Transforming Our Narratives: Discovering God and Ourselves

### Summary

Welcome back, everyone! It's so wonderful to see familiar faces and be with you all again. Today, I want to talk about the stories we tell ourselves—about God and about ourselves. These narratives shape our understanding and relationship with God. The Bible is predominantly narrative, filled with stories that reveal who God is and who we are in relation to Him. From Genesis to the Gospels, these stories are not just historical accounts but invitations to see and know God deeply.

I shared a quote often attributed to John Calvin: "The most important thoughts we have are about who we believe God to be and who we believe ourselves to be." This idea is central to our faith journey. What do we believe about God? What do we believe about ourselves? These questions are crucial because they influence how we live and interact with the world.

I focused on the stories Jesus told, particularly His parables, to illustrate how these narratives reveal God's character and our identity. For instance, the parable of the treasure and the merchant shows that God is our treasure, and we are His treasure. This mutual treasuring is foundational to understanding our relationship with God.

We often tell ourselves stories that aren't true, especially when we face rejection or failure. These false narratives can distort our perception of God and ourselves. It's essential to align our stories with the truth of Scripture, which tells us that we are deeply loved and valued by God.

I encouraged everyone to read through one of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John—this week. Engage with the stories of Jesus, ask questions, and let the narratives disturb and delight you. This practice helps us move from merely knowing about Jesus to truly seeing and experiencing Him.

### Key Takeaways

1. **The Power of Narrative**: The Bible is filled with stories that reveal God's character and our identity. These narratives are not just historical accounts but invitations to see and know God deeply. Engaging with these stories helps us understand who God is and who we are in relation to Him. [08:10]

2. **True and False Stories**: We often tell ourselves stories that aren't true, especially in moments of rejection or failure. These false narratives can distort our perception of God and ourselves. It's crucial to align our stories with the truth of Scripture, which tells us that we are deeply loved and valued by God. [11:25]

3. **Jesus as Our Treasure**: The parable of the treasure and the merchant illustrates that God is our treasure, and we are His treasure. This mutual treasuring is foundational to understanding our relationship with God. Recognizing this helps us see our worth and God's immense love for us. [10:17]

4. **Engaging with the Gospels**: Reading through the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John—allows us to move from merely knowing about Jesus to truly seeing and experiencing Him. These stories disturb and delight us, helping us to engage with Jesus on a deeper level. [16:58]

5. **Permission to Question**: It's important to ask questions and wrestle with the stories of Jesus. This process helps us break free from religious platitudes and engage with the real, multidimensional God. Asking questions and being disturbed by Jesus' actions and words is a healthy part of our faith journey. [20:02]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[02:38] - Returning to Menlo Church
[03:44] - Pasadena Memories
[05:24] - Feeling at Home
[06:08] - Countdown Clock Confusion
[06:54] - Preaching at Different Churches
[08:10] - The Stories We Tell Ourselves
[09:08] - Biblical Narratives
[10:17] - Parable of the Treasure and the Merchant
[11:25] - True and False Stories
[12:15] - Personal Reflections
[15:28] - Knowing Jesus Through Stories
[16:58] - Engaging with the Gospels
[18:11] - Reading the Gospels with Others
[20:02] - Permission to Question
[22:23] - God's Interest in Us
[23:10] - Avoiding Flat Stanley God
[25:01] - Jesus in the Garden
[27:03] - Jesus Calls Us Friends
[28:28] - Meditating on the Stories
[29:21] - Encouragement to Read the Gospels
[31:42] - The Stories We Tell Ourselves
[33:53] - Closing Prayer

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Matthew 13:44-46** - The Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl
2. **John 15:15** - Jesus Calls Us Friends
3. **Genesis 1:27** - Created in God's Image

