I'm thrilled that you have
chosen to attend this seminar.
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It will be a seminar and I
hope that you will be blessed.
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I trust that you will.
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And I'm really looking
forward to the messages
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that we will present just now.
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Before we commence though,
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I'd like to
have a word of prayer
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with you and just ask
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the Spirit of God to be with us
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and to speak
right to our hearts.
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Father, in heaven,
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we are gathering together
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just now as men, as leaders.
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Father, we didn't
ask to be born as men.
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This is something
that You and Your sovereign
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will have seen fit for us to be.
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And, Father, we freely confess
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that we are not
worthy to be the leaders
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You have called us to be.
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And yet, Father, we have a sense
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that because of Christ
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and through Christ
all things are possible.
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And so, Father, we pray now
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that as we get
back to the basics,
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as we long to investigate
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and to inculcate real religion.
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We pray that Your Holy Spirit
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would come and
speak to our hearts.
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Father, may the spirit
that inspired the scriptures
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now become the spirit
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that instructs
in the scriptures.
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Father, I pray also,
for every other seminar,
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please be with the
presenters and the hearers.
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And may minds be
opened, may hearts be malleable,
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and may eternal
decisions be made for Christ
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and for His kingdom.
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Be with us now, Father,
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as we study in
Jesus' name. Amen.
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All right, I
want you to stand up.
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Stand up with me.
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I want you to turn to
the personon your right
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and I want you to say to them,
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there's not enough
time to get it all done.
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I want you to turn to the person
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on the other side and say,
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there is not enough
time to get it all done.
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Now I want you to look
up to the God of Heaven
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and just say, Lord there is not
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enough time to get it all done.
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Now do you
believe that? Have a seat.
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Have you ever been to a
time management seminar?
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Anybody here ever been to
a time management seminar?
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Those time management
seminars proceed on the notion
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that there is
enough time in the day
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to get everything done,
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that you need to get done.
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You just need to organize
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and prioritize
yourself in such a way
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that you can get it all done.
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This seminar
entitled "Real Religion,
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getting back to the basics,"
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will proceed on
exactly the opposite premise.
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I do not believe there is
enough time to get it all done.
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Imagine, how long you
would have to stay at home
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in order to do everything
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you ever wanted to
do with your children,
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to be
everything to your children
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that you want to
be, that you need to be,
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and to be
everything to your wife
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that you want to
be, that you need to be.
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How much time would
you have to spend at home?
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Now imagine with me, similarly,
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in order to
accomplish all of the things,
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if you're an
independent businessman
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that you want to personally
accomplish in your business,
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or if you're under the
employee of somebody else
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to accomplish all of the things,
to reach all of the goals,
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to attain of the aspirations
that your boss has for you.
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To make all of the
return phone calls,
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to answer all of the emails,
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to get to all of
the voice messages
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that you want to get
to and to be everything
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that your job expects of you.
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How much time would
you have to spend at work?
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Yeah, you're all
murmuring cause you know.
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Now imagine that you're
going to get everything done
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that your Pastor really
wants you to get done in church,
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or if you are a Pastor, you're
going to get everything done
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in church that
is expected of you.
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Everything.
Your Pastor wants you
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to help with this, and he
wants you to assist with this,
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and you're the
leader in this area.
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All the things that you
want to get done in church,
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in ministry, and in your
own personal outreach to others,
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you're going to get
all of that done as well.
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Now remember, you're
also going to be the father
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that you have to be,
doing all of the things
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that you want to do and wish
you could do with your children,
00:05:33.66\00:05:35.60
be the husband,
all of the things
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that you want to do and wish
you could do with your wife,
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and all of the
that you want to do
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and wish you
could do for your job.
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How much time do you need
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to get all of those
things accomplished?
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You think there's
enough time to get it all done?
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Friends, listen to me, there is
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not enough time
to get it all done.
00:05:55.42\00:05:58.33
You need to settle that
in your mind, right now.
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I do not
believe that the premise
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upon which many of
these Time Management
00:06:04.60\00:06:06.49
seminars proceed, mainly this,
00:06:06.52\00:06:08.69
there is enough time in
the day to get it all done.
00:06:08.72\00:06:10.95
You just have to prioritize
and work your schedule out,
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and put emphasis on
the important things,
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and deemphasize on
the non-important things,
00:06:16.21\00:06:18.04
but it can be done if you
just become very systematic
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and methodical
about your schedule.
00:06:21.71\00:06:23.42
I do not believe that.
00:06:23.45\00:06:27.55
I am firmly convinced that
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there is not enough
time to get it all done.
00:06:29.62\00:06:34.73
Now consider with
me that Christianity
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is like Mathematics, right?
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You've taken a
Mathematics course, haven't you?
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Sometime in your life.
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Mathematics is an
interesting discipline
00:06:47.36\00:06:49.78
for the following reason,
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at least for the
following reason.
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In order to proceed
into the more advanced
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and more sophisticated
disciplines of Mathematics
00:06:58.02\00:07:01.84
say Algebra or
Probability and Statistics,
00:07:01.87\00:07:04.65
Topology other
kinds of advanced,
00:07:04.68\00:07:06.78
more sophisticated
kinds of Mathematics.
00:07:06.81\00:07:08.88
It is absolutely
essential that you not lose
00:07:08.91\00:07:12.43
sight of the
basics of Mathematics
00:07:12.46\00:07:15.06
namely Arithmetic,
the Timetables addition,
00:07:15.09\00:07:17.73
division, subtraction, etc.
00:07:17.76\00:07:20.57
Does that make sense, yes or no?
00:07:20.60\00:07:22.40
In other words, as you advance,
00:07:22.43\00:07:24.16
as you learn Algebra
and Calculus and beyond,
00:07:24.19\00:07:26.64
you'll never stop
using the basic things.
00:07:26.67\00:07:29.48
In fact there's
more sophisticated
00:07:29.51\00:07:32.15
kinds of Mathematics
will actually be impossible
00:07:32.18\00:07:35.35
if you lose sight of the basics.
00:07:35.38\00:07:39.72
I fear that for many of us,
00:07:39.75\00:07:44.51
we are desiring
to advance into great
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and high and lofty
spiritual ministerial,
00:07:47.84\00:07:51.05
you name it religious realms,
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but we have
forgotten the basics.
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Similarly,
consider this analogy.
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A building can only be as strong
00:08:01.63\00:08:04.06
as its smallest
component is strong.
00:08:04.09\00:08:08.36
Okay, so this building,
say it's made of bricks,
00:08:08.39\00:08:11.87
if the
individual bricks are weak,
00:08:11.90\00:08:14.18
everyone of those individual
00:08:14.21\00:08:15.58
bricks is itself
structurally comprised.
00:08:15.61\00:08:19.11
Can the structure,
the building be strong
00:08:19.14\00:08:21.69
if the individual things
that make it up are not strong?
00:08:21.72\00:08:24.12
Can that happen, yes or
no? No, it's impossible.
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In order for a
building to be strong
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the basic
components must be strong.
00:08:29.90\00:08:34.25
Even the keenest
mind that develops
00:08:34.28\00:08:36.31
the most
sophisticated and well thought
00:08:36.34\00:08:39.41
piece of
architecture, even these great
00:08:39.44\00:08:42.02
and lofty and very
artistic and structurally
00:08:42.05\00:08:44.50
sound buildings,
all of them are built
00:08:44.53\00:08:46.91
with very simple materials
00:08:46.94\00:08:50.09
bricks, wood, nails and screws.
00:08:50.12\00:08:56.42
And no matter
how keenly designed
00:08:56.45\00:08:58.30
the building is if
the blocks that make
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that building up
are not been so sound,
00:09:01.00\00:09:03.47
if the basic building blocks
are not themselves strong,
00:09:03.50\00:09:06.28
the building no
matter how keenly
00:09:06.31\00:09:08.29
designed will not be strong.
00:09:08.32\00:09:10.90
Are you comfortable
with this idea, yes or no?
00:09:11.83\00:09:14.76
So whether in
Mathematics or in Architecture,
00:09:14.79\00:09:17.39
the basics are essential.
00:09:17.42\00:09:20.81
If you forsake the
basics in Mathematics,
00:09:20.84\00:09:22.88
you can never responsibly
00:09:22.91\00:09:24.44
advance into the
more advanced themes.
00:09:24.47\00:09:27.02
If you forsake the
basics in Architecture
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and design a very
sophisticated building,
00:09:29.06\00:09:31.19
you cannot make that
building structurally sound
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if the blocks that
constitute the infrastructure
00:09:33.94\00:09:36.80
of that building are
not themselves sound.
00:09:36.83\00:09:42.21
This seminar is
going to proceed on several
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very important
premises and the first one,
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the first two actually we
have already introduced to you
00:09:47.39\00:09:50.17
and that is there is not
enough time to get it all done.
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Settle that in
your mind, right now.
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We will develop that
thought more in a moment.
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Secondarily, we will
proceed on the premise
00:10:00.40\00:10:04.34
that if we are not
strong in the basics,
00:10:04.37\00:10:08.44
we will never be able
to advance to the higher
00:10:08.47\00:10:11.88
and more sophisticated
realms of anything in life,
00:10:11.91\00:10:14.81
much less, spiritual things.
00:10:14.84\00:10:18.00
So in order to keep
this seminar very simple,
00:10:18.03\00:10:20.83
they are whateveryone?
Simple. Very simple.
00:10:20.86\00:10:23.80
In order to get
back to the basics
00:10:23.83\00:10:25.60
to have an
encounter with real religion,
00:10:25.63\00:10:27.97
we're going to ask and answer
00:10:28.00\00:10:29.55
just two questions, very simple.
00:10:29.58\00:10:32.43
How many questions, everyone?
00:10:32.46\00:10:34.32
Two questions, the first
question is, what is the Gospel?
00:10:34.35\00:10:39.21
That's the first question
00:10:39.24\00:10:41.24
that we're going
to ask and answer.
00:10:41.27\00:10:43.02
What is, the what everyone?
00:10:43.05\00:10:46.47
The Gospel.
00:10:46.50\00:10:47.87
The second question
that we're going to ask
00:10:47.90\00:10:49.27
and answer is what is a
relationship? That's it.
00:10:49.30\00:10:55.07
If we get this
done in 30 minutes,
00:10:55.10\00:10:56.73
then we'll wrap it up
in 30 minutes and go home,
00:10:56.76\00:10:58.58
but that is the whole
purpose of this seminar
00:10:58.61\00:11:00.41
is to answers
these two questions.
