January 8, 2025 • 15 mins
The Tim Ahlman Podcast will have three primary focuses.
- Leadership: Learning from “experts” in a variety of vocations (within and outside of the LCMS) and applying their expertise to leadership life in the local church. These conversations will largely focus on developing and maintaining a healthy culture in our various vocations. Over 60% of you in the recent survey said you wanted to talk about healthy culture.
- Learn: Deep Theological Discussion. I will host many scholars to aid in our understanding of Christ popping off every page of Holy Scripture. We will work hard to apply our theological discussion to the post-Christian America where we find ourselves. 60% of you in our recent survey said you wanted to hear more on this topic. This is where there will be consistency with the American Reformation podcast.
- Live: Highlighting Healthy Habits for leaders in all vocations. I truly believe Jesus followers should be the holistically healthiest leaders on planet earth.
• Tim Ahlman announces the rebranding of the podcast from American Reformation to the Tim Ahlman Podcast
• Importance of deep theological conversations applied to contemporary issues
• Discussion on the idol of certainty and its risks in church leadership
• Biblical examples of risk-taking from figures like Abraham and Esther
• Highlighting the need for healthy habits in personal and communal church life
• Preview of Tim's upcoming book "Confessing Jesus Mission" and its themes
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Tim Allman and today marks a switch in my
podcast life.
Starting on January 8th, whichis today 2025, the American
Reformation podcast will berenamed the Tim Allman Podcast.
I've been blessed to lead apodcast called Lead Time for the
(00:21):
past eight years and here's alittle shout out Lead Time is
going to continue and grow andget better.
It's going to be so fun.
We're going to continue torelease two podcasts a week.
One will be focusing on currentevents in the life of the
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
We'll continue to interviewguests that we agree with and
hopefully, in the coming yearand years, hopefully more that
(00:42):
we don't in the hopes of growingcollectively as a church body
that can grow up into Jesus whois our head or leader or Lord,
and we can learn to disagreeagreeably and then unite across
our context to reach people withthe gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here's what I've said in somany podcasts the world needs
this theology, theJesus-centered, christocentric,
(01:03):
missiology, confessing messagethat the Lutheran Church of
Missouri Synod has todayConfessional, conservative,
historic but hopefully on ourbest days mission-oriented
church body.
We want to be one of thosecommunities Lead Time does that
lovingly, holds us together whenthere are certainly satanic
(01:24):
forces that want to pull usapart.
We're also responding to 100 ofyou who took our survey
recently.
64% of you said thatconversations around functional
or dysfunctional LCMS culturalcurrents are what you want to
hear more about.
So we're going to continue todo that and we promise to
maintain as much neutrality aspossible as we grow together as
(01:45):
a church body.
And I do say as much neutralityas possible because Jack and I
are certainly biased towardsGod's mission to get all of his
kids back.
Jack Calberg will continue tobe my co-host and Jack and I
were not neutral on the missionof God being the driving force
for the local church.
Second, jack and I will becollaborating on a weekly,
(02:07):
shorter podcast aimed at missionand ministry practitioners.
These podcasts will be betweenI don't know 10 to 20 minutes a
year on that drive to work.
You can maybe take in one ofthese per week.
We'll share some of theteachings of the Unite
Leadership Collective as well ascurate other best practices in
these shorter, very practicalpodcasts.
So lead time off and runninginto 2025.
(02:30):
Here we go, but here's where theswitch comes.
I was blessed to start a littlebit of history.
I was blessed to start theAmerican Reformation podcast
over two years ago with mymissionary friend, eric Fish.
Over a year ago, eric had tostep down as my co-host and we
kept the podcast going.
I've loved these conversations.
I've learned from so manypeople within and outside of the
Lutheran Church of MissouriSynod.
(02:51):
Yet and this is where it's abit sad these podcasts they
often get a fraction of the morecontroversial lead time
podcasts.
I guess conflict attracts,doesn't it?
It's unfortunate, and I'veworked hard, though, to maintain
the initial calling of theAmerican Reformation podcast,
but we're at a good pivot pointright now.
