00;00;13;04 - 00;00;14;25
Brenton
That's why we've got to know God's Word.

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Matt
And why theology really, truly does matter. Why I love to to preach God's Word and why I try to do it so passionately. Because it's not just facts or things that that don't really matter to the day to day problem of our lives. They literally matter in everything we do, every environment we live, every relationship that.

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Brenton
We are in. Welcome back to further. I'm Brittany Grim. this week we have both Paul, Fischbach and Matt Mitchell. They, preach this week. informative. Soon. And then, Paul was in Burlington. Danville. So. Welcome, guys.

00;00;53;28 - 00;00;56;19
Paul
Thanks. Yeah. To be back.

00;00;56;21 - 00;01;14;15
Brenton
I thought since we hadn't haven't had you guys on for a while, I wanted to give you a chance just to kind of talk about, and update, our listeners with what's going on in your, individual ministries. So, Paul, do you want, you want to start and just kind of give us an update on what's going on in discipleship?

00;01;14;18 - 00;01;34;14
Paul
Yeah, we've had a lot, going on getting into the fall, getting ready for the fall. as people, if you've been church the last month or so you've seen, we've been talking about community groups. those are kind of relaunched. some groups take the summer off and kind of geared back up for that. So we've had some people jumping back into groups.

00;01;34;15 - 00;01;56;11
Paul
We've had a number of new groups starting. that's continuing to go on. And we're having more groups start a couple weeks ago. two Sundays ago, Olivia Mitchell had a video in the service. About D groups are disciple maker groups, and we finally went public with that for the first time. that's been behind the scenes for a couple of years, but we've been preparing leaders for that.

00;01;56;11 - 00;02;01;25
Paul
And, had some, good initial response here to the groups.

00;02;01;29 - 00;02;11;28
Brenton
So I guess what, while we're on the topic of D groups, you know, as you speak to our audience here, who would be the right person for a group like this?

00;02;12;00 - 00;02;34;23
Paul
This is this is a great group for people who want to go deeper in their walk with Christ. so as you're pursuing maturity in Christ, we want to present everyone mature in Christ as God has called us to do. But, for those who, really want to go to a deeper level. So this is not like a community group in the sense that, you can kind of come and go as, as you can fit it in.

00;02;34;23 - 00;02;53;26
Paul
But this is really a commitment, hard commitment where you're saying, no, we're going to meet every week. It's just a smaller, more intimate group of guys or girls. and we're going to go deeper in our knowledge of God and in our practices as we learn how to walk with God and then learn how to share that with others, too.

00;02;53;28 - 00;02;59;11
Paul
So it's really becoming a disciple maker, not just being a disciple, but learning how to make disciples.

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Brenton
Good. Yeah. Yeah. And then the last thing we announced this week was right now media. So talk about that a bit.

00;03;04;22 - 00;03;24;17
Paul
Yeah we're excited about that. It's a like I mentioned is the world's largest, library of discipleship video, discipleship resources. Bible studies. So we felt like that was a great resource for all of our community groups. D groups, you know, individuals, families, there's just resources there for everybody. So we were excited to offer that to everybody.

00;03;24;17 - 00;03;44;25
Paul
Hope they'll, take that email or go on to our website and look at that, account, create a free account and check out the resources. We created some specific channels. with recommended resources. So maybe it'll kind of narrow it down a little bit for you so you don't feel a little overwhelmed by the whole library. But yeah, we encourage you to check that out.

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Brenton
Yeah. Good. Matt. you guys have had some exciting news coming out of Fort Madison. What's been going on?

00;03;50;29 - 00;04;24;15

Yeah. So if you haven't heard, we're going going to be moving into an old school now, and hopefully it won't be an old school anymore. no. The the new home of Army Bible Church, Fort Madison is going to be 3301 Avenue L, which is the old Richardson Elementary School, that Fort Madison retired, this last May. And, we submitted a proposal to the school board, and they really liked what our plans were to to renovate it and, to keep using it for youth and for the community and the different ministries we have with the church and the city.

00;04;24;15 - 00;04;43;25

Hope. So City Hope's also going to be under that same roof at the, the new location. And we're just super excited about it because we need more space. And, our, this location is a great location will be really visible and people will know where we're at. And anytime we tell somebody, you know, or where are you guys at?

