100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:11,160The book of Proverbs gives wisdom for husbands and for wives for parents and for children200:00:11,160 –> 00:00:17,000and for brothers and for sisters. So, whatever your situation in life300:00:17,000 –> 00:00:22,520there is something here for each and every one of us today.400:00:22,520 –> 00:00:27,820Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick, glad you could join us today.500:00:28,180 –> 00:00:33,860We’re looking today at the Book of Proverbs again and its wisdom for families.600:00:33,860 –> 00:00:39,299Yes, and you know, I suppose that Proverbs would not be the place that we would look first700:00:39,299 –> 00:00:44,740in regards to wisdom and family life. The other places in the Bible that come, I think, much800:00:44,740 –> 00:00:51,220more quickly to mind. But what I’ve found in delving into this Book of Proverbs is that God900:00:51,220 –> 00:00:58,599has given us a treasure trove of wisdom for all the relationships of family life. So,1000:00:58,599 –> 00:01:03,419you know, do you have a difficult relationship with a sister or a brother? Are you struggling1100:01:03,419 –> 00:01:09,160in some way with a father or a mother or a son or a daughter? All of the relationships1200:01:09,160 –> 00:01:15,519in family life are addressed very specifically and the wisdom that is given to us – because1300:01:15,519 –> 00:01:21,160it’s the wisdom of God in Scripture – you just read it and then you find yourself saying,1400:01:21,440 –> 00:01:27,760God knows what it’s like to be in this particular relationship and he’s giving me wisdom as1500:01:27,760 –> 00:01:31,919to how to handle it well. So, I’m so glad that we have the opportunity of being in the1600:01:31,919 –> 00:01:37,440book of Proverbs and looking at these really important relationships of family today.1700:01:37,440 –> 00:01:43,720Join us today, if you can, in Proverbs chapter 3 as we begin a message of family. Here’s1800:01:43,720 –> 00:01:44,800Pastor Colin.1900:01:45,120 –> 00:01:53,239Now, Proverbs gives us wisdom for the whole of life and we’re looking at 5 themes in particular.2000:01:53,239 –> 00:02:00,180Last week we looked at the theme of friendship and today we are looking at the theme of family.2100:02:00,180 –> 00:02:06,519And the book of Proverbs gives wisdom for husbands and for wives, for parents and for2200:02:06,519 –> 00:02:13,500children and for brothers and for sisters. So, whatever your situation in life, there2300:02:13,500 –> 00:02:17,759is something here for each and every one of us today.2400:02:17,759 –> 00:02:27,960We’re going to begin with wisdom for brothers and sisters. And I want to draw your attention2500:02:27,960 –> 00:02:35,520to Proverbs 18 and verse 19 where we learn that close relationships are vulnerable to2600:02:35,520 –> 00:02:47,500deep wounds. Proverbs 18, 19. A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city. And2700:02:47,500 –> 00:02:56,880quarreling is like the bars of a castle. The reference is to a sibling, and if I were to2800:02:56,880 –> 00:03:03,539ask how many of us here in this service have a strained relationship with a sibling, a2900:03:03,639 –> 00:03:09,119brother or a sister, I’m not going to do this, but I were to ask for a show of hands, I think3000:03:09,119 –> 00:03:15,300there would be plenty. If you have a sibling, how do you get on with your brother? How do3100:03:15,300 –> 00:03:21,919you get on with what is your relationship like with your sister? And what we’re being3200:03:21,919 –> 00:03:27,240told here very clearly is if you have a good relationship with your brother or your sister,3300:03:27,240 –> 00:03:35,759cherish it, and guard it, because proverbs reminds us that close relationships are especially3400:03:35,759 –> 00:03:45,839vulnerable to deep wounds, that don’t heal easily. A brother offended is more unyielding3500:03:45,839 –> 00:03:51,500than a strong city. Now of course, you see this throughout the Bible. You remember that3600:03:51,500 –> 00:03:56,800the first two children born into the world were both