What Hit Me | Beyond the Message | Week 6

>> Hey, welcome to Beyond the Message, >> Hey, welcome to Beyond the Message, where this summer we're diving into the where this summer we're diving into the where this summer we're diving into the word of God [music] and just talking word of God [music] and just talking word of God [music] and just talking about what we saw and learned and how about what we saw and learned and how about what we saw and learned and how God spoke to us from the daily app in God spoke to us from the daily app in God spoke to us from the daily app in the Battle Creek app and and what God the Battle Creek app and and what God the Battle Creek app and and what God had to say. So, had to say. So, had to say. So, >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> John, man, we've been doing this for >> John, man, we've been doing this for >> John, man, we've been doing this for several weeks now and so let's just several weeks now and so let's just several weeks now and so let's just start where we have. What hit you this start where we have. What hit you this start where we have. What hit you this week? week? week? >> Well, >> Well, >> Well, what hit me is July 1, we cycled through what hit me is July 1, we cycled through what hit me is July 1, we cycled through and started back with Psalms. Psalm 1. and started back with Psalms. Psalm 1. and started back with Psalms. Psalm 1. >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> And I >> And I >> And I go through it every day just like you do go through it every day just like you do go through it every day just like you do and it was just a it hit with a fresh and it was just a it hit with a fresh and it was just a it hit with a fresh kindness is the way I would describe it. kindness is the way I would describe it. kindness is the way I would describe it. Oh, the joys of those who do not do not Oh, the joys of those who do not do not Oh, the joys of those who do not do not follow the advice of the wicked, stand follow the advice of the wicked, stand follow the advice of the wicked, stand around with sinners, or join in with around with sinners, or join in with around with sinners, or join in with mockers, but they delight light in the mockers, but they delight light in the mockers, but they delight light in the law of the Lord and on his law they law of the Lord and on his law they law of the Lord and on his law they meditate day and night. And the promise meditate day and night. And the promise meditate day and night. And the promise of God is they are like trees planted of God is they are like trees planted of God is they are like trees planted along riverbanks. along riverbanks. along riverbanks. You know, for me, one of those key You know, for me, one of those key You know, for me, one of those key pivotal words in my life that I've pivotal words in my life that I've pivotal words in my life that I've always had a desire, always a longing always had a desire, always a longing always had a desire, always a longing for is the word growth. I always want to for is the word growth. I always want to for is the word growth. I always want to be growing. Right. It's one of those be growing. Right. It's one of those be growing. Right. It's one of those at the end of the day questions as I at the end of the day questions as I at the end of the day questions as I refer to it, like the checklist as I I'm refer to it, like the checklist as I I'm refer to it, like the checklist as I I'm laying in bed trying to go, okay, how laying in bed trying to go, okay, how laying in bed trying to go, okay, how was the day? One of them is, where did I was the day? One of them is, where did I was the day? One of them is, where did I grow? In in some area, in some way, I grow? In in some area, in some way, I grow? In in some area, in some way, I want there to be growth. I don't want want there to be growth. I don't want want there to be growth. I don't want there to be static. I I need I want to

there to be static. I I need I want to there to be static. I I need I want to be developing. I believe that's part of be developing. I believe that's part of be developing. I believe that's part of the way God wired me. the way God wired me. the way God wired me. >> Right. >> Right. >> Right. >> But I also believe that God's >> But I also believe that God's >> But I also believe that God's that's God's desire for me and for you. that's God's desire for me and for you. that's God's desire for me and for you. And that's where I love the fact that we And that's where I love the fact that we And that's where I love the fact that we can be growing not just wider in our can be growing not just wider in our can be growing not just wider in our influence, but deeper in our influence, but deeper in our influence, but deeper in our understanding of who God is. And we do understanding of who God is. And we do understanding of who God is. And we do that through the word of God. And it that through the word of God. And it that through the word of God. And it just hit again. just hit again. just hit again. >> Yeah, I think that am I growing is a big >> Yeah, I think that am I growing is a big >> Yeah, I think that am I growing is a big thing. Um thing. Um thing. Um I I used to tell people, you know, I I I used to tell people, you know, I I I used to tell people, you know, I when I first got saved, I I could see when I first got saved, I I could see when I first got saved, I I could see what what what Christ-likeness looked like, and Jesus Christ-likeness looked like, and Jesus Christ-likeness looked like, and Jesus was about 400 miles ahead of me. I I was about 400 miles ahead of me. I I was about 400 miles ahead of me. I I would like to think after 50 some years would like to think after 50 some years would like to think after 50 some years now being a Christian, I've closed the now being a Christian, I've closed the now being a Christian, I've closed the gap. gap. gap. Um but I want to make sure I am growing. Um but I want to make sure I am growing. Um but I want to make sure I am growing. Am I learning to be uh more of a patient Am I learning to be uh more of a patient Am I learning to be uh more of a patient person, you know, that I'm not being person, you know, that I'm not being person, you know, that I'm not being patient, I am patient. You know, I'm patient, I am patient. You know, I'm patient, I am patient. You know, I'm growing in the fruit of the spirit. I'm growing in the fruit of the spirit. I'm growing in the fruit of the spirit. I'm growing in my Christian witness. I'm growing in my Christian witness. I'm growing in my Christian witness. I'm growing to look more like Christ. And growing to look more like Christ. And growing to look more like Christ. And that's a big thing. And and even at that's a big thing. And and even at that's a big thing. And and even at work, I mean, I'll talk to people on work, I mean, I'll talk to people on work, I mean, I'll talk to people on other teams, "Hey, what do you see in my other teams, "Hey, what do you see in my other teams, "Hey, what do you see in my leadership? What could I do better? You leadership? What could I do better? You leadership? What could I do better? You know?"

