100:00:00,840 –> 00:00:09,000The sovereignty of God might seem to you like the last place you would look for200:00:09,000 –> 00:00:13,760comfort when sorrow and loss invade your life. You may find a sense of dissonance300:00:13,760 –> 00:00:18,520even as you’re trying to take what Naomi says here into your mind and into your400:00:18,520 –> 00:00:22,719heart but I want to commend this to you that Naomi really does have something500:00:22,719 –> 00:00:28,280important to teach us here and believers through the centuries have found that600:00:28,480 –> 00:00:33,720this great truth of the sovereignty of God gives great comfort in times of700:00:33,720 –> 00:00:39,119sorrow. Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick I’m800:00:39,139 –> 00:00:43,520glad you could be with us today. And Colin the Bible is full of comforting900:00:43,520 –> 00:00:48,080verses but here you’re saying that the sovereignty of God is maybe where we1000:00:48,080 –> 00:00:52,320should go first when we suffer grief. Yes and we’re going to see that that’s1100:00:52,320 –> 00:00:57,160where Naomi went and it’s very clear in this wonderful story of the Book of1200:00:57,200 –> 00:01:02,080Ruth. And I think the point here is that when something terrible happens in a1300:01:02,080 –> 00:01:07,519person’s life there are really only two possibilities. Either this was a matter1400:01:07,519 –> 00:01:13,320of random chance in which case the whole thing was completely meaningless there1500:01:13,320 –> 00:01:22,440was no purpose in it at all or there is indeed a sovereign God who created the1600:01:22,440 –> 00:01:28,480heavens and the earth and holds our lives in his hands and allows us to go1700:01:28,480 –> 00:01:34,279through times of great sorrow that we will never understand and yet is working1800:01:34,279 –> 00:01:39,639for our good and walking with us in it. And that’s the wonderful truth of the1900:01:39,639 –> 00:01:44,080sovereignty of God that of course is written all the way through the Bible.2000:01:44,080 –> 00:01:49,800I would rather a thousand times live with the mystery of not understanding why2100:01:50,440 –> 00:01:54,720God allows things in my life that I wouldn’t desire than live with the idea that2200:01:54,720 –> 00:02:00,040somehow these were meaningless random events that had no purpose and that2300:02:00,040 –> 00:02:04,639there was no controlling hand in it at all. As you listen today, and particularly2400:02:04,639 –> 00:02:09,940if you find yourself suffering sadness, sorrow, grief and loss, I think you’ll2500:02:09,940 –> 00:02:13,800find encouragement and comfort in today’s message as we continue looking2600:02:13,880 –> 00:02:16,119at Ruth chapter 1, here’s Colin.2700:02:16,119 –> 00:02:18,559We’ve looked at navigating sorrow.2800:02:18,559 –> 00:02:24,380Sorrow comes in waves. Grief distorts. Bitterness lurks at sorrow’s door.2900:02:24,380 –> 00:02:30,240How are we to overcome these waves of sorrow? How are we to deal with3000:02:30,240 –> 00:02:36,600these distortions of grief? How are we to stand against the bitterness that3100:02:36,600 –> 00:02:42,639lurks at sorrow’s door? Well again, I want us to see from Naomi’s3200:02:42,639 –> 00:02:49,240example, a strategy for growing in faith. Notice what she does, and we’re going to3300:02:49,240 –> 00:02:54,539see the good fruit that comes from it, as we follow her story in the weeks to come.3400:02:54,779 –> 00:03:06,820First, when you face great trauma, great sorrow, great loss, affirm that God is3500:03:06,820 –> 00:03:14,500sovereign. Now I want you to notice here that Naomi speaks about God in two3600:03:14,500 –> 00:03:19,339distinct ways, both of them are really important.3700:03:19,619 –> 00:03:25,660The first is that she describes God as the Almighty. She does it twice, verse 20.3800:03:25,660 –> 