WEBVTT 00:00:02.399 --> 00:00:04.480 Welcome to the MetaCurch Podcast. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:05.440 My name is Clayton. 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:14.240 I'm the pastor at MetaCurch, and I hope that today's message is inspiring and enlightening and really builds you up wherever you're at in life. 00:00:15.519 --> 00:00:17.760 Hey, welcome to the MetaCurch Podcast. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:18.559 I'm Clayton. 00:00:18.640 --> 00:00:21.120 I'm the pastor at MetaCurch in San Antonio, Texas. 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:24.719 If you live in the area, you're looking for a church, come by one of our venues. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:29.600 If not, you can join us online anytime, youtube.com slash metachurch. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:37.119 If you're listening to this podcast, if you're watching this on YouTube, we have this podcast, all the different places you can listen to podcasts. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:43.840 I have a guest today, a good friend of mine, Sherry Richard, is in the building on the podcast. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:54.000 Here's kind of what we're gonna try to do today we have been going through Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount, which is called the Sermon on the Plain. 00:00:54.159 --> 00:01:06.799 And what we believe about this sermon is what many scholars believe that this is the sermon that Jesus took everywhere he went, which is why some of it is in different order than in Matthew's gospel. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:13.359 In Matthew's gospel, some of the things that Luke has in the Sermon on the Plain happen after the Sermon on the Mount. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:18.640 In Matthew's gospel, some of the things that are on the Sermon on the Mount happen later in Luke's gospel. 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:26.159 So we're just getting these teachings that Jesus would summarize in different places in front of different crowds at different times. 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:32.239 But the message was always here's how you live as a part of the kingdom of God right now. 00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:37.120 Here's how you operate in it, here's how you prepare for when it ultimately comes to earth. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:40.239 And what we're interested in is building the kingdom of God. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:44.640 That's why Jesus started the church, the ecclesia, the called out people of God. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:47.519 And so this message is like the blueprint. 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:49.040 Here's how to do it. 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:57.200 And I've brought Sherry in to really focus on the very first passage, which we often call the Beatitudes. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:01.680 The way that Luke sets it up is Jesus has these four blessings. 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:03.120 Blessed are you who? 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:05.439 And then he has the four woes. 00:02:05.599 --> 00:02:07.359 So these are kind of like warnings. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:09.520 So blessings and warnings. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.439 And, you know, it's six verses. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:14.479 And here at MetaCurch, we spent five weeks on it. 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:17.680 So we we really dug in and we took our time. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:24.960 And what we're hoping to do with this podcast is just to be able to slow down and kind of drill down on some of these ideas. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:39.840 And uh I really am excited about people getting to hear from not me, because although I'm sure I will have some ideas uh in this podcast, you know, I'm getting to preach these for 45, 50, 55 minutes uh every Sunday. 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:43.759 But how does this actually get applied and how is it being received? 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:55.439 So uh Sherry is the um incredible just leader, preacher, teacher, content creator behind the ministry everyday truths. 00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:57.120 And so you guys need to check that out. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:02:58.240 You have a website, right? 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:02.879 Yeah, everydaytruths.com slash podcast is the best place to get started. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:03.120 Yeah. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:08.479 Yeah, it's a blog, it's a podcast, it's a YouTube channel, it's a kids podcast, it's all the things. 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:10.879 And uh so she's doing incredible work there. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:14.879 So you're gonna get to kind of hear how this is being received. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:15.919 And that's good. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:19.840 You know, I know, you know, Sherry is a teacher and preacher as well. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:26.400 Um, we're always looking for feedback because we want to know what it's like to be on the other side of one of our sermons, you know. 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:47.039 And the thing that is just so cool is because we believe that Christians are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, um, every person is receiving the same truths, but the Holy Spirit will apply it uniquely into your life, into your season, um, your unique patterns, your worst ways, you know, your dreams, all of those things. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:56.240 So uh what I want to do is I just want to read the passage in question, and then we'll kind of start walking through uh where we've been in the text and kind of what it's meant to you. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:04:05.360 So it is in uh Luke chapter six, starting in verse 20, looking up at his disciples, Jesus said, Blessed are you who are poor because the kingdom of God is yours. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:10.639 Blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be filled, blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:16.319 Blessed are you when people hate you, exclude you, insult you, and slander your name is evil because of the Son of Man. 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:18.879 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:23.759 Take note, your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way they used to treat the prophets. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.279 Now he goes to the warnings. 