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And we say, you know, old Richardson Elementary School to go, and I know exactly where that's at. So it's just going to be really neat. And the church is growing little by little. And especially in children's ministry. And the youth are kind of cramped downstairs right now, at the, at our current facility. And then Sunday mornings, the adults have been, there's been a lot of adults upstairs, too, in the auditorium.

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Brenton
So kind of cramped is probably an understatement.

00;05;06;26 - 00;05;10;17

Yeah, yeah. The kids are smashed in like sardines.

00;05;10;20 - 00;05;42;22
Brenton
So there you go. Accurate. Yep. Cool. Well, thanks, guys. I it's funny, we actually we're talking right before this podcast about our pet peeves, about other podcasts and how they, spend their whole time, like ten minutes with a preamble that I just made you guys do it. So anyway, let's, let's get into the episode. So, both of you guys obviously preached on, this passage for, just John one, 1934, about John the Baptist.

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Brenton
and one thing you know, is common between you guys, you kind of identified him as a herald, a messenger. And so, can we just start with what? What does it mean to be a herald?

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Yeah. I mean, I'll start as the title of my message. you know, it was the Herald of the King, and, Paul is very similar with the witness, the witness of the one. And so. But I was I just recalled watching, really bad 90s movies about castles and knights in the medieval ages, and there was always a herald or a town crier or somebody, you know, saying, here, you hear me?

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And, you know, make way for the king or stand for the king. But really, that's what John's doing is he's he's the guy who's preparing the way so that everybody is, you know, can see the one coming after him. And that's that's Jesus. So, Yeah. Harold, the announcer, the witness, the the one preparing the way.

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Paul
So, yeah, I, I keep on that word witness. Yeah. That was written in the, in the scriptures and kind of went off the idea of a lawyer and making his case and calling his witnesses. And, you know, John being that first one. so I kind of played off of that. And then ended with the idea of us being ambassadors, which might be another word for witness or herald.

00;07;01;02 - 00;07;11;11
Paul
you know, you think about an ambassador for the United States to other countries. They represent that country to other people, and that's what we're called to do as we do it for Christ.

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Brenton
And Paul even uses that language right, as an ambassador.

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Paul
Yep.

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Brenton
Okay. So what what things do we typically as Christians herald more than Jesus?

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Paul
well, the first thing that came to mind was the start of the NFL season. And, you know, of.

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Brenton
Course, I'll cut you off right there.

00;07;31;14 - 00;07;50;13
Paul
you know, we're ambassadors for for our favorite team. it could be football or whatever sport it is. But, you know, sports are a huge thing that we're ambassadors for. Where all kinds of regalia about it and, you know, talk about it all the time and everything. And I think politics is another one. You know, we that seems to be the topic every day.

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Paul
All day, especially on cable news. so, you know, it's that or it could be pop culture too, you know, or our favorite TV show or, you know, whatever it is that we really like to get into. Yeah.

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Brenton
So after we kind of identify those things, you know what? What holds us back from from actually witness ING or heralding Jesus.

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It's a great question. I, I was just I actually just think about this as Paul was answering because I gave some of those examples in my sermon about sports, not politics and just different hobbies or things were in. I think it I think it's partly due to the fact that these other things that seem like they're tangible and we can do something about it or, you know, it's like, here comes this election, and I've really got to make sure, you know, I'm gunning for my person in November and, or my, my team this Sunday or Monday night or whatever time they're playing.

00;08;51;05 - 00;09;12;13

And I can see the results in real time. And, you know, it's like, Peter says that, we love him, but we haven't even seen him, you know, talking about Jesus and but, yeah, it's like I'm the unseen God. And my relationship with him doesn't always feel as tangible and as practical. that's not the way it should be, but sometimes it can come across that way.

00;09;12;13 - 00;09;23;00

So let me be more vocal and passionate about. These are the things I feel like I'm in control of, or just maybe seem more real. It day to day, I don't know, but what do you think?

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Paul
I totally agree, I thought that was a great answer. I didn't have anything to. Yeah.

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Brenton
So? So if that's the case, how do we become more comfortable with it or more motivated to, to witness about Jesus?

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Paul
I was thinking about this and just want to, you. I was reminded the verse that says, out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. And what am I filling my heart and mind with? Because that's what I'll talk about. And if I, you know, watch cable news all day and I hear about politics all day, that's what I'm gonna talk about.

