100:00:00,520 –> 00:00:02,520I Don’t See the Fuse200:00:03,400 –> 00:00:06,820Thank God that being a Christian is more than believing a creed300:00:07,680 –> 00:00:12,200Thank God the being a Christian is more than adopting a way of life400:00:12,740 –> 00:00:18,000to be a Christian is to know and to enjoy and to live on the power and500:00:18,480 –> 00:00:24,219presence of Jesus Christ in your life in everything you face from here to600:00:24,740 –> 00:00:31,459Eternity. Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick glad you could join us today and Colin700:00:31,459 –> 00:00:34,419That’s what our whole series has been about isn’t it?800:00:34,700 –> 00:00:40,299Everything you need for life and today we’ll hear how we have everything we need for action in Christ900:00:40,619 –> 00:00:42,380Yeah right at the end of 1peter1000:00:42,380 –> 00:00:48,259So he’s wrapping up everything that he’s had to say and a large part of it has been about how many people1100:00:48,340 –> 00:00:54,500Distort the gospel they want having said something about Jesus that makes everyone think oh1200:00:54,500 –> 00:00:55,860Well, they must be the real deal1300:00:55,860 –> 00:01:01,439They then take it off in an entirely different direction and Peter says you’ve got to be on your guard1400:01:01,459 –> 00:01:08,000There are unstable people who will seek to come into the church and to draw people away1500:01:08,099 –> 00:01:11,180You’ve got to be on your guard. You’ve got to be a discerning person1600:01:11,180 –> 00:01:16,260We’re going to look at how to do that and what that actually means and the way in which you do that1700:01:16,500 –> 00:01:21,440Is by growing as a Christian yourself, that’s the way in which discernment develops1800:01:21,459 –> 00:01:26,739So join us today, if you can in 2 Peter chapter 3 as we begin the message1900:01:27,260 –> 00:01:28,820Everything you need for action2000:01:28,820 –> 00:01:30,739Here is Pastor Colin2100:01:30,739 –> 00:01:36,6202nd Peter in chapter 3 and I want us to focus in especially on the last two verses2200:01:37,099 –> 00:01:39,099verses 17 and 182300:01:40,379 –> 00:01:42,379Where Peter calls us to action2400:01:43,099 –> 00:01:44,199so2500:01:44,199 –> 00:01:46,620In Peter chapter 3 and verse 172600:01:49,419 –> 00:01:51,760Be on your guard2700:01:54,459 –> 00:02:01,980So that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position2800:02:03,379 –> 00:02:09,300But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ2900:02:10,240 –> 00:02:17,419To him be glory both now and forever3000:02:19,119 –> 00:02:21,119Amen3100:02:21,399 –> 00:02:26,539Now second Peter we’ve seen is all about the sufficiency of Jesus Christ3200:02:27,559 –> 00:02:30,139God has given you everything you need3300:02:30,679 –> 00:02:35,720For everything you will ever face in your life in this world in knowing his Son Jesus Christ3400:02:35,979 –> 00:02:40,860If you are in Christ think of this, the Son of God is for you3500:02:41,500 –> 00:02:43,419He is with you3600:02:43,419 –> 00:02:45,419He is in you in3700:02:45,800 –> 00:02:51,899Everything that you face in every circumstance of life in every season of life3800:02:52,339 –> 00:02:54,339from here to eternity3900:02:54,440 –> 00:02:58,039And this is an amazing promise everything you need in Christ4000:02:58,039 –> 00:03:02,679And of course, it’s not just here in second Peter. It runs through all of the Bible4100:03:02,740 –> 00:03:04,440Through all of the Bible4200:03:04,440 –> 00:03:09,119My God shall supply all your need. Paul says4300:03:09,960 –> 00:03:13,720According to His riches in Christ, Jesus everything you need4400:03:14,279 –> 00:03:16,279You will find in Him4500:03:16,399 –> 00:03:23,479That’s Philippians chapter 4 in verse 19 or again from the same chapter Paul says I can do all things4600:03:24,279 –> 00:03:29,279Through Christ who gives me strength. That’s where my resource for life is4700:03:29,339 –> 00:03:30,619is4800:03:30,619 –> 00:03:34,919Christ says to Paul on another occasion 2nd Corinthians and4900:03:35,559 –> 00:03:40,559Chapter 12 it’s my grace. Christ says that is sufficient for you5000:03:40,559 –> 00:03:45,779And it’s my