EP 33: SCC Savor, Month 8, Days 20-25

Allen: Welcome back to the SCC Savor podcast. My name is Alan, one of your co-hosts, and I'm joined with Jeremy Rennie, the other co-host. That's right. Senior pastor of Santa Belle Community Church. On this podcast, we're savoring God through every bite of scripture. you've been a Florida man approximately, you just celebrated your sanniversary. My saniversary. I'm six years Florida man.

Jeramie: Welcome back to the SCC Savor podcast. My name is Alan, one of your co-hosts, and I'm joined with Jeremy Rennie, the other co-host. That's right. Senior pastor of Santa Belle Community Church. On this podcast, we're savoring God through every bite of scripture. you've been a Florida man approximately, you just celebrated your sanniversary. My saniversary. I'm six years Florida man.

Allen: Six fli years, Florida man. Yeah, I've fully embraced my identity. Well, tell us how you've embraced your Florida identity. What's the most Florida man thing that you've ever done in your life? In your six years? I you know, I probably like probably the most regular Florida man thing I do is is I got I've gotten into open water swimming. And and you know, there's all kinds of big creepy things out in the ocean. So freaky. Yeah. Like people are like, Are there sharks sharks out there? I'm like, Yeah, it's literally shark infested.

Jeramie: Six fli years, Florida man. Yeah, I've fully embraced my identity. Well, tell us how you've embraced your Florida identity. What's the most Florida man thing that you've ever done in your life? In your six years? I you know, I probably like probably the most regular Florida man thing I do is is I got I've gotten into open water swimming. And and you know, there's all kinds of big creepy things out in the ocean. So freaky. Yeah. Like people are like, Are there sharks sharks out there? I'm like, Yeah, it's literally shark infested.

Allen: It is. I I experienced Star confested waters. Yes, I experienced it this past week and I was out fishing with one of the youth guys. Yeah. And he's all right, there's this spot we get in, you know, how do you feel about mud? And I'm what you mean how I feel about mud? He's well, you gotta walk through a little bit of mud. I'm all right, whatever. So I go meet him. And then I walk out. First off, as soon as I close my door, it was a swarm of mosquitoes just encroaching on my neck. They're bite they're biting me. I'm like, all right, whatever. So we're walking through this brush.

Jeramie: It is. I I experienced Star confested waters. Yes, I experienced it this past week and I was out fishing with one of the youth guys. Yeah. And he's all right, there's this spot we get in, you know, how do you feel about mud? And I'm what you mean how I feel about mud? He's well, you gotta walk through a little bit of mud. I'm all right, whatever. So I go meet him. And then I walk out. First off, as soon as I close my door, it was a swarm of mosquitoes just encroaching on my neck. They're bite they're biting me. I'm like, all right, whatever. So we're walking through this brush.

Allen: And it's through this muddy water. And then there's literally thousands of little crabs scurrying and running away. You know the ones with the big white claw? Yeah. Yeah. They're tiny with a little white claw. I'm like, yeah, what in the world is this? And then we're walking through this. I'm slugging through. And then it opens out into the ocean. Yeah. And so I'm out there, we're walking in the ocean. And some of them are like, I'm getting I'm like, they're what? I'm like, yeah, there's jellyfish out here. And I'm like, so they got getting sung by jellyfish a little bit. And then there's some guys that were about a hundred yards away from us. And all I hear is

Jeramie: And it's through this muddy water. And then there's literally thousands of little crabs scurrying and running away. You know the ones with the big white claw? Yeah. Yeah. They're tiny with a little white claw. I'm like, yeah, what in the world is this? And then we're walking through this. I'm slugging through. And then it opens out into the ocean. Yeah. And so I'm out there, we're walking in the ocean. And some of them are like, I'm getting I'm like, they're what? I'm like, yeah, there's jellyfish out here. And I'm like, so they got getting sung by jellyfish a little bit. And then there's some guys that were about a hundred yards away from us. And all I hear is

Allen: my gosh, that's a huge shark. That's bigger than the boats out there. And I'm like, my gosh. So I'm just out here jellyfish. There's there's definitely gators like around and sharks. I'm like, dude. It's very Florida man. It's so Florida man. I was like, I don't know if I'm built for this. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's just things out there that can eat you. Yeah. It's kind of Jurassic Park. There are things that can literally eat you. But I love it. Yeah. All right. One more question. Okay.

Jeramie: my gosh, that's a huge shark. That's bigger than the boats out there. And I'm like, my gosh. So I'm just out here jellyfish. There's there's definitely gators like around and sharks. I'm like, dude. It's very Florida man. It's so Florida man. I was like, I don't know if I'm built for this. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's just things out there that can eat you. Yeah. It's kind of Jurassic Park. There are things that can literally eat you. But I love it. Yeah. All right. One more question. Okay.

Allen: What is the most dad thing that you do? The most dad thing. Mm-hmm. there's a number of them. I think one of my favorites is when my kids slip up and use Gen Z slang around me. I quickly adopt it and I quickly use it and misuse it. Mm-hmm. in in slightly off ways, which just it's like fingernails on the chalkboard to them. And I just love it as a dad. Like like Harambe.

Jeramie: What is the most dad thing that you do? The most dad thing. Mm-hmm. there's a number of them. I think one of my favorites is when my kids slip up and use Gen Z slang around me. I quickly adopt it and I quickly use it and misuse it. Mm-hmm. in in slightly off ways, which just it's like fingernails on the chalkboard to them. And I just love it as a dad. Like like Harambe.

Allen: Yeah, like harambe. That was the quick side banter. The first time I'd ever had a meal with you, second time I'd met you was over at your house on Christmas Eve. Yeah. And I accidentally mentioned harambe. And I didn't know this about you yet. Yeah. And and all of your kids were like, no, don't get started. Yeah. And then and then I was like, I was like, what is this harambe of which you speak? And so Alan, you took us into a a side rabbit trail in harambe. Yeah.

Jeramie: Yeah, like harambe. That was the quick side banter. The first time I'd ever had a meal with you, second time I'd met you was over at your house on Christmas Eve. Yeah. And I accidentally mentioned harambe. And I didn't know this about you yet. Yeah. And and all of your kids were like, no, don't get started. Yeah. And then and then I was like, I was like, what is this harambe of which you speak? And so Alan, you took us into a a side rabbit trail in harambe. Yeah.

Allen: And if if you're out there and you don't know like I didn't who who Harambe is, just Google that and get the lore on it. It's amazing. But it spawned a whole like meme culture thread, you know. It it went viral. It did go viral. And so we had to hear about I heard your misuses of Harambe. yeah. Immediately. And I my kids just like when they like when dabbing was in yeah. yeah, I humiliated them. So

Jeramie: And if if you're out there and you don't know like I didn't who who Harambe is, just Google that and get the lore on it. It's amazing. But it spawned a whole like meme culture thread, you know. It it went viral. It did go viral. And so we had to hear about I heard your misuses of Harambe. yeah. Immediately. And I my kids just like when they like when dabbing was in yeah. yeah, I humiliated them. So

Allen: That I you know, I think that's just an inherent dad instinct to to embarrass his kids. Yeah, yeah. That's funny. R. I p Harambe. Yeah, yeah. All right. let's get back into our conversation here on the scriptures. This is a month eight days twenty th through twenty five. So we're gonna wrap up month eight. It's crazy, it's been this much already. we're gonna talk about the entire book of Esther. Entire book of Esther. Yep.

Jeramie: That I you know, I think that's just an inherent dad instinct to to embarrass his kids. Yeah, yeah. That's funny. R. I p Harambe. Yeah, yeah. All right. let's get back into our conversation here on the scriptures. This is a month eight days twenty th through twenty five. So we're gonna wrap up month eight. It's crazy, it's been this much already. we're gonna talk about the entire book of Esther. Entire book of Esther. Yep.