00:03:34,460The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. The Almighty, verse 21, has3900:03:34,460 –> 00:03:39,080brought calamity upon me. The Almighty.4000:03:39,080 –> 00:03:47,020You see, what we learn here is that when Naomi’s sorrow was at its height, she4100:03:47,100 –> 00:03:55,619affirmed the sovereignty of God. He is Almighty.4200:03:55,619 –> 00:04:02,199Now when suffering comes we feel our own helplessness. Never more so than in4300:04:02,199 –> 00:04:08,559bereavement where clearly things were out of our control. You’ve seen that this4400:04:08,559 –> 00:04:13,660year in multiple disasters that have caused our hearts to grieve, with great4500:04:13,800 –> 00:04:18,440sympathy with those who have been caught up in fires and floods and earthquakes,4600:04:18,440 –> 00:04:27,299situations in which people have no control whatsoever. And the same is true4700:04:27,299 –> 00:04:34,119when you lose a loved one. The same is true when you’re diagnosed with a really4800:04:34,119 –> 00:04:42,399serious illness. Same is true when you are caught up in some traumatic event4900:04:43,339 –> 00:04:48,279and when those things happen and you’re very, very conscious that you have not5000:04:48,279 –> 00:04:54,579been in control, the question you inevitably ask is who is. And there are5100:04:54,579 –> 00:05:06,019only three possibilities, that God is in control or that evil has triumphed or5200:05:06,019 –> 00:05:09,500that no one is in control at all and that what happens is simply a matter of5300:05:09,619 –> 00:05:16,320random chance and Naomi has absolutely no doubt whatsoever about which of these is5400:05:16,320 –> 00:05:17,279true.5500:05:17,279 –> 00:05:23,279The Almighty has dealt with me bitterly. The Almighty has brought calamity upon5600:05:23,279 –> 00:05:34,799me. Now obviously, what Naomi says here raises all kinds of questions but Naomi5700:05:35,119 –> 00:05:43,519speaks with faith here because she recognises the hand of God even in the5800:05:43,519 –> 00:05:54,579hardest things of life. God is Almighty and that means that he is in control5900:05:54,579 –> 00:06:02,660even when the worst things happen so when trouble comes6000:06:02,660 –> 00:06:11,980Naomi says, God is in the trouble. Now the sovereignty of God might seem to you6100:06:11,980 –> 00:06:17,019like the last place you would look for comfort when sorrow and loss invade6200:06:17,019 –> 00:06:20,179your life you may find a sense of dissonance even as you’re trying to6300:06:20,200 –> 00:06:25,339take what Naomie says here into your mind and into your heart but I want to6400:06:25,339 –> 00:06:29,059commend this to you that Naomie really does have something important to teach6500:06:29,059 –> 00:06:34,359us here and believers through the centuries have found that this great6600:06:34,359 –> 00:06:41,440truth of the sovereignty of God gives great comfort in times of sorrow.6700:06:41,880 –> 00:06:50,480I’ll never forget hearing Dr. Joe Stoll tell a story about how on one occasion6800:06:50,480 –> 00:06:57,920he was preaching on this theme of the sovereignty of God and afterwards a6900:06:57,920 –> 00:07:03,799couple came up to him to thank him for his message which they said had been a7000:07:03,799 –> 00:07:11,200great comfort to them and then they told him their story. They had lost their son7100:07:11,359 –> 00:07:20,600through a tragic and sudden illness. They had gone to their pastor stricken with7200:07:20,600 –> 00:07:28,839grief and their pastor had identified with great sympathy and compassion with7300:07:28,839 –> 00:07:36,619their sorrow. But they wanted more. They were looking for something that they7400:07:36,720 –> 00:07:44,440could cling to, something that they could hold on to in their sorrow, and their7500:07:44,440 –> 00:07:50,459pastor said, I don’t know what to tell you7600:07:50,459 –> 