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Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt

James Merritt - The Empty Tomb

April 20, 2025 | S25:E25

James Merritt - The Empty Tomb
Touching Lives is the international broadcast ministry of Dr. James Merritt.
#Salvation #Faith #Forgiveness #Christianity #Religion #Jesus #inActive #EternalLife #Redemption #Crucifixion #BloodofJesus #LifeAfterDeath #JamesMerritt #Mark16

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Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt | James Merritt - The Empty Tomb | April 20, 2025
  • Male announcer: welcome to the international broadcast ministry
  • 00:00:05.788 --> 00:00:08.157
  • Of "touching lives" with dr. james merritt.
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  • Here at "touching lives," our mission is to touch the lives of
  • 00:00:10.726 --> 00:00:13.729
  • The lost and enrich the faith of the found.
  • 00:00:13.829 --> 00:00:14.563
  • And now, here is pastor, author and speaker, dr. james merritt.
  • 00:00:16.565 --> 00:00:23.138
  • James merritt: there are 3 days out of all the other 365 days of
  • 00:00:27.376 --> 00:00:29.778
  • The year that gives christianity center stage around the world.
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  • One is christmas day, one is good friday, and one is easter.
  • 00:00:33.582 --> 00:00:41.523
  • Christmas day points to a cradle.
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  • Good friday points to a cross.
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  • Easter sunday points to a cave.
  • 00:00:50.332 --> 00:00:54.970
  • But of those 3 days, the only day that makes the other 2 days
  • 00:00:54.970 --> 00:00:58.607
  • Special is the 3rd day.
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  • Because without the 3rd day, the other 2 days are meaningless
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  • And inconsequential.
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  • Without the 3rd day, we don't need to celebrate the first day
  • 00:01:06.949 --> 00:01:10.786
  • Or the second day.
  • 00:01:10.786 --> 00:01:13.388
  • And so, this is the day that's the most important, easter
  • 00:01:13.388 --> 00:01:16.925
  • Sunday and let me just explain to you why.
  • 00:01:16.925 --> 00:01:19.761
  • The world has over 4000 religions.
  • 00:01:19.761 --> 00:01:24.633
  • Of those 4000, all except four of them are built on some type
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  • Of philosophy.
  • 00:01:29.471 --> 00:01:31.507
  • But the other four are built on a singular personality.
  • 00:01:31.507 --> 00:01:35.611
  • So, for example, the oldest religious faith is judaism.
  • 00:01:35.611 --> 00:01:39.948
  • It was founded on abraham, even to this day, jews call abraham,
  • 00:01:39.948 --> 00:01:44.553
  • Father abraham.
  • 00:01:44.553 --> 00:01:46.688
  • Well, in 1500 bc, abraham died, the bible says, at a ripe
  • 00:01:46.688 --> 00:01:50.425
  • Old age.
  • 00:01:50.425 --> 00:01:52.461
  • But his body is still dead.
  • 00:01:52.461 --> 00:01:54.963
  • Buddhism was founded by buddha.
  • 00:01:54.963 --> 00:01:59.001
  • An ancient buddhist piece of literature described his death
  • 00:01:59.001 --> 00:02:01.470
  • This way, and i quote, "when buddha died, it was with that
  • 00:02:01.470 --> 00:02:04.273
  • Utter passing away in which nothing whatever
  • 00:02:04.273 --> 00:02:06.341
  • Remains behind."
  • 00:02:06.341 --> 00:02:07.709
  • In other words, buddha died, his body is still dead.
  • 00:02:07.709 --> 00:02:12.314
  • Islam was founded on the prophet mohammed in 571 ad.
  • 00:02:12.314 --> 00:02:16.585
  • He died in 632 ad at the age of 61.
  • 00:02:16.585 --> 00:02:19.188
  • You can go to medina today, his tomb is still visited by
  • 00:02:19.188 --> 00:02:22.257
  • Thousands of devout muslims.
  • 00:02:22.257 --> 00:02:24.459
  • But there's one thing they know, he's died, his body is
  • 00:02:24.459 --> 00:02:28.630
  • Still dead.
  • 00:02:28.630 --> 00:02:32.100
  • But the founder of christianity is jesus christ.
  • 00:02:32.100 --> 00:02:35.537
  • And christians believe he is the one human being who did one
  • 00:02:35.537 --> 00:02:39.575
  • Thing that no other human being before him had ever done
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  • And no other human being is done after him.
  • 00:02:42.878 --> 00:02:45.113
  • After he died we believe he was raised from the dead.
  • 00:02:45.113 --> 00:02:49.451
  • He was not resuscitated.
  • 00:02:49.451 --> 00:02:51.019
  • He didn't have a--one of these people talked these, you know,
  • 00:02:51.019 --> 00:02:53.989
  • Out of body experiences.
  • 00:02:53.989 --> 00:02:56.358
  • He didn't die temporarily, come back in the same body only to
  • 00:02:56.358 --> 00:02:59.294
  • Die again.
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  • The bible is very clear, and i believe with all of my heart it
  • 00:03:00.629 --> 00:03:03.365
  • Was different.
  • 00:03:03.365 --> 00:03:05.000
  • Because he died in a natural body, but he was raised in a
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  • Supernatural body.
  • 00:03:09.671 --> 00:03:11.406
  • He died in a temporal body, but he was raised in an
  • 00:03:11.406 --> 00:03:15.010
  • Eternal body.
  • 00:03:15.010 --> 00:03:16.345
  • As a matter of fact, one of the unique aspects of christianity
  • 00:03:16.345 --> 00:03:18.580
  • Compared to every other faith and religious belief in the
  • 00:03:18.580 --> 00:03:21.016
  • World, is that our faith actually traces our beginning
  • 00:03:21.016 --> 00:03:24.953
  • And our origin to one particular event, at one particular moment,
  • 00:03:24.953 --> 00:03:29.091
  • On one particular day in history.
  • 00:03:29.091 --> 00:03:31.426
  • That is not true of judaism, that is not true of buddhism,
  • 00:03:31.426 --> 00:03:33.929
  • That's not true of islam, that is not true of hinduism.
