:49
never ever
12:50
goes unheard
12:51
and so every
12:53
time you pray
12:54
to God
12:54
whether it's in
12:56
church here
12:57
or at home
12:58
as you lie in
12:58
bed
12:59
or maybe at
13:00
school when
13:01
you're finding
13:02
it difficult
13:02
and you even
13:04
pray a really
13:05
short prayer
13:06
and a really
13:07
quiet prayer
13:08
and maybe you
13:08
don't even
13:09
open your mouth
13:09
God always
13:11
always hears
13:12
you
13:12
he has the
13:12
best hearing
13:13
of all
13:14
and I want you
13:15
always to remember
13:16
that because it
13:16
means that if
13:18
there's ever a
13:18
time this week
13:19
or in any time
13:21
in your life
13:21
when you are
13:22
having you're
13:23
finding it hard
13:23
when you're
13:24
worried about
13:24
something or
13:25
maybe something's
13:26
happened at
13:27
school that's
13:27
upset you or
13:28
maybe you're
13:29
going to bed
13:29
at night and
13:29
you've got lots
13:30
of worries
13:30
God's always
13:33
listening and
13:35
you can pray to
13:36
him and you can
13:37
talk to him
13:38
about it and he
13:39
will always
13:40
always hear you
13:41
because his
13:42
hearing is
13:43
perfect so
13:44
please remember
13:45
that it's
13:46
reminding us of
13:47
what a wonderful
13:47
privilege it is
13:48
for us to be
13:49
able to pray to
13:49
God we can
13:50
pray to him
13:51
every day
13:51
thanking him
13:52
for the things
13:52
that are good
13:53
and telling him
13:54
about all the
13:55
things that are
13:56
hard and he
13:57
always always
13:59
listens so
14:00
please remember
14:01
that this week
14:01
and please
14:02
remember it for
14:02
the rest of
14:03
your lives that
14:04
God's hearing is
14:05
perfect so you
14:06
can always talk
14:07
to him he'll
14:08
always always
14:10
listen and
14:12
so we're
14:13
going to pray
14:13
to him just
14:13
now together
14:14
and we're
14:15
going to pray
14:15
the Lord's
14:15
prayer that
14:16
you'll find on
14:17
the inside
14:17
page of your
14:19
bulletin and
14:20
we'll pray this
14:21
together and
14:22
afterwards we'll
14:24
let the boys and
14:24
girls who are
14:25
heading out make
14:26
their way to
14:27
the hall
14:28
our father
14:31
which art in
14:32
heaven
14:33
hallowed be
14:34
thy name
14:35
thy kingdom
14:36
come
14:37
thy will be
14:38
done on
14:39
earth as it
14:40
is in heaven
14:41
give us this
14:43
day our daily
14:44
bread and
14:45
forgive us our
14:46
debts as we
14:47
forgive our
14:48
debtors and
14:50
lead us not
14:51
into temptation
14:52
but deliver us
14:54
from evil for
14:55
thine is the
14:56
kingdom the
14:57
power and the
14:58
glory forever
15:00
amen you see
15:02
information on
15:03
your bulletin
15:04
sheet about the
15:05
provision for
15:06
children during the
15:07
holidays so please
15:08
feel free to make
15:09
your way through the
15:09
hall if you'd like
15:10
to do so but
15:10
also children are
15:12
so welcome to stay
15:12
in for the service
15:13
as well if you'd
15:14
rather remain here
15:16
we're going to sing
15:17
together again from
15:19
psalm 57 and we're
15:21
singing the sing
15:22
psalms version which
15:23
is on page 75
15:24
psalm 57 singing
15:34
from verse 7
15:36
my heart is
15:38
steadfast lord with
15:40
music I will sing
15:41
awake my soul wake
15:43
harp and lyre my
15:44
song the dawn will
15:46
bring these words
15:47
down to the end of
15:48
the psalm just
15:48
express our praise
15:49
and thanksgiving to
15:51
God recognizing that
15:52
as we live out our
15:52
lives among the
15:53
nations of the world
15:54
we want to honor and
15:55
praise and glorify him
15:56
at all times so we'll
15:58
stand and sing these
15:59
wonderful words
15:59
together
16:00
my heart is
16:05
steadfast lord
16:08
with music
16:10
I will sing
16:13
awake my soul
16:17
wake our
16:19
hello
16:23
my
16:26
know
16:41
my
16:44
The Lord of the earth, my songs of you I'll raise.
16:52
Great is your steadfast love, which reaches through the sky.
17:03
Your constant faithfulness, O Lord, extends to heaven high.
17:16
Above the highest ends, O God, exalted thee.
17:28
And over all the earth, O best way, your majesty.
17:47
Our reading this morning is from 1 Peter chapter 2.
17:52
1 Peter chapter 2, it's just nearly at the very end of the Bible.
17:59
It's on page 1220 of the Bible I have, but it might be different page numbers in yours.
18:16
1 Peter chapter 2, and we'll read the whole chapter together.
18:22
1 Peter chapter 2, and we'll read the whole chapter.
18:27
1 Peter chapter 2, and we'll read the whole chapter.
18:27
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
18:33
Like newborn infants long for the pure spiritual milk that by it you may grow up to salvation,
18:39
if indeed you've tasted that the Lord is good.
18:42
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men, but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
18:48
you yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood,
18:55
to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
19:00
For it stands in Scripture,
19:01
So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
19:15
the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,
19:19
and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.
19:22
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
19:27
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
19:32
a people for his own possession,
19:33
that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
19:40
Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people.
19:44
Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
19:48
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles,
19:52
to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul.
19:57
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable,
20:00
so that when they speak against you as evildoers,
20:03
they may see your good deeds, and glorify God on the day of visitation.
20:08
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution,
20:11
whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
20:13
or to governors as sent by him,
20:15
to punish those who do evil, and to praise those who do good.
20:19
For this is the will of God,
20:21
that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
20:26
Live as people who are free,
20:28
not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,
20:31
but living as servants of God.
20:33
Honour everyone,
20:35
love the brotherhood,
20:36
fear God,
20:37
honour the emperor.
20:39
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect,
20:41
not only to the good and gentle,
20:43
but also to the unjust.
20:45
For this is a gracious thing,
20:47
when, mindful of God,
20:48
one endures sorrows,
20:50
while suffering unjustly.
20:52
For what credit is it,
20:53
if when you sin and are beaten for it you endure?
20:56
But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure,
20:59
this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
21:02
For to this you have been called,
21:04
because Christ also suffered for you,
21:06
leaving you an example,
21:08
so that you might follow in his steps.
21:09
He committed no sin,
21:12
neither was deceit found in his mouth.
21:14
When he was reviled,
21:16
he did not revile in return.
21:18
When he suffered,
21:19
he did not threaten,
21:21
but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
21:25
He himself bore our sins on his body on the tree,
21:28
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
21:32
By his wounds you have been healed,
21:34
for you were straying like sheep,
21:37
but have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
21:43
Amen.
21:43
This is God's word,
21:44
and may he bless it to each one of us.
21:47
Well, before we come back to the passage,
21:49
we're going to sing again,
21:50
this time in Psalm 61.
21:54
And we're singing from the Scottish Psalter version on page 293.
21:57
The first two Psalms that we sung have spoken so much of praising God,
22:10
rejoicing in his goodness,
22:12
and celebrating all the wonderful things that God has done for us.
22:17
But we know that that is always just half of the Christian's experience.
22:21
As we follow Jesus,
22:22
life also brings many challenges and bruises and struggles.
22:26
And the amazing thing about God is that as we come to him,
22:29
we don't just come with our joys and thanksgivings,
22:32
we also come with our sorrows and our struggles.
22:34
And that's captured so powerfully in this Psalm.
22:38
We're going to sing verses 1 to 4,
22:40
and these are a great reminder that we can come to the Lord for shelter and protection
22:44
in all the times when we feel like we are struggling.
22:48
So for those of you who have had a tough week,
22:51
and who are here feeling like your heart is overwhelmed,
22:55
this Psalm is just a wonderful opportunity to pour all that out before the Lord,
22:59
and to cast yourself into his loving care.
23:02
So we'll stand and sing verses 1 to 4,
23:05
Psalm 61, to God's praise.
23:06
O God, give thee unto my cry,
23:18
unto my prayer at end,
23:25
from God's voice corner of the land,
23:34
my guide to thee I'll say,
23:40
What time my heart is overwhelmed,
23:50
and in perplexity,
23:56
who thou believe unto the Lord,
24:05
that higher is the night.
24:13
For thou hast for my refuge been,
24:22
a shelter by thy power,
24:30
and for defence against my foes,
24:38
thou hast been a strong turn.
24:46
within thy tabernacle I
24:55
forever will abide,
25:02
and under cover of thy wings,
25:11
with confidence behind.
25:24
As we turn back to 1 Peter,
25:27
let's just pray together for a wee moment.
25:30
Father, as we come to your word now,
25:33
we pray that our ears and our minds and our hearts
25:38
would be open to hear from you.
25:41
We pray that you'd help us to understand your word,
25:45
help us to apply it to our lives.
25:47
May it be written on our hearts,
25:49
and may it shape every part of our lives this week,
25:53
and for the rest of our lives.
25:54
We pray in Jesus' name.
25:56
Amen.
26:02
Well, we're going to turn back to this passage,
26:05
and I'd like to read again a wee section in the middle,
26:07
from verse 11 down to verse 16.
26:11
Peter writes,
26:12
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles
26:14
to abstain from the passions of the flesh
26:17
which wage war against your soul.
26:19
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable,
26:22
so that when they speak against you as evildoers,
26:24
they may see your good deeds
26:25
and glorify God on the day of visitation.
26:28
Be subject for the Lord's sake
26:29
to every human institution,
26:31
whether it be to the emperor as supreme,
26:34
or to governors as sent by him
26:35
to punish those who do evil,
26:36
or to praise those who do good.
26:38
For this is the will of God,
26:40
that by doing good,
26:41
you should put to silence
26:42
the ignorance of foolish people.
