Christ Our Strength | Box Church Week 2 - January 2025 (Matthew Chapters 4-6)

Week two of Box Church January! This week Ryan And Anna Herzog lead our discussion through Matthew Chapters 4-6. 

Understanding Strength, Self-Control, and Living as Salt and Light

We explore the spirit of the age, the true meaning of strength, and the power of self-control through a biblical lens. What does it mean to be salt and light in today’s world? How do we reflect Christ in our actions, overcome selfishness, and deal with anger?

Join us as we unpack these topics, diving into the Beatitudes, Jesus’ teachings on anger, and His call to discipleship. Discover practical applications for embodying Christ’s love, forgiveness, and influence in your daily life.

Key topics covered:

Understanding true strength: power under control
Being salt and light: preserving good and exposing evil
Biblical tools to resolve anger and live with compassion
How our relationship with others reflects our relationship with God
Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more faith-filled discussions!

Transcript

00:00:08:12 - 00:00:30:00
Unknown
Last week, Andy led us through chapters one, two and three. We finished up, in chapter three at the end of chapter three was the scene of, Jesus baptism. Which is also kind of considered the, inauguration of his ministry. And he, he was, he was encouraging John that John was worthy to baptize them.

00:00:30:00 - 00:00:49:01
Unknown
And it took a little talking, but once this happened, it's one of my was one of my favorite scenes in the Bible. And that's when the, the Holy Spirit was present in the form of a dove. Lord God was present in the form of his speech when he said that this is my son, with whom I am well pleased, and Christ is present.

00:00:49:02 - 00:01:11:27
Unknown
So this is, one of my most important scenes where the Trinity is present for this beginning of Jesus ministry. And I just, wanted to kind of anchor that point as where we left off. And so now that Jesus has been baptized. We start off in chapter four, verse one.

00:01:12:00 - 00:01:32:27
Unknown
And that says that Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And if you read the section talks about, three different ways that Jesus was tempted, anybody remember what they were was.

00:01:32:29 - 00:02:06:04
Unknown
Yep. He he tempted his appetite with food because he had been fasting to have an area of the country. Yep. To be to be worshiped by. Right. Yeah. And then the, the other one was that, he was tempting Jesus to trust that the angels would come save him if he threw himself down. And so all these things are kind of using temptation to test Jesus.

00:02:06:04 - 00:02:36:06
Unknown
And how did he do? How did he do in this test? Absolutely. You know, as it is written, when we turn back to the word. A good reminder that scriptures are, you know, not exactly scripture. The word of God. We can just like Jesus has like others as we get. Thank you. Here's the scripture. Yeah.

00:02:36:08 - 00:03:00:23
Unknown
In Scripture says this Yeah. This is the meaning. Yeah. Yep. Scripture and and implied that it meant something and it didn't. This is the same thing that the serpent in the garden. Didn't God say you can't eat from the trees and Adam or Eve says no. Yeah. He just said the one tree and be. Like using scripture.

00:03:00:24 - 00:03:33:14
Unknown
That's right. Yeah. My agenda. Everything always has an element of truth. That's how you're good. Sounds good. But it's not actually rooted. Yeah. The deception of the adversary. The king of lies. So what Jesus is modeling here. And I love that. This is where we start today. Because number one he knew Scripture deeply knew and understood Scripture.

00:03:33:16 - 00:04:05:18
Unknown
And that's what we do here. We seek to deeply understand the Scripture. And then he was obedient to that. So those things are what enabled Christ. To victory in that, in that test. He was also prepared, having having gone through this fasting in this time. I think a lot of times you think, well, I'm going to do this really big thing.

00:04:05:20 - 00:04:34:10
Unknown
Whatever it is, this hurdle, and then I'm going to rest after. And sometimes I think it's good to prepare and rest and and then go into the hurdle. Your heart is in a different place, you know. And his was. Yeah. The, the story continues. The next section is describing, how Jesus, is moving now to the region known as Galilee, specifically to a city known as Capernaum.

00:04:34:12 - 00:05:07:02
Unknown
And, and this section, it notes that Jesus has now kind of adopted this phrase, a phrase that he borrowed from John that is kind of the beginning of his ministry. Anybody remember what that was? Right. Yeah. Exactly. Verse 17. From that time on, Jesus began to preach, repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.

