What's Next? : What Good Am I Doing? | Matt Roden | Part 1 of 4

Let's welcome everybody who's joining in online and on demand.

Thanks for being here.

We're glad you're with us.

And if you're new here, my name's uh Matt Roden, I'm one of the pastors here at Santa Cruz Bible Church.

We're glad you're with us.

We're in a new series starting this week, coming out of summer mode, and it really asks one question: what's next?

Now, if you're asking, well, what do you mean what's next?

Let me ask you a couple questions and see if this maybe resonates with you.

Would you describe your spiritual life as stale?

Kind of the same thing every time, not really going anywhere, kind of bland, kind of blah, right?

Or would you describe your spiritual life as stuck?

Right?

I've kind of been in the same spot.

I can't seem to get better.

I want to get better, but I can't really seem to figure this out.

I want to kind of get somewhere else, but I'm kind of just in the same spot.

Or would you describe your spiritual life as starting out?

Maybe you're in a mode where you're getting back in church or trying to figure out this whole Jesus church thing, and you're kind of waiting on that moment uh for something to happen where you really get it and really kind of latch on to the faith.

And so if it's stale stuck, starting out, or wherever you are, the question is simply that we're gonna be looking at these next few weeks is what's next?

Because I'm gonna be trying to answer the question basically, what's the next step for you to get where you want to be?

Especially when we talk about spiritual things and feeling stuck and kind of the same thing over and over again, or starting out and trying to kind of move into things.

Um, each week we're gonna look at a different step.

My prayer is that you take at least one of them because I know that you're not gonna regret it, and it's probably gonna be that one thing that you need that's gonna help you experience God in a new way in your life.

Now, for this week, I want to talk about something that's hard to talk about uh a little bit, and that's giving a piece of your time to help others.

I'm waiting on the groan.

Okay, nope, not yet.

Okay, good.

It's hard to talk about giving any time to serve someone or help others because we are busy and we live in this tension, especially after the pandemic, where we are way more selective with our time, but at the same time, we feel this weird lack of connection.

Like I feel like I was I wish I was kind of in more relationships or had more friendships or kind of a weird thing like that.

And there's kind of this tension that we kind of walk in, and we know that a lack of connection is a very real issue for people in this room.

Um, what we we actually did last fall, we did a round table service.

Is anybody here for that one or remember that one?

Yeah, we brought in these tables and I kind of did a little talk, and then we kind of broke into conversations that the tables, and this was the question that we asked was what's the most pressing issue facing either you or your community right now?

And so if you came to that service, you got to kind of speak up about these are things that I'm kind of running up against, or these are things I feel like affect my neighborhood or my community right now that are that are pressing issues.

And the reason why we did that was we were trying to see is there a need missing in our community or a program we can start or something to help immediately meet a need that we just might be missing and not thinking about.

But the answers were bigger than a program.

And the answers we got really the two answers that we came away with from that round table, have really shaped a lot of how we do things and even some of the teachings and stuff that we do since last fall, keeping these things in mind, because they were really big problems that didn't have simple answers.

And here's the two answers one was I'm stretched thin.

The economy is a major pressure, rent, groceries, gas, living paycheck to paycheck, and not to mention rising needs in our community.

I see more people who need coats, who need dry socks, who need warm coats, you know, all this stuff.

And there's just kind of this concern of the economy kind of hitting a breaking point in people's lives.

And then the other issue was loneliness, lack of connection, a longing to connect, particularly with people in your stage of life.

For example, you have empty nesters who are looking for other empty nesters and trying to figure it out.

Or you have a lot of people who have been joining literally joining in lately who've moved here but know absolutely no one.

And are trying to figure out like how do I connect?

Like, how do I meet other people, and that kind of stuff.

And then on top of that, you add the exhaustion with all the political division garbage, and then on top of that, you add the anxiety for some people of mental health struggles that keep them from connecting the way they'd like to connect.

So there's a lot of that kind of stuff.

So basically, the two answers when people said they are stretched thin and starving for connection.

And so when we got these two answers, we said, whoo, okay, these are bigger issues than a program.

There's not really a simple answer to this.

