Behind The Pulpit
Our weekly pastors podcast where we discuss fun new stories, church events, previous sermons. As well as answering interesting questions from you!
Behind The Pulpit
Skeleton Crew
This week on Behind the Pulpit, Pastor Bob hosts a skeleton-crew episode with Tim while both Pastor Dave and Noah are out. The two reflect on the polar vortex, pond hockey season, and the surprising evolution of the Fresh Wave podcast, now a short-form youth devotional series. In their news segment, they tackle listener-requested controversy around Skillet’s metal rendition of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, discussing music styles, worship philosophy, and why genre debates continue to divide Christians. There’s also a ceasefire in the Book War, some ad-read jazz flair, and a few laughs courtesy of the ever-present Reese’s shrine.
In the sermon recap, Bob and Tim discuss James Rickershauser’s message on Isaiah 55:1–13 and the call to find true satisfaction in God. They explore spiritual thirst, the four classic idols (power, approval, comfort, security), and the challenge of trusting God’s providence—especially in suffering. The two also share reflections on why people still resist everlasting hope and what it looks like to pursue daily satisfaction in the Lord amid cultural pressures.
The episode wraps with this week’s Theology Sprint as the hosts tackle the question, “Does God want us to be happy?” Their brief discussion sets up a thoughtful conclusion, pointing listeners back to the deeper joy found not in temporary comforts but in Christ Himself.
This episode will also showcase a preview clip from our upcoming Underground Sessions interview with Amy Huber of First Choice, offering an inside look at her remarkable experience attending oral arguments before the United States Supreme Court. It’s a powerful behind-the-scenes moment you won’t want to miss.
**SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE SHOW HERE**
https://millingtonbaptist.org/sermons/behind-the-pulpit-ask-your-questions/
Fresh Wave
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8G7LHDsI9R2kMdhQ9eLWmErvDUsk_7_t
Blue Christmas
hhttps://millingtonbaptist.org/blue-christmas/
Mens Breakfast
https://millingtonbaptist.org/adults/men/
Serve with City Relief
https://millingtonbaptist.org/missions/cityrelief/
Well, hey there everybody, welcome to Behind the Pulpit for December the 8th, 2025. So glad you're joining us again. I I am uh uh Bob Burbig, one of the pastors here. Um if you are new to our channel, you can go ahead and uh like this video, subscribe, let us know that you are out there. Uh I think you can click on a notifications tab to let people know when we're when we're live or when things are premiering. Uh isn't that right, Tim? That is correct. All right, so make sure you do all of those things out there. Um unfortunately, uh we are missing again my esteemed colleague Dave, but uh we've we've left uh the Reese's shrine in his place. Um we'll see if one of these days it vocalizes something, but um Dave will be back next week, or so I'm told, uh, back from the the tundra of Louisville, Kentucky. We'll see what uh what happened down there. I'm sure he'll have about 20 book recommendations from his uh his time in his seminar. Um but today I'm here. I'm here with my uh my producer Tim. Tim, how's it going over there? Doing alright.
Tim:We uh we were without Noah Graves, too. It is a uh skeleton crew today. It's a skeleton crew for sure, but I think I think we'll make it. I think we'll be all right. Maybe it'll be a skeleton episode as well.
Bob:Tim, let me ask you, how are you dealing with the polar vortex? It's pretty chilly out there.
Tim:So I love um I like the cold. I do. I I I I'm grow as I grow older, I'm maybe it's because I'm larger. I don't know, but I just I I'm I like the cold. Um and one thing that the cold means is if it's below freezing, that means the pond freezes. Uh so I'm looking forward to playing some pond hockey and doing a little skating uh once once these ponds freeze over. So looking forward to that.
Bob:Alright, well, uh, hey, that's uh that's good. I know you're the hockey guy out there, so you would know know all about that.
Tim:Hey guys, I want to tell you about something that's fun and exciting happening in our own NBC Unhindered universe. You may remember the Fresh Wave Podcast, which was for Youth, by Youth, and Johnny, where Johnny Graves, our youth director, along with two co-hosts, first Felicity Henschel and then Matt Acudia, sat down and hosted a podcast with other members of our youth group to talk in depth about some things that they were thinking about, potentially struggling with, and different ideas in our culture today. Well, the Fresh Wave Podcast has transformed into a new program called The Fresh Wave. The Fresh Wave is a new weekly devotional series that is short. It's designed to be quick and informative, where Johnny and Maddie alternate week to week and talk about things that we think are important for teens to know and think about in today's day and age. To kick off that new wave of the Fresh Wave, Johnny and Maddie have been going through the fruits of the spirit. Uh, they're almost done with that and they're looking forward to seeing what they're gonna talk about next. The awesome thing about the new Fresh Wave is that it's so shareable. The episodes are short and they're also housed on both our YouTube channel and our youth group's Instagram page. This makes it really easy for parents to share episodes with their kids, other teens in their family, and also for our students to share on Instagram with each other. So whether you're a teen looking for content for yourself or a parent who's looking for content for their kids, the Fresh Wave is an awesome choice for you. Make sure you check out the Fresh Wave, available both on the NBC Unhindered YouTube channel and at the Rush NJ on Instagram. All episodes are streaming on both platforms right now, and more will come out every week.
