In this thought-provoking talk, we invite you on a journey to discover the transformative power of scripture in our quest for a fulfilling and whole life. Delving into the essence of the Bible, we address the timeless question: Why should we turn to scripture in a world brimming with self-help resources?
In This Talk:
Join us as we shed light on "Life by the Book: Finding God's Plan for Wholeness," and how we can navigate the pursuit of a meaningful life through the wisdom of scripture. This talk is an invitation to both newcomers and seasoned believers to re-examine the role of the Bible in our lives.
Welcome to this week's Crowd Church service.
Matt Edmundson:We are a digital church on a quest to discover how Jesus helps
Matt Edmundson:us live a more meaningful life.
Matt Edmundson:We are a community, a space to explore the Christian faith and a place
Matt Edmundson:where you can contribute and grow.
Matt Edmundson:Our service is to you.
Matt Edmundson:This will last about an hour, and in a few seconds you'll meet our hosts for our
Matt Edmundson:service who will introduce today's talk.
Matt Edmundson:After the talk, we will have a time of worship and reflection, after which
Matt Edmundson:we head into Conversation Street where we look at your stories and questions
Matt Edmundson:that you've posted in the comments.
Matt Edmundson:Now we want to invite you to connect with us here at Crowd Church and we've got a
Matt Edmundson:few ways in which you can do just that.
Matt Edmundson:Firstly, you can engage with Crowd from any device during our live
Matt Edmundson:stream and if you're up for it, Why not invite a few friends over and
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Matt Edmundson:And one of the easiest ways for you to do that is join one of our
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Matt Edmundson:You can also subscribe to our fairly new podcast called What's The Story,
Matt Edmundson:where we deep dive into stories of faith and courage from everyday people.
Matt Edmundson:More information about all of these things can be found on our website at www.
Matt Edmundson:crowd.
Matt Edmundson:church or you can reach out to us on social media at crowd.
Matt Edmundson:church.
Matt Edmundson:If you are new to crowd or new to the Christian faith and would like to know
Matt Edmundson:what your next steps to take are, why not head over to our website crowd.
Matt Edmundson:church forward slash church.
Matt Edmundson:Next, for more details, and
Matt Edmundson:now,
Matt Edmundson:the moment you've been waiting for is here at Online Church Service starts right now.
Matt Edmundson:Good evening and welcome to Crowd Church.
Matt Edmundson:My name's Matt.
Matt Edmundson:Beside me, this beautiful lady here is the very talented, the very lovely,
Matt Edmundson:suave, debonair, charming, and all round good egg that is Jan Burch.
Matt Edmundson:Jan, how we doing?
Jan Burch:Alright, thank you very much.
Matt Edmundson:Did that coffee do the trick?
Jan Burch:It's very nice coffee.
Jan Burch:Phew.
Jan Burch:It took long enough to make it, but it is
Matt Edmundson:nice.
Matt Edmundson:Jen came in and I said, would you like a drink?
Matt Edmundson:And she's yeah, let's have a coffee.
Matt Edmundson:And we've got one of these pod machines downstairs, haven't we?
Matt Edmundson:And you watched me do it.
Matt Edmundson:And it just took about 10 minutes for me to figure it out.
Matt Edmundson:I can work all the livestream tech.
Matt Edmundson:I just can't do a coffee machine.
Matt Edmundson:What can I say?
Matt Edmundson:That's what happens when you don't drink coffee.
Matt Edmundson:But a very warm welcome to you.
Matt Edmundson:Great to have you here at Crowd we are an online church, as we said in
Matt Edmundson:the intro, if this is your first time with us, a very warm welcome to you.
Matt Edmundson:We're going to have a fun night tonight.
Matt Edmundson:We've got, who've we got talking?
Matt Edmundson:Anna Kettle.
Matt Edmundson:Do you know what she's talking about?
Jan Burch:I don't know.
Jan Burch:I hope she does.
Jan Burch:We'll find out.
Jan Burch:Just
Matt Edmundson:consider, I don't know what I'm talking about.
Matt Edmundson:I just don't know.
Matt Edmundson:That's not an impression of Anna, by the way.
Matt Edmundson:That's not what she sounds like.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, so Anna is talking to us about the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:Scripture.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, so we're in a series on what it means to become whole people.
Matt Edmundson:What does biblical wholeness look like?
Matt Edmundson:And we've started off with this idea of spiritual health.
Matt Edmundson:And we're looking at how scripture helps us do that.
Matt Edmundson:So that's going to be Anna's talk tonight.
Matt Edmundson:So as we go through it, any questions, any thoughts, even if you just want to
Matt Edmundson:say hello, whatever it is, write it in the comments, we would love to hear from you.
Matt Edmundson:Peter, good evening, Peter.
Matt Edmundson:I see he's in the comments.
Matt Edmundson:What a legend.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, do say hi in the comments.
Matt Edmundson:Be great to know where you're from.
Matt Edmundson:Any questions, put them in the comments because Jen and I are
Matt Edmundson:going to be chatting about all this stuff after Anna's talk on me.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, you ready for it?
Matt Edmundson:Even though you don't know what Anna's talking about, bring it on.
Matt Edmundson:We're gonna bring it on.
Matt Edmundson:Yes, we are.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, that's what we're gonna do.
Matt Edmundson:Now before we get into it, let me give you a quick heads up quick
Matt Edmundson:notice for those of you who are listening to the livestream live.
Matt Edmundson:Or even if you listen to it on catch up if you're watching on catch up or
Matt Edmundson:listening to it on the podcast version.
Matt Edmundson:Just to let you know we are starting a brand new alpha course this week.
Matt Edmundson:Yes, we are.
Matt Edmundson:Can we have a drumroll?
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, let's go.
Matt Edmundson:It's just professional.
Matt Edmundson:It's what it is.
Matt Edmundson:Ow.
Matt Edmundson:Is that what you said?
Matt Edmundson:Ow.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, we're going to start a brand new Alpha course this
Matt Edmundson:Wednesday evening, UK time.
Matt Edmundson:I can't remember if it's 7pm or 8.
Matt Edmundson:30pm, which kind of interacts a little bit with some of the Zoom groups
Matt Edmundson:possibly, which we're going to have to move around slightly, or at least
Matt Edmundson:the ones that I'm involved with.
Matt Edmundson:But yeah, we've got all of that coming up this Wednesday.
Matt Edmundson:So if you'd like to join us in that Alpha, basically what it's going to be.
Matt Edmundson:We're on Zoom.
Matt Edmundson:We're going to watch.
Matt Edmundson:So have you done alpha by the way?
Jan Burch:Long time ago.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Long time ago.
Matt Edmundson:Back when it was like in person.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:I think so.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:So basically we watch a video about one element of Christianity.
Matt Edmundson:It's I think 12, 14 weeks, something like that.
Matt Edmundson:We watch it together on Zoom.
Matt Edmundson:Then we just chat about that video a bit like what we're doing now on crowd, but
Matt Edmundson:it's in Zoom a bit more in person ideal for those who are new to the Christian
Matt Edmundson:faith or who want to understand the Christian faith a bit more, or maybe,
Matt Edmundson:Those of you who are just exploring what Christianity means, not really a
Matt Edmundson:Christian yet, but want to know more about it, want to find out more about
Matt Edmundson:it, do come and join us for that online alpha, it'd be great to see you in there.
Matt Edmundson:Sharon and I are going to head it up, so yeah, it'd be nice to meet you.
Matt Edmundson:Come do that.
Matt Edmundson:Is there anything else we can say about Alpha?
Matt Edmundson:Just
Jan Burch:that it's so informative, so easy to understand and it
Jan Burch:will answer your questions.
Jan Burch:Yeah, definitely.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, so come do it.
Matt Edmundson:If you want to know more about that, reach out to us at Crowd Church.
Matt Edmundson:I'll press this button over here.
Matt Edmundson:Actually, I should have moved this.
Matt Edmundson:Sorry.
Matt Edmundson:So there we go.
Matt Edmundson:The website is on the screen.
Matt Edmundson:If you're watching the video, www.
Matt Edmundson:crowd.
Matt Edmundson:church, or you can reach out to us on social media at Crowd Church.
Matt Edmundson:Let us know if you're interested in doing the Alpha.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And I will send you the information through and you can come join us on Zoom.
Matt Edmundson:It'd be great to meet you.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, it's gonna be about, like I say, it's either 7:00 PM or 8:30 PM a little
Matt Edmundson:bit of ambiguity about that at the moment.
Matt Edmundson:UK time, which is if you're in the States 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, isn't it?
Matt Edmundson:About that.
Matt Edmundson:If it's seven o'clock, yeah, I think you're about five hours behind.
Matt Edmundson:No.
Matt Edmundson:These come five hours behind.
