Skip to content Beyond the Letter || Night 3 || Patria Fresh Start Aug 31 · 49 min ...more
August 31, 2024 · 49 min · Patria Sermons
...more Show the full description Show less Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Support this leader
Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Give
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
492K followers
Adam Mesa is Lead Pastor of Patria Church and speaks to a congregation of 12,000 about how the gospel of Jesus Christ brings purpose to every life. Patria
492K followers
Comments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
The Pursuit of Wisdom and Humility 0:43 Has been help. Is there anyone in here0:44 by a0:44 show of hands? Who's been going to our Bible sprint? Anyone's been going to our I know it happened last night. So, man, about a third of the room. That's great. So, man, that's awesome. Hopefully, you've, enjoyed it.0:53 We'll make some reference probably, here to it tonight as well. Last night at our sprint, and, he's over all of our campuses. He's our campus operations1:05 pastor. He's over our campus pastor. And then we have pastor Sanaz, who's, Sanaz is over our legacy, ministry as well. So we1:17 are gonna dig right in and, we're gonna throw a question 1 right away. We're gonna dig into it. I am who helped you've kind of picked1:29 our questions tonight. There's probably, I don't know, 80 questions submitted. Yes. It was very hard. Look at that voice too.1:38 Man,1:38 it was hard. Yeah. That's why I gave them to you. I looked at the list. I was like, these are so good. It's like, how do you pick? So I'm like, pastor Aaron, you pick them. Yeah. So these are the ones that you decided1:47 on, but they're they're man, they're all so good and so thoughtful. Well, we're jumping to number 1. It's hunger for wisdom and intellect without making them idols in my1:58 life? Is it morally wrong from a Christian perspective to desire and pursuit intellect? I don't ever want, and to get in the way of my relationship with.2:11 Yeah. And then you won't want to tackle that, first, I could jump into it. I mean, I'll go first. Number 1,2:24 the fact that someone's asking a question like that shows a lot of desire and maturity in their walk. Is that they don't want something what I gather the first time I read it, I thought they made,2:36 they didn't want to get puffy with knowledge from the bible. And then as I read it more, I thought, oh, I think they mean to be an intellectual in general. And so that may be like intellectual, whether it be2:48 through politics or whatever. And then there's this awareness, like, I don't want those things to get my relation in my relationship. So I kind of saw it 2 fold out. I saw it in the way of Luke 2 52 is what we kind of2:58 encourage our men with. Adulthood. The Bible says Jesus grew in wisdom, knowledge, favor with God, and favor with And so there's this encouragement3:11 in Luke 2 52 that wisdom and knowledge is a good thing. It's a great day. But there's an added element where essentially you need God's favor3:22 and you need man's favor, which is a gift of God in that same reward. And so what I always prerequisite and encourage someone who's maybe pursuing an intellectual endeavor. I sit on the board of a3:34 university and so I get to meet people all the time who have doctor Yeah. People who have doctor in front of their name who are really And it times you meet people with doctor in front of their name who are3:46 not very humble. And, and so really to me it's it's an application of humility in that. Right. It's do you think you've earned this or do you think God has blessed you with4:01 will gain a place of pride. But if you believe that all intellect has been formed and gifted by God, then there's a humility that says no matter how smart I get, God is infinitely4:13 more smarter and wiser than I could ever be. And if you can keep that in the picture, it doesn't matter how many degrees you have behind your name.4:26 Rely on God for the source4:28 For sure.4:29 Of your wisdom and your intellect. Because I've met a lot of smart people all day, but they're stupid in the way they talk. They they don't know how to talk to people. They they don't know they don't know how to gain4:40 favor from anyone. And so, therefore, they're brilliant. But they've never had any access to anything because in their brilliance, they don't know how to talk to people. And they've never reached a point of humility. And4:51 so I just encourage keep in perspective by never letting your intellect, whether it's in the Bible or outside of the Bible, never keep it away from your prayer life. Because itDiscipleship and Service in the Church 5:03 you don't bring your smarts to prayer. Worship to prayer. You you can memorize verses all day, but at some point, in prayer, prayer is a lowly thing to5:15 do. Because you're releasing things to God, and you're also compassionately caring for others by praying for others.5:34 Say, God, I'm gonna serve it. And so I do And I think when you keep that in perspective, you're gonna be okay. And they ask that question. So Yeah. By that regard alone is beautiful. Yeah.5:46 You know? I love God.5:47 If you5:48 love the5:48 question, I'll piggyback off of Pastor Adam. Humility is key. So 1 of the practical ways of demonstrating humility is through community. Proactively asking people that6:00 love you what are your blind spots. Because no matter how much intellect you have, no matter how much you grow in wisdom, we all have blind spots. So having people that love you but aren't impressed by you, that you that6:11 are