Beyond Sunday: Walking with Jesus

Catch up: this week’s Sunday morning message.

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to walking with Jesus. Our journeys are not linear- they will look different. But the truth that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, Emmanuel, God with us remains and is for all of us. As we walk our own journey with Him we experience the fullness of God.

Catch up: this week’s Sunday morning message.

• Transcript

  00:00:10

  Hey guys, welcome to another episode of the Beyond Sunday podcast. This one uh is a special one uh mostly cuz Pastor Shereo is on here. Welcome. How are you doing today? >> Well, I'm good, but also I'm always on. So, why is this actually special? This is This is the last episode of season one of the Beyond Sunday podcast. Can you be Can you believe we've made it? >> Were you worried >> about surviving? Yeah, that honestly it's an everyday kind of deal. >> Oh, just life. Surviving [music] life.

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  Not a podcast with me, but life. >> No, it just made it to today. >> Okay, that's Yikes. Such a low bar, but welcome to this day. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, this is the last episode. We have been recording these uh [music] conversations, discussions uh you and I and also with others who have uh been preaching and teaching on Sunday morning through the Revised Common Lectionary. And here we are in the the last one, the last episode of of season 1 before we do plan on launching into season 2. Uh but

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  before we get to that, we have this conversation and discussion. But before we get to the discussion, take a look at this video. Heat. Heat. [music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [music] >> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> All right guys, welcome back. uh as we dive into this conversation. Shrea, what was the big idea in scriptures that we were in in this the last week of our um season 1? >> Yeah. Uh so we're wrapping up this series on walking with Jesus um this journey of formation. And we had kind of

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  way back when we put this whole series together um we had titled this one or the big idea was like no better time to walk with Jesus. So, this was kind of the wrap-up of the whole thing, like right now. Now is the time. Um, for me, uh, knowing what we were wrapping up and also what we're stepping into this coming week and for all of 2026, um, which will be this this, uh, focus on being a Jesus-shaped church. And it felt like we walked we stepped out of this journey with Jesus um essentially like

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  what it looks like to live a Jesus-shaped life and then we're walking into what it looks like to be a Jesus shaped church. So this one really was like a bridge for me um of like so if we've spent the last year talking about what it looks like to walk with Jesus um and we're headed into what it looks like to be a Jesus shaped church, how do those two things fit together? Um, and so that's that's where I was. Um, scripture- wise, again, we were kind of all over the place. Um, I was in First

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  Peter 2, which is actually our our main text for 2026. Um, so I was in there, but then from the RCL for this last week, I was in Luke still. We wrapped up kind of Jesus's journey through Luke. Um, and also Jeremiah. Um, so yeah, in a couple different places. >> Yeah. Uh I I do I I love the connection, the bridge like you said of [clears throat] uh Jesus walking with Jesus >> into this coming year of what God may be inviting us into and what we sensed as we were um even inviting our church

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  family to read through the scriptures in the lectionary in the coming year and we came back to share reflections and what's the some of the threads that that we were noticing in within the scriptures we were reading that um what what was coming out was this Jesus shaped church. But before we get to this like what it what it is to be together and live together as a Jesus-shaped church to orient ourselves in this kinds of kind of way we've walked through this last year of walking with Jesus and

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  journeying with you know the journey that we've been on and um preparing for the journey uh and and to this one we just wrapped up walking with Jesus of the Jesus uh Jesus shaped life uh that if we form and fashion our life in such a way that Lord Jesus shaped me, form me, uh you know, you're the potter, I'm the clay, mold me and make me. Uh so that together as we're doing that, we look like a Jesus-shaped church. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> Not because we do the work here in the

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  Jesus shaped church, but because we're allowing and surrendering to God to do the formation, >> uh so that while we're being formed together, we look like a Jesus-shaped church. >> Yeah. Yeah. And that was kind of um so I guess that's also what we were were talking about at the start of this series specifically not not the whole year but this like journey of formation series um which has been a couple of months now but when we started that the reminder that like hey we're all being

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  actually formed and shaped by something whether we are intentional and and know that that's what's happening or not. Um and so the invitation has been like uh to be to let Jesus be the thing that forms and shapes us. Um but in in that there was this this tie-in for me of like uh in first Peter 2 and this idea of being living stones that that we're stepping into. And we'll we'll spend probably a lot of time I I anticipate in this next season on this podcast we'll be talking about 1 Peter 2 a lot. Um but