00;09;59;15 - 00;10;20;04
Paul
Or if I'm on sports radio or, you know, that kind of stuff. That's what I'm going to talk about. But. Am I, am I spending time with the Lord. and my filling my mind and heart with who he is with his word. And if I've grown to love him hopefully more than my favorite sports team then that's going to come out.

00;10;20;06 - 00;10;22;09
Paul
What's in my heart is going to come out as I speak.

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That yeah, I totally agree. I was I was thinking of Psalm one, you know, Psalm chapter one, and we're blessed is the man, you know, who doesn't walk in the way of the world but is delights in God's law. He meditates it day and night, and he'll be like a tree planted beside the streams of water. And he has exactly what you just said would just sit in our mind and things above.

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And if we're not in the word and we're not thinking of the Lord, like that's not going to be coming out of the overflow of our heart, for sure. So, yeah, the the days I'm in the word that morning or at some point in the day and then something else happens that reminds me of what I read, and I feel more confident sharing about it.

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And if I wasn't, I'm it's I just feel dead in the brain or that, you know, there's not it's just not there. I'm not I'm not sharp with it. And I'm not thinking about what I read because I don't. Yeah, yeah.

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Paul
And you talked about getting more comfortable. Yeah. I think, I think we, That and anytime we try to do something new, we shouldn't expect to be good at it right away. I mean, we don't expect that when we're learning a new sport or a new skill or anything like that, we know we're gonna have to learn how to do that.

00;11;34;14 - 00;11;55;29
Paul
And that's going to take practice and time and over and over. And so as we try to get comfortable with talking about our faith, we just have to start. Yeah. And realize you're not going to do it perfectly right off the bat. And that's okay. Don't expect yourself to but just keep trusting the Lord and speak out of what God is teaching you in your life.

00;11;56;01 - 00;11;59;21
Paul
And gradually that will become more and more comfortable. Yeah.

00;11;59;23 - 00;12;19;17
Brenton
Yeah. If I could push that a little further, you know, you've you've kind of talked about two aspects of this. The, the first being, that, you know, out of the overflow of our heart to speak. Right. So that's, that's one. And then the other one is, you know, just being unfamiliar with it or, what you had said.

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Brenton
Paul. So what about people or, that are just, you know, almost ashamed, right? Like in, in the, in our, public life to, to speak about Jesus. What would your suggestion be to someone in that position?

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Paul
Yeah. I'm not sure what you mean by ashamed. is there personal shame? Is that what you're talking about?

00;12;43;03 - 00;12;56;08
Brenton
Well, I guess just, you know, it can be uncomfortable to bring up the issue of religion, right? In a secular world. So, you know, someone that is just uncomfortable from that perspective.

00;12;56;10 - 00;13;15;03
Paul
Yeah. I remember the the verse in first Peter three where, Peter writes and says that we should always be ready to give an answer to the for the hope that we have, but to do this with gentleness and respect. and it's important to remember those last two qualifiers, and so we should be ready to give an answer.

00;13;15;03 - 00;13;39;03
Paul
We're not necessarily just, you know, pushing our beliefs on other people. And but if we treat them with gentleness and respect as we talk with them about what we believe, we're also respecting them for who they are and where they're at right now. And ultimately, we're not, taking responsibility for whether they believe or not. We're being faithful to share the word as God has called us to.

00;13;39;05 - 00;13;46;21
Paul
And ultimately, he's the one that changes hearts and minds. And so we trust him to bring about that fruit in their life.

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Brenton
It's good. All right, Matt, I got, a couple specifically for you. All right. you discussed the difference between preparation and provision. regarding, you know, other things, and other people. so for our listeners who weren't able to hear your message, can you talk a little bit more about what you meant by, provision and preparation?

00;14;11;16 - 00;14;41;01

Yeah, sure. So as, as I read the passage this week and studied for it, I just saw these two clear themes of preparation and provision. And John's the one who prepares, and then Jesus is the one who provides. And just the more I thought about that, meditate on it. I was just reminded that, you know, John's only job is to prepare people for Jesus, but he can't actually do anything for them.

