You Are WIse: Even Though You Still Make Mistakes, Part 2

1 Corinthians 2:6-16
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Today, we uncover the wisdom of giving up personal agendas to embrace a life centred around Jesus Christ. In today’s discussion drawn from 1 Corinthians 2, Pastor Colin delves into the concept of God’s secret wisdom and how it contrasts with the world’s approach to life. Through inspiring personal testimonies and scriptural insights, learn how placing your life in God’s hands offers a path to true fulfilment. Discover the transformative power of living with the mind of Christ, and embrace the unique wisdom bestowed upon you as a believer. Dive deeper with us as Pastor Colin unravels the mystery of a life led by divine wisdom.

100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:09,740The cross is God’s way of putting things together. That’s why you can’t just add a belief in200:00:09,740 –> 00:00:15,580Jesus to a life that is fundamentally about getting what you want. The only way to put300:00:15,580 –> 00:00:20,459your life together through the wisdom of God is to give up your agenda of being all400:00:20,459 –> 00:00:28,780that you want to be. Or as Jesus put it, the way to save your life is to lose it.500:00:29,040 –> 00:00:32,560Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I am David Pick. I am glad you could600:00:32,560 –> 00:00:36,980be with us today. Colin, I am pleased we are going to cover that teaching today because700:00:36,980 –> 00:00:42,160I am sure many of us have heard it and thought, what does that mean? How am I supposed to800:00:42,160 –> 00:00:44,900lose my life? Well, it means you are no longer in control900:00:44,900 –> 00:00:49,099of it. That’s perhaps the place to start. We just had Baptism, as you know, in our church1000:00:49,099 –> 00:00:53,980this Sunday. It was wonderful to hear testimonies of people whose lives have been changed. One1100:00:54,119 –> 00:00:59,299One of the women who was baptised just told a very moving story of how she came to a faith1200:00:59,299 –> 00:01:04,379in Jesus Christ early in life but she said, it was all about me being in control of my1300:01:04,379 –> 00:01:09,320life – my marriage, my family, I had it all planned out, and mapped out. Then one1400:01:09,320 –> 00:01:16,580thing after another God brought her through major crises in marriage and in family that1500:01:16,580 –> 00:01:22,000brought her to the place of saying, you know, I am not in control of my life. It has to1600:01:22,180 –> 00:01:28,379be in the hands of Jesus Christ. And she expressed very movingly what that transformation was1700:01:28,379 –> 00:01:34,339really like. And now it’s Christ who is guiding the path of my life and I’m walking1800:01:34,339 –> 00:01:37,919in faith and following Him. Now that’s losing your life. It’s moving from the place of1900:01:37,919 –> 00:01:42,580– I’m running this. I’m the Lord, and by the way I believe in Jesus – to, you2000:01:42,580 –> 00:01:46,540know, He is the Lord. He is the Saviour and I’m putting my trust in Him.2100:01:46,540 –> 00:01:51,860And that is what today’s message is all about. So join us if you can in 1 Corinthians2200:01:51,860 –> 00:01:56,419and chapter 2, as we continue the message, You Are Wise. Here’s Colin.2300:01:56,419 –> 00:02:01,199Now how you going to put your life together? That’s really the issue that’s at stake2400:02:01,199 –> 00:02:05,879today. And I want us to see from the passage of Scripture in 1 Corinthians in chapter2500:02:05,879 –> 00:02:10,8392 that there are very clearly two different ways of doing this. First, you can put your2600:02:10,839 –> 00:02:16,380life together through the wisdom of this age – which is in verse 6 – or second, through2700:02:16,380 –> 00:02:22,000God’s secret wisdom which Paul describes in verse 7. Two ways of putting your life2800:02:22,000 –> 00:02:29,660together – two kinds of wisdom. It’s what wisdom is. Now notice first then, in verse2900:02:29,660 –> 00:02:40,1396, the wisdom of this age. The wisdom of this age is simply a way of putting your life together3000:02:40,139 –> 00:02:48,720with yourself at the centre. That’s how this world thinks. The wisdom of this age is the3100:02:48,720 –> 00:02:52,639way of putting life together that begins with the question, what do I want to get out of3200:02:52,639 –> 00:03:00,960life? What will it take to get it? How do I act and behave and position myself in such3300:03:00,960 –> 00:03:07,740a way to get what I want? So there’s one way of putting life together. It is so common3400:03:07,740 –> 00:03:13,860throughout this world, how