100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:13,520These are the realities of life. Failing bodies, discouragements in ministry, loved ones we200:00:13,520 –> 00:00:21,320have lost. And all of them are directly addressed in these marvellous verses that are before300:00:21,320 –> 00:00:24,280us, in this great chapter.400:00:24,280 –> 00:00:29,320Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. And Colin, I guess500:00:29,400 –> 00:00:32,540we’re all asking now, what is this chapter?600:00:32,540 –> 00:00:38,099Well, I think that if we were to ask Christian believers, what’s your favourite chapter700:00:38,099 –> 00:00:42,880in all of the New Testament? I guess we’d probably get one of two answers. One would800:00:42,880 –> 00:00:48,480be Romans in chapter 8, the other would be 1 Corinthians in chapter 15. And that is the900:00:48,480 –> 00:00:53,759chapter we’re looking at today, and in these coming days. It is the most wonderful chapter1000:00:53,759 –> 00:00:59,720about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the resurrection that all believers1100:00:59,720 –> 00:01:05,040will share, because we are in Him. It’s a chapter that’s just full of hope, full1200:01:05,040 –> 00:01:10,080of encouragement. And of course, it’s written because we need it, because we live in a world1300:01:10,080 –> 00:01:14,000where there’s a lot to discourage us, a lot to make us feel well now, what is the1400:01:14,000 –> 00:01:19,279future? And here we are lifted up to see that there’s a glorious future for every1500:01:19,279 –> 00:01:23,279Christian believer in Christ. We shall share his resurrection.1600:01:23,400 –> 00:01:29,379Well let’s get right into that in 1st Corinthians, chapter 15. As we begin the message, Hope1700:01:29,379 –> 00:01:31,239in Jesus. Here’s Colin.1800:01:31,239 –> 00:01:36,180Over these next 4 weeks we are going to be looking at this marvelous chapter where the1900:01:36,180 –> 00:01:43,400Apostle Paul lays out the transforming power of the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour2000:01:43,400 –> 00:01:51,000Jesus Christ. This chapter is absolutely full of hope, and it is very, very practical.2100:01:51,599 –> 00:01:58,160So don’t expect over these next weeks some vague speculation about the future. These2200:01:58,160 –> 00:02:07,040verses speak directly to the realities of our lives in this world today. Where do you2300:02:07,040 –> 00:02:16,139find hope when you realise that your own body is failing. Where do you find hope when ministry2400:02:16,220 –> 00:02:22,440is discouraging? You pour yourself into serving the Lord are faithful to the gospel but there2500:02:22,440 –> 00:02:29,220doesn’t seem to be much fruit. Sometimes you find yourself saying is this it? And where2600:02:29,220 –> 00:02:35,899do you find hope when you are grieving the loss of a loved one. There’s an empty chair2700:02:35,899 –> 00:02:45,339at the table, you look at her photograph but you don’t hear her voice, she’s gone and2800:02:45,339 –> 00:02:56,139you really miss her. Now, these are the realities of life. Failing bodies, discouragements in2900:02:56,139 –> 00:03:05,419ministry, loved ones, we have lost, and all of them are directly addressed in these marvellous3000:03:05,419 –> 00:03:13,979verses that are before us in this great chapter. Now the chapter is full of hope. That’s why3100:03:13,979 –> 00:03:21,179we’ve called the series Hope Has A Name. And today, the title of the message is Hope In Jesus.3200:03:21,179 –> 00:03:29,979Here’s the message today in a single sentence. There is hope in Jesus, because he died and rose,3300:03:31,179 –> 00:03:39,020through the grace that he brings, and it is for all who will receive and continue in3400:03:39,740 –> 00:03:43,740the gospel. These are the three things that we’re going to look at together3500:03:43,740 –> 00:03:51,740today. First then, there is hope in Jesus Christ, because He died and rose. Look at verse three.3600:03:51,740 –> 