Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / The Greatest Command

Transcript

The Greatest Command · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

• 0:00
  We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 100, the first version of the psalm, the Scottish Psalter, page 362, the Tunis Duke Street.
• 0:11
  Psalm 100, the first version, all people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice and say with mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before a man rejoice, we'll stand to sing to God's praise.
• 0:30
  All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice, him said with mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before them and rejoice.
• 1:00
  Know that the Lord is God indeed, where thy daily feet did us make.
• 1:17
  We are his hope, he doth the seed, and for his sheep he doth us take.
• 1:34
  Oh, enter then his gates with peace, approach with joy his courts unjewed.
• 1:52
  Praise God and bless this name always.
• 2:00
  Please, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if you pray, if
• 2:30
  O times firm he stood
• 2:35
  and shall proclaim to his endew.
• 2:49
  Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
• 2:51
  Let us pray.
• 2:54
  Lord, our gracious God,
• 2:55
  we come thankful for this day,
• 2:57
  a day that you have given to us,
• 3:00
  a day set aside for the great joy
• 3:03
  and privilege and delight
• 3:04
  of coming to worship you.
• 3:06
  We thank you for these words
• 3:08
  that we have sung together,
• 3:09
  that we are joining in
• 3:11
  with a multitude of people
• 3:12
  who sing praise to you this day,
• 3:14
  who come to worship you,
• 3:16
  to hear your word,
• 3:18
  your very voice speaking to us,
• 3:20
  for you are one who,
• 3:23
  your word is living and active,
• 3:25
  as it says,
• 3:26
  and we thank you
• 3:26
  that there is such power
• 3:28
  in your word
• 3:28
  to help us in all our daily needs
• 3:31
  and to remind us
• 3:32
  that you are God
• 3:34
  and there is no other.
• 3:36
  And help us today
• 3:37
  that we would come
• 3:37
  to love the Lord
• 3:39
  with all our heart
• 3:40
  and to love our neighbour
• 3:41
  as ourselves.
• 3:43
  As we think of
• 3:44
  who you are, Lord,
• 3:45
  your greatness,
• 3:47
  how great you are
• 3:48
  as creator of heaven and earth,
• 3:50
  and yet you're the one
• 3:51
  who draws near to us,
• 3:53
  the one who shepherds us.
• 3:54
  And we thank you too,
• 3:56
  Lord,
• 3:56
  that you give us
• 3:57
  people in our lives,
• 3:59
  you give us people
• 4:00
  around us,
• 4:01
  friends and families
• 4:02
  and neighbours
• 4:04
  and colleagues
• 4:05
  and even the strangers
• 4:07
  around us, Lord.
• 4:07
  We thank you
• 4:08
  for the world
• 4:09
  in which we live in,
• 4:10
  for the billions of people
• 4:12
  that there are in it,
• 4:13
  and everyone is known to you.
• 4:15
  And we pray, Lord,
• 4:16
  that you would give
• 4:17
  all people of this world
• 4:19
  a sense of wonder
• 4:20
  of who you are,
• 4:21
  but also a sense of love
• 4:23
  towards you.
• 4:25
  But I ask, well, Lord,
• 4:26
  that we would see
• 4:27
  a people loving
• 4:28
  their neighbours
• 4:29
  as themselves,
• 4:30
  that we would think
• 4:31
  of places
• 4:32
  where there are
• 4:32
  such difficulties
• 4:33
  and conflicts
• 4:34
  and wars
• 4:35
  and so many
• 4:36
  terrible things happening.
• 4:38
  We pray, Lord,
• 4:39
  for your gospel,
• 4:40
  the good news of God
• 4:42
  to help in every situation.
• 4:44
  So here is today, Lord,
• 4:45
  look down upon us.
• 4:46
  We thank you
• 4:47
  for our young people.
• 4:48
  We thank you
• 4:48
  for a time of holiday
• 4:50
  for the schools,
• 4:51
  and we pray
• 4:51
  that teachers
• 4:52
  and pupils
• 4:53
  and all the staff
• 4:54
  would be refreshed
• 4:55
  and encouraged
• 4:56
  in this time.
• 4:58
  May you bless
• 4:58
  and watch over
• 4:59
  all who come
• 5:00
  and go over these weeks.
• 5:02
  May you remember us
• 5:03
  in the church here
• 5:04
  as well as
• 5:05
  the holiday tweenies
• 5:06
  goes on
• 5:06
  and the creche
• 5:07
  goes on, Lord.
• 5:08
  We thank you
• 5:09
  for all who help
• 5:09
  in these things
• 5:10
  and for all who attend
• 5:11
  and even today
• 5:12
  that your spirit
• 5:13
  will be upon us
• 5:14
  to bless us.
• 5:16
  Watch over us
• 5:16
  then, we pray,
• 5:17
  and continue with us.
• 5:18
  It's all we ask.
• 5:19
  We ask for the forgiveness
• 5:20
  of our sin.
• 5:21
  In Jesus' name,
• 5:22
  Amen.
• 5:25
  It's good to see
• 5:26
  the young ones out today.
• 5:27
  I know it's a time
• 5:28
  of holiday
• 5:28
  and I hope you all
• 5:30
  enjoy a good holiday,
• 5:31
  a break from school.
• 5:33
  Some of you
• 5:34
  will be staying at home
• 5:35
  over the holiday time.
• 5:36
  Some will be going away.
• 5:38
  But I think of holiday time
• 5:39
  as a time
• 5:40
  just to take our eyes
• 5:41
  off the busyness
• 5:42
  of what's happening
• 5:43
  around us every day,
• 5:45
  whether it's school work.
• 5:46
  You maybe want to put
• 5:47
  that away for a while.
• 5:49
  But then you think to yourself,
• 5:50
  well, what am I going to do?
• 5:52
  What am I going to focus on?
• 5:54
  It's not just going to be
• 5:54
  sleep and eat, I hope.
• 5:57
  I hope there's going to be
• 5:57
  more than that.
• 5:58
  I'm sure some of you
• 5:59
  will be helping
• 5:59
  just now with lambing time.
• 6:02
  Some of you will be just
• 6:02
  maybe out and about
• 6:04
  doing different things.
• 6:05
  And whether it's at home
• 6:06
  or whether you're away,
• 6:07
  keep your eyes out
• 6:09
  for just different things
• 6:10
  you might see
• 6:11
  that you haven't seen before.
• 6:13
  And with that in mind,
• 6:14
  I think of just recently
• 6:16
  I was in Edinburgh.
• 6:18
  Hands up if you've ever
• 6:19
  been to Edinburgh.
• 6:20
  Anybody ever been to Edinburgh?
• 6:21
  Yeah, there's a few hands
• 6:23
  going up all right.
• 6:25
  Who's been on the Royal Mile?
• 6:26
  Anybody been on the Royal Mile?
• 6:29
  Do you know where that is?
• 6:29
  It's near the castle,
• 6:31
  Edinburgh Castle.
• 6:32
  The Royal Mile
• 6:33
  goes up towards it.
• 6:34
  It's that road.
• 6:35
  Well, I was at the
• 6:36
  free church offices,
• 6:38
  which are just beside
• 6:39
  the Royal Mile.
• 6:40
  And we had meetings there.
• 6:43
  And that's where I used
• 6:43
  to go to college
• 6:44
  when I was training
• 6:45
  to be a minister as well.
• 6:46
  And every day,
• 6:47
  I would be walking up
• 6:48
  and down the Royal Mile.
• 6:50
  Not the whole mile,
• 6:51
  but just a part of it
• 6:52
  to get to the college.
• 6:54
  And so when I was down
• 6:55
  just now,
• 6:56
  just recently,
• 6:56
  I was thinking about
• 6:57
  the number of times
• 6:58
  I'd walked up and down.
• 7:00
  And the many things
• 7:00
  I hadn't even noticed before.
• 7:04
  And a place I didn't often pass
• 7:06
  when I was down in college,
• 7:07
  but I passed this week,
• 7:09
  was a place called
• 7:10
  John Knox's House.
• 7:12
  Now, anybody heard of
• 7:13
  John Knox?
• 7:15
  He was a very famous
• 7:16
  Scottish minister
• 7:17
  a very long time ago
• 7:19
  in the 1500s.
• 7:20
  And he was used by God
• 7:22
  very powerfully in Scotland
• 7:24
  for the church in Scotland.
• 7:26
  And there was this house,
• 7:27
  it's called
• 7:28
  John Knox's House.
• 7:30
  And I thought,
• 7:31
  wow, that's interesting.
• 7:32
  It looks a very old building.
• 7:34
  And it is a very old building.
• 7:35
  Apparently,
• 7:36
  it was built in about 1470.
• 7:37
  So that's more than
• 7:39
  500 years ago.
• 7:41
  He didn't always stay in it.
• 7:43
  There was somebody else in it
• 7:44
  before him.
• 7:46
  And what was amazing
• 7:47
  was on the outside
• 7:48
  of the walls,
• 7:49
  there was letters
• 7:50
  in gold.
• 7:52
  And I stopped
• 7:53
  and I started to think,
• 7:54
  I hadn't noticed that before.
• 7:56
  What does it say?
• 7:58
  Well, what it said was
• 8:00
  to love God above all
• 8:03
  and love your neighbour
• 8:05
  as yourself.
• 8:08
  And I thought,
• 8:09
  wow, that's amazing.
• 8:11
  Love God as yourself
• 8:12
  and love your neighbour,
• 8:13
  love God
• 8:14
  and love your neighbour
• 8:15
  as yourself.
• 8:18
  There's a verse
• 8:19
  from the Bible
• 8:19
  in gold
• 8:20
  on the side
• 8:21
  of this house.
• 8:22
  And it had been there
• 8:23
  since it was built.
• 8:25
  Now,
• 8:26
  in Edinburgh
• 8:26
  many years ago,
• 8:27
  there was a fire
• 8:28
  that destroyed
• 8:29
  many of the buildings
• 8:30
  around the Royal Mile.
• 8:31
  But this one stood.
• 8:33
  This one didn't get burnt down.
• 8:35
  It stood
• 8:35
  even in the midst of fire.
• 8:37
  And there's God's word
• 8:38
  still speaking to us.
• 8:40
  And the Royal Mile
• 8:41
  is called such
• 8:42
  because
• 8:43
  at the bottom
• 8:44
  of the Royal Mile
• 8:45
  is a palace,
• 8:46
  Holyrood Palace.
• 8:48
  And then on the top
• 8:49
  of the hill
• 8:49
  is Edinburgh Castle.
• 8:52
  And between that,
• 8:53
  the distance is a mile.
• 8:54
  And it's called
• 8:54
  a Royal Mile
• 8:55
  because the royalty
• 8:56
  would go from the palace
• 8:57
  to the castle
• 8:59
  and back and forth.
• 9:00
  And I was thinking,
• 9:00
  well, imagine
• 9:01
  how many of these royals
• 9:03
  and how many of the servants
• 9:04
  and how many of the people
• 9:05
  saw this verse?
• 9:08
  Love God above all else
• 9:10
  and your neighbour
• 9:11
  as yourself.
• 9:13
  A great reminder
• 9:15
  to all of us
• 9:16
  of what's important
• 9:18
  in life.
• 9:19
  And this is the text
• 9:19
  we're going to be looking at
• 9:20
  today in our service.
• 9:22
  Love the Lord your God
• 9:23
  with all your heart
• 9:24
  and your neighbour
• 9:25
  as yourself.
