Beyond Sunday S2: Jesus Reveals Righteousness

Have we defined righteous as religious? The righteousness of Jesus stands in contrast to the religion of the day. Where we have conflated what it is to be righteous with being “right” in the empire He offers us something different- an upside-down kingdom. What is revealed in Jesus invites us to reshape how we see blessing and calls us to act justly, walk humbly and love mercy- a calling we can respond to because of God with us.

• Transcript

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  Hey guys, welcome to another episode of the Beyond Sunday podcast where we desire to take the conversation beyond Sunday. Uh I'm Devin and uh this week I'm joined by my friend Sherea. Sherea, how you doing today? >> Good. How are you? >> Good. Yeah. Um before we dive into the conversation, let's take a look at this video. Heat. Heat. Hey guys, welcome back as we dive into the conversation. Shrea, what was the the text uh big idea for this Sunday that we were preaching through?

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  >> Uh this week we were on Jesus reveals righteousness. Um so as we're looking at Epiphany and and God with us um yeah the ways that Jesus reveals righteousness uh in his divinity and humanity. Um so again as always in a number of places um our our New Testament text uh or our gospel text was Matthew 5 and the sermon on the mount biatitudes um and then I think both of us were also in Psalm 15 and in Proverbs a little bit um Micah the prophets and so um yeah in a few different places but uh talking about um

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  righteousness but for me and I know for you also um as we dug into righteousness. There was this tiein to blessing um and and so we kind of looked at what what blessing and righteousness um what they have to do with one another. So that's where we went. >> Yeah. The other piece about even the the sermon on the mount and as he starts it with the blessed bees um is the is the reward piece as well. There's a there is a reward uh that Jesus is calling out uh in this in this sermon. And one one of

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  which I think it's important it was important for me to note like these where and whom and whom are receiving the blessing >> right the the poor in spirit um those who mourn uh the meek um those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and the list goes on with the nine um >> right >> uh of who is who is going to be blessed and who and receive the reward. Yeah. Yeah. I think um for me this it was a little bit of a journey this week unpacking this because um it like initially the idea of

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  righteousness where I landed in that is not where I it's not what I had in mind when I first hear of or think of righteousness. And so that's kind of where I where it was sitting for me because I think often and I know um I think we both had this in the notes but this idea that righteousness like have we equated religion with righteous? >> Yeah. >> Um or religious with righteous and uh we see that I mean we see it multiple places in scripture but in the Micah passage they're asking like what's the

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  thing we should do? And the things they're calling out are these are not bad things. They're things that that they actually have been told at various points to do, right? Like what offering? Should we bring this offering? Should we do it this way? Should we whatever. Um and in that passage, I just see a people who've missed the point. They've missed the heart again. Um, and it's like how often are we like, "Okay, um, God, if we're supposed to be righteous, then I will give you every Sunday morning from

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  10 to 11:30, and I will give you 10% of my tithe, and I will maybe even do a Bible reading plan." And um, those are not bad things. Those are all things that um that can move us closer to God, that can create space for us to meet the Father. Like, those are not bad things. Um, but are we asking, is that the question we're asking God? what do I have to do to be righteous? And what I see in there, God's like I I mean we we he calls it out in Micah 6:8, but it's also all throughout the biatitudes like

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  this is a heart posture. And it's the way that you um it's the way that you take what I've given you that you that you recognize like who I've made you to be and who I've called you to be and the way that you use that for the world around you. And that was the that was the blessing piece for me. Um in uh if we look at Proverbs 11, the the call out of like uh when the righteous prosper, the city rejoices. And the words we got into the Hebrew, so you know, like always love that. But the the words

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  there um this idea that uh righteous people are ones who take the blessing that they've received, any blessing, any prosperity that they've received, and they use it to bless the people around them. And when they do that, the city around them rejoices because out of their prosperity and out of their blessing, they've actually bettered the city. Um the the people, the city around them, regardless of uh who's in that city. And we see that I we were in Jeremiah a little bit and we see that in

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  that space where God's like hey these people who have uh taken you into exile your enemies really like the the people who you're going to live among I want you to live in such a way uh that works for the peace and prosperity of those people. And I just had this even as I was preaching this image of like those people God like really these ones you want us to better the land the place we live for these people who are our enemies. and how often for us um and I called out on Sunday even like we live

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  in a world where we don't agree with everybody around us like in a really clear way and I don't care what side of the political uh sphere you're on or whatever but the point is there's things that we don't agree with and God says uh like actually the things I've blessed you with I want you to bless the people around you there not not if they believe the same way as you or look the same way as you or come to your church or believe in me, but I want you to work for the peace and prosperity of the place I've

