EP 26: SCC Savor, Month 7, Days 1-6

Allen: Well, welcome back to the SCC Savor Podcast. My name is Alan, joined with my good friend here. Jeremy Rennie. Jeremy. well, also, we're savoring God through every bite of scripture. Yes, we are. That's still what we're trying to do. And it's what it never gets old. Never gets old. Once once we stop savoring it and the flavor goes away, we'll let you know. Mm-hmm. Right now it still tastes good. It still tastes good. I just want a quick sidebar. We have five currents. Uh-huh. Can we talk

Jeramie: Well, welcome back to the SCC Savor Podcast. My name is Alan, joined with my good friend here. Jeremy Rennie. Jeremy. well, also, we're savoring God through every bite of scripture. Yes, we are. That's still what we're trying to do. And it's what it never gets old. Never gets old. Once once we stop savoring it and the flavor goes away, we'll let you know. Mm-hmm. Right now it still tastes good. It still tastes good. I just want a quick sidebar. We have five currents. Uh-huh. Can we talk

Allen: Just just just name these really quickly. Yep. Number one is Savor God. Number two is sacrifice yourself. Number three is strengthen one another. Number four, seek the lost. Uh-huh. Number five. Send workers. Great. Let's talk a little bit about these currents with what just happened that on Sunday that was a little bit weird. Where lightning striking, power's out, AC's gone, but we still met for church.

Jeramie: Just just just name these really quickly. Yep. Number one is Saver God. Number two is sacrifice yourself. Number three is strengthen one another. Number four, seek the lost. Uhhuh. Number five. Send workers. Great. Let's talk a little bit about these currents with what just happened that on Sunday that was a little bit weird. Where lightning striking, power's out, AC's gone, but we still met for church. Yeah, that's right. Our main so our main sanctuary was out. Fellowship hall was did have power and light. So we met, so we all kind of jammed in there. Yeah. which was different in less comfortable chairs. Yep. and then the mics weren't working. during the service we thought it's because the mics were dying, but it's not actually what it was. It turned out that it had something to do with the the the

Allen: Yeah, that's right. Our main so our main sanctuary was out. Fellowship hall was did have power and light. So we met, so we all kind of jammed in there. Yeah. which was different in less comfortable chairs. Yep. and then the mics weren't working. during the service we thought it's because the mics were dying, but it's not actually what it was. It turned out that it had something to do with the the the The router that the signal from the mic goes to was in the part of the building where the power was knocked out. So the signal kept dropping. So actually it wasn't a mic. So I moved the part of the comical thing was I kept switching mics. Okay. But and and I then the mic would go dead and I'd be like, this one's dead. But actually they weren't dead. It was just a signal thing. But interesting. You know, I'm the last person who would know that unless it was explained to me. And I probably just explained it incorrectly. Yeah. So you I wasn't here. how many mics did you go through? Six.

Jeramie: The router that the signal from the mic goes to was in the part of the building where the power was knocked out. So the signal kept dropping. So actually it wasn't a mic. So I moved the part of the comical thing was I kept switching mics. Okay. But and and then the mic would go dead and I'd be like, this one's dead. But actually they weren't dead. It was just a signal thing. But interesting. You know, I'm the last person who would know that unless it was explained to me. And I probably just explained it incorrectly. Yeah. So you I wasn't here. how many mics did you go through? Six. Okay. And then at the end So one more than the current you had a mic for every current. I I had to have a mic for a current. And then at the end I just went full, like just vocal. Okay. Yeah, I just started shouting like old school preach Whitfield. Like I just went George Whitfield, yeah. Old school preacher. That's great. Yeah. So did the mission of our church to glorify God by maturing and multiplying Christians and churches

Allen: Okay. And then at the end So one more than the current you had a mic for every current. I d I had a mic for a current. And then at the end I just went full like just vocal. Okay. Yeah, I just started shouting like old school preacher. George Whitfield. I just went George Whitfield. Yeah. Old school preacher. That's great. So did the mission of our church to glorify God by maturing and multiplying Christians and churches

Jeramie: Through Jesus Christ or the currents. Did did they stop because we didn't meet in the sanctuary? Those currents did not stop. They did not stop. They don't stop in motion. That's right. That's right. You're right. Yeah. No, they don't. And you know, and it was a good and actually Chris said this, Pastor Chris, when he was I think calling us to worship. He just said that it was good. It kind of just gave us joy. He said, you know, I love these kind of moments because it reminds us that the church is not the building, it's not the sanctuary called the sanctuary.

Allen: Through Jesus Christ or the currents. Did did they stop because we didn't meet in the sanctuary? Those currents did not stop. They did not stop. They don't stop in the commotion. That's right. That's right. Yeah, you're right. Yeah. No, they don't. And you know, and it was a good and actually Chris said this, Pastor Chris, when he was I think calling us to worship. He just said that it was good. It kind of just gave us joy. He said, You know, I love these kind of moments because it reminds us that the church is not the building, it's not the sanctuary, we call it the sanctuary.

Jeramie: We're the sanctuary. Biblically, it's the people who are the sanctuary. We're the we are the holy place where the Holy Spirit lives, not in a building. Yeah, that's great. and and really what makes the church a church, the fact that we assemble, we do it in buildings because it makes it easier to assemble, but it's the assembly of the believers that is the church. I mean the word church means assembly. Right. So like to be a church at its most basic level is you physically get together with other believers to worship and hear the word of God. Yeah, that's great. The the emphasis on you physically get together.

Allen: We're the sanctuary. Biblically, it's the people who are the sanctuary. We're the we are the holy place where the Holy Spirit lives, not in a building. Yeah, that's great. and and really what makes the church a church, the fact that we assemble, we do it in buildings because it makes it easier to assemble, but it's the assembly of the believers that is the church. I mean, the word church means assembly. Right. So, like to be a church at its most basic level is you physically get together with other believers to worship and hear the word of God. Yeah, that's great. The the emphasis on you physically get together.

Jeramie: Yeah, physically. Yeah, you physically assembly. Yeah, that's great. That's great. That's right. Well, praise God that God is not bound to us meeting in the sanctuary. And that and when we meet in the fellowship hall, his presence is there. We talked about that last episode a little bit when we said, Let us go to the house of the Lord, right? Just something unique happened. That's right. Even in Fellowship Hall, when things are unorthodox, microphones are dying, God through his spirit moved in his people and transformed us. So Yeah, and for those who were here like four years ago, it had a little bit of e

Allen: Yeah, physically. Yeah, you physically assembly. Yeah, that's great. That's great. That's right. Well, praise God that God is not bound to us meeting in the sanctuary. And that and when we meet in the fellowship hall, his presence is there. We talked about that last episode a little bit when we said, Let us go to the house of the Lord, right? Just something unique happened. That's right. Even in Fellowship Hall, when things are unorthodox, microphones are dying, God through his spirit moved in his people and transformed us. So Yeah, and for those who were here like four years ago, it had a little bit of e

Jeramie: Hurricanean vibes. Okay. Because it was like we're just improvising. Sure. We're meeting where we can meet. And then that's when we realized like what makes the the the power present is God's word and God's spirit and among God's people, which can happen in a beautiful sanctuary, can happen in a fellowship hall, it can happen in someone else's church building. It can happen out in a field with nothing under a tree. As long as the people of God are covenanted together and you know the word is rightly taught and the sacraments are rightly administered. Yeah, that's great. Praise God.

