100:00:00,520 –> 00:00:10,140If you belong to Christ, you have a testimony, open that up to your kids, bring them on the200:00:10,140 –> 00:00:15,860inside of your Christian life. That is one of the most marvelous things you can do for300:00:15,860 –> 00:00:18,660them as they grow up into adulthood.400:00:18,660 –> 00:00:23,200Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick, and Colin, that’s a500:00:23,200 –> 00:00:27,680great truth. some parents feel they need to protect their kids from knowing that there600:00:28,280 –> 00:00:33,560to be paid, and now you’re saying that it’s important for them to see that you are paying700:00:33,560 –> 00:00:34,520a price.800:00:34,520 –> 00:00:38,880Yeah. Jesus didn’t protect his disciples from seeing that there was a price and knowing900:00:38,880 –> 00:00:42,279that there was a price. In fact, he laid it out there and said, look, this is the thing1000:00:42,279 –> 00:00:47,639that is of supreme value and therefore it is worth any price, and my own experience1100:00:47,639 –> 00:00:53,840was just looking at the level of commitment that my father had as I was growing up as1200:00:54,840 –> 00:01:00,759in Scotland, seeing what it cost him to pursue integrity in his chosen profession, and at1300:01:00,759 –> 00:01:05,680times it was very, very costly for him, seeing what it meant for him to extend himself as1400:01:05,680 –> 00:01:10,459a leader in the Church, where life was already full and he took on additional responsibilities.1500:01:10,459 –> 00:01:14,660Why? Because he loves Christ. So this love of Christ must be something that is very,1600:01:14,660 –> 00:01:21,660very valuable. See, deeds communicate in ways that go even further in terms of reinforcing1700:01:22,120 –> 00:01:28,680the words that are spoken. So these are powerful things. And not to be hidden, especially as1800:01:28,680 –> 00:01:30,580our children are growing up into adulthood.1900:01:30,580 –> 00:01:35,220It’s important therefore for us to be sharing that with our family, so join us today if2000:01:35,220 –> 00:01:41,699you can in 2 Timothy chapter 3, as we continue the message, 10 Keys to Effective Parenting.2100:01:41,699 –> 00:01:43,019Here is Colin.2200:01:43,019 –> 00:01:50,019Number one. You know all about says Timothy, number one, my teaching. Now the important2300:01:51,839 –> 00:01:57,779point here is that it’s personal. He doesn’t say, Timothy, you know all about the Old Testament2400:01:57,779 –> 00:02:01,879teaching. He doesn’t say, you know, all about the apostolic teaching. That was true, but2500:02:01,879 –> 00:02:06,879that’s not the point here. This is the language of relationship. And so what Paul says is,2600:02:06,879 –> 00:02:10,720you know all about my teaching.2700:02:10,720 –> 00:02:16,740See your children will learn what the church believes. But your kids desperately need to2800:02:16,740 –> 00:02:23,080know what you believe. It is one thing for your kids to grow up knowing that the church2900:02:23,080 –> 00:02:28,979believes in heaven and hell. It is entirely another thing for your kids to grow up and3000:02:28,979 –> 00:02:37,880understand, my father believes in hell and heaven. That has an altogether different impact.3100:02:37,880 –> 00:02:44,559They need to know that. So what do your children know about what you believe? Your kids know3200:02:44,559 –> 00:02:52,699what you believe about creation. About the effects of sin in the human personality. About3300:02:52,699 –> 00:02:58,759the Bible. About who Jesus is, why he had to die, about the resurrection, about the3400:02:58,759 –> 00:03:03,960power of the Holy Spirit, the life of a believer, about the church, about baptism, about communion,3500:03:03,960 –> 00:03:08,380about the second coming of Christ, about the new heaven and the new earth. Don’t try to3600:03:08,380 –> 00:03:12,419cover all that in one evening.3700:03:12,419 –> 00:03:18,919But if you want your kids to follow in your path they need to know what