do I get what I want? It’s the way of wisdom of this world.3500:03:13,860 –> 00:03:18,979You can’t come to know God that way. You just can’t add God into that, it just doesn’t mix.3600:03:18,979 –> 00:03:25,000There’s no room for Jesus there, you have to crucify Christ if you’re going that way3700:03:25,000 –> 00:03:31,080and it will come to nothing. The other way of putting your life together is what Paul3800:03:31,179 –> 00:03:38,179calls in verse 7, the secret wisdom of God. Now God’s secret wisdom, the secret wisdom3900:03:38,320 –> 00:03:45,020of God is simply a way of putting your life together with God at the center.4000:03:45,460 –> 00:03:53,300And, of course, that is precisely what Jesus did. The way that Jesus put his life together4100:03:53,300 –> 00:03:58,100on earth was not to say, how can I get everything that I want out of life on this earth, it4200:03:58,300 –> 00:04:04,440was to say, how could I do what the Father has called me to do? How can I serve and be4300:04:04,440 –> 00:04:11,440a blessing and minister to others? Now obviously if you’re asking that question,4400:04:13,199 –> 00:04:20,200you will put your life together on a day-to-day basis in an entirely different way.4500:04:20,200 –> 00:04:27,200There will be all the difference in the world between a father who says in his mind, how4600:04:28,480 –> 00:04:35,480can I get what I want? And a father who says, how can I fulfill God’s purpose as a father?4700:04:39,260 –> 00:04:44,799And how can I be a blessing to those God has placed around me? All the difference in the4800:04:45,420 –> 00:04:52,220world in the way these two men put their lives together. The same for a husband. The same4900:04:52,220 –> 00:04:59,220for a student. The same for an employee. The same in any capacity that God has given you5000:05:01,839 –> 00:05:08,839in this life. Now if you put your life together in this way you will be thinking the same5100:05:09,839 –> 00:05:16,839way as Jesus did. Think about that. Which is why Paul says in verse 16, We have the5200:05:23,320 –> 00:05:29,959mind of Christ. Does not mean we think every thought as Jesus did, but our fundamental5300:05:29,959 –> 00:05:36,519approach to life if we are putting life together on the basis of the wisdom of God, our fundamental5400:05:36,540 –> 00:05:42,440approach to life is the same approach as Jesus took. That’s what it is to be a Christian.5500:05:42,440 –> 00:05:45,920Now what does this actually look like?5600:05:45,920 –> 00:05:52,920First, it is rooted in the cross. Again here I am looking at chapter 1, verses 23 and 24.5700:05:56,000 –> 00:06:01,920We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles but to5800:06:01,920 –> 00:06:08,920those whom God has called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power and the wisdom of God.5900:06:10,059 –> 00:06:17,059The wisdom of God is directly tied here to the cross. The wisdom of Christ to put his6000:06:19,940 –> 00:06:26,940life together as he did was immensely costly. He said, what does the father call me to do?6100:06:27,040 –> 00:06:32,679What does the father call me to do? How can I be blessing to others? He put his life together6200:06:32,679 –> 00:06:39,679that way and it led him to a cross. It cost him everything.6300:06:39,940 –> 00:06:46,940Paul says the cross is the wisdom of God. The cross is God’s way of putting things6400:06:47,500 –> 00:06:51,739together. That’s why you can’t just add a belief in6500:06:51,799 –> 00:06:56,579Jesus to life that’s fundamentally about getting what you want.6600:06:56,579 –> 00:07:02,420The only way to put your life together through the wisdom of God is to give up your agenda6700:07:02,420 –> 00:07:08,019of being all that you want to be. Or as Jesus put it, the way to save your life6800:07:08,019 –> 00:07:15,019is to lose it. That is the wisdom of God.6900:07:15,459 –> 00:07:24,820The way to put your life together is to come to the cross and to give that life out of7000:07:24,820 –> 00:07:32,100your hands into the hands of Christ and say here are these broken pieces I can’t put7100:07:32,100 –> 00:07:35,940them together. I place them into your hands and in giving7200:07:35,940 –> 00:07:44,299you my life, will you put it together. That’s the secret wisdom of God.7300:07:44,299 –> 00:07:49,579I place myself in your hands, you put the pieces together.7400:07:49,579 –> 00:07:56,019That’s where the wisdom of God begins. The foot of the cross.7500:07:56,019 –> 00:08:02,100Second, notice that this way of putting life together it not only begins at the cross but7600:08:02,100 –> 00:08:09,500it is revealed by the Holy