Bob:Well, let's let's jump into a news story, uh, our world famous segment in the news. Alright, so I have a news story here, Tim, that was recommended to me by uh one of our top fans. Is that right? Can I say he's our top fan? I I think until proven otherwise, I think he's our number one fan. Alright, so John, John, Johnny, uh Johnny Bucksbaum, J Bucks. Battle of the Johns, honestly, it might be a battle between Bucksbaum and Ricker's house. That's true. That's true. They they'll hear from him later. That's that's right. He did write in a uh comment. Um well, so John was asking me to cover um a recent controversy on the uh Christian band Skillet. And uh if you don't know Skillet, I feel like Skillet's been around for some time, even back when I was in college, the early 2000s, and they're still making music. Their front guy, John Cooper, has uh, I think a popular podcast, as a lot of other folks do. Um, but apparently Skillet released a uh Christmas single, and it was a dramatic rock rendition of O'Cum, Ocum Emanual, which uh is one of my favorite songs. I think. Didn't we sing a rendition of that yesterday in the service?
Tim:I believe so, yes.
Bob:John Bonaventura was uh uh you know ta taking us away with that song.
Tim:We sang some sort of version of one of the Ocum songs.
Bob:Yes, yeah, there's a lot of uh a lot of O'Cum, Ocum Emanuel yesterday. Um but uh this got released last month. It it quickly topped the iTunes Rock and Christmas charts, but it caused some uh some controversy. And let me just read to you what the controversy was. So critics on social media and in some church circles argue that the aggressive style, screaming, and metal elements of the song make it sound like the devil singing hymns and therefore cannot glorify God. So I I'm not like a huge rock, heavy metal fan. I don't know, are you Tim? Do you do you prefer that that that style of uh music?
Tim:I enjoy rock and roll. Um big classic rock fan.
Bob:Classic rock, okay.
Tim:Uh I do so what gets me is I love like so I like metal music in this in the sense that I love the instrumentals, I love the guitar and the drums and all that. I I I can't get with the screaming. That's that's where I don't dislike it. Um but that's where I dislike it, that's where you lose me. But I I like the instrumentals.
Bob:Well, I guess I guess some people do do enjoy that. That's not my my cup of tea, as it were, as well. Uh, but some people like it. Uh but again, it caught it caused some controversy. In fact, a few pastors and commentators have claimed that Skillet is using demonic rhythms or ungodly music to praise God, framing it as a clash between sacred lyrics and dark-sounding musical styles. Now, some some people support the band. Those those that are enjoying this, this is what they say. It's simply a rock metal worship version of a classic hymn, stressing that the lyrics remain Christ-centered and that the intensity reflects spiritual longing and battle rather than anything satanic. So this is an interesting, uh, interesting discussion point here when it comes to to music. Um some people really are drawn to the high art, the classical, the um uh I don't know, son son I'm trying to think of the right word, but like just the that that that that uh like Beethoven-esque music. That's like the the pinnacle of of musical style, and and think that this the you know the Yeah, yeah, classical. There again, maybe that was the word I was looking for. But other other folks um enjoy these more modern things. So so the the debate that often happens is does the rhythm, does the beat of the music is it is that what's most important or is it is it the lyrics that that that that are are pointing out what is so good about the the song? Um I don't know. I I always remember listening to songs and and sometimes I feel like the the the bass and the and the the drums and everything kind of drown out, you can't even hear what people were singing. So what's more important, the rhythm or the lyrics? I don't know. What what would you say to that?
Tim:So I would I would say lyrics and also um heart posture in terms of why you're making the music. So I think if if God has given you the gift and the ability to make music and this is how you like to make music and you're you're glorifying him with lyrics that glorify him through that, um I I I don't see anything wrong with that. Like I I think there's a lot of really good Christian hip hop out there with some really good Christian lyrics, uh biblical, right out of the scriptures, lyrics. There's there's all sorts of musical genres where people are glorifying the Lord. Um I I don't see any evidence for a specific genre or musical style being satanic. I will say this we have three men who lead worship here at Millington Baptist Church. Um John and then Johnny and Doug, who who will fill in sometimes, and all three of them. I think I won't get in trouble for saying this. All three of them like metal music. So wow, okay.
Bob:Well maybe maybe they'll be screaming Oh come will come emanual in the coming coming weeks. Um yeah, yeah, very interesting. What what people might not know uh in this discussion is uh that there's a very famous hymn called A Mighty Fortress Is Our God that Martin Luther penned. Did you know that the uh the melody to that song was originally a a drinking song in in a bar in Germany? Those Germans, man. Those Germans were just and so Martin Luther took the that lyrics, the beat, and he repurposed it with uh with this uh wonderful hymnotic uh lyrics that really captured uh a glorifying to Christ. A mighty fortress is our God. A bulwark never failing, right?
Tim:That's interesting. That's one of my favorite like tunes, like hymn hymnal tunes. I always I always enjoy singing that song. Yeah.
