100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:04,380If you’re the kind of person who’s said,200:00:04,380 –> 00:00:10,320Oh I’m not interested in doctrine ever heard anyone say that?300:00:10,320 –> 00:00:14,840Oh that’s not for me. Do you know what you just did?400:00:14,840 –> 00:00:18,440You just severely limited500:00:18,440 –> 00:00:22,900your own usefulness to Jesus Christ. Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor600:00:22,900 –> 00:00:23,660Colin Smith700:00:23,660 –> 00:00:26,559I’m David Pick and glad you could join us today.800:00:26,799 –> 00:00:30,120Colin it’s easy to imagine someone saying well I’m not really all that900:00:30,120 –> 00:00:34,779interested in doctrine I’m definitely not a scholar but I want to be useful to1000:00:34,779 –> 00:00:38,060God. So how do these two things fit together?1100:00:38,060 –> 00:00:43,119Well we’re looking at 1st Timothy and we learned here that the church is the1200:00:43,119 –> 00:00:45,240pillar of the truth1300:00:45,240 –> 00:00:50,599now a pillar holds up the roof of the building and that’s the picture that the1400:00:50,599 –> 00:00:55,500apostle is using that the role of the church is to hold up the truth1500:00:55,660 –> 00:00:59,259He doesn’t say you know the apostles are the pillar of the truth he says the1600:00:59,259 –> 00:01:05,480church is that means every believer has a role to play in holding up the truth1700:01:05,480 –> 00:01:10,320of God. We want to encourage people to get into the Word of God so that they1800:01:10,320 –> 00:01:13,300can open the Word of God with other people1900:01:13,300 –> 00:01:17,980that’s something every Christian should be able to do, is able to do and we want2000:01:17,980 –> 00:01:22,940to encourage folks to say look you can come to a knowledge of the truth and as2100:01:22,940 –> 00:01:27,300you do you’ll be in a position to share it with others and that’s the purpose of2200:01:27,300 –> 00:01:32,980God that together we will not only learn from the Word ourselves but will be able2300:01:32,980 –> 00:01:36,379to open it up to others. Now that of course is something that’s especially2400:01:36,379 –> 00:01:40,220important for those who lead in the church but the reason that it’s2500:01:40,220 –> 00:01:43,239important for those who lead in the church is it’s something that God calls2600:01:43,239 –> 00:01:47,739all of us to and so I hope that we’re going to be encouraged as we see how to2700:01:47,739 –> 00:01:51,739pursue that today. Let’s look at that together in the first book of Timothy2800:01:51,760 –> 00:01:56,459chapter 3 as we continue the message Gospel Character. Here is Pastor Colin2900:01:56,459 –> 00:02:00,739Have you heard it said, you know, character, O character is what you are in3000:02:00,739 –> 00:02:05,580private well that’s only half the story and the3100:02:05,580 –> 00:02:10,199Apostle Paul makes it clear here that character is what is seen in public as3200:02:10,199 –> 00:02:14,619well as what a man may claim in private. That’s why it says in verse 2 the3300:02:14,619 –> 00:02:19,139overseer has to be above reproach and verse 7 has to have a good reputation3400:02:19,419 –> 00:02:24,779with outsiders in other words the key thing here is not a man’s pious talk3500:02:24,779 –> 00:02:27,520about all his prayers and all his devotions and all this kind of thing3600:02:27,520 –> 00:02:33,639beyond that there’s the question what do people see in this man’s life what’s the3700:02:33,639 –> 00:02:39,759observable reality of his character that’s the question can you see wise3800:02:39,759 –> 00:02:47,960judgment do you see healthy relationship do you see moral integrity now that’s3900:02:47,979 –> 00:02:53,220character it’s what we’re to pursue it’s what by the grace of God we are to4000:02:53,220 –> 00:02:57,419cultivate it’s what Christ wants to work in every one of us4100:02:57,419 –> 00:03:04,820wise judgment healthy relationships moral integrity now let’s move on to4200:03:04,820 –> 00:03:08,800competence because there’s more than character involved in effective4300:03:08,800 –> 00:03:14,699leadership and it seems to me that Paul is out for us here three areas of core4400:03:14,820 –> 00:03:21,199competence that we should look for in those we call those we appoint