Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Throughout our previous five lessons in this class, we have been thinking about biblical productivity in increasingly practical terms.
[00:00:10] Sam did a great job kicking us off, helping us think about primary spheres in which we're to practice biblical productivity, namely with our resources, over our responsibilities and within our relationships. And then Joe helpfully introduced us to some of the more practical tools and methods we might use to cultivate a greater sense of order within each of those areas.
[00:00:34] And in all of this, we've increasingly narrowed our focus toward practicality that we kind of might tie it all together today. So this is going to be the lesson where we move from the 30 foot, 30,000 foot view of biblical productivity into the day to day, crawling out and around the weeds of how we actually implement some of these specific routines and habits.
[00:00:57] So, and we are going to do all of this endeavoring to do it for the glory of God, for the good of one another, and for our own personal growth and sanctification.
[00:01:07] So to give us a passage to kind of give us a foundation and a footing to explore some of these ideas, we're going to look at Philippians 2, 12, 18, if you guys have your Bible with you.
[00:01:19] And as you're turning there to Philippians 2, just setting the stage with a little, little bit of context. At this point in his letter to the Philippian Church, Paul has just spent the last 11 verses describing in detail Jesus Christ's own example of humility.
[00:01:36] So Paul talks about how Jesus emptied himself, how he took on the form of a servant, how he humbled himself to the point of death, even death on a cross.
[00:01:46] So that's the verses that proceed where we are this morning.
[00:01:50] So when you see that word therefore at the start of our section, know that everything Paul is about to say comes on the heels of Christ's own example of humility as Paul outlines it and details it.
[00:02:02] And it's here by highlighting Christ as the chief example of humility that Paul is going to call these Philippian believers to no longer look just to their own interests, but also to the interests of others. And as Paul challenges these Christians to think in terms of a Christ centered humility, the Lord would have us today to give freely of ourselves that those around us might flourish.
[00:02:26] This is what true humility is. So let's read and let's explore these ideas.
[00:02:30] Philippians 2, starting in verse 12.
[00:02:34] Therefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence.
[00:02:41] Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
[00:02:49] Do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain, even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon a sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
[00:03:15] Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
[00:03:20] So as we kind of explore this idea of working out our salvation and what that's to look like, I want us to notice that this section begins with a command, as Paul writes to this church. And that command is work out your own salvation. And that's a phrase that I've kind of wrestled with in the past, not really knowing what that idea is.
[00:03:41] But I think said differently, the sentiment is simply live like a Christian ought to live.
[00:03:47] And then right after that, Paul gives the grounds for this command as well as the confidence needed to keep it, where he says, for or because it is God who works in you to will and to work for his good pleasure.
[00:04:02] Okay, that's great. Thanks, Paul.
[00:04:05] But practically, how do we actually do do this? How do we work out our salvation?
[00:04:10] That's where the rest of the section comes in as we work our way through it. And if you only write down or remember one kind of overarching thing from today, here it is, and it's in your handout. Live like this.
[00:04:26] And yes, this T H I S is an acronym.
[00:04:31] So to live like this means to be thankful, holy, immovable and selfless.
[00:04:40] And as Christians, these things are to be markers of all our endeavors.
[00:04:45] So my hope here is to establish a sort of memorable litmus test that we can each use as we gauge our daily pursuits of productivity, our practices, our habits, our commitments. Are we pursuing a type of productivity that is pleasing to the Lord and beneficial to those around us?
[00:05:03] For to live like this is to exhibit the markers not of a worldly productivity, but of a godly one.
[00:05:09] So thinking first of thankfulness, looking at verse 14, what Paul states negatively, I'm simply stating positively here, he says to do all things without grumbling or disputing.
[00:05:23] I think the antidote to these attitudes is the Christian posture of thankfulness.
[00:05:28] So without grumbling with thankfulness.
[00:05:32] And this marker is to be evident in all we do. Verse 14, phrase all things is where we get that.
[00:05:40] And Paul speaks here to the whole of life. So if that's the case, certainly this command has implications for spheres of life we've been talking about over the course of the last five weeks with our responsibilities and relationships and resources.