safe, that you could proactively say, hey Yeah. How how would you assess my humility in the last 6 months? Hey Yeah.6:17 You you6:18 know, you work closely with me. What are some areas that I can grow in, etcetera, etcetera. And as long as you stay open in community, that'll keep us humble, and you can continue to grow in that wisdom, and God will6:28 continue to bless with favor. Yeah.6:30 That's great.6:31 I also think too that if if if we are somebody who is seeking intellect and seeking wisdom, as you said, it's a very good thing. I think where it gets us in trouble sometimes is6:43 that we are so hyper focused on the black and white of science essentially that we have a hard time in understanding that the supernatural. And so6:56 God can perform miracles and do things that absolutely don't make sense. So for us not to get so to deep dive so much into this doesn't7:07 intellectually make sense, therefore it cannot happen, that it almost gets to the point where you don't believe that God can make anything happen in your life. So it7:19 it it tends to test our faith in that moment where our faith is not as big as our intellect. And I never wanna be in a position where my intellect is bigger than my faith. I always wanna7:31 have my faith be bigger than what I know because he can do things that I will never even understand.7:38 That's great. Yeah. Alright. Let's jump to number 2. What does it say? How can we as the church get new believers to sit at the feet of7:50 Jesus and become disciples first before integrating them, to be part of a system of the church? I ask this because when I was a fresh new believer, under him and8:02 creating an intimate relationship with him. What I see also on my card is they said, and as a result of my lack of understanding, I put myself in situations I wasn't equipped for8:14 mistakes. So the question is, how do we, as the church, convey the importance of discipleship first, before serving and volunteer. And how can we walk along8:30 Great. Pastor Aaron, you wanna you wanna tackle that first?8:33 I would say, discipleship at its most basic function. Means following Jesus. And so, when I read that question, I felt like there was some kind of tension that she had, maybe some experience she had with the8:45 church. And so as a new believer, when it comes to discipleship, I think you have to look at it as as as a spiritual infant. The way you look at a baby. Right? A baby,8:57 needs help feeding themselves and so the church can come alongside the new believer and help feed this infant. And so, as you're picturing what discipleship is in this infinite9:09 stage, you know, infinite also cries a lot. Right? Makes a lot of noises and so this new believer will make a lot of noise. And so, we as a church have to give room and space and there has to be9:21 a process of growth for them. And then also, you know, an infant poops a lot. Right? You're changing a diaper constantly and so, as the church, when we see this9:33 new believer, this infant in Christ, we also got to be reminded that they will make a lot of mistakes and it will smell. So it's our job to walk alongside them to kind of help them push them towards,9:45 discipleship and and and being at the foot of Jesus is is simply just talking to Jesus every single day. Right? And this believer I feel like this person needs needs, help in that direction but9:57 also a believer also, infant sleeps a lot. Right? And so this new believer has needs to sleep and and so you have to give time for that new believer to wake up sometimes.10:09 They may you may see them and they may not be spiritually where they need to be and I think that that's the tendency of a lot of, old saints or super orthodoxy folks. New10:21 believer. And so they're casting judgment because they have a certain language. They have a certain lingo. And so you gotta you gotta, you know, be reminded that at 1 point, you didn't know it all. And so this new10:32 believer, that there's a process to that. And so I would just dumb it down to 3 things. The 3 things regularly spend time with God, get water baptized, and attend, growth track. And I think if you10:43 do those 3 things, that's how you that's how you come alongside the church and and grow in discipleship. Yeah. That's great. Yeah. And and I think it's important,10:54 and we encourage, and we're doing this in our sprint right now. When we're done, we'll we'll put it online. It's it's always important because 1 of the things I love about this person's question is they are reflecting11:05 critically their own experience and how they began their relationship with Jesus, which which which which which which which which which which which11:13 which which which which11:13 which which which which which which which which which11:49 Like, hey, you go to this town, you pray for this person, hey, you do this, hey, you do that. It's like Jesus goes, once you see me do it, 1,11:55 2, and11:55 3. And you see these disciples, make mistake after mistake after mistake. They say stupid thing after stupid thing. Dumb thing.12:08 They're asking to be on Jesus's left and right hand. They're Peter's cutting off ears. And, you know, you could make the argument, like, why don't those guys just sit down and sit what are they doing?12:20 Who wanted them, commanded them. And and in their airs, they grew, and they learned, and they developed to then, Jesus ascends into heaven. And he takes these 12 guys, but, you know, the 1212:32 comes comes in with Matthias after Judas, and he goes, hey, you guys are gonna do greater things in building the church than I did when I ascend to. You guys