strength that is made perfect in your weakness5100:03:45,779 –> 00:03:49,979And this is how we face life as Christian believers, isn’t it?5200:03:51,059 –> 00:03:54,479Thank God that being a Christian is more than believing a creed5300:03:55,440 –> 00:04:00,259Thank God that being a Christian is more than adopting a way of life5400:04:01,419 –> 00:04:06,740to be a Christian is to know and to enjoy and to live on the power and5500:04:07,160 –> 00:04:13,199Presence of Jesus Christ in your life in everything you face from here to eternity5600:04:14,600 –> 00:04:16,600and that’s what this letter is about the5700:04:16,720 –> 00:04:20,179Sufficiency of Jesus Christ for everything you face in all of your life5800:04:20,260 –> 00:04:24,799And so our aim in this series has been that we will embrace the Lord5900:04:24,799 –> 00:04:30,179Jesus Christ more fully more gladly more joyfully, and that we will prove him6000:04:30,739 –> 00:04:36,359No matter what it is that you face in your life we face in our life and ministry6100:04:36,859 –> 00:04:38,019together6200:04:38,019 –> 00:04:42,540As we move through this series. We’ve seen that Jesus Christ is6300:04:43,260 –> 00:04:47,220everything that we need for life for growth for faith6400:04:47,959 –> 00:04:51,679For Deliverance for patience for hope and6500:04:52,899 –> 00:04:55,339Today that He is everything we need for action6600:04:55,339 –> 00:05:00,500I want you to notice then that at the end of this letter Peter calls us to action and he does it in three ways6700:05:01,440 –> 00:05:04,980first there’s something that we’re to guard verse 17 and6800:05:05,779 –> 00:05:08,220We to be real proactive about this guard6900:05:09,220 –> 00:05:13,579Against distortions of the gospel that diminish, Jesus Christ something to guard7000:05:14,500 –> 00:05:20,739Second, he wants us to grow verse 18 grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ7100:05:21,600 –> 00:05:27,299and thirdly wants us to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ both now and7200:05:28,160 –> 00:05:29,179forever7300:05:29,179 –> 00:05:34,480more that’s the call to action with which Peter ends this marvelous marvelous letter7400:05:34,500 –> 00:05:40,640And I want you to notice how all of his call to action is centered in our Lord and Savior7500:05:41,100 –> 00:05:42,640Jesus Christ7600:05:42,640 –> 00:05:44,640going to look at these three things7700:05:45,040 –> 00:05:50,820Disproportionately on the first just so that you don’t think I’ve completely lost it this week7800:05:51,779 –> 00:05:53,779number one then guard7900:05:54,640 –> 00:05:56,640guard against8000:05:56,920 –> 00:05:58,920distortions of the gospel8100:05:59,320 –> 00:06:01,320that diminish8200:06:01,459 –> 00:06:03,299Jesus Christ8300:06:03,299 –> 00:06:05,600and of course if we have seen as a8400:06:05,600 –> 00:06:10,540Congregation that all that we need for life is in Jesus Christ8500:06:10,540 –> 00:06:15,299We will want to guard very carefully against anything that displaces Jesus Christ8600:06:16,040 –> 00:06:18,040Anything that diminishes Jesus Christ?8700:06:18,640 –> 00:06:20,640anything that moves the focus of8800:06:20,959 –> 00:06:22,540ministry away8900:06:22,540 –> 00:06:24,859From our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ9000:06:24,859 –> 00:06:30,100And that’s where Peter comes at the end of the letter verse 17 therefore dear friends9100:06:31,220 –> 00:06:33,220since you already know this9200:06:33,540 –> 00:06:35,980Be on your guard9300:06:37,100 –> 00:06:41,820So that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall9400:06:42,799 –> 00:06:45,480from your secure position and what’s he saying9500:06:46,679 –> 00:06:48,679Since you already know this9600:06:49,720 –> 00:06:51,720Know what?9700:06:52,320 –> 00:06:54,320What do we already know9800:06:55,079 –> 00:06:58,920That will put us on guard with regards to the gospel9900:06:59,779 –> 00:07:00,959well10000:07:00,959 –> 00:07:04,67916 tells us that there are some things in the Bible. Peter says10100:07:05,320 –> 00:07:07,320which ignorant and10200:07:07,640 –> 00:07:09,519unstable people10300:07:09,519 –> 00:07:11,519distort, notice that word