100:00:00,100 –> 00:00:02,800Behind the scenes200:00:03,280 –> 00:00:05,280You look at your life300:00:05,420 –> 00:00:08,800How would you know if your life is a success?400:00:09,800 –> 00:00:16,059You look at your family. How would you measure whether what has happened in your family is a success?500:00:17,080 –> 00:00:22,940Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick glad you could join us today and Colin600:00:23,320 –> 00:00:28,500To answer that question we need to understand what the Bible says success is now700:00:28,660 –> 00:00:33,580Exactly right and we’re surrounded of course by all kinds of definitions of success800:00:33,580 –> 00:00:34,820What is a successful church?900:00:34,820 –> 00:00:38,980Look like one that’s absolutely huge crowds extending is that is that what it is?1000:00:39,139 –> 00:00:41,259we’re looking at Thessalonians and1100:00:41,320 –> 00:00:48,980The scripture says about the Christians there that the Lord’s message rang out from them and their faith in God1200:00:49,860 –> 00:00:51,860Became known everywhere1300:00:52,040 –> 00:00:54,040So there’s a mark of success1400:00:54,320 –> 00:00:57,860That here were people who were known for their faith1500:00:57,860 –> 00:01:04,279And that honored Christ wouldn’t that be a great thing to be able to say whatever you go through in your life1600:01:04,639 –> 00:01:10,779You are known for your faith. There’s a woman who trusts God. There’s a man who trusts God1700:01:11,239 –> 00:01:15,239that’s a marvelous mark of the spirit of God actually being at work and1800:01:15,720 –> 00:01:20,860Something that the scripture itself commends so I think we need different1900:01:21,760 –> 00:01:26,980Definitions of success from the ones that are around us that are always quantifiable in terms of2000:01:27,400 –> 00:01:32,360Numbers of people number amounts of money and so or what about faith? What about faith?2100:01:32,620 –> 00:01:36,160That’s what we’ll find out in today’s broadcast from one2200:01:36,480 –> 00:01:43,059Thessalonians chapter 2 join us there if you can as we begin the message the urgency of disciplined discipleship2300:01:43,400 –> 00:01:44,800Here is pastor Colin2400:01:44,800 –> 00:01:49,800If you were here last Sunday, you’ll remember what we’ve already learned that this Church in Thessalonica2500:01:49,940 –> 00:01:53,820Was probably the most exciting Church in the New Testament2600:01:55,419 –> 00:01:59,220It’s all from chapter 1 in verse 6 that Paul says about this church2700:01:59,220 –> 00:02:01,959It became a model for other churches2800:02:02,680 –> 00:02:05,000became a model around Macedonia and2900:02:05,300 –> 00:02:12,860achea, and not only that in verse 8 Paul says that the Lord’s message rang out from you this Church became like a3000:02:13,100 –> 00:02:17,860Bridgehead for the gospel and their faith in God became known everywhere3100:02:18,880 –> 00:02:21,940in other words as we saw from chapter 1 last time3200:02:22,660 –> 00:02:29,860what happened in this church had all the marks of an authentic work of God and3300:02:30,860 –> 00:02:34,399It is not surprising therefore that at the end of chapter 23400:02:34,800 –> 00:02:37,460Paul describes these believers in Thessalonica3500:02:37,820 –> 00:02:40,360If you look at verse 19 and 20 of chapter 23600:02:40,660 –> 00:02:45,820He says that they are his joy and they are his crown3700:02:46,619 –> 00:02:52,800The great reward of his ministry says just to see what God is doing among you, and that will be the great reward3800:02:52,899 –> 00:02:59,300This is our joy to see this authentic work of God that is going on in your lives3900:03:00,660 –> 00:03:02,660Now here’s an extraordinary thing4000:03:03,660 –> 00:03:05,300Some people4100:03:05,300 –> 00:03:10,520Were part of the most exciting church in the New Testament4200:03:10,520 –> 00:03:14,100And they didn’t even know it4300:03:15,539 –> 00:03:17,600In fact some of them thought4400:03:18,300 –> 00:03:22,039that Paul’s ministry was actually a failure and4500:03:22,179 –> 00:03:27,139We know that from the way that he answers them in chapter 2 and verse 14600:03:27,679 –> 00:03:29,360You know brothers4700:03:29,360 –> 00:03:31,720That our visit to you was not a failure4800:03:31,720 –> 00:03:37,979there would be no reason for Paul to