and those4500:03:21,199 –> 00:03:29,880we send they are the core competencies of effective Christian leaders and there4600:03:29,880 –> 00:03:35,860are three of them one is doctrinal one is personal and one is spiritual I want4700:03:35,860 –> 00:03:39,479to encourage all of us to be cultivating these things that will maximize our4800:03:39,740 –> 00:03:46,160usefulness to Jesus Christ let’s look first at the doctrinal competence that4900:03:46,160 –> 00:03:51,880is the ability to teach it said of the elders that the overseer must be verse5000:03:51,880 –> 00:03:57,020two able to teach notice that for the deacon Zolo they are not called to a5100:03:57,020 –> 00:04:03,000teaching ministry verse 9 they must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith5200:04:03,000 –> 00:04:10,320with a clear conscience so really across these different leadership roles Paul is5300:04:10,320 –> 00:04:13,820saying that a deep grasp of the truth and the ability to5400:04:13,820 –> 00:04:19,260communicate it to others is crucial now this does not mean that all elders5500:04:19,260 –> 00:04:25,179should be preachers what it does mean is that the elder the pastor the missionary5600:04:25,179 –> 00:04:30,779those who would serve in any form of leadership must have a deep grasp of the5700:04:30,799 –> 00:04:36,820truth and an ability both to apply it to their own lives and to the lives of5800:04:36,820 –> 00:04:42,200others now this is very important because of course in verse 15 the church5900:04:42,200 –> 00:04:47,140is the pillar of the truth it says there it’s the churches the6000:04:47,140 –> 00:04:51,619pillar and foundation as a terrible translation in NIV it really is6100:04:51,619 –> 00:04:56,200buttress it means the same as pillar it’s what holds up the truth that’s6200:04:56,200 –> 00:05:00,279what’s being said here and because it is the calling of the church like a pillar6300:05:00,339 –> 00:05:05,640to hold up the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ it stands to reason that those6400:05:05,640 –> 00:05:10,040who are elders of the church need to have a particularly strong and clear6500:05:10,040 –> 00:05:13,859grasp of the great truths of the Christian6600:05:13,859 –> 00:05:18,619faith it is the special calling of elders and pastors then to make sure6700:05:18,619 –> 00:05:23,920that the Word of Christ is central in the life of the church so the Word of6800:05:23,920 –> 00:05:30,179Christ must dwell richly in the life of any missionary in the life of any pastor6900:05:30,200 –> 00:05:34,040in the life of any elder in the life of any person who wants to be useful to7000:05:34,040 –> 00:05:39,480Christ cultivate this if you’re the kind of person who said oh I’m not7100:05:39,480 –> 00:05:46,119interested in doctrine ever heard anyone say that oh that’s not for me do you7200:05:46,119 –> 00:05:52,100know what you just did you just severely limited your own usefulness to Jesus7300:05:52,100 –> 00:05:58,239Christ so please don’t say that anymore please take an interest cultivate an7400:05:58,559 –> 00:06:04,440interest in grasping ever more deeply the great truths of the Christian faith7500:06:04,440 –> 00:06:08,559so that you may be able to defend them so that you may be able to communicate7600:06:08,559 –> 00:06:14,279them to others but if you do not grasp them well how can you be useful in7700:06:14,279 –> 00:06:20,600leadership to others so there’s a doctrinal competence for us to pursue7800:06:20,600 –> 00:06:26,480second there is a personal competence for us to pursue and this relates to7900:06:26,679 –> 00:06:34,440the ability to manage notice it comes three times in verse 4 5 & 12 the elder8000:06:34,440 –> 00:06:42,279must manage his own family well verse 5 if anyone does not know how to manage8100:06:42,279 –> 00:06:48,839his own family how can he take care of God’s church verse 12 a deacon8200:06:48,839 –> 00:06:53,640must manage his children and his household well so it comes three times8300:06:53,940 –> 00:07:01,640obviously of great importance the point here is very simple a man’s ability to8400:07:01,640 –> 00:07:08,200lead others will be seen first in the way that he leads and manages his own8500:07:08,200 –> 00:07:14,640family now every home has its own pressures and its own problems