Love Is Our Distinct Calling, Part 2

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Today, we’re diving into 1 Corinthians 13, a passage centred on love, and learning what it means for us to grow in faith, hope, and love. Through the story of William Wilberforce and his unwavering commitment to abolish slavery, we’ll explore how love is at the heart of our faith journey. Pastor Colin guides us through the remarkable principles laid out by the Apostle Paul, reminding us of the supreme value of love, and encouraging us to embrace it in our own lives.

Whether you’re curious about the temptations that come with great gifts or how to cultivate a generous spirit anchored in love, today’s broadcast is sure to inspire and challenge you. We reflect on the ultimate example of love shown by Jesus Christ and how embracing this love can transform individuals and communities.

100:00:00,920 –> 00:00:10,560I am holy persuaded that the greatest need of the Church200:00:10,560 –> 00:00:18,320today is a fresh outpouring of faith hope and love300:00:18,320 –> 00:00:22,879Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Glad you400:00:22,879 –> 00:00:27,480could join us today, and Colin, over the past few weeks we’ve looked at growing500:00:27,840 –> 00:00:33,020in faith and hope. And now we’re looking at growing in love. Yes, and love being600:00:33,020 –> 00:00:37,700the one that is of supreme value. The apostle makes it very clear that there700:00:37,700 –> 00:00:42,060are three things that remain. Everything else is going to pass away but faith800:00:42,060 –> 00:00:48,080hope and love will remain and that is why they are of supreme value. But he900:00:48,080 –> 00:00:52,980then says the greatest of these is love. So here is the thing that we must pursue.1000:00:53,080 –> 00:00:57,880can’t talk about it too much. It is outlined for us here in first1100:00:57,880 –> 00:01:01,919Corinthians and chapter 13 where Paul goes through the many gifts and1200:01:01,919 –> 00:01:05,879achievements that we may have in our lives. People are able to accomplish1300:01:05,879 –> 00:01:11,400remarkable things, but the thing that really matters, the apostle says, is are1400:01:11,400 –> 00:01:16,860we growing in love. So join us if you can in one Corinthians 13 as we continue the1500:01:16,860 –> 00:01:21,959message. Love is our distinct calling. Here is pastor Colin. I’ve been reading1600:01:21,959 –> 00:01:26,839the story of William Wilberforce, a member of the British Parliament in the1700:01:26,839 –> 00:01:35,58018th and early 19th century who proposed legislation to abolish slavery. He was1800:01:35,580 –> 00:01:46,699defeated 11 times over a period of 20 years. But by God’s grace he overcame1900:01:46,699 –> 00:01:54,620that mountain of opposition and was finally blessed with wonderful success.2000:01:54,620 –> 00:02:02,779Wilberforce had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and God used him to move a2100:02:02,779 –> 00:02:11,020mountain. Now, some people like Wilberforce are drawn to the hardest2200:02:11,179 –> 00:02:15,020tasks, and if that’s you, it’s a very wonderful gift2300:02:15,020 –> 00:02:21,419indeed. Some people have a special kind of faith that enables them to believe2400:02:21,419 –> 00:02:27,899that a mountain can be overcome and if God has given you that kind of gift, I2500:02:27,899 –> 00:02:33,940want to encourage you, find the mountain that he is calling you to move and then2600:02:33,940 –> 00:02:39,979give yourself to moving it by faith even if it takes the whole of your life to2700:02:40,179 –> 00:02:49,220see it happen. But remember this, that every gift brings its own unique2800:02:49,220 –> 00:02:58,360temptation and the obvious temptation to those who accomplish great things is the2900:02:58,360 –> 00:03:04,800temptation to pride. The feeling