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  • That is not true of any other religion in the world.
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  • We are the only religion that religion that says--we're really
  • 00:03:39.434 --> 00:03:42.271
  • Not a religion.
  • 00:03:42.271 --> 00:03:43.639
  • We're the only faith that says, "we are here because of one
  • 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:48.076
  • Event, at one moment, in one day in history."
  • 00:03:48.076 --> 00:03:53.849
  • Well what is that event?
  • 00:03:53.849 --> 00:03:55.884
  • Well, i want you to take god's word this morning and i want you
  • 00:03:55.884 --> 00:03:58.487
  • To turn to the shortest gospel in the bible, matthew, mark,
  • 00:03:58.487 --> 00:04:03.025
  • Luke, and john.
  • 00:04:03.025 --> 00:04:04.393
  • Matthew, mark, marks right after matthew.
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  • So, i want you to take your bibles.
  • 00:04:05.961 --> 00:04:07.296
  • Whatever you are looking at.
  • 00:04:07.296 --> 00:04:08.664
  • I want you to turn to mark, chapter 16.
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  • I want us to go back 2000 years ago to a tomb somewhere
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  • In jerusalem.
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  • We're about to read in eight short verses about that first
  • 00:04:14.469 --> 00:04:17.039
  • Easter sunday morning where life would never be the same for some
  • 00:04:17.039 --> 00:04:21.543
  • People that morning.
  • 00:04:21.543 --> 00:04:23.979
  • And the question is, well, what changed?
  • 00:04:23.979 --> 00:04:26.748
  • What happened between saturday night and sunday morning?
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  • Why is it that on saturday night there was no church at all but
  • 00:04:31.687 --> 00:04:36.291
  • On sunday morning there was a church that just exploded out of
  • 00:04:36.291 --> 00:04:39.494
  • Nowhere and is still in the world today?
  • 00:04:39.494 --> 00:04:42.297
  • And as a matter of fact, what was it that happened that caused
  • 00:04:42.297 --> 00:04:45.267
  • The spark that lit a fire that still burns in the hearts of two
  • 00:04:45.267 --> 00:04:49.171
  • Billion people around the world?
  • 00:04:49.171 --> 00:04:51.840
  • Where did it start?
  • 00:04:51.840 --> 00:04:54.209
  • Well it all began with an empty tomb.
  • 00:04:54.209 --> 00:04:58.780
  • Now let me just tell you why this is a big deal, why this
  • 00:04:58.780 --> 00:05:01.717
  • Message is so crucial.
  • 00:05:01.717 --> 00:05:03.785
  • There is a lot riding on that empty tomb.
  • 00:05:03.785 --> 00:05:06.988
  • There's a lot riding on it.
  • 00:05:06.988 --> 00:05:08.457
  • I'll give you an illustration.
  • 00:05:08.457 --> 00:05:10.058
  • There was a man that decided to take a vacation with his
  • 00:05:10.058 --> 00:05:12.794
  • Mother-in-law and his wife to the holy land.
  • 00:05:12.794 --> 00:05:15.197
  • Well, unfortunately, while they were over there, the
  • 00:05:15.197 --> 00:05:17.299
  • Mother-in-law died all of a sudden.
  • 00:05:17.299 --> 00:05:19.434
  • So, he took her to an undertaker.
  • 00:05:19.434 --> 00:05:21.470
  • And he said, "hey, can you help me out?"
  • 00:05:21.470 --> 00:05:22.838
  • The undertaker said, "well, i'll tell you."
  • 00:05:22.838 --> 00:05:24.339
  • He said, "you can ship her body back, but that's gonna cost you
  • 00:05:24.339 --> 00:05:27.175
  • About $10,000."
  • 00:05:27.175 --> 00:05:29.077
  • But because we love americans so much, and we appreciate what you
  • 00:05:29.077 --> 00:05:32.214
  • Do for us, i will bury your mother-in-law for $500."
  • 00:05:32.214 --> 00:05:37.486
  • The son-in-law didn't even hesitate.
  • 00:05:37.486 --> 00:05:39.154
  • He said, "no, we'll ship her back."
  • 00:05:39.154 --> 00:05:41.656
  • The undertaker said, "excuse me, i'm sorry, maybe you didn't
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  • Hear me.
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  • It's gonna cost you $10,000 to ship the body back.
  • 00:05:45.293 --> 00:05:48.063
  • I will bury her for $500."
  • 00:05:48.063 --> 00:05:50.599
  • Well, the son-in-law took the undertaker away so his wife
  • 00:05:50.599 --> 00:05:53.301
  • Could not hear what he said.
  • 00:05:53.301 --> 00:05:55.137
  • And he looked at the undertaker and he said, "listen, buddy,
  • 00:05:55.137 --> 00:05:58.006
  • They buried a guy over here 2000 years ago, he came back from
  • 00:05:58.006 --> 00:06:00.876
  • The dead.
  • 00:06:00.876 --> 00:06:02.210
  • I can't take that chance."
  • 00:06:02.210 --> 00:06:04.045
  • Now i believe there's a 100% chance that man came back.
  • 00:06:04.045 --> 00:06:12.988
  • I believe that.
  • 00:06:12.988 --> 00:06:14.356
  • But here's what you gotta decide, can't straddle
  • 00:06:14.356 --> 00:06:16.658
  • The fence.
  • 00:06:16.658 --> 00:06:17.993
  • You can't stay in the middle of the road.
  • 00:06:17.993 --> 00:06:19.361
  • Either what i'm gonna talk about today is fact or it's fiction.
  • 00:06:19.361 --> 00:06:24.633
  • Either it happened or it didn't.
  • 00:06:24.633 --> 00:06:28.136
  • Either jesus died, and he's still dead or jesus died but now
  • 00:06:28.136 --> 00:06:33.175
  • He is alive.
  • 00:06:33.175 --> 00:06:35.076
  • There's a lot riding on that empty tomb because here's what
  • 00:06:35.076 --> 00:06:37.779
  • You're gonna learn today.
  • 00:06:37.779 --> 00:06:39.915
  • Only a tomb that is empty gives us hope for eternity.
