Beyond Sunday
Beyond Sunday is a podcast where we dive into what our Church is up to, what's happening in society, go deeper into topics from Sunday mornings, and hear leadership talks from Pastor Greg Griffith. This is a podcast of King of Kings Church in Omaha, NE. Learn more at kingofkings.org.
Beyond Sunday
Honor Code - Week 1
In this Beyond Sunday episode, Dina, Peter, and Kevin kick off the discussion of the Honor Code series by talking about what it means to honor God and others in a culture that often does the opposite. From standing for truth like the prophet Micaiah to showing respect in everyday choices, the conversation challenges us to listen to God before the crowd and live with integrity—even when it’s unpopular.
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Thanks for listening!
Welcome to Beyond Sunday, the King of Kings podcast, where we look at our sermon series that we're going through and dive a little bit deeper into figuring out what we're taking beyond Sunday. My name is Dena Newsom and I have some wonderful guests today. It's like Northwest is represented. Our Northwest campus is represented today. Go ahead, introduce yourself.
Speaker 3:Peter Bay campus. Director of Kim King's Northwest.
Speaker 2:Kevin McClure, worship and production director of the same campus. You said it so fast. I feel like I had to go slow in order to balance it out.
Speaker 3:Well, just wanted to get in there. Is that the right way? I think you guys balance each other out. In many ways You're opposites like that. What else? What do you mean by that? Dina, Tell us more.
Speaker 1:Let's make this podcast about us. When Peter's here it always is. Wow, wow.
Speaker 3:Man, there's a place here at King King's called the Core, and are you making a suggestion that I stop by, or what Well?
Speaker 1:no, no.
Speaker 3:I would never suggest that.
Speaker 1:You make use of that as you see fit.
Speaker 3:That's fair, and I do.
Speaker 1:Determine your own needs.
Speaker 3:And I do.
Speaker 1:All right, so I don't know if you guys know this, but today is National Egg Day.
Speaker 2:I did not know that you have a big party planned later at home.
Speaker 1:It is National Egg Day. I did not know that you have a big party planned later at home. It is National Egg Day, so my question for you is what is your favorite way to eat eggs?
Speaker 2:My favorite way to eat an egg. This is going to be complex. Obviously, eat an egg. This is going to be complex. Obviously I like to. This part's not complex, but I'll cook it over easy. But then I'll also make some toast and bacon. Throw a little toast bacon over easy egg, on top a little bit of syrup, and cut it with a fork and knife and mow it down.
Speaker 1:It's called an eagle's nest, and let the yolk like slide all over.
Speaker 3:Yeah, okay, okay, the syrup was a surprise for me. Yeah, but you can't have too much.
Speaker 2:It's not like pancake that you can just have an unlimited amount of syrup. You call that an eagle's nest. I don't know if that's what it's officially called, but that's what I've called it for 10 years.
Speaker 1:Maybe you need to trademark that.
Speaker 2:Maybe I should I don't know Open up my own restaurant.
Speaker 3:Yeah, my favorite way would probably be in like cookie dough or just something like that Cookies or just baking with it. I'm not a big egg fan. Really. No, and it troubles my tummy Eggs do baking with it. I'm not a big egg fan, really. No, it troubles my tummy Eggs do. And cookies might as well, but they taste good enough to risk it. So cookies would be number one. Number two would be Gaston style, where you just eat them raw.
Speaker 1:Do you ever do that? I haven't Like for real?
Speaker 3:I have not, but I would be willing to try it.
Speaker 2:I would try that. I don't think I've ever done it before either.
Speaker 1:Okay, next time you're here, I'm bringing some raw eggs.
Speaker 2:On this date next year.
Speaker 3:National Egg Day. Are we going to film it that time? Then, yeah, we'll have to. Alright, on socials, people will want to see that we could charge.
Speaker 1:We could charge. Maybe this is a VBS challenge in the making.