Matt Edmundson:No.
Matt Edmundson:Isn't it?
Matt Edmundson:Yes, but no, because in America, their clocks change.
Matt Edmundson:Oh, they don't hear in England until the end of March, but in
Matt Edmundson:the States, they go forward.
Matt Edmundson:So I think, actually, it might be a little bit later.
Matt Edmundson:I think you're four hours behind because I think they changed this weekend.
Matt Edmundson:Oh, exactly.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, it might be a little bit, it might be four hours, four hours behind us rather
Matt Edmundson:than five hours, but yeah, check it out.
Matt Edmundson:We're, whatever the time is in London, it's going to be like I said, 7 but
Matt Edmundson:we'd love to hear from you if you want to do it off or do let us know.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, that's my little notice.
Matt Edmundson:I'll probably repeat it after the talk for those that join crowd during the talk.
Matt Edmundson:But yeah, that was hard to say.
Matt Edmundson:I don't know.
Matt Edmundson:I don't know.
Matt Edmundson:Let what am I looking for?
Matt Edmundson:I'm looking for the talk button.
Matt Edmundson:There it is.
Matt Edmundson:So in fact, I'm just going to do it with my mouse.
Matt Edmundson:There we go.
Matt Edmundson:Let's bring Anna onto the screen.
Matt Edmundson:We are going to listen to Anna.
Matt Edmundson:Do
Matt Edmundson:you ever do that when I talk?
Matt Edmundson:Sometimes.
Matt Edmundson:Okay, fair enough.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, here's Anna's talk, and then Jan and I will be back after this.
Matt Edmundson:Get busy in the comments, we'll see you in a sec.
Anna Kettle:Hi there.
Anna Kettle:So this talk is called Life by the Book: Finding God's Plan for Wholeness.
Anna Kettle:Now, I guess when we're talking about Scripture and the Bible, then I suppose
Anna Kettle:we should start by addressing the question that people often ask about the Bible.
Anna Kettle:And that's why read the Bible?
Anna Kettle:Why study it?
Anna Kettle:Isn't it just an outdated historical document, really?
Anna Kettle:It was written in a different time, a very long time ago, a different culture.
Anna Kettle:How can it possibly have any real bearing or relevance for our lives today?
Anna Kettle:It's just a world apart, isn't it?
Anna Kettle:As Christians, we believe that the Bible is not just a book of ancient
Anna Kettle:stories, although it is that, but it's also a comprehensive guide to
Anna Kettle:living a whole and fulfilling life.
Anna Kettle:And that is something that we all want, isn't it?
Anna Kettle:It's something that we're exploring as part of this the coming whole series.
Anna Kettle:And so it's still very much relevant for our modern world because it's all
Anna Kettle:about that thing that we're all after, which is that wholeness, fullness life.
Anna Kettle:At the same time we're in this world which is just filled with endless advice and
Anna Kettle:self help guides and, arguably you could say, where does the Bible fit into that?
Anna Kettle:Why choose to read the Bible over any other number of self help
Anna Kettle:books that there are out there?
Anna Kettle:And there are a lot.
Anna Kettle:There's so much good advice to choose from, there's so much
Anna Kettle:psychology and clever thinking, why go back to an ancient text?
Anna Kettle:And, there's nothing wrong with self help at all.
Anna Kettle:Look at my bookshelf behind me here.
Anna Kettle:I've got stacks of good books on all kinds of subjects.
Anna Kettle:But it's not just self help.
Anna Kettle:And as Christians, we believe that the Bible is not just a useful guide with
Anna Kettle:helpful, timeless wisdom and filled with good principles for living well,
Anna Kettle:although it does offer all of that.
Anna Kettle:We also believe that the Bible is God breathed or inspired by God.
Anna Kettle:And in fact, the Bible itself actually says this as well,
Anna Kettle:it actually makes that claim.
Anna Kettle:In 2 Timothy, chapter 3, it says this, All scripture is God breathed
Anna Kettle:and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.
Anna Kettle:And the idea that Scripture is actually breathed by God, you might
Anna Kettle:hear some people actually talk about the Bible as the Word of God
Anna Kettle:and they call it the Word of God.
Anna Kettle:And it's that idea behind that, that those who wrote the Bible were
Anna Kettle:inspired with wisdom and help the living whole by God himself, that
Anna Kettle:the Holy Spirit inspired them while they were writing it, with wisdom and
Anna Kettle:knowledge and equipping the living whole in the way that God wants us to.
Anna Kettle:And that really is the thing that differentiates the Bible from every
Anna Kettle:other good self help book that's out there, like all of those behind me,
Anna Kettle:lots of good stuff out there, but that is the thing that differentiates the
Anna Kettle:Bible, makes it completely unique.
Anna Kettle:It's the only book that's ever been written that's fully inspired
Anna Kettle:by a collective of different people who were all inspired by
Anna Kettle:God, telling a part of his story.
Anna Kettle:So you see, self help is no bad thing, and there's nothing wrong at all
Anna Kettle:with wanting to improve yourself and become a better version of yourself.
Anna Kettle:Fitter, kinder, more educated on certain subjects, or whatever it is that you want.
Anna Kettle:None of those things are bad, and I wouldn't discourage anyone
Anna Kettle:from trying to self improve.
Anna Kettle:There's nothing wrong with that at all, but it's just that kind of self
Anna Kettle:effort can only take you so far in life.
Anna Kettle:Because although there are all these other kind of resources that can provide
Anna Kettle:useful insights and strategies and helpful advice and insights, and all of that
Anna Kettle:can help us improve our lives, the only temporary sort of fixed solutions, they
Anna Kettle:don't, they're not eternal solutions.
Anna Kettle:They don't solve our core problem at the very core of ourselves,
Anna Kettle:which is how do I become whole?
Anna Kettle:How do I become right with God?
Anna Kettle:And there's a huge difference between human wisdom and God's wisdom.
Anna Kettle:There's also a huge difference between self help, which essentially relies on
Anna Kettle:self effort, and what the Bible teaches, which is encouraging us to rely on
Anna Kettle:God's empowerment to live differently.
Anna Kettle:Those two things are leagues apart, and so I want to explore a bit
Anna Kettle:more about that, and the difference between the two in this talk.
Anna Kettle:Hebrews 4 verse 12 says that scripture, the Bible, is living and
Anna Kettle:active in nature, but it penetrates our thoughts and attitudes, and
Anna Kettle:guides us towards wholeness.
Anna Kettle:And in Romans 12:2, it talks about transformation through the renewal
Anna Kettle:of the mind, and it highlights how scripture can actually reshape our
Anna Kettle:thinking and our whole approach to life.
Anna Kettle:But what are those secrets to wholeness that the Bible actually reveals, and
Anna Kettle:how do we begin to actually unlock them and to live into them in our every day?
Anna Kettle:I have a few.
Anna Kettle:Different thoughts on this, and a few different tips that I'll lead us
Anna Kettle:through over the next few minutes.
Anna Kettle:The first one is this.
Anna Kettle:I think that in order to really unlock the wisdom and the secrets to wholeness
Anna Kettle:that the Bible reveals to us, we have to really spend time reading the Bible.
Anna Kettle:In order to fully realise its benefits, we have to spend time reading it.
Anna Kettle:There's no shortcuts, you can't read a quick summary, you can't by a sort of
Anna Kettle:guide that gives you the key, five key points and just learn them, you have
Anna Kettle:to really actually spend time reading scripture, there's no shortcut, and many
Anna Kettle:Christians do this even as a daily thing.
Anna Kettle:Quite often I hear Christians talking about doing this first thing in the
Anna Kettle:morning, sometimes it's a quiet time, but actually I don't think it really
Anna Kettle:matters how or when you read scripture, or even how often you're doing it,
Anna Kettle:I don't think it has to be daily.
Anna Kettle:But it's just good to get into that regular rhythm of doing it
Anna Kettle:regularly and recognising that you're getting this regular diet
Anna Kettle:of scripture that's challenging you and changing the way you think.
Anna Kettle:And, so it doesn't matter how or exactly when you do it, only that you do it,
Anna Kettle:and that you do what works for you.
Anna Kettle:So some people I know would do it first thing in the morning, other
Anna Kettle:people on night hours and maybe do it just before they go to sleep.
Anna Kettle:Some people might do it with audio and do it while they go
Anna Kettle:for a run, all of us different.
Anna Kettle:And so I just really encourage everyone to find their kind of zone in this,
Anna Kettle:to find their lane and, to not worry about how often you're doing it, but
Anna Kettle:at the same time realise that the more you do it, the more you get out of it.
Anna Kettle:Now, I also know that the Bible is a really big book.
Anna Kettle:In fact, there's actually lots of smaller books that are written into
Anna Kettle:one big sort of book, of books.
