In this podcast episode, the speakers emphasize the importance of forgiveness, generosity, and understanding in building healthy relationships and communities. It discusses the impact of judgments and condemnations on social and marketplace economies, highlighting the need for open and honest conversations without judgment. Cultural sensitivity around financial discussions is also emphasized, along with the significance of developing skills in having difficult conversations. The speakers promote unity and love by approaching financial conversations with humility and a generous spirit, reflecting the values of the kingdom of God. Ongoing discussions and engagement beyond the Sunday sermon are encouraged to continue growing in faith and community.
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[00:00:09.59] - Brett Madron
Hello. Hello. Hello. Welcome to the sermon podcast. My name is Mitchell Buchanan, and this is a podcast we do do for the church community for GOD. As always, we're joined by bible teacher, Greg Garner. We got a good shrug. I feel great about that. Our other speakers, from this month that we're recording with, this is Jeff Sharron who spoke, on forgiveness as well as Brett Madron.
[00:00:33.50] - Brett Madron
here here.
[00:00:34.29] - Mitchell Buchanan
Here. Here. For this podcast, we're gonna be highlighting Greg's sermon, which was on forgiveness. He went through Luke 06:37 thirty eight. So if you wanna just highlight, hey. Here's a couple of main points. And then where do you wanna where do you wanna take us as far as jumping off? There was so much to talk about.
[00:00:52.10] - Gregg Garner
You know, that's like a dangerous question for me because it'll just get me redoing my sermon. So you can go and see our sermons online through us. On the podcast channel. You you did say that there is some some, discussion you wanted to have concerning the marketplace metaphor. And the the big point I wanted to highlight there was that in Jesus's communication, he recognizes that his audience is in community with one another. Right. Like, they they they see each other even in the marketplace. And I think the modern context for our world is that even though we have maybe the grocery store we go to, and that's our grocery store, or we have the restaurant we go to. The the the nature of the western life, especially as Americans, is we're driving miles away, and there's several options. Like, that's why we have to say big Kroger, little Kroger. Yeah. Yeah. Right? Because because it's not just there's not just one Kroger for us because we have vehicles, and we get where we want. So already, there's a contrast between what the people in Jesus' day would think about when he gives us metaphor versus what we think about. Right. And so what I wanted to drive home was that in in Jesus' like, ideal as a result of being the kind of people who ultimately can forgive one another, there's a a a generosity that exists, in your your day to day interactions even with respect to what it is that you have and how it is it could, bless that other party who maybe you otherwise wouldn't have made consideration for because of, a lack of forgiveness. Mhmm. So, it it it's a real localized community communication. Right. This is not a this is not a sermon to, to make us consider our relationship with our brothers and sisters around the world.
[00:02:44.00] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:02:44.30] - Gregg Garner
This is localized. This is the people you do life with. And I think Jesus's vision for, that healthy community shows that they have a healthy economy, and that healthy economy is based upon their healthy relationships. And the relationships are healthy because they forgive one another, and they they find themselves giving to one another, and they're not judging or condemning each other. So, like, this healthy dynamic even, excites the economy, which I I think is, not a popular or common way of talking about this text because I think even though lots of preachers wanna talk about money and and, talk about, I don't know, the the the prosperity of families and communities and societies, they I I rarely hear them discuss it, with respect to a text like this. Yeah. Because the it's you have to investigate the metaphor, the analogy. And upon investigating an analogy, I I think that people could understand that a a a healthy local economy begins with a a healthy local social, economy. And and and people have have talked about the value of and and and even titled it. Mean, it it's escaping my mind right now. The social social currency. Mhmm. You know, that there there is social currency that exists amongst communities. And in that case, it leads to a social economy. Yeah. And it seems that Jesus here is is tying those two together, the social economy and the marketplace economy, and he's he's highlighting that, not judging each other, not condemning one another, giving to each other and forgiving one another, helps us to have that healthy way of living together.
[00:04:34.50] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. Yeah. So you're and just to my own clarity, you're basically saying we're we're practicing forgiveness. We're practicing I think you mentioned a lot of, like, credits and debts where it's like that can build up. But it's easier for Brett to loan me, hey, dude. I I just don't have right now. I need five thousand dollars to fix my deck. That's easier to do it when we've been practicing, like, forgiveness and loving each other and kindness with one another as opposed to, like, hey. We're having conflict or social, you know, battles in some degree. It's like, hey. I you offended me. I'm not even forgiving you yet. Now, like, I don't even have a place to turn Yeah. For somebody to help me out. Is that kinda like the direction?