And we we thought about ourselves as a church, and we said, okay, well, as a church, uh we offer a food pantry, we offer a financial assistance ministry, which by the way, we are raising money for right now to finish out the year.

So, and I'll we'll get to that.

But the thing is, um we're helping out in some substantial ways in our county.

We we we see the economic need, we're trying to figure out a way to do that.

Um, but then there's that loneliness and lack of connection part.

And as a church, you know, we offer every week uh places where people can connect, you know, uh pizza after church like we have today.

Or summer book group, or we say, hey, go walk.

Uh we have a little group that's gonna take a walk, and you know, you may want to join in on that, or come meet our staff after service in the back, you know, whatever it is.

And we feel like though, even in offering all those things, we just feel like it's just simply not enough.

Right?

That there that even with those things, people still don't always connect.

And so we're always trying to think as a church, how can we help people really connect to each other?

Because there's a thing you have to remember.

Uh, let me show you what this thing is in Ecclesiastes 4.

In the Bible, it says this two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.

But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

And there's a reality in this life in that it's it's fun to be an introvert until it's not, until you need help, until you need support.

Or it's fun to like not have real friendships, but just have kind of Instagram friendships or whatever that is.

But then that doesn't help you when you're in a hospital room and you're waiting and something happens.

And the truth is we all need support emotionally, mentally.

Um, we all need help sometimes.

I know we don't always ask for it, but we do need it.

And I think one of the biggest misconceptions that we are fighting and fighting and fighting against today is that I want you to understand, you need connection and not just content.

Content's great, right?

Listening online, checking out a podcast, kind of doing your own thing and kind of getting your content your way right away at Burger King now, right?

You know, kind of thing, and that's okay.

Getting that content the way you want it.

But the the weird thing is, like if you're a person, and I don't mean this in the mean way, but if you're kind of a person that's like a get there late, leave early, and just hope you get something out of it, and that's kind of your approach to church, I'm just telling you, you are ripping yourself off.

You are you're missing a whole other part of it because it's not you're missing out on the connection.

Because part of why we gather is not just to learn and grow, part of why we gather is to connect with each other.

Because if you want to grow spiritually, one of the first things you learn is no spiritual life thrives alone.

Nobody.

You just can't do it alone.

You need other people in your life, and I know that's hard, but so many people we've noticed find the connection by giving time to help others.

They make some time, they get on a team, maybe it's here on a Sunday morning or some other place, some other time, that they just set aside some time, maybe every week or a couple times a month, or whatever it is, to just do something that does not benefit you.

It's just meaningful helping others time.

And it's an experience that every time I talk about it, you realize how many people are just missing this in their life.

Because they think that if we talk about this, oh, well, if the church is talking about volunteers and serving, blah, blah, blah, they're just trying to get spots filled.

But here's the reality you have a spot in you that needs to be filled by meaningful things, by purpose, by belonging, by doing something and feeling fulfilled.

And as much as you can try to crank that out of your job, and sometimes you can, there's this other thing.

It's a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

It's just hard to describe by just giving time that you don't have, that none of us have, to help someone.

I can't tell you how many times I went and actually volunteered instead of working here, or volunteered at a food bank, or some of you know this, or or maybe helped donate clothes or do something like that.

All things that I don't just wake up dying to do, like, oh, I gotta go do this.

I'm yearning to do this.

But I'm telling you that every time I've done this, and you probably know this, there were other people there, it was a good time, and I knew that we were making a difference in someone's life.

I mean, when someone comes and you give them food, that's a big deal.

I mean, it you feel like, you know what, this is probably the most important thing I've done today.

And it gives you joy because there's something fulfilling that it scratches an itch deep inside of you that we try to fill with all this other stuff.

But there's a joy in just serving someone and not benefiting from it.

And people come back for more.

I mean, once you start doing it and you feel it, you come back for more.

And I hear people say, Well, you can overcommit yourself, you can burn out volunteering, you have to draw boundaries.

Yes, yes, you can overcommit yourself in anything.

I I'm I'm a big believer that any good thing can be done in a bad way, right?

You know, but those shouldn't be immediate reasons or excuses that you never give any time at all.