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  this idea of these uh living stones that Peter talks about where uh each of us are being built into a living or are a living stone being built into a spiritual house. And so um in that this like these separate things multiple things being built into this one thing. And for me, what was um the the cool tiein to that was this reminder that in that uh each of these stones, we each have a story, right? So even the word and uh you and I had watched or listened to the the Bay podcast episode that they

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  do on this and they talk about like what Peter's calling back to what he's referencing with this idea of living stones is like a standing stone. So, it's a stone that uh gets erected when somebody has an encounter with God or or they've heard from God or there's this like God, I saw God show up in this way. And so, I'm going to build this standing stone, this altar, this whatever as a reminder like God showed up here. And so, Peter's calling back to that with this idea of like that's who we are. And

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  so, as a living stone, um I'm really like a story stone. when people see me that should be it should be a reminder or a a call out of like God has got there's been an encounter here there's been a transformation here God's done something here the part that then was landing for me was like that actually means that it's different so when we consider these uh stones being built into a spiritual house they don't all look the same because that journey of formation that we've been on it's been

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  different for all of us and our stories the way we've encountered God the way we've experienced him as we've walked with Jesus has looked different. And so even this idea of like God's fingerprints are on me in a different way than they're on you. And when all that comes together, it is this uh this overwhelming testament of like here's who God is and and you can see that in all of the different stones that have come together and all these different stories. Um and so that idea of like

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  there's no better time to walk with Jesus. Um, for me the call out this week was like, are you do you recognize the story that you already have because God's been shaping you and forming you and are you telling that story? Um, because it points to it points to God who loves, who pursues um who offers grace and mercy and all of those things. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I agree that I think this coming year will reference back to being living stones that um even what Peter is offering in this letter is that

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  um Jesus is the cornerstone, right? And and he calls back to Isaiah and the the cornerstone that was rejected by the leaders and this is what everything is going to be the foundation of what all will be built upon. And uh so I I do see us coming back to that often. But in this in this week um where we were at in Luke 23 was I I mean maybe even some of that uh piece of the calling back to what what is or what was to what will be and and I think in this story with the criminals of Jesus hanging in between

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  these two criminals and we don't know their stories but we what we do know is this short interaction that that takes place that one is hurling insults at Jesus while the other one is uh rebuking that other criminal and saying to Jesus, remember me, right? Remember me uh when you go into your kingdom. And Jesus then replies to him, I tell you like today I'll be with you in paradise uh or you'll be with me in paradise. And um I as I as I slow down to read this portion of scripture uh in this story and what's

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  taking place is that neither of them fully grasp uh what who Jesus is and what he's come to do. Right? So, one was like, I I need a rescue right now. Why don't you just uh if you're the king of kings, right? The king of the Jews, why don't you get us off this cross? You get yourself off and why don't you take me with you? Like, I need you to rescue me in the here and now, right? And when that doesn't take place, it's insults and whatnot. And the other one's like,

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  >> well, this is sort of this here and now is sort of a lost cause. So in the next life or eternal life, wherever you're going in your kingdom, remember me. Right? So and and Jesus and I think it's even for me as I visualize Jesus actually sits in the middle. Mhm. >> He's hanging in between these two and the tension that exists of like the the the here and now uh of like get me out so I can live this life here and the other one saying in the next life I'd like to be I'd like to be in your

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  kingdom. Uh and Jesus is you know I mean in and sitting in this place physically hanging in in between these two. Um, but also the beauty of the of the response to this criminal, like you'll be with me in paradise. And I I I I even said on Sunday like some of the other preachers and pastors have called attention to like what is that like when he enters in? He's like walking around and like um what are you what are you doing here? >> Should you be here? And like >> yeah, I the guy in the middle told me

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  that I could be here. >> Right. And um but I do think the even the positioning of it right that Jesus is in the middle in between these two who didn't quite fully grasp. One was like I need you now. The other one was like in the not yet I need you. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well there's so much in that. Um, okay. So, part of what I thought was really cool, um, in so just like taking a step back from that even just the way that God has orchestrated this whole thing and even with the revised common lectionary,

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  right? We've talked about this before, but when we uh were first like considering like is this something we're going to use? You know, we're asking the question like God, is this what you have for us? Cuz like this is not what we've used before. It's not what we've done. Um but this is another week where there and there have been many where it's just so clear um the way that God's working through this because even this um we've been focused on this upcoming year and

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  like Jesus shaped church and then I sit down to prepare this message that we you know I hadn't looked at since whenever we set this a year before or whatever but all these scriptures point to I mean it's like we're like in Colossians and it's talking about Christ being the head of the church and then we're in Jeremiah and it's talking about uh the shepherds who uh like there's they they have not led well and and God's like but I'm still I'm going to use this remnant and