[00:05:55] And the good thing about these categories that I think Sam really did a great job breaking down for us is that they're true and they're relevant for all of us, no matter the stage of life we find ourselves in. And this is true regardless of the season you're in, that this passage here would call you to thankfulness as you seek to practice productivity and be faithful with your time.
[00:06:18] And I also recognize that thankfulness is not something we can just manifest.
[00:06:24] There are legitimate toils we face in this life, many of which are not often satisfying or fulfilling. At times, unmet desires can sometimes veil our sight of God's goodness and faithfulness. And in these types of moments we, or at least I often am prone. I am not prone to thankfulness, but more often I am prone to grumbling. I'm prone to, to self pity, to anger instead.
[00:06:52] But to those of us who are Christians, I think something Augustine said is helpful and it's very succinct and a simple idea, but it's foundational to what we believe and who we hope in. When he said, he who has God has everything, he who has everything, but God has nothing.
[00:07:13] So remember Christian, that in the Gospel when Christ offered up Himself, he gave us everything he had to give.
[00:07:23] Through the person and work of Jesus, you have been secured by a sinless Savior and blood that he shed for you for a lasting and eternal and never going to come to an end life in his presence.
[00:07:38] So because of Christ and His saving work in the Gospel, we as Christians, we have every reason to be thankful. And we thought briefly about this last week, but I want to highlight it again just as we kind of work tie a bow on this on this class this week.
[00:07:52] Because even when our circumstances might suggest otherwise, when worldly circumstances lack reason for thankfulness, our God never does.
[00:08:01] So let us pursue and commit to a posture of thankfulness. As we pursue productivity in its various forms.
[00:08:09] And then continuing on with what it means to live like this, we see that our manner of life is to be set apart that is holy.
[00:08:19] We are called to a pattern of life that is notably different from those around us in the world.
[00:08:25] And to live blamelessly and with innocence is to live a life that contrasts the crooked and twisted generations that Paul describes and highlights in the passage.
[00:08:38] The analogy used here is that of a light shining against a dark backdrop.
[00:08:44] This is what Christian living looks like when we compare it to the methods and pursuits of the world.
[00:08:50] Similarly, in the Sermon on the Mount, Christ will instruct his disciples directly to let their light shine before others, that the world might see their good works and give glory to the Father.
[00:09:01] So we are to shine as a bright light against a back dark drop, a dark backdrop, to give glory to the Father and to make that contrast known, that he might be made known through us.
[00:09:14] And as we pursue productive lives and faithful stewardship of our days, we must never lose sight of the fact that our lives as Christians are to be set apart and marked by holiness that would picture God in the world. We're to be distinct from the world, and our conduct, our priorities and our aims are right insofar as they honor and demonstrate the holy nature of our God. And thankfully and by his grace he helps us in this.
[00:09:43] Okay, so we're be thankful or be holy or also to be immovable.
[00:09:49] And to be sure, this kind of immovability is not a result of our own personal resolve, but instead that of the unshakable character of the God we serve, the One to who we commit all our daily efforts.
[00:10:05] And as verse 15 overflows from verse 16, it tells us in part how we're to live as those who are blameless and innocent, as those who are holy in the world. We do this by holding fast to the Word of life.
[00:10:21] And what's interesting here is that we get both the basis and the timeline for what endurance or synonym here. Immovability is to look like God through His Word offers us life, and this is true life that he alone can offer, true life that is fulfilled ultimately at the day of Christ.
[00:10:44] And this kind of all satisfying life is not found by emptying an email inbox or delivering a project on time, though these things are certainly fulfilling and can be, and they're rewarding and they are a gift from the Lord insofar as those things are true, but they themselves never bring life to us. God alone can do that. And God through His Word speaks life to us that we might hold fast to it.
[00:11:13] And the culmination of what holding fast looks like finds its place at the day of Christ.
[00:11:19] That is when Christ returns for his own and brings them home into his presence fully, fully. And finally, we're not made immovable by building a good system of organization that's so strong nothing can ever fall through the cracks.
[00:11:35] But we're made immovable by looking to the finish line, the promised future day when we enter into the joy of our Master.