Allen: Hurricanean vibes. Okay. Because it was like we're just improvising. Sure. We're meeting where we can meet. And then that's when we realized like what makes the the the power present is God's word and God's spirit and among God's people. Which can happen in a beautiful sanctuary, it can happen in a fellowship hall, it can happen in someone else's church building. It can happen out in a field with nothing under a tree. As long as the people of God are coveted together and you know, the word is rightly taught and the sacraments are rightly administered. Yeah, that's great. Praise God.

Jeramie: Well, speaking of God's spirit, God's God's God's word. let's look at his spirit breathed out word. we're gonna comment on month seven, days one through six. So we read first chronicles one through fourteen. We are in these Psalms of Ascent, one twenty-three through one twenty-nine, Luke seven, eleven through eight thirty-nine, and then Colossians one through three fourteen. Let's jump back in. We're gonna talk about Chronicles, which has a similar flair and taste if you're reading along to what you just read.

Allen: Well, speaking of God's spirit, God's God's God's word. let's look at his spirit breathed out word. we're gonna comment on month seven, days one through six. So we read first chronicles one through fourteen. We are in these Psalms of Ascent, one twenty-three through one twenty-nine, Luke seven eleven through eight thirty-nine, and then Colossians one through three fourteen. Let's jump back in. We're gonna talk about Chronicles, which has a similar flair and taste if you're reading along to what you just read. So you might be wondering, did I not just read this? Except for the first nine chapters a little bit different. It's a bunch of genealogies. But as you continue to read through Chronicles, you're gonna notice that it's kind of the same story, yet has some distinctives and a little bit is different. Jimmy, why don't you comment on what's a little bit different from Kings and Chronicles? First of all, can I ask us to be honest? Did you literally in your head pronounce out every name through your readings in First Chronicles one through nine I

Jeramie: So you might be wondering, did I not just read this? Except for the first nine chapters, a little bit different. It's a bunch of genealogies. But as you continue to read through conicles, you're gonna notice that it's kind of the same story, yet has some distinctives and a little bit is different. Jimmy, why don't you comment on what's a little bit different from Kings and Chronicles? First of all, can I ask us to be honest? Did you literally in your head pronounce out every name through your readings in First Chronicles one through nine? I will confess I did not. I'm I'm gonna have a moment of real transparency here and say I did not sound out every name in my head. Okay. So I'm my eyes may have been skimming at certain points. So huh. Yeah. But thankfully I'm not saved by my Bible reading. Say thankfully you're not saved by your pronoun that's the test that g find out when you say I'm for the Lord. Okay, open up first Chronicles and read all those names. Yeah. Bakbakar. Yeah Zictree. Yeah great names. Yeah it's great. Yeah.

Allen: Will confess I did not. I'm I'm going to have a moment of real transparency here and say I did not sound out every name in my head. Okay. So I'm my eyes may have been skimming at certain points. So yeah. But thankfully I'm not saved by my Bible reading. Say thankfully you're not saved by your pronoun that's the test that gets fine when you stand before the Lord. Okay, open up first chronicles and read all those names. Yeah. Bakbakar. Yeah. Zic tree. Yeah. Yeah, that's great. Yeah.

Jeramie: yeah, so did you ever think about naming your kids any of these? I think these would be great, like pet names. Yeah. I just think they're so Yeah. Yeah. Well, we did that with our dog. Our dog is named Shekah, which is the Arabic word for like princess. So like a Sheikh. you know, is like a king. Well, the Sheikha is the feminine of it. Yeah. And we thought it was so cool because we just had come back from Abu Dhabi. We're like, go give her an Arabic name. The problem is then we meet people, they're like, What's your dog's name? We're like Sheka. They're like

Allen: yeah, so did you ever think about naming your kids any of these? I think it's gonna be great, like pet names. Yeah. I just think they're so yeah. Yeah. Well, we did that with our dog. Our dog is named Sheka, which is the Arabic word for like princess. So like a sheikh, you know, is like a king. Well, the shekah is the feminine of it. Yeah. And we thought it was so cool because we just had come back from Abu Dhabi. We're like, go give her an Arabic name. The problem is then we meet people, they're What's your dog's name? We're like Shekah. They're like

Jeramie: Shu Shuka? What? So then we're like, why didn't we do that? Yeah, that's great. That's funny. Okay, so yeah. Differences between Kings and Chronicles. Thank you for that. I think the the there's several differences. one of them is that Chronicles focuses more heavily on the kings of Judah, whereas in Kings you get both Judah and Israel, but with a lot more backstory on Israel. Yeah.

Allen: Shrug it. What? So then we're like, why did we do that? Yeah, that's great. That's funny. Okay, so yeah. Differences between Kings and Chronicles. Thank you for that. I think the the there's several differences. one of them is that Chronicles focuses more heavily on the kings of Judah, whereas in Kings you get both Judah and Israel, but well a lot more backstory on Israel. Yeah.

Jeramie: And then I think the second thing you're gonna see in Chronicles is that it's it's more a positive treatment of the kings of Judah. Not that not that it's kind of whitewashing them, but but it's trying to show God's faithfulness and the good things of the kings of Judah. For instance, David and Bathsheba story in Kings, not in Chronicles. Yeah, that's right. Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. So it's definitely portraying David in a greater light, and it's gonna trace that line of Judah, the traces of David.

Allen: And then I think the second thing you're gonna see in Chronicles is that it's it's more a positive treatment of the kings of Judah. Not that not that it's kind of whitewashing them, but but it's trying to show God's faithfulness and the good things of the kings of Judah. For instance, David and Bathsheba story in Kings, not in Chronicles. Yeah, that's right. Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. So it's definitely portraying David in a greater light, and it's gonna trace that line of Judah and the traces to David.

Jeramie: the messianic hope and anticipation. It's so interestingly, in in the what's called the Tanakh, which was the Jewish Hebrew understanding of the ordering of the Old Testament, which was the the Torah, the Nebiem and the Kedevim, so the the law, the prophets and the writings as we know them, this actually, first and second chronicles, which was one book, actually comes at the end.

Allen: the messianic hope and anticipation. It's so interestingly, in in the what's called the Tanakh, which was the Jewish Hebrew understanding of the ordering of the Old Testament, which was the the Torah, the Nebim and the Kedevim, so the the law, the prophets and the writings as we know them, this actually, first and second chronicles, which was one book, actually comes at the end.

Jeramie: And it's supposed to do that because it kind of recounts Israel's story up to that point, which is what the genealogies did in the first nine chapters.

Allen: And it's s supposed to do that because it kind of recounts Israel's story up to that point, which is what the genealogies did in the first nine chapters, is kind of recount Israel's story and then at the end it would leave a messianic anticipation of who would come, which would be God's Messiah. And Matthew, actually the genealogy that we kind of skip over sometimes, picks that up and says, Wait, Jesus, God's son is the Messiah, fulfills that and so it begins with according to and then picks up that Jesus is the messianic coming. Yeah.