Anna Kettle:There's quite a lot of books in the Bible.
Anna Kettle:And, so it's written by multiple different authors about all of their
Anna Kettle:different encounters with God over hundreds and hundreds of years.
Anna Kettle:I think the Bible spans about 700 years, and so it can seem a little
Anna Kettle:bit overwhelming at first, especially when it's written in such a different
Anna Kettle:culture and context to our world today.
Anna Kettle:It's written by mainly people, authors in the Middle East about 2000 years ago,
Anna Kettle:longer in some of the Old Testament.
Anna Kettle:So yeah, it can be quite a challenge to overcome that cultural barrier at
Anna Kettle:first, but I think that as you begin to study it, you begin to see it's
Anna Kettle:trees bearing fruit and it pays off.
Anna Kettle:And the Bible actually says this, it says that as you begin to read the Word
Anna Kettle:of God, you fall in love with it, and that love for the Word of God grows.
Anna Kettle:So I really want to encourage you to just have a go and to press in and to just Give
Anna Kettle:it a chance, even if it seems difficult at first, in Psalm 119, for example,
Anna Kettle:David says that he delights in and loves the Word of God and its commandments.
Anna Kettle:And in Psalm 1, it also talks about the one who delights in the law of the Lord
Anna Kettle:and meditates on it day by day and night.
Anna Kettle:So who reads the law, which was the Old Testament scriptures.
Anna Kettle:Now that person is like a fruitful tree that's planted by streams of water and
Anna Kettle:does it wither when the heat comes.
Anna Kettle:And I think that's a beautiful analogy of what I'm describing here,
Anna Kettle:but that scripture has that ability to be life to us and to make our
Anna Kettle:lives more fruitful and more whole.
Anna Kettle:The second point, though, that I wanna make is that it's not just
Anna Kettle:about reading scripture, it's about learning to read it properly.
Anna Kettle:An understanding in its full context, looking at the totality of what
Anna Kettle:Scripture says, not just picking out convenient verses that maybe
Anna Kettle:justify what we already think.
Anna Kettle:You can, you don't have to go too far to meet Christians who will take
Anna Kettle:one verse and twist it or justify it to prove anything that they
Anna Kettle:want to pretty much within reason.
Anna Kettle:And there's other people who might just dip in and out and pick and choose the
Anna Kettle:bits that they like, that sound nice maybe perhaps ignore the rest of it, where it
Anna Kettle:gets a bit more challenging, or difficult.
Anna Kettle:And actually, we need to look at scripture with a bit more reverence
Anna Kettle:than that, so we need to understand it properly in its cultural context, and
Anna Kettle:we need to understand it in its totality what's the whole picture of what God's
Anna Kettle:saying from Genesis to Revelations from the beginning to the end, and not
Anna Kettle:just pick out odd verses that suit us.
Anna Kettle:That's something that comes with time and it, we can learn to
Anna Kettle:study scripture properly, how do you actually do that practically?
Anna Kettle:I think several really practical, simple things that
Anna Kettle:I'd encourage you to start with.
Anna Kettle:So some Bibles come with notes in the margins, which help the readers to
Anna Kettle:actually understand the historical context of that particular story
Anna Kettle:and passage, like who's writing it?
Anna Kettle:Why was it written?
Anna Kettle:What was happening?
Anna Kettle:politically or socially at the time and it gives some of that context which
Anna Kettle:is really hard to know if you're not a historian or you don't have a lot of
Anna Kettle:time to spend digging deeper into it.
Anna Kettle:So it's really handy when there's bible notes in the margins of your
Anna Kettle:Bible where someone else has already done all that hard work for you and
Anna Kettle:you can just get the context and put it in that frame of what it all means.
Anna Kettle:And then there's also lots of good Bible reading apps and guides that
Anna Kettle:you can buy or download for free even that can really help you with this.
Anna Kettle:There's lots of Bible plans where you can read a bit of scripture
Anna Kettle:each day and it'll give you a bit of a thought around it or some ideas
Anna Kettle:or questions to dig deeper into.
Anna Kettle:So there's all kinds of resources around that are really good at this.
Anna Kettle:And if you want any recommendations with where to start, please do just drop us
Anna Kettle:a line at Crowd Church and we can point you in the direction of a few good ones.
Anna Kettle:And I think the third thing I'd say that really helps with getting
Anna Kettle:to grips with reading scripture is to read it with others and study
Anna Kettle:it together with other Christians.
Anna Kettle:And this is actually why so many Christians go to church and listen to
Anna Kettle:sermons on a Sunday or perhaps attend a midweek small group because it often
Anna Kettle:helps to study scripture and passages of scripture with other Christians and
Anna Kettle:only get the perspective of other people on a mess because other people might.
Anna Kettle:understand and see things slightly differently to how you do.
Anna Kettle:So it gives you that benefit of other people's wisdom and insights and make
Anna Kettle:sure that there's kind of consensus there.
Anna Kettle:So that can be really helpful as well.
Anna Kettle:But the third thing that I want to say about scripture is, so it's not just
Anna Kettle:about reading it, and it's not even about reading it in context and in totality.
Anna Kettle:It's also about reading it and applying it into our own lives.
Anna Kettle:James 1 verse 22 says that we should not only hear the Word of
Anna Kettle:God, but also do what it says.
Anna Kettle:So it's that idea of applying the principles and the ideas that we
Anna Kettle:read in the Bible into our own lives.
Anna Kettle:And that is where the real kind of rubber hits the road, and where
Anna Kettle:it really comes into its own.
Anna Kettle:For example, if I read a passage about being generous, Then, I
Anna Kettle:shouldn't just go away and think, oh yeah, that's a nice idea.
Anna Kettle:Everyone, you know what, everyone should be more generous.
Anna Kettle:That person should be more generous.
Anna Kettle:The thing that's wrong with life is that we're not all more generous.
Anna Kettle:We should all be more generous.
Anna Kettle:That may be true, but in order for change to happen, I also need to think about
Anna Kettle:applying it to myself, my own life.
Anna Kettle:So I need to think about how I can become more generous in my
Anna Kettle:own life, perhaps with my money.
Anna Kettle:with how I share my possessions with others, with my time, with
Anna Kettle:how I share my time with others.
Anna Kettle:And not only that, not only should I think about how to do it, I should
Anna Kettle:also start to move into action.
Anna Kettle:Because that's what happens when we read the Words of God, that's what it does.
Anna Kettle:It inspires us to think differently, but it also inspires us into action,
Anna Kettle:into living differently, into wanting to become more like the Christ
Anna Kettle:that we read about in the Bible.
Anna Kettle:And the fourth point that I really want to make is that.
Anna Kettle:We also need to ask the Holy Spirit's empowerment to live differently
Anna Kettle:and to live into that wholeness.
Anna Kettle:When we begin to take the Bible seriously, when it says things like, love your
Anna Kettle:neighbour as your friend, or forgive those who wrong you, or look after the orphan,
Anna Kettle:the widow and the foreigner, these big ideas that the Bible offers, these have
Anna Kettle:big repercussions in terms of how we think about our own lives, how we care
Anna Kettle:for others around us, how we socialise mainly.How we do family together, how we
Anna Kettle:serve God with our time, how we care for our planet, and dare I even say it in
Anna Kettle:this election year, how we choose to vote.
Anna Kettle:I'd be lying if I said that as a Christian, even as someone who's been
Anna Kettle:a Christian for many years, that I always find it easy to put the word of
Anna Kettle:God into practice because some of these teachings are really challenging and
Anna Kettle:really tough, and you know what, we can't just become more Christ like on our own.
Anna Kettle:We actually need the Holy Spirit to come and empower us and
Anna Kettle:to help us do what we can't.
Anna Kettle:And that is the difference between self help, which is all about self
Anna Kettle:effort, and the Bible, which inspires us to lean into the Holy Spirit, to
Anna Kettle:lean into God, for his empowerment to make the transformation inside us
Anna Kettle:that we can't just do for ourselves.
Anna Kettle:My ultimate advice on the Bible and how to dig deep into scripture is
Anna Kettle:this, don't just read the Word of God.
Anna Kettle:Don't even just read the Word of God and try to put it into practice,
Anna Kettle:although that's not a bad thing.
Anna Kettle:But really what you need to do is read the Word of God, ask God to empower
Anna Kettle:you and transform you as you begin to try and put it into practice in your
Anna Kettle:life, to inspire you and to transform you from the inside out as you begin to
Anna Kettle:read it and lean into what it teaches.
Anna Kettle:So I actually want to finish this talk a bit differently tonight.
Anna Kettle:I want to end it by reading a bit of scripture, which I suppose is topical as
Anna Kettle:we're talking about scripture tonight.