that what has been accomplished was the3000:03:05,059 –> 00:03:16,600result of your own power. James Denny gives this warning to pastors as well as3100:03:16,600 –> 00:03:22,440to those who are successful in business. Let me quote what he says,3200:03:22,440 –> 00:03:32,740The sense may steel upon a man’s mind that his commanding personality is that3300:03:32,919 –> 00:03:40,800to which circumstances yield, his practical capacity is that which3400:03:40,800 –> 00:03:47,779transmits force and sees that work is done. And when that happens, Denny says3500:03:48,759 –> 00:03:58,919all is lost. If you think that the moving of a mountain was ultimately3600:03:59,919 –> 00:04:06,919your personality, your force, your power rather than that God in his3700:04:06,919 –> 00:04:13,880marvelous grace used you to do it, you’ve lost everything. That’s what3800:04:13,880 –> 00:04:20,260Denny is saying, and that’s what the Apostle Paul is saying here, if I have3900:04:20,260 –> 00:04:36,459all faith so as to remove mountains. But have not love I am nothing. Nothing.’4000:04:37,200 –> 00:04:44,720Love is what enables a person to achieve great things and then still to serve4100:04:44,720 –> 00:04:55,600with humility. Love reminds a believer that his calling to move one mountain4200:04:55,600 –> 00:04:59,859may not be the calling of another believer who may be called to move4300:04:59,859 –> 00:05:06,260another mountain. And love will enable you to find joy in the achievements of4400:05:06,260 –> 00:05:13,980others as much as you find joy in the achievements of your own. And then4500:05:13,980 –> 00:05:21,739fifthly, Paul identifies this gift of unusual generosity. Look at what he says,4600:05:21,739 –> 00:05:33,019if I give, verse 3, all I have. Not a tenth not even half, if I give everything. All4700:05:33,019 –> 00:05:37,899that I have, this is what Jesus called the rich young ruler to do, and he4800:05:37,899 –> 00:05:41,500couldn’t do it, he couldn’t bring himself to do it because he didn’t have love and4900:05:42,459 –> 00:05:49,500compassion. Paul says if I give all that I have.5000:05:51,899 –> 00:05:59,100Now God calls all of us to be generous. But some people have a special calling5100:05:59,739 –> 00:06:08,380and a special ability in this regard. And if God has put it into your heart to be generous,5200:06:08,380 –> 00:06:16,619be as generous as you possibly can. But remember that every gift5300:06:16,619 –> 00:06:23,579carries its own hidden temptation. And the temptation to those who give generously5400:06:25,019 –> 00:06:28,540is that it is possible to give simply as a matter of duty.5500:06:29,980 –> 00:06:36,779It’s possible to give in order to make an impression, it’s possible to give5600:06:36,859 –> 00:06:43,100as a means of exercise and control. You can give without love.5700:06:44,220 –> 00:06:52,779And Paul says, if I give all that I have and have not loved I gain nothing.5800:06:54,220 –> 00:06:59,179But you see, growing in love is what will enable you to give5900:06:59,980 –> 00:07:05,019with freedom and with joy and your reward will be very great.6000:07:05,579 –> 00:07:09,899The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians, the next letter in the New Testament,6100:07:09,899 –> 00:07:13,980whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly6200:07:14,540 –> 00:07:20,779and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.6300:07:20,779 –> 00:07:26,459Sow bountifully because your heart is growing in love.6400:07:27,420 –> 00:07:32,380Grow in love and you will sow bountifully.6500:07:34,940 –> 00:07:40,540Then the last gift that Paul identifies here is the gift of courageous commitment.6600:07:41,179 –> 00:07:47,260Look at what he says, and if I deliver up my body to be burned.6700:07:48,619 –> 00:07:54,859Now Paul is describing here the courage