Spirit. Chapter 2, verses 9 and 10.7700:08:09,500 –> 00:08:13,739No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared7800:08:13,820 –> 00:08:19,980for those who love him, but God has revealed it to us by his spirit.7900:08:19,980 –> 00:08:25,820Taking up the same in verse 12, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit8000:08:25,820 –> 00:08:32,960who is from God that we may understand what God has freely given us.8100:08:32,960 –> 00:08:38,059No one could guess this, that’s why Paul calls it secret wisdom of God.8200:08:38,059 –> 00:08:42,080You say to someone out there in the world that the way to begin life and to put it together8300:08:42,239 –> 00:08:45,979is to stand at the cross and to give yourself wholly to Jesus Christ, they’ll say8400:08:45,979 –> 00:08:49,919that’s foolishness!8500:08:49,919 –> 00:08:53,859God has made himself known in two ways.8600:08:53,859 –> 00:08:59,159One is very public, he’s sent his Son into the world.8700:08:59,159 –> 00:09:05,260The other is very private, he sends his Spirit into your heart.8800:09:05,260 –> 00:09:09,780What the Holy Spirit does is he opens up, as it were, a window in your heart and in8900:09:09,880 –> 00:09:13,460your mind to understand the truth of God as you never did before.9000:09:13,460 –> 00:09:21,380To put the pieces together, so that knowledge, becomes wisdom.9100:09:21,380 –> 00:09:24,340How else could you come to know God?9200:09:24,340 –> 00:09:27,080How could you come to know the thoughts of God?9300:09:27,080 –> 00:09:35,000Maybe you’ve wondered, does anyone really know your thoughts?9400:09:35,020 –> 00:09:43,119Is there any other person in the world who really knows your deepest thoughts?9500:09:43,119 –> 00:09:54,219The only one who knows your deepest thoughts on this earth, is you, your spirit.9600:09:54,219 –> 00:09:57,080That’s the point that the apostle Paul is making here.9700:09:57,080 –> 00:10:02,479No man knows the thoughts of a man, except his own spirit within him.9800:10:02,479 –> 00:10:08,520And then he says that no one knows the thoughts of God, except God’s spirit within him.9900:10:08,520 –> 00:10:13,580But you see, if your spirit came to me I would know your thoughts.10000:10:13,580 –> 00:10:16,320If my spirit came to you, you would know my thoughts.10100:10:16,320 –> 00:10:22,299If God’s spirit came to you, you would know the thoughts of God.10200:10:22,299 –> 00:10:27,460Now, obviously Paul is not saying that when we have the Holy Spirit we know everything10300:10:27,460 –> 00:10:28,460about God.10400:10:28,500 –> 00:10:34,500This is why he says in verse 15, Who has known the mind of the Lord, who’s been his counsellor.10500:10:34,500 –> 00:10:37,900But we do have the mind of Christ he says.10600:10:37,900 –> 00:10:46,320A window has been opened in my soul by which I begin to think God’s thoughts after him10700:10:46,320 –> 00:10:55,500and put my life together in a way that reflects the thinking of Jesus Christ.10800:10:55,539 –> 00:10:59,859This way of putting life together, this wisdom is destined for our glory.10900:10:59,859 –> 00:11:04,440Chapter 2 and verse 7, God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that had been hidden and that God11000:11:04,440 –> 00:11:07,260destined for our glory before time began.11100:11:07,260 –> 00:11:10,080It’s for our glory!11200:11:10,080 –> 00:11:15,140Put your life together as the world does, it will come to nothing.11300:11:15,140 –> 00:11:22,099Put your life together as Jesus did and you will end where he is.11400:11:23,099 –> 00:11:29,580It’s hard to imagine a bigger question than this, how are you going to put your life together?11500:11:29,580 –> 00:11:33,359You’re going to go into this coming week, you’re going to go into the coming months11600:11:33,359 –> 00:11:43,280and years saying, what can I get out of life that will determine a whole raft of behaviour?11700:11:43,280 –> 00:11:51,280Or are you going to go into these coming days and to say how can I honor God’s calling on11800:11:51,280 –> 00:11:58,280my life? How can I be a blessing to others? Put your life together that way and it will11900:12:00,780 –> 00:12:03,479be entirely different.12000:12:03,479 –> 00:12:10,000You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and the message you are wise.12100:12:10,000 –> 00:12:15,080It’s the final message in our series, Be Yourself, and if you’ve missed any of the series up12200:12:15,080 –> 00:12:19,419till now or if you want to go back and listen again, you can always do that by coming online12300:12:19,460 –> 00:12:26,179to our website Openthebible.org.uk or finding us as a