00:05:07:04 - 00:05:21:06
Unknown
And so usually in the Bible when we're reading, it's usually pretty safe to assume that the first word is an important. And this first word, repent, has a very important, and I think, often

00:05:21:06 - 00:05:34:01
Unknown
forgiveness, as we pray, for God to continue to sanctify us in our daily lives. You know that that prayer isn't just, keep my eyes away from sin.

00:05:34:01 - 00:05:46:08
Unknown
Keep my eyes away from sin. It's. Lord, I want to draw my eyes out. It's in exchange. It's a replacement. It's a. Yeah. It's a trade in a way.

00:05:46:10 - 00:06:20:22
Unknown
The, story continues. Very famous scene. Jesus is going to fish for fishers of men. So, so talk to me a little bit about does anybody have any thoughts about what does Jesus's choice of these four fishermen say about his kingdom? All the people that Jesus could have chosen picked out, honed in on why he's why these four?

00:06:20:24 - 00:06:47:12
Unknown
Anybody have any thoughts on that? Well, they were the. Yeah, we're not the elite. Jesus could have picked the Pharisees or kings or. But instead he chose, you know, what would be equivalent to, like, the construction worker? Yeah. He's like, he's fulfilling prophecy. He's like, God will use the foolish things. The boss wants to go down the wise.

00:06:47:14 - 00:07:21:07
Unknown
And these same disciples are going to stand before kings, and, you know, Caesar's and local rulers do whatever. If they're just layman like you. Like choose an electrician or a cat. Yeah, we're a little higher, that's what. Whatever is, is. But. So what is that? So what does that say about his kingdom? What does it say about this new kingdom that he is bringing in to the world?

00:07:21:09 - 00:07:59:19
Unknown
A little further. Yeah. You know, like the, Shall we hear the. Yeah. You know, it's not about those that are in the. Yeah position and, you know, poverty and things like that. Yeah. In their heart to the Lord. You know that those. Exactly. Yeah. Jesus is available for everyone. Yeah. It's the counterintuitive, crazy, upside down world that he is bringing that it's not about power, prestige, charisma, intelligence, any of this fancy stuff that that's what that's what the culture at the time.

00:07:59:19 - 00:08:22:16
Unknown
And oftentimes our culture is telling us is that's the goal. That's who you want to be. That's who's the leader. That's who we're going to follow. Christ is saying no, no. So many times in his ministry, how often does he, consistently reference the least of us, you know? And so he's he's not just saying that that those people in their lives are valid.

00:08:22:17 - 00:08:50:04
Unknown
He's not just saying that valid. He's saying they're they're so important in. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Do you like to to talk about how they immediately, you know, jumped out of their boat? Like Jesus, like, call you forward, like front of you? Yeah. You were talking about, you know, if you're more if you're in a tough time, you turn more towards Jesus in prayer.

00:08:50:11 - 00:09:13:20
Unknown
If you're, you know, not that high in status. You don't have much going on in your life. Here's this really cool opportunity. And someone they heard is, you know, becoming king. You know is calling you forward. And why wouldn't they step out and take that. You know, where or at I think to turn for Jesus to respond to them when we don't have all the fancy shiny things distracting us, say, well, we're good.

00:09:13:24 - 00:09:39:13
Unknown
That's good. Yeah, that's good stuff. We may not, you know, here's Jesus in the spirit. Yeah. Yeah. I just yeah. And we also can look at. Okay, well, what was happening in chapter three. You know, John the Baptist had already come to the way or the way. Okay. So the word is already out, right? There's gossip, there's chit chat.

00:09:39:13 - 00:10:03:09
Unknown
People are hearing and seeing this ministry begin. And so that that brush fire has already started, you know, and so then, you know, by the time, Jesus comes and approaches his man, you know, I think it's pretty safe to assume that they've they've heard what's going on. And culturally, contextually, at this time, these people grew up expecting the Messiah.