boys, Cain and Abel. And one of3700:03:56,800 –> 00:04:04,080these brothers was jealous of the other, and you know that that story didn’t end well.3800:04:04,080 –> 00:04:13,460Then you have Jacob and Esau, then you have Joseph and his brothers, in the gospels you3900:04:13,460 –> 00:04:20,440have a man who comes to Jesus asking if Jesus can settle a dispute that he has with his4000:04:20,440 –> 00:04:23,500brother over inheritance money.4100:04:23,500 –> 00:04:25,359How often has that happened?4200:04:25,359 –> 00:04:33,279Squabbling and quarreling in families between brothers and sisters over who gets what.4300:04:33,279 –> 00:04:40,600And then we are told, in regards to the family in which our Lord Jesus was raised, that the4400:04:40,600 –> 00:04:52,119family of Jesus, that is his brothers and sisters, said that he was out of his mind.4500:04:52,119 –> 00:05:01,720So if jealousy of a brother or sister is a trial in your life, then know that the Lord4600:05:01,720 –> 00:05:08,320Jesus has been there, and he knows what living with this is like.4700:05:08,320 –> 00:05:17,239A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city and quarreling is like the bars4800:05:17,239 –> 00:05:18,880of a castle.4900:05:18,880 –> 00:05:28,440Now, what that’s telling us is that when quarreling takes root, it locks a person in5000:05:28,440 –> 00:05:34,380so that it’s as if you’re behind the bars of a castle on the one side and your brother5100:05:34,459 –> 00:05:40,100or sister is behind the bars of a castle on the other side.5200:05:40,100 –> 00:05:46,500And the closer the relationship, the stronger the bars can be.5300:05:46,500 –> 00:05:49,940So close relationships are vulnerable to deep wounds.5400:05:49,940 –> 00:05:57,399And so we are to handle them with special care and to be very careful not to quarrel5500:05:57,399 –> 00:06:00,799with a brother or with a sister.5600:06:00,799 –> 00:06:06,239And another of the Proverbs, this is Proverbs 17 and verse 14 says that5700:06:06,239 –> 00:06:19,980the beginning of strife is like the letting out of water, so quit before the quarrel breaks5800:06:19,980 –> 00:06:21,739out.5900:06:21,739 –> 00:06:27,320Wonderful wisdom from the word of God, guard those relationships that are vulnerable with6000:06:27,320 –> 00:06:35,380special care and especially be careful not to quarrel with your brother or with your6100:06:35,380 –> 00:06:36,579sister.6200:06:36,579 –> 00:06:42,799Second, wisdom for husbands and wives, there’s so much here in Proverbs, I want to just touch6300:06:42,799 –> 00:06:49,720on one thing and that is to remind those of us who are married that your spouse is a gift6400:06:49,880 –> 00:06:51,619from the Lord.6500:06:51,619 –> 00:07:02,320Proverbs 18, verse 22, he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from6600:07:02,320 –> 00:07:03,320the Lord.6700:07:03,320 –> 00:07:10,179Now, remember, these are the words of wise King Solomon to his son, Rehoboam and here6800:07:10,179 –> 00:07:17,839you have therefore, a wise father commending marriage to his son as a good thing, it’s6900:07:17,839 –> 00:07:22,679a good gift from the Lord, son this father says.7000:07:22,679 –> 00:07:30,899Now, this is very important for us to remember because we live in a culture that often flaunts7100:07:30,899 –> 00:07:33,000what it calls freedom.7200:07:33,000 –> 00:07:40,660So, you get a question like, well who wants to be tied down.7300:07:40,660 –> 00:07:46,359But you see the Bible has a very different view of marriage from that.7400:07:46,359 –> 00:07:49,559A much higher view of marriage.7500:07:49,559 –> 00:07:59,959Solomon says to his son, chapter 12 and verse 4, an excellent wife is the crown of her husband,7600:07:59,959 –> 00:08:03,899the crown of her husband.7700:08:03,899 –> 00:08:14,019And, as many of you well, the book of proverbs ends with a poem composed by a wise husband7800:08:14,140 –> 00:08:18,299in praise of his good and godly wife.7900:08:18,299 –> 00:08:23,140Proverbs 31 and verse 29, here’s what the husband says of his wife.8000:08:23,140 –> 00:08:31,940Many women have done