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl in Matthew 13:44-46 reveal about the value of the Kingdom of Heaven?
2. In John 15:15, why does Jesus emphasize the shift from calling His followers servants to calling them friends?
3. According to Genesis 1:27, what does it mean to be created in the image of God?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl illustrate the mutual treasuring between God and us? [10:17]
2. What implications does Jesus calling us friends in John 15:15 have for our relationship with Him and our understanding of His character? [27:03]
3. How can understanding that we are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27) influence the stories we tell ourselves about our worth and identity? [08:10]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you told yourself a false story about your worth or identity. How can aligning your narrative with the truth of Scripture change your perspective? [11:25]
2. Jesus calls us friends in John 15:15. How can you cultivate a deeper friendship with Jesus in your daily life? What specific steps can you take this week? [27:03]
3. The sermon encouraged reading through one of the Gospels. Which Gospel will you choose to read this week, and what questions will you bring to your reading? [16:58]
4. Think about a story from the Gospels that has disturbed or delighted you. How did this story impact your understanding of Jesus? [20:02]
5. Identify a false narrative you have believed about God. How can you replace this with a true story from Scripture? [11:25]
6. How can you use the practice of asking questions and wrestling with the stories of Jesus to deepen your faith and understanding of God? [20:02]
7. Consider the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl. How can recognizing that you are God's treasure influence your actions and decisions this week? [10:17]

Day 1: The Power of Narrative
The Bible is filled with stories that reveal God's character and our identity. These narratives are not just historical accounts but invitations to see and know God deeply. Engaging with these stories helps us understand who God is and who we are in relation to Him. The stories in the Bible, from Genesis to the Gospels, are designed to draw us into a deeper relationship with God. They are not merely to be read but to be experienced and lived out. By immersing ourselves in these narratives, we can see the multifaceted nature of God and how He interacts with humanity.

The stories Jesus told, particularly His parables, serve as a mirror reflecting God's kingdom and our place within it. For example, the parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us to see beyond societal boundaries and love our neighbors as ourselves. These stories are transformative, inviting us to align our lives with God's will and purpose. [08:10]

Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV): "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Reflection: Think of a Bible story that has deeply impacted you. How has it changed your understanding of God and your relationship with Him?


Day 2: True and False Stories
We often tell ourselves stories that aren't true, especially in moments of rejection or failure. These false narratives can distort our perception of God and ourselves. It's crucial to align our stories with the truth of Scripture, which tells us that we are deeply loved and valued by God. When we face challenges, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing lies about our worth and God's love for us. These false stories can lead to feelings of inadequacy and distance from God.

However, Scripture provides a counter-narrative that affirms our identity as beloved children of God. By immersing ourselves in God's Word, we can replace these false stories with the truth of who we are in Christ. This realignment helps us to live out our true identity and experience the fullness of God's love and grace. [11:25]

Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV): "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."

Reflection: Identify a false story you have been telling yourself. How can you replace it with the truth of Scripture today?


Day 3: Jesus as Our Treasure
The parable of the treasure and the merchant illustrates that God is our treasure, and we are His treasure. This mutual treasuring is foundational to understanding our relationship with God. Recognizing this helps us see our worth and God's immense love for us. In the parable, the merchant sells everything he has to obtain the treasure, symbolizing the immense value of the kingdom of God and our worth in His eyes.

This mutual treasuring means that just as we are to value God above all else, He also values us immensely. This understanding transforms our relationship with God, moving it from a transactional interaction to a deeply personal and loving relationship. It reminds us that we are cherished by God and that our worth is found in Him. [10:17]

Matthew 13:44-46 (ESV): "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

Reflection: Reflect on what it means to be God's treasure. How does this understanding change the way you view yourself and your relationship with God?


Day 4: Engaging with the Gospels
Reading through the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John—allows us to move from merely knowing about Jesus to truly seeing and experiencing Him. These stories disturb and delight us, helping us to engage with Jesus on a deeper level. The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus' life, teachings, miracles, and interactions with people. By immersing ourselves in these narratives, we can encounter Jesus in a personal and transformative way.

Engaging with the Gospels helps us to see Jesus not just as a historical figure but as a living and active presence in our lives. It invites us to ask questions, wrestle with His teachings, and be transformed by His love and grace. This practice deepens our faith and helps us to live out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. [16:58]

Luke 24:32 (ESV): "They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?'"

Reflection: Choose one of the Gospels to read this week. What new insights or questions arise as you engage with the stories of Jesus?


Day 5: Permission to Question
It's important to ask questions and wrestle with the stories of Jesus. This process helps us break free from religious platitudes and engage with the real, multidimensional God. Asking questions and being disturbed by Jesus' actions and words is a healthy part of our faith journey. It allows us to move beyond surface-level understanding and dive deeper into the complexities of our faith.