26:44
Live as people who are free,
26:46
not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,
26:48
but living as servants of God.
26:53
At this time of year,
26:54
many of us are getting back
26:56
into the routine of work and school.
26:59
Summer is nearly over,
27:01
although this year in Lewis,
27:02
we're asking the question,
27:03
did it ever even start?
27:04
But certainly,
27:05
according to the calendar,
27:06
summer is nearly over.
27:08
Most of us have had holidays,
27:10
or those of you who still have holidays,
27:12
they're going to be over soon.
27:14
School has started.
27:17
Many of us are back to work again.
27:20
And for some of us,
27:21
that might be exciting.
27:22
For others,
27:24
it might be depressing.
27:25
For many of us,
27:27
it's probably a mixture of both.
27:30
Whatever,
27:31
however you feel,
27:32
getting back to routine,
27:34
there's no denying that work and school
27:36
are a massive part of our lives.
27:40
It's always important to remember,
27:41
we spend far more time at work or at school
27:44
than we do at church.
27:46
And apart from sleeping,
27:48
it's the thing that you're probably going to spend
27:50
the most time doing
27:51
in the week ahead.
27:53
And that's true even if you're not
27:54
in paid employment,
27:57
or if you're retired.
27:58
You still have many, many duties
28:01
that you have to attend to this week.
28:03
Lots of responsibilities to carry.
28:05
There's always going to be things
28:06
that you need to do.
28:07
And all of that still work.
28:09
And for those of you who are retired,
28:11
I remember speaking to a friend of mine
28:12
who has had a very busy retirement.
28:14
And I said,
28:15
you seem to be as busy as ever.
28:16
And he said,
28:16
yes,
28:17
the only difference is now I don't get paid
28:19
and I don't get holidays.
28:20
And so,
28:22
everyone's busy.
28:23
Everyone's working.
28:24
It's all work.
28:26
And so,
28:27
the title for our sermon today
28:29
is Back to Work.
28:30
And we're going to use that title
28:33
to think a little bit
28:33
about what the Bible teaches
28:35
about work.
28:37
And I hope that that will help us all
28:39
as we go into the week ahead
28:41
and as we head back into routine.
28:44
We've got two main headings,
28:45
The Theology of Working,
28:47
The Opportunity of Working.
28:50
So,
28:51
first of all,
28:51
The Theology of Working.
28:54
The biblical theology of work
28:56
can be summed up
28:57
in three short statements.
29:00
Work is brilliant.
29:01
Work is rubbish.
29:02
Work is being renewed.
29:05
Work is brilliant.
29:06
Work is rubbish.
29:07
Work is being renewed.
29:10
And so,
29:11
the first of these,
29:11
the fact that work is brilliant,
29:13
is something that we learn
29:14
from the very start of the Bible.
29:15
And in so many ways,
29:16
work is a wonderful thing.
29:18
It's an immense blessing
29:19
to be employed,
29:21
to be involved in our community,
29:23
to have a home to look after,
29:26
to be able to use the gifts
29:27
and abilities that we have
29:29
for a purpose.
29:30
And we must never forget
29:32
that that's always been part
29:34
of what God has intended for us.
29:37
When God placed Adam
29:39
in the Garden of Eden,
29:40
he placed him there
29:41
to work it
29:41
and to keep it.
29:43
You see that in Genesis 2,
29:45
chapter 15.
29:46
And so,
29:46
it's reminding us
29:47
that we're all created
29:48
to be workers.
29:50
Paradise,
29:51
in Eden,
29:53
includes work.
29:55
And of course,
29:56
that makes perfect sense
29:57
of the experience
29:58
that so many people have
29:59
and maybe some of you
30:00
have had at times
30:01
in your life
30:02
when we are unemployed
30:03
or we're incapacitated
30:05
through illness
30:06
or some other reason.
30:08
And when we have
30:09
those periods in life
30:10
when we can't work,
30:12
it's so hard.
30:14
And for many people,
30:15
that's debilitating,
30:16
frustrating,
30:17
and depressing.
30:19
And all of that makes sense
30:20
from a biblical point of view
30:21
because work is part
30:23
of what God has created us to do.
30:25
In fact,
30:25
working is part
30:27
of how we bear
30:28
the image of God.
30:30
So if you think about God,
30:32
God's always active.
30:34
He's always utilising
30:36
his attributes.
30:37
He's always accomplishing
30:39
his purposes.
30:40
He's always fulfilling
30:42
his responsibilities.
30:44
God's never bored.
30:45
God's never wandering aimlessly.
30:47
God's never thinking,
30:48
I don't have anything to do.
30:49
I don't know what to do.
30:50
God never experiences that.
30:52
He's always active,
30:55
always working.
30:56
And as his image bearers,
30:57
we're to do the same.
30:59
And that's one of the
31:00
extraordinary privileges
31:01
we have as image bearers.
31:03
He's given us capacities,
31:05
abilities,
31:07
gifts,
31:07
to do that.
31:09
And,
31:09
you know,
31:10
we can see that
31:11
there have been
31:12
so many amazing things
31:14
achieved
31:15
through humans
31:17
getting up in the morning
31:19
and working.
31:22
And,
31:22
likewise,
31:23
school is the same.
31:25
To have an education
31:26
is brilliant.
31:28
We have been created
31:28
by God to learn
31:30
and to grow
31:30
and to understand.
31:31
And so,
31:32
I know that
31:34
some aspects of school
31:35
are rubbish.
31:36
There was lots about school
31:36
I didn't like.
31:37
But,
31:38
as a general principle,
31:40
to be educated
31:41
is such
31:42
an extraordinary privilege.
31:44
And it's really important
31:45
for children,
31:47
young people,
31:47
to remember
31:48
that throughout history
31:49
and even still
31:51
throughout the world today,
31:52
there are so many people
31:53
where their one dream
31:55
in life
31:56
is to get an education.
31:58
education.
31:59
And that's part
32:00
of what we're made for
32:01
because we're made
32:03
to learn
32:03
and grow.
32:05
Education is an extraordinary
32:06
privilege.
32:07
Teachers and school staff
32:08
are a precious,
32:10
precious gift
32:10
from God.
32:11
There's so many ways
32:12
in which work
32:14
is brilliant.
32:18
But work is also rubbish.
32:21
And experience
32:22
tells us
32:23
that work
32:25
and school
32:25
can be really,
32:28
really hard.
32:29
And sometimes
32:30
it's
32:31
Monday to Friday
32:33
that
32:33
brings the most
32:35
bruises
32:35
and struggles
32:36
in our lives.
32:38
And again,
32:39
the Bible gives us
32:41
an explanation
32:42
for this.
32:44
Adam was given
32:45
the mandate
32:45
to work
32:46
and the Garden of Eden
32:48
is an environment
32:48
of harmony
32:49
and fulfillment
32:50
and purpose.
32:51
But sin
32:52
has brought
32:54
a curse.
32:54
And as you come
32:56
into Genesis 3,
32:58
as Adam and Eve
32:59
sin against God
33:00
and bring
33:01
a curse
33:02
onto all of creation,
33:04
part of that curse
33:05
is to turn
33:06
work
33:07
into toil.
33:09
Let me read
33:09
from Genesis 3, 17.
33:11
To Adam,
33:11
God said,
33:12
because you've listened
33:12
to the voice of your wife
33:13
and have eaten
33:14
of the tree
33:14
which I commanded you,
33:16
you shall not eat of it.
33:17
Cursed is the ground
33:17
because of you.
33:18
In pain,
33:19
you shall eat of it
33:20
all the days of your life.
33:21
Thorns and thistles
33:22
it shall bring forth for you
33:23
and you shall eat
33:24
the plants of the field.
33:25
By the sweat of your face
33:26
you shall eat bread
33:27
till you return to the ground
33:29
for out of it
33:29
you're taken
33:30
for your dust
33:30
and to dust
33:31
you shall return.
33:33
And ever since then,
33:34
ever since Genesis 3,
33:35
sin has had a devastating effect
33:37
on work.
33:39
And so,
33:40
we can work our socks off
33:42
striving to accomplish something
33:44
only for it to come to nothing.
33:46
We can face hostility,
33:50
criticism,
33:51
and animosity
33:52
from the colleagues
33:53
that we work with
33:54
or from the members
33:55
of the public
33:55
that we're trying to serve.
33:58
We can go into a new day
33:59
hoping to do our best
34:00
only to be hit
34:01
by disappointments
34:02
and discouragements
34:03
again and again.
34:05
We can constantly be under
34:07
the crushing pressure
34:08
of expectation,
34:11
stress,
34:12
to make sure we achieve
34:13
and do things at work
34:14
even though
34:15
all the time
34:16
it's pushing us
34:17
to breaking point.
34:19
And at the opposite end
34:20
of the spectrum
34:21
some of us
34:22
could go to work
34:23
and really struggle
34:24
with boredom
34:25
and a lack of satisfaction
34:26
feeling like
34:27
we've never quite
34:28
done the thing
34:29
that we really longed
34:30
to do.
34:32
And for these
34:33
and for many other reasons
34:35
work can be
34:36
really, really hard
34:37
and going back to work
34:41
or going back to school
34:42
after the summer holidays
34:43
can sometimes
34:44
be a real thought.
34:47
Sometimes it just puts
34:49
that kind of tension
34:50
down the back of your neck
34:51
and it makes your heart sink.
34:55
Everybody experiences that
34:56
from time to time.
34:57
If you're experiencing
34:58
that this week
34:58
or if you experienced it
34:59
last week
35:00
or whenever it is
35:01
you return to work
35:02
or school
35:03
please remember,
35:05
please remember
35:06
that God knows that.
35:08
please remember
35:11
that Jesus cares
35:13
for the burdened.
35:16
And that's
35:17
that's the amazing thing
35:19
about Jesus.
35:20
He never ever comes to us
35:21
expecting us to be strong
35:23
and capable
35:24
and confident
35:25
because he knows
35:25
we're not.