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:33.920 But woe to you who are rich, for you've received your comfort, woe to you who are now full, for you will be hungry, woe to you who are now laughing, for you will mourn and weep. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:40.240 Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for this is the way they used to treat the false prophets. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:47.199 Now there's five weeks of content, which was almost like five hours of content, uh, just in these six verses. 00:04:47.439 --> 00:05:07.199 But where we started with the whole thing is Jesus just comes out and shocks the crowd and is like, hey, you have no idea how life works, you don't understand reality, everything that you think is how you end up successful based on the kingdoms you live in, uh, is actually how you could get yourself in serious trouble. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:13.519 And all of the people that you're taking pity on might just be the people that God really sees as blessed. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:15.439 And that is so difficult. 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:23.920 Like the buy-in to understand the rest of his sermon is to just kind of flip all your perceptions and your reality upside down. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:27.680 So, you know, uh, why do you think that that is so hard? 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:36.639 Not just for those who are outside of the faith and haven't been convinced by the claims of Jesus yet, but even for Jesus followers. 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:39.600 Like this is a very hard truth. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:41.519 Uh, why do you think that's so hard? 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:44.079 What what specific parts do you think is hard? 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:46.959 And where have you even seen that challenged in your own life? 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:47.519 Yeah. 00:05:47.680 --> 00:05:49.439 So something you just said really stood out. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:55.759 And so the word pity and then um, and then just speaking to non-believers. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:05:58.480 So let me, if I can start with pity, even though it wasn't part of your question. 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:00.079 No, no, no, please take it where you want. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:17.920 So you were talking about how people, you know, it's like Jesus is saying, these people that you typically pity, well, maybe this looks a little different, but the word going to the woes, the way that if you dig into the word that's used there, it literally means like you should be pitied. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:18.240 Yeah. 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:21.439 If this is where you fall, which is like I pity the fool. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:23.279 Like, which is really the Mr. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:24.639 T's of the world, basically. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:27.519 But I mean, like, that's actually kind of what it means. 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:27.920 Yeah. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:31.600 And so it's like the word pity, so I'm glad you use that word. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:35.199 It's so cool because it's like these are the people you think should be pitied. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:35.439 Yeah. 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:38.160 But in reality, it's over here. 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:38.720 Yeah. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:40.800 And we don't like the word pity. 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:41.120 Yeah. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:42.959 But I it's it's accurate here. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:43.199 Yeah. 00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:45.199 It's like this has been misdirected. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:45.839 Yes. 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:52.000 And so, but then you spoke to about receiving this, and you're gonna have to repeat parts of your question. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:57.519 But it's like speaking to non-believers, that's one of the really beautiful things about Luke. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:02.800 You know, it's like in Matthew, when we contrast it, there's a lot of differences, you can beatitudes, right? 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:04.240 There's seven in Matthew. 00:07:04.319 --> 00:07:04.879 Is that accurate? 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:12.160 Four in Luke, the ones in Luke really, really focused on very practical, tactical versus like really spiritual. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:32.000 And so the I love Luke when it comes to bringing these principles across for non-believers, because I think that the way that he highlights things and the way that he gets straight to the point is going to help non-believers that don't have a faith background, whether that's today or whether that was 2,000 years ago. 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:34.160 So that's really, really cool. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:41.600 Um, but I think I think Luke gives an a faster opportunity to folks who aren't non-believers. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.360 But it is absolutely still flipped on its head. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:55.600 I think when we look and say Matthew to Jewish believers, yeah, we see it flipped on their head because Matthew talks a lot about Luke doesn't, like you've heard it said, but I say, Yeah. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:08:01.199 And Luke kind of goes straight at it to like the it's like you haven't heard it said. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.240 So let's jump straight to the counterintuitive. 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:04.480 Yeah. 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:08.240 And in their world, oh gosh, I'm gonna go all over the place. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:10.959 But it's like the sermon on the mount, but the sermon in the plane. 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:14.319 And for non-believers, it's the God that comes to you in the plane. 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:16.319 So we're already flipped upside down here. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:22.720 And then going into how different this is than what it is that you've experienced. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:23.600 It's the opposite. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:26.000 Those you pity, don't, because you should be. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:26.319 Yeah. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:27.600 This is where you sit. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:27.920 Yeah. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.079 I don't think I answered any of what you asked. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:34.720 Which is it it that's probably the best way to do this, you know, is just uh what God's put on your heart. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:35.600 I love that point. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:37.519 And I hadn't really considered that, you know. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:40.320 Uh, Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:44.240 And right, the mountaintop compared to Moses, them going to see. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:44.720 Yeah. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:45.039 Right. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:45.519 Yeah. 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:52.240 In, you know, in Matthew, the audience is presumed to be primarily, if not exclusively, Jewish. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:54.720 And I just love even that point. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:56.559 He's like, you've heard it said, and they have. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.279 Like they know the Torah, they know the law and prophets. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:07.360 And they would be able to piece together symbolism of a new leader promising, taking us to a kingdom, standing on a mountain. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:08.960 It's like, oh, it's Moses, you know? 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:17.600 And uh Luke explicitly says there were many from Jerusalem and Judea, but also Gentiles from Tyre and Sidon. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:30.320 And so uh this is part of what we believe about the sermon in general, is that Jesus had the same message, but he would preach it slightly differently depending on the audience he was in front of. 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:56.559 You know, I go several times a year and I preach to incarcerated men here in uh the San Antonio area, and I will preach the same message, but the way I apply it and the way, you know, uh I'm when I'm when I'm at Torres unit, my, you know, my illustrations aren't gonna be, you know, how when you and your wife are out at dinner, you know, it's like that that's how I would preach that passage here to apply it to, you know, civilians who are are out and about. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.600 It's like, no, no, no. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:00.559 I've I've got to change a little bit of how it's presented. 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:00.960 Yes. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:10.240 Uh, and then I take a similar message to a youth camp this summer, and they're 15-year-olds, you know, and so I also can't be like, you know how when you and your wife go out to dinner, you know. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:13.840 You know when you're having yard time and then you're like, no, it doesn't, it doesn't work. 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:14.559 You have to, yeah. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:15.039 Yeah. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:18.159 So um, I just think uh all of that is really good. 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:24.080 And I love what you said, you know, the the Greek words, blessed makarios, woe is u. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:31.039 And you are right, these are not like suggestions, like maybe we should pity you, or maybe you are blessed. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:33.039 These are categories of people. 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:41.120 And so it would, you know, I was trying to think of of an example of how Jesus is taking words and just like breaking people's brains with it. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:41.440 Yes. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:47.360 It would be like he if he was like, athletic are those who have a six-inch vertical jump. 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:51.279 Athletic are those who run a 45-minute mile, you know? 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.240 And everyone's like, I don't think you know what that word means. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:56.480 You know, you're using that word incorrectly. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:57.279 Inconceivable. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:58.960 You don't think that means what you think it means. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:02.080 Like I mean, that that literally is what he's doing. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:11.039 Makarios is a designation for the 1% of the 1% who are rich and powerful and sit at banquets all day and are admired and loved by everyone. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:15.120 It's like your circumstances have led you to be happy. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:16.399 That was their perspective. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:17.440 Yes, yeah, yeah. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:28.240 So um, so given that that is like, you know, uh, athletic are the slow, athletic are the weak, you know, it's like this crazy, crazy uh idea. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:32.399 Um, you know, what is Jesus pushing at? 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:49.600 And then for us, if we're like, I'm a Jesus follower, like I'm gonna do what Jesus says to do, um, it's so difficult to really go, okay, what does it mean that my security is not gonna be found in the things of this world? 00:11:49.759 --> 00:12:01.919 When like everything in my flesh wants to look to money for security, it wants to look for material goods, I have all of these cravings and desires, I want status, I want to be liked. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:14.399 Um, what just is it about the human condition, either practically or or even spiritually, that just makes this as the starting place for the kingdom message so difficult for us? 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.360 Oh, goodness. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:25.759 And so I think immediately I think of Galatians and I think of the fruits of the spirit, and so often we focus on the fruits of the spirit, that we forget to go back a few verses and look at like functionally what are the fruits of the flesh. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:34.480 And just in this contrast that Paul highlights so beautiful, beautifully in this letter is just this is where you naturally fall. 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:34.960 Yeah. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.279 But this is what God has for you. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:37.519 Yeah. 00:12:37.679 --> 00:12:39.919 We've been going through the fruits of the spirit in the kids' podcast. 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:43.519 The way that we describe it is the fruits of the spirit are good things that God wants for you. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:44.000 Yeah. 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.960 Wants for you doesn't mean that they come naturally to you. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:48.320 And so I think that we see this. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:56.159 Paul writes this, we see this in the fall, where it's like when we're given the option to trust God or try to be our own gods, we will try to be our own gods. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:03.600 We will try to control, we will try to acquire and hoard and demand our own way. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:06.000 And you want to talk about demanding your own way? 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:11.840 Jesus, who does not defend himself, defends many things, does not defend himself. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.240 He does not demand his own way, all the way to the cross. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:14.639 Yeah. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:21.600 And so I think that's why it's so counterintuitive because we will default to our flesh. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:23.120 It comes to us naturally. 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:23.440 Yeah. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.360 Um, we will default to our flesh. 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:28.799 And so the idea of stepping outside of what is natural. 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:32.159 I mean, that's that's incredibly difficult. 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:32.480 Yes. 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:35.679 And so I don't I think it's as simple as that. 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:36.000 Yeah. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:40.799 It it's difficult because it's not how our broken world works. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:41.200 Yeah. 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:41.600 Yeah. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.240 Yeah. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:49.679 I think um what you're describing is like the root of the root of the root of what it means to have faith. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:14:04.399 Because applied faith, I think we think of it in a very elementary way of like, you know, I'd really rather just like go out to eat, but I'm gonna I'm gonna write a check. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:05.200 We're old. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:10.799 I'm going to make an ACH deposit to my uh church, you know, because God's asked us to give. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:13.440 And that is definitely uh an act of faith. 00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:14.080 Yes. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:23.759 But it it actually starts with going, everything in my flesh wants to find security in my money and worldly possessions. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:26.159 And I'm gonna die to that every day. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:33.519 Like I'm gonna trust God enough that I begin to live like the world cannot offer me any security. 00:14:33.759 --> 00:14:35.279 And that is really crazy. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:45.840 Also, just side note on like uh same page, preacher styles, um, I wrote my overview weekend uh with the fruit of the spirit. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:46.799 I wrote the whole thing. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:47.200 Yeah. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:57.200 And the way I had talked about it, this is gonna be a little spoiler, but is that what Jesus is teaching in this sermon are the roots. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:15:02.080 Like this is inside out, deep inside change. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:05.440 And the roots produce the fruits, right? 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:15.279 Um, I'm going to go to Galatians and the fruit of the spirit towards the end of the sermon where he talks about uh the trees and the fruit that they produce. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:15.600 Yes. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.600 It was a more natural place to cross records. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:18.000 Oh, yeah. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.840 Oh, it's such a beautiful passage. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:20.159 Yeah. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:22.320 This section of Luke is just so dense. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:23.679 And I love it. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:26.240 Um, but yeah, that's exactly what it is. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:38.960 And as you were talking about security, it even reminded me it's sometimes we can let go of worldly security, but we forget about like the security that comes with making things make sense. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:53.279 And where I've seen that in my own life is like, and this is maybe this will skew too far, but it's like I'll take blame for things that aren't my fault because, like in my worst ways, because it's a sense there's a sense of control there. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:15:57.360 It's okay, like I can make this make sense, or there's a million different ways. 00:15:57.440 --> 00:16:05.679 I can just say that's one that I've you know processed over the years, is that we it's not just money that's security. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:07.840 It can also be the control of making things make sense. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:14.639 It can be the control we have in our home over our children, our relationships, our our in our workplace, whatever. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:23.759 That's also a matter of the same kind of control and stability that we believe that financial our finances can bring us and on and on and on. 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:26.240 And so there's there are more layers to this. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:40.159 And what's beautiful about this is as we move along our journey, God will continue to reveal stuff to us if we allow, if we continue to pursue him, if we continue to not behave like there is an arrival on this side of eternity. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:56.159 And so there's, and so maybe my challenge would be not just to look at where you're relying on yourself and what it is that you can gain in the really typical finances and things like that, but also where is it that you're trying to control things? 