Bob:So if you ever go to a bar in Germany, you can you can start singing that and see what happens.
Tim:Um also uh speaking of skillet, because this is what the conversation is around. One of our, I'll give him a shout out. I actually think he consumes the show. Uh one of our youth students, Jacob, um, is a huge skillet fan. He listens to pretty much just skillet. Um so I'd be curious um to hear what he has to say. Jacob, if you are in the comments, let us know what you think of the show.
Bob:Write a comment, let us know about it. Alright. So I I guess I think where we're landing is the the lyrics are more important than the beats, and uh we shouldn't dismiss this song just because it's using a genre we might not prefer. I I would agree. So John Cooper, the front man, uh, he publicly rejected the claim that the track is demonic, saying he sees no biblical basis for judging an entire musical style as inherently evil. And he also noted that the controversy over de devil's music and Christian rock is not new for the band, and he expressed appreciation for both supporters and critics while standing by the artistic and spiritual intent behind the song. So John says, Thanks for criticizing us, but we're gonna keep doing what we're doing. And that's where that's where the story is currently at. We'll uh we'll see where it goes. And uh I think I think we'll pause there. That's what's going on in the news.
Tim:Hey NBC, you know what they say Christmas, it's the most wonderful time of the year. But for some people, it's not. For many of us, the holiday season is a reminder of someone who we've lost that we're used to having around us during this holiday season. If that someone is you and the holiday season is really hard, we'd like to invite you to a very special event that we are having here at Millington Baptist Church called Blue Christmas. Blue Christmas will be on Wednesday, December 17th from 7:30 to 9 p.m. It's a peaceful, reflective space filled with scripture, prayer, and music, reminding us that God truly is close to the brokenhearted. If you or someone you love could use a moment of hope this year, join us on December 17th. We also want to stress that this event isn't just for those who've lost a loved one. If the holiday season brings sadness, loss, or is just overwhelming, this service is for you and we would really like you to come out. That's Wednesday, December 17th from 7 30 to 9 p.m. We hope to see you there.
Bob:Alright, so next, uh, we are into the book recommendations, Tim.
Tim:Yes, and we are currently in a uh in a truce. We're we're currently in a standstill uh in the in the book. Cease firebook war. Yes, the ceasefire in the book war, fire in the book war.
Bob:Um yeah, very true. Um, you know what? I I did want to comment to you, Tim, that I I uh I did watch the show last week and I've enjoyed uh speaking of beats of music, uh your little interjections for announcements, which probably occurred right before it switched back to me here. I don't know if we have enough announcements for that. I don't know, but you had you Tim gets on, Tim's now doing the announcements, and there's like this easy jazz music playing behind him, which is very calming. That takes you out of the rhythm of the show. So I the one couple of tell us your thinking behind this.
Tim:A couple weeks ago, we were like pressed for time, and I was like, you know, like I I think you and Pastor Dave or one of you had something to do, and I was like, you know, I'll just I'll just record the the the ads or whatever that we don't that we don't have to worry about it. Uh you guys don't have to worry about it. And then I'm I'm they're I'm editing those down, and then it's like it sounds like super radio-y, and I enjoy listening to radio. I listen to sports talk radio whenever I can, and all these like ads that they're that their producers or their their talent do are always backed by some like m little music. So I found this little jazz number that I thought would be fun behind it, and it's just this little little it's kind of groovy. I tried not to make it overpowering, but I thought it was fun. Changes up the the the pace a little bit.
Bob:Well, it was it was quite uh it was quite calming. I'm glad you're hopefully uh yeah this week. Who knows? Maybe you will be doing it with uh the heavy rock metal uh ski skillet track behind you.
Tim:Maybe maybe I'll find some heavy metal for the ones this week.
Bob:Maybe you should do that for at least one of them. That would be pretty fun. All right. Well, as far as the book recommendations, we mentioned yesterday, since we're in this ceasefire, uh, that Dave and I co-authored another book. It's called Meaning in the Madness, and it's based on our uh sermon series through the book of Ecclesiastes. One of my favorite graphics right there, um, and uh this is us taking the sermons and turning them into a book manuscript with some editions and uh some edits that make it nice and readable. This is a great gift if you have somebody in your life who's skeptical, who's just wrestling with life, who hasn't given their life to the Lord, um, as well as believers. You know, they could definitely benefit from this. But Ecclesiastes is a very interesting book. Um it's kind of it it it weds the the idea of philosophy and real life, and Solomon's writing it in his old age, so there's some mortality themes, questions about meaning, suffering. Let me just let me just read to you the uh some of the uh table of contents. So the first chapter, meaning past the exit sign, sets up the theme. We have meaning and purpose, meaning and time, meaning and work, meaning and money, meaning and suffering, meaning and wisdom, meaning and uncertainty, meaning and risk, meaning and the end. So, I mean, this is covering the span of life right here. Um it's$10 on Amazon if you want to go pick it up, or we'll we'll have it available at our welcome center in the coming weeks. Uh read it uh with some friends. There's discussion questions there that you can lead a Bible study through. Um I I will say it is one of my favorite layouts for our books. We we we finally captured the wonderful um uh you know, the the justification, the way it's formatted, the uh even the questions are in these these boxes with a little different color. We have a different type of cover on it. It's this is this is the pinnacle right here. Meaning and the madness. If if you want to get the anthology of Bobberik and Dave Henschel. Here, here, it's right here. So why should why should people buy it? Um Did I just say Oh, sorry.