  • 00:06:39.915 --> 00:06:46.888
  • So, as we look at this story, i want us to do four quick
  • 00:06:43.552 --> 00:06:49.991
  • Things, ready?
  • 00:06:49.991 --> 00:06:51.359
  • First of all, let's acknowledge the doubt of the resurrection.
  • 00:06:51.359 --> 00:06:55.263
  • Let's just get it out there.
  • 00:06:55.263 --> 00:06:56.631
  • Let's acknowledge the doubt of the resurrection.
  • 00:06:56.631 --> 00:06:58.366
  • Because i told you there are over two billion followers of
  • 00:06:58.366 --> 00:07:01.603
  • Jesus on this planet.
  • 00:07:01.603 --> 00:07:03.271
  • That's the good news.
  • 00:07:03.271 --> 00:07:04.673
  • Here's the bad news.
  • 00:07:04.673 --> 00:07:06.274
  • There are six billion who are not.
  • 00:07:06.274 --> 00:07:09.010
  • There are six billion people who say, "we're not buying it.
  • 00:07:09.010 --> 00:07:12.347
  • We don't believe it, couldn't happen.
  • 00:07:12.347 --> 00:07:14.983
  • Somebody dies, they're dead, that's the end of the story,
  • 00:07:14.983 --> 00:07:16.985
  • Don't need to even bother with me.
  • 00:07:16.985 --> 00:07:18.320
  • I have no time for it.
  • 00:07:18.320 --> 00:07:19.688
  • I have no use for it."
  • 00:07:19.688 --> 00:07:21.323
  • Now, if you're one of those people today and you're a
  • 00:07:21.323 --> 00:07:23.458
  • Doubter, you're not sure, you don't know whether it happened
  • 00:07:23.458 --> 00:07:25.360
  • Or not.
  • 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:26.728
  • I want you to understand i don't want to fuss at you.
  • 00:07:26.728 --> 00:07:28.330
  • I'm not trying to put you down.
  • 00:07:28.330 --> 00:07:29.664
  • As a matter of fact, i wanna encourage you.
  • 00:07:29.664 --> 00:07:31.600
  • It's just natural, it's just normal.
  • 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:34.336
  • Because there was all kinds of doubt going on on that
  • 00:07:34.336 --> 00:07:37.339
  • Sunday morning.
  • 00:07:37.339 --> 00:07:38.940
  • Because it's been a pretty long weekend, let's just go back to
  • 00:07:38.940 --> 00:07:41.109
  • That weekend.
  • 00:07:41.109 --> 00:07:42.444
  • And i mean, it was devastating for some people.
  • 00:07:42.444 --> 00:07:45.547
  • Jesus had been crucified on friday.
  • 00:07:45.547 --> 00:07:48.683
  • But have you ever thought about the fact that he wasn't the only
  • 00:07:48.683 --> 00:07:50.952
  • Thing that died on that friday?
  • 00:07:50.952 --> 00:07:52.988
  • You think about what those disciples had done for 3 years.
  • 00:07:52.988 --> 00:07:57.125
  • They left everything to follow jesus.
  • 00:07:57.125 --> 00:07:59.794
  • They left their family, they left their home, they left their
  • 00:07:59.794 --> 00:08:03.398
  • Work, they left their job, they left their neighbors, they left
  • 00:08:03.398 --> 00:08:07.269
  • Their friends, they left any source of income, they went all
  • 00:08:07.269 --> 00:08:11.239
  • In on jesus.
  • 00:08:11.239 --> 00:08:12.607
  • They put all of their chips on jesus, they bet everything
  • 00:08:12.607 --> 00:08:14.776
  • On jesus.
  • 00:08:14.776 --> 00:08:16.111
  • And for 3 years they kept saying to each other, "he's the guy.
  • 00:08:16.111 --> 00:08:19.414
  • He's the man."
  • 00:08:19.414 --> 00:08:20.849
  • He's the messiah."
  • 00:08:20.849 --> 00:08:22.250
  • He's the coming king."
  • 00:08:22.250 --> 00:08:23.652
  • He's the one we've been waiting for."
  • 00:08:23.652 --> 00:08:25.253
  • I mean, after all, he said to them over and over and over,
  • 00:08:25.253 --> 00:08:28.290
  • "the kingdom of god has come."
  • 00:08:28.290 --> 00:08:29.891
  • They said, "we believe it."
  • 00:08:29.891 --> 00:08:31.626
  • He said, "the kingdom of god is in your midst."
  • 00:08:31.626 --> 00:08:33.628
  • They said, "we believe it."
  • 00:08:33.628 --> 00:08:35.297
  • They could not wait, they got up every morning, "is this the day?
  • 00:08:35.297 --> 00:08:38.800
  • Is this the time?
  • 00:08:38.800 --> 00:08:40.135
  • Will this be the moment when jesus is gonna take over?
  • 00:08:40.135 --> 00:08:43.271
  • We're gonna be the princes and we're gonna be the princes in
  • 00:08:43.271 --> 00:08:46.841
  • This new kingdom."
  • 00:08:46.841 --> 00:08:48.343
  • Although there was just a little bit of a hitch.
  • 00:08:48.343 --> 00:08:52.047
  • He kept telling them over and over and over, "i'm going to die
  • 00:08:52.047 --> 00:08:57.319
  • And i'm going to be raised from the dead."
  • 00:08:57.319 --> 00:08:59.454
  • The problem was, "no, not you.
  • 00:08:59.454 --> 00:09:03.091
  • Messiahs don't die, kings don't die," and they did not
  • 00:09:03.091 --> 00:09:06.528
  • Believe him.
  • 00:09:06.528 --> 00:09:07.896
  • So, not only did his body die that day, but all of their
  • 00:09:07.896 --> 00:09:11.099
  • Hopes, and all of their dreams, and all of their ambitions, and
  • 00:09:11.099 --> 00:09:13.902
  • All of their aspirations, and all of their vision went up on
  • 00:09:13.902 --> 00:09:19.140
  • A cross.
  • 00:09:19.140 --> 00:09:20.842
  • So, the story begins.