35:27
He expects us to come
35:28
to him
35:28
acknowledging
35:29
the fact that
35:30
oh man
35:31
Monday morning's a thought.
35:33
My email inbox
35:34
is a nightmare.
35:35
I don't want to go
35:37
to school today.
35:39
I am feeling crushed
35:40
by the pressure
35:42
I'm under.
35:43
You can bring
35:43
all of that
35:44
to Jesus.
35:46
Tomorrow morning
35:46
and every day
35:47
that is hard
35:48
you can lean on him.
35:51
He knows
35:51
that work
35:52
is now rubbish.
35:55
But we also need
35:56
to know
35:57
and remember
35:57
that work
35:59
is being renewed.
36:00
The Bible gives us
36:01
a coherent explanation
36:03
why we all
36:04
have that desire
36:05
to work
36:05
and why it brings
36:06
so much
36:06
fulfilment to us.
36:08
The Bible has
36:08
the explanation
36:09
for why
36:10
at the same time
36:11
going to work
36:11
on a Monday morning
36:12
or going to school
36:13
is really hard.
36:14
We must never forget
36:16
though
36:16
that the great goal
36:17
of the gospel
36:18
the great goal
36:20
of God's redemptive plan
36:21
is to put right
36:23
what went wrong
36:23
in Genesis 3.
36:25
And so so much
36:26
was broken
36:26
in Genesis chapter 3
36:27
work included
36:29
and the gospel
36:30
has come to
36:31
restore
36:32
and heal
36:33
all of that.
36:35
And so that means
36:35
that God's
36:37
redemptive plan
36:38
and the goal
36:39
of the gospel
36:39
includes your job
36:40
and your education
36:42
that the renewal
36:43
of the gospel
36:44
should affect
36:44
all of these things.
36:46
And that applies
36:47
now
36:48
to our lives.
36:49
So that means
36:50
that following Jesus
36:51
and living for him
36:52
should make
36:53
a massive difference
36:54
to how we find
36:55
work and school
36:56
and the influence
36:57
of the gospel
36:58
should shape
36:59
the way that we live
37:00
and behave
37:00
and approach
37:01
all of these things.
37:02
So going to work today
37:04
going to work this week
37:05
the gospel comes with us.
37:08
We don't leave it
37:09
at church on Sunday.
37:11
It comes to us
37:12
and should
37:12
comes with us
37:13
and should shape
37:14
the way we live
37:14
and behave
37:15
in all the responsibilities
37:16
and duties
37:17
that we have
37:18
in Monday to Friday.
37:19
So it all applies now
37:20
but like everything
37:21
in the gospel
37:21
there is a now
37:22
and a not yet
37:24
because the fulfillment
37:25
of all of this restoration
37:26
lies in the future
37:27
in the new creation
37:28
when once again
37:31
work will be restored
37:34
to being work
37:35
without toil
37:36
and the curse
37:38
of the sin
37:39
will be undone
37:41
and as we serve Jesus
37:44
in the new creation
37:45
we will enjoy
37:46
that incredible fulfillment
37:48
of using the gifts
37:49
that God has given us
37:50
to serve him
37:51
to work together
37:52
to accomplish.
37:53
I'm sure you've heard
37:54
this many many times
37:55
but we must never
37:57
think of heaven
37:57
as playing harps
37:58
on clouds.
37:59
It's a new creation
38:00
a restored universe
38:01
where we will
38:03
live and serve
38:05
together
38:05
with purpose
38:07
and with all
38:09
the curse
38:09
of sin
38:10
gone forever.
38:14
And all of this
38:16
is reminding us
38:17
that God's word
38:18
is teaching us
38:19
that work
38:21
is a key part
38:23
of the theology
38:24
that the Bible
38:25
presents to us
38:26
and so we can go
38:28
through the Bible
38:29
and we can find
38:30
explanations
38:30
for all the experiences
38:32
that we have
38:32
in our jobs
38:33
or in our school.
38:34
The theology of work
38:36
is incredibly important
38:37
but one of the
38:38
massive lessons
38:39
that the theology
38:41
of working
38:42
in the Bible
38:43
teaches us
38:44
is that work
38:45
gives us
38:46
amazing opportunities
38:48
and that means
38:50
that for the Christian
38:51
if you are a Christian
38:52
or if you become
38:53
a Christian
38:54
that means that
38:54
a biblical understanding
38:55
of work
38:56
makes Monday morning
38:57
exciting
38:58
and that's so important
39:00
for anybody
39:00
who is not yet a Christian.
39:02
One of the mistakes
39:03
that we can make
39:04
this is
39:06
probably easy
39:07
to misunderstand
39:08
so please don't get me
39:10
wrong when I say this
39:11
but one of the
39:11
big, big, big mistakes
39:12
that we can make
39:14
when approaching
39:14
the gospel
39:15
is to think
39:15
that it just
39:16
fixes eternity.
39:18
Now it does
39:19
fix eternity
39:20
and Jesus does mean
39:23
trusting in Jesus
39:24
does mean
39:25
that we are going
39:26
to be safe
39:27
on the day
39:27
that we die
39:28
and he will take us
39:29
to be with him
39:29
and we will enjoy
39:31
eternity with him
39:32
in his new creation
39:33
and with all our
39:34
brothers and sisters
39:35
and the eternity
39:36
he has for us
39:37
is absolutely amazing
39:39
but that is not
39:40
just what the gospel
39:42
does.
39:43
The gospel
39:43
doesn't just
39:44
fix eternity
39:45
the gospel
39:46
makes a massive
39:47
difference now
39:48
and there are
39:50
many, many people
39:51
who are Christians
39:52
who think
39:52
that life now
39:54
is rubbish
39:55
but at least
39:55
I've got my ticket
39:56
to heaven.
39:57
That's a really,
39:59
really truncated
40:00
understanding
40:01
of the gospel
40:02
that's only half
40:02
the gospel
40:03
because following
40:05
Jesus actually
40:06
makes such
40:06
a massive difference
40:07
to our lives
40:08
today
40:09
and so
40:11
as we go
40:12
into a new week
40:13
having our eyes
40:14
on Jesus
40:15
having our hearts
40:16
filled with the
40:18
truths of the gospel
40:18
makes a massive
40:20
difference.
40:23
The theology
40:23
of working
40:24
in the Bible
40:25
teaches us
40:26
that work
40:27
gives us
40:28
amazing opportunities
40:30
and so I want
40:32
to unpack that
40:33
a little bit more
40:34
the opportunity
40:35
of working
40:36
and what I want
40:37
us to see
40:38
is that
40:39
1 Peter chapter 2
40:40
gives us
40:41
two clear reasons
40:43
why work
40:44
and why the
40:46
opportunity
40:46
of working
40:47
is so important.
40:49
First of all
40:50
your work
40:52
and when
40:52
keep reminding
40:53
when I say work
40:54
I don't just mean
40:55
the thing you're paid
40:55
for
40:55
work
40:56
employment
40:57
school
40:58
or whatever
40:59
responsibilities you have
41:01
in your home
41:01
or your family
41:02
or your community
41:03
your work
41:04
is an opportunity
41:06
for Christian
41:07
contact.
41:09
It's an opportunity
41:10
for Christian
41:11
contact.
41:12
Look again at
41:12
verse 11 and 12
41:13
Peter says
41:14
Beloved I urge you
41:15
as sojourners
41:16
and exiles
41:17
to abstain
41:17
from the passions
41:18
of the flesh
41:18
which wage war
41:19
against your soul
41:20
keep your conduct
41:21
among the Gentiles
41:23
honourable
41:23
so that when they
41:24
speak against you
41:25
as evildoers
41:26
they may see
41:26
your good deeds
41:27
and glorify God
41:28
on the day
41:28
of visitation.