say that except that someone in the church was suggesting that it was and4900:03:38,300 –> 00:03:42,520You can see that he has to answer some of the criticisms that have been made about him5000:03:42,539 –> 00:03:49,039He says verse 3 the appeal that we make does not spring from errors or from impure motives5100:03:49,179 –> 00:03:51,419Clearly, some folks were inferring that it did5200:03:52,220 –> 00:03:58,259Or verse 3 continuing nor are we trying to trick you in other words clearly some of the Believers there5300:03:58,619 –> 00:04:01,059Thought that Paul in some way was trying to manipulate5400:04:01,619 –> 00:04:04,539The Thessalonian church for his own ends5500:04:06,360 –> 00:04:10,199Now here then at the beginning of chapter 2 is a note of great sadness5600:04:12,139 –> 00:04:17,260That some folk who were surrounded by a great work of God5700:04:19,059 –> 00:04:21,059Who were part of the most5800:04:21,140 –> 00:04:28,799Exciting church in the New Testament just didn’t have eyes to see it. They just didn’t know it I5900:04:30,859 –> 00:04:35,660Want you to notice that the folks who made these kind of accusations against Paul6000:04:35,660 –> 00:04:40,540We’re clearly Christians because Paul refers to them in verse 1 as brothers6100:04:40,579 –> 00:04:46,160you know brothers that our visit to you was not a failure now6200:04:47,140 –> 00:04:49,140Here’s the question6300:04:49,200 –> 00:04:52,019How could Christian brothers and sisters6400:04:53,820 –> 00:04:55,720Have thought that6500:04:55,720 –> 00:05:00,179Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica was a failure. How is that possible?6600:05:01,179 –> 00:05:03,179the Christian people6700:05:04,220 –> 00:05:08,920Surrounded by an authentic work of God could actually think that what was happening was a failure6800:05:08,940 –> 00:05:14,100How could that be and the answer is because they had a wrong definition of success?6900:05:15,339 –> 00:05:16,679and7000:05:16,679 –> 00:05:19,540If you have a wrong definition of success7100:05:21,380 –> 00:05:28,059You may well find yourself surrounded by a significant work of God and not even be able to see it7200:05:29,679 –> 00:05:31,019And7300:05:31,019 –> 00:05:37,440So the question that is raised for us very clearly by this passage of Scripture this morning is is simply what is your definition?7400:05:37,619 –> 00:05:41,359of success and what is a true definition of success7500:05:41,980 –> 00:05:43,980How would you model it you?7600:05:44,920 –> 00:05:46,920You look at your life7700:05:47,739 –> 00:05:50,760How would you know if your life is a success?7800:05:52,720 –> 00:05:59,059You look at your family, how would you measure whether what has happened in your family is a success7900:06:01,480 –> 00:06:05,600You look at the life of a local congregation, how would we discern?8000:06:06,899 –> 00:06:08,339whether we are being8100:06:08,339 –> 00:06:15,040Successful in what God has called us to do or whether we are failing to pursue the Commission that he is given to us8200:06:15,040 –> 00:06:17,519How would you measure that? That’s the question8300:06:19,119 –> 00:06:26,339Now it seems clear from looking at this passage that at least some of the brothers and no doubt sisters in Thessalonica8400:06:26,600 –> 00:06:28,600define success as8500:06:28,760 –> 00:06:32,160Everybody being comfortable and everybody being happy8600:06:33,500 –> 00:06:35,579And if you were to define8700:06:36,000 –> 00:06:42,600success as everything being comfortable and everyone being happy, then by that standard, there’s no doubt Paul’s visit to Thessalonica was a8800:06:42,799 –> 00:06:44,260failure8900:06:44,260 –> 00:06:46,359because there was a riot in the city and9000:06:47,019 –> 00:06:51,720there was great pain and suffering and persecution that came upon the believers who he left there9100:06:51,720 –> 00:06:56,519He was torn away and had to leave the city under the cover of darkness and so forth9200:06:56,519 –> 00:07:03,339so if everybody being comfortable and everybody being happy is the definition of success Paul’s visit was a failure and9300:07:03,880 –> 00:07:05,160and9400:07:05,160 –> 00:07:08,380some believers thought it was even though they were surrounded by the9500:07:09,380 –> 00:07:13,160Distinguishing marks of an authentic work