  • 00:09:20.842 --> 00:09:24.813
  • "when the sabbath was over, mary magdalene, mary the mother of
  • 00:09:24.813 --> 00:09:27.282
  • James, and salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint
  • 00:09:27.282 --> 00:09:30.485
  • Jesus's body."
  • 00:09:30.485 --> 00:09:33.421
  • Now the end of the sabbath is saturday.
  • 00:09:33.421 --> 00:09:35.123
  • That was saturday night.
  • 00:09:35.123 --> 00:09:37.025
  • Now, you would think based on what jesus said, instead of
  • 00:09:37.025 --> 00:09:40.061
  • Pulling, you know, that they would be excited about sunday
  • 00:09:40.061 --> 00:09:42.864
  • Morning, but here's what's strange.
  • 00:09:42.864 --> 00:09:44.599
  • Instead of pulling an all-nighter, instead of counting
  • 00:09:44.599 --> 00:09:46.868
  • The minutes until sunday morning when they could see--go see the
  • 00:09:46.868 --> 00:09:49.638
  • Risen jesus, what do these women do?
  • 00:09:49.638 --> 00:09:53.341
  • They go to the mall.
  • 00:09:53.341 --> 00:09:55.410
  • They go shopping.
  • 00:09:55.410 --> 00:09:57.012
  • They're going to buy spices.
  • 00:09:57.012 --> 00:09:58.880
  • Why are you going to buy spices?
  • 00:09:58.880 --> 00:10:00.649
  • "well, we're going to anoint the body."
  • 00:10:00.649 --> 00:10:02.517
  • Why are you gonna do that?
  • 00:10:02.517 --> 00:10:03.852
  • Well, back in that day when you buried the body, you wrapped it
  • 00:10:03.852 --> 00:10:06.488
  • Up in cloth.
  • 00:10:06.488 --> 00:10:07.822
  • But then you would go buy spices and you would go buy perfumes,
  • 00:10:07.822 --> 00:10:10.959
  • You would come back and unwrap the body and you would anoint it
  • 00:10:10.959 --> 00:10:13.728
  • With spices, you would anoint it with perfume, because if you
  • 00:10:13.728 --> 00:10:16.831
  • Didn't, the body would begin to stink with the odor of death."
  • 00:10:16.831 --> 00:10:20.769
  • Well, you say, "but why were they doing that even after all
  • 00:10:20.769 --> 00:10:23.638
  • That he told them?"
  • 00:10:23.638 --> 00:10:24.973
  • Here's why, they did not even conceive that the tomb would
  • 00:10:24.973 --> 00:10:28.209
  • Be empty.
  • 00:10:28.209 --> 00:10:29.878
  • Resurrection wasn't even on their radar screen.
  • 00:10:29.878 --> 00:10:32.714
  • Jesus has died, he's graveyard dead, he's gonna stay dead.
  • 00:10:32.714 --> 00:10:36.117
  • And so, these disciples, these women, these men, they were not
  • 00:10:36.117 --> 00:10:39.320
  • Filled with faith, they were filled with doubt.
  • 00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:42.957
  • It was a terrible, terrible time because remember, between
  • 00:10:42.957 --> 00:10:46.828
  • Jesus's burial on friday and his resurrection on sunday, there
  • 00:10:46.828 --> 00:10:50.298
  • Was saturday.
  • 00:10:50.298 --> 00:10:52.467
  • So, in other words between good friday and easter sunday,
  • 00:10:52.467 --> 00:10:56.871
  • There's what i like to call, sad saturday.
  • 00:10:56.871 --> 00:11:00.709
  • Now good friday is famous.
  • 00:11:00.709 --> 00:11:03.445
  • Easter sunday is fantastic.
  • 00:11:03.445 --> 00:11:06.047
  • That's why we talk about those two days all the time.
  • 00:11:06.047 --> 00:11:09.818
  • But has it ever occurred to you that nobody's ever talked
  • 00:11:09.818 --> 00:11:12.554
  • About saturday?
  • 00:11:12.554 --> 00:11:14.622
  • I've never heard a preacher talk about saturday.
  • 00:11:14.622 --> 00:11:17.926
  • We just kind of gloss over.
  • 00:11:17.926 --> 00:11:19.394
  • We kinda blow through saturday.
  • 00:11:19.394 --> 00:11:21.696
  • But let me go back to that saturday.
  • 00:11:21.696 --> 00:11:23.598
  • It had been the longest day these disciples had experienced
  • 00:11:23.598 --> 00:11:26.735
  • In their life.
  • 00:11:26.735 --> 00:11:28.103
  • As a matter of fact, i call it d-day, disappointment,
  • 00:11:28.103 --> 00:11:31.606
  • Discouragement, defeat, disillusionment filled the air.
  • 00:11:31.606 --> 00:11:36.578
  • But again, you gotta ask the question, why aren't the
  • 00:11:36.578 --> 00:11:39.347
  • Disciples and these women camped out at the empty tomb around
  • 00:11:39.347 --> 00:11:42.984
  • The clock?
  • 00:11:42.984 --> 00:11:44.419
  • But if you go back and do the counting, if you do the math,
  • 00:11:44.419 --> 00:11:47.055
  • Are you ready for this?
  • 00:11:47.055 --> 00:11:48.389
  • Jesus told them 21 times about the third day.
  • 00:11:48.389 --> 00:11:53.928
  • He told them three specific times, i mean, didn't mince
  • 00:11:53.928 --> 00:11:57.699
  • Words, "i am going to rise from the dead.
  • 00:11:57.699 --> 00:12:03.071
  • But--so why didn't they believe him?
  • 00:12:03.071 --> 00:12:04.439
  • We gotta go back to the culture that day.
  • 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:07.175
  • Because the jews, and the romans, and the greeks, none of
  • 00:12:07.175 --> 00:12:11.112
  • Them believed a resurrection was possible.
  • 00:12:11.112 --> 00:12:14.215
  • Why didn't the romans believe it?
  • 00:12:14.215 --> 00:12:15.550
  • Well, the romans believed that anything physical was evil.
  • 00:12:15.550 --> 00:12:18.553
  • Well, the body's physical, so the body is evil.
