Episode 22: Acts 8:26-40

Translation: New English Translation (NET Bible)

3 Questions:
What word, phrase or image strikes you in this text?
Toward what is God calling you in this text?
How have people guided you in understanding?

Additional texts:
Psalm 22:25-31
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:1-8

Transcript

00:01.60
Kevin Shock
Hey friends, you tend your garden. You tend your relationships you tend to avoid doing the things that you don't want to do So it's time to tend your faith I guess I don't know where I was going with that.

00:17.36
nathanpile
Um, you started off so strong I was like Boom you tend your garden. You tend your relationships you tend your faith. That's what I was waiting for us boom. So here we are.

00:19.77
Kevin Shock
I know I did I did start off strong i. Yeah, well okay here we here we are Nathan and I Nathan and I are ready to tend our relationship with each other and our relationship with god and scripture. So today. We're going to be looking at acts chapter 8 versus 26 through 40.

00:33.89
nathanpile
Amen.

00:43.20
Kevin Shock
Ah, the translation we're using is the net bible the new english translation as with most of our texts you can find that on biblegateway.com or the biblegatewayapp ah the 3 questions we will be engaging today. What word phrase or image strikes you in this text. Toward what is god calling you in this text and how have people guided you in understanding.

01:05.17
nathanpile
Oh man, Beautiful! Love it I don't know where our conversation is gonna go but I like that last question.

01:13.45
Kevin Shock
Okay.

01:19.83
nathanpile
A disclaimer about who we are. We're crazy. Um, thanks so much for listening. We are men married to women in financially stable households white in our late 40 s college and seminary educated we work in the lutheran church.

01:23.34
Kevin Shock
Ah, or something. Yeah.

01:35.74
nathanpile
And were born and raised in Western Pennsylvania all of this affects how we read scripture and discuss it. But none of this makes us better able to discuss and read scripture than anyone else including you. We're all, we're all seeking to figure this out for ourselves. We believe that the wisdom of scripture is the whole community's compiled interpretation for life with god and one another so we want to know what you hear and think from your life experience as you hear these words of scripture. Our reading is acts. The the acts of the apostles or if you listened the last time the acts of the holy spirit which inspired the ones who were sent by god or something like that the sent ones the sent.

02:28.14
Kevin Shock
For something like that the scent ones? Yes, yeah yeah.

02:34.30
nathanpile
So ah acts the eighth chapter verses 26 through 40 then an angel of the lord said to Philip get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza this is a desert road so he got up and went. There. He met an Ethiopian eunuch a court official of Candace Queen of the Ethiopians who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home sitting in his chariot reading the Prophet Isaiah and the spirit said to Philip go over and join this chariot so Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading the Prophet Isaiah he asked him do you understand what you're reading the man replied how in the world can I unless someone guides me. So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him now the passage of scripture. The man was reading was this he was led like a sheep to slaughter and like a lamb before it's Shearer. It's is silent so he did not open his mouth in humiliation. Justice was taken from him who can describe his posterity for his life was taken away from the earth then the eunuch said to Philip Please tell me who is the prophet saying this about himself.

04:10.21
nathanpile
Someone else so Philip started speaking and beginning with this scripture proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him now as they were going along the road. They came to some water and the eunuch said look there is water. What is to stop me from being baptized so he ordered the chariot to stop and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him now when they came up out of the water the spear of the lord snatched Philip away and the eunuch did not see him any more. But went on his way rejoicing Philip. However, found himself at Ota otez and as where you got go ahead. Azotus Azotus and he was passed through the sea and he proclaimed the good news.

04:54.17
Kevin Shock
I Don't know oh Azotus Azotus.

05:04.67
nathanpile
All the towns until he came to Caesaria. If you're meeting with a group you can pause the podcast now and engage the questions on your own or you can listen to Kevin as he gets us started here with what word phrase or image strikes you in this text. Really Is.

05:27.53
Kevin Shock
Ah there's a lot here. Um yeah I mean I I love this reading and and I like the way that the net bible renders some of this translation but but the one that the one that. Really catches me is how in the world can I unless someone guides me um whenever Philip asks if ah, if the if the um, the servant of the of the Candace. The court official.

05:57.84
Kevin Shock
If he understands what he's reading. Um and for some there is a note in the and net bible where I thought I thought to myself when I was reading this the first time certainly the greek can't say how in the world can I um I mean that seems like to.

06:12.40
nathanpile
No.

06:16.70
Kevin Shock
Colloquial of an english phrase but but it is. It's rendered that way and some other translations too. The Greek says how am I able unless and but ah, but there are well. There are some.