excellently, but you surpassed them all.8100:08:31,940 –> 00:08:40,179Now, from this, from Proverbs chapter 31, where a wise husband expresses his appreciation8200:08:40,299 –> 00:08:44,979and valuing of his wife and all that she does.8300:08:44,979 –> 00:08:52,159From this, we learn, husband, tell your wife where she excels.8400:08:52,159 –> 00:08:55,979Build her up with this kind of appreciation.8500:08:55,979 –> 00:09:01,820A wise husband expresses the praise of his wife.8600:09:01,820 –> 00:09:09,900Ray Ortland, a pastor who has a very fine book on the book of Proverbs points out that8700:09:09,960 –> 00:09:15,599the meaning of the word husband—I wonder if you’ve ever thought about this.8800:09:15,599 –> 00:09:17,280What is a husband?8900:09:17,280 –> 00:09:19,380What does that word mean?9000:09:19,380 –> 00:09:28,239When the word husband is used as a verb to husband, it means to cultivate.9100:09:28,239 –> 00:09:30,460Think of this—husbandry.9200:09:30,460 –> 00:09:37,320Husbandry is about the art of caring and cultivating.9300:09:38,119 –> 00:09:47,679So if God has entrusted you with a wife, your job is to husband her—that is, to create9400:09:47,679 –> 00:09:51,700the conditions in which she can flourish.9500:09:51,700 –> 00:09:57,380That is by definition what it means to be a husband.9600:09:58,039 –> 00:10:07,520Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.9700:10:07,520 –> 00:10:13,739So we read from chapter three this morning, let love and faithfulness never leave you.9800:10:13,739 –> 00:10:15,520Bind them around your neck.9900:10:15,520 –> 00:10:21,440In other words, let your love and let your faithfulness be evident to all because it’s10000:10:21,440 –> 00:10:25,479visible, bind them around your neck, but also let it be in your heart.10100:10:25,880 –> 00:10:31,619Write them on the tablet of your heart, then you will win favour and good success in the10200:10:31,619 –> 00:10:35,340sight of God and of man.10300:10:35,340 –> 00:10:38,500You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.10400:10:38,500 –> 00:10:42,119And we’ve got to pause the message briefly there, but we’ll be back very shortly.10500:10:42,119 –> 00:10:44,059So do stay with us.10600:10:44,059 –> 00:10:50,039Our message today is called Family and it’s part of our series, Wisdom for Life based10700:10:50,039 –> 00:10:53,599on the Book of Proverbs and Chapter Three.10800:10:53,599 –> 00:10:57,320If you ever miss one of the messages in the series, don’t forget, you can easily catch10900:10:57,320 –> 00:11:01,940up or go back and listen to any of the messages which have already been broadcast by coming11000:11:01,940 –> 00:11:06,400to our website – opensbible.org.uk.11100:11:06,400 –> 00:11:07,640Back to the message now.11200:11:07,640 –> 00:11:09,559Here again is Pastor Colin.11300:11:09,559 –> 00:11:16,599So the Book of Proverbs, it is full of wisdom, and particularly we are given wisdom in relation11400:11:16,700 –> 00:11:23,880to sibling relationships, your brother and your sister, in relation to marriage, husband11500:11:23,880 –> 00:11:26,559and wife.11600:11:26,559 –> 00:11:34,400But by far the largest number of proverbs that relate to family life are directed towards11700:11:34,400 –> 00:11:37,599the relationship between parents and children.11800:11:37,599 –> 00:11:41,780And I want to focus in especially on that today.11900:11:42,739 –> 00:11:45,159And first, for us to see together12000:11:45,159 –> 00:11:50,820the wisdom of God that is given to us here for children.12100:11:50,820 –> 00:11:56,320And two things for all who are younger, but also all of those of us who are older as well,12200:11:56,320 –> 00:11:57,900that I want us to see clearly.12300:11:57,900 –> 00:12:04,940The first is, always seek to bring joy to your parents.12400:12:05,880 –> 00:12:12,320And I have the privilege of speaking especially now to those who are younger,12500:12:12,320 –> 00:12:18,239to the children, young people who are here in the congregation today.12600:12:18,239 –> 00:12:28,280I want you to take this in that the Word of God calls you to always