100:00:00,740 –> 00:00:08,040There is one God, there is one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus200:00:08,040 –> 00:00:14,400and that means that he is the mediator for you and that God wants people300:00:14,400 –> 00:00:19,559like you to be saved and Christ gave his life as a ransom for people like you400:00:19,559 –> 00:00:26,799if you will come to him you have this promise he will never never turn you500:00:26,799 –> 00:00:27,559away600:00:27,559 –> 00:00:31,280Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick700:00:31,280 –> 00:00:35,439glad you could join us today. Colin, sometimes people say that800:00:35,439 –> 00:00:40,540the gospel is exclusive, but you’re saying no it couldn’t be more inclusive900:00:40,540 –> 00:00:42,320It’s available for everyone1000:00:42,320 –> 00:00:46,160It absolutely is and we’re looking together at 1 Timothy in1100:00:46,160 –> 00:00:51,660chapter 2 where we read that God our Saviour wants all men to be saved and to1200:00:51,660 –> 00:00:55,360come to the knowledge of the truth and that Jesus Christ gave himself as a1300:00:55,380 –> 00:01:01,240ransom for all. So I’ve met folks over the years who say well but it’s not for1400:01:01,240 –> 00:01:08,260me and it’s easy to get the idea that you are somehow outside of the boundaries1500:01:08,260 –> 00:01:13,879of people who are loved by the Lord, people who would be welcomed by the Lord1600:01:13,879 –> 00:01:19,059Jesus Christ. But here we’re looking at a wonderful verse of Scripture that says1700:01:19,059 –> 00:01:25,199you cannot be outside the circle, there is no boundary, there is a love of God1800:01:25,720 –> 00:01:31,519is extended towards every single person and there is a sacrifice that’s been1900:01:31,519 –> 00:01:37,360made by the Lord Jesus Christ that can be yours, grace can be yours through the2000:01:37,360 –> 00:01:42,400Lord Jesus Christ. So here’s what I hope and pray you’re going to hear through2100:01:42,400 –> 00:01:49,919the message today. There is love in the heart of God for you, there is grace from2200:01:49,919 –> 00:01:53,839the Lord Jesus Christ that you can receive today.2300:01:54,080 –> 00:01:58,320So join us today as we continue to look at this good news. We’re in the first2400:01:58,320 –> 00:02:03,160book of Timothy and Chapter 2. As we continue the message, Gospel ministry.2500:02:03,160 –> 00:02:04,680Here is Pastor Colin.2600:02:04,680 –> 00:02:10,259There’s a very important discussion about what Paul means when he says that God2700:02:10,259 –> 00:02:16,759wants all men to be saved and when he says that Christ gave himself as a2800:02:16,759 –> 00:02:22,479ransom, that is one who pays the price for all men.2900:02:22,559 –> 00:02:30,619When he says all, does he mean every single person or does He mean3000:02:30,619 –> 00:02:34,339all kinds of people?3100:02:34,339 –> 00:02:40,279Now, people come to different conclusions about this, but I am convinced that the3200:02:40,279 –> 00:02:43,440all here means all kinds of people.3300:02:43,440 –> 00:02:47,460And I want to show you its wonderful application in just a moment.3400:02:47,460 –> 00:02:50,160But I believe this for three reasons.3500:02:50,440 –> 00:02:54,339First, that is what all means in verse 1 and 2.3600:02:54,339 –> 00:03:00,699When we are called to pray for all, it’s every one in the NIV but it’s the same word.3700:03:00,699 –> 00:03:05,279God is not expecting us to pray for every single person in the world.3800:03:05,279 –> 00:03:08,339God is calling to pray for all kinds of people in the world.3900:03:08,339 –> 00:03:10,020That’s what all means in verse 1.4000:03:10,020 –> 00:03:14,380Therefore, it seems reasonable that it’s what it means later in the passage.4100:03:15,080 –> 00:03:23,699Second, the Bible never suggests that every single person will be saved, but it clearly4200:03:23,699 –> 00:03:29,360proclaims that all kinds of people will be saved and that on the last day there will4300:03:29,360 –> 00:03:34,460be people from every tribe and every language and