of believers who pay the ultimate price6800:07:54,859 –> 00:08:00,140of laying down their own lives for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.6900:08:00,779 –> 00:08:08,299Believers have faced persecution from the earliest times, and around the world many still do today.7000:08:08,779 –> 00:08:14,140Some have died and still die horrible and painful deaths.7100:08:15,579 –> 00:08:21,420And no one could possibly do this without being given a special gift of strength7200:08:22,299 –> 00:08:28,299to meet the unique challenge of this particular calling.7300:08:30,059 –> 00:08:38,539Now God may have called you to an unusual level of sacrifice and of commitment,7400:08:40,140 –> 00:08:48,619and if that is the case, give yourself to what God has called you to do, irrespective of the cost7500:08:49,500 –> 00:08:58,059knowing that God will give to you all that you need to fulfill all that he has called you to do7600:08:59,659 –> 00:09:07,580but remember, that it is possible to make great sacrifices without love7700:09:09,659 –> 00:09:17,739and the obvious temptation for those whose sacrifices have been great is to resent those7800:09:19,179 –> 00:09:28,780whose paths in life have been easier. I remember very vividly hearing from a pastor7900:09:29,659 –> 00:09:37,580in a country in Eastern Europe who told me that the greatest difficulty that the churches8000:09:37,580 –> 00:09:45,020faced after the fall of communism was the tension that emerged between church leaders8100:09:45,020 –> 00:09:52,780who had been imprisoned during the communist time and others who had not. And you can understand8200:09:52,780 –> 00:10:04,219this. We took a costly stand. Where were you when we were in jail? Why weren’t you with us?8300:10:06,539 –> 00:10:09,419Why didn’t you take the same stand as we did?8400:10:09,419 –> 00:10:22,440But, you see, what is the point in taking a costly stand if you cannot love your own8500:10:22,440 –> 00:10:36,260brother who chose a different path? If I deliver my body up to be burned, the apostles say,8600:10:36,299 –> 00:10:50,500Nevertheless, but have not love, I gain nothing. Nothing. And what a tragedy it would be to8700:10:50,500 –> 00:11:00,840make great sacrifices for the Lord, Jesus Christ, and gain nothing from it. Now this8800:11:00,880 –> 00:11:07,039temptation to resent people who choose an easier path than the one that you8900:11:07,039 –> 00:11:13,080walk may actually be closer to home than some of us might think. The more9000:11:13,080 –> 00:11:20,599committed you become the more you will be tempted to resent those who don’t9100:11:20,599 –> 00:11:25,400show the same measure of commitment that you do.9200:11:26,080 –> 00:11:34,119But it is love that will set you free from this kind of resentment. It is love9300:11:34,119 –> 00:11:43,599that will enable you to say what I do I do for the Lord Jesus Christ and for his9400:11:43,599 –> 00:11:53,679people and though it be costly I have no regrets. Love will enable you to say9500:11:54,179 –> 00:12:03,799that courageous commitment is a marvelous gift but only if it is exercised with9600:12:06,599 –> 00:12:09,840love You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and the message9700:12:09,840 –> 00:12:12,239called Love is our distinct calling.9800:12:12,719 –> 00:12:16,520We have to pause the message briefly but will be back shortly so do stay with us.9900:12:17,359 –> 00:12:19,599The message is part of our series Grow in Love.10000:12:19,940 –> 00:12:23,359And if you ever missed one of the messages in the series don’t forget you can10100:12:23,419 –> 00:12:27,440easily catch up or go back and listen again by coming to our website.10200:12:27,479 –> 00:12:30,059That’s at open.the-bible.org.UK.10300:12:30,520 –> 00:12:33,539Also, go to the place that you normally get your podcast