So here's the change Startingon January 8th which is today
(03:12):
2025, the American Reformationpodcast will be renamed the Tim
Allman podcast.
This is actually episode one ofthat new podcast.
So why have we decided torename the podcast?
Well, we discovered that manypeople were finding the ULC
podcast, unite LeadershipCollective podcast, by just
Googling Tim Allman, so we'rehopeful this renaming makes it
(03:33):
easier for people to find ourkingdom-expanding creative
content.
So here's what my podcast willhave is three primary focuses.
One is leadership learning fromexperts in a variety of
different vocations within andoutside the Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod and applyingtheir expertise to leadership
life in the local church.
These conversations willlargely focus on developing and
(03:54):
maintaining a healthy culture inour various vocations.
Over 60% of you in that recentsurvey said that you wanted to
talk more about healthy, healthyculture, so we're going to do
it.
So, leadership one, learning.
Two, deep theologicaldiscussion.
I will host many scholars toaid in our understanding of
Christ, popping off every pageof Holy Scripture.
(04:16):
We'll work hard to apply ourtheological discussions to the
post-Christian America where wefind ourselves.
60% of you said in the recentsurvey that you wanted to hear
more on deep theology, so we'regoing to bring it.
This is where we hopefully willhave some kind of consistency
with what you grew to expect inthe American Reformation podcast
.
And last so, leadershiplearning and then living.
(04:38):
We're going to talkhighlighting healthy habits for
leaders in all vocations.
I truly believe Jesus'followers should be holistically
the healthiest leaders onplanet earth, created in the
image of God, the image ofliving God out into the world.
So I'm excited for this newseason of podcasts connected to
the ULC.
Thank you for listening,providing feedback and
(04:59):
recommending both Lead Time andthe Tim Allman podcast to your
friends and family.
So, finally, I finished myrough draft of my first book,
likely titled Confessing JesusMission.
Thank you for your prayers.
It's made my doctoratehopefully more fun to read and
we've also got some greatinsights.
A very, very practical book.
(05:20):
It's kind of fun, it's alighter read, but also it's a
book that's speaking directlyinto the current realities that
the Lutheran Church MissouriSynod faces.
We're currently going throughthe first round of edits and
we're exploring who will publishthe book.
So thanks for the prayers.
And to close off though myfirst Tim Allman podcast, I'm
going to share one of one ofthese chapters.
(05:41):
I've been wrestling around theidol of certainty for some time,
so this is actually later on inthe book.
It's called the idol, the idolof certainty.
I believe certainty can be anidol.
I believe certainty could behampering local churches from
engaging their neighbors withthe gospel.
Here are some examples we maysay do not start that new
(06:01):
ministry until we can beabsolutely certain it will
succeed.
Do not run tests that newministry until we can be
absolutely certain it willsucceed.
Do not run tests in leadershipdevelopment until we can be
absolutely certain it willproduce the right types of
leaders.
Do not engage a brother orsister who has wronged you until
you can be absolutely certainthe conversation will go well.
Do not change anything in yourlocal ministry context until you
(06:23):
can be you said it absolutelycertain.
People won't get upset.
Do not risk.
Risk is too well Risky.
Play it safe.
Keep people happy.
Stick with the safe and certainstatus quo.
Does that sound familiar?
Sins of omission are serious,at least Jesus seems to think so
(06:44):
.
You all know the parable of thetalents in Matthew 25.
You've likely heard generositymessages about investing your
resources A talent was close to20 years, wages in kingdom
expanding initiatives.
This is appropriate to havethat sort of a message preached
about the parable of the talentsin Matthew 25.
But you've also likely heardmessages about personally not
(07:07):
living in fear of the master butburying your one talent.
That is also an appropriatetake on the parable of the
talents in Matthew 25.
You've probably also heardmessages about every person
being faithful with the talentor talents they've been giving
and not judging the talent ortalents of others.
The master will do with histalents what he desires to do.
(07:28):
This is also an appropriatereading of the parable of the
talents.
But I don't know that I've everheard a message connected to
risk and certainty connected tothis parable of the talents.
But I don't know that I've everheard a message connected to
risk and certainty connected tothis parable.