have12:44 made so many mistakes under my build this movement by the power of the Holy Spirit that is12:55 still 2000 years later, in effect and impacting today. That came from guys who were both sitting at the feet of Jesus and also serving in the kingdom. And so you actually13:07 I'd rephrase the question and say, hey, let's talk about how important it is to do both. Because if you look around on a Sunday, there are actually more Christians sitting at the feet of Jesus than they are13:20 serving. You know, we we have we we have 15000 people in our church, and we have 2500 people actively serving. So then less of half of people are serving,13:34 So the statement should actually be flipped. Why are so many people sitting at the feet of the Jesus without serving? You know, that's the more appropriate question. And I'm not here to make anyone feel guilty. I'm just13:45 here to say, and allow God to continue to disciple, which is13:59 discipline you into refining you into the believer that God has called you and I, to become. Because if I look at the years that I've had opportunity to serve in the kingdom of God, just like that person, I've made a lot14:11 of mistakes. But the Lord has also allowed me to make a lot of impact, by learning through my mistakes. You can't perfect your faith without doing. That that is the14:22 that is the process of what Jesus has called you to do, is to be doers of the word,14:51 spiritual and and Corinthians. Paul teaches the gifts of the body and the but in that same book, just a few chapters later, he also tells everyone, you guysNavigating Relationships and Church Involvement 15:03 are all still on milk. You're not no one's on meat yet. And why do you just tell us the spiritual gifts and tell us to use these if we're all on meat milk. Because through that process, you're gonna start to15:14 grow to me as the Holy Spirit works on us as we use our gifts. And so, a fantastic question and hopefully that that that dials in on some more practical application on how you15:26 can utilize both in in in regards. And I'm not saying sitting at the feet of Jesus is just church a day. You know, we know it's reading our Bible, prayer, but but these are all kind of culminate in that same15:38 place of sitting at the Yeah.15:39 In that same place of sitting at the Yeah.15:39 At the And I When dating exclusive when dating exclusively, should 1 attend Singles Ministry events,15:51 for example, Singles Neighborhood Groups, Bible study, Singles Nights, through the church. Let let me qualify. Maybe you guys know clarity. They're saying they're dating someone exclusive? Yes. Like they have a boyfriend16:03 and a girlfriend. Should they be at singles? Okay. Okay. That's right? Yeah. Okay. Sweet. Sanaz, you want you want to take that? You were single in the church for I16:13 was. Yeah. For a whole lot of years. Nathan. You know I used to be a summer camp counselor and we would divide the kids by age. And sometimes a parent of of 1 of the 716:25 year olds would say, oh well my child's almost 8. And I would say, well your child is 7 until they're 8. So they can go to the 7 year old group. And I would say the same thing for the single16:37 person. You are single until you are married. Married. You are single. So therefore, feel free16:49 to partake in anything that is for single people. Now, you're dating exclusively, so it would be a great idea for you to get around groups that are appropriate, that can teach you17:01 about the next season that you're going through. Absolutely, if you wanna learn about marriage because you are dating somebody and the intent is to marry and you have discussed this and you have good counsel around you,17:13 get in get plugged into some groups or get to know some couples that can mentor you and walk you through those things. But if you're specifically about bible studies and single nights, you are17:24 single. So feel free to have friends that are single. You're not going there to meet. In fact, our church used to have an a singles ministry, but it sort of just became like a17:36 grocery store to shop for a spouse, and then they would find each other and then they would17:42 a single woman's club. Right. No men would go to it. Yes. You know?17:46 And so and then once they found somebody, they were out of the singles ministry. And so then, yes, it ended up just being, you know, a bunch of, you know, before I got married. So, you know,17:57 just just know that if you're single, you can do anything that is for a single person.18:03 I just had curiosity for the person to ask the question. Don't18:08 let me know. He sound like a18:11 He's trying. Yeah.18:12 He's trying.18:12 He sound like a like a pillow talk, like you're trying to talk to wife and18:16 say a robot, you know. What's that? What's the radio station guy18:20 that would18:20 have the the old the oldies? Yeah.18:23 I'm just curious if that person wants to bring their day with them or are they trying to pull up by themselves?18:28 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.18:30 Well well Well18:31 maybe I18:32 would assume.18:33 I mean18:33 I'm gonna assume I'm assuming it's an intention. I feel like this this this, this question may be different if it's based18:45 if it's a man or if it's a woman. Yep. Not the answer, but not the answer, but I'm saying, yeah, I think if it was a man, maybe because he's trying to figure out if he's disrespecting his girlfriend by attending18:57 these. And if it's a woman maybe she's trying to, you know, say, am I being inappropriate by going to these?19:05 Well, most most singles events are normally