• 9:26
  It doesn't matter
• 9:27
  if you're royalty,
• 9:28
  it doesn't matter
• 9:29
  if you're a servant,
• 9:30
  it doesn't matter
• 9:30
  who you are,
• 9:32
  this is a great command
• 9:33
  to us all today.
• 9:35
  So keep your eyes peeled
• 9:36
  as to what you might see.
• 9:38
  Many buildings,
• 9:40
  many old places,
• 9:41
  they very often have
• 9:42
  Bible verses
• 9:43
  in there somewhere.
• 9:45
  And this one spoke to me
• 9:46
  that week
• 9:47
  just saying,
• 9:48
  love God
• 9:48
  above all else
• 9:50
  and love your neighbour
• 9:51
  as yourself.
• 9:53
  So may we be able
• 9:54
  to do that.
• 9:56
  Well,
• 9:57
  we're going to say
• 9:57
  the Lord's Prayer
• 9:59
  together now.
• 10:00
  Let's say the Lord's Prayer.
• 10:02
  Our Father,
• 10:04
  which art in heaven,
• 10:05
  hallowed be thy name.
• 10:07
  Thy kingdom come,
• 10:09
  thy will be done
• 10:10
  on earth
• 10:10
  as it is in heaven.
• 10:12
  Give us this day
• 10:13
  our daily bread
• 10:15
  and forgive us
• 10:16
  our debts
• 10:17
  as we forgive
• 10:18
  our debtors.
• 10:19
  And lead us
• 10:20
  not into temptation,
• 10:22
  but deliver us
• 10:23
  from evil.
• 10:24
  For thine is the kingdom,
• 10:26
  the power
• 10:26
  and the glory
• 10:27
  forever.
• 10:28
  Amen.
• 10:31
  We'll again
• 10:32
  sing to God's praise.
• 10:33
  Now we're going to sing
• 10:34
  in Psalm 92,
• 10:35
  again in the Scottish
• 10:36
  Psalter version.
• 10:38
  Psalm 92,
• 10:40
  page 352
• 10:41
  of the psalm books.
• 10:43
  We're going to sing
• 10:44
  from verse 1
• 10:45
  down to verse 6.
• 10:47
  The tune is Paisley.
• 10:50
  Psalm 92 at verse 1.
• 10:51
  To render thanks
• 10:52
  unto the Lord
• 10:53
  it is a comely thing
• 10:55
  unto thy name
• 10:56
  o thou most high
• 10:57
  due praise
• 10:58
  allowed to sing.
• 11:00
  We'll sing
• 11:00
  from verse 1
• 11:01
  to 6.
• 11:02
  To God's praise
• 11:03
  we stand to sing.
• 11:04
  Amen.
• 11:07
  To render thanks
• 11:12
  unto the Lord
• 11:15
  To desert the living
• 11:20
  And to thy name, O the Lord,
• 11:27
  To face the life to sing
• 11:35
  Thy loving kindness to show forth
• 11:42
  When shines the morning light
• 11:49
  And to declare thy faithfulness
• 11:56
  With pleasure every night
• 12:03
  On a tempting instrument
• 12:10
  Upon the solitary
• 12:15
  And on the harvest
• 12:22
  All ensign
• 12:24
  And gifts with melody
• 12:29
  For thy Lord, my mighty words
• 12:39
  Has made my heart my cloud
• 12:45
  And I will triumph in the words
• 12:52
  Which by thy hands were made
• 13:00
  How great Lord, thy words teach God
• 13:08
  Of high and deep it is
• 13:15
  And if thy thy name
• 13:18
  And if thy thy name
• 13:20
  Orthrophot
• 13:36
  We can turn together to read God's words in the Gospel of Mark, in chapter 12.
• 13:43
  We're going to take up our reading at verse 28, reading down to verse 40.
• 13:51
  Mark, chapter 12, at verse 28.
• 13:55
  In this passage we read there's a question that one of the scribes comes to Jesus with.
• 14:09
  And what has been happening up to this point is that there have been a number of people coming with questions to Jesus, trying to catch him out.
• 14:17
  You see at the end of chapter 11 at verse 27 there, the authority of Jesus was challenged.
• 14:27
  They tried to catch him out on his authority.
• 14:31
  And then in verse 13 of chapter 12, they've got a question about paying taxes to Caesar.
• 14:37
  So they're trying to catch him out politically.
• 14:40
  And then in verse 18, they ask about the resurrection.
• 14:44
  They're trying to catch him out on a theological point.
• 14:48
  So they're trying to catch Jesus out in all these different questions that they have.
• 14:53
  But then there's a sense of change as you come into verse 28 with this question that's asked of Jesus.
• 15:01
  And this is where we're going to focus our attention today.
• 15:05
  So at verse 28 we read,
• 15:07
  And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another.
• 15:11
  And seeing that he answered them well, asked him,
• 15:14
  Which commandment is the most important of all?
• 15:19
  Jesus answered,
• 15:20
  The most important is,
• 15:22
  Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
• 15:27
  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
• 15:30
  with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
• 15:34
  The second is this,
• 15:36
  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
• 15:39
  There is no other commandment greater than these.
• 15:43
  And the scribes said to him,
• 15:45
  You are right, teacher.
• 15:47
  You have truly said that he is one,
• 15:50
  and there is no other besides him.
• 15:53
  And to love him with all the heart,
• 15:54
  and with all the understanding,
• 15:56
  and with all the strength,
• 15:58
  and to love one's neighbor as oneself,
• 16:00
  is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
• 16:06
  And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely,
• 16:08
  he said to him,
• 16:10
  You are not far from the kingdom of God.
• 16:13
  And after that,
• 16:14
  no one dared to ask him any more questions.
• 16:18
  And as Jesus taught in the temple,
• 16:20
  he said,
• 16:21
  How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
• 16:25
  David himself,
• 16:26
  in the Holy Spirit,
• 16:27
  declared,
• 16:28
  The Lord said to my Lord,
• 16:31
  Sit at my right hand
• 16:32
  until I put your enemies under your feet.
• 16:35
  David himself calls him Lord.
• 16:38
  So how is he his son?
• 16:40
  And the great throng heard him gladly.
• 16:44
  And in his teaching,
• 16:45
  he said,
• 16:46
  Beware of the scribes
• 16:47
  who like to walk around in long robes,
• 16:51
  and like greetings in the marketplaces,
• 16:53
  and have the best seats in the synagogues,
• 16:57
  and the places of honor at feasts,
• 17:00
  who devour widows' houses,
• 17:01
  and for a pretense make long prayers.
• 17:05
  They will receive the greater condemnation.
• 17:09
  And so on.
• 17:10
  And may God add his blessing
• 17:11
  to that reading from his word.
• 17:15
  Well, let's again engage in prayer.
• 17:17
  We'll bow our heads in a word of prayer.
• 17:19
  Our gracious God,
• 17:23
  we do thank you for your word.
• 17:25
  We thank you for the wonder
• 17:27
  of how you continue to speak to us as a people,
• 17:30
  that you show grace towards us
• 17:32
  as undeserving sinners.
• 17:35
  And yet, Lord,
• 17:36
  you still desire that mercy upon us,
• 17:38
  that we would come and know you
• 17:40
  and love you with all our heart.
• 17:43
  And we pray today, Lord,
• 17:44
  that you would bless your word,
• 17:46
  that you would bless it
• 17:47
  not just in our hearing here,
• 17:49
  or to those who listen in online at home,
• 17:52
  or who at some point come to hear this service.
• 17:56
  We pray, Lord,
• 17:57
  that your word will be blessed
• 17:59
  to all ends of the earth.
• 18:01
  For we know that you have your people
• 18:03
  to all ends.
• 18:04
  You have your people near and far.
• 18:07
  That you are one who is building his church.
• 18:11
  And we thank you, Lord,
• 18:12
  that your kingdom comes with power.
• 18:15
  And even in the words that we've read,
• 18:17
  we're reminded of that kingdom
• 18:19
  and of how this scribe who came to Jesus
• 18:21
  with a question was told,
• 18:23
  you are not far from the kingdom of God.
• 18:26
  And it can often be a case
• 18:27
  where we feel close to your kingdom.
• 18:31
  But sometimes it's so near and yet so far.
• 18:35
  And we pray today, Lord,
• 18:36
  that for those who hear your voice
• 18:38
  and feel that there is still
• 18:40
  that little distance to be overcome,
• 18:42
  that you would help, Lord,
• 18:44
  that by your spirit,
• 18:46
  you would apply your words
• 18:48
  to each one of us
• 18:49
  to remind us of your kingdom
• 18:51
  and the way to your kingdom.
• 18:54
  That is to see that you have
• 18:56
  first loved us
• 18:58
  and given yourself for us.
• 19:00
  And that we would then come
• 19:01
  to love you with all our hearts.
• 19:04
  So bless us, Lord,
• 19:06
  around your word today.
• 19:07
  And remember us as a people.
• 19:09
  Remember us here
• 19:10
  and remember your people
• 19:12
  throughout all ends of the earth.
• 19:15
  So we thank you, Lord,
• 19:16
  for the power of prayer.
• 19:18
  We thank you for the many prayers
• 19:20
  that will be offered up to you today.
• 19:22
  Not just here,
• 19:23
  but through all your people
• 19:25
  in so many different languages
• 19:27
  and so many different places
• 19:29
  and so many different circumstances.
• 19:32
  We thank you that prayer is made to you.
• 19:34
  And we pray, Lord,
• 19:35
  that as the hearer of prayer,
• 19:37
  that you would answer
• 19:39
  and answer according to your will.
• 19:42
  And we pray, Lord,
• 19:43
  today just to see your kingdom
• 19:45
  come in power,
• 19:47
  to know that power of Christ
• 19:49
  in our midst,
• 19:50
  to know the power
• 19:51
  of the resurrection,
• 19:53
  to know the power of your word
• 19:55
  and your spirit working.
• 19:57
  And we pray, Lord,
• 19:58
  that indeed there would be
• 20:00
  much blessing and rejoicing
• 20:01
  to all ends of the earth today.
• 20:04
  May there be rejoicing
• 20:05
  in one sinner who repents
• 20:07
  and one who comes
• 20:08
  to know you and to love you.
• 20:11
  And we thank you, Lord,
• 20:12
  for all the kingdom work
• 20:14
  that you are doing.
• 20:15
  We thank you, Lord,
• 20:16
  for the way that you remind us
• 20:17
  that you are building your church.
• 20:20
  We think even of the Gambia partnership.
• 20:23
  Thankful for the very generous collection
• 20:27
  that was made
• 20:28
  and for the blessing that that is.
• 20:30
  It's not just to those
• 20:32
  who work with the Gambia partnership,
• 20:34
  but especially to those
• 20:35
  who receive the Bibles,
• 20:37
  whether they're written Bibles
• 20:39
  or audio Bibles.
• 20:40
  We thank you, Lord,
• 20:41
  for the great ways
• 20:42
  that your word goes out there.
• 20:44
  We pray that it would be blessed.
• 20:47
  We thank you for all belonging
• 20:48
  to our congregation here.
• 20:50
  And indeed, throughout our island,
• 20:52
  many people have visited there
• 20:53
  and seen the work going on
• 20:55
  and been involved in it.
• 20:56
  And we pray, Lord,
• 20:58
  that you will bless each one
• 20:59
  and encourage them in their hearts
• 21:01
  and help us to have
• 21:02
  that prayerful awareness
• 21:05
  of your people there.