  • 00:12:18.553 --> 00:12:20.855
  • So, the romans thought the only good thing about a human being
  • 00:12:20.855 --> 00:12:23.124
  • Was the soul.
  • 00:12:23.124 --> 00:12:24.459
  • So, they thought when the soul finally leaves the body, that's
  • 00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:27.362
  • A great thing.
  • 00:12:27.362 --> 00:12:28.696
  • And they had no idea, they didn't have any desire--i don't
  • 00:12:28.696 --> 00:12:31.432
  • Want my soul to go back in this old body.
  • 00:12:31.432 --> 00:12:34.035
  • So, they didn't believe in resurrection.
  • 00:12:34.035 --> 00:12:35.737
  • The greeks, they not only thought it was impossible, they
  • 00:12:35.737 --> 00:12:41.242
  • Didn't even think it was desirable they wanted no part of
  • 00:12:41.242 --> 00:12:43.611
  • A resurrection.
  • 00:12:43.611 --> 00:12:44.946
  • Now the jews were a little bit different.
  • 00:12:44.946 --> 00:12:46.314
  • They believed that god created the world, therefore the body
  • 00:12:46.314 --> 00:12:48.583
  • Was a good thing.
  • 00:12:48.583 --> 00:12:49.918
  • And at the end of time there would be this general
  • 00:12:49.918 --> 00:12:51.986
  • Resurrection of people who are righteous, but nobody ever
  • 00:12:51.986 --> 00:12:55.557
  • Believed or imagined that god would raise one individual from
  • 00:12:55.557 --> 00:12:59.627
  • The dead.
  • 00:12:59.627 --> 00:13:00.995
  • "trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from
  • 00:13:00.995 --> 00:13:02.597
  • The tomb.
  • 00:13:02.597 --> 00:13:03.965
  • They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid."
  • 00:13:03.965 --> 00:13:08.236
  • Now that is true, what he says is true.
  • 00:13:08.236 --> 00:13:11.139
  • At first, the women kept their mouth shut.
  • 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:14.509
  • At first, the women stayed silent.
  • 00:13:14.509 --> 00:13:17.579
  • At first, the women did what just about every christian does
  • 00:13:17.579 --> 00:13:20.849
  • Today, they said nothing to anyone, "because they
  • 00:13:20.849 --> 00:13:24.719
  • Were afraid."
  • 00:13:24.719 --> 00:13:27.155
  • Of course when you read the other gospels, you know, you
  • 00:13:27.155 --> 00:13:29.257
  • Find out where they eventually did go, they did tell, they
  • 00:13:29.257 --> 00:13:32.894
  • Did proclaim.
  • 00:13:32.894 --> 00:13:34.229
  • You know why they did that?
  • 00:13:34.229 --> 00:13:35.597
  • Because if that tomb they had made the most important decision
  • 00:13:35.597 --> 00:13:37.432
  • Of their life.
  • 00:13:37.432 --> 00:13:38.800
  • They believed that the tomb was empty because jesus had been
  • 00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:41.502
  • Raised from the dead.
  • 00:13:41.502 --> 00:13:42.837
  • And when they finally believed in the resurrection of jesus,
  • 00:13:42.837 --> 00:13:45.807
  • They surrendered to the jesus of the resurrection.
  • 00:13:45.807 --> 00:13:48.243
  • And when they surrendered to the jesus of the resurrection, they
  • 00:13:48.243 --> 00:13:51.379
  • Made a commitment to share the gospel of the resurrected jesus.
  • 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:55.483
  • I want you to hear the next statement.
  • 00:13:55.483 --> 00:13:58.953
  • Because this is where some of you are this morning.
  • 00:13:58.953 --> 00:14:00.788
  • You can believe in the resurrection with everything
  • 00:14:04.225 --> 00:14:08.029
  • You have.
  • 00:14:08.029 --> 00:14:10.999
  • But if you don't surrender to the resurrected jesus, you will
  • 00:14:10.999 --> 00:14:13.935
  • Be separated from the resurrected jesus for
  • 00:14:13.935 --> 00:14:16.070
  • All eternity.
  • 00:14:16.070 --> 00:14:18.740
  • Hell is filled with people who believe in the resurrection.
  • 00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:23.478
  • Believing it up here doesn't get it.
  • 00:14:23.478 --> 00:14:26.447
  • It's when it makes it from here to here, and it changes your
  • 00:14:26.447 --> 00:14:30.618
  • Heart, and it gives you a new passion, and he becomes your
  • 00:14:30.618 --> 00:14:33.788
  • Supreme love.
  • 00:14:33.788 --> 00:14:35.123
  • And it's not that you have to go tell, you want to go tell.
  • 00:14:35.123 --> 00:14:38.126
  • It's not that you have to get baptized, you wanna
  • 00:14:38.126 --> 00:14:40.728
  • Get baptized.
  • 00:14:40.728 --> 00:14:42.096
  • It's not that you have to read your bible, you want to read
  • 00:14:42.096 --> 00:14:44.265
  • Your bible.
  • 00:14:44.265 --> 00:14:45.600
  • It's not that you have to give, you want to give.
  • 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:49.537
  • That's the difference that the resurrected jesus makes.
  • 00:14:49.537 --> 00:14:54.776
  • So, what wanna say to all of you today is real simple, you
  • 00:14:54.776 --> 00:14:56.878
  • Gotta decide.
  • 00:14:56.878 --> 00:14:58.813
  • 'cause remember, when those women got to that tomb, the
  • 00:14:58.813 --> 00:15:01.616
  • Angel did not say, "surprise, here's jesus.
  • 00:15:01.616 --> 00:15:06.187
  • Take your time, get out your spices."
  • 00:15:06.187 --> 00:15:09.057
  • Nope, when they got there, he said, "oh, excuse me ladies, he
  • 00:15:09.057 --> 00:15:14.429
  • Was here, but he's not here because he's risen."
  • 00:15:14.429 --> 00:15:22.937
  • So, now we got a question--three that we all have to answer.
  • 00:15:22.937 --> 00:15:29.677
  • Question number one, will you believe it?