Allen: And then we're gonna talk about Proverbs 15, 1 through 17. We're gonna talk about Titus and Philemon, and then we're gonna talk about Jesus in the Gospel of Luke 19 through 20, which is a triumphal entry. But let's go into Esther, which you preached a sermon series on in the in the in the fall, winter. That's right. leading up to it. Really cool story, amazing story if you're familiar with it. and kind of a big theme, kind of macro.

Jeramie: And then we're gonna talk about Proverbs 15, 1 through 17. We're gonna talk about Titus and Philemon, and then we're gonna talk about Jesus in the Gospel of Luke 19 through 20, which is a triumphal entry. But let's go into Esther, which you preached a sermon series on in the in the in the fall, winter. That's right. leading up to it. Really cool story, amazing story if you're familiar with it. and kind of a big theme, kind of macro, as I as I listen to your sermons, you know, you talked about this big idea of

Allen: As I as I listen to your sermons, you know, you talked about this big idea of providence. Yes. That's like kind of the threading theme throughout this book. So maybe you can intro a little bit the book of Esper and and this idea of providence. Yeah, it's it's the story of God saving his people and preserving his people, but it's a story in which God does not appear in the story. Yeah. He's not referenced. There's no, you know, we don't have any prayers that are read.

Jeramie: Providence. Yes. That's like kind of the threading theme throughout this book. So maybe you can intro a little bit the book of Vesper and and this idea of providence. Yeah, it's it's the story of God saving his people and preserving his people, but it's a story in which God does not appear in the story. Yeah. He's not referenced. There's no, you know, we don't have any prayers that are read. we don't have any, you know, religious rituals besides fasting.

Allen: we don't have any, you know, religious rituals besides fasting.

Jeramie: So I mean, if you didn't if you didn't know these were the Jews, it could be like any other ethnic group in that sense. It's not a a a sort of in your face religious book. and yet God is in every page and he's guiding the process. So providence is a th is a theological word. The best definition that I've heard that I really like is the invisible hand of God guiding all things.

Allen: So I mean, if you didn't if you didn't know these were the Jews, it could be like any other ethnic group in that sense. It's not a a a sort of in your face religious book. and yet God is in every page and he's guiding the process. So providence is a th is a theological word. The best definition that I've heard that I really like is the invisible hand of God guiding all things.

Jeramie: So God is guiding all things, but his hand is invisible.

Allen: So God is guiding all things, but his hand is invisible

Jeramie: And we don't know what he's doing or how, but we see the outcomes and we see things that we call like coincidences or you know, I heard people say like God winks or God showed up. right, right. But it's that idea that like suddenly you you have these moments where you realize, wait, that was that just kind of came together in an amazing way. And and that's when Providence is always at work, whether we see it or not. But that's those moments where it really becomes clear. And so Esther has a lot of those moments.

Allen: and we don't know what he's doing or how, but we see the outcomes and we see things that we call like coincidences or you know, I heard people say like God winks or God showed up. right, right. But it's that idea that like suddenly you you have these moments where you realize, wait, that was that just kind of came together in an amazing way. And and that's when providence is always at work, whether we see it or not. But that's those moments where it really becomes clear. And so Esther has a lot of those moments.

Jeramie: Yeah. so it's it's a great book that way, reminding us that God's sovereign.

Allen: Yeah. so it's it's a great book that way, reminding us that God's sovereign.

Jeramie: And especially the context of Esther is the you know, you have Esther and Mordecai, the two heroes protagonists, and they are they're trying to survive, and God's people are trying to survive in a an extremely hostile, volatile, power drunk, yeah, wicked, yeah, Persian power structure. Yeah. And you're just like, you know, how

Allen: And especially the context of Esther is the you know, you have Esther and Mordecai, the two heroes protagonists, and they are they're trying to survive, and God's people are trying to survive in a an extremely hostile, volatile, power-drunk, yeah, wicked, yeah, Persian power structure. Yeah. And you're just like, you know, how.

Jeramie: how are they gonna make it in this? And it's just God's sovereign timing, even down to things like the very morning that.

Allen: How are they gonna make it in this? And it's just God's sovereign timing, even down to things like the very morning that

Jeramie: you know, Haman comes in and is gonna ask that Mordecai be hanged or is probably impaled. Yeah. Like just as he's coming in, that's just when the king is saying, What should I do for the man the king wants to honor? And he had just heard the record of Mordecai's y you know, saving the king's life. And so just like those like

Allen: you know Haman comes in and is gonna ask that Mordecai be hanged or is probably impaled. Yeah, like just as he's coming in, that's just when the king is saying, What should I do for the man the king wants to honor? And he had just heard the record of Mordecai's you, you know, saving the king's life. And so just like those like

Jeramie: it's a last minute kind of things you realize are not coincidences, but it's it's providence. Right. Yeah. I think it's it's super cool as you mentioned those kind of last minute things is it's the irony.

Allen: It's a last minute kind of things you realize are not coincidences, but it's it's providence. Right. Yeah. I think it's it's super cool as you mentioned those kind of last minute things, is it's the irony

Jeramie: That just comes out. It's like what you think is like horrible going poorly right when when Haman wants wants to, you know, get rid of all of the Jews and then he wants to it's the gallows. I think you were talking about this, like it's probably impaled rather than right. Right. and then you know that's how Haman ends up dying.

Allen: that just comes out. It's like what you think is like horrible going poorly right when when Heyman wants wants to, you know, get rid of all of the Jews and then he wants to it's the gallows. I think you were talking about this like it's probably impaled rather than right. Right. and then, you know, that's how Heyman ends up dying.

Jeramie: Yeah. It's just like it flips it all in his head. You're like, whoa, that's the invisible hand of God who's actually working through all of this moral corruption, human corruption, political.

Allen: Yeah. It's just like it flips it all in his head. You're like, whoa, that's the invisible hand of God who's actually working through all of this moral corruption, human corruption, political, violence and it's just actually God's gonna still accomplish his plans. So I think it's a great comfort. I remember so Yeah, because I think we get we get wrapped around the axle about you know

Jeramie: violence and it's just actually God's gonna still accomplish his plans. So I think it's a great comfort. I remember so Yeah, because I think we get we get wrapped around the axle about you know who's the king, who's in charge, what party's in power. And those things matter and we should care and we should vote and we should you know and it and some Christians are called to go into politics and that's great. But at the end of the day, even if you have like just an animal like King Ahasorus

Allen: Who's the king, who's in charge, what party's in power. And those things matter. And we should care and we should vote. And we should, you know, and it and some Christians are called to go into politics, and that's great. But at the end of the day, even if you have like just an animal like King Ahasarus

Jeramie: And Haman, you know, these are these guys are like just political monsters and they're selfish and drunk and yeah, you know, womanizers. I mean, they're just bad people. Yeah. And yet, God

Allen: and Haman, you know, these these guys are like just political monsters. And they're selfish and drunk and you know, womanizers. I mean, they're just bad people. Yeah. And yet, God

Jeramie: works. Yeah. Some people listening are like, what do you mean? That's our politicians now. Yeah, exactly. I mean, it's just it's the world that it's the world. Nothing has changed. Like this is the way the world it was then, but God can still accomplish great things, even when it seems like all the cards are stacked against his people. Yeah, yeah, that's right.

Allen: works. Yeah. Some people listening are like, What do you mean? That's our politicians now. Yeah, exactly. I mean it's just it's the world it's the world nothing has changed. Like this is the way the world it was then, but God can still accomplish great things even when it seems like all the cards are stacked against his people. Yeah. Yeah. That's right.