41:30
I want you to notice
41:30
three crucial words
41:31
in that passage
41:32
in verse 12
41:33
among the Gentiles
41:35
so Peter is writing
41:37
to Christians
41:37
who are spread
41:39
all across Asia Minor
41:40
which is what we would
41:41
call Turkey today
41:41
you see the place
41:42
is listed at the very
41:43
start of the letter
41:45
and he describes
41:46
the people he's writing
41:47
to as the dispersion
41:48
the Greek word there
41:49
is the word diaspora
41:50
it's describing people
41:52
who are scattered
41:53
across various
41:55
locations
41:56
in the ancient world
41:57
and as the result
41:59
of that dispersion
42:01
these Christians
42:02
are not living
42:04
in a Christian nation
42:05
or in a Christian community
42:07
they are living
42:08
in a predominantly
42:09
non-Christian society
42:11
and that of course
42:13
explains why Peter
42:14
describes them
42:14
as sojourners
42:15
and exiles
42:16
they were living
42:17
in a world
42:18
that at first
42:20
had no interest
42:21
in Christianity
42:22
Christianity
42:22
but over time
42:23
during the first century
42:24
became more and more
42:26
hostile
42:26
to the Christian faith
42:28
and in which Christians
42:30
were not at home
42:31
in other words
42:31
it was a world
42:32
where they did not
42:33
fit in
42:34
and as we think
42:37
about that situation
42:38
we would maybe
42:39
expect Peter
42:40
to say
42:41
cut yourselves off
42:42
keep away
42:44
from
42:45
there's a ton
42:46
of terrible influences
42:47
around you
42:48
keep away
42:48
from them
42:49
flee
42:50
from any interaction
42:52
with that society
42:53
so that you're
42:55
not exposed
42:56
to unhealthy
42:57
influences
42:59
and
43:00
so many Christians
43:03
throughout history
43:03
have done that
43:04
and
43:05
if you read about
43:06
the early church
43:07
in like the second
43:08
and third centuries
43:09
one of the things
43:10
that you'll often
43:11
read about there
43:11
is
43:12
sometimes people
43:13
who became hermits
43:14
so went to live
43:15
completely on their own
43:16
others
43:18
who would maybe
43:19
form communities
43:20
often
43:20
as monks
43:22
or as nuns
43:23
communities
43:24
that were kind of
43:24
cut off
43:25
isolated
43:26
from all the negative
43:27
influence
43:28
in the world
43:29
around them
43:29
and that pattern
43:30
has continued
43:30
maybe not to the extremities
43:32
that you see
43:32
in the early church
43:33
but even in our own
43:34
island culture
43:35
I think that it's
43:38
true to say
43:39
that
43:39
we are often
43:41
drawn to that mindset
43:42
where we
43:43
are conscious
43:44
that the world
43:44
around us
43:45
is becoming
43:45
less and less
43:46
shaped by the bible
43:47
and our instinct
43:48
is to retreat
43:49
and
43:51
to keep away
43:52
and to cut
43:54
ourselves off
43:54
from those
43:56
who are
43:57
around us
43:58
and
43:58
I understand
43:59
why people feel
44:00
like that
44:00
and there is
44:01
an aspect
44:02
in which
44:02
part of that
44:04
can be helpful
44:05
but
44:05
it's
44:07
dangerous
44:08
because
44:10
it can leave us
44:12
with very little
44:14
contact
44:15
with the world
44:16
around us
44:17
and all the time
44:18
Peter
44:19
is saying to us
44:20
Christians
44:21
must be
44:22
among
44:23
the Gentiles
44:24
indeed
44:25
the whole of the
44:26
second half
44:26
of this chapter
44:27
that we read
44:28
is teaching us
44:29
about the
44:29
Christian's place
44:30
in society
44:32
we're to honour
44:33
those who are
44:34
in authority
44:34
we're to be subject
44:35
to human institutions
44:36
we are to
44:38
respectfully serve
44:39
our employers
44:40
and of course
44:40
this is just
44:41
emphasising what
44:42
Jesus himself said
44:43
we said
44:43
render to Caesar
44:44
the things
44:44
that are Caesar's
44:45
and to God
44:46
the things
44:46
that are God
44:47
and the crucial
44:48
point I want us
44:49
to notice
44:50
is that
44:50
here and
44:51
elsewhere
44:52
in the New
44:53
Testament
44:53
we're seeing
44:55
that God
44:55
wants us
44:56
among the
44:57
Gentiles
44:57
in other words
44:59
God wants us
45:00
among
45:01
unbelievers
45:02
among people
45:03
who don't know
45:04
anything about
45:04
the Bible
45:05
among people
45:06
who don't
45:07
really care
45:08
what
45:09
Christian
45:10
ethics
45:10
are
45:10
among
45:11
people
45:12
who have
45:13
got very
45:13
little interest
45:14
in honouring
45:16
God
45:16
in their lives
45:17
God wants us
45:18
among them
45:19
and that's
45:19
exactly what
45:20
Jesus himself
45:21
taught
45:21
if you go back
45:23
to the Sermon
45:24
on the Mount
45:24
let me read
45:25
from Matthew
45:26
5
45:26
verse 13
45:27
Jesus says
45:28
you are the salt
45:29
of the earth
45:29
but if salt
45:30
has lost its taste
45:31
how shall its
45:32
saltiness be
45:32
restored
45:33
it's no longer
45:34
good for anything
45:34
except to be
45:35
thrown out
45:35
and trampled
45:36
under people's
45:36
feet
45:37
you are the
45:38
light of the
45:38
world
45:38
a city set
45:40
on a hill
45:40
cannot be
45:41
hidden
45:41
nor do people
45:42
light a lamp
45:43
and put it
45:43
under a basket
45:44
but on a stand
45:45
and it gives
45:46
light to all
45:46
the house
45:47
in the same
45:48
way
45:48
let your light
45:49
shine before
45:50
others
45:50
so that they
45:51
may see
45:52
your good
45:53
works
45:53
and give
45:54
glory
45:54
to your
45:55
father
45:56
in heaven
45:57
and so
45:58
our work
46:00
what we do
46:01
Monday to
46:01
Friday
46:01
is an
46:02
opportunity
46:02
for Christian
46:03
contact
46:03
and what's
46:04
the purpose
46:04
of that
46:05
Christian
46:05
contact
46:06
well
46:06
there's a
46:07
key word
46:08
that appears
46:09
in both
46:09
the Sermon
46:10
on the Mount
46:10
Matthew 5
46:11
and in
46:12
1 Peter
46:12
chapter 2
46:13
it appears
46:14
in verse 16
46:15
in Matthew 5
46:16
it appears
46:16
in verse 12
46:17
in chapter 2
46:19
chapter 2
46:20
of 1 Peter
46:21
it's the word
46:22
see
46:23
God wants
46:29
you as a
46:29
Christian
46:30
to be seen
46:31
in society
46:32
not hidden
46:33
seen
46:36
and
46:38
the most
46:40
outstanding
46:41
example
46:42
of this
46:42
is Jesus
46:44
himself
46:45
he worked
46:46
with people
46:47
he walked
46:47
with people
46:48
he spoke
46:48
to people
46:49
he went
46:49
into the
46:50
towns
46:50
he went
46:50
into the
46:51
villages
46:51
he went
46:51
into the
46:52
streets
46:52
he went
46:52
into the
46:52
public
46:53
areas
46:53
he went
46:53
into the
46:54
temple
46:54
oh he
46:54
was seen
46:55
he was
46:58
constantly
46:59
seen
46:59
in the
47:00
society
47:00
in which
47:01
he lived
47:02
and it's
47:02
all reminding
47:03
us that
47:03
your job
47:04
or your
47:05
school
47:06
class
47:07
or whatever
47:08
you're going
47:08
to be doing
47:08
this week
47:09
is an
47:09
amazing
47:10
opportunity
47:10
for Christian
47:11
contact
47:12
with the
47:13
society
47:13
that we
47:14
live in
47:14
so whatever
47:16
you are going
47:16
to be doing
47:17
this week
47:17
you are going
47:18
to be making
47:18
contact
47:19
with people
47:20
who are not
47:21
yet Christians
47:23
and as you
47:24
make that
47:25
contact
47:25
you are
47:26
a key
47:27
participant
47:27
in God's
47:28
purposes
47:29
in fact
47:29
we've always
47:30
got to remember
47:31
we believe
47:31
in the
47:31
sovereignty
47:32
of God
47:32
we believe
47:33
in the
47:33
providence
47:33
of God
47:34
we believe
47:34
that wherever
47:35
you are
47:35
on Monday
47:36
morning
47:36
tomorrow
47:37
is where
47:37
God has
47:38
placed you
47:38
and why
47:38
is he
47:39
doing that
47:39
it's because
47:40
you can
47:41
fulfill his
47:41
purposes
47:42
and he can
47:44
work in
47:44
and through
47:45
you
47:45
and by
47:47
you being
47:48
there
47:48
you can
47:49
connect
47:50
with people
47:51
who are
47:52
not yet
47:53
believers
47:54
and this is
47:55
where your
47:55
role is so
47:56
important
47:57
because one
47:57
thing I can
47:58
absolutely say
47:59
is that I
48:01
used to be
48:01
an engineer
48:01
before I
48:02
was a
48:02
minister
48:02
I had
48:03
far more
48:04
contact with
48:05
unbelievers
48:05
as an
48:05
engineer
48:06
than I do
48:06
as a
48:06
minister
48:07
and in