00:10:03:12 - 00:10:22:01
Unknown
You know, so that's always part of their culture in their life. Yeah. What was the time between Malachi and Testament? Oh great question. Many, many, many, many, many generations.

00:10:22:04 - 00:10:33:27
Unknown
Anybody know? Hundreds of years. I'll just stick with that. Yeah. So?

00:10:34:00 - 00:10:57:20
Unknown
The generations from Abraham to David are 14 generations from David. Late 14 generations, 15. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hundreds of years. The generations before.

00:10:57:23 - 00:11:20:17
Unknown
That was his birth, right? Oh, yeah. 33 years later, you know, and so confusing. They 14 generations to generation, very many different people in that generation. So confusing. But it's interesting to think that.

00:11:20:20 - 00:11:31:10
Unknown
I mean, it was all like that. Yeah. And then everybody that you and and then.

00:11:31:12 - 00:11:35:09
Unknown
What?

00:11:35:11 - 00:12:05:20
Unknown
Interesting and confusing. Yeah. It and that's a lot of the story is how confusing this was for for the Hebrews. You know, there's just this one side in this book. Isn't this where they have fishing and everything? And Jesus came along and said to them, you're always fishing. Yeah. That's later. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Or maybe in one of the other gospels where that's detail.

00:12:05:23 - 00:12:35:09
Unknown
Yeah. But in this section, it was really just the conversation. That's that's all they addressed in that. Yeah. Jesus is tempted by the devil. He didn't have disciples yet. Correct. So Matthew shows chose as his scribe. Is that how that happened? And so he Jesus told Matthew and his disciples what happened with the devil that. Yeah, that I, I have to assume that's how.

00:12:35:10 - 00:13:07:03
Unknown
Yeah. Because obviously he was he, he he was the only witness to that. You know. So. Yes. And did he really choose Matthew to be his scribe? You know. Andy pointed out last week that, the book of Matthew is actually the author is not formally assigned. Okay. So so theologians and the, the, the, you know, assemblers of this book, have they they've said, yes.

00:13:07:06 - 00:13:32:03
Unknown
Evidence is saying most likely because Matthew is in the story as well later on in later chapters. Yeah. Matthew was called to follow him. His name is actually Levi. Yeah. He was a tax collector. And when Jesus came upon him, he said, Levi, I'm going to go to your house and have dinner tonight. And while he's there, he begins to follow me from now on.

00:13:32:06 - 00:13:57:07
Unknown
As far as, like, choosing him to record his story. You know, that wasn't something that Jesus that necessarily chose him for. Now, you could go as far as to say that all Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit. So in a way, he was chose to write his story down, but initially he was just a follower. All of this is a firsthand account of his perspective of Jesus ministry.

00:13:57:09 - 00:14:08:13
Unknown
Thank you. Yes. This is because I wanted to send something yes to.

00:14:08:15 - 00:14:33:02
Unknown
Because this is this. And so you ask, why does he have to? I think he chose to. I think it was I think it was a form of worship and a form of surrender. I think it's a sign of faith on his part. It's, But, I mean, it's a great question, but those are just be some of my thoughts up top of my head.

00:14:33:04 - 00:15:00:23
Unknown
A big question also. Yeah. Like, why did Jesus have to do that? Yeah. Well, the fact of the matter is that Jesus didn't have to do any of these things, but he did do these things because all that the Lord puts his hands to are not holding. So there's a there's a theological thought that Jesus was baptized not to model baptism, but to make all of the waters of baptism sacramental and sacred.

00:15:00:25 - 00:15:29:11
Unknown
That Jesus, being lowered into the water and all of the waters of baptism are now made whole. At the same time, Jesus did all of the things that he then asked us to do in his ways. You know, in this footsteps that we were meant to follow in his footsteps. Also, I think that, that our concept of fasting is it's while fasting was worship, it was a sacrifice of our flesh.

00:15:29:14 - 00:15:53:04
Unknown
It was actually us laying down our most inherent right. You know, that's right. Every day, to survive within that right, you give it back to God. As the sacrifice of our flesh was one of the first moments breaking away from the temple system, no longer at all for the sacrifice of the go, for it was a wine of grain, but a sacrifice of oneself.