you believe. Paul3800:03:18,919 –> 00:03:28,919says you know all about my teaching. Second, you know all about my way of life. See it’s3900:03:28,919 –> 00:03:36,479not just what you believe, it’s how live. It’s how you spend your money. Your kids have4000:03:36,500 –> 00:03:43,500a pretty good picture of that. It’s how you live within your means. Your kids have a pretty4100:03:43,740 –> 00:03:50,740good picture of that too. It’s about integrity. If you can think of a way in which your kids4200:03:52,860 –> 00:03:59,860have seen a lack of integrity in you, I want to urge you today to confess it to them. It4300:04:00,580 –> 00:04:07,580will give them hope if you do that. You may well find that God uses your confession to4400:04:10,479 –> 00:04:17,480further his work in their life. My teaching, my way of life, my purpose.4500:04:21,040 –> 00:04:26,019Isn’t this a great statement? Paul could say to Timothy, I just want you to keep the4600:04:26,980 –> 00:04:33,899Is this a great statement? Paul could say to Timothy…4700:04:35,239 –> 00:04:39,079You know what’s important to me, Timothy. You know what I’m trying to do and what I’m4800:04:39,079 –> 00:04:43,239trying to achieve in life. You know what I’m trying to become. You know about my purpose.4900:04:43,239 –> 00:04:49,839Does your son or your daughter know your purpose? If your kids were asked, what matters more5000:04:50,359 –> 00:04:57,359to Mom, what matters more to Dad than anything else, what would they say? Ask them. What5100:04:57,859 –> 00:05:04,859do you think is the most important to me in life? The answer might be very revealing.5200:05:09,000 –> 00:05:15,640Fourth, my faith. You know, says Timothy, all about my faith. Now notice again that5300:05:15,920 –> 00:05:22,859my faith is personal. He’s not talking about the faith, he’s talking about my faith. He5400:05:22,859 –> 00:05:29,859says you know my personal trust and personal confidence in God. So here’s the question5500:05:31,119 –> 00:05:38,119that comes on this fourth key. Do your children see you? Do they hear you? Do they perceive5600:05:38,239 –> 00:05:45,239you? Do they perceive you exercising faith in God through the tough passages of your5700:05:45,959 –> 00:05:52,859life? Because your exercise of faith when you’re going through a struggle in life5800:05:52,859 –> 00:05:58,179may just be one of the most powerful ways in which the reality of faith speaks to them.5900:05:58,179 –> 00:06:05,179This is what they’re watching. Here’s the fifth thing, my patients. You6000:06:05,600 –> 00:06:09,239know all about my patients. This is a hard one.6100:06:09,239 –> 00:06:16,239I can’t imagine that patience came to the Apostle Paul easily, can you? Timothy knew6200:06:16,700 –> 00:06:21,720about the times, evidently, when things did not move forward in the way that the Apostle6300:06:21,720 –> 00:06:28,720Paul would have wanted and he had to be patient. Patience is tough in an instant society.6400:06:29,040 –> 00:06:30,239Why?6500:06:30,239 –> 00:06:37,239We plant the seed and we want it to grow now. We take an initiative with our children and6600:06:38,760 –> 00:06:43,739we want their lives to be reshaped now.6700:06:43,739 –> 00:06:46,559After a few weeks, a few months, of doing the same thing, what happens?6800:06:46,559 –> 00:06:51,059We get discouraged.6900:06:51,059 –> 00:06:58,059Don’t expect someone else to learn in 10 weeks or 10 months what it took you 10 years7000:06:59,380 –> 00:07:04,519to learn before the Lord.7100:07:04,519 –> 00:07:09,799It’s going to be 3 steps forward and it’s sometimes going to be 2 steps back.7200:07:09,799 –> 00:07:14,559Paul’s able to say to Timothy, you know all about my patience.7300:07:14,559 –> 00:07:19,880Thank God for that!7400:07:19,880 –> 00:07:24,339Number six, you know all about my love.7500:07:24,339 –> 00:07:29,079Here’s another dimension that we want to be clear in our communication.7600:07:29,079 –> 00:07:31,140What a marvellous statement.7700:07:31,140 –> 00:07:34,079Notice he does not say who this love is for?7800:07:34,079 –> 00:07:38,899He does not tell us whether he’s referring to his love for Timothy, or his love for the7900:07:38,899 –> 00:07:40,739church, or his love for the Lord.8000:07:40,739 –> 00:07:46,579In fact, he doesn’t need to, because of course love is indivisible.8100:07:46,579 –> 00:07:50,720And if it is in you, it will radiate from you.8200:07:50,959 –> 00:07:54,339Paul is filled with the love of Christ.8300:07:54,359 –> 00:07:57,980He is living and pursuing a life of love.8400:07:57,980 –> 00:08:02,179And when Timothy comes to know Paul, he thereby experiences that love.8500:08:02,179 –> 00:08:05,959If you had come to know Paul, you would have experienced it too.8600:08:05,959 –> 00:08:14,179Now, your kids will come to know your love, not just by you telling them or showing them8700:08:14,179 –> 00:08:18,459how much you love them, but they’ll come to know your love by what they see of your love8800:08:18,459 –> 00:08:19,959towards other people.8900:08:20,200 –> 00:08:23,600Especially the folks who are most difficult in your life.9000:08:23,600 –> 00:08:25,079And that’s a real test.9100:08:25,079 –> 00:08:28,359Easy to tell your kids you love them.9200:08:29,619 –> 00:08:35,859Try and live so that your kids, or anyone else looking at your life, could say,9300:08:35,859 –> 00:08:40,679you know, I see in him love consistently.9400:08:40,679 –> 00:08:44,280You know about my love for you, son.9500:08:44,280 –> 00:08:47,219You know about my love for your mom.9600:08:47,219 –> 00:08:48,799You know about my love for the Lord.9700:08:48,820 –> 00:08:50,700You know about my love for the gospel.9800:08:50,700 –> 00:08:52,140You know about my love for the church.9900:08:52,140 –> 00:08:55,700You know about my love even for the person who’s most difficult in my life.10000:08:57,979 –> 00:08:59,799You know all about my love.10100:09:01,260 –> 00:09:02,380Its indivisible.10200:09:03,419 –> 00:09:07,280You’re listening to Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith and a message called10300:09:07,280 –> 00:09:13,73910 Keys to Effective Parenting, part of our series in Unless The Lord Builds the House.10400:09:13,739 –> 00:09:17,419If you ever miss one of our series, or if you have to leave the program early,10500:09:17,539 –> 00:09:21,359don’t forget, it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again online at our10600:09:21,359 –> 00:09:24,719website, openthebible.org.uk.10700:09:25,559 –> 00:09:29,419You can also find pastor Colin’s messages as a podcast, if that’s a better way for10800:09:29,419 –> 00:09:30,299you to keep up with them.10900:09:30,599 –> 00:09:32,640And they’re on all the main podcast sites.11000:09:32,840 –> 00:09:36,979You can find them by searching for openthebibleuk, or indeed, follow the11100:09:36,979 –> 00:09:40,479link from our website.11200:09:40,479 –> 00:09:42,179Back to the message now here again is Colin.11300:09:42,760 –> 00:09:43,179Seven11400:09:44,080 –> 00:09:45,159My endurance.11500:09:45,760 –> 00:09:49,900You know, all about my endurance.11600:09:51,619 –> 00:09:53,619You know, Timothy, I’m not a quitter.11700:09:55,460 –> 00:09:57,619Now, there may be times when it’s right to quit.11800:09:58,840 –> 00:10:02,080The problem with quitting is that it is habit forming.11900:10:03,400 –> 00:10:09,000Once you walk away from pain once, there will be a strong impulse within you to do12000:10:09,000 –> 00:10:11,299it again, and again, and again, and again.12100:10:11,320 –> 00:10:14,599And eventually that undermines character.12200:10:15,900 –> 00:10:17,739But Paul was no quitter.12300:10:18,719 –> 00:10:22,479He stuck with what God was calling him to do, even when that was difficult.12400:10:22,479 –> 00:10:26,679He could say to Timothy, You know about my endurance.12500:10:26,679 –> 00:10:27,640You’ve seen this.12600:10:27,640 –> 00:10:30,179You know that I don’t walk away when it gets