Speaker 3:Oh, for sure that sounds about right.
Speaker 2:For sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah, my favorite way to eat eggs is deviled eggs. I'm a sucker for deviled eggs.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, my wife loves deviled eggs, but I don't like store-bought deviled eggs.
Speaker 1:The filling's just not the right consistency.
Speaker 3:What do you put in that filling?
Speaker 1:I'm a Miracle Whip fan.
Speaker 3:So I like some.
Speaker 1:Miracle Whip mixed in Little mustard, little Miracle Whip, and then season all on top, Maybe a little paprika. But that's my deviled eggs. Making deviled eggs after Easter, like when you've cracked all the Easter eggs that my kids love to hide and then they get all cracked up and then we wash them and make them into deviled eggs, where they're like gnarly colored and everything that, to me, is like I don't know. There's something about just the memories.
Speaker 3:You hide actual eggs in your house.
Speaker 1:Sometimes yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:You're wild. You only hide the plastic ones. We can't find our TV remote.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you lose one egg for long enough.
Speaker 1:That's not going to go well, you'll find it eventually. You'll be able to sniff it out, it's okay.
Speaker 3:I feel like Miracle Whip is deception. You think it's mayonnaise and you eat it, and it's tangy and gross.
Speaker 1:I grew up on Miracle Whip, though, so that's my fave.
Speaker 3:I don't know, kevin, are you Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise? I don't like Miracle.
Speaker 2:Whip. Nor do I like deviled eggs, but my wife would have an opinion on this, so someday she can come share that opinion on deviled eggs day.
Speaker 3:Did you know any people who used to call them like sanctified eggs or something? No, can't give the devil credit for a delicious food.
Speaker 2:Resurrected eggs. Resurrected eggs.
Speaker 1:All right, I'm not really sure how to transition from eggs to honor but we're going to go for it.
Speaker 3:That's a great title for this podcast From eggs to honor Part one.
Speaker 1:So this week we started a new sermon series, and this is called Honor Code, and Pastor Zach Zender led us with this first week honoring God above the crowd. So what was your initial takeaway? What are you taking, beyond Sunday, from this message today?
Speaker 3:Yeah, for me to get some like measured ways to talk about honor was great. Um the uh reputation. What was his reputation? And?
Speaker 3:respect respect, yeah, so that I think those were great ways. This is how we're going to get after it this week. Um, and the other thing that really stood out to me was, uh, the the Micaiah Bible event that he used to tell it, one because I knew very little about Micaiah, like it was. Like, have I even heard that name? Was my first thought. And then learning about Micaiah and how he stood up and honored God above everything, even though it risks his reputation that I, those things really stood out to me for this week.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, the story of Micaiah. I love that story. Whenever I've read through it it sticks with me for several days and then I like Zach was joking about it. I'm like would I ever name my kid Micaiah for that moment. But then I think Micaiah McClure and I'm like that's either too good or not good.
Speaker 2:Like I can't decide if it's yeah, right, uh, so that that's like a, a, a cool, cool name. I love what he did and the thing that like jumped at me this during this sermon was when he was reading through um, micaiah's vision that he had, uh, to King Ahab, and the part that he started reading, I recognized it as very similar to Isaiah 6, 8. It says and the Lord was sitting on his throne, his train, the rope, the train of his robe, filled the temple, and. And then it changes. And it's a different kind of experience than what Isaiah has in Isaiah 6, 8.
