Podcast Summary: "What Do You Want Me To Do For You?"

The Church of Eleven22 – When He Asks – Week 7
Date: December 29, 2024
Host: The Church of Eleven22 (led by Pastor Joby Martin)

Episode Overview

This episode from The Church of Eleven22 wraps up a seven-week series called "When He Asks," focusing on the questions Jesus asked throughout the Gospels. The centerpiece for this week is Jesus’ question: “What do you want me to do for you?” The message explores what’s beneath our requests of God and emphasizes rediscovering awe in Jesus above all else. With a strong tone of encouragement and challenge, Pastor Joby Martin leads listeners to examine their desires, their relationship with God, and their response to Jesus’ offer of freedom and transformation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Global Mission & Partnership (00:02–06:17)

• Celebrating Mission Partners: The episode opens with introductions of Pastor Warner, his wife Gabby, their son Santiago (Santi), and Spencer Bolter (founder of Six Eight Ministries in Costa Rica). Pastor Joby celebrates the church’s role in supporting global church planters.
• Symbolic Gifts: Pastor Joby gifts Warner’s family with doorstops (a reminder to keep church doors open for the lost) and a Navy SEAL’s watch (symbolizing spiritual warfare and the church’s support for their mission).

Quote (Pastor Joby, 02:40):
“Keep the doors open to people, to come to know Jesus. … They are living in darkness … and they need somebody to fling wide the heavenly gates.”

• Prayer Over Planters: Elder Barry Chandler prays for the family, reflecting on the Great Commission and the call to spread the gospel everywhere, even amidst hardships.

2. Revisiting the Series: The Questions of Jesus (06:17–10:51)

• Series Recap: The focus of the seven-week series is on the 307 questions recorded from Jesus in the Gospels, inviting self-examination.
• This Week’s Question:

“What do you want me to do for you?” (08:05)

• Core Teaching: The ultimate answer to this question is not material gain but a deeper desire — “Jesus, I want you to be you for me.” The aim is for renewed awe and affection for Christ.

Quote (Pastor Joby, 08:35):
“What we really need is for Jesus to be Jesus to us and then stir in us an awe and an amazement and an affection for him like we have never had before.”

• Defining Awe: Pastor Joby recounts personal moments of awe (meteor shower, brain science), making the point that distraction, familiarity, and complacency often kill our awe of God.

3. Obstacles to Awe: Distractions, Familiarity, and Sin (10:52–18:54)

• Distraction: Technology and busy lives crowd out wonder for God; even preaching can be interrupted by electronic distractions.
• Familiarity: Over time, we stop seeing the extraordinary (both in nature and God’s work) because it becomes normal — “we settle for mud pies when God has a holiday at the sea for us” (ref. C.S. Lewis).
• Sin: Sin diminishes our awe in God and keeps us from worship.

Quote (Pastor Joby, 13:51):
“You know there’s a war for our awe, don’t you? … We have an enemy … and you have a culture that would love for you to be in awe of you and me to be in awe of me.”

• Solution: Hebrews teaches us to “fix your eyes on Jesus.”

4. The Passage: Mark 10:32–45 – Jesus’ Example and Our Response (18:55–41:39)

• Jesus in the Mundane: The disciples walk an ordinary road — but Jesus’ presence turns the ordinary into awe-inspiring.
• Unique to Christianity: Other religions say, “Rise to God,” but the Gospel is God coming down to us (Emmanuel: God with us).
• Jesus Fulfills God’s Promises: All of Scripture’s promises (“one in ten to the seventeenth” odds) are fulfilled in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Quote (Pastor Joby, 23:55):
“How amazing is Jesus that He would fulfill every promise of God. They all find their yes and amen in Him.”

• James & John’s Request:
  • They ask Jesus to place them at His right and left in glory — a foolish, self-centered request.
  • Jesus’ Gracious Response: He listens, doesn’t rebuke, and redirects them—showing patience and accessibility.

Quote (Pastor Joby, 27:29):
“How amazing is Jesus that every time you and I, no matter how stupid and ridiculous our requests sound, that He would hear us.”

• Jesus Answers All Prayers: Sometimes “yes,” sometimes “no,” and sometimes “wait.” God always gives what is best for our good and His glory, even if the answer doesn’t match our desires.
• Community Dynamics: The other disciples become indignant at James and John’s request. Jesus brings everyone together and teaches that, in God’s kingdom, greatness is found in serving others—not in authority or power.

Quote (Pastor Joby, 33:42):
“How amazing is Jesus that He doesn’t take us when we sin … and run us off. Instead, He shapes us, disciples us. … He says, ‘No, you’re mine. I will keep you. I will never lose you.’”

• Sanctification: Jesus is endlessly patient, working to shape our hearts and lives over time.

5. The Gospel Heart: Jesus as Servant and Ransom (41:40–46:59)

• Key Verse Highlighted:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

• Gospel Explained:
  • Humanity is captive to sin and death.
  • Jesus’ death was the ransom—His infinitely valuable life paid for our freedom.
  • Through faith, believers are set free — not just improved but resurrected and made new.

Quote (Pastor Joby, 44:02):
“He didn’t just pay the price of what you and I are worth; He paid the price of what He’s worth. And He has infinite worth.”

• Call to Respond:
  • Remember: Recall what Jesus has done.
  • Repent: Turn from sin, distraction, and apathy back to Jesus.
  • Receive: For those stirred for the first time, receive new life and freedom in Christ.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Distraction and Familiarity

  “We have virtually infinite capacity [for awe]. I just don't have an excited personality. Yes, you do. I've seen you watch football games.”—Pastor Joby, (10:52)

• On Jesus’ Unique Role

  “The entire storyline of scripture is God coming to be with us.”—Pastor Joby, (19:23)

• On Prayer and God’s Faithfulness

  “He is interceding for His people. … You have direct access through Jesus, your great high priest. And He hears every single one of our prayers. He does not turn a deaf ear to us.”—Pastor Joby, (27:45)

• On Sanctification

  “We got to sand some of those edges off ... We’re going to get there. Hold on. It's why you and I are still drawing breath in our lungs. How amazing is Jesus that He does that?”—Pastor Joby, (34:12)

• On the Heart of Worship

  “You are more than enough. You are everything we need. And so we come to adore you and to worship you and to glorify you and to stand in awe of you.”—Pastor Joby, (46:28)

Important Timestamps

• 00:02 – 06:17: Missionary introduction, symbolic gifts, and prayer
• 06:17 – 10:51: Recap of the "When He Asks" series and introduction to today’s key question
• 10:52 – 18:54: Discussion on obstacles to awe (distraction, familiarity, sin)
• 18:55 – 33:40: Breakdown of Mark 10:32–45; Jesus’ interaction with disciples and their requests
• 33:41 – 41:39: Jesus’ response to pride; sanctification and kingdom living
• 41:40 – 46:59: Jesus as the ransom; final gospel invitation; call to remember, repent, receive

Conclusion: Responding in Awe

Pastor Joby closes with an invitation to worship in true awe of Jesus—remembering what He’s done, turning from all that numbs our wonder, and receiving afresh the freedom He won for us. Whether long-time Christians or first-time listeners, all are called to a posture of adoration:

“We're gonna sing like people who love the Lord and who are in awe of Jesus.” (46:50)

This summary captures the key teachings and tone of the episode, geared for anyone longing to experience or recapture genuine awe for Jesus and His gospel.