tough.12700:10:30,179 –> 00:10:31,559You’ve seen it in me.12800:10:32,700 –> 00:10:33,719Now, you want your kids.12900:10:33,719 –> 00:10:35,679You want your grandkids.13000:10:35,679 –> 00:10:40,380You want someone whose life you’re trying to build into, to see that, and to know it13100:10:40,460 –> 00:10:43,599and to hear the story and to understand what it meant.13200:10:46,500 –> 00:10:49,840Number 8, my persecutions.13300:10:51,020 –> 00:10:54,900You know all about my persecutions.13400:10:57,500 –> 00:11:02,679Persecution, of course, is what it costs you to follow Christ.13500:11:02,679 –> 00:11:08,900And so this raises the very important question, do your kids know what it has cost you to13600:11:09,500 –> 00:11:14,580follow Jesus Christ?13700:11:14,580 –> 00:11:21,580My own father’s life has shaped me in many ways.13800:11:21,580 –> 00:11:27,200But none more so than what it cost my dad to be a Christian.13900:11:27,200 –> 00:11:30,159Dad was a policeman.14000:11:30,159 –> 00:11:34,719He served in the city of Edinburgh as a Detective.14100:11:34,760 –> 00:11:40,719He worked preparing evidence for presentation in court.14200:11:40,719 –> 00:11:44,719There was a case early in his career in which his boss told him to say something14300:11:44,719 –> 00:11:49,780about a piece of evidence that wasn’t actually true.14400:11:49,780 –> 00:11:52,619It wasn’t a big deal.14500:11:52,619 –> 00:11:57,119It would not have changed the outcome.14600:11:57,119 –> 00:12:01,460It was a technical point about who had actually worked on a particular piece of evidence.14700:12:01,460 –> 00:12:03,780But what he was being asked to say was not true.14800:12:04,559 –> 00:12:11,859And he wouldn’t do it.14900:12:11,859 –> 00:12:17,099So, he was branded as uncooperative.15000:12:17,099 –> 00:12:25,599And there is no doubt in his mind, or in mine, that that significantly affected15100:12:25,599 –> 00:12:31,659and impeded his career.15200:12:31,659 –> 00:12:34,219Bottom line,15300:12:34,219 –> 00:12:42,419if my dad had shaded the truth, we would have had more money when I was growing up.15400:12:42,419 –> 00:12:48,140What I had instead was a father I admired.15500:12:48,140 –> 00:12:55,460I still remember in my early teens when he told me that story.15600:12:55,460 –> 00:12:58,859The pressure.15700:12:59,820 –> 00:13:03,739The ridicule in the office.15800:13:03,739 –> 00:13:08,099The cost.15900:13:08,099 –> 00:13:14,820And it was the cost that captured my teenage imagination.16000:13:14,820 –> 00:13:24,059I felt, as I picture it now with him telling me, as if I had just heard something heroic.16100:13:24,260 –> 00:13:33,400Loyalty to Jesus Christ matters more than money, than popularity.16200:13:33,400 –> 00:13:40,580It matters more than getting your foot on the next rung on the ladder.16300:13:40,580 –> 00:13:43,539And that is with me still.16400:13:43,539 –> 00:13:48,900See, our kids know that integrity is costly.16500:13:49,400 –> 00:13:52,619What they need to know is do you think it is worth it.16600:13:52,619 –> 00:13:58,799Then they will have something to follow.16700:13:58,799 –> 00:14:03,900But if your kids never see you paying a price, why would they think that what you have is16800:14:03,900 –> 00:14:07,780of any value?16900:14:07,780 –> 00:14:15,039So I do want my kids to know what it costs me to follow Jesus.17000:14:15,039 –> 00:14:22,320And most of all, I want them to know I’m convinced it’s worth it.17100:14:22,320 –> 00:14:24,419My persecutions.17200:14:24,419 –> 00:14:29,0209, my sufferings.17300:14:29,020 –> 00:14:34,940Now if persecution refers to the cost of following Jesus, then suffering obviously refers more17400:14:34,940 –> 00:14:38,059widely to things that are common in this life.17500:14:38,059 –> 00:14:43,739The experience of suffering is common to all, but of course in a special way it tests the17600:14:43,780 –> 00:14:46,460faith of a Christian believer.17700:14:46,460 –> 00:14:50,799And so there will be some aspects