  • 00:15:29.677 --> 00:15:34.449
  • Happened or it didn't.
  • 00:15:34.449 --> 00:15:35.883
  • It's fact or fiction.
  • 00:15:35.883 --> 00:15:37.285
  • He's dead or he's alive.
  • 00:15:37.285 --> 00:15:39.187
  • Do you believe it?
  • 00:15:39.187 --> 00:15:40.521
  • Now you may say, "yeah, i believe it."
  • 00:15:40.521 --> 00:15:42.957
  • Oh, we're not done.
  • 00:15:42.957 --> 00:15:45.526
  • Will you accept it?
  • 00:15:45.526 --> 00:15:48.029
  • That's the game changer, that's not.
  • 00:15:48.029 --> 00:15:51.599
  • That means nothing without this.
  • 00:15:51.599 --> 00:15:54.669
  • "well, yes, i'll accept it."
  • 00:15:54.669 --> 00:15:56.738
  • We're not done.
  • 00:15:56.738 --> 00:15:58.606
  • Because if you truly accept it, will you share it?
  • 00:15:58.606 --> 00:16:04.712
  • So, mike, jerry,
  • 00:16:04.712 --> 00:16:13.021
  • I've waited 7 weeks for this moment.
  • 00:16:13.087 --> 00:16:17.025
  • I want you to draw up real close.
  • 00:16:17.025 --> 00:16:19.627
  • I don't want anybody texting.
  • 00:16:19.627 --> 00:16:21.195
  • Don't look at your ipad.
  • 00:16:21.195 --> 00:16:23.731
  • Take--put your pens down, what you draw up real close,
  • 00:16:23.731 --> 00:16:26.667
  • Real close.
  • 00:16:26.667 --> 00:16:28.169
  • I'm gonna tell you this last story, and we'll be done.
  • 00:16:28.169 --> 00:16:32.440
  • It's december 7, 1941.
  • 00:16:32.440 --> 00:16:37.912
  • Winston churchill is at a birthday party in chequers for a
  • 00:16:37.912 --> 00:16:40.948
  • Woman named kathleen harriman.
  • 00:16:40.948 --> 00:16:43.451
  • And even though it was a festive occasion, it really wasn't
  • 00:16:43.451 --> 00:16:46.521
  • Very festive.
  • 00:16:46.521 --> 00:16:49.490
  • Because things were looking very bleak in england.
  • 00:16:49.490 --> 00:16:56.364
  • Germany was on the march.
  • 00:16:56.364 --> 00:17:01.369
  • France had been defeated.
  • 00:17:01.369 --> 00:17:06.140
  • Poland and czechoslovakia had been mowed down like new grass.
  • 00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:12.847
  • The german war machine was running over everything it hit.
  • 00:17:12.847 --> 00:17:17.552
  • And the only thing standing between hitler and world
  • 00:17:17.552 --> 00:17:23.891
  • Domination, was the british empire.
  • 00:17:23.891 --> 00:17:28.529
  • Churchill knew, we're a david, and we're facing a goliath.
  • 00:17:28.529 --> 00:17:34.268
  • But we don't even have a slingshot.
  • 00:17:34.268 --> 00:17:37.505
  • We don't even have a stone.
  • 00:17:37.505 --> 00:17:41.109
  • But at 9 o'clock that night they did something they did
  • 00:17:41.109 --> 00:17:43.845
  • Every night.
  • 00:17:43.845 --> 00:17:45.880
  • One of his aids, frank sawyer brought a radio into the party
  • 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:51.285
  • Where they could listen to the bbc 9 o'clock news broadcast.
  • 00:17:51.285 --> 00:17:55.857
  • They were listening to it, not really paying attention until
  • 00:17:55.857 --> 00:17:59.327
  • Just at the end of the broadcast.
  • 00:17:59.327 --> 00:18:03.030
  • The announcement was made that the japanese had attacked
  • 00:18:03.030 --> 00:18:08.269
  • Pearl harbor.
  • 00:18:08.269 --> 00:18:10.738
  • Churchill immediately ran to his study and he called president
  • 00:18:10.738 --> 00:18:15.977
  • Franklin roosevelt.
  • 00:18:15.977 --> 00:18:18.012
  • He said,
  • 00:18:18.012 --> 00:18:19.380
  • "mr. roosevelt, what is this--mr.
  • 00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:20.715
  • President, what is this about japan?"
  • 00:18:20.715 --> 00:18:23.518
  • And roosevelt replied with words that were music to his ears.
  • 00:18:23.518 --> 00:18:26.621
  • He said, "winston, they have attacked us at pearl harbor.
  • 00:18:26.621 --> 00:18:32.160
  • We're all in the same boat now."
  • 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:35.897
  • Winston churchill said he felt so guilty because he was the
  • 00:18:35.897 --> 00:18:40.568
  • Happiest he had been in years.
  • 00:18:40.568 --> 00:18:43.437
  • And churchill sat down before he went to bed that night.
  • 00:18:43.437 --> 00:18:47.074
  • And he wrote these words in his diary, and i'm gonna try to say
  • 00:18:47.074 --> 00:18:49.777
  • It the way he wrote it.
  • 00:18:49.777 --> 00:18:53.047
  • "no american will think it wrong of me if i proclaim that to have
  • 00:18:53.047 --> 00:18:56.017
  • The united states at our side was to me the greatest joy.
  • 00:18:56.017 --> 00:19:00.521
  • So we had won after all!
  • 00:19:00.521 --> 00:19:02.723
  • Yes--after dunkirk; after the fall of france; after the
  • 00:19:02.723 --> 00:19:07.128
  • Horrible episode of oran; after the threat of invasion.
  • 00:19:07.128 --> 00:19:10.264
  • We had won the war.
  • 00:19:10.264 --> 00:19:13.067
  • England would live; britain would live; the commonwealth of
  • 00:19:13.067 --> 00:19:18.339
  • Nations and the empire would live.
  • 00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:21.309
  • Once again in our long island history we should emerge,
  • 00:19:21.309 --> 00:19:23.978
  • However mauled or mutilated, safe and victorious.