Jeramie: When I was saved, I like to say this now, when I learned this, I was like, Whoa.

Allen: when I was saved, I like to say this now, when I learned this, I was like, whoa. in God's providence, I was saved in Providence. Mm-hmm. Because I was saved in Providence, Rhode Island. And I and I remember learning for the first time what Providence meant. It was like under the protective care of God. That was the first definition I just read out of like the Webster or the Miriam or whatever. And then like I started to learn the Bible more and learn about this theological concept. I'm like, yeah, this is this is God at work. Yeah, it's just it's been a comfort for for my soul, sweet, sweet doc doctrine. Yeah.

Jeramie: in God's providence, I was saved in Providence. 'Cause I was saved in Providence, Rhode Island. And I and I remember learning for the first time what Providence meant. It like under the protective care of God. That was the first definition I just read out of like the Webster or the Miriam or whatever. And then like I started to learn the Bible more and learn about this theological concept. I'm like, yeah, this is this is God at work. Yeah, it's just it's been a comfort for for my soul, sweet, sweet doc doctrine. Yeah.

Allen: Yeah. God gives us those little things to hold on to and just to remind you.

Jeramie: Yeah, God gives us those little things to hold on to and just to remind you, yeah,

Allen: Yeah, that he's got us in his hands. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, that's the great thing. It's like no matter how insane your circumstances may seem or whatever, like God is just as in control of those as he is over the things that where it seems like, you know, God showed up. And you know, that that's that that's the that's the flip side of God showed up is that even when you think God didn't show up,

Jeramie: that he's got us in his hands. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, that's the great thing. It's like no matter how insane your circumstances may seem or whatever, like God is just as in control of those as he is over the things that where it seems like, you know, God showed up. And you know, that that's that that's the that's the flip side of God showed up, is that even when you think God didn't show up,

Allen: he showed up and he's ruling all things just as much as when he did quote unquote show up. I he's he's sovereign. Yeah. And so we can rest.

Jeramie: He showed up and he's ruling all things just as much as when he did quote unquote show up. I mean he's he's sovereign. Yeah. And so we can rest in that and trust him and and just seek to to follow him and honor him. Yeah. I think probably at some point maybe in every Christian's life, there is probably a period when you ask God, where are you? Mm-hmm. yeah, for sure. You know? And it's just like I think this b book is the embodiment to in the answer to that question. Yeah. When you're like, God, where are you? You seen God? He's like

Allen: that and trust him and and just seek to to follow him and honor him. Yeah. I think probably at some point maybe in every Christian's life there is probably a period when you ask God where are you? Mm hmm. yeah, for sure. You know? And it's just like I think this book is the embodiment to in the answer to that question. Yeah. When you're like, God, where are you? You seen God? He's like literally the whole book. Yeah. He doesn't you don't see his name. Yeah. He doesn't speak through a prophet. Yeah. There's nothing like that. Yeah. But he's still there. He's still there. Yeah.

Jeramie: Literally the whole book. Yeah. He doesn't you don't see his name. Yeah. He doesn't speak through a prophet. Yeah. There's nothing like that. Yeah. But he's still there. He's still there. Yeah. It's great. That theme, interestingly, of God's sovereignty comes out in the Proverbs reading. so was it like fifteen through seventeen? Yeah, fifteen through seventeen. Yep. it's six and chapter sixteen, I was struck by the number of proverbs that emphasized that theme of God's sovereignty. for instance,

Allen: Great. That theme, interestingly, of God's sovereignty comes out in the Proverbs reading. so was it like 15 through 17? Yeah, 15 through 17. Yeah. six and chapter sixteen, I was struck by the number of proverbs that emphasized that theme of God's sovereignty. for instance, you know, all a person's ways seems right to him, but the Lord weighs the motive. So you see God kind of

Jeramie: You know, all a person's ways seems right to him, but the Lord weighs the motive. So you see God kind of no matter what people are doing, he's the one ultimately assessing things. commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be established. So it's like it's God who determines what takes place. So commit yourself to him. Mm-hmm. Even the next verse, the Lord has made everything for its purpose. Yep. Even the wicked for the day of trouble. It's like there is nothing that's out of place.

Allen: no matter what people are doing, he's the one ultimately assessing things. commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be established. So it's like it's God who determines what takes place. So commit yourself to him. even the next verse, the Lord has made everything for its purpose. Yep. Even the wicked for the day of trouble. It's like there is nothing that's out of place

Jeramie: Yeah. In this world. Even though it might seem yeah.

Allen: in this world. Even though it might seem yeah.

Jeramie: The verse nine, the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes hips his steps. And it's just like yeah. It's just like God is establishing and moving everything according to his purpose. Yep. It's like it's like James says, you know, don't say next year we'll go do this and that, but if the Lord wills. Yeah. And and I think and I think we talked about that when we studied James, just like what a good habit that is to in our speech even to

Allen: The verse nine, the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes hips his steps. And it's just like yeah. It's just like God is establishing and moving everything according to his purpose. Yep. It's like it's like James says, you know, don't say next year we'll go do this and that, but if the Lord wills. Yeah. And and I think and I think we talked about that when we studied James, just like what a good habit that is to in our speech even to To learn to say, you know, Lord willing. Lord willing. It it just reminds us as Christians that, you know, we can make our plans, but God's the one who'll determine our steps. Yeah. That's right. And we probably all have experiences in life as Christians where we look back, we're like, well, I thought that was gonna happen. Yeah. But God had other plans. Yeah, that's what we say. And and so we just recognize the humility we have to walk before God. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's what it drives you to is the humility. Like you are fully dependent upon like you think you can do this.

Jeramie: To learn to say, you know, Lord willing. Lord willing. It it just reminds us as Christians that, you know, we can make our plans, but God's the one who'll determine our steps. Yeah. That's right. And we probably all have experiences in life as Christians where we look back, we're like, well, I thought that was gonna happen. Yeah. But God had other plans. Yeah, that's what we say. And and so we just recognize the humility we have to walk before God. Yeah. Yeah, I think that's what it drives you to is the humility. Like you are fully dependent upon like you think you can do this. Yeah. Right.

Allen: Yeah. Right. Haman thought he could do something, but no, God's still gonna vindicate, deliver, and save his people. Cause he's so committed to his people and to his glory in saving his people. It's like they're gonna give glory to my name. The conclusion of that proverb, rather loosely conclusion, is the lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord. That's right. So it seems random to us. Yeah. We cast, you know, they cast a lot. Mm-hmm.

Jeramie: Haman thought he could do something, but no, God's still gonna vindicate, deliver, and save his people. Cause he's so committed to his people and to his glory in saving his people. It's like they're gonna give glory to my name. The conclusion of that proverb, rather loosely conclusion, is the lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord. That's right. So it seems random to us. Yeah. We cast, you know, they cast a lot. Mm-hmm. but ultimately God is the one determining. So ev even like, you know, even that lot flipping over whatever it was that, you know, or or that hands reaching in blindly to draw the lot out. But God is the one determining what yeah the eyes will see. Yeah. And it's like, well, how does he do that? Yeah. I have no idea. I don't know. I guess he's not he's not operating in cause and effect in a in a material universe. He's he's above and beyond it. So however he does it is is in a manner

Allen: but ultimately God is the one determining. So ev even like, you know, even that lot flipping over whatever it was that, you know, or or that hands reaching in blindly to draw the lot out. But God is the one determining what yeah the eyes will see. Yeah. And it's like, well, how does he do that? Yeah. I have no idea. I don't know. I guess he's not he's not operating in cause and effect in a in a material universe. He's he's above and beyond it. So however he does it is is in a manner Above and beyond our comprehension in in a way that we don't have any framework for. Yeah. So I'm not surprised I don't understand. I don't understand, but I understand why I don't understand. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. You know, people often ask a question like, How do you reconcile God's absolute sovereignty with human responsibility? And you know, we could talk a lot about that through logic, but at some point you gotta throw your hands up and say, I don't know. Yeah. I like what Spurgeon said. He says I don't reconcile because you don't have to reconcile friends. Friends don't need to be reconciled. Wow.

