Hope for Today, Part 2

1 Corinthians 15:50-58
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In this final message of our series “Hope is a Name,” based on 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, Pastor Colin delves into the transformative truth of the resurrection life promised in Christ. Together, we explore the profound call to live steadfast and abundant lives for Christ, recognising the eternal hope that lies ahead for believers and the urgency of reaching those yet to know Him.

Join us as we unpack God’s promise of victory over death and what it means to live with heavenly hope in our hearts, even amidst earthly challenges. Pastor Colin calls us to reflect: “In light of the glorious life ahead and the reality of millions perishing without Christ, are we doing all we can for Him?” It’s a question that drives us toward deeper commitment and action in our walk with the Lord.

100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:11,020In the light of the glorious life that is ahead of you, in the light of the reality200:00:11,020 –> 00:00:17,900that millions are dying in their sins, ask yourself honestly, is what I am doing for300:00:17,900 –> 00:00:21,000Christ really the best I can do?400:00:21,000 –> 00:00:23,559Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.500:00:23,559 –> 00:00:24,860I’m David Pick.600:00:24,860 –> 00:00:29,500Glad you could be with us today and Colin we’ve been in a series for the last few days700:00:29,500 –> 00:00:35,419called Hope is a Name based on First Book of Corinthians chapter 15 and today’s the800:00:35,419 –> 00:00:37,619last message in the series.900:00:37,619 –> 00:00:43,139Yes and we’re looking at the practical application of this wonderful truth of the resurrection1000:00:43,139 –> 00:00:45,480life that we’re going to share with the Lord Jesus Christ.1100:00:45,480 –> 00:00:50,639You know, Christians have put up for many, many years with the phrase about, you know,1200:00:50,639 –> 00:00:55,419being so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly use and that is completely untrue.1300:00:55,580 –> 00:01:03,759A person who has his or her mind set on heaven is going to for that very reason want to live1400:01:03,759 –> 00:01:07,739for Christ to the best of their ability here on earth.1500:01:07,739 –> 00:01:11,199And that’s where 1 Corinthians in chapter 15 ends.1600:01:11,199 –> 00:01:18,480It ends with us being stedfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.1700:01:18,480 –> 00:01:24,099That’s where we want to be and that’s where we will be if we’ve really taken in the glorious1800:01:24,400 –> 00:01:27,339future that lies ahead of us in the resurrection.1900:01:27,339 –> 00:01:34,220So let’s look at that together in 1 Corinthians 15, today in verses 50-58, as we continue2000:01:34,220 –> 00:01:36,379the message, Hope for Today.2100:01:36,379 –> 00:01:37,699Here’s Colin2200:01:37,699 –> 00:01:45,660What happens to a believer after death is rather like a two-stage journey.2300:01:45,660 –> 00:01:53,839At the moment of death, Christ brings the soul of a believer immediately, instantly,2400:01:53,839 –> 00:02:00,339wonderfully, into the joy and peace of his presence in heaven.2500:02:00,339 –> 00:02:04,540But that is not the end of the story.2600:02:04,540 –> 00:02:10,820When Christ returns, as we have seen, the souls of those who are with him will be clothed2700:02:11,139 –> 00:02:17,220resurrected bodies, designed and adapted for everlasting life in the new heaven and the2800:02:17,220 –> 00:02:23,000new earth that God will bring into being, where we will all enjoy the presence of God2900:02:23,000 –> 00:02:26,779forever and forever.3000:02:26,779 –> 00:02:30,080Now what about believers who live?3100:02:30,080 –> 00:02:36,399Well, if you turn back to First Corinthians in chapter 15, that question is addressed3200:02:36,399 –> 00:02:39,160right here.3300:02:40,000 –> 00:02:45,820Hebrews