00:15:53:06 - 00:16:27:23
Unknown
And Jesus showed us how to do that in the New Testament. The new temple was now the God of the saints. And I think another important aspect to I we fast for 40 days because it's reflective of the 40 years that the Hebrews wandered in the desert. And so it's also part of fulfilled prophecy, you know, so it says that he was led by the spirit into the wilderness, you know.

00:16:27:25 - 00:16:56:05
Unknown
So he was called he was he was it was, you know, so better, Moses. Yeah. Just like. Yeah, yeah, get to go into the promised land. But he didn't know God in every way. Yeah. Jesus did. So Jesus has to do a better Moses now, truly leading to the promised. Yeah. Go back to the garden right.

00:16:56:08 - 00:17:34:06
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. Correct, correct. Two years in the desert. To see their hearts and how they would react. Yeah. You have to now, like you said, he had to over. Just to reiterate some things, I love how he, look back and see the scripture. You know, I just find that the so important. Yeah. That we can fight the.

00:17:34:09 - 00:18:07:12
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah. So. For in this. Yes. Jesus said when I go back out again I think it's just. Thank you. Yeah. Yep. Thanks for that. Like, different gospel, but in the very beginning of John, with love was given through Moses, and grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. So the law was a shadow of things to come.

00:18:07:14 - 00:18:26:12
Unknown
You know, Jesus himself says, I have not come to abolish, but I have come to it. And that later. And then actually, I think the next chapter is they're talking about all these old laws.

00:18:26:15 - 00:18:45:24
Unknown
Want to skip on your side. That's a murder. Divorce. Adultery. And I thought I all these things were like within the law. But Jesus takes it a step further, as he probably explained later.

00:18:45:27 - 00:18:56:02
Unknown
The next, verse that we wanted to take a look at is, verse 23 in chapter four.

00:18:56:04 - 00:19:01:26
Unknown
Same. But when I read that verse 23.

00:19:01:29 - 00:19:35:26
Unknown
Go for it. Yes, sir. Yep. For 23 years and just preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing even sickness among the people. So what are the three things? The three activities that Jesus is doing over and over and over again in his earthly ministry? Anybody teaching trouble and healing, teaching, preaching, healing and walking. Lots and lots of one.

00:19:35:28 - 00:20:05:23
Unknown
Thank you. James. Yeah. Now, We understand why teaching and preaching. Okay. He's. Because, you know, he he came to to show us and to teach us, you know, his disciples called him rabbi. So why the healing? Anybody have a thought on that? He needed miracles for people. Yeah. Yep. Correct. Yeah. It was a way for. Because that.

00:20:05:24 - 00:20:31:00
Unknown
Because, you know, the culture was full of teachers and preachers and rabbis. They were on the street corners. They were everywhere, you know, but but it was hollow and it was empty. And so he was, almost validating, you know, offering the healing. But so, yes, they did help to authenticate the message that he brought by also showing the miracle in the power.

00:20:31:02 - 00:20:56:14
Unknown
But at the same time, he loves people. He wants them to be whole. He wants to restore them. Yes. They're also. And things like that. Oh, sure. Yep. So the way that he was feeling in this state, something that he was doing in stood him apart from what they were seeing in the witchcraft. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's a good point.

00:20:56:17 - 00:21:33:09
Unknown
And in context of the time. Correct. Yeah. There were there were, charlatans and tricksters and frauds and and all that. Yeah. Yes. Shenanigans. Yeah. So, so, let's move into chapter five. So chapter five begins with, one of the greatest, most incredible, sermons, the Beatitudes. So the Beatitudes. Does anybody want to just read through that quickly?

00:21:33:12 - 00:21:58:18
Unknown
And he opened his mouth and taught him, saying, blessed are the poor and spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the poor in heart, for they shall see God.

00:21:58:21 - 00:22:27:21
Unknown
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, and for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile and persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. My joys for you will be is great in heaven. For so they persecuted office.