Tim:I I was waiting for the stocking stuffer line that you guys have been.
Bob:Oh, sorry, yeah. So buy it for your friends or family member and make it a stocking stuffer. It'll fit nicely in the stocking, and they'll wake up, and I guarantee there'll be there'll be a smile on their face as they look at this uh book on Christmas morning right there. So meeting of the madness. Right here. There it is, my friend. I'm gonna let it sit right here, let it just capture your your mind as we go through this. Alright, so that's uh that's the book recommendation today. Now, uh what's the next segment? I I kind of got to go.
Tim:We have a message from our other potential biggest fan. Ooh. We have an audience question.
Bob:John John the John the second, John the first? Which one is John? Uh I I'm I will I don't know. Uh John the John the Lesser, John the Greater.
Tim:John John uh John Rickershauser, um, our second John in our on our arsenal of the first time.
Bob:J R and JB. I will JR.
Tim:I will say I do want to say last last week as I was you know making a bit out of the Pastor Dave super voters. Um I do want to thank all of you who who vote and listen every week. We we really appreciate you. So it's it's all the book war is is a bit, or is it? I don't know. Um but yes, John Rickershauser asked a question. Um he's our most consistent and favorite uh question asker. Uh we would ask you all if you have questions, just submit them. We answer them uh on the sermon about anything, they will answer them. Uh so put them in there. You can find on the website or on the QR code in the uh the sl rotator before a Sunday service. So here's the question that he submitted. It's a Christmas question. Third time's a charm. And let's go switch to that.
Bob:There it is.
Tim:Um I see a question. In Luke chapter two, the shepherds are visited by angels and are amazed. Uh they spread the word, but it is Mary who treasures up all these things and pondered them in her hearts for a long time afterwards. For all that uh for all the people that come to Christmas Eve services, uh, what can be done to stop them from being like the shepherds? It was a beautiful service, and then to be like Mary. So I guess what he's asking is um how how can we change people who come on Christmas Eve to just be like, oh, that was an amazing service. They come for just the beauty and the songs and whatever. Um how can we how can we get people to treasure these these truths that we talked about on Christmas Eve in their hearts?
Bob:Well, that's that's a good question. I wasn't I that thank you for clarifying that. I wasn't sure what uh if he meant like the first the angels appearing in the sky was the beautiful service. And I'll I'll do the best I can to get some angels to appear here at Millington and Christmas. I we did have the dragon. No dragon Christmas. Well, um I guess what I would say to to that question is um you know, there there's things that we that we do that in some sense we we partner with God on as we plan services, uh uh as we um you know intentionally think about what to include, what to preach on, uh how to prepare for that. Um and then there's elements that only God can do, that the Holy Spirit must do his his work in people's hearts. And so we know we pray to that end every year, and uh and Christmas Eve services, Christmas Eve Eve services certainly will have people that are coming to church maybe for the only time during the year because that's something they did growing up, or they have a friend who invited them, or they're in town um with their family, and that's what their family's doing, uh depending on their background. So I think from our end, what we try to do each year is craft a meaningful service, choose the John does a wonderful job choosing the right songs. I we I was telling John yesterday, I think it was yesterday, that um, you know, when it comes to Christmas Eve, I said I just assume people come for the music. And I said, as long as you include Oh Holy Night and Silent Night, we know we're good. Um but that that music speaking of music, music has a way of capturing and moving the hearts um when when you hear it done done well, and certainly we do it well here. Um but uh but also choosing the right scripture, uh a scripture that's gonna that's gonna s we believe as we pray through it will speak to people's hearts and will capture their their uh minds, hearts, and imagination as they see God for all his glory. Um right now I'm trying to figure out which section of Isaiah to preach on Christmas Eve. We talked about doing like a general Isaiah theme, but I've been uh toying around with a few specific passages that I think will uh will speak to people's hearts. Um and then I think clearly clearly communicating the gospel, which we we certainly try to do uh on services like Easter, like Christmas Eve. We assume that people are coming that at least a portion of them are not believers. Uh, some people don't always assume that, but uh we assume that, so we're just letting them know hey, we know you're there and here's an offer uh that the God of the universe is is giving to you tonight. And uh it's It's he will he he calls you to respond. And then I think if you do those things, if you lay the groundwork, then you're trusting that the Holy Spirit is gonna open people's eyes. Um 2 Corinthians chapter 3 talks about a veil being on the eyes of the unbeliever, and when the spirit comes in their in their hearts, he he removes the veil so you can see God in all his glory. Um and so I think, John, we should pray to that end that God would remove the veil on the hearts of those who are coming, so that they would truly say, It was a beautiful service, God moved on my heart, and now I'm gonna give my life to him and live differently. So we'll do what we feel like God is calling us to do, and we're praying about that, and we also trust that God is gonna do what he has sovereignly planned uh to do. And uh hopefully that uh that gets at the heart of your question. What do you think, Tim? Would you how would you grade my response there? Hey, all right, thanks.