06:31.44
Kevin Shock
Be dag I don't even remember what that is do you remember what b dag is Nathan yeah, it's it's some. It's some kind of it's some kind of Greek reference book that that that scholars used in in their translation and and it says in in that book.

06:34.75
nathanpile
Ah, no, not the top of my head.

06:50.90
Kevin Shock
Or in that resource. Ah that translation how in the world can I is given so so this is not a new translation. But anyway, um yeah I mean I think that's a great question and I think that question opens up so many.

07:08.79
Kevin Shock
It's a ah it's it's an open-ended question. First of all, um, it's an it's an invitational question I mean the next line literally says so he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

07:18.43
nathanpile
And.

07:26.40
Kevin Shock
But it's it's a question you know it's not. It's not just do you understand what you're reading? No it's it's how can I unless someone guides me and ah by the way Fy I you better be that person or it would be great if you were that person. Um.

07:42.39
nathanpile
Ah, right right.

07:45.47
Kevin Shock
But it also gets me thinking about how how important it is for 1 christian to another to guide people and I know we've talked about that before that um that that the message of the gospel. The good news is transmitted through relationship.

08:05.34
Kevin Shock
It's not it's not I mean people can read about it and that's exactly what's happening here. Philip is reading about or I'm sorry the the court official is reading about it. Um, but he ah he doesn't understand it until someone comes and explains it to him and and that. That person I mean in this situation. It is a it's a disciple um, but if we take that term disciple seriously a disciple is anyone who is learning a disciple is a student. So even if you dear listener ah feel like someone asks you a question about the bible. Um, and you don't know enough to answer it. Um you you you probably do ah or or at least you can say I'm not really sure about that. But we can read ah read about it and talk about it together. Um, it doesn't have to be a ah pastor.

09:01.93
Kevin Shock
It doesn't have to be a person with an advanced degree. It has to be it only has to be someone who trusts the message of Jesus and um and is is willing to engage in relationship with that other person. So that's the um, yeah, that's what really. Captures me in this text. What about you? Nathan.

09:22.74
nathanpile
Um, well as always I'll share here mine in a minute but as always your your reflection is is wonderful in that in that it teaches us reminds us that all of us can do this like again.

09:38.16
Kevin Shock
Um, yeah.

09:40.61
nathanpile
Um, Philip yes, an apostle. Um, but but not yeah seminary doesn't exist here. Um, it's not a thing. It's not a thing he he's he's a believer of Jesus and.

09:53.86
Kevin Shock
Right? right? right.

09:59.87
nathanpile
Um, is willing to sit with another and engage scripture together or some might say tend scripture together I don't know who would say that just some very very smart. Um, you know? Okay, anyway, um every I can see all of you in your.

10:06.56
Kevin Shock
No gosh here. We go.

10:18.50
nathanpile
Rolling your eyes I know so right now. But um, so but yeah I again I I appreciate your reflection and I love that idea that that we all can do this Um, because it becomes a richness of It's part of the reason why you and I do this podcast. It's part of the the reason why the bible study that we did here during the len season was so is always so much fun is being able to kind of just sit together and kind of share our experiences and and how much richer it makes the story as we share that back and forth together. So. Yeah, so thank you for saying that and saying it out loud and reminding us all that we're we can be a part of that. So for me I love the eunuch's response here down in 36 37 somewhere wherever that's at um.

11:13.35
nathanpile
In that look there's water What is to stop me from being baptized. So like what is it? What is to keep me what is what is going to keep me away from um, you know I love that I Love the question the the inspired gift again of the Holy spirit kind of um.

11:15.00
Kevin Shock
Um, oh yeah.

11:32.68
nathanpile
Becoming a part of this relationship between Philip and the eunuch and for the eunuch to kind of say what's keeping me from having this relationship with god and the and the answer is nothing um and and of course just the way of the question kind of makes us be able to kind of shout back in response like. Nothing get in the water did like you're cheering for the eunuch as as the eunuch is growing in relationship with god and and understanding who god is and so again to me. It's ah it's a beautiful It's a beautiful sentence.

11:53.62
Kevin Shock
Yeah.

12:11.68
nathanpile
Or 2 sentences I guess it's a sentence and a question um, kind of a thing but that that idea of of of us recognizing and being able to um to be to have this this relationship. There's nothing that limits us. From this relation from this relationship with god god intends for us all to have it. It reminds me of in my time here at Sequanota. We've had a couple of of summer staff members over the course of our summers where they ask to be baptized at some point in time over the course of of. Of our summer season together that they've not been baptized and they want to be um, they want that the the space in place that is Sequanota that has become special to them to be the place where um, that baptism happens and so um.

