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Illuminate Community Church Podcast - Pastor Jason Fritz - Scottsdale, AZ
Episodes
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. -Matthew 7:1-6
One of the primary reasons why people reject Christianity is found in these verses. Gandhi commented, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Sometimes Christians condemn and judge motives and they do so without mercy. There are those who no longer attend church because of this. Their faith has been shipwrecked on the rocks of harsh and condemning attitudes. Perhaps you know of some. Even well meaning followers of Christ don’t always get it right. However, there is an alternative. When loving correction is given, lives are transformed.
So what exactly does Jesus mean, when he says, “Judge not.” The word judge has a rather large bandwidth of meanings. For example a sharpshooter misses his mark and says, "I didn’t judge the wind correctly." What’s he really saying? He made a mistake in is evaluation. The Bible says that God will one day judge the world. This judgment involves God’s wrath and will consume and destroy the planet.
What’s the difference between these two judgements? One judgment is characterized by evaluation; the other judgment is characterized by condemnation. Here’s the point - Our responsibility is to evaluate, not to condemn. Only God has the ability to judge and condemn. It is our duty to judge and evaluate using discernment. A discerning spirit is constructive. A critical spirit is destructive.
How do you become good at this? You must first evaluate your own life before you speak into the lives of others. Once again, Jesus is there to help.
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Monday Mar 06, 2023
Not long ago, over a thousand Americans were asked to identify their anxiety triggers and this is the list of common answers…
• family and relationship problems
• work stress or job change
• change in living arrangements
• major emotional shock following a stressful or traumatic event
• verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma
• death or loss of a loved one
• pregnancy
Perhaps you can relate to one or more of the above. The Bible tells us not to worry or be anxious. It seems impossible. Jesus himself experienced a very intense moment in the Garden of Gethsemane when his sweat became like drops of blood. Whether you take that figuratively or literally, either way it was not a pleasant time.
In the sermon on the mount Jesus gives a message about worry. The context has him talking about the anxiety you might feel over physical objects - what you eat and drink, having clothes. He says, "Seek God’s kingdom first and God will provide what you need.” There’s a difference between needs and wants. You need not be naked and you need to be fed. Seek God first and he will provide these things for you. But what about all the other things that cause anxiety? The apostle Paul offers his Spirit inspired words…
...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Paul doesn’t simply say, “Don’t be anxious about anything.” He tells you how not to be anxious about anything. You see, the key to reducing your anxiety is this: in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. We are called to pray and make our desires known to God and make all our requests with thanksgiving. What does this mean? It looks like this... You pray and ask God for something to change and at the same time you thank him for whatever response he gives. Whether he brings it into your life or he doesn’t bring it into your life, you thank him in advance because he knows what you don’t. He knows what he’s doing. If it's the wrong thing and you don’t get it, thank him for that. If he gives you the opposite of what you ask, thank him for that. You don’t have to pretend that you're not let down, but you can still be thankful. Listen to the result of thankful prayer…
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
The opposite of anxiety is peace. Peace comes from being confident in God’s sovereign control over everything, including your life. Once you go to God the Father in prayer to ask for his help to handle a serious problem or situation, then his peace will be able to start to flow into you. And once his peace starts to flow into you, then you will feel his peace starting to calm you down – even in the middle of the worst kind of storm cloud you could imagine yourself falling into.
As Max Lucado says, “Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes he doesn’t. But he is always there to calm his children in the midst of the storm.”
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
For the last several weeks we’ve been looking at the words of Jesus in the most famous of all sermons - the sermon on the mount. It’s here that we see Jesus set the highest ethic of all time. You won’t find it anywhere else and I’ll prove it to you in one statement. Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” No one has lived up to this with any kind of consistency except for Jesus himself. In the world’s major religious systems you will commonly find the charge to love your brothers and sisters and people who share the same faith. You will be told to treat all people with respect and kindness but nowhere will you find so explicitly to love your enemy as told by Jesus.
If love is the greatest thing, then loving your enemies is the greatest thing love can do.
To be one who lives according to the kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of this earth is in a word: supernatural. This is the one act that sums up what it means to be a Christian and sets us apart. In Matthew 5:47 Jesus says this, “What more are you doing than others?” He’s asking, “What makes you different Christian?” Unless you live according to a heavenly kingdom ethic, you will be just like everyone else. You love people who love you, okay, everyone does that because it’s natural. Jesus is calling you to supernaturally love. The highest human ethic falls short of what Jesus is telling us. So don’t take your cues from the people around you. Don’t get trapped and confined by that. There’s something greater and higher for us!