The first two servants riskedlosing the master's money.
When you invest, there's noguarantee right that you'll get
a return.
The master knew this and wasmore than fine with this risk.
(07:50):
The master expects kingdom riskfrom his servants.
He's not okay with playing itsafe.
The status quo of simplymaintaining what he's giving us
is not an option, at least notconnected to this parable.
Also, jesus tells this parableduring Holy Week.
The parable of the talents isbracketed by many stories of
urgent expectation for thecoming of the Son of man in
(08:13):
judgment on the last day.
The parable of the talents isimmediately preceded by the
parable of the ten virgins haveoil in your lamps, be prepared.
Jesus is coming again soon.
It's as if Jesus is saying donot be lazy or slothful with
what I've given you.
Invest, invest now.
Now is the time.
It's too short to do anythingelse but invest the master's
(08:34):
resources.
Do it now, do it quickly.
Sometimes I wonder what Jesusthinks of churches and leaders
who are content with simplyremaining the same size, with no
plans for growth by addition orgrowth through the sending of
leaders to bring in the harvestof lost souls.
I know this is the law, but thelaw must be preached to lead us
individually and collectivelyto repentance.
(08:58):
Would Jesus call those of uswho bury our talent in
preference of the certainty ofthe status quo wicked?
Would he call us wicked?
Well, it appears so.
When we think of the wicked,most of us immediately think of
those who commit atrocities.
According to this parable ofthe talents, the wicked are
those who commit sins ofkingdom-expanding omission.
(09:19):
Jesus views sins of omission asequally wicked to the most
egregious violations of the law.
You should probably read thatagain.
I'll read it again for youJesus views sins of omission as
equally wicked to the mostegregious violations of the law.
How does that make you feel?
(09:39):
I'll tell you how I feel.
I want to wait, no, no, no.
The Holy Spirit in me wants todo whatever is necessary to
appropriately risk and investthe master's talents People
being that primary talent, bythe way, in advancing the
kingdom of the master.
The Holy Spirit compels me toextravagantly risk the one life
(10:00):
he has given me in apprenticingdisciples of Jesus who will be
sent to do the same for others.
Anything less is sin wicked sin.
I pray you feel the same.
Sometimes I wonder if leaders inthe LCMS are immersing
themselves in the risk-filledstories of scripture.
Sometimes I wonder why we're soreticent to try new things, to
(10:23):
reach new people with the gospel.
Sometimes I wonder how themaster views the LCMS
collectively.
Are we investing the master'stalents?
Frankly, because of ourwonderful confessional Lutheran
theology, I believe we'recollectively the servant who was
given the five not the one, butthe five talents.
The treasure of our doctrine isa gift to be shared, not
(10:45):
hoarded.
To whom much is given, much isrequired.
Sometimes I wonder if we in theLCMS are worshiping the idol of
certainty, afraid of thepotential risk of investing the
master's talents.
I ask these questions from aplace of humility.
Outwardly, it may appear thatI've fully committed myself to
kingdom expanding risk.
Let me set the record straight.
(11:06):
I am just as fearful of risk asthe next leader.
Risk is scary.
It's definitely uncertain whenthe Holy Spirit speaks.
I desperately need him to speak.
And here's what he's speaking.
He says read my word, tim.
See how kingdom expanding riskgets rewarded the results of
hoarding and paralyzing fear atthe altar of certainty.
(11:28):
Risking for expanding God'skingdom is risky, yet not
risking is even more risky.
I'll read that again.
Risking for expanding God'skingdom?
It is definitely risky, yet notrisking it's even more
eternally risky.
Let me give you a few examplesAbraham Abraham risked, by
(11:48):
joining God, an adventure to anuncertain land.
David risked by picking upstones to fight and kill the
giant Goliath.
Jonathan risked fighting anentire garrison, a garrison of
Philistines, with one companionShadrach, meshach and Abednego.
They risked by defying KingNebuchadnezzar, knowing the
fiery furnace could be their end.
(12:09):
Esther, queen Esther riskedwhen she appealed on behalf of
the Jews to crazy King Xerxes.