• 21:07
  We thank too of Myanmar
• 21:09
  and Thailand at this time
• 21:11
  with the devastating earthquakes there.
• 21:14
  Having recently heard
• 21:15
  of the work of the gospel in Myanmar
• 21:17
  and thankful for your people there,
• 21:20
  we pray for all people there just now
• 21:23
  in the midst of the devastation
• 21:25
  that has been brought.
• 21:26
  The loss of life
• 21:28
  and those still missing.
• 21:29
  And we just pray, Lord,
• 21:31
  for your blessing over them,
• 21:33
  your help towards them.
• 21:35
  There and in Thailand as well, Lord,
• 21:37
  we just pray for even good
• 21:40
  to come out of even these circumstances
• 21:43
  that people would recognize
• 21:44
  their need of you
• 21:46
  and recognize that you alone are God
• 21:48
  who is able to help.
• 21:51
  We think too of the ongoing conflicts
• 21:54
  in the Middle East and the Ukraine
• 21:55
  and the devastation that that brings.
• 21:59
  And we just pray, Lord, for peace.
• 22:01
  We pray, Lord, to see
• 22:02
  your power at work in these places.
• 22:06
  We pray to see that, Lord,
• 22:08
  throughout our lands,
• 22:09
  to give wisdom and help
• 22:11
  to those who rule over us,
• 22:13
  to give blessing to people
• 22:15
  throughout our nations, Lord,
• 22:17
  to see their great need of Jesus,
• 22:19
  a Savior who has come into this world.
• 22:22
  I mean, as we think of Easter time
• 22:24
  and the way the gospel is heard
• 22:26
  in different places
• 22:27
  and in different ways,
• 22:29
  we thank you that there is still
• 22:31
  that heritage in our land
• 22:33
  that we are a Christian nation.
• 22:35
  And though we may have drifted
• 22:36
  very far from it,
• 22:38
  we thank you for the Christian influences
• 22:40
  around us,
• 22:41
  even the testimony of your word
• 22:43
  and of your grace
• 22:44
  down through the years.
• 22:45
  We pray, Lord,
• 22:46
  that in these days
• 22:47
  you will have mercy upon us
• 22:49
  and turn us again towards you.
• 22:52
  Continue to bless us
• 22:53
  as we worship you this day,
• 22:54
  Lord, look after us
• 22:55
  and all our loved ones
• 22:57
  as we commit each other
• 22:58
  into your hands.
• 22:59
  Remember those who are away
• 23:00
  at this time
• 23:01
  and those who will be coming
• 23:02
  and going over these weeks
• 23:03
  of holiday, Lord.
• 23:05
  Keep people safe and travel
• 23:06
  and watch over each one.
• 23:08
  Remember our community,
• 23:09
  so, Lord,
• 23:10
  we do pray for your help
• 23:12
  towards us as a people
• 23:14
  in all our different needs,
• 23:15
  those who are unwell,
• 23:16
  those who are anxious
• 23:18
  and afraid of the future
• 23:21
  and what changes might come
• 23:23
  into our lives.
• 23:25
  We think of those
• 23:26
  who are maybe awaiting test results
• 23:28
  or anxious about ill health,
• 23:30
  Lord.
• 23:31
  We pray for help towards them.
• 23:33
  And especially at this time,
• 23:34
  Lord,
• 23:35
  as we have seen so many deaths
• 23:37
  in our communities
• 23:37
  in this past week
• 23:38
  and even in this day
• 23:40
  and in the days ahead
• 23:42
  when there are so many funerals
• 23:43
  to take place,
• 23:44
  Lord,
• 23:44
  we do remember
• 23:45
  all who mourn
• 23:46
  and grieve at this time,
• 23:48
  asking for your comfort
• 23:49
  and your blessing
• 23:49
  over each one.
• 23:51
  Especially remember
• 23:52
  our undertakers
• 23:54
  at this time
• 23:55
  and what has been
• 23:55
  a particularly busy period,
• 23:57
  Lord.
• 23:58
  We pray for them,
• 23:59
  each one,
• 23:59
  that you will bless them
• 24:01
  in their hearts
• 24:01
  and in their souls.
• 24:03
  In the midst of
• 24:03
  seeing so much grief
• 24:05
  and sorrow,
• 24:06
  Lord,
• 24:06
  we pray that
• 24:07
  you would minister
• 24:08
  to their hearts
• 24:09
  and into their lives.
• 24:11
  We pray that
• 24:12
  for all who feel
• 24:14
  that voice of grief
• 24:15
  at this time,
• 24:16
  Lord,
• 24:16
  that you will be near
• 24:18
  to all such
• 24:19
  and just pray
• 24:20
  your blessing over them.
• 24:22
  Hear our prayers,
• 24:23
  Lord.
• 24:23
  Continue with us
• 24:24
  in this day
• 24:25
  and throughout it,
• 24:26
  Lord,
• 24:26
  may we be able
• 24:27
  to lift our eyes
• 24:28
  to Jesus
• 24:28
  and look on him,
• 24:30
  the one who came
• 24:31
  to die for our sins,
• 24:33
  but the one
• 24:33
  who is risen,
• 24:35
  who is ascended,
• 24:36
  who is at the right hand
• 24:37
  of God our Father.
• 24:39
  And we pray
• 24:39
  in his name
• 24:40
  all of these things
• 24:41
  with the forgiveness
• 24:42
  of our sins.
• 24:43
  In his precious name,
• 24:45
  Amen.
• 24:49
  We're going to sing
• 24:50
  to God's praise again
• 24:52
  before we turn back
• 24:53
  to look at this passage.
• 24:54
  We're singing in Psalm 43
• 24:55
  in the Sing Psalms.
• 24:59
  Psalm 43,
• 25:00
  we'll sing the whole
• 25:02
  of this psalm together.
• 25:04
  Page 54 of the psalm books,
• 25:06
  the tune is Finart.
• 25:07
  Come,
• 25:09
  vindicate me,
• 25:10
  O my God,
• 25:10
  against this nation.
• 25:12
  Plead my cause.
• 25:13
  Deliver me
• 25:14
  from wicked foes
• 25:15
  and hypocrites
• 25:16
  who break your laws.
• 25:18
  And then at verse 3,
• 25:19
  it says,
• 25:19
  send your light forth
• 25:20
  and your truth.
• 25:22
  Let them direct me
• 25:23
  in your grace
• 25:24
  and bring me
• 25:24
  to your holy hill
• 25:26
  and to your sacred
• 25:27
  dwelling place.
• 25:28
  We'll sing
• 25:29
  the whole of this psalm
• 25:30
  to God's praise
• 25:31
  and we stand to sing.
• 25:32
  Amen.
• 25:37
  Come,
• 25:38
  vindicate me,
• 25:41
  O my God,
• 25:44
  against this nation.
• 25:48
  Plead my cause.
• 25:52
  Deliver me
• 25:54
  from wicked foes
• 25:58
  and hypocrites
• 26:02
  who break your laws.
• 26:07
  You are my stronghold
• 26:12
  and my God.
• 26:14
  Why then have you
• 26:18
  rejected me?
• 26:21
  Why must I go
• 26:26
  about and leave
• 26:30
  down to the
• 26:32
  by the enemy?
• 26:39
  O Savior,
• 26:41
  I've forth
• 26:43
  found your truth.
• 26:46
  Let them direct me
• 26:51
  and bring me
• 26:56
  to your holy hill
• 27:01
  into your sacred
• 27:05
  dwelling place.
• 27:09
  then to God's altar
• 27:14
  I will go
• 27:18
  to God my joy
• 27:22
  and my delight
• 27:24
  and I will place you
• 27:31
  with the hand
• 27:34
  O God you are
• 27:36
  O God you are
• 27:38
  my Lord
• 27:39
  O my
• 27:42
  Why are you
• 27:46
  I will cast
• 27:48
  to my soul
• 27:50
  Why are you
• 27:53
  so
• 27:54
  disturbed
• 27:55
  in me
• 27:58
  Trust God
• 28:01
  for I
• 28:02
  will
• 28:03
  listen
• 28:04
  yet
• 28:06
  my
• 28:07
  Savior
• 28:08
  and
• 28:10
  my
• 28:11
  God
• 28:12
  is
• 28:13
  He
• 28:14
  Amen
• 28:19
  We can turn back to our reading in Mark chapter 12 and look at verse 28 in this section.
• 28:26
  Where one of the scribes came and had heard him disputing with one another and seeing that he answered them well asked him,
• 28:33
  which commandment is the most important of all?
• 28:40
  That's the question that we see here.
• 28:42
  And then we see Jesus answering the question.
• 28:44
  The most important is,
• 28:46
  Hear O Israel,
• 28:47
  the Lord our God,
• 28:48
  the Lord
• 28:49
  is one
• 28:50
  and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
• 28:53
  with all your soul,
• 28:54
  with all your mind
• 28:55
  and with all your strength.
• 28:58
  And the second is this,
• 28:59
  you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
• 29:05
  What's the best bit of advice you've ever been given?
• 29:10
  It might be something that's just stuck with you all your days since you heard it being given to you.
• 29:16
  Not the kind of advice that says,
• 29:18
  Why are you doing it like that?
• 29:20
  You should do it like this.
• 29:21
  It's that kind of annoying bit of advice we can often get frustrated with,
• 29:25
  but a bit of advice that's been given to you and you've thought,
• 29:28
  I need to listen to that.
• 29:32
  But did you listen?
• 29:34
  Are you still listening to it?
• 29:37
  It might have been a bit of advice about planning for the future,
• 29:40
  maybe financially planning your future.
• 29:43
  It might have been about what job to take or not to take as you were considering that.
• 29:48
  Maybe it's advice you're sort of hearing just now.
• 29:50
  If you're younger and you're thinking,
• 29:52
  What am I to do going forward?
• 29:54
  Am I going to go to university or college?
• 29:56
  Am I going to go to work?
• 29:58
  What should I do?
• 30:00
  And there's all kinds of advice being offered to you.
• 30:04
  In the midst of all this advice that's coming your way,
• 30:06
  the trouble is what to listen to.
• 30:09
  And do we listen to it?
• 30:12
  Somebody once put it like this,
• 30:14
  The trouble with good advice is that it usually interferes with your plans.
• 30:20
  That's often the sense that we get good advice often interferes with your plans.
• 30:27
  And when you think of the gospel and what Jesus says to us in the gospel,
• 30:33
  it isn't just advice.
• 30:36
  It's not just a bit of advice in the midst of what other people are offering to us.
• 30:41
  Here is an option for us to listen to.
• 30:44
  It's not advice.
• 30:45
  Yes, it's commands.
• 30:48
  And because it's commands,
• 30:50
  we have to ask ourselves,
• 30:53
  Are we listening to it?
• 30:55
  And as Jesus was speaking to the scribes and the Pharisees,
• 30:59
  as we're reading here,
• 31:01
  they were hearing what he was saying,
• 31:02
  and it was almost like they were taking it as advice.
• 31:06
  Here is an option for you.
• 31:08
  But what Jesus was saying,
• 31:10
  it's not advice,
• 31:12
  it's commands.
• 31:14
  And are you listening to these commands?
• 31:19
  And as we think of this setting of this passage before us,
• 31:23
  it's in the midst of Jesus' final week before the crucifixion.
• 31:29
  And if you like,
• 31:30
  tensions are running high.
• 31:33
  There are those who have seen and heard what Jesus was doing.
• 31:37
  They've marveled at him,
• 31:38
  and many have come to follow him.