of God. They couldn’t see it. And9600:07:14,000 –> 00:07:19,959That’s why Paul writes these words in chapter 2 because he has to answer them and to show them what success9700:07:20,100 –> 00:07:24,339Actually looks like in a Christian life or in a Christian church9800:07:24,339 –> 00:07:28,220And what we’re going to see here is the Paul’s definition of success is very different9900:07:28,220 –> 00:07:31,700It is not everything being comfortable and everybody being happy10000:07:32,420 –> 00:07:35,320It is the advance of the gospel and the approval of God10100:07:36,160 –> 00:07:38,720And you’ll see that very clearly in verse 210200:07:39,079 –> 00:07:43,459Our visit wasn’t a failure he says but rather verse 2 with the help of God10300:07:43,459 –> 00:07:47,420We dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition10400:07:48,140 –> 00:07:50,019That’s not a failure10500:07:50,019 –> 00:07:52,019That’s great success10600:07:52,059 –> 00:07:55,940Or verse 4 we are not trying to please men10700:07:55,940 –> 00:07:58,600But God who tests our hearts you see10800:07:58,940 –> 00:08:04,019Success is not that everybody speaks well of you success is the God speaks well of you10900:08:04,019 –> 00:08:06,299We are not seeking praise for member from God11000:08:07,739 –> 00:08:10,980He puts these two things together in the first part of verse 411100:08:10,980 –> 00:08:16,359We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel their success11200:08:18,019 –> 00:08:20,799To live under the approval of God and to have been faithful11300:08:21,239 –> 00:08:28,059For this to the trust of the advance of the gospel that has been given to the Apostle Paul and indeed is given11400:08:28,619 –> 00:08:29,059To us11500:08:30,420 –> 00:08:34,039To advance the gospel and to live under the approval of God11600:08:36,320 –> 00:08:40,299Now when we come to this whole question of what success looks like or11700:08:40,719 –> 00:08:47,840The question that flows from it what motivates you because these two things really interplay very very closely11800:08:49,359 –> 00:08:51,320Things that the drive us11900:08:52,739 –> 00:08:56,780tend to shape what our definition of success really looks like12000:08:58,739 –> 00:09:03,400And when we come to that in our Western postmodern culture12100:09:05,080 –> 00:09:11,979It’s important to realize that we kind of think of this in very individualistic terms12200:09:13,880 –> 00:09:15,880What drives you12300:09:16,440 –> 00:09:18,900Which is going to be different from what drives somebody else12400:09:20,320 –> 00:09:22,039and12500:09:22,039 –> 00:09:27,440It is certainly true that all of us are motivated and therefore tend to see things in12600:09:27,580 –> 00:09:29,599in different kinds of ways12700:09:30,559 –> 00:09:33,299that comes out when you do a12800:09:33,859 –> 00:09:38,299Psychological profile I’ve done a number of these over the years and found them very helpful12900:09:39,380 –> 00:09:42,460to know how I’m wired and13000:09:44,000 –> 00:09:49,159What it is that kind of lights the fire for me as it were or what motivates and13100:09:50,059 –> 00:09:52,960Most of us have done these kinds of things use them in business13200:09:52,960 –> 00:09:57,619We use them in the church, and they tell us some things that are helpful because they13300:09:58,419 –> 00:10:01,559describe what is uniquely you13400:10:03,460 –> 00:10:08,320But what I want us to notice here, and it is very important for us to grasp it is13500:10:09,159 –> 00:10:13,299That the Bible does not major on. What is uniquely you13600:10:15,059 –> 00:10:18,559The Bible majors on what is commonly us13700:10:18,760 –> 00:10:20,760the13800:10:21,200 –> 00:10:23,200Bible majors on what?13900:10:23,260 –> 00:10:28,299transcends your uniqueness or my uniqueness or the uniqueness of any of us and14000:10:28,900 –> 00:10:33,320Speaks primarily to what is common of all of us and14100:10:34,280 –> 00:10:39,039That is radically counter cultural to the environment in which we live14200:10:41,059 –> 00:10:43,880See all of us are created by God14300:10:44,919 –> 00:10:47,000All of us are14400:10:47,119 –> 00:10:49,119Are descended from Adam?14500:10:49,119 –> 00:10:55,080All of us bear the effects of sin and all of us depend on Jesus Christ for our righteousness14600:10:56,179 –> 00:11:02,979All of us if we are Christians have the Holy Spirit of God living within us. We all struggle with the flesh14700:11:04,440 –> 00:11:08,960We all suffer in some way we are all being conformed to the image of Christ14800:11:08,960 –> 00:11:14,640We are all trusted with the gospel and all of us are called to lay down our lives in service for others14900:11:15,520 –> 00:11:21,799So the Bible points us to the things that transcend our uniqueness15000:11:22,859 –> 00:11:26,340That our bigger than whether you are male or female15100:11:27,080 –> 00:11:30,179Bigger than if you are, Swedish or Chinese15200:11:31,840 –> 00:11:34,559Bigger than if you are a type-a15300:11:35,239 –> 00:11:37,239Driver or a laid-back15400:11:37,760 –> 00:11:40,260affiliator bigger than any of these things15500:11:40,280 –> 00:11:42,219And15600:11:42,219 –> 00:11:46,539We can thank God who never made to snowflakes alike15700:11:47,960 –> 00:11:51,260That he never made two people alike15800:11:52,400 –> 00:11:54,400But you know at the end the day15900:11:54,960 –> 00:11:56,960Snow is snow and16000:11:57,960 –> 00:11:59,960people are people16100:12:00,679 –> 00:12:02,679what transcends is16200:12:03,400 –> 00:12:05,559far greater than all16300:12:06,119 –> 00:12:08,059that distinguished16400:12:08,059 –> 00:12:12,640You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, and we have to pause briefly here16500:12:12,640 –> 00:12:18,780But we’ll be back shortly, so do stay with us our message today is called the urgency of disciplined16600:12:19,299 –> 00:12:21,219Discipleship, and it’s from the series16700:12:21,219 –> 00:12:25,000Living like there’s no tomorrow based on the Book of One Thessalonians16800:12:25,280 –> 00:12:27,299If you joined us late today16900:12:27,299 –> 00:12:31,619Or if you have to ever leave early or if you want to go back and listen to any of the messages again17000:12:31,760 –> 00:12:34,979You can do that by coming to our website. That’s at open the Bible17100:12:35,700 –> 00:12:37,320org.uk17200:12:37,320 –> 00:12:44,440Also, you can find us as a podcast those are on all the main podcast sites find them by searching for open the Bible UK17300:12:44,559 –> 00:12:46,559Or follow the link from our website17400:12:46,900 –> 00:12:50,200Back to the message now here again is pastor Colin17500:12:50,780 –> 00:12:52,900understanding your unique profile17600:12:54,119 –> 00:12:56,840might tell you what you find easy and17700:12:58,039 –> 00:13:00,039Identify what you find hard17800:13:00,739 –> 00:13:04,539It might tell you where you can be most useful to the Lord17900:13:06,419 –> 00:13:13,739but your unique profile my unique profile does not excuse either of us or any of us from our18000:13:13,900 –> 00:13:19,299common calling and commission that we share in Jesus Christ and18100:13:20,419 –> 00:13:22,419the great danger you see of our18200:13:23,460 –> 00:13:25,460individualistic culture is18300:13:25,539 –> 00:13:32,340That having identified our own profile. I’m task driven. Oh, I’m a people person or whatever. It is18400:13:32,940 –> 00:13:37,340is that we grab a few verses from the Bible that18500:13:37,900 –> 00:13:42,979Reinforce who we already are and sit comfortably with that and never grow18600:13:43,799 –> 00:13:50,700And you see the Bible isn’t a kind of a salt shaker of a few verses that can be thrown out to make all of us18700:13:50,700 –> 00:13:52,700Feel comfortable in who we are18800:13:53,419 –> 00:13:56,039No in a culture that18900:13:56,719 –> 00:14:02,780emphasises your unique design and my unique design the Bible is speaking to us about our19000:14:03,020 –> 00:14:09,500common calling in Jesus Christ and that common calling is that all of us be conformed to19100:14:10,219 –> 00:14:14,460Christ to one image we will all reflect19200:14:14,460 –> 00:14:18,520His glory in unique and wonderfully individual ways19300:14:18,719 –> 00:14:21,359but it is one glory that will be19400:14:21,780 –> 00:14:28,460Reflected in every one of us and you will reflect not a small part of his glory but the whole of his glory. I19500:14:30,419 –> 00:14:34,640Was meeting with a group of senior pastors not so long ago and19600:14:35,320 –> 00:14:37,320someone described19700:14:37,359 –> 00:14:40,200the way that his church works19800:14:41,080 –> 00:14:43,080And this is what he said19900:14:43,599 –> 00:14:45,780I’m the truth guy20000:14:46,080 –> 00:14:47,659And20100:14:47,659 –> 00:14:50,719The rest of the staff look after the people20200:14:52,619 –> 00:14:56,119Now I’ve been scratching my head to try and work that one out ever since20300:14:57,619 –> 00:15:02,679I’m the truth guy and the rest of the staff look after the people20400:15:04,979 –> 00:15:11,500Now, how does the truth guy communicate the truth if he does not in some measure no relate to20500:15:12,919 –> 00:15:14,119understand20600:15:14,119 –> 00:15:17,260Care about love and pray for the people20700:15:18,039 –> 00:15:22,419how can you do the truth thing if you don’t care about the people and20800:15:24,099 –> 00:15:26,760How in all the world are the rest of the staff20900:15:28,400 –> 00:15:35,219To be able to shepherd the people if they’re not doing that with the truth, it makes no sense21000:15:37,460 –> 00:15:43,599But you see we’re living in an environment where we place such an emphasis on what is uniquely you that we have21100:15:43,760 –> 00:15:46,619missed what is commonly us and therefore21200:15:47,320 –> 00:15:50,359we sit within our comfort zones and21300:15:50,880 –> 00:15:56,880Our never stretched outside of that by the common calling that is ours in Jesus Christ. Let me ask you this question21400:15:58,200 –> 00:16:06,400How many of you agree with me that if Paul did a psychological profile, he would come out as a type a21500:16:07,200 –> 00:16:09,320Driver how many of you agree with that?21600:16:10,000 –> 00:16:13,599Well, some of you mustn’t have read the New Testament the Last Service21700:16:15,280 –> 00:16:19,159The last service everybody agreed with that I’m absolutely certain of it21800:16:20,320 –> 00:16:26,239now just have a glance with me at verse six and seven of this chapter as21900:16:27,599 –> 00:16:29,599Apostles of Christ22000:16:30,659 –> 00:16:37,119We could have been a burden to you, but we this is Paul speaking. We’re gentle among you like a mother22100:16:37,940 –> 00:16:40,559caring for her little children22200:16:41,099 –> 00:16:47,000We loved you so much that we were delighted to share not only the gospel of God22300:16:47,200 –> 00:16:52,659But our lives as well you think that came naturally to the Apostle Paul not for a minute22400:16:54,159 –> 00:16:59,260But it was a reflection of the Spirit of Christ within him here is a man22500:16:59,260 –> 00:17:03,700Who is growing in the likeness of Christ in every respect?22600:17:04,459 –> 00:17:10,079Not just his natural area of strength and that’s discipleship22700:17:11,880 –> 00:17:17,280Otherwise, what happens is we just use the Bible to reinforce ourself and as a means of being22800:17:18,000 –> 00:17:20,000perpetually affirmed22900:17:21,060 –> 00:17:27,780So I want to emphasize today the common calling that is ours in Jesus Christ, and here’s what we’re going to learn two things23000:17:29,199 –> 00:17:30,680if23100:17:30,739 –> 00:17:34,079You are going to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ23200:17:34,479 –> 00:17:38,479If I am going to be faithful as a disciple of Jesus Christ23300:17:38,540 –> 00:17:43,739We are going to have to overcome two impulses that run deep within every human being23400:17:45,640 –> 00:17:48,060Number one is the desire for comfort and23500:17:49,160 –> 00:17:51,859number two is the desire for approval and23600:17:52,420 –> 00:17:57,859They’re the two issues that lie at the heart of what Paul says to these folks in23700:17:58,540 –> 00:18:02,000Thessalonica who being hooked on comfort and approval23800:18:02,719 –> 00:18:04,719felt that Paul’s23900:18:05,500 –> 00:18:08,400Ministry must therefore have been a failure24000:18:09,520 –> 00:18:14,520We look with me at these two things together first then overcoming the desire for comfort24100:18:15,319 –> 00:18:16,520And here’s what we’re learning24200:18:16,520 –> 00:18:23,260If you would be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, you must overcome the natural human desire in you in me24300:18:24,199 –> 00:18:27,079for comfort now, we’re looking at verses 5 & 624400:18:27,859 –> 00:18:32,939You know, we never used flattery. And nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed24500:18:34,140 –> 