as10400:07:12,140 –> 00:07:17,140They do the other scriptures, and they do this verse 16 to their own destruction10500:07:18,820 –> 00:07:23,739Now that in the context is why he says that we as Christian people individually and together10600:07:24,519 –> 00:07:27,019Always need to be on our guard. Why?10700:07:27,619 –> 00:07:30,260Because we know and we must know this10800:07:30,920 –> 00:07:37,799That in every generation there will be people who distort the message of the Bible which of course is about our Lord and Savior10900:07:37,799 –> 00:07:39,619Jesus Christ11000:07:39,619 –> 00:07:44,200They will do this notice. What Peter says to their own destruction11100:07:45,359 –> 00:07:53,399The problem of course is that the destruction of such ministry has broader effects within the church as well11200:07:54,519 –> 00:07:56,519distorting the gospel11300:07:56,720 –> 00:08:03,019Always diminishes Jesus Christ wherever you have a distortion of the gospel and we’ll look at just a few examples in a moment11400:08:03,040 –> 00:08:08,519They always diminish Jesus Christ and displace him with something or someone else11500:08:09,339 –> 00:08:15,440At the center you can see why that’s so destructive because if it is in Christ that we have everything that we need for life11600:08:17,320 –> 00:08:19,320Then moving away from him11700:08:19,940 –> 00:08:23,399we’re no longer going to be able to have or to offer a11800:08:24,720 –> 00:08:28,079What people need in life, it’s a very strange thing. Think about this irony11900:08:29,140 –> 00:08:34,219That there are many churches today who feel that they want to focus on12000:08:35,400 –> 00:08:37,840helping people to do life and12100:08:39,500 –> 00:08:41,000Here’s the irony12200:08:41,000 –> 00:08:47,099If we move the focus away from Jesus Christ in order to help people how to do life12300:08:47,159 –> 00:08:53,099We lose the capacity to help people how to do life because the way to do life is in knowing Jesus Christ12400:08:53,880 –> 00:08:55,799Now12500:08:56,500 –> 00:09:00,640Guard against this it’s what Peters saying at the end of the letter12600:09:03,900 –> 00:09:08,979From time to time, I have the privilege of being involved in an interview with a man who wants to be a pastor12700:09:10,859 –> 00:09:13,520One of the questions I like to ask is this12800:09:16,099 –> 00:09:23,719What movements and trends do you see in the Christian world today that you think diminished the gospel of Jesus Christ12900:09:24,659 –> 00:09:26,640in other words, what13000:09:27,200 –> 00:09:29,200Teachings are out there13100:09:29,239 –> 00:09:31,239that you disagree with13200:09:33,280 –> 00:09:40,559Because if a man can’t identify error, how in all the world can regard the truth?13300:09:43,520 –> 00:09:45,520Truth matters13400:09:45,640 –> 00:09:53,059It matters in your life and it matters in the church getting the gospel. Right matters the centrality of Jesus Christ13500:09:53,599 –> 00:10:00,900Matters and at the end of this great letter Peter the great apostle in his last letter to the church says guard it13600:10:01,820 –> 00:10:07,239Because there will always be people who want to distort it. And since you already know this13700:10:09,119 –> 00:10:11,119Be on your guard13800:10:11,320 –> 00:10:18,400Because nothing is more destructive to a person’s life or to the church of God than distortions of the gospel that diminish Jesus Christ13900:10:18,440 –> 00:10:22,659have you ever thought about this that a large part of the New Testament is14000:10:23,640 –> 00:10:26,119addresses precisely this issue of14100:10:26,580 –> 00:10:32,320Guarding against distortions of the gospel that diminish our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Think about it big picture14200:10:33,359 –> 00:10:35,359the Book of Galatians14300:10:35,919 –> 00:10:38,000What’s it about? Why was it written?14400:10:40,000 –> 00:10:44,239The gospel was being distorted among the churches in Galatia14500:10:45,000 –> 00:10:48,059By a list of rules that was what was happening14600:10:48,140 –> 00:10:49,859When Christ was being diminished by14700:10:49,859 –> 00:10:53,140people who wanted to turn the liberty of the gospel into