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
For the last several weeks we’ve been reading the words of Jesus as he gives an incredible sermon on the side of a hill north of the Sea of Galilee. He’s been talking about what it means to live a righteous life. The word righteous means to live right. It is to think, act, speak and do as God desires. Jesus’ topics include purity, loving others, reconciliation, and speaking the truth. When a person knows and applies these things there comes a new temptation. Arrogant hearts that say, “Look at all the wonderful things I’m doing. I'm such good person!" Or conversely, “Look at me and all the bad things I don’t do!” Either way, it’s a matter of pride. It's using good deeds to draw attention to yourself. So it makes perfect sense for Jesus to address this new temptation and once again he uses the religious leaders as an example.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:1-4
When I was a younger pastor I struggled a lot with this. I cared too much about how people perceived me. Even when I prayed in front of others I would wonder what they were thinking. It’s a smaller issue for me today because I’ve experienced the highs and the lows of living for the approval of others. The approval of man does not last long. The temperature of any crowd can quickly turn against you. At the beginning of the Passion Week the multitudes shouted at Jesus, “Hosanna!” Which means “Save us!” Jesus had something else in mind. He did come to save them but not in the way they expected. They wanted a political and national savior, instead Jesus came to save them from themselves. For this the people turned on him and at the end of the week they shouted, “Crucify him!”
Jesus uses two specific words to describe the person who falls into the trap of human approval...
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them…Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Matthew 6:1-2
The Greek word for seen is pronounced, "thay-ath-oh-nye" from which we get our english word theater. In verse two he uses the word hypocrites. The Greek pronunciation, "hoo-pah-kri-tayce" which means “one who wears the mask.” In other words, this person’s religion is nothing but an act. It’s a show. They are on the stage wearing a mask projecting someone they are not. Their good deeds are done for the applause of the people who watch. According to Jesus, our lives are to be lived for an audience of one who sees in secret and will reward us.
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Monday Feb 13, 2023
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, "Revenge is a dish best served cold.” What I think this means is that if you wait to pay it back, the wound will be deeper.
The message this Sunday is for anyone who has ever held a grudge. It is for anyone who has wanted to get revenge on another person. It is for those who have been mistreated and wanted to settle the score. In other words, this message is for every one of us.
The message is also for anyone who has felt the pain of a broken and damaged relationship that is yet to be restored. You see, the thing that ultimately destroys every relationship is the inability to forgive. It actually isn’t the offense, it's the withholding of forgiveness that causes the long term damage in your life.
Fact #1: In this life you will be wounded and wronged and you will do this to others.
Fact #2: In the church we will not always get a long with each other.
Jesus talked about these things…a lot. He said in this world you will have tribulation because the world is fallen and broken and filled with imperfect people. The US has more lawyers per capita than any other nation - over one million. Roughly one lawyer for every 300 people. That’s a lot of litigation from people who don’t trust each other.
In the Bible there are several examples of Christians having to be reconciled to one another. In fact there’s an entire letter, Philemon, that is meant to promote unity between two Christian brothers that are divided. Paul asks this question to Christians living in the city of Corinth 2000 years ago: "Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers?”
Forgiveness should be normal amongst God’s people.
Why is this important? Because it’s the way we deal with these offenses that determines the nature of our relationships. It’s true in your marriage, your friendships and in the church. When we withhold forgiveness, there grows a root of bitterness within us. Forgiveness has much to do with your own well-being. If you don’t forgive, then you will become angry and retaliate. This is human nature. Your heart will be filled with thoughts of revenge and this isn’t good for your soul. Jesus speaks directly to your hurt because he cares for you. He knows it well himself: forgiveness frees you to enjoy relationships and live with peace in your heart.
Monday Feb 06, 2023
Monday Feb 06, 2023
This Sunday we arrive at a command from Jesus that applies to all of us because we all speak. We all make promises and commit ourselves to things, places, and times. As a result, people are counting on us to do what we say. In general, humanity is not very good at keeping its word. Isn’t this the reason we have legal contracts? Because we are prone to breaking our promises we must get the weight of law involved…or else!
