WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:28.399 Last week, like Dave said, we kicked off a brand new series, Life is More, the surprising paradox of abundant living. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:33.920 And we asked this question: how do you end up with more of what really matters in life? 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:40.479 Or the way Jesus would ask it, is like, how do you take hold of life that is truly life? 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:42.000 And Jesus said this. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:49.439 We studied the parable of the rich fool, that there's actually more to life than having more in life. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:51.520 And we all know this, we get this. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:58.079 And the reason why is actually that life is more than just here and now. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:02.320 There's far more to you than just a body. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:12.719 In fact, we said it this way, or Dallas Willard did, said that you are a spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God's great universe. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:14.799 That is your reality. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:25.280 And what we do with our time on this planet here and now matters and impacts all of eternity. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:33.439 And Jesus would say that a lifestyle of generosity is actually how we invest eternally. 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:37.519 And so this week we're going to continue and pick up Jesus' sermon. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:49.040 But before we do, I just wanted to begin because as I just kind of sat with that phrase, life is more, there's some words that just began to kind of bubble up. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:55.840 And I thought maybe these same words might be bubbling up for you. 00:01:56.319 --> 00:02:06.480 Because when I feel life is more, maybe this is how you feel as well, that life is just more busy, isn't it? 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:21.280 Like, doesn't it seem like we didn't we make some commitments to ourselves that once the COVID like uh like shelter in place and like we're not gonna get back to as crazy as it was? 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:26.080 But doesn't it sometimes feel like we're busier than we were before? 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:27.759 It's just so busy. 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:32.879 And I mean in Silicon Valley, we're we wear busyness as a badge of honor. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:34.719 How are you today? 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:37.039 Busy, I know, I got it. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:41.759 Life is more busy, life is more uncertain, isn't it? 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.039 Doesn't it feel like life is more uncertain than ever? 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:53.360 We got wars going on, we got threats and rumors of wars, we have uh all that's happening in our political world right now. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:59.360 Um, the economy, um, our there's a reception that's been looming and it just looms. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:08.479 It's like the it's just out there, it's like the storm that doesn't quite come in, but it's just out there, and it's so uncertain what's gonna happen. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:13.360 And as a result, I think uh life feels more chaotic, doesn't it? 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:15.039 Less settled. 00:03:15.360 --> 00:03:22.400 It's just feel like there's a sense of uh maybe frenetic energy that is just chaos. 00:03:24.639 --> 00:03:32.560 And at the end of it, and in fact, in our survey, many of you said this that life is more anxiety filled. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:43.039 Just anxious because it's more busy, it's more uncertain, it's more chaotic, and so it's just anxiety filled. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:53.919 It just feels like, gosh, I my heart rate is beating, and I don't know how to slow it down. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:04:01.680 My mind is spinning, and I can't quite get it to stop. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:16.720 And then there's the other side of life is more, and that's where many of us I think are, but then there's the other side of what we want, long for, that life is more meaningful. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:30.319 That's what we're hoping that we want to learn from Jesus is like how do we experience that meaningful, purposeful life, like like the beautiful life. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:33.040 Life is more fulfilling. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:49.040 Or you're just not going through the motion, zeking through the day, like we said last week, ever striving, never arriving, but it's actually more deeply enriching and fulfilling, and life is more as a result, enjoyable. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:02.319 In uh the Jews had this saying in the Hebrew scriptures, it it's it's the Hebrew word shalom. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:06.319 It's it's the sense of well-being. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:12.079 The the place of where your heart is at rest and there's peace. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:26.639 It's not just the lack of strife and anxiety, it is the full presence of God's peace in a way where you are able to be present and simply enjoy what God has provided. 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:32.959 Or life then, as Jesus would say, is more abundance. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:35.600 And that was his promise, right? 00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:40.959 I have come that you have may have life, and life what? 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:43.279 More abundantly. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:57.680 But if we're honest, if we're really honest in Silicon Valley, most of us do not experience the abundant life that Jesus is offering. 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:11.120 And if we're if I'm honest, I can honestly say that I I can bend so much to the left side and look to the right as if, yeah, one day, someday. 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:13.279 Maybe is that what retirement's for? 00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:15.040 Right? 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:18.399 That yeah, I that's not just what retirement's for. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:22.160 I have to make enough money to get there one day. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:24.800 That's what we believe. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:29.519 And in fact, what Jesus is gonna say is just so powerful. 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.480 And it's actually so incredibly clear. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:33.600 It's this is so powerful. 00:06:33.759 --> 00:06:38.399 I remember when I was studying, and it's the sermon Jesus gave also in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:46.800 Um, and I remember when I was studying this passage, I I've dealt deeply with anxiety and depression over the course of my adult life. 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:56.399 And isn't it funny that um like the more you have, it doesn't like take away anxiety, it produces more anxiety because why? 00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:58.879 You have more to worry about. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:02.399 Um, that's why when you get the new car, you're more worried. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:06.240 The old car you didn't care, you know, who you parked it anywhere. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:08.480 The new car, you're like, don't scratch it, right? 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:10.560 Because the more you have, the more you have to worry about. 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:16.000 I remember when we had kids, all of a sudden my anxiety shot through the roof. 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:25.759 I was that guy that was staring in the backyard, my mind was spinning at in the middle of the night, searching for people who weren't there, they're weren't going to break in, but I couldn't get my mind to stop. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:29.040 And it was just fear was dominating. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:37.040 And I remember just simply studying, sitting in this passage, changed my relationship to anxiety. 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:45.199 The very words of Jesus so powerful and so clear. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:57.439 And what I want to do in our time when we are gonna kind of exposit the scriptures, explain the scriptures, is actually do something very ancient together. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:05.199 And it's it comes out of the benedictine order of a way of praying through scripture. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:11.920 And I believe Jesus' words are so clear and so powerful, they just need to be read. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:20.800 And so what we're gonna do for the next several minutes is a practice called Lectio Divina. 00:08:22.319 --> 00:08:39.919 And what I want to do is take you through a process where you don't just hear me explain God's word, you just get to hear Jesus' words, Jesus' sermon for yourself, and then get to hear it again, and then get to hear it again. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:09:11.440 And it's this process by which we meditate on God's word, and I'm gonna give you a prompt and then some space, and then I'm gonna read slowly through the scripture, and then give you time to wrestle, and then I'll give you another prompt, and then I'm gonna read again slowly through the scripture, and we're gonna invite the Holy Spirit to speak to us. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:13.919 He wants to speak to you right now. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:35.279 He wants to speak to you out of his word to you in a very specific way that will not only encourage, it will convict and will call you into that side of more meaning and purpose and fulfillment and enjoyment and away from the busy and the chaos and all the rest. 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:39.039 And then after we're done, I'm gonna read it three times. 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:43.759 I'm just gonna close this with a point and then we're gonna partake in communion together. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:44.320 Alright? 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:45.919 Does that sound like a plan? 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:50.879 So, what I want you to do is I want you to get settled. 00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:58.720 If you're comfortable, just go ahead and put two feet on the ground. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:04.000 Get comfortable. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:11.600 Invite Robbie to just begin to play some light music. 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:17.440 Take a deep breath in. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.279 Take another deep breath in. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:42.720 Begin to quiet your mind, settle your soul. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:55.600 For many, this might be the very first time you've had to stop and just be. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:03.440 And it is in the quiet, in the stillness, where the spirit of God speaks. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:11.600 And so, right now, would you welcome the Spirit of God and invite Him to speak to you. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:00.720 Maybe that the Holy Spirit highlights to you. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:16.559 Then Jesus said to his disciples, therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:21.519 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.679 Consider the ravens. 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:31.039 They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:35.600 And how much more valuable you are than birds. 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:41.279 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:48.559 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:53.519 Consider how the wildflowers grow. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.399 They do not labor or spin. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:02.879 Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:16.879 If that is how God's clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:21.120 And do not set your hearts on what you'll eat or drink. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.440 Do not worry about it. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:39.600 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your father knows that you need them, but seek first his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:43.200 Do not be afraid, little flock. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:49.759 For your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:52.799 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. 00:13:53.120 --> 00:14:02.320 Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fill, where no thief comes near and no moth destroy. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:08.000 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be awesome. 00:14:08.320 --> 00:14:12.000 Luke twelve, twenty-two through thirty-four. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.320 What are you saying? 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:56.960 I want you to pay attention to what emotions and what feelings are arising within you. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:08.960 Then Jesus said to his disciples, therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:19.039 What you will eat or about your body, what you will wear, for life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.919 Consider the ravens. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:26.879 They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:29.039 Yet God feeds them. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:34.080 And how much more valuable you are than birds. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:39.679 Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to your life? 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:46.799 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:51.759 Consider how the wildflowers grow. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:55.039 They do not labor or spin. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:01.200 Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:14.079 If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you? 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.240 Oh, you of little faith. 00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:23.039 And do not set your heart on what you'll eat or drink, do not worry about it. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:30.559 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your father knows that you need them. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:36.720 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:44.880 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.920 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:54.079 Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:18:01.839 A treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes nearer and no moth destroys. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:19:18.640 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also read it a third and final time. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:25.920 Jesus, what are you calling me to do? 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.759 What emotions are arising? 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:38.880 Ask the question, Jesus, what are you asking me to do with what I've just heard? 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:49.599 How am I to respond to your word and to your teaching to walk in your ways? 00:19:54.079 --> 00:20:07.519 Then Jesus said to his disciples, therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you'll eat, or about your body, what you'll wear. 00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:12.240 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:14.640 Consider to the ravens. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:21.279 They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:25.680 And how much more valuable you are than birds? 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:30.559 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:36.880 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:41.759 Consider how the wildflowers crop. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:44.799 They do not labor or spin. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:51.599 Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:21:05.039 If that's how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:12.160 And do not set your heart on what you'll eat or drink, do not worry about it. 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:26.000 For the pagan world runs after such things, and your father knows that you need them, but seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:34.559 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:40.480 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:51.359 Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroy. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:57.440 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:24:34.319 Bobby's just gonna sing over you a little bit right now as you bring to God as He's spoken to you that this is what I'm gonna do in response to your word If he dresses the live with beauty and splendor How much more will he clothe you how much more will he clothe you if he watches over every spell How much more does he love you How much more does he love you if he dresses the lilies with beauty and splendor How much more will he clothe you how much more will he clothe you if he watches over every sparrow how much more does he love you how much more does he love Jesus we thank you for your tender care we thank you that you are our provider We thank you that you didn't just leave us here to try to figure out how to do life, but you are life. 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.920 And you simply said follow me. 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:59.680 And so Father, I pray for my friends as we've just sat in your teaching, under your word, with your spirit, would you give us the wisdom to know what to do and then the courage to do it. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.640 In Jesus' name. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.000 Amen. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:13.200 I want to encourage you, as I believe for many of you, Spirit of God highlighted something. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.880 Write it down. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.880 Write it down. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:32.960 Write it down, and then as you go to brunch or lunch or some with a friend or uh maybe a spouse or someone, share what God's was showing you. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:36.480 And then take the next step. 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:47.680 I told you I wanted to close just simply with uh how do we get the life is more in a point from here? 00:25:48.319 --> 00:26:03.839 And from this text, one of the things that we see is that actually generosity and a lifestyle of generosity, what we talked about last week, is actually this pathway to truly enjoying what God has provided. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:09.839 It's the paradox to abundant living, friends. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:22.960 We think when we get more, then we'll be able to truly enjoy it, and we keep accumulating, and we're more miserable. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:32.559 You know, I was sick all week long, and so you know what happens when you're sick. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:37.359 Um you watch uh the today show. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:53.759 Um and so as home sick, I flipped onto today's show, and it said that in America consumer debt is at an all-time high, at$1.8 trillion. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:27:08.559 What's interesting is life is more busy, life is more uncertain, life is more chaotic, and life is more anxiety-filled, and our antidote to it is spend more on ourselves. 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:13.519 And it's producing things in us. 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:23.440 It's producing anxiety and stress and angst, and it's killing your soul. 00:27:29.680 --> 00:27:39.039 The paradox to abundant living is a lifestyle of generosity where we recognize that wherever our money goes, wherever our treasure goes, our heart follows. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:54.319 And when I begin to say, this is not mine, but God, this is yours, and I give it back to you, and I honor you first with all that I have, and I begin to look around and say, God, you've given me a lot so that I can give a lot. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:28:00.480 You've placed me on this planet to be a light and a resource to everyone around me. 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:04.880 Then you begin to experience the life that is truly life. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:09.279 And here's what's fascinating. 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:15.039 Jesus spoke these words 2,000 years ago. 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:22.960 The best research of our day says exactly the same thing. 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:32.640 Christian Smith, Hillary Davidson's, they're sociologists at Notre Dame, they wrote this book called The Paradox of Generosity. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:35.279 They did a multidisciplinary study. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:41.920 Uh, and it was over a five-year the scientific research behind generosity. 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:44.079 This is their conclusion. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:59.839 If Americans want to be happier, healthier people who live with greater purpose, suffer less depression, enjoy more personal growth, one way they might better accomplish that is to learn to be more generous. 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:09.279 The scientific evidence shows clearly that more generous people are doing significantly better in their lives in many ways. 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.279 Important ways. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.720 Life is more. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:29.920 What we do with what we have and how we steward it is going to determine how you fill in that blank. 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:36.559 More meaningful, more chaotic, more anxiety-filled. 00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:47.920 Because it determines where our heart is, who has our heart, and whether we really trust Him to be the God who provides all that we have. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:54.319 And by the way, generosity is the default of God. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:07.200 That's why we're going to partake in communion is the way we experience eternal life, life abundantly, is because of God's generosity. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:17.599 John 3.16, the most famous verse in the world, is for God so loved the world that he gave. 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:23.839 An act of giving, an act of sacrifice. 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:37.440 The way we say it at awakening is we believe the church should unleash extravagant generosity to a hurting and broken world because we have an extravagantly generous God. 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:42.720 He who did not spare his own son, but graciously gave him up for us all. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:46.319 How will he not, along with him, give us all things? 00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:55.519 And so, as we close our time, I want to bring you to the table. 00:30:56.319 --> 00:31:12.400 I want to bring you to the table of God's generosity for you, his lavish love for you poured out to remind you that God's disposition towards you is not withholding, but he has given his very self for you. 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:29.359 And then for us to simply take the little words, the little application that he showed you in our time together, and make that your prayer, and then make that your practice this week. 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:32.799 Jesus, thank you for this time together. 00:31:33.119 --> 00:31:36.400 Thank you for the moment that your word is powerful. 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:44.319 Thank you that you came for us because you loved us. 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:48.000 You loved us before we were lovable. 00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:57.680 And you wanted us long before we ever wanted you. 00:31:59.119 --> 00:32:05.279 And so we remind ourselves of your great love and generosity. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.759 In Jesus' name. 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:20.640 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:26.559 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.