Because I'm telling you, to do nothing and miss out on that in your life is worse.

It just is.

And here's the truth.

Now, if you've been listening to this and you're already kind of like, I already don't like where this is going, he just needs to get the beach ball back out because I don't like any of this.

I get it.

But I want you to hear me, I want you to just understand and just process this for a second.

Everybody in this room, including yourself, is born with different strengths, personalities, perspectives, talents, and that's just a fact.

But here's what we forget.

We literally put that into our work, and we think that's all it's for.

Oh, I just need to find a job that lines up with stuff I like to do, things I'm naturally good at.

Great.

Sure.

But I want you to understand, sometimes you're given those gifts to give those gifts to others.

Those aren't gifts you keep and just sit and make money on, those are gifts that sometimes you just give to other people because they're in need, right?

And and and this is what the scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 12.

It says, There are different ways to serve, but we serve the same Lord, and there are different ways that God works in people, but it's the same God who works in all of us to do everything.

Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person.

The Spirit gives this to each one to help others.

Now, you are gifted.

I know some of you are like, Well, I wasn't in that class.

They they didn't pick me, I wasn't in the gifted program.

Okay, I was picked to be in the gifted program because I nailed some test in fourth grade.

And they're like, Oh, you must be gifted.

And I'm like, I don't know, jury's out, but here's the thing.

I remember going to that, and I remember wondering, like, why is no one else going to this?

Is this so I mean, all we're doing is college prep in fifth grade, which is a little early.

But in all honesty, everyone's gifted, and you're gifted.

Look here at Romans 12.

Just as our bodies have many parts, I don't have to teach you that, right?

Okay, great, good.

Phew.

All right, and each part has a special function.

We all know that.

So it is with Christ's body.

We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

And in his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.

So if God's given you the ability to prophesy, speak out as much faith as God's given you.

If your gift is serving others, serve them well.

If you're a teacher, teach well.

If your gifts to encourage others, be encouraging.

If it's giving, give generously.

If it's giving, give generously.

If it's giving, give generously.

Sorry, I don't know what happened.

What happened there?

A stroke.

Anyway, if God, if God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.

And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Look, he's just listing off all this stuff.

And I know people over time are like, well, these are the only spiritual gifts you can ever have, is the ones that Paul thought of in a moment in a letter that he did not know that churches would be reading for centuries out.

Yeah, no, there's all kinds of spiritual gifts.

I mean, I'm gonna tell you the people that I love are the ones that have the spiritual gift of accounting.

Because I don't know how to do any of that.

And I need someone to tell me that doesn't make sense.

We don't have that.

That math doesn't math.

Like, I need people like that in my life.

People who are more systems thinkers or organizational or administrative.

Those are gifts.

All these things are gifts, and and I'm just saying there's so many ways to help people, but I want you to see this.

They all come from the same God.

God has given you what you have, He has made you the way you are.

It's the unique fingerprint of God in your life.

And if you give to help others, give time, whatever that is, and talent, it comes alive in a way that is unique because you're making a difference in someone's life.

I remember one time early on when someone saw a little bit of uniqueness in me and helped me find a place to help someone.

I was uh in college and I dropped by a blood drive to give blood.

And I gave blood, and then I'm sitting there afterwards, you know, you get like the cookie and the juice, and you're kind of sitting there.

And this girl's, I don't know why I did that, but nobody does that anyway.

But um, but this girl's sitting next to me and she's nervous and she's just staring at her arm where you know they drew the blood or whatever, and she's telling me about I'm just getting a little dizzy.

So I just start talking to her, and I just keep her talking.

I'm like, oh, maybe I can like maybe I can keep her from passing out, distract her a little bit.

And we start talking about how bad these cookies are, and you know, what is this and what and we're kind of laughing together and all stuff, and I'm just kind of making conversation because I just knew she was a little freaked out.

And I thought, well, let me try to like help with that or whatever.

And so one of the drive, the the blood drive volunteers comes over and she's a little bit better, and so they tell her she can go, but the drive volunteer looks at me and says, Would you mind sticking around for a while?

Because we're having all these students pass out.

Like they all give blood and they come sit over here, and no one else is over here, and they're by themselves, and they start staring at their arm and they just start passing out.