bring joy to your12700:12:28,280 –> 00:12:32,780father and to your mother.12800:12:32,820 –> 00:12:39,780And look at this – a wise son makes a glad father – a GLAD father.12900:12:39,780 –> 00:12:45,039But a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.13000:12:45,039 –> 00:12:54,140Proverbs 23 and verse 25 – let your father and mother be glad.13100:12:54,140 –> 00:12:58,260Let her who bore you rejoice.13200:12:59,219 –> 00:13:03,780Of course, this is very simply an application of the fifth commandment.13300:13:03,780 –> 00:13:06,280The commandment in which God says to us,13400:13:06,280 –> 00:13:10,080Honor your father and your mother.13500:13:10,080 –> 00:13:13,260And that is a commandment that speaks to children,13600:13:13,260 –> 00:13:17,059but not only to children – there’s not a time limit that’s put on it –13700:13:17,059 –> 00:13:19,739throughout life, here is the commandment of God –13800:13:19,739 –> 00:13:23,239that you honor your father and your mother.13900:13:23,239 –> 00:13:26,059Now, what does that mean?14000:13:26,059 –> 00:13:30,039Well, very simply, the word honor means,14100:13:30,039 –> 00:13:32,940give weight to14200:13:32,940 –> 00:13:36,340or regard as heavy.14300:13:36,340 –> 00:13:39,640That’s what the word honor means.14400:13:39,640 –> 00:13:44,719So, when your father or your mother14500:13:44,719 –> 00:13:47,020tell you to do something,14600:13:47,020 –> 00:13:52,659you are to give weight to what they say.14700:13:52,659 –> 00:13:55,479And in older life, in later life,14800:13:55,479 –> 00:13:57,539as father and mother may have needs,14900:13:57,539 –> 00:14:00,179you are to give weight15000:14:00,179 –> 00:14:03,619to their needs and to their circumstances.15100:14:03,619 –> 00:14:05,280That’s what it means to honor,15200:14:05,280 –> 00:14:09,780give weight to your father and your mother.15300:14:09,780 –> 00:14:12,000So, to put this as simply as I can,15400:14:12,000 –> 00:14:13,919especially for the children15500:14:13,919 –> 00:14:17,000and younger folks here this morning.15600:14:17,000 –> 00:14:19,900If your father or your mother15700:14:19,900 –> 00:14:22,900tells you to do something15800:14:23,340 –> 00:14:26,479and you don’t want to do it,15900:14:26,479 –> 00:14:29,640here’s what you should say to yourself.16000:14:29,640 –> 00:14:32,280You should say to yourself,16100:14:32,280 –> 00:14:36,679the person who told me to do this16200:14:36,679 –> 00:14:41,020is my mother.16300:14:41,020 –> 00:14:45,059You gotta give weight to your father.16400:14:45,059 –> 00:14:47,119We need to practice this.16500:14:47,119 –> 00:14:48,760Together please.16600:14:48,760 –> 00:14:52,340The person who told me to do this16700:14:52,460 –> 00:14:56,320is my mother, you see.16800:14:56,320 –> 00:14:58,059If it’s your mother who says it,16900:14:58,059 –> 00:15:00,179you give weight to that.17000:15:00,179 –> 00:15:02,119If it’s your father who says it,17100:15:02,119 –> 00:15:03,140you give weight to that,17200:15:03,140 –> 00:15:07,099that’s what it means to honor your father and mother.17300:15:07,099 –> 00:15:08,619When you do that,17400:15:08,619 –> 00:15:10,979you will bring joy to your parents.17500:15:10,979 –> 00:15:13,820A wise son makes a glad father.17600:15:13,820 –> 00:15:18,059Let your father and your mother be glad.17700:15:18,059 –> 00:15:21,140And since we’re in Proverbs,17800:15:21,140 –> 00:15:24,159and there are some ones that are very memorable.17900:15:24,159 –> 00:15:26,320If there should come a time18000:15:27,320 –> 00:15:29,700when you are ever tempted18100:15:30,659 –> 00:15:35,020to look at your father as if you despised him,18200:15:36,280 –> 00:15:41,280or to look at your mother as if you were going to defy her,18300:15:43,500 –> 00:15:46,179then just remember this from the book of Proverbs.18400:15:46,179 –> 00:15:48,900This is Proverbs 30, and verses 17.18500:15:48,900 –> 00:15:50,859What do you think of this?18600:15:50,859 –> 00:15:55,299The eye that mocks a father18700:15:56,419 –> 00:16:00,340and scorns to obey a mother18800:16:01,419 –> 00:16:06,419will be picked out by