who are alive when Christ returns will also receive this marvelous gift of the3400:02:45,820 –> 00:02:49,860resurrected body when he comes.3500:02:49,860 –> 00:02:53,059Look at verse 51 of First Corinthians 15.3600:02:53,059 –> 00:02:59,899We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.3700:02:59,899 –> 00:03:05,820In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound,3800:03:05,820 –> 00:03:06,899not just the trumpet again.3900:03:06,899 –> 00:03:11,919That’s the same event being referred to in First Thessalonians 4, the trumpet will sound4000:03:11,919 –> 00:03:17,380and the dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be changed.4100:03:17,380 –> 00:03:22,339Now, you see what he’s focused on here.4200:03:22,339 –> 00:03:29,699Some Christians will be living when Christ returns and these believers will not die.4300:03:29,699 –> 00:03:34,580That’s the meaning of we shall not all sleep.4400:03:35,100 –> 00:03:37,660Notice what the Apostle Paul says.4500:03:37,660 –> 00:03:40,020We shall not all sleep.4600:03:40,020 –> 00:03:41,300We shall all be changed.4700:03:41,300 –> 00:03:45,860He doesn’t say they as if he was referring to some distant other group of people.4800:03:45,860 –> 00:03:47,259Why does he say we?4900:03:47,259 –> 00:03:52,800Because the Apostle Paul when he wrote was living with the profound awareness that it5000:03:52,800 –> 00:03:57,559was possible that the Lord Jesus Christ could return in his lifetime and we should live5100:03:57,559 –> 00:04:03,380with the profound awareness that may be true for us, as well.5200:04:03,380 –> 00:04:08,419Notice when this great change takes place for those who are living at the time of the5300:04:08,419 –> 00:04:12,580return of Christ, it is at the last trumpet.5400:04:12,580 –> 00:04:17,420A clear reference to the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ.5500:04:17,420 –> 00:04:23,260So putting these two things together when the trumpet sounds, when the Lord Jesus Christ5600:04:23,260 –> 00:04:27,220returns in glory, two things will happen.5700:04:27,220 –> 00:04:30,540First, the dead will be raised imperishable.5800:04:30,640 –> 00:04:35,119That is, the souls of those who are already with the Lord will be clothed with resurrection5900:04:35,119 –> 00:04:43,440bodies and second, those who are living at that time will be changed.6000:04:43,440 –> 00:04:51,119Those who have died and those who live will receive this marvellous gift of the resurrection6100:04:51,119 –> 00:04:54,260body at precisely the same time.6200:04:54,260 –> 00:04:57,720What a day that will be.6300:04:57,720 –> 00:05:03,359And the Apostle Paul tells us that this change, in which our perishable bodies with all their6400:05:03,359 –> 00:05:08,600aches and pains get transformed into bodies that are glorious, powerful, spiritual and6500:05:08,600 –> 00:05:16,399imperishable, this change will happen in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye.6600:05:16,399 –> 00:05:22,019It will be an instantaneous and miraculous change.6700:05:22,019 –> 00:05:24,920So think about this.6800:05:24,940 –> 00:05:35,220Your sanctification is a long, slow process with many, many setbacks.6900:05:35,220 –> 00:05:39,459But your glorification will be immediate.7000:05:39,459 –> 00:05:41,579It will be complete.7100:05:41,579 –> 00:05:46,200It will be an irreversible transformation.7200:05:46,200 –> 00:05:51,420Now, remember where all this is headed.7300:05:51,420 –> 00:05:54,339It has a very practical outcome.7400:05:54,480 –> 00:05:57,299We’re headed for verse 58.7500:05:57,299 –> 00:06:09,019Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of7600:06:09,019 –> 00:06:11,220the Lord.7700:06:11,220 –> 00:06:14,299Why?7800:06:14,299 –> 00:06:19,299Why should you be steadfast and immovable?7900:06:19,299 –> 00:06:25,859Why should you extend yourself in the service of the Lord?8000:06:25,859 –> 00:06:30,980Why should you pledge your life