[00:11:43] But in the meantime, with the strength of our Lord, we can live and labor with an immovable kind of confidence in these truths. As we set our hand to the practical things, and then finally ending the idea of what it means to live like this, we're going to think about what it means to be selfless in our pursuits.
[00:12:04] And ultimately these things find their culmination in being selfless and the outpouring of oneself.
[00:12:10] For Paul, it was his highest joy to be poured out as an offering on the altar of his fellow saints. And I know personally this verse really challenged me as I spent time on this lesson, because I was then forced to ask myself, am I really someone who delights to be poured out for the sake of others?
[00:12:29] That feels like a very.
[00:12:31] A very, very generous delight to take that often I don't in my state, but it's clear that Paul was certainly delighted to do this, and it gives us an example that we ought to strive for as well.
[00:12:48] Because this class has been entirely and largely on a trajectory of getting more and more practical in scope, I think that's been a good and right aim for us. And with a topic like productivity, I think this is a good overall plan of attack. And I think that's been a good way for us to approach it.
[00:13:05] Concepts and generalizations are helpful to a certain degree, but they only really get us to the foundational level, which again is good. But we want to get beyond just a foundation of concepts and broad categories and more into the day to day. How do we actually implement some of these things?
[00:13:25] But in thinking about this, if our pursuits of time management and self control find their end with us, we actually miss the forest for the trees.
[00:13:35] Our efforts to faithfully steward the days given to us by the Lord should not end with us.
[00:13:42] If that happens, that often is going to lead to pride, to greed, to idolatry.
[00:13:48] However, if being productive in all of life's areas are rightly set against our aims as they should be, we do this with others in mind.
[00:13:58] So productivity then becomes a way to make much of others and to serve others, rather than a way to make much of ourselves.
[00:14:06] In John 15:13, Jesus says, Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
[00:14:15] Jesus not only taught this kind of pattern of self sacrifice, but he modeled it more perfectly and more fully than anyone else ever could.
[00:14:23] And a life patterned after this kind of example is one that will be marked by selflessness and humility in every manner of life. So let this be true of our productivity pursuits as we go from here.
[00:14:38] And then it's at this point in our class today that we're kind of going to make the pivot from the passage we've been primarily focusing on to the practical. What are some of the things we can actually do with all that we've talked about and we've already discussed again the three core areas that make up every one of our lives?
[00:14:58] We each have resources, we each have responsibilities, and we each have relationships that we are all to productively steward.
[00:15:07] But my goal now is to give you guys three separate lists, each including five ideas.
[00:15:14] Just very simple, very practical ideas that might help you begin flexing your productivity muscles in each of these areas.
[00:15:22] And this is obvious, but to be very clear, these are not even close to exhaustive list. This is just me hoping to at least give one or two ideas you might find interesting or potentially helpful. So let these ideas, and this time now, serve as a kickstart to your own personal brainstorm of what other habits or routines you might implement or change as you seek to grow and faithful biblical productivity.
[00:15:49] So, thinking first about resources, and when we talk about resources, I think we're talking about both time as a resource and material resources. Like what do you have that the Lord has entrusted to you and how might you use it for the betterment of others?
[00:16:06] So, number one, have a budget.
[00:16:10] This is one that entire books have been written on. So I'm not going to belabor the point. There are resources you can find that will be much more helpful and detailed than I am able and qualified to give. But my oversimplified advice for making personal finance less of a headache is to have a budget live on less than you make and review your spending regularly. Because healthy organizational habits can lead to healthy financial habits. And often the same is true vice versa.
[00:16:43] So having and maintaining a budget is a very tangible way that we can faithfully steward what God has given us. And ultimately this discipline exercises our muscles of self control in ways that will often extend into other areas of our lives as well.
[00:17:01] Number two, time block your day.
[00:17:05] So as you use a calendar to plan your days and your weeks, I would start by prioritizing and guarding the larger chunks of time and then fill in the gaps with the smaller ones.
[00:17:19] There was this video we watched, Amy. I don't know if you remember this or not, but we had this weird class in our high school that was Called enrichment. I don't know if you guys had similar ideas to this, but we basically just covered random topics, like learning how to tie a tie was one of them.