By giving ourselves permission to question, we open the door to a more authentic and robust relationship with God. This process helps us to grow in our understanding and faith, as we seek to know God more fully and live out His teachings in our lives. It encourages us to be honest about our doubts and struggles, knowing that God welcomes our questions and meets us in our seeking. [20:02]

Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV): "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Reflection: What is one question you have about Jesus or His teachings? How can you seek answers through prayer, study, and community this week?

Having you back. How the heck have you been?

Oh my gosh, Mark, Aisha, thank you for being here. So fun to see your faces. So good to be with you.

Um, I have been, I feel like I've been on a long sabbatical. When I pulled into Menlo Church this morning, I'm feeling like, oh, I'm back to work, but I don't have an office. So, and I did just actually walk past my office and it looks like it's been taken over. So there's no coming back.

Yeah, there's no coming back. The office is filled. So, um, I'm good. It's been a whirlwind.

I do. I do. I could be the mayor of Pasadena.

It's not too late.

Yeah. My dad went to school in Pasadena, and so we would go there as a family. I grew up about an hour from there. And then I lived there for 13 years before coming to Menlo and worked for a church down there.

And, uh, yeah, but I'll tell you what, once you live in the Bay Area, you do have respect for the weather up here.

Mm-hmm.

It's so nice. I got off the, I walked out of the San Jose airport and it's like, oh, thank God I put a jacket in my bag. I have not needed one in Pasadena for a little bit. Um, and the beauty up here and 280, that freeway.

It's just, it's my meditation.

Yeah. It's pretty breathtaking.

Right?

Mm-hmm.

I could just drive up here just to drive 280. I know that's silly, but it'd be a long drive.

But, um, we've been there.

We don't have freeways like that in, um, there's little stretches of the PCH down in Southern California, maybe that are like, kind of like that Malibu to up to Santa Barbara. That might be a little meditative like that, but not where I'm, not my normal drives.

And they're totally different places, people.

Totally different places.

You have to.

You have to have a passport to go into Orange County from Los Angeles.

It's true.

It is. I do. I love it. And you know, a little history of Pasadena. Those trees, they purposely planted different streets have different trees on them.

Oh.

Not all, but like those jacarandas might be a whole street with just those trees on them. Or just the pine trees or just the palm trees or just the, anyway. So, there was some intentionality from the—

Well planned.

Yes. The founding mothers and fathers.

Yes.

So.

Oh, hi back.

Oh, great.

So, a couple different questions there.

Yeah.

Great questions.

It just felt like home.

Felt like coming home.

Good.

It really did. Like I said, it felt like... I was coming back to work after a long sabbatical and then I remembered I don't have an office and I don't have to answer email and I'm not on the Google chat.

So, thank God.

I mean, I love you guys, but yeah.

So, yeah, it just felt like being home.

It was funny because there were a couple things, like the first service, they didn't run the countdown clock.

So, maybe, you know, Phil probably doesn't need it. He's like dialed in on things and stuff.

So, I did say to the tech guys, I was like, hey, could you ask Ben about the countdown clock? Because during the first service, I was having to do math, you know, because I wasn't sure...

So, like how long...

Yeah, how long my sermon's supposed to be.

Right.

So, thank you guys. Thank you, Ben and team for running the countdown clock for the...

Yeah, for the second and third service.

You want me on a...

The funny thing is that actually, I think my first sermon was the shortest one because I was so paranoid because I didn't look at when I was supposed to be done because I thought there was going to be a countdown clock.

So, there's some things when you preach at a place that is home to you that you have expectations.

So, a few weeks ago, I preached at a French church, Eco Presbyterian Church in Boulder, Colorado.

And I go into that knowing I don't know anything and I don't know how this works.

And I don't know what you do, you know, but I pop into Menlo and I'm like, hey, I know what's going on.

And then I'm like, oh, I don't do math. Where's my countdown clock?

Anyway.

So, if during the first service, you noticed that I might have been a little distracted, I was trying to do math.

It was fun.

It was fun.

No, but thank you.

So, kind of the whole concept was we all tell ourselves stories.

And we tell ourselves stories about ourselves.

And we tell ourselves stories about God.

And then I did the John Calvin quote, which has been attributed to other people as well.