And if you you're a little chatty, Kathy over here, so will you just talk to them and just kind of keep them distracted so they don't freak out and just kind of make them laugh, whatever you gotta do.

And I think we'll just have less people pass out because every time someone passes out, we all have to stop and rush over there, and it would just really help.

And I didn't have any more classes that day, so I was like, Yeah, I'll hang out for a little bit and just sit and talk.

And that's what I did, and less people passed out.

And here's the question: what happened?

Someone saw something unique and said, Hey, would you mind just being you in this situation?

Because in this situation, it will help people.

And I think that's good leadership.

Any leader who can look out and say, Hey, would you just be you?

Because it would really help people if you would just be you in this situation.

And I think the challenge there is a lot of times, most of the times, people say, No, I'm busy, I'm uh I'm whatever.

And you have to just keep going, right?

And just kind of find the next person.

But it's that giftedness to say, hey, do you want an opportunity to just be you and really help someone?

But here's where I want to challenge you.

You know you already.

You don't need someone to come up and tell you.

You don't need anyone to ask you.

What I'm praying is that you will look for opportunities to make a difference.

Because this is what I want you to understand.

Because you need deep down to make a difference.

It does something in you that is hard to describe.

And let me ask you a question.

Now, don't answer this out loud.

Just answer this in your head, and I want you to be honest.

Here's the question: are you looking for opportunity to give your time?

Or are you talking yourself out of those opportunities?

Because I think most people are talking themselves out of these opportunities, right?

Oh, I'm too busy, I'm too old, I'm too young, I'm too short, I'm too tall, whatever.

I'm too this, and I just don't have enough time.

Now I'd love to, but I'm so busy and important, I just don't have time to help anyone else.

I'm just that important.

You just gotta understand, right?

And this is why Paul uh Paul said in Philippians is don't think of yourselves as too important to help someone else.

Because we are all important, we all do a lot of things.

I know that's arguable for some of you, but I understand.

But here's the thing we all have this need to help other people.

And so here's a question I want to ask.

If you are talking yourselves out of opportunities, this is the second question.

What good does that do?

I mean, I'm just asking, if you're talking yourself out of giving any time to help someone else, what good is that doing?

What good in the world are we doing by quietly dodging the good that we can be doing?

That's the question, right?

James 2 says this.

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith, but you don't show it by your actions?

Can that kind of faith save anyone?

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing and you say goodbye and have a good day, stay warm and eat well, but then you don't give that person any food or clothing.

What good does that do?

So you see, faith by itself isn't enough unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

And what James is just saying there is listen, if you believe in God and what Christ has done and the grace and forgiveness, then what happens is you start to extend that toward other people.

You start to give those gifts toward other people.

But what good is it if Christians aren't Christians?

Right?

Kind of like the song we sang earlier.

They'll know we are Christians by our love, right?

What good is a Christian that's not a loving Christian, right?

Like it doesn't, it's kind of useless.

It's not, it's I'm not trying to be ugly, it just is what it is.

Because here's the point James is telling us that walking by opportunities is not making the world a better place.

It just isn't.

Looking for them, responding to them in those moments where you know, oh shoot, you can feel the Holy Spirit speaking into you.

And if you don't know what the Holy Spirit is, it's that nudge that's like, hey, this is it, this is your time.

And you're like, ah, yeah, huh?

Oh it's that time you're you're you know getting coffee somewhere, verb, cat, cloud, bucks, wherever it is, and and you the person in line behind you is just having a rough day, and you're like, man, I should all of a sudden out of absolute nowhere, you should buy their coffee.

And you're like, where did that come from?

Because that was not from me.

And when you know it's not from you, that's God going little nudges, little nudges.

And that's your moment.

Oh, your tickets up, you're next in line to help someone.

Uh I'm just gonna buy my coffee and leave.

And we just kind of leave.

And what's interesting is that didn't do any good, did it?

But it is awesome when you help someone and all of a sudden you realize you helped them at just the right time.

And they're so grateful and thankful.

And sometimes people are weird about it, but you can't do anything about weird people.

We live in Santa Cruz, you're surrounded by them, okay?