00;14;41;04 - 00;15;00;12

And, other than help them be prepared for the one who can change them. And so, you know, and then Jesus comes on the scene and he's pointing at him saying, you know, announcing him, heralding him, saying, behold, the lamb who takes away the sins of the world can take away your sins. And then he also says, you know, I just baptize with water, which is preparing you.

00;15;00;13 - 00;15;25;16

It's symbolic of the baptism you really need, which is Jesus. He baptized with the Holy Spirit. He cleanses, renews, and brings new life by the spirit. And so Jesus provides by, you know, in our passage in those two ways, he's the lamb who forgives sin and, atones for our sins. And and he gives the life giving spirit and, but then just kind of linking that in our lives and, okay, how does this apply to us?

00;15;25;16 - 00;15;44;15

And our assignment is not a whole lot different than John the Baptist. I mean, John the Baptist, pretty amazing. Just said he's the the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. but then, it's our job to prepare people for Jesus and to to point to him like, hey, you know, that's part of, you know, our witness and stuff.

00;15;44;15 - 00;16;00;03

I think if somebody admire something about us or is like, like, who are you? It's special about you, you know, like, why are you so kind? You know, why do you why are you still hanging around? Why are you my friend still? And not to point it back on us like, well, I just, you know, I care about you.

00;16;00;03 - 00;16;12;11

Well, of course we care about them. You know, we want to work hard, but, like, deflecting that stuff back on the Lord like he's the one who really makes the difference. He's the one you really need. And so, yeah, he's the one who provides, not us. Yeah.

00;16;12;13 - 00;16;36;00
Brenton
And you even mentioned, you know, things like books, podcasts, sermons, they're all good. They all have their place. and I would say even necessary but they're ultimately only preparation. Right. Yeah. So I guess practically what does it look like for Jesus to provide for us to, to be it for us to be able to put Jesus in the in the rightful place of giving us provision?

00;16;36;02 - 00;17;04;10

Yeah. that's a very good question. I love to know what Paul thinks of this, too. This wasn't part of his sermon, necessarily, but, I would just put it this way. I do this often. I think I see this in others, too, but, I'll put stock in the next Christian book or like podcast or this thing that I'm like, this is going to help me really get like where I want to get or grow.

00;17;04;10 - 00;17;34;19

And, but I'm kind of divorcing it from the Lord in my relationship with him. And I'm like, put my stock in the thing rather than, in him. And, so I just think of the Psalms, there's a, there's a lot of them, but I've got like Psalm 16 open in front of me and just thinking about how do we, not get caught up in the preparation but get caught up and Jesus, the one who provides in his Psalm 16, starting verse seven, says, I bless the Lord, who gives me counsel in the night.

00;17;34;19 - 00;17;52;09

Also my heart instructs me. He says, I've set the Lord always before me because he is at my right hand. I will not be shaken. kind of just this tangible acknowledgment of it's the Lord. It's he's the one at my right hand. He's the one who's with me. You know, the Lord. The Lord is my shepherd.

00;17;52;12 - 00;18;16;24

I shall not be in want. the end of Psalm 16 says, you make known to me the path of life. In your presence. There's fullness of joy at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. And, really, I think I just boil it down to sometimes I think I am in too much of a rush to slow down and be reminded that I'm in the presence of the Lord, and he is my strength.

00;18;16;24 - 00;18;32;28

He's my rock. He's who I need. And it's not, you know, the next silver bullet that, you know, kind of pop Christianity throws out there, or even just really great resources that I'm I'm missing the Lord in the resource, if that makes sense.

00;18;33;00 - 00;18;34;19
Brenton
Yeah. Any thoughts on that Paul.

00;18;34;21 - 00;18;58;27
Paul
I love one shared and I, I think we sometimes jump from resource to resource looking for the next great thing to learn about God. And but we ultimately like trade a gift of God for God himself. And we're valuing the gift more than the giver. And you know when we look at we can even do this with the Bible.

00;18;59;00 - 00;19;23;12
Paul
Now, the Bible points to Jesus and we can value the Bible, but the Bible is not the point. It's not a love of the Bible. It's that the Bible teaches about who God is and everything points to Jesus. And so it's a create a greater love for Jesus himself. and our goal isn't to become spiritually mature, that we know all the answers to our faith and can defend all of that.

00;19;23;14 - 00;19;38;17
Paul
The, the, the ultimate goal is to know Christ and to love him and have that fellowship with him. That's why we have all these resources and those resources should always point us into that relationship with Jesus. And so he's the provider.