from.10400:12:33,760 –> 00:12:37,840Search therefore open the Bible UK and there you’ll find all the messages which have10500:12:37,840 –> 00:12:39,080already been broadcast.10600:12:39,799 –> 00:12:42,640Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.10700:12:43,119 –> 00:12:48,960I had originally intended to try and speak from the whole of First Corinthians in10800:12:48,960 –> 00:12:50,539Chapter 13 today.10900:12:51,099 –> 00:12:57,080But there’s just so much in these first three verses that I’ve decided to leave the rest11000:12:57,239 –> 00:12:59,659for next week and we’ll come back to it then.11100:13:00,419 –> 00:13:07,000So let me in these remaining minutes try to press this home into our hearts.11200:13:07,299 –> 00:13:12,919The main point of the message today is that whatever our gifts.11300:13:14,739 –> 00:13:16,580We all need to grow.11400:13:17,500 –> 00:13:18,140In love.11500:13:20,460 –> 00:13:29,940I wonder if you’ve noticed that these verses written by the Apostle Paul are framed in the first person.11600:13:30,960 –> 00:13:31,760Paul says,11700:13:32,880 –> 00:13:38,679if I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love,11800:13:39,640 –> 00:13:43,719I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.11900:13:44,700 –> 00:13:51,260And you know the apostle gives us a rather marvelous example,12000:13:51,260 –> 00:13:59,299of expressing oneself in love by the way that he puts this.12100:14:00,260 –> 00:14:04,179A less thoughtful person would say,12200:14:04,179 –> 00:14:09,719if you speak with the tongues of men and angels and if you don’t have love,12300:14:09,760 –> 00:14:14,280well you know what you are just a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.12400:14:14,280 –> 00:14:19,099But the apostle Paul doesn’t say it like that.12500:14:19,099 –> 00:14:29,840He offers himself as an example of someone who would gain nothing, be nothing,12600:14:29,840 –> 00:14:33,599if he did not have love.12700:14:33,599 –> 00:14:40,539Now the more I think about this the more staggering it seems to me that it is.12800:14:40,539 –> 00:14:45,020Think about Paul’s speaking.12900:14:45,020 –> 00:14:51,900God used this man’s gift of speaking more than any other person13000:14:51,900 –> 00:14:57,280to spread the gospel across the entire ancient Roman world13100:14:57,280 –> 00:15:02,580and it happened with extraordinary effect.13200:15:02,599 –> 00:15:07,619And then think about this this man’s spiritual experience.13300:15:07,619 –> 00:15:14,320He saw the glory of the risen Lord who appeared to him on the road to Damascus.13400:15:14,320 –> 00:15:21,419It would be hard to imagine a more remarkable spiritual experience than that.13500:15:21,419 –> 00:15:24,679And then think about this man’s brilliant mind.13600:15:24,679 –> 00:15:27,859I mean he was trained in the school of Gamaliel,13700:15:27,859 –> 00:15:32,419one of the best schools that anyone could have gone to at the time13800:15:32,419 –> 00:15:37,200and his natural gifts were heightened even further13900:15:37,200 –> 00:15:42,280by the work of the Holy Spirit opening his eyes to the meaning of Scripture14000:15:42,280 –> 00:15:46,419and to the mystery of the gospel.14100:15:46,419 –> 00:15:50,320And think about the Apostle Paul’s extraordinary achievement.14200:15:50,320 –> 00:15:54,179I mean planting churches across the Roman Empire14300:15:54,179 –> 00:15:57,960in the face of relentless hostility and opposition.14400:15:57,960 –> 00:16:04,780This man was used by God to move mountains. He really was.14500:16:04,780 –> 00:16:09,400But think about his generosity.14600:16:09,400 –> 00:16:17,000The Apostle Paul gave himself to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ freely.14700:16:17,000 –> 00:16:21,919He often worked as a tentmaker by day,14800:16:21,919 –> 00:16:25,400then