2819 Church Podcast Episode Summary

Title: WISDOM & WONDER | What Do I Still Lack? | Matthew 19:16-30
Host: Philip Anthony Mitchell
Release Date: January 4, 2025

Introduction and Personal Testimony

Philip Anthony Mitchell (A) begins the episode with a heartfelt personal update, sharing the recent loss of his mother-in-law during Thanksgiving week. He expresses gratitude for the support and prayers from the 2819 Church community, emphasizing the importance of transparency and acknowledging human vulnerability. This opening sets a tone of authenticity and connects listeners through shared human experiences.

Notable Quote:
"We are not machines. We are human beings. And so we thank you for your prayers." [00:00]

Overview of the Wisdom and Wonder Series

Mitchell introduces the episode as part of the final three messages in the "Wisdom and Wonder" series, which has focused on Matthew chapters 12 through 20. He welcomes both church members and guests, including digital disciples worldwide, highlighting 2819 Church's inclusive community.

Notable Quote:
"As you listen to these sound biblical messages you can expect to be challenged, stirred, matured and inspired in your faith and walk with God." [00:00]

Exploring Matthew 19:16-30

The core message delves into Matthew 19:16-30, where a rich young man approaches Jesus seeking eternal life. Mitchell emphasizes the universal human experience of feeling inadequate, whether due to lack of affirmation, personal insecurities, or life's circumstances. He distinguishes between legitimate feelings of inadequacy and those driven by religious deception, where individuals attempt to earn God's favor through works.

Notable Quote:
"There is some legitimacy and there are pathways that lead to healing when we're struggling with inadequacy as it relates to those things. But there is another place that inadequacy shows up in the life of human beings. And this area is mingled with deception." [04:35-07:14]

The Challenge of Religious Inadequacy

Guest Speaker (B) elaborates on how inadequacy can be manipulated within religious contexts, highlighting the futile attempts to earn God's grace through good deeds. This form of inadequacy is portrayed as more crippling because it creates an unending cycle of striving without true healing, necessitating deliverance through proper theology.

Notable Quote:
"There are people all around the country and all around the world, untold numbers of people who are trying to earn things from God that they cannot." [06:56-07:14]

Jesus' Encounter with the Rich Young Man

Mitchell recounts the biblical narrative where Jesus corrects the rich young man's approach, challenging his perception of goodness and emphasizing that no human can achieve moral perfection on their own. He points out that Jesus' response shifts the focus from self-reliance to recognizing the need for divine grace.

Notable Quote:
"Jesus does two things here. He corrects him and he teaches him first correction. The Lord says, why do you call me good? ... You could not earn salvation." [07:02-07:17]

The Failure of Outward Piety

The discussion highlights how the rich young man's adherence to certain commandments led him to believe he could secure eternal life, reflecting a broader tendency among believers to equate outward religious behavior with salvation. Mitchell criticizes this superficial approach, arguing that true righteousness cannot be earned through visible deeds alone.

Notable Quote:
"These are all the commandments people can see you keeping. These are all the ones that if you was doing it, people would say they're moral. They're a real Christian. We assume they're saved. We assume they belong to God." [25:58-32:09]

The Call to Perfection and Its Implications

Speaker B discusses Jesus' call for perfection, interpreting it as a call to moral excellence unattainable by human effort alone. He stresses that this highlights the impossibility of earning heaven through works, reinforcing the necessity of grace and faith in Christ.

Notable Quote:
"Perfection, as if you are God himself. Morally perfect is the criteria for heaven." [30:12]

The Difficulty for the Rich to Enter Heaven

Mitchell explains Jesus' metaphor of a camel passing through the eye of a needle, clarifying that it signifies the impossibility of earning salvation through wealth and self-reliance. This serves as a critique of American theology, which often equates material success with God's favor.

Notable Quote:
"The word needle here in Greek is talking about a sewing needle. ... Jesus, I don't understand. He's trying to tell them it is impossible for anyone to get into heaven on their own merit." [30:58-33:28]

The New World and Eternal Rewards

The conversation shifts to Revelation 20:11-21, where Mitchell describes the final judgment and the creation of a new heaven and earth. He contrasts the fleeting rewards of earthly life with the eternal promises of God, urging listeners to prioritize their relationship with Christ over temporal desires.

Notable Quote:
"There is no greater invitation a human being will get in this lifetime than an invitation from Christ to say, just come and follow me." [36:20-36:39]

Personal Testimony and Evangelistic Call

Mitchell shares a personal story about his mother-in-law's spiritual transformation, illustrating the power of genuine gospel proclamation. He emphasizes the importance of being agents of the gospel, sensitive to those around us who need to hear the truth about sin and salvation.

Notable Quote:
"And then there was a young lady sitting in that house who said, I've been sitting with your mom for the last three months... she said that my son in law is a pastor named Philip." [54:37-58:23]

Conclusion and Call to Action

The episode concludes with a fervent prayer and a call to action, urging listeners to confess their sins, surrender their lives to Christ, and actively spread the biblical gospel. Mitchell reinforces the message that salvation is solely through Christ's righteousness and not through personal merit, encouraging believers to deepen their love for Christ and prioritize eternal rewards over earthly achievements.

Notable Quote:
"Somebody just by faith, give God praise for those who gave their life to Christ." [61:25]

Key Themes:

1. Inadequacy and Salvation: Exploration of feelings of inadequacy rooted in both personal struggles and religious performance, emphasizing the need for divine grace over self-reliance.

2. Biblical Interpretation: Detailed analysis of Matthew 19:16-30, highlighting Jesus' teachings on moral perfection and the impossibility of earning salvation through works.

3. Critique of Religious Piety: Criticism of superficial religious practices that equate outward deeds with true faith and salvation.

4. Eternal vs. Temporal Rewards: Contrast between fleeting earthly rewards and the eternal promises offered by God, urging listeners to prioritize their spiritual relationship with Christ.

5. Personal Testimony and Evangelism: Sharing of personal stories to illustrate the transformative power of the gospel and the importance of genuine evangelistic efforts.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "We are not machines. We are human beings. And so we thank you for your prayers." [00:00]
• "There are people all around the country and all around the world, untold numbers of people who are trying to earn things from God that they cannot." [06:56-07:14]
• "These are all the commandments people can see you keeping. We assume they're saved. We assume they belong to God." [25:58-32:09]
• "Perfection, as if you are God himself. Morally perfect is the criteria for heaven." [30:12]
• "The word needle here in Greek is talking about a sewing needle. ... it is impossible for anyone to get into heaven on their own merit." [30:58-33:28]
• "There is no greater invitation a human being will get in this lifetime than an invitation from Christ to say, just come and follow me." [36:20-36:39]
• "He surrender my life to you right now. Lord, I pray you save sovereignly somebody listening to me right now." [60:33-61:25]

Final Thoughts:

In this episode, Philip Anthony Mitchell challenges listeners to reevaluate their understanding of salvation and righteousness. By dissecting a pivotal biblical passage, he underscores the futility of attempting to earn God's favor through works and encourages a deeper reliance on Christ's sacrifice. The personal testimonies and passionate delivery aim to inspire and provoke genuine introspection, urging the community to embrace the true essence of the gospel.