00:11:00.44\00:11:02.64
Question number
one, what is it everyone?
00:11:02.67\00:11:05.26
Gospel. What is the Gospel?
00:11:05.29\00:11:06.76
And question
number two, what is it?
00:11:06.79\00:11:08.16
Relationship.
00:11:08.19\00:11:09.56
What is a relationship?
00:11:09.59\00:11:13.04
Friends, if we fail
in the basics, we fail.
00:11:13.07\00:11:19.50
You get that.
00:11:19.53\00:11:21.13
If we fail in
the basics, we fail.
00:11:21.16\00:11:26.23
Let's begin by
answering the question,
00:11:26.26\00:11:27.64
what is the Gospel?
00:11:27.67\00:11:29.04
Go with me to Romans Chapter 1,
00:11:29.07\00:11:30.51
Romans Chapter 1.
00:11:30.54\00:11:35.31
Romans Chapter 1.
00:11:35.34\00:11:36.71
Now the etymology
of the word Gospel
00:11:36.74\00:11:38.17
is really quite interesting.
00:11:38.20\00:11:41.18
The word Gospel
is transliterated
00:11:41.21\00:11:42.91
from the Greek word
'euangelion,' euangelion.
00:11:42.94\00:11:47.93
And this word came
into popular vernacular,
00:11:47.96\00:11:50.36
into popular parlance
probably about three centuries
00:11:50.39\00:11:53.75
before the time of Jesus,
00:11:53.78\00:11:55.53
when Greek speaking people
00:11:55.56\00:11:56.93
had immigrated to
the North of Africa.
00:11:56.96\00:11:59.46
Okay, so you had
Greek speaking people
00:11:59.49\00:12:00.86
living along the North
shore of the African coast.
00:12:00.89\00:12:03.59
And these are people that had
emigrated from Southern Europe,
00:12:03.62\00:12:06.94
Greece,
Macedonia and other places.
00:12:06.97\00:12:08.96
And during the
seasons, the dry season,
00:12:08.99\00:12:11.54
the wet season,
the drought season,
00:12:11.57\00:12:13.31
the rainy years on and off,
00:12:13.34\00:12:14.71
it would become necessary
that ships from the land
00:12:14.74\00:12:20.35
that they had
left, would bring wares,
00:12:20.38\00:12:22.39
and foods, and merchandise,
00:12:22.42\00:12:23.79
and even mail and
messages from the former land.
00:12:23.82\00:12:26.62
And as these people
00:12:26.65\00:12:28.42
that were living
there along the coast,
00:12:28.45\00:12:29.90
as they would look
out on the ocean there,
00:12:29.93\00:12:31.56
looking Northward from
the North African coast,
00:12:31.59\00:12:34.35
as they would look
out 'and would see a ship
00:12:34.38\00:12:36.46
appear on the horizon
00:12:36.49\00:12:37.86
they would shout
euangelion, euangelion.
00:12:37.89\00:12:43.82
And the word meant
good news, glad tidings,
00:12:43.85\00:12:49.38
good publications
something that is needful,
00:12:49.41\00:12:52.74
something that is necessary
has come from a land afar.
00:12:52.77\00:12:56.16
And so that cry would
ring out throughout the earth,
00:12:56.19\00:12:58.79
euangelion, euangelion,
00:12:58.82\00:13:00.27
and it would go
all the way back,
00:13:00.30\00:13:01.80
even to the peoples who
were living further in inland,
00:13:01.83\00:13:04.35
further away from the
coast, euangelion, euangelion.
00:13:04.38\00:13:07.32
And people knew
a ship was coming
00:13:07.35\00:13:09.21
that was
bringing important goods.
00:13:09.24\00:13:10.70
A ship was coming that
was bringing merchandise,
00:13:10.73\00:13:12.88
some mail or food,
whatever it might be,
00:13:12.91\00:13:14.96
it meant good tidings
has come from a land afar.
00:13:14.99\00:13:21.48
And so too, when
Mathew, Mark, Luke
00:13:21.51\00:13:23.43
and John began to employ
this terminology euangelion.
00:13:23.46\00:13:26.77
Jesus Himself
employed this term.
00:13:26.80\00:13:30.70
In the common vernacular,
00:13:30.73\00:13:32.10
what that word
meant was good news.
00:13:32.13\00:13:36.02
Good, what everyone?
00:13:36.05\00:13:37.42
And more specifically,
00:13:37.45\00:13:39.20
good news has
come from a land afar.
00:13:39.23\00:13:45.05
What is the Gospel? Romans 1:1,
00:13:45.08\00:13:48.31
we're going to be exceedingly
simple in this seminar.
00:13:48.34\00:13:51.76
We're going to
strive for simplicity.
00:13:51.79\00:13:55.91
Roman 1:1, who
wrote the book of Romans?
00:13:55.94\00:13:58.99
Paul, its right there, isn't it?
00:13:59.02\00:14:01.15
"Paul, a
bondservant of Jesus Christ,
00:14:01.18\00:14:03.35
called to be an apostle,
00:14:03.38\00:14:06.83
separated to the Gospel of God"
00:14:06.86\00:14:11.20
separated to the what everyone?
00:14:11.23\00:14:13.49
To the Gospel,
to the euangelion,
00:14:13.52\00:14:15.75
to the Gospel of God,
to the good news of God.
00:14:15.78\00:14:18.84
So Paul begins this queen
of his epistles by saying,
00:14:18.87\00:14:21.78
I'm Paul, the apostle,
00:14:21.81\00:14:23.98
separated as an
apostle to the Gospel of God.
00:14:24.01\00:14:29.45
And notice verse
2, "Which he promised
00:14:29.48\00:14:33.13
before through his prophets
in the Holy Scriptures."
00:14:33.16\00:14:36.91
Now verse 2
functions essentially
00:14:36.94\00:14:39.46
as a prepositional phrase.
00:14:39.49\00:14:42.23
As a what did I say,
everyone? Prepositional phrase,
00:14:42.26\00:14:45.59
now how many of you remember
grammar class or English class?
00:14:45.62\00:14:48.36
Do you remember what a
prepositional phrase is?
00:14:48.39\00:14:50.05
It's very easy to understand.
00:14:50.08\00:14:53.31
It's easily illustrated,
if I take this microphone
00:14:53.34\00:14:56.60
I could say something
like the mike is there,
00:14:56.63\00:15:00.14
the microphone is there.
00:15:00.17\00:15:01.71
Is that a sentence, yes or
no? Yeah, that is a sentence.
00:15:01.74\00:15:04.77
It has all of the necessary
components of a sentence.
00:15:04.80\00:15:07.31
The microphone is
there. So you have the noun,
00:15:07.34\00:15:09.57
you have the
object, it's all there.
00:15:09.60\00:15:10.97
The microphone is there,
but if I take the microphone
00:15:11.00\00:15:13.21
and I set it on
this chair and then I say
00:15:13.24\00:15:15.98
the microphone is
there on the chair.
00:15:16.01\00:15:20.03
On the chair is a
prepositional phrase.
00:15:20.06\00:15:24.08
On the chair is
a what, everyone?
00:15:24.11\00:15:26.05
A prepositional phrase.
00:15:26.08\00:15:27.45
Now follow this very carefully.
00:15:27.48\00:15:29.38
A prepositional
phrase is that which modifies
00:15:29.41\00:15:33.35
something in a sentence,
but it's not itself necessary
00:15:33.38\00:15:36.59
to the
structure of the sentence.
00:15:36.62\00:15:38.59
So for example, I can
say the microphone is there
00:15:38.62\00:15:41.09
and that's a sentence
that stands on its own,
00:15:41.12\00:15:43.13
or I can add the
prepositional modifier,
00:15:43.16\00:15:45.41
the microphone is
there, on the chair.
00:15:45.44\00:15:48.89
On the chair can be
removed from the sentence
00:15:48.92\00:15:51.44
and the sentence
still stands on its own,
00:15:51.47\00:15:53.60
but if you
include it in the sentence
00:15:53.63\00:15:55.15
it adds an
additional modifying element.
00:15:55.18\00:15:58.27
Does that make sense, yes or no?
00:15:58.30\00:15:59.67
That's a prepositional phrase.
00:15:59.70\00:16:01.92
Now verse 2 in Romans 1, 2
00:16:01.95\00:16:04.42
and 3 basically functions
as a prepositional phrase.
00:16:04.45\00:16:08.61
Okay, look at it again there.
00:16:08.64\00:16:10.41
At the end of verse 1, he says
00:16:10.44\00:16:11.81
"Separated to the Gospel of God"
00:16:11.84\00:16:13.68
and then here's your
prepositional phrase verse 2,
00:16:13.71\00:16:16.11
"Which he
promised before through
00:16:16.14\00:16:18.42
his prophets in
the Holy Scriptures".
00:16:18.45\00:16:21.30
When Paul adds that
basically what he's doing is,
00:16:21.33\00:16:23.28
he's modifying the Gospel.
00:16:23.31\00:16:24.97
He's just letting
you know that the Gospel
00:16:25.00\00:16:26.56
didn't just appear in a vacuum,
00:16:26.59\00:16:28.52
the Gospel didn't
just appear in some
00:16:28.55\00:16:29.97
sort of a vacuum or situation.
00:16:30.00\00:16:31.51
The Gospel was
the logical outworking
00:16:31.54\00:16:33.92
of the Messianic
identity of Jesus
00:16:33.95\00:16:36.22
from the Old
Testament scriptures.
00:16:36.25\00:16:39.09
But here's the point verse 2,
00:16:39.12\00:16:41.73
can basically be
removed at least temporarily
00:16:41.76\00:16:45.33
so that we can keep
the continuity of thought
00:16:45.36\00:16:47.79
from verse 1 right into verse 3.
00:16:47.82\00:16:49.76
Okay. Now watch this,
00:16:49.79\00:16:51.78
what we're going
to do is read verse 1,
00:16:51.81\00:16:53.72
we're going to leave
out verse 2 temporarily,
00:16:53.75\00:16:55.63
what it says is very important
00:16:55.66\00:16:57.13
but we're just going
to remove it temporarily.
00:16:57.16\00:16:58.67
So that we lose
that modifying element
00:16:58.70\00:17:01.06
and we're going to
go right into verse 3.
00:17:01.09\00:17:03.29
Okay, listen to it.