13:06.60
nathanpile
So it's been my blessing as the camp pastor to or you know we have many volunteer pastors that come in and help us out but as the one that's called to be here um it's been my blessing and joy to be able to be a part of those and and um, you know some of again these are young adults who um. You can see in their their own eyes the the excitement about the the moment the time the opportunity of being in community. Um, you know in 1 of our streams here at Sequanota or at the swimming pool where these baptisms have happened and and the excitement of what this. Life with god means um and the promise that that's there and so and and and for them to be surrounded by young adults who are just as excited for them and so like I get that sense from this these 2 sentences that that they have the same excitement and and it's exciting for those of us that are a part of. Of witnessing those moments when people you know have have this opportunity to embrace the gift that god is is giving them in baptism claiming them as a part of the family forever. And and you know we talked about during lent that idea that we marked with the sign of the cross on our forehead and that Mark goes with us forever. It's always ours because of this gift from god and so to to see what that means for these young adults. It.

14:31.88
nathanpile
Their excitement again for me I I can see it and and read it in these sentences here from the eunuch of what let's make this happen. There's water here. Let's do it I Just love it.

14:43.39
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, great. Um, let's look at it a second time from acts chapter 8 then angel of the lord said to Philip get up and go south.

14:46.72
nathanpile
No, do a second time. Yeah.

14:59.42
Kevin Shock
On the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza this is a desert road so he got up and went there. He met an Ethiopian eunuch a court official of Candace Queen of the Ethiopians who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home sitting in his chariot reading the Prophet Isaiah then the spirit said to Philip go over and join this chariot so Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading the Prophet Isaiah he asked him do you understand what you're reading the man replied how in the world can I unless someone guides me. So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him now the passage of scripture. The man was reading was this he was led like a sheep to slaughter and like a lamb before it sheers as silent so he did not open his mouth in humiliation justice was taken from him who can describe his posterity. For his life was taken away from the earth then the eunuch said to Philip Please tell me who is the prophet saying this about himself or someone else so Philip started speaking and beginning with this scripture proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him now as they were going along the road. They came to some water and the eunuch said look there is water. What is to stop me from being baptized so he ordered the chariot to stop and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him now when they came up out of the water. The spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away and the eunuch did not see him anymore but went on his way rejoicing.

16:27.87
Kevin Shock
Philip. However, found himself at Azotus as he passed and as he passed through the area. He proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea Nathan toward what is god calling you in this text.

16:40.20
nathanpile
Um, um I I'm a little so and I'm not surprised but again scripture does its thing here. Um, and there's something that caught my attention at the beginning of this reading And. Um, and I was thinking about that significantly and then I heard you at the end of this talking about the water and so the thing it caught me at my attention. The beginning was that this is a desert road. Um, and and so all of this connects to towards what I feel God calling me towards.

17:12.63
Kevin Shock
Oh ah.

17:18.20
nathanpile
Which is that God can God God Do things that we're not thinking or intending um and so there's a part of I hear that desert road and so I think of like it's dry. It's um, it's it's wilderness. There's not a lot out there and.

17:36.98
nathanpile
And if I'm fill up like I'm going where God calls me but I'm not thinking that Baptism is a part of this and then all of a sudden in the middle of the desert. There's enough water to do baptism and so again, this idea that God's going to do amazing thing like just. In this passage as I was as I was thinking about oh desert. Oh yeah, you know that it's kind of interesting that the author makes sure that that note is in there first off like it doesn't have anything to do with what's around it other than it might be describing the Road. Um.

18:13.49
Kevin Shock
Right. Yeah.

18:14.68
nathanpile
Like do we need does it really matter that it's a desert road no doesn't really Know. Um, but but there's that so so to me then I'm like thinking. Okay so what is the what is the author trying to tell us here and again this idea that God can God can do. Ah, miraculous things in amazing places places where we wouldn't think of of of something amazing happening here. You have a foreigner who is from a different country who is a um, essentially a trusted adviser um of the queen of another country. Who has come practicing to be a faithful Jew and yet on this journey God opens up his eyes to um to more of God's story in the world which is.

18:59.27
Kevin Shock
Okay.

19:11.48
nathanpile
And Jesus to Christ and so out of that comes what's to keep me from being baptized um of that question of can I have these the same relationship and so god being able to do something amazing.

19:29.24
nathanpile
In in a place where we might not think is all that big a deal and so I guess I say all of that to kind of say you know I were where we live is is often. You know it's not a major city It's not a major suburb. It can kind of feel sometimes out of the way of places. But. But god has a tendency to make amazing things happen everywhere and so to to Philip Philip goes where god calls faithfully trusting that god's going to provide in the moment and and and to just.