But the idea that the most important thoughts we have, in a sense, is about who we believe God to be and who we believe ourselves to be.

What do we believe about ourselves?

And what do we believe about God?

So, I put most of my weight into the, what do we believe about God?

What's the story we're telling ourselves about God?

And so, knowing that the Bible is actually predominantly narrative.

It is like when you think of Romans.

You guys just did a series in Romans, right?

Or on one of the chapters.

That's didactic.

But when you think of the Old Testament, and you start with Genesis and Exodus, these are not Leviticus, but these are narratives.

You know, an Exodus or a Daniel, or I preached on Daniel at the church in Boulder.

And then, of course, the New Testament is, it starts with those four books of narrative, the story of Jesus.

So, I wanted to get us thinking about how to, what's the story we tell ourselves?

We tell ourselves about God, but I wanted to do it by telling the story of God.

So, that's kind of, so I told, I had to cut like five.

At first, I had so many stories of Jesus.

I had to cut a bunch of them.

But, so I told some Jesus stories, and then I told the story that Jesus tells, one of his parables, or this would have been a similar God is like kind of thing.

And I then connected it to what, when we, when, when Jesus tells stories about who God is, and I think this is true in all the scripture, it also tells us about who we are.

But that one, I think uniquely, the little parable that I told of, or that Jesus told, not me, of God, you know, the kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven is like a treasure.

Yes.

And then the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant.

And so, and then I kind of tried to bring it home to Jesus, God is our treasure, and we are his treasure.

Yeah.

So, that was.

That was the, that was kind of the overview.

Yeah.

Yeah.

About the stories I tell myself, and the story that's in my head right now.

Yeah, it's funny, even driving up to, I stayed at a friend's place last night, they just moved over to Half Moon Bay, and so I was driving up 280, and I'm not going to share the story with you, it's a little too close right now.

But, yeah, it's interesting what the Lord is bringing to my mind of the stories I tell myself that aren't true stories.

And then some of the stories that I tell myself that are true stories.

True stories.

But, that I can make up a story about something that happened, and oftentimes what I'm doing is I'm thinking that I know what the other person was thinking, right?

Or I'm putting intent on a person.

So, but yeah, I think, as I mentioned in the sermon, you know, we can tell ourselves stories.

About, I think what I said in the sermon was why we weren't invited.

Yes.

Yep, yep, yep, yep.

You know, why we didn't get the job.

Yeah.

Why.

Yes, that's exactly what I said. Thank you for listening.

And, yeah, I just think we do that, and I do that.

And it's been fun, anytime I do a sermon, it's, I just feel like the Lord's always just putting something.

He's taking that sermon and that prayer.

And he's like, this is you, this is you, this is you.

You know, it's tempting to just prepare a sermon for those people, but it's never that way.

No, I, yeah, I do my preparation on a legal, on legal paths.

And I have a neurotic prep, and it was the same for this one.

And, you know, I started with three other different ways of, you know, this, this sermon.

And then I finally land.

Well, and anytime I can truly, anytime I can put Jesus on display, I want to do it.

And I think, I think sometimes we reference Jesus, and I do this, is the temptation is to reference Jesus and assume we all know who he is.

Hmm.

Even just because you've been in the church.

Hmm.

You can know about Jesus, but that's what I love about the narratives of Jesus, right?

Yeah.

And it's interesting, because when I first became a Christian, I actually, the first book I read all the way through after I became a Christian was Romans.

And so I was actually really more in that world, the didactic.

This is knowledge about God.

This is, and I love those books.

I love Romans.

I'm so jealous that I wasn't here for the Romans.

Eight.

Because I, for multiple years at Menlo, I was like, let's do a series on Romans.

Let's do it.

And they're like, she's out.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

But I was so jealous, because I just love, I love those books.

But as, on my journey, I think I've just come to more and more appreciate how the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, help me not just know about Jesus, they help me see Jesus.

And that's what, that's what a good story does.

Right?

A good story isn't a, it's like teaching is over here.

And now you're like, hey, tell me a bedtime story.

I don't want you to teach me something.

I want you to show me something.

I want you to show me the, the dragon who lives beneath the bed and tell me, you know, and, and let my imagination go with that.

And I think that's what's beautiful about the Gospels.

And that's why I wanted to use them.