to Christ?8100:06:30,980 –> 00:06:36,799Why should you go anywhere He sends and be ready to do whatever He calls you to do, no8200:06:36,799 –> 00:06:41,079matter how hard or how costly that may become?8300:06:41,179 –> 00:06:48,660The first answer to that question is, because you will rise with Christ.8400:06:48,859 –> 00:06:53,980Because you have an everlasting life ahead of you.8500:06:53,980 –> 00:06:57,179You got more life than you’ll know what to do with.8600:06:57,179 –> 00:07:04,700See, if this short life was all that you had, well, then you would say, well, this is all8700:07:04,700 –> 00:07:08,380I’ve got, I’ve got to hold on to this little that I have.8800:07:08,380 –> 00:07:11,980And you would live in a constant fear that maybe if you decide this, you’ll miss out8900:07:11,980 –> 00:07:15,279on that, and all the rest of it.9000:07:16,279 –> 00:07:25,980But when you know that you have everlasting life, everlasting life, you will feel and9100:07:25,980 –> 00:07:33,519know that you can do nothing better with your short years in this world than to be steadfast9200:07:33,519 –> 00:07:36,899and immovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord.9300:07:36,899 –> 00:07:41,119Because you got eternity with him ahead of you.9400:07:41,119 –> 00:07:50,359That’s his first reason, the first step towards being steadfast, immovable is to know that9500:07:50,359 –> 00:07:52,799you will rise with Christ.9600:07:52,799 –> 00:08:02,760And the second is this, Believers will rise with Christ, but millions are dying without9700:08:02,760 –> 00:08:06,880Christ, millions are dying without Christ.9800:08:07,600 –> 00:08:13,220Look at verse 56 and verse 57, the sting of death is sin.9900:08:14,559 –> 00:08:23,079And the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through10000:08:23,079 –> 00:08:26,200our Lord Jesus Christ.10100:08:27,320 –> 00:08:33,739Now, I want you to see that what the Apostle is doing in these two verses is to draw out10200:08:33,739 –> 00:08:40,380the contrast between the experience of a believer at death and the experience of a10300:08:40,380 –> 00:08:43,659person who lives and dies without the Lord Jesus Christ.10400:08:44,979 –> 00:08:49,739Verse 57 describes the experience of a believer and how wonderful it is.10500:08:50,440 –> 00:08:59,640Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.10600:09:00,640 –> 00:09:05,119Why do we as believers have victory in the face of death?10700:09:05,359 –> 00:09:11,700Because for a believer to be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord.10800:09:13,320 –> 00:09:20,059That is why the Apostle Paul could say in his letter to the Philippians, my desire is10900:09:20,059 –> 00:09:23,440to depart and to be with Christ because that’s better by far.11000:09:23,640 –> 00:09:33,020For a believer, death will be an instant translation from the limitations and sometimes the pains11100:09:33,020 –> 00:09:39,260of life in this body to the joys of life in the presence of the Lord Jesus himself.11200:09:41,440 –> 00:09:48,039So I want you to notice and this is very important, that when the Apostle Paul comes to the end11300:09:48,479 –> 00:09:55,320of his life, when the Apostle Paul comes to his own facing of death he does not say the11400:09:55,320 –> 00:10:00,080sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law.11500:10:01,099 –> 00:10:02,520He doesn’t say that.11600:10:03,479 –> 00:10:08,140What the Apostle says when he comes to the end of his life and he’s looking at the translation11700:10:08,140 –> 00:10:10,140that lies ahead of him is he says,11800:10:18,039 –> 00:10:23,679And what’s laid up for me now is the crown of righteousness which the Lord himself is11900:10:23,679 –> 00:10:29,659going to give not only to me, but also to all who long for his appearing.12000:10:29,659 –> 00:10:36,700Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.12100:10:36,700 –> 00:10:39,719That’s verse 