48:10
so many
48:10
ways
48:11
it's harder
48:12
now to
48:12
reach people
48:13
because my
48:16
work doesn't
48:17
give me that
48:17
immediate
48:18
contact with
48:19
those who
48:20
aren't believers
48:20
same with
48:21
those of you
48:21
who have to
48:22
go to
48:22
school
48:22
those of you
48:23
who are doing
48:24
the school run
48:24
tomorrow morning
48:25
you're going to
48:26
meet
48:26
if you're
48:27
going to
48:27
start with
48:28
primary
48:28
you're going
48:28
to see
48:28
hundreds of
48:29
parents
48:29
who aren't
48:31
yet believers
48:31
by five past
48:33
nine tomorrow
48:34
morning you
48:35
will have
48:35
had contact
48:37
with more
48:37
unchristians
48:38
than I'm
48:38
going to
48:38
have for
48:39
the rest
48:39
of the
48:39
year
48:40
and so
48:42
it's an
48:42
amazing
48:42
opportunity
48:43
for Christian
48:46
contact
48:46
and it's a
48:47
vital reminder
48:48
that whatever
48:48
you're doing
48:49
this week
48:50
your role
48:51
there as a
48:52
Christian
48:52
is of
48:53
utmost
48:54
importance
48:55
because God
48:56
wants you
48:56
among the
48:57
Gentiles
48:58
and maybe
49:00
you need to
49:00
think about
49:00
that a bit
49:01
more
49:01
have you
49:01
ever thought
49:02
about how
49:03
much your
49:04
colleagues
49:04
and your
49:05
community
49:06
need you
49:07
around them
49:08
and among
49:09
them
49:09
we live in a
49:11
world that
49:12
is so full
49:13
of greed
49:14
where there's
49:14
brutal
49:15
selfishness
49:16
where the
49:17
workplace is
49:17
so often
49:18
competitive
49:19
hostile
49:19
dog eat
49:20
dog
49:20
we live in
49:21
a world
49:21
of market
49:22
forces where
49:23
businesses are
49:24
competing against
49:25
each other
49:25
one person
49:26
can only get
49:26
stronger
49:27
if someone
49:27
else is
49:27
getting weaker
49:28
we live in
49:29
a world
49:29
saturated by
49:30
blame culture
49:31
everyone's
49:32
constantly looking
49:33
over their
49:34
shoulder
49:34
worried that
49:35
they're the
49:35
ones who
49:35
are going
49:36
to be
49:36
singled out
49:36
for things
49:37
that are
49:37
going wrong
49:37
we live in
49:38
a world
49:38
where the
49:39
workplace
49:39
is so
49:40
often full
49:41
of malice
49:41
deceit
49:42
hypocrisy
49:43
envy
49:43
and slander
49:45
and as
49:46
your colleagues
49:46
grind out
49:47
their lives
49:48
in that
49:49
world
49:50
they desperately
49:52
need you
49:53
among them
49:54
our society
49:56
needs Christians
49:57
everywhere
49:58
and that
49:59
makes your
49:59
job and
50:00
your routine
50:00
this week
50:01
so exciting
50:02
because as
50:03
a Christian
50:03
if you are
50:04
a Christian
50:04
or if you
50:06
become a
50:06
Christian
50:06
you can be
50:07
there as
50:08
a Christian
50:08
and that's
50:10
a vital part
50:11
of God's
50:11
purposes
50:12
it's an
50:12
amazing
50:13
opportunity
50:14
to be in
50:15
contact with
50:15
a world
50:16
that desperately
50:17
needs the
50:17
light that's
50:18
within you
50:19
our jobs
50:22
our work
50:23
whatever you're
50:23
doing this
50:24
week
50:24
is an
50:25
opportunity
50:25
for Christian
50:26
contact
50:27
we must
50:29
be among
50:30
the Gentiles
50:31
however
50:33
being among
50:36
the Gentiles
50:37
does not
50:38
mean
50:39
being like
50:40
them
50:41
and that
50:42
brings us
50:43
to the
50:43
second key
50:44
point that
50:44
Peter highlights
50:45
your work
50:46
is an
50:47
opportunity
50:47
for Christian
50:48
conduct
50:49
so we
50:50
have
50:51
Christian
50:51
contact
50:52
and we
50:53
have
50:53
the
50:53
opportunity
50:53
for
50:54
Christian
50:54
conduct
50:55
go back
50:55
again
50:55
to
50:55
11 and
50:56
12
50:56
beloved I
50:57
urge you
50:58
as sojourners
50:59
and exiles
50:59
to abstain
51:00
from the
51:00
passions of
51:00
the flesh
51:01
which wage
51:01
war against
51:02
your soul
51:02
keep your
51:04
conduct
51:04
among the
51:04
Gentiles
51:05
honourable
51:05
so that
51:06
when they
51:06
speak against
51:07
you as
51:07
evildoers
51:08
they may
51:08
see your
51:08
good deeds
51:09
and glorify
51:10
God
51:10
on the
51:11
day of
51:12
visitation
51:12
Peter
51:14
tells us
51:14
that as
51:15
we are
51:15
among the
51:15
Gentiles
51:16
we are
51:17
to keep
51:17
our
51:18
conduct
51:18
honourable
51:19
now the
51:20
words here
51:20
are fascinating
51:21
the word
51:21
conduct
51:22
literally
51:22
means
51:22
you're
51:23
turning
51:24
about
51:24
in a
51:25
place
51:25
and so
51:27
it's
51:27
conveying the
51:29
idea of
51:29
behaviour
51:30
conduct
51:31
way of
51:32
life
51:32
we would
51:33
maybe say
51:33
how you
51:34
go about
51:35
yourself
51:35
and it's
51:38
clearly a
51:38
broad term
51:39
and that's
51:41
it means that
51:42
it's encapsulating
51:44
our whole
51:45
behaviour as
51:46
Christians
51:46
so our
51:47
attitudes
51:48
our
51:48
actions
51:49
our
51:49
reactions
51:50
our
51:50
speech
51:51
our
51:51
habits
51:52
our
51:52
day to
51:53
day
51:53
conduct
51:54
so what
51:55
that means
51:55
is that
51:55
this is a
51:56
word that
51:56
applies to
51:57
the normal
51:58
routine
51:59
of life
52:00
the normal
52:03
everyday
52:04
unexciting
52:06
routine
52:08
of life
52:09
that means
52:10
that for all
52:11
of us as we
52:11
go back to
52:12
work back
52:12
to school
52:13
back into
52:14
a normal
52:15
week
52:16
we are going
52:17
back to
52:18
day to day
52:19
conduct
52:19
to the
52:20
behaviour
52:20
that makes
52:22
up a huge
52:23
part of our
52:24
weekly routine
52:24
and God
52:25
wants that
52:26
day to day
52:28
routine
52:29
to be
52:30
outstanding
52:32
in its
52:33
quality
52:33
and that's
52:35
what's
52:36
highlighted by
52:36
the word
52:37
honourable
52:38
again it's a
52:38
broad term
52:39
basically means
52:40
good
52:40
it's used
52:41
in Galatians
52:42
6-9
52:42
let us
52:43
not grow
52:44
weary
52:44
of doing
52:44
good
52:45
same word
52:45
in other
52:46
parts of
52:46
the New
52:46
Testament
52:47
it's
52:47
translated
52:47
noble
52:48
right
52:49
excellent
52:49
beautiful
52:50
it's all
52:51
telling us
52:51
that God
52:52
wants his
52:53
people
52:53
he wants
52:53
you and
52:54
me as
52:54
Christians
52:55
he wants
52:55
our daily
52:56
routine
52:56
at work
52:57
at school
52:58
in life
52:58
to be a
52:59
model
52:59
of excellent
53:01
behaviour
53:01
of beautiful
53:03
conduct
53:03
and that
53:05
inevitably
53:06
involves
53:07
avoiding
53:09
certain
53:10
habits
53:10
that's why
53:11
people
53:11
Peter
53:12
can say
53:12
abstain
53:14
from the
53:15
passions
53:15
of the
53:15
flesh
53:16
which wage
53:17
war
53:18
against
53:18
your
53:19
soul
53:19
so in
53:20
order to
53:21
have the
53:21
conduct
53:22
that Jesus
53:22
wants us
53:23
to have
53:23
we need
53:24
to avoid
53:24
the behaviour
53:25
that's going
53:26
to arise
53:26
from the
53:26
passions
53:27
that exist
53:28
within us
53:29
in other
53:29
words
53:29
what this
53:30
means
53:30
is that
53:31
you have
53:31
to fight
53:32
really hard
53:33
on the
53:33
inside
53:33
if you're
53:35
going to
53:35
behave
53:36
with
53:36
gentleness
53:37
kindness
53:38
and warmth
53:40
on the
53:40
outside
53:41
a little
53:42
later
53:43
Peter
53:43
gives more
53:44
examples
53:45
of what
53:46
these
53:46
passions
53:46
of the
53:47
flesh
53:47
tend to
53:48
involve
53:48
you can
53:48
see it
53:48
at the
53:49
start
53:49
of chapter
53:49
four
53:50
I'll
53:50
read it
53:50
out
53:51
from
53:51
verse
53:51
three
53:52
for time
53:53
is past
53:53
that suffices
53:55
for doing
53:57
what the
53:57
Gentiles
53:57
want to
53:58
do
53:58
living in
53:58
sensuality
53:59
passions
53:59
drunkenness
54:00
orgies
54:01
drinking
54:01
parties
54:01
and lawless
54:02
idolatry
54:03
with respect
54:03
to this
54:04
they're
54:04
surprised
54:05
when you
54:05
do not
54:05
join
54:06
them
54:06
in the
54:07
same
54:07
flood
54:07
of
54:07
debauchery
54:08
and they
54:09
malign you
54:09
now
54:10
these
54:11
verses
54:11
are so
54:12
fascinating
54:12
to read
54:13
because you
54:14
know you
54:14
read those
54:14
verses and
54:15
you can
54:15
easily
54:15
think oh
54:16
man how
54:16
depraved
54:17
were those
54:17
people in
54:18
Asia Minor
54:19
but think
54:23
about the
54:23
workplaces
54:24
