Podcast appearances and mentions of David Mathis

David Mathis | There is no greater aspiration than to give glory to God. This is what we were made for. But what exactly does it mean to give God glory?

David Mathis | God is sovereign. Man is responsible. How do these two plain biblical truths fit together in everyday life?

Why would a pastor write a theological book on exercise? Would Jesus exercise if he were here bodily today? What does the Bible say about exercise and physical activity? And are Christians sinning if they don't exercise? These are a few of the questions Sean and Scott explore with pastor David Mathis, author of the new book A Little Theology of Exercise. David is senior teacher and executive editor of desiringGod.org, pastor at Cities Church (Saint Paul), and adjunct professor for Bethlehem College & Seminary (Minneapolis). He is author of ‘Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines.' His articles and messages are available online at desiringGod.org/mathis. He is married to Megan and father of four children. Join us for ANCHORED: A Conference for Pastors, Church Leaders and the Community June 9-11, 2025. Hosted by Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in Southern California. Learn more and register at https://www.biola.edu/anchored ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

David Mathis | The life of faith may seem more difficult in a secular age, but Christians have always had a far different vision from the world's — and a far deeper joy.

David Mathis | After the horrors of Good Friday, a glimmer of hope appears for those with eyes to see through the sobs: the stunning provision of a garden tomb.

David Mathis | By riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus found the perfect way to say, “I am the long-expected King, but not like you expect. I am not just anointed but will be afflicted.”

David Mathis | When God laughs, he reminds us that he never worries, he never fears, and he is never under threat. The holy laughter of God puts his people at ease, and calls us to happily trust in him.

In The Passion Project, Pastor Kelly Kinder explores the reality of feeling physically full yet spiritually empty—and how biblical fasting can reignite our hunger for God. Kelly, known just as Kelly when he dives into Scripture, draws from passages like John 4 and Matthew 6 to demonstrate that giving up physical sustenance positions us to receive the far greater nourishment of God's presence and power.Kelly begins by distinguishing fasting from merely “not eating.” Instead, it's the intentional act of refocusing our attention on the Lord, echoing David Mathis's insight that fasting is a tool designed to channel our “holy discontent” in a fallen world. Throughout history, from the early church's twice-weekly fasts to present-day disciple-making movements abroad, believers have embraced this practice as a catalyst for revival. Kelly notes that such devotion cultivates an environment where we “partner with God to bring the kingdom into our midst.”Digging deeper, Kelly identifies four key benefits of fasting. First, it creates opportunities for kingdom encounters, as seen when Jesus prioritized His Father's will over food in John 4. Second, it carries a special reward. Drawing on Matthew 6, Kelly points out that Jesus promises God's reward for those who fast sincerely. Third, fasting fuels spiritual power over opposition. Kelly highlights Jesus' words about certain challenges that can only be conquered “by prayer and fasting,” illustrating how addictions, shame, and unbelief often loosen their grip when confronted with this discipline. Finally, fasting paves the way for the kingdom to expand beyond us. Kelly asks if our churches might remain stagnant because we haven't tapped into the dynamism that comes from persistent prayer and fasting.By weaving in practical considerations—like examining motives, choosing a specific type of fast, and clinging to God's promises—Kelly paints a clear picture of how to step into this life-changing practice. The heart of the matter isn't legalism but longing: are we hungry enough for God to temporarily forsake lesser appetites? As 1 Corinthians 4:20 reminds us, the kingdom is about power rather than mere talk, and fasting is one avenue God uses to unleash that power. If you're yearning for deeper spiritual breakthroughs—for yourself, your family, or your community—Kelly challenges you to pick up this ancient practice and rediscover a form of worship that can reshape your faith.We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more!Find us on Facebook & Instagram

David Mathis | God made men and women with both obvious and subtle differences — and these are features, not bugs. God delights in his good design, and invites us to do the same.

David Mathis | What role does your physical body play in the fight for spiritual joy? Sleep, diet, and exercise are friends, not foes, if we use them rightly.