know?" know?" >> It's such a great question that you ask. >> It's such a great question that you ask. >> It's such a great question that you ask. And you know, my own challenge in that And you know, my own challenge in that And you know, my own challenge in that is I I like to ask other people, "Is is I I like to ask other people, "Is is I I like to ask other people, "Is there anything that you're seeing?" And there anything that you're seeing?" And there anything that you're seeing?" And yet I also love the fact that some would yet I also love the fact that some would yet I also love the fact that some would say, "Hey, be careful not to say, "Hey, be careful not to say, "Hey, be careful not to base that reality on others. Let's base base that reality on others. Let's base base that reality on others. Let's base it on the word of God, the counsel of it on the word of God, the counsel of it on the word of God, the counsel of scripture, the entirety of it." And we scripture, the entirety of it." And we scripture, the entirety of it." And we have a pretty good example given for us have a pretty good example given for us have a pretty good example given for us in scripture in the person and work of in scripture in the person and work of in scripture in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And so that's what hit me. So let me >> And so that's what hit me. So let me >> And so that's what hit me. So let me turn the table. What hit you? turn the table. What hit you? turn the table. What hit you? >> Well, I think it's interesting that you >> Well, I think it's interesting that you >> Well, I think it's interesting that you chose the beginning of the Psalm cuz I chose the beginning of the Psalm cuz I chose the beginning of the Psalm cuz I chose we we finished the Psalms also. chose we we finished the Psalms also. chose we we finished the Psalms also. And you know, I couldn't really just And you know, I couldn't really just And you know, I couldn't really just pick one because we ended last week with pick one because we ended last week with pick one because we ended last week with 146, which is the happiness of those who 146, which is the happiness of those who 146, which is the happiness of those who help the Lord. And it starts out with help the Lord. And it starts out with help the Lord. And it starts out with praise the Lord. Then 147, praise the Lord. Then 147, praise the Lord. Then 147, praise to God for his word and his praise to God for his word and his praise to God for his word and his providence. 148, praise the Lord for his providence. 148, praise the Lord for his providence. 148, praise the Lord for his creation. 149, praise God for his creation. 149, praise God for his creation. 149, praise God for his salvation and his judgment. And then salvation and his judgment. And then salvation and his judgment. And then 150, let all things praise the Lord. And 150, let all things praise the Lord. And 150, let all things praise the Lord. And I like that the Psalms end on one song I like that the Psalms end on one song I like that the Psalms end on one song of praise after the other.