Some people are very good at using language to get themselves out of a sticky situation. For example, I heard a Christian apologist talk about the instructions you’re given before the plane takes off the runway. If you recall, there are specific words used to describe what you cannot do to the smoke detector in the lavatory.
“It is a federal offense to knowingly move, deface, damage, destroy, render inoperable or otherwise improperly tamper with any smoke detector.”
Why can’t they simply say, “Don’t touch the smoke detector.” Here’s why - because some crafty person has said, “I didn’t touch it, but I did damage it with this screwdriver.” Or, "I didn’t damage it, but I did disable it and you never told me I couldn’t do that!” The idea is simple - don’t do anything that would cause the detector to stop working properly. I learned they had to incorporate the words "render inoperable" because some smokers were taking wet paper towels and covering the lavatory detectors. However, they did not destroy or damage it. To do this is a federal offense and so is first degree murder! People find ways to get out of their promises and why legal contracts can be very lengthy. We have to make sure every loophole is closed so that things cannot be manipulated. A verbal agreement does not matter, we must have ink on paper with witnesses for an agreement that can be legally enforceable. Why? Because we humans can be very good at intentionally deceiving each other.
But there’s more. When God’s people say one thing and do another, it brings great harm to their Christian witness. This is why Jesus speaks directly to it. Let’s remember that the words of Jesus bring life. So we would expect our lives to improve when we do what he commands. Our words shape who we are. The promises we make and break directly affect our reputations and therefore influence the strength or weakness of our relationships. So join us for more wisdom as we hear from Jesus as he preaches on the side of a hill just above the Sea of Galilee.
Monday Jan 30, 2023
Monday Jan 30, 2023
"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
-Matthew 5:27-28
We live in an age where you can see more naked bodies in five minutes than your ancestors could see in five lifetimes. Technology has promoted lust in ways that could never have been imagined. Today’s accessibility of seductive images is unparalleled in human history. You have porn in your pocket and you take it everywhere you go. As a result there is more temptation to lust than any previous generation. Everyone can recall an early time in his or her life when they were exposed to the seduction of the lens. This widespread saturation means that everyone has been affected - either from addiction after compulsively watching or the person who has been shaped by false body images and ideas of what sex should be.
The simple fact is, there isn’t one longitudinal study that suggests watching porn makes your relationships better. There is an ever-growing body of research, and it can no longer be denied, that repeated porn exposure has a tangible effect on consumers and is connected to declining relationship satisfaction, not to mention all the various forms of exploitation.
So if you’re going down the wrong path and you have become what you subject yourself to, then it’s going to take some drastic measures to get on the right path. This is why Jesus uses hyperbole to get the point across beginning in Matthew 5:29-30.
"If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away."
Jesus is not speaking literally because if you were to remove one eye, your other eye would be used to feed your brain damaging images. You can access the keyboard with just one hand. The point is this - We must be drastic with ourselves in how we remove and avoid the temptation. Most of us make very half-hearted efforts. The desire might be there, but the self-control and reliance on God’s Spirit is not present. There is something more fundamental lurking behind your lust.
You are not alone and there is freedom. We want to help you take thoughtful steps to remove what gives you guilt and takes your purity. Jesus gives words of life!
Monday Jan 23, 2023
Monday Jan 23, 2023
If you’ve ever had conflict in your life, then Sunday’s message is for you. We’ve all been in situations where our feelings have been hurt. We have been wronged or mistreated and this causes stress and anxiety. The hard truth of the matter is that we also have been on the other side of that equation. We have been the one hurting others. This might be a stranger, neighbor, classmate, coworker, probably a family member or spouse. It could be the person sitting next to you at church this week. The opportunities for strife come when we are in close proximity with one another. So go ahead and think of the person’s name...
If the relationship is going to be made whole, then it will require something from you and it will not be easy. Some people run from conflict and avoid it entirely, others run toward it and make it worse. The words we read from Jesus today will help. They give clarity for what you should do next and how to do it. If it requires you to speak to the person, then you’ll know how to do that in a way that honors them and God at the same time.
When Jesus was here on earth He talked a lot about the Kingdom of God. In fact, that was His whole mission while among humanity. He said the Kingdom of God is at hand and blessed are the peacemakers. His Kingdom is one of peace and it begins with reconciliation between us and our creator God. If the kingdom of God is at hand that means it is here right now. If we are going to get a sample of God’s kingdom brought to earth, then we must live as Jesus did. What a blessing to give a taste of heaven to those around us!