around equipping and encouraging in a season of singleness. Mhmm. Mhmm. It rarely is an encouragement unless sometimes, and and we19:17 want to do some in the future, where it's specifically a mixer to meet people. So I think that's the difference is, you know, there are there are many singles events that are based around mixers to to potentially meet19:28 someone. Yeah. If you're exclusive, you probably shouldn't go to the singles mixer where it's built to meet someone of the opposite sex and potentially thrive a relationship. But 9 times out of 10,19:40 singles neighborhood group or a singles gathering. Season that the person's in, which is which singleness is a great to that the apostle Paul says, I wish that everybody was in that19:52 season of singleness. They could give more time to God in the church. Have kids, you're split minded and, into worldly things and earthly and I'm saying they're bad. He's just you are split. So20:04 he he he says he doesn't demonize the single experience. So in that same regard, most So in that same regard, most scenes events are built around, hey, we're just in a common season. Let's encourage each other. Let's20:15 equip each other. And normally when you're at when you read like a singles book or relationship.20:27 Because there isn't a lot of equipping you could do for a single person. Because if a person identifies as a single person, you're20:39 relationship. So most of the content you're consuming is basically preparation to be in a relationship. And so if you're in an exclusive relationship, I hope that you're still preparing to be in a better relationship. So20:54 gaps because you're equipping each other and encouraging to do healthy relationships. And hopefully when you're out those, you can realize if your boyfriend or girlfriend is the real deal. And you could you could dump21:06 them before things get serious if they're not really about, you know, what they're supposed to be about. So there's that benefit as well. And who knows, at that gathering of real Christian man or woman may pop up. So21:22 my motto. You know? All right. Let's go to the next question.21:26 We got some gentlemen in here sweating. Yeah.21:28 Yeah. They're sweating. In other words, put the ring on. Next question. It says, how do how do I raise my fiancee's son without overstepping any boundaries?21:40 He also looks at me, like his dad. Any advice? That's great. Pastor Aaron, you wanna jump on that 1?21:49 Yeah. I can I can start on that 1? I have a blended family. My daughter Eileen's in here. It's her birthday, by the way. Happy birthday, Eileen. Yeah.22:01 So happy that my daughter's in church on her birthday. So me and Erica have been married 17 years. This is my daughter. But I also22:13 respect the boundaries that I'm not her only father. And that's not always easy to do. So it's it's I believe it's me honoring his22:25 role as a father while providing love to the assignment that God has given me to be her father as well. So a lot of conversations with my daughter as it relates22:36 to our healthy relationship. When me and Erica first got married, I recognized that though I'm the leader of the household, she has so much more years of22:48 influence and authority in her life. And it was up to me and Erica to work that out as we parented Aileen. And as I established more trust with my wife Erica,23:00 and as I established more trust with Eileen, I just organically got more influence over the years. I didn't I didn't think that okay. Now that we're married, Eileen has to treat me this way as her23:12 father. Now that we're married, Erica, you have to trust me to be the lead. Those things take time in a blended context, and there's different scenarios because there's very Oh, God. There's varying23:24 levels. Sound like23:25 I'm about to cry.23:26 Yeah. I'll interpret for you. Okay.23:29 Yeah. Of like involvement on the other, like father's side. So based upon that level of involvement is going to be what needs to be agreed upon. But I think it can work23:40 out with continued communications because things change over the seasons. So23:46 Yeah. That's great. Yeah. And it I recommend and I always recommend it. There there's a famous book, love languages by, Doctor. Gary Chapman. And I23:58 got to meet Doctor. Gary Chapman 1 time, and then he shared with me, which it's out now, but he told me many years ago, he24:03 had released now a book called, The 5 Love Languages for Blended Families.24:04 Because, The 5 Love Languages for Blended Families. Because what he would told me 1 time was he said, I didn't realize how different the 5 love languages should be24:15 applied when an outsider comes relationship. And he talks more about building being aware of how your, stepson or stepdaughter24:27 responds to the love languages and 5 love languages. Even that new spouse spouse that you have as a blended. Build those bridges to exemplify24:39 the love that you're trying to show. And when he was telling me, he said, you know, for example, you know, in my book, it recommends, you know, if someone's love language is physical touch, trauma coming24:51 up around and putting your arm around their shoulder. So let's just say for me, if I know a job, love language is he's affirmed by physical and I come up around, I put my arm around. TheShow more In this video 0:00 The Pursuit of Wisdom and Humility5:00 Discipleship and Service in the Church15:00 Navigating Relationships and Church Involvement25:00 Understanding God's Will and Personal Convictions35:00 Embracing Transformation and Salvation
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.