every nation group gathered before the4400:03:34,460 –> 00:03:36,740throne of grace.4500:03:37,059 –> 00:03:45,820Third, the word ransom in verse 6 means the payment off a price.4600:03:45,839 –> 00:03:53,720If Christ paid the price for every single person, would that not mean then that hell4700:03:53,720 –> 00:04:00,619was filled with people for whom the price of their sins had already been paid?4800:04:00,619 –> 00:04:06,000Clearly that is impossible and that is a third reason why I believe that when Paul says all4900:04:06,000 –> 00:04:13,220here, he means all kinds of people and not every single person and that leads to this5000:04:13,220 –> 00:04:16,239wonderful application.5100:04:16,239 –> 00:04:24,339God wants all kinds of people to be saved.5200:04:24,339 –> 00:04:33,859More than that, Jesus Christ gave His life to ransom all kinds of people from every background5300:04:33,859 –> 00:04:38,299imaginable in this service right now.5400:04:38,299 –> 00:04:41,019God wants to save people like you.5500:04:41,019 –> 00:04:47,420Listen, in heaven there will be people with the highest degrees and the most brilliant5600:04:47,420 –> 00:04:52,540minds and there will be people who never learn to read or write.5700:04:52,540 –> 00:04:57,320There will be in heaven, people who have earned and spent millions of dollars.5800:04:57,320 –> 00:05:02,559There will be people who all their lives have scratched a living only in poverty.5900:05:02,880 –> 00:05:08,700In heaven there will be people from stable families and there will be folks from the6000:05:08,700 –> 00:05:11,779most dysfunctional families.6100:05:11,779 –> 00:05:15,920The salvation of Jesus Christ does not belong to a particular type.6200:05:15,920 –> 00:05:21,299He has come into the world to redeem all kinds of people and it is the purpose of God, to6300:05:21,299 –> 00:05:24,260redeem from across the swathes of humanity.6400:05:24,260 –> 00:05:31,579Folks, there will be people in heaven of your personality type, so why not you.6500:05:31,619 –> 00:05:36,980There will be people in heaven from your language group, your ethnic background, so why not6600:05:36,980 –> 00:05:37,980you.6700:05:37,980 –> 00:05:42,100There will be people who were once caught in the sins that have enslaved you, but have6800:05:42,100 –> 00:05:46,820been redeemed by Christ, so why should that not also include you.6900:05:46,820 –> 00:05:52,559There is one God, there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, and that7000:05:52,559 –> 00:05:59,839means that He is the Mediator for you and that God wants people like you to be saved,7100:05:59,880 –> 00:06:05,899and Christ gave His life as a ransom for people like you, so why would you not come to Jesus7200:06:05,899 –> 00:06:10,739Christ, and why would you not trust Him when others, like you, others in the same position7300:06:10,739 –> 00:06:12,619as you, are doing so.7400:06:12,619 –> 00:06:19,359For if you will come to Him, you have this promise, He will never, never, turn you away.7500:06:19,359 –> 00:06:30,540That is good news, and the church is called to a ministry of this word and prayer on a7600:06:30,540 –> 00:06:41,980global scale because Jesus Christ died for all, that’s what Paul is teaching us here.7700:06:42,500 –> 00:06:49,220Folks, that’s what it means to be a gospel centre church, grasping the one mediator,7800:06:49,220 –> 00:06:56,019Jesus Christ and the glory of what He has accomplished in His cross, driving a global7900:06:56,019 –> 00:07:03,059vision. The passion that the gospel will not end with us, but that we’ll become conduits of it8000:07:03,059 –> 00:07:12,440wherever He places us for the advance of the gospel around the world. Now, if that’s our8100:07:12,440 –> 00:07:20,799distinct calling, if that’s our ministry, an obvious question is what might stop that8200:07:20,799 –> 00:07:30,299from happening? Or if we’re to put it more positively, how are we to advance the gospel?8300:07:30,299 –> 00:07:37,339And it seems to me that in the second part of the chapter, that’s