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
In John 10:10, Jesus said that he came to give people abundant life. I think people desire this now more than ever. There are many modern voices giving advice and yet so many are stuck and confused. Certainly Jesus is worth hearing. After all, he is themost influential man who has ever lived. Let me forewarn you by saying that Jesus is the master at disrupting people’s lives in the best possible way
In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus paints a picture of what it looks like to be different in a world that is full of the same
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." -Matthew 5:13-16
Let me give you a bit of context…in the first 12 verses of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus explains two very different value systems. There exists an earthly kingdom and a heavenly kingdom. They are not the same. For example, the kingdom of heaven values gentleness over authoritarian power. It values humility over pride. God’s way values peacemaking over aggression and purity over self-indulgence. When one practices things like purity, humility, gentleness and peacemaking, there is real positive influence in this world. Additionally, you become an example for others to follow.
Next, Jesus gives a word picture and a helpful analogy. He uses two metaphors to describe the influence Christians have in this world: salt and light. And here’s what Jesus is going to say...Salt and light are not meant to be contained, they are used as agents for good. Jesus was the master at using metaphors to capture attention. Every household had both salt and light, so this was easy for people to envision. Themeaning here is deeper than what you might think because of the implications both salt and light had in the time of Jesus. Salt was used primarily as a preservative. In our time we use it mainly to enhance flavor, but back in the day there was no refrigeration as we know it today. Meat was kept from spoiling by rubbing salt on it. Salt delays the decay.
This is the implication to the world...
The world is decaying because of sin and darkness. There’s a beautiful line in theChristmas classic, Oh Holy Night. It goes like this…”long lay the world in sin and error pining...” The word pining means to waste away. Since the fall, the world has been wasting away under the weight of human sin and error. “...til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.” When Jesus arrived, the human soul knew its value because Jesus was willing to die for the sins and errors of all people. Not all would accept Jesus and instead they would stay in their sinful state. The pining continues. Theworld seems to get darker by the minute. What’s good is evil and what’s evil is good. But doesn’t the light shine brightest where it’s darkest? The world is decaying. Jesus sent us into the world to delay the decay by proclaiming the gospel!
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Monday Jan 09, 2023
Jim Rohn famously said that you are a composite of the five people you hang out with the most. “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” Well that might have been true 50 years ago but the age of social media has completely changed this. Today, we are influenced by algorithms based on our preferences. Consequently, we imitate people we have never met. The breadth of influence upon us is enormous and yet we are influenced most by the company we keep.
For example, Christakis and Fowler conducted a survey and found that if you have friends who smoke, then you are 61 percent more likely to be a smoker yourself. If a friend of a friend smokes you are still 29 times more likely to smoke. This can be applied to most every metric including happiness and depression. Your friends really are your future and this is why the concept of friend auditing has become pervasive. The implication is that you need to examine your entire social network and its influence on your life. If not, you might become the person you don’t want to be.
What’s particularly devastating is when people follow the crowd for no other reason than to gain an identity. I heard a prominent philosopher say that in his opinion the biggest threat society faces is from the narcissistic virtue signaler. These are people who adopt opinions and postures solely to garner praise and sympathy or whose good deeds are tainted by their need for everyone to see just how selfless they are. If virtue signaling can be tied to victimhood it makes for a very powerful voice. This is what makes much of social media a firestorm. If only victimhood gives a person the right to comment then there’s tremendous motivation to be a victim if you want to be heard. This isn’t to say there aren't legitimate victims who have reasonable voices, but for many, the temptation is all too common.
So whose voice is most important to you? In other words, who are you following? Can I give you an alternative voice? It’s a far better calling and it comes from Jesus himself. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
When Jesus wanted to recruit world changers he chose people who were not highly qualified or influential in society. These guys are simple fishermen. It reminds me of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:26, "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth."
This should be encouraging to everyone. I have heard people say things like, “I am not qualified”, ”I do not have the skills to talk about Jesus”, ”I haven’t gone to Bible College”, ”I'm afraid I will make mistakes”, “I don’t have what it takes” and so on. It is not our qualification that makes us worthy to be a follower of Jesus, it is his calling. Jesus said this in John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit.”
I love this quote: "No one is destroyed by obeying Jesus and there is no one who has prospered by disobeying Him." Jesus is calling you right now to follow him. Will you do it?