• 31:41
  But there are those also who have seen him as more of a threat,
• 31:44
  someone that needs to be dealt with,
• 31:46
  someone that needs to be got rid of.
• 31:48
  And so there's this tension that's mounting.
• 31:51
  And ultimately,
• 31:51
  this tension is going to come to the point where Jesus is put onto the cross,
• 31:56
  where he's crucified.
• 31:57
  But before you come to that point,
• 32:00
  you see that they're trying to catch him out.
• 32:03
  They're determined to get something that they can hold against him.
• 32:07
  And that's what I was pointing out before we read,
• 32:10
  as you see at the end of chapter 11 and into chapter 12,
• 32:15
  they're trying to catch him out on all these different things.
• 32:19
  Whether it's his authority or political ways,
• 32:23
  paying taxes to Caesar,
• 32:24
  who are we to pay?
• 32:26
  Or the resurrection and questions of theology.
• 32:29
  They're trying to catch him out.
• 32:33
  Trying to catch him so that they can put down on him.
• 32:38
  But Jesus, as he answers all of these challenges,
• 32:42
  he comes to say that you do not know the Scriptures.
• 32:47
  You do not understand what the Word of God is saying.
• 32:51
  If you did, you wouldn't be asking these questions in this way.
• 32:56
  But then you come into verse 28.
• 33:01
  And there's this encounter of Jesus here,
• 33:04
  and one of the scribes who comes up to him.
• 33:08
  And they've heard this debate that's going on.
• 33:12
  And you sense there's just something different here.
• 33:16
  There's something more to this encounter than just trying to trick Jesus or catch him out.
• 33:23
  The question that we have here is more looking from the heart.
• 33:30
  Not to catch him out, but almost coming pleading with a help me understand kind of attitude.
• 33:37
  We're hearing what you're saying.
• 33:40
  And maybe it isn't just advice that we can choose whether we follow or not.
• 33:46
  Instead, is it a command that we are to obey?
• 33:49
  That's what's at the heart of this question.
• 33:51
  And it's an encounter with Jesus, with Jesus meeting this man.
• 33:58
  And he's got this question, this burning question in his heart.
• 34:04
  He wants to understand.
• 34:08
  So how do you come to the Word of God today?
• 34:12
  How do you come here today?
• 34:13
  Or how do you come as you tune in online to come and hear the Word of God?
• 34:17
  How are you approaching Jesus?
• 34:19
  Is it to come and find fault with him?
• 34:24
  To find something wrong with him?
• 34:26
  To find a reason to turn away from him?
• 34:30
  Or are you coming with that heart, seeking to understand?
• 34:35
  With that longing to come and see for yourself,
• 34:38
  Jesus, help me.
• 34:40
  Help me to understand what this means for my life.
• 34:44
  Well, Jesus, in the midst of this question that he's asked,
• 34:51
  gives a wonderful answer that goes right to the heart.
• 34:55
  It goes right to the heart of what it means to be saved.
• 35:00
  It goes right to the heart of what it means to worship.
• 35:02
  And so what Jesus says to this man and those who are hearing,
• 35:08
  in his hearing there as well,
• 35:11
  it is so much to say to us today.
• 35:14
  Even just thinking of the context of Jesus here,
• 35:19
  on his way to Jerusalem,
• 35:21
  on his way to the cross,
• 35:23
  to be crucified,
• 35:24
  knowing what's ahead of him.
• 35:26
  How we often see he has that heart for the people,
• 35:30
  that longing,
• 35:31
  that they would come to understand
• 35:33
  all that he has come to do.
• 35:36
  How he has come to show them such a great love,
• 35:40
  and that they are to show him that love in return.
• 35:46
  And we want to see three things
• 35:47
  from this passage together this morning.
• 35:50
  And the first thing we're going to look at
• 35:51
  is the question that's asked.
• 35:53
  And then secondly,
• 35:55
  we're going to look at the question answered.
• 35:58
  And then the third thing is
• 35:59
  we're going to think of the question applied.
• 36:03
  So the first thing we want to look at
• 36:05
  is the question that's asked.
• 36:08
  And where does this question come from?
• 36:12
  Where does this question come from?
• 36:15
  Which commandment is the most important of all
• 36:18
  is the question.
• 36:20
  Where does it come from?
• 36:22
  Well, the first thing we notice
• 36:24
  about the question asked
• 36:26
  is the one who asks the question.
• 36:31
  One of the scribes came up
• 36:33
  and heard them disputing with one another
• 36:35
  and seeing that he answered them well,
• 36:37
  asked him.
• 36:38
  So who is it that's asking this question?
• 36:43
  It's one of the scribes,
• 36:45
  one of the teachers of the law.
• 36:48
  He was one of those who would have been
• 36:49
  the group who were opposed to Jesus and his teaching.
• 36:53
  They were looking and seeing him
• 36:55
  almost as a threat to their authority,
• 36:58
  to their position.
• 37:00
  They were the ones who had the law.
• 37:03
  They were the ones who told the people
• 37:04
  what they should do and not do.
• 37:07
  And so Jesus is a threat to them.
• 37:10
  And yet with him,
• 37:12
  with this scribe,
• 37:14
  there seems to be something different.
• 37:18
  He came up and heard them disputing with one another
• 37:21
  and seeing that he answered them well.
• 37:26
  What Jesus was saying,
• 37:28
  it stood out to him.
• 37:30
  It made an impact on him.
• 37:32
  It started to open his mind
• 37:34
  to something that he was hearing,
• 37:37
  something different
• 37:38
  and a different way for him to see things,
• 37:42
  seeing that he answered them well.
• 37:45
  And that's what being in the presence
• 37:47
  of Jesus can do to you.
• 37:51
  It can do to us all
• 37:52
  as we come into the presence of Jesus.
• 37:54
  We come to hear the word of God speaking to us.
• 37:58
  It reminds us of all that God has done well.
• 38:03
  All that God has done for us.
• 38:08
  What he heard from Jesus impacted upon him.
• 38:13
  And to this day,
• 38:14
  that is what it does to people as well.
• 38:17
  No matter how opposed people might be at first,
• 38:20
  the word of God is powerful to speak.
• 38:24
  And we always need to have that
• 38:26
  in the back of our minds.
• 38:27
  Whatever we're doing for the Lord,
• 38:29
  whatever we're sharing the word of God,
• 38:32
  the word of God is powerful to speak.
• 38:35
  We think even of that encouragement
• 38:36
  with the Gambia partnership
• 38:38
  and the Bibles going out there,
• 38:40
  audio Bibles, written Bibles.
• 38:43
  That word is powerful to speak.
• 38:48
  A minister recently was sharing
• 38:50
  about a home Bible study group
• 38:53
  that we're meeting through his church.
• 38:55
  Different parts of a city they were meeting.
• 38:59
  And in one group,
• 39:00
  a woman had come in who was an atheist.
• 39:03
  She didn't believe in God at all.
• 39:05
  And yet someone had spoken to her
• 39:07
  and told her about this group that was meeting
• 39:09
  and invited her along.
• 39:11
  Probably maybe wondering,
• 39:13
  I wonder, will she come?
• 39:15
  After all, she's an atheist.
• 39:16
  What interest would she have
• 39:18
  in the things of God?
• 39:19
  And yet she did.
• 39:22
  She came along to this group.
• 39:24
  Came along one week and listened.
• 39:27
  And then she was back the next time as well.
• 39:30
  She began to enjoy hearing about the word of God,
• 39:34
  hearing about Jesus,
• 39:36
  and beginning to question atheism.
• 39:40
  Is there a God?
• 39:41
  Could this God be real?
• 39:43
  Is this word speaking to me
• 39:45
  in a more powerful,
• 39:46
  in a more meaningful way?
• 39:49
  And that's the power
• 39:50
  that God's word has.
• 39:54
  That's what we see with this scribe
• 39:55
  who came to ask this question.
• 39:58
  He came having seen something in Jesus,
• 40:00
  how he answered well
• 40:02
  in all the disputes
• 40:04
  that they had been having.
• 40:05
  And so the second thing we see
• 40:08
  about this man,
• 40:10
  the question being asked,
• 40:11
  is that what he heard
• 40:12
  was good.
• 40:16
  And you see that
• 40:16
  in how he sees Jesus
• 40:18
  and he answered them well.
• 40:22
  It wasn't just a clever answer
• 40:25
  that Jesus was given.
• 40:26
  It means more than that.
• 40:28
  But he answered them well.
• 40:30
  There was something more powerful
• 40:32
  about what Jesus was saying
• 40:34
  compared to anything else
• 40:35
  that he was hearing.
• 40:38
  This word was full.
• 40:41
  What Jesus was saying
• 40:42
  had no comeback.
• 40:45
  We see that
• 40:46
  and how in all these different ways
• 40:48
  he'd been asking questions.
• 40:50
  You see at the end of this section
• 40:52
  in verse 34,
• 40:54
  it says,
• 40:55
  after that no one dared
• 40:56
  to ask him any more questions.
• 40:59
  What Jesus was saying
• 41:00
  was complete.
• 41:02
  It was good.
• 41:03
  It was full.
• 41:04
  There was no way
• 41:05
  of coming back against it.
• 41:10
  And that's what we can take
• 41:12
  for ourselves as well
• 41:13
  of the word of God.
• 41:15
  It gives answers to us
• 41:16
  that are complete and full.
• 41:19
  Even the most searching questions
• 41:21
  that we might have.
• 41:24
  You have to give
• 41:25
  the word of God a chance.
• 41:27
  So many people just dismiss
• 41:29
  God's word.
• 41:30
  They don't want to hear.
• 41:31
  They think they know
• 41:32
  the answers.
• 41:35
  But if you're truly wondering,
• 41:38
  what does the word of God say?
• 41:40
  Well, give it a chance.
• 41:43
  Have you given the word of God
• 41:45
  a chance to speak
• 41:46
  into your heart,
• 41:48
  into your situation?
• 41:49
  Or have you just pushed it away
• 41:51
  thinking you know
• 41:51
  the answer already?
• 41:54
  You think to yourself,
• 41:55
  what questions do I have
• 41:57
  that the Bible can answer?
• 42:00
  Well, come and see
• 42:02
  the wonderful range of answers
• 42:04
  that the Bible gives to us
• 42:05
  about life,
• 42:07
  about death,
• 42:08
  about eternity,
• 42:09
  about all the big issues
• 42:10
  in life.
• 42:11
  We find the word of God
• 42:12
  speaks into every one of them.
• 42:15
  It speaks truth.
• 42:17
  It speaks well.
• 42:18
  It speaks good.
• 42:19
  It speaks in a way
• 42:20
  that we have no way
• 42:21
  of coming back against it.
• 42:24
  You almost might come
• 42:25
  to the point
• 42:26
  where you dare ask
• 42:27
  no more questions
• 42:28
  if you're against it
• 42:30
  because you're afraid
• 42:31
  the answers might be given
• 42:32
  to you.
• 42:35
  If you could ask
• 42:36
  one thing of the Lord,
• 42:38
  what would it be?
• 42:40
  What question would you
• 42:41
  want to come and ask
• 42:42
  the Lord?
• 42:44
  Well, come with it.
• 42:46
  Give the word of God
• 42:47
  a chance to answer
• 42:48
  those questions.
• 42:50
  That's what this scribe does.
• 42:52
  He has this question
• 42:54
  that he wants to ask.
• 42:56
  And the third thing
• 42:57
  we see about the question
• 42:58
  being asked,
• 42:58
  it's a personal question.