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  planted you. >> Um, and that when you do, I see you as righteous. And that was the piece that landed for me was like, okay, so, um, actually what I'm called to do is take whatever God's given me in whatever way he's blessed me and use that to better the places I work, live, and play. And that when I do, that's when God says yes, righteous. >> Yeah. Yeah. the um the you called out the the righteous righteousness tied to the blessing. Um for me the the questions that that we

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  were I was seeing in the scriptures uh both from um uh ones that are there but uh in the text and ones that come for me from reading the text whether it's in um Matthew 5 and the biatitudes of who is it or whom will be will will get the blessing and what's the reward but then one the question of even in Psalm 15 is who can abide in the in the >> presence of God >> who can come >> and and be with God and the response that David offers in Psalm 15 is the righteous the the sadik um in Hebrew and

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  um that's what took me to the sadakim of the uh which is righteous people this idea like people who will be righteous and and pursue righteousness um kind of even what I sense in those who will receive the blessing in Matthew 5 of who Jesus calls And then then Micah 6 was like um uh what shall I what shall I bring as an offering? >> Right? And and and even God's response through the prophet Micah of like here's what I've here's what I I want for uh you to bring it isn't more offering. It

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  isn't more oil. It isn't uh more sacrifices. I want you um to to offer yourselves in these kinds of way to seek justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. Like it it couldn't be said more simpler. >> It's the upside down, but it's so upside down from >> correct. And we I mean, in how many ways have I even missed that? Like um I Yeah. I just I don't know. In what some ways it's like close my eyes, don't see the world around me because then I'm gonna

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  now now I now I now know. >> Yeah. >> And I wonder if for me and and for others if in some of those places like what does this righteousness look like if in what I know about what's going on around me in the world, I might have responded to that because I can't respond to everything, right? I I but and yet >> in the world we see just um people talking about everything and the brokenness that exists but doing nothing. >> Right. Right. >> Is it it seems overwhelming and

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  overwhelming of like the brokenness and the um the sin that is so pervasive whether it's in individuals or when it you know sinful individuals get together and make systems of sin that you're like what do I do? What do I do here in that? Um what is my what is my place? What is my call? Um Lord, I desire to be in I desire to abide with you to be in your presence. Um and I you know I come back to Psalm 15. Well, it's the the righteous who can come into the tabernacle. The righteous can abide with

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  the father. >> Um >> yet for me I know I don't have enough in me. That was the thing, the visual that I sent Stephen on on Sunday was like the righteousness of Christ is is is even being called out from this last Sunday. That's what uh gains me access is of because of who Jesus is and what he's done and and and my relationship to him gains me access into in into the abiding with God. And then I and then I'm asking like, Lord, lead me lead me into these places that that are putting my hands to

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  this righteous work you've called me to to partner with God. >> Yeah. Well, and I that's where I think because um that's super relatable. It's just it's like the brokenness is overwhelming to the point of paralysis. And and I think that that is where actually I think that's where like evil's like yeah actually if we can just make this feel so overwhelming then she won't do anything and then we don't have to worry about it. And that's where for me the

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  application piece of this week and um totally took this from Amy Sherman. Um but she has resources. So she talks about vocational stewardship. you're the one that even introduced me to her, but um she talks about vocational stewardship and she has a bunch of different talks and books and resources on her website and one of them um that I even like I put up on Sunday and then I had printouts out um was this like uh this dimensions of vocational stewardship that basically just help you walk through like where are the places

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  I've been blessed because that was one of the things that was landing for me and I called it out even um it wasn't in my notes but I was calling it out like, okay, some of us are hearing this idea of like, okay, so yeah, if we if we walk that back, who gets to dwell in the presence of God? The righteous. Great. Well, I'd love to dr dwell in God's presence. So, how do I be righteous? Well, blessed to be a blessing, right? Where are the places I've been blessed for the and and use that for the peace

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  and prosperity of those around me? >> Some of us are sitting in this place going, "That sounds great. And once God blesses me, I'd love to use that blessing." Right? Um, and it's really easy for for us to go like, "Yep, God, if you could just give me a little blessing, I'll use it for you." Um, and not recognize the places that like actually we all exist in a a constant state of blessing. God's goodness has been poured out. That doesn't mean that there's not hard things or that we don't

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  have hardships or or lack or need, but do we recognize the places and the ways that God has blessed us? um not just financially, not just in physical um things, but where are the places? And so we walked through some of those like vocational dimensions of like where are the where's the uh places that my education or my experience has gifted me with something has given me um some kind of like blessing or or thing that I can use for the people around me. And so even something simple like um you know

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  gosh if I uh if I know how to if I'm a teacher and there's uh somebody that lives next door who is struggling to read like maybe I don't maybe I don't volunteer at the tutoring center maybe I don't sign up for something but maybe I teach the little boy next door how to read or maybe I make cookies for the the person across the street or whatever whatever the thing is. Um, and it doesn't sometimes we get caught up or hung up on this idea that like it has to we have to meet the world's need right