precisely what Paul is still8400:07:37,339 –> 00:07:45,079engaged with. He’s looking at the advance of gospel ministry through prayer, and he’s looking8500:07:45,079 –> 00:07:51,799at the advance of gospel ministry through the preaching of the word, which is the calling that8600:07:51,799 –> 00:07:59,339we share as the Body of Christ. So let’s look at these two particular applications in these8700:07:59,339 –> 00:08:07,040remaining moments. First, how we advanced the gospel through prayer. He says, I want men everywhere8800:08:07,059 –> 00:08:20,720to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger and disputing. Now, obviously in the New Testament the8900:08:20,720 –> 00:08:31,000ministry of prayer is given to both men and women. But Paul is calling, distinctively, on men to take9000:08:31,000 –> 00:08:40,780the lead here. This is very practical for us, how often our women folk to their great credit have9100:08:40,780 –> 00:08:47,820taken the lead and have excelled in this ministry of prayer. And I suspect it was the same in the9200:08:47,820 –> 00:08:55,539early church and Paul is saying to the men, now look, don’t you be passive here. Why is your wife9300:08:55,780 –> 00:09:01,419praying more than you are? Why is it that she has developed the ability to lead others in prayer in9400:09:01,419 –> 00:09:09,219her small group and you’re sitting there silent? I want men to step up in the local church to this9500:09:09,219 –> 00:09:13,960ministry of prayer that Paul has already established is critical to the advance of the9600:09:13,960 –> 00:09:18,260gospel in the world. I want the men to take the lead here, he says, not to the exclusion of the9700:09:18,260 –> 00:09:23,820women. I’m sure he’s saying you guys have got to step up and get alongside the women. And I think9800:09:23,820 –> 00:09:31,539there’s the need for that call today. And he says, I want you to lift up holy hands. Now the9900:09:31,539 –> 00:09:36,219emphasis here, whatever our posture and there are many different postures in the Bible for10000:09:36,219 –> 00:09:43,799pray, this is clearly one of them. But the emphasis here is on holy hands, Holy hands,10100:09:44,260 –> 00:09:51,340because remember, the Bible says that the prayer of a righteous man is what powerful and10200:09:51,340 –> 00:09:57,419effective. And Paul is saying something similar here. He’s saying, look, remember guys, you10300:09:57,419 –> 00:10:02,260can’t pray effectively as long as you are holding onto a sin or a grudge that you refuse10400:10:02,260 –> 00:10:08,419to give up. The only way for you to pray, the only way for us to pray, the only way for me10500:10:08,419 –> 00:10:14,760to pray is that we come before God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And in the name of10600:10:14,859 –> 00:10:21,780Christ alone. He alone has clean hands and a pure heart, but because he is at the right10700:10:21,780 –> 00:10:28,140hand of the Father, when we come repentantly and believingly before him, we can pray because10800:10:28,140 –> 00:10:35,140of him. And Paul is saying, I want the men to step up to this. I want to hear the men10900:10:35,739 –> 00:10:41,500in the local church praying when the church is gathered for prayer. Not only the men,11000:10:41,580 –> 00:10:48,380I want to hear the men, I really do. And notice he says something else, he says, I want that11100:10:48,380 –> 00:10:52,900praying to be without anger. In other words, he is reminding us what’s everywhere in the11200:10:52,900 –> 00:10:59,340New Testament. Remember Peter says, husbands you treat your wives with gentleness and respect.11300:10:59,340 –> 00:11:06,340Why? So that nothing will hinder your prayers. You being a bear at home, don’t think that11400:11:06,340 –> 00:11:12,619your public prayers are going to count for very much in the church. That’s what he11500:11:12,619 –> 00:11:17,820is saying. Same as the Lord Jesus said, you remember? If you are coming to worship, you11600:11:17,820 –> 00:11:21,640remember that there’s something between you and