00:03:59,820For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins3700:03:59,820 –> 00:04:08,059in accordance with the scriptures. Now, 1 Corinthians is a very long letter and3800:04:08,059 –> 00:04:16,700it covers a vast array of very important themes. Paul speaks about some highly charged issues3900:04:17,260 –> 00:04:23,260in this letter. He talks about marriage. He talks about singleness. He talks about how we should4000:04:23,260 –> 00:04:31,100relate to the Godless culture around us. He talks about worship. He talks about living a life of4100:04:31,179 –> 00:04:38,540love. But what he presents here in chapter 15, he says is of first4200:04:39,260 –> 00:04:45,260importance. Do you see that here? For I deliver to you as of first importance,4300:04:45,260 –> 00:04:53,100after everything that he has covered, whatever issues you find yourself drawn to and getting4400:04:53,100 –> 00:05:02,459charged up about, never lose sight of what matters most. That Jesus Christ died for our4500:05:02,459 –> 00:05:07,980sins, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.4600:05:07,980 –> 00:05:12,940Paul says that is a first importance. And here’s what that means.4700:05:12,940 –> 00:05:22,739If anything ever becomes more important, more engaging, more compelling to you than what4800:05:22,739 –> 00:05:28,119Jesus accomplished in his death and in his resurrection, you can take that as a sure4900:05:28,119 –> 00:05:35,420sign that your spiritual life is in trouble. Here, says the apostle, is what matters most.5000:05:35,500 –> 00:05:43,859So make sure whatever you do that this is what matters most to you.5100:05:43,859 –> 00:05:51,980Now notice what he says matters most, Christ died for our sins. That’s5200:05:51,980 –> 00:06:01,459of first importance and what that means is that our sins matter. They really do.5300:06:02,299 –> 00:06:10,519Now I expect that when the history of our times is written up, I expect that they may5400:06:10,519 –> 00:06:18,540be viewed as the most arrogant and self-righteous era of any time since the days of the Pharisees5500:06:18,540 –> 00:06:25,579themselves. I mean think about it, millions of people in our time have stopped believing5600:06:25,679 –> 00:06:33,700in God and started believing in themselves. Millions have stopped believing in original5700:06:33,700 –> 00:06:42,179sin and have started believing in inherent virtue, inherent goodness. Of course, very5800:06:42,179 –> 00:06:49,260few would claim, surely, to be perfect but most, it seems today, do claim to be fundamentally5900:06:49,380 –> 00:06:58,519good. So if people think about sin at all, they will think about it as an occasional6000:06:58,519 –> 00:07:06,140and understandable lapse in living up to their own very high standards. And why in the world6100:07:06,140 –> 00:07:11,019would Jesus die for occasional lapses in people living up to their own very high standards?6200:07:11,179 –> 00:07:21,720That makes no sense at all. So let me remind you very briefly what the Bible says about6300:07:21,720 –> 00:07:32,920sin. First, our sins are an offense against God. All have sinned and fall short of the6400:07:32,920 –> 00:07:39,820glory of God, not our own standards, but the life to which God himself has called us.6500:07:41,220 –> 00:07:46,239Sin is not an occasional lapse in meeting the standards that we’ve set for ourselves.6600:07:46,260 –> 00:07:52,739It is our continued and our consistent falling short of the life to which God calls us.6700:07:54,019 –> 00:08:01,459Second, sin alienates us from God. The Apostle speaks in Ephesians chapter four in verse 186800:08:01,600 –> 00:08:09,380about how they are alienated from the life of God. Now you see, that is why the default6900:08:09,380 –> 00:08:16,100human experience is not that God is near. The default human experiences is that God7000:08:16,100 –> 00:08:21,880seems very far away indeed. Why? Because we’re alienated from him. And that’s one of the7100:08:21,880 –> 00:08:24,380great effects of sin.7200:08:24,380 –> 00:08:31,899Third, sin makes us