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  here that's this big. >> Um, but the idea of like seeking justice and loving mercy and walking humbly, all that language for me that all lands in a way of like as you're already about the the business, the places I've called you where you work and live and play, are you seeking places that might need justice? Will you choose to love mercy over your own comfort, over your own like protection? And will you walk with me humbly? And that idea of walking humbly again that I don't know, we

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  probably say this every week, but the Matthew 11 passage comes to mind where Jesus is like, I'm going to work with you and your invitation is to walk humbly and walk slowly with me and I'll point out to you places where I've asked you to bless or to to step in. Um because I think it is like the stuff in the world right now is overwhelming and that's not new. That's true for always. But like yeah, what am what am I supposed to do against these big things? But is there somebody right in front of

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  me? >> Yeah. >> That could use some justice or some mercy, an act of humility. Um or even like Jeremiah in the Jeremiah 29 passage, it calls out the things it calls out in there. Those are just life things. Those are just like would you build homes? Would you plant gardens? Would you marry people and have babies and like live your life in community with people you might not want to, but because this is where I've planted you, it's what I want you to do. >> Where I planted you. And and the there's

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  an abundance there even in the midst of exile. there's an abundance even in the place where um as I as I'm drawn back to Matthew 5 and who Jesus is talking about there's a the blessing or the abundance that seems to be um being offered in those spaces uh in in those ways from God right and it's like as you called out in the in the everyday ordinary >> where is it that that God has planted you has brought you has has placed you um to be the sadakim to be the righteous people to bless those around you in very

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  tangible ways. Um, and even some of the examples that that even Amy Sherman brings out, they're really cool examples, but one that came to mind even now in our our morning our conversation has been um in Portland, they have this this guy created, it's called the bike bus. M >> um and so um he was seeing that kids like just didn't really have a safe place to ride their bike and riding to riding your bike to school is sort of a a thing of the past like it doesn't happen very often and some kids don't

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  even have bikes. So what he did is he organized um a a bike route like a bus route. >> Yeah. >> And they would and he would start it and they it was for this one school because I I think he's a teacher P teacher something like that. So he'd start it and then he'd ride along and and as you know kids would hop in and ride along and it have people stopping traffic as they go from their on their bus route picking up kids who have bikes and they're riding along you know just got a

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  helmet and riding in this pack of bikes um on the road to school and it's just this like it seems to be this >> joyous experience for the kids and even the adults who get to be part of that and there are adults are wearing They're they're yellow. Um uh like it's like a raincoat but is this like high viz kind of thing like um and uh the kind of I don't know the kind of joy that brings and community feel. Um and I honestly I don't know if this guy's a Christian or

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  not. In fact, it doesn't actually matter. But here's a space in which he's like here community is being formed. Kids are finding a way to have a safe way to ride a bike in their in their in their neighborhood and get to school. Now, that's the piece where it's like whether or not this this individual believes in Jesus, follows Jesus, loves Jesus, God is is working through him for the redemption of um to remove to remove out of to move out of isolation into community. >> Yeah. and to have this um

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  uh you know every day to school here's an opportunity that you get to come and be a part of and uh that's to me sounds like the sadakim. >> Yeah. It looks like kingdom. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. And that I think the other piece to call out and this came out u Max and I were having a conversation last night but even as we as we tie it back to the biatitudes sermon on the mount what Jesus is calling out in some of those places like it does it sounds it stands in such contrast to the empire that we live in

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  right so this all of the biatitudes is basically like let me tell you about this upside down kingdom that I'm inviting you into and and there's the blessing and there's the reward blessed are those who and then they they shall I'll inherit or here's the reward, right? >> But the things that sit in the middle um like for us, we read those and already they sound a little like uh off um or upside down, but for those hearing it in that culture and in that time, it's like

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  this is radical. What are you even what are you even saying? But in some of those I I wonder too like um those who realize their need for God, those who mourn, those who are humble, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness or justice. Some translations say in those things like I hear not only not only a doing. So yes, like if you uh you know desire mercy, what uh is merciful, is pure in heart, peacemakers, like those are doing things. I recognize that. create peace, all of that. But there's some level of

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  this like heart posture even in that. And some of what Max and I were talking about last night was how often um we could all we can all agree that like okay, things are not great in the world around us. And especially right now there's some stuff going on that's heavy and that's hard. when we gather as a church family, are we pretending that that not are we not only like like maybe there's not something direct that we can do about those things right now in that moment, but are we gathering as if those