19:53.79
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah.

20:06.58
nathanpile
For for me to to hear that there needs to be an openness to that there needs to be an openness to um to what god can do and recognize for myself that my limitations limitations that. That I have of just being a human being I shouldn't place those on god because god's oftentimes going to go far beyond whatever I could imagine and so this idea of of being sent someplace and say oh I'm just gonna do you know? I'm just gonna go where god's called me to go. But now there's baptism. That's a part of it again is. Um, again, it's it's just truly amazing and so how do I how do I stay open and not be closed. Ah you know Philip anywhere along this journey could have been lay and you know god really well like the desert road is dry and hot and annoying. Why would I want to get down there. Um there's probably a hundred excuses. Why not to do it. You know, kind of a thing and yet he that he goes he the the spirit pushes him to go to the chariot he goes um and and so the the story kind of unfolds that way. So that idea of being open to what.

21:02.40
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

21:20.65
nathanpile
What might even seem impossible. It's still possible for god.

21:28.19
Kevin Shock
Yeah I don't think I don't think in all these ah all these decades of reading this I ever made that connection that they were on a desert Rose road whenever the eunuch said look here's water.

21:42.98
Kevin Shock
I Mean maybe I did at some point I mean I I have ah I have a sense that they're in the desert but you know that the the significance of it The significance of God being able to open doors for good and holy things to happen I think is important. And probably exactly why as you say that note is there in the text this was a desert road. Yeah, um, yeah similarly I think that this is calling me toward looking for opportunities and not obstacles that God is creating.

22:01.84
nathanpile
Yeah, yeah, how how about you.

22:18.82
Kevin Shock
That you know that I feel the way that that that question is worded what what is what is to stop me from being baptized or other other translations say what? what would prevent me from being baptized. Um sometimes ah. People in the church and and sometimes leaders in the church are are gatekeepers. Um, so that we we look for what would prevent someone from doing it or it happening and and I think that that's yeah I think that that's not.

22:57.53
Kevin Shock
That that's not what we're called to do it's um, we've been having some discussions Bishop Paula and I have been having a lot of and and sue l and one of our other staff people. We've been having a lot of car time together. So we've been talking about some things and and. 1 thing is ah is just some some situations in the synod right now where we're talking just about um, communion practice and um and not not the not the distribution of communion. But like who who is allowed to receive communion and how are they allowed to receive it and um.

23:36.50
Kevin Shock
And so it's just led to a lot of anecdotal stories between the 3 of us about you know when when young people come to the communion rail and they hold out their hands and and we don't know if they've ever received communion before and how we respond to it and and things like that and and there's a lot of. Think there are a lot of situations in the church where where if no one asks this question explicitly. Um, what? Ah, It's out there in the ether Anyway, you know what? what is? What's what's to stop me from being baptized. What's to stop me from receiving communion. What's to stop me from hearing the good News. What's to stop me from being a part of this faith community. Um, you know I think that that question is asked all the time in one way or another in our world and and the the answer to that rhetorical question. Nothing.

24:30.77
nathanpile
Right? yeah.

24:32.00
Kevin Shock
Over and over and over again, nothing nothing God God has God has opened this possibility God has opened this opportunity now. Don't get in the way of it. So yeah, yeah.

24:45.38
nathanpile
Well and it's ah um I Love I Love your your story because it is there. There are ways as the church at times we have um, tried to Define who gets who yes.

25:03.92
nathanpile
Um, and I'm not positive. We've always done that well and and your your your story and image of like kind of staying and I have what everybody else is getting yeah know that's essentially what they're asking for. They recognize something that's happening and they want to be a part of it Well isn't that enough to.

25:20.78
Kevin Shock
Right? right? right? right.

25:22.97
nathanpile
Be a part of God's family and and so this upcoming week I'm going to be supply preaching and and let's we're doing first communion at the congregation where I'm at for the kids and so um and I'm i'm.

25:42.38
nathanpile
And part of that story is that 1 of 1 of the the past times that I've been visiting this congregation I had I had the kid come up and he put his hand out and I looked at Mom and said can he have communion and she said yeah and so I put it in his hand and then they came up after the service and said oh well hey we haven't done first communion Yet. So I didn't. Didn't know what you were asking me I said well you know it puts their hand out and I kind of gave him my my philosophy of and what I believe and understand about who God is and so it's you know kid puts their hand out and you're giving me permission I'm going to put bread in their hand. Ah every time. Um because somebody walks up to the the God's altar and says I I want to.