antagonistic towards God. Romans chapter eight in verse seven, the mind7300:08:31,899 –> 00:08:38,200that is set on the flesh is hostile to God for it does not submit to his law. Indeed7400:08:38,239 –> 00:08:46,859it cannot. You see what that means? The more a person sins, the more angry and resentful7500:08:46,859 –> 00:08:50,299and resistant toward God they actually become.7600:08:50,299 –> 00:08:58,020And then the Bible teaches that sin makes us unfit for the presence of God. Hebrews7700:08:58,020 –> 00:09:07,260chapter 12 in verse 14, strive for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord, sin7800:09:07,260 –> 00:09:16,419God our first parents excluded, banished from paradise, and sin will keep us out of heaven7900:09:16,419 –> 00:09:19,580unless it is dealt with and removed.8000:09:19,580 –> 00:09:25,840And then fifthly, sin makes us liable to the judgment of God. Romans chapter 1 in verse8100:09:25,840 –> 00:09:32,34018 for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness8200:09:32,500 –> 00:09:39,500of man, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.8300:09:40,580 –> 00:09:45,039If you’re to take what God says to us in the Bible seriously at all, will you take this8400:09:45,039 –> 00:09:51,520into your mind and your heart today, that sin is not something in us that is sort of8500:09:51,520 –> 00:10:01,179slightly off. It is a complete breakdown of our relationship with the God who made us,8600:10:01,200 –> 00:10:07,799the God to whom one day we will all give an account? And its consequences therefore, are8700:10:07,799 –> 00:10:17,900catastrophic! And there is no power or resource within us that can rectify this problem.8800:10:17,900 –> 00:10:25,659Your will is simply not pure enough or strong enough to save you from sin. And all the good8900:10:25,659 –> 00:10:34,580that we have done could not diminish the effect of even one sin in our lives. And that is9000:10:34,580 –> 00:10:45,159why the apostle says this is of first importance, that Jesus Christ died for our sins.9100:10:45,159 –> 00:10:48,239You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith9200:10:48,239 –> 00:10:54,219and a message called, Hope in Jesus. It’s part of our new series, Hope has a name! And9300:10:54,340 –> 00:10:57,780you ever miss one of the series don’t forget you can always catch up or go back9400:10:57,780 –> 00:11:03,340and listen again online at our website OpenTheBible.org.uk9500:11:03,340 –> 00:11:07,739You can also find Pastor Colin’s teaching as a podcast and those are on all the main9600:11:07,739 –> 00:11:11,900podcast sites. You can find them by searching for Open the Bible UK9700:11:11,900 –> 00:11:15,260or by following the link from our website.9800:11:15,260 –> 00:11:17,659Back to the message now, here’s Colin.9900:11:17,659 –> 00:11:24,580God in his love, and in his mercy, sent his Son into the world, Jesus became one10000:11:24,580 –> 00:11:32,299with us. All that was due to us on account of our sins was actually laid on him10100:11:32,299 –> 00:11:39,140and God did this so that what was due to him on account of his perfect life10200:11:39,140 –> 00:11:47,179should actually be credited to us and freely given to us as if it were our own.10300:11:47,359 –> 00:11:54,739Now this gospel says the Apostle Paul is of first importance and it’s very clear that10400:11:54,739 –> 00:11:59,799this gospel is not for those who regard themselves as good and worthy.10500:11:59,799 –> 00:12:04,880If you are filled with a sense of your own virtue today this gospel has nothing10600:12:04,880 –> 00:12:10,000to say to you, nothing to offer you whatsoever, but to those who have wakened10700:12:10,000 –> 00:12:14,960up to the biblical reality that we are all sinners.10800:12:14,960 –> 00:12:18,179The Apostle says there is the most marvellous hope,10900:12:18,179 –> 00:12:27,500there is the most wonderful good news, Christ died for our sins.11000:12:27,500 –> 00:12:31,440And then he tells us that Christ was raised on the third day.11100:12:31,440 –> 00:12:32,500Look at what he says,11200:12:32,500 –> 00:12:36,359For I deliver to you as of first importance what I also received,11300:12:36,359 –> 00:12:39,719that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,11400:12:39,719 –> 00:12:43,760that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day11500:12:43,760 –> 00:12:47,619in accordance with the scriptures.11600:12:47,619 –> 00:12:51,059So Jesus dying for our sins would not have been good news11700:12:51,059 –> 00:12:53,520if he had not been raised from the dead!11800:12:53,520 –> 00:12:56,119If Jesus had not been raised from the dead,11900:12:56,119 –> 00:13:00,919then hope for us would have died and been buried with him,12000:13:00,919 –> 00:13:04,880but Christ was raised on the third day,12100:13:04,919 –> 00:13:09,419and the apostle says this is of first importance.12200:13:10,940 –> 00:13:14,960Now, the Bible records 12 occasions12300:13:14,960 –> 00:13:19,099when the risen Lord appeared to the disciples,12400:13:19,099 –> 00:13:22,760and Paul lists six of them in these verses12500:13:22,760 –> 00:13:24,219that are before us today.12600:13:24,219 –> 00:13:29,219Notice verse five, he appeared to Cephas, that’s Peter,12700:13:29,400 –> 00:13:33,419then to the 12, then he appeared12800:13:33,419 –> 00:13:36,179to more than 500 brothers at one time,12900:13:36,179 –> 00:13:38,219most of whom are still alive,13000:13:38,219 –> 00:13:39,960though some have fallen asleep,13100:13:40,820 –> 00:13:43,059then he appeared to James,13200:13:43,059 –> 00:13:45,599then he appeared to all the apostles.13300:13:45,599 –> 00:13:48,219The last of all, says Paul,13400:13:48,219 –> 00:13:53,099as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.13500:13:54,280 –> 00:13:58,059Now let’s not miss the wood for the trees here.13600:13:59,460 –> 00:14:02,299The central point that the apostle is making13700:14:03,260 –> 00:14:07,219is that hope is not found in some thing.13800:14:08,299 –> 00:14:09,900It is found in someone.13900:14:11,299 –> 00:14:16,020Our hope is in Jesus, who died and rose.14000:14:17,039 –> 00:14:20,659Our hope is not in living up to an ethic.14100:14:20,659 –> 00:14:24,200Our hope is not in pursuing a more disciplined14200:14:24,200 –> 00:14:25,859or religious way of life.14300:14:27,119 –> 00:14:29,500Our hope is not even in a creed.14400:14:30,460 –> 00:14:33,419Our hope is in a person,14500:14:34,640 –> 00:14:39,000a savior, to whom you can come,14600:14:39,000 –> 00:14:44,000a living person, who is able to help you,14700:14:44,500 –> 00:14:47,380a person you can come to know as your friend14800:14:47,380 –> 00:14:51,500and as your helper and as your savior and as your Lord.14900:14:51,500 –> 00:14:56,440And in this chapter, the Apostle Paul lays out15000:14:56,460 –> 00:15:00,000the most marvelous hope that he brings.15100:15:01,340 –> 00:15:06,340So there’s hope in Jesus because he died and he rose.15200:15:06,419 –> 00:15:09,000And then I want us to see from these verses secondly15300:15:09,000 –> 00:15:11,159that there is hope in Jesus15400:15:11,159 –> 00:15:15,520because of the grace that he brings.15500:15:15,520 –> 00:15:17,419Now I want you to notice that the word grace15600:15:17,419 –> 00:15:20,700is used three times in these verses,15700:15:20,700 –> 00:15:23,520especially verse nine and verse 10.15800:15:23,520 –> 00:15:28,200By the grace of God, Paul says, I am what I am.15900:15:28,200 –> 00:15:31,760His grace toward me was not in vain.16000:15:31,760 –> 00:15:35,619I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I16100:15:35,619 –> 00:15:38,739but the grace of God that is with me.16200:15:39,880 –> 00:15:42,239Now this whole wonderful chapter16300:15:42,239 –> 00:15:45,020that we’re going to be looking at throughout this month16400:15:45,020 –> 00:15:50,020is just full of how God’s grace in Jesus16500:15:50,859 –> 00:15:55,859transforms our future into a glorious future16600:15:55,940 –> 00:15:59,619that lies ahead of every single believer.16700:16:00,700 –> 00:16:02,739But Paul begins in these verses16800:16:02,739 –> 00:16:06,419not with how God’s grace changes the future16900:16:06,419 –> 00:16:09,219but with how it affects the past17000:16:09,219 –> 00:16:10,840and how it affects the present.17100:16:11,979 –> 00:16:14,140Notice how he speaks about the way17200:16:14,140 –> 00:16:18,820in which it affects the past bringing redemption17300:16:19,739 –> 00:16:22,099from our past sins.17400:16:22,099 –> 00:16:25,739He says, I am the least of the apostles.17500:16:26,739 –> 00:16:29,419Unworthy to be called an apostle.17600:16:29,419 –> 00:16:32,200You almost feel the pain as he writes these words17700:16:32,200 –> 00:16:33,820can’t you?17800:16:33,820 –> 00:16:38,820Because I persecuted the church of God.17900:16:42,659 –> 00:16:46,900Do you know people who walk most closely with God18000:16:47,780 –> 00:16:51,380often struggle with painful memories18100:16:51,380 –> 00:16:55,020of things they regret from years ago.18200:16:56,659 –> 00:16:59,479How do you live with things that you’ve said18300:16:59,479 –> 00:17:04,479or did in the past that now make you deeply ashamed?18400:17:06,219 –> 00:17:09,640Unless your conscience is completely and utterly dead,18500:17:09,640 –> 00:17:11,339I expect that you know something18600:17:11,339 –> 00:17:14,260at least of what I’m speaking about here.18700:17:15,260 –> 00:17:18,380You look back over the years18800:17:18,380 –> 00:17:21,099and the voice of conscience reminds you18900:17:21,099 –> 00:17:25,479of things that you said that you wish you had never spoken.19000:17:27,619 –> 00:17:30,699Things that you saw that you wish you’d never viewed.19100:17:32,099 –> 00:17:34,180And you look back and you say,19200:17:34,180 –> 00:17:37,079how could I have been such a fool.19300:17:39,380 –> 00:17:41,160Now Paul knew what this was like.19400:17:42,040 –> 00:17:44,239I mean, when he looked back,19500:17:44,239 –> 00:17:49,000he remembered that he had a foul mouth19600:17:50,160 –> 00:17:51,900and a raging temper.19700:17:53,520 –> 00:17:57,479And he had perpetuated acts of violence19800:17:57,479 –> 00:17:59,959that were against precisely the people19900:17:59,959 –> 00:18:01,400he now loved the most.20000:18:02,719 –> 00:18:06,319I persecuted the church of God.20100:18:07,119 –> 00:18:12,020That was the reality that Paul lived with.20200:18:12,020 –> 00:18:14,599This is what he’d done in the past.20300:18:15,719 –> 00:18:17,260He could never forget it.20400:18:18,239 –> 00:18:20,079How could he possibly do so?20500:18:21,560 –> 00:18:24,160It may be that there is something that you have said20600:18:24,160 –> 00:18:26,160or done that you bitterly regret,20700:18:27,880 –> 00:18:31,859or perhaps it is something that you failed to do.20800:18:31,859 –> 00:18:34,959Paul says here that there isn’t Christ appeared to him20900:18:34,959 –> 00:18:38,920last of all, I think there’s a certain winsomeness there.21000:18:38,920 –> 00:18:42,300Oh, if only I had come to the lord sooner,21100:18:43,239 –> 00:18:46,880if only I had not wasted these years of my life,21200:18:46,880 –> 00:18:49,479if only I had exercised faith,21300:18:49,479 –> 00:18:51,959if only I had shown more courage,21400:18:51,959 –> 00:18:55,520if only I had walked more closely with God.21500:18:57,540 –> 00:19:00,380Every thoughtful person knows what it is21600:19:00,479 –> 00:19:03,400to live with regrets, shameful sins,21700:19:05,619 –> 00:19:08,540missed opportunities, wasted years.21800:19:12,920 –> 00:19:17,099Now, where do you find hope when shame and regret21900:19:19,040 –> 00:19:22,239from the past just presses into your mind22000:19:22,239 –> 00:19:23,900and into your heart?22100:19:26,180 –> 00:19:28,819Well, notice what the apostle Paul says here.22200:19:29,300 –> 00:19:31,719I persecuted the Church of God22300:19:35,060 –> 00:19:38,239but by the grace of God, I am what I am22400:19:39,180 –> 00:19:42,180and His grace to me was not in vain.22500:19:44,760 –> 00:19:47,459You see what he’s