If we're going to tell a story, let's use the stories.

Yeah.

So.

Great question.

So.

I've had the privilege and honor to get to do that kind of thing with people, students, adults, neighbors, friends over the years.

And what I kind of got to was, you know, there's, there is that like, well, let's read through the book of John together or, and people typically point people to John.

And I love the book of John.

I, it can be a little rough.

Mark is shorter.

So it, and it dives right in.

But what I started, what I have done when I have met with people to read through the, through one of the gospels together, I will say, Hey, do you want to read?

They're curious about Jesus.

They want to know.

I said, well, I think the best place to start is, you know, one of these biographies of Jesus.

Why don't we do John?

Let's, let's get together.

But what would be great is if you go ahead and depending on the person, depending on if they're a reader or not a reader, if they're not much of a reader, I'd make it shorter.

If it's, they're more of a reader, I'll ask for more.

But I would say.

Let's, why don't you read?

Let's say, why don't you read John one through three?

And I would love for you to come with, if you can, 25 questions, but at least 10.

Yeah.

And I'm going to bring my questions.

And then we'll sit down at a coffee shop or wherever we're meeting or my living room or wherever I've done it.

And then I just say, okay, let's just share our questions.

So they share their questions.

And then I share.

They share my questions.

Because I think sometimes what we think of when we're meeting with somebody is, and it's why we don't, if they're, especially if they're exploring faith, we're like, I don't know all the answers.

But you do know the questions.

You have questions.

Right.

And so typically that's where I try to start.

And then I always say to people, sometimes another exercise I've done with people is when, why don't you read the first, you know, like say you're doing Mark and you said like, why don't you read the first couple of chapters of Mark?

I want you to make a column and on the left side, write everything that disturbs you about Jesus.

And on the right side, everything that delights you about Jesus.

And again, what that does is it allows the person to be disturbed by Jesus.

See, as soon as you start going religious on people or they're thinking they're meeting, especially with me, you guys could, you know, not you, but you could get away with this.

Like, because they're not, I'm a pastor.

So they're thinking, oh.

So she's having me read through.

That's why I don't say make 10 observations.

That's what I used to do.

I say make 10 questions because they're, then they're looking for the right answer.

And then the disturbing delightful exercise is also a way of just breaking it open.

Hey, I'm disturbed by Jesus.

Like there are things he says and does or doesn't do or doesn't say that disturb.

And I want them to start on their journey of faith having permission.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think that's absolutely right.

And sometimes we get in the way.

Right.

Yeah.

Because we think we're supposed to bring the answers.

We think we're supposed to have all these things.

And yeah, absolutely.

God is far more interested in this person than we are.

Yeah.

And I don't ever want a person to be a project.

And I would also say, I think the other reason for the like the questions and that disturbed delight exercise is I think the temptation.

Again, it's looking for what I think God's supposed to be.

And if I came to you guys and I just walk in the room and I come in, I don't ask any questions.

I don't have any space that you might be imperfect or whatever.

Or maybe I think you are imperfect and you're not.

I don't know.

But I'm not.

And I just I bring with you my presuppositions of who you are.

I don't know you.

And I think that's what we can do with Jesus a lot of times is he becomes like a Flat Stanley.

Y'all remember that Flat Stanley?

That's a thing with kids would do at school and then they would send it to their my nieces and nephew, you know, would send me Flat Stanley and I would go take pictures of Flat Stanley and, you know, in places he would go with me.

And I think we can do that with God.

We just he's this, you know, he's he's just flat, one dimensional God, as opposed to a three dimensional, multidimensional.

Actually, our God is a multidimensional God.

And so I want to help.

Yeah.

And I want to give people permission.

Yeah.

That you can ask questions.

You can you can disagree.

We can.

Yeah.

We can come to different conclusions.

Right.

Oh my gosh.

Oh, I mean, that story.

I could I've that story of Jesus going to the garden is probably one of the most profound to me in all of Scripture.

One, it's God talking to God and asking God to change something.

And wanting it to be potentially easier or different.

And I'm like, that's me all the time.

Right.

Like wild.

This is legit.

And I mean, again, this is Trinitarian mystery as well.

God, the Father is talking to God, the Son.

God, the Son's asking God, the Father for something.