your brother, go away. Sort that out11700:11:21,640 –> 00:11:28,020first and come back, that there will be reality here.11800:11:28,020 –> 00:11:33,219And then pray with faith. I think that’s the meaning of without disputing. The word11900:11:33,219 –> 00:11:41,400is dialogismos, from which of course we get our word dialogue, which is two voices. And12000:11:41,400 –> 00:11:46,359you can see where the meaning of that then goes. Don’t pray with another voice, don’t12100:11:46,359 –> 00:11:49,979pray with two voices, in other words, don’t pray saying one thing to God but another thing12200:11:49,979 –> 00:11:53,500at the back of your mind that’s saying, I don’t really believe this anyway, I’m not12300:11:53,500 –> 00:11:58,219really sure I can trust Him. No, you pray with faith. Not with two voices, with one12400:11:58,400 –> 00:12:06,260voice. Men, this is what Paul says I’m calling you to in the church. I want you to step up12500:12:06,260 –> 00:12:16,820to the ministry of prayer privately, publicly, out of hands cleansed by the blood of Christ,12600:12:16,820 –> 00:12:24,739out of relationships that to the best of your ability are healthy and with faith, not with12700:12:24,739 –> 00:12:30,440a load of second guessing at the back of your mind. Advancing the gospel around the12800:12:30,440 –> 00:12:35,159world is dependent on prayer, you see the call that Muhammad is making here?12900:12:35,159 –> 00:12:39,539You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, and a message called Gospel13000:12:39,539 –> 00:12:45,260Ministry. It’s part of our series, 10 distinctives of a gospel-centred church. And, if you’ve13100:12:45,260 –> 00:12:51,099missed any of the messages in the series, come to our website openthebible.org.uk, and13200:12:51,140 –> 00:12:55,260there you’ll find all the messages which have already gone out on air. Back to the message13300:12:55,280 –> 00:12:57,719now. Here again is Colin.13400:12:57,719 –> 00:13:06,840Second. Advancing the ministry of the gospel through the word. Now here we have, in a section13500:13:06,840 –> 00:13:15,640that is often discussed and debated, both an affirmation and a prohibition. Notice first13600:13:15,640 –> 00:13:17,900the affirmation in verse 11.13700:13:17,940 –> 00:13:22,659And then Paul says a woman should learn.13800:13:22,659 –> 00:13:32,020Now folks, this is wonderful. Remember that Paul was writing in a culture where education13900:13:32,020 –> 00:13:42,900was designed exclusively for men. It was thought, in the early world, barely to be worth educating14000:13:43,679 –> 00:13:48,520God for the change that the gospel, in significant part, has brought to that.14100:13:48,520 –> 00:13:54,520So, when Paul says, in the early world, a woman should learn, he is making a radically,14200:13:54,520 –> 00:14:00,580wonderfully counter-cultural statement. Christian women in the early church became students14300:14:00,580 –> 00:14:07,119of the Bible, alongside the men, and Paul affirms it here. It is wonderfully liberating.14400:14:07,119 –> 00:14:14,760And don’t miss that. And then he says, he speaks about learning in quietness and submission.14500:14:14,760 –> 00:14:20,799It’s very clear, it’s not unique to women of course. That’s the only way to learn,14600:14:20,799 –> 00:14:26,119someone’s put it, I do not learn a single thing while I am speaking, I only learn when14700:14:26,119 –> 00:14:29,500I am listening. Because when I’m speaking, I’m really producing what I’ve already14800:14:29,700 –> 00:14:40,659to learn I have to listen. And learning the life of the Gospel involves a quietness of14900:14:40,659 –> 00:14:47,219spirit that is undistracted, a humility that is ready to receive, a teachable spirit that’s15000:14:47,219 –> 00:14:52,919important for everyone of us. So here’s this wonderful affirmation, and it’s for15100:14:52,919 –> 00:14:58,580men and for women, but particularly it was glorious as a statement with regards to women,15200:14:59,520 –> 00:15:06,659learning, brothers and sisters together in humility before