I think that's how you say it.
I don't know, but that's howyou spell it.
If you read it, you wouldn'thave any mumbo jumbo anyway.
The prophets they riskedpreaching the law to the
Israelites in the hopes ofleading them to repentance.
Paul Paul's entire ministry,not to mention all of the
(12:31):
scattered apostles, paul'sentire ministry after his
conversion, was one risk afteranother.
Why?
All?
For the sake of sharing thestory of the God who risked
leaving the comforts of heavento know the beauty and
brokenness of the humanexperience.
Jesus, jesus' entire life andministryness of the human
experience.
Jesus, jesus' entire life andministry was riddled with risk.
The angelic declaration ofJoseph saved Jesus' life from
(13:01):
crazy Herod as he flees as arefugee to Egypt, jesus risked
being associated and baptized bycrazy John the Baptist.
John Jesus then risked callinga ragtag group of young Jewish
men to be apprenticed by him forthree years.
Jesus, he risks speaking truthto Pharisaical teachers and
scribes, and in love with theirrightness at not breaking the
rules, while condemnedhistorically as wicked for
(13:21):
condemning the one who came tofulfill the rules for them, for
the world.
Jesus, our Savior.
The Pharisees epitomizedleaders in love with the status
quo, hyper-focused on sins ofcommission.
They were wicked in their sinsof omission, handing the sinless
one over to the washed hands ofPontius Pilate.
(13:42):
We all have some Pharisee in us, don't we?
The first to confess it wins.
This is what we weekly confessin the divine service.
I am a poor, miserable sinner.
I have sinned by what I havedone, committed right and by
what I have left, undone my sinsof omission.
I believe the LCMS is in lovewith certainty.
(14:03):
I believe this certainty can bean idol.
I love certainty too, and I'mcertain Jesus loves me and I'm
certain he loves you too.
I'm also certain the master hasgiven me talents to risk, to let
the world know the certain loveof Jesus shown through the
cross and empty tomb.
I'm certain he's entrusted youwith the same talents.
(14:24):
What will you do with thosetalents?
Well, thanks for hanging outwith me today on this shorter
podcast.
The Tim Ullman podcast will bea once a week conversation with
leaders across the LCMS andoutside of the LCMS.
We're going to lead, but we'regoing to learn together some
deep theology and we're going togrow as we live, as healthy
leaders in these dark days inwhich we live.
(14:47):
And may this podcast leave youwith a sense of urgency to risk
everything that Jesus has givenyou, for the days are too short
to do anything other than that.
It's a good day.
Go and make it a great day.
We'll be back next week withanother episode of the Tim
Allman Podcast.
Peace, Thank you.
This is Tim Allman and today marks a switch in my
podcast life.
Starting on January 8th, whichis today 2025, the American
Reformation podcast will berenamed the Tim Allman Podcast.
I've been blessed to lead apodcast called Lead Time for the
(00:21):
past eight years and here's alittle shout out Lead Time is
going to continue and grow andget better.
It's going to be so fun.
We're going to continue torelease two podcasts a week.
One will be focusing on currentevents in the life of the
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
We'll continue to interviewguests that we agree with and
hopefully, in the coming yearand years, hopefully more that
(00:42):
we don't in the hopes of growingcollectively as a church body
that can grow up into Jesus whois our head or leader or Lord,
and we can learn to disagreeagreeably and then unite across
our context to reach people withthe gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here's what I've said in somany podcasts the world needs
this theology, theJesus-centered, christocentric,
(01:03):
missiology, confessing messagethat the Lutheran Church of
Missouri Synod has todayConfessional, conservative,
historic but hopefully on ourbest days mission-oriented
church body.
We want to be one of thosecommunities Lead Time does that
lovingly, holds us together whenthere are certainly satanic
(01:24):
forces that want to pull usapart.
We're also responding to 100 ofyou who took our survey
recently.
64% of you said thatconversations around functional
or dysfunctional LCMS culturalcurrents are what you want to
hear more about.
So we're going to continue todo that and we promise to
maintain as much neutrality aspossible as we grow together as
(01:45):
a church body.