and this8600:07:14,640 –> 00:07:18,779is not saying that if there is stress in a man’s life that he should not be a8700:07:18,820 –> 00:07:23,140pastor or an elder the key issue that is being addressed8800:07:23,140 –> 00:07:28,679here is how does a man manage his own household? How does he exercise leadership8900:07:28,679 –> 00:07:33,980there and if he’s doing a good job there then it makes sense that he should be9000:07:33,980 –> 00:07:38,179given wider responsibility if he’s struggling in what God has given him9100:07:38,179 –> 00:07:43,299there it does not make sense that he should be given wider responsibility so9200:07:43,420 –> 00:07:54,220does he manage his own household? Is there order in his home or is it chaotic?9300:07:54,220 –> 00:07:57,279You know one of the first things we learn about God in the Bible is that he is the9400:07:57,279 –> 00:08:04,720God who brings order out of chaos and an effective leader is one who has9500:08:04,720 –> 00:08:10,619the ability to do that as well and the first place that that will be seen in a9600:08:10,700 –> 00:08:14,839life is in his own home and Paul’s rationale here is very plain, isn’t it?9700:08:14,839 –> 00:08:18,480If a man cannot bring order to his own home, how is he going to be able to do it9800:08:18,480 –> 00:08:24,380in the Church of God? If he cannot manage his own life, how can he help in the9900:08:24,380 –> 00:08:28,140lives of others? Let me just break away and give an application to the kids10000:08:28,140 –> 00:08:34,179especially the younger kids in the service, here. If your bedroom that you10100:08:34,440 –> 00:08:41,419left behind this morning is a tip. Do you know what I mean by that? Chaos.10200:08:41,419 –> 00:08:49,280Everything, everywhere. And if you were to go back and this afternoon make it10300:08:49,280 –> 00:08:57,460tidied and ordered, do you know what? You would be doing something that God does.10400:08:57,460 –> 00:09:05,739You would, because God is the God who brings order out of chaos, and the more10500:09:05,739 –> 00:09:08,940you learn to do that in your own life, and the earlier you learn to do that in10600:09:08,940 –> 00:09:11,900the simplest kind of ways, the more useful you’re going to be to the Lord10700:09:11,900 –> 00:09:16,419Jesus Christ. That’s the principal right here. By the way, I do think this is where10800:09:16,419 –> 00:09:20,859hospitality comes in. Did you notice that in verse 2 as one of the marks of10900:09:20,900 –> 00:09:28,219The Elder, I think it comes in here because the home that is disordered is11000:09:28,219 –> 00:09:35,260usually closed to others. It becomes a secret place. The door is closed, others11100:09:35,260 –> 00:09:42,960are not often welcome. But when a home and a family is well-managed, and healthy,11200:09:43,059 –> 00:09:49,679and ordered, the door is opened to others and others can be welcomed in.11300:09:51,440 –> 00:09:54,960So, what Paul is saying is very simple here. The man who will be effective in11400:09:54,960 –> 00:09:58,799leading the church as a pastor or as an elder, the person who will11500:09:58,799 –> 00:10:03,799be effective on the mission field, will be someone who manages what God11600:10:03,799 –> 00:10:06,239has already trusted to them well.11700:10:06,239 –> 00:10:12,119So the kind of questions we want to ask in evaluating what trust should be given11800:10:12,119 –> 00:10:15,580by the church in those who are called and those who are sent are questions11900:10:15,580 –> 00:10:19,479like these, has this person manage their finances well?12000:10:19,479 –> 00:10:25,599Is that in order or is it chaotic? Is the home well-ordered?12100:10:25,599 –> 00:10:29,239Do the children, if there are children, respect this man well?12200:10:30,640 –> 00:10:38,239The order is very simple. We begin with the challenge to manage ourselves.12300:10:38,900 –> 00:10:43,960As you grow in the challenge of managing yourself, you will do a better job of12400:10:43,960 –> 00:10:48,719managing others God has placed around you, that may include your family if12500:10:48,719 –> 00:10:55,340you’re married. And as you build success there, you will grow in your future12600:10:55,340 –> 00:11:01,880usefulness to Jesus Christ but the principle is simple, the one who is12700:11:01,979 –> 00:11:09,700faithful in little is the one who can then be trusted with much.12800:11:10,000 –> 00:11:13,239You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called12900:11:13,239 –> 00:11:18,619Gospel Character. It’s part of our series 10 Distinctives of a Gospel-Centered Life13000:11:18,619 –> 00:11:22,659and don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series you can catch up by coming to13100:11:22,659 –> 00:11:28,520our website openthebible.org.uk. Back to the Message now here13200:11:28,919 –> 00:11:36,640again is pastr Colin. And before we move on to the last of these competencies let me13300:11:36,640 –> 00:11:43,380just say a word to the wives of those who serve in leadership I say this13400:11:43,380 –> 00:11:47,719because Paul does it in verse 11. Do you see that there? He’s talked about elders13500:11:47,719 –> 00:11:54,659and he’s talked about deacons and he says in the same way their wives are to13600:11:54,659 –> 00:12:02,780be women worthy of respect not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in13700:12:02,780 –> 00:12:08,580everything. Now why does he bring in the wives here? I think the answer is very13800:12:08,580 –> 00:12:21,059simple. A man’s wife can make or mar his ministry. Can I speak to all the13900:12:21,159 –> 00:12:27,619Christian wives today? Make it your prayer14000:12:27,619 –> 00:12:35,580that you will expand your husband’s usedfulness to Christ. If he is a godly14100:12:35,580 –> 00:12:43,140man, he’ll already be praying the same thing about you. Cultivate a deep desire14200:12:43,140 –> 00:12:48,580that your husband should become everything that God calls him to be and14300:12:48,820 –> 00:12:56,380do everything you can to contribute to that, and be ready to change any pattern14400:12:56,380 –> 00:13:03,580of behavior in you that would limit that, that would limit the work that God14500:13:03,580 –> 00:13:09,140might do through him. So here is what to cultivate. These are very practical14600:13:09,140 –> 00:13:16,099things. A doctrinal competence, the ability to teach, a great grasp of the14700:13:16,099 –> 00:13:21,780truths of the faith. A personal competence, the ability to manage,14800:13:21,780 –> 00:13:25,460beginning with yourself and then with others who trust it to you. And the more14900:13:25,460 –> 00:13:29,059you are able to grow in that, the more useful you will be in the lives15000:13:29,059 –> 00:13:35,260of others. And then thirdly and finally, there’s a spiritual competence.15100:13:35,260 –> 00:13:40,580Which is about the ability to stand. And the reason for this is very simple.15200:13:40,700 –> 00:13:44,380Folks, when we call a lay person to be an elder,15300:13:44,380 –> 00:13:47,859when we send a missionary out into the field, when we call and15400:13:47,859 –> 00:13:51,900invite someone to be a pastor of the church here, when we put someone15500:13:51,940 –> 00:13:56,500into Christian leadership and it’s the congregation that does that,15600:13:56,500 –> 00:14:02,299we are putting that person in the forefront of spiritual warfare.15700:14:02,299 –> 00:14:06,539Do you realize that? That is what we are doing when we call someone15800:14:06,539 –> 00:14:10,280to spiritual leadership. That’s why prayer for15900:14:10,280 –> 00:14:15,239our leaders is of crucial importance.16000:14:15,239 –> 00:14:19,119I want us to understand that as a congregation today.16100:14:19,119 –> 00:14:23,159Now, I want you to notice the spiritual competence that is needed in those who16200:14:23,159 –> 00:14:28,719lead, because they are placed into the forefront of the spiritual battle and16300:14:28,719 –> 00:14:33,159there are two primary places in which that warfare is most intense.16400:14:33,179 –> 00:14:34,700Paul identifies them.16500:14:34,700 –> 00:14:39,719The first is the danger for spiritual leaders that comes through pride.16600:14:39,719 –> 00:14:41,679That is verse six.16700:14:41,679 –> 00:14:45,799And, Paul says, that the leader here must not be a recent convert or16800:14:45,799 –> 00:14:49,280he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.16900:14:51,119 –> 00:14:52,479Pride is the enemy within.17000:14:53,960 –> 00:14:56,799If God grants you some success, some blessing on your family,17100:14:56,799 –> 00:14:58,760do