Tim:Appreciate it. That was good. All right. Attention, men, this Saturday, December 13th, we will be having our next men's breakfast. The event will run from 7 30 a.m. to 9 a.m. We're gonna have a delightful, delicious breakfast. The topic playing for a higher purpose. We're gonna be talking about what it looks like to live out our faith in the sports arena. We are so excited to welcome our very own former New York football giants player, Don Herman, who's gonna be on the panel. So you're not gonna want to miss that. And men, we don't even have to sign up. You can just show up, and I think that's the best part about it. So 7 30 to 9 a.m. this Saturday, December 13th. Come on out for the men's breakfast. It's gonna be so good. So uh speaking of uh John Rickershauser, we probably should take some time to discuss his son James now.
Bob:The other JR right there, James Rickershauser. Look at that man, he's he's getting up there, he's into it. A life that truly satisfies.
Tim:He did.
Bob:He did he rock the quarter zip. He the quarter zip up there. I was thinking maybe I should do that.
Tim:James, I assume you're listening because uh we're we're talking about you and and turn this down.
Bob:He did offer James a chance to come on the show and and speak for himself. He was not able to attend. He uh he had a conflict, so we will talk about him uh in front of his face, uh assuming he watches this uh this podcast, because I did have some questions for him. I was taking notes, and uh let me just pull up my uh my note-taking device here. Um but maybe Tim, I'm gonna give you a challenge. Maybe as I'm pulling up my notes, you can give us a 60-second rundown of what the sermon was about. Okay. I know you were listening and you were taking notes.
Tim:I was I was not taking notes, but I mental notes, mental notes. I was listening. Uh so I'll I'll do my best.
Bob:I would have to what was the passage?
Tim:Well, the passage was Isaiah 55, 1 to 13. Um, and and James really talked about how um you know we're we should be satisfied, and how can we be satisfied um in in the glory of God in our lives? And he used this really great example of of water. He he opened up it's like if we all stopped drinking water right now, um, in three days we'd all be in the emergency room. Um he and he used the the illustration of water as something that uh we need um as as as you know as as God. Um he had three main points. Um he the first point was uh the great need of the human heart. Um and he talked that's when he kind of used that that idea of the the physical thirst. Um then he had uh the second point was the love of the loving call of a compassionate God, uh talking about how God call actively calls us out uh to himself. And then the third point was the satisfaction in glory in the glory of God, talking about how at the end of the day we only can be truly satisfied in relationship uh with God. And you know, at the end of his uh um sermon, he kind of gave us a bit of a uh a call to action. He asked asking us, like, yo, where are you? Like, where are you guys at uh today? Um and asking, you know, giving us some options on how based on where we are, we can move out um and and go forward. So that's it.
Bob:Yeah, it's a good summary. Now, James, if you're watching, you do have the ability to correct us down in the comment section. So we'll see if you can give us some comments or or if people are watching this later, maybe you can comment and uh you know add some clarification for maybe for questions. Maybe we'll get some uh we haven't had this yet.
Tim:Maybe we'll get some uh some content beef. Maybe he'll maybe he'll make his own video in response to approval.
Bob:He could do a response video and completely misrepresented my sermon. You guys are wrong. This is a fair point, but uh I'm gonna correct them here. All right. Well, I I had if James was here, uh if he was here in Dave's in Dave's spot and we didn't have the Reese's with us, I had three things that I was gonna bring up with him, and I did I did latch onto the water image. And the question I wrote down for this that I I thought we could have a good discussion about was what are the things that our culture tells us to thirst for? Because I think that's part of what he was getting at with the water illustration. And um uh what I wrote down underneath that is the idea of of idols, which is something we've talked about in Isaiah. That Dave did a whole sermon on that, his uh trial with a false god sermon, Isaiah forty-one to forty uh six or forty-eight. Um now the um the uh the the Puritans, uh those those uh theological giants of the uh sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth uh uh centuries, um, or rather the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, um said said there's four core idols that that we then there's other ones, of course, but there's four ones that a vast majority of people wrestle with. And when I talk about an idol, it's something that can can take the place of God, something that we long for, something that we pursue, something that we feel like we need, like water. Um so these are the four areas, the four idols that they said are common to most humans. Number one, power. Number two, approval. Number three, comfort, and number four, security and riches. So I I thought we could talk about each of those briefly, uh kind of in turn, and I I would have had this dialogue with uh with James about you know how how we see those things playing out in modern culture. So power. Power is the desire to control, influence, or dominate others. And that usually shows up in how people seek security or identity through authority. So if you know somebody who's really um likes to control the situation, likes to be the person in charge, likes to be the final say, that can be a very intoxicating thing. Uh Tim is always telling me how I should do my show order here. And I wonder if he's got a power idol over there in that seat. Um but perhaps that's something that resonates with you. Power can be something that we thirst for and long for. Number two, approval. Uh the craving for human praise, acceptance, or validation. So uh the Puritans saw this as a subtle but dangerous idol because it shifts the heart's focus from pleasing God to pleasing people. So underneath this, I would say this idea for needing constant