00:07:59,679except that sometimes even God makes mistakes. Friends, the sovereignty of God7700:07:59,839 –> 00:08:07,920leaves us with a thousand unanswered questions, but I would rather live with a7800:08:07,920 –> 00:08:13,239thousand unanswered questions about the sovereignty of God then plunge into the7900:08:13,239 –> 00:08:20,019abyss of believing that somehow the hardest things of life were outside the8000:08:20,019 –> 00:08:26,399loving plan and control of God Almighty. There is no comfort whatsoever in the8100:08:26,500 –> 00:08:33,000idea of a God who makes mistakes. No help in a God who lets things slip through8200:08:33,000 –> 00:08:39,479his fingers. No hope in a God who cannot get his will done, and Naomi gives us I8300:08:39,479 –> 00:08:44,239think the most marvelous example of faith. In the depth of her sorrow8400:08:44,239 –> 00:08:53,419she says, I believe in God Almighty. I have great sorrow,8500:08:53,419 –> 00:09:01,299but this is why I’m not in despair. I am persuaded that nothing in death nor in8600:09:01,299 –> 00:09:10,380life can derail his good purpose for me. I am not in despair because I dare to8700:09:11,299 –> 00:09:18,099believe that God is sovereign even over this.8800:09:18,900 –> 00:09:31,080God is still on the throne, and he will remember his own. Though trials may press8900:09:31,080 –> 00:09:38,020us and burdens distress us, he never will leave us alone.9000:09:38,059 –> 00:09:49,159God is still on the throne, and he will remember his own. His promise is true. He9100:09:49,159 –> 00:09:58,340will not forget you. God is still on the throne. And that,9200:09:58,340 –> 00:10:03,760dear friend, is true on the worst day of your life as much as it’s true on the9300:10:04,359 –> 00:10:11,559and it’s on the worst day of your life that you most need to know and affirm it.9400:10:11,559 –> 00:10:17,880You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, and a message entitled Grief.9500:10:17,880 –> 00:10:23,619Part of our series, Ordinary People, Extraordinary God, based on the book of Ruth.9600:10:23,619 –> 00:10:27,880And if you’ve missed any of the series, please come online to our website,9700:10:27,880 –> 00:10:33,099OpenTheBible.org.uk, and there you can listen to any of the broadcasts which9800:10:33,359 –> 00:10:35,919have already gone out on-air.9900:10:35,919 –> 00:10:40,900At Open The Bible, we’re excited about an event happening this Easter all over the world.10000:10:40,900 –> 00:10:46,140Seventy per cent of the world’s population will have the opportunity to see the one-hour10100:10:46,140 –> 00:10:51,739film version of Pastor Colin’s book, Heaven, How I Got Here, the story of the thief who10200:10:51,739 –> 00:10:54,320was crucified with Jesus.10300:10:54,320 –> 00:10:59,559It’s a powerful performance by the actor Stephen Baldwin in which we see how the thief10400:10:59,679 –> 00:11:06,559starts to understand and fear God, and reaches out to Jesus who, in turn, accepts the thief10500:11:06,559 –> 00:11:08,080as a repentant sinner.10600:11:08,080 –> 00:11:13,880It’s been translated into 23 different languages and we’re making available to watch for10700:11:13,880 –> 00:11:15,119free this Easter.10800:11:15,119 –> 00:11:22,760Learn more when you visit OpenTheBible.org.uk Back to The Message now where in Ruth and10900:11:22,760 –> 00:11:24,599Chapter 1, here’s Colin.11000:11:25,260 –> 00:11:30,840That’s the first thing, a strategy for growing in faith.11100:11:30,840 –> 00:11:35,940What Naomi does is she affirms the sovereignty of God.11200:11:35,940 –> 00:11:43,479Second, remember that the Lord has made a covenant with you.11300:11:43,479 –> 00:11:49,380Naomi speaks twice about the Almighty, but I wonder if you notice that she speaks about11400:11:49,619 –> 00:11:55,559Lord five times in this chapter.11500:11:55,559 –> 00:12:01,799She