Speaker 2:And so that just jumped at me of like, oh, this very unique, or this not so very unique setting with multiple prophets, and in this case, um, it was the moment that God was saying, uh, who will we send not to go for us but to go and deceive King Ahab, and I thought that was so interesting of like this moment that God is actually planning Ahab's own destruction, um, but it's this same setting that we see God and Isaiah go to want to go and rescue his people. He's also wanting to rescue his people from a wicked king in this way. So it just jumped at me this time that I'd never noticed before.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's cool. I really felt convicted by the questions that Zach started out with. Like the hundred100 bill Not so much that one I think I'd probably chase after the guy even if he was walking to his yacht and giving back his $100 bill but like the Netflix password or some of those things that just really got me thinking about. What ways am I not honoring? I guess I think of honor as something bigger and not in those smaller things, you know, the daily things that we do, um, and how am I teaching my kids or my grandkids or those around me that I am honoring of things? And if I'm right now, netflix got smart and we're not sharing a password. We pay for separate accounts. I don't know if you guys have this issue, but it was. I have adult children and you can add on to your Netflix account.
Speaker 1:You know that was a whole process that we went through, but never did I think of that as being honoring of the business but, it is, and so it just got me thinking how are the little things in life, how are the little ways that we show honor reflect who we are in our lives? So Zach defined honor as pursuing a good reputation and showing proper respect for others, and then he asked a question that he kind of felt is maybe something in doubt right now. Are we taught to tear each other down instead of honoring each other? What are your feelings about that? Like, do you feel in culture today we're more taught to get in that competitive nature, get above people, like, where it's almost tearing each other down instead of honoring each other.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's actually what makes certain people so attractive is that they look to honor people and they look to make a name for others versus themselves, and my hope is that that's what Christians would be known for, notably, making the name of Jesus known and honored. Known and honored Um, but it's. It's so common in our culture to hear the phrase uh, this guy just steps all over people you know, or he uses people to get to the next level himself or herself and um, it's really a shame to hear that. And I, yeah, I, I during Zach's message, one of the things that jumped at me is something that we talk about with my kids a lot Um message.
Speaker 2:One of the things that jumped at me is something that we talk about with my kids a lot, something that we say a lot in our house is we want to raise you, my children, to be people of high character, and I think being an honoring person is part of that.
Speaker 2:And being a person of high character my kids would probably be able to recite this really, really well at this point, because I say it all the time is choose to the right thing, no matter what, and when you do do the wrong thing you choose to make it right.
Speaker 2:And being a person who honors others is not always easy, because sometimes it feels like but I want to get mine too, you know, but but what you're saying is, well, you want to give them what they're due first, and, yeah, that's fairly countercultural. I think a lot of people would agree that that's a good thing, but I think that we see a culture right now where there's you know, however you feel, about billionaires and all that conversation happening, like there's a lot of people that the perception is they got there by undercutting others and stepping on people, and so people are wondering well, maybe I need to start doing that now, and the call of the Christian, I think, is to push back against that and say, no, we're going to stay steadfast in honoring the people that deserve it most, notably God himself.
Speaker 3:Yeah, zach mentioned that we are going to get to a future message on authority and that should be really great because I think culturally that is a oh my goodness. Culture stomps all over honoring authority, whether it's each other or in an upwards relationship, so like if you don't like what, um, your political leader is doing, or you don't like what your school teachers or principals doing, I people I see much more often they'll talk about rather than talk to. Now it's hard to get an audience with your political leader, um, but we have an audience with the creator of the universe. Like we can be praying to God first for our political leaders, praying to God first for our principles, and when we do that it changes our heart towards those people and I bet we'll trash them less often behind their back If the first step is going to God to say I want them to succeed, god be with them, bless their family, bless their position.
Speaker 3:You know we also see it from people in standing political leaders bashing other political leaders. I love sports. When I watch sports, I see some of the flashiest players putting down other players and celebrating their victories more than honoring the other team Although there are honorable people for sure, that more often than not in our culture, honor is not seen as something to be doing, and I do think that it has unfortunately mixed its way into Christianity, and Christians slamming political leaders, christians slamming their school, the teachers and principals, whoever those people in authority are.