00:17:03.32\00:17:05.42
"Paul, a bond
servant of Jesus Christ,
00:17:05.45\00:17:08.81
called to be an apostle,
00:17:08.84\00:17:11.46
separated to the Gospel of God
00:17:11.49\00:17:13.74
concerning His Son
Jesus Christ our Lord,"
00:17:13.77\00:17:19.04
or you could render it this way,
00:17:19.07\00:17:21.46
"Separated unto
the Gospel of God
00:17:21.49\00:17:23.98
which concerns
Jesus Christ our Lord."
00:17:24.01\00:17:29.72
For the Apostle
Paul the Gospel was that
00:17:29.75\00:17:33.01
which concerned who, everyone?
00:17:33.04\00:17:35.82
Jesus Christ our Lord.
00:17:35.85\00:17:37.93
Do you see how
you remove verse 2,
00:17:37.96\00:17:39.38
you remove that
modifying sentence there.
00:17:39.41\00:17:41.22
It's not that it's
important, it's very important.
00:17:41.25\00:17:42.71
But you remove that
and you can see how it is,
00:17:42.74\00:17:45.19
that Paul defines the Gospel.
00:17:45.22\00:17:49.87
Verse 1, "I'm Paul, the apostle,
00:17:49.90\00:17:51.27
separated to the Gospel of God,
00:17:51.30\00:17:52.69
which concerns Jesus Christ",
00:17:52.72\00:17:55.44
and this is the first
point you've got to get.
00:17:55.47\00:18:00.13
The Gospel is that
00:18:00.16\00:18:03.19
which concerns a person.
00:18:03.22\00:18:07.42
The Gospel is that
which concerns what did I say,
00:18:07.45\00:18:10.32
everyone? And
who is that person?
00:18:10.35\00:18:13.87
Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
00:18:13.90\00:18:15.27
Now I want to emphasize that,
00:18:15.30\00:18:16.89
for Paul the Gospel was that
00:18:16.92\00:18:19.50
which concerned a person,
00:18:19.53\00:18:22.07
which concerned a what?
00:18:22.10\00:18:23.50
A person and now you
say, but we know this.
00:18:23.53\00:18:25.53
Yeah, this is basic stuff.
00:18:25.56\00:18:28.28
Follow this more carefully.
00:18:28.31\00:18:30.21
Go with me to
First Corinthians 15.
00:18:30.24\00:18:32.10
Okay, stay right
here in the New Testament.
00:18:32.13\00:18:33.88
Go to First Corinthians 15.
00:18:33.91\00:18:37.17
Now who wrote First Corinthians?
00:18:37.20\00:18:39.55
Who wrote First Corinthians?
00:18:39.58\00:18:40.96
Paul, I was having
trouble hearing you there.
00:18:40.99\00:18:43.93
Beginning in verse 1,
First Corinthians 15:1
00:18:43.96\00:18:46.82
remember we are asking
and answering the question,
00:18:46.85\00:18:49.33
what is the
Gospel? That's the question
00:18:49.36\00:18:52.98
that we're seeking to answer.
00:18:53.01\00:18:54.38
What is the Gospel?
First Corinthians Chapter 15,
00:18:54.41\00:18:58.88
beginning in verse 1,
00:18:58.91\00:19:00.99
"Moreover, brethren I declare
to you,"the what everyone?
00:19:01.02\00:19:07.71
"The Gospel which
I preached to you,
00:19:07.74\00:19:09.89
which you also received
and in which you stand".
00:19:09.92\00:19:12.50
All Paul is saying here
is hey, when I was with you,
00:19:12.53\00:19:15.05
I was preaching the
Gospel and that the Gospel
00:19:15.08\00:19:17.34
that if you stand in
it, it will save you.
00:19:17.37\00:19:19.59
Look at verse 2, verse
2 of First Corinthians 15,
00:19:19.62\00:19:22.87
"By which also you are
saved, if you hold fast
00:19:22.90\00:19:25.76
that word which
I preached to you
00:19:25.79\00:19:27.58
unless you believed in vain."
00:19:27.61\00:19:29.48
Okay, so verses 1 and 2,
all Paul is saying is hey,
00:19:29.51\00:19:31.64
when I was with you
I preached the Gospel,
00:19:31.67\00:19:33.57
this is the Gospel that
will save you if you hold on.
00:19:33.60\00:19:37.30
Now if I begin
to sing this song,
00:19:37.33\00:19:41.19
you tell me if
you could finish it
00:19:41.22\00:19:43.13
Praise God, from
whom all blessings flow
00:19:43.16\00:19:48.23
Join me, Praise Him,
00:19:48.26\00:19:50.22
all Creatures Here below
00:19:50.25\00:19:53.65
What are you
singing? What are you singing?
00:19:53.68\00:19:57.39
You're singing the doxology.
00:19:57.42\00:19:59.33
Now by raising
of hands, be honest.
00:19:59.36\00:20:03.05
Who is in this room,
knows what a doxology is?
00:20:03.08\00:20:05.21
Raise your hands.
00:20:05.24\00:20:07.64
You know what that word
means? We got one, anybody else?
00:20:07.67\00:20:12.12
Isn't this
remarkable? Every Sabbath
00:20:12.15\00:20:16.82
we sing the doxology
00:20:16.85\00:20:18.47
and one in 300
know what it means.
00:20:18.50\00:20:22.05
Does that strike
you, is a little strange?
00:20:22.08\00:20:25.54
You know, I love
to sing, don't you?
00:20:25.57\00:20:28.42
I said I love
to sing, don't you?
00:20:28.45\00:20:30.97
Amen! And one of
my favorite hymns is
00:20:31.00\00:20:32.37
"Come thou fount
of every blessing".
00:20:32.40\00:20:34.18
You like that hymn? And
I love that line it says,
00:20:34.21\00:20:38.07
Here I raise mine Ebenezer
00:20:38.10\00:20:42.03
Hither by thy help I'm come
00:20:42.06\00:20:45.50
Now have you ever sung
that before, yes or no?
00:20:45.53\00:20:48.05
Okay, you know
what an Ebenezer is?
00:20:48.08\00:20:52.17
How many people
by raising of hands,
00:20:52.20\00:20:53.57
know what an Ebenezer is?
00:20:53.60\00:20:55.16
Oh, wow, the numbers
are increasing dramatically.
00:20:55.19\00:20:57.17
We're up to about 10.
00:20:57.20\00:21:00.55
Isn't it interesting, that
we participate in a significant
00:21:00.58\00:21:03.20
amount of
religiosity that we do not have
00:21:03.23\00:21:05.04
a clue of what we are
doing? Amen to that one.
00:21:05.07\00:21:08.55
You're getting quiet
now because you're nervous.
00:21:08.58\00:21:11.82
An Ebenezer friends,
and Ebenezer was the stone
00:21:11.85\00:21:14.72
that Samuel erected when he
told the children of Israel,
00:21:14.75\00:21:17.18
hey God has lead us this far,
00:21:17.21\00:21:20.35
it's a stone that
you raise in your life
00:21:20.38\00:21:21.96
that says God lead me this far
00:21:21.99\00:21:24.07
and he's not going to
leave me alone to perish.
00:21:24.10\00:21:26.08
Amen! That's an Ebenezer.
00:21:26.11\00:21:27.81
Now a doxology even
though we sing it every Sabbath
00:21:27.84\00:21:31.48
and only one of us
claims to know what it is.
00:21:31.51\00:21:33.30
A doxology is a
succinct statement of belief
00:21:33.33\00:21:39.44
that is crafted for the purposes
00:21:39.47\00:21:41.68
of memorization, okay.
00:21:41.71\00:21:44.60
A doxology is a
succinct statement of belief
00:21:44.63\00:21:48.85
that is crafted for the
purposes of memorization.
00:21:48.88\00:21:53.34
Does that make sense, yes or no?
00:21:53.37\00:21:55.14
So a doxological
statement is a statement
00:21:55.17\00:21:58.52
that is made in
order to teach something.
00:21:58.55\00:22:02.16
In order to what? Teach.
00:22:02.19\00:22:03.56
Teach. So for example,
00:22:03.59\00:22:05.06
we could jus
jettison the seminar.
00:22:05.09\00:22:06.46
We could say
okay, I changed my mind
00:22:06.49\00:22:07.86
I'm not going to
deliver the seminar
00:22:07.89\00:22:09.26
I've got a better idea.
00:22:09.29\00:22:10.66
Let's all come up
with a doxology, okay.
00:22:10.69\00:22:13.25
And you and I today, right now,
00:22:13.28\00:22:14.83
we could come up
with a one or two
00:22:14.86\00:22:16.33
or a three
sentence doxology like
00:22:16.36\00:22:18.08
Praise God, from
whom all blessings flow
00:22:18.11\00:22:19.63
Praise him, all
creatures here below
00:22:19.66\00:22:21.05
Praise him
above, the heavenly host
00:22:21.08\00:22:22.75
Praise Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost.
00:22:22.78\00:22:24.15
So what we're saying
is, that's what we belief.
00:22:24.18\00:22:25.77
That's a succinct statement
00:22:25.80\00:22:27.17
about what we believe about God.
00:22:27.20\00:22:29.49
Does that make sense, yes or no?
00:22:29.52\00:22:30.89
And doxologies
are frequently sung,
00:22:30.92\00:22:33.16
they are easy to memorize,
they are frequently sung,
00:22:33.19\00:22:36.07
they are a brief
statement of what we believe.
00:22:36.10\00:22:39.33
Now here's why
I'm telling you this,
00:22:39.36\00:22:41.11
in First Corinthians
15:1 and 2 Paul says hey,
00:22:41.14\00:22:43.87
I'm preaching the Gospel to you,
00:22:43.90\00:22:45.40
this is the Gospel
that will save you,
00:22:45.43\00:22:46.80
if you stand in the Gospel.
00:22:46.83\00:22:48.20
And then most Bible
expositors virtually,
00:22:48.23\00:22:50.47
all Bible expositors agree
that what Paul does in verse 3
00:22:50.50\00:22:54.10
is he introduces an
early Christian doxology.
00:22:54.13\00:23:01.52
In other words, what you find
00:23:01.55\00:23:02.93
in the latter half of
verse 3 and all of verse 4
00:23:02.96\00:23:05.33
and part of verse 5 is not,
00:23:05.36\00:23:06.98
listen carefully,
original with Paul.
00:23:07.01\00:23:10.79
This is not
something that Paul wrote.
00:23:10.82\00:23:12.74
Paul here is quoting an
earlier doxological statement,
00:23:12.77\00:23:17.16
that is to say a brief
succinct statement of what
00:23:17.19\00:23:20.68
it meant to be a
Christian in the early years.