approval, uh, acceptance, not being able to go on without that can cause us to reorder our life and and uh how we live. And it does happen subtly within our hearts. Um this is the people-pleasing idol. This is the idol of, I would say, uh even romance, you know, the desire to have somebody who is in your life that just loves you. Um it can very much take your eyes off of the Lord. Number three, comfort, the pursuit of ease, pleasure, and avoidance of hardship. And this, I think, is particularly an idol within uh the American circles. Americans don't know how to deal with suffering uh in many ways. They don't know how to deal with things that are hard. Uh they th and we tend to think if if my life is not um is not going well, things don't turn out turn out as I want, I I don't achieve the desires of my heart, then maybe God doesn't love me, God doesn't care about me. Um and so we start to pursue these things that will make us happy, that will make us feel comfortable. And then number four, security and riches, the love of wealth, possessions, or financial stability. That's that's something else that that very much can capture people's hearts. That when the bank account is full, um, if I buy the next thing, if I get that, if I advance in my career, so I can get that nicer car, bigger house. Um, those are things that can be pursuits that we go after that that we long for more than a relationship with with Christ. And so we we and then we think we can't live without it. It's like, again, it's like water. So I don't know. What are your thoughts on those, Tim? Those four idol categories, this idea of thirsting for water, I think that's really applicable, and I thought James did a good job of drawing it out.
Tim:Yeah, um, I I think those things are definitely true, and I think it's interesting how you can boil down pretty much everything um into all what were the four major, just so I know that it was uh power, approval, comfort, and riches or security. Yeah, I think um in a lot of ways um you can see different ways that these idol like as someone I you know I'm I'm a younger younger adult, um, and you know, I see how these certain things are but you have a well-groomed beard though, Tim. I I do my best. Um you know, I can see how there's tempts and temptations and different you know idols that are attractive um you know for me, but I also remember, you know, when I was younger, and you know, someone as someone who who works with teens, um I can see how those things are different, and I also, you know, can understand from the older perspective that as you get older there are certain other things that that kind of take shape too. So, you know, there's always going to be, depending on where we are in life, there's always gonna be things that um fall into those categories that tempt us or try to draw us away from God in in in those four different ways, you know, they just might look different, you know, when we're when we're a teenager, you know, the when you uh the idea of people pleasing you're talking about is like I think for a high school or middle schooler, uh they want to be seen and and by everyone, you know, and they want to be part of the popular crowd, they want to do, you know, wear their hair a certain way, um, wear their wear their have the right shoes, wear the right clothes, you know, so they're recognized. But as you get older, you know, that might look different. Like you mentioned, the idea of having a like a romantic involvement or you know, just being a people pleaser in general, you know, at your job, uh your workplace or you know, something like that. But yeah, I I I think those things never go away. So as we walk through our lives, um, you know, working on how we fight those things in in different ways as we get older.
Bob:Yeah, it's very good. Uh so that was a good point that James brought out. The other one that I was going to ask that complements that I wrote down the question, what does it mean to be satisfied in God? So when we're talking about thirsting for water, it's because we're not satisfied, and when we're not satisfied, we tend to pursue these other idols. But what does it actually mean to be satisfied in God? And he quoted the Westminster Catechism, which is almost the same language in in Keach's Baptist Catechism, which says, What is a um uh uh what is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to uh glorify God and enjoy him forever, to be to be fully satisfied in him. Um and so I my my question was, what does it look like to be satisfied in God? And then why are people not satisfied in God, which I think ties back to our those idols, our culture and our own sinful hearts and our flesh thinks we desire the things of the world over the things that are eternal, and they very much change our mindset. Um but what it let's just people often think about what does it mean to be satisfied in God every single day? And um, you know, I was having this conversation with somebody in the lobby, somebody we were talking about um, you know, somet something in their life had had changed and they were focusing on the loss of their ability to do something, and it was dominating their day. So if there's something that's become so central to your life, something you just assume you can do, and all of a sudden you lose it, then uh it's it's noticeable, whereas before you took it for granted. So Tim Keller in his book Counterfeit Gods, he he defines an idol as something that's ultimate, and uh he says something to the effect of it it's something that if you should lose it, life would not feel worth living. So in order to and my and my as we were talking, my counsel back was I think the way to combat that is really to spend more time in prayer and and just talking with the Lord and saying, Lord, uh would you remove these desires for the things of the world and give me ultimately a desire for you so that when I have you and I'm secure in you, I can do everything else more more effectively because I'm not worried about losing approval of people, I'm not worried about losing money, I'm not worried about losing the security because I have everything that I need within you. And that's not an easy place to get to, but I think that's something we should strive for. How would you answer that question, Tim? What does it mean to be satisfied in God?