a14800:10:53,140 –> 00:10:54,880you must do this and you can’t do that14900:10:54,979 –> 00:10:56,299And it just became a list of rules15000:10:56,299 –> 00:10:58,559and Peter said no that diminishes Christ15100:10:59,580 –> 00:11:03,340And we must guard against it. That’s what the Letter of Galatians is all about15200:11:04,820 –> 00:11:07,460Think about Corinthians where there were so many issues15300:11:08,619 –> 00:11:14,760But surely one of them was that the gospel was distorted by magnetic personalities15400:11:16,299 –> 00:11:17,619I am of Paul15500:11:18,059 –> 00:11:19,780I am of Apollos15600:11:20,460 –> 00:11:22,239I am a fan of Peter15700:11:22,840 –> 00:11:24,159That’s my paraphrase15800:11:25,400 –> 00:11:30,479Magnetic leadership personalities will attract people15900:11:31,900 –> 00:11:35,280But they cannot give you what you need for life16000:11:36,700 –> 00:11:39,539And they cannot give your kids what they need for life16100:11:40,539 –> 00:11:47,179Because what we and our children and our children’s children and their children need for life is found in16200:11:48,260 –> 00:11:50,260Christ16300:11:50,940 –> 00:11:57,559So Christ-centered ministry across the board in the church is the thing that really matters and we must guard it. Peter says16400:11:59,140 –> 00:12:05,619Because your spiritual life and health and the spiritual life and health of the church hangs on16500:12:06,539 –> 00:12:08,539this16600:12:09,340 –> 00:12:11,219Colossians16700:12:11,219 –> 00:12:13,419the Gospel in that letter16800:12:14,059 –> 00:12:20,760Was written in large part because the gospel was being distorted by human traditions and the basic16900:12:20,940 –> 00:12:27,820principles of this world you find these phrases in Colossians chapter 2 in verse 8 and and Paul writes to the churches in Colossians says17000:12:28,059 –> 00:12:34,320Don’t become a church that just runs on tradition and don’t become a church that just runs on17100:12:34,559 –> 00:12:36,559The way that the world runs17200:12:36,900 –> 00:12:40,619because if you buy into running the church like a business you lose the17300:12:40,719 –> 00:12:43,840centrality of Jesus Christ and you lose the gospel a17400:12:45,080 –> 00:12:48,840whole swathe of the New Testament is precisely about this17500:12:50,260 –> 00:12:55,200Because it really really really matters and at the as we come to the end of 2nd Peter17600:12:55,200 –> 00:13:00,640We’re right in the same place be on your guard against men who distort17700:13:01,640 –> 00:13:05,820The gospel if God has given us everything we need for life and knowing Christ17800:13:07,119 –> 00:13:11,280then knowing Christ matters more than anything else in your life or in17900:13:14,760 –> 00:13:20,559You’re listening to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith and a message called everything you need for action18000:13:20,799 –> 00:13:24,780Part of our series everything you need for life based on the book of 2 Peter18100:13:25,419 –> 00:13:31,400If you’ve missed any of the series you can catch up or go back and listen again by coming online to our website18200:13:31,659 –> 00:13:37,039Open the Bible org UK. Also on all your favorite podcast sites18300:13:37,559 –> 00:13:42,000Open the Bible UK will get you there or follow the link from our website18400:13:42,739 –> 00:13:49,700Back to the message now here again is pastor Colin if God has given us everything we need for life in knowing Christ18500:13:50,479 –> 00:13:55,020Then knowing Christ matters more than anything else in your life or in18600:13:56,520 –> 00:13:58,520the church18700:13:58,760 –> 00:14:04,520Now notice what he says one more time, please in verse 17 here be on your guard18800:14:05,940 –> 00:14:09,880so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and18900:14:11,299 –> 00:14:15,380Fall from your secure position19000:14:16,200 –> 00:14:19,200Fall from your secure position19100:14:20,640 –> 00:14:22,640Well, that sounds scary, doesn’t it?19200:14:24,119 –> 00:14:26,359Does this mean that I am NOT secure?19300:14:28,820 –> 00:14:32,619No, look at what it says Peter says you are secure you’re in a secure position19400:14:34,559 –> 00:14:41,239You