00:23:20.71\00:23:24.53
Some scholars traced
this doxological statement
00:23:24.56\00:23:27.46
to within five years
of the crucifixion event,
00:23:27.49\00:23:31.33
five years of the
crucifixion event.
00:23:31.36\00:23:33.37
That's why Paul says
look at there in verse 3,
00:23:33.40\00:23:35.11
"For I delivered
to you first of all
00:23:35.14\00:23:38.62
that which I also received;"
00:23:38.65\00:23:41.88
colon, is that what your
Bible has there, yes or no?
00:23:41.91\00:23:47.21
Does your Bible have a
colon there, yes or no?
00:23:47.24\00:23:49.65
Yeah, the New King
James Bible has a colon,
00:23:49.68\00:23:52.55
many other
translations have a colon.
00:23:52.58\00:23:54.32
Now tell me, what function does
00:23:54.35\00:23:57.60
a colon serve in
the English Language?
00:23:57.63\00:24:02.02
A colon. Okay, a
list comes after,
00:24:02.05\00:24:06.11
that's exactly right.
00:24:06.14\00:24:07.51
Something comes
after that refers back
00:24:07.54\00:24:10.31
to what you just
said, so for example
00:24:10.34\00:24:12.30
this is a very
easy to understand,
00:24:12.33\00:24:13.70
pretend like I had a
blackboard up here I wish I did.
00:24:13.73\00:24:15.61
Okay, pretend like I wrote
out the following statement
00:24:15.64\00:24:18.94
"These are my two
sons: Landon and Jabel."
00:24:18.97\00:24:26.13
Does that make sense, yes or no?
00:24:26.16\00:24:27.53
Is that how we use a
colon in the English Language?
00:24:27.56\00:24:30.06
"These are my two
sons: Landon and Jabel."
00:24:30.09\00:24:33.19
So the colon says
Landon and Jabel refers
00:24:33.22\00:24:35.52
back to what I just
said these are my two sons.
00:24:35.55\00:24:38.83
So notice what Paul
does there in verse 3.
00:24:38.86\00:24:40.81
he says for I delivered unto you
00:24:40.84\00:24:42.47
that which I
also received colon.
00:24:42.50\00:24:46.28
In other words,
I'm preaching to you
00:24:46.31\00:24:48.79
what was preached to me,
and in the rest of verse 3,
00:24:48.82\00:24:53.10
all of verse 4
and all of verse 5
00:24:53.13\00:24:55.81
is a doxological
statement that comes before
00:24:55.84\00:24:59.02
the time of Paul
by more than 20 years.
00:24:59.05\00:25:04.34
Now remember what's Paul
talking about in verses 1 and 2.
00:25:04.37\00:25:07.33
What's he
talking about everyone?
00:25:07.36\00:25:09.13
Come on, encourage me.
00:25:09.16\00:25:10.53
The Gospel, the euangelion,
00:25:10.56\00:25:13.42
the Gospel and
then he says in verse 3,
00:25:13.45\00:25:15.46
"I delivered unto you
that which I already received."
00:25:15.49\00:25:17.84
Here it is,
here is the doxology.
00:25:17.87\00:25:20.43
It is going to
sound like a doxology
00:25:20.46\00:25:21.92
when you see it this way oh,
00:25:21.95\00:25:23.32
that's a doxology, it
looks like a doxology.
00:25:23.35\00:25:25.90
It sounds like a doxology.
00:25:25.93\00:25:28.67
Latter half of verse 3,
"Christ died for our sins
00:25:28.70\00:25:32.82
according to the Scriptures,
and that he was buried,
00:25:32.85\00:25:37.07
and that he rose
again the third day
00:25:37.10\00:25:38.75
according to the Scriptures,
00:25:38.78\00:25:40.16
and that he was seen by Cephas,
00:25:40.19\00:25:41.95
and then by the Twelve.
00:25:41.98\00:25:45.67
" Do you see the
doxology there, yes or no?
00:25:45.70\00:25:48.44
It's a succinct
statement of Christian belief
00:25:48.47\00:25:51.87
that was designed for
the purposes of memorization.
00:25:51.90\00:25:56.67
So that in the years
right after the crucifixion,
00:25:56.70\00:25:59.28
if you claim to be a Christian
00:25:59.31\00:26:00.68
and I claim to be a Christian
00:26:00.71\00:26:02.08
before we had the
written word codified,
00:26:02.11\00:26:04.55
the New Testament
codified you claim
00:26:04.58\00:26:06.55
to be a believer in Christ,
00:26:06.58\00:26:07.95
I claim to be a
believer in Christ.
00:26:07.98\00:26:09.35
We could know that
we are on the same page
00:26:09.38\00:26:10.91
if we affirm this doxology.
00:26:10.94\00:26:12.99
Hey, what do you believe?
I'll tell you what you believe,
00:26:13.02\00:26:14.84
I believe that "Christ", what?
00:26:14.87\00:26:16.82
"Died according
to the Scriptures,
00:26:16.85\00:26:18.66
then he was
buried, that he rose again
00:26:18.69\00:26:21.59
the third day
according to the Scriptures
00:26:21.62\00:26:22.99
and that he was seenby
Cephas, and then by the Twelve".
00:26:23.02\00:26:24.94
That's what it
meant to be a Christian
00:26:24.97\00:26:26.65
in the early centuries.
00:26:26.68\00:26:28.98
Making sense, yes or no?
00:26:29.01\00:26:31.20
So Paul here is simply quoting
00:26:31.23\00:26:34.13
an earlier
doxological statement.
00:26:34.16\00:26:36.15
You says what's the big deal,
00:26:36.18\00:26:37.55
what does this have to
do with time management?
00:26:37.58\00:26:39.92
Follow this.
Watch this carefully.
00:26:39.95\00:26:44.46
I'm going to
substitute Jesus Christ
00:26:44.49\00:26:47.63
for every time a
pronoun occurs in the doxology,
00:26:47.66\00:26:51.33
okay, a pronoun that
refers to Him occurs.
00:26:51.36\00:26:53.56
I'm in verse 3,
"Jesus Christ died
00:26:53.59\00:26:57.08
for our sins
according to the Scriptures,
00:26:57.11\00:26:58.85
and that Jesus
Christ was buried,
00:26:58.88\00:27:01.64
and that Jesus Christ rose again
00:27:01.67\00:27:04.39
the third day
according to the Scriptures,
00:27:04.42\00:27:05.95
and that Jesus
Christ was seen by Cephas,
00:27:05.98\00:27:08.60
and then by the Twelve.
00:27:08.63\00:27:11.54
What is the obvious
thrust of the doxology?
00:27:11.57\00:27:16.99
What is it everyone?
It's the life of Jesus Christ.
00:27:17.02\00:27:22.31
Now remember what
did Paul say in Romans 1
00:27:22.34\00:27:24.90
"Separated to the
Gospel of God which concerns"
00:27:24.93\00:27:28.72
Which concerns, what
everyone? "Jesus Christ."
00:27:28.75\00:27:31.15
And here he tells us
hey, when I was preaching
00:27:31.18\00:27:33.22
the Gospel to you,
I preached the Gospel,
00:27:33.25\00:27:35.63
this is what I
preached that Jesus Christ
00:27:35.66\00:27:37.81
was--He died
according to the Scriptures,
00:27:37.84\00:27:39.99
that He was buried,
00:27:40.02\00:27:41.39
that He rose again
according to the Scriptures,
00:27:41.42\00:27:42.79
that He was seen by
Cephas and by the Twelve.
00:27:42.82\00:27:44.73
For Paul the
Gospel was about a person.
00:27:44.76\00:27:48.38
The Gospel is not a
mere set of beliefs.
00:27:52.03\00:27:58.14
I'm going to say that again.
00:28:00.18\00:28:02.97
The Gospel is not a
mere set of theological
00:28:03.00\00:28:06.62
beliefs or propositions.
00:28:06.65\00:28:09.81
The Gospel is a person.
00:28:09.84\00:28:14.77
The Gospel is the
good news about a man,
00:28:14.80\00:28:18.93
and actual man
that actually lived,
00:28:18.96\00:28:21.34
and is actually alive
today, in an actual place.
00:28:21.37\00:28:25.42
That's the Gospel, friends.
00:28:25.45\00:28:28.89
We sometimes confuse
the Gospel with beliefs
00:28:28.92\00:28:35.75
and we believe as
Seventh-day Adventist
00:28:35.78\00:28:37.49
that when you
die, you do not ascend
00:28:37.52\00:28:39.80
directly into the
immediate pristines of heaven
00:28:39.83\00:28:41.55
but you sleep the sleep of death
and await the resurrection.
00:28:41.58\00:28:43.61
Do we believe that, yes or no?
00:28:43.64\00:28:46.03
Yes. Is that true, yes or no?
00:28:46.06\00:28:47.71
Yes. But friends, listen
00:28:47.74\00:28:49.11
that is the belief that we hold.
00:28:49.14\00:28:51.81
That is not in its
most core sense the Gospel.
00:28:51.84\00:28:57.48
Okay. Do we
believe that in 1844,
00:28:57.51\00:28:59.68
Jesus Christ
entered the Most Holy Place
00:28:59.71\00:29:01.33
to begin the end, the
final phase of judgment
00:29:01.36\00:29:04.45
and thus
ushering the anti-typical
00:29:04.48\00:29:06.30
Day of Atonement? Do
you believe that, yes or no?
00:29:06.33\00:29:07.77
Yes. Yes.
00:29:07.80\00:29:09.17
And that date and
that phase of ministry
00:29:09.20\00:29:11.35
will tell us
something about Jesus Christ,
00:29:11.38\00:29:13.51
but the date itself is a belief.
00:29:13.54\00:29:17.04
The Gospel is the
good news about a person.
00:29:17.07\00:29:20.06
Now some of you
are sitting there
00:29:20.09\00:29:21.91
and getting very
easy and saying Oh,
00:29:21.94\00:29:23.99
no he's trying
to separate between
00:29:24.02\00:29:25.39
what we believe and Jesus.
00:29:25.42\00:29:27.11
Not at all.
Think of it this way.
00:29:27.14\00:29:30.71
How many of you
today have wives?
00:29:30.74\00:29:34.38
Okay. Are there things
00:29:34.41\00:29:36.44
that are true about your wife?
00:29:36.47\00:29:39.61
Are there
statements that could be
00:29:39.64\00:29:41.01
made about your wife,
yes or no? True statements.
00:29:41.04\00:29:43.62
Okay. Imagine with
me that we have up here
00:29:43.65\00:29:48.54
a great big sheet
of paper or better
00:29:48.57\00:29:50.22
yet you have a
laptop computer on your lap.