00;19;38;19 - 00;20;04;16
Brenton
Yeah. Good. So back to Matt. You gave an example of someone that you had been putting kind of unreasonable expectations on. you know, expectations is that only God can fulfill. I think this is a pretty common thing that we do. How do we become better at recognizing that in our lives?

00;20;04;19 - 00;20;07;24

it's a good question. I thought you gonna ask me who was that person?

00;20;07;27 - 00;20;10;21
Brenton
We could start there now.

00;20;10;25 - 00;20;37;23

Yeah. How do we get better at recognizing it? I. I think that I think a lot of it comes down to, reflection and time with God. just enough stillness, and I'm not talking about, you know, everybody needs to devote an hour of their morning to be with the Lord. Sometimes it's just if I can just pause for a minute, you know, at my lunch break or on a drive home and just like, Lord, what's,

00;20;37;25 - 00;21;10;14

where's my heart? Not right. Kind of like that. Search me. Know me. God. passage in the Psalms. I think just these moments where we're conscious that we're with the Lord and kind of asking him to, to reveal to us anything that's not of him, for me, how I got convicted about it. This last weekend before I preached, I was on a walk with my family, and, was kind of, complaining to Olivia, about a person in my life.

00;21;10;14 - 00;21;31;22

And then all at once, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit of. I'm doing exactly what I'm preaching people not to do. that's not all that uncommon. but no, but it was freeing in that moment because I was like, here's what happened. I basically realized I am trying to get this person, to do what only Christ can do.

00;21;31;25 - 00;21;49;29

Like, because, you know, in my mind, I was like, if they were, if they would just do this differently or this would have happened, then then I would be content and happy today and have joy today and be satisfied. And it's like, no, like, that's not true. Like that person could have done everything right. And I could still be a grouch and complaining.

00;21;49;29 - 00;22;13;12

And it's like, Jesus is the one who gives me joy and satisfies and is, my safety. And, you know, my all in all. So I think it's just being sensitive to the Lord. And when he does prompt us not to shy away from that, but to lean into it because he wants to relieve us of burdens and us to not be in places like that.

00;22;13;15 - 00;22;35;16
Brenton
Yeah. Would you guys agree that, you know, as we think about podcasts and books and all these different media outlets that we can, we can learn from, you know, you talked about them as not being what we set them up to be, but would you even go as far to say they can be a distraction from. From what?

00;22;35;18 - 00;22;51;29
Brenton
Where we should be focused. You know, we can get so caught up in trying to learn something or, you know, figuring out what the next practical step is in our life and not actually pursuing Jesus because of that.

00;22;52;02 - 00;23;18;26

I think so. I think I think good things can become bad things when they become ultimate things, or there's just no space left for the Lord. I love the Saint Augustine quote where he says, our hearts are restless until they rest in you, God and and I just. I've got to be, I'm witnessing to that, that that is so true.

00;23;18;26 - 00;23;36;25

And the best sermon ever. The best worship song. Or, you know, worship night or Christian book or podcast. It cannot bring rest to my soul if I'm just kind of like, just in that. But I'm not allowing that to usher me into the presence of the Lord. so.

00;23;36;28 - 00;24;06;23
Paul
Yeah, yeah, I would agree too. I think we can. I think it starts with a good intention where we want to learn more about God. And so when we go to these different resources and we eat it up and but I think it comes back to what Matt was talking about. Have we actually spent some time to reflect on what we've been learning and taught, and does that lead us into a greater appreciation for the Lord and a closer walk with him, or are we just moving on right on to the next resource and trying to learn the next new thing and fill our minds with all the stuff?

00;24;06;23 - 00;24;29;24
Paul
I think our culture is so full of distracting ourselves with all kinds of things. And you even mentioned, you know, on the drive home reflecting, you know, do we have the radio on all the time or, you know, some other music or whatever it is, or can we actually sit in silence and drive and think, and I've had to do that in my own life.

00;24;29;25 - 00;24;46;03
Paul
I've just had this, you know, I'm going to go through the season. I'm going to turn to turn the music off, turn the radio off, and I'm just going to allow myself to be with my thoughts with the Lord. And and that's been a good discipline for me to, to try to focus on what's really important.