you know how to handle that with humility?17200:14:59,640 –> 00:15:02,880Because to maximize your usefulness to Jesus Christ,17300:15:02,880 –> 00:15:06,760pride is going to be one of the enemies you’ll need to battle.17400:15:06,760 –> 00:15:09,500The more He uses you, the more he’ll attack you with this.17500:15:12,020 –> 00:15:13,200And you remember the phrase,17600:15:13,200 –> 00:15:17,619it actually comes from the Bible in Proverbs, chapter 11, and verse 2.17700:15:17,619 –> 00:15:21,359Pride comes before a fall.17800:15:21,359 –> 00:15:24,440And do you notice the connection there between verse six and verse seven?17900:15:24,599 –> 00:15:27,280Here he talks about pride, which is the enemy within, and18000:15:27,280 –> 00:15:28,580what comes next in verse seven.18100:15:28,580 –> 00:15:31,039He must have a good reputation with outsiders,18200:15:31,039 –> 00:15:36,580so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.18300:15:37,659 –> 00:15:41,479And notice how Satan is being mentioned twice in two verses here.18400:15:41,479 –> 00:15:42,599This is spiritual warfare.18500:15:42,599 –> 00:15:47,520Satan delights when leaders become full of themselves,18600:15:47,520 –> 00:15:51,159because they’re just one step away from a fall to disaster.18700:15:51,159 –> 00:15:52,880That’s what is being said here.18800:15:52,919 –> 00:15:56,039And Satan delights when leaders fall.18900:15:56,039 –> 00:15:59,960He wants them to fall into disgrace so that he can harm the church.19000:16:01,380 –> 00:16:05,119So by the way, in appointing leaders, it is always right to ask,19100:16:05,119 –> 00:16:10,619is there anything in your life that if it was known19200:16:10,619 –> 00:16:13,119would hinder the advance of the Gospel.19300:16:15,239 –> 00:16:17,679Richard Baxter wrote a book to Christian leaders,19400:16:17,679 –> 00:16:20,960I try to read it about once every year.19500:16:22,880 –> 00:16:24,479It does my own soul good.19600:16:25,679 –> 00:16:29,239It’s one pastor writing to other Christian leaders and19700:16:29,239 –> 00:16:30,799giving warnings and19800:16:30,799 –> 00:16:34,599encouragement about what it means to be a Christian leader.19900:16:35,760 –> 00:16:38,280And he has a particularly powerful section where he talks20000:16:38,280 –> 00:16:42,359about the unique battles of Christian leaders and he says this.20100:16:42,359 –> 00:16:44,400He’s writing to fellow pastors and20200:16:44,400 –> 00:16:47,080we would include with that our missionaries.20300:16:47,080 –> 00:16:49,119We would include with that our lay leaders.20400:16:49,119 –> 00:16:51,719We would include all who are entrusted20500:16:51,719 –> 00:16:54,080with responsibility in the household of God.20600:16:54,080 –> 00:17:00,380And Baxter says this, take heed to yourselves because20700:17:00,380 –> 00:17:06,859the tempter will ply you with temptations more than other men.20800:17:08,760 –> 00:17:12,239Have you ever thought about that in relation to those we call and20900:17:12,239 –> 00:17:12,760those we send?21000:17:15,359 –> 00:17:19,199As he hates Christ more than any of us, Baxter says,21100:17:19,280 –> 00:17:24,380So Satan hates the leaders under him more than the common soldiers because21200:17:24,380 –> 00:17:28,500he knows what a rout he may make among them if the leaders21300:17:28,500 –> 00:17:31,500fall before their eyes.21400:17:31,500 –> 00:17:35,959Take heed, therefore, brethren, for21500:17:35,959 –> 00:17:40,359the enemy hath a special eye on you.21600:17:41,760 –> 00:17:43,979Have you ever thought about that in relation to yourself?21700:17:43,979 –> 00:17:48,660The day you were converted, you got Satan’s attention.21800:17:49,959 –> 00:17:53,040But you were snatched out of his kingdom by the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.21900:17:54,400 –> 00:17:55,719You’ve got a special eye on you.22000:17:57,920 –> 00:18:02,020And the more you are trusted with responsibility in ministry and22100:18:02,020 –> 00:18:06,939the household of God, the more you are privileged with the gift of leadership22200:18:06,939 –> 00:18:10,920and influence and the lives of others, the more you will be his focus of attention.22300:18:13,500 –> 00:18:14,140Now folks,22400:18:14,140 –> 00:18:19,619will you remember that when