of praise after the other. of praise after the other. Praising his name, lifting him up, Praising his name, lifting him up, Praising his name, lifting him up, worshipping for who he is and what he's worshipping for who he is and what he's worshipping for who he is and what he's done. Uh there's a great book. It's a done. Uh there's a great book. It's a done. Uh there's a great book. It's a Now it's a Christian classic. It wasn't Now it's a Christian classic. It wasn't Now it's a Christian classic. It wasn't whenever I started reading it, but now whenever I started reading it, but now whenever I started reading it, but now it's a Christian classic. It's called it's a Christian classic. It's called it's a Christian classic. It's called The Spiritual Disciplines for the The Spiritual Disciplines for the The Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney. Christian Life by Donald Whitney. Christian Life by Donald Whitney. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And on the chapter, I think he covers >> And on the chapter, I think he covers >> And on the chapter, I think he covers two chapters on worship, but I I know two chapters on worship, but I I know two chapters on worship, but I I know one of the chapters he talks about you one of the chapters he talks about you one of the chapters he talks about you cannot have cannot have cannot have good, healthy public worship without good, healthy public worship without good, healthy public worship without private worship. private worship. private worship. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And [clears throat] you can't have a >> And [clears throat] you can't have a >> And [clears throat] you can't have a good private quiet time worship without good private quiet time worship without good private quiet time worship without corporate worship with the rest of the corporate worship with the rest of the corporate worship with the rest of the church and how those two feed off each church and how those two feed off each church and how those two feed off each other. It's almost like arms on a train other. It's almost like arms on a train other. It's almost like arms on a train that, you know, an old train that's that, you know, an old train that's that, you know, an old train that's doing this. You have to, you know, I doing this. You have to, you know, I doing this. You have to, you know, I have to do it with my my brothers and have to do it with my my brothers and have to do it with my my brothers and sisters in Christ. I need to do it alone sisters in Christ. I need to do it alone sisters in Christ. I need to do it alone cuz it impacts how I do this. It impacts cuz it impacts how I do this. It impacts cuz it impacts how I do this. It impacts this. this. this. And and so I I think finding time to And and so I I think finding time to And and so I I think finding time to praise God alone, doing it on Sunday is praise God alone, doing it on Sunday is praise God alone, doing it on Sunday is easy. You just have to make sure your easy. You just have to make sure your easy. You just have to make sure your heart's right on Sunday. But throughout heart's right on Sunday. But throughout heart's right on Sunday. But throughout the rest of the week to find time and the rest of the week to find time and the rest of the week to find time and something happens. something happens. something happens. Uh my son back in May graduated college Uh my son back in May graduated college Uh my son back in May graduated college and I was so proud of him and I and I and I was so proud of him and I and I and I was so proud of him and I and I was just thanking God for how hard he was just thanking God for how hard he was just thanking God for how hard he worked and and graduated from TU with a worked and and graduated from TU with a worked and and graduated from TU with a 4.0. I was so proud of him. I wasn't 4.0. I was so proud of him. I wasn't 4.0. I was so proud of him. I wasn't proud of him for his grade. I was proud proud of him for his grade. I was proud proud of him for his grade. I was proud of him for his effort.

of him for his effort. of him for his effort. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> And I wanted him to know, I said, "Son, >> And I wanted him to know, I said, "Son, >> And I wanted him to know, I said, "Son, I'm going to love you whether you make I'm going to love you whether you make I'm going to love you whether you make an A, B, or C, but I am proud of you for an A, B, or C, but I am proud of you for an A, B, or C, but I am proud of you for how that you did And so I want to see how that you did And so I want to see how that you did And so I want to see things and I thank God for the son that things and I thank God for the son that things and I thank God for the son that he's given me, how hard he works. he's given me, how hard he works. he's given me, how hard he works. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> And I was thankful that he was rewarded >> And I was thankful that he was rewarded >> And I was thankful that he was rewarded with with good grades. I I'm thankful with with good grades. I I'm thankful with with good grades. I I'm thankful for the way my wife, she put her career for the way my wife, she put her career for the way my wife, she put her career on hold so she could stay home and raise on hold so she could stay home and raise on hold so she could stay home and raise him when he was younger. I I'm thankful him when he was younger. I I'm thankful him when he was younger. I I'm thankful that God we felt like we were done with that God we felt like we were done with that God we felt like we were done with Living Oaks Baptist Church and God Living Oaks Baptist Church and God Living Oaks Baptist Church and God wanted to move us and 10 years ago wanted to move us and 10 years ago wanted to move us and 10 years ago Pastor Alex says, "Hey, what do you Pastor Alex says, "Hey, what do you Pastor Alex says, "Hey, what do you think about us joining and becoming one think about us joining and becoming one think about us joining and becoming one church?" And I thank God for the things church?" And I thank God for the things church?" And I thank God for the things I've been able to see over the 10 years I've been able to see over the 10 years I've been able to see over the 10 years here at Battle Creek. It's looking for here at Battle Creek. It's looking for here at Battle Creek. It's looking for an opportunity to worship him for who he an opportunity to worship him for who he an opportunity to worship him for who he is. He's gracious, and generous, and is. He's gracious, and generous, and is. He's gracious, and generous, and kind, and and all those things, but also kind, and and all those things, but also kind, and and all those things, but also for what he's done. for what he's done. for what he's done. Wonderful son, beautiful wife, godly Wonderful son, beautiful wife, godly Wonderful son, beautiful wife, godly wife, got great family, great job. And wife, got great family, great job. And wife, got great family, great job. And just all the things that So, I think for just all the things that So, I think for just all the things that So, I think for me, it these five remind me what have me, it these five remind me what have me, it these five remind me what have you done to just take and give God what you done to just take and give God what you done to just take and give God what he deserves today?