saying?22600:19:47,459 –> 00:19:51,219When I remember what I was, I use it as a lens22700:19:53,719 –> 00:19:56,540through which to view what the Lord Jesus Christ22800:19:56,540 –> 00:19:58,199has done in my life.22900:19:59,520 –> 00:20:02,099My sins, horrible as they were,23000:20:03,060 –> 00:20:05,780are what He has redeemed me from.23100:20:07,479 –> 00:20:09,160The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ23200:20:09,160 –> 00:20:12,140has brought a real change in my life.23300:20:12,140 –> 00:20:15,219I am no longer the person that I was.23400:20:17,040 –> 00:20:18,760Do you see this is very important23500:20:18,760 –> 00:20:21,020that the answer to memories23600:20:22,939 –> 00:20:26,199that bring a sense of shame and regret23700:20:26,219 –> 00:20:29,800not only that Christ wonderfully forgives.23800:20:31,000 –> 00:20:33,839The answer to the shame of the past is23900:20:33,839 –> 00:20:36,219by God’s grace I have changed.24000:20:36,219 –> 00:20:38,099That’s what the apostle Paul says here.24100:20:38,099 –> 00:20:39,939I persecuted the church24200:20:39,939 –> 00:20:42,680but I am sure not doing that now.24300:20:43,739 –> 00:20:46,619I’m not the person I was.24400:20:46,619 –> 00:20:50,420The grace of God really has changed me24500:20:50,420 –> 00:20:53,319and it’s by the sheer grace of God24600:20:53,359 –> 00:20:55,219that I am what I am24700:20:55,219 –> 00:20:58,619and his grace towards me was not in vain.24800:21:01,319 –> 00:21:02,760Paul never claimed24900:21:02,760 –> 00:21:06,719that he was all that God calls any of us to be.25000:21:06,719 –> 00:21:08,439He would say, and I take this25100:21:08,439 –> 00:21:10,599from Philippians in chapter three,25200:21:10,599 –> 00:21:13,640he’d say I’m a long way from being perfect25300:21:14,800 –> 00:21:19,359but Jesus Christ has made me His own25400:21:19,359 –> 00:21:21,540and I am pursuing the purpose25500:21:21,540 –> 00:21:24,819for which he has laid hold of me.25600:21:26,020 –> 00:21:28,839The answer dear friends to the regret25700:21:28,839 –> 00:21:31,680and shame of the past25800:21:31,680 –> 00:21:33,920is more than that you are forgiven.25900:21:35,160 –> 00:21:40,160By God’s grace, you will be able to say as a believer,26000:21:41,160 –> 00:21:42,599I’m not what I should be,26100:21:44,140 –> 00:21:45,839I’m not what I want to be.26200:21:47,180 –> 00:21:50,260I’m not what one day I will be.26300:21:51,780 –> 00:21:53,380But I’m not what I used to be.26400:21:54,579 –> 00:21:57,040And by the sheer grace and mercy of God,26500:21:57,040 –> 00:21:58,979I am what I am.26600:22:01,540 –> 00:22:03,420You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith26700:22:03,420 –> 00:22:07,380on Open the Bible and a message called Hope in Jesus.26800:22:07,380 –> 00:22:10,180First part of our series, Hope has a name.26900:22:10,180 –> 00:22:12,199And don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series27000:22:12,199 –> 00:22:14,339or if you just want to go back and listen again,27100:22:14,339 –> 00:22:15,959you can do that by coming online27200:22:15,959 –> 00:22:19,739to our website openthebible.org.uk27300:22:19,760 –> 00:22:21,560or by finding us as a podcast27400:22:21,560 –> 00:22:23,640and those are on all the main podcast sites.27500:22:23,640 –> 00:22:25,439Search for Open the Bible UK27600:22:25,439 –> 00:22:29,099and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.27700:22:29,099 –> 00:22:30,239While you’re on the website,27800:22:30,239 –> 00:22:32,260you’ll find lots of other resources27900:22:32,260 –> 00:22:35,060to help you with your study of God’s Word28000:22:35,060 –> 00:22:37,660and in your daily walk with Jesus.28100:22:37,660 –> 00:22:39,459There are study courses to help you28200:22:39,459 –> 00:22:41,119dig deep into his word.28300:22:41,119 –> 00:22:42,439There’s a daily devotional28400:22:42,439 –> 00:22:44,560which we call Open the Bible Daily28500:22:44,560 –> 00:22:45,819and which you can listen to28600:22:45,819 –> 00:22:48,900and also