the Word of God.15300:15:07,500 –> 00:15:12,179Then there’s a prohibition in verse 12. Notice Paul says there,15400:15:12,179 –> 00:15:19,700I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. Now, quite clearly,15500:15:19,719 –> 00:15:25,119Paul is prohibiting something here, and the question is what is it that Paul does not15600:15:25,119 –> 00:15:30,979permit? Let me make three observations and then a conclusion. Number one,15700:15:31,599 –> 00:15:40,020Paul is talking about the church. In other words, his words here about teaching do not apply in15800:15:40,020 –> 00:15:46,059education, they do not apply in a school or in a seminary or even in pioneer evangelism.15900:15:46,599 –> 00:15:51,799They are specifically words that are spoken to the particular order that God has in the church.16000:15:51,799 –> 00:15:58,419That s the first observation. Second observation, Paul is talking here about the church gathered16100:15:58,419 –> 00:16:03,020for worship. That is the context. He’s been talking about public prayer and worship and16200:16:03,020 –> 00:16:09,919now he is speaking still about the context of public gathered worship. So it seems to me that16300:16:09,919 –> 00:16:15,320his words do not apply, for example, to a small group or to a Sunday school class or to one of16400:16:15,320 –> 00:16:20,380many other settings that we may think about that are not the gathered worship of the church.16500:16:20,760 –> 00:16:30,239The context here is, as always, key. In chapter 2, Paul is talking about instructions for the16600:16:30,239 –> 00:16:36,659public worship of the church, public worship of the church, chapter 2. In chapter 3,16700:16:36,659 –> 00:16:41,020as God willing we’ll see next week, he goes on to speak about the qualifications16800:16:41,020 –> 00:16:46,140of elders to lead the church. Now putting these two things together,16900:16:46,619 –> 00:16:51,299the context I think gives us clarity about what Paul is saying,17000:16:51,299 –> 00:16:55,979that the prohibition that is quite clearly here in this 12th verse relates17100:16:55,979 –> 00:17:01,239to the teaching of the words to the congregation gathered for public worship17200:17:01,239 –> 00:17:07,380and the authority of elders over the spiritual life of the church.17300:17:07,380 –> 00:17:11,780And if you have wondered that is how our church understands this teaching,17400:17:11,780 –> 00:17:15,939that is why our elders are chosen from among godly men.17500:17:15,939 –> 00:17:19,619That is why the preaching of the word in our gathered worship in our public17600:17:19,619 –> 00:17:24,199services is trusted to pastors who are men.17700:17:24,199 –> 00:17:28,040And I just want you to notice one more thing here that the reason Paul gives for17800:17:28,040 –> 00:17:34,780this is not that men do a better job, that’s not the debate he’s engaging it.17900:17:34,780 –> 00:17:40,280He never says that, he doesn’t even go there, it’s not a question of ability.18000:17:40,280 –> 00:17:45,560He simply says it is God’s order in relation to creation.18100:17:45,579 –> 00:17:47,599That’s what he says.18200:17:47,599 –> 00:17:54,859So two particular applications of the advance of the ministry of the word and18300:17:54,859 –> 00:17:58,599the advance of the ministry of prayer.18400:17:58,599 –> 00:18:02,839Folks, I wonder why did the Holy Spirit move Paul particularly in this place to18500:18:02,839 –> 00:18:05,239right these things?18600:18:05,239 –> 00:18:10,380Why is it that men need to be called to prayer?18700:18:10,380 –> 00:18:17,219Why is it that so much of world mission historically has been carried by godly18800:18:17,219 –> 00:18:19,660women?18900:18:19,660 –> 00:18:30,339We need to hear again the calling of God that a gospel-centered church is given a19000:18:30,339 –> 00:18:38,939ministry of the word and prayer on a global scale because Jesus Christ died19100:18:39,079 –> 00:18:40,540for all.19200:18:41,319 –> 00:18:44,300One more thing and then we’re through.19300:18:44,300 –> 00:18:51,699Almost exactly a hundred