26:16.38
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

26:21.32
nathanpile
Be a part of this meal that the rest of this community is a part of I'm giving them a piece of God Why Why wouldn't I want them to have what that is. Ah um I'll deal about I'll deal with the faith formation pieces afterwards. Let's talk about Let's talk about what it is. We're celebrating together and let's teach that. But.

26:29.60
Kevin Shock
Right? right? right.

26:36.62
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

26:39.75
nathanpile
If if you if the kid recognizes well enough to put their hand out because everybody else does like you know when I was a kid I grew up. You had to be in second grade to take first community classes but I long before understood that I wasn't getting something that everybody else was getting. Yeah.

26:56.85
Kevin Shock
Yeah, right right.

26:58.54
nathanpile
Like I'm old enough at an age that somewhere along there I don't remember when but somewhere along there I recognize I wasn't getting something that everybody else got and that I don't think that's God's intention for for these gifts. That's not what there needed to be.

27:06.58
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, yeah, well yeah, and for me I I was in a congregation where I didn't receive first communion until fifth grade. Um, and but but I didn't but I felt welcome in that in that congregation in.

27:24.83
nathanpile
Sure.

27:26.23
Kevin Shock
Many other ways and I think the pastors and and my mom were good about saying you know this is this is something you you know you'll do when you're when you get to this age. Um, but where I really felt it was when I would go to mass with my grandparents and um.

27:45.78
Kevin Shock
And when they went up to the altar Rail I didn't even I wasn't even permitted to do that to receive a blessing from the priest they would I would sit in the pew by myself while they went up to the altar rail and that was you know.

27:50.36
nathanpile
Ah, yeah.

27:56.39
nathanpile
Yeah, yeah.

27:59.50
Kevin Shock
What I mean as a kid that made me wonder why? Why is this the case. Why why can I go up to the altar rail and have the have my pastor bless me but I can't have the priest bless me here. Yeah yeah, um, yeah, that yeah I mean right? that.

28:15.18
Kevin Shock
The conversations we've had in the car are around that exact thing like what you know the the quote unquote right of first communion because in our in our tradition even though we celebrate I mean some congregations celebrate a right of first communion. Ah, for an increasing number of children their first communion happens whenever they put out their hand that first time ah it's not It's not a big buildup to it. Um, and and not only is that this this is not the work of some renegade pastors who are you know, just think that.

28:33.43
nathanpile
Right? absolutely.

28:48.64
Kevin Shock
Oh anyone can receive communion. It's that in our tradition we teach that the only that what opens what opens the door. My dogs have decided to start wrestling with each other like right here they have the entire house I'm in 1 corner on the second floor but they have to be right here to do it anyway. Um.

29:05.37
nathanpile
They needed referee. They needed referee.

29:07.00
Kevin Shock
What actually they do need a referee so part of me is glad that they are right here. Um I'm the only referee in the house right now. Ah, our tradition teaches that um that what opens the door to holy communion is baptism and we baptize infants.

29:23.76
nathanpile
Yeah.

29:26.90
Kevin Shock
So for ah and many infants and many many many many children are already eligible as far as as far as our tradition goes to receive holy communion and and Luther Martin Luther who is you know, kind of the.

29:36.41
nathanpile
Yeah.

29:46.74
Kevin Shock
The fore father of our of our tradition of faith he he writes in the small catechism that that the one who is able to ah understand that this that this gift is for you is is ready is. Is well prepared to receive Holy communion. So You know a kid a little child can understand that you know when someone is up there handing out bread to everybody and and the child knows that well that must be I must be able to receive bread too. Then yeah, they're they're good to go? Yeah so and but but we put we have human standards that we put in the way of it. Um, and and and I think that some of those some of those barriers are being broken down in healthy ways.

30:26.43
nathanpile
Ah, right? yeah.

30:45.18
Kevin Shock
Um, yeah, but but there yeah there are so many times that god like you say here god god provides water in the desert so that this man can be baptized. So this man can become part of the family and ah the fellowship of god in Christ.

30:53.14
nathanpile
Right? right? right.

31:03.19
Kevin Shock
So if God can do that certainly God can transmit a piece of bread into an open hand. Yeah.

31:10.26
nathanpile
Yeah, well and and god brings the bringing brings the death of Jesus to life. Yeah, like god does really really big. Amazing things. Why why can't we think that god can be a part of the bread. Um.

31:18.76
Kevin Shock
Yeah, right. Right? right? right? right? right? Yeah yeah, and and and that we you know, understanding comes through practice too. It's It's not you know, a lot of.

31:28.83
nathanpile
Simply by words you know so.

31:35.34
nathanpile
Enough.