the ravens of the valley18900:16:08,419 –> 00:16:12,640and eaten by the vultures.19000:16:14,599 –> 00:16:19,179I think that means don’t ever defy your father.19100:16:19,400 –> 00:16:24,419Don’t ever despise your mother.19200:16:26,260 –> 00:16:29,760Okay, always seek to bring joy to your parents,19300:16:29,760 –> 00:16:32,239that’s the wisdom of the word of God.19400:16:32,239 –> 00:16:35,520And here’s the second thing, especially when we’re young,19500:16:35,520 –> 00:16:37,739but really it is a principle to keep with us19600:16:37,739 –> 00:16:40,580all through our lives, and it’s this,19700:16:40,580 –> 00:16:44,859always be willing and even eager to learn.19800:16:44,859 –> 00:16:49,099Always be willing and even eager to learn.19900:16:49,099 –> 00:16:51,219Look at Chapter 15 in verse 32,20000:16:51,219 –> 00:16:55,219whoever ignores instruction, despises himself.20100:16:56,179 –> 00:17:00,780But he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.20200:17:00,780 –> 00:17:02,580Or chapter 13, and verse one,20300:17:02,580 –> 00:17:07,579a wise son hears his father’s instruction,20400:17:07,859 –> 00:17:12,839but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.20500:17:12,939 –> 00:17:16,540Now, one of the things that’s often true when we’re young20600:17:16,540 –> 00:17:20,260is that we can easily feel that we know it all.20700:17:21,239 –> 00:17:24,619And hopefully as we grow older,20800:17:24,619 –> 00:17:26,739we become a little more humble and realize20900:17:26,739 –> 00:17:30,219that we don’t know as much as we used to think.21000:17:30,219 –> 00:17:34,140There’s a great comment that I believe Mark Twain made21100:17:34,140 –> 00:17:36,160and it was something to the effect of,21200:17:36,160 –> 00:17:41,160when I was 14, I was convinced that my father knew nothing,21300:17:41,219 –> 00:17:43,599my father knew nothing.21400:17:43,599 –> 00:17:45,099By the time I was 21,21500:17:45,099 –> 00:17:47,040I was amazed at how much he had learned21600:17:47,040 –> 00:17:48,560in the last seven years.21700:17:51,260 –> 00:17:55,560Now, we read earlier from Proverbs 3 in verse seven,21800:17:55,560 –> 00:18:00,339do not be wise in your own eyes.21900:18:01,500 –> 00:18:04,300And that theme of the danger of being wise22000:18:04,300 –> 00:18:09,300in your own eyes is repeated throughout Proverbs.22100:18:09,339 –> 00:18:12,839For example, chapter 26 in verse 12, takes it up.22200:18:12,839 –> 00:18:17,760Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?22300:18:19,020 –> 00:18:21,699There’s more hope for a fool than there is for him.22400:18:22,859 –> 00:18:26,479See, Solomon was a teacher,22500:18:26,479 –> 00:18:31,140he was a king, but he was also a teacher of wisdom.22600:18:32,140 –> 00:18:37,140And as a teacher he discovered what all teachers know,22700:18:37,619 –> 00:18:40,699and there are some students who learn and others who don’t.22800:18:41,619 –> 00:18:45,699And what Solomon observes here is that those who don’t learn22900:18:45,699 –> 00:18:48,540are those who think they are wise already.23000:18:48,540 –> 00:18:51,219They’re wise in their own eyes,23100:18:51,219 –> 00:18:54,760and so they don’t think that they need to learn anything.23200:18:54,760 –> 00:18:57,140And Solomon says there’s more hope for a fool23300:18:57,140 –> 00:18:58,319than for that person.23400:18:58,319 –> 00:18:59,160Why?23500:18:59,160 –> 00:19:02,219Because the fool at least has the advantage23600:19:02,219 –> 00:19:04,020of knowing that he needs to learn.23700:19:04,959 –> 00:19:09,380And the very first lesson for all of us23800:19:09,380 –> 00:19:14,380in the school of wisdom is that all of us need to learn.23900:19:17,140 –> 00:19:19,459And that is why the Bible says that the fear24000:19:19,459 –> 00:19:22,239of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.24100:19:23,140 –> 00:19:28,140Wisdom begins when I come to see that I don’t have it.24200:19:28,400 –> 00:19:30,900I need to receive it.24300:19:30,900 –> 00:19:33,599And I need to receive it from the Lord24400:19:33,599 –> 00:19:36,599and I’ll receive it through