giving himself to ministry at night.14900:16:25,400 –> 00:16:30,000Why? So that he did not have to impose a financial burden15000:16:30,000 –> 00:16:36,640on newly formed churches by asking people to support him.15100:16:36,640 –> 00:16:40,880And then think about this man’s courage.15200:16:40,880 –> 00:16:43,659Ship-wrecked.15300:16:43,659 –> 00:16:47,359Beaten with rods.15400:16:47,359 –> 00:16:53,559Repeatedly arrested and imprisoned.15500:16:53,799 –> 00:16:59,200You could hardly have a more gifted, committed, generous,15600:16:59,200 –> 00:17:02,640courageous person than the apostle Paul,15700:17:02,640 –> 00:17:05,640and yet he says,15800:17:05,640 –> 00:17:10,599If I speak with a the tongues of men and of angels but have not love,15900:17:10,599 –> 00:17:16,420I am a noisy gong,16000:17:16,420 –> 00:17:19,640and a clanging cymbal.16100:17:19,640 –> 00:17:23,479And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries,16200:17:23,479 –> 00:17:28,219and have all knowledge, if I have faith that can move mountains,16300:17:28,219 –> 00:17:31,619but I have not love,16400:17:31,619 –> 00:17:37,660well, I am nothing, the apostle Paul.16500:17:37,660 –> 00:17:42,260And if I give all that I have and deliver up my body to be burned,16600:17:42,260 –> 00:17:47,020if I make the ultimate sacrifice itself and have not love,16700:17:47,020 –> 00:17:49,219I gain nothing.16800:17:49,219 –> 00:17:55,319The apostle Paul, gaining nothing?16900:17:55,319 –> 00:18:00,420And friends, if this was true for him,17000:18:00,420 –> 00:18:07,920how much more true is it for me and for us?17100:18:07,920 –> 00:18:12,920The message today is really very simple.17200:18:12,920 –> 00:18:19,920I am asking you to join me in seeking to grow in love.17300:18:22,020 –> 00:18:29,319I am wholly persuaded that the greatest need17400:18:29,319 –> 00:18:32,020of the Church today17500:18:32,020 –> 00:18:40,520is a fresh outpouring of faith, hope, and love.17600:18:40,520 –> 00:18:44,119And in as much as that happens,17700:18:44,119 –> 00:18:48,719the world will see something radically different17800:18:48,719 –> 00:18:55,319that could have come only from the hand of Jesus.17900:18:55,319 –> 00:18:58,119You may be wondering,18000:18:58,119 –> 00:19:02,719where could I find love like this?18100:19:02,719 –> 00:19:06,619Maybe you’re thinking, I’ve never been loved like this?18200:19:06,619 –> 00:19:08,719Maybe the very mention of the word love18300:19:08,719 –> 00:19:11,219makes you feel something that you lack.18400:19:11,219 –> 00:19:13,920I’ve never been loved like this.18500:19:13,920 –> 00:19:17,819Oh yes, you have.18600:19:17,819 –> 00:19:20,420I want you to remember today that the man18700:19:20,420 –> 00:19:22,719who wrote these words18800:19:22,719 –> 00:19:29,119was once an angry, violent man.18900:19:29,119 –> 00:19:32,619He lived with a passion19000:19:32,619 –> 00:19:34,920for his own particular issue19100:19:34,920 –> 00:19:37,819and he hated everyone who disagreed with him.19200:19:37,819 –> 00:19:40,619He hated.19300:19:40,619 –> 00:19:45,020How did love come into his life?19400:19:45,020 –> 00:19:49,920Well he tells us in Galatians 2 in verse 20,19500:19:49,920 –> 00:19:54,920The Son of God loved me19600:19:54,920 –> 00:20:00,319and gave himself for me.19700:20:00,319 –> 00:20:04,219The knowledge of that love of Jesus Christ19800:20:04,219 –> 00:20:08,219to be for this man transformed him from the inside out19900:20:08,219 –> 00:20:15,219and the same love of the Lord Jesus Christ can change you too.20000:20:15,219 –> 00:20:21,020Love is at the heart of all that God causes us to do for him20100:20:21,020 –> 00:20:26,920and love is at the heart of all that God has done for us.20200:20:26,920 –> 00:20:31,219God shows His own love for us in this20300:20:31,219 –> 