Jeramie: Is kind of recount Israel's story and then at the end it would leave a messianic anticipation of who would come, which would be God's Messiah. And Matthew, actually the genealogy that we kind of skip over sometimes, picks that up and says, Wait, Jesus, God's son is the Messiah, fulfills that. And so it begins with according to and then picks up that Jesus is the messianic coming. Yeah. Yeah. So so it's something we don't get because our English Bibles have Malachi last. Yes. But Second Chronicles is last in the Hebrew Bible. So that it it is a nice kind of recap. And and and there's a a you know, a a common sort of hypothesis out there that first and second kings was written before or you know, near the before the time Israel went into exile, but that sec first and second chronicles was written after they came back from exile in a time when they needed more hope.

Allen: Yeah. So so it's something we don't get because our English Bibles have Malachi last. Yes. But Second Chronicles is last in the Hebrew Bible. So that it it is a nice kind of recap. And and and there's a a you know, a a common sort of hypothesis out there that first and second kings was written before or you know, near the before the time Israel went into exile, but that sec first and second chronicles was written after they came back from exile. In a time when they needed more hope.

Jeramie: That God would fulfill his promises to David. and so so so that's part of the thinking for why Chronicles has a different emphasis. Yeah. Yeah, exactly right. So anyway, as you're reading through that, just kind of be thinking about that. That, you know, picking out those nuances between Kings and Chronicles. Yeah, yeah, exactly right. w a little bit more on David as you start to read through the end of it, it's like David is he's kind of compared more like kind of like Moses.

Allen: That God would fulfill his promises to David. and so so so that's part of the thinking for why Chronicles has a different emphasis. Yeah. Yeah, exactly right. So anyway, as you're reading through that, just kind of be thinking about that. That, you know, picking out those nuances between Kings and Chronicles. Yeah, yeah, exactly right. w a little bit more on David as you start to read through the end of it, it's like David is he's kind of compared more like kind of like Moses.

Jeramie: and and he's kind of like more again, it's because it's a more positive light of like a future kind of a messianic king who would be like David, but he's gonna be just greater. He's gonna be greater. Yep. And so Chronicles will set us up for that in the New Testament. Yep. It's great. Psalms of Ascent. Yeah, Psalms. Yeah. What's some of the your favorite Psalms of Ascent things as you're reading? I love Psalms of Ascent. I love one twenty four. I actually heard

Allen: and and he's kind of like more again, it's because it's a more positive light of like a future kind of a messianic king who would be like David, but he's gonna be just greater. He's gonna be greater. Yep. And so Chronicles will set us up for that in the New Testament. Yep. It's great. Psalms of Ascent. Yeah, Psalms of Ascent. Yeah. What's some of the your favorite Psalms of Ascent things as you're reading? I love Psalms of Ascent. I love one twenty four. I actually heard I actually had a professor once who called this psalm the power of negative thinking. Okay. And which I never forgot. And whenever I read this psalm, I think about Dr. Stewart calling it the power of negative thinking. Okay. And because you know, it says, If the Lord had not been on our side, let Israel say, if the Lord had not been on our side, and then he lists all the things that would have happened if the Lord had not been on our side. Okay.

Jeramie: actually I had a professor once who called this psalm the power of negative thinking. Okay. And which I never forgot. And whenever I read this psalm, I think about Dr. Stewart calling it the power of negative thinking. Okay. And because, you know, it says, If the Lord had not been on our side, let Israel say, if the Lord had not been on our side, and then he lists all the things that would have happened if the Lord had not been on our side. Okay. They would have swallowed us alive, their burning anger, the water would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging water would have swept over us. so you know, the anger of people, this you know, portrayed as a fire, portrayed as a flood. And of course, you know, I get a little triggered there because, you know, as a as a hurricane survivor, I'm like, Yeah, he really he literally saved us from the torrent and our churches, yeah, you know, backstanding. Yeah. So

Allen: They would have swallowed us alive, their burning anger, the water would have engulfed us, the torrent would have swept over us, the raging water would have swept over us. so you know, the anger of people, this you know, portrayed as a fire, portrayed as a flood. And of course, you know, I get a little triggered there because, you know, as a as a hurricane survivor, I'm like, Yeah, he really he literally saved us from the torrent and our church is, you know, backstanding. Yeah. So

Jeramie: But he he did. So, you know, sometimes it's good to look back in your life. And one way you can think about God's goodness is if God hadn't been there for me and I hadn't trusted the Lord, if Jesus hadn't saved me, where would I be? Yeah. And you know, we we we of course just sort of say like, that'd be bad. But like, no, really. Where like knowing your own sinful habits, knowing some of the things that you've been through in life, if God hadn't been there, you know, it's like, why?

Allen: But he he did. So, you know, sometimes it's good to look back in your life. And one way you can think about God's goodness is if God hadn't been there for me and I hadn't trusted the Lord, if Jesus hadn't saved me, where would I be? Yeah. And you know, we we we of course just sort of say like, that'd be bad. But like, no, really. Yeah. Where like knowing your own sinful a habits, knowing some of the things that you've been through in life, if God hadn't been there, you know, it's like, well, I

Jeramie: I'd be dead. I'd be I could be in jail. I could be, you know, divorced or friendless or fired or, you know, whatever. Like all kinds of I could have wrecked my life in major ways. But God has saved me and brought me through. Mm. That's really sweet. Praise God. The power of negative thinking. Power of negative thinking. Yeah, that's great. Luke and Colossians, I think we'll hit on this both is w just a little bit preview, which is the two people who owed a debt.

Allen: I'd be dead. I'd be I could be in jail. I could be, you know, divorced or friendless or fired or, you know, whatever. Like all kinds of I could have wrecked my life in major ways. But God has saved me and brought me through. Mm-hmm. That's really sweet. Praise God. The power of negative thinking. Power of negative thinking. Yeah, that's great. Luke and Colossians, I think we'll hit on this both is w just a little bit preview, which is the two people who owed a debt.

Jeramie: To the money lender and the one who had the greater debt is gonna love the one who forgave his debt more. Yeah. And then in Colossians, there's a lift a list of vices and virtues. It's like put off the old self and then put on the new self. So I'm just thinking power of negative thing. It's like, okay, go look at the old self. I could be all of this had not God been involved in my life. Yeah. Yeah. take all those things and just like run a whole lifetime and see what kind of just a bombed out, degenerate person I would be at the end of my life. Yeah.

Allen: To the money lender and the one who had the greater debt is gonna love the one who forgave his debt more. Yeah. And then in Colossians, there's a lift a list of vices and virtues. It's like put off the old self and then put on the new self. So I'm just thinking power of negative thing. It's like, okay, go look at the old self. I could be all of this had not God been involved in my life. Yeah. Yeah. take all those things and just like run a whole lifetime and see what kind of just a bombed out, degenerate person I would be at the end of my life. Yeah.

Jeramie: And just the the the wreckage of my life. Yeah. I also love by the way Psalm 127 one. Yeah, totally. this is a great one. Unless the Lord builds the house, it's a house, it's builders' labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over city of the watchman stay alert in vain. And what a great s reminder that I think in ministry that it's the Lord who does the work of the ministry. And I know as a pastor I can sometimes get stressed out.