[00:17:38] And I don't remember what we were supposed to draw from this lesson, but I think it was the idea of like fitting priorities into your life. And there was this big jar that this guy tried. He was trying to put sand and pebbles and like bigger rocks into, and you only could fit it all if you put the big pieces in first. So if you put the sand in, it wouldn't all fit because your base is too full. All that to say the idea of starting with bigger chunks and then filling in the gaps with smaller is often a good way to manage our schedules.
[00:18:10] So whether it's a meeting or a focused study session, if you're a student, tell yourself what you're going to do and when you're going to do it. And do this by making it concrete with an actual calendar event. So actually commit to a start time and end time in your calendar. And of course, unforeseen activities are also going to come up.
[00:18:32] So build in some dedicated flexibility too.
[00:18:36] I would even encourage you to include actual time blocks in your calendar that are just set aside as margin time.
[00:18:44] And this is strictly added cushion for when things don't go according to plan. This margin time just might give you some of that extra freedom you need to accommodate the unforeseen as your weekend folds and avoid falling behind the more idealized plan that you might have started with.
[00:19:02] Number three, start your morning in the evening so mornings can quickly and easily become more chaotic than they need to be. And if you're anything like me, a hectic morning will lead to a hectic day, and a hectic day will distract me from what matters most and what's most important.
[00:19:23] So to guard against this, to set yourself up for success, ask yourself what morning routines you might could shift to the night before.
[00:19:32] Could you go ahead and prep the coffee pot so that all you have to do in the morning is press the start button?
[00:19:39] Maybe you would be helped by laying out your workout clothes so they're in a stack and all you got to do is put them on?
[00:19:46] Could you make a lunch and leave it in the fridge so all you have to do is grab it on your way out the door?
[00:19:53] These are the kinds of things that the tired tomorrow morning version of you will be thankful for.
[00:20:01] Number four, limit your screen time.
[00:20:05] And this one could and perhaps should be its own entire class.
[00:20:08] But just I'm going to Start with a few simple suggestions and ideas to at least get us thinking.
[00:20:16] So maybe you try simplifying or even clearing the home screen on your phone so that whenever you open it you don't have a thousand apps staring you in the face. Maybe you have white space for example.
[00:20:29] On mine I have a few key apps that I use every day. I have a couple automations that are just like super simple routines that are helpful and then a big chunk of white space is the rest of it.
[00:20:43] So aside from my really stripped down home home screen, if there's an app I want or need to use, I have to go find it. And that I say go find it. It takes like maybe three seconds, but I've personally found this forced pause to be helpful just in making me a little more thoughtful in what I'm doing on my phone. It can cause a helpful level of friction that forces me to ask myself, am I truly doing something because I need to do it? Or am I just board?
[00:21:13] Or maybe you could consider making select areas of your life technology free zones.
[00:21:20] Whether it's your daily time in God's word, whether it's the dinner table, whether it's the Sunday morning gathering, try treating certain areas of your life as devices are off limits here. And maybe these zones are specific hours of the day. Maybe from 8 to 10pm you don't want to be on your phone. Or maybe they're physical locations.
[00:21:43] Personally, I've tried to commit to waiting rooms being a place that I don't pull my phone out because that's like peak. I'm just bored and feel awkward. So I'm going to pull my phone out and just to warn you, you will look like a freak if you just sit there. And the goal is to be okay with that and to be okay with slowness and just thinking and taking those times to pray rather than just to needlessly engage our minds with the quick hits that our phones can often offer to us.
[00:22:14] And you might also try to regularly, even maybe you have a cadence like once a week or whatever it might be to make a point and go out and do something without a device even on your person.
[00:22:26] So leave your phone at home, go on a walk, ride your bike, sit on the porch, eat at a restaurant. Really it doesn't matter what you're doing.
[00:22:37] But this regular habit is just a good way to lessen our dependence and our tie to our technology, and it can give us freedom to disconnect. Even if that's only for a brief time, this can still be greatly Refreshing. So build the muscle of doing this to help ensure your technology remains at your service and not the other way around.
[00:22:56] And then number five, practice regular hospitality.