says in verse eight, to Rooth and to Orpah, may the Lord deal kindly with you as you have11600:12:01,799 –> 00:12:04,140dealt with the dead and with me.11700:12:04,140 –> 00:12:09,260Then she says to them in verse nine, the Lord grants that you may find rest each of you11800:12:09,260 –> 00:12:10,820in the house of her husband.11900:12:10,820 –> 00:12:14,500Naomi believes that blessing comes from the Lord.12000:12:14,500 –> 00:12:18,659And she prays for her daughters in law that they will enjoy the blessing and the peace12100:12:18,659 –> 00:12:22,239that God the Lord gives.12200:12:22,239 –> 00:12:28,580And then in verse 13, Naomi says, the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.12300:12:28,580 –> 00:12:33,739Verse 21, I went away full and the Lord has brought me back empty.12400:12:33,739 –> 00:12:40,280Verse 21, again the Lord has testified against me and the almighty has brought calamity upon12500:12:40,280 –> 00:12:41,280me.12600:12:41,280 –> 00:12:47,880Now, notice that in each of these cases the Lord in the Bible is printed with four capital12700:12:47,880 –> 00:12:49,340letters.12800:12:49,340 –> 00:12:54,760And whenever you say Lord with four capital letters in the Bible, it’s a reference to12900:12:54,760 –> 00:13:03,039the name by which God made Himself known to Moses and this is the name that God used especially13000:13:03,039 –> 00:13:09,799in relation to His covenant with His people, the special bond that God has with His own13100:13:09,799 –> 00:13:10,799people.13200:13:11,039 –> 00:13:18,460They know him as the Lord, this is the name, the covenant name that He has given to them.13300:13:18,460 –> 00:13:24,820It is the Lord who said I will be your God and you will be my people.13400:13:24,820 –> 00:13:32,840Moses tells us that it was the Lord who said to Abraham, I will bless you and through you13500:13:32,840 –> 00:13:36,640all the families of the earth will be blessed.13600:13:36,640 –> 00:13:40,140Now you see these two things and they’re both very important.13700:13:40,140 –> 00:13:46,739Naomi speaks about God as Almighty recognizing that He is Sovereign.13800:13:46,739 –> 00:13:56,119But she speaks even more about the Lord recognizing that God has made an unbreakable covenant13900:13:56,119 –> 00:14:00,440with her and with all of his people.14000:14:00,440 –> 00:14:03,320We put these two things together.14100:14:04,320 –> 00:14:10,280God is Almighty.14200:14:10,280 –> 00:14:19,619And you look at my experience, and it seems that He’s against me, but I know His name.14300:14:19,619 –> 00:14:27,239He is the Lord, and the Lord has made a covenant with His people and by His grace that includes14400:14:27,840 –> 00:14:28,840me.14500:14:28,840 –> 00:14:38,159Therefore, I can know and believe that God is for me even when it seems that He is against14600:14:38,159 –> 00:14:41,039me.14700:14:41,039 –> 00:14:43,919Isaiah in chapter 43 puts this so beautifully.14800:14:43,919 –> 00:14:56,020Now, thus says the Lord, God says this in His covenant with you, He who created you14900:14:56,020 –> 00:15:01,359and who is like Jacob, he who formed you oh Israel, fear not for I have redeemed you,15000:15:01,359 –> 00:15:06,539I have called you by name, you are mine.15100:15:06,539 –> 00:15:09,260That’s the heart of the giving of this name.15200:15:09,260 –> 00:15:14,820You are my people, I am your God and the Lord, you are mine.15300:15:14,820 –> 00:15:19,900So, when you pass through the waters I will be with you.15400:15:19,900 –> 00:15:24,619And through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you, when you walk through fire you shall15500:15:24,739 –> 00:15:27,539not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.15600:15:27,539 –> 00:15:28,539Why?15700:15:28,539 –> 00:15:37,659For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.15800:15:37,659 –> 00:15:44,539That’s what you hold on to when you’re in Naomi’s shoes.15900:15:44,539 –> 00:15:51,099God has made a covenant and by His grace that covenant includes me.16000:15:51,099 –> 00:15:56,580That covenant has been sealed by the precious blood of God’s own Son, who came into this16100:15:56,580 –> 00:16:03,679world of grief and sorrow and trauma and loss to redeem us and to bring us into the everlasting16200:16:03,679 –> 00:16:06,940joy of His presence.16300:16:06,940 –> 00:16:14,239When you are tempted to bitterness, when you feel abandoned and when you feel alone, when16400:16:14,239 –> 00:16:19,940you feel that God Himself may be against you, remember that He has made a covenant with16500:16:19,940 –> 00:16:20,940you.16600:16:21,039 –> 00:16:28,979He is with you and He is a Lord and He is for you even when it seems that He is against16700:16:28,979 –> 00:16:31,099you.16800:16:31,099 –> 00:16:37,340William Cowper, who went through great trials and darkness in his own life, grasped this16900:16:37,340 –> 00:16:41,419marvellous truth and expressed it in a hymn that some of you will know.17000:16:41,419 –> 00:16:43,299God moves in a mysterious way.17100:16:43,299 –> 00:16:49,179He writes these words, Judge not the Lord by feeble sense.17200:16:49,179 –> 00:16:54,140But trust Him for His grace.17300:16:54,140 –> 00:17:03,780Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face.17400:17:03,780 –> 00:17:08,219His purposes will ripen fast.17500:17:08,219 –> 00:17:21,400Unfolding every hour, the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.17600:17:21,400 –> 00:17:25,699See faith looks beyond the bitter experiences of life.17700:17:25,699 –> 00:17:31,839It dares to believe that even here God is working for our good, and it waits to see17800:17:32,079 –> 00:17:38,780what blessing God will bring through what we have endured.17900:17:39,079 –> 00:17:45,719A strategy for growing in faith as you are navigating sorrow’s path.18000:17:45,719 –> 00:17:53,479You affirm that God is sovereign, you remember that God made a covenant with you, then, briefly18100:17:53,479 –> 00:17:58,800and finally, you walk with the man of sorrows.18200:17:58,800 –> 00:18:05,579The Prophet Isaiah spoke about the savior who was to come and described him as the man18300:18:05,579 –> 00:18:10,319of sorrows, acquainted with grief.18400:18:10,319 –> 00:18:15,459And surely this theme as we look at it in the Old Testament, points us to this wonderful18500:18:15,459 –> 00:18:25,439reality that Jesus knows what it is to walk sorrows path and therefore when you walk the18600:18:25,439 –> 00:18:31,219path of sorrow and loss, you are actually walking a place where Jesus Christ especially18700:18:31,219 –> 00:18:34,180may be found.18800:18:34,180 –> 00:18:40,339And I have been thinking and have been moved again by this week about how Naomi’s words18900:18:40,339 –> 00:18:49,699about her affliction actually describe the experience of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.19000:18:49,699 –> 00:18:55,680Recall that when He went to the cross, our sins were laid on Him.19100:18:55,680 –> 00:19:01,599He bore our sins in His own body on the tree.19200:19:01,599 –> 00:19:11,099All that was due to us on account of our sins was poured out on Him, the wrath of God was19300:19:11,099 –> 00:19:17,319on Him in a way that it will never be on you if you are in Jesus Christ.19400:19:18,319 –> 00:19:27,400And what that means is that Jesus could say as no one else could ever say,19500:19:27,400 –> 00:19:32,599The hand of God has gone out against me.19600:19:32,599 –> 00:19:37,199Jesus could say as no one else could ever say19700:19:37,199 –> 00:19:46,920The Almighty has brought calamity upon me.19800:19:47,479 –> 00:19:55,640I was talking with someone just this week who has endured some very bitter19900:19:55,640 –> 00:20:08,880experiences He told me his story and then I asked him this question.20000:20:08,880 –> 00:20:14,859can you see any parallels to what you20100:20:14,859 –> 00:20:20,500have experienced in the life in the ministry of our Lord Jesus?20200:20:20,500 –> 00:20:25,060He thought about that for a minute20300:20:25,060 –> 00:20:31,420and then He gave a very perceptive answer.20400:20:31,420 –> 00:20:35,839Was Jesus ever insulted?20500:20:35,839 –> 00:20:39,520Yes he was.20600:20:39,520 –> 00:20:43,959Was Jesus ever abused?20700:20:43,959 –> 00:20:47,359Yes he was.20800:20:47,359 –> 00:20:52,280Was Jesus ever abandoned by friends who should have stood with him?20900:20:52,280 –> 00:20:56,859Yes He was.21000:20:56,900 –> 00:21:02,119Did Jesus ever know what it was to cry out in agony21100:21:02,119 –> 00:21:07,800because He could no longer feel the comfort of His Father’s love?21200:21:07,800 –> 00:21:11,040Yes He did.21300:21:11,040 –> 00:21:19,119My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?21400:21:19,180 –> 00:21:25,560Can you see any parallels to what you have endured21500:21:25,560 –> 00:21:31,000in the life and ministry of Jesus?21600:21:31,000 –> 00:21:33,579Because if when you look at what you have suffered21700:21:33,579 –> 00:21:37,359you can see that Jesus Himself has been there21800:21:37,359 –> 00:21:40,540and that He, therefore, really knows what it is like,21900:21:40,540 –> 00:21:48,180you will be drawn to walk with Him in your sorrow.22000:21:48,300 –> 00:21:51,680And any path on which you come closer to Him22100:21:51,680 –> 00:21:55,079is a path that will be blessed,22200:21:55,079 –> 00:22:02,619even if it is a path that you would never have chosen to walk.22300:22:03,479 –> 00:22:05,680If you’ve been walking with Jesus,22400:22:05,680 –> 00:22:09,579you know it to be true that when life is at its hardest,22500:22:09,579 –> 00:22:12,640when we feel crushed and close to despair,22600:22:12,640 –> 00:22:15,359that’s exactly the time when our faith grows22700:22:15,359 –> 00:22:17,660and we become closer to God.22800:22:17,660 –> 00:22:19,979We don’t choose to experience that,22900:22:19,979 –> 00:22:22,939but knowing that it’s part of God’s best plan for us23000:22:22,939 –> 00:22:24,739is a great comfort.23100:22:25,280 –> 00:22:28,359You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith23200:22:28,359 –> 00:22:30,280and a message called, ”GRIEF!”23300:22:30,280 –> 00:22:31,660It’s part of our series,23400:22:31,660 –> 00:22:34,219”Ordinary People Extraordinary God”23500:22:34,219 –> 00:22:36,459and it’s based on the book of Ruth.23600:22:36,459 –> 00:22:38,459If you ever miss one of the series,23700:22:38,459 –> 00:22:39,979do come to our website.23800:22:39,979 –> 00:22:42,500You can catch up or go back and listen again23900:22:42,500 –> 00:22:45,760to any of the broadcasts which have already gone out on-air.24000:22:45,760 –> 00:22:46,880You can also find24100:22:46,939 –> 00:22:49,300Pastor Colin’s messages as a podcast24200:22:49,300 –> 00:22:51,359and those are on all the main podcast sites.24300:22:51,359 –> 00:22:53,300Search for Open the Bible UK.24400:22:54,339 –> 00:22:57,900Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners24500:22:57,900 –> 00:23:00,859and if you already give to support the work of Open the Bible,24600:23:00,859 –> 00:23:02,939we want to say a big ”Thank you”.24700:23:03,520 –> 00:23:06,699If you don’t already support us, but you’re considering doing so,24800:23:06,699 –> 00:23:09,579you can do that by coming online to our website24900:23:09,579 –> 00:23:12,119openthebible.org.uk25000:23:12,119 –> 00:23:13,699There you can give online.25100:23:13,699 –> 00:23:15,920You can also hear about our gift to you25200:23:15,920 –> 00:23:18,459if you’re able to set up a new direct debit25300:23:18,459 –> 