And I do say as much neutralityas possible because Jack and I
are certainly biased towardsGod's mission to get all of his
kids back.
Jack Calberg will continue tobe my co-host and Jack and I
were not neutral on the missionof God being the driving force
for the local church.
Second, jack and I will becollaborating on a weekly,
(02:07):
shorter podcast aimed at missionand ministry practitioners.
These podcasts will be betweenI don't know 10 to 20 minutes a
year on that drive to work.
You can maybe take in one ofthese per week.
We'll share some of theteachings of the Unite
Leadership Collective as well ascurate other best practices in
these shorter, very practicalpodcasts.
So lead time off and runninginto 2025.
(02:30):
Here we go, but here's where theswitch comes.
I was blessed to start a littlebit of history.
I was blessed to start theAmerican Reformation podcast
over two years ago with mymissionary friend, eric Fish.
Over a year ago, eric had tostep down as my co-host and we
kept the podcast going.
I've loved these conversations.
I've learned from so manypeople within and outside of the
Lutheran Church of MissouriSynod.
(02:51):
Yet and this is where it's abit sad these podcasts they
often get a fraction of the morecontroversial lead time
podcasts.
I guess conflict attracts,doesn't it?
It's unfortunate, and I'veworked hard, though, to maintain
the initial calling of theAmerican Reformation podcast,
but we're at a good pivot pointright now.
So here's the change Startingon January 8th which is today
(03:12):
2025, the American Reformationpodcast will be renamed the Tim
Allman podcast.
This is actually episode one ofthat new podcast.
So why have we decided torename the podcast?
Well, we discovered that manypeople were finding the ULC
podcast, unite LeadershipCollective podcast, by just
Googling Tim Allman, so we'rehopeful this renaming makes it
(03:33):
easier for people to find ourkingdom-expanding creative
content.
So here's what my podcast willhave is three primary focuses.
One is leadership learning fromexperts in a variety of
different vocations within andoutside the Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod and applyingtheir expertise to leadership
life in the local church.
These conversations willlargely focus on developing and
(03:54):
maintaining a healthy culture inour various vocations.
Over 60% of you in that recentsurvey said that you wanted to
talk more about healthy, healthyculture, so we're going to do
it.
So, leadership one, learning.
Two, deep theologicaldiscussion.
I will host many scholars toaid in our understanding of
Christ, popping off every pageof Holy Scripture.
(04:16):
We'll work hard to apply ourtheological discussions to the
post-Christian America where wefind ourselves.
60% of you said in the recentsurvey that you wanted to hear
more on deep theology, so we'regoing to bring it.
This is where we hopefully willhave some kind of consistency
with what you grew to expect inthe American Reformation podcast
.
And last so, leadershiplearning and then living.
(04:38):
We're going to talkhighlighting healthy habits for
leaders in all vocations.
I truly believe Jesus'followers should be holistically
the healthiest leaders onplanet earth, created in the
image of God, the image ofliving God out into the world.
So I'm excited for this newseason of podcasts connected to
the ULC.
Thank you for listening,providing feedback and
(04:59):
recommending both Lead Time andthe Tim Allman podcast to your
friends and family.
So, finally, I finished myrough draft of my first book,
likely titled Confessing JesusMission.
Thank you for your prayers.
It's made my doctoratehopefully more fun to read and
we've also got some greatinsights.
A very, very practical book.
(05:20):
It's kind of fun, it's alighter read, but also it's a
book that's speaking directlyinto the current realities that
the Lutheran Church MissouriSynod faces.
We're currently going throughthe first round of edits and
we're exploring who will publishthe book.
So thanks for the prayers.
And to close off though myfirst Tim Allman podcast, I'm
going to share one of one ofthese chapters.
(05:41):
I've been wrestling around theidol of certainty for some time,
so this is actually later on inthe book.
It's called the idol, the idolof certainty.
I believe certainty can be anidol.
I believe certainty could behampering local churches from
engaging their neighbors withthe gospel.
Here are some examples we maysay do not start that new
(06:01):
ministry until we can beabsolutely certain it will
succeed.