read at the same time if you wish.28700:22:48,900 –> 00:22:51,160You can go back and check out teaching series28800:22:51,160 –> 00:22:52,520that you might’ve missed28900:22:52,520 –> 00:22:55,319or if you want to listen through them again.29000:22:55,319 –> 00:23:00,319All that on our website, openthebible.org.uk.29100:23:00,319 –> 00:23:03,939Open the Bible is supported by our listeners financially29200:23:03,939 –> 00:23:06,439and if you already give to support the work,29300:23:06,439 –> 00:23:08,900we want to say thank you so much.29400:23:08,900 –> 00:23:11,099If you’re considering supporting Open the Bible29500:23:11,099 –> 00:23:12,640financially in the future29600:23:12,640 –> 00:23:15,400and you’re able to set up a new direct debit29700:23:15,439 –> 00:23:18,260in the amount of five pounds per month or more29800:23:18,260 –> 00:23:21,079or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,29900:23:21,079 –> 00:23:23,599we’d love to thank you by sending you30000:23:23,599 –> 00:23:27,420a copy of Lee Strobel’s book, The Case for Easter30100:23:27,420 –> 00:23:29,900along with Pastor Colin’s booklet,30200:23:29,900 –> 00:23:32,199Six Days that Changed the World30300:23:32,199 –> 00:23:35,160and a lovely Open The Bible tote bag,30400:23:35,160 –> 00:23:37,400pen and bookmark.30500:23:37,400 –> 00:23:40,000Colin, what makes this book so useful?30600:23:40,880 –> 00:23:43,500Oh, well, it’s author, Lee Strobel was a journalist30700:23:43,579 –> 00:23:44,780for the Chicago Tribune30800:23:44,780 –> 00:23:47,459when he began exploring the Christian faith30900:23:47,459 –> 00:23:49,160and in The Case for Easter,31000:23:49,160 –> 00:23:52,099he actually retraces his steps31100:23:52,099 –> 00:23:53,739showing the biblical evidence31200:23:53,739 –> 00:23:55,719that led him to the conclusion31300:23:55,719 –> 00:23:58,420that Jesus really rose from the dead.31400:23:58,420 –> 00:24:02,520It’s a fascinating book because he interviews experts31500:24:02,520 –> 00:24:04,739who help us to sort through the Bible’s evidence31600:24:04,739 –> 00:24:05,859for the resurrection.31700:24:05,859 –> 00:24:09,660So, for example, he interviews a medical doctor31800:24:09,660 –> 00:24:13,219to help us examine the evidence that Jesus really died31900:24:13,400 –> 00:24:17,540and a psychologist to help us see that Jesus’ appearances32000:24:17,540 –> 00:24:20,579could not have been simply hallucinations.32100:24:20,579 –> 00:24:23,520So The Case for Easter really helps Christians32200:24:23,520 –> 00:24:26,239know why we believe in the resurrection32300:24:26,239 –> 00:24:29,439and it can provide a wonderful pathway to faith32400:24:29,439 –> 00:24:30,660for someone who’s beginning32500:24:30,660 –> 00:24:32,859to explore the truths of Christianity.32600:24:32,859 –> 00:24:34,140Well we want to thank you32700:24:34,140 –> 00:24:36,880by sending you a copy of Lee Strobel’s book,32800:24:36,880 –> 00:24:38,339The Case for Easter,32900:24:38,339 –> 00:24:40,280along with Pastor Colin’s booklet,33000:24:40,280 –> 00:24:42,479Six Days That Changed the World33100:24:42,520 –> 00:24:46,439and a lovely Open the Bible tote bag, pen and bookmark33200:24:46,439 –> 00:24:49,359if you are able to set up a new direct debit33300:24:49,359 –> 00:24:51,540to the work of Open the Bible this month33400:24:51,540 –> 00:24:54,079in the amount of five pounds per month or more33500:24:54,079 –> 00:24:57,119or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more.33600:24:57,119 –> 00:24:59,239Full details, terms and conditions33700:24:59,239 –> 00:25:03,500on our website, openthebible.org.uk.33800:25:03,500 –> 00:25:06,000For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,33900:25:06,000 –> 00:25:09,140I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.34000:25:09,319 –> 00:25:13,140There is hope in Jesus, because of the grace he brings.34100:25:13,140 –> 00:25:17,319Find out how grace changes your past and your present.34200:25:17,319 –> 00:25:18,939Next time on Open the Bible.