of your life that have not come particularly because17800:14:50,799 –> 00:14:53,619you’re a Christian, they’re just part of life, they would have happened anyway.17900:14:53,619 –> 00:14:58,140The loss of a job, the collapse of a business, the death of a loved one, the experience of18000:14:58,140 –> 00:15:01,799an illness, a battle with depression or whatever it is.18100:15:01,799 –> 00:15:06,539But do your kids know about your suffering?18200:15:06,539 –> 00:15:09,859Wouldn’t you want them to know that?18300:15:09,859 –> 00:15:13,320Wouldn’t you want them to know how your faith has been tested and tried and how you’ve proved18400:15:13,479 –> 00:15:15,119and come through?18500:15:15,119 –> 00:15:21,320You know, as they are growing, why would you not want to bring them into your struggles?18600:15:21,320 –> 00:15:29,840Let them know that your faith has been tested and how it has stood the test.18700:15:29,840 –> 00:15:35,119Your suffering is part of your testimony to Jesus Christ.18800:15:35,119 –> 00:15:41,820Your journey through it can provide a map for somebody else.18900:15:41,820 –> 00:15:47,799When a soldier is wounded on the field of battle, he or she is awarded a purple heart.19000:15:47,799 –> 00:15:51,820And the purple heart, of course, is a mark of great honor.19100:15:51,820 –> 00:15:54,580You were wounded in the field of battle.19200:15:54,580 –> 00:15:57,700You stood under fire.19300:15:57,700 –> 00:16:00,719The purple heart.19400:16:00,719 –> 00:16:08,580Now listen, spiritually there are many, many purple hearts in this congregation.19500:16:08,580 –> 00:16:12,179Your faith has been under fire.19600:16:12,179 –> 00:16:16,700You have been tested in the crucible of suffering.19700:16:16,700 –> 00:16:21,299And here you are, you’ve been wounded, but you’re still standing as one who loves and19800:16:21,299 –> 00:16:22,919worships Jesus.19900:16:22,919 –> 00:16:27,179Now you’re not always going to wear your purple heart.20000:16:27,179 –> 00:16:31,619You’re not going to flash it around as it were, but there will be times when you should20100:16:31,619 –> 00:16:33,340share it.20200:16:34,320 –> 00:16:38,820There will be folks in your life now and in the future, and it is part of the purpose20300:16:38,820 –> 00:16:43,280of God that you will be able to minister strength to them through the testimony that has come20400:16:43,280 –> 00:16:47,239from your sufferings.20500:16:47,239 –> 00:16:55,500God has given you a testimony, and it is part of the example that you are able to share20600:16:55,500 –> 00:17:00,940with someone whose life you have the opportunity to shape.20700:17:00,960 –> 00:17:03,440Number 10, my deliverance.20800:17:03,440 –> 00:17:09,760You know all kinds of things happened to me in Antioch Iconium lystra verse 11, the persecutions20900:17:09,760 –> 00:17:14,439I endured yet the Lord rescued me from them all.21000:17:14,439 –> 00:17:16,640That’s the last point, the Lord rescued me.21100:17:16,640 –> 00:17:20,800Paul says, you know about my deliverance, you know about how the Lord has brought me21200:17:20,800 –> 00:17:25,680through, do your kids know how the Lord has helped you?21300:17:25,680 –> 00:17:30,060If you’re kids were asked to name three ways in which the Lord has really helped Dad in21400:17:30,060 –> 00:17:34,579the last year or so, or one way in which he has really helped Dad in the last year or21500:17:34,579 –> 00:17:38,060so what would he or she say?21600:17:38,060 –> 00:17:40,839They need to know how the Lord has helped you.21700:17:40,839 –> 00:17:46,640This is a living thing into which you’re trying to bring them as you seek to shape another21800:17:46,640 –> 00:17:49,099life.21900:17:49,099 –> 00:17:55,500The more I’ve looked at this the clearer it’s become that this is a most marvelous and helpful22000:17:55,500 –> 00:17:59,520grid for parenting and for mentoring, isn’t it?22100:17:59,520 –> 00:18:01,780It has a cost in your life to follow in Christ.22200:18:01,780 –> 00:18:06,219You’ve got your sufferings, your love, your patience, your way of life, your teaching.22300:18:06,219 –> 00:18:08,219You have all these things to share.22400:18:08,219 –> 00:18:12,660Why are you not seeking to share that with your kids?22500:18:12,660 –> 00:18:14,300Make a plan to do it!22600:18:14,300 –> 00:18:15,300Use this as a grid.22700:18:15,300 –> 00:18:20,660Here are 10 areas of life at least that I would want to bring my children into, bring22800:18:21,660 –> 00:18:27,680into as they grow so that there’s an opportunity of a meaningful, life-shaping relationship.22900:18:27,680 –> 00:18:30,579If you belong to Christ, you have a testimony.23000:18:30,579 –> 00:18:37,020Open that up to your kids, bring them on the inside of your Christian life.23100:18:37,020 –> 00:18:43,140That is one of the most marvelous things you can do for them as they grow up into adulthood.23200:18:43,140 –> 00:18:45,339You’re in the faith, Timothy.23300:18:45,339 –> 00:18:46,339Why?23400:18:46,339 –> 00:18:50,219Because you know from whom you have learned it.23500:18:50,219 –> 00:18:52,520You’ve seen it.23600:18:52,520 –> 00:18:55,839We’ve shared it.23700:18:55,839 –> 00:18:57,880You know it from me.23800:18:57,880 –> 00:19:01,900You’ve seen it in me.23900:19:01,900 –> 00:19:06,50010 things you would want your children or your grandchildren to know.24000:19:06,500 –> 00:19:12,64010 things that you would share with someone you’re trying to mentor.24100:19:13,500 –> 00:19:16,859Now, the last thing is simply this.24200:19:16,859 –> 00:19:21,000Some folks at this moment may be feeling discouraged.24300:19:21,000 –> 00:19:24,359And here’s the sort of thing that might be going through your head.24400:19:24,359 –> 00:19:28,160I wish I’d heard this 20 years ago.24500:19:28,160 –> 00:19:34,099What we’ve seen here in the Bible isn’t what my kids saw in me.24600:19:34,099 –> 00:19:41,079And so you look back on what you see as wasted years, a sense of regret over missed opportunities.24700:19:41,819 –> 00:19:49,719So many folks who have come to Christ later in life wish that they had come to Christ24800:19:49,719 –> 00:19:56,140earlier and could have these years back again.24900:19:56,140 –> 00:20:00,000Maybe you read these Scriptures and you say, Oh, I’d like to be that kind of man.25000:20:00,000 –> 00:20:03,000I’d like to be that kind of woman, patience, love, faith.25100:20:03,000 –> 00:20:05,300It sounds great, but I can’t do it.25200:20:05,300 –> 00:20:07,180It’s not in me.25300:20:07,180 –> 00:20:10,359Here’s the very last thing this morning.25400:20:10,479 –> 00:20:12,699Hear the source.25500:20:12,699 –> 00:20:17,719Who’s talking here?25600:20:17,719 –> 00:20:30,520Who is it who’s saying, Timothy, you know all about my teaching, my way of life.25700:20:30,520 –> 00:20:32,400Paul.25800:20:32,400 –> 00:20:43,959This is the man who was once known for two things, anger and blasphemy.25900:20:43,959 –> 00:20:53,319Check it out 1 Timothy 1 and verse 13, I was a blasphemer, a persecutor and a violent man,26000:20:53,319 –> 00:20:59,359but Christ changed him.26100:20:59,359 –> 00:21:12,400That same Lord Jesus Christ who changed the angry, blaspheming Saul into the mentor apostle26200:21:12,400 –> 00:21:19,199Paul, that same Christ can change you.26300:21:19,199 –> 00:21:27,920And what your kids didn’t see 5 or 10 years ago, what they didn’t see last week, they26400:21:27,959 –> 00:21:31,400could begin to see now.26500:21:31,400 –> 00:21:37,280For that Christ can change you.26600:21:37,280 –> 00:21:43,800And those who know you will see the difference.26700:21:44,660 –> 00:21:48,520What an encouraging message there for parents who might feel that they haven’t done everything26800:21:48,520 –> 00:21:50,400right with their children.26900:21:50,400 –> 00:21:54,979Pastor Colin reminding us there that it’s never too late to put things right with Jesus.27000:21:55,400 –> 00:22:00,699The message was called Ten Keys to Effective