And God, the Father says no to God, the Son.

And so I think sometimes.

This isn't really answering your question, but it said it just we are always looking for a formula.

Right.

And so you're thinking, well, Jesus has the formula to get the yes or the right answer from God that he wants.

No, because it's not a formula.

It's a conversation.

It's a relationship.

But the thing, yeah, that blows my brain, the God of the universe is like, hey, guys, would you would you come be with me?

Come with me.

Come, come.

I'm in distress.

Come pray.

Would you come and pray?

He does kind of get a little frustrated that they fell asleep.

So there's the frustrated part of Jesus, which I respect because I can get frustrated.

And but yeah, that he I mean, that God would choose to come to earth, put on flesh and in a need people.

Right.

Not need people in a needy, codependent way.

But he chooses.

He chooses to come in and enter into relationship and live in community and be with people as opposed to he could have come in and set up his throne and been kind of that distant kind of the Wizard of Oz kind of, you know, thing.

And yeah, he he.

And then again, John, John, chapter 15.

I don't think I quoted this in the first service, but I did in the second to when I knew I had more time.

Jesus says in John 15.

I know.

I no longer call you servants.

I call you friends, which was so for a polytheistic culture that had lots of gods, most ancient Near East gods in the Old Testament time and most the gods of that time.

They saw humans as servants to them or subservient to them or whatever.

Right.

And and Jesus says, I don't call you servants.

I call you friends.

I mean, come on.

So how are you relating to Jesus as a friend that he wants you to be with him?

He wants you to invite him.

He wants you to.

Anyway, just.

I just that whole passage.

I could have just gone on.

Yeah.

But yeah.

Yeah.

There's so much in that.

But.

Those are the kind of things that as we mine the story of Jesus.

Right.

Are we noticing?

Yeah.

Oh.

And again, the Gospels don't tell you like the Gospels don't say.

And it is amazing.

Jesus called us friends and wanted us to be with him when he prays.

That's like didact.

No, they show you.

And then are you sitting in it?

Are you meditating in it long enough to kind of be blown away by that?

And putting yourself in the story.

You know, Eugene Peterson talks about our redeemed imagination, you know, and the necessity that the writing Old Testament was the same.

But these authors are expecting that you are sitting and meditating and putting yourself into these stories.

Even Genesis chapter three that there's confusing things in that chapter.

But it's because the author isn't trying to wrap it up all with a bow or he's he's showing you he's inviting you into this story.

And so how do you interact with that?

And I think that's when you start to actually know God when you see God, not just know about God.

If you.

Well, I was encouraging people to read through one of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke or John this week.

Yeah.

Or at least a few chapters of it.

Yes.

Yes.

And then you suggest that Mark was the shortest.

He is.

And and then to sit with it and then to fill in those blanks.

Yes.

I want that.

Yeah.

I am.

Yeah.

The part that I started, I originally was going to go all the way back to the, you know, Genesis and talk about how Jesus shows up in all of the scripture.

Yeah.

And that was just like, forget about it.

I can't.

That's.

Yeah.

And that was becoming to seminary class ish.

So, you know, more than anything, Mark, I think I feel like I don't feel like there was a lot.

Once I landed on where the direction of the sermon, I think I would have liked to been able to talk more about the story we tell ourselves and how, you know, how that really does impact us.

I probably could have gone a little bit deeper at the front end.

I had to cut a bunch of stuff out of that part because it is really what.

What sinks us, you know, is that we can get in our head about failure and shame and guilt or what.

I mean, for me, a lot of it's I should have done this and I could have done it this way and I wish I'd done this different and all that.

But how do I because sometimes those things are true.

I should have done it differently or I could have done it differently.

But how do I process that as my story?

With the foundation being exactly what you just said, Aisha, is I'm loved.

You're loved.

I'm God's treasure.

Yes.

I'm his treasure.

And so I would, you know, these could have been like probably this is a series and that feels like that's always my life.

You know, sermon one is the story we tell ourselves about ourselves.

Sermon two is the story we tell ourselves about God.

Sermon three is bringing it all kind of together.

Thank you for having me.

If you could just like.

Thank you, Menlo.

It was so good to be here.

I'd love.

So good to see you guys.

I would love to do that.

Thank you.

I'd be honored to do that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Let's just take a minute.