podcast and those are on all main12400:12:26,179 –> 00:12:33,179podcast sites. Simply search for Open the Bible UK and or follow the link from our website.12500:12:33,340 –> 00:12:38,099Back to the message now. We’re in 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Here’s Colin.12600:12:38,099 –> 00:12:42,859I want in these last moments just to come back to our title one more time.12700:12:42,859 –> 00:12:49,760You are wise, though you still make mistakes and the fundamental thing that we’re saying12800:12:49,760 –> 00:12:54,900through this series is that at the very heart of the gospel, because you’re a new creation,12900:12:54,900 –> 00:13:01,900the Christian life is all about being who you are. You are wise, though you still make13000:13:03,799 –> 00:13:10,080mistakes. That pattern of course reflects the whole series that we live in this tension.13100:13:10,080 –> 00:13:15,760You are clean, though you still sin. You are free, though you still struggle. You are holy,13200:13:15,760 –> 00:13:20,679though you still live in the world. You are wise, though you still make mistakes. That’s13300:13:20,679 –> 00:13:27,679the tension of the Christian life, understanding who I am in the continuing difficulties of13400:13:30,059 –> 00:13:33,900life in this world. I want just to make two brief comments in13500:13:33,900 –> 00:13:40,900regards to the two parts of this title. The first is this, you still make mistakes. We13600:13:42,539 –> 00:13:49,539all make mistakes. It’s very important to remember this, because some people have drawn13700:13:49,739 –> 00:13:56,479the wrong conclusion from the Bible’s statement that we have the mind of Christ. You see that13800:13:56,479 –> 00:14:02,359in verse 16, we have the mind of Christ? There are some people who’ve taken that, ripped13900:14:02,440 –> 00:14:08,340it out of its context, and drawn the conclusion that they are therefore always right. They14000:14:08,340 –> 00:14:12,799have the idea that they somehow have a hot-line to heaven, that everything that they think14100:14:12,799 –> 00:14:16,979is God’s thoughts and everything they feel is a reflection of God’s heart, and that therefore14200:14:16,979 –> 00:14:23,799they are infallible in their decisions, and that they never do anything wrong. Well, to14300:14:23,799 –> 00:14:30,239anyone who reads 1 Corinthians chapter 2 in that way, I would say please read the rest14400:14:30,260 –> 00:14:36,979of the letter, because if you read the rest of the letter you will find a vast number14500:14:36,979 –> 00:14:43,979of incredible mistakes that were made by those who Paul says has the mind of Christ. Christians14600:14:44,760 –> 00:14:51,760make all kinds of mistakes, we all do. Mistakes as husbands, mistakes as fathers, mistakes14700:14:51,820 –> 00:14:57,039as pastors, mistakes as workers, mistakes as students, mistakes as friends, mistakes14800:14:57,039 –> 00:15:04,039as economists, mistakes as politicians, all kinds of mistakes. You say, well, how can14900:15:04,799 –> 00:15:09,799you make a mistake if you’re in Christ? Some of us struggle with this. We made a decisions15000:15:09,799 –> 00:15:15,820that we now see was very foolish, how could God have allowed that to happen, we say. Think15100:15:15,820 –> 00:15:22,820through the series with me just very briefly like this. God does not free us in such a15200:15:22,820 –> 00:15:29,820way that we no longer struggle. He frees us so that we can engage in the struggle. God15300:15:33,979 –> 00:15:40,979does not purify us in such a way that we no longer sin, He purifies us in such a way that15400:15:41,039 –> 00:15:48,039we can learn to hate sin and want to be free from it. God does not make us holy in such15500:15:48,479 –> 00:15:53,599a way that we do not live in the world, He makes us holy in such a way that we can shine15600:15:53,599 –> 00:16:00,599in the world. And God does not make us wise in such a way that we never make a mistake,15700:16:00,880 –> 00:16:06,840He makes us wise in such a way that we can see our mistakes and learn from them and grow15800:16:06,840 –> 00:16:13,840through them. So when in the Christian life you are faced with sin, repent and restore15900:16:18,359 –> 00:16:24,900them in as much as you are able to put right what you broke down, do it. When you are faced16000:16:24,900 –> 00:16:31,900with a struggle, fight and overcome, this is what God has called you to do. When you16100:16:33,280 –> 00:16:39,719find yourself in the darkness of this world, serve and shine, that is why you are in the16200:16:39,719 –> 00:16:46,719darkness. When you find that you have made mistakes that cause