00:29:50.25\00:29:52.33
And we're going
to start writing out
00:29:52.36\00:29:54.56
all kinds of true
things about your wife.
00:29:54.59\00:29:57.58
Okay. You're
ready? So in my case
00:29:57.61\00:30:01.05
I'm gonna write
down Violeta Indochi
00:30:01.08\00:30:03.70
was born on October 5th, 1975.
00:30:03.73\00:30:09.30
She was born in
Constanta, Romania.
00:30:09.33\00:30:11.60
She has two
brothers and two sisters.
00:30:11.63\00:30:13.50
Her favorite color is
this. Her favorite food is this.
00:30:13.53\00:30:15.88
She stubbed her toe
when she was 13 years old
00:30:15.91\00:30:17.72
and broke it and it
turns kind of funny.
00:30:17.75\00:30:19.12
I mean, I'm gonna
have all of these things.
00:30:19.15\00:30:21.30
I'm going to write out all
of these things about my wife.
00:30:21.33\00:30:25.65
Making sense, yes or no?
00:30:25.68\00:30:27.05
Now you do the
same for your wife,
00:30:27.08\00:30:28.45
okay, you type them all up.
00:30:28.48\00:30:29.95
And after years and years,
00:30:29.98\00:30:31.46
you have finished
your exhaustive list,
00:30:31.49\00:30:34.55
your exhaustive
compendium of all of the things
00:30:34.58\00:30:37.85
that are true about your
wife and then you burn it
00:30:37.88\00:30:41.03
to a CD or better get a DVD.
00:30:41.06\00:30:45.15
Now is that DVD
your wife, yes or no?
00:30:45.18\00:30:50.52
Now imagine you print it out,
00:30:50.55\00:30:51.92
you've got 150 pages of
true things about your wife.
00:30:51.95\00:30:54.76
Can you imagine
crawling into bed one evening
00:30:54.79\00:30:56.94
and cuddling up with your DVD?
00:30:56.97\00:31:01.18
Cuddling up with your paper?
00:31:01.21\00:31:04.74
Friends, don't miss this point.
00:31:04.77\00:31:06.57
all of those things about
your wife are not your wife.
00:31:06.60\00:31:11.84
You follow that. All
of those things are true.
00:31:11.87\00:31:15.66
All of those things are good.
00:31:15.69\00:31:17.11
All of those things are
informative and meaningful.
00:31:17.14\00:31:19.17
But not one of
those things is your wife.
00:31:19.20\00:31:22.47
Can you imagine
going out to a restaurant
00:31:22.50\00:31:26.44
your DVD under one
arm? Table for two, please.
00:31:26.47\00:31:33.58
You sit down you put
the DVD across the table.
00:31:33.61\00:31:37.04
Yes, I'll be having a lasagna
00:31:37.07\00:31:38.63
and she will take
the angel hair pasta
00:31:38.66\00:31:42.09
with a tomato basil
sauce, light on the cheese.
00:31:42.12\00:31:46.64
It's totally nonsensical
to even think about that,
00:31:46.67\00:31:48.90
to talk about that it
sounds foolish and ludicrous.
00:31:48.93\00:31:51.14
Friends, listen to this.
00:31:51.17\00:31:52.61
Many of us have
substituted beliefs
00:31:52.64\00:31:55.40
about Jesus for
the person of Jesus.
00:31:55.43\00:31:59.96
Do you see that, yes or no?
00:31:59.99\00:32:02.19
We have
substituted a set of beliefs
00:32:02.22\00:32:04.43
about the person for
the actual person Himself.
00:32:04.46\00:32:10.52
Remember, what's our question
00:32:11.34\00:32:12.71
that we're seeking to answer?
00:32:12.74\00:32:14.11
What is the Gospel?
00:32:14.14\00:32:19.28
Now I want to read to
you from a pen of Ellen White
00:32:19.31\00:32:24.50
and I want to go
and record of saying
00:32:24.53\00:32:26.14
I make absolutely
no apologies for this.
00:32:26.17\00:32:31.50
Eight years ago, I
was studying pre-medicine
00:32:31.53\00:32:35.14
at the University of
Wyoming, was not a Christian,
00:32:35.17\00:32:39.56
had no interest in Christianity,
00:32:39.59\00:32:42.41
was fairing quite
well in my self satisfied,
00:32:42.44\00:32:45.16
secular existence.
00:32:45.19\00:32:46.56
I was a 24-year-old person
00:32:46.59\00:32:47.97
who wanted to be a
doctor made good money,
00:32:48.00\00:32:49.76
and just go on rock
climbing the rest of my days.
00:32:49.79\00:32:51.97
This was my paradigm
to use the modern term.
00:32:52.00\00:32:56.32
The Lord brings a
tragedy into my experience
00:32:56.35\00:32:59.19
and I find myself one
day with tears running down
00:32:59.22\00:33:01.95
my cheeks with a
Christian book in my hands,
00:33:01.98\00:33:05.17
that Christian book is
called 'The Great Controversy'
00:33:05.20\00:33:08.79
maybe you've heard of it.
00:33:08.82\00:33:10.19
Now let me tell you something,
00:33:12.53\00:33:13.90
I read that book
and I didn't know
00:33:13.93\00:33:15.30
the first thing
hardly about Christianity,
00:33:15.33\00:33:19.13
but in reading that
book even with my limited
00:33:19.16\00:33:21.69
perfunctory understanding,
I can tell you something.
00:33:21.72\00:33:25.90
I knew right off, that
whoever wrote this book
00:33:25.93\00:33:28.76
and I didn't even
know it was a she,
00:33:28.79\00:33:30.26
I just knew it was an EG.
00:33:30.29\00:33:33.82
Whoever wrote this book had
a special connection with God.
00:33:33.85\00:33:39.30
Now this was
before I, this was before
00:33:39.33\00:33:40.70
I was a Seventh-day Adventist,
I was just reading this book,
00:33:40.73\00:33:43.29
was given to me
in a health resort,
00:33:43.32\00:33:44.69
I was just reading it.
00:33:44.72\00:33:46.09
I didn't know that
some church claimed
00:33:46.12\00:33:47.84
that she was a
prophet, I knew none of that.
00:33:47.87\00:33:49.54
I could have told you even then,
00:33:49.57\00:33:50.94
this woman has some
kind of special connection
00:33:50.97\00:33:53.39
with the God that she worships.
00:33:53.42\00:33:56.73
So this morning
I make no apologies
00:33:56.76\00:33:58.13
for quoting from her pen.
00:33:58.16\00:34:00.55
And I tell you, you
will be hard pressed
00:34:00.58\00:34:04.71
to find a better, more sublime
00:34:04.74\00:34:09.36
and more succinct definition
of the Gospel than this.
00:34:09.39\00:34:12.69
I challenge you,
try it. Here it is.
00:34:12.72\00:34:16.41
If you're
interested in the reference
00:34:16.44\00:34:17.81
this is from
Manuscript 49, 1898,
00:34:17.84\00:34:20.40
Manuscript 49, 1898.
You're ready for the statement.
00:34:20.43\00:34:22.92
One sentence, one sentence,
00:34:22.95\00:34:28.64
"Hanging upon the cross,
00:34:28.67\00:34:33.23
Christ was the Gospel."
00:34:33.26\00:34:36.64
Can you say, amen?
00:34:36.67\00:34:39.75
"Hanging upon the cross,
00:34:42.61\00:34:45.96
Christ was the Gospel."
00:34:45.99\00:34:52.06
Friends, you cannot get
anymore purer than that.
00:34:52.09\00:34:56.25
Knock yourself out trying.
00:34:56.28\00:34:59.14
See if you can do a
better definition than that,
00:34:59.17\00:35:00.92
you cannot top that.
00:35:00.95\00:35:04.77
That is, that is non-toppable.
00:35:04.80\00:35:08.02
"Hanging upon the cross,
00:35:08.05\00:35:09.74
Christ was the Gospel."
00:35:09.77\00:35:14.20
For Ellen White as for Paul,
00:35:14.23\00:35:19.64
the Gospel is the
good news about a person,
00:35:19.67\00:35:26.31
about a what everyone?
00:35:26.34\00:35:28.27
This cannot be over emphasized.
00:35:28.30\00:35:31.42
It is not just a set of beliefs.
00:35:31.45\00:35:33.94
Are beliefs
important, yes or no?
00:35:33.97\00:35:35.39
Oh, come on, you're talking
00:35:35.42\00:35:36.98
to a Seventh-day
Adventist Evangelist,
00:35:37.01\00:35:38.38
are beliefs important?
Beliefs are very important,
00:35:38.41\00:35:41.73
extremely important,
but not supremely important.
00:35:41.76\00:35:45.25
The Gospel is Jesus Christ.
00:35:50.81\00:35:57.59
It's the good news
about a man who lived,
00:35:57.62\00:36:02.49
breathed, who died, was
humiliated and crucified,
00:36:02.52\00:36:07.55
who was buried in a
tomb that was not His own,
00:36:07.58\00:36:11.23
who rose again
hallelujah the third day
00:36:11.26\00:36:13.87
according to the Scriptures
and who were seen by Cephas,
00:36:13.90\00:36:16.77
the Twelve and by
500 other brethren,
00:36:16.80\00:36:21.20
that my friends, is the Gospel.
00:36:21.23\00:36:25.14
Just ask Paul,
just ask Ellen White.
00:36:25.17\00:36:29.80
Now remember we wanted to ask
00:36:29.83\00:36:32.15
and answer two questions.
00:36:32.18\00:36:33.55
How many questions,
everyone? two questions?
00:36:33.58\00:36:35.68
The first
question you wanted to ask
00:36:35.71\00:36:37.08
and answer is
what is the Gospel?
00:36:37.11\00:36:39.38
Now you can add
more layers to that,
00:36:39.41\00:36:41.29
you can add more
elements to that,
00:36:41.32\00:36:42.73
you can do that if you want,
00:36:42.76\00:36:44.13
like an onion you
want to pile on this,
00:36:44.16\00:36:45.53
and pile on this,
fine, you can do that.
00:36:45.56\00:36:47.01
But if you strip the Gospel down
00:36:47.04\00:36:48.47
to its most basic element to,
00:36:48.50\00:36:49.97
to the basic germ
of what the Gospel is?
00:36:50.00\00:36:53.05
The Gospel is the
news about a person,
00:36:53.08\00:36:56.16
an actual person. Amen.