00:23:20,140to the work of Open the Bible25400:23:20,140 –> 00:23:22,939in the amount of £5 per month or more25500:23:22,939 –> 00:23:26,079or a one off gift of £50 or more.25600:23:26,439 –> 00:23:27,900If you’re able to do that,25700:23:27,900 –> 00:23:29,180we would love to say ”Thank you”25800:23:29,180 –> 00:23:31,979by sending you a copy of Lee Strobel’s book25900:23:31,979 –> 00:23:33,400”The Case for Easter”.26000:23:33,400 –> 00:23:35,540Also, Pastor Colin’s booklet26100:23:35,540 –> 00:23:37,880”6 Days that Changed the World”26200:23:37,880 –> 00:23:39,040and on top of that26300:23:39,040 –> 00:23:41,140a lovely open the Bible tote bag,26400:23:41,140 –> 00:23:43,119pen and bookmark.26500:23:43,119 –> 00:23:43,619Colin,26600:23:43,619 –> 00:23:44,859what might readers get26700:23:44,859 –> 00:23:47,020out of reading Lee Strobel’s book26800:23:47,020 –> 00:23:48,400”The Case for Easter”?26900:23:48,400 –> 00:23:49,219Well, I think the first thing27000:23:49,219 –> 00:23:52,579is it’s an absolutely fascinating read.27100:23:52,579 –> 00:23:54,800I mean, Lee Strobel was an atheist27200:23:54,800 –> 00:23:57,020when he began exploring the Christian faith27300:23:57,020 –> 00:23:58,979and in ”The Case for Easter”,27400:23:58,979 –> 00:24:01,319he retraces his own steps27500:24:01,319 –> 00:24:02,619showing the biblical evidence27600:24:02,619 –> 00:24:04,359that led him to believe27700:24:04,359 –> 00:24:07,060that Jesus really rose from the dead.27800:24:07,060 –> 00:24:09,040And the compelling evidence27900:24:09,040 –> 00:24:11,239on which we can take a recent step of faith28000:24:11,599 –> 00:24:12,819is really placed before us28100:24:12,819 –> 00:24:13,560in the Gospels.28200:24:13,560 –> 00:24:15,819The reality is that there are many people28300:24:15,819 –> 00:24:17,920who have not seriously considered it.28400:24:17,920 –> 00:24:19,739Well, ”The Case for Easter”28500:24:19,739 –> 00:24:22,140can help Christians come to clarity28600:24:22,140 –> 00:24:25,319about why we believe in the resurrection28700:24:25,319 –> 00:24:27,359and it can help to provide a pathway28800:24:27,359 –> 00:24:28,020to faith28900:24:28,020 –> 00:24:29,160for someone who’s just29000:24:29,160 –> 00:24:31,040beginning to explore Christianity.29100:24:31,040 –> 00:24:32,459Well, ”The Case for Easter”29200:24:32,459 –> 00:24:33,400by Lee Strobel29300:24:33,400 –> 00:24:34,880and Colin’s booklet29400:24:34,880 –> 00:24:37,020”6 Days That Changed the World”29500:24:37,020 –> 00:24:38,180as well as a lovely29600:24:38,180 –> 00:24:39,560open-the-bible tote bag29700:24:39,560 –> 00:24:40,939bookmark and pen29800:24:40,939 –> 00:24:42,400are our gift to you29900:24:42,400 –> 00:24:43,560if you’re able to set up30000:24:43,560 –> 00:24:44,819a new direct debit30100:24:44,819 –> 00:24:46,339to the work of Open the Bible30200:24:46,339 –> 00:24:47,300this month30300:24:47,300 –> 00:24:50,140in the amount of £5 per month or more30400:24:50,140 –> 00:24:53,219or a one-off gift of £50 or more.30500:24:53,219 –> 00:24:55,719Full details, terms and conditions30600:24:55,719 –> 00:24:56,780and to give online30700:24:56,780 –> 00:24:58,339come to our website30800:24:58,339 –> 00:25:01,140openthebible.org.uk30900:25:01,140 –> 00:25:02,719For Colin Smith31000:25:02,719 –> 00:25:04,219for Open the Bible31100:25:04,219 –> 00:25:05,859I’m David Pick31200:25:05,859 –> 00:25:08,280and I hope you’ll join us again soon.31300:25:11,619 –> 00:25:14,380When Naomi returned home to Bethlehem31400:25:14,380 –> 00:25:16,260she said that what she had endured31500:25:16,260 –> 00:25:17,500had been bitter31600:25:17,500 –> 00:25:19,579but as the story unfolds31700:25:19,579 –> 00:25:21,099we see how God was at work31800:25:21,099 –> 00:25:23,140in Naomi’s life.31900:25:23,140 –> 00:25:25,900That’s next time on Open the Bible.