Anna Kettle:But this bit of scripture is actually a prayer which Paul prayed for spiritual
Anna Kettle:growth of the Christians in the early Ephesian church, which he's supporting.
Anna Kettle:And it's also one of my favourite passages in scripture.
Anna Kettle:It's from Ephesians 3 and it's verses 14 to 19.
Anna Kettle:And I'll read it.
Anna Kettle:It says this.
Anna Kettle:When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator
Anna Kettle:of everything in heaven and on earth.
Anna Kettle:I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources, he will empower you with
Anna Kettle:inner strength through his Spirit.
Anna Kettle:Then, Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.
Anna Kettle:Your roots will grow deep down into God's love, and will keep you strong.
Anna Kettle:And may you have power to understand as all God's people should, how wide,
Anna Kettle:how long, how high and how deep his love is, may you experience the love
Anna Kettle:of Christ, though it is too great to fully understand, and then you will be
Anna Kettle:made complete with all of the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Anna Kettle:Isn't that a beautiful prayer?
Anna Kettle:And I also think it just so perfectly sums up what we've been talking about
Anna Kettle:this evening, about how leaning into scripture isn't about self effort.
Anna Kettle:It's about Empowerment through the Holy Spirit, to live that
Anna Kettle:fullness and wholeness of life, and that power only comes from God.
Anna Kettle:And if you think that it might be helpful for you, I guess I'd encourage you to
Anna Kettle:take some of these principles I've been talking with or talking about tonight,
Anna Kettle:but also to take this specific passage from Ephesians 3, and perhaps consider
Anna Kettle:turning to it again throughout the week, and praying it yourself, reading through
Anna Kettle:it again, praying it over yourself again, because I think this just sum
Anna Kettle:summarizes, would be my prayer for everyone in the crowd church community.
Anna Kettle:It's also my prayer for myself, and I think it's, if you're grappling with
Anna Kettle:scripture and how to live in wholeness as a called design duty, then this
Anna Kettle:is a great prayer to start with.
Anna Kettle:And it's a great passage of scripture to look at.
Anna Kettle:So yeah, take it away.
Anna Kettle:Look at Ephesians three through the week.
Anna Kettle:Keep returning to it.
Anna Kettle:Keep praying it over yourself.
Anna Kettle:Enjoy.
Matt Edmundson:Welcome back.
Matt Edmundson:Welcome back from Anna's talk.
Matt Edmundson:Great talk.
Matt Edmundson:Did you enjoy that?
Matt Edmundson:Yes, I did.
Matt Edmundson:Just said, yes, I did.
Matt Edmundson:No, I did.
Matt Edmundson:Now, Anna's great, isn't she, when she talks?
Matt Edmundson:And Anna's been a Christian for a while.
Matt Edmundson:And you can tell that actually, there's a lot of good stuff
Matt Edmundson:that comes out when she talks.
Matt Edmundson:Been through a lot too, eh?
Matt Edmundson:Yes.
Matt Edmundson:She's been through a lot.
Matt Edmundson:And if you actually, if you haven't yet listened to Anna's full story,
Matt Edmundson:we have a podcast, in case you don't know, called What's the Story?
Matt Edmundson:And Anna and I talked through her whole story and the journey, her
Matt Edmundson:and her husband have been on with miscarriage and all kinds of stuff.
Matt Edmundson:And it's definitely worth a listen to.
Matt Edmundson:Because Anna walks a walk, right?
Matt Edmundson:And she just does.
Matt Edmundson:And definitely worth checking that out.
Matt Edmundson:You can find out more information about that at whatsthestorypodcast.
Matt Edmundson:com which would actually just take you to the Crowd Church website
Matt Edmundson:where the What's The Story stuff is featured, but just check out her story.
Matt Edmundson:Really powerful stuff, but yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Great.
Matt Edmundson:So we're talking about scripture and how it helps us live a whole life.
Matt Edmundson:You're all right there.
Jan Burch:Got a cough?
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:So that's fine.
Jan Burch:Don't
Matt Edmundson:panic.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Peter says, Can you please advise on a Bible app or plan that can help
Matt Edmundson:give a better understanding of the Bible, as Anna suggested, please?
Matt Edmundson:Absolutely.
Matt Edmundson:Are there any apps that you use?
Matt Edmundson:No.
Matt Edmundson:Do you not do the app thing?
Matt Edmundson:Do you actually just read the paper version of the Bible?
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Old school.
Jan Burch:Or a lesson.
Matt Edmundson:Ah, audio.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah,
Jan Burch:audio,
Matt Edmundson:yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, that's a good thing these days.
Matt Edmundson:There's so many ways you can take it in.
Matt Edmundson:My preferred Bible app?
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:is you version which is just called the Bible app by you version,
Matt Edmundson:which is run by Life Church based in the States is this unbelievable
Matt Edmundson:the story behind the Bible app.
Matt Edmundson:What does it look like?
Matt Edmundson:Hang on, because I just normally type Bible app on my phone and it comes up.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, the Bible app, not that it helps you, but that's what it looks
Matt Edmundson:like once you're in it, if you have dark mode enabled but the Bible app is
Matt Edmundson:great and I, I strongly recommend and start in there is what I would suggest
Matt Edmundson:you do Peter, so yeah, the Bible app is the new version, it's free, all the
Matt Edmundson:translations are on there, they have got a whole bunch of devotionals as well on
Matt Edmundson:that app, which you can follow and use.
Matt Edmundson:And then as you start to get into the meat of the Bible, there's
Matt Edmundson:lots of things that you can do.
Matt Edmundson:I remember one of the things that I did actually, when I first became a
Matt Edmundson:Christian, I really wanted to get my head around some of the topics in the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:I bought, because back then this is what you did, you bought a book.
Matt Edmundson:And it was about this thick.
Matt Edmundson:It was massive.
Matt Edmundson:It's called the Strong's Concordance.
Matt Edmundson:Oh yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Have you seen it?
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And basically what it does, if you, if there was a word in the Bible
Matt Edmundson:say forgiveness, you could go into Strong's Concordance to where it
Matt Edmundson:said forgiveness, and it will give you every single reference in the
Matt Edmundson:Bible where that word's mentioned.
Matt Edmundson:Old school paper right now, you can just type it into a search
Matt Edmundson:browser and it'll bring it all up.
Matt Edmundson:But that really helped me the Bible concordance, because I could just
Matt Edmundson:take different themes and I could see whereabouts it's mentioned in the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:And I can just see some of the different topics that were mentioned.
Matt Edmundson:Strongly recommend something like that getting a good concordance.
Matt Edmundson:And then the other thing that I would strongly recommend
Matt Edmundson:is getting a good commentary.
Matt Edmundson:So a good basic commentary on the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:So something like Matthew Henry has got a really good commentary,
Matt Edmundson:basic commentary on the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:And this is just where theologians will talk around the stuff that you're reading
Matt Edmundson:and give what Anna was talking about in terms of context, from a cultural point of
Matt Edmundson:view, from the story of God point of view.
Matt Edmundson:And some of those can be really good, really helpful, really insightful,
Matt Edmundson:just a really good commentary.
Matt Edmundson:And I think as long as you've got those few things and the rest of
Matt Edmundson:it's all pretty straightforward.
Matt Edmundson:I would probably avoid asking ChatGPT because, it will give you an, it will
Matt Edmundson:give you, don't get me wrong, ChatGPT will give you an interpretation.
Matt Edmundson:But how can I put this delicately?
Matt Edmundson:ChatGPT is probably quite liberal in its interpretation.
Matt Edmundson:Who says there's no bias?
Matt Edmundson:There's total bias in these things.
Matt Edmundson:But yeah not that I have an issue with liberal interpretations, but
Matt Edmundson:I think you need to understand.
Matt Edmundson:And again, when it comes to the Bible I was listening to someone talk about
Matt Edmundson:this earlier, actually said, evangelical Christians versus those who say are
Matt Edmundson:deacon those who are progressives, right?
Matt Edmundson:So you've got two types of Christian.
Matt Edmundson:One is a lot more liberal.
Matt Edmundson:One is a lot more conservative, right?
Matt Edmundson:And for the liberal, No piece of theology really is that important for
Matt Edmundson:the evangelical or the conservative.
Matt Edmundson:Every piece of scripture, every theology, every idea becomes important.
Matt Edmundson:And it becomes dogmatic, right?
Matt Edmundson:About the clothes you wear, about makeup and all this kind of stuff
Matt Edmundson:and how you can take some of those scriptures out of context.
Matt Edmundson:And actually there's, I think there's a wealth of wisdom in understanding
Matt Edmundson:both point of views because often you find, I think for me, the
Matt Edmundson:truth is somewhere in the middle.