"But the countercultural truth is that preachers are more like opera singers than like athletes." -- David MathisScript:"Preachers are more like opera singers than athletes." This is a quote by David Mathis from his Desiring God article No One's Born to Preach: The Myth and Truth of Pulpit ‘Gifting'. He explains that while athletes peak in their teens and twenties, musicians and singers often peak much later in life. He encourages preachers to continue developing, cultivating, and practicing their gifting. I can relate to this, and I want to share my experience as both a worship leader and a preacher. I've been a worship leader longer than I've been a preacher, and I believe I've gotten better over time. Yes, it takes practice, but I've also had the opportunity to lead in a variety of settings: Sunday mornings, larger events like retreats, and smaller settings like prayer meetings. As a preacher, I'm getting my reps in on Sunday mornings, but also in different areas, such as speaking to children and teaching in Sunday School. To my fellow preachers, I recommend giving this article a read. I pray that God continues to grow me as I steward my gifts of worship leading and preaching for His glory.Shownoteshttps://www.desiringgod.org/articles/no-ones-born-to-preachLinkshttps://www.diveindigdeep.com/https://newsletter.diveindigdeep.com/https://www.instagram.com/diveindigdeephttps://www.youtube.com/@soundwordsfm https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/soundwords

David Mathis | “More blessed to give than to receive.” These simple words from Jesus can transform burdensome requests into happy opportunities to get more from God as we give to others.

David Mathis | God may make believers in a moment, but he makes preachers over a lifetime. If you desire to preach, but doubt your present ability, envision the long arc, and seek to make progress over decades.

David Mathis | Our God is a great King, whom we approach with awe. And he is our Father, whom we run to with confidence. How does Christian prayer balance this paradox?

Friday, January 10, 2025 Due to inclement weather, today's show is the best of Kerby Anderson. In the second hour, Kerby welcomes David Mathis. Dr. Mathis brings us his new book, Workers for Your Joy. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/pointofviewradio and on Twitter @PointofViewRTS with your opinions or comments. Looking for just the Highlights? Follow us […]

David Mathis | Real peace during the holidays may seem like a far-off dream, but remember, the one who came will come again, and establish himself as King of Peace.

David Mathis | The prophet Micah took a piercing glimpse across the centuries to see a child emerging in Bethlehem, arriving from ancient times, and rising in strength to shepherd God's people.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”~Soren Kierkegaard “Now this is to be a fool— to act contrary to your own knowledge and better judgment.” “The moth is foolish that flies into the candle, and, having burnt itself, dashes again into the flame. We count the ox foolish that goes willingly to the shambles; but there are multitudes of men and women who take delight in sin; and, though every cup around them be poisoned, yet they drink at it as though it were nectar… We are great fools when we think that we can find pleasure in sin, or profit in rebellion.”~Charles Spurgeon “Only in Jesus can those born into folly, increasingly manifesting foolishness, on a crash course for destruction, be set free to true wisdom and ultimate life.”~David Mathis SERMON PASSAGEProverbs 1:7; 1:20-33; 12:15; 18:2; 26:11; 28:26 (ESV)Proverbs 17 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;  fools despise wisdom and instruction...20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,   in the markets she raises her voice;21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;   at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:22 “How long, O simple ones,  will you love being simple?  How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing   and fools hate knowledge?23 If you turn at my reproof,  behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;   I will make my words known to you.24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,   have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,25 because you have ignored all my counsel   and would have none of my reproof,26 I also will laugh at your calamity;   I will mock when terror strikes you,27 when terror strikes you like a storm   and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,   when distress and anguish come upon you.28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;   they will seek me diligently but will not find me.29 Because they hated knowledge   and did not choose the fear of the Lord,30 would have none of my counsel   and despised all my reproof,31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,   and have their fill of their own devices.32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,    and the complacency of fools destroys them;33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Proverbs 1215 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,   but a wise man listens to advice. Proverbs 182 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,   but only in expressing his opinion. Proverbs 2611 Like a dog that returns to his vomit   is a fool who repeats his folly. Proverbs 2826 Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,   but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

David Mathis | When you think of the church, do you fixate on present blemishes or remember the heart, and promises, of Christ? He knows her spots, and he keeps working to make her breathtaking.

David Mathis | When your eyes first open, what's your first priority? Your burning need each day is to get your soul happy in God.