[00:05:13.60] - Gregg Garner
Yeah. I mean, that's that's one of many examples. Like, I can give you a more complex example.
[00:05:18.89] - Mitchell Buchanan
The deck is pretty flat.
[00:05:20.39] - Gregg Garner
Let's say that Brett did loan you the five thousand dollars for you to build the debt. Okay? So now that's that's happened. Alright? And you guys do have a a great relationship, and that's all working out. But then Brett sees that you decide that, Maisie's tenth birthday. Is that what's going up?
[00:05:37.50] - Mitchell Buchanan
What's the
[00:05:38.00] - Gregg Garner
You don't know the age of your children. I forgot about it.
[00:05:39.89] - Mitchell Buchanan
Wait. I panicked that if it had already passed, she will be ten. Okay.
[00:05:44.89] - Gregg Garner
The tenth birthday coming up. Let's say all of a sudden, he finds out Maisie's bringing eight friends to Disney World, and and, Mitch just pumped about it. And you're, like, all over IG. That's why I couldn't get it. For for weeks. Like, at that point, like, this guy is gonna need a heightened level of spirituality to not judge you Right. Condemn you, to even consider giving you anything again. Right. Right. And then he's gonna have to forgive you because that was you should at least talk to him about it. You should at least have been like, listen. I'm not gonna pay you back your five thousand yet because I got this Disney World thing.
[00:06:21.10] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah.
[00:06:21.89] - Gregg Garner
And so yeah. There there's definitely a plethora of examples from, you know, a little easier to unwind to complicated cat balls Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Of things. But I I think that they both exist in communities. And if people aren't taught what we were to value in those exchanges, it does mess with your your health altogether. Yeah. The the social economy and the market economy. Right. Did that make sense?
[00:06:51.60] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah . And I I think the tying them together because I think, kind of a social economy where I think we understand credits and debts where it's like, I feel indebted or like, oh, they've done so much. I feel like I need to do something. I think even tying that with actual monetary and, like, economic and economic terms that it it gives, I think, weight to it where it's like, hey. It's not just a matter of, like, thanks so much, but, like, thinking through it in that way because the paying with dollars or credit card, that's always so transactional. It's so upfront and objective. This costs a hundred dollars. Can you afford it or not? Where I think it can be easier for us to not consider our brothers and sisters in that way where it's like, hey. I wanna keep, like, requesting that money. You know, that that time from you requesting that favor from you. And I think putting it in now, like, direct, in those terms helps us to give weight to even how we are forgiving one another or how we're asking for forgiveness. That it's like, how that we should consider that even in a very real sense of, like, we are transacting with each other every day. Mhmm. Whether we're using money or not because it's like we're all engaging with one another. And it's like, if that is unhealthy, it's just as unhealthy as running up thousands on your credit card, and you don't know what to do. It's like Right. If you're transacting with people and not considering, I think, what you're able to give to them or even offering them, you know, the thankfulness you have or, like, the the social response to actually, lift them up, then it's like it's just draining on everybody around you.
[00:08:28.30] - Jeff Sherrod
Yeah.
[00:08:30.30] - Gregg Garner
Because you don't really know. And I'm so glad you bring this up, Mitch. Like, as human beings, Jesus recognized that although we're not of the world, we're in it. And being in the world, there are material things that characterize, who it is that we are and what it is that we're about. So let me put that in another way. Like, all of us have even very personal values that are individual, values that are, collective to our family, values that, exist within the subset of our friend groups, and, we may not even appreciate each other's values. So for example, this man loves fishing. Yeah. How often do you fish?
[00:09:16.10] - Jeff Sherrod
I mean, not much in the winter, but in the summer, I go, like
[00:09:18.50] - Gregg Garner
Thanks, Jeff.
[00:09:20.89] - Jeff Sherrod
Maybe, like, three times a month.
[00:09:23.00] - Gregg Garner
Three times a month. Yeah. He values fishing. And and maybe not a lot of people know that, but there's there's time you have to take Yeah. For it. Likely have to get a boat. Right. You have to have your gear.