57.12200:10:39,719 –> 00:10:47,700But there are millions who do not share this victory.12300:10:47,700 –> 00:10:59,419And for them, the tragic reality of death is, verse 56, the sting of death is sin and12400:10:59,419 –> 00:11:03,739the power of the sin is the law.12500:11:03,739 –> 00:11:08,859Do you see what the Apostle Paul is doing here by putting these two verses together12600:11:08,859 –> 00:11:09,380side-by-side?12700:11:09,380 –> 00:11:16,340He’s deliberately drawing out the contrast between the glory that lies ahead of the believer12800:11:16,539 –> 00:11:23,539at death and the tragic situation of those who live and die without the Lord Jesus Christ.12900:11:23,840 –> 00:11:29,659Verse 57 is the experience of the believer. Verse 56 is the experience of the one who13000:11:29,659 –> 00:11:33,000lives and dies without Christ.13100:11:33,000 –> 00:11:42,479Now friends, I’ve spoken to many people who don’t believe. As I’m sure you have too. And13200:11:42,479 –> 00:11:49,500if the subject of death comes up in that conversation it seems that they don’t worry about death13300:11:49,500 –> 00:11:53,020at all. And you’ll have heard this.13400:11:53,020 –> 00:11:58,840An unbelieving person says, well, you know, you live and you die and you enjoy life while13500:11:58,840 –> 00:12:08,340you can and when you’re gone, you’re gone. And the reason they don’t worry about death13600:12:08,340 –> 00:12:17,599is that they don’t consider it sting. The sting of death is sin.13700:12:17,599 –> 00:12:28,299The problem is dying in your sins. And why is dying in your sins a problem?13800:12:28,299 –> 00:12:36,900Well, because of the law. The law is the demand you have not met.13900:12:36,940 –> 00:12:45,380Sin is the stain you cannot erase. And death is the outcome you cannot avoid.14000:12:46,179 –> 00:12:50,659And our Lord Jesus spoke about this very directly, John 8, in verse 24.14100:12:50,659 –> 00:12:55,700He said to those who would not believe, those who were steadfast in their resistance to14200:12:55,700 –> 00:13:03,739him, he said, I told you that you would die in your sins14300:13:03,820 –> 00:13:10,299Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.14400:13:13,419 –> 00:13:21,739And friends, nothing could be more tragic than for a man or for a woman to die in their sins.14500:13:24,219 –> 00:13:30,460Because to die in your sins would mean that you carry your sins into your death with you so14600:13:30,539 –> 00:13:34,219that they’re still on you when you stand before Almighty God, who will be your judge.14700:13:37,419 –> 00:13:42,780And that is the position of millions in the world today.14800:13:45,500 –> 00:13:47,739But not for you, if you’re a believer.14900:13:49,739 –> 00:13:53,260No, as a believer you can say,15000:13:54,219 –> 00:14:00,780oh thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.15100:14:02,219 –> 00:14:07,340Christ has delivered us from the sting of death how has he done it?15200:14:07,340 –> 00:14:13,020He’s done it by taking our sins from us, by fulfilling the law for us.15300:14:13,580 –> 00:14:16,940God became a man in Christ Jesus,15400:14:16,940 –> 00:14:21,580he lived the life we should have lived died the death that we should have died,15500:14:21,580 –> 00:14:28,780he bore our sins in his body on the tree, Jesus carried our sins into his death15600:14:29,900 –> 00:14:31,820so that we would not carry them into ours.15700:14:34,059 –> 00:14:40,539But here’s the question can you really leave it there?15800:14:41,580 –> 00:14:42,299Can you say,15900:14:44,539 –> 00:14:50,780millions are dying in their sins but thanks be to God who gives us the victory,16000:14:50,859 –> 00:14:52,140can you really leave it at that?16100:14:54,619 –> 00:14:55,820None of us can leave it there.16200:14:57,979 –> 00:15:02,859What Christ has done for us, he is able to do for others.16300:15:04,700 –> 00:15:09,260And that is why the very next thing that the Apostle Paul says