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  whatever. And so there's um there's all of these scriptures about church and Christ being the head and and all of these things and then then there's this Luke 23 and it feels like this culmination of so so for me even like with what you were just saying uh we've watched Jesus walk out his life and ministry through the book of Luke for the last couple months as we've been talking about walking with Jesus and this 23rd chapter this little story and this little interaction Um, for me, this felt like uh all of the

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  things we've been talking about are good things and they're helping uh hopefully they're shaping us to look more like Jesus. They're helping us uh create space to meet the father and all of those things. But at the end of the day, the thing that Jesus emphasized was like, I love you. I love you and you and when I look at you, like I don't see you. I don't see the thief on the cross and all the things you've done. There's a reason I'm hanging here. Right? And um

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  I asked the question, and I've seen this asked by other pastors and whatever, but like how's this story fit into our theology? Because we've just spent all this time walking with Jesus, focused on walking with Jesus, and what it looks like for my life to be modeled after his and shaped like his. Um and that those are good things. Um and theology does matter. And I'm not saying we shouldn't, you know, pay attention to those things. But at the end of the day, in that moment, this man hanging on the cross,

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  like there's been no time. He has not lived a life modeled after Jesus. He hasn't lived a life that's shaped or looked like Jesus. And yet in that moment, Jesus is like, "Yep, you'll be with me." Um, and so like at the end of this whole like we've spent a year talking about walking with Jesus. Um, and hopefully there's a lot of ways now that we look more like him than we did when we started this year. And hopefully the biggest one of those is like Jesus emphasized love. like

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  there's a reason I'm hanging here on this cross today. So that you can be with me. >> Yeah. >> In paradise. Um not because of what you've done, but because I'm here and who I am. And so that both to close out this this year um where spiritual discipline and practices matter and all of those things. Um and to set up a year of like teach my people what it looks like to be my church. What sits in the middle of all that is like don't forget what Jesus did on the cross because God

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  loves God is love and and because God pursues us with love. Um I just think that like I don't know there's something really cool about the way I'm sure God's like yeah I already had that planned out for you guys. You [laughter] just thanks for welcome to the party kind of thing. Um but that was really cool for me to realize even even Sunday as I was preaching was like God already this already sat here um for us. And so, um, yeah, I don't know. >> Yeah. Well, and the it challenges us in

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  in ways that we like, here's how I know this should work. Here's how I I've recognize how I it ought to work in when everything goes to plan. But how often in life does everything go to plan? How often in life do do my do did do they come to fruition? Do I what I set out? And here in this story, it's like trust me. Will you trust me that I've uh the nature and character of God does not change. >> Yeah. >> He is the one who has created us. He is the one who has sent his son to pursue

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  us. uh that redeem us and rescue us and bring us back into right relationship. And here with this man on the cross, right relationship existed in a moment. >> Yeah. >> Not a lifetime, not great decisions, uh not formation practice, spiritual formation practices, not in a prayer, >> right? >> But in a declaration, you are Jesus. >> Yep. Yeah. Yeah. And it's such an echo. Um, even in these last few days, I was having this conversation with Pastor Aaron yesterday on the phone. Um,

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  and then even like in the car on Monday, um, with you and with Pastor Elmer, some of this idea of like we we can get ourselves so caught up in um, I don't know, the methods, the vehicles we use for like mission and evangelism and disciplehip and all of those things. And it's not that we shouldn't have the conversations and that we shouldn't um utilize tools that help us, you know, whatever. >> Um but yesterday in our huddle, we were talking about one of the phrases uh that

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  was used out of the book that that's being read was uh talking about clutter, religious clutter, and how uh like if if Jesus is supposed to be at the center, um sometimes all of these other religious things clutter up that space. Um, and and for me it was like, I wonder if that's why this all feels so hard sometimes, right? And you know, and I think I've said it on the podcast, but this Matthew 11 has been just this recurring like echo reminder where God's like, "Do you trust that my yoke is

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  easy? That I have a yoke that's easy and light." And even this morning, I just started uh the paradoxy book that you lent me. And chapter 2 this morning is all about my yoke is easy, my burden is light. in this paradox where uh Jesus is like, "Hey, if you're weary and you're you're burdened, um what he doesn't say is rest." What he says is like, "Walk with me and work with me and I'll teach you um the unforced rhythms of grace." And this idea and and that's what's on