that you
54:25
all have to
54:25
go into
54:26
today
54:26
think about
54:29
the
54:30
conversations
54:30
in the
54:31
playground
54:31
at school
54:33
how often
54:36
will people
54:36
talk about
54:37
sex or
54:37
take their
54:38
phone out
54:38
and show a
54:39
picture or
54:39
a video
54:40
that's got
54:40
no restraint
54:41
that's
54:43
sensuality
54:44
that Peter
54:45
refers to
54:45
here
54:46
how often
54:47
do you
54:48
look at
54:48
people and
54:48
they've just
54:49
got such
54:49
deep cravings
54:50
for the
54:51
stuff that
54:51
the world
54:52
offers
54:52
whether it's
54:53
money or
54:54
status or
54:54
power or
54:55
possessions
54:55
that's the
54:56
passions that
54:56
Peter is
54:57
referring to
54:58
how often
54:59
do you
55:00
see people
55:01
and from
55:02
Monday to
55:02
Friday
55:02
Friday
55:03
they are
55:04
just longing
55:04
for the
55:05
weekend
55:05
so that
55:06
they can
55:06
go out
55:07
drink to
55:08
excess
55:09
party without
55:10
restraint
55:10
that's what
55:10
Peter's talking
55:11
about
55:11
he's talking
55:12
about drunkenness
55:12
orgies
55:13
drinking parties
55:14
exactly the
55:14
same stuff
55:15
that people
55:15
today do
55:16
all throughout
55:17
the western
55:17
world
55:18
and how often
55:19
do we come
55:20
across people
55:20
who've got no
55:21
thought of God
55:22
and instead
55:22
they're living
55:22
for idols
55:23
and as Peter
55:26
himself highlights
55:27
it was exactly
55:28
the same
55:29
then
55:29
and Peter
55:30
uses a
55:31
very very
55:32
vivid phrase
55:33
to describe
55:33
this
55:33
he calls
55:34
it a
55:35
flood
55:35
of
55:36
debauchery
55:36
and that's
55:39
a phrase
55:39
that could
55:39
describe many
55:40
aspects of
55:41
our society
55:41
today
55:42
that's a
55:42
phrase that
55:43
could describe
55:43
the place
55:45
where you
55:45
have to
55:45
work
55:46
this week
55:47
or the
55:47
school environment
55:50
that you have
55:50
to grind your
55:51
way through
55:51
over the
55:52
coming
55:52
days
55:54
and you
55:55
look at
55:56
our society
55:56
today
55:57
our newspapers
55:58
our TV
55:58
programmes
55:59
our film
56:00
industry
56:01
that phrase
56:04
captures
56:04
well a
56:05
flood of
56:05
debauchery
56:06
and that
56:07
kind of way
56:08
of life
56:08
that mindset
56:09
where people
56:09
have abandoned
56:10
themselves
56:10
to what is
56:13
often reckless
56:14
immoral behaviour
56:15
it's actually
56:16
seen as
56:16
impressive
56:17
it's seen
56:19
as cool
56:19
and this is
56:21
where Peter's
56:22
language is so
56:23
helpful
56:24
he calls it
56:24
a flood
56:25
of debauchery
56:26
what's the
56:27
key thing
56:27
about a
56:27
flood
56:28
a flood
56:31
is very
56:32
very
56:33
very
56:33
very easy
56:34
to get
56:35
swept up
56:36
in
56:36
and that's
56:38
what happens
56:39
isn't it
56:39
it's happened
56:40
to me at
56:41
times in my
56:41
Christian life
56:42
I'm sure
56:42
it's happened
56:42
to you
56:43
this kind
56:44
of flood
56:44
of whether
56:45
it's language
56:46
or conversations
56:47
or whatever
56:47
and it
56:48
sweeps past
56:49
you and
56:49
before you
56:50
know it
56:50
you're in
56:50
it
56:50
getting swept
56:52
along
56:54
in fact
56:55
people will
56:56
think that
56:56
you're crazy
56:56
for not
56:57
joining in
56:57
Peter says
56:58
that in
56:59
verse 4
56:59
of chapter 4
57:00
he says
57:00
people will
57:01
be surprised
57:01
when you
57:02
join in
57:02
they'll
57:03
speak badly
57:03
of you
57:04
for not
57:04
doing it
57:05
and that's
57:05
a very
57:06
real problem
57:06
that you
57:07
may have
57:08
faced
57:08
in the
57:09
past
57:10
that you
57:11
might face
57:11
in the
57:11
future
57:12
you'll
57:12
definitely
57:12
face it
57:13
in school
57:13
those of
57:15
you who
57:15
are in
57:15
school
57:16
particularly
57:17
high school
57:17
you'll
57:18
definitely
57:18
face that
57:19
people
57:19
will be
57:20
doing
57:20
stuff
57:20
you're
57:21
like
57:21
I don't
57:22
want to
57:22
join in
57:22
with that
57:23
and you
57:23
get grief
57:23
for it
57:24
1 Peter
57:25
knows exactly
57:27
what that's
57:27
like
57:27
and it's
57:29
the same
57:29
challenge
57:29
that Christians
57:30
have faced
57:30
for centuries
57:32
all of that
57:34
raises a really
57:35
important question
57:35
what do we do
57:36
when we
57:36
experience that
57:37
what's the
57:38
right response
57:39
to this
57:39
kind of
57:40
behaviour
57:40
what do we
57:40
do when
57:41
there's a
57:41
flood of
57:42
debauchery
57:42
all around
57:43
us
57:44
well first
57:44
and foremost
57:44
we mustn't
57:45
join in
57:46
and I know
57:47
you'll know
57:48
that
57:48
you know
57:48
that anyway
57:49
and I don't
57:49
really need
57:50
to explain
57:50
that
57:50
but so
57:51
that's the
57:52
negative
57:53
don't do
57:53
it
57:53
but what
57:54
should we
57:54
do
57:54
should we
57:56
avoid
57:56
these people
57:57
so people
57:59
might say
57:59
that you
57:59
just keep
58:00
away
58:00
have nothing
58:00
to do
58:01
with them
58:01
but yet
58:02
we've just
58:03
been saying
58:03
that Peter
58:04
wants us
58:04
among the
58:05
Gentiles
58:05
so cutting
58:07
ourselves off
58:08
isn't the
58:08
answer
58:09
is it
58:10
to condemn
58:11
these people
58:12
and sometimes
58:14
that can be
58:14
a response
58:15
you know
58:15
we kind of
58:16
are almost
58:17
like
58:17
we sometimes
58:18
feel that we
58:19
need to kind of
58:19
be like a bit
58:20
of a moral
58:20
police force
58:21
where we want
58:22
to kind of
58:22
draw attention
58:23
to this
58:23
this behaviour
58:24
and we express
58:25
a very firm
58:26
judgement over it
58:27
now there's
58:27
an element
58:28
in which that's
58:28
important
58:29
and too
58:29
we do want
58:30
to be able
58:30
to speak
58:31
out when
58:31
there are
58:31
things that
58:32
are wrong
58:32
but sometimes
58:32
we do it
58:33
in a way
58:33
that actually
58:34
very much
58:36
creates hostility
58:38
between us
58:39
and those who
58:39
think differently
58:40
of us
58:40
and we can
58:41
I think we can
58:43
all think of
58:43
examples
58:44
when Christians
58:44
have used
58:45
a tone
58:46
that has been
58:47
judgmental
58:47
to a point
58:48
where it's
58:48
not been
58:49
honouring
58:50
to the Lord
58:51
and it's
58:51
not been
58:52
helpful
58:53
and the key
58:55
thing we have
58:55
to recognise
58:55
is that
58:56
avoiding people
58:57
condemning people
58:58
is not actually
58:58
what the New
58:59
Testament tells
58:59
us to do
59:00
so what does
59:02
the New Testament
59:03
tell us to do
59:04
when you're going
59:05
to work
59:05
when you're
59:06
surrounded by
59:06
colleagues
59:07
when you're
59:08
facing a flood
59:09
of debauchery
59:10
what does the New
59:11
Testament tell you
59:12
to do
59:12
the answer
59:12
is actually
59:13
very simple
59:13
it says
59:14
show your
59:16
good works
59:17
show your
59:21
good works
59:21
now
59:22
what that
59:23
means is
59:23
just behave
59:25
in a way
59:26
that is
59:28
good
59:28
that is
59:31
unmistakably
59:32
good
59:33
that's what
59:35
Peter talks
59:36
about
59:36
in verse
59:37
11 and
59:38
12
59:39
he wants
59:39
us to
59:39
keep
59:40
our
59:40
conduct
59:41
honourable
59:42
so that
59:43
when people
59:44
speak against
59:44
us
59:44
they actually
59:45
see
59:45
our
59:46
good
59:46
works
59:47
and what
59:48
do they
59:48
do as a
59:48
result
59:48
they glorify
59:49
God
59:50
we are to
59:51
respond
59:51
to that
59:52
kind of
59:52
behaviour
59:53
that we
59:53
see in
59:53
the world
59:54
around us
59:54
with a
59:55
standard
59:55
of conduct
59:56
that is
59:57
excellent
59:57
and that's
59:58
where
59:58
that's
59:59
the key
59:59
to our
59:59
place
1:00:00
in society
1:00:00
we're to
1:00:00
be involved
1:00:01
in our
1:00:01
society
1:00:02
we're to
1:00:02
be respectful
1:00:03
to everybody
1:00:04
that we
1:00:04
work with
1:00:05
and for
1:00:05
and we
1:00:05
are to
1:00:06
be a
1:00:06
wonderful
1:00:06
influence
1:00:07
for good
1:00:08
within
1:00:09
our
1:00:09
workplaces
1:00:10
and it's
1:00:10
all reminding
1:00:11
us that
1:00:12
as you
1:00:12
go back
1:00:12
to work
1:00:13
as you
1:00:13
go back
1:00:14
to school
1:00:14
as you're
1:00:14
faced with
1:00:15