Do not run tests that newministry until we can be
absolutely certain it willsucceed.
Do not run tests in leadershipdevelopment until we can be
absolutely certain it willproduce the right types of
leaders.
Do not engage a brother orsister who has wronged you until
you can be absolutely certainthe conversation will go well.
Do not change anything in yourlocal ministry context until you
(06:23):
can be you said it absolutelycertain.
People won't get upset.
Do not risk.
Risk is too well Risky.
Play it safe.
Keep people happy.
Stick with the safe and certainstatus quo.
Does that sound familiar?
Sins of omission are serious,at least Jesus seems to think so
(06:44):
.
You all know the parable of thetalents in Matthew 25.
You've likely heard generositymessages about investing your
resources A talent was close to20 years, wages in kingdom
expanding initiatives.
This is appropriate to havethat sort of a message preached
about the parable of the talentsin Matthew 25.
But you've also likely heardmessages about personally not
(07:07):
living in fear of the master butburying your one talent.
That is also an appropriatetake on the parable of the
talents in Matthew 25.
You've probably also heardmessages about every person
being faithful with the talentor talents they've been giving
and not judging the talent ortalents of others.
The master will do with histalents what he desires to do.
(07:28):
This is also an appropriatereading of the parable of the
talents.
But I don't know that I've everheard a message connected to
risk and certainty connected tothis parable of the talents.
But I don't know that I've everheard a message connected to
risk and certainty connected tothis parable.
The first two servants riskedlosing the master's money.
When you invest, there's noguarantee right that you'll get
a return.
The master knew this and wasmore than fine with this risk.
(07:50):
The master expects kingdom riskfrom his servants.
He's not okay with playing itsafe.
The status quo of simplymaintaining what he's giving us
is not an option, at least notconnected to this parable.
Also, jesus tells this parableduring Holy Week.
The parable of the talents isbracketed by many stories of
urgent expectation for thecoming of the Son of man in
(08:13):
judgment on the last day.
The parable of the talents isimmediately preceded by the
parable of the ten virgins haveoil in your lamps, be prepared.
Jesus is coming again soon.
It's as if Jesus is saying donot be lazy or slothful with
what I've given you.
Invest, invest now.
Now is the time.
It's too short to do anythingelse but invest the master's
(08:34):
resources.
Do it now, do it quickly.
Sometimes I wonder what Jesusthinks of churches and leaders
who are content with simplyremaining the same size, with no
plans for growth by addition orgrowth through the sending of
leaders to bring in the harvestof lost souls.
I know this is the law, but thelaw must be preached to lead us
individually and collectivelyto repentance.
(08:58):
Would Jesus call those of uswho bury our talent in
preference of the certainty ofthe status quo wicked?
Would he call us wicked?
Well, it appears so.
When we think of the wicked,most of us immediately think of
those who commit atrocities.
According to this parable ofthe talents, the wicked are
those who commit sins ofkingdom-expanding omission.
(09:19):
Jesus views sins of omission asequally wicked to the most
egregious violations of the law.
You should probably read thatagain.
I'll read it again for youJesus views sins of omission as
equally wicked to the mostegregious violations of the law.
How does that make you feel?
(09:39):
I'll tell you how I feel.
I want to wait, no, no, no.
The Holy Spirit in me wants todo whatever is necessary to
appropriately risk and investthe master's talents People
being that primary talent, bythe way, in advancing the
kingdom of the master.
The Holy Spirit compels me toextravagantly risk the one life
(10:00):
he has given me in apprenticingdisciples of Jesus who will be
sent to do the same for others.
Anything less is sin wicked sin.
I pray you feel the same.
Sometimes I wonder if leaders inthe LCMS are immersing
themselves in the risk-filledstories of scripture.
Sometimes I wonder why we're soreticent to try new things, to
(10:23):
reach new people with the gospel.
Sometimes I wonder how themaster views the LCMS
collectively.
Are we investing the master'stalents?
Frankly, because of ourwonderful confessional Lutheran
theology, I believe we'recollectively the servant who was
given the five not the one, butthe five talents.