he deserves today? he deserves today? >> It's such a good word. You know, when I >> It's such a good word. You know, when I >> It's such a good word. You know, when I read those last five, I find myself um read those last five, I find myself um read those last five, I find myself um being challenged in this way. There are being challenged in this way. There are being challenged in this way. There are a lot of times where I'm like wanting to a lot of times where I'm like wanting to a lot of times where I'm like wanting to shake my fist at God. I don't shake my fist at God. I don't shake my fist at God. I don't understand, or look what I'm having to understand, or look what I'm having to understand, or look what I'm having to go through. And as I read those, go through. And as I read those, go through. And as I read those, one of the practices that has helped me, one of the practices that has helped me, one of the practices that has helped me, and maybe it could help you, is uh and maybe it could help you, is uh and maybe it could help you, is uh I go through in those moments, I go through in those moments, I go through in those moments, and I begin to count out. I praise you and I begin to count out. I praise you and I begin to count out. I praise you for this. I praise you for this until I for this. I praise you for this until I for this. I praise you for this until I have 10 fingers that are now open. And have 10 fingers that are now open. And have 10 fingers that are now open. And and then, without a doubt, my clenched and then, without a doubt, my clenched and then, without a doubt, my clenched fists are now open, and I go, "Okay, fists are now open, and I go, "Okay, fists are now open, and I go, "Okay, God, I God, I God, I I had a wrong perspective." I had a wrong perspective." I had a wrong perspective." >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And it helps me turn that that uh >> And it helps me turn that that uh >> And it helps me turn that that uh corner, if you will, to where I can corner, if you will, to where I can corner, if you will, to where I can focus on what needs to be focused on. focus on what needs to be focused on. focus on what needs to be focused on. That is, how good, and trustworthy, and That is, how good, and trustworthy, and That is, how good, and trustworthy, and faithful, and to be praised our God is. faithful, and to be praised our God is. faithful, and to be praised our God is. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And that's one of the things that I'm >> And that's one of the things that I'm >> And that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to. Uh I know you are as looking forward to. Uh I know you are as looking forward to. Uh I know you are as well. Uh and we want to take just the well. Uh and we want to take just the well. Uh and we want to take just the next moment to really encourage you next moment to really encourage you next moment to really encourage you >> to not just be here at church next >> to not just be here at church next >> to not just be here at church next Sunday, if you can. If not, make sure Sunday, if you can. If not, make sure Sunday, if you can. If not, make sure you're watching online.

you're watching online. you're watching online. >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely. >> But but join us for the next five weeks, >> But but join us for the next five weeks, >> But but join us for the next five weeks, because Pastor Alex is starting a brand because Pastor Alex is starting a brand because Pastor Alex is starting a brand new teaching series. We're both excited new teaching series. We're both excited new teaching series. We're both excited about it. And I think years ago, we were about it. And I think years ago, we were about it. And I think years ago, we were both influenced and impacted by the both influenced and impacted by the both influenced and impacted by the book. And so, we're going to dive into book. And so, we're going to dive into book. And so, we're going to dive into this this summer of love, the seasons of this this summer of love, the seasons of this this summer of love, the seasons of love, as we dive into the five love love, as we dive into the five love love, as we dive into the five love languages. languages. languages. And what we're going to discover is it's And what we're going to discover is it's And what we're going to discover is it's not just what is ours and how we receive not just what is ours and how we receive not just what is ours and how we receive it, but how do we give it? And one of it, but how do we give it? And one of it, but how do we give it? And one of the things that I'll I'll just sort of the things that I'll I'll just sort of the things that I'll I'll just sort of help us out as we look ahead. I've been help us out as we look ahead. I've been help us out as we look ahead. I've been challenged I don't think I realized I challenged I don't think I realized I challenged I don't think I realized I knew all the dialects. And and knew all the dialects. And and knew all the dialects. And and >> [clears throat] >> [clears throat] >> [clears throat] >> as we continue to press in, it's going >> as we continue to press in, it's going >> as we continue to press in, it's going to be a summer that will help you know to be a summer that will help you know to be a summer that will help you know how God has wired you and help us love how God has wired you and help us love how God has wired you and help us love with the love of Christ those who are with the love of Christ those who are with the love of Christ those who are around us, especially as we are already around us, especially as we are already around us, especially as we are already gearing up for what will be our fall gearing up for what will be our fall gearing up for what will be our fall semester here at Battle Creek Church as semester here at Battle Creek Church as semester here at Battle Creek Church as we are about to launch into another we are about to launch into another we are about to launch into another semester of community groups and semester of community groups and semester of community groups and serving. And we hope that these next serving. And we hope that these next serving. And we hope that these next five weeks you will prioritize and be five weeks you will prioritize and be five weeks you will prioritize and be with us as we will dive into the five with us as we will dive into the five with us as we will dive into the five love languages, but we are praying for love languages, but we are praying for love languages, but we are praying for you and pray God's blessing on you.