you bitter regret, learn16300:16:48,919 –> 00:16:55,919and grow. God treats us as sons, and that means that He places us on the field of battle,16400:17:00,799 –> 00:17:07,800that He commissions us in the world, that He trusts us with making decisions. Not like16500:17:08,319 –> 00:17:13,520the father with the small child that puts a kind of hedge round so tightly, but like16600:17:13,560 –> 00:17:20,199the father with the mature son, who gives scope, and allows the ability of learning16700:17:20,199 –> 00:17:27,199and growing, because that’s the way in which you become all that you can be. You still16800:17:27,640 –> 00:17:34,560make mistakes, but you are wise. You are wise.16900:17:34,560 –> 00:17:41,560I want us to grasp this in these very last moments, because this is really it seems to17000:17:42,199 –> 00:17:46,680me the secret of confident living.17100:17:46,680 –> 00:17:52,800Some of us feel so uncertain about life. How am I going to put my life together? Listen,17200:17:52,800 –> 00:17:59,800the Lord is your Shepherd. The spirit of God lives in you. You have received light from17300:18:02,719 –> 00:18:09,280above that many people in this world haven’t begun to grasp. You are in a tremendous position17400:18:09,319 –> 00:18:15,680to live, because you are in Christ, and there is a confidence that comes from that. There17500:18:15,680 –> 00:18:20,640is something that God gives to you and wants you to enjoy.17600:18:20,640 –> 00:18:26,640Let me give you the high school student’s favorite scripture verse, my favorite verse17700:18:26,640 –> 00:18:33,640from high school. Psalm 119, verse 99. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate17800:18:34,640 –> 00:18:41,640on your statues. I love that, that’s a great verse, but please be very sensitive about17900:18:43,479 –> 00:18:50,479how you use it in class. I had a math teacher at high school by the name of Mr. Dagenhardt,18000:18:52,739 –> 00:18:57,000it was delightful name, of course, we all called him Dago for short. Though frankly18100:18:57,359 –> 00:19:04,359most of the students called him Death Breath. I leave that to your imagination as to why18200:19:04,819 –> 00:19:10,000this was, but it was regularly you know, who have you got for Math this year? Oh, we’ve18300:19:10,000 –> 00:19:17,000got Death Breath! Well I tell you, Death Breath was an absolute genius at math, he really18400:19:18,640 –> 00:19:25,040was. He should have been in some university, not at high school, but he was desperately18500:19:25,040 –> 00:19:31,819antagonistic towards Christians. I actually liked him, he helped me a great deal, he raised18600:19:31,819 –> 00:19:37,319my performance in math very significantly. I’ll never forget the day, he knew what I18700:19:37,319 –> 00:19:41,199wanted to do in life and he asked me in front of the whole class, you know nothing’s changed,18800:19:41,199 –> 00:19:48,199what do you want to do with your life, Smith? He said. I want to be a pastor, sir. I said.18900:19:48,359 –> 00:19:55,359Absolute waste of a perfectly good brain. That’s what he said. Absolute waste of a perfectly19000:20:02,619 –> 00:20:09,619good brain. I owe a lot to Daigle, some years later I went back to my old high school, met19100:20:10,579 –> 00:20:17,579him, we got chatting, and he told me that he had a sister who had spent her life as19200:20:18,199 –> 00:20:25,199a missionary in China. He had made the opposite choice and he had put his life together as19300:20:29,520 –> 00:20:36,520one who claimed the title of an atheist who had absolutely no place for God. I’ve often19400:20:38,859 –> 00:20:45,859thought about Daigle and what good might’ve been done if he had given his brilliant brain19500:20:46,520 –> 00:20:53,520into the hands of Jesus Christ. So much knowledge, so little wisdom. Christian friend, you may19600:20:57,359 –> 00:21:04,359make a thousand mistakes in your life but following the path of Jesus Christ, you have19700:21:07,060 –> 00:21:14,060more wisdom than people who could multiply by factors of a hundred your intelligence19800:21:16,839 –> 00:21:21,400and are living in a way putting their lives together in a way that will ultimately come19900:21:21,400 –> 00:21:28,400to nothing. So live with confidence in Jesus Christ. The Lord is your shepherd, He’s with20000:21:30,560 –> 00:21:35,939you, He’s leading you. You’re not adrift on the sea of chance. You may make all kinds20100:21:35,939 –> 00:21:41,520of mistakes but your life is in His hand. You’re not going to be right in every decision20200:21:41,780 –> 00:21:48,540you make but God has given you light and you have chosen the path