Like I'm just saying, you can't do anything about that.

But sometimes it's just that moment where you realize, man, I'm so glad I listened to that nudge.

Because if I hadn't done that, I would have missed this opportunity.

See, this is what I want you to understand about some people ask, like, what does it mean to be a part of a church?

It means taking part in helping people.

Remember this, 1 Corinthians 12 says, all of you together, all of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.

And again, one of the biggest misconceptions we we we we fight all the time is church is just not something you come to.

It's a community that you're a part of.

And when you finally get that, you're going, oh gosh, it's like the lights come on all of a sudden of oh, oh.

When it's not just content you get and then you hit the parking lot, when it's really something that you're a part of, when you want to stick around and talk to a couple people, it makes a big difference.

Because what a church is, is people who are different, bringing what makes them unique to do good in the world.

It reminds me one time I was at this uh kid's birthday party at a roller skating rink, right?

You ever been to one of those?

Yeah.

There's always that awkward moment where a lot of the people are sitting out with skates on, and there's like a few people out there trying to skate and trying to get everybody going, but they're kind of out there by themselves and they're kind of pleading with people to come on, come on out and skate.

And people are like, no, no.

And it just kind of gets this awkward moment, right?

And what happens is that's when the DJ kicks in.

And the DJ starts to dim the lights a little bit, right?

And he starts to try to play the right song.

And he morphs the skating center into this dark, crazy, lit up place with this impulsing music to create an all-skate moment, right?

An all-skate where everyone skates.

Because when the skating rink is full of people, the energy's different, right?

Because everyone's having fun and it's a party.

So right now I'm just gonna be the DJ for just a second.

So here we go, right?

Let's kind of get that setting on.

We got it, yeah.

Then let's feel a little different.

Yeah.

Alright, that's good.

You got it anyway.

Everyone, it was funny.

I thought people would smile.

It was more of a face of like, is he gonna take his shirt off?

Like, what's about to happen right now?

Everybody's scared.

I didn't think you'd be scared, but that's okay.

Anyway, yeah, it's an all-skate moment.

Listen, you you've ever been out there, the part it's just the parties going, people, it's just the energy's different.

And here's the thing, here's what I'm saying.

When being the church is the deal, and not just coming to church, and it's an all-skate, and we're all involved and trying to help make a difference in our county, the energy is different.

The energy is different.

You feel it when you come in the room.

And I let me just be clear.

I'm not trying to guilt you.

I got no, I got no interest in guilting you whatsoever about any of this.

None.

But I do want to lovingly challenge you on some of the misconceptions that we have that are so common about giving time to help someone because you need to give your time more than anyone needs your time.

I'm gonna say that again because somebody fell asleep over here right when I said it.

Anyway, you need to give your time more than anyone needs your time.

There's always needs in every church, in every organization, food painter, whatever, there's always needs, right?

There's always a spot.

But the thing is, if your life is lacking any degree of purpose or fulfillment, and you're not serving anywhere, let me put it to you this way: you're trying to get healthy on the couch.

Right?

It's that sitting on the couch thing and be like, I think I'm gonna get fit soon.

No, you're not, right?

You're not gonna get where you want to go on the couch.

You gotta get out of that seat and get in the game.

I'm telling you, you'll get it.

You'll know immediately when you start doing it.

Like, oh wow, wow, I had no idea.

My job is to remind you that you are gifted to help others and make a difference.

You are gifted with time and talents.

Even though we talk them both down, you have them.

But my question to you is always what good are they doing?

Lots of times when we connect and doing something meaningful, the weird thing is we find meaningful relationships.

Sometimes when you're doing good, you find good friends.

And all of us need these two things in our lives.

I don't care what you think about faith, religion, and all that stuff.

Everybody needs belonging and everybody needs purpose.

And giving your time to help others connects them both.

It's one of those rare things that helps you not only connect with other people, but connect with meaning and purpose.

So, what I'm just asking you to do today is just stop talking yourself out of doing good.

Do not come to the end of your life and sit and regret and go, I wish I'd done more to this.

I wish I'd helped this.

You can change that today.

And I'm not asking you again to commit 40 hours and join the Peace Corps.