00:22:27:24 - 00:23:05:26
Unknown
Thank you. Thank you. So Jesus is simply describing, you know, these are the qualities that I value. This is the kind of person that I love and that I want you to be. And oftentimes this is taught about, you know, understanding. Well, what does he mean by poor in spirit? What does he mean by those who mourn? And you can spend a lot of time digging into that and, and and looking for, you know, practical, everyday explanations for those things.

00:23:05:28 - 00:23:46:22
Unknown
We decided to do something a little bit different with it, today, because in our study Bibles, we have a chart that lists these Beatitudes. And then next to it, it lists what is the contrasting worldly value. So if we could put, that first slide up coding where where Jesus talks about the poor in spirit, the clashing worldly value would be those who are prideful and seeking and desiring their own personal independence.

00:23:46:24 - 00:24:20:26
Unknown
The those who are mourning, that would be people that are busy seeking their happiness and fulfillment at any cost. Just don't have room for that meekness. Well, that's obviously the opposite of that would be kind of power. Bravado, you know, ego. Pride. Righteousness. The opposite of that being just pursuing selfish, personal need. Now, just looking at these, I just wanted to.

00:24:21:00 - 00:24:46:08
Unknown
What we wanted to do is just kind of point out, hey, take a moment and look at this list. Are you representing the left side of this list more, or the right side of this list? More in your heart and in the way you live your life? Tony, would you go to the next slide, please? So the list continues.

00:24:46:10 - 00:25:17:20
Unknown
Mercy. The opposite of that just being ruthless ness. You know, heartlessness, being pure in heart, being sincere and pure and honest and good at the opposite of that. Being deceptive. Lying. Having motives. Then being a peacemaker, you know, this says, the classic clashing worldly value is personal. Peace is pursued without concern for the world's chaos.

00:25:17:22 - 00:25:46:17
Unknown
And then the last, being persecuted. So where we fall short on this one is that we're not willing to take risks. We're not willing to step out of the boat and have faith. We're not willing to do the hard work to walk the narrow path that he's called all of us, to walk with him. And we do that out of fear and fears, lack of faith.

00:25:46:19 - 00:26:19:26
Unknown
So hopefully this is edifying and helpful to some in the room. You know, it's a weird, different way of presenting the Beatitudes, but we figured, hey, it's in the study Bible. So, you know, you have the two worlds. Yeah. Stand up for that thing. And these are obviously, like, ruthless and deceptive but complacent. Yeah. Yeah.

00:26:19:29 - 00:26:31:26
Unknown
A lot of Christians and complacency is so dangerous in so many aspects of your life. I mean.

00:26:31:29 - 00:26:59:12
Unknown
Meekness comparative power. I would argue that unrestrained power. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Jordan Peterson not the best theologian in the world but I think he gets meekness. Absolutely. Yeah. Like meekness is like I have a sword, but it's always like in a shield. There's always a threat that I'll pull it out and like you know use it.

00:26:59:15 - 00:27:27:23
Unknown
It's like you have power but you don't use it you know. Well who's the, who's the greatest example. Christ. Exactly. Yeah. It's like yeah. You know anyone deserves like the sword. Yeah. Move on. You know what I'm saying. So I feel warrior in the garden and I'm like the Japanese, but okay, so I have never heard that before.

00:27:27:25 - 00:27:55:03
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah. You know, the one that gets me is mourning versus happiness learning. Cause that's what I struggle with. You know, the flesh. It's always a war or the death of the flesh. Yeah. When? To do things that you want to do. Doing the right thing. Yeah. And so you don't think of fasting very fast. Fasting is a sacrifice.

00:27:55:05 - 00:28:21:21
Unknown
Yeah. Probably going to be pretty sad as you're. And they're hungry. Yeah. What? You're doing it with a purpose, right? And, you know, you really shy away from anything that's hard or anything. Or you know that we're not, you know, we sacrifice you know. Yeah. Yeah. And meekness is different than meekness. That's good. Yeah.

00:28:21:24 - 00:28:51:09
Unknown
Having power. Losing weight. Yeah. The spirit of the age today is telling you you know you should be weak. Masculinity is toxic. You know, you should give over yourself for the sake of the state, for the sake of the collective. And that's not true. True? No one is God. At any point, you could chose to make whatever he wanted to happen.