Matt Edmundson:Do you see what I mean?
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:So I hope that helps Peter.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Great.
Matt Edmundson:Give them a try.
Matt Edmundson:No problem.
Matt Edmundson:See how you get on with those, but I would definitely start there.
Matt Edmundson:And then
Jan Burch:there's books
Matt Edmundson:It's what we're here for, isn't it?
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:There's a good book actually by Derek Prince.
Matt Edmundson:He's done, I can't remember what it's called.
Matt Edmundson:I'll try and find out the title.
Matt Edmundson:But he did a book on the fundamentals of scripture and he was a great theologian,
Matt Edmundson:passed away, unfortunately, but great stuff, really liked Derek Prince's stuff.
Matt Edmundson:And you can get into some of that.
Matt Edmundson:Dig Deep.
Matt Edmundson:So that's all we did when we got started out.
Matt Edmundson:And then I went to Bible school.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:I learned more about the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:What do you use?
Jan Burch:I just, I've got different what do you call them?
Jan Burch:Brains.
Jan Burch:Different types of Bible, yeah.
Jan Burch:NIV, I've got New Living, I've got the Word, I've got different things.
Jan Burch:Different translations.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Yeah, that's really good.
Jan Burch:That's one of the
Matt Edmundson:things actually you can do with the You Version.
Matt Edmundson:You can see what the different translations of the verse are.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And so that again is helpful because You've got some versions, just to bring
Matt Edmundson:some clarity around this, you've got some versions of the Bible which have,
Matt Edmundson:which are quite literal translations.
Matt Edmundson:And whenever you try and translate a language literally, there's
Matt Edmundson:often things that don't make sense.
Matt Edmundson:And, but there are some scripture, there are some Bibles out there
Matt Edmundson:like New King James, American Standard Version, which are quite
Matt Edmundson:literal translations of the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:Then you have got people that try and give you an interpretation
Matt Edmundson:rather than a translation.
Matt Edmundson:In other words, when the people were writing this is what we think that they
Matt Edmundson:were actually meaning when they wrote it.
Matt Edmundson:To give you a more of a context of it and probably the one which people
Matt Edmundson:use the most, which is the most interpretive, I think is a version
Matt Edmundson:called the message, which is actually quite, it's quite a lovely interpretation
Matt Edmundson:of the Bible in a lot of ways.
Matt Edmundson:And I think as long as you read all these things together, it's super helpful.
Jan Burch:I've got a lot of Americanisms, which, what, the message?
Jan Burch:Yeah, which maybe, sounds a bit.
Jan Burch:Odd to us at times.
Jan Burch:They did with me initially.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Hey man, what's happening?
Jan Burch:That's, it's fine.
Jan Burch:It's just but it, the rest of it, I think explains things very clearly.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:It's an everyday language, doesn't it?
Matt Edmundson:It does, which is very helpful.
Matt Edmundson:Not going to lie.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, try the different translations as well.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:That's very good.
Matt Edmundson:What's your do you have a set routine for scripture?
Matt Edmundson:I
Jan Burch:listen to a lot in my car when I'm driving to and from,
Jan Burch:I, I find that sort of space is, there's no interruptions apart from
Jan Burch:obviously it's just me in there.
Jan Burch:So I have a clear head space.
Jan Burch:And I find that I remember things a lot when I'm driving.
Jan Burch:Driving, I don't know how, I just do.
Jan Burch:And so that's probably my favourite space.
Jan Burch:Yeah, the car space.
Jan Burch:Even if I'm not going anywhere else, I can sometimes sit in my car.
Jan Burch:And it's like I've locked the door somewhere.
Jan Burch:That's my little space.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And don't anyone invade it, ever.
Matt Edmundson:Yes, no.
Matt Edmundson:Don't knock on the window.
Matt Edmundson:Don't call.
Matt Edmundson:Don't do anything.
Matt Edmundson:Just leave her alone until she gets out of the car.
Matt Edmundson:That's my advice.
Jan Burch:Absolutely, thank you, Matt.
Matt Edmundson:That's interesting.
Jan Burch:What about you, what's your sort of routine?
Matt Edmundson:I have, I don't know if I have a set routine.
Matt Edmundson:Which is maybe goes against the grain.
Matt Edmundson:I have different things that I do, right?
Matt Edmundson:I, for example, if it's a weekday, like a Monday through Friday, Sharon and I
Matt Edmundson:will get up we'll pray together and then I will sit either in our, we've got this
Matt Edmundson:sort of swing out door on the outside of our house where I'll just go and sit
Matt Edmundson:and I'll just read scripture, usually on the Bible app, the YouVersion Just
Matt Edmundson:sometimes I read without aim without just want to read it to see what happens.
Matt Edmundson:Sometimes I'll study it depending on different things that are going on.
Matt Edmundson:And when study, I'm like, I want to know what this has got to say, there's
Matt Edmundson:reading it, which is casual reading it and there's studying it, isn't there really?
Matt Edmundson:And so I would, depending on where I'm up to, if I've got to talk for a crowd to
Matt Edmundson:prep, maybe I'll study a little bit more.
Matt Edmundson:I've just finished prepping the talk on serving, which is
Matt Edmundson:coming up in a couple of weeks.
Matt Edmundson:I've been studying that which has been deeply challenging.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:So I will do that if I go to the gym if I'm in the gym, cause we
Matt Edmundson:converted our garage to a gym at the bottom of our garden.
Matt Edmundson:I will watch I'll have a a podcast on a biblical podcast.
Matt Edmundson:And so I'll watch that.
Matt Edmundson:Or listen to it more.
Matt Edmundson:Listen to it when I'm in the gym which I also do in the mornings.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:In the car.
Matt Edmundson:More of a van for me.
Matt Edmundson:I don't have a car.
Matt Edmundson:I've got Van.
Matt Edmundson:Van man.
Matt Edmundson:But again, just in the van, just listening to podcasts.
Matt Edmundson:I'm a big podcast fan.
Matt Edmundson:There's a lot of great podcasts out there.
Jan Burch:Yeah, I like Rick Warren.
Jan Burch:I'm not sure what other people think of him, but I find.
Jan Burch:His teaching to be just really practical and really clear.
Jan Burch:I think he communicates very clearly and he just says it as it is.
Jan Burch:There's no frills.
Jan Burch:But that's, I need that but what he says, he's tried and tested, he's been he's
Jan Burch:been a faithful servant of the word, bringing the word I, I like him he's,
Jan Burch:maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but
Matt Edmundson:that's such a British thing to say, maybe
Matt Edmundson:he's not your cup of tea.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:No, yeah, I think it's interesting.
Matt Edmundson:I think,
Matt Edmundson:Out of every Christian I know, everyone's got their favorites
Matt Edmundson:who they listen to, who they,
Jan Burch:who's your favorite, would you say?
Matt Edmundson:Oh, that's a very good question.
Matt Edmundson:Derek Prince really likes some of his, not all of his teaching, but most of
Matt Edmundson:his teaching, I think is quite good.
Matt Edmundson:John Harding, I think is a great Bible teacher.
Matt Edmundson:So I like listening to him.
Matt Edmundson:My wife,
Jan Burch:yes,
Matt Edmundson:obviously, it's brilliant.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:What a legend.
Matt Edmundson:But now I like people like Rick Warren, like you say, I listen to.
Matt Edmundson:I'm listening to, oh, what's his name, John Mark Comer a lot at the moment, who's
Matt Edmundson:just done the book called Practicing the Way so yes, what Sadaf put here in the
Matt Edmundson:comments, I'm late to the party, but just a response to what you're saying about the
Matt Edmundson:message and other such Bibles, let me add this, because this is just Sadaf to a T
Matt Edmundson:the message and other such Bibles, I think it's important, Matthew, to point out
Matt Edmundson:that it's not a translation of the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:I agree, Sadaf.
Matt Edmundson:And that's why I said it's an interpretation.
Jan Burch:Expiratory, expos Oh, you're reading ahead.
Jan Burch:Here we go.
Jan Burch:I find
Matt Edmundson:expiratory teaching, reading of the Bible in a really good
Matt Edmundson:way to better understand Scripture.
Matt Edmundson:So doing an expiratory teaching on Scripture.
Matt Edmundson:So in other words let's say you wanted to study the subject of I love that.
Matt Edmundson:I love that.
Matt Edmundson:I'm just going to go through it and I'm gonna pick a topic,
Matt Edmundson:say healing, for example.
Matt Edmundson:So just going in and studying everywhere in the Bible where it talks about healing.
Matt Edmundson:Or you could do like we did with the book of Acts, just verse by verse, just
Matt Edmundson:going through what does that verse mean?