[00:09:34.00] - Jeff Sherrod
Yeah.
[00:09:34.29] - Gregg Garner
All that's there. Right? Will will someone else if if if they all of a sudden decided, saw Jeff out there on Instagram on a boat. He's always seems to be fishing. It was a Thursday when he went. Why isn't he at work? And now the judgments start coming.
[00:09:48.89] - Jeff Sherrod
Oh, yeah.
[00:09:49.39] - Gregg Garner
And then the condemnation comes.
[00:09:50.89] - Jeff Sherrod
That's why you don't post.
[00:09:52.29] - Gregg Garner
See, this is what happens. Right? That's why so many of us don't post probably. Alright? At least us introverts are Dude, I'm not posting. Trying to be judged or condemned.
[00:10:00.50] - Jeff Sherrod
I don't let Jenny i nclude me in any pictures.
[00:10:03.00] - Gregg Garner
And this now we're all sad because I wanna see more of Jeff in my life. But the but that's the thing. Right? And so all of a sudden, you're getting judged. You're getting condemned. But then people are like, gosh. I remember last time when he was whatever whatever, and I I gave him that thing. Obviously, he doesn't need it when he has money to blow on fishing because, you know, maybe I don't value fishing at all. Right? So he has money to go on that. Yeah. I don't. And then at that point, I'm just having condemned him and and, judged him. I'd I'd I have now or that root of bitterness that prevents me from forgiving him because he's obviously offended me. Yeah. And now, we're in the marketplace, and Jeff's like he comes up to me, and he goes, hey. Just really hoping you're gonna get in the spiritual enrichment class, this semester, and all I can see in him is him in a fishing pool. And and I'm just like, you know, gosh. Yeah, Jeff. Maybe. How much is it? He's like, hey. It's a real discount. And, it tells me the amount of money, and I'm, like, going, yeah. Okay. Maybe. I don't know. And then just like, that was weird, walks away, has no idea. Yeah. I think those are real things that happen.
[00:11:10.89] - Jeff Sherrod
ahhh maked me sad.
[00:11:11.60] - Gregg Garner
And and it's and it's on so many levels. Now now take go the other way. Right? Now let's say the other person let's say they, like, they they value I don't know. They grew up with their family going to hockey games. Right? And it's, like, nostalgic. Grandpa comes into town, and he's just, like, I remember when you played hockey. Why don't your boys play hockey? Mhmm. And so an opportunity arises to where that family decides, we're gonna we're gonna get some hockey gear, and I'm gonna put my kid in a hockey league. Right? Here comes the judgments. Hockey's we don't do hockey. We're soccer. We don't do hockey. And then and then the condemnation, hockey's expensive. You can't they can't afford all that hockey. I can't believe this. And then just just last month, I was helping them in their yard, giving them all my time, but they can afford hockey. You know, now there's rude bitterness, not forgiving. Next thing you know, the person comes up to him and says, hey, you know, are you gonna you wanna go out this weekend? Or you ask them. You're like, hey, you think, you wanna go out this weekend? They're all no. I got something special planned with my boy. And then they're just, like, confused. I I can give you a thousand scenarios that probably happen every day in our community.
[00:12:25.29] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:12:25.50] - Gregg Garner
But it's just because of those those microcosmic values that because we're not actually practicing what Jesus says, which means I'm not gonna judge hockey guy. I'm not gonna condemn fisher boy. I'm I'm not gonna do any of that. I'm gonna instead give to them and Fisherman. Fisherman. Sorry, dude. Hockey guy Fisher boy as you know, we may have to we don't we don't like repetition of terms. We like synonyms. So I'm sorry, fisherman.
[00:12:53.39] - Mitchell Buchanan
I thought of that YouTube video where its like what would you like weather boy??
[00:13:03.29] - Gregg Garner
Yeah. It's if if we would practice what Jesus would say, we'd stop judging each other. We'd stop condemning each other. We'd give each other even things that that we say we should, like the benefit of the doubt. Like, we would be generous with respect to, the the way in which we might even feel offended. And if we are, we'll at least go through the procedure of having the conversation.