you pray for your leaders?22500:18:21,579 –> 00:18:24,979Can we remember that when we pray for our missionaries?22600:18:27,099 –> 00:18:30,739Can we remember that when we sometimes talk about our leaders?22700:18:32,939 –> 00:18:36,959We have put certain people in the forefront of spiritual warfare,22800:18:39,199 –> 00:18:41,939and it is our calling to pray for them.22900:18:42,780 –> 00:18:47,780And it is our calling to watch and to guard ourselves23000:18:49,880 –> 00:18:55,979Now, what’s your reaction to this message? I’ll tell you what mine has been as I’ve studied it this week. I’m sure yours is the same23100:18:57,339 –> 00:19:04,500Read all this and I find myself saying Oh Lord, who is sufficient for these things?23200:19:06,060 –> 00:19:09,560You might be interested to know as we meet at a church board23300:19:10,040 –> 00:19:12,000Month by month23400:19:12,000 –> 00:19:16,079And I lead us in prayer and and in the word at the beginning. I23500:19:17,099 –> 00:19:19,099Have often said23600:19:19,500 –> 00:19:23,160Which of us from this table would have appointed ourselves as23700:19:24,180 –> 00:19:26,180Leaders of the church not one of us23800:19:27,619 –> 00:19:29,959We’ve been thrust into this by others and23900:19:31,640 –> 00:19:37,319Anyone who is called to a position of leadership is going to be in that position of saying who is24000:19:37,959 –> 00:19:42,920Sufficient for these things. Do you remember Paul said who is sufficient for these things?24100:19:42,920 –> 00:19:45,300What was the answer when he raised that question our?24200:19:45,900 –> 00:19:47,560sufficiency is from24300:19:47,560 –> 00:19:49,560from God24400:19:50,079 –> 00:19:52,680That’s 2 Corinthians chapter 3 in verse 524500:19:53,900 –> 00:19:57,180It’s a great verse to write down for your encouragement this morning24600:19:57,180 –> 00:20:02,680In fact, the NIV uses the word competence rather than sufficiency, which is very helpful24700:20:03,660 –> 00:20:10,920Not that we are competent in ourselves or claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from24800:20:12,140 –> 00:20:13,359God24900:20:13,359 –> 00:20:15,579And so in this very last moment, let me25000:20:16,140 –> 00:20:21,000Conclude by pointing you to Jesus Christ this character and this competence25100:20:21,900 –> 00:20:25,579That we seek to cultivate is found in him25200:20:26,400 –> 00:20:32,260Have you ever thought about this that the Lord Jesus Christ is the elder he is the overseer25300:20:32,300 –> 00:20:36,180Did you know that word is used about Jesus one Peter two twenty-five?25400:20:36,180 –> 00:20:39,439He is the shepherd and overseer of our souls25500:20:39,439 –> 00:20:45,859The same word is in 1 Timothy 3 and have you ever thought about this that the Lord Jesus Christ is the deacon25600:20:46,760 –> 00:20:48,760What is the word deacon mean?25700:20:49,160 –> 00:20:50,260servant25800:20:50,260 –> 00:20:52,160One who serves that’s in act 625900:20:52,160 –> 00:20:58,300Remember, they served tables the first deacons and Jesus says I have come among you as one who serves26000:20:58,300 –> 00:21:00,660I come among you as a deacon26100:21:01,040 –> 00:21:06,800I have not come to be served. But to serve I’ve come to Deacon and to give my life as the ransom for many26200:21:07,400 –> 00:21:13,160So these things are making us think about Jesus Christ. He is the teacher who is himself the truth26300:21:13,239 –> 00:21:19,739He is the king who manages his own household. Well, he is the sage who is the font of all wisdom26400:21:20,459 –> 00:21:24,900He is the champion who takes his stand for us against the enemy26500:21:24,900 –> 00:21:28,300He is the servant who gives his life as a ransom for many26600:21:28,319 –> 00:21:32,020He is the overseer who guards your soul from danger26700:21:32,060 –> 00:21:37,400he is the great shepherd of the sheep who brings all of us into his eternal fold and26800:21:37,739 –> 00:21:40,560loses not one who is trusted to his hand and26900:21:41,579 –> 00:21:45,560Because this character and competence is in Christ27000:21:47,520 –> 00:21:51,579He is the one who is able to reproduce this character and27100:21:52,640 –> 00:21:54,640reproduce this competence27200:21:55,339 –> 00:21:57,339in you27300:21:57,640 –> 