Tim:Well, what I would something that you know I've discussed with our teens and youth group, and something that you know I think about and and I work through is that you know when it comes down to being satisfied with God, you know, it comes down to I think we believe we believe in a God that created a massive universe, like huge. Um and then we are he also created us on a speck of dust in that in that universe, like who Horton hears a who, who vil on a whatever small, probably smaller in the grand scheme of things, right? Um and that God chose to have a relationship with us, love us personally, and send his son down to die for us and he'd rise again, and that we could one day live with him. Like that massive God did that for like molecularly small in scale us. And I I think that's something that we have to remind ourselves every day that this this this God wants to have a relationship with us. And if I think if we can remind ourselves that every day and and think about that and just how big God is, how small we are, and but despite of that, like this is the scale of like you you find some like grain of sand on the beach and you decide to make it like your best friend, but like not in a weird crazy way. This is just like God, like that's just using as a as a scale-wise, you know, in terms of size, but it's big, it's it's even greater than that. You know, if I think if we can remember that every single day, that's gonna change how we view God and how we are satisfied with him. Um, because I think we often, especially in America, especially in the West, we get caught up with what's right in front of us. Um, you know, I can't see it, you know, it's not a priority, you know, the there's all these things, the hustle and bustle of life uh, you know, is right in front of our face. But if we can take a step back and look at the much bigger picture and see, you know, who we are, who we serve, and who we actually believe in, I think that's gonna change how we view God and how how we are satisfied in Him.
Bob:Yeah, yeah, that's that's a great that's a great point. The other thing I thought was that uh when when suffering happens, that's usually when people become dissatisfied. And the other qu the other question I wrote down is that uh and I think he was talking about providence. Um do people trust God's providence in suffering? Do you trust that God still knows what he's doing when you don't get what you want or when you lose things? I I think that that tugs on my heart as well. Does God really know what he's doing? Is this is this the best life? And yet maybe you have to walk through things in order for God to teach you something. Like actually the better question should be, Lord, what are you teaching me in regard in in in the midst of this thing that's really challenging? In the midst of this loss, in the midst of this um you know, inability to do something I used to. Um few people I think get to the place where they can actually ask uh that question, but that may be the better question to ask. And uh the reason that um uh I I think it really tugs at our hearts is because we our desire is to control our circumstances, to be secure. Again, that's that core idol, to be in control, the power uh thing, to be comfortable. Like the these are things that we all desire in in life, and when things don't go as we think they should, we start to question God and his goodness and his love. Um the last thing I was gonna bring up to James, and this kind of goes to John John's uh JR's, the older JR's question. Uh, why do people reject this everlasting hope that he spoke about in verses 12 and 13? Why do people reject that hope when it's offered? So if somebody comes to Christmas Eve service, and I imagine there will be a number of people that come, they don't know the Lord. Uh we clearly preach the gospel, we offer it, uh we offer as we do every month, every every year, we have the candle that's lit, we pass on the light of the world, will you receive that light? Some people will not do it genuinely. Why do they reject that hope? And and I think, and again I wrote here, it comes back to those idols, the things that we thirst for are not ultimately God. We thirst for these other things because we think they're the ones that are gonna bring us satisfaction and and salvation, really. Um people are not willing to let go of of the things that that really and truly give them their identity in favor of a God that they can't see. And and I think while we do our part, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to illuminate, to remove the veil, to indwell, to open people's eyes, and to regenerate their hearts and minds so that they would see Jesus as the most beautiful thing in the world. Why do people not re accept that everlasting hope, Tim? They based on your conversations. What are the reasons they give?
Tim:You know, I it's it's interesting. I think a lot of people like you um like my age are like I I think overall are becoming more necessarily like spiritual. I I'm seeing less like quote unquote atheists, at least in in circles I'm in. Um it's more so that it's like people are good, like that's good for you. Um, but people aren't people are trying to navigate their own like spirituality in the context of the things that they want to do and the lives that they want to live. And I think people have a hard time wrestling with what they view as these like really strict set of rules, like you're telling me I have to come to church every Sunday and I can't do this and I can't do this and I can't do this. Um and that that's just at base level, but then then you do have the question of like people are really searching, um, you know, and they're they're asking questions, and it's like they they have these classic apologetics questions that you're kind of talking about earlier when it comes to like suffering. Um, you know, why is there suffering? There's always those questions that pop up. So I think there's a number of reasons. Um but I I I think you know, I think that we have a number of reasons that we could, you know, come back to them with um as as we seek those who are not currently seeking the Lord. Yeah. Hey. Good points. Appreciate that, Tim. Hey guys, you've heard me talk a lot about the City Relief Packing Party. And while you guys should definitely go sign up to come to that, I want to tell you about a different way that you could be serving with City Relief here at Mellington Baptist Church. We are excited to partner with City Relief for 12 outreach serving events this upcoming year. We're gonna go out and serve on the City Relief bus once a month, January all the way through December of 2026. We're currently looking for signups for our first January outreach event, but signups for all 12 are available. You can go online to our website and check out a brand new City Relief page. There you'll find all the information you need about City Relief. Frequently asked questions, what does an outreach day look like, and opportunities to sign up for all 12 of our outreach days. Here at Millington Baptist Church, we believe that going out and being the physical hands and feet of Jesus is just as important as contributing financially. Financially, so we really want to do that this year, and we're gonna need your help. Sign up to come out with us on a city relief event, and we can't wait to see you out there on the bus.