The Christian Starter Pack, 3 of 6 from October 13th, 2024 “How we speak with Jesus shows our heart towards Him.” by Michael Lockstampfor (@miklocks) SUMMARY This sermon explores the essential role of prayer in the Christian life, emphasizing that prayer is not about following a system but about developing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Pastor Michael highlights that how we pray reflects our heart towards God and that prayer is a two-way communication where God is always attentive and waiting for us to engage. The sermon encourages believers to pray continually, pray with concentration, and use various postures and practices to focus their attention on God. REFLECTION & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

David Mathis | Christian, how often do you marvel that you have the Spirit of God in you? God with us has become God in us — empowering us, interceding for us, and testifying to us.

David Mathis | “You bring some strange things to our ears.” Some in Athens said it to the apostle Paul. Some in America will say it to faithful preachers today.

David Mathis | Your soul is being conditioned every day for what you will delight in five years from now. Are you training yourself for delight in Jesus, or for indifference to him?

Monday, September 2, 2024 In the second hour, Kerby speaks again with David Mathis. Dr. Mathis brings us his book, Workers for Your Joy. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/pointofviewradio and on Twitter @PointofViewRTS with your opinions or comments. Looking for just the Highlights? Follow us on Spotify at Point of View Highlights and get weekly highlights […]

David Mathis | Have the world's patterns and “cultural moments” dulled the global scope and Great-Commission interests of your faith?

David Mathis | Nine times in rapid succession, Jesus invites us into the very happiness of God. Surprising as that may be, his conditions for entrance may shock us even more.

David Mathis | Lay God's many pleasures side by side, and ask which one is his deepest delight. Across the scope of Scripture, one clear answer emerges.

David Mathis | At the founding, perhaps only as few as 10 percent of Americans were church members. So, what happened in the early 1800s, and what might we learn from it today?

Today we are pleased to share an audio essay written and read by David Mathis entitled "A Superlative Guide to All 15 Elder Qualifications". David serves as a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, as an adjunct professor at Bethlehem College and Seminary, and as senior teacher and executive editor at DesiringGod.org. He's also the author of 'Workers for Your Joy, The Call of Christ on Christian Leaders from Crossway'. Read the essay here. Complete this survey for a free audiobook by Kevin DeYoung! If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

David Mathis | Magnifying Christ in our bodies depends, in part, on understanding the story of our bodies — how God redeems what sin has seized and fits our flesh for glory.

The Practice of Righteousness Matthew 6:16-18 Seeking to Look Good (v. 16) The deceitful appearance The delightful applause Seek to Be Good (vv. 17-18) The distracting appearance The Divine approval More to Consider Author, editor, and professor Joe Carter has collected ten reasons for biblical fasting1: To strengthen prayer (e.g., see Ezra 8:23) To seek Gods guidance (e.g., see Judges 20:26) To express grief (e.g., see 1 Samuel 31:13) To seek deliverance or protection (e.g., see 2 Chronicles 20:3 4) To express repentance and a return to God (e.g., see 1 Samuel 7:6) To humble oneself before God (e.g., see 1 Kings 21:27 29) To express concern for the work of God (e.g., see Nehemiah 1:3 4) To minister to the needs of others (e.g., see Isaiah 58:3 7) To overcome temptation and dedicate yourself to God (e.g., see Matthew 4:1 11) To express love and worship for God (e.g., see Luke 2:37) Biblical Fasting: Why, When, How, and How Not to Fast. Thenivbible.com He made free use of Christian vocabulary. He talked about the blessing of the Almighty and the Christian confessions which would become the pillars of the new government. He assumed the earnestness of a man weighed down by historic responsibility. He handed out pious stories to the press, especially to the church papers. He showed his tattered Bible and declared that he drew the strength for his great work from it as scores of pious people welcomed him as a man sent from God. Indeed, Adolf Hitler was a master of outward religiosity--with no inward reality! Today in the Word, June 3, 1989. We fast in this life because we believe in the life to come. We dont have to get it all here and now, because we have a promise that we will have it all in the coming age. We fast from what we can see and taste, because we have tasted and seen the goodness of the invisible and infinite God and are desperately hungry for more of him. Fasting for Beginners, David Mathis, desiringgod.org

David Mathis | Are the Ten Commandments binding on Christians today? Pay careful attention to the words of Jesus, how he handles the Ten, and the greater authority he brings.