[00:23:01] So as you see people throughout your week, whether that's at church or in the grocery store, and the compulsory we should get together soon is uttered, be propelled to take genuine initiative. Don't just say that or receive that as an empty phrase, but try to create a running written list of people who you want to connect with. And then make it a habit to regularly work through it. So maybe you have a list of names and just as a backlog, you just work through them one at a time.
[00:23:33] And then coupled with a list like this, you can have a recurring to do list item or calendar event that reminds you to be doing this, to be scheduling these types of dinners or hangouts with people.
[00:23:48] Because as we all know, life quickly can get busy and often disciplines like hospitality can be the first to fall by the wayside. So let's heed scripture's call to a life of hospitality and make it a regular practice to demonstrate it to others.
[00:24:04] Okay, so now moving into our five items for responsibilities.
[00:24:10] Number one is wield the trident.
[00:24:15] What is the trident?
[00:24:16] Well, Harry Potter has a wand and an invisibility cloak. Batman has his utility belt and its myriad of gadgets.
[00:24:24] Katniss Everdeen, a bow and arrows. But what about the productive individual? What are his tools of the trade?
[00:24:31] Well, Tim Challis, in his book Do More Better, he gives three, and they're the very same that Joe highlighted just a couple weeks ago. That's a to do list.
[00:24:40] A calendar and a notebook.
[00:24:44] These three are the tools that will give you a bedrock foundation on which you can build an organized system to help you manage all that's going on. And of course, these tools are going to take on a variety of forms and they can be used in a thousand different ways. They can be digital, they can be analog, they can be this type or the other. But most basically, these tools will give you everything you might need to faithfully manage your responsibilities.
[00:25:10] And if you have specific questions about implementing any of these tools, I'd love to talk with you after this. And as genuinely as I can possibly say this, I would love to talk to you about this. I get fired up about it and love talking about it. So we welcome that.
[00:25:26] Number two, know your one thing.
[00:25:30] At the start of each day, try identifying a single task as your non negotiable for the day.
[00:25:38] No matter what happens, no matter the unforeseen needs that might arise commit to getting this one thing done and this one thing. This is not a list of priorities, this is a single priority.
[00:25:52] Often when we have a list of many things, they can derail us from one another. But if we make our focus very narrow on one thing, the likelihood of success on getting that done is much greater.
[00:26:05] And it feels underwhelming to have one thing that we're focusing on.
[00:26:09] But a Bill Gates quote that I actually think is helpful here is that most people overestimate what they can do in one year and they underestimate what they can do in 10 years.
[00:26:19] So if we do this one thing focus, it helps us play the long game and it helps us do it one day at a time.
[00:26:26] And bonus tip with knowing your one thing is to do it first if at all possible. Because the longer the can get kicked down the road, the more likely it will be to fall off.
[00:26:37] Number three is to make important dates visible.
[00:26:44] So some dates are too important to forget and we need to make sure we keep them top of mind. So make sure you put them in a calendar or add their related actions to some kind of task manager or to do list or written list or however you are going to be most successful in remembering it.
[00:27:03] Whether it's an anniversary or a friend's birthday, get these dates marked in your system on a recurring basis. So you don't have to trust your brain, it's just going to remember them.
[00:27:14] And having this information written and accessible will ensure you see it and remind you on the date you need it most. But it will also aid you in the days leading up as you can look out on the horizon and see what's coming up.
[00:27:27] So this way if you need to make any plans on the front end, like if you're planning a dinner, buying a gift, whatever the case, you'll be less likely to face that very last minute panic. That's just the worst feeling.
[00:27:39] Number four, don't get caught without a notepad.
[00:27:44] As we've established, the humbling reality is that we are forgetful creatures and my challenge to each of us is that we would live a life with a notepad in arm's reach.
[00:27:56] It does not matter if it's physical or digital. If you are in here and you have a smartphone, you have a notes app that can be a notepad. I'm more of a pocket notebook kind of guy, but whatever gets the job done.
[00:28:10] It does not matter if this notebook is physical or digital. Again, does not matter if it's bound with leather or if it's tattered everywhere, but give yourself a tangible way to record information quickly.