31:43.60
Kevin Shock
A lot of congregations where they say you know that children have to wait until they're a little older they say because you know they need to understand what communion is and and we've all heard the response. Well I don't know if we all have ah you and I have heard the responses to that. Well do you fully understand it. Do I fully understand it I don't.

32:00.70
nathanpile
Um, it's always my first question back. So what's my first question.

32:01.71
Kevin Shock
I don't understand yeah I I don't I don't fully grasp how this meal that we receive this tiny meal that we receive is Jesus giving his body and blood to me. But I trust that that's the case. Um, and I trust that that's the case for everyone who receives it. Because if they receive it and they want to receive it then then god is the one who does the work to bring that to understanding, not not me, you can't you can't you can you can talk about salvation from a book. But. Again, like I said at the beginning of this podcast relationship is what transmits the message of the Gospel. So yeah, okay, yeah let's do it.

32:46.56
nathanpile
Beautiful, beautiful. Where do this a third time. Then an angel of the lord said to Philip get up and go south on the road that that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza this is a desert road so we got up and went there. He met an Ethiopian eunuch a court official of Candace Queen of the Ethiopians who was in charge of all of her treasury. He came. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home sitting in his chariot reading and the Prophet Isaiah then the spirit said to Philip go over and join this chariot so Philip ran up to it and heard the man. Reading the Prophet Isaiah he asked him do you understand what you're reading the man replied how in the world can I unless someone guides me so he invited Philip to come up and sit with him now the passage of scripture. The man was reading was this. He was led like a sheep to slaughter and like lamb before its shearer is silent so he did not open his mouth in humiliation in in humiliation justice was taken from him who can describe his posterity for his life.

34:12.44
nathanpile
Was taken away from the earth then the eunuch said to Philip Please tell me who is the prophet saying this about himself or someone else so Philip started speaking and beginning with this scripture proclaim. The good news about Jesus to him now as they were. Going along the road. They came to some water and the eunuch said look there's water what is to stop me from being baptized so he ordered the chariot to stop and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him now when they came up out of the water. The spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away and the eunuch did not see him any more but went on his way rejoicing Philip. However, found himself at Azotus and said and as he passed. Through the area. He proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

35:17.10
nathanpile
Kevin how have people guided you in your understanding.

35:23.53
Kevin Shock
Um I Um I don't I'm going to sound like a broken record here. But I I Just keep going back to Relationship. So and and I guess I guess that is the point of the question is that it it happens through relationship. I can think of situations where um, people have guided me because they have um, they man I I don't know I'm now I'm now I'm going back on what I was going to say. There have been people in my life who have taught me about what it means to be a person of faith and taught me about what it means to have a relationship with God and they have been the people who have instructed me using books and academics and and. And their intelligence and things like that. But how they have really taught me about God is how is by who they are and and how and how they interact with me. Um I've I've had I've had classes and and I'm talking classes from the time I was a little kid the whole way through you know.

36:36.92
Kevin Shock
Ah, my my seminary experience and beyond classes with really smart people who had a lot to teach that I didn't learn a lot from and and I've ah or or things that I learned a lot but things that didn't didn't really stick with me, you know and then and then I've had classes with people who taught me a lot by their humility their own sense of faithfulness and their faithfulness to their call. Um their love for the church and for for god's people. Um. They're the ones who have brought me to understanding about what it really means to be ah, a christian and and so to be a christ follower and so also I so I start that out by saying I start out by saying that because what that means is that there are also people who are um. That the world would not consider to be very intelligent and who are not book smart and who um, you know don't ah aren't the kind of people who would stand up and lecture someone else about how it is how they should be um. Who have been the ones who have taught me a lot about what it means to follow Jesus too and and mostly um, people have brought me to understanding by by being humble by being patient with me.

38:05.10
Kevin Shock
Ah, by being honest about who they are. That's a big one I think um yeah that that's a big one.

38:16.97
nathanpile
Well and and a big part of that you know we're talking we talked about that in today's culture society. You know I've I've used her name before Brene Brown talks about being vulnerable before one another and so that being our our own authentic selves and in in and so I think that it's absolutely true. You know my my answer isn't very far off of what you've kind of been sharing here. Um, the people that have gotten guided me are are people that I find to be authentic.