is, therefore.16400:15:10,539 –> 00:15:11,099Therefore.16500:15:12,539 –> 00:15:16,539In the light of the fact that you are going to rise with Jesus Christ16600:15:16,539 –> 00:15:21,419And there are millions of people who are dying in their sins without Christ.16700:15:23,179 –> 00:15:28,539Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, be immovable and you always16800:15:28,539 –> 00:15:32,859be abounding in the work of the Lord.16900:15:34,380 –> 00:15:37,340You are listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.17000:15:37,340 –> 00:15:39,739And a message called, Hope for today.17100:15:39,739 –> 00:15:43,340And in a moment we’ll look at what it means to live for Christ.17200:15:43,340 –> 00:15:45,500It’s the last message in our series.17300:15:45,500 –> 00:15:46,859Hope is a name.17400:15:46,859 –> 00:15:49,739And if you’ve missed any of the series so far or you want to go back17500:15:49,739 –> 00:15:51,659and listen to any of the messages,17600:15:51,659 –> 00:15:56,619you can do that by coming online to our website openingthebible.org.uk17700:15:57,340 –> 00:15:58,780Back to the message now.17800:15:58,780 –> 00:15:59,979Here’s Colin.17900:15:59,979 –> 00:16:01,659Believers will rise with Christ.18000:16:03,419 –> 00:16:05,900Millions are dying without Christ.18100:16:07,659 –> 00:16:11,099So give yourself to living for Christ.18200:16:11,099 –> 00:16:15,739That’s the conclusion of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15.18300:16:17,500 –> 00:16:24,539And so in response to all that we have learned from 1 corinthians in Chapter 15 this month,18400:16:24,539 –> 00:16:29,260I’m gonna ask you to join me in making two commitments today18500:16:29,260 –> 00:16:32,700that are right out of this last verse of the chapter.18600:16:33,900 –> 00:16:38,940The first is I’m going to ask you to make a commitment to be steadfast.18700:16:38,940 –> 00:16:42,380Be steadfast, be immovable.18800:16:43,659 –> 00:16:46,859That of course is a lifetime commitment.18900:16:48,140 –> 00:16:54,219Starting is always easier than continuing and easier for sure than finishing.19000:16:55,739 –> 00:17:00,700And our calling is not simply to start brightly and then fade away.19100:17:01,580 –> 00:17:04,140To start eagerly and then to coast.19200:17:04,699 –> 00:17:09,979Our calling is to run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.19300:17:09,979 –> 00:17:14,780That’s why we need to deal with the sin that clings so closely19400:17:14,780 –> 00:17:19,180and lay aside the things that weigh us down and hold us back19500:17:19,180 –> 00:17:24,060so that we will run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us.19600:17:24,060 –> 00:17:25,660Don’t be distracted.19700:17:27,739 –> 00:17:29,579Don’t be blown off course.19800:17:30,140 –> 00:17:32,060Do what God has called you to do.19900:17:32,060 –> 00:17:35,819Refuse to quit, no matter how hard it gets.20000:17:37,900 –> 00:17:42,699And have nothing to do with strange new teachings20100:17:42,699 –> 00:17:46,859that actually often turn out to be very old strange teachings20200:17:46,859 –> 00:17:51,739that may fascinate your mind but will do nothing to promote a life20300:17:51,739 –> 00:17:54,060of dedicated and faithful service to Christ.20400:17:54,699 –> 00:18:00,219Give yourself to some work that will bring blessing to others and stick to it.20500:18:01,380 –> 00:18:07,020If you are a believer I’m asking you to make this commitment today before the Lord.20600:18:07,020 –> 00:18:12,300Lord, by your grace and in your strength, I will be steadfast.20700:18:12,939 –> 00:18:17,020I’m going to be steadfast in my commitment to you and to your truth.20800:18:17,020 –> 00:18:20,699I’m going to be immovable in my commitment to the brotherhood.20900:18:20,859 –> 00:18:25,099I’m going to be immovable in my commitment to the pursuit of a holy life.21000:18:27,900 –> 00:18:32,699Then the second commitment I’m