• 43:01
  It's something that's
• 43:02
  very much weighing
• 43:03
  heavy upon him.
• 43:05
  Probably a question
• 43:06
  he's maybe been
• 43:06
  mulling over
• 43:07
  in his own mind
• 43:08
  long before he's heard
• 43:10
  Jesus talking
• 43:11
  at this point.
• 43:12
  Wondering,
• 43:13
  is this really the way
• 43:14
  we should be living?
• 43:15
  You see,
• 43:17
  the question is so personal.
• 43:19
  Which commandment
• 43:20
  is the most important
• 43:21
  of all?
• 43:22
  Why is he asking that?
• 43:26
  Why is he asking about
• 43:27
  which commandment
• 43:28
  is the most important
• 43:29
  of all?
• 43:30
  Well, because
• 43:31
  as a scribe
• 43:33
  he was so used to
• 43:34
  having hundreds
• 43:35
  of laws,
• 43:36
  hundreds of commandments
• 43:38
  that he taught
• 43:38
  the people
• 43:39
  that this is how
• 43:40
  you are to live.
• 43:41
  There was more than
• 43:42
  600 laws
• 43:44
  or commands
• 43:44
  that the people
• 43:45
  had to live by.
• 43:48
  And there was
• 43:49
  always discussion,
• 43:50
  always debate
• 43:51
  going on about
• 43:51
  which were the most
• 43:52
  important.
• 43:55
  Some were of a
• 43:56
  positive nature,
• 43:57
  some of a negative
• 43:58
  nature.
• 43:59
  And then they were
• 44:00
  divided into groups
• 44:01
  of the heavy
• 44:03
  and the light
• 44:03
  commands.
• 44:05
  And so they were
• 44:06
  weighing down,
• 44:07
  there was a heavy
• 44:08
  burden on the people.
• 44:09
  They couldn't agree
• 44:10
  amongst themselves
• 44:11
  which were the
• 44:12
  most important
• 44:13
  ones.
• 44:15
  And so that's
• 44:16
  what's behind
• 44:17
  this question.
• 44:20
  Which is the most,
• 44:22
  which commandment
• 44:23
  is the most
• 44:24
  important
• 44:24
  of all?
• 44:25
  Of all the
• 44:26
  hundreds
• 44:26
  of commands
• 44:28
  that we have,
• 44:29
  which is the
• 44:29
  most important
• 44:30
  of all?
• 44:31
  Which one
• 44:32
  can we focus
• 44:33
  on?
• 44:36
  They loved
• 44:37
  to debate.
• 44:38
  debate.
• 44:39
  They loved
• 44:40
  to discuss
• 44:40
  all these
• 44:41
  different commands
• 44:42
  but so often
• 44:43
  they were just
• 44:44
  weighing heavy.
• 44:46
  And that's
• 44:47
  often the case
• 44:47
  with ourselves
• 44:48
  as well.
• 44:49
  The questions
• 44:49
  we have
• 44:50
  are ones
• 44:51
  we might love
• 44:52
  to debate
• 44:52
  back and forth
• 44:53
  and discuss
• 44:54
  in different ways
• 44:55
  but we have
• 44:56
  to come to the
• 44:56
  point and ask
• 44:57
  ourselves
• 44:57
  but which is
• 44:59
  the most
• 44:59
  important question?
• 45:02
  What's the
• 45:03
  most important
• 45:03
  thing that we
• 45:04
  have to focus
• 45:05
  on?
• 45:09
  What am I
• 45:10
  to do?
• 45:12
  That's what's
• 45:12
  behind the
• 45:13
  question that's
• 45:14
  asked.
• 45:16
  Which is the
• 45:17
  most important
• 45:18
  commandment?
• 45:21
  Well we see
• 45:22
  the answer
• 45:23
  then is given.
• 45:24
  It's the second
• 45:25
  thing we see
• 45:25
  the question
• 45:26
  answered in
• 45:27
  verse 29.
• 45:28
  Jesus answered
• 45:29
  the most
• 45:30
  important is
• 45:31
  hear O Israel
• 45:32
  the Lord our
• 45:33
  God the Lord
• 45:34
  is one and
• 45:35
  you shall
• 45:35
  love the
• 45:36
  Lord your
• 45:36
  God with
• 45:37
  all your
• 45:37
  heart with
• 45:38
  all your
• 45:38
  soul with
• 45:39
  all your
• 45:39
  mind with
• 45:40
  all your
• 45:40
  strength.
• 45:41
  And the
• 45:41
  second is
• 45:42
  this you
• 45:43
  shall love
• 45:43
  your neighbour
• 45:44
  as yourself.
• 45:48
  As well as
• 45:49
  a good
• 45:49
  question there
• 45:50
  is a great
• 45:50
  answer.
• 45:52
  There is a
• 45:52
  wonderful
• 45:52
  answer given
• 45:53
  and as is
• 45:54
  often the
• 45:55
  case with
• 45:55
  Jesus he
• 45:56
  doesn't bring
• 45:57
  them something
• 45:57
  new something
• 45:58
  that they
• 45:59
  might find
• 45:59
  hard to
• 46:00
  understand.
• 46:02
  Instead he
• 46:02
  reiterates
• 46:03
  what's at
• 46:04
  the heart
• 46:04
  of the
• 46:04
  gospel.
• 46:06
  What's at
• 46:06
  the heart
• 46:07
  of what
• 46:07
  they already
• 46:07
  know from
• 46:08
  the Old
• 46:09
  Testament.
• 46:11
  And what
• 46:11
  he does
• 46:12
  here is
• 46:12
  bring them
• 46:13
  right back
• 46:14
  to the
• 46:14
  very
• 46:14
  teachings
• 46:15
  that they
• 46:15
  have
• 46:15
  themselves.
• 46:17
  In that
• 46:18
  version 29
• 46:19
  where it
• 46:19
  says hear
• 46:20
  O Israel
• 46:20
  the Lord
• 46:21
  our God
• 46:21
  the Lord
• 46:22
  is one.
• 46:24
  That's a
• 46:24
  prayer that
• 46:25
  the Jews
• 46:26
  had from
• 46:26
  the Old
• 46:26
  Testament
• 46:27
  days.
• 46:28
  Still have
• 46:29
  to this
• 46:29
  day.
• 46:29
  It's called
• 46:30
  the Shema.
• 46:31
  And it's
• 46:32
  a declaration
• 46:33
  they make
• 46:34
  every day
• 46:34
  morning and
• 46:35
  evening.
• 46:37
  Those words
• 46:37
  hear O
• 46:38
  Israel the
• 46:38
  Lord our
• 46:39
  God the
• 46:39
  Lord is
• 46:40
  one.
• 46:41
  It's a
• 46:42
  declaration
• 46:42
  there is
• 46:42
  only one
• 46:43
  God.
• 46:45
  And it
• 46:45
  goes right
• 46:45
  back to
• 46:46
  Deuteronomy
• 46:47
  chapter 6
• 46:48
  hear O
• 46:49
  Israel the
• 46:50
  Lord our
• 46:50
  God the
• 46:51
  Lord is
• 46:51
  one.
• 46:52
  Love the
• 46:53
  Lord your
• 46:53
  God with
• 46:54
  all your
• 46:54
  heart with
• 46:55
  all your
• 46:56
  soul with
• 46:56
  all your
• 46:57
  strength.
• 46:58
  these
• 46:59
  commandments
• 47:00
  that I
• 47:00
  give to
• 47:01
  you today
• 47:01
  are to
• 47:02
  be upon
• 47:02
  your
• 47:03
  heart.
• 47:03
  So he
• 47:03
  takes them
• 47:04
  right back
• 47:04
  to the
• 47:06
  scriptures of
• 47:06
  the Old
• 47:07
  Testament and
• 47:08
  there it
• 47:08
  is this
• 47:09
  prayer that
• 47:10
  they already
• 47:11
  knew.
• 47:12
  Hear O
• 47:12
  Israel the
• 47:13
  Lord your
• 47:14
  God the
• 47:15
  Lord is
• 47:17
  one.
• 47:19
  You see
• 47:19
  in the
• 47:20
  midst of
• 47:20
  asking all
• 47:21
  our questions
• 47:22
  in life
• 47:23
  what do I
• 47:24
  need to
• 47:25
  do?
• 47:26
  Where do I
• 47:26
  need to
• 47:27
  go?
• 47:27
  How can
• 47:28
  I find
• 47:28
  this hope
• 47:29
  this salvation
• 47:30
  that Jesus
• 47:31
  offers?
• 47:32
  It's in
• 47:33
  his truth.
• 47:34
  It's in
• 47:35
  his word.
• 47:35
  It is here
• 47:36
  before us.
• 47:39
  And what
• 47:39
  Jesus does
• 47:40
  is he sums
• 47:41
  up for them
• 47:42
  here this
• 47:43
  command.
• 47:43
  He says
• 47:44
  basically come
• 47:44
  back to
• 47:45
  this because
• 47:47
  this is the
• 47:47
  heart of our
• 47:48
  relationship
• 47:48
  with God.
• 47:50
  It's not
• 47:51
  about the
• 47:51
  weighing down
• 47:52
  of law.
• 47:54
  It's not
• 47:54
  about the
• 47:55
  weighing down
• 47:55
  of trying to
• 47:56
  keep the
• 47:56
  hundreds of
• 47:57
  laws that
• 47:58
  are before
• 47:59
  you in
• 47:59
  order to
• 48:00
  be right
• 48:00
  with God.
• 48:01
  That's
• 48:01
  not what
• 48:02
  it's about.
• 48:05
  It's not
• 48:05
  about sacrifices.
• 48:07
  It's not
• 48:08
  about rewards.
• 48:09
  It's not
• 48:09
  about any
• 48:10
  of these
• 48:10
  things.
• 48:10
  It's about
• 48:11
  love the
• 48:12
  Lord your
• 48:12
  God with
• 48:13
  all your
• 48:14
  heart.
• 48:17
  And love
• 48:17
  your neighbor
• 48:18
  as yourself.
• 48:20
  love.
• 48:22
  You wonder
• 48:23
  what impact
• 48:23
  this had
• 48:24
  on not
• 48:26
  just on
• 48:27
  the scribe
• 48:27
  but on
• 48:27
  those around.
• 48:29
  The same
• 48:29
  impact as
• 48:30
  the word of
• 48:31
  God so
• 48:31
  often does.
• 48:32
  Some would
• 48:32
  listen and
• 48:34
  some would
• 48:34
  put it
• 48:35
  away.
• 48:37
  But what
• 48:38
  Jesus is
• 48:38
  saying to
• 48:39
  him here
• 48:39
  is love
• 48:41
  is at the
• 48:41
  heart of
• 48:42
  it.
• 48:43
  Love here
• 48:44
  as you
• 48:45
  see in
• 48:46
  English
• 48:46
  the word
• 48:46
  love is
• 48:47
  just one
• 48:47
  word.
• 48:48
  But when
• 48:48
  you look
• 48:49
  at it
• 48:49
  in the
• 48:49
  text
• 48:50
  itself
• 48:51
  in the
• 48:51
  original
• 48:52
  language
• 48:52
  it's
• 48:53
  agape
• 48:53
  love
• 48:54
  that we
• 48:54
  have
• 48:54
  here
• 48:55
  which
• 48:55
  is
• 48:55
  a
• 48:55
  love
• 48:55
  associated
• 48:56
  with
• 48:57
  God
• 48:57
  himself.