Matt Edmundson:What's going on, going in deep and you could spend a year, two years
Matt Edmundson:to study in one book of the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:But it's line upon line, precept upon precept, it's that kind of thing.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, it's a really great way.
Matt Edmundson:Very meaty, very Sadaf.
Jan Burch:Sadaf
Matt Edmundson:loves to go deep.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Loves to go deep.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, no, you could totally do that.
Matt Edmundson:And I think it's here's the thing, right?
Matt Edmundson:We've talked a lot about reading the scripture, the different
Matt Edmundson:translations of the Bible etc.
Matt Edmundson:But there's a point that Anna said that I want to come back to.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And that is That you can read it, you can understand scripture contextually, you
Matt Edmundson:can go and get the concordances, you can get the commentaries, you can do all of
Matt Edmundson:that sort of stuff, but fundamentally,
Matt Edmundson:if you think about some of the biggest cults that have been around I'm
Matt Edmundson:thinking people, I think from memory, David Koresh, I'm showing my age a
Matt Edmundson:little bit, if you know who he is.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:I think he'd memorize scripture.
Matt Edmundson:Really?
Matt Edmundson:I think he had one of those brains where he'd memorize the whole Bible.
Matt Edmundson:So you can read it, you can know it, you can understand it, but it
Matt Edmundson:can still not change your life.
Matt Edmundson:And that's the fundamental thing, right?
Matt Edmundson:Absolutely.
Matt Edmundson:It's the power I think in, as we're talking about becoming whole, the power
Matt Edmundson:is allowing scripture to transform your life, to change your thinking.
Matt Edmundson:How's it done that for you?
Jan Burch:I suppose in, in, in lots of ways, really, I think certainly
Jan Burch:through tougher times when I've prayed, and I've just asked God to speak
Jan Burch:to me, or to make something clear.
Jan Burch:And then, he's led me to a certain verse, or whatever.
Jan Burch:It's just been exactly what I, it's been the light that we needed.
Jan Burch:to shine on a dark area or some confusion or so I just think some sometimes
Jan Burch:it's been like it jumps out at me.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:What Dave Connolly calls a zoom word.
Jan Burch:Yeah, definitely.
Jan Burch:It just leaps off the page and zooms around.
Jan Burch:Yeah, you just think, wow, how have I never seen this before?
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:And I think it, I've found, I've been a Christian a long time like you.
Jan Burch:There's certain parts of the Bible or what I'm reading, I've probably read it before.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:But at different stages or seasons in your life it, It means something different
Jan Burch:or it's like God can make it fresh.
Jan Burch:So I love that, that it's never out, it never loses its effect.
Jan Burch:So true.
Jan Burch:Yeah,
Matt Edmundson:so true.
Matt Edmundson:It's one of those things where I think if you're to ask Sharon, because Sharon's
Matt Edmundson:big on this, when in the Old Testament, where God's talking to Joshua, about
Matt Edmundson:taking the promised land, he said to him, meditate in my word day and night.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And you'll have good strength.
Matt Edmundson:And I can't remember that phrase.
Matt Edmundson:Anyway, It's this whole phrase of meditating my word day and
Matt Edmundson:night and then basically things will start to go better for you.
Matt Edmundson:And it's this phrase meditate, right?
Matt Edmundson:So for the longest time Christians have been afraid to use the word meditate
Matt Edmundson:because it all felt a bit new agey.
Matt Edmundson:But actually when scripture uses the word meditate, it just means to ponder, to
Matt Edmundson:think about, to chew over in your mind.
Matt Edmundson:It doesn't mean to empty your mind.
Matt Edmundson:Scripture never tells you to do that.
Matt Edmundson:It tells you to renew your mind.
Matt Edmundson:Just want to point that out.
Matt Edmundson:But it's Paul said it, he said, whatever things are low, noble, just, lovely, pure
Matt Edmundson:think about those things, fix your mind on them, weigh your mind up, ruminate on
Matt Edmundson:them, think about them, mull them over.
Matt Edmundson:And when you do that with scripture, which is pure, lovely et cetera, et
Matt Edmundson:cetera, and you fix your mind on it, that's what it means by meditating.
Matt Edmundson:And this is when you start doing it.
Matt Edmundson:You stop reading just for the sake of reading and that's, I think, when
Matt Edmundson:those words just slap you about the face, the zoom words that just jump
Matt Edmundson:off the page and they change your life.
Matt Edmundson:And I think what happens is actually when you do that, when you read Scripture
Matt Edmundson:like that and you get that sort of revelation, you've been meditating on it.
Matt Edmundson:I remember doing this with the Bible verse, where it says, I can do all
Matt Edmundson:things through Christ who strengthens me.
Matt Edmundson:And I remember writing it out and I just wrote it out lots and lots like, I can
Matt Edmundson:do all things, I'm, I can do all things.
Matt Edmundson:I can do all things.
Matt Edmundson:I can do all things.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And I'm just meditating on I'm thinking about what does this mean?
Matt Edmundson:I can do all things through Christ.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:So I can't do all things without him.
Matt Edmundson:Back to the self help thing that Anna was talking about.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:But with him, the world needs to watch out, right?
Matt Edmundson:Because Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Hang on, if I've, if God's got a plan and he said it, then let's go.
Matt Edmundson:And so I remember thinking about that a lot and just going around what that
Matt Edmundson:meant, rather than it just being a, a nice Christian platitude that you stick
Matt Edmundson:on the fridge or whatever, but actually what, and getting that deep down into
Matt Edmundson:my spirit and how that changed my life, just meditating on it, thinking
Matt Edmundson:about it and that, when that happens, I think that's when faith is born.
Matt Edmundson:So the Bible says that faith comes by hearing and by hearing of the Word of
Matt Edmundson:God in Romans, that's what Paul says.
Matt Edmundson:And when that Word of God, it's not just about hearing it, like we said,
Matt Edmundson:David Koresh heard it, remembered it, didn't do a blind bit of good for him.
Matt Edmundson:But it's when we hear it with our heart, with our soul, when it's deep down in
Matt Edmundson:us and we can believe it and we can go hang on a minute, life can be now.
Matt Edmundson:That's what Very different.
Matt Edmundson:And I think as we're talking about wholeness on this journey to
Matt Edmundson:wholeness, there is a challenge here, which is going to keep coming up.
Matt Edmundson:You can't avoid it.
Matt Edmundson:It's this is what the world says.
Matt Edmundson:This is what I say.
Matt Edmundson:This is what the Bible says.
Matt Edmundson:And it's there are three different things.
Matt Edmundson:And it's what do I believe here?
Matt Edmundson:And fundamentally wholeness comes, I think.
Matt Edmundson:When we as people can take the Word of God and put our trust
Matt Edmundson:and faith into what it says.
Matt Edmundson:Does that make sense?
Matt Edmundson:And when we can do that, amazing things can happen and faith is born and built and
Matt Edmundson:I think that's a really powerful thing.
Jan Burch:I just think it's so important to ask ourselves, who am I listening to?
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Who has the biggest influence on my behavior?
Jan Burch:My actions and if it isn't God, if it isn't the Words of God, then
Jan Burch:I think there needs to be a, some sort of re, reshift, readjustment.
Jan Burch:I think we live in a, particularly in a world right now where
Jan Burch:there's lots of advice.
Jan Burch:There's lots of suggestions.
Jan Burch:There's lots of opinions on everything.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:And it can be confusing.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:And I think it's so vital.
Jan Burch:And I think it's it is finding that quiet place.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Even if you have to get into a cupboard and yeah, shut the door.
Jan Burch:I think we live in such a noisy world.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Where your brain can't, you can't think straight.
Jan Burch:There's a lot of interference, a lot of I think it's vital.
Jan Burch:That we find that quiet space just to listen to God, switch
Jan Burch:the everything else off.
Jan Burch:And just have one line coming in.
Jan Burch:Yeah, just focus on that.
Jan Burch:So true, Jen.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:That's a mic.
Matt Edmundson:If I had a mic that I could hold and drop, I'd do it right there.
Matt Edmundson:Very good.
Matt Edmundson:Mic drop moment.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, I think the challenge then for this week, like Anna said, pray the prayer
Matt Edmundson:from Ephesians 3, 14 over you all week.
Matt Edmundson:See what God says in reverse.
Matt Edmundson:Yes.
Matt Edmundson:Great prayer.
Matt Edmundson:Oh yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Just keep praying that prayer of you this week.
Matt Edmundson:And just find some space in the quiet zone, out the noise.
Matt Edmundson:And just read scripture, meditate on it, think about it.
Matt Edmundson:And ask the simple question, God, what are you trying to say to me here?
Matt Edmundson:And Holy Spirit, help me live out what it is that I'm saying, right?
Matt Edmundson:Dangerous prayers, if I'm honest with you.