[00:28:22] Maybe you keep one on your desk, maybe you keep one in your pocket, your purse, your backpack, your car, your nightstand. Whatever you need to do to give yourself this option, make sure you can write things down if you should need to.
[00:28:37] And along these lines, don't assume something has to be profound or absolutely critical before you decide to put pen to paper. Lower the bar for what you might consider noteworthy, and then give yourself the freedom to use these kinds of tools imperfectly, especially at the beginning.
[00:28:57] And then number five is to organize information by project or topic.
[00:29:05] So we were kind of talking about this even before the class started, but consider having a really simple folder structure that you can use across all apps or platforms. The key here is to stick to one generalized but still structured method for organizing our digital life.
[00:29:26] So personally, I use just three layers of folders. At the highest level, I have a folder for each area of my life, and that's work, personal, and church.
[00:29:39] And then within each of those I have folders for individual projects or regular topics that fall within those.
[00:29:47] And then in those folders I store files. That's it.
[00:29:51] And for me, this approach strikes the balance of a simple but effective method of keeping things straight.
[00:29:59] And what's helpful about something this simple is it's not a big labor to rebuild it in a different app or a different service.
[00:30:07] So I'm able to use this same structure across all platforms. And for me, that's Google Drive, icloud notion and todoist. All of those structures look the same across all those apps.
[00:30:19] And if you want to go down a more in depth, insightful rabbit hole on this topic, I would recommend Tiago Forte's book Building a Second Brain.
[00:30:29] This resource really helped me shape my system into what it is and what it looks like today. And I found it really helpful.
[00:30:36] And then moving on to relationships, thinking about our list of items there.
[00:30:44] So firstly, in our relationships make it easy for your yes to actually mean yes.
[00:30:53] So if you find yourself frequently forgetting things you've committed to, consider scheduling reminders that help you remember.
[00:31:02] To schedule tangible reminders like this does not make your resulting actions any less genuine or legitimate. At one point in my life I had this burden that I felt like if I had a reminder set to reach out to a person or to pray for a specific thing, that it felt like it wasn't genuine because I didn't just spontaneously think of it.
[00:31:22] But eventually I learned that by committing to tangibly reminding myself of that, I'm actually giving it the value it deserves. That I'm not going to forget it, but I can trust that I will remember.
[00:31:33] So rather, by taking initiative and working to ensure you follow through where you said you would, you are going to demonstrate that you value faithfulness in your dealings with others.
[00:31:43] And digital reminders are an excellent way to get things out of our minds and into our systems.
[00:31:48] And I found that an especially great way to do this is through voice commands.
[00:31:54] Pretty much any smartphone that I'm aware of will allow you to create a reminder without ever having to touch the screen.
[00:32:01] So that means you can quickly and reliably create a reminder as soon as it comes to your mind, whether that's in the car, on a run, at your office.
[00:32:11] This is a great feature you can take advantage of.
[00:32:15] So Number two Encourage someone Every week build a habit of regularly encouraging pastors, supported workers, and fellow church members.
[00:32:29] Pastors do the incredibly hard work of shepherding God's flock, and we sheep are to show them double honor as they labor in this way. Thinking about First Timothy 5:17 and missionaries have gone out for the sake of the name and we ought to be those who support ones like these. Thinking about 3 John 7 and 8 and as members one of another we are to regularly gather and encourage one another as the day of Christ draws near. Thinking about Hebrews 10:25 so though God is ultimately the one who keeps us to the end, in his wisdom he has given us one another as a means of grace and strength on our journey toward heaven.
[00:33:09] And I think one practical way we help one another on this journey toward heaven is by simply telling them when we think about them and how we pray for them.
[00:33:18] And modern technology lets us do this very quickly by sending a text or an email. And this certainly has its perks, this ease and this speed. But even better, I think is the time tested slow and intentional act of writing someone a letter.
[00:33:36] There's a level of effort inherent to writing someone a letter that I think is especially distinct now in our present day because when someone receives a letter from you, they know you thought of them. You got a couple ink stains on your hands, you covered postage, looked at their address and took that envelope to the mailbox.
[00:33:56] So modern communication is great and it should be used in all of its benefits.
[00:34:01] Snail mail is also awesome, so let's use both to the glory of God.