In this breakout, David Mathis looks at the profound relationship Jesus had with Scripture, exploring how the fully human and fully divine Jesus came to know and embody the words of God with such authority and depth. This talk is not just about learning Scripture, but living it—highlighting the practices of memorization and meditation as vital to a vibrant Christian life. 

David Mathis | For now, the church appears with spots and wrinkles and many blemishes. But the day is coming when Jesus will present her to himself in splendor — as the reflection of his own majesty.

In this episode, David Mathis explores the vital yet often overlooked aspects of pace and pattern in our spiritual lives. Drawing on the life of Jesus, he discusses the transformative power of balancing engagement with retreat, and the significance of taking time to commune with God amidst the busyness of modern life. 

David Mathis | Every husband is a head, and every husband has a head: Jesus. And husbands lead best when they first know themselves weak and in need of his help.

In this episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast, Craig Thompson interviews David Mathis about the theology of exercise. They discuss the importance of exercise in their personal lives and how it impacts their roles as husbands, fathers, and pastors. They explore the biblical metaphor of running and the idea of embracing difficulty for the sake of reward. They also touch on the different types of exercise and the importance of finding enjoyment in physical activity. Overall, the conversation highlights the connection between physical health and spiritual well-being. In this conversation, Craig Thompson and David Mathis discuss the importance of physical movement and exercise in the Christian life. They explore how our sedentary lifestyles can hinder our ability to glorify God and serve others. They emphasize the need for balance and moderation in caring for our bodies, avoiding both neglect and idolatry. They also discuss the impact of exercise on mental and emotional well-being, as well as its role in parenting and community building. Overall, they highlight the holistic nature of the Christian life and the importance of stewarding our bodies for the glory of God. Takeaways Regular exercise can make us better husbands, fathers, and pastors by increasing our energy levels and improving our overall well-being. Embracing difficulty in exercise can train our will and help us develop discipline in other areas of life. Different types of exercise, such as aerobic training, strength training, and balance training, all have their own benefits and can contribute to our physical and spiritual health. Exercise should be enjoyable and bring a sense of playfulness to our lives. The biblical metaphor of running can remind us of the importance of perseverance and finishing strong in our spiritual journey. Our sedentary lifestyles can hinder our ability to glorify God and serve others. Caring for our bodies through exercise is a spiritual discipline that can enhance our mental and emotional well-being. Physical activity can be a way to bond with our children and set a healthy example for them. Exercise should be approached with balance and moderation, avoiding both neglect and idolatry. Engaging in physical activity can lead to a more joyful and obedient Christian life. Links A Little Theology of Exercise by David Mathis Your Health is a Spiritual Issue We Need to Talk about Gluttony If you find this podcast helpful, leave a review or share it with a friend! Subscribe to The Ordinary Christian Podcast Sound Bites “Exercise should be enjoyable and carry with it some play.” “Running is a biblical metaphor, a promise.” “In the midst of suffering, there is something good that's going to come out as a result.” “When you have easy access to Doritos, we are not concerned with gluttony.” “I want to let my light so shine in such a way that others see my good deeds and give glory to my father in heaven. That's going to take movement.” “I have a responsibility. God's given me this body. It's beautiful. Well, it's beautiful as it can be.” Chapters 00:00Introduction and Personal Background 08:23The Theology of Exercise and its Impact on Daily Life 16:00Training the Will through Exercise 29:24Personal Responsibility and Stewardship 36:24The Importance of Modest Upkeep 44:06Living a Happier, Obedient Christian Life

David Mathis | Christians are people of the truth — lovers of the truth, speakers of the truth, armored in the truth, as we follow Truth himself.

David Mathis | Tonight is not first about our griefs. But as we draw near to the sorrows of Jesus, we do indeed find comfort for every grief — and grace for every sin.

David Mathis | After a preacher has wrestled for days, even weeks, with a sermon text, and wrestled hard with the needs of his particular people, he can ask, Which glories here am I most excited to preach?