• 48:58
  And this
• 48:59
  is a
• 48:59
  love that
• 49:00
  he has
• 49:00
  shown to
• 49:00
  us
• 49:01
  that is
• 49:02
  behind
• 49:02
  it all
• 49:03
  because
• 49:03
  we can
• 49:04
  only
• 49:04
  love
• 49:04
  when we
• 49:05
  see
• 49:05
  he
• 49:05
  first
• 49:06
  loved
• 49:06
  us.
• 49:08
  And so
• 49:09
  he's
• 49:09
  telling us
• 49:10
  that this
• 49:10
  love is
• 49:10
  a costly
• 49:11
  love.
• 49:12
  Just as
• 49:13
  his love
• 49:14
  has been
• 49:14
  a sacrifice
• 49:15
  that was
• 49:15
  made.
• 49:17
  So
• 49:17
  our love
• 49:18
  is to
• 49:18
  have that
• 49:18
  sacrifice
• 49:19
  as well.
• 49:21
  The
• 49:22
  advice
• 49:22
  the
• 49:23
  commands
• 49:23
  that
• 49:23
  interfere
• 49:24
  with
• 49:25
  our
• 49:25
  plans
• 49:26
  that
• 49:27
  is
• 49:27
  the
• 49:27
  ones
• 49:27
  that
• 49:28
  we
• 49:28
  are
• 49:28
  to
• 49:28
  listen
• 49:28
  to.
• 49:29
  And
• 49:29
  because
• 49:30
  they
• 49:30
  disrupt
• 49:30
  our
• 49:31
  plans
• 49:31
  or
• 49:31
  interfere
• 49:32
  our
• 49:32
  plans
• 49:32
  it
• 49:33
  means
• 49:33
  there
• 49:33
  are
• 49:33
  things
• 49:33
  we
• 49:34
  have
• 49:34
  to
• 49:34
  leave
• 49:34
  behind.
• 49:36
  Attitudes
• 49:37
  we
• 49:37
  have
• 49:37
  to
• 49:37
  change.
• 49:39
  Things
• 49:40
  we
• 49:40
  have
• 49:40
  to
• 49:40
  put
• 49:40
  away
• 49:41
  and
• 49:41
  listen
• 49:41
  instead
• 49:42
  to
• 49:42
  the
• 49:42
  word
• 49:43
  of
• 49:43
  God.
• 49:44
  So
• 49:45
  you
• 49:45
  have
• 49:45
  this
• 49:45
  love
• 49:46
  that
• 49:46
  he
• 49:46
  speaks
• 49:47
  of
• 49:47
  here
• 49:48
  and
• 49:48
  he
• 49:48
  says
• 49:49
  there
• 49:49
  is
• 49:49
  no
• 49:49
  other
• 49:49
  command
• 49:50
  greater
• 49:51
  than
• 49:51
  these
• 49:51
  love
• 49:53
  the
• 49:53
  Lord
• 49:54
  your
• 49:54
  God
• 49:54
  with
• 49:54
  all
• 49:55
  your
• 49:55
  heart
• 49:55
  love
• 49:57
  your
• 49:57
  neighbor
• 49:57
  as
• 49:58
  yourself.
• 49:59
  God
• 50:02
  So
• 50:02
  as
• 50:02
  you
• 50:02
  hear
• 50:03
  this
• 50:03
  question
• 50:04
  it
• 50:05
  would
• 50:05
  ask
• 50:05
  of
• 50:05
  them
• 50:06
  it
• 50:06
  asks
• 50:06
  of
• 50:06
  us
• 50:07
  do
• 50:08
  I
• 50:08
  love
• 50:11
  the
• 50:11
  Lord
• 50:12
  with
• 50:12
  all
• 50:12
  my
• 50:12
  heart
• 50:13
  do
• 50:14
  I
• 50:14
  love
• 50:14
  my
• 50:15
  neighbor
• 50:15
  as
• 50:16
  myself
• 50:17
  Jesus
• 50:19
  is
• 50:19
  here
• 50:19
  stripping
• 50:20
  away
• 50:20
  every
• 50:22
  layer
• 50:22
  as he
• 50:23
  is
• 50:23
  getting
• 50:23
  to
• 50:23
  their
• 50:23
  heart
• 50:24
  stripping
• 50:25
  away
• 50:25
  all
• 50:26
  the
• 50:26
  laws
• 50:26
  that
• 50:26
  they
• 50:26
  have
• 50:27
  tried
• 50:27
  to
• 50:27
  keep
• 50:27
  all
• 50:28
  the
• 50:28
  things
• 50:28
  that
• 50:28
  they
• 50:28
  have
• 50:28
  tried
• 50:29
  to
• 50:29
  do
• 50:29
  themselves
• 50:30
  and
• 50:30
  he
• 50:30
  is
• 50:30
  getting
• 50:31
  to
• 50:31
  the
• 50:31
  core
• 50:31
  he
• 50:32
  is
• 50:32
  getting
• 50:32
  to
• 50:32
  the
• 50:32
  center
• 50:33
  of
• 50:33
  it
• 50:33
  all
• 50:33
  and
• 50:33
  saying
• 50:34
  do
• 50:34
  you
• 50:35
  love
• 50:35
  the
• 50:35
  Lord
• 50:36
  do
• 50:39
  you
• 50:39
  think
• 50:39
  your
• 50:39
  heart
• 50:40
  is
• 50:40
  right
• 50:40
  today
• 50:41
  with
• 50:41
  God
• 50:41
  or
• 50:42
  have
• 50:43
  the
• 50:43
  years
• 50:43
  sort
• 50:44
  of
• 50:44
  put
• 50:44
  layers
• 50:44
  on
• 50:44
  top
• 50:45
  of
• 50:45
  your
• 50:45
  heart
• 50:45
  where
• 50:45
  you
• 50:46
  think
• 50:46
  but
• 50:47
  I'm
• 50:47
  a
• 50:47
  good
• 50:47
  person
• 50:48
  I'm
• 50:48
  doing
• 50:49
  well
• 50:49
  !
• 50:49
  things
• 50:50
  are
• 50:50
  going
• 50:50
  !
• 50:51
  well
• 50:52
  the
• 50:53
  Lord
• 50:53
  kind
• 50:53
  of
• 50:53
  just
• 50:53
  strips
• 50:54
  all
• 50:54
  these
• 50:55
  layers
• 50:55
  back
• 50:56
  think
• 50:57
  of
• 50:57
  it
• 50:57
  in
• 50:57
  this
• 50:57
  way
• 50:57
  you've
• 50:58
  got
• 50:58
  a
• 50:58
  wooden
• 50:58
  bench
• 50:59
  in
• 50:59
  the
• 50:59
  garden
• 51:00
  it's
• 51:01
  been
• 51:01
  there
• 51:01
  maybe
• 51:01
  20
• 51:02
  years
• 51:02
  and
• 51:02
  every
• 51:02
  year
• 51:03
  you've
• 51:03
  painted
• 51:04
  it
• 51:04
  with
• 51:04
  a
• 51:04
  gloss
• 51:05
  paint
• 51:05
  and
• 51:06
  just
• 51:06
  each
• 51:07
  year
• 51:07
  put
• 51:07
  a
• 51:07
  new
• 51:07
  coat
• 51:08
  on
• 51:08
  top
• 51:08
  and
• 51:08
  you
• 51:09
  think
• 51:09
  to
• 51:09
  yourself
• 51:09
  this
• 51:10
  bench
• 51:10
  is
• 51:11
  fine
• 51:11
  this
• 51:11
  bench
• 51:12
  is
• 51:12
  good
• 51:12
  it's
• 51:12
  lasted
• 51:13
  for
• 51:13
  years
• 51:13
  but
• 51:14
  you're
• 51:14
  getting
• 51:14
  to
• 51:14
  the
• 51:15
  stage
• 51:15
  now
• 51:15
  you're
• 51:15
  thinking
• 51:15
  well
• 51:16
  it's
• 51:16
  so
• 51:16
  many
• 51:16
  coats
• 51:17
  of
• 51:17
  paint
• 51:18
  now
• 51:18
  I
• 51:18
  better
• 51:18
  strip
• 51:19
  it
• 51:19
  right
• 51:20
  back
• 51:20
  to
• 51:20
  the
• 51:21
  wood
• 51:21
  and
• 51:21
  just
• 51:21
  start
• 51:21
  with
• 51:21
  a
• 51:22
  fresh
• 51:22
  coat
• 51:22
  again
• 51:23
  but
• 51:25
  to
• 51:25
  your
• 51:25
  horror
• 51:25
  when
• 51:25
  you
• 51:26
  strip
• 51:26
  back
• 51:26
  all
• 51:27
  the
• 51:27
  layers
• 51:27
  of
• 51:27
  paint
• 51:27
  you
• 51:28
  find
• 51:28
  the
• 51:28
  wood
• 51:28
  underneath
• 51:29
  is
• 51:29
  starting
• 51:30
  to
• 51:30
  rot
• 51:31
  all
• 51:32
  that's
• 51:32
  been
• 51:32
  holding
• 51:33
  it
• 51:33
  together
• 51:33
  has
• 51:33
  been
• 51:34
  the
• 51:34
  paint
• 51:34
  all
• 51:35
  these
• 51:36
  layers
• 51:36
  of
• 51:36
  paint
• 51:37
  they've
• 51:37
  hidden
• 51:37
  what's
• 51:38
  at
• 51:38
  the
• 51:38
  core
• 51:38
  of
• 51:39
  it
• 51:39
  and
• 51:40
  so
• 51:40
  you
• 51:41
  need
• 51:41
  to
• 51:41
  take
• 51:41
  action
• 51:42
  well
• 51:43
  in
• 51:43
  many
• 51:43
  ways
• 51:44
  that's
• 51:44
  what
• 51:44
  the
• 51:45
  word
• 51:45
  of
• 51:46
  God
• 51:46
  does
• 51:46
  with
• 51:46
  our
• 51:47
  hearts
• 51:47
  as
• 51:47
  well
• 51:48
  you
• 51:49
  think
• 51:49
  I've
• 51:49
  been
• 51:49
  going
• 51:50
  to
• 51:50
  church
• 51:50
  I've
• 51:50
  been
• 51:50
  saying
• 51:51
  my
• 51:51
  prayer
• 51:51
  I've
• 51:52
  been
• 51:52
  reading
• 51:52
  God's
• 51:52
  word
• 51:53
  all
• 51:53
  these
• 51:54
  layers
• 51:54
  are
• 51:54
  building
• 51:55
  up
• 51:55
  in
• 51:55
  your
• 51:55
  heart
• 51:55
  and
• 51:55
  you
• 51:56
  think
• 51:56
  everything's
• 51:56
  fine
• 51:57
  but
• 51:58
  behind
• 51:59
  all
• 51:59
  that
• 51:59
  when
• 52:00
  you
• 52:00
  strip
• 52:00
  back
• 52:00
  is
• 52:01
  the
• 52:01
  core
• 52:01
  and
• 52:02
  the
• 52:02
  core
• 52:02
  is
• 52:03
  the
• 52:08
  heart
• 52:09
  with
• 52:11
  all
• 52:11
  your
• 52:11
  soul
• 52:12
  with
• 52:12
  all
• 52:12
  your
• 52:13
  mind
• 52:13
  with
• 52:13
  all
• 52:14
  your
• 52:14
  strength
• 52:14
  and
• 52:15
  love