[00:13:24.60] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:13:25.10] - Gregg Garner
So that so that if the person is doing something wrong, which often people aren't Often people aren't doing anything wrong. You know, you find out, that that, in in Jess' family, he he can say, well, you know what? Do you have Netflix? Do you have HBO Max? Do you have Prime Video? He's like, that costs thirty six dollars a month. And if you have the one subscription with Apple and you get Disney on there too, that's another nineteen ninety nine. You're spending more money a month on your subscriptions than I spend on fishing. So why are you judging me? Like, he could go on that, but do we really wanna arm ourselves Right. With all of the defenses to justify? Like, if anything, we should we should, like, have the kind of transparency where a little more open to talk about things and and have conversations, but doing so without the condemnation And the judgment.
[00:14:12.39] - Jeff Sherrod
Yeah.
[00:14:12.79] - Gregg Garner
Because I've had people come up to me and be like, saw saw that thing that whatever you did or whatever you have. And, next thing you know, they're already on their face. They're already hurt. There might be tears in their eyes. They're now advocates on behalf of all the other people they represent, and they're wanting to know why. Why? And I'm like, in that moment, how am I not supposed to feel judged
[00:14:35.50] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah.
[00:14:35.79] - Gregg Garner
Or condemned? I don't feel like any anything's being given to me with respect to deference of even my my reputation with the person. Like, how long have you known me? Have you ever known me to be the thing you're now hoping I'm not? Like and and then and then give me a chance to even discover whether or not I've actually implemented the kind of offense that warrants forgiveness, and then forgive me when it happens so that next time we see each other, we're really happy to, greet each other in the marketplace. Have you you ever had the experience where that fizzled and it didn't turn anything good and then you were invited to the birthday party or not invited to the birthday party? Come on. That that's a that's a thing.
[00:15:15.89] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. Yeah. I'm with you.
[00:15:17.20] - Gregg Garner
And it's like, the like, that's a marketplace experience.
[00:15:21.89] - Mitchell Buchanan
Because your examples, you can read when somebody's uneasy. Right? Like, you can feel that. And even just something that Deb, said in her sermon, but I think applies really well here where she had a moment. She's like, I wanna ask for forgiveness. It might not a big deal been a big deal and someone forgave her. She said it was like someone pulled out, like, that root of bitterness, and it's like, you couldn't she didn't even know it was there, but, like, pulled it out, and they could both, like, feel, like, the release from it. Yeah. And it's like, I think that is something where, like, we're finding we have probably a disunity in some level in our community that we don't even really acknowledge actively that's there. It's you know, because we have these judgments on people from Instagram or just from things we know. Oh, they went on that trip, and it's like, well, how'd they afford that? We have
[00:16:12.10] - Gregg Garner
Well that's why Jesus brings it up. Right? Yeah that's my point like because we like to act in our community that we don't care about those things. But we're human beings. That's the way that we, on the outside, are able to determine people's values.
[00:16:28.20] - Mitchell Buchanan
And we should be able to and you're saying we if we can't be more open, like, the more open we can be about it of, like, here's what other people have, what I don't have. Why is this the case? Like, we can have better and better conversations.
[00:16:40.29] - Brett Madron
I think there's a skill, though, to to having that conversation because I think some people just they just come across they're they're so nervous about talking about it that they then just come across judgy. When maybe they didn't
[00:16:53.89] - Gregg Garner
Now you get the disciples. Increase our faith. Yeah. You do have to have a level of faith to believe that engaging that conversation is going to turn into something good.
[00:17:02.50] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:17:02.79] - Gregg Garner
Alright? Just like right now, after we get a quick advertisement about College Conversations, our other podcast, I'm gonna be gone, and these guys are gonna continue these conversations. Here are a little advertisement on college combos.
[00:17:21.50] - Laurie Kagay
Hi, everyone. I'm Laurie.
[00:17:22.79] - Jeff Sherrod
And I'm Jeff.
[00:17:23.70] - Laurie Kagay
We are Bible professors at the Institute for GOD in Nashville. Together with our president, Greg Garner, we started a podcast called College Conversations.
[00:17:32.00] - Jeff Sherrod
College Conversations is about all things related to Christian higher education. We explore themes of what it looks like to get into college for the first time, affording college, mental health on college campuses.
[00:17:43.00] - Laurie Kagay
We also explore gap year programs, why college students are stressed out, what discipleship looks like at college. We interview all sorts of guests. So we bring other college presidents onto the show. We have sat down with Reclaim Today with the host of the college tour, Alex Boylan. It's a great time.