Bob:Speaking of good points, I forgot to mention this before, but maybe we can put it in here. Um, we have an upcoming Underground Session podcast with Amy Huber, uh, or as we like to call her Amy Keys from First Choice. Um, they went before the Supreme Court this uh past week, and uh she is coming on to give a report to give us a uh the lowdown on what it was like to sit before the nine justices. And uh here is a little preview of what we talked about. So maybe before I ask a couple of questions, what just what was it like to be in the Supreme Court room? What was that experience like?
SPEAKER_00:I am still trying to process all of that. It was amazing. We went through the back entrance and I wished that I had like an hour just to look around and walk around because it was so majestic and so grand and so beautiful and so huge that it it just really takes your breath away. And then we went into the court, sat in the gallery, and at 10 o'clock exactly, all of the justices came right out, all nine of them, and it started. And when Chief Justice Roberts said first choice women's resource centers versus placken, I couldn't even believe it.
Bob:That must it must just be super surreal. It was now I notice you have your baton with you. Maybe you can tell folks that are d do not know what this is. Why why is it with you?
SPEAKER_00:I do. So a couple weeks ago, you and Pastor Bob, uh Pastor Dave included me in the m sermon, and you were talking about how the Christian life was a marathon and not a sprint. And Pastor Dave gave me this baton, passed it to me, and said, You go to Washington, DC and do what God's called you to do. And our support and our prayers were are with you. And so I brought this with me. It was in my luggage, and it was just one of those uh things that the Lord gave me to remember that I'm not in this alone, that you are with me, and he is with me, and so now I am passing it but back to you because I did what you asked me to do. I went to Washington, D.C. And now I'm back.
Bob:Maybe one of these days I'll go down to Washington, D.C. we'll we'll see.
SPEAKER_00:There you go.
Bob:All right, well, hopefully that was beneficial to you. Um, man, they're just doing some really, really uh good work um over there at First Choice. So let's continue to pray for them and pray for God's favor upon their case and pray for a strong, strong ruling.
Tim:Amen.
Bob:All right, what's left here, Tim? We have a sprint. All right, should I should I leave my jacket on or should I take it off?
Tim:I think you should leave your jacket on. Okay. Um, here is today's theology sprint question. Uh does God want us to be happy? All right.
Bob:Is anybody sponsoring this? Uh Theology Sprint sponsored by?
Tim:Uh I'm not sure. Someone probably, but it was already announced, and I'm not sure who is actually the one sponsoring it. It depends what order I record these announcements in.
Bob:All right, we'll we'll see. If there's a maybe you put the heavy metal screaming music previous to this one. Uh does God want us to be happy? That's that's a good question. Um, you know what? So this is again a a cultural conversation. Uh, and what does it mean to be happy? And it sort of gets back to this idea of what does it mean to be satisfied in God. Um happiness is not necessarily the strongest biblical category. The Bible often talks about our joy. Uh, where we and joy is something in the Greek language, anyway, where you where it talks about being able to be satisfied and content even in the midst of difficult challenges. So, in that sense, I do think God wants us to have joy no matter what, and ultimately our joy can be found in him. Jesus Christ came and died on the cross in our place for our sins, and he he gifts to us his righteousness by his grace, so that when we receive him, we recognize we have all that we need in him, and when our eyes are focused on him and when we pursue him, we will find joy, and by extension, I think we will find true happiness. Our problem is that we think all these other things in this world are gonna make us happy, and ultimately they will let us down. Those are the idols that we were talking about earlier in the message. They're they're ultimately gonna fail you, and you'll be disappointed, but in Jesus you will never uh be disappointed and find ultimate joy and happiness. How about that?
Tim:Flawless. I thought, yeah, I thought that'd be kind of a fun, easier one for you as we kind of wrap things up.
Bob:Well, uh no, you know. There you go. Knocked it out of the park. It was like a wiffle ball pitch right there, Tim. Bit of a meatball, I guess. All right. Well, hopefully you enjoyed Behind the Pulpit today. Dave will be back next week. Uh we'll have lots of theological depth as we debrief his uh his seminars. Um maybe we even will crack the uh the Reese's uh package right here. Man, these things are hefty, man. It's gotta be like a couple pounds right there. But uh we will replace the Reese's, the idol of Reese's for the real Dave. Over under um this right here, I'm guessing this is like three three pounds, maybe. Let's see, how much does it say? Two half pound cups, only a pound. Man, one pound right here chocolatey goodness.
Tim:I was gonna say for books brought back, over under four and a half books brought back by Pastor Dave.
Bob:He's gonna have a stack over there of these really quick books and we're gonna walk over them. Yeah, there you go. All right. All right. See you next week. You have a wonderful week.