Speaker 3:And the bottom line is when we do that, we're dishonoring God, and I think of Joseph with Potiphar, and he says I will not dishonor God and my master, and there's really something for me to take away from that where it's like me saying something or doing something poor against the people that have authority over me, first and foremost is dishonoring God. Um, but my reputation is first with God, and if my reputation is first there, well then I'll probably dishonor the people around me less, as I mean. So, either way you cut it, uh, I think we ought to honor more and, uh, in our culture does not? Yeah, I.
Speaker 1:That question really made me think of my son, um, who is 18 now, but when he was, I don't know, probably just becoming a teenager. Um, my basement has been the place where he and his friends hang out. So, on a routine basis there's a group of young men in my basement and they went through a stage when they were starting middle school where it was all fun and games to roast each other or to raz each other or to cut each other down and they did it in the intent of like, embracing each other. You know what I mean. Like, I know that's how it started, but it was very culturally acceptable and it would irk me to no end to be upstairs and hear them because boys are a lot louder than you think but just cutting each other down and everybody laughing about it, because I knew there were a couple of the things that, like my son, would get roasted on, that he was sensitive about.
Speaker 1:Now, did he take it to heart or did he take it in jest, as it was intended? I don't know. So this was happening on a routine basis. He take it to heart or did he take it in jest, as it was intended? I don't know, but there, so like this was happening on a routine basis and one time I sat him down and engaged him in a conversation and I was like I just I don't love this.
Speaker 1:You know, we're supposed to speak positively about each other and these are other children of God and we want to be, you know, kind to them. And he's like mom, it's no big deal, you know, it's just this or that. You know, we're all just joking around and I was like, well, when this person you know, I heard this person say this about you and I know you struggle with that Is it really just joking around? And I think it really stopped him in his tracks, like he had learned to let it roll off his back, but on certain things it did stick with him or it was something he was insecure about and I said to me this is a very fine line with bullying each other.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean. We don't know what somebody's carrying out of that room, even if you say it with the intent of, hey, you're my friend, I can tease you about this. And I just kept thinking when Zach was talking about this on Sunday, like talking about tearing each other down I just kept thinking back to that and thinking how, here was my preteen son learning that something that was very acceptable among his group of friends maybe wasn't so acceptable if you really thought more about it. And I was like, how do we do that? You know there's no more water coolers, like, but standing around the water cooler at work, or you know.
Speaker 2:Once again, as people who want to follow Jesus, we ought to be aware of what the needs of people around us are, so that we can match up with that. Have you ever been in a situation where you're just talking with any given person and then you say something that you didn't mean to sound sarcastic, but it did because of the tone, but it did because of the tone? Like I've been in that position so many times and then I've had to be like like you look at that person and they're so confused because, like, are you, wait, are you serious? Are you not serious? Like no, I was, I just I don't know why it came out that way.
Speaker 2:And so there's just this um intentionality with every single word that if we're not careful, we, um, we, we can put off the wrong thing. And so I just think it's really critical for us to be mindful. Not that we ought to be then inauthentic and never make jokes and be, you know, these wooden, stoic people that you know, don't know, don't know how to have a good time, but like just to read the room a little bit and be aware of what other people might need, cause it might be different than how we would normally present something.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's good, yeah, and if you didn't get a chance to watch the message, I'm seeing the face that Zach's making when he's doing the nonverbal and impersonation of Micaiah is hilarious. Yeah, he looks like a crazy person.
Speaker 1:So, it was really good, so check that out. I also like his. You know, when he's talking about body language he's doing almost like a little dance. That's something to check out, Good stuff.
Speaker 2:I have always read that portion of the story when Micaiah says, yes, go to war and you'll win, like he's being super sarcastic, like obviously sarcastic. I don't know why I read it like that every single time, and so it was funny. When he didn't read it like that, I was like what are you doing here? This is the wrong character.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah, I know Just like shaking his head no while saying it, yeah, yeah, I kind of wanted to do multiple passes like one really short pass.
Speaker 2:Yeah, give me multiple different takes, because it seems like he could have gone any direction with it.