Matt Edmundson:Very dangerous.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah don't pray them half heartedly, because when God answers them,
Matt Edmundson:it's a beauty.
Matt Edmundson:And so yeah, that would be, I think, challenge of the week, but
Matt Edmundson:I think it's a great conversation about the Bible with Scripture.
Matt Edmundson:Especially in the context of wholeness, because I think our wholeness, our
Matt Edmundson:identity, who we are, how we think about ourselves, how we feel about
Matt Edmundson:ourselves, that is so guided and informed by our understanding of the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:Because like you say, who do you listen to?
Matt Edmundson:If you're not listening to the scripture, you're listening to something else.
Jan Burch:And just to I thought that just how blessed, how fortunate we are to
Jan Burch:have the Word of God at our fingertips.
Jan Burch:When you think about throughout the world, the people in communities that
Jan Burch:haven't still got the Bible translated, no, they're getting less and fewer
Jan Burch:thankfully, but we have access to the actual inspired Word of God.
Jan Burch:And we put YouTube on or.
Jan Burch:It's I think there is a place for absolutely having a reverence.
Jan Burch:Yeah, there is Anna, a real seeing it as a sacred book.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:And I think that's really important.
Jan Burch:Yeah, because
Matt Edmundson:I think it's easy to forget that.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, because it is so available to us.
Matt Edmundson:Almost take it for granted.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And, you hear stories of people Who would almost die because they were just
Matt Edmundson:trying to get hold of a copy of one of the Gospels or one of the pages from
Matt Edmundson:someone's Bible or something, it became like their best possession in life in a
Matt Edmundson:lot of ways and you just, but we take it so for granted just because of the ease
Matt Edmundson:at which all this stuff is available.
Matt Edmundson:That's right.
Matt Edmundson:But I think you're right.
Matt Edmundson:Treat the word of God reverently.
Matt Edmundson:Is such valuable advice.
Matt Edmundson:Because don't just have a casual relationship with the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:It's probably another way to say it.
Matt Edmundson:I thought, I think Christians that have casual relationships with scripture
Matt Edmundson:really struggle in life because yeah.
Matt Edmundson:You're neither in nor out.
Matt Edmundson:Do you know what I mean?
Matt Edmundson:It's one of those, I think when the storm, Jesus talked about it this way,
Matt Edmundson:he said, when the storms come, and they're going to come, let's face it.
Matt Edmundson:Absolutely.
Matt Edmundson:Your house gets blown down because your foundations aren't deep and your
Matt Edmundson:foundations aren't deep because you have a casual relationship with the Bible.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And I think you have to treat it reverently.
Matt Edmundson:I think you have to study it.
Matt Edmundson:You have to let it change your thinking.
Matt Edmundson:You have to let it change your behavior.
Matt Edmundson:And you have to be willing to put your faith in it when all
Matt Edmundson:that's around you is just telling you the exact opposite, right?
Matt Edmundson:It's what changes your life.
Matt Edmundson:It's what brings wholeness, which is
Jan Burch:You know what, Matt, as well, sometimes I think
Jan Burch:I almost panic a little bit.
Jan Burch:I think if I was ever in a position where I didn't have any, of my possessions.
Jan Burch:Almost like being isolated somewhere, like in a shipwrecked island or.
Jan Burch:In a prison in Thailand or whatever, I have got no ambition to be in either of
Jan Burch:those places, but should any of those things happen, then I would think,
Jan Burch:I would be like, what do I remember about the Bible, about the word of God?
Jan Burch:What did God say about this?
Jan Burch:And it's it's got to be in us.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:So that, when I'm 80 and I wanna, think something or it's there.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:It's it's got to be a part of who we are and Yeah.
Jan Burch:It really has.
Jan Burch:Yeah I totally agree.
Jan Burch:Think about that,
Jan Burch:. Matt Edmundson: It's gotta be, I think the answer to the question is now if you
Jan Burch:get shipwrecked on an island, you can take one thing with you, what would it be?
Jan Burch:There's got to be scripture.
Jan Burch:It's got to be, I just want a copy of the Bible.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:in large print if I can't take my reading glasses.
Jan Burch:Absolutely.
Matt Edmundson:Peter says, Thanks, Jan.
Matt Edmundson:That's a brilliant comment regarding us having the Word of God at our fingertips.
Matt Edmundson:And we should try and understand what is being said and what is expected of us.
Matt Edmundson:Great comment, Peter.
Matt Edmundson:Thank you for that.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, all very true.
Matt Edmundson:Brilliant.
Matt Edmundson:That was a great Conversation Street.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, I enjoyed that.
Matt Edmundson:Thank you.
Matt Edmundson:I enjoyed that.
Matt Edmundson:Just one more time.
Matt Edmundson:Let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, we have an Alpha
Matt Edmundson:course starting this week.
Matt Edmundson:If you'd like to know more about it, we'd like to come join us and find
Matt Edmundson:out more about this Christian faith.
Matt Edmundson:Whether you are new as a Christian, want to deepen your faith a little
Matt Edmundson:bit, or whether you're just I don't know, exploring Christianity.
Matt Edmundson:We would love to hear from you.
Matt Edmundson:We're starting this Wednesday.
Matt Edmundson:You can get in touch with us on the website, www.
Matt Edmundson:crowd.
Matt Edmundson:church or via social media at Crowd Church.
Matt Edmundson:We would love to hear from you.
Matt Edmundson:Come join us on a Wednesday evening.
Matt Edmundson:Sharon and I will be heading up an Alpha starting this week.
Matt Edmundson:So do come along.
Matt Edmundson:Another thing to say to all you, especially all you British mums.
Matt Edmundson:I suppose it's worldwide as well, but although it's only
Matt Edmundson:in England, Happy Mother's Day.
Jan Burch:Yeah, did you know that
Matt Edmundson:there's a difference between this?
Matt Edmundson:I didn't write so when I lived in America, because Mother's Day,
Matt Edmundson:I think in the States is in May.
Matt Edmundson:So if you're watching this from the States or listening, you'd like
Matt Edmundson:what you're talking about Mother's Day, don't scare me like that.
Matt Edmundson:And I remember when I lived in the States, my mom called me
Matt Edmundson:and said thanks for the card.
Matt Edmundson:I said, What are you talking about?
Matt Edmundson:She says, Where's my Mother's Day card?
Matt Edmundson:Oh, my Mother's Day two months away.
Matt Edmundson:So you know, there's adverts starting to appear two months away.
Matt Edmundson:She's no, it's today.
Matt Edmundson:Oh, Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:I was like, it can't be.
Jan Burch:And it used to be called Mothering Sunday, didn't it?
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Now called Mother's Day, probably still is, but yeah.
Jan Burch:Thank you.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, probably is.
Matt Edmundson:But yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Happy Mother's Day.
Matt Edmundson:Happy Mother's Day.
Matt Edmundson:Thank you.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:You're a legend of a mum to all your mums out there, mom.
Matt Edmundson:Say again, auntie your mum.
Matt Edmundson:And to my mum, who is also a legend.
Matt Edmundson:Happy Mother's Day.
Matt Edmundson:Yes, thank you.
Matt Edmundson:And to my wife, happy Mother's Day.
Matt Edmundson:Just basically if you're a mum, happy Mother's Day.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:And even if you're a mum, do you know what I mean?
Matt Edmundson:Not just a s sense.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:In the spiritual sense.
Matt Edmundson:I know a few people like I know someone who sent Sharon a text message
Matt Edmundson:earlier to saying Happy Mother's Day.
Matt Edmundson:And because I think she's been a spiritual mom to that person.
Matt Edmundson:I think all of you ladies that look out for other people, you're absolute
Matt Edmundson:legends in every sense of the word.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, Happy Mother's Day to all of you.
Matt Edmundson:And then one of the better news.
Matt Edmundson:Did you know Dan Orange, Dan, a couple of weeks ago, talked about prayer.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Okay.
Matt Edmundson:And if you follow us on social media you'll see that we put out these
Matt Edmundson:like 30 second video clips, just little clips from the talk, right?
Matt Edmundson:There'll be some coming out from Anna's talk.
Matt Edmundson:They'll be out next week, I have no doubt.
Matt Edmundson:And we put out a clip on TikTok of Dan's talk on prayer.
Matt Edmundson:And it got retweeted, not retweeted, reposted By Stormzy.
Matt Edmundson:What?
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:So Stormzy repost Dan's little thing on prayer and Dan went
Matt Edmundson:a little bit viral on TikTok.
Matt Edmundson:And you should have seen Dan when I told him it was just
Matt Edmundson:like another three foot tall.
Matt Edmundson:I bet.
Matt Edmundson:It was like,
Jan Burch:wow.
Matt Edmundson:Stormzy, my man.