Allen: And just the the the wreckage of my life. Yeah. I also love, by the way, Psalm 127, one. Yeah, totally. this is a great one. Unless the Lord builds the house, it's a house, it's builders' labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over city of the watchman stale in vain. And what a great s reminder that I think in ministry that it's the Lord who does the work of the ministry. And I know as a pastor, I can sometimes get stressed out. And I do get stressed out over a church because I see the needs of the church. and and so I this is another anchor psalm for me to be like, Listen, this is the Lord's house, it's not Jeremy's house. This is the Lord's New Jerusalem, it's not Jeremy's. And he's the one who watches over it and he builds it and I'm just a servant. So, same thing, you know, with families, with anything that we're doing for the Lord, he has to build the house. And that that's humbling, but it's also liberating when you really

Jeramie: And I do get stressed out over a church because I see the needs of the church. and and so I this is another anchor psalm for me to be like, Listen, this is the Lord's house, it's not Jeremy's house. This is the Lord's New Jerusalem, it's not Jeremy's. And he's the one who watches over it and he builds it and I'm just a servant. So, same thing, you know, with families, with anything that we're doing for the Lord, he has to build the house. And that that's humbling, but it's also liberating when you really Soak that in. Yeah. Yeah. It's definitely liberating to think it it is God who works powerfully. Mm-hmm. It's like on your own strength, you are helpless. But God is at work. Yeah. Yeah. And that's kind of exactly what these Psalms do is they they lift our eyes to our to their rightful place in Christ, in God. Yeah, it's great. let's go to the Gospel of Luke. Okay.

Allen: Soak that in. Yeah. Yeah. It's definitely liberating to think it it is God who works powerfully. Mm-hmm. It's like on your own strength, you are helpless. But God is at work. Yeah. Yeah. And that's kind of exactly what these psalms do is they they lift our eyes to our to their rightful place in Christ, in God. Yeah, that's great. let's go to the gospel of Luke. Okay. Yeah, going over to Luke and just thinking about what we just talked about, how it is God who builds the house. Yeah. And not us. Right. we know that when we share the gospel with people, if we could just shake them awake in their stupidity, like stop disobeying, not trusting in Christ, trusting in the gospel, don't you see how good it is? Yeah. It doesn't work. It doesn't work. I haven't tried that. Have you tried it? I've never literally I I've never done shake evangelism. Okay. You've never done shake evangelism.

Jeramie: Yeah, going over to Luke and just thinking about what we just talked about, how it is God who builds the house. Yeah. And not us. Right. we know that when we share the gospel with people, if we could just shake them awake in their stupidity, like stop disobeying, not trusting in Christ, trusting in the gospel, don't you see how good it is? Yeah. It doesn't work. It doesn't work. I haven't tried that. Have you tried it? I've never literally I I've never done shake evangelism. Okay. You've never done shake evangelism.

Allen: But it goes to show of like you can't just force people to follow Christ. Yeah. Because it's why? It's God who has to open up the hearts and the minds, which we see actually in one of the parables that Jesus tells here, which is the parable of the sower or the parable of the soils. Yes. why don't you talk a little bit about this parable? Sure. So Jesus is he he he's

Jeramie: But it goes to show of like you can't just force people to follow Christ. Yeah. Because it's why? It's God who has to open up the hearts and the minds, which we see actually in one of the parables that Jesus tells here, which is the parable of the sower or the parable of the soils. Yes. why don't you talk a little bit about this parable? Sure. So Jesus is he he he's

Allen: You know, preaching to the disciples. We looked at that last week in the Sermon on the Plane. But then he starts to confront the people with the story of John the Baptist. So I'm going back a little bit to chapter seven before the parable of sower. And and the people are, you know, have a mixed response. And so Jesus is like, you know, chapter seven, verse thirty one. To what shall I compare this generation? What are they like? They're like children in the marketplace calling to each other.

Jeramie: You know, preaching to the disciples. We looked at that last week in the Sermon on the Plane. But then he starts to confront the people with the story of John the Baptist. So I'm going back a little bit to chapter seven before the parable of sower. And and the people are, you know, have a mixed response. And so Jesus is like, you know, chapter seven, verse thirty one, to what shall I compare this generation? What are they like? They're like children in the marketplace calling to each other.

Allen: We played the flute for you, you didn't dance, we sang a lament, you didn't weep. In other words, like no matter what, you're never happy. So if I come and preach, you're not happy with John the Baptist. So just confronting the fact that God has sent John the Baptist and his own son to preach the gospel to them. Yep. And they say of John the Baptist, he has a demon, and they say of Jesus, he's a glutton. Yeah. So which is not what you'd expect from the Elijah figure and the Messiah. Yeah. That kind of response.

Jeramie: We played the flute for you, you didn't dance, we sang a lament, you didn't weep. In other words, like no matter what, you're never happy. Mm-hmm. So if I come and preach, you're not happy with John the Baptist. So just confronting the fact that God has sent John the Baptist and his own son to preach the gospel to them. Yep. And they say of John the Baptist, he has a demon, and they say of Jesus, he's a glutton. Yeah. So which is not what you'd expect from the Elijah figure and the Messiah. Yeah. That kind of response. So Jesus explains this in the parable of the sower, where the the seed, which is the word of God, tossed out by the sower, who's Jesus or the preacher, tossing it and it falls on those four soils the rocky, the shallow, the weedy, and then the good soil, with three with four different reactions. Only one of them is fruitful. Yeah. the other so it's three that don't bear fruit, and then there's one that bears fruit in three ways. Mm-hmm.

Allen: So Jesus explains this in the parable of the sower, where the the seed, which is the word of God, tossed out by the sower, who's Jesus or the preacher, tossing it and it falls on those four soils the rocky, the shallow, the weedy, and then the good soil, with three with four different reactions. Only one of them is fruitful. Yeah. the other so it's three that don't bear fruit, and then there's one that bears fruit in three ways. Mm-hmm.

Jeramie: So and and I think it's just it it's sort of one of these surprising gospel par parables that remind us that that there's mixed reactions to the gospel. Yeah. And we can't control that. And if Jesus had mixed reactions, like we don't we shouldn't be beating ourselves up if like there's people who just seem to be close to the gospel. And I think it's really hard when it's someone you love. Totally. Because then you you just keep thinking, what what can I do? What can I say?

Allen: So and and I think it's just it it's sort of one of these surprising gospel par parables that remind us that that there's mixed reactions to the gospel. Yeah. And we can't control that. And if Jesus had mixed reactions, like we don't we shouldn't be beating ourselves up if like there's people who just seem to be close to the gospel. And I think it's really hard when it's someone you love. Totally. Because then you you just keep thinking, what what can I do? What can I say?

Jeramie: How can, you know, what's the secret you know, lock code that will unlock their heart to the gospel? That's right. And, you know, salvation is a gift. The Lord, the Lord gives faith. We He's He's the one. And so we shouldn't be surprised that that there's gonna be a mixed bag response, whether hard, people don't want to hear it, or shallow, they get excited right away and then a month later they flaked out.

Allen: How can, you know, what's the secret you know, lock code that will unlock their heart to the gospel? And, you know, salvation is a gift. The Lord, the Lord gives faith. We He's He's the one. And so we shouldn't be surprised that that there's gonna be a mixed bag response, whether hard, people don't wanna hear it, or shallow, they get excited right away and then a month later they flaked out.