David Mathis | Seeming revivals come and go, but genuine, God-wrought awakenings share one vital ingredient: they are centered on the word of God.

What did Jesus do when he died on the cross? The answer to that question is the heart of the gospel. It's the most important thing that we could know about God — and the good news about the heart of the good news is that God has made it clear to us in the Scriptures. At the cross, we know that … “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” — Galatians 3:13. For our sake, “[God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” — 2 Corinthians 5:21. “Christ suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” — 1 Peter 3:18. The theological term for this is “substitutionary atonement.” It means that Jesus died for us, in our place. That is the main fact of the cross that we must understand and cling to, and when we do — when we cling to substitution as the main fact of the cross — then we can begin to see that it wasn't the only fact of the cross. Jesus was mainly our substitute, but he was also our example. One way to say it is that … Jesus as our substitute means he went to the cross so that we wouldn't have to. Jesus as our example means he went to the cross so that we would join him there. Both are true — and in today's passage, the call is that we join him there. In Philippians 2, verses 5–11, Paul shows us the example of Jesus, and he tells us to be like him.And I don't think we could overstate just how amazing these verses are. Most commentators say that this is the most important passage in Philippians — the first part of the letter flows into it, and the second part of the letter flows out of it. One commentator says that not only is this passage the centerpiece of Philippians, but it's the centerpiece of the entire New Testament!So I just wanna say: I'm so glad that God saved me and let's me do what I get to do right now. I can't believe I get to show you the things I get to show you today. There are three things I want us to see. They are three truths about the example of Jesus. Let's pray and we'll get started:Father, thank you for all of this, for this morning and this moment. Give us, now, eager hearts to receive what you have for us. By your Spirit and his power, show us the glory of Jesus. Help us to see him more clearly than ever before. In his name, amen. Three truths about the example of Jesus:1) The example of Jesus is practical.When I say “practical” I mean that it's immediately relevant. And this is important to keep in mind because by verse 6, the theological depth of this passage is overwhelming. Paul is mining the mystery of how Jesus thought in his pre-incarnate existence as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. So this is deep! There's a lot here!Which means we have to be careful that we don't lose sight of the forest for the trees. Because what Paul says here about Jesus is meant to serve a direct purpose — which is what he's just been talking about in verses 3 and 4: the topic is humility. We saw this last week, verse 3: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit…” That word “conceit” is extra special; it's the Greek word kenodoxia, which means literally empty glory — some English translations put it as “vain conceit.” Acting like you've got something when really it's a big bag of nothing. Empty glory. You get the idea. Remember that word.“Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”Then in verse 4, Paul just restates that same idea:“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”Paul is describing humility here, and it's humility for the sake of what? … You remember? Real church unity.We see the topic of unity in verses 1 and 2 and it goes back to the end of Chapter 1. Bringing It All TogetherPaul exhorts this church to be united, to have real church unity, which is not unity for its own sake. This is Holy Spirit unity that displays that we're living as citizens of heaven worthy of the gospel of Christ — Chapter 1, verse 27. So just for a second here, I want to bring together this passage with the end of Chapter 1. This is bringing together our last four weeks …First, our primary calling as a local church is to live together in this world as a witness to the all-satisfying value of Jesus … And that life together is manifest through real church unity … And though it's embattled unity from the outside and the inside, real church unity comes through humility — And if we want to know about humility, we look to Jesus. That's Paul's train of thought that leads us to verse 5. So we need to remember that the example of Jesus in verses 5–11 is meant to be practical. Jesus has modeled for us how to be humble, and being humble is absolutely necessary if people are going to get along. Good for MarriageThat's why this passage is my favorite passage to preach at a wedding (getting along is helpful if you're married). I've preached these verses maybe 20 times at weddings (which means some of you have had to hear it a lot). This is no joke. A few years ago there was one couple, I officiated their wedding at the beginning of the year, preached Philippians 2, and then I did three other weddings later than year where I also preached Philippians 2, and that couple was at all those weddings. By the fourth time, I saw the couple before the wedding started, and I went up to them and said, Look, I think God is