00:28:51:09 - 00:29:15:13
Unknown
Happen. You get to choose to be chose to be weak, to keep that power under control, and to continue to submit it back to the father. Right. And that's ultimately, you know, that's what John is explaining there. There's nothing a man who's too weak to do anything. So he acts righteous in his restraint. Nothing, nothing. Actions for the strength.

00:29:15:16 - 00:29:28:21
Unknown
You know, the truth is the actually have the ability to control something, to choose not to. For the sake of all. Yeah. Thank you. Any.

00:29:28:24 - 00:29:37:00
Unknown
Questions. Doesn't necessarily need. Yeah.

00:29:37:02 - 00:29:48:16
Unknown
Feelings and the things that. Yeah. And.

00:29:48:18 - 00:30:26:23
Unknown
Show us that we can still do it. Ask us. Us to do that. If you're still human and have it. Yeah. Because he he does. He picks up a sword or because he was angry? He seems to have been sitting there. Yeah. Yeah. Or. Christ. Died. So like unto him, you will die by unrestrained power if you choose to live that way.

00:30:26:26 - 00:31:03:11
Unknown
As should said, by any. Poison to me will have effects. Or you know better than to poison the price of us. Yeah. And each of the each of the apostles is a beautiful kind of case study in. He's he's choosing these simple, humble, broken people that have plenty of flaws, plenty of faults and failures. And because his kingdom is about transformation, it's about redemption.

00:31:03:13 - 00:31:27:21
Unknown
It's about sanctification. And so he doesn't just start with, okay, where are my superstars, buddy? Come in for the job interview. Okay, who's the best? And we'll pick. We'll pick whoever performs the best. Not at all. So counterintuitive. Yeah. Yeah. And I think selfishness is really the way of the world, you know, absolutely fulfilling our personal desires won't come on buying anything?

00:31:27:24 - 00:32:00:27
Unknown
Yeah. You know, and so I've certainly done my fair share of that. And instead, now I just try to be like, Jesus, what would Jesus do? And it's so wonderful not to be selfish anymore. Yeah. It's just so freeing. Yeah. Amen. We need to talk. Because I'm still selfish. Well, I'm working on it. So after the Beatitudes, another very, very well-known, passage here.

00:32:01:00 - 00:32:32:07
Unknown
Jesus is teaching about salt and light. Okay. And, what is, Anybody have thoughts on how are we? What does that look like in our day to day lives? How are we meant to be this salt? Anybody have anything on that? Well, this is an essential part of our body. So we recognize that we can't live without food, without water and water.

00:32:32:09 - 00:33:02:07
Unknown
Yeah. We need salt. So the idea that everything that they put on your body. Yeah. Yeah. So that's what leads us as a salt to be able to hijack the guy to hijack. I. That's good. I like that. Yeah. Yeah. Very good. Yeah. About salt in an ancient world is that. It was exceptionally precious. It's.

00:33:02:09 - 00:33:26:23
Unknown
It was used to preserve food. You know, today we have our configuration. But back then they did. So they had salt. And so what salt to me in this context is that you preserve what is good. You preserve the good. But then, in contrast to the light which exposes the evil. So you're salt and light because of the good.

00:33:26:25 - 00:33:55:08
Unknown
You also expose the evil, and the evil can. They can't thrive when it's exposed. Sin dies and it's in the light. You know, like the light in a dark room analogy. Yeah. Yeah. That's good. Yeah. When I was thinking of salt. So, you know, we we salt things to. Because it has a positive effect, right? I'm going to salt this so it has a positive effect.

00:33:55:10 - 00:34:19:25
Unknown
Oh it's going to taste right. So we are meant to go into the world and have a positive effect to bring something that wasn't there, that was needed. That makes sense. Yeah. And I also like like, you know, to let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.

00:34:19:27 - 00:34:30:08
Unknown
Yeah. And I've been reading this chapter and it's fullness. Right. Context. Don't just.

00:34:30:10 - 00:34:54:16
Unknown
Like but if we go back to the Beatitudes forward in Scripture, if you're this bright shining light that's like look at me shining it over here on that you go to your, you know, the Jesus follower and you're putting it on display. That's not what I'm talking about, right? You know, if you're going to, you know, help someone or give to someone, you know, right.