Jeramie: Or weedy where they you thought they were growing, but then they just get caught up in the world and you know they're they're kids and their career and their lives and they their faith just kind of peters out and they just sort of get sucked up in life and it's like that that happens too. Yeah, that does happen. one of the parables in there that kind of makes that point a little bit is

Allen: Or weedy, where they you thought they were growing, but then they just get caught up in the world and you know, they're they're kids and their career and their lives and they their faith just kind of peters out and they just sort of get sucked up in life. And it's like that that happens too. Yeah, that does happen. one of the parables in there that kind of makes that point a little bit is

Jeramie: You yeah, you preached about this one time, I think. you're talking about it's like hey, get out your high school yearbook and you just least likely to follow Christ. Right. Like find that person and then Yeah, find that person. huh. And then they're like following Christ this one day like the the person you said was most likely to be following Christ is just not following Christ. Yeah. You're like, How in the world does this happen? Yeah.

Allen: You yeah, you preached about this one time, I think. you're talking about it's like hey, get out your high school yearbook and you just least likely to follow Christ. Right. Like find that person and then Yeah, find that person. huh. And then they're like following Christ this one day like the the person you said was most likely to be following Christ is just not following Christ. Yeah. You're like, How in the world does this happen? Yeah. Right. And then it there's the story of, you know, Jesus tells where there's two people who owe a debt to the moneylender. and and he's like, Who do you think is going to love the moneylender more if he forgives both debts? And his point is the one who owed a greater debt. Yeah. So God, in his grace and his mercy, forgives the debts. There's no one that's too far gone for Christ that he can forgive. And they're gonna, in a sense, love him more because they had this measureless debt that they couldn't pay.

Jeramie: Right. And then it there's a story of, you know, Jesus tells where there's two people who owe a debt to the moneylender. and and he's like, Who do you think is going to love the moneylender more if he forgives both debts? And his point is the one who owed a greater debt. Yeah. So God, in his grace and his mercy, forgives the debts. There's no one that's too far gone for Christ that he can forgive. And they're gonna, in a sense, love him more because they had this measureless debt that they couldn't pay. And that was erased. And so it's just it's just surprising. It's the surprising mercy of God that He has mercy on whomever he wants, has grace on whomever he wants. And he actually uses that. Like you said, they rejected Jesus. And others you're like, How in the world does that happen? Yeah. Yeah. He he has mercy on whom he has mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Yeah. and so you know, if if you're listening to this and you have someone in your life that

Allen: And that was erased. And so it's just it's just surprising. It's the surprising mercy of God that He has mercy on whomever he wants, has grace on whomever he wants. And he actually uses that. Like you said, they rejected Jesus and others, you're like, How in the world does that happen? Yeah. Yeah. He he has mercy on whom he has mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Yeah. and so, you know, if if you're listening to this and you have someone in your life that

Jeramie: Or some people in your life that you wish would come to know Christ and you're so discouraged. Maybe just giving up or whatever, or maybe you're like trying to figure out what to do. You know, two things don't give up, mm-hmm, but also don't beat yourself up. Yeah. Because you can't control it. Yeah, that's right. All we you know, our job is to be faithful, to sow the seed, to live a life consistent with the gospel so that we we give credibility to the message. You know, we're we're our lives are like the the golden ring that holds the diamond of the gospel. Yeah.

Allen: Or some people in your life that you wish would come to know Christ and you're so discouraged. Maybe just giving up whatever, or maybe you're like trying to figure out what to do. You know, two things. Don't give up, mm-hmm, but also don't beat yourself up. Yeah. It's good because you can't control it. Yeah, that's right. All we you know, our job is to be faithful, to sow the seed, to live a life consistent with the gospel so that we we give credibility to the message. You know, we're we're our lives are like the the golden ring that holds the diamond of the gospel. Yeah. proclamation and so we want to keep our lives clean and sparkling but it's so that we can hold up the gospel and there's a consistency in our our preaching. Yeah that's right. It really drives us to prayer. Really drives us to prayer. Sure does. Just Lord please save them. Yeah. Lord please save them. As you saved me. Yeah. That's right. Yeah. That's good. Let's move over to Colossians. New book. New book. Yeah. New book. Yeah. Tell us a little bit about this new book.

Jeramie: proclamation and so we want to keep our lives clean and sparkling but it's so that we can hold up the gospel and there's a consistency in our our preaching. Yeah that's right. It really drives us to prayer. Really drives us to prayer. Sure does. Just Lord please save them. Yeah. Lord please save them. As you saved me. Yeah. That's right. Yeah. That's good. Let's move over to Colossians. New book. New book. Yeah. New book. Yeah. Tell us a little bit about this new book. Yep. This is this book is actually another letter written by the apostle Paul to a church, this one in Colossae, in what we'd call Turkey today. and it's it it's a book where he's holding up the glory and the sufficiency of Jesus because that church is coming under attack by false teaching, false philosophy, both it

Allen: Yep. It's his this book is actually another letter written by the Apostle Paul to a church, this one in Colossae, in what we'd call Turkey today. and it's it it's a book where he's holding up the glory and the sufficiency of Jesus because that church is coming under attack by false teaching, false philosophy, both it

Jeramie: We c we don't know exactly what the false teachings were, but it it it feels from trying to read back into the text and and you're trying to pick out what were what was the teaching. It seems to be s either some kind of Jewish teaching or also Greco-Roman philosophy. Right. That attacked the the person and work of Christ, specifically his deity. Yeah, his deity and his sufficiency and and the salvation and life that comes through him. So so this is a it's a kind of

Allen: We c don't know exactly what the false teachings were, but it it it feels from trying to read back into the text and and you're trying to pick out what were what was the teaching. It seems to be s either some kind of Jewish teaching or also Greco Roman philosophy. Right. That attacked the the person and work of Christ, specifically his deity. Yeah, his deity and his sufficiency and and the salvation and life that comes through him. So so this is a it's a kind of a bit of a defensive counterpunch letter. Yeah. But a positive and wonderful one. Yeah, totally. the the letter Colossians is is kind of like it's like a twin letter to Ephesians, where Colossians is going to emphasize Christ, where Ephesians emphasizes the church. Yeah. which is one of his prison epistles, along with Philippians, Ephesians, Philemon, that he's writing from prison. and that's always striking to me when we just take a peel back the layer a little bit and r remember who's writing. And you kind of get the Pauline

Jeramie: a bit of a defensive counterpunch letter. Yeah. But a positive and wonderful one. Yeah, totally. the the letter Colossians is is kind of like it's like a twin letter to Ephesians, where Colossians is going to emphasize Christ, where Ephesians emphasizes the church. Yeah. which is one of his prison epistles, along with Philippians, Ephesians, Philemon, that he's writing from prison. and that's always striking to me when we just take a peel back the lair a little bit and r remember who's writing. And you kind of get the Pauline Just theology and worship. And he's in prison writing. Like he's just he's gonna marvel at Christ in Christ and encourage them in Christ as he's sitting in prison. At some point he's gonna say, I'm suffering for your sake. You may know. I think one of the things that that you know, well, one of the things that scholars noodle over is the relationship between Colossians and Ephesians. They're not identical letters, but there are a lot of similarities in language, flow, structure. Yep.

Allen: just theology and worship and he's in prison writing like he's just he's gonna marvel at Christ in Christ and encourage them in Christ as he's sitting in prison. At some point he's gonna say, I'm suffering for your sake. That you may know. I think one of the things that that you know well one of the things that scholars noodle over is the relationship between Colossians and Ephesians. They're not identical letters, but there are a lot of similarities in language, flow, structure. Yep.