The treasure of our doctrine isa gift to be shared, not
(10:45):
hoarded.
To whom much is given, much isrequired.
Sometimes I wonder if we in theLCMS are worshiping the idol of
certainty, afraid of thepotential risk of investing the
master's talents.
I ask these questions from aplace of humility.
Outwardly, it may appear thatI've fully committed myself to
kingdom expanding risk.
Let me set the record straight.
(11:06):
I am just as fearful of risk asthe next leader.
Risk is scary.
It's definitely uncertain whenthe Holy Spirit speaks.
I desperately need him to speak.
And here's what he's speaking.
He says read my word, tim.
See how kingdom expanding riskgets rewarded the results of
hoarding and paralyzing fear atthe altar of certainty.
(11:28):
Risking for expanding God'skingdom is risky, yet not
risking is even more risky.
I'll read that again.
Risking for expanding God'skingdom?
It is definitely risky, yet notrisking it's even more
eternally risky.
Let me give you a few examplesAbraham Abraham risked, by
(11:48):
joining God, an adventure to anuncertain land.
David risked by picking upstones to fight and kill the
giant Goliath.
Jonathan risked fighting anentire garrison, a garrison of
Philistines, with one companionShadrach, meshach and Abednego.
They risked by defying KingNebuchadnezzar, knowing the
fiery furnace could be their end.
(12:09):
Esther, queen Esther riskedwhen she appealed on behalf of
the Jews to crazy King Xerxes.
I think that's how you say it.
I don't know, but that's howyou spell it.
If you read it, you wouldn'thave any mumbo jumbo anyway.
The prophets they riskedpreaching the law to the
Israelites in the hopes ofleading them to repentance.
Paul Paul's entire ministry,not to mention all of the
(12:31):
scattered apostles, paul'sentire ministry after his
conversion, was one risk afteranother.
Why?
All?
For the sake of sharing thestory of the God who risked
leaving the comforts of heavento know the beauty and
brokenness of the humanexperience.
Jesus, jesus' entire life andministryness of the human
experience.
Jesus, jesus' entire life andministry was riddled with risk.
The angelic declaration ofJoseph saved Jesus' life from
(13:01):
crazy Herod as he flees as arefugee to Egypt, jesus risked
being associated and baptized bycrazy John the Baptist.
John Jesus then risked callinga ragtag group of young Jewish
men to be apprenticed by him forthree years.
Jesus, he risks speaking truthto Pharisaical teachers and
scribes, and in love with theirrightness at not breaking the
rules, while condemnedhistorically as wicked for
(13:21):
condemning the one who came tofulfill the rules for them, for
the world.
Jesus, our Savior.
The Pharisees epitomizedleaders in love with the status
quo, hyper-focused on sins ofcommission.
They were wicked in their sinsof omission, handing the sinless
one over to the washed hands ofPontius Pilate.
(13:42):
We all have some Pharisee in us, don't we?
The first to confess it wins.
This is what we weekly confessin the divine service.
I am a poor, miserable sinner.
I have sinned by what I havedone, committed right and by
what I have left, undone my sinsof omission.
I believe the LCMS is in lovewith certainty.
(14:03):
I believe this certainty can bean idol.
I love certainty too, and I'mcertain Jesus loves me and I'm
certain he loves you too.
I'm also certain the master hasgiven me talents to risk, to let
the world know the certain loveof Jesus shown through the
cross and empty tomb.
I'm certain he's entrusted youwith the same talents.
(14:24):
What will you do with thosetalents?
Well, thanks for hanging outwith me today on this shorter
podcast.
The Tim Ullman podcast will bea once a week conversation with
leaders across the LCMS andoutside of the LCMS.
We're going to lead, but we'regoing to learn together some
deep theology and we're going togrow as we live, as healthy
leaders in these dark days inwhich we live.
(14:47):
And may this podcast leave youwith a sense of urgency to risk
everything that Jesus has givenyou, for the days are too short
to do anything other than that.
It's a good day.
Go and make it a great day.
We'll be back next week withanother episode of the Tim
Allman Podcast.
Peace, Thank you.
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