Jeramie: Above and beyond our comprehension in in a way that we don't have any framework for. Yeah. So I'm not surprised I don't understand. I don't understand, but I understand why I don't understand. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. You know, people often ask a question like, How do you reconcile God's absolute sovereignty with human responsibility? And you know we could talk a lot about that through logic, but at some point you gotta throw your hands up and say, I don't know. Yeah. I like what Spurgeon said. He says I don't reconcile because you don't have to reconcile friends. Friends don't need to be reconciled. Wow.

Allen: Well, I've never I've heard that. That was good. Yeah, it was really good. I was like, Yeah, they're friends. Like God is sovereign. We're responsible. The Bible never pits them against each other as if it's like it's one or the other. But again, it's because what however God operates is outside of the the the causal matrix of you know, matter and energy that we know. Yeah. Yeah. Theologians talk about it as God's will is completely free.

Jeramie: Well, I've never I've heard that. That was good. Yeah, it was really good. I was like, Yeah, they're friends. Like God is sovereign. We're responsible. The Bible never pits them against each other as if it's like it's one or the other. But again, it's because what however God operates is outside of the the the causal matrix of you know, matter and energy that we know. Yeah. Yeah. Theologians talk about it as God's will is completely free. He's not bound to something happening here where he can move outside of that in a way that doesn't make sense because our wills are bound, our intellect is bound, right? This is what you know they talked about, God's God's transcendence. He's above human comprehens comprehension, yet at the same time he's imminent, he's close. And that's why we can trust him. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. Luke's triumphal entries. Yes. Jesus coming into Jerusalem. This is you know, now this is our third gospel, and the third time we've

Allen: He's not bound to something happening here where he can move outside of that in a way that doesn't make sense because our wills are bound, our intellect is bound, right? This is what you know, they talked about God's God's transcendence. He's above human comprehens comprehension, yet at the same time he's imminent, he's close. And that's why we can trust him. Yeah. Yeah. That's great. Luke's triumphal entry. Yes. Jesus coming into Jerusalem. This is you know, now this is our third gospel, and the third time we've

Jeramie: Read this story in the what's often called synoptics. Yeah. If you've been listening, synoptics means a common viewpoint. So Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the synoptic gospels because a lot of the stories and the order of the stories is similar. There's not identical, but it's very similar. Such that scholars even try to figure out were they somehow interdependent on each other? Were they all drawing from a common source? Did Matthew and Luke use Mark as a

Allen: Read this story in the what's often called synoptics. Yeah. If you've been listening, synoptics means a common viewpoint. So Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the synoptic gospels because a lot of the stories and the order of the stories is similar. There's not identical, but it's very similar, such that scholars even try to figure out were they somehow interdependent on each other? Were they all drawing from a common source? Did Matthew and Luke use Mark as a part one of their documents they drew from that because there's so much overlap. So anyway, here we are with triumphal entry. And and Jesus he's I th it seems like this section, I always just think like this is Jesus getting into the ring with the leaders. And you know, between now and and the Garden of Gethsemane, he's like going toe to toe. You know, he's he's cleansing the temple. He's you know pronouncing judgment on the temple. He's

Jeramie: one of their documents they drew from that because there's so much overlap. So anyway, here we are at the triumphal entry. And and Jesus he's I th it seems like this section, I always just think like this is Jesus getting into the ring with the leaders. And you know, between now and and the Garden of Gethsemane, he's like going toe to toe. You know, he's he's cleansing the temple. He's, you know, pronouncing judgment on the temple. He's

Allen: He's like gets into these debates in the temple with the leaders. you know, where they're they're trying to trip him up with questions. Yeah. And he's like escapes everyone and then flips it back on them. Mm-hmm. So it's a it's I I just love this section. Yeah. One of the perplexing things that is just I've never gotten over is is 1940, or I'll start at 38.

Jeramie: He's like gets into these debates in the temple with the leaders. Mm-hmm. you know, where they're they're trying to trip him up with questions. Yeah. And he's like escapes everyone and then flips it back on them. Mm-hmm. So it's a it's I I just love this section. Yeah. One of the perplexing things that is just I've never gotten over is is 1940, or I'll start at 38. Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. He answered, I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. You know, like That's a crazy statement. Literally nuts. He's like, I don't even need that. The stones would cry out because I'm king, because I'm God. I'm like, Yeah. my God. And it also just humbles me. It's like, the Lord doesn't need me to accomplish his purposes. But because of his grace and his mercy, I get to participate in that. I'm like

Allen: Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord, peace in heaven and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, Teacher, rebuke your disciples. He answered, I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. That's a crazy statement. Literally nuts. He was like, I don't even need that. The stones would cry out because I'm king, because I'm God. I'm like, Yeah. my God. And it also just humbles me. It's like, the Lord doesn't need me to accomplish his purposes. But because of his grace and his mercy, I get to participate in that. I'm like my that just that just floored me when I was reading that the other day. And it it always has. And and you know, it it reminds us why the Pharisees were so, you know, shook by Jesus because he he would say things like that. And it's like nobody talks like that. Yeah. Rabbis don't talk like that. Kings don't talk like that. But but you know, to say like rocks, you know, who who do the rocks and the stones cry out for? They cry out to God. Yeah. Creation cries out and prays to God. Yeah. So y you know, it's it's just a very veiled

Jeramie: my that just that just floored me when I was reading that the other day. And it it always has. And and you know, it it reminds us why the Pharisees were so, you know, shook by Jesus because he he would say things like that. And it's like nobody talks like that. Yeah. Rabbis don't talk like that. Kings don't talk like that. But but you know, to say like rocks, you know, who who do the rocks and the stones cry out for? They cry out to God. Yeah, creation cries out and prays to God. Yeah. So y you know, it's it's just a very veiled

Allen: claim of divine status that and divine identity that the Pharisees are getting. I mean they're they're theologians. They're like, Bro, you've crossed the line again. Yeah. And Jesus is like, No, you have failed to cross the line and follow me. Right. You know? Yeah. Yeah. Continuing on kind of through that section, right, you you famously you have, you know, when they're trying to trip him up when Jesus says, Hey, render the things, the things that are Caesars and the thing that are God, yeah, God's to him.

Jeramie: claim of divine status that and divine identity that the Pharisees are getting. I mean they're they're theologians. They're like, Bro, you've crossed the line again. Yeah. And Jesus is like, No, you have failed to cross the line and follow me. Right. You know? Yeah. Yeah. Continuing on kind of through that section, right? You you famously you have, you know, when they're trying to trip him up when Jesus says, Hey, render the things, the things that are Caesars and the thing that are God, yeah, God's to him.

Allen: Maybe a little bit of kind of like a political statement here. charged political statement. Or like, man, why is he talking like that? 'Cause you know, the a lot of it was there expecting to come and have a political ruler, a political figure who would come and triumph and he's kind of throwing that upside down and and confusing them, while at the same time verifying his own purpose for why he came, which was not to triumph over it in some b big political f figure,

Jeramie: Maybe a little bit of kind of like a political statement here. charged political statement. Or like, man, why is he talking like that? 'Cause you know, the a lot of it was they're expecting to come and have a political ruler, a political figure who would come and triumph. And he's kind of throwing that upside down and and confusing them, while at the same time verifying his own purpose for why he came, which was not to triumph over it in some b big political f figure.