many of
1:00:15
these
1:00:16
attitudes
1:00:16
that think
1:00:16
so differently
1:00:17
from the way
1:00:18
Jesus thought
1:00:19
and from
1:00:19
what Jesus
1:00:20
taught
1:00:21
as you go
1:00:22
into that
1:00:22
you have
1:00:23
an amazing
1:00:24
opportunity
1:00:25
to be
1:00:26
different
1:00:27
and in so
1:00:28
many ways
1:00:29
that describes
1:00:30
the life
1:00:31
of discipleship
1:00:32
it's an
1:00:32
amazing
1:00:33
opportunity
1:00:33
to be
1:00:34
different
1:00:35
not in a
1:00:35
weird way
1:00:36
in a really
1:00:37
really good
1:00:38
way
1:00:39
and so
1:00:40
when people
1:00:41
are depressed
1:00:42
going back
1:00:42
to work
1:00:42
this week
1:00:43
you can
1:00:43
go in
1:00:44
with joy
1:00:45
and enthusiasm
1:00:46
and positivity
1:00:48
when people
1:00:50
feel frustrated
1:00:51
and are clearly
1:00:52
having a bad
1:00:53
day you can
1:00:53
get alongside
1:00:54
them and
1:00:54
encourage them
1:00:55
when customers
1:00:57
are difficult
1:00:57
you can be
1:00:58
patient
1:00:59
when colleagues
1:01:01
are selfish
1:01:02
or harsh
1:01:02
you can be
1:01:04
a model of
1:01:04
kindness
1:01:05
that stands
1:01:06
out beautifully
1:01:07
when other
1:01:08
people are
1:01:08
gossiping
1:01:08
or criticizing
1:01:09
or moaning
1:01:11
you can be
1:01:12
self-controlled
1:01:13
and show a
1:01:15
different example
1:01:16
and the key
1:01:17
point
1:01:17
is that all
1:01:19
of this is
1:01:19
such a
1:01:20
powerful
1:01:21
witness
1:01:22
and I know
1:01:25
I honestly
1:01:26
know as well
1:01:27
as you do
1:01:28
that going to
1:01:29
work tomorrow
1:01:30
morning and
1:01:30
striking up a
1:01:31
conversation about
1:01:31
Jesus is not
1:01:33
easy
1:01:33
and it
1:01:34
doesn't happen
1:01:35
often
1:01:35
and to be
1:01:37
honest
1:01:37
those moments
1:01:38
of witnessing
1:01:39
where we have
1:01:39
conversations about
1:01:40
Jesus are
1:01:40
occasional
1:01:41
we want to
1:01:42
pray for them
1:01:43
we want to
1:01:43
be ready for
1:01:43
them but
1:01:43
they don't
1:01:44
come that
1:01:44
often
1:01:45
that kind
1:01:46
of witnessing
1:01:46
is occasional
1:01:47
there's another
1:01:48
kind of witnessing
1:01:49
that we do
1:01:50
every minute
1:01:51
of every day
1:01:53
and that's
1:01:55
through our
1:01:55
conduct
1:01:55
people can
1:01:59
see you
1:02:00
and the
1:02:02
way you
1:02:02
live your
1:02:03
life
1:02:03
if you have
1:02:04
your eyes
1:02:05
on Jesus
1:02:05
and you're
1:02:06
reflecting
1:02:07
his goodness
1:02:08
it is such
1:02:09
a powerful
1:02:11
witness
1:02:12
and you see
1:02:13
Peter talk
1:02:14
about that
1:02:14
he says
1:02:14
by doing
1:02:15
good you'll
1:02:16
put to
1:02:16
silence
1:02:16
the ignorance
1:02:17
of foolish
1:02:18
people
1:02:19
such an
1:02:20
amazing
1:02:20
opportunity
1:02:21
it's another
1:02:22
thing I have
1:02:22
to say
1:02:22
though
1:02:23
in relation
1:02:24
to this
1:02:24
and this
1:02:24
is a
1:02:26
harder thing
1:02:27
to say
1:02:27
because
1:02:27
when I
1:02:29
say
1:02:29
our
1:02:30
Christ-like
1:02:30
conduct
1:02:31
is such
1:02:31
a good
1:02:32
witness
1:02:32
the opposite
1:02:33
is also
1:02:34
true
1:02:34
when a
1:02:37
Christian's
1:02:38
behaviour
1:02:38
at work
1:02:38
is
1:02:39
unchrist-like
1:02:40
it's a
1:02:41
terrible
1:02:42
witness
1:02:42
never
1:02:44
think
1:02:45
that you
1:02:45
are
1:02:45
sometimes
1:02:46
witnessing
1:02:47
sometimes
1:02:47
not
1:02:48
witnessing
1:02:48
you're
1:02:49
always
1:02:49
witnessing
1:02:50
always
1:02:51
it's just
1:02:53
sometimes
1:02:53
it's good
1:02:53
and sometimes
1:02:54
it's not
1:02:55
good
1:02:55
and I've
1:02:56
seen that
1:02:56
in my
1:02:56
own
1:02:57
life
1:02:57
at times
1:02:58
and that's
1:03:00
that's a
1:03:01
challenge for
1:03:02
us
1:03:02
it's something
1:03:02
we have
1:03:03
to reckon
1:03:03
with
1:03:04
and I'm
1:03:04
going to
1:03:04
say something
1:03:05
that is
1:03:06
maybe very
1:03:06
challenging
1:03:07
it's very
1:03:12
likely
1:03:12
that there's
1:03:14
a Christian
1:03:14
in here
1:03:15
or a Christian
1:03:15
watching at
1:03:16
home
1:03:16
and the
1:03:19
first thing
1:03:19
that you
1:03:19
need to do
1:03:20
tomorrow
1:03:20
morning at
1:03:21
work
1:03:21
is to
1:03:21
go and
1:03:21
apologise
1:03:22
to
1:03:22
somebody
1:03:22
for
1:03:24
something
1:03:24
that you've
1:03:25
said
1:03:25
or done
1:03:26
last week
1:03:26
and that's
1:03:30
not an
1:03:30
easy thing
1:03:30
to do
1:03:31
but it's
1:03:34
a really
1:03:34
brave
1:03:34
thing
1:03:35
to do
1:03:35
and do
1:03:39
you know
1:03:39
what you'll
1:03:39
get if
1:03:39
you do
1:03:40
that
1:03:40
you will
1:03:43
get
1:03:44
respect
1:03:44
because right
1:03:47
now that
1:03:48
person thinks
1:03:48
you're a
1:03:48
hypocrite
1:03:49
because
1:03:51
you said
1:03:53
that you
1:03:53
were
1:03:53
you've
1:03:54
said
1:03:54
that you're
1:03:55
a Christian
1:03:55
and yet
1:03:56
you had a
1:03:57
pain in
1:03:57
the backside
1:03:57
last week
1:03:58
and if
1:04:00
you apologise
1:04:01
you're not
1:04:03
going to
1:04:03
lose their
1:04:06
respect
1:04:06
you're going
1:04:06
to gain
1:04:07
their
1:04:07
respect
1:04:07
and that's
1:04:09
just the
1:04:09
Christian life
1:04:10
the life
1:04:10
of discipleship
1:04:11
showing itself
1:04:11
in
1:04:12
that's the
1:04:13
way
1:04:13
that's what
1:04:14
the gospel
1:04:15
is all
1:04:15
about
1:04:15
acknowledging
1:04:16
our mistakes
1:04:17
saying that
1:04:17
we're sorry
1:04:18
and moving
1:04:19
on in
1:04:20
repentance
1:04:21
and in
1:04:22
healing
1:04:23
the test
1:04:25
of being
1:04:25
a Christian
1:04:25
in the
1:04:26
workplace
1:04:26
is not
1:04:27
never
1:04:27
getting
1:04:27
it
1:04:27
wrong
1:04:27
we're
1:04:28
always
1:04:28
going
1:04:28
to
1:04:28
get
1:04:28
it
1:04:28
wrong
1:04:29
the test
1:04:31
is saying
1:04:32
sorry
1:04:32
when we
1:04:32
do
1:04:32
so all
1:04:35
of this
1:04:35
is reminding
1:04:36
us that
1:04:36
God wants
1:04:37
you in
1:04:38
your
1:04:38
workplace
1:04:38
in your
1:04:39
home
1:04:39
in your
1:04:39
involvement
1:04:40
in the
1:04:40
community
1:04:40
to be a
1:04:42
model of
1:04:42
Christian
1:04:42
conduct
1:04:43
one very
1:04:44
final thing
1:04:44
to say
1:04:45
on that
1:04:47
is that
1:04:48
at times
1:04:49
that might
1:04:49
involve
1:04:49
suffering
1:04:50
and Peter
1:04:52
captures that
1:04:52
really powerfully
1:04:53
in chapter 2
1:04:54
from verse 19
1:04:55
let me just read
1:04:56
these words
1:04:56
because Peter
1:04:56
says it way
1:04:57
better than I
1:04:57
could
1:04:58
this is a
1:04:59
gracious thing
1:05:00
when mindful
1:05:01
of God
1:05:02
one endures
1:05:03
sorrow
1:05:04
while suffering
1:05:05
unjustly
1:05:06
for what credit
1:05:07
is it if when
1:05:08
you sin and are
1:05:09
beaten for it
1:05:09
you endure
1:05:10
but if when
1:05:10
you do good
1:05:11
and suffer
1:05:12
for it
1:05:12
you endure
1:05:13
this is a
1:05:14
gracious thing
1:05:15
in the sight
1:05:16
of God
1:05:17
if you have
1:05:18
a tough day
1:05:19
at work
1:05:19
or at school
1:05:20
even though
1:05:20
you've done
1:05:21
nothing wrong
1:05:22
you can go
1:05:22
home and God
1:05:23
is saying
1:05:23
you've done
1:05:24
a gracious
1:05:24
thing
1:05:25
I've seen
1:05:28
it
1:05:28
and I value
1:05:30
it
1:05:30
from verse 21
1:05:32
for to this
1:05:32
you've been
1:05:33
called
1:05:33
because Christ
1:05:34
also suffered
1:05:35
for you
1:05:35
leaving you
1:05:36
an example
1:05:36
so that you
1:05:37
might follow
1:05:38
in his steps
1:05:38
he committed
1:05:39
no sin
1:05:39
neither was
1:05:40
deceit found
1:05:41
in his mouth
1:05:41
when he was
1:05:42
reviled
1:05:42
he did not
1:05:42
revile in return
1:05:43
when he suffered
1:05:44
he did not
1:05:44
threaten
1:05:44
but continued
1:05:46
entrusting
1:05:46
himself to
1:05:47
him who
1:05:47
judges
1:05:48
justly
1:05:48
he himself
1:05:49
bore our
1:05:50
sins in his
1:05:50
body on the
1:05:51
tree
1:05:51
that we
1:05:52
might die
1:05:52
to sin
1:05:52
and live
1:05:53
to righteousness
1:05:53
by his wounds
1:05:54
you have been
1:05:55
healed
1:05:55
for you
1:05:56
were staying
1:05:57
like sheep
1:05:57
but have now
1:05:58