are secure as a believer in Christ that’s what he says but remember your security is in Christ19500:14:41,280 –> 00:14:44,039That’s the whole point of the danger of the church moving away19600:14:44,039 –> 00:14:47,960From Christ or of any person moving away from Christ19700:14:47,960 –> 00:14:51,840Which is what the book of Hebrews is all about your security is in Christ19800:14:52,380 –> 00:14:58,000Therefore you hold to Him and do not move away from him, and you guard against anything19900:14:58,840 –> 00:15:03,340that would diminish the centrality of Jesus Christ in life or in20000:15:04,539 –> 00:15:06,539the church20100:15:06,679 –> 00:15:08,679The church20200:15:09,479 –> 00:15:15,940No security outside of Christ which of course is why paul says to the Corinthians you remember in chapter 1520300:15:16,580 –> 00:15:18,659Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel20400:15:19,380 –> 00:15:21,380that I preach to you20500:15:21,380 –> 00:15:25,140The gospel on which you’ve taken your stand by which you are saved20600:15:26,099 –> 00:15:28,099If you hold firmly20700:15:28,739 –> 00:15:31,780To the word I preach to you paul says otherwise you’ve believed in vain20800:15:32,780 –> 00:15:37,940Do you not know people who once profess faith in Christ but now have abandoned him20900:15:37,940 –> 00:15:40,859They were like the seed that sprung up quickly and then withered21000:15:43,460 –> 00:15:45,460Be on your guard21100:15:46,599 –> 00:15:50,960You cling to the Lord Jesus Christ and you will find him clinging to you21200:15:51,820 –> 00:15:53,700from here21300:15:53,700 –> 00:15:55,700to eternity21400:15:56,479 –> 00:15:59,700But you see if we place our confidence in rules21500:16:00,380 –> 00:16:02,380Or in21600:16:04,320 –> 00:16:06,239Personalities21700:16:06,239 –> 00:16:09,739Or in traditions or the way that this world does things21800:16:11,760 –> 00:16:14,479Then what Peter is saying is we will not stand and21900:16:16,760 –> 00:16:18,760Our fruit will not last22000:16:21,179 –> 00:16:25,320Because our life is in Christ22100:16:25,700 –> 00:16:27,700So22200:16:28,020 –> 00:16:32,739Just being very practical you see as to how this works out for a local church when we say22300:16:32,940 –> 00:16:37,119In our mission statement that all of us of course know completely by heart22400:16:38,760 –> 00:16:41,119That we want to join with me if you’d like to22500:16:41,460 –> 00:16:46,599To glorify God by multiplying God centered Christ exalting world22600:16:47,080 –> 00:16:50,460transforming believers in the Greater Chicago area and around the world22700:16:50,940 –> 00:16:55,940What we’re saying in that very intentional mission statement is22800:16:56,840 –> 00:17:02,299That we are on our guard against becoming self-centered believers. That’s why the word God centered is there22900:17:03,700 –> 00:17:05,420We are on our guard23000:17:05,420 –> 00:17:09,800Against becoming the kind of church where comfort matters more than the advanced of the gospel23100:17:09,839 –> 00:17:12,439We’re guarding against that. We don’t want to let that happen23200:17:14,579 –> 00:17:19,560We’re saying secondly we are on our guard against becoming self exalting believers23300:17:19,579 –> 00:17:22,060That’s why the word Christ exalting is in there23400:17:23,160 –> 00:17:27,199The kind of church that’s all about personalities and everyone getting their own way23500:17:29,939 –> 00:17:36,020We’re saying in our very mission statement that we are on our guard against becoming self-absorbed believers23600:17:37,339 –> 00:17:39,920That’s why the word world transforming is in there23700:17:40,760 –> 00:17:46,079But on our guard against becoming the kind of people who are just interested in our own personal spiritual growth23800:17:46,079 –> 00:17:51,660but really don’t care about the lost in the community out there and don’t care about the lost around the world and23900:17:53,060 –> 00:17:58,000And we’re on our guard that’s why you have a mission statement say what we are doing and what we’re not doing24000:17:59,739 –> 00:18:07,400Now you see whose job is it to guard the church against distortions of the gospel that diminish