[00:17:59.09] - Jeff Sherrod
New episodes of College Conversations come out every Tuesday, so head over to YouTube or wherever you get your podcast. We'll see you there.
[00:18:09.40] - Mitchell Buchanan
Welcome back. Our first ever commercial break on the sermon podcast. I am thrilled that we worked that in.
[00:18:16.59] - Brett Madron
We're making money, baby. We're making money.
[00:18:18.50] - Mitchell Buchanan
It is exciting.
[00:18:20.40] - Jeff Sherrod
We I do recommend it. I'm one of the cohosts on that one. So
[00:18:23.59] - Brett Madron
Dude, we are promoting. We have a podcast network that has been launched here. That's right. No. I think Brett had brought something. So if you just wanna go into why you think it was hard or why it's hard to bring up strictly financial, you know, conversations or
[00:18:40.29] - Brett Madron
I think it's just you know, it's at least in our community, it's a sensitive topic, because people are on different planes in terms of how
[00:18:47.90] - Jeff Sherrod
Even in the United States. It's not a .. Like, I would you know, I had dinner recently with an Indian family, and they were like, how much did you spend on your house? And I was like, oh, you just wanna know? I met them for the first time. And they're like, well, how much do you make per year? Recorded. And I was like, they, like, really wanna know my financials.
[00:19:05.50] - Brett Madron
Yeah. I had a conversation with a Lebanese guy and dude, they don't care. At a park. They don't care. They're
[00:19:09.79] - Jeff Sherrod
They're just, like, asking stuff.
[00:19:10.90] - Brett Madron
Or maybe ninety seconds in, he's telling me how much he paid for his house.
[00:19:15.00] - Jeff Sherrod
Right. Right. Awesome. Yep. So it's there's some cultural differences. Yeah.
[00:19:18.90] - Mitchell Buchanan
In our community, Ninfa was working the front desk and being paid for it. I was like, how much they paying you? She's like, I'm not I'm not telling you. I was like
[00:19:25.59] - Jeff Sherrod
Yeah, dude. She's not gonna tell.
[00:19:26.59] - Mitchell Buchanan
I was like, tell me. I was like, what's the problem here? Like, who who is telling you you can't tell me how much you make working the front desk
[00:19:32.29] - Jeff Sherrod
HR.
[00:19:33.50] - Mitchell Buchanan
They don't they can't say that. Get out of here. Anyways, I wanted to give my example that you you all can't play without me. But Yeah. It is definitely, Do
[00:19:50.90] - Jeff Sherrod
Do you are you saying if it's awkward, but we should just still do it?
[00:19:56.70] - Brett Madron
I'm saying yeah . I am. I think there is some I think you can work to develop some skill as to how you have a conversation like that rather than just barreling into it. Like, you can put some forethought
[00:20:10.20] - Jeff Sherrod
think that, like, a close relationship is a requisite for that? Like, let's say we haven't talked in months. I see you pull up with a brand new car, and I'm like, Brett, brand new car. That feels kind of jerky. Right?
[00:20:23.59] - Brett Madron
I don't it depends on how you said that brand new car.
[00:20:27.00] - Jeff Sherrod
Well, we're we're real close friends, so pretend it's not me.
[00:20:29.59] - Brett Madron
Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. Yeah. I mean, I think some some context definitely aids in the in the conversation, but maybe not necessary. I don't know. Yeah. It's definitely harder if you don't have normal contact with somebody, I think. Feels like it.
[00:20:48.59] - Mitchell Buchanan
You have less you have less knowledge on their day to day or, like, I know, you know, I know they just came into some money because or their parents gave them x y z. It's it's harder if you're not on the day to day. But I think it I think it's definitely true that we can build, like, have, like, a skill to do it or just maybe approach it in the right way. I think even doing so from a relationship as a friend as opposed to you know, I think Greg is kinda referencing and people feel he feels like he's in, like, a gotcha moment where he's, like, in leadership for so much. You know, like, every everyone has, like, a relationship with him or or and then people are coming like, well, what about this? I heard about this. And it's like, it feels like he's being put in the moment where it's like, oh, we got you. You're pointed out. But it's like, approaching things as, like, a friend would, I think, is the the foremost requisite. But I think almost no matter what, it's gonna feel like this is not fully comfortable. You know what I'm saying? Of, like Yeah.