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  the cross, right? There is no forced like, "Hey, um I'm glad you said that. We've got 30 seconds before you die on this cross, so you better say this sinner's prayer real fast." that there's such this beauty of this unforced like yes yes you recognized me as Lord and that's the only it's actually the only thing you have had time to do in this moment but that's all that matters I'll take care of the rest and you'll be with me in paradise and so there's something

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  um there's also something like in my heart that's so freeing about that like I yes we can plan classes and we can uh systemize disciplehip and I'm not actually even saying that we shouldn't do those things. But the at the end of the day, the the sacrifice of Jesus, him as our high priest, that's enough. And it's it's powerful enough to happen in a moment. Um and so I I don't know, there's something really freeing about that. >> Yeah. Well, and also goes back to the

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  title of this like no better no better time to start walking with Jesus. That here it is. um [clears throat] the the the criminal, the man on the cross next to Jesus in that moment >> remember me >> and >> and Jesus remembered him. In fact, he >> gave him a promise and and then it was fulfilled. Right. So that that I think is what also too what we're walking into in this coming season in the calendar of Advent is we we come into a season of of holy anticipation, right? Jesus is coming, Christmas and

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  all of that. But we do sit in tension of Christ has come uh and as a child and he's lived and he has died and he's resurrected uh and he has ascended and he sits at the right hand of the father. And so we sit in the tension of Christ is coming again. Mhm. >> He will redeem all of that which has been uh continues to be broken to resurrect and to um uh be there there be a new creation and uh uh all made right again. Right. So uh or not right again but new new >> new in an even better. Yeah. And I think

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  that's also too this season where we are faithfully what we sense God leading us in is is if we are to be a Jesus-shaped church, we actually look like models of new creation living in the way that that God has called us to. And when we do that uh we look like uh uh or or or maybe what others are able to see is like oh this is the some of this is a glimpse of so this new creation of what it is to be together >> redeemed and reconciled by a God who had in in what he has created >> brings back into right relationship.

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  >> Yeah. Yeah. because that's what that's what this was supposed to be all along like the and I this called this out even on Sunday but the um the beauty and perfection of the garden at the beginning was not the garden like yes that's a it's it's a great place and everything God made he said it was good but the what was good about the garden was relationship with God um and that's what he's been and and the thing that uh The thing that I think is so like when you look at scripture as a whole and the

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  story as a whole, um the thing for me that has been such a like powerful aha moment is that we know that we live in a world that's broken and that God is still in the business of like putting it back together and reconciling it. But it feels like it feels like in that uh he was like we can't uh I don't want to wait for relationship again. So yes, I'm still working on this new creation. And I'm still putting this all back together. Um, but what we see from the moment in the garden, uh, from the moment of the

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  fall, Genesis chapter 3, from there on, this is a God who's pursuing relationship with his people in the middle of a world that's broken and fallen. And he's like, "Okay, so you messed all of this up that I had made for you, but we're going to get this right." Um, and he he offers a covenant, and then that's the old covenant's not good enough. And he's like, "Let me give you my son because I want more with you and for you." Um and and there's just

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  something beautiful about like yeah I we do have to wait uh for the the fullness of this new creation where there is no more brokenness and there is no more hurt and pain and that's promised and that's coming and that'll be a great day. What I don't have to wait for is the presence of God and the relationship that I was designed and created to exist in. Um, and that's that's so powerful because there's no like uh well someday you guys messed up royally and so someday you'll have this like

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  >> Yeah. And that's also the in the space of like the someday of I'm just going to live out this life until I meet him face to face, right? As if as if heaven or eternity is the goal. Um I [clears throat] I can't read scripture and and and see that and hear that. Although that that's not something that I don't anticipate but actually >> relationship reconciled and restored relationship with God is actually offered here and now through Jesus Christ right so you talk about like um a

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  God who is just continuing pursuing relationship I'm I'm going to pursue you through the covenants through the temple right the tabernacle I will my presence will be in here in the tabernacle you put it up and everywhere you go that's where it'll be right and the cloud um by day, the fire by night that you and I will my presence will be with you to then the the tabernacle and that being the temple and then the temple being destroyed and no longer being in the place. Then Jesus comes and right and

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  then and then he he offers himself on the cross. Um so to give us a a way back to God, salvation, redemption and then says that Holy Spirit is coming. Holy Spirit is coming. uh and and and be an advocate and here and now we then get to be the temple that the Holy Spirit takes residence in this the presence of God takes residence in. And now I don't I don't I don't have to live this life waiting >> right >> for face to face with God. I I I I have the here and now, >> right?