Allen: but to actually

Jeramie: But to actually defeat and win through what seemed to be a loss and defeat. Yeah, and and that's that's the thing, is like he's defeating them. You know, he has the he has the people on his side through the triumphal entry in all of these verbal sparring matches, he comes out on top. you know, and and then it you know, chapter twenty one is we're gonna see he predicts the destruction of the temple.

Allen: defeat and win through what seemed to be a loss and defeat. Yeah, and and that's that's the thing is like he's defeating them. You know, he has the he has the people on his side through the triumphal entry in all of these verbal sparring matches he comes out on top you know and and then it you know chapter twenty one is we're gonna see he predicts the destruction of the temple. So he's like the winner and then we get to

Jeramie: So he's like the winner, and then we get to the final contest and he dies. and so it it it's kind of the twist at the end of it because it looks like he's just taking taking down his combat his enemies one by one. And of course we'll we'll see that on the cross he takes down the greatest enemy, you know, sin and and God's judgment against us and the devil. Yeah. Yeah. Amen. And then we we actually read in that fourth

Allen: the final contest and he dies. and so it it it's kind of the twist at the end of it because it looks like he's just taking taking down his combat his enemies one by one. And of course we'll we'll see that on the cross he takes down the greatest enemy. You know, sin and and God's judgment against us and the devil. Yeah. Yeah. Amen. And then we we actually read in that fourth reading, you know, there's four readings each day. We actually

Jeramie: Reading, you there's four readings each day. We actually in this last week powered through two New Testament books, Titus and Philema. Yeah. Well we skipped commenting on Titus last time because Titus. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Because it was just a little bit and we went a bit. Yeah, just just a little bit. Yeah. Similar type of you know, we talked about pastoral epistles, right? First and second Timothy in Titus, Paul writing to some of his proteges and the early establishment of the church, how the church

Allen: In this last week, powered through two New Testament books, Titus and Philemon. Yeah. Well, we skipped commenting on Titus last time because Titus. Yeah, yeah, right. Yeah. Yeah. Because it was just a little bit in a little bit. Yeah, just just a little bit. Yeah. Similar type of, you know, we talked about pastoral epistles, right? First and second Timothy in Titus, Paul writing to some of his proteges and the early establishment of the church, how the church ought to run and to be healthy, and the type of leaders that he's called. And so

Jeramie: ought to run and to be healthy and the type of leaders that he's called and so

Allen: Titus is is the same. actually I'm I gotta go backwards just for one second because a question came up. People were asking me. We have a question from the audience. We do. Okay. They hear and I had to research this 'cause I wasn't sure. They're like in it it came from Second Timothy three eight. which which says

Jeramie: Titus is is the same. actually I'm I gotta go backwards just for one second because a question came up. People were asking me We have a question from the audience. We do. Okay. They here and I had to research this 'cause I wasn't sure. They're like in it it came from second Timothy three eight. which which says

Allen: When they pointed this I like, just as Janice and Jambries? Yes. Opposed Moses. So these men also oppose the truth. Men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. Brody was talking about it, Teddy was talking about it. Who are these? Who are these guys? Janice and Jambres. Yeah. You don't have their names anywhere in the Bible. But what you do have them

Jeramie: When they pointed this I like, just as Janice and Jambries? Yes. Opposed Moses. So these men also pose the truth. Men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. Brody was talking about it, Teddy was talking about we're like, who are these who are these guys? Janice and Jambres. Yeah. You don't have their names anywhere in the Bible. But what you do have them.

Allen: is probably what what would Janice and Jambries sound like? This sounds like a like like a burger franchise. Over I was thinking more musical. Yeah, Janice and Jambries. Mm-hmm. Uhhuh. It's like a band.

Jeramie: It's probably what what would Janice and Jambries sound like? This sounds like a like like a burger franchise. Over I was thinking more musical. Yeah, Janice and Jambries. huh. It's like a band. Yeah, it is a band. It's a band. Yeah. That's the next SC band. What kind of what would be the genre? dude. It would be like a Janice and Jambries. It would be like a funk. Yeah. Yes. It totally has a funk vibe. Yeah. Okay. I'm with you on that. Yeah. All right. Next SC C band. Yeah, that's right. huh. Okay. So who who are who are these figures?

Allen: Yeah, it is a band. It's a band. Yeah. That's the next SC band. What kind of what would be the genre? dude, it would be like a jambul. It would be like a funk. Yeah. Yes. It totally has a funk vibe. Yeah. Okay, I'm with you on that. All right. Next SCC band. Yeah, that's right. Uh-huh. Okay, so who who are who are these figures? okay, so the Old Testament never named I was reach research on this, it never names these figures. Yeah. But Jewish tradition identified them with the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses and Aaron in Exodus seven.

Jeramie: Okay. So the Old Testament never named that was a reach research on this, it never names these figures. Yeah. But Jewish tradition identified them with the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses and Aaron in Exodus seven, eleven through twelve two. So it's a reference to Jewish tradition. It's a reference to Jewish tradition. Yeah. That's right. But they're just interesting because it's like here he's quoting not the Bible but Jewish tradition. Yeah. And that happens in Jude as well, as we're gonna see. Yeah. Where Jewish tradition is quoted. But yeah.

Allen: Eleven through twelve two. So it's a reference to Jewish tradition. It's reference to Jewish tradition. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. But they're just interesting because it's like here he's quoting not the Bible but Jewish tradition. Yeah. And that happens in Jude as well, as we're gonna see. Yeah. Where Jewish tradition is quoted. But yeah,

Jeramie: Yeah, it's these you know, these two people. Interestingly, in that same book, he calls out other two other guys,

Allen: yeah, it's these you know, these two people. Interestingly, in that same book, he calls out other two other guys. you know, as the opponents. so Well Himeneus and Philatus. okay. And yeah, yeah. Yeah. That's interesting. So he names names. Yeah. He Paul name drops. Paul names names. Yeah. He's not afraid to name names. And so and here he's got Janice and Jambries. So I think in some ways that it it's possible that

Jeramie: you know, as the opponents. so What Himeneus and Philadis. okay. And yeah, yeah. Yeah. That's interesting. So he names names. Yeah. He Paul name drops. Paul names names. Yeah. He's not afraid to name names. And so and here he's got Janice and Jambries. So I think in some ways that it it's possible that

Allen: that because he cites a pair of opponents who resist the truth and who he he's sort of saying, you know, these guys are like the Janice and Jambries.

Jeramie: That because he cites a pair of opponents who resist the truth and who he he's sort of saying, you know, these guys are like the Janice and Jambries in our little drama here. Yeah. Timothy in Ephesus. Yeah. That's that was a fun question. Things you know. Yeah, yeah, that was cool. It's like, yeah. Yeah. Gotta look it up. Maybe two dogs. Like you know? Yeah. Janice and Janice and Jambries. You think you think it's Jan Jambries? Janice? Janes? Jane.

Allen: In our little drama here. Yeah. Timothy in Ephesus. Yeah. That's that was a fun question. Things you know. Yeah, yeah. It was cool. I was like, yeah. Yeah. I'd look it up. Maybe two dogs. Like you know? Yeah. Janice and Janice and Jambries. You think you think it's J Jambries? Janice? Janes? Jane Jannies and Jambries. Yeah. I I feel like that'd be like two pugs. Two pugs. Yeah, pugs are ugly. So Yeah. And they're and they're just inherently goofy. So I feel like

Jeramie: Jannies and Jambries. Yeah. I feel like that'd be like two pugs. Two pugs. Yeah, pugs are ugly. So Yeah. And they're and they're just inherently goofy. So I feel like you gotta give them goofy names. Yeah, that's true. They're just kind of squirrely weird dogs. huh. A little bit in a way. And they're just like there. A little kebab. Look. Little meatball. Yeah, a little meatball, little kebab. And like when they pant, their tongues curve up and touch their nose. Yeah.