that leads to life.20300:21:48,540 –> 00:21:52,640In a world where there are thousands and millions of men and women who are stumbling through20400:21:52,640 –> 00:21:59,479their days without any grasp on the purpose of the life given you know who you are. And20500:21:59,479 –> 00:22:06,260you know to whom you belong. You know why you’re here. You know where you’re going.20600:22:06,260 –> 00:22:14,680You have wisdom as God has given it to you in Jesus Christ. And even though you sin and20700:22:14,680 –> 00:22:21,119struggle and live in this world and make many mistakes you are clean. You are free. You20800:22:21,119 –> 00:22:27,719are holy. You are wise. You’ve discovered what life is all about. You are a new person20900:22:27,719 –> 00:22:35,540in Jesus Christ, so Be Who You Are.21000:22:35,540 –> 00:22:40,739Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible, wrapping up our message, You Are Wise, the final message21100:22:40,739 –> 00:22:46,020in our series, Be Yourself. Don’t forget if you missed one of the series, or want to go21200:22:46,020 –> 00:22:53,380back and listen to some or all of them again, they’re all available on our website, www.openthebible.org.uk21300:22:53,380 –> 00:22:58,739And also on all main podcast sites, if that’s a better way for you to keep up with pastor21400:22:58,739 –> 00:23:04,300Colin’s teaching, you can find those by searching for Open The Bible UK. Or by following a link21500:23:04,300 –> 00:23:11,280from our website, website address again www.openthebible.org.uk21600:23:11,280 –> 00:23:16,219Also on our website you’ll find our bible study course, Fly Through the Bible. This21700:23:16,219 –> 00:23:21,459short simple journey through the bible story can be enjoyed on your own, with a friend,21800:23:21,459 –> 00:23:27,280or as a group. For each of the 15 sessions you can watch a short video, then work through21900:23:27,280 –> 00:23:32,520the questions. If you want to do a more detailed bible study, a guide is available for you22000:23:32,520 –> 00:23:35,939to use in small groups, or one to one.22100:23:35,939 –> 00:23:40,599To make the most of Fly Through the Bible we recommend buying the book. There is also22200:23:40,599 –> 00:23:44,439a free app that can be used alongside all the materials.22300:23:44,439 –> 00:23:51,400To find Fly Through the Bible go to our website openthebible.org.uk, and click on course22400:23:51,760 –> 00:23:57,060Open the Bible is supported by our listeners. That s people just like you. And if that s22500:23:57,060 –> 00:24:01,079something you haven t done before, but you ve been considering doing it, can I encourage22600:24:01,079 –> 00:24:07,180you this month to set up a new direct debit of £5 per month or more, or a one off gift22700:24:07,180 –> 00:24:12,579of 50 pounds or more. And in return we d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of22800:24:12,579 –> 00:24:16,859a classic book. It s Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan.22900:24:17,160 –> 00:24:21,420Colin, many people will have heard of this book but not actually read it.23000:24:21,420 –> 00:24:26,900Ah if you ve never read it, you are in for a treat. Really every Christian home should23100:24:26,900 –> 00:24:34,459have a copy of this book. It is a delight to read, and it is full of the richest, deepest23200:24:34,459 –> 00:24:41,420insight into the real experiences of a Christian s life. It s a treasure, and I m delighted23300:24:41,420 –> 00:24:45,260that we re able to offer it to all who are listening to the programme this month.23400:24:45,859 –> 00:24:50,579So, that will be our gift to you if you are able to set up a new direct debit to the work23500:24:50,579 –> 00:24:57,800of Open The Bible for £5 per month or more, or a one-off gift of £50 or more. Full terms23600:24:57,800 –> 00:25:04,640and conditions are on our website, that s at openthebible.org.uk and you can give online.23700:25:04,640 –> 00:25:09,839For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smyth, I m David Pick and I hope you ll join us again23800:25:09,839 –> 00:25:11,640next time on Open The Bible.23900:25:15,260 –> 00:25:22,660Where did the message of Christianity come from? Find out next time on Open The Bible.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Authentic Christianity is about being who you are. What happened when you became a Christian? What changed? What stayed the same? Discover your new identity in Christ.

Colin Smith

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A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

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