00;24;46;05 - 00;25;13;27
Brenton
You got me there. All right. Paul, you talked about identity a lot in your message. You said, John identified himself as the voice, to introduce the people to the Lord. you even gave an example of your own life, going from full time ministry in a church to an attendee. Right. And that that's a hard transition to, to figure out where your identity lies.

00;25;13;27 - 00;25;21;10
Brenton
But first, can you explain what you meant, by finding our identity in something?

00;25;21;13 - 00;25;45;17
Paul
Yeah, it's. I think it's kind of interesting that we. And I don't know if this is just a more recent modern human kind of experience that we decide that we can define our own identity. Right? Or if that's something that maybe, you know, in the past, for millennia, that was just kind of like you were born and where you were born and all the things that go along with the things that are out of your control define who you are.

00;25;45;19 - 00;26;07;14
Paul
And now we say, well, you get to decide. But, I think, you know, finding our identity is, is, how do we how do we determine who we say we are and believe we are? and I think that comes from a variety of sources in our life now. And there are, you know, more than one thing is true.

00;26;07;16 - 00;26;26;24
Paul
I'm a I'm a father, I'm a dad, I'm a husband. I'm a pastor. There's I've got all these different roles and titles and, relationships in my life that I could identify myself with. But ultimately, what does it come down to? Is it is my identity based on what I do? Is it based on who others say I am?

00;26;26;24 - 00;26;38;24
Paul
Is it based on me and what I say and and my point and my message was to say God ultimately determines my identity. He's. He's my creator. He made me. He knows what I am.

00;26;38;26 - 00;26;50;03
Brenton
Yeah, yeah. Now what what do you think causes us to shape our identity around so many ultimately insignificant things?

00;26;50;06 - 00;27;20;03
Paul
I'm not sure I have a great answer for this, but I would make an attempt, and maybe Matt can, jump in and and offer his thoughts, but I think ultimately, we have a desire to be known and to be loved. and, since the fall, you go back to Genesis chapter three. you know, the serpent's temptation of Adam and Eve was, if you eat of this fruit, you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

00;27;20;05 - 00;27;47;24
Paul
So basically, we get to determine what's good and evil. We get to decide. And, I think the idea of shaping our identity is, still a temptation today. Like, we want to decide, these things and make it out on our own terms. And ultimately, that's, I think, one of the results of the fall. But, we want to be known.

00;27;47;24 - 00;28;07;02
Paul
We want to be loved. And at the same time, because of the fall, we're scared, about what other people think of us. And we have a great fear of man greater than our fear of God, oftentimes. And, that leads us to look at for trying to control that and identify it in other things.

00;28;07;04 - 00;28;09;11
Brenton
Yeah.

00;28;09;13 - 00;28;10;06
Paul
Matt, what do you think?

00;28;10;11 - 00;28;31;21

Yeah, I agree with all that. And I, I don't exactly know where we want to find our hiding. You know, these are the things I, I think it definitely has to do with being known and loved. And then the Philippians three came to mind, where Paul talks about all these things. He used to have his identity. And it says, now I count them all as rubbish compared to knowing Christ.

00;28;31;21 - 00;28;54;22

And and then he goes on to say, not having a righteousness of my own. I think there's this piece too, of just like I've got to fit in with the right group, or I've got to do the right things, or I've got to climb the corporate ladder, or I've got to accomplish this, you know, this sort of set of criteria in sports or whatever, set my own goals.

00;28;54;22 - 00;29;29;12

And like, I've, I'm a self-made person. I've done this in an impulse, like I've done all, I've done all these things, you know, and and more. And it's like, that's not how you gain. Christ. he's he's the one who loves us and knows us and wants us and gives us his own righteousness. So, but, yeah, we very easily, can we can profess that, but we can just slide into this other really bad habits of wanting to be known and be loved and create our own righteousness that just all fall short.

00;29;29;14 - 00;29;49;12
Brenton
So, yeah. And the the list you just gave, I mean, those are all things that are important to our culture, right? So our culture is going to shape how we how we think about ourselves and what, you know, what the external expectations are that are that are placed on us. We're going to respond to that in some way.

00;29;49;15 - 00;30;11;16
Brenton
so I kind of asked this earlier with the with the previous question, but how how would you suggest we examine, you know, what we're finding our identity and how can we kind of take a step back and, and be honest with ourselves and see, oh, man, I'm putting way too much stock in that.