[00:21:46.40] - Brett Madron
I think humility is important.
[00:21:47.90] - Jeff Sherrod
I think so too. Yeah. I was gonna say the same thing.
[00:21:50.00] - Brett Madron
Rather than, like, you know, you come across more inquisitive than accusatory if you're a humble person. You know, you can even concede, and they're like, I don't fully know the situation or, you know, whatever. You know, admit your limited perspective.
[00:22:05.79] - Jeff Sherrod
You know? Because this spirit in in in Luke six is, like, one of generosity. Right? Don't judge. Don't condemn. Be a giver. Be a forgiver. Yeah. It's like, you know, it's on that side of not like, I'm just trying to pick pick apart. That's not a generous spirit. The generous spirit is like, dude, I'm so happy you got a vehicle. Like, tell me the story. I'd love to hear it. You know? Like and people are like, woah.
[00:22:29.00] - Mitchell Buchanan
That's that seems quite generous.
[00:22:31.50] - Jeff Sherrod
like maybe that's how I feel. If I see someone with a new car, I'm like, dude, that's awesome. That's my first
[00:22:39.90] - Mitchell Buchanan
I'm not thinking that.
[00:22:40.79] - Jeff Sherrod
You're not thinking that?
[00:22:41.70] - Brett Madron
No. No. Mitchell's fighting it.
[00:22:44.00] - Jeff Sherrod
Because you don't want them to have nice things? You don't want people to have nice things?
[00:22:47.09] - Mitchell Buchanan
I think I do give concessions personally where it's like, I don't feel I never feel the need. And maybe, I'm locked in the car at this point of where my mind is. It's like, I'm just never thinking I need a a nice car. So if someone gets a nice car, I'm like, interesting. It's very it it becomes it all becomes very, very personal, very cultural of, like, what, you know, hey. This is for this is me, what I would put value on it, and this is what I would put value on it. You know? It's like people are coming with different perspectives, and, like, we're all coming from an incomplete picture as far as, like, how someone what they actually paid, how much they paid for it, what their financial situation, why they might need that, how it's beneficial. It's like we don't know all the aspects. So unless someone's gonna give a summary on these are these are my activities from the last month. Like, it does require humility on almost every sense. Even if I am entirely offended or, like, I there it just out of my mind's eye, I don't even know how you would buy that and not feel bad about it. You know, it's like, for me, it's insane, you know, or just completely something I would not consider. But I you have to come from a place of humility of, like, hey. I just you know, I this was offended. I'm offended by this. Can we talk about it? You know? And and, like, be ready to be you know, hear their side of the story or to be corrected. I think there's just a we kinda talked about there's a lot of layers in working with someone else, but, specifically, financial, I think what we kinda hit on was, like, hey. This is intentional of of how Jesus phrased this this example, and it it has does it does have a direct connection with our actual economy, how we work with one another, how we engage with one another, and, like, forgiveness of those, like, credits and debts. We feel that socially, we it it can play out even practically with how much we do, you know, like, can borrow or owes from someone.
[00:24:50.00] - Gregg Garner
Yeah.
[00:24:50.29] - Mitchell Buchanan
And I think the if we're just less restrictive on it you know, like, I think we have an apprehension to approaching any financial conversation. Even if even if we're just talking socially, if I feel like I'm indebted to Brett, he came over, fixed my fence, fixed my air conditioner, replaced my water heater, and then I don't talk to him for four months. Like, I feel like, man, I owe this guy something. I'm apprehensive even if I'm around him. Like, I need to dude, I owe you. I need to do something. Like, I think the more we can, I think, just
[00:25:21.90] - Jeff Sherrod
But that's a healthy pressure? That's the thing that says, I wanna build some credits.
[00:25:25.20] - Mitchell Buchanan
Love with one of them.
[00:25:26.20] - Jeff Sherrod
Right. As opposed to I see someone, I haven't interacted with them in a long time. They haven't necessarily given me any indication to say that they've, like, are wayward or lost their way, but now I'm gonna go, like, real judgy on, like, an external sign.
[00:25:39.29] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. That's
[00:25:39.59] - Jeff Sherrod
true. That doesn't feel like a generous spirit to me. Mhmm. Now if it's like we know them to be like this person who is a bad spender and they are never giving and they're miserly and all these things like, dude, will you do that again? You know, hopefully, that's from a position of love too.