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  things don't exist? Are we pretending um you know, we come to church and we're like, God is so good and this is so great and we're going to worship you. Not saying those are bad things, but are we are we mourning? Are we like calling out? Are we desperate to see justice and to see mercy that maybe can't come from our hands? Maybe I don't have the influence. Maybe I don't have the platform. Maybe I don't have the resources to directly impact >> some of that brokenness that exists

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  right now. But is my heart cry? Like am I broken for that brokenness? And when we gather together, um are we mourning because there's uh people who have been made in the image of God who aren't being treated like they've been made in the image of God regardless? Um and and so that kind of for me last night even with Max was another level of like sometimes it's not a doing thing. Maybe maybe God's invitation for me and what it looks like to seek justice and love mercy and walk humbly with him in this

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  moment or this space is just to have my is to sit in a place of lament like God there's brokenness and this is unfair and to invite others who follow Jesus into that same lament to say this isn't okay. Um and I mean God scripture talks all about the power of prayer and the power of that call out. And so are we doing that or are we pretending like this is too big and it's too heavy and >> hopefully politics figure themselves out and get this whatever and in the meantime we're going to you know gather

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  and >> I don't know have a potluck and whatever. Um >> well um and it's in some of those the being places um and even as you were talking about the some of the doing place spaces and calling out in Matthew 5 there there is even in small ways do we notice do we do we notice even in some of the small ways like for example um I I get to coach um middle school athletics. And so right now it's basketball season and um you know uh one of the coaches found out that one of his players doesn't have

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  access to laundry. Um and so you know after a game or whatnot like laundry doesn't just take place when you get home. I mean it's like more of a we do it once a week or we we can we can get to it on Sunday or we get to it but it's not you can't you're not just be able to go home and throw it in the >> in the washer. And so, um, he like he found out about this and was like, "Oh, um, I could I have a washer. I can just give me your after after the game, just have a change of clothes, go change, and

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  then give me your your jersey and I'll I'll go home, wash it, and have it back to you tomorrow." >> It's those it's those pieces where like you have to actually notice. you have to ask the question or be present enough to uh oh I that's um uh a big it's a it's a big um it's a small do but it's a big result a reward if you will of like >> I see you I I care about you um and in this way I can care for you by doing some some simple laundry washing your

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  Jersey. >> Yep. Sounds like the Sim. >> Yeah. Sounds like the kingdom breaking in. >> Yeah, it's good. >> It is good. >> So, as we wrap this up, uh what's what's landing? What's the Chyros? What's God saying for you? >> Yeah. I I wonder if it's if it's being more uh observant, notice, I mean, and it's not so much doing, but just God, the prayer of like, Lord, open my eyes to see where your kingdom is breaking in. And um uh help me see it. I

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  want to I I want to see the the big things. I I I want also want to see the the small ways in which um your kingdom's breaking in where um a blessing God's blessing is flowing in different ways. I I want to see it. >> Uh so it isn't so much doing for me but just God give me the eyes to see. >> And I suppose the the um walking that out then looks like okay call it out. Let's let's go like they're too good not to share. Mhm. >> Let me tell you about this. This looks

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  like Sadakim. This looks like the blessing of God flowing. Um because people have are are are being a people of righteousness. They've recognized the blessing that God has offered and the reward. Um and then the obedient response is then to um is to bless. >> Yeah. >> And so I Yeah. God, give me the eyes to see. Um, so that then I can call it out because I I I do even in this conversation, it's not till right now that I'm like, oh, that that that piece is it's it's a

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  small act, but it's a >> a big blessing. >> Yeah, it's good. Um, I think for me it's what what I was just saying that came out of even last night's conversation with Max that um, and even as you're calling that out, maybe what what's landing for me is that uh, corporately as a body of believers, like if our desire is to be a Jesus-shaped church, um, we actually have to start with the being before the doing. Um, and so in spaces where we could get caught up on like

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  what could our little church possibly do that makes an impact in these big things. Um, I think the invitation is like what if we what if we sat in a place will we mourn will we mourn for the brokenness together? Um, will we will we be desperate for righteousness and justice even if we even if it can't come at our hands? Um, but will that be our heart's cry and our longing? Um, and and yes, to to show up like you're calling out, absolutely to see the the things and the places um, small or big where we can do

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  something. But there's something about the corporate like together as a body of believers. Um will we will we not ignore or pretend but will we call out like yeah this is this is hard and this doesn't look like this doesn't look like kingdom. And so we'll call that out and we'll mourn that and we'll lament with you God in that. Um >> yeah I think that's what's landing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. and and pray for God's kingdom to come. >> And if he chooses to

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  uh partner with us and allow us access and influence and investment uh talking about the vocational power, might be faithful to step into those places that you has opened doors for. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's good. It >> was good. Well, guys, thanks for listening in. Uh and we hope and pray that your conversations are going beyond Sunday. And until next time, take care.