[00:34:07] Number three Become a regular.
[00:34:12] While getting out and trying new places is fun, it's also nice to have some really reliable options in our arsenal that we can continue to go back to.
[00:34:22] So when you find an establishment you enjoy supporting, whether that's restaurant or a coffee shop or an art studio, whatever it might be, Learn the Joy of Becoming a Regular Having a go to spot can also make planning and decision making that much easier when you get an opportunity for lunch or a meetup with a friend.
[00:34:43] I know at one point Michael Gaddy told me every time he had lunch plans he would make them at Tangiers because he loved Tangiers. And it was just, you know, you don't have to think about where to go. That's the spot.
[00:34:56] But a major bonus of becoming a regular is you also can learn the names of staff members as you're there, and you can use those names to build relationships in your future interactions.
[00:35:08] So do this with the aim of making people feel seen and valued as fellow image bearers, not just the means to your own ends.
[00:35:19] And number four, this one might get me booed, but it's okay. Get Off Social Media for those of you who want to take perhaps a more radical or more significant step that might differ from current routines, consider getting off social media altogether. Even if that's just for a brief time, try it and see how it goes.
[00:35:42] Crazy, I know, but though for some this might sound scary and intimidating at first, and I know I have had conversations with people where that has actually been the case, and I don't want to make light of that, but I do want to say that with this suggestion, I think people often fear, and this was true of myself at one point, I often would fear and make the excuse that I'm going to lose connection or with people in my life.
[00:36:10] However, from both my own experience and many conversations I've had with others who have done this, I think the exact opposite outcome has actually been true.
[00:36:21] As a result of getting off social media, people often see the more shallow relationships give way to fewer, deeper ones.
[00:36:30] Because rather than losing relational connection, people are going to gain it. Because usually what happens is keeping up with friends and family starts to require more work on your part. It requires a greater intentionality.
[00:36:45] We're no longer able to simply observe as a spectator on the lives of those around us from afar. But to hear updates and to know what's going on, we have to actually reach out, follow up, schedule lunches, pick up the phone and call and the rest.
[00:37:01] But to maintain relationships, the ones that truly matter, we have to put forth effort.
[00:37:08] And this in turn leads to relationships becoming richer and more meaningful.
[00:37:14] And then number five, prioritize the gathering.
[00:37:19] And you all know this already. But Christianity was never meant to be lived alone. Countless one one and other commands found in the New Testament imply the communal nature in which Christians are to live.
[00:37:32] And Joe reminded us of these a few weeks ago.
[00:37:35] But more specifically, I want to look at the one in Hebrews chapter 10 where he writes, the author writes, let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
[00:37:54] And that's verses 24 and 25.
[00:37:57] So to give of yourself, you have to first have others in your life you can give yourself to.
[00:38:03] So as you consider your involvement in the life of the church, I would encourage you to be eager to serve, engage in the life of the church, and endeavor to do so with the mindset of a producer rather than a consumer.
[00:38:20] So those are the lists, five ways we can think about our relationships, our responsibilities, and our resources. And again, these ideas are barely scratching the surface. Of all the ways that we could bring greater structure, routine order to our lives, and especially at first, what's more important than what we are trying is that we are trying to.
[00:38:44] So to build quality habits and quality systems like this.
[00:38:49] And what works best for you is going to take time and it's going to take iteration, and your needs are going to be changing depending on what season you're in. They're going to fluctuate, and that's okay, that's normal.
[00:39:00] But I would encourage you to commit to a mindset of continuously improving these things. So the goal here is progress, not perfection.
[00:39:10] And change often will happen much slower than we ever wish it would. And this holds true with disciplines, habits, routines.
[00:39:18] So in all of this, aim to be productive, maybe consider making some personal changes, maybe try some new habits, maybe recommit to some old ones.
[00:39:28] But regardless, as you commit to pursuing biblical productivity, do so for the glory of God and for the good of others.
[00:39:37] So that's what I've got this morning, and I know we have a few minutes left for questions.
[00:39:44] So if you guys, similar to how we have been, want to break up just into groups of however many, we can spend a few minutes on those questions on the back of your handout working through those.
[00:39:55] Thank you.