  • 00:19:23.978 --> 00:19:28.783
  • We should not be wiped out.
  • 00:19:28.783 --> 00:19:31.619
  • Our history would not come to an end.
  • 00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:35.122
  • Saturated and satiated with emotion and sensation, i went to
  • 00:19:35.122 --> 00:19:40.328
  • Bed and slept the sleep of the saved and the thankful."
  • 00:19:40.328 --> 00:19:48.803
  • So, let's go back to saturday night.
  • 00:19:48.803 --> 00:19:57.445
  • How do you think the disciples slept saturday night?
  • 00:19:57.445 --> 00:20:01.349
  • Fitful, turning, weeping, crying,
  • 00:20:01.349 --> 00:20:09.357
  • Fearful, faithless, discouraged,
  • 00:20:09.357 --> 00:20:14.829
  • And defeated.
  • 00:20:14.829 --> 00:20:20.468
  • How do you think they slept sunday night?
  • 00:20:22.637 --> 00:20:27.408
  • They slept great.
  • 00:20:27.408 --> 00:20:29.910
  • It was the best night's sleep they've ever gotten in
  • 00:20:29.910 --> 00:20:32.079
  • Their life.
  • 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.447
  • You know why?
  • 00:20:33.447 --> 00:20:34.882
  • They went to bed that night for the first time in their life
  • 00:20:34.882 --> 00:20:37.685
  • Knowing that the war against sin, and sorrow, and death, and
  • 00:20:37.685 --> 00:20:43.824
  • The grave had been won, and they were gonna win it after all.
  • 00:20:43.824 --> 00:20:49.230
  • So, here's what i wanna say and tell you on this easter
  • 00:20:49.230 --> 00:20:51.766
  • Sunday morning.
  • 00:20:51.766 --> 00:20:54.635
  • I want to declare to you that no matter what you're going
  • 00:20:54.635 --> 00:20:57.438
  • Through, no matter how strong the wind, no matter how rough
  • 00:20:57.438 --> 00:21:03.844
  • The seas, no matter how high the waves, no matter how dark the
  • 00:21:03.844 --> 00:21:09.517
  • Night, you will weather the storm, you will sleep the sleep
  • 00:21:09.517 --> 00:21:14.989
  • Of the saved, and you'll sleep the saved and the thankful
  • 00:21:14.989 --> 00:21:20.761
  • Because of an empty tomb.
  • 00:21:20.761 --> 00:21:23.331
  • He was there.
  • 00:21:23.331 --> 00:21:25.533
  • He's not there, he is here, he is listening.
  • 00:21:25.533 --> 00:21:34.675
  • So, as you bow your heads and close your eyes, nobody moving,
  • 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:42.550
  • Nobody stirring.
  • 00:21:42.550 --> 00:21:45.119
  • I have prayed and fasted for this moment right here.
  • 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:48.289
  • I have prayed and fasted for this moment.
  • 00:21:48.289 --> 00:21:52.360
  • There're some of you that walked into this room today and you
  • 00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:55.396
  • Have never bought into the resurrection, never.
  • 00:21:55.396 --> 00:21:58.899
  • You've never trusted jesus.
  • 00:21:58.899 --> 00:22:01.235
  • I don't doubt that you may believe in the resurrection, i
  • 00:22:01.235 --> 00:22:03.504
  • Don't doubt that.
  • 00:22:03.504 --> 00:22:06.640
  • What i doubt is, has it ever moved from your head to
  • 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:09.377
  • Your heart?
  • 00:22:09.377 --> 00:22:11.912
  • And there're some of you that jesus is not even on your radar
  • 00:22:11.912 --> 00:22:15.816
  • Screen because you never really taken this story seriously.
  • 00:22:15.816 --> 00:22:19.587
  • Today i want you to.
  • 00:22:19.587 --> 00:22:22.656
  • Some of you came here reluctantly.
  • 00:22:22.656 --> 00:22:25.092
  • You were invited by a neighbor.
  • 00:22:25.092 --> 00:22:26.560
  • You didn't really wanna come, but the neighbor invited you,
  • 00:22:26.560 --> 00:22:28.596
  • You came.
  • 00:22:28.596 --> 00:22:30.131
  • It's easter sunday, you felt like at least once or twice so
  • 00:22:30.131 --> 00:22:32.633
  • You ought to go, and i'm glad you did.
  • 00:22:32.633 --> 00:22:36.470
  • But now we come to the greatest moment of your life one way or
  • 00:22:36.470 --> 00:22:41.308
  • The other.
  • 00:22:41.308 --> 00:22:44.145
  • There are people in this room and i know that there are, there
  • 00:22:44.145 --> 00:22:46.247
  • Are people in this room, you've never ever surrendered your life
  • 00:22:46.247 --> 00:22:48.783
  • To jesus.
  • 00:22:48.783 --> 00:22:50.785
  • You've never accepted him as the lord of your life.
  • 00:22:50.785 --> 00:22:53.988
  • You've never taken this empty tomb business seriously, but
  • 00:22:53.988 --> 00:22:57.525
  • Today you are.
  • 00:22:57.525 --> 00:23:01.395
  • And so, i'm going to ask you if today you would say, "not only
  • 00:23:01.395 --> 00:23:07.101
  • Do i believe in the resurrected jesus.
  • 00:23:07.101 --> 00:23:10.070
  • I want to surrender to the jesus of the resurrection.
  • 00:23:10.070 --> 00:23:15.609
  • I wanna walk out of here knowing that not only is jesus alive but
  • 00:23:15.609 --> 00:23:19.680
  • He lives in my heart."
  • 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:23.451
  • That i want you to pray this prayer with me right now.
  • 00:23:23.451 --> 00:23:28.055
  • "lord jesus, i believe.
  • 00:23:28.055 --> 00:23:33.694
  • I believe you died on that cross on good friday.
  • 00:23:33.694 --> 00:23:38.265
  • I believe you came out of that grave on that sunday.
  • 00:23:38.265 --> 00:23:42.503
  • I believe you're alive right now.
  • 00:23:42.503 --> 00:23:46.273
  • Lord jesus, now come into my heart.