00;30;11;18 - 00;30;32;26
Paul
One in the message. one of the things I said on Sunday was maybe asking yourself, who? Who do you tell yourself who you are? and I talked about that inner voice that we have that, you know, we talk about ourselves. And, you know, there's been times in my life where I mess up and I say, oh, man, I'm so stupid.

00;30;32;26 - 00;30;53;20
Paul
Or, you know, you've got those negative voices that speak into your head about who you are. and then there might be other times where we're very satisfied in ourself and, and what we've accomplished or something like that. And what do we, what do we say about ourself. But I think and kind of the point I think of this passage is, is it all comes down to who, not what.

00;30;53;23 - 00;31;16;03
Paul
But who is defining who we are. Is it our self? Is it somebody else? Is it what we're doing which really comes back to us defining ourselves? or are we saying I define myself in who God says I am? And I think about in the scriptures where it says, God is the potter and I am the clay.

00;31;16;05 - 00;31;37;22
Paul
Well, if he's the potter, then, then he's defining who I am, and I'm the clay. He's molding and making me. Scripture talks about how where we were dead in Christ made us alive. I no longer live, but Christ now lives in me. Right? So he's defining who I am. it's not me making that decision or anybody else.

00;31;37;24 - 00;31;53;28
Paul
Jesus said, I am the vine. You are the branches. apart from me, you can do nothing. So my life is in him. And so that is who I am. And that is why I live the way that I live. Because all of my life is in Christ.

00;31;54;01 - 00;32;15;20
Brenton
That's. That's such an interesting point. Because you're you're kind of getting at the heart of, like, our self-definition. Right? So we, we feel like we have the right to define who we are, in ourselves, rather than giving God the right to define who we are. So that's yeah, that's really good.

00;32;15;23 - 00;32;18;14
Brenton
Any thoughts Matt.

00;32;18;17 - 00;32;39;07

I think the way I typically identify when I find my identity in if it's not and it's not godly and, and who he says I am, it's when I take and go back to reflection again a lot of times I don't reflect until I'm, at a dead end, and then I'm like, okay, Lord, when was the last time I prayed and talked to you about this?

00;32;39;14 - 00;33;01;00

And that's when it starts to happen. So, anyways, but in those moments, it's like, what am I wanting right now as a good question to ask? Or if this was if this was taken away from me, like, how would I feel about that? Like, like, am I too wrapped up in this thing? Like, if this wasn't a part of my life anymore, like, would I be like, upset or heartbroken or angry?

00;33;01;03 - 00;33;26;26

And then, you know, these are kind of all emotional questions. So now I'm sound like Pastor Chris talking about emotions, but it's really important. You know, it's like like what emotions do I have in this moment about how I'm feeling, what's going on? what just took place and how do I react? And then it's like, what? What am I finding my security and identity and and, like, who I am, like, and, I think that's a really good way to get to the bottom of that.

00;33;26;28 - 00;33;41;28

And then just telling the Lord that you don't have to fix yourself. You just tell the Lord like Lord, you know this, this is what happened and you know it. And help that help me not be wrapped up in that thing, as much as I am in you and entrust this to you. So.

00;33;42;01 - 00;34;06;26
Brenton
Yeah. Yeah, Chris would be proud, but, Yeah. Emotions are our indicators, right? They're they're ways for us to know what's going on. And, I think if we're we're ignoring what we're feeling, then we're probably not understanding what what's actually happening below that. Sure. So that's good. I'm going to leave us, Paul, you mentioned this verse, but I'm going to leave us with Galatians 220.

00;34;06;28 - 00;34;28;14
Brenton
just in, in recognition of our of what our identity is in Christ. Paul says, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live. I live in the flesh, by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

00;34;28;16 - 00;34;55;12
Brenton
And so, yeah, I think that over in, in reference to your identity, are we identifying with the crucified Christ? Anyway? Thanks, guys. Thanks, man. Thanks, Paul. I appreciate you guys coming on. Thanks to our producer, Nathan Tankersley, doing a great job. yeah. If you got any questions, email us at Ask It Further podcast.com, and, we'll be back next week.

00;34;55;15 - 00;34;55;23
Brenton
You guys.