asking you to make with me today is to always abound.21100:18:33,979 –> 00:18:39,819Always abounding in the work of the Lord.21200:18:41,099 –> 00:18:44,219Now many of us in this congregation have been believers for a while,21300:18:45,819 –> 00:18:47,500a lot of us actually for a good while,21400:18:47,739 –> 00:18:52,140and one danger for the mature believer is that you begin to say,21500:18:53,099 –> 00:18:59,739I’ve done my bet. I’ve done enough already. Don’t say that.21600:19:01,900 –> 00:19:04,540Millions are dying in their sins,21700:19:05,579 –> 00:19:11,260and you have an everlasting life ahead of you and you’re going to say, I’ve done my bet.21800:19:11,260 –> 00:19:14,300Ask yourself what more can I do?21900:19:14,699 –> 00:19:21,020What more can I do? Is there more that I can give? Are there others I can reach? Who22000:19:21,660 –> 00:19:28,140can I reach out to, in the light of the glorious life, That is ahead of you22100:19:29,420 –> 00:19:33,979in the light of the reality that millions are dying in their sins.22200:19:33,979 –> 00:19:40,540Ask yourself honestly, is what I am doing for Christ really, the best I can do.22300:19:40,540 –> 00:19:42,140Ask yourself that question.22400:19:44,300 –> 00:19:46,300I ask you to make this twin commitment today.22500:19:48,060 –> 00:19:57,020To be steadfast and to abound, not just for a while, but always, in the work of the Lord.22600:19:58,540 –> 00:20:06,619And if you will make that twin commitment, you will experience a twin outcome that is22700:20:06,619 –> 00:20:14,380also in this verse.’ The first outcome of that commitment will be that you will work really hard.22800:20:15,099 –> 00:20:22,619You will labor. That’s the word he uses, knowing that in the lord your labor is not in vain.22900:20:22,619 –> 00:20:30,619Labor is hard work, hard work is draining, hard work means you’ve got more on you23000:20:31,260 –> 00:20:35,500than you would have otherwise. Hard work means you could have an easier life if you didn’t23100:20:35,500 –> 00:20:41,900make the commitments that you’ve made. To labor is not glamorous.23200:20:43,739 –> 00:20:46,780It can be discouraging and sometimes even exhausting.23300:20:48,780 –> 00:20:55,579If you labor there will be times when you ask is this really worth it and that’s why by the way23400:20:55,579 –> 00:20:58,859you need to be steadfast and why you need to be immoveable.23500:20:58,859 –> 00:21:05,500But those who abound in the work of the LORD know what it is to work hard23600:21:07,099 –> 00:21:10,540and because they are steadfast they stick at it23700:21:11,979 –> 00:21:17,420and they do this because they are very confident of the second outcome of their commitment23800:21:19,020 –> 00:21:27,819which is that your labor in the LORD will not be in vain. Therefore my beloved brothers and sisters23900:21:29,020 –> 00:21:38,699be steadfast, be immovable always be abounding in the work of the LORD24000:21:40,300 –> 00:21:49,900knowing that in the LORD your labor will not be in vain. An encouraging word as we finish24100:21:49,900 –> 00:21:54,540our time together. You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible24200:21:54,540 –> 00:22:00,619with a message called Hope for Today. The final message in our series, Hope is a Name If you’ve24300:22:00,619 –> 00:22:04,619missed any of the series, don’t forget you can always catch up or go back and listen again24400:22:04,619 –> 00:22:11,900by coming to our website, that’s at openthebible.org.uk or you can find them as a podcast24500:22:11,900 –> 00:22:17,819and those on all the main podcast sites, search for Open the Bible UK. Also on our website24600:22:17,819 –> 00:22:23,660you’ll find our Bible study course, Fly Through the Bible, this short simple journey through the24700:22:23,660 –> 00:22:30,219Bible story can be enjoyed on your own, with a friend or as a group. For each of the 15 sessions24800:22:30,219 –> 00:22:35,900you can watch