Allen: You gotta give them goofy names. Yeah, that's true. They're just kind of squirrely weird dogs. Uh-huh. And Jan, they're kinda like just they're like a little ball of meat, a little bit in a way. And they're just like there. A little kebab. A little meatball. Yeah, a little meatball, little kebab. And like when they pant, their tongues curve up and touch their nose. Yeah. It's like even your tongue's broken. What's wrong with these dogs?

Jeramie: It's like even your tongue's broken. What's wrong with you with these dogs? Apologies to Pug owners. All the pug owners out there. We love you. Mm-hmm. We don't love your dogs. Sorry. what are we talking about? Titus. Titus. Titus. Titus. Protege. Protege of Paul. One of his ministry associates. Yeah.

Allen: Apologies to pug owners. All the pug owners out there. We love you. We don't love your dogs. Sorry. what are we talking about? Titus. Titus. Titus. Titus. Protege. Protege of Paul. One of his ministry associates. Yeah. Whom Paul again, we see a pattern here of Paul's starting churches.

Jeramie: Again, we see a pattern here of Paul's starting churches and then sending his co-workers to establish the churches. So for instance, Titus 1, 5, he says, The reason I left you in Crete. So apparently Paul had blown through Crete, ministered the gospel, people were saved, churches were started, but they're not fully set up. He says to s to set right what was left undone. So there's like he's like, hey, I didn't finish all the work.

Allen: And then sending his co-workers to establish the churches. So for instance, Titus one five, he says, The reason I left you in Crete. So apparently Paul had blown through Crete, ministered the gospel, people were saved, churches were started, but they're not fully set up. He says, To s to set right what was left undone. So there's like he's like, Hey, I didn't finish all the work.

Jeramie: Yeah. And as I directed you to appoint elders plural in every town singular. So that tells us that

Allen: Yeah. And as I directed you to appoint elders, plural in every town, singular. So that tells us that

Jeramie: that the churches are incomplete until they have elders. That's right. And that there's plural elders in every town singular. So a every church should have a plurality of elders. That's right. You know, how many elders should a church have? Well, two. More than one. Or yeah, two or more. More than one. Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

Allen: That the churches are incomplete until they have elders. That's right. And that there's plural elders in every town singular. So a every church should have a plurality of elders. That's right. You how many elders should a church have? Well, two. More than one. Or yeah, two or more. More than one. Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, that's cool. Yep. And then he we've talked about it before. He goes on to list qualifications for elders, which we have similarly in first Timothy three, one through seven. Very similar texts. Yep.

Jeramie: Yeah, that's cool. And then he we we've talked about it before. He goes on the list qualifications for elders, which we have similarly in First Timothy three, one through seven. Very similar texts. Yep. Yeah, and it's good to read those back and forth, and they can help mutually interpret each other. Yeah. I love in Titus too, just the call to to righteous living before the world. Yeah. here's something I was meditating on that that really encouraged me. So chapter three, remind them to submit to rulers and authorities.

Allen: Yeah, and it's good to read those back and forth and they can help mutually interpret each other. Yeah. I love in Titus too, just the call to to righteous living before the world. Yeah. here's something I was meditating on that that really encouraged me. So chapter three, remind them to submit to rulers and authorities. Gotta be hard when your rulers and authorities are Caesars who think they're gods, yeah and are pagans, yeah, who are hostile to the gospel, but submit to them.

Jeramie: Gotta be hard when your rulers and authorities are Caesars who think they're gods, yeah and are pagans, yeah, who are hostile to the gospel, but submit to them, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one. Gotta be hard when all the people who are around you are pagans and they're against you. To avoid fighting, to be kind and always show gentleness to all people. And you're like, yeah, but

Allen: To obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one. Gotta be hard when all the people who are around you are pagans and they're against you. To avoid fighting, to be kind and always show gentleness to all people. And you're like, yeah, but you can just imagine this embattled church. Like, yeah, but the world is against us. And then I love what he says. Here's why, verse three. For because we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived. He's like, guys, you know this world out there that you're

Jeramie: You could just imagine this embattled church, like, yeah, but the world is against us. And but then I love what he says. Here's why, verse three, for because we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived. He's like, guys, you know this world out there that you're s hate so much? You used to be that you were just like them. God saved you. And you know what? God could save them. And I just think that that spoke to my heart because I think the sometimes the longer you're a Christian and the more you see the world just going insane in sin.

Allen: hate so much. You used to be that you were just like them. God saved you. And you know what? God could save them. And I just think that that spoke to my heart because I think the sometimes the longer you're a Christian and the more you see the world just going insane in sin, the more you can get like a kind of pharisaical attitude of like, this world's going to hell in a handbasket. And and like, well, it is. Yeah. But it's like, but what should be my attitude toward my neighbors?

Jeramie: The more you can get like a kind of pharisaical attitude of like, this world's going to hell in a handbasket. And and like, well, it is. Yeah. But it's like, but what should be my attitude toward my neighbors, toward people around me, even those who reject Christ? And it's like, man, I gotta remember, if it wasn't for God's grace, that would be me too. Yeah. He's saved me.

Allen: Toward people around me, even those who reject Christ. And it's like, man, I gotta remember, if it wasn't for God's grace, that would be me too. Yeah. He saved me. you know, like he says in verse five, He saved us not by works of righteousness. We had done by his mercy. Mm-hmm. So so I think that that verse is really helpful if you're out there and you're just feeling resentful at the sinfulness of the world. And it's kind of causing you to lose your compassion for people who don't know Jesus.

Jeramie: you know, like he says in verse five, he saved us not by works of righteousness we had done but by his mercy. So so I think that that verse is really helpful if you're out there and you're just feeling resentful at the sinfulness of the world. And it's kind of causing you to lose your compassion for people who don't know Jesus. And to me, that that this verse helped me kind of kindle the the flames of compassion in my heart for people who don't know Jesus. That's a sweet medi meditation.

Allen: And to me that that this verse helped me kind of kindle the the flames of compassion in my heart for people who don't know Jesus. That's a sweet medi meditation. Yeah. Yeah. I I it's it's funny you say that because that kinda helps me think even just because you I feel that well up in my heart too. Yeah. Where it's like, Man, I'm just so sick of these sinners. Yeah. And you're like, what are you God's like what are you talking? What are you talking what are you talking? And such were you. Right.

Jeramie: Yeah. Yeah. I I it's it's funny you say that because that kind of helps me think, even just because you I feel that well up in my heart too. Yeah. Where it's like, man, I'm just so sick of these sinners. Yeah. And you're like, what are you God's what are you talking? What are you talking about? And such were you. Right? Yeah. We too. We too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved. Yeah. You know, living in malice, hateful in each other. But you know what changed? Verse four. The kindness of our savior approach.

Allen: Yeah, we too. We too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved. Yeah. You know, living in malice, hateful in each other. But you know, what changed? Verse four. The kindness of our savior appeared.

Jeramie: appeared. Mm-hmm. It's because Christ appeared for us. Yeah. And so, you know, hey, God can save I don't know who he's going to save, but he could save anyone. And so I need to be the love and the ambassador of Christ to them. Yeah. That's sweet. That whole the rest of that verse is whole sweet. He said he saved us according to his own mercy, hi by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Allen: It's because Christ appeared for us. Yeah. And so, you know, hey, God can save. I don't know who he's gonna save, but he could save anyone. And so I need to be the love and the ambassador of Christ to them. Yeah, that's sweet. That whole the rest of that verse is whole sweet. He said he saved us according to his own mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Jeramie: whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Allen: Whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. I mean, he's washed us, he's poured the Holy Spirit into us, we're justified, and we have hope of eternal life. And then we're not adopted as heirs. Every every promise that God has made, we have because we're in Christ.