Jeramie: so in you know, people wonder perhaps he wrote these near the same time when he was in prison. Maybe he was like, you know, in a he was like in a a vibe and he was you know going down sort of like certain sentimental tracks. Yeah. And and yet they're different enough that clearly he had different objectives in writing each one. Yeah. One of the things I really appreciate at the front of this letter is his prayer of Thanksgiving and prayer for this. He's he's rather encouraged at the beginning. and what's interesting is he's gonna pray.

Allen: so you know, people wonder perhaps he wrote these near the same time when he was in prison. Maybe he was like, you know, in a he was like in a a vibe and he was you know going going down sort of like certain sentimental tracks. Yeah. And and yet they're different enough that clearly he had different objectives in writing each one. Yeah. One of the things I really appreciate at the front of this letter is his prayer of Thanksgiving and prayer for this. He's he's rather encouraged at the beginning. and what's interesting is he's gonna pray. for these Christians here in Colossae, he's gonna pray for them to be filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to bear fruit in every good work, increase in the knowledge of God, be strengthened with all power, and then for endurance and patience with joy and giving thanks. that's been something that I actually just adopted as a prayer. I got this from someone else, but that became my prayer for when I'm praying through for church members, specifically when I'm using the church directory app.

Jeramie: for these Christians here in Colossae, he's gonna pray for them to be filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to bear fruit in every good work, increase in the knowledge of God, be strengthened with all power, and then for endurance and patience with joy and giving thanks. that's been something that I actually just adopted as a prayer. I got this from someone else, but that became my prayer for when I'm praying through for church members, specifically when I'm using the church directory app. especially, you know, if I don't know someone as well, if they don't have a listed prayer request, just a great prayer. Colossians one, nine through fourteen. Lord, would you increase them and their knowledge of you, that they would walk in a manner whether the Lord be strengthened for endorh. So, hey, if you don't know to pray for someone, pray this. Open this up, pray for this person, pray for this brother, that sister. just pray with Paul. Yeah. Because you know, we we sometimes think, well, I can't really pray for someone unless I have a personal, knowledgeable relationship with them. But actually that

Allen: especially, you know, if I don't know someone as well, if they don't have a listed prayer request, just a great prayer. Colossians one, nine through fourteen. Lord, would you increase them and their knowledge of you, that they would walk in a manner whether your Lord be strengthened for and don't. So hey, if you don't know to pray for someone, pray this. Open this up, pray for this person, pray for this brother, that sister. just pray with Paul. Yeah. Because you know, we we sometimes think, well, I can't really pray for someone unless I have a personal, knowledgeable relationship with them. But actually that

Jeramie: The greatest things we can pray for them, we could pray for any Christian, whether we know them or not. Yeah. And these are the kind of things that every Christian needs to know the most. Every Christian needs to be growing in the knowledge of God. Every Christian needs to be bearing fruit in every good work. That's far more important than the kind of, you know, little things that I often bring to the Lord, even though God cares about those too. But so I just I think you're right. Like this is this is a great instructive in how to pray for brothers and sisters in the church. And so hopefully you're using that.

Allen: The greatest things we can pray for them, we could pray for any Christian, whether we know them or not. Yeah. And these are the kind of things that every Christian needs to know the most. Every Christian needs to be growing in the knowledge of God. Every Christian needs to be bearing fruit in every good work. That's far more important than the kind of, you know, little things that I often bring to the Lord, even though God cares about those two. But so I just I think you're right. Like this is this is a great instructive in how to pray for brothers and sisters in the church. And so hopefully you're using that.

Jeramie: That prayer app is great. Love it. I love that thing. Transformed my prayer life. Yeah. Really. And and the way that it it puts for those of you who are members of the church, hopefully have that that app downloaded. And you just it gives you a list of church members to pray for every day. Yeah. Most of the church's pictures are in there. Yeah. so it's it's just a great way to be praying for brothers and sisters. Yeah. If you if you don't have it.

Allen: That prayer app is great. Love it. I love that thing. Transformed my prayer life. Yeah. Really. Yeah. And and the way that it it puts for those of you who are members of the church, hopefully you have that that app downloaded and you just it gives you a list of church members to pray for every day. Yeah. Most of the church's pictures are in there. Yeah. so it's it's just a great way to be praying for brothers and sisters. Yeah. If you if you don't have it. Shoot me an email or call the office. Yeah, we want to hook you up with that. Yeah, yeah. And and use it. It's been so great. And then you know, the other thing I like to do is sometimes I you know, I don't always do this, but what I try to do is after I pray for people, then I send them a text and just let them know I'm praying for them. And so, you know, like imagine if the members of our church were getting texts every day from other church members saying, I I prayed for you. Maybe even I don't really even know if we've met.

Jeramie: Shoot me an email or call in the office. Yeah, we want to hook you up with that. Yeah, yeah. And and use it. It's been so great. And then you know, the other thing I like to do is sometimes I you know, I don't always do this, but what I try to do is after I pray for people, then I send them a text and just let them know I'm praying for them. And so, you know, like imagine if the members of our church were getting texts every day from other church members saying, I I prayed for you. Maybe even I don't really even know if we've met. But I prayed Colossians one ten for you. Yeah. Like that's so encouraging. Yeah, it's so encouraging. Yeah, that's real body life. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've gotten a couple of texts like that and it's so encouraging. Yeah, it's great. So keep it up out there. Keep praying for each other. Yeah, it's great. yeah, verses fifteen to twenty. Big, big, big. Huge. Yeah. What is preeminence? What is that? preeminence means

Allen: But I prayed Colossians one ten for you. Yeah. Like that's so encouraging. Yeah, that's so encouraging. Yeah, that's real body life. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've gotten a couple of texts like that, and it's so encouraging. Yeah, it's great. So keep it up out there. Keep praying for each other. Yeah, it's great. yeah, verses fifteen to twenty. Big, big, big. Huge. Yeah. What is preeminence? What is that? preeminence means

Jeramie: You know, your number one first in rank. First in rank. Yep. Yeah. Supremacy. Yeah. That's what the greatest, the best. It's amazing. That's true. That's great. That's great. Jesus is the best. It's true. throughout kind of the rest of our section here, there's kind of this theme. if you'll if you'll notice as you're just picking up, there's a lot of this like in Christ language.

Allen: You know, your number one first in rank. First in rank. Yep. Yeah. Supremacy. Yeah. That's what the greatest, the best. It's amazing. That's true. That's great. That's great. Jesus is the best. It's true. throughout kind of the rest of our section here, there's kind of this theme. if you'll if you'll notice as you're just picking up, there's a lot of this like in Christ language.