Matt Edmundson:Thanks for the repost, Bro.
Matt Edmundson:Appreciate it.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:That's brilliant.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, Dan's face was plastered all over the
Matt Edmundson:internet last week, which is amazing.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, no, that's great.
Matt Edmundson:That's great.
Matt Edmundson:So what's coming up next week, Jen?
Jan Burch:Same
Matt Edmundson:again.
Matt Edmundson:You have no idea.
Matt Edmundson:I'm asking you cause I'm just buying a little bit of time while I find out of
Jan Burch:it today in keeping up, I'm afraid.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, that's all right.
Matt Edmundson:I didn't know either.
Matt Edmundson:So let me grab my glasses.
Matt Edmundson:So next week, we have Pete Farrington talking about
Matt Edmundson:being led by the Holy Spirit.
Matt Edmundson:Ah, it's me and Will hosting next week.
Matt Edmundson:Oh, nice.
Matt Edmundson:It's good to know that ahead of time, which is great.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, Will and I will be back next week.
Matt Edmundson:He's also a legend, always enjoy hosting with Will.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, he's great.
Matt Edmundson:He doesn't smell as good as you though, Jen.
Matt Edmundson:No, of course he doesn't.
Matt Edmundson:Fortunately, they can't smell him down the camera.
Matt Edmundson:But yeah, I'm Chanel, is that what you are?
Matt Edmundson:I love Chanel.
Matt Edmundson:Whenever I hear the word Chanel, do you remember that?
Matt Edmundson:I know.
Matt Edmundson:No.
Matt Edmundson:The thing that went on Instagram with a lady that lost her parakeet called
Matt Edmundson:Chanel, she had a parakeet called Chanel.
Matt Edmundson:And there's this video that went, if you Google it, I think it comes
Matt Edmundson:up, there's this video of this lady walking down the street going Chanel.
Jan Burch:Okay, thanks for that.
Matt Edmundson:So yeah, whenever I hear the word Chanel, I've just got
Matt Edmundson:this lady in my head, just screaming the name of this parakeet which she'd lost.
Matt Edmundson:So yes, thanks for that.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, you're more than welcome.
Matt Edmundson:You have to watch the video to understand the humor.
Matt Edmundson:I'm really sorry, because everyone's What's wrong with you, Matt, right now?
Matt Edmundson:That's a big question.
Matt Edmundson:I don't know if we'll ever get to the
Matt Edmundson:answer, but but listen,
Matt Edmundson:Jan, for joining me.
Matt Edmundson:Matt.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, absolutely, Jan.
Matt Edmundson:Thanks everyone for joining us on the live stream and for your comments.
Matt Edmundson:Great to see you.
Matt Edmundson:Great that you're here.
Matt Edmundson:Do stay with us.
Matt Edmundson:Do subscribe wherever watch this or listen to it from because we've got,
Matt Edmundson:we're just literally starting this whole series on biblical wholeness and
Matt Edmundson:we have got a long way to go because I've seen some of the notes coming up.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, we've got a fair few to go through.
Matt Edmundson:Be ashamed to miss any of them.
Matt Edmundson:Do be ashamed.
Matt Edmundson:It would be a shame because I'm quite enjoying this whole talk series, actually,
Matt Edmundson:I'm becoming hopeless, but I find it deeply challenging because it's making me
Matt Edmundson:rethink a lot of things, like even today, scripture Am I reverence in scripture in
Matt Edmundson:a way that I should, and pastor Alexander.
Jan Burch:Hello Pastor Alexander
Matt Edmundson:from the Congo.
Matt Edmundson:Is that the limit of your French?
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:No, it's not good.
Jan Burch:Should have Tim here.
Jan Burch:Maybe I can speak.
Matt Edmundson:Jan's husband is a French teacher.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Jan Burch:Yes, I know my verbs though.
Jan Burch:Do you?
Jan Burch:Yeah, I've never forgotten my verbs.
Matt Edmundson:Very good.
Jan Burch:Yeah, pretty useless though.
Jan Burch:Yeah.
Jan Burch:There you go.
Matt Edmundson:There you go.
Matt Edmundson:There you go.
Matt Edmundson:It's great to see you Pastor Alexander.
Matt Edmundson:I hope you're my friend.
Matt Edmundson:Absolutely.
Matt Edmundson:Always lovely to see you in the live stream.
Matt Edmundson:But yeah, have a fantastic week wherever you are in the world.
Matt Edmundson:I will see you next week.
Matt Edmundson:Merci, Bonsoir.
Matt Edmundson:When are we back on?
Matt Edmundson:When will you see the folks next?
Jan Burch:A few good few weeks.
Jan Burch:Is it a few
Matt Edmundson:weeks?
Matt Edmundson:John will be back in a few weeks.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, have a look at that.
Matt Edmundson:I could, let me just put my glasses back on.
Jan Burch:I think it's a wee while.
Matt Edmundson:It's a wee while is it?
Matt Edmundson:Oh, you're on twice in May.
Matt Edmundson:Back to back.
Jan Burch:Oh.
Matt Edmundson:Not quite sure how that's happened.
Matt Edmundson:Maybe Sadaf needs to have a look at that.
Matt Edmundson:Anyway, you'll see the you'll see the good folks in a few weeks.
Matt Edmundson:But yeah, have a great week wherever you are.
Matt Edmundson:Have a great week, everyone.
Matt Edmundson:God bless you.
Matt Edmundson:I'm gonna play.
Matt Edmundson:I think I just need to reach over there and press the right button.
Matt Edmundson:But yeah, it's been great to see you.
Matt Edmundson:Enjoy the concert.
Matt Edmundson:Hasta pronto.
Matt Edmundson:Oh, yeah, Peter's in Spain.
Matt Edmundson:So we've got Peter is in Spain.
Matt Edmundson:We've got Pastor Alexander, who's in the Congo.
Matt Edmundson:Wow.
Matt Edmundson:And we're in Liverpool.
Jan Burch:It's amazing.
Jan Burch:Yeah, it's crazy isn't it when you think it through.
Jan Burch:God's in all three places.
Matt Edmundson:And the rest of the world.
Matt Edmundson:But mainly in Liverpool.
Matt Edmundson:But
Matt Edmundson:mainly in Liverpool.
Jan Burch:And God's a Nevatonian.
Jan Burch:Yeah, he's not.
Jan Burch:He is.
Jan Burch:No, he doesn't need that.
Jan Burch:He told me he was.
Matt Edmundson:He doesn't need that amount of pain in his life.
Matt Edmundson:He's got enough trouble with his kids.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah,
Jan Burch:neither do I, let me tell you.
Matt Edmundson:Oh, we're getting on to politics and football.
Matt Edmundson:That's a faith adventure, isn't it?
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, it's a faith adventure.
Matt Edmundson:Go on and stretch your faith, become an Everton fan.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah, that's fine.
Matt Edmundson:You're all Everton fans in your house.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:Yeah.
Matt Edmundson:I'm sorry about that.
Matt Edmundson:It's a burden I have to bear.
Matt Edmundson:It's just a burden you've got to bear.
Matt Edmundson:That's awesome.
Matt Edmundson:Have a great week.
Matt Edmundson:All right, guys.
Matt Edmundson:Love you lots.
Matt Edmundson:Have a great week.
Matt Edmundson:Like I say, don't forget, if you want to know about Alpha, do get in touch with us.
Matt Edmundson:We'd love to see you on the Alpha course this week.
Matt Edmundson:So catch you soon.
Matt Edmundson:All right.
Matt Edmundson:Bye for now.
Matt Edmundson:Bye!
Matt Edmundson:Thank you so much for joining us here on Crowd Church.
Matt Edmundson:Now if you are watching on YouTube make sure you hit the subscribe button as well
Matt Edmundson:as that little tiny bell notification to get notified the next time we are
Matt Edmundson:live and of course If you are listening to the podcast the live stream podcast,
Matt Edmundson:make sure you also hit the follow button.
Matt Edmundson:Now by smashing the like button on YouTube or writing a review on
Matt Edmundson:your podcast platform, it helps us reach more people with the message.
Matt Edmundson:That Jesus really does help us live a more meaningful and purposeful life.
Matt Edmundson:So if you haven't done so already, be sure to check out our website, www.
Matt Edmundson:crowd.
Matt Edmundson:church, where you can learn more about us as a church, more about
Matt Edmundson:the Christian faith, and also how to connect into our church community.
Matt Edmundson:It has been awesome.
Matt Edmundson:Awesome to connect with you and you are awesome.
Matt Edmundson:It's just a burden you have to bear and hopefully we'll see you next time.
Matt Edmundson:That's it from us.
Matt Edmundson:God bless you.
Matt Edmundson:Bye for now.