00:20:40,219that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.20400:20:40,219 –> 00:20:45,719In this is love, not that we loved God, which of course we didn’t,20500:20:45,719 –> 00:20:48,219but that he loved us20600:20:48,219 –> 00:20:58,319and he sent his Son to be the propitiating sacrifice for our sins.20700:20:58,319 –> 00:21:05,319God so loved the world that he gave his only Son20800:21:05,319 –> 00:21:16,319that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.20900:21:17,319 –> 00:21:19,319I hope you know the love of God21000:21:19,319 –> 00:21:21,319that Pastor Colin has been talking about21100:21:21,319 –> 00:21:24,319and that you know you have eternal life21200:21:24,319 –> 00:21:27,319because you’re secure in that love.21300:21:27,319 –> 00:21:30,319You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith21400:21:30,319 –> 00:21:33,319and a message called Love is our distinct calling21500:21:33,319 –> 00:21:36,319is part of the series a Grown in Love21600:21:36,319 –> 00:21:38,319and if you’ve missed any of the messages in the series21700:21:38,319 –> 00:21:41,319you can easily catch up or go back and listen again21800:21:41,319 –> 00:21:46,319by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk21900:21:46,319 –> 00:21:49,319also go to the place that you normally get your podcasts22000:21:49,319 –> 00:21:53,319search therefore open the Bible U.K.22100:21:53,319 –> 00:21:55,319and if you’re on our website don’t forget about22200:21:55,319 –> 00:21:57,319Open the Bible Daily22300:21:57,319 –> 00:22:00,319that’s our series of two to three minute daily reflections22400:22:00,319 –> 00:22:03,319based on pastor Colin’s teaching and read specially in the U.K.22500:22:03,319 –> 00:22:06,319Open the Bible Daily22600:22:07,319 –> 00:22:11,319Many of us love reading but our busy lives don’t allow much time for that22700:22:11,319 –> 00:22:15,319so we often listen to audio books and podcasts22800:22:15,319 –> 00:22:18,319maybe when we’re driving or at for a walk22900:22:18,319 –> 00:22:21,319So we have a new podcast starting this month23000:22:21,319 –> 00:22:23,319and it’s called Hike Through The Bible23100:22:23,319 –> 00:22:27,319And the Hike Through The Bible podcast will take you on a journey23200:22:27,319 –> 00:22:30,319through the entire Bible story giving you the option of listening23300:22:30,319 –> 00:22:32,319or watching rather than reading23400:22:32,319 –> 00:22:36,319and in each episode I’ll read a chapter of my book23500:22:36,319 –> 00:22:39,319Hike Through The Bible and then I’ll discuss it with some friends23600:22:39,319 –> 00:22:43,319I hope you’ll join me in hiking through the Bible23700:22:43,319 –> 00:22:45,319you’ll grow in your faith.23800:22:45,319 –> 00:22:48,319you’ll deepen your grasp of Scripture23900:22:48,319 –> 00:22:50,319and you’ll come to love Jesus more24000:22:50,319 –> 00:22:53,319So that’s the Hike Through The Bible podcast24100:22:53,319 –> 00:22:55,319and it’s not too late to get started24200:22:55,319 –> 00:22:58,319you’ll find the Hike Through The Bible podcast24300:22:58,319 –> 00:23:00,319wherever you get your podcasts24400:23:00,319 –> 00:23:02,319and there’s a link on our website24500:23:02,319 –> 00:23:05,319at openthebible.org.uk24600:23:05,319 –> 00:23:08,319You’ll also find more information about the podcast24700:23:08,319 –> 00:23:11,319Open the Bible is able to be on this station24800:23:11,319 –> 00:23:14,319as well as our website and the podcasts24900:23:14,319 –> 00:23:16,319because listeners like you give generously25000:23:16,319 –> 00:23:18,319to support our work25100:23:18,319 –> 00:23:21,319So if you already support Open The Bible in this way25200:23:21,319 –> 00:23:22,319thank you so much25300:23:22,319 –> 00:23:25,319If supporting Open The Bible is something25400:23:25,319 –> 00:23:27,319you want to start doing this