Jeramie: In him we have redemption. In him all things were created. The the fullness of God is pleased to dwell. In him are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. we're being rooted and built up in him. you've been filled in him. You were circumcised in Christ, you were raised up in Christ, you're triumphing over in Christ. What is what is kind of Paul, what's he driving at for these for these brothers and sisters who you you could argue that their identity has now come from in the darkness of the world, right? He's

Allen: In him we have redemption. In him all things are created. The f the fullness of God is pleased to dwell. In him are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. we're being rooted and built up in him. you've been filled in him. You were circumcised in Christ. You were raised up in Christ. You're triumphing over in Christ. What is what is kind of Paul? What's he driving at for these for these brothers and sisters who you you could argue that their identity has now come from in the darkness of the world, right? He's Taking them out of the domain of darkness into the kingdom of his beloved son and giving them this new identity. What's kind of Paul driving at here with letting them know that Christ is first and then now that they're in Christ, and so how does that transform the way that they're gonna live? Yeah, I I think what it does is it it just makes it kind of blows your mind with what it really means to be a biblical Christian. That when you're really a Christian, you have been fundamentally united with Christ.

Jeramie: Taking them out of the domain of darkness into the kingdom of his beloved son and giving them this new identity. What's kind of Paul driving at here with letting them know that Christ is first and then now that they're in Christ, and so how does that transform the way that they're gonna live? Yeah, I I think what it does is it it just makes it kind of blows your mind with what it really means to be a biblical Christian, that when you're really a Christian, you have been fundamentally united with Christ. not just that you believe in him, which we do, not just that we know him, which we do, but that there's some spiritual sense in which we are in him through the Holy Spirit, and he is in us, so that our our life is is with him. you know, so so for instance, you know, chapter three, verses one to four. you have been raised with Christ, seek the things

Allen: Not just that you believe in him, which we do, not just that we know him, which we do, but that there's some spiritual sense in which we are in him through the Holy Spirit, and he is in us, so that our our life is is with him. you know, so so for instance, you know, chapter three, verses one to four, you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that

Jeramie: Above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, non-earthly things. Here we go, verse three. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will appear with him in glory. Jesus is my life. And so my my life isn't even my life, but he's my life. So there's this full identification.

Allen: Above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, non-earthly things. Here we go, verse three. For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will appear with him in glory. Jesus is my life. And so my my life isn't even my life, but he's my life. So there's this full identification.

Jeramie: Where I'm united with him. Not that I become Jesus, not that I become God. This is not a deification in any sense. Right. But but it's a a deep, profound union with the death, burial, and resurrection Jesus through the Holy Spirit, such that He is my life. and so and so in Colossians, you know, Paul's point then is kind of like, So why are you guys being tempted by these stupid substitutes? Yeah. Why are you being tempted by the, you know, asceticism?

Allen: Where I'm united with him. Not that I become Jesus, not that I become God. This is not a deification in any sense. Right. But but it's a a deep, profound union with the death, burial, and resurrection Jesus through the Holy Spirit, such that he is my life. and so and so in Colossians, you know, Paul's point then is kind of like, so why are you guys being tempted by these stupid substitutes? Yeah. Why are you being tempted by the, you know, asceticism? You know, trying to show your spirituality by, you know, denying yourself things or by some new stupid philosophy. You know, I you know, verse 18, let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Yeah. You know, like as if like that's special knowledge. Yeah, special knowledge, or you know, this person, you know, they're they're in the heavenlies. And Paul's like.

Jeramie: You know, trying to show your spirituality by, you know, denying yourself things or by some new stupid philosophy. You know, I you know, verse 18. Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Yeah. You know, like as if like that's special knowledge. Yeah, special knowledge, or you know, this person, you know, they're they're in the heavenlies. And Paul's like.

Allen: You have you're in Christ. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Christ is in you. He is your life. What what more could be better than that? Yeah. And so it's really a grounding people, grounding us as Christians in Jesus himself, and his full you know, in Jesus you have the fullness of God. He he Paul kind of takes them up to the heavenlies, talking about the preeminence, the superiority, the first thing of Christ. He's like, look all the way up to the heavens, see Christ. Okay. Now that you've seen him, come back to the ground and let you know that everyone else is in Christ. Just

Jeramie: You have you're in Christ. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And Christ is in you. Yeah. His your life. What what more could be better than that? Yeah. And so it's really a grounding people, grounding us as Christians in Jesus himself, and his full you know, in Jesus you have the fullness of God. He he Paul kind of takes him up to the heavenlies, talking about the preeminence, the superiority, the first thing of Christ. He's like, look all the way up to the heavens, see Christ. Okay. Now that you've seen him, come back to the ground and let you know that everyone else is in Christ. Just in su Christ is supreme. So don't be caught up in these foolishness and everything. Everyone's on the same level. They're all grounded in Christ and everyone's identity is in Christ. He kind of takes them up just to take them back down and encourage them. And then and but and lest we think he's just kind of lost in pie in the sky theology, then in chapter three, verse five, he gets practical. Yeah. You know, so after saying like Christ is our life, verse chapter three, verse five, therefore put to death what belongs to your earthly nature.

Allen: in su Christ is supreme. So don't be caught up in these foolishness and everything. Everyone's on the same level. They're all grounded in Christ and everyone's identity is in Christ. He kind of takes them up just to take them back down and encourage them. And then but and lest we think he's just kind of lost in pie in the sky theology, then in chapter three, verse five, he gets practical. Yeah. You know, so after saying like Christ is our life, verse chapter three, verse five, therefore put to death what belongs to your earthly nature. And so so to to not set our minds on the earth, it's not talking about, hey, don't think about buying groceries for tonight. Yeah. He's talking about don't think about sinful earthly lusts and desires and Yeah, he goes on there's a kind of a list of vices. Yep. And then he'll he'll move into some virtues. So some of these vices sexual morality, impurity, passion. That's not passion of a drive, but like a sinful passion, a covetousness of passion, evil desire, idolatry.

Jeramie: And so so to to not set our minds on the earth, it's not talking about, hey, don't think about buying groceries for tonight. Yeah. He's talking about don't think about sinful earthly lusts and desires and Yeah, he goes on there's a kind of a list of vices. Yep. And then he'll he'll move into some virtues. So some of these vices, sexual morality, impurity, passion. That's not passion of a drive, but like a sinful passion, a covetousness of passion, evil desire, idolatry. Greed, which is idolatry. Greed.

Allen: Greed, which is idolatry. Greed. Yeah. We talked about that last week. Yeah, we did. So yeah. If you're greedy and that's idolatrous. And then he goes, No, no, no, no. Do this instead as God's chosen ones, your new identity, as holy, bel and beloved, because there's neither Jew nor Greek, no, you know, everyone's in Christ, everyone's on the same playing field. Put on then compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another. If anyone has a complaint, forgive each other. Because why?

Jeramie: Yeah, that's we we talked about that last week. Yeah, we did. So yeah, if you're greedy, that's idolatrous. And then he goes, No, no, no, no. Do this instead as God's chosen ones, your new identity, as holy bel and beloved, because there's neither Jew nor Greek, no, you know, everyone's in Christ, everyone's on the same playing field. Put on then compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, bearing with one another. If anyone has a complaint, forgive each other. Because why?

Allen: Do people in churches ever have complaints against each other? Never once. I've never once I've never heard one. I've never heard one. We have a perfect church. It's great. But for those of you out there who are in churches where there may be a complaint, that's right. Paul tells you, if you have a complaint against one another or a grievance, you know, bear with one another and forgive one another. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because he says, Above all, put on love. This is what's going to bind everything. another great pass verse is verse sixteen.