our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ24100:18:09,040 –> 00:18:11,040Is that the pastors job24200:18:11,819 –> 00:18:12,800Yes24300:18:13,780 –> 00:18:20,020Is that the elders job yes, is that the members job24400:18:21,119 –> 00:18:24,560Yes, is that the volunteers job?24500:18:25,979 –> 00:18:32,859Yes, is it the newest Christians job yes all of the above24600:18:34,739 –> 00:18:36,739Now at this point24700:18:37,099 –> 00:18:40,180You may be wondering how in all the world can I do this I?24800:18:41,180 –> 00:18:43,180Mean you’re an ordinary Christian24900:18:44,099 –> 00:18:46,099You’ve never been to seminary25000:18:47,500 –> 00:18:49,500so how can you25100:18:50,339 –> 00:18:52,339discern error and25200:18:52,680 –> 00:18:55,760Guard the truth, how can you do that in your own life?25300:18:57,060 –> 00:19:01,000How can you do that as part of the body of Christ in the church?25400:19:02,219 –> 00:19:06,959Well let me try and give you just some practical help here on this point because it’s a very important25500:19:06,959 –> 00:19:11,479I think there are two ways in which we can discern error25600:19:12,199 –> 00:19:17,800One is by zooming in and the other is by zooming out25700:19:19,119 –> 00:19:25,520Zooming in is quite demanding zooming out is incredibly easy and anybody can do it25800:19:25,619 –> 00:19:27,560Let me explain these two to you25900:19:29,160 –> 00:19:31,160Zooming in26000:19:31,239 –> 00:19:33,160Involves developing a careful understanding26100:19:33,640 –> 00:19:37,719Of what is being said by leaders and movements in our time26200:19:38,800 –> 00:19:44,000Now frankly that is especially a job and a responsibility for pastors and elders26300:19:44,800 –> 00:19:46,800The Bible makes that clear26400:19:47,359 –> 00:19:50,400Paul said to Timothy who was a pastor26500:19:51,040 –> 00:19:56,800To a local congregation in Ephesus Paul said to Timothy as the pastor guard the gospel26600:19:57,359 –> 00:19:59,920That’s to Timothy chapter 1 and verse 1426700:19:59,920 –> 00:20:03,439Then he said in the first letter command certain people26800:20:03,739 –> 00:20:10,319Not to teach false doctrines nor to devote themselves to myths in other words Paul says to Timothy26900:20:10,319 –> 00:20:16,760You’re the pastor. It is your job to know what is going on to know what is going on in a particular27000:20:18,000 –> 00:20:22,060Degree and to be able to address that and to take responsibility27100:20:22,359 –> 00:20:28,459Responsibility for guarding the church against that so let me make this application. Will you thank God27200:20:29,880 –> 00:20:33,479For pastors and Elders who are determined27300:20:34,260 –> 00:20:40,160To guard the gospel by keeping it at the center of the church, and will you pray for us in?27400:20:41,180 –> 00:20:43,180that great responsibility27500:20:44,180 –> 00:20:48,079Because it’s never easy never has been and it never will be27600:20:49,859 –> 00:20:51,859That’s zooming in27700:20:52,459 –> 00:20:54,459Here’s zooming out27800:20:54,900 –> 00:21:00,099zooming out which is much simpler and every Christian can do this and by the way, this is how27900:21:01,859 –> 00:21:08,520Ordinary believers can check the pastors which is a very important thing to be able to do how do you do it?28000:21:10,020 –> 00:21:13,920Well, let me put it this way zooming out when you listen to Christian teaching28100:21:15,219 –> 00:21:20,660when you’re trying to get a handle on a new movement or a discussion and Christian magazines or whatever it is when you’re trying to28200:21:20,719 –> 00:21:22,819evaluate simply another person’s ideas28300:21:22,819 –> 00:21:29,739they’re talking about this or that relation to the faith when you go into the Christian bookshop and you’re browsing around and there are a28400:21:30,540 –> 00:21:34,260thousand options as to what you could read and you have that long to look at28500:21:34,479 –> 00:21:38,119Ten titles and you’re trying to decide should I bear this one or should I buy that one?28600:21:39,239 –> 00:21:42,060Ask this single question28700:21:43,300 –> 00:21:49,920Does this make more of me or more of Jesus it’s a great question28800:21:51,520 –> 00:21:56,479Ask it