00:36:56.19\00:37:00.48
Second question,
the second question
00:37:00.51\00:37:02.99
that we want to
ask and answer is
00:37:03.02\00:37:04.67
what is a relationship?
00:37:04.70\00:37:09.86
What is a relationship?
00:37:09.89\00:37:14.16
Now in order to
answer this question
00:37:14.19\00:37:16.92
I thought it would
be a good idea to go ask
00:37:16.95\00:37:18.87
Mr. Webster, Noah Webster.
00:37:18.90\00:37:22.63
Here it is, a relationship
00:37:22.66\00:37:27.36
"A close emotional connection
00:37:27.39\00:37:30.92
between two persons".
00:37:30.95\00:37:34.73
That easily
memorized, doesn't it.
00:37:34.76\00:37:36.38
Let's say that together "
00:37:36.41\00:37:37.82
A close emotional connection
00:37:37.85\00:37:41.60
between two persons".
00:37:41.63\00:37:44.43
Now notice
this, it does not say,
00:37:44.46\00:37:47.05
a close emotional connection
00:37:47.08\00:37:48.60
between a person
and a set of beliefs.
00:37:48.63\00:37:50.65
A relationship is by
definition is a close emotional
00:37:53.00\00:37:56.29
connection between two, what?
00:37:56.32\00:37:59.23
Two persons. Two people.
00:37:59.26\00:38:05.68
Now I don't want to
be laid with the point,
00:38:05.71\00:38:08.36
but friends this
must be emphasized,
00:38:08.39\00:38:11.74
because many of
us have surplanted
00:38:11.77\00:38:14.88
the actual Jesus
with truths and things
00:38:14.91\00:38:18.79
that are correct about Jesus.
00:38:18.82\00:38:23.02
It's the functional
equivalent of taking
00:38:23.05\00:38:24.46
that list of all of
those things that are true
00:38:24.49\00:38:26.36
about your wife and
calling that your wife.
00:38:26.39\00:38:30.20
Here you would have substituted
beliefs about your wife,
00:38:30.23\00:38:32.94
true statements about your wife,
00:38:32.97\00:38:34.54
doctrines if you will
00:38:34.57\00:38:35.94
about your wife, for your wife
00:38:35.97\00:38:37.53
In the pop word
today and the word
00:38:42.86\00:38:44.23
that is becoming increasingly
popular in our modern
00:38:44.26\00:38:46.75
Adventist vernacular
is this word relationship.
00:38:46.78\00:38:54.21
And many of us have
been urged by our pastors,
00:38:54.24\00:38:56.32
and urged by our
spiritual mentors,
00:38:56.35\00:38:58.37
and urged by our church leaders
00:38:58.40\00:38:59.99
to have a personal,
you finish it for me.
00:39:00.02\00:39:02.17
A personal relationship,
but some of us are struggling
00:39:02.20\00:39:05.67
with this and
the reason I believe
00:39:05.70\00:39:08.62
that some of us
are struggling is that
00:39:08.65\00:39:10.39
we're trying to
have a relationship
00:39:10.42\00:39:11.79
with a set of beliefs.
00:39:11.82\00:39:14.39
I'm going to share
with you right now,
00:39:19.41\00:39:20.78
the three most powerful
words in the entire universe.
00:39:20.81\00:39:25.14
You search the universe over
00:39:25.17\00:39:26.70
and you will
not find three words
00:39:26.73\00:39:29.44
that are more powerful
than these three words.
00:39:29.47\00:39:33.95
Jesus is alive. Amen!
00:39:33.98\00:39:39.42
We serve a living Savior.
00:39:42.33\00:39:46.20
A good friend of mine, a
pastor in this conference,
00:39:46.23\00:39:48.29
a man who I love
dearly and have great respect
00:39:48.32\00:39:50.67
for a young man by the
name of Jason Seiber was leading
00:39:50.70\00:39:54.09
his debauched, crazy life there
at Humboldt State University.
00:39:54.12\00:39:57.77
And Jason Seiber
went to hear some Baptist
00:39:57.80\00:40:01.18
preacher preach, and
that Baptist preacher
00:40:01.21\00:40:03.35
said a whole bunch of words,
00:40:03.38\00:40:04.75
Jason didn't remember any of it,
00:40:04.78\00:40:06.15
but he said three words
and these three words ignited
00:40:06.18\00:40:09.36
a revolution that took
place in that young man's mind.
00:40:09.39\00:40:12.17
And those three words
were, "Jesus is alive."
00:40:12.20\00:40:17.60
And this was like a
lightning strike to Jason.
00:40:17.63\00:40:19.68
It was like, wait a minute,
00:40:19.71\00:40:22.17
religion is more than
just a set of beliefs.
00:40:22.20\00:40:26.00
Religion is more than
00:40:26.03\00:40:27.40
a cacophony of
creeds and doctrines.
00:40:27.43\00:40:29.49
Religion is about a person.
00:40:29.52\00:40:32.60
A man who actually lived,
00:40:32.63\00:40:34.00
a man who actually
died and a man who actually,
00:40:34.03\00:40:36.63
praise God, rose from the dead.
00:40:36.66\00:40:39.19
Jesus is alive.
00:40:39.22\00:40:44.00
And Mr. Webster says,
00:40:44.03\00:40:45.40
a relationship
is a close emotional
00:40:45.43\00:40:47.92
connection between two,
00:40:47.95\00:40:50.41
you finish it
for me, two persons.
00:40:50.44\00:40:55.29
If we are struggling
to have a relationship,
00:40:55.32\00:40:57.26
maybe it's
because we have supplanted
00:40:57.29\00:40:59.53
the substance with the shadow.
00:40:59.56\00:41:01.74
We have
supplanted the actual Jesus
00:41:01.77\00:41:04.98
with truths about Jesus.
00:41:05.01\00:41:08.35
And we are struggling and
trying to have a relationship
00:41:08.38\00:41:11.95
with a set of beliefs and
not with an actual living,
00:41:11.98\00:41:16.79
breathing, dynamic person.
00:41:16.82\00:41:20.09
Go with me in your
Bible to Mark Chapter 1,
00:41:26.71\00:41:31.23
Mark what chapter, everyone?
00:41:31.26\00:41:32.63
One. Mark Chapter 1.
00:41:32.66\00:41:35.70
Here we find the
remarkable comment,
00:41:35.73\00:41:39.97
remarkable element.
00:41:40.00\00:41:43.51
Just a little one
verse statement here
00:41:43.54\00:41:47.44
that is absolutely remarkable.
00:41:47.47\00:41:49.73
Mark 1:35. The Bible says,
00:41:49.76\00:41:55.52
"Now in the
morning, having risen
00:41:55.55\00:41:58.67
a long while
before daylight, Jesus,
00:41:58.70\00:42:01.74
He, went out and
departed to a solitary place
00:42:01.77\00:42:05.66
and there he
prayed." Fascinating.
00:42:05.69\00:42:09.91
Jesus woke up and
He went into a place
00:42:12.57\00:42:14.96
where He could be alone.
00:42:14.99\00:42:17.29
Why did He go there?
Why does the scripture say
00:42:17.32\00:42:19.04
He went there? To pray.
00:42:19.07\00:42:22.06
Finish this for me if you can.
00:42:22.09\00:42:24.32
Prayer is the
opening of the heart
00:42:24.35\00:42:27.08
to God as to a
what? As to a friend.
00:42:27.11\00:42:30.93
Not to a set of beliefs.
00:42:30.96\00:42:32.76
Just try talking
to your Bible someday.
00:42:34.40\00:42:37.96
Just try talking
to--open up the wonderful book
00:42:37.99\00:42:41.87
that I love so much,
Seventh-day Adventist beliefs,
00:42:41.90\00:42:44.44
27 fundamental
beliefs, just open that thing up
00:42:44.47\00:42:46.28
and try having a conversation.
00:42:46.31\00:42:47.68
Just go ahead.
00:42:47.71\00:42:49.11
Your wife will think
you have lost your mind.
00:42:49.14\00:42:53.28
And yet, many of us are trying
00:42:53.31\00:42:54.68
to do that very thing.
00:42:54.71\00:42:57.27
We are seeking to
have a relationship
00:42:57.30\00:42:58.71
with a set of beliefs.
00:42:58.74\00:43:00.60
Jesus woke up in the morning
00:43:00.63\00:43:02.00
not to go back over in wrote,
00:43:02.03\00:43:03.87
everything that He believed,
00:43:03.90\00:43:05.27
not to go cogitate
upon all the things
00:43:05.30\00:43:07.24
that He knew is true.
00:43:07.27\00:43:08.64
Jesus woke up in the morning
00:43:08.67\00:43:10.04
to spend actual time
with an actual person,
00:43:10.07\00:43:12.82
His Father. Amen.
00:43:12.85\00:43:16.06
And Jesus knew that,
if He was going to be
00:43:16.09\00:43:17.84
strengthened for the day
to overcome the temptations,
00:43:17.87\00:43:20.31
the difficulties
and the vicissitudes
00:43:20.34\00:43:21.88
of the Messianic
life, He had to have
00:43:21.91\00:43:24.39
that quality time
with His Father. Amen.
00:43:24.42\00:43:29.72
Now I tell you,
this quality time
00:43:29.75\00:43:31.27
is a tricky one, isn't it?
00:43:31.30\00:43:35.08
I've been married
now for five years,
00:43:35.11\00:43:36.51
five happy years. I'm
glad to announce that,
00:43:36.54\00:43:40.53
five happy years that
get better every year.
00:43:40.56\00:43:42.97
But let me tell you,
I had a real struggle
00:43:43.00\00:43:45.28
the first two
years of my marriage,
00:43:45.31\00:43:47.50
and my wife would
say the strangest things.
00:43:47.53\00:43:52.28
She would say
things like this, Sweetie,
00:43:52.31\00:43:57.19
we don't spend
much time together,
00:43:57.22\00:44:00.04
I'd say what, I was incredulous.
00:44:00.07\00:44:03.84
What do you mean, we
don't spend much time together.
00:44:03.87\00:44:05.58
We ate together
just this morning.
00:44:05.61\00:44:09.35
We slept together last night.
00:44:09.38\00:44:12.30
We're going to eat
together again tonight.
00:44:12.33\00:44:13.70
She said, no you
don't understand.
00:44:13.73\00:44:15.10
I want quality
time, quality time.
00:44:15.13\00:44:20.08
Have you men, has this men,
00:44:20.11\00:44:21.48
have any of you
had this two phrase?