his Word.24500:19:37,459 –> 00:19:40,699In other words, the greatest barrier to gaining wisdom24600:19:40,699 –> 00:19:43,619is the conviction that you already have it.24700:19:44,920 –> 00:19:48,500That is why in Romans chapter one and verse 22,24800:19:48,500 –> 00:19:52,859we read that people who thought themselves wise24900:19:52,859 –> 00:19:54,500became fools.25000:19:55,680 –> 00:19:57,859You see here are men and women who say,25100:19:57,859 –> 00:20:02,359we don’t need God, we’re wise, we’ve got all that we need.25200:20:02,400 –> 00:20:05,560And so they push God away and thinking themselves wise,25300:20:05,560 –> 00:20:07,760being wise in their own eyes, what happens?25400:20:07,760 –> 00:20:09,500They begin to live as fools.25500:20:10,640 –> 00:20:13,119That’s Romans chapter one and verse 22.25600:20:14,199 –> 00:20:17,319That’s why in first Corinthians chapter three in verse 18,25700:20:17,319 –> 00:20:22,319Paul says, if any of you thinks that he is wise in this age25800:20:22,319 –> 00:20:25,540let him become a fool in order that he may become wise.25900:20:25,540 –> 00:20:27,939In other words, the only way to really learn26000:20:27,939 –> 00:20:31,660is to begin by recognizing your own need.26100:20:33,239 –> 00:20:35,520So recognize that you need to learn.26200:20:36,439 –> 00:20:39,479Listen to those God has placed around you,26300:20:40,359 –> 00:20:44,599especially when you are young, listen to your parents.26400:20:45,680 –> 00:20:49,479Take in all that you can from the word of God26500:20:49,479 –> 00:20:53,020so that you will grow in the path of wisdom26600:20:53,020 –> 00:20:55,400because we are not born with it,26700:20:55,400 –> 00:21:00,400we need to receive it and to receive it from the Lord.26800:21:00,560 –> 00:21:03,280So here are some things especially for children26900:21:03,280 –> 00:21:07,099but clearly they remain with us all of our lives,27000:21:07,099 –> 00:21:12,239always seek to bring joy to your parents.27100:21:12,239 –> 00:21:15,319I spoke to so many folks in midlife27200:21:15,319 –> 00:21:18,000who are caring for older parents27300:21:18,920 –> 00:21:22,439and what a wonderful thing to be able to say27400:21:22,439 –> 00:21:25,979the smile of God is upon you as you are doing this.27500:21:26,760 –> 00:21:29,199It is a reflection of the wisdom27600:21:29,199 –> 00:21:30,579and the very heart of God27700:21:30,579 –> 00:21:35,219the way of Jesus, the way of a disciple27800:21:35,219 –> 00:21:37,339and always, always be willing27900:21:37,339 –> 00:21:39,739and eager to learn.28000:21:40,900 –> 00:21:42,619Well, we’ve got to pause our message there28100:21:42,619 –> 00:21:44,219until our next broadcast.28200:21:44,219 –> 00:21:45,920Message is called family28300:21:45,920 –> 00:21:48,859and it’s based on Proverbs chapter three.28400:21:48,859 –> 00:21:52,219It’s from our series called wisdom for life28500:21:52,219 –> 00:21:55,219and if you ever miss one of the messages in the series28600:21:55,260 –> 00:21:57,780you can easily catch up or go back and listen again28700:21:57,780 –> 00:22:02,520online at our website openthebible.org.uk.28800:22:02,520 –> 00:22:04,680I know many of you listen to podcasts28900:22:04,680 –> 00:22:07,660and we’re excited to tell you about a new podcast29000:22:07,660 –> 00:22:09,040for Open The Bible.29100:22:09,040 –> 00:22:11,880It’s a companion to Pastor Colin’s book29200:22:11,880 –> 00:22:13,540Hike Through The Bible.29300:22:13,540 –> 00:22:16,380Yeah and each week I’ll read a chapter from the book29400:22:16,380 –> 00:22:19,000and then I get to discuss it with some friends.29500:22:19,000 –> 00:22:22,260So if you join us on the podcast in 50 weeks29600:22:22,260 –> 00:22:25,099we’ll cover 50 chapters of the Bible together29700:22:25,180 –> 00:22:29,819and in a year you’ll have hiked through the entire Bible story.29800:22:29,819 –> 00:22:32,459Now if you think hiking sounds like hard work,29900:22:32,459 –> 00:22:37,400don’t worry, I promise you this hike will be an easy gentle pace.30000:22:37,400 –> 00:22:39,020There’s a link to the podcast30100:22:39,020 –> 00:22:45,479and lots more information on our website at openthebible.org.uk.30200:22:45,479 –> 00:22:47,880Open The Bible is supported by our listeners.30300:22:47,880 –> 00:22:50,459We’re able to bring you Pastor Colin’s teaching30400:22:50,459 –> 00:22:53,180on the radio, internet, and podcasts30500:22:53,359 –> 00:22:56,599as a result of the generosity of listeners like you.30600:22:56,599 –> 00:22:59,119So if you already give to support our work,30700:22:59,119 –> 00:23:02,239thank you so much, we do appreciate it.30800:23:02,239 –> 00:23:05,719This month when you begin to support Open The Bible for the first time,30900:23:05,719 –> 00:23:10,420we’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin’s brand new book,31000:23:10,420 –> 00:23:11,579Grow in Faith.31100:23:11,579 –> 00:23:14,680This devotional book is not yet available in the UK,31200:23:14,680 –> 00:23:17,239so our offer is very exclusive.31300:23:17,239 –> 00:23:19,660Colin, why did you write this book?31400:23:19,859 –> 00:23:22,739Well, the Bible speaks to us repeatedly31500:23:22,739 –> 00:23:27,699about the central importance of faith and of hope and of love.31600:23:27,699 –> 00:23:29,439At the end of 1 Corinthians 13,31700:23:29,439 –> 00:23:32,439Paul speaks about everything else is going to pass away,31800:23:32,439 –> 00:23:34,339but these things are going to remain.31900:23:34,339 –> 00:23:36,439Faith, hope and love.32000:23:36,439 –> 00:23:38,219So they’re of central importance.32100:23:38,219 –> 00:23:42,099And of course they speak to the needs of our world today.32200:23:42,099 –> 00:23:44,400I mean, we’re living in days where so many people32300:23:44,400 –> 00:23:48,359experience fear and a sense of gloom32400:23:48,359 –> 00:23:50,219and where there’s so much conflict.32500:23:50,219 –> 00:23:52,599We need faith, hope and love.32600:23:52,599 –> 00:23:56,339And so Grow in Faith is actually the first of a series32700:23:56,339 –> 00:24:00,540of three books that are coming out beginning this month32800:24:00,540 –> 00:24:02,760and then in the two months that follow.32900:24:02,760 –> 00:24:06,959Really excited and grateful for the opportunity to do this.33000:24:06,959 –> 00:24:10,319If God’s people can grow in faith,33100:24:10,319 –> 00:24:14,119grow in hope and grow in love,33200:24:14,119 –> 00:24:17,520then the world is going to see something distinct about us33300:24:17,520 –> 00:24:20,319that is very powerfully attractive.33400:24:20,319 –> 00:24:23,119And so I hope that these books are going to be a means33500:24:23,119 –> 00:24:25,640of God’s blessing and encouragement to many.33600:24:25,640 –> 00:24:27,920Start this month with Grow in Faith33700:24:27,920 –> 00:24:30,599and follow up next month with Grow in Hope33800:24:30,599 –> 00:24:33,000and the month after that with Grow in Love.33900:24:33,000 –> 00:24:35,339Well, Pastor Colin’s book, Grow in Faith,34000:24:35,339 –> 00:24:37,920is our special offer to you this month34100:24:37,920 –> 00:24:40,040when you support Open the Bible Financially34200:24:40,040 –> 00:24:43,819for the first time with a one off gift of £60 or more34300:24:44,099 –> 00:24:48,979or a monthly direct debit of £5 per month or more.34400:24:48,979 –> 00:24:51,619Full terms and conditions are on our website.34500:24:51,619 –> 00:24:56,500That’s at openthebible.org.uk and you can give online.34600:24:56,500 –> 00:24:59,540Please do remember to leave your full name and address34700:24:59,540 –> 00:25:00,880when you set up your payment34800:25:00,880 –> 00:25:03,459so we can send you your free gift.34900:25:03,459 –> 00:25:06,140For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,35000:25:06,140 –> 00:25:08,180I’m David Pick and I look forward to you35100:25:08,180 –> 00:25:10,959joining us again next time on Open the Bible.35200:25:10,959 –> 00:25:17,479MUSIC35300:25:17,479 –> 00:25:22,579Would you like more wisdom in dealing with a parent or with a child?35400:25:22,579 –> 00:25:25,800Find out what the book of Proverbs has to say about it35500:25:25,800 –> 00:25:28,119next time on Open the Bible.