Jeramie: I mean, he's washed us, he's poured the Holy Spirit into us, we're justified and we have hope of eternal life. And then we're in ad adopted as heirs. Every every promise that God has made, we have because we're in Christ. Yeah. Sweet meditation. And it's all his it's all his grace. So like anyway, that that's you know, the gospel is tonic against self righteousness that we can fall into as Christians. Yeah. Yeah.

Allen: Yeah. And it's all his it's all his grace. So like anyway, that that's you know, the gospel is tonic against self righteousness that we can fall into as Christians. Yeah. Yeah. Finally Philemon. Philemon. Philemon. Philemon. Philemon two. Philemon. Chapter two. Philemon. Philemon. Just kidding. It's only it's only one chapter. Yeah. Yeah. One I heard a joke one time. They were like, turn into your Bibles to Philemon. And someone yelled, What chapter? Non-Christian.

Jeramie: Finally Philemon. Philemon. Philemon. Philemon. Philemon two. Philemon. Chapter two. Philemon. Philomon. Just kidding. It's only it's only one chapter. Yeah. Yeah. When I heard a joke one time. They were like, turn into your Bibles to Philemon. And someone yelled, What chapter? Non-Christian.

Allen: Yeah, right. Just just nerdy little preacher jokes. Yeah. Yep. That's yeah. You know, a lot of times people tell Bible jokes. I'm like, I'm gonna use that one. I'm probably not gonna use that one. One of my favorite Bible jokes is pastor I know. He goes, All right, well say, like turn in your Bibles to Luke. Like, all right, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Luke. Like

Jeramie: Yeah, right. Just just nerdy little preacher jokes. Yeah. Yep. That's yeah. You know, a lot of times people tell Bible jokes. I'm like, I'm gonna use that one. I'm probably not gonna use that one. One of my favorite Bible jokes is Pastor I know. He goes, All right, well say, like turn in your Bibles to Luke. Like, all right, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Luke. Like All right. Like it's kind of funny once and then maybe like a second time you're like they're like, All right, that's it's not funny anymore. Yeah. I know. And then you know, you you feel bad when you do a joke like that as a pastor and people kind of do a polite laugh and you're like, they just give me a polite laugh. You call no no no you called them courtesy laughs. Court that's what they're calling courtesy laughs. Isn't that what you didn't you teach me that? Did I? I think you did. Okay. A courtesy laugh. I thought that was a great term. Yeah. Courtesy laughs. Courtesy laughs. Okay. We're struggling.

Allen: All right. Like it's kinda funny once and then maybe like a second time you're like, they're like, All right, that's it's not funny anymore. Yeah. I know. And then you know, you you feel bad when you do a joke like that as a pastor and people kind of do a polite laugh and you're like, They just give me a polite laugh. You call no no no you call them courtesy laughs. Court that's what they're calling courtesy laughs. Isn't that what you didn't you teach me that? Did I? I think you did. Okay. A courtesy laugh. I thought that was a great term. Yeah. Courtesy laughs. Yeah, courtesy laughs. Okay. We're struggling.

Jeramie: Philemon, here we go. Philemon. Perplexing chapter, book, letter. yeah, who's who's Philemon? So basically you have a runaway slave who ran away from a Christian master who providentially, by God's providence, bumps into Paul. Yeah. Paul knows him, Paul witnesses to Onesimus the runaway slave. Onesimus is saved.

Allen: Philemon, here we go. Philemon. Perplexing chapter, book, letter. yeah, who's who's Philemon? yeah. So basically you have a runaway slave who ran away from a Christian master who providentially, by God's providence, bumps into Paul. Yeah. Paul knows him, Paul witnesses to Onesimus the runaway slave. Onesimus is saved. And now Paul is sending it back to Philemon and he's saying, Forgive him, accept him, embrace him as a brother. And and you know, and I know you'll do this, and by the way, you owe me everything since I preach the gospel to you. But like so, Paul's basically arguing you need to treat, you know, treat this this man as a brother. So it's an interesting passage because here you have the issue of a household slave, which was common in the Roman Empire. But rather than Paul saying, You are a Christian,

Jeramie: And now Paul is sending it back to Philemon and he's saying, Forgive him, accept him, embrace him as a brother. And and you know, and I know you'll do this, and by the way, you owe me everything since I preach the gospel to you. But like so, Paul's basically arguing you need to treat, you know, treat this this man as a brother. So it's an interesting passage because here you have the issue of a household slave, which was common in the Roman Empire. But rather than Paul saying, You are a Christian,

Allen: Emancipate your slave. It Paul is kind of taking one step back from that and he's sort of sowing the seeds to to undermine the cruelty of slavery by just saying, like, this is a brother in Christ. Yeah. You need to love him. And you know what? You are saved, and and through the preaching of the gospel, and you owe me and I'm coming to see you to get the guest room ready. So it's kind of like this, like very you know, gentle way of of trying to change.

Jeramie: emancipate your slave. He Paul is kind of taking one step back from that and he's sort of sowing the seeds to to undermine the cruelty of slavery by just saying like this is a brother in Christ. Yeah. You need to love him. And you know what? You are saved and and through the preaching of the gospel and you owe me and I'm coming to see you so get the guest room ready. So it's kind of like this like very you know gentle way of of trying to change

Allen: Philemon's heart. So rather than trying to change the laws, which really he had no way of doing. That's right. Yeah. He's imprisoned for the gospel saving. It's Roman Empire. Yeah. You're not going to change anything. But he is trying to change Philemon's heart. Yeah. He's not trying to order him. He could order him. Yeah, he said. He could just say Yeah, he said that. He could just say, I order you as an apostle to release Onesimus. But instead, he's trying to ch change his heart. Yeah. He says I I appeal to you. I appeal to you. Yeah. Yeah. So I think that's what's what's so interesting about this letter is, you know, part of

Jeramie: Philemon's heart. So rather than trying to change the laws, which really he had no way of doing. That's right. Yeah. He's imprisoned for the gospel saving. It's Roman Empire. Yeah. You're not gonna change anything. But he is trying to change Philemon's heart. Yeah. He's not trying to order him. He could order him. Yeah, he said. He could just say he said that. He could just say, I order you as an apostle to release Onesimus. But instead, he's trying to ch change his heart. Yeah. He says I I appeal to you. I appeal to you. Yeah. Yeah. So I think that's what's what's so interesting about this letter is, you know, part of it

Allen: it

Jeramie: I just read it and I'm like, Paul, just command Violeman to emancipate Anisimus. Yeah. But instead he's he's so gentle, even with that command, and he's trying to win his heart in his mind. Mm-hmm. So yeah, it it's a fascinating book at you know, the approach to social change. Yeah. Yeah, it is interesting. And something that, you know, when I was first becoming a Christian and thinking about, you know, racial sins or ethnic sins and how to even just kind of frame this category.

Allen: I just read it and I'm like, Paul, just command by Lehman to emancipate Anisimus. Yeah. But instead he's he's so gentle, even with that command, and he's trying to win his heart in his mind. Mm-hmm. So yeah, it it's a fascinating book at you know, the approach to social change. Yeah. Yeah, it is interesting. And something that, you know, when I was first becoming a Christian and thinking about, you know, racial sins or ethnic sins and how to even just kind of frame this category. And think about it from a biblical perspective. Yeah, because slavery in our our historical context is very much tied to ethnicity. Yes. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, yeah, that's right. And it's just like, hey, you can't throw on our modern categories of these things onto the Bible. It's like you kind of gotta extract. So I just think it's really helpful when you're thinking about ethnic sins. And, you know, I think I think it actually i in the Bible, I think it's just better language to think about there's one race, it's the human race, right?

