Simplify Jesus

Myth #2: Church is Just Another Money Grab

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week’s episode is all about busting the myth that the church is just another money grab. We see lots of examples that feel like money grabs, like the televangelists that always have a new thing you have to have or another book that’s a must read. The truth is the church needs money to operate and serve the community and move their overall mission of spreading the gospel forward.

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Scripture References

Season Memory Verse - Romans 10:9 (CSB)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 Cor 9:14-15 (CSB)

In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel. For my part I have used none of these rights, nor have I written these things that they may be applied in my case. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! 

Mark 12:41-44 (CSB)

Sitting across from the temple treasury, he watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning his disciples, he said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had —all she had to live on.”

Luke 18:22 (CSB) - (Full Rich Young Ruler story Luke 18:18-23)

When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (CSB)

 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

Matthew 6:26-30 (CSB)

“Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?” 

John 16:33 (CSB)

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

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Music by u_8enhfp0w from Pixabay

Welcome to Season 2! This season is all about busting up myths about the church. This week’s episode is all about busting the myth that the church is a crutch for the weak. In a “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” world, it’s important we realize we can’t earn our way into Heaven. We can’t even really live the Christian life Jesus laid out for us without true strength. That strength only comes from God.

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Scripture References

Matthew 28:19-20 (CSB)

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 5:17 (CSB)

“Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Acts 7 - Story of Stephen

Matt 26 - Story of Peter Denying Jesus

Matt 27:46 (CSB)

“About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?””

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Music by u_8enhfp0w from Pixabay

Music by CHARLES_MICHEL from Pixabay

Episode 10 - Interview with John Teter; United States Coast Guard

John Teter joins Bill and Matt for a conversation about his experience in the church growing up and since he joined the Coast Guard.

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Scripture References

Matthew 22:27-40 (CSB)

“He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

Mark 10:21-22 (CSB)

“Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.”

Proverbs 22:6 (CSB)

“Start a youth out on his way; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.”

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Episode 8 - Bill’s Testimony

Bill shares the story that led him to where he is today with Simplify Jesus. Listen as he tells his story of being in control, giving up that control to God, and his experience that gives him his Outside Looking In perspective.

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Scripture Reference

Romans 8:28 (CSB)

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

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Episode 7.5 -  A Call to Action: Get Back to Church

Going through the COVID pandemic turned a lot of things upside down, including going to church. The discipline of being there every Sunday had to fall to the wayside during the height of the pandemic. As society opens back up, we need to grow that discipline back and get back to church.

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Scripture References

2 Tim 3:16-17 (CSB)

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB)

“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

Matthew 18:20 (CSB)

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

Exodus 20:8 (CSB)

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”

Romans 10:17 (CSB)

“So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.”

Proverbs 27:17 (CSB)

“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.”

1 Cor 12:12 (CSB)

“For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ.”

Hebrews 3:13 (CSB)

“But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.”

Hebrews 2:11-13 (CSB)

“For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying: I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing hymns to you in the congregation. Again, I will trust in him. And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.”

Matthew 16:15-18 (CSB)

“‘But you,’ he asked them, ‘who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus responded, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.’”

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Episode 7 - What the Church is Supposed to Look Like

The church will never be perfect, but we have examples in life we can use as a comparison for what the church is supposed to look like. Just like working in a company or on a family ranch, we all have our roles to play in our local church and the global Church. No role is more important than any others, and the Church needs everyone to run efficiently and effectively in spreading the gospel.

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1 Corinthians 12:12-27

“For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. Indeed, the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, which our respectable parts do not need.

Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.”

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Episode 6 - Why waste my time going to church?

We all have reasons we don’t go to church, or have asked the question, “Why do I go to church?”

Churches come in all shapes and sizes, but what matters most is the gathering of believers to hold each other accountable, encourage each other, and love one another with the focus solely on Jesus. You can find sermons, worship music, and other aspects of church online, but it’s no replacement for doing life together in church. Whether you grew up in church and have fallen away, never been to church at all, or have lived a good life, there’s a place for you in the church today.

Click here for the study about loneliness increasing in society today.

Reference verses:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB)

“And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

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There are lots of “rules” associated with the church. Sometimes it feels like church is all about those rules, such as lightning will strike when you walk in the door because of something you’ve done in your past. We need to be careful how we handle and talk about the rules because being a Christian isn’t about the rules. It’s not about being good enough because nobody is perfect. It’s all about our relationship with Christ.

Tattoo Verse: Revelation 19:16 (NIV) (Did Jesus have a tattoo? We’re uncertain. But should we condemn those that do? Definitely not!)

“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

Verse references for rules:

Drinking

“For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”

Luke 7:33-34 (CSB)

If you think it’s wrong, why do it to begin with?

Dancing and Instruments

“David and the whole house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments, lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.”

2 Samuel 6:5 (CSB)

“Footloose: 1984”

Dressing your best - Come as you are (Or not)

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

James 2:1-5 ESV 

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?”

Tithing

2 Corinthians 6:7 (CSB)

“Each person should do as he has decided in his heart - not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.”

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Episode 4 - Denominations and Division in the Church

To have or not to have instruments? Baptism? Elders vs Deacons? Confession and healing? What does it all mean? Does any of that really matter?

There are lots of different denominations, but most of the differences are more about style than substance. Listen as we break it down for you a bit and discuss what really matters when looking for your church home.

Over 200 denominations in America. Over 45,000 in the world*

Every denomination has different origins**

1 Corinthians 1:10 (CSB)

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.

*https://www.livescience.com/christianity-denominations.html

**https://www.gotquestions.org/denominations-Christian.html

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