Father, I thank you for the Menlo Church community.

I thank you for its years and years and years of history and men and women who have come to find the goodness of your son, Jesus, here.

Those who have gone deeper with Jesus here.

Those who are just beginning to explore Jesus.

Father, I pray for the staff.

I pray great blessing.

Pray the power of your spirit in them.

I pray, God, that you would protect them from strife.

And just invite them into the life with your spirit, led by you, loved by you, cared for by you.

And I pray for the congregation.

I pray for each campus, for Saratoga, for Mountain View, for San Mateo, and for Menlo Park.

I pray that the men and women who step through the doors of each campus each weekend would have an encounter with your son, Jesus, by your side.

I pray for the kids and the students.

I pray that they would be so in awe of just how good you are, how amazing you are.

I pray, Lord, for all the things that each person needs who's listening right now.

I'm so thankful, God, that you know those needs, each one of them.

So, Father, would you do a deep work at Menlo Church in them and through them?

For your glory, for their good.

I pray it in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

1. "The most important thoughts we have, in a sense, is about who we believe God to be and who we believe ourselves to be. What do we believe about ourselves? And what do we believe about God? So, I put most of my weight into the, what do we believe about God? What's the story we're telling ourselves about God?" [08:10] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2. "I think sometimes we reference Jesus, and I do this, is the temptation is to reference Jesus and assume we all know who he is. Even just because you've been in the church. You can know about Jesus, but that's what I love about the narratives of Jesus, right?" [15:28] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3. "I think I've just come to more and more appreciate how the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, help me not just know about Jesus, they help me see Jesus. And that's what, that's what a good story does. Right? A good story isn't a, it's like teaching is over here. And now you're like, hey, tell me a bedtime story. I don't want you to teach me something. I want you to show me something." [16:05] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4. "I think the temptation. Again, it's looking for what I think God's supposed to be. And if I came to you guys and I just walk in the room and I come in, I don't ask any questions. I don't have any space that you might be imperfect or. Whatever. Or maybe I think you are imperfect and you're not. I don't know. But I'm not. And I just I bring with you my presuppositions of who you are. I don't know you. And I think that's what we can do with Jesus a lot of times is he becomes like a Flat Stanley." [23:10] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5. "I mean, that story of Jesus going to the garden is probably one of the most profound to me in all of Scripture. One, it's God talking to God and asking God to change something. And wanting it to be potentially easier or different. And I'm like, that's me all the time. Right. Like wild. This is legit. And and I mean, again, this is Trinitarian mystery as well. God, the Father is talking to God, the Son. God, the Son's asking God, the Father for something. And God, the Father says no to God, the Son." [25:01] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6. "I think sometimes. This isn't really answering your question, but it said it just we are always looking for a formula. Right. And so you're thinking, well, Jesus has the formula to get the yes or the right answer from God that he wants. No, because it's not a formula. It's a conversation. It's a relationship." [25:01] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7. "I mean, that God would choose to come to earth, put on flesh and in a need people. Not need people in a needy, codependent way. But he chooses. He chooses to come in and enter into relationship and live in community and be with people as opposed to he could have come in and set up his throne and been kind of that distant kind of the Wizard of Oz kind of, you know, thing." [25:55] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8. "Jesus says in John 15. I know. I no longer call you servants. I call you friends, which was so for a polytheistic culture that had lots of gods, most ancient Near East gods in the Old Testament time and most the gods of that time. They they they saw humans as servants to them or subservient to them or whatever. Right. And and Jesus says, I don't call you servants. I call you friends. I mean, come on." [27:03] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9. "The Gospels don't tell you like the Gospels don't say. And it is amazing. Jesus called us friends and wanted us to be with him when he prays. That's like didact. No, they show you. And then are you sitting in it? Are you meditating in it long enough to kind of be blown away by that? And putting yourself in the story." [27:39] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


10. "I think I feel like I don't feel like there was a lot. Once I landed on where the direction of the sermon, I think I would have liked to been able to talk more about the story we tell ourselves and how, you know, how that really does impact us. I probably could have gone a little bit deeper at the front end. I had to cut a bunch of stuff out of that part because it is really what. What sinks us, you know, is that we can get in our head about failure and shame and guilt or what." [31:42] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)