• 52:15
  your
• 52:16
  neighbor
• 52:16
  as
• 52:16
  yourself
• 52:17
  as
• 52:18
  all
• 52:18
  the
• 52:19
  strips
• 52:19
  are
• 52:19
  taken
• 52:20
  away
• 52:20
  it
• 52:21
  asks
• 52:21
  do
• 52:22
  we
• 52:22
  do
• 52:24
  we
• 52:24
  love
• 52:25
  the
• 52:25
  Lord
• 52:25
  in
• 52:26
  that
• 52:26
  way
• 52:27
  because
• 52:28
  that's
• 52:29
  what
• 52:30
  is
• 52:30
  key
• 52:30
  here
• 52:31
  the
• 52:34
  question
• 52:34
  answered
• 52:36
  takes
• 52:37
  away
• 52:37
  from
• 52:38
  all
• 52:38
  the
• 52:38
  burdens
• 52:38
  of
• 52:39
  the
• 52:39
  law
• 52:39
  that
• 52:39
  they
• 52:39
  were
• 52:39
  under
• 52:40
  and
• 52:41
  just
• 52:41
  shows
• 52:41
  them
• 52:41
  the
• 52:42
  wonder
• 52:42
  of
• 52:42
  the
• 52:42
  grace
• 52:43
  of
• 52:43
  God
• 52:43
  that
• 52:45
  is
• 52:45
  love
• 52:45
  to
• 52:46
  us
• 52:46
  that
• 52:47
  demands
• 52:48
  that
• 52:48
  we
• 52:48
  love
• 52:49
  him
• 52:49
  with
• 52:50
  all
• 52:50
  our
• 52:51
  heart
• 52:52
  well
• 52:54
  the
• 52:54
  final
• 52:54
  thing
• 52:55
  we
• 52:55
  see
• 52:55
  here
• 52:55
  is
• 52:56
  the
• 52:56
  question
• 52:57
  applied
• 52:58
  Jesus
• 53:00
  says
• 53:01
  there
• 53:01
  is
• 53:01
  no
• 53:01
  other
• 53:01
  commandment
• 53:02
  greater
• 53:03
  than
• 53:03
  these
• 53:04
  and
• 53:04
  then
• 53:05
  verse
• 53:05
  32
• 53:05
  it
• 53:05
  says
• 53:06
  the
• 53:06
  scribe
• 53:06
  said
• 53:07
  to
• 53:07
  him
• 53:07
  you
• 53:07
  are
• 53:08
  right
• 53:08
  teacher
• 53:08
  you
• 53:09
  have
• 53:09
  truly
• 53:10
  said
• 53:10
  that
• 53:10
  he
• 53:10
  is
• 53:11
  one
• 53:11
  and
• 53:11
  there
• 53:12
  is
• 53:12
  no
• 53:12
  other
• 53:12
  besides
• 53:13
  him
• 53:13
  and
• 53:13
  to
• 53:13
  love
• 53:14
  him
• 53:14
  with
• 53:14
  all
• 53:14
  the
• 53:14
  heart
• 53:15
  with
• 53:15
  all
• 53:16
  the
• 53:16
  understanding
• 53:16
  with
• 53:17
  all
• 53:17
  the
• 53:17
  strength
• 53:17
  and
• 53:18
  to
• 53:18
  love
• 53:18
  one's
• 53:18
  neighbor
• 53:19
  as
• 53:19
  oneself
• 53:20
  is
• 53:20
  much
• 53:21
  more
• 53:21
  than
• 53:21
  all
• 53:21
  whole
• 53:22
  burnt
• 53:22
  offerings
• 53:23
  and
• 53:23
  sacrifices
• 53:24
  you see
• 53:24
  here
• 53:25
  the
• 53:25
  man
• 53:26
  is
• 53:26
  hearing
• 53:26
  this
• 53:26
  and
• 53:27
  he's
• 53:27
  beginning
• 53:27
  to
• 53:27
  recognize
• 53:28
  he says
• 53:30
  you're
• 53:30
  right
• 53:31
  this
• 53:33
  moment
• 53:34
  of
• 53:34
  dawning
• 53:34
  you're
• 53:36
  right
• 53:37
  the
• 53:39
  word of
• 53:40
  God
• 53:40
  is
• 53:41
  right
• 53:42
  you have
• 53:47
  truly
• 53:48
  said
• 53:49
  he says
• 53:49
  there
• 53:50
  you have
• 53:51
  said
• 53:52
  well
• 53:52
  you have
• 53:52
  given
• 53:53
  almost the
• 53:53
  word is
• 53:54
  beautiful
• 53:54
  you've
• 53:55
  given such
• 53:55
  a beautiful
• 53:56
  answer
• 53:57
  that is
• 53:59
  one
• 53:59
  God
• 54:00
  and to
• 54:01
  love him
• 54:02
  perfectly
• 54:02
  and to
• 54:03
  love others
• 54:03
  perfectly
• 54:04
  is more
• 54:05
  important than
• 54:06
  all the
• 54:06
  laws we've
• 54:07
  been under
• 54:07
  this man
• 54:09
  had come
• 54:10
  to understand
• 54:11
  truth
• 54:12
  the truth
• 54:14
  of God's
• 54:15
  word
• 54:16
  the truth
• 54:18
  of who
• 54:18
  God
• 54:19
  is
• 54:19
  did he
• 54:23
  believe
• 54:23
  well
• 54:26
  Jesus
• 54:26
  says
• 54:27
  to him
• 54:27
  here
• 54:28
  you are
• 54:29
  not
• 54:29
  far
• 54:30
  from
• 54:31
  the
• 54:31
  kingdom
• 54:31
  of
• 54:31
  God
• 54:32
  Jesus
• 54:34
  is
• 54:34
  seeing
• 54:34
  in
• 54:35
  that
• 54:35
  there's
• 54:35
  something
• 54:35
  working
• 54:36
  here
• 54:36
  but
• 54:37
  it
• 54:37
  says
• 54:37
  you
• 54:38
  are
• 54:38
  not
• 54:38
  far
• 54:39
  from
• 54:39
  the
• 54:40
  kingdom
• 54:40
  of
• 54:40
  God
• 54:41
  he's
• 54:42
  saying
• 54:42
  you
• 54:43
  are
• 54:43
  close
• 54:43
  but
• 54:45
  you're
• 54:46
  not
• 54:46
  quite
• 54:46
  there
• 54:47
  is
• 54:49
  that
• 54:49
  you
• 54:49
  today
• 54:50
  where
• 54:52
  the
• 54:52
  Lord
• 54:52
  is
• 54:53
  speaking
• 54:53
  to
• 54:53
  you
• 54:54
  in
• 54:54
  this
• 54:54
  way
• 54:54
  he's
• 54:56
  saying
• 54:56
  you're
• 54:56
  not
• 54:56
  far
• 54:57
  from
• 54:57
  the
• 54:57
  kingdom
• 54:58
  of
• 54:58
  God
• 54:58
  what's
• 55:00
  missing
• 55:01
  maybe
• 55:03
  you
• 55:04
  think
• 55:04
  there's
• 55:04
  nothing
• 55:05
  really
• 55:05
  missing
• 55:05
  maybe
• 55:07
  you
• 55:07
  think
• 55:08
  I'm
• 55:09
  a
• 55:09
  good
• 55:09
  person
• 55:10
  I'm
• 55:11
  beginning
• 55:11
  to
• 55:12
  see
• 55:12
  that
• 55:13
  this
• 55:13
  is
• 55:13
  truth
• 55:14
  but
• 55:15
  Jesus
• 55:16
  says
• 55:16
  here
• 55:17
  there's
• 55:17
  something
• 55:17
  still
• 55:18
  missing
• 55:18
  with
• 55:18
  this
• 55:19
  man
• 55:19
  you're
• 55:19
  not
• 55:19
  far
• 55:20
  from
• 55:20
  the
• 55:21
  kingdom
• 55:21
  of
• 55:21
  God
• 55:21
  it's
• 55:22
  a
• 55:22
  reminder
• 55:22
  to
• 55:22
  us
• 55:23
  that
• 55:23
  it's
• 55:23
  possible
• 55:24
  to
• 55:24
  be
• 55:24
  a
• 55:25
  good
• 55:25
  person
• 55:25
  to
• 55:25
  have
• 55:26
  a
• 55:26
  good
• 55:26
  religious
• 55:26
  upbringing
• 55:27
  and
• 55:27
  still
• 55:28
  be
• 55:28
  lost
• 55:28
  it's
• 55:31
  possible
• 55:31
  to
• 55:31
  know
• 55:31
  the
• 55:32
  truth
• 55:32
  and
• 55:33
  still
• 55:33
  be
• 55:33
  lost
• 55:34
  it's
• 55:35
  possible
• 55:35
  to
• 55:35
  hear
• 55:35
  the
• 55:36
  gospel
• 55:36
  preached
• 55:37
  all
• 55:37
  your
• 55:37
  life
• 55:38
  and
• 55:39
  still
• 55:39
  be
• 55:39
  lost
• 55:40
  somebody
• 55:43
  else
• 55:43
  it's
• 55:43
  possible
• 55:44
  to
• 55:44
  be
• 55:44
  within
• 55:44
  an
• 55:44
  inch
• 55:44
  of
• 55:45
  heaven
• 55:45
  and
• 55:46
  still
• 55:47
  go
• 55:47
  to
• 55:47
  hell
• 55:48
  close
• 55:50
  is
• 55:51
  not
• 55:51
  enough
• 55:52
  not
• 55:53
  far
• 55:53
  from
• 55:53
  the
• 55:54
  kingdom
• 55:54
  of
• 55:54
  God
• 55:55
  is
• 55:56
  not
• 55:56
  enough
• 55:56
  is
• 56:01
  this
• 56:01
  advice
• 56:02
  that we
• 56:04
  choose
• 56:04
  or not
• 56:05
  well
• 56:07
  Jesus
• 56:07
  has
• 56:07
  reminded
• 56:08
  him
• 56:08
  this
• 56:09
  is a
• 56:10
  command
• 56:10
  you're
• 56:12
  not
• 56:12
  far
• 56:12
  from
• 56:13
  the
• 56:13
  kingdom
• 56:13
  of
• 56:13
  God
• 56:14
  but
• 56:15
  he's
• 56:15
  saying
• 56:16
  now
• 56:16
  almost
• 56:16
  go
• 56:17
  and
• 56:17
  do
• 56:17
  these
• 56:18
  things
• 56:18
  go
• 56:20
  and
• 56:20
  live
• 56:20
  in
• 56:21
  this
• 56:21
  way
• 56:22
  love
• 56:23
  the
• 56:24
  Lord
• 56:24
  your
• 56:25
  God
• 56:25
  with
• 56:25
  all
• 56:26
  your
• 56:26
  heart
• 56:26
  with
• 56:28
  all
• 56:28
  your
• 56:28
  soul
• 56:29
  with
• 56:29
  all
• 56:29
  your
• 56:29
  mind
• 56:30
  and
• 56:30
  with
• 56:30
  all
• 56:30
  your
• 56:31
  strength
• 56:31
  and
• 56:31
  love
• 56:32
  your
• 56:32
  neighbor
• 56:32
  as
• 56:33
  yourself
• 56:33
  and
• 56:34
  they
• 56:34