38:52.50
nathanpile
And and are able to be vulnerable in their um in their understanding of of what it means to be a Christian and so the way that they live that out the authentic way that the nature that they go about their day-to-day life. Absolutely provides. Um an example? Yes, um, but ah, ah, a way of kind of leading me again as a role model and in some ways um of of how to live in faith that that I too want to live in my faith. In those ways and so you know those role models can change over time where they can be the same people and and there or different people for different reasons as a part of but that I that piece of being that that their faith is lived out. Authentically um. Is really a powerful part of people that have also guided me I agree with you that I've had some great teachers and and really have um and love to find a new um, somebody else that that today is is you know writing a blog or doing a podcast that that they. They continue to guide me and and to teach me things. But for that it has to be they have to be authentic they they and and and a part of that authenticity is to be vulnerable to be able to kind of show that I'm not going to do this perfectly either. Um.

40:24.59
nathanpile
But but this is how I keep trying you know one of the things I love about our lutheran theology is that that every day we get up and try again recognizing that we're we are broken and sinful. We are selfish and me centered. Um.

40:26.85
Kevin Shock
Um, yeah.

40:43.80
nathanpile
But that god keeps saying let's try again today when we get up. Let's try it again and so recognizing that that god's Grace god god's love and forgiveness provides provides us a way to keep trying to to keep.

40:48.41
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah.

41:02.52
nathanpile
Um, you know every day we is is a new new Chance. We're living a saint and center all the the time because of who God is um and it's the people that have lived that out. Not that they've lived it out perfectly. But they've lived it out in a way that seems true. To who they are and then that inspires me to kind of say okay I'm I'm going to try to live this up the best way that I can.

41:29.45
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, and and and what ah what a great message for for people for um I mean I mean yeah for for you to tell me for you to remember for yourself for people on this podcast to hear that At. What God asks of us is to is to be the people that God has made us to be and um or at least to try our best to to live into that and and God will do the rest to guide us to understanding it like like that's that's what I think I didn't I didn't learn.

42:03.97
Kevin Shock
I didn't learn about Jesus by people telling me about I mean yes I did I did by people telling me about Jesus but in the sense that I knew that Jesus was a part of who they are and so what I really learned from them is them just being them.

42:16.17
nathanpile
Yeah yeah.

42:19.73
Kevin Shock
and and I can think of I can think of a couple of situations from seminary where ah, you know where that happened where like my um I mean 2 2002 was a long time ago. You know what I mean it really it really was the world.

42:31.90
nathanpile
It is yeah no.

42:37.42
Kevin Shock
We you know we had just had a world changing experience the year before with Nine Eleven um we were all trying to figure that out and we were and and you know and we benefit from hindsight now. Um, but also you know in our church we we were

42:55.76
Kevin Shock
In in our church tradition. We were struggling with how to include people who had been excluded from life in the church and this was 2002 was still seven years before we um we we changed policy to um to permit. Um, queer people ah to to be in leadership in our in our in our church body and so you know I went to seminary and I was I didn't I had some ideas about you know the the role that I thought that queer people played in. Ah.

43:19.16
nathanpile
Yeah, yeah.

43:33.41
Kevin Shock
In the life of the church and it was probably pretty it. It was it was different from what where I am now we'll just say that Um, and and I can remember that first semester. Ah one of my one of my friends from seminary who was a good friend all throughout seminary and and and we um, you know are not in touch.

43:53.30
Kevin Shock
As much as I think either of us would like to be because he lives out on the west coast and you know, ah, but we um, we will be part of an event that will bring us together again this summer and I know I'm very much looking forward to it. Ah, but you know. That first semester we were in seminary together Daryl came out to me. Um as gay and and you know I think that was the first time that someone explicitly had come out to me like you know, like like we were sitting in a bar together at a table.

44:29.40
Kevin Shock
It was just the 2 of us and he said there's something about me that I'd like you to know and um and that that was like that was all it took I mean not like my understanding changed at the at that moment. But. But being in a relationship with him while the church was talking about these things and seeing seeing him live out his life of faith and seeing Jesus work through him brought me to understanding but it. But it was it was just by Daryl being darrell and and by Jesus being Jesus. That's what that's what it comes down to and and and the other person I think of in seminary. Um, ah Duruba who. At at that time went by Andriina um, she and and and was a pastor in our church body is is no longer a pastor in our church body. But ah, you know she ah boy she taught me so much about Um. My my racial privilege and it and it wasn't and it was just by her being her it. It. It never never was it like sitting sitting me down and saying well let me let me tell you how it is well not that she didn't do that she she would say that she would say but.

45:52.66
nathanpile
Ah, yeah.

45:56.89
Kevin Shock
But the thing the thing that I loved about our relationship at 1 point she she gave me a certificate that she printed out her computer signed it making me an honorary black brother which I I freaking hung it on my wall. Ah you know.

46:17.19
Kevin Shock
After she gave it to me but the thing about that was that. Ah, if if something is something unknown to me or ignorant of me slipped out of my mouth man she would hold me accountable and and and rightly so and and just.