00:34:54:18 - 00:35:21:11
Unknown
You know, not tell them that you did it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so what really you know. Yes. Like there's someone in the Old Testament that literally. So I don't know who that was. That literally wasn't I. Yeah. Yeah.

00:35:21:14 - 00:35:29:16
Unknown
Oh I was Moses. Oh yeah. Just faith. Yeah.

00:35:29:18 - 00:35:56:16
Unknown
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's funny. Say bless your heart and they will see God. There's only a few people who saw God as Moses and he literally grew. So why would I be scared. Be scared everybody because they're like. What makes us so. Yeah. The light is also reflected with the call to be a disciple. So like salt affects everything it touches.

00:35:56:18 - 00:36:30:17
Unknown
Salt brings out the flavor of the thing. But it can also ruin it. If you turn a light on it can be ignored. Everybody notices that. So in fact everything that they which is also the calling to Christ disciples is like we are meant to love the environment. In fact that like like yeast infection. Yeah. Like actually change other people based on our own faith.

00:36:30:20 - 00:36:41:23
Unknown
So like the opposite of complacency. Yeah. Like the cold heart. Yeah. That's right. Right.

00:36:41:25 - 00:36:55:14
Unknown
Let's move forward to the, the section that Jesus teaches about anger. So anybody want to read verse 22.

00:36:55:16 - 00:37:03:26
Unknown
Chapter five, verse 22.

00:37:03:29 - 00:37:23:06
Unknown
Thank you. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be left judgment and other insults. His brother will be liable to the council. And whoever says, you fool, will be liable to the hellfire.

00:37:23:09 - 00:37:43:00
Unknown
That's good. Yeah. We. So? So how does Jesus teach us to resolve anger? What do we do about it? Or punch it? Yes, exactly.

00:37:43:02 - 00:37:52:05
Unknown
Yeah. So what kind of tools do we have to deal with? Anger?

00:37:52:07 - 00:38:05:10
Unknown
You feel badly. You start feeling compassion. Yeah. Did you say prayer to cleanse? Yeah.

00:38:08:24 - 00:38:51:26
Unknown
Anger is. Anger is tricky. And it's important because if it reflects our relationship with God, it's, you know, the antidote is, is love and forgiveness. Our attitude towards other people is the greatest indication of our relationship with God. You know, he didn't he say that they will know you by how you love one another. Exemption. Or.

00:38:51:29 - 00:39:05:26
Unknown
The angry. That's why you got to pray up first, then dial customer service. Yes, Leslie, I'm sorry, but I think that having anger about the situation.

00:39:05:28 - 00:39:15:10
Unknown
Being not it to set out it also, I think for a minute is because.

00:39:15:12 - 00:39:42:12
Unknown
That means that you're upset about God's world. I mean, you're upset about the way that God had something. Yes. To happen that way. And you being angry about it is you ultimately probably just being angry at God. I mean, like, absolutely. I feel like there's a piece of me, but you in that situation, there's a piece of pride in there because we're essentially holding on to some anger that we're supposed to give to God.

00:39:42:14 - 00:40:12:21
Unknown
It's not that easy. Yeah. There's some times that it's a good thing to be angry. Dawkins angry. You know, God is rightfully angry. God is right. Oh, he's happy or he's angry and God is, you know, speaking emotions like people literally betray him and join in with other gods. The second spouse. And he's rightfully angry. It was all, you know.

00:40:12:23 - 00:40:33:22
Unknown
And so if we saw someone who was stronger bullying someone that actually drives anger, that's a righteous anger. You know, it says also in the word be angry but do not sin again. Do not let your anger control you. Yeah. That's.

00:40:33:24 - 00:40:59:26
Unknown
You think? Settle the matter. You know. Reconcile. Yes. Settle the matter. Yeah. Like the anger to do that. Sin? Yeah. He's not saying the. Reconcile to that person. So like communication. If you're going to be angry over something with somebody that doesn't say, just pray about it and be like, okay with yourself. Let go to that person. Yeah.