00:44:21.51\00:44:23.13
Has this been introduced
into your marital vernacular,
00:44:23.16\00:44:25.55
yes or no? Quality time.
00:44:25.58\00:44:29.62
All right, quality
time and so she was trying
00:44:29.65\00:44:32.24
to communicate to me this
is quality time and this isn't.
00:44:32.27\00:44:34.84
And after about five years now,
00:44:34.87\00:44:36.32
I'm starting to get the
feel for what quality time is?
00:44:36.35\00:44:38.92
I don't quite have it, though,
00:44:38.95\00:44:40.32
because this is a true story.
00:44:40.35\00:44:41.87
I would sometimes say to
my wife when we are right
00:44:41.90\00:44:43.63
in the middle of an
activity, we're doing something,
00:44:43.66\00:44:45.36
we've gone out to do
something for the day,
00:44:45.39\00:44:46.82
I'll just lean over
to her and I'll say now,
00:44:46.85\00:44:48.62
now sweetie, you can ask her,
she'll tell you this is true.
00:44:48.65\00:44:50.46
I'll say now,
sweetie, is this quality time?
00:44:50.49\00:44:53.23
And she'll say yeah,
this is quality time.
00:44:54.87\00:44:56.24
I'll say, yeah, okay, good.
00:44:56.27\00:44:57.64
I just wanted to be sure
because there have been times
00:44:57.67\00:45:00.15
where were
spending what I thought was
00:45:00.18\00:45:01.67
quality time and
then the day was done
00:45:01.70\00:45:03.76
and I'd say you know,
00:45:03.79\00:45:05.16
I've got to go
away for a day or two,
00:45:05.19\00:45:06.56
and she'd say we're
not spending anytime.
00:45:06.59\00:45:07.96
What are you talking of?
We just spent time yesterday,
00:45:07.99\00:45:09.36
but that wasn't quality time.
00:45:09.39\00:45:10.76
That wasn't quality time.
00:45:10.79\00:45:12.51
I'm starting to get it, I mean,
00:45:12.54\00:45:13.91
slowly I mean
as dense as can be,
00:45:13.94\00:45:15.86
but I'm starting to get
this quality time thing now.
00:45:15.89\00:45:19.46
And quality time,
are you ready for this?
00:45:19.49\00:45:22.65
Quality time is
time spent I can say it
00:45:22.68\00:45:25.82
in one word "Time
spent undistracted".
00:45:25.85\00:45:31.83
Time spent, what did I say?
Undistracted and I tell you,
00:45:31.86\00:45:34.86
you want to talk
about an epiphany.
00:45:34.89\00:45:36.52
I had a eurekan
moment with my wife
00:45:36.55\00:45:38.65
about three years ago.
00:45:38.68\00:45:41.64
I had been busy running this way
00:45:41.67\00:45:43.04
and that way and trying
00:45:43.07\00:45:44.44
to get you
know, everything done.
00:45:44.47\00:45:45.84
Some of us think
that if we're not doing
00:45:45.87\00:45:47.24
everything in the world,
that the world is just going
00:45:47.27\00:45:48.79
to fall apart and I
fell victim to that,
00:45:48.82\00:45:51.36
I fell victim to that.
00:45:51.39\00:45:53.10
Let me just pause
here for a moment,
00:45:53.13\00:45:54.50
let me give you a parenthetical
statement I know your busy.
00:45:54.53\00:45:58.50
If you are a
typical man and you have
00:45:58.53\00:46:00.25
an ounce of ambition in you,
00:46:00.28\00:46:02.71
you're a busy person, okay.
00:46:02.74\00:46:05.97
Now this is a
parenthetical statement,
00:46:06.00\00:46:08.08
you don't have to
pay any extra for this.
00:46:08.11\00:46:13.61
You are replaceable
in your place of work.
00:46:13.64\00:46:21.55
You might think
that if you don't do
00:46:21.58\00:46:24.56
the job that God
has called you to do,
00:46:24.59\00:46:26.28
and your line of work that
00:46:26.31\00:46:27.68
the whole thing
is gonna fall apart,
00:46:27.71\00:46:30.13
and crash and burn. Not true.
00:46:30.16\00:46:32.60
You are totally
replaceable, even you.
00:46:32.63\00:46:36.71
In your line of
work, you might be
00:46:36.74\00:46:38.11
sitting here today
as a pastor saying no,
00:46:38.14\00:46:39.51
he's talking about
all the no, no, no.
00:46:39.54\00:46:41.18
Even as a pastor
if you suddenly die
00:46:41.21\00:46:43.36
in a car accident tomorrow,
00:46:43.39\00:46:44.76
the conference wouldn't go,
00:46:44.79\00:46:46.16
oh, know what happened
to Pastor Keith Phillips
00:46:46.19\00:46:47.56
and the whole thing
falls in upon himself,
00:46:47.59\00:46:49.22
they will just
hire somebody else.
00:46:49.25\00:46:51.88
Where are you, Keith?
00:46:51.91\00:46:53.82
Yeah, I'm sorry
Keith, I'm sorry, brother.
00:46:53.85\00:46:55.97
It's just not. Even
Pastor Pelendee there.
00:46:56.00\00:46:58.53
Even if Pastor, if
something happened to him,
00:46:58.56\00:47:00.63
you know, the whole
thing wouldn't fall in,
00:47:00.66\00:47:02.03
he's replaceable. Amen.
00:47:02.06\00:47:05.59
Pastor Asscherick
is every one of you
00:47:05.62\00:47:07.47
whether in a pastoral
setting or in your work setting,
00:47:07.50\00:47:09.94
you are replaceable.
00:47:09.97\00:47:11.76
You are, you're not
going to like this very much.
00:47:11.79\00:47:13.57
You're dispensable
in your place of work.
00:47:13.60\00:47:18.61
But you want to know what?
00:47:18.64\00:47:22.79
You are the only father
your children will ever have.
00:47:22.82\00:47:29.64
You are
indispensable in your home.
00:47:29.67\00:47:33.95
If you die, or if you
don't go home one day,
00:47:33.98\00:47:39.26
things will never be the same
00:47:39.29\00:47:40.66
for your
children or for your wife.
00:47:40.69\00:47:44.98
Now let's think about that
as we prioritize ourselves.
00:47:45.01\00:47:49.55
In your sphere of
work, you are totally,
00:47:49.58\00:47:52.43
totally, totally dispensable,
00:47:52.46\00:47:54.27
but in your home
you are indispensable.
00:47:54.30\00:47:56.33
And maybe this means cutting
00:47:59.72\00:48:02.80
back on some of those hours.
00:48:02.83\00:48:05.55
Oh, but you say
Pastor Asscherick
00:48:05.58\00:48:06.95
you are all washed up.
00:48:06.98\00:48:08.35
You don't know my
financial situation.
00:48:08.38\00:48:09.75
Maybe you've not taken a look
00:48:09.78\00:48:11.15
at the Michigan economy lately.
00:48:11.18\00:48:12.55
You have got to be kidding me.
00:48:12.58\00:48:13.95
Friends, listen to me, you're
not gonna like this one bit
00:48:13.98\00:48:15.36
but maybe friends,
just maybe what we,
00:48:15.39\00:48:17.45
what we mean when we say,
00:48:17.48\00:48:18.85
look you don't
understand me I'm just busy
00:48:18.88\00:48:20.90
I have to work this much.
00:48:20.93\00:48:22.30
Maybe what we
really mean is in order
00:48:22.33\00:48:24.50
for me to maintain
this standard of living,
00:48:24.53\00:48:27.64
I have to work this much.
00:48:27.67\00:48:30.03
Are you hearing me?
00:48:31.75\00:48:33.36
Maybe what we're
really saying is,
00:48:33.39\00:48:34.76
in order what me
to have this new SUV,
00:48:34.79\00:48:37.10
I've got to work this much.
00:48:37.13\00:48:40.01
But I'm telling you something,
00:48:40.04\00:48:41.80
you are
indispensable in your home.
00:48:41.83\00:48:44.35
If you're, like I told you
in the beginning of this thing,
00:48:44.38\00:48:46.19
there is not enough
time to get it all done.
00:48:46.22\00:48:49.17
You settle that in
your mind, right now.
00:48:49.20\00:48:50.69
You cannot keep your boss
as happy as he would like to be
00:48:50.72\00:48:52.99
and neither can
you keep your family
00:48:53.02\00:48:54.49
as happy as they'd like to be.
00:48:54.52\00:48:55.89
And so you're gonna
have to cheat somewhere.
00:48:55.92\00:48:59.49
You know, I've
never yethad my wife
00:48:59.52\00:49:01.03
come to me and
say, "Sweetie, you know,
00:49:01.06\00:49:02.76
I think you've been spending too
much time with the kids and I".
00:49:02.79\00:49:05.69
Why don't you go to
work and get some work done?
00:49:05.72\00:49:09.94
Anybody here ever
had that experience?
00:49:09.97\00:49:12.45
I've not yet had
my boss come to me.
00:49:12.48\00:49:14.10
Jason never called
me up and said you know,
00:49:14.13\00:49:17.14
you've been working too hard.
00:49:17.17\00:49:19.98
Take a few months off, go
spend sometime with your family,
00:49:20.01\00:49:22.69
come on get out of the office.
00:49:22.72\00:49:24.09
It's not gonna happen,
00:49:24.12\00:49:25.86
it's not gonna happen
with your boss, either.
00:49:25.89\00:49:27.66
There is not enough time
for you to get everything done
00:49:27.69\00:49:29.60
that you need to get done and
so you're going cheat somebody.
00:49:29.63\00:49:32.20
You follow me,
you're going to do,
00:49:32.23\00:49:34.52
you settle that in
your mind, right now.
00:49:34.55\00:49:35.92
If you continue to
proceed on the premise,
00:49:35.95\00:49:37.54
there isn't time
enough to get it all done,
00:49:37.57\00:49:38.94
I've just got to buckle
down and do it right. Forget it.
00:49:38.97\00:49:42.11
There is not enough
time to get it all done.
00:49:42.14\00:49:43.85
You're going to cheat somebody.
00:49:43.88\00:49:45.36
You'll either your
family or you'll cheat
00:49:45.39\00:49:47.31
your Savior or
you'll cheat your work.
00:49:47.34\00:49:49.05
And if you're like most men
you are not cheating your family
00:49:49.08\00:49:52.05
and you know
what you are cheating?
00:49:52.08\00:49:53.62
You are cheating your family
00:49:53.65\00:49:55.02
and you're not
cheating your work,
00:49:55.05\00:49:56.42
if you are like most men.