00:22:00,339For if Christ be in you27400:22:02,599 –> 00:22:05,459Think what Christ can do with your life27500:22:07,199 –> 00:22:09,640Think what Christ can do with your family27600:22:11,979 –> 00:22:17,800Think what Christ can make of you think of what Christ can form within you27700:22:18,400 –> 00:22:20,319and27800:22:20,319 –> 00:22:25,040As you give thanks for these marks of grace as you see them in the lives of others27900:22:25,880 –> 00:22:27,880Be encouraged as28000:22:29,380 –> 00:22:31,380you seek to pursue them yourself28100:22:33,180 –> 00:22:36,939And to look to the Savior who is the source and fountain of them28200:22:38,119 –> 00:22:40,119To reproduce them in you by the power28300:22:41,140 –> 00:22:42,819of His Holy Spirit28400:22:42,819 –> 00:22:46,780You’ve been listening to pastor Colin Smith on open the Bible and a message called28500:22:47,000 –> 00:22:51,420Gospel character part of our series ten distinctives of a gospel centered life28600:22:52,400 –> 00:22:54,400And you can find the whole series on our website openthebible.org.uk28700:22:57,959 –> 00:23:00,400Open the Bible is supported by our listeners28800:23:00,400 –> 00:23:07,479It’s people just like you who enable us to stay on the radio and on the Internet and we’re extremely grateful for the support28900:23:07,479 –> 00:23:11,719We receive from you. So if you already give to open the Bible, thank you so much29000:23:11,719 –> 00:23:17,060if you’re considering beginning to support open the Bible financially this month29100:23:17,060 –> 00:23:18,560We have a great offer for you29200:23:18,640 –> 00:23:26,560If you are able to begin a direct debit of five pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of sixty pounds or more29300:23:26,819 –> 00:23:33,280We’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of John Stott’s book the Incomparable Christ29400:23:33,920 –> 00:23:37,800Colin what is the one thing you want people to take away from this book?29500:23:37,800 –> 00:23:43,260Oh, well, Jesus once asked his disciples. Who do you say that I am?29600:23:43,699 –> 00:23:46,359And that is the most important question29700:23:46,359 –> 00:23:52,000I think that any of us could ever answer. When you settle in your mind and your heart29800:23:52,199 –> 00:23:57,180Who Jesus is, you really laid a foundation for your life and for everything else29900:23:57,180 –> 00:24:02,060you can rest the weight of your life your death and your eternity on him.30000:24:02,599 –> 00:24:08,680And Peter’s answer to that question when Jesus said, who do you say that I am, Peter said you are the Christ30100:24:08,979 –> 00:24:11,099Now this book The Incomparable Christ30200:24:11,099 –> 00:24:19,060The Incomparable Christ really liftsup who Jesus is how he’s presented to us in the New Testament30300:24:19,260 –> 00:24:22,560how he has been understood throughout the history of the church30400:24:22,719 –> 00:24:25,479how he’s inspired people through the centuries30500:24:25,699 –> 00:24:29,979and how he will be when we see him in his power in his glory when he returns30600:24:30,180 –> 00:24:34,280it’s a marvellous book I think it’s the best book you can read about Jesus30700:24:34,400 –> 00:24:39,959the incomparable Christ and I think that people will be greatly blessed by this book30800:24:40,180 –> 00:24:44,380Well this book by John Stott the Incomparable Christ is our gift to you30900:24:44,500 –> 00:24:48,020when you begin a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible31000:24:48,260 –> 00:24:50,959in the amount of £5 per month or more31100:24:51,359 –> 00:24:55,000or a one-off gift of £60 or more this month31200:24:55,579 –> 00:24:57,839full terms and conditions are on our website31300:24:57,839 –> 00:25:01,180that’s at openthebible.org.uk31400:25:01,300 –> 00:25:02,920and you can give online31500:25:03,359 –> 00:25:08,060don’t forget to leave your full name and address so we can send you your free gift31600:25:08,699 –> 00:25:11,099For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith31700:25:11,319 –> 00:25:15,839I’m David Pick and I look forward to you joining us again for our next program31800:25:23,339 –> 00:25:26,180what is so great about Jesus Christ?31900:25:26,660 –> 00:25:29,119find out next time on Open the Bible