46:27.20
nathanpile
Sure.

46:34.33
Kevin Shock
Just by her being her I I learned so much about my position in this world and and how I can use it well and how I can how I can step aside to let other people come into a position that they need to take to for good reason.

46:51.17
Kevin Shock
Ah, so yeah, but but all but all of these things I mean all these relationships taught me a ton about Jesus but again it was just by those people being who they are and really I think that's how I think that's how Jesus intends it to happen.

47:10.11
Kevin Shock
God god has made us if we believe that god has made us god has given us all the gifts that we need to possess to teach other people about about god and about Jesus and and and all we have to do is be those people and and those are just those are just 2 names that come right off the top of my head.

47:17.98
nathanpile
Yeah, yeah.

47:26.72
nathanpile
Sure.

47:29.58
Kevin Shock
But there are there are dozens and dozens of other people that I could name and and you're you're in that list too. You know, just just by just by us being who we are um and and and really well I I will qualify that.

47:32.50
nathanpile
Yeah, yeah.

47:49.28
Kevin Shock
By us being the people that God made us to be which is who we are yeah.

47:59.55
Kevin Shock
So yeah, um, did you answer this question yet I can't even remember where we are So I guess I guess mine was a reflection on yeah, mine was my last thing there was a reflection on your answer to this question. So.

48:02.78
nathanpile
Yeah, somewhere in there somewhere somewhere in there. Um.

48:12.26
nathanpile
Yeah, and I had kind of said that the way that you were summing it up was was essentially that's you know? and so I did talk a little bit about but it's the same. It's the same piece. It's that that idea of authentic people. Um, again trusting that the holy spirit lives in each of us.

48:18.45
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

48:29.92
nathanpile
And because um, if we're able to be vulnerable if we're able to be who God may may has made us to be Um, we see that Holy spirit in each other and and that holy spirit then Inspires and guides us um in in in big ways and so. Again, it can be as you've shared people I have a countless number of people as well that have that have little parts of of my theology and who I am um that they've they've they've helped guide my understandings of in different aspects of it and so.

49:03.93
nathanpile
And and and then I have people that that are major characters of of that faith so recognizing that that there's it's not one person. It's not even 5 people. It's it's countless number of people and I would have to sit you know in 1 of the activities we do here at summer camp with our summer staff. 1 of the first activities we do.

49:07.34
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah.

49:15.97
Kevin Shock
Yeah.

49:22.76
nathanpile
When we worship together. The first night is that we we in some artistic way. Sometimes it's ah on a sheet of paper Sometimes it's on a big canvas but everybody kind of um, either can write words write names or write pictures draw pictures of people that have impacted them in their faith journey.

49:41.22
nathanpile
And so I specifically want them to think about who are the people that have guided them to get them to that point in in in their life and so for for them to walk around and think about that that's ah, a big part of that first that first ah I would I would not call it a sermon because it doesn't.

50:00.32
nathanpile
Last 12 minutes um but a message that that that I have them do a lot of reflection for themselves of of who are the people that have made me who I am today and and have helped to form their their vision of god and god's dream in the world and so.

50:10.15
Kevin Shock
Yeah, yeah.

50:19.28
nathanpile
Being able to kind of have them do that and for me every year. It's helpful to to do that again for myself just to kind of reflect on that a little bit so because those are the saints. Those are our saints specifically that have touched our lives and guided us. So.

50:26.10
Kevin Shock
Who. Right? Yeah yeah.

50:37.46
nathanpile
Good. Thanks Kevin yeah.

50:41.90
Kevin Shock
Yeah, thank you? Um, so some additional texts to consider if you are looking for other ways to engage scripture psalm 22 verses 25 through 31 all the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the lord this is a. Later portion of that famous psalm that Jesus begins on the cross my god my god why have you forsaken me but ends up somewhere else. Ah, and then first John chapter 4 verses 7 through 21 god's love is perfected in love for 1 another? ah.

51:18.97
Kevin Shock
Also really good. Really good reading in thinking about how how the community of god and Christ lives together with one another and then ah we hear John ah John fifteen one through 8 is talks about Jesus divine. And we are the branches. So yeah, all all ways that we are connected. There's a lot of connection that is evident in these readings for for this week so um we hope that you ah. Have the opportunity to have to reflect on scripture to tend your faith hopefully with someone else too and as always if if you don't have someone that you talk about some of this stuff with. Nathan and I would love to have you email us or message us on social media to share your reflections and we hope to tend our faith with you again soon. Grace to you.

52:20.46
nathanpile
And peace.