00:18:36,140Talking money here greed24600:18:36,439 –> 00:18:38,439Verse 6 as Apostles of Christ24700:18:39,280 –> 00:18:43,959We could have been a burden to you. So he’s still talking money24800:18:44,760 –> 00:18:47,160The point is here is simply that as an apostle24900:18:47,760 –> 00:18:52,880Paul could have asked the Thessalonian Christians to support him financially25000:18:53,760 –> 00:18:56,319When he came to the town, he didn’t do that25100:18:56,319 –> 00:18:59,319He said I didn’t want to be a burden to you while I was preaching the gospel25200:19:00,040 –> 00:19:04,500Instead verse 6 he says we were gentle among you like a mother caring for her little children25300:19:04,780 –> 00:19:10,540You get the point a mother does not charge the kids for what she does25400:19:11,420 –> 00:19:12,920hard work25500:19:12,920 –> 00:19:14,319Not easy25600:19:14,319 –> 00:19:16,319No money in it, right?25700:19:16,339 –> 00:19:23,839We were gentle among you like a mother caring for little children didn’t ask you for the thing. We just served. That’s what he says25800:19:24,560 –> 00:19:30,760And of course he had to sustain himself and what that meant was that Paul got a job while he was in Thessalonica25900:19:31,380 –> 00:19:37,400That meant he worked during the day and he gave himself to ministry in the evenings and that made for a long day26000:19:37,400 –> 00:19:39,400It wasn’t comfortable hard work26100:19:39,880 –> 00:19:41,880verse 926200:19:42,099 –> 00:19:46,719Surely, you remember brothers our toil and our hardship26300:19:47,579 –> 00:19:49,579we worked26400:19:49,660 –> 00:19:54,739Night and day so he had a job during the day. He was involved in ministry at night and26500:19:55,339 –> 00:19:59,560The reason it was these long hours was in order not to be a burden26600:19:59,979 –> 00:20:02,520To anyone while we preached the gospel of God26700:20:03,420 –> 00:20:05,420to you26800:20:05,540 –> 00:20:06,599Now the issue here26900:20:06,599 –> 00:20:13,939Of course goes deeper than money very few people are driven purely by money the real motivation that is behind27000:20:14,099 –> 00:20:21,479Money is not the paper dollar itself, but the lifestyle and the opportunity the comfort that it brings27100:20:22,339 –> 00:20:24,260we’re talking about27200:20:24,260 –> 00:20:26,420Everything that goes into lifestyle here27300:20:27,239 –> 00:20:29,239freedom to travel27400:20:29,459 –> 00:20:31,119places to eat27500:20:31,119 –> 00:20:33,280the size of your wardrobe27600:20:34,119 –> 00:20:41,439The location and the size of your home the softness of your towels the shape of your glassware27700:20:41,800 –> 00:20:48,359everything that goes into having your life your world the way you want it and27800:20:50,359 –> 00:20:56,819If comfort was a mark of success then Paul’s visit to Thessalonica was a failure27900:20:56,819 –> 00:20:58,819and28000:20:59,380 –> 00:21:06,260That’s the whole theme that under lies this passage because the gospel made life distinctly28100:21:07,060 –> 00:21:09,060uncomfortable for these believers28200:21:10,180 –> 00:21:12,780It’s harder than it was before28300:21:14,459 –> 00:21:15,380Now from this28400:21:15,380 –> 00:21:16,900I think we’re learning a very simple28500:21:16,900 –> 00:21:21,880Principle that if you allow comfort to be the measure of your success you cannot be a follower of Jesus Christ28600:21:22,560 –> 00:21:25,939The gospel tells us about one occasion28700:21:27,160 –> 00:21:32,619When an enthusiastic man came to Jesus. It’s in Luke chapter 928800:21:33,800 –> 00:21:39,780And this man said to Jesus Lord. I will follow you wherever you go28900:21:42,119 –> 00:21:47,760Now I think if he’d come to me in that kind of way, I’d say this is great now you just come with me29000:21:47,760 –> 00:21:50,699That’s absolutely marvelous. That’s not what Jesus did. Jesus said29100:21:51,459 –> 00:21:53,459foxes have holes29200:21:54,339 –> 00:21:56,420birds of the earth have nests29300:21:57,099 –> 00:22:00,719But the Son of man has no place to lay his head29400:22:01,979 –> 00:22:07,319In other words Jesus was saying to that man you want to follow me here’s the first thing you need to know it will not29500:22:07,339 –> 00:22:09,339be comfortable29600:22:09,479 –> 00:22:12,359The son of man has no place to lay his head29700:22:13,500 –> 00:22:20,300You’ve been listening to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith and a message called the urgency of discipline discipleship29800:22:20,479 –> 00:22:24,680It’s part of our series living like there’s no tomorrow based on one29900:22:25,020 –> 00:22:29,800Thessalonians if you tuned in late or if you ever miss one of our messages30000:22:29,800 –> 00:22:35,739You can easily catch up or go back and listen again by coming to our website. That’s a to open the bible.org30100:22:36,380 –> 00:22:37,579UK30200:22:37,579 –> 00:22:44,640Alternatively go to your favorite podcast site search there for open the Bible UK and there you’ll find all the messages30300:22:44,640 –> 00:22:46,640Which have already been broadcast30400:22:47,219 –> 00:22:50,300Also, on our website, you’ll find open the Bible daily30500:22:50,300 –> 00:22:53,380That’s our series of short two to three minute daily30600:22:53,619 –> 00:23:00,819Reflections based on Pastor Collins teaching and read in the UK this month by Sally Workman open the Bible daily30700:23:01,339 –> 00:23:07,500our regular listeners will know that open the Bible is supported by our many listeners and we’re30800:23:07,660 –> 00:23:15,380Extremely grateful for the support that you give us. So if you already give to support the work of open the Bible, thank you so much30900:23:16,000 –> 00:23:18,760This month of October we have a special offer31000:23:18,880 –> 00:23:24,800if you’re able to set up a new direct debit in the amount of five pounds per month or more or a31100:23:25,119 –> 00:23:26,319one-off gift of31200:23:26,319 –> 00:23:27,61960 pounds or more31300:23:27,619 –> 00:23:32,479We’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of a devotional book by31400:23:32,599 –> 00:23:35,780Dave and Sally Gobbit. It’s called Hallelujah31500:23:36,439 –> 00:23:41,880Here is Dave Gobbit to tell us about it. Hi there. I’m Dave Gobbit and together with my wife31600:23:42,060 –> 00:23:47,739We’ve written this Advent devotional hallelujah journeying through Advent with handles Messiah31700:23:47,739 –> 00:23:50,040And the book is a daily devotional31800:23:50,040 –> 00:23:56,699the idea is you read a short section of the Bible and a meditation based on a movement from handles famous oratorio and31900:23:57,099 –> 00:24:00,619in the business of the one up to Christmas this book will32000:24:00,900 –> 00:24:08,099enable you to just pause and slow down and reflect on the significance of the coming of Jesus Christ as our32100:24:08,459 –> 00:24:11,739Personal Messiah all that means for us and for his world32200:24:12,359 –> 00:24:16,880And I’m actually delighted that open the Bible UK have chosen this book to be there32300:24:17,040 –> 00:24:22,040October book of the month and if you make a donation to open the Bible UK in October32400:24:22,060 –> 00:24:24,959You’ll get a free copy of this book sent to you32500:24:24,959 –> 00:24:29,140Will you be able to journey with us through handles Messiah in the run-up to Christmas?32600:24:29,140 –> 00:24:34,239And I hope that’s a great encouragement to you as much as it was encouragement to my wife and I as we wrote the book32700:24:34,719 –> 00:24:40,619So god bless and enjoy getting ready for the coming of the Messiah and maybe use handled to help you32800:24:41,119 –> 00:24:43,239so Dave and Sally Gobit’s book32900:24:43,800 –> 00:24:46,180Hallelujah is our gift to you this month33000:24:46,199 –> 00:24:52,640If you’re able to set up a new direct debit to the work of open the Bible for five pounds per month or more33100:24:53,000 –> 00:24:55,640Or a one-off gift of sixty pounds or more33200:24:56,239 –> 00:25:01,839You’ll find full details terms and conditions and you can give online at our website33300:25:02,439 –> 00:25:04,439openthebible.org33400:25:04,560 –> 00:25:05,719UK33500:25:05,719 –> 00:25:09,660For open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith I’m David pick33600:25:10,040 –> 00:25:16,339Thanks for being with us today, and I look forward to you joining us again next time on open the Bible33700:25:20,579 –> 00:25:25,160There are two impulses that you need to overcome if you want to follow Christ33800:25:25,640 –> 00:25:28,839Find out what they are next time on open the Bible33900:25:29,800 –> 00:25:31,439zan