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:56.559 Yeah. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:58.879 Because there's there's a truth here for you too. 00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.919 Yeah, that's really good. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:03.840 Yeah, it's almost like it's like woe to those who feel like they're in control. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.640 Yeah. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:05.440 Yeah. 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.240 Yeah. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:06.799 Yeah. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.200 It's um, it's really interesting. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:14.240 One of the programs that we do here at MetaCurch, you're super familiar with. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:16.480 Uh, we take people through their story. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:21.920 And one of the things we're trying to help people find is our worst-way patterns. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.319 Yeah. 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:28.480 And that can be almost an infinite number and combination of things. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:35.440 But we see really three large categories uh that our worst-way patterns fall into. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:37.680 And one is around relationships, right? 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:43.599 So this could be, you know, coping with your pain through just like endless sexual partners. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:48.079 It could also just be people pleasing, uh, it could be the opposite. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:54.240 It could be like anger and you just kind of like feeling a little bit better momentarily by gossiping or tearing people down. 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:58.079 So we have relationships, uh, then we have just habits and addictions. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:03.119 So all the things we try to cope with, look for security in, all of the things that we crave. 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.720 And then we have performance. 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:18.559 And so trying to build something great with our life, not to build the kingdom of God, not to live a heroic life, but performance for the sake of mitigating pain for our own power, status, and influence. 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:23.440 And just in this opening section, Jesus is like touching all of them. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:30.000 And I think that really matters because some people genuinely just don't really care about money or material possessions. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.319 Yeah. 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:33.920 They're like, I guess I gotta have shirts, so I'll go get them at Goodwill. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:45.680 And I guess I need a roof over my head, but I just will buy like the house that will fit my family, you know, or some people don't deal with that, but they might have like an insane people-pleasing streak in them. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.160 Yeah. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:49.680 And so, you know, uh, blessed are the poor. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:51.039 They're like, I'm nailing it, dude. 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:52.400 I could be poor, I don't care. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:57.440 Uh, but blessed are those who are hated and excluded and insulted and slandered. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:58.799 They're like, Well, I can't do that. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.200 Nope. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:18:59.440 Yeah. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:18:59.839 Yeah. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:03.119 For me to be excluded is like for me to be dead, you know. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:06.319 Uh some people don't have their desires under control. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.000 They hunger after all the things of the world. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:10.000 So it touches all of these areas. 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:10.240 Yeah. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:13.440 And we we categorized these pairings. 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:16.559 So the blessings and woes, uh, they're pairs. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:22.880 So it's poor versus rich, and it's hungry versus full, weeping versus laughing, hated versus loved. 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:24.799 And we talked about status. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:25.519 No, no, no. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:31.920 We talked about security, and we talked about satisfaction, sensitivity, and status. 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:36.079 Those are kind of the four categories that we lump those together in. 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:44.319 Um, in those pairings, where do you see Christians in our context struggling the most? 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.359 It's a hard question. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:48.400 So answer a different question in your head if you want to. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:54.319 But but is there one that you say right now in this cultural moment, I think this is the hardest for us? 00:19:54.480 --> 00:20:01.359 And is there one you see just in your own life and experience that you feel like has been uh the hardest for you? 00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.559 Goodness. 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.240 By the way, when I answer a question, it seems off track. 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:11.039 I am totally answering the question in my head because the train has but the train like has gone on your podcast. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.759 I don't even know. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:14.400 Like it's just like in my mind, I'm like, yeah, nailed it. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:17.759 And then it's like on my podcast or when I was as a guest here before. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.000 Yeah. 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:25.680 It's like, listen, if I I listened back um to one of them, and I was like, oh my gosh, I didn't answer that question at all. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:27.119 But in my head in the moment, totally did. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:34.160 Well, they can go to the Everyday Truths podcast and watch me on the other side of this where you're interviewing me and watch me not answer any of your questions. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:36.160 So you said something so wonderful. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:42.720 You were like, I'm incapable of answering a question like in in a precise way. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:45.039 I'm I can't answer it in a direct way. 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.319 So perfect. 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.599 Um, but okay, which is most difficult for us culturally. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:57.359 Um, I think it has to do with it, it's wrapped up in acceptance and it's wrapped up in a desire to be loved. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:57.599 Yeah. 00:20:57.759 --> 00:20:59.519 And which is a very real need. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.000 Yeah. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:06.960 It is a very real need that I mean, ultimately it's that gap that can only be filled by our savior. 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:33.759 But it's I think that's where we see it in, especially in this, you know, I think in the past, for all of history, it's been I'm loved by my people, or I'm in my tribe, or I'm in my, you know, and and now with just the emergence of things like social media, um, and then combine that with just incredibly polarized views on everything. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:42.880 I'm actually doing this silly series of videos right now on social media, and it's like things we can all agree on, just trying to find silly things. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:47.839 And so, thus far in the series, it's like mosquitoes suck, Dolly Parton's a good person. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:51.440 There was one somebody, and they're all submitted by people. 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:55.839 There was one about like how the toilet paper rolls always lowest when the stakes are the highest. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:56.319 I don't know. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:57.839 People did not fully agree on that. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.240 Yeah. 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.759 Today's just baby animal. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.720 Animals are cute. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:03.440 You would not believe how many people disagree with it. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:06.079 Anyway, so sorry, it's like our polarized world. 00:22:06.319 --> 00:22:10.720 And I'm sitting there like feeling a little rejected when people are like, these baby animals are ugly. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:12.079 I'm like, why would you say that? 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.079 I just wanted us to agree on something. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:14.480 Yeah. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:19.200 And so there is, um, I think we interact with more people. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:22.000 I think we're naturally going to have people that disagree with us. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:24.000 I think we have put on a pedestal. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:30.799 It's like, if I can have something strong to say that opposes what you have to say, then I'm important, then I know more than I whatever. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:46.000 And so we value that so much that I think we're just seeing this drastic contrast of people just experiencing, I think what they would perceive as a lack of love because they don't have the acceptance of those on the periphery. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:52.799 And which is problematic because it's like we're not supposed to interact with as much kind of much things as we do. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:23:03.279 And so I think that's what I see the most in the world right now is people just having this gap in this desire to be loved and just seeking it in all the wrong places. 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:07.759 And just this desire to, if everybody agrees with me, right? 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:10.960 This silly series I'm doing, if everybody agrees with me, well, then I'm good to go. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.839 It's not gonna happen. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.880 It's just not gonna happen. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:21.680 And so that's where I really see the struggle in our world right now is, and if you can state that one back clearly for me, the it's the the way that you stated it. 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.599 Oh, yeah, the the status issue. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:25.440 So whose approval are you seeking? 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.000 Yeah. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:28.240 Yeah, you I I I completely agree. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:35.119 Like there is more connection than ever, and there is less connection than ever. 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:37.839 And, you know, we now know this. 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:58.960 So when you actually have a human connection, or when you have a genuine connection to God, uh, so you're connected to your Heavenly Father, you're in tune with the Holy Spirit, there are very specific neurological chemicals that that releases, and it is the actual connection, right? 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:11.039 Social media, when you get uh you log on and you have five new followers, it feels somewhat similar, but it is a a very different uh neurochemical. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.160 It is dopamine. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:15.839 And dopamine is the addiction cycle. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:27.759 So when someone likes your post or when it goes, you know, semi-viral, or whatever kind of feedback you get, you're releasing this thing that your body craves like more than anything. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.599 You want dopamine more than anything. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:33.680 Um, but it it doesn't actually do anything to loneliness. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:40.319 And so we are killing ourselves because like especially our young people think that they are super duper duper connected. 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:53.279 Yeah and they only talk through Snapchat and they only interact through Instagram and they're not, and they're releasing chemicals that are addicting them to these devices, which actually pulls them further out of community with one another. 