00:49:56.45\00:49:58.65
But friends, this is remarkable
00:49:58.68\00:50:00.05
because in your place of work,
00:50:00.08\00:50:01.45
you are totally dispensable.
00:50:01.48\00:50:05.74
But in your home you
are totally indispensable.
00:50:05.77\00:50:10.24
I told you this, this is
not what this seminar is about,
00:50:10.27\00:50:12.12
so close
parenthesis you don't have
00:50:12.15\00:50:13.75
to pay any extra for that.
00:50:13.78\00:50:17.25
This is what I learnt
friends, we have an epiphany.
00:50:17.28\00:50:20.92
We had a eurekan
moment in my marriage.
00:50:20.95\00:50:23.11
And my wife said
to me, "Sweetheart,
00:50:23.14\00:50:25.98
if you would just come
home, even when you're busy".
00:50:26.01\00:50:27.74
You get busy. Hey,
I can appreciate that.
00:50:27.77\00:50:29.35
She understands that.
00:50:29.38\00:50:30.91
She's a very
sensitive, understanding wife.
00:50:30.94\00:50:32.31
She said to me,
"If you can give me",
00:50:32.34\00:50:34.87
listen to this, when
I couldn't believe it,
00:50:34.90\00:50:36.27
I thought, tune in I
didn't hear that correctly.
00:50:36.30\00:50:41.97
She said, "If you
can give me 15 minutes,
00:50:42.00\00:50:44.81
just you and I on
the couch everyday,
00:50:44.84\00:50:46.96
things will be just fine".
00:50:46.99\00:50:49.69
I thought she was kidding.
00:50:49.72\00:50:52.32
You know, what I've
discovered she wasn't kidding.
00:50:52.35\00:50:55.99
When things get busy, I mean,
00:50:56.02\00:50:58.34
when things get
really out of hand,
00:50:58.37\00:50:59.74
and I travel
this week to Norway,
00:50:59.77\00:51:01.69
and then I travel
this week to this place,
00:51:01.72\00:51:03.18
and I've got to
be going this week,
00:51:03.21\00:51:04.58
and then I've
got the ARISE class,
00:51:04.61\00:51:05.98
and I've got to
teach, and sometimes life
00:51:06.01\00:51:07.38
is like that and I admit that.
00:51:07.41\00:51:09.55
I have learned that if I
just sit down on the couch,
00:51:09.58\00:51:11.54
I come home sit on the couch,
00:51:11.57\00:51:13.15
and Landon's
trying to jump upon my lap
00:51:13.18\00:51:14.82
and Jabel is learning to talk,
00:51:14.85\00:51:16.22
papa, papa,
papa, open it, open it.
00:51:16.25\00:51:18.32
Fix it, papa, papa.
00:51:18.35\00:51:19.72
And I just put them aside
00:51:19.75\00:51:21.18
and I just looked
longingly into Violet's eyes
00:51:21.21\00:51:23.64
and I say how was
your day, sweetie?
00:51:23.67\00:51:27.00
Oh, tell me, you
will go great lengths,
00:51:27.03\00:51:31.53
great distances,
and she's talking
00:51:31.56\00:51:33.66
and I'm talking and I'm giving
her what kind of attention?
00:51:33.69\00:51:36.06
What was that word
I said? Undistracted.
00:51:36.09\00:51:38.77
Fifteen minutes and you
know, what's remarkable?
00:51:38.80\00:51:40.90
I'm sitting there thinking she's
getting 15 minutes of my time,
00:51:40.93\00:51:43.29
but you know,
what usually happens,
00:51:43.32\00:51:44.86
it turns out to be
like 20 minutes, 30 minutes,
00:51:44.89\00:51:47.47
45 minutes and I remember again
00:51:47.50\00:51:49.31
what it was that so
attracted me to her,
00:51:49.34\00:51:51.48
it's just her and I
on, we're just sharing
00:51:51.51\00:51:53.25
and I tell you
friends that's quality time.
00:51:53.28\00:52:00.74
I'm not suggesting
that you have to wake up
00:52:00.77\00:52:02.60
in the morning two
hours early to spend some
00:52:02.63\00:52:04.51
sort of monastic existence
pouring over the scriptures,
00:52:04.54\00:52:08.96
flagellating
yourself and spending
00:52:08.99\00:52:10.51
so many hours on your knees,
00:52:10.54\00:52:11.91
that you knees
bulge out like camels.
00:52:11.94\00:52:17.18
If I can survive,
now I can't go long term
00:52:17.21\00:52:19.81
with my wife
for 15 minutes a day
00:52:19.84\00:52:21.37
and you can't do that,
but I can pull that off
00:52:21.40\00:52:22.92
for a week or even
two in tight situations.
00:52:22.95\00:52:25.44
Friends, you don't
need long periods of time
00:52:25.47\00:52:28.67
to have a meaningful
relationship with Jesus.
00:52:28.70\00:52:32.25
You just have to have
undistracted quality time.
00:52:32.28\00:52:35.49
Amen. So you're
going to get discouraged
00:52:39.68\00:52:41.12
and think that
I'm going to tell you
00:52:41.15\00:52:42.52
that if you don't get up
at 5 o'clock in the morning
00:52:42.55\00:52:43.92
you're not a Christian.
I'm gonna say no such thing
00:52:43.95\00:52:45.32
What I'm gonna say
is? Whatever time it is,
00:52:45.35\00:52:47.57
you have to get up just
set that alarm for 15 minutes
00:52:47.60\00:52:50.91
earlier and spend that
quality undistracted time
00:52:50.94\00:52:54.14
with a person in a relationship.
00:52:54.17\00:52:57.60
Quickly Exodus
16, Exodus Chapter
00:53:01.22\00:53:05.29
what everyone? Sixteen.
00:53:05.32\00:53:10.74
The bread was
raining from heaven
00:53:10.77\00:53:13.34
and the children
of Israel came out
00:53:13.37\00:53:14.74
one day and all of this
stuff was on the ground,
00:53:14.77\00:53:18.45
this stuff
everywhere on the ground.
00:53:18.48\00:53:19.86
They've never seen
anything like that before,
00:53:19.89\00:53:21.59
you know, what they said,
00:53:21.62\00:53:23.66
they said what is it?
00:53:23.69\00:53:26.37
The word "manna"
means what is it?
00:53:26.40\00:53:30.52
They came out,
they've never seen anything
00:53:30.55\00:53:31.92
like that before and
they said what is it.
00:53:31.95\00:53:33.32
And they went out and they
started to gather it and ate it.
00:53:33.35\00:53:35.21
What is it? And so the children
00:53:35.24\00:53:38.35
of Israel for 40 years
they ate, what is it? Paddy.
00:53:38.38\00:53:40.62
What is it? Loaf and all,
00:53:40.65\00:53:42.11
you do the same at potluck.
00:53:42.14\00:53:43.61
Amen. Amen. I mean,
00:53:43.64\00:53:47.73
you know how it is at
some Adventist potlucks,
00:53:47.76\00:53:49.65
you just pile it on
and hope for the best
00:53:49.68\00:53:51.20
'cause you're just saying,
what is it? It doesn't matter.
00:53:51.23\00:53:52.73
Put it on there, right.
00:53:52.76\00:53:54.53
This is what these guys,
but now listen to this John 6,
00:53:54.56\00:53:57.76
Jesus says, "I am
the bread of life",
00:53:57.79\00:54:00.38
your fathers ate bread in
the wilderness and are dead.
00:54:00.41\00:54:05.71
What Jesus was saying there is?
00:54:05.74\00:54:07.11
What happened in
Exodus 16 beginning there
00:54:07.14\00:54:09.16
and extending all the
way through those 40 years
00:54:09.19\00:54:10.81
pointed forward to me?
00:54:10.84\00:54:13.23
Pointed forward
to what everyone?
00:54:13.26\00:54:15.22
Pointed forward
to what everyone?
00:54:15.25\00:54:16.82
Jesus, Jesus was the bread
of life that came from heaven.
00:54:16.85\00:54:19.24
Jesus was the bread of
life that nourished the soul.
00:54:19.27\00:54:21.27
Now look at Exodus
16: 21, look at verse 21,
00:54:21.30\00:54:26.17
"so they gathered it
every morning" the what is it?
00:54:26.20\00:54:29.83
"Every man
according to his need,
00:54:29.86\00:54:33.77
every man according to his need,
00:54:33.80\00:54:35.59
and when the sun became hot"
00:54:35.62\00:54:37.79
it what? "It melted".
00:54:37.82\00:54:41.56
If you waited to long to go out
00:54:41.59\00:54:43.77
and gather it, it was gone.
00:54:43.80\00:54:47.21
Now friends make
the obvious application,
00:54:47.24\00:54:50.56
if Jesus is the bread of
life and the Bible says here
00:54:50.59\00:54:54.05
that they needed to
gather it in the morning
00:54:54.08\00:54:55.45
because if they waited till
later in the day, it was gone.
00:54:55.48\00:54:58.05
The day had melted it away,
00:54:58.08\00:54:59.62
so, too in any
relationship with Jesus.
00:54:59.65\00:55:02.81
It is harder to spend
time, meaningful time with Jesus
00:55:02.84\00:55:05.79
at 11 A.M than it is
at 7 A.M. You follow that.
00:55:05.82\00:55:11.03
Just as it would melt away,
00:55:11.06\00:55:12.43
so, too your phone
starts ringing and your kids
00:55:12.46\00:55:14.75
are screaming and
you got to take this,
00:55:14.78\00:55:16.28
I mean, friends, your
day is up and rolling.
00:55:16.31\00:55:18.21
I don't know about
your day but my day
00:55:18.24\00:55:19.61
is in full swing
between 8:00 and 8:30.
00:55:19.64\00:55:21.53
That's when the cell
phone is going ballistic
00:55:21.56\00:55:23.51
but before 8:00, that's
where I've got to get my time.
00:55:23.54\00:55:27.63
I need to talk with
Jesus, I have to sit down
00:55:27.66\00:55:29.73
and have a relationship a
close emotional connection
00:55:29.76\00:55:32.42
between two persons with Jesus.
00:55:32.45\00:55:34.74
Friends, we know religion
is not a set of beliefs.
00:55:38.93\00:55:43.21
We know that religion is not
a set of doctrinal propositions.
00:55:43.24\00:55:47.15
All of those
things are very important
00:55:47.18\00:55:48.78
but real religion is a
relationship with a person.
00:55:48.81\00:55:56.22
And that person is
Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
00:55:56.25\00:55:59.47