all the time. Does this make more of me or28900:21:57,660 –> 00:21:59,660more of Jesus29000:22:00,540 –> 00:22:06,540You’ve been listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called everything you need for action29100:22:06,540 –> 00:22:10,500And you can hear the second part of the message in our next broadcast29200:22:10,500 –> 00:22:12,119So hope you’ll join us for that29300:22:12,119 –> 00:22:14,660The message is the final one in the series29400:22:14,920 –> 00:22:16,339Everything you need for life29500:22:16,339 –> 00:22:18,439and if you’ve missed any of the series29600:22:18,459 –> 00:22:22,800You can easily catch up or go back and listen again by coming online to our website29700:22:23,500 –> 00:22:31,099Open the Bible org dots UK or go to your favorite podcast site search there for open the Bible UK and29800:22:31,579 –> 00:22:33,900Subscribe if you want to receive regular updates29900:22:34,719 –> 00:22:39,400Also available on our website and as a podcast is open the Bible daily30000:22:39,640 –> 00:22:43,599That’s our series of short two to three-minute daily reflections30100:22:44,060 –> 00:22:47,359Based on pastor Colin’s teaching and read specially in the UK30200:22:48,079 –> 00:22:54,719You can find a new one on the website and as a podcast every day and many Christians find it’s a great way to start30300:22:54,719 –> 00:22:57,219The day that’s open the Bible daily30400:22:58,180 –> 00:23:03,199Open the Bible is able to be on this station as well as our website and the podcasts30500:23:03,199 –> 00:23:07,280Because listeners like you give generously to support our work30600:23:07,500 –> 00:23:11,859so if you already support and open the Bible in this way, thank you so much if30700:23:12,479 –> 00:23:16,239Supporting open the Bible is something you want to start doing this month30800:23:16,239 –> 00:23:21,319We’d love to say thank you by sending you pastor Collins brand new book grow in hope30900:23:21,500 –> 00:23:27,699It’s a 30 day devotional study drawing on Scripture and years of pastoral experience31000:23:28,660 –> 00:23:32,760Cullen what is the one thing you’d like readers to take away from this book?31100:23:32,760 –> 00:23:39,119Well, it would be very practical because every Christian knows what it is to go through dark times when we feel discouraged31200:23:39,400 –> 00:23:44,359We’re down, we don’t know how to move forward and when these times come in your life31300:23:44,819 –> 00:23:50,500You need to know how to handle your own soul how to encourage and strengthen yourself31400:23:51,380 –> 00:23:57,380David of course speaks about this. He knew what this was like in Psalm 42. He speaks to himself31500:23:57,680 –> 00:24:04,619He says why are you cast down on my soul? Why are you in turmoil within me? And then he says hope in God31600:24:05,900 –> 00:24:10,280so I hope what people will take away from this is that they’ll be helped and31700:24:10,619 –> 00:24:18,939Encouraged in being able to speak to their own soul in the way that David did in Psalm 42 and to find hope in God31800:24:19,140 –> 00:24:21,760Because there is hope in God for every31900:24:22,119 –> 00:24:25,699Circumstance of life and it comes to us in and through the Lord Jesus Christ32000:24:25,979 –> 00:24:33,699so Pastor Collins book growing hope is our gift to you when you set up a new direct debit of 5 pounds per month or32100:24:33,699 –> 00:24:39,459More or a one off gift of 60 pounds or more to support the work of open the Bible this month32200:24:39,780 –> 00:24:46,060Full terms and conditions are on our website at open the bible org.uk, and you can give online32300:24:46,780 –> 00:24:53,000Don’t forget though to leave your full name and address when you donate so we’ll be able to send you your gift32400:24:53,739 –> 00:24:56,119For open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith32500:24:56,119 –> 00:25:01,800I’m David pick thanks for being with us today, and we look forward to having you join us again next time32600:25:01,800 –> 00:25:24,000How do you evaluate the latest Christian teacher or Christian book or another Christian’s ideas?32700:25:24,000 –> 00:25:28,239Find out next time on Open the Bible