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:56.400 And at the same time, I just think you're right. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:02.799 I think that the need for approval, the need for status is preeminent in this cultural moment. 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.200 Yes. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:16.720 And it looks so interesting because for most of human history, the thing that would really get you the scorn of your community is if you did not like really work hard and achieve. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:21.680 And if you look at young people, you know, I'm raising teenagers and young adults. 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:26.559 Uh, your kids are a little bit younger, but they're they're getting close to that preteen. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.440 Way too fast. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:40.720 The the most interesting thing is what will get you ostracized now, what will get you slandered now is being a tryhard, which is like when you try really hard. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:45.440 Now, it can mean that you're like a 70-year-old in skinny jeans, right? 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:48.160 Like that can like you're trying too hard to be cool. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:26:02.720 But you will watch, you know, I was an athlete growing up and I'm watching these kids, uh, and they intentionally will not go 110% because everyone will go, pfft, this guy, you know, coach his pet, kind of a thing. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:11.039 And it's like that fear of that slander causes people to like fall even below their potential in things they care about. 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:17.119 Oh gosh, I'm it's like I I don't use proper grammar and text messages because I have friends that'll make fun of me. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:17.519 Right. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.160 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:21.039 And like it's such a silly example, but like it is. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:35.599 And how many people do we know that we have counseled through the years who their entire issues at 35 years old trace back to harsh words from a classmate at seven years old? 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.079 Right? 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:39.359 A teacher or a yeah, yeah, uh whatever. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.920 It doesn't matter. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:42.640 It's it's they've it it's it's rooted somewhere. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.359 Yeah. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:45.440 That it has no business being rooted in. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:45.839 Yeah. 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.640 And so it's just tough. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.599 Not it their fault. 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:48.079 Yeah. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:56.960 One of the things that really challenged me out of everything in this passage is when I got to that last, are you willing to be hated? 00:26:57.039 --> 00:27:00.799 And I went to Daniel, who was willing to be thrown in the lion's den, you know. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:04.640 All of the other ones have a lot of nuance. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.559 So blessed are the poor. 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:09.039 Matthew, of course, says the poor in spirit. 00:27:09.200 --> 00:27:15.039 This is a Greek word used all throughout scripture, and it just rarely means what's in your bank account. 00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:21.839 You know, this is about this deep idea of what you're looking to in the world for security, or if you find all of your security in Christ. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.599 So that's like nuanced. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:26.240 Hungry is nuanced, weeping is nuanced. 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:30.400 And then the last one is like, are you willing to be hated? 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:39.920 If following Jesus costs you real slander from real people, will you follow him or will you subtly compromise your faith? 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:46.079 And I do well with direct, I'm Dwight Schrott when he gets yelled at by Will Farrell and he goes, Something about me. 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:47.920 I responded really well to direct leadership. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:50.720 You know, it's like, just yell at me and tell me, you know. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:54.319 And in the last one, Jesus is just like, there's no metaphor here. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:54.799 No. 00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.400 People might hate you. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:59.119 People might exclude you from things you want to be a part of. 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.799 So are you willing to do it? 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:07.039 And I'm I'm I just find it so affirming that you go, in this cultural moment, I think this. 00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:07.920 They're all hard. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.319 Yeah. 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:12.880 But this one in the digital age, in the social media age, really, really stands out. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:15.119 I want to ask so people get to hear from me. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:22.400 If if this podcast is like the first thing that you're cluing into for MetaCurch, you can go to our YouTube channel and watch all of these sermons back. 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:29.759 And you get to hear my perspective as a man who's a husband and a dad and a minister and all these things. 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:38.079 And you get to hear how, you know, um, you are a woman, a wife, a mother, a minister, a small business owner. 00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:40.319 You're you're all of these things. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:52.720 Um, maybe as we went through these five weeks, what are the things or the thing that challenged you the most, or that you went, man, like this is an area where God's still growing me? 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:56.240 Oh, well, God's still growing me in all the areas all the time. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:57.359 That's a good answer. 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.880 So um, so jot that down. 00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.359