years ago, there was a massive conference of world missions19400:18:51,699 –> 00:19:00,040that was held in my home city of Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Conference 1910.19500:19:00,040 –> 00:19:04,780It was an unprecedented gathering of mission leaders from all over the globe, and it was19600:19:04,780 –> 00:19:09,739thought as this great, massive organization was put together, that this would lead to19700:19:09,739 –> 00:19:16,099the evangelization of the world as the early years of the 20th century were dawning.19800:19:16,099 –> 00:19:23,439Folks, if you want to know what came of it, visit the Archives of Union Theological Seminary19900:19:23,439 –> 00:19:26,780in New York where you can find all the papers.20000:19:26,780 –> 00:19:30,239It’ll take you a long time to read.20100:19:30,239 –> 00:19:39,000There are 33 boxes and they occupy 15.5 linear feet of shelf space.20200:19:39,000 –> 00:19:42,500I remember studying this as a student, I had a particular interest because I came from20300:19:42,500 –> 00:19:45,380Edinburgh.20400:19:45,380 –> 00:19:49,660Throughout the history of the world, there have been massive efforts to galvanize the20500:19:49,719 –> 00:20:00,640church for world mission, and the question is, what really moves God’s people to have20600:20:00,640 –> 00:20:03,920a heart for the world, because I can tell you this for sure.20700:20:03,920 –> 00:20:07,719It’s not putting together some massive world-wide organization or some massive structure or20800:20:07,719 –> 00:20:11,060program, that will not do it.20900:20:11,060 –> 00:20:15,920When I was studying the Edinburgh Conference 1910, in my own devotional reading, I happened21000:20:15,959 –> 00:20:21,119to be going through a book of sermons by one of my heroes of the faith, a man by the name21100:20:21,119 –> 00:20:23,219of James Denney.21200:20:23,219 –> 00:20:28,719James Denney lived at the same time as the Edinburgh Conference, and the following year,21300:20:28,719 –> 00:20:36,4791911, he was asked to be the speaker in Edinburgh Scotland for the annual meetings of the Baptist21400:20:36,479 –> 00:20:38,760Missionary Society.21500:20:38,760 –> 00:20:43,760And I want you to imagine that after this world-wide extravaganza has taken place, setting21600:20:44,099 –> 00:20:48,839up all these world committees, massive expense, and all the rest of it, one year later, after21700:20:48,839 –> 00:20:53,479all the talk that has been about galvanizing World Mission, here’s Denney and he gets up21800:20:53,479 –> 00:21:00,000to speak in the same city the next year at the annual conference of the Baptist Missionary21900:21:00,000 –> 00:21:05,239Society, and let me read to you from what he said.22000:21:05,239 –> 00:21:12,239He said, within the last 12 months, foreign missions have been more talked about in the22100:21:12,560 –> 00:21:17,260Church than at any time I can remember in my life.22200:21:17,260 –> 00:21:22,119He described the appeals, the urgency of the need, the vastness of the need, and he said,22300:21:22,119 –> 00:21:27,099And what has been the result? Standing there on the platform he said, As far as I can see,22400:21:27,099 –> 00:21:32,280it is neither here nor there. An immense proportion of people in our churches care very little22500:21:32,280 –> 00:21:37,920about the matter. There is no sensible increase, either of contributions or of gifted men.22600:21:38,780 –> 00:21:42,459At the end of all this, how much more money is being given? At the end of all this, how22700:21:42,479 –> 00:21:45,400many more people are laying down their lives and going to the ends of the earth for the22800:21:45,400 –> 00:21:48,199advance of the Gospel? What difference is it actually made?22900:21:48,199 –> 00:21:53,140Then he gets to his point. He says, It is not interest in missions that we want in our23000:21:53,140 –> 00:21:58,359churches at this moment, he said, But it is interest in the Gospel.23100:21:58,359 –> 00:22:03,359Apart from an interest in the Gospel, he says, I believe we will look