  you
• 56:34
  will
• 56:34
  fulfill
• 56:35
  the
• 56:35
  commands
• 56:36
  of
• 56:36
  God
• 56:37
  believe
• 56:39
  in
• 56:40
  him
• 56:40
  what's
• 56:43
  the best
• 56:43
  advice
• 56:44
  the
• 56:44
  scribe
• 56:45
  was
• 56:45
  given
• 56:45
  well
• 56:48
  surely
• 56:48
  it was
• 56:48
  this
• 56:48
  command
• 56:49
  to
• 56:50
  do
• 56:50
  these
• 56:50
  things
• 56:51
  and
• 56:53
  what's
• 56:53
  the
• 56:53
  best
• 56:54
  advice
• 56:54
  for
• 56:54
  you
• 56:55
  today
• 56:55
  it's
• 56:57
  to
• 56:57
  see
• 56:57
  this
• 56:57
  is
• 56:58
  not
• 56:58
  just
• 56:58
  advice
• 56:59
  this
• 57:01
  is
• 57:01
  a
• 57:01
  command
• 57:02
  do
• 57:03
  this
• 57:04
  and
• 57:04
  live
• 57:04
  that's
• 57:05
  what
• 57:06
  the
• 57:06
  word
• 57:06
  of
• 57:06
  God
• 57:07
  says
• 57:07
  do
• 57:07
  this
• 57:08
  and
• 57:08
  live
• 57:08
  believe
• 57:10
  in
• 57:11
  him
• 57:11
  this
• 57:14
  scribe
• 57:14
  had
• 57:14
  to
• 57:15
  deal
• 57:15
  with
• 57:15
  this
• 57:15
  question
• 57:16
  here
• 57:16
  and
• 57:17
  then
• 57:17
  and
• 57:18
  today
• 57:19
  you
• 57:20
  have
• 57:20
  to
• 57:20
  deal
• 57:20
  with
• 57:21
  this
• 57:21
  question
• 57:22
  too
• 57:22
  do
• 57:24
  you
• 57:24
  love
• 57:24
  the
• 57:25
  Lord
• 57:25
  your
• 57:25
  God
• 57:25
  with
• 57:26
  all
• 57:26
  your
• 57:26
  heart
• 57:26
  do
• 57:27
  you
• 57:27
  love
• 57:28
  your
• 57:28
  neighbor
• 57:28
  as
• 57:29
  yourself
• 57:29
  because
• 57:31
  it's
• 57:31
  dangerous
• 57:32
  to
• 57:32
  delay
• 57:32
  and
• 57:32
  put
• 57:33
  this
• 57:33
  away
• 57:33
  Jesus
• 57:35
  came
• 57:36
  to
• 57:37
  deal
• 57:37
  with
• 57:37
  sin
• 57:38
  that's
• 57:40
  what we
• 57:40
  come
• 57:41
  to
• 57:41
  see
• 57:41
  as
• 57:41
  you
• 57:41
  look
• 57:41
  at
• 57:42
  the
• 57:42
  gospel
• 57:42
  and
• 57:43
  all
• 57:43
  these
• 57:44
  commands
• 57:44
  that
• 57:44
  he
• 57:44
  is
• 57:45
  giving
• 57:45
  it
• 57:45
  was
• 57:45
  leading
• 57:45
  up
• 57:46
  to
• 57:46
  the
• 57:46
  cross
• 57:46
  and
• 57:47
  giving
• 57:47
  his
• 57:48
  life
• 57:48
  for
• 57:49
  his
• 57:49
  people
• 57:49
  that
• 57:50
  they
• 57:50
  might
• 57:50
  live
• 57:51
  so
• 57:55
  we
• 57:55
  need
• 57:55
  to
• 57:55
  listen
• 57:56
  the
• 57:58
  question
• 57:58
  is
• 57:59
  will
• 57:59
  you
• 57:59
  will
• 58:01
  you
• 58:01
  listen
• 58:02
  to
• 58:02
  this
• 58:02
  command
• 58:03
  today
• 58:03
  love
• 58:05
  the
• 58:06
  Lord
• 58:06
  your
• 58:06
  God
• 58:07
  with
• 58:07
  all
• 58:08
  your
• 58:08
  heart
• 58:08
  and
• 58:10
  love
• 58:10
  your
• 58:10
  neighbor
• 58:11
  as
• 58:12
  yourself
• 58:12
  let
• 58:16
  us
• 58:16
  hear
• 58:16
  the
• 58:17
  word
• 58:17
  of
• 58:17
  God
• 58:18
  and
• 58:18
  do
• 58:18
  let
• 58:19
  us
• 58:19
  pray
• 58:20
  our
• 58:23
  father
• 58:23
  in
• 58:23
  heaven
• 58:24
  we
• 58:24
  do
• 58:24
  thank
• 58:25
  you
• 58:25
  for
• 58:25
  the
• 58:26
  commands
• 58:27
  that
• 58:27
  your
• 58:27
  word
• 58:27
  gives
• 58:28
  to
• 58:28
  us
• 58:28
  and
• 58:28
  the
• 58:28
  things
• 58:29
  that
• 58:29
  we
• 58:29
  so
• 58:30
  often
• 58:30
  struggle
• 58:31
  with
• 58:31
  ourselves
• 58:32
  we
• 58:33
  know
• 58:33
  Lord
• 58:33
  the
• 58:34
  frailties
• 58:35
  of our
• 58:35
  hearts
• 58:36
  and
• 58:36
  the
• 58:36
  more
• 58:36
  you
• 58:37
  reveal
• 58:37
  them
• 58:37
  to
• 58:38
  us
• 58:38
  Lord
• 58:38
  the
• 58:38
  more
• 58:38
  we
• 58:39
  see
• 58:39
  that
• 58:40
  there
• 58:40
  is
• 58:40
  nothing
• 58:40
  good
• 58:41
  in
• 58:41
  us
• 58:41
  but
• 58:42
  we
• 58:42
  thank
• 58:42
  you
• 58:43
  Lord
• 58:43
  for
• 58:43
  your
• 58:43
  grace
• 58:44
  that
• 58:44
  is
• 58:45
  able
• 58:45
  to
• 58:45
  save
• 58:46
  and
• 58:46
  the
• 58:47
  way
• 58:47
  that
• 58:47
  you
• 58:47
  are
• 58:47
  able
• 58:47
  to
• 58:48
  take
• 58:48
  our
• 58:48
  hearts
• 58:49
  and
• 58:49
  transform
• 58:49
  them
• 58:50
  from
• 58:50
  the
• 58:50
  hard
• 58:51
  hearts
• 58:51
  that
• 58:51
  we
• 58:51
  so
• 58:51
  often
• 58:52
  see
• 58:52
  to
• 58:52
  the
• 58:52
  hearts
• 58:53
  that
• 58:53
  burn
• 58:53
  within
• 58:54
  us
• 58:54
  with
• 58:54
  a
• 58:55
  love
• 58:55
  for
• 58:55
  you
• 58:55
  and
• 58:56
  so
• 58:56
  we
• 58:56
  pray
• 58:57
  !
• 59:06
  we'll
• 59:11
  conclude
• 59:11
  by singing
• 59:12
  to God's
• 59:12
  praise
• 59:13
  in
• 59:13
  Psalm
• 59:13
  52
• 59:14
  to sing
• 59:16
  Psalm's
• 59:17
  version
• 59:17
  Psalm
• 59:17
  52
• 59:18
  page
• 59:19
  69
• 59:20
  of the
• 59:20
  psalm
• 59:21
  books
• 59:21
  going
• 59:22
  to sing
• 59:22
  verses
• 59:22
  8
• 59:23
  and
• 59:23
  9
• 59:24
  and
• 59:27
  the
• 59:27
  tune
• 59:27
  his
• 59:27
  brother
• 59:28
  James
• 59:28
  is
• 59:29
  heir
• 59:29
  Psalm
• 59:30
  52
• 59:31
  at
• 59:31
  verse
• 59:31
  8
• 59:32
  but
• 59:32
  I
• 59:32
  am
• 59:32
  like
• 59:33
  an
• 59:33
  olive
• 59:33
  plant
• 59:33
  in
• 59:34
  God's
• 59:34
  house
• 59:35
  growing
• 59:35
  free
• 59:35
  I
• 59:36
  trust
• 59:36
  in
• 59:36
  God's
• 59:37
  unfailing
• 59:37
  love
• 59:38
  to
• 59:38
  all
• 59:39
  eternity
• 59:40
  we'll
• 59:40
  sing
• 59:40
  these
• 59:40
  two
• 59:41
  verses
• 59:41
  to
• 59:41
  God's
• 59:42
  praise
• 59:42
  but
• 59:49
  I
• 59:49
  am
• 59:50
  like
• 59:51
  an
• 59:52
  olive
• 59:53
  plant
• 59:54
  in
• 59:55
  God's
• 59:55
  growing
• 59:57
  free
• 59:59
  I
• 1:00:00
  trust
• 1:00:01
  in
• 1:00:01
  God's
• 1:00:03
  unfailing
• 1:00:04
  love
• 1:00:05
  to
• 1:00:06
  all
• 1:00:07
  eternity
• 1:00:09
  I
• 1:00:12
  trust
• 1:00:12
  in
• 1:00:13
  God's
• 1:00:14
  unfailing
• 1:00:15
  love
• 1:00:16
  to
• 1:00:17
  all
• 1:00:18
  eternity
• 1:00:21
  I'll
• 1:00:24
  praise
• 1:00:25
  you
• 1:00:25
  ever
• 1:00:26
  for
• 1:00:28
  your
• 1:00:28
  deeds
• 1:00:29
  my
• 1:00:30
  hope
• 1:00:31
  is
• 1:00:31
  in
• 1:00:32
  your
• 1:00:33
  name
• 1:00:34
  and
• 1:00:36
  in
• 1:00:37
  the
• 1:00:37
  presence
• 1:00:38
  of
• 1:00:39
  your
• 1:00:40
  saints
• 1:00:41
  I
• 1:00:41
  will
• 1:00:42
  extol
• 1:00:44
  your
• 1:00:45
  faith
• 1:00:46
  and
• 1:00:47
  in
• 1:00:48
  the
• 1:00:48
  presence
• 1:00:50
  of
• 1:00:51
  your
• 1:00:51
  saints
• 1:00:52
  I
• 1:00:53
  will
• 1:00:54
  extol
• 1:00:55
  your
• 1:00:56
  faith
• 1:00:57
  after
• 1:00:59
  the
• 1:01:00
  benediction
• 1:01:00
  I'll
• 1:01:00
  go to
• 1:01:01
  the
• 1:01:01
  main
• 1:01:01
  door
• 1:01:01
  we'll
• 1:01:02
  close
• 1:01:02
  the
• 1:01:02
  benediction
• 1:01:03
  now may
• 1:01:04
  grace
• 1:01:05
  mercy
• 1:01:05
  and peace
• 1:01:06
  from
• 1:01:06
  God
• 1:01:06
  Father
• 1:01:07
  Son
• 1:01:07
  and
• 1:01:08
  Holy
• 1:01:08
  Spirit
• 1:01:08
  rest
• 1:01:09
  upon
• 1:01:10
  and abide
• 1:01:10
  with you
• 1:01:11
  all
• 1:01:11
  now
• 1:01:12
  and
• 1:01:12
  forever
• 1:01:12
  more
• 1:01:13
  Amen
• 1:01:13
  voy
• 1:01:14
  !
• 1:01:17
  voy voy voy voy voy voy voy voy
• 1:01:34
  !
• 1:01:17
  voy voy
• 1:01:34
  !
• 1:01:17
  voy voy voy
• 1:01:34
  !
• 1:01:17
  Thank you.