  • 00:23:46.273 --> 00:23:50.411
  • Give me eternal life.
  • 00:23:50.411 --> 00:23:54.181
  • Forgive me of my sins.
  • 00:23:54.181 --> 00:23:58.018
  • I confess i'm a sinner.
  • 00:23:58.018 --> 00:24:01.355
  • I repent and turn away from my sins.
  • 00:24:01.355 --> 00:24:05.860
  • And i give everything that i am, lord jesus,
  • 00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:09.597
  • To everything that you are.
  • 00:24:09.597 --> 00:24:12.600
  • Male announcer: to watch an extended version of today's
  • 00:24:12.666 --> 00:24:14.535
  • Message from dr. james merritt, go to touchinglives.org.
  • 00:24:14.535 --> 00:24:18.706
  • James: hello, i'm dr. james merritt and i'm truly grateful
  • 00:24:22.910 --> 00:24:25.346
  • That you're here with me today.
  • 00:24:25.346 --> 00:24:27.114
  • I wanna share an incredible opportunity, one that not only
  • 00:24:27.114 --> 00:24:29.750
  • Equips you to share the gospel, the life-changing gospel of
  • 00:24:29.750 --> 00:24:33.320
  • Jesus christ with others, but also deepens your own faith.
  • 00:24:33.320 --> 00:24:37.558
  • In our modern world it can feel tough, hard, difficult to step
  • 00:24:37.558 --> 00:24:41.362
  • Forward and share your faith, but as believers, it's essential
  • 00:24:41.362 --> 00:24:44.198
  • We take that step.
  • 00:24:44.198 --> 00:24:45.566
  • Now, i hear this all the time, "pastor, i want to share the
  • 00:24:45.566 --> 00:24:48.435
  • Gospel, but i'm just not sure how to do it and where
  • 00:24:48.435 --> 00:24:50.938
  • To start."
  • 00:24:50.938 --> 00:24:52.306
  • That's exactly why i have created this beautiful
  • 00:24:52.306 --> 00:24:55.442
  • Little tract.
  • 00:24:55.442 --> 00:24:56.777
  • It says, "the best news."
  • 00:24:56.777 --> 00:24:59.013
  • These cards, these tracts clearly outlined the message of
  • 00:24:59.013 --> 00:25:02.416
  • God's love and salvation.
  • 00:25:02.416 --> 00:25:04.051
  • They are perfect to hand out to anyone you would like to talk to
  • 00:25:04.051 --> 00:25:07.321
  • About jesus.
  • 00:25:07.321 --> 00:25:08.656
  • You can carry them in your pocket, your wallet, your purse,
  • 00:25:08.656 --> 00:25:12.126
  • Your car.
  • 00:25:12.126 --> 00:25:13.494
  • I carry them with me everywhere i go ensuring you're always
  • 00:25:13.494 --> 00:25:16.664
  • Ready to share the best news wherever you go.
  • 00:25:16.664 --> 00:25:20.100
  • As a heartfelt thank for supporting this ministry, you'll
  • 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:23.604
  • Receive a package of these best news cards with any gift of any
  • 00:25:23.604 --> 00:25:27.508
  • Size you make in april, but there's more.
  • 00:25:27.508 --> 00:25:31.478
  • For a gift of $75 or more, you will also receive a copy of the
  • 00:25:31.478 --> 00:25:36.016
  • Niv study bible.
  • 00:25:36.016 --> 00:25:37.851
  • Let me tell you why this bible is so special.
  • 00:25:37.851 --> 00:25:40.421
  • When you open up this book, you'll discover over 21,000
  • 00:25:40.421 --> 00:25:44.358
  • Study notes, more than 125 topical articles, and 16 pages
  • 00:25:44.358 --> 00:25:49.830
  • Of full color maps that vividly bring the bible stories to life.
  • 00:25:49.830 --> 00:25:54.368
  • With 66 detailed book introductions and outlines along
  • 00:25:54.368 --> 00:25:58.339
  • With hundreds of charts, diagrams, and illustrations,
  • 00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:01.675
  • This bible offers you the opportunity to dive deep into
  • 00:26:01.675 --> 00:26:04.612
  • Scripture and is designed with clarity in mind.
  • 00:26:04.612 --> 00:26:07.848
  • So, even with all of this additional information, finding
  • 00:26:07.848 --> 00:26:10.551
  • Your favorite passages is easy.
  • 00:26:10.551 --> 00:26:13.320
  • By making your gift today, whether any amount or $75 or
  • 00:26:13.320 --> 00:26:17.858
  • More, you're not only equipping yourself with these invaluable
  • 00:26:17.858 --> 00:26:21.095
  • Tools, you're joining us in our mission to spread the hope and
  • 00:26:21.095 --> 00:26:25.065
  • Truth of jesus christ to every corner of our world.
  • 00:26:25.065 --> 00:26:29.036
  • So, i wanna thank you for your continued support and for
  • 00:26:29.036 --> 00:26:31.639
  • Joining me in transforming lives with the light of god's word.
  • 00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:35.275
  • So, remember, with your gift of any amount, you'll receive a
  • 00:26:35.275 --> 00:26:39.780
  • Packet of these absolute life-changing gospel tracts
  • 00:26:39.780 --> 00:26:43.517
  • Called, "the best news."
  • 00:26:43.517 --> 00:26:44.918
  • But with your gift of $75 or more, you'll receive not only
  • 00:26:44.918 --> 00:26:48.155
  • These wonderful tools for sharing the gospel but this
  • 00:26:48.155 --> 00:26:51.058
  • Beautiful study bible.
  • 00:26:51.058 --> 00:26:53.160
  • May god richly bless you as you share his love with everyone
  • 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:58.165
  • You meet.
  • 00:26:58.165 --> 00:26:59.767
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:01.535 --> 00:27:07.675
  • Announcer: touching the lives of the lost and enriching
  • 00:27:07.675 --> 00:27:10.277
  • The faith of the found.
  • 00:27:10.277 --> 00:27:12.079
  • This is "touching lives," with dr. james merritt.
  • 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:16.684
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:16.684 --> 00:27:29.997