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  >> But the Holy Spirit is being and living as the temple of God is creation that gets to be in communion with him. Yep. >> That is a beautiful, beautiful promise. >> Promise that has been offered, proclaimed, and one that gets fulfilled each and every day that I live. >> Yep. And that that's where my so when we if we ask the question like how does the story of the the thief on the cross fit into your theology? That's the space. Um which has not always been true, right? Um, but for

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  me, because here's the here's the sad part of that story. Um, I don't know if that's even the right way to say it. The thing about that story, uh, that the the thief on the cross, like, yes, you get to be in paradise. What you missed out on was abundant life. However, I don't know how old he was, but however old you were, however long you've been on this earth, um you could have had abundant life here and now, relationship with me here and now. Um because of who I am and

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  because you're calling me out as your Lord, you you'll get to be with me in paradise. But that's that's the theology piece. Like that's actually what I want my my understanding of who God is and my theology, the way I walk out, what it looks like to follow Jesus. I want it to look like that. like here it's it's about grace and and love and a covering by the man in the middle on the cross, but what he's offering you is abundant life here and now and you don't have to

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  wait. Um, and that actually stands uh firm beyond and be above any kind of like uh you have to take this class or you have to say this thing or you have to live even live this certain way. It's like do you recognize what's being offered to you right now? right now. >> Yeah. >> So, with that, what would you say is Chyros? What's God been saying and how is he inviting you to respond? >> Uh, yeah. So, we've already talked about it a little bit, and I honestly can't

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  remember if I this is what I said last week or not because this has been for a few weeks now, but this it's this Matthew 11 um uh reminder freedom of like it doesn't have to be as hard as you try to make it, as we try to make it. Um my yoke is easy, my burden is light. If you will walk with me and work with me, I will show you the unforced rhythms of grace. And uh the end of that in the message paraphrase says, "Keep company with me." >> And then uh talks about the freess and

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  the lightness. Um and so in the I think that the this is what God has been speaking to me for a few weeks now over and over again. And I I think the more I reflect on it as I can start to move into this like okay what's the practical uh application of that um I think some of that is recognizing like if there's a space where this feels hard where ministry feels hard where uh uh evangelism or disciplehip like if it's feeling hard then that's probably and I I don't mean hard like I mean hard

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  like this like I just can't if it's feeling like that then that's probably an invitation for me to pause and ask like is this is this you Jesus is this where you are or am I trying to do this am I have I created a yoke and I'm inviting you to join me in it like here's this ministry here's this thing here's this way come and help me Jesus and you're over there holding one that you're like actually this is what I have for you so I think um in a practical way I'm recognizing like in spaces where it

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  feels really hard um that's an opportunity to pause and like Jesus, are you here? Did you invite me into this or did I did I step into this one on my own? >> Yeah. Yeah. Uh I would say for me the the the chyros and some of this is based out of reading through first and second Peter and just doing that in a regular rhythm. But the word that stood out to me as um we we listened and read on Monday was inheritance. And some of what resonates in that is the this story in Luke 23. And the inheritance for for one is

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  paradise with Jesus. >> Although that inheritance could have been lived out in the in the here and now. Uh the inheritance for the one >> who was hurling insult to Jesus and like just get me down in the now is gone in death. There is nothing left for him. Yeah. >> And the I guess the the chyros there is is in understanding the gift the inheritance that God desires to to offer to offer me. Like here I and we've just we've called this out already. I I have abundance for you here and now. I've

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  actually got um if we offer this like I've got a a cool walk in the I've got a walk in the cool of the morning in the garden with me. Here's the inheritance. Will you >> will you will you will you receive it? >> Right. >> I have it for you. And I I guess that's the invitation I'm sensing and has been um echoed through reading in First Peter and and this in Luke 23. And just as I wrap my mind around this invitation that God is offering me as, you know, come and walk with me in the

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  cool of the morning, I want to be with you. I I want to I want you to be in my presence and and and know that I am good and I have created good things for you. That's the the abundance within the inheritance that just seems to be rising up for me now. >> Yeah, it's good. All right, guys. Well, thank you. Uh thanks for listening. We're glad that you've been on this journey with us a whole season um which is crazy uh and and kind of cool to be able to have spent the last year um

  00:31:04

  wrestling through what God's been saying. So [music] we hope as always that uh not only are you getting to hear from God and hear what God's saying to us in these, but also that it's inviting you into these kind of conversations on [music] your own. So uh hopefully you have places, spaces, community where you get to wrestle scripture in the same way. Um, this is the end of season 1, but [music] we will be back next week to begin season 2.