But what I am saying is, what sliver of time do you have that you can say, you know what, I'm gonna put my neck out there and I'm gonna do some good.

It's a step you'll never regret to help others with your time.

So here's where I want to challenge you, okay?

Wherever you are.

Now, some of you have been listening to this and you say, Matt, I'm already volunteering, I'm already serving somewhere.

Woo, go get them.

I love it.

Here's what I invite you to do: invite someone to join you.

If you're on a team somewhere or you're serving somewhere, do you know the best way that those teams grow and help meet the needs of others is when people invite other people.

There's nothing wrong with sitting down with a friend, having coffee, doing whatever, and just saying, listen, I know a great place that you can give a little bit of time and help a lot of people.

And you should come with me.

You don't have it's not there's this is a trial.

You don't have to, there's no commitment.

Just come and hang out with me one time and see this thing.

Oh, I really think you'd be good at it.

I really think you'd enjoy it.

And it's helped me.

And it'd probably help you just to give a little time to just make a difference in somebody's life.

I'm telling you.

So do that.

If you're not volunteering or serving anywhere, I'm gonna give you two paths to take this morning.

If you're watching us from home or you're listening to the podcast, we're gonna put a slide right now up with a QR code and a web address.

And that web address is real simple, Santa Cruz Bible.org slash volunteer.

I'll say it again, Santa Cruz Bible.org slash volunteer.

And if you're not, let's say you're not in the room or you need to leave early and you are in the room, but you're like, hey, I would like to get involved, but I got to kind of split, just scan that QR code or just type type that web page in, whatever's easier for you, and you can jump in.

And what we'll do is our staff will contact you and we will personally help find a spot for you.

The only thing I ask is that if you do scan that code or you do punch in that web address, and then we call you, that you don't ghost us and act like you've left the country.

Some people are like, I don't know a Santa Cruz Bible church.

What are you talking about?

Like, bro, like you gave us your phone number.

Anyway, so all I'm saying is, even if we go to spam, whatever it is, like give us a call.

We want to connect with you and help you connect.

And that's what all of our staff we're trying to do is just to help you find that spot that's perfect just for you.

Now, if you're here, here's some good things going on.

We're gonna have pizza right after the service, heading out to the courtyard, okay, and head out there.

And we also have staff and volunteers in our lobby.

This is mine, with these lanyards, okay?

And that shouldn't have been put on while I had a mic, but that's okay.

But these lanyards will be out there, and here's the thing: if you want to chat or help get connected to something, find someone with a lanyard and just ask.

Hey, I'm kind of interested in stuff.

Do you know about some things going on?

And we can all help connect you.

And here's the thing: even if you just want to have pizza and you're not ready to commit to all that yet, or even connect to any of that yet, that's okay.

We'd still love to meet you and just say, hey, we just haven't gotten to connect yet.

My name's Matt, and this is oh, so we just love to hang out for a second.

So if you have a second to do that, that would be amazing.

But here is again what I want to lay out for everybody.

The energy is different when we all say together, let's do some good and have some fun doing it.

That's how a difference is made in the world today.

Let's pray together, Father.

We just come to you and um, and this is hard stuff, but we just ask for you to help us find, help us reconsider, help us to relook at giving some time to make a difference.

Whether it's serving here on a Sunday and just every once in a while, or helping out our food pantry, or maybe some other place, some other time, maybe there's an organization that's been on your heart, and you feel like, man, if I just could give a couple hours, a month or a week or something, I I feel like that would really do me some good.

To volunteer our time, to just make a difference in someone else's life.

It does something so deep within us.

Father, we thank you that you've given us that hunger for that, that you've given us the talents and the personalities and the perspectives and the strengths to lean into to help in these really unique ways.

I just pray that we won't be too shy or too timid, and that we just jump in the pool and say, you know what, I if there's anything I need this year, it's fulfillment.

It's to drive off from somewhere and go on, you know what, I don't know what else I've done this week, but at least for that 30 minutes or that couple hours, I made a difference in somebody's life, and I'm just thankful for that.

Father, that's what you made us to do.

So would you help us to finally be okay with doing it?

It's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.