Jeramie: And think about it from a biblical perspective. Yeah, because slavery in our our historical context is very much tied to ethnicity. Yes. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, yeah, that's right. And it's just like, hey, you can't throw on our modern categories of these things onto the Bible. It's like you kind of gotta extract. So I just think it's really helpful when you're thinking about ethnic sins and you know, I think I think it actually i in the Bible, I think it's just better language to think about there's one race, it's the human race, right?

Allen: in in in Adam, all in Adam's race, and then we have different ethnicities whom God has appointed in different ends of the world and that So are you not comfortable with the language of like race? Like there's one race, another race? I I just think it's unhelpful a lot of the times 'cause it has so much social baggage attached to it. Yeah. So it's like it and we're Bible people. We're we're Christians. Like let's use the Bible's categories to address Bible categories, which we know ethnic sins and partiality.

Jeramie: in in in Adam, all in Adam's race, and then we have different ethnicities whom God has appointed in different ends of the world and that So are you not comfortable with the language of like race? Like there's one race, another race? I I just think it's unhelpful a lot of the times 'cause it has so much social baggage attached to it. Yeah. So it's like it and we're Bible people. We're we're Christians. Like let's use the Bible's categories to address Bible categories, which we know ethnic sins and partiality.

Allen: Is is a sin. Ethnic aggression, right? Or we saw this with with with Haman even, I think, in in the Jews, right? And Ahasiris, right? And and so I just think it's I think it's a more helpful conversation to think about it from the biblical perspective and how to adjust. Yeah, when 'cause when God made human beings, he didn't create races. No. He just created the sons, you know, the descendants of Adam. That's right. The division that came in humanity, came about at the Tower of Babel. Mm-hmm. So that's right. There's not race, it's language. Yeah.

Jeramie: Is is a sin, ethnic aggression, right? Or we saw this with with with Haman even, I think, in in the Jews, right? And Ahasiris, right? And and so I just think it's I think it's a more helpful conversation to think about it from the biblical perspective and how to adjust. Yeah, when 'cause when God made human beings, he didn't create races. No. He just created the sons, you know, the descendants of Adam. That's right. The division that came in humanity, came about at the Tower of Babel. Mm-hmm. So that's right. There's not race, it's language. Yeah.

Allen: And when languages were confused, then people naturally grouped and then people's ethnicities and and then I think that's where you get like like physical characteristics that look similar of people who live in a similar area. But it's not because God created a different race of people, but it's just because language divides and language grouped people together in different ways. So you know, I think I think that's you know, the the the the big div you know, what are the dividers that we actually find in the Bible? Male and female.

Jeramie: And when languages were confused, then people naturally grouped and then people's ethnicities and and then I think that's where you get like like physical characteristics that look similar of people who live in a similar area. But it's not because God created a different race of people, but it's just because language divides and language grouped people together in different ways. So you know, I think I think that's you know, the the the big div you know, what are the dividers that we actually find in the Bible? Male and female. Mm. Or God made that before c before the fall. That's right. language. Division of languages at Babel. And then I think the other great divider, which then leads to nations and ethnicities. and then I would say the the other great divider is the people of God, the elect, yeah. Who are who are the new the new Adam in Christ, the new Adam. Yeah. But so you know, when we think about like social divisions and things, yeah. Like you you know, it's it's good just to to kind of put all of our our modern

Allen: Or God made that before cr before the fall. That's right. language, division of languages of Babel. And then I think the other great divider, which then leads to nations and ethnicities. and then I would say the the other great divider is the people of God, the elect, yeah, who are who are the new the new Adam in Christ, the new Adam. Yeah. But so you know, when we think about like social divisions and things, yeah. Like you you know, it's it's good just to to kind of put all of our our modern

Jeramie: sort of categories on hold and just think biblically. What is it that really distinguishes people? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I just think that that's a more helpful way. And I think just civil. I don't know. I just engaging in these conversations is really hard. Yeah. It's really touchy, especially in your tradition or background. And it's just like as Christians, I think we just have the upper hand compared to the world in in any category to say

Allen: sort of categories on hold and just think biblically. What is it that really distinguishes people? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And I just think that that's a more helpful way. And I think just civil. I don't know. I just engaging in these conversations is really hard. Yeah. It's really touchy, especially in your tradition or background. And it's just like as Christians, I think we just have the upper hand compared to the world in in any category to say.

Jeramie: How does God feel about the we well, we know he hates partiality. We know he hates when people are treated unjustly. Like we know these things are true. So how does God then have a solution? And I think you ultimately not in overlooking, you know, the you know, the idea that we need to punish evil and reward good. That's the role of the government in liberation that occurs, which Philemon didn't necessarily address. But we do see a reconciliation that can happen, which I the f I think Philiaman holds out in the gospel.

Allen: How does God feel about the we well, we know he hates partiality. We know he hates when people are treated unjustly. Like we know these things are true. So how does God then have a solution? And I think you ultimately it not in overlooking, you know, the you know, the idea that we need to punish evil and reward good. That's the role of the government and liberation that occurs, which Philemon didn't necessarily address. That's right. But we do see, a reconciliation that can happen, which I the f I think Philemon holds out in the gospel.

Jeramie: Yeah.

Allen: Yeah.

Jeramie: In Christ that unifies, right? In God's heart for the nations. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. And and that's the amazing thing of the gospel is that is that the nations are coming together in Christ. The Jew and Gentile are united. that that there is a new people of God in Christ. That even at Pentecost that that the language barrier was overcome. That's right. Which is, you know, a sort of a foreshadowing of the gospel going to the nations and a kind of reversing of the division of Babel. Yeah.

Allen: In Christ that unifies, right? In God's heart for the nations. Yeah. Yeah. That's right. And and that's the amazing thing of the gospel is that is that the nations are coming together in Christ. The Jew and Gentile are united. that that there is a new people of God in Christ. That e even at Pentecost that that the language barrier was overcome. That's right. Which is, you know, a sort of a foreshadowing of the gospel going to the nations and a kind of reversing of the division of Babel. Yeah.

Jeramie: So,

Allen: So,

Jeramie: yeah. Yeah. And then of course, the conclusion to our Bible is that every nation, tribe, and tongue will be worshiping around the throne together as one. Yeah. Like that's the great hope of reconciliation is that we all are gonna be one, bowing the knee to Christ, saying, Worthy are you, Lord. Yeah. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus, do it soon. Come, Lord Jesus, Maranatha.

Allen: Yeah. Yeah. And then of course the conclusion to our Bible is that every nation, tribe, and tongue will be worshiping around the throne together as one. Yeah. Like that's the great hope of reconciliation is that we all are gonna be one, bowing the knee to Christ, saying, Worthy are you, Lord. Yeah. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus, do it soon. Come, Lord Jesus, Maranatha.

Jeramie: We just pray it'd be continue to be a blessing to your soul. keep trekking on you are almost done. It's crazy. Four months left. That's it. Four months left. Four months left. and yeah so we'll keep savoring God with you and letting your affections run run rampant for Christ. So this has been another episode of the SCC Saver Podcast.

Allen: We just pray it'd be continue to be a blessing to your soul. keep trekking on your almost done. It's crazy. Four months left. That's it. Four months left. Four months left. and yeah, so we'll keep savoring God with you and letting your affections run run rampant for Christ. So this has been another episode of the SCC Saver Podcast,

Jeramie: Apple, YouTube, and Spotify. Share with your friends,

Allen: Apple, YouTube, and Spotify share with your friends.

Jeramie: and we'll talk to you soon.

Allen: And we'll talk to soon.