in vain for a response23200:22:03,500 –> 00:22:10,500to missionary appeals. But there is something in the Gospel itself, which immediately create23300:22:11,459 –> 00:22:18,459missionary interest, because there is no proper corollative to the Gospel but the universe.23400:22:19,739 –> 00:22:26,739You see what he grasped? If there is one mediator, and only one, and that has grasped the passion23500:22:27,199 –> 00:22:33,140and that has grasped the passion of our hearts and it’s firing our prayers, if23600:22:33,140 –> 00:22:40,140we have really grasped that there is one mediator for all, that has got to fire lives devoted23700:22:40,140 –> 00:22:46,040to global impact around the world. Dollars giving to global impact around the world.23800:22:46,040 –> 00:22:50,959It’s the Gospel that does it. It’s exactly here.23900:22:51,280 –> 00:22:57,819So folks, the cry of my heart in this message today as we’re trying to define what is critical24000:22:57,819 –> 00:23:04,000for the life of the Church is that God by His Spirit would breathe upon us such a conviction24100:23:04,000 –> 00:23:10,859of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who died for all men that we would be renewed in the ministry24200:23:10,859 –> 00:23:17,239of prayer, reinvigorated in every opportunity for proclamation, and that we would see with24300:23:17,439 –> 00:23:24,439joy that God has given us the immense privilege of global ministry for the sake of Jesus Christ24400:23:25,140 –> 00:23:29,079the One Mediator who died for all.24500:23:29,079 –> 00:23:34,300You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Gospel24600:23:34,300 –> 00:23:39,660Ministry, part of our series 10 Distinctives of a Gospel-Centred Church.24700:23:39,660 –> 00:23:44,439Open the Bible is supported by our listeners and if you already give to support our work,24800:23:44,439 –> 00:23:45,959thank you so much!24900:23:45,959 –> 00:23:50,339If you are considering beginning to support Open the Bible financially this month we’d25000:23:50,339 –> 00:23:55,880love to say thank you by sending you John Stott’s book The Incomparable Christ.25100:23:55,880 –> 00:23:58,780Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham to tell us about it.25200:23:58,780 –> 00:23:59,780Hi David.25300:23:59,780 –> 00:24:00,780Thanks for having me.25400:24:00,780 –> 00:24:05,719This month we’re delighted to be giving away a short and powerful book called The25500:24:05,719 –> 00:24:12,319Incomparable Christ by John Stott In it, Stott explores one simple but profound25600:24:12,319 –> 00:24:15,239question, Who is Jesus?25700:24:15,239 –> 00:24:21,439As he looks at the life, character and claims of Christ, he shows why Jesus stands completely25800:24:21,439 –> 00:24:24,459apart from anyone else in history.25900:24:24,459 –> 00:24:31,040It’s a small book but it’s full of rich insight and a wonderful reminder of just how extraordinary26000:24:31,040 –> 00:24:33,040Jesus really is.26100:24:33,040 –> 00:24:38,319During April we’d love to send you a copy as our way of saying thank you when you support26200:24:38,319 –> 00:24:45,140the ministry of Open the Bible UK with a one off gift of £60 or a new monthly gift of26300:24:45,219 –> 00:24:46,680£45.26400:24:46,680 –> 00:24:49,900To find out more visit Open the Bible dot org .uk26500:24:49,900 –> 00:24:55,760Well the incomparable Christ is our gift to you when you set up a new direct debit of26600:24:55,760 –> 00:25:01,219£5 per month or more or a one off gift of £60 or more this month.26700:25:01,219 –> 00:25:06,719Full terms and conditions on our website and you can give online.26800:25:06,719 –> 00:25:10,400For Open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick26900:25:10,400 –> 00:25:12,400and I hope you’ll join us again next time.27000:25:15,540 –> 00:25:21,979Every Christian should try to maximise their usefulness to Christ.27100:25:21,979 –> 00:25:27,500So what should you pursue and how can you be effective in ministry?27200:25:27,500 –> 00:25:29,400Find out next time on Open the Bible.