[00:25:52.59] - Mitchell Buchanan
Right.
[00:25:53.00] - Jeff Sherrod
But, yeah, I think if we can have more of just, like, our a posture of humility, a posture of a generous spirit when we're interacting with one another, then we can because this picture of, like, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, put in your lap, that sounds like so much better than this, like, tit for tat kinda thing where we're all just like, well, I didn't spend it on this. You know, it's I'm so exhausted by that world. Right. I don't want that one.
[00:26:17.70] - Mitchell Buchanan
No. it it is a much better perspective. And on both sides coming in with a general generosity, you can read every communication two ways. If it's like, hey. I'm trusting that no one's here to bring a gotcha moment if we can all come with, like, hey. Let's be as kind as possible, as generous as possible, then it's like, I'm trusting Brett that he's not violating his conscience. He's not doing something that the Lord wouldn't be pleased with, or he he's aiming to please the Lord. So, like, even if I'm gonna bring up a conversation that leads like, you know what? That was just selfish. Like, I don't know why I did that. Like, we're the goal is to come to a place where it's like we can be on the same page. We can share that value. Yeah. And then we can, you know, continue to, I think, interact to to give those credits to each other. You know what I'm saying?
[00:27:14.00] - Jeff Sherrod
Yeah.
[00:27:14.40] - Mitchell Buchanan
If we're sticking with the the Luke six metaphor.
[00:27:16.40] - Gregg Garner
Yeah.
[00:27:18.09] - Mitchell Buchanan
That it it is so hard to do to take that that mental position of generosity on the other person when judgments can come so quick. And that judgment can almost just the cloud already of, like, oh, I know I should be generous, but I can't shake, you know, the initial reaction I had. And it's like it takes that being born from above and, like, re you know, taking on that mind of Christ where we can enter into.
[00:27:44.40] - Jeff Sherrod
We get in in Luke six is a real interaction. You know? Like, this marketplace interaction is not just something happens in someone's head. It's
[00:27:52.00] - Mitchell Buchanan
Mhmm.
[00:27:52.20] - Jeff Sherrod
It's the way we interact with another person. We're we're giving. We're forgiving. I even liked how Greg said it in his sermon as well. It's like, even if we don't always understand it, we're commanded to do it, to not to not judge, to not condemn, to forgive, to give, to give with the measure that we expect be given back. That's the command that we get.
[00:28:11.79] - Mitchell Buchanan
And it and it I think no matter what in this is an economic you know, we're in the marketplace. Like, increase that. Like, I think even what you're saying is, like, I don't think I had many of these conversations of, like, hey. I'm rebuking you or I need forgiveness. Like, let's just increase those. Like, let down our guards. Not everyone's out to get you. Let's have more conversations because it's gonna produce more of those, like, transactions, more of those moments relationally where we are having time together to, I think, rectify where those judgments are. We're letting go of those, and we're getting, you know, actual knowledge. We're getting Brett's perspective as opposed to, like, what do I think his perspective is? You know, like, the more we can, I think, be together in that way, exchanging our services, exchanging conversations, having moments together, the more that we're gonna be, like, unified and, like, finding a holy culture as opposed to, hey? I you know, I'm having my judgments. I'm I actually don't wanna talk to him because he offended me, and we're not, like, pushing through. We're just more individualized, and, like, we're kind of stuck in a place where we can't push forward this kingdom of God. So Yeah. I think that those are all great. Anybody else? Anything else? I I felt good about this.
[00:29:25.09] - Brett Madron
Yeah. Yeah. We did it.
[00:29:26.29] - Mitchell Buchanan
Yeah. We did. Thank you for listening to this episode of the sermon podcast. This is for the Community Church for GOD. We love to see everybody every Sunday, but this is to continue those conversations. We don't wanna just give a sermon, think about it for Sunday, and then it's out of our minds the next. Continue these conversations in our homes, at our workplaces, with friends, and let's find this the word of God is driving us to, I think, engage with one another in a way that we are loving each other, that we're committed to this cause of of being the kingdom of God that's bursting forth into the world. So thanks for listening. Leave a review, and we'll see you next time.
[00:30:05.00] - Jeff Sherrod
See you guys.
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