Jeramie: Do people in churches ever have complaints against each other? Never once. I've never once. No. I've never heard one. I've never heard one. We have a perfect church. It's great. But for those of you out there who are in churches where there may be a complaint, that's right. Paul tells you, if you have a complaint against one another or a grievance, you know, bear with one another and forgive one another. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because he says, Above all, put on love. This is what's going to bind everything. another great pass verse is verse sixteen.

Allen: Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom, teaching and monishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing it to God with gratitude in your heart. It it's interesting. There's not a lot of passages actually in the New Testament that teach us about singing per se, even though it's lots of singing and lots of worship. But in terms of passages like this.

Jeramie: Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom, teaching and monishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing it to God with gratitude in your heart. It it's interesting. There's not a lot of passages actually in the New Testament that teach us about singing per se, even though it's lots of singing and lots of worship. But in terms of passages like this, and so here's one. But what's interesting is in our singing to God, it says we're speaking to one another.

Allen: And so here's one, but what's interesting is in our singing to God, it says we're speaking to one another. And in doing so, the word of God is dwelling richly among us. So that's so so that's why it's so important when we sing in church that we sing God's word, we sing biblical truth, because through it God's the word of Christ is dwelling among us. Yeah, that's great.

Jeramie: And in doing so, the word of God is dwelling richly among us. So that's so so that's why it's so important when we sing in church that we sing God's word, we sing biblical truth, because through it crowds the word of Christ is dwelling among us. That's great. That's one of my favorite things on Sunday, man, is congregational singing. I can hear the voices of the brothers and sisters and I look around and singing to God. There's a vertical aspect we're singing to God, then the horizontal aspect we're singing to one another and it's just like being carried along in song.

Allen: That's one of my favorite things on Sunday, man, is congregational singing. I can hear the voices of the brothers and sisters and I look around and singing to God. There's a vertical aspect we're singing to God, then the horizontal aspect we're singing to one another and it's just being carried along in song toward towards Christ and such a beautiful picture. Yeah. When you sing Sunday morning, just encourage everyone out there, sing as loud as you can. Yeah. Because you're loud singing, even if it's not

Jeramie: Yeah. Towards Christ and such a beautiful picture. Yeah. When you sing Sunday morning, just encourage everyone out there, sing as loud as you can. Yeah. Because your loud singing, even if it's not great singing. I can tell you, I am the first to admit I'm not a great sing and everyone else will tell you that too. But no comment. But you know, and I'm I I'm not a great singer, but I'm a loud singer. Yeah.

Allen: great singing. I can tell you I am the first to admit I'm not a great and everyone else will tell you that too. But no comment. But you know, and I'm I I'm not a great singer, but I'm a loud singer. Yeah. And and I think singing loudly it just encourages others to sing loudly. And so you're you're hearing the the body. And you know, don't be afraid to like look around the room while you're singing because we are singing to each other. We're not just singing to each other. We're first of all we're singing to God. That's right. but

Jeramie: And and I think singing loudly, it just encourages others to sing loudly. And so you're you're hearing the the body. And you know, don't be afraid to like look around the room while you're singing, because we are singing to each other. We're not just singing to each other. We're first of all, we're singing to God. That's right. but one one more thing in Colossians before we wrap it up. Yeah, do it. But reverse a little bit, go back to chapter one. Paul gives a wonderful description of his philosophy as Christian minist of Christian ministry.

Allen: one more thing in Colossians before we wrap it up. Yeah, do it. But reverse a little bit, go back to chapter one. Paul gives a wonderful description of his philosophy as Christian minist of Christian ministry. You know, what does it mean to do ministry? What does it mean to disciple? And I think Colossians one, twenty eight and twenty nine nails it. We proclaim him, so Jesus. So it's about the proclamation of Christ, warning and teaching everyone of all wisdom.

Jeramie: You know, what does it mean to do ministry? what does it mean to disciple? And I think Colossians one, twenty eight and twenty-nine nails it. We proclaim him, so Jesus. So it's about the proclamation of Christ, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom. Here's the goal, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Yep. You know, you think about our our mission statement, it's that South San Val Community Church exists to glorify God by maturing and multiplying Christians and churches through Jesus Christ. So we're trying to

Allen: Here's the goal so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. Yeah. You know, you think about our our mission statement. It's that South Sandbell Community Church exists to glorify God by maturing and multiplying Christians and churches through Jesus Christ. So we're trying to mature Christians and churches. We don't just want to save people that we do. We want to see them grow up in the faith. Yep. So everything we're doing is like, you know, is this helping people mature? And there's a lot of things you can be doing as a church that are

Jeramie: mature Christians in churches. We don't just want to save people, but we do. We want to see them grow up in the faith. Yep. So everything we're doing is like, you know, is this helping people mature? And there's a lot of things you can be doing as a church that are activities and fun activities or busy activities. But if they're not helping mature Christians, then you know why why are we doing it? So and then it's his strength that works through us. So if if you're ever just thinking like what does it mean to do ministry? you know,

Allen: activities and fun activities or busy activities. But if they're not helping mature Christians, then you know, why why are we doing it? So and then it's his strength that works through us. So if if you're ever just thinking like what does it mean to do ministry, you know,

Jeramie: Read those verses and that's a great like Paul's personal philosophy of ministry statement. Yeah, that's great. Yeah. That's the great commission, right? Is is to baptize in the name of Father, Son, Holy Spirit, teaching them

Allen: read those verses and that's a great like Paul's personal philosophy of ministry statement. Yeah, that's great. Yeah, that's the great commission, right? Is is to baptize in the name of Father, Son, Holy Spirit, teaching them Yes. To observe. That's how we become matured is we're we're taught the word of God. And then we do the word of God. And then we do the word of God. And then the encouragement is behold, I'm with you. Yeah. To the end of the age. That's right. And that's how verse 29 ends. That's right. It's his power working in us. That's right.

Jeramie: to observe. That's how we become matured is we're we're taught the word of God. And then we do the word of God. And then we do the word of God. And then the encouragement is behold, I'm with you. Yeah. To the end of the age. That's right. And that's how verse twenty nine ends. That's right. It's his power working in us. That's right.

Allen: So ministry, which takes us back to Psalm 127, unless the Lord built a house, which takes us back to you know, Jesus and the parable of the soils. It's God who

Jeramie: So ministry, which takes us back to Psalm 127, unless the Lord builds a house, which takes us back to you know, Jesus and the parable of the soils. It's God who who saves the soul. So we do our work, but God's the one who brings the results. Amen. And he's gonna get all the praise and glory for it. Exactly. That's why it works that way. That's right. Well, we're encouraged that God has put us on this mission as we pilgrim, make our pilgrimage on this side of heaven towards Christ.

Allen: Who saves the soul. So we do our work, but God's the one who brings the results. Amen. And he's going to get all the praise and glory for it. Exactly. That's why it works that way. That's right. Well, we're encouraged that God has put us on this mission as we pilgrim, make our pilgrimage on this side of heaven towards Christ. we pray that you're encouraged in the word. Keep reading, keep pressing on. This has been another episode of the SCC Saver Podcast, Apple, YouTube.

Jeramie: we pray that you're encouraged in the word. Keep reading, keep pressing on. This has been another episode of the SCC Saver Podcast. Apple, YouTube, Spotify. Share with your friends. We love you and we'll talk to you next time.

Allen: Spotify, share with your friends. We love you and we'll talk to you next time.