00:40:59:26 - 00:41:24:05
Unknown
To that. That's good. Yeah. Because he's in the that you can say anything to anyone but the words you choose and how you say. And that comes around the circle in many ways, but especially in the anger because again, that is the purpose of why. And the reason why we're angry in the first place is we're having things.

00:41:24:05 - 00:41:32:19
Unknown
And then whether explain my disappointment or whatever. So I, I say.

00:41:32:21 - 00:41:49:16
Unknown
Yeah, we think about those things, especially in the lesson Jesus. And then the words that we use to teach the lesson and teach yourselves to see.

00:41:49:18 - 00:42:00:26
Unknown
So for the. You know. Yeah.

00:42:00:28 - 00:42:30:02
Unknown
Yeah. But for the sake of time guys, because we're coming up on time, I, I do feel really compelled to, to just quickly share with you guys some slides that we prepared pertaining to the Lord's Prayer. Okay. So the Lord's Prayer in chapter six is beginning. Verse nine. Okay. So, Cody, if you would, just put up that slide.

00:42:30:05 - 00:42:56:23
Unknown
Okay. So what what I want to explain to you very quickly because this is to me, this was a really, really helpful, tool, a way to approach prayer. You know, anybody, anybody feel like I'm not sure how to pray when I'm by myself? Anybody, like, sometimes, you know, it's it's. People just don't understand. Like, where do I start or how do I do it?

00:42:56:26 - 00:43:22:09
Unknown
Jesus gave this as a template. Now, obviously, like my my Catholics in the room, you know, they are also going to use this. Specifically word for word as it was given. But it's my belief that that what Jesus was doing was he was giving us a this is a structure, a template, an outline that can then take these ingredients.

00:43:22:12 - 00:43:43:09
Unknown
And then as the spirit leads and as your heart is, is being revealed, you can then kind of craft a prayer around these ideas. And quickly I just wanted to say this first section, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, is known as adoration. This is where we're going to start our prayer by worshiping him for who he is.

00:43:43:12 - 00:44:07:02
Unknown
Okay. Next slide please. Cody. Our kingdom, your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. This is called consecration. This is where we are prepared to fully surrender ourselves to God's will. Okay. And this is just a part of our prayers should have this element to it. When we're looking for guidance. How do I pray?

00:44:07:09 - 00:44:30:09
Unknown
Next one Cody, please give us today our daily bread. This is called the supplication section. This is where we express our immediate needs to God. And that's okay. It's okay to do that. Sometimes our prayers are all supplication, right? Sometimes we're praying and it's just, God, I need this, and I need this, and I need this, and I need this.

00:44:30:12 - 00:44:55:08
Unknown
Help me out. But what we should be doing in this is to ask for what we need to equip us to do his work. Right. Not just not just for Band-Aids, for our booboos. Not just for, you know, restoration for our sick family, whatever that might be. Next one, please, Cody. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

00:44:55:11 - 00:45:21:07
Unknown
This is known as intercession. And this means that we're we're going to stand before God on behalf of another, that we're asking to be forgiven so that we can also forgive others. Such a critical, foundational part of our faith. And the last one, Cody. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. This is protection. Asking the Lord for his protection.

00:45:21:09 - 00:45:46:02
Unknown
Resisting temptation is a daily struggle, and we must always seek his protection against. So hopefully that that's helpful. Edifying to someone in the room. But I really enjoyed learning that a long time ago. I'd like to go ahead and pray for us and close us out. That went so fast. Father, thank you so much for such an amazing conversation.

00:45:46:02 - 00:46:08:06
Unknown
Such a awesome group of people in this room. Lord, thank you for the freedom to come and gather and say these things and do these things and ask questions and push back and and challenge. We just love you so much, Lord. We can feel you in this space. Lord, I pray for each person in this room as they go out into their week.

00:46:08:13 - 00:46:23:08
Unknown
That they have true joy in their heart and, shine their light a little brighter. Amen. Amen. God has moved.

00:46:23:11 - 00:46:32:27
Unknown
You. Me. Want to say to you.

00:46:32:29 - 00:46:39:14
Unknown
Now.

00:46:39:17 - 00:46:43:13
Unknown
More.