month25500:23:27,319 –> 00:23:28,319we’d love to say thank you by sending you25600:23:28,319 –> 00:23:30,319Pastor Colin’s brand new book25700:23:30,319 –> 00:23:32,319Grow In Hope25800:23:32,319 –> 00:23:35,319It’s a 30-day devotional study25900:23:35,319 –> 00:23:37,319drawing on Scripture and years26000:23:37,319 –> 00:23:39,319of pastoral experience26100:23:39,319 –> 00:23:42,319Colin, what is the one thing you’d like readers26200:23:42,319 –> 00:23:43,319to take away from this book?26300:23:43,319 –> 00:23:45,319Well, it would be very practical26400:23:45,319 –> 00:23:47,319because every Christian knows what it is26500:23:47,319 –> 00:23:50,319to go through dark times when we feel discouraged26600:23:50,319 –> 00:23:53,319we’re down, we don’t know how to move forward26700:23:53,319 –> 00:23:55,319and when these times come in your life26800:23:55,319 –> 00:23:58,319you need to know how to handle your own soul26900:23:58,319 –> 00:24:01,319how to encourage and strengthen yourself27000:24:01,319 –> 00:24:03,319David, of course, speaks about this27100:24:03,319 –> 00:24:05,319He knew what this was like27200:24:05,319 –> 00:24:08,319In Psalm 42 he speaks to himself27300:24:08,319 –> 00:24:10,319He says, Why are you cast down oh my soul?27400:24:10,319 –> 00:24:13,319Why are you in turmoil within me?27500:24:13,319 –> 00:24:16,319and then he says, Hope in God27600:24:16,319 –> 00:24:19,319So I hope what people will take away from this27700:24:19,319 –> 00:24:22,319is that they’ll be helped and encouraged27800:24:22,319 –> 00:24:25,319in being able to speak to their own soul27900:24:25,319 –> 00:24:27,319in the way that David did in Psalm 4228000:24:27,319 –> 00:24:30,319and to find Hope in God28100:24:30,319 –> 00:24:34,319because there is Hope in God for every circumstance of life28200:24:34,319 –> 00:24:36,319and it comes to us in and through the Lord Jesus Christ28300:24:36,319 –> 00:24:39,319So pastor Colin’s book, Grow in Hope28400:24:39,319 –> 00:24:41,319is our gift to you28500:24:41,319 –> 00:24:44,319as we set up a new direct debit of £5 per month or more28600:24:44,319 –> 00:24:47,319or a one off gift of £60 or more28700:24:47,319 –> 00:24:50,319to support the work of Open the Bible this month28800:24:50,319 –> 00:24:53,319Full terms and conditions are on our website28900:24:53,319 –> 00:24:56,319at www.openthebible.orgov.uk29000:24:56,319 –> 00:24:58,319and you can give online29100:24:58,319 –> 00:25:00,319Don’t forget though to leave your full name and address29200:25:00,319 –> 00:25:02,319when you donate29300:25:02,319 –> 00:25:04,319so we’ll be able to send you your gift29400:25:04,319 –> 00:25:06,319For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith29500:25:06,319 –> 00:25:08,319I’m David Pick29600:25:08,319 –> 00:25:10,319Thanks for being with us today29700:25:10,319 –> 00:25:13,319and we look forward to having you join us again next time29800:25:18,319 –> 00:25:22,3191 Corinthians 13 is all about love29900:25:22,319 –> 00:25:25,319and it’s often read at weddings30000:25:25,319 –> 00:25:27,319find out what it means for you30100:25:27,319 –> 00:25:29,319next time on Open the Bible

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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 Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love. Listen as Pastor Colin shares practical ways to grow in these virtues, such as seeking God's kingdom, knowing Jesus more intimately, and being empowered by the Holy Spirit. Face life’s challenges with renewed spiritual vigour.

Colin Smith

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Grow in Faith

Get Pastor Colin’s newest devotional as a FREE eBook and discover how to trust God more deeply, stand on His promises, and grow in confidence in Him.

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