Speaker 3:So I hope and God, I know you're listening up there Out there. I know it's not up, guys, goodness gracious. It's not up, guys, goodness gracious. So when I get to heaven, um, because of what Jesus has done, and I'm up there and celebrating like part of what I, I'd love to see scenes not just from the Bible but from of, like, all of humanity that I don't get to see on earth. You know, like I can go through the Rolodex, but I could scroll back to Micaiah and that scene with Ahab and like actually see what it looked like, wouldn't that be amazing.
Speaker 2:I always wanted. This is totally off topic, but I've always hoped to get like. You know how the end of the year, spotify will give you your stats of like, what song you listen to the most. I want I want one of those of like okay, how many times did I listen to this song in my entire life? Or like, how many times did I eat pepperoni pizza for a meal? Like? I want to see the stats that is so random I don't even like stats.
Speaker 3:I'm so curious, I want to see it now too. How many ounces of cranberry sauce? Yeah.
Speaker 1:We talk about food. So much on this. Oh my gosh. All right. So, as we wrap up, what are some final takeaways that you have from this message series this particular week? Honoring God above the crowd.
Speaker 3:Yeah, honor is a really cool topic that we don't get into a lot, but it matters and I'm excited to hear how we dive further into authority and the generations and other ways to see honor in a biblical perspective.
Speaker 2:I am very, um, maybe aware because of this message now of, um, how my my general disposition towards other people that I'm in meetings with during the work day or at home with, or playing music with, or whatever of like okay, I need to be a little bit less self directed and more aware of, okay, what are the needs of the people around me. That's been sticking with me for the last couple of days just to make sure that I'm the best version of what they need in that moment, and not just the best version of myself for me, but the best version of myself for them and honoring kind of their needs in the moment.
Speaker 3:And that can be hard when you're not feeling it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I did that. Last night. I saw a guy who I haven't seen for years Awesome dude at a basketball game and I just had zero energy. Like as soon as I got home from the game I was like I'm going to bed. Chris was like did I do something wrong? I'm like no, I'm just done, and I did not give him like the joy that I normally would in seeing this guy. And it's been years and I've like I regret it. So, jason, if you're listening, I love you man. I'm sorry, I wasn't energized for you and it was good to see you.
Speaker 1:So I really liked Pastor Zach's takeaways, the two takeaways that he gave, which was I will listen to God before I listen to the crowd and I will do what's right, even if I must stand alone. Those really spoke to me and that was something I was like okay, two things I can try to do, two things I can think about doing two things more in my life. Yeah, that was really good. All right, guys. Well, thank you for being here and I'm excited to hear more from this message next week, more from the Honor Code.
Speaker 3:Yeah, me too, Kevin. If there was a send-off to the Beyond Sunday podcast, what would the slogan be?
Speaker 2:Oh man, Put me on the spot.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:For Beyond Sunday. Mm-hmm. Yeah, For Beyond Sunday and now on Monday. We hope you go beyond into the next coming Sunday.
Speaker 1:That got real confusing you know the last time Peter was here, he wrote us a song. Yeah. And I asked if you'd be able to repeat it when you came back. Yeah, do you got it? You ready again? Yeah, no, it's verse two.
Speaker 3:Okay, and I asked if you would be able to repeat it when you came back. Yeah, do you got it you ready again? Yeah, no, it's verse two.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm ready. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3:Is it the same?
Speaker 1:tune.
Speaker 3:No, oh, okay, it's not Completely new. You were inspired. It starts with a little guitar riff it's like.
Speaker 1:I just don't think there's anything else we can say.
Speaker 2:That's the jingle, that's it.
Speaker 1:That's it.
Speaker 3:It has to change every week. Yeah, you're going to work on that. Yeah, I've got one for next week.
Speaker 1:Okay, I'm good.
Speaker 2:You're back next week now.
Speaker 1:Until then, let's keep living our faith beyond Sunday. Thank you.