Parenting, it’s part of our series, Unless27100:22:00,699 –> 00:22:04,839the Lord Builds the House and if you’ve missed any of the series, or if you want to go back27200:22:04,839 –> 00:22:12,000and listen again it’s easy to do that by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk27300:22:12,000 –> 00:22:18,000or find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites, search for open the Bible UK.27400:22:18,000 –> 00:22:22,520Open the Bible is supported by our listeners financially and if that’s something you’ve27500:22:22,560 –> 00:22:27,319been considering doing, this month we have an offer for you. If you were able to set27600:22:27,319 –> 00:22:33,160up a new direct debit in the amount of five pounds per month or more, or a one-off gift27700:22:33,160 –> 00:22:39,239of fifty pounds or more this month we’ll send you two copies of the book Christmas Stories27800:22:39,239 –> 00:22:46,239by Colin Smith and also five beautiful Christmas cards with illustrations from the book. Christmas27900:22:47,420 –> 00:22:52,359Stories is a retelling of the Christmas story from the point of view of several biblical28000:22:52,400 –> 00:22:59,400characters. Characters like Adam, Joseph, Herod, Mary’s cousin Elizabeth, and even the Angel28100:22:59,579 –> 00:23:00,540Gabriel.28200:23:00,540 –> 00:23:06,760You know I have really enjoyed telling the Christmas story from the perspective of different28300:23:06,760 –> 00:23:12,300characters who were involved and the one exception to that is Herod. I can’t say I enjoyed that28400:23:12,300 –> 00:23:17,560because of course he was on the wrong side of the Christmas story, absolutely opposed28500:23:17,560 –> 00:23:23,280the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world, whereas telling the story from Mary28600:23:23,280 –> 00:23:28,959and Joseph’s perspective or Simeon’s perspective, you know you’re able to think about here’s28700:23:28,959 –> 00:23:35,160a person who’s in heaven looking back on this most marvelous good news of the birth of Jesus28800:23:35,160 –> 00:23:40,800into the world, well Herod’s certainly not there and the message that comes from his28900:23:40,800 –> 00:23:45,839rejection of Jesus is it’s too late now for him to change direction but it’s not too29000:23:45,839 –> 00:23:52,979late for you and what a marvellous thing it is that we are in the day of God’s grace29100:23:52,979 –> 00:23:58,800where mercy and love are extended towards every person in Jesus Christ and what a marvellous29200:23:58,800 –> 00:24:03,719thing to be able to invite our friends and our loved ones to receive that mercy and that29300:24:03,719 –> 00:24:10,020grace. I hope that this book will be a real help to many folks in sharing the gospel.29400:24:10,020 –> 00:24:14,780It’d be a lovely gift just to give to someone, it’s twenty-four pages, beautifully produced29500:24:14,959 –> 00:24:19,780and it tells the Christmas story from these different angles in the first person through29600:24:19,800 –> 00:24:24,119the eyes of people who were actually involved. Well, we’d love to send you two copies of29700:24:24,119 –> 00:24:29,880this book and the five beautiful Christmas cards if you were able to set up a new direct29800:24:29,880 –> 00:24:36,920debit of £5 per month or more or a one-off gift of £50 or more this month. Full terms29900:24:36,920 –> 00:24:44,239and conditions are on our website openthebible.org.uk and please remember if you want to take advantage30000:24:44,280 –> 00:24:50,479of this offer, don’t give anonymously and remember to leave your full name and address30100:24:50,479 –> 00:24:53,199so we can send you your free gift.30200:24:53,199 –> 00:24:58,119For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again30300:24:58,119 –> 00:25:05,119next time on Open the Bible.30400:25:07,079 –> 00:25:12,560Some people have the idea that the gospel is good and the law is bad. Find out what30500:25:12,560 –> 00:25:15,160the Bible says next time on Open the Bible.