trying to tell you something.Seriously. Young married couples listen up — also old married couples — and everybody in-between … you wanna know a secret to a good marriage? Learn humility. If I could be personal for just a minute, today is March 3, 2024 which means that as of today, I've been married to my wife for 17 years. And look, 17 years ago, I thought I was riding into our marriage on a white horse, but it wasn't long before Jesus told me that I was on his horse and I needed to get off. Humility changed my life and my marriage … and I'm not pretending to be the expert on humility [the expert on humility around here is David Mathis — bro wrote a book titled Humbled] — I'll just say that whatever I know about humility, I learned it from Jesus, and this is the passage.Philippians 2:5, “Have this mind — the mindset just described in verses 3–4 — have this humble mindset among yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.So get ready. We're about to learn humility from Jesus. 2) The example of Jesus shows us true humility.This is gonna be clear in the passage, but I think we could also just use our heads to figure out that if we want to learn about humility, we're looking at the right place. Just think with me here, theologically. Two questions:Who is the humblest person to ever live? [Jesus]When was Jesus his most humblest? [at the cross]So add this up: we know the humblest person to ever live AND we know when he was his most humblest, so then whatever we think about humility, it should be shaped by that — right?! Of course!And that's where Paul takes us, starting in verse 6. This is the humility of “Christ Jesus” …“… who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”The cross of Christ is the paragon of humility — and I hope we never think about humility again without thinking about the cross. (That's one of my little goals for this sermon.)The cross was the ultimate, definitive display of humility by the humblest person to ever live — and so let's see how Jesus got there. We're gonna work our way backwards from verse 8.The end of verse 8: “even death on a cross.” That's the lowest. But before Jesus got there, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. And before Jesus got to that obedience, he became human — but not just a human, he became a slave — And what led him to do that? Verse 6: “he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself.”The Headwaters And right there in verse 6, in that counting (that calculating) — that is the headwaters of Jesus's humility. Verses 7 and 8 flows from that counting in verse 6. So what does it mean? What does it mean to “not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.”A lot of it has to do with that word “a thing to be grasped.” Let's focus in on that in verse 6, those words “to be grasped.”Now we know that Jesus is equal with God. He is God. The Bible teaches us that Jesus, God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, is eternally begotten of God the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, and these three real persons are of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence is undivided.Jesus is God! That's who he is. That's his identity — so then what's it mean that he did not count that as something “to be grasped”? This word here is only used this one time in the entire Bible, and so we have to look around in classical Greek to see how it was used there to try to figure out what Paul is saying.Well the word could also be translated as “seize” or “take advantage of.” It means to seize or to take or to lay claim to something that's rightfully yours. Jesus didn't do that with his ‘God-ness' — his glory. He knew who he was, but he didn't take advantage of his identity, instead, he emptied himself. And that word “emptied himself” should send us back to verse 3, “vain conceit” (kenodoxia, empty glory). Part of the same Greek word in verse 3 that means “empty” is used here, but see here Jesus didn't have vain conceit, he didn't have “empty glory” — he emptied himself of the rights of his true glory. … There's a little play on words going on — Jesus didn't act like he had something but it was a big bag of nothing; Jesus had everything and he made himself nothing. He emptied himself of the truest glory of all.Jesus, being eternally God, his glory is immense and incomprehensible. He is almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute. He has always worked all things according to the counsel of his most righteous will, and he said: I don't have to seize that. I don't have to take advantage of the rights of my true glory, so … I'll become a man, I'll become a slave, I'll become obedient to the very end, suffering to the point of death, I'll even die on a cross.A cross — There could be no more extreme opposite to his glory. Nobody — not a single Jew and not a single Philippian shaped by the values of the Roman Empire — nobody would have ever thought that the man on the cross could be God. There was no category for that. Not for that kind of shame. When Jesus emptied himself to the point of death on a cross, he subjected himself to not only people not recognizing him as God, but he also subjected himself to everyone thinking the absolute worst of him, and he never tried to set the record straight. And that was actually the thing that they went for, if we can remember his cross.And we have to join him there, okay … the humblest man to ever live in his most humblest moment. It was three hours, from noon to 3pm on Good Friday. That was the humblest man's humblest moment, but was there a most humblest moment within that humblest moment? — I don't know — but, I can't help but think about what the onlookers said to him. That Is Who I Am!First I should tell you a story (and forgive me if you've heard this story before) … When I was in 5th grade I won an art contest, which was pretty cool because I won like $100 bucks and my art (it was a drawing) was gonna be displayed at this big county-wide event. There was gonna be a big exhibit, art everywhere, and my first place art was gonna be there front and center.So my mom and dad took me to this thing so they could see the picture I drew — they had not seen it yet. So we got there, and you could see the ‘first place area' at a distance, so we began to walk up toward my picture, and as we were walking up, the director of the exhibit was standing beside my picture talking to another kid my age — and as we got closer I realized that this kid was telling the director that my picture was his. The director guy was super interested and he was asking this kid all about certain details in the picture, and this kid was answering all his questions! But then I was standing there with my parents and it was my name under the picture. And so what do you think I did?With ever fiber of my being, I seized every possible fact I could to prove that the picture was mine. That's my picture! That's my name! That's my school! These are my parents — Dad, show ‘em your license! That is who I am! That's me! Don't deny me my glory! And I grasped for it. Do you remember what they said to Jesus at the cross? Radical Security in GodWe have to join him there.Behold the man upon a cross, My sin upon his shoulders; Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers.What did we say? … “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (see Matthew 27:40). Which was not a request. It was a statement. The scoffers didn't just not recognize Jesus as God, they called him a fake. A liar. Prove to us, they said — Right now, prove to us who you are!And do you know what he could have done? We've read the Book of Exodus around here.We know what he could have done, but what did he do?He still did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but he emptied himself. He did not take advantage of his glory. He did not vindicate his identity, but … he yielded the vindication of his identity to God.And that's it. That's true humility. According to Jesus — the humblest person to ever live in his most humblest moment — he shows us that true humility is the faith-fueled refusal of self-vindication. Or to say it positively, Jesus shows us that true humility is radical security in God. Jesus was so confident that the Father would take care of him that he didn't need to “get his.” He didn't have to prove who he was, because he knew who he was and he knew the Father would make it plain at the right time. So Jesus yielded … and yielded … and yielded … until he was dead on a cross … a cross.Given the Name“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name.”From the lowest possible low, death on a cross, to the highest possible high, God the Father says I'll tell you who he is. See, Jesus did not vindicate himself, but the Father vindicated him by raising him from the dead and declaring his name. THE NAME! The name above every name — and that name could only be one! It's the name Yahweh. Jesus is Yahweh. And then in verse 10 Paul quotes from the Old Testament Book of Isaiah, Chapter 45. It's a high point in Isaiah when God is declaring his unrivaled supremacy over all nations. Listen to Isaiah 45:21. This is God speaking: “21 And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. 22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'God says that about himself in Isaiah 45 and now here, in Philippians 2, Paul says that's about Jesus — “… at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”And any Jewish person hearing this would get the message, but Paul is also doing something else here.And this brings us to the third truth to see …3) The example of Jesus changes the way we see life in this world.Everybody focus on that sentence in verse 11, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” I want to make sure you see that word “Lord” in verse 11.Now the word “Lord” is a word that we use today, but I want us to think about it from the standpoint of this original audience in the First Century. Track with me:Anybody with a Jewish background would have heard the sentence “Jesus is Lord” to mean that Jesus is Yahweh. That's because the word “Lord” was the word substituted for the divine name “Yahweh” in the Old Testament. Out of reverence, Jewish people would not speak the name “Yahweh” but instead, whenever “Yahweh” shows up in the Scriptures, they would say the Hebrew word Adonai (“Adonai” it a title that means “Lord”). And so when the Greeks translated the Hebrew Old Testament, they put in their word for Adonai (Lord) which was Kyrios. So at this time, kyrios was the word Jewish people used for Yahweh. For Jews, Jesus is kyrios meant Jesus is Yahweh.But for everybody else, for all the Gentiles, the word kyrios (lord) meant something else — because “Lord” was the title used for the Roman Emperor, the Caesar. It is a