a short video then work through the questions, if you want to do a more detailed24900:22:35,900 –> 00:22:42,060bible study a guide is available for you to use in small groups or one-to-one. To make the25000:22:42,060 –> 00:22:47,660most of Fly Through the Bible, we recommend buying the book. There is also a free app that can be25100:22:47,660 –> 00:22:53,260used alongside all the materials. To find Fly Through the Bible go to our website,25200:22:53,260 –> 00:23:01,500www.openthebible.org.uk and click on Courses. Open the Bible is supported financially by our25300:23:01,500 –> 00:23:06,380listeners and if you already give to support the work of Open the Bible we want to say a big thank25400:23:06,380 –> 00:23:11,979you. Today if you don’t already support us but you’re considering doing so you can do that by25500:23:11,979 –> 00:23:19,020coming online to our website www.openthebible.org.uk. There you can give online you can also hear about25600:23:19,020 –> 00:23:24,219our gift to you if you’re able to set up a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible25700:23:24,219 –> 00:23:31,979in the amount of £5 per month or more or a one-off gift of £50 or more. If you’re able to do that25800:23:31,979 –> 00:23:37,599we’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Easter,25900:23:37,599 –> 00:23:44,079also Pastor Colin’s booklet Six Days That Changed the World and on top of that a lovely Open the26000:23:44,079 –> 00:23:51,119Bible tote bag, pen and bookmark. Colin what might readers get out of reading Lee Strobel’s book26100:23:51,119 –> 00:23:56,719The Case for Easter? Well I think the first thing is it’s an absolutely fascinating read.26200:23:56,719 –> 00:24:02,239I mean Lee Strobel was an atheist when he began exploring the Christian faith and in The Case for26300:24:03,199 –> 00:24:09,359retraces his own steps, showing the biblical evidence that led him to believe that Jesus26400:24:09,359 –> 00:24:14,719really rose from the dead. The compelling evidence on which we can take a reasoned26500:24:14,719 –> 00:24:19,280step of faith is really placed before us in the Gospels, the reality is that there26600:24:19,280 –> 00:24:25,119are many people who’ve not seriously considered it. Well The Case for Easter can help Christians26700:24:25,900 –> 00:24:32,420clarity about why we believe in the resurrection and it can help to provide a pathway to faith26800:24:32,420 –> 00:24:35,479for someone who’s just beginning to explore Christianity.26900:24:35,680 –> 00:24:42,459Well The Case for Easter by Lee Strobel and Colin’s booklet, Six Days That Changed the World, as well as a lovely27000:24:42,459 –> 00:24:47,640Open the Bible tote bag, bookmark and pen, are our gift to you if you’re able to set27100:24:47,640 –> 00:24:53,239up a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible, this month, in the amount of £527200:24:53,239 –> 00:24:59,959per month or more or a one off gift of £50 or more. Full details, terms and conditions27300:24:59,959 –> 00:25:04,900and to give on-line come to our website openthebible.org.uk.27400:25:04,900 –> 00:25:11,900For Colin Smith for Open the Bible, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again soon.27500:25:12,459 –> 00:25:19,459Are the Ten Commandments relevant for Christians today? There are easier ways to live so we27600:25:24,219 –> 00:25:30,280need to be sure that this is what God is calling us to. Find out more next time on Open the27700:25:30,280 –> 00:25:30,619Bible.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Explore the transformative power of Christ’s resurrection, which offers hope and assurance to believers. Pastor Colin encourages us to live steadfastly in faith, abounding in the work of the Lord, with the confidence that our efforts in faith are meaningful.

Colin Smith

New! Graphic Novel

A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

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