returned to the
1:05:59
shepherd and
1:05:59
overseers of your
1:06:01
soul
1:06:01
that means
1:06:01
something amazing
1:06:02
you might go to
1:06:03
work this week
1:06:04
and you might
1:06:04
have an opportunity
1:06:05
to speak about
1:06:06
Jesus
1:06:06
you might give
1:06:07
one of these
1:06:07
cards to someone
1:06:08
and they might
1:06:08
actually come to
1:06:09
church
1:06:09
and you might
1:06:10
have a really
1:06:10
positive day
1:06:11
where you've
1:06:12
shown this kind
1:06:13
of characteristics
1:06:13
born the fruit
1:06:14
of the spirit
1:06:15
and that's
1:06:16
brilliant
1:06:16
and you can
1:06:17
come home that
1:06:17
day and say
1:06:18
you know
1:06:19
I am so
1:06:19
thankful to
1:06:20
God that I
1:06:20
was able to
1:06:20
be Christ
1:06:21
like today
1:06:21
and that is
1:06:22
Christ like
1:06:23
but you might
1:06:24
also go to
1:06:24
work and you
1:06:25
might get a ton
1:06:25
of grief
1:06:26
you might have
1:06:26
a really
1:06:26
difficult customer
1:06:27
and you might
1:06:27
have a colleague
1:06:28
who's awful
1:06:29
to you
1:06:29
and it might
1:06:31
be an
1:06:31
absolutely awful
1:06:32
day even
1:06:33
though you
1:06:33
went in
1:06:33
trying to
1:06:34
do your
1:06:34
best
1:06:34
do you know
1:06:35
that on
1:06:36
that day
1:06:37
you are
1:06:38
also being
1:06:39
Christ like
1:06:40
because that's
1:06:43
exactly what
1:06:43
he endured
1:06:44
and that is
1:06:45
why Jesus
1:06:45
meets us
1:06:46
in the
1:06:46
highs of
1:06:47
a day
1:06:47
that's
1:06:48
gone well
1:06:48
and in
1:06:48
the lows
1:06:49
of a day
1:06:49
that's
1:06:50
gone badly
1:06:50
every single
1:06:52
day we are
1:06:53
following him
1:06:54
all of this
1:06:55
is reminding
1:06:56
us that
1:06:57
although going
1:06:58
to work
1:06:59
and school
1:07:00
on a Monday
1:07:00
morning can be
1:07:01
really hard
1:07:02
as a Christian
1:07:03
your work is
1:07:03
such a precious
1:07:04
thing in the
1:07:05
sight of God
1:07:05
it's an
1:07:06
opportunity for
1:07:07
Christian conduct
1:07:07
and your
1:07:08
friends and
1:07:09
colleagues and
1:07:09
classmates need
1:07:10
you there
1:07:10
and it's an
1:07:12
opportunity
1:07:12
did I say
1:07:13
conduct
1:07:13
contact
1:07:14
my words
1:07:15
are too
1:07:15
similar
1:07:15
an opportunity
1:07:16
for Christian
1:07:16
contact
1:07:17
and it's an
1:07:18
opportunity
1:07:18
for Christian
1:07:19
conduct
1:07:19
and that's
1:07:21
what lies
1:07:21
at the heart
1:07:22
of our
1:07:23
witness
1:07:23
and if anyone
1:07:24
here is not
1:07:24
yet a Christian
1:07:25
or not sure
1:07:26
or thinking
1:07:26
about things
1:07:27
I just want
1:07:28
you to see
1:07:28
what a massive
1:07:29
difference it
1:07:31
makes to know
1:07:32
and follow
1:07:33
Jesus
1:07:34
and maybe
1:07:37
you're going
1:07:38
through life
1:07:38
and you're
1:07:38
thinking what
1:07:39
is the point
1:07:40
every week
1:07:40
is just the
1:07:41
same
1:07:41
I'm tired
1:07:43
and disillusioned
1:07:45
and struggling
1:07:45
and I wish
1:07:46
things were
1:07:46
different
1:07:47
and I don't
1:07:47
really know
1:07:48
what to do
1:07:48
if you go
1:07:50
chasing another
1:07:51
job or higher
1:07:52
salary or more
1:07:53
success or a
1:07:53
better car or
1:07:54
whatever you're
1:07:55
going to end
1:07:55
up feeling the
1:07:55
same but if
1:07:57
you follow
1:07:57
Jesus it
1:07:59
transforms
1:07:59
everything
1:08:01
with Jesus
1:08:03
Sundays are
1:08:04
brilliant
1:08:04
so are
1:08:06
Mondays
1:08:06
and so is
1:08:07
every other
1:08:07
day
1:08:07
let's follow
1:08:08
him together
1:08:09
let's pray
1:08:10
Lord Jesus
1:08:14
we thank
1:08:14
you
1:08:15
thank you
1:08:16
for the
1:08:17
difference
1:08:17
that you
1:08:17
make to
1:08:18
every single
1:08:18
part of
1:08:19
our lives
1:08:19
and as
1:08:20
we go
1:08:20
into
1:08:20
Monday
1:08:22
morning
1:08:23
again
1:08:23
and as
1:08:23
we're
1:08:23
getting
1:08:24
back to
1:08:24
routine
1:08:24
after all
1:08:25
the school
1:08:25
holidays
1:08:26
as the
1:08:27
young ones
1:08:27
are going
1:08:28
back to
1:08:28
school
1:08:28
as we're
1:08:29
going back
1:08:29
to work
1:08:30
and as
1:08:30
the
1:08:30
responsibilities
1:08:31
of life
1:08:31
just return
1:08:32
after the
1:08:33
holiday
1:08:33
period
1:08:33
oh we
1:08:34
pray
1:08:35
that you
1:08:36
would use
1:08:36
us in
1:08:37
all of
1:08:37
that
1:08:37
that
1:08:38
we would
1:08:39
have
1:08:39
Christian
1:08:40
contact
1:08:40
with the
1:08:41
people
1:08:41
who so
1:08:41
desperately
1:08:42
need
1:08:42
you
1:08:42
and that
1:08:43
our lives
1:08:44
would be
1:08:44
a model
1:08:45
of Christ
1:08:46
like conduct
1:08:47
we can't do
1:08:48
that on our
1:08:48
own but you
1:08:49
promise to be
1:08:50
with us by
1:08:50
your spirit
1:08:51
may this
1:08:52
week and
1:08:52
every week
1:08:53
of our lives
1:08:53
be lived
1:08:54
to the
1:08:55
glory of
1:08:56
your precious
1:08:57
and amazing
1:08:58
name
1:08:58
amen
1:08:59
we're going
1:09:02
to conclude
1:09:03
with Psalm
1:09:04
116
1:09:05
in the
1:09:05
Scottish
1:09:06
Psalter
1:09:06
page 154
1:09:08
Psalm
1:09:19
116
1:09:20
page 154
1:09:22
these words
1:09:25
express
1:09:26
just beautiful
1:09:27
expression of
1:09:28
praise and
1:09:28
thanksgiving to
1:09:29
God but
1:09:30
I want to
1:09:31
just highlight
1:09:32
verses 7
1:09:32
to 9
1:09:33
that will be
1:09:34
the last
1:09:34
answer
1:09:34
we sing
1:09:35
we rest
1:09:36
in the
1:09:37
Lord
1:09:37
because he's
1:09:38
been so
1:09:38
good for
1:09:38
us but
1:09:39
we also
1:09:39
live for
1:09:40
him
1:09:40
and so
1:09:41
that verse
1:09:41
9 that
1:09:41
I may
1:09:42
live for
1:09:42
you while
1:09:43
I have
1:09:43
breath
1:09:43
oh that's
1:09:44
our prayer
1:09:45
as we go
1:09:45
into a new
1:09:46
week together
1:09:47
so Psalm
1:09:47
116
1:09:48
1 to 9
1:09:49
four stans
1:09:49
we can
1:09:50
we can
1:09:50
sing
1:09:51
and sing
1:09:51
our hearts
1:09:52
out to
1:09:52
God's
1:09:52
praise
1:09:52
I love
1:09:57
the Lord
1:09:58
because
1:09:59
he heard
1:10:01
my voice
1:10:03
he listened
1:10:06
when I
1:10:07
cry to
1:10:08
him
1:10:09
for
1:10:10
it
1:10:11
I'll
1:10:13
call him
1:10:15
as long
1:10:16
as long
1:10:16
as I
1:10:18
shall
1:10:18
live
1:10:20
he
1:10:20
was
1:10:22
he turned
1:10:23
to hear
1:10:24
me
1:10:24
when I
1:10:27
wait
1:10:28
the
1:10:30
courts
1:10:31
of death
1:10:32
kept
1:10:32
and
1:10:33
entangled
1:10:35
me
1:10:37
of what
1:10:39
we carry
1:10:40
and wish
1:10:42
of
1:10:43
the grave
1:10:45
with
1:10:46
grief
1:10:47
and
1:10:48
trouble
1:10:48
I
1:10:49
was
1:10:50
overcome
1:10:52
then
1:10:54
on the
1:10:56
name
1:10:56
of
1:10:57
God
1:10:57
I
1:10:58
call
1:10:58
Lord
1:11:00
save
1:11:01
the
1:11:03
Lord
1:11:04
our
1:11:05
God
1:11:05
is
1:11:06
kind
1:11:06
and
1:11:07
full
1:11:08
of
1:11:09
grace
1:11:10
both
1:11:12
righteous
1:11:13
and
1:11:14
compassionate
1:11:15
is
1:11:17
he
1:11:18
the
1:11:19
Lord
1:11:20
protects
1:11:21
all
1:11:22
those
1:11:22
of
1:11:23
childlike
1:11:25
faith
1:11:26
when
1:11:27
I
1:11:28
know
1:11:29
significant
1:11:30
he
1:11:30
rescued
1:11:32
me
1:11:35
rest
1:11:37
o'er
1:11:37
my
1:11:38
soul
1:11:38
God
1:11:39
has
1:11:39
been
1:11:40
good
1:11:41
good
1:11:41
to
1:11:42
you
1:11:43
for
1:11:44
you
1:11:45
O
1:11:46
Lord
1:11:46
has
1:11:47
saved
1:11:47
my
1:11:48
soul
1:11:49
from
1:11:50
death
1:11:51
I
1:11:52
feed
1:11:53
from
1:11:54
stumbling
1:11:54
and
1:11:55
my
1:11:56
eyes
1:11:57
from
1:11:58
tears
1:11:59
that
1:12:00
I
1:12:02
live
1:12:02
for
1:12:03
you
1:12:03
while
1:12:04
I
1:12:05
have
1:12:06
breath
1:12:07
as
1:12:10
you
1:12:10
go
1:12:10
into
1:12:10
a
1:12:10
new
1:12:10
week
1:12:11
together
1:12:11
may
1:12:12
the
1:12:12
grace
1:12:12
of
1:12:12
our
1:12:12
Lord
1:12:13
Jesus
1:12:13
Christ
1:12:13
the
1:12:14
love
1:12:14
of
1:12:14
God
1:12:14
the
1:12:15
Father
1:12:15
and
1:12:15
the
1:12:16
fellowship
1:12:16
of
1:12:16
the
1:12:16
Holy
1:12:17
Spirit
1:12:17
be
1:12:17
with
1:12:18
you
1:12:18
all
1:12:18
and
1:12:19
all
1:12:19
God's
1:12:19
people
1:12:19
say
1:12:20
Amen
1:12:21
ou
1:12:22
a
1:12:22
after
1:12:24
me
1:12:25
Thank you.
1:12:55
Thank you.