well-documented fact by historians that people at this time called the Emperor Nero Lord. There's evidence from things written at this time and from things found, that in a Roman colony like Philippi, there would have been what was basically propaganda all throughout the city that said “Caesar is Lord.” Historians call this the “imperial religion.” Political loyalty to Rome meant you worshiped the Roman Emperor — you called him Lord. So for this little church at Philippi, as the Roman world around them was saying “Caesar is lord” — Paul says, No, Jesus is Lord. And you know what else? One day, everybody will know that. One day every knee will bow in all creation — every knee including Caesar's knee — will bow before Jesus, and every tongue — including Caesar's tongue — will confess, “Jesus Christ is Lord.”The one who died on a cross, the one who was mocked and despised, who was called a fake — he is actually the One to whom every creature must answer. Every single creature to ever live will bow to Jesus — Jesus who is Lord … Jesus who was the slave crucified … because he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. And we're supposed to be like him.We Don't Have to “Get Mine”And this changes everything. How could we ever look at this world the same?Especially if you're surrounded by a world, by a culture, that is antagonistic to your faith. What if it's a world that rejects you or even persecutes you, like the conflict that Paul and these Christians faced with the Romans. The Roman Empire had no idea who these Christians were and what that meant. And that's actually something we have in common with them. The surrounding world has never really understood who we are.I just was talking about this a couple of weeks ago with Pastor Mike Schumann. We were having lunch, and this place we were at was packed, and I was looking around and I said: Nobody in here knows that we are children of God, that one day we're gonna judge angels, that one day we're going to inherit the whole world, one day this restaurant is gonna be ours … and nobody in here knows.And what that means, at a very practical level, is that we don't have to go through this life always grasping to “get ours.” There might not be a more backwards way for a Christian to think than to have a kind of anxiety-driven, self-vindicating hustle mentality. A lot of times though we can see life this way. We can think about life the way Marshawn Lynch thought about football. Marshawn Lynch used to be the running back for the Seattle Seahawks, and once he was asked about his mentality on the football field, and he said: “I feel like on that field, there's no reason I can't run through you … I know I'm gonna get got, but I'm gon' get mine more than I get got, though.”I'm gon' get mine more than I get got. That might work for an NFL running back, but not for life, not for Christians.The example of Jesus means: I don't have to “get mine” — Because God is going to take care of me. We don't have to be afraid of going low, of being thought low. We don't have to fear the cross because we know Who we are — and we know where all of this is headed. That's what it means to be Easter people in a Good Friday World.And that was the witness of Kayla Rigney. Kayla walked through the valley of the shadow of death and she feared no evil because she was humble like Jesus, because she knew God would take care of her. See, Kayla is good Easter people. That's who we're called to be. That's the example of Jesus.Our radical security in God is our humility. And because of Jesus, like Jesus, we can be truly humble, to the glory of God the Father. And that's what brings us to this Table.The TableIf you're here today and you're not a Christian, I doubt any of this makes sense to you. You have to know Jesus first, and we get to know him by trusting him. And so I want to invite you to do that. If you've never put your faith in Jesus, would you put your faith in Jesus right now?For those of us who have trusted in Jesus, for those of us who hope in him, let's receive the bread and cup this morning and give him thanks. Jesus Christ is Lord! What a Savior!

David Mathis | Eternal conscious punishment may be the most emotionally difficult doctrine to affirm in our day. How do we handle the existential angst that hell creates?

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David Mathis | Teaching is the pastors' first and greatest calling, but it's not the only way we put God's word to work. Paul gives us four ways to use Scripture in Christian ministry.

Thursday, January 11, 2024 Today Point of View is hosted by our own Kerby Anderson. He will begin by bringing us an update of our current news. Then he speaks with Michael Johnson from the Slavic Gospel Association. In the second hour, Kerby welcomes David Mathis. Dr. Mathis brings us his new book, Workers for Your Joy. Connect with us […]

David Mathis | Resolved: to put the voice of Jesus first in 2024 — first in preference, first in practice, and first in priority.

David Mathis | Majesty himself came at Christmas — but with no majesty that humans yet could see. But the one who came without splendor would soon come into unsurpassed majesty as the risen and reigning Messiah.

David Mathis | Many miss the opportunity of Advent. Others commit to more than they can sustain. The wise develop a modest, Christ-exalting plan to make the most of the season.