Church Nerds United

In this episode of Church Nerds United Podcast, we delve into "Dungeon of Doubt: Finding Faith in the Shadows," the second sermon in our series "Make Up Your Mind." We tackle the challenges of doubt and uncertainty that we all face in our lives. Much like characters in a D&D campaign, we often find ourselves in murky waters, questioning our path and purpose.

Join Pastor Brandon Holm as he shares insights on how to navigate these dark times, encouraging us to trust in God's plan, even when clarity seems out of reach. This message is perfect for those who enjoy gaming and geek culture while seeking a deeper understanding of faith.

Creators & Guests

Host
Pastor Brandon Holm

What is Church Nerds United?

Welcome to Church Nerds United, the ultimate podcast where the sacred and the geeky collide! Dive deep into the Holy Scriptures with us as we explore sermons sprinkled with your favorite gaming quests, cosplay characters, and anime adventures. Whether you're a Paladin of Prayer, a Cosplay Crusader, or an Otaku of the Old Testament, this is your sanctuary.

Join our fellowship as we level up our faith through the lens of epic battles, legendary heroes, and fantastical worlds. From the wisdom of the Proverbs to the valor of the Apostles, we'll draw parallels between biblical narratives and the beloved realms of gaming, cosplay, and anime.

Tune in for:

Sermon Side Quests: Discover the deeper meaning behind Scripture with analogies from your favorite games and anime.
Cosplay Character Spotlight: Unveil the biblical virtues embodied by iconic characters and how they inspire our spiritual journey.
Anime Apologetics: Engage in lively discussions that bridge the gap between faith and fandom, unraveling the spiritual themes in popular series.

So, grab your controller, don your cosplay armor, and get ready to embark on an epic quest of faith and fandom. Church Nerds United is here to guide you on a heroic journey, one episode at a time. May the faith be with you!

Greater Guild Announcer:

Welcome back to the Church Nerds United podcast. Today, we're diving into our second sermon in the series, make up your mind, titled, Dungeon of Doubt, Finding Faith in the Shadows. In this episode, we'll explore the murky moments of our spiritual journeys. Those times when we feel uncertain, confused, or even lost. Just like adventurers in an RPG, we often face challenges that test our faith and push us to grow.

Greater Guild Announcer:

Together, we'll discover how to navigate these shadows, embrace our doubts, and trust god even when the path isn't clear. So grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, and let's embark on this journey of faith.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

In our second message of our series, make up your mind, we're diving into a theme that resonates deep in all our lives, as both gamers and as followers of Christ. Murky obedience. Often, when God calls us to do something, it can feel confusing or unclear, like, we're stuck in a tough quest or mission with no clear marker. We're going to explore how God uses these murky moments to strengthen our faith and lead us to victory. Let's consider our journey in RPGs for a moment.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Imagine you're adventuring in a vast world, grinding through quests, battling enemies, and leveling up your character. But what happens if you stick to the same low level areas? Well you'll hit the plateau, and unable to grow stronger, and unlock new abilities. To advance, you need to take on tougher challenges, explore new territories, and adapt your strategies. This principle is applies to our spiritual lives as well.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

In John 12, we see a great crowd gathered as Jesus enters Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him crying out, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel. However, for the disciples, things weren't as clear. They were swept up in the moment celebrating Jesus's entrance without fully grasping the epic narrative that would unfold. God knows that just as we face our tough bosses and difficult quest in games, our spirits need challenges to grow.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

We need spiritual growth through challenges. We need When we encounter a confusion or adversity, it can push us closer to him. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2, don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. That by testing, you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. God desires us to cultivate our spiritual abilities, making choices that align with his kingdom even when the path is shrouded with uncertainty.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Think about RPG mechanics. To level up, you often need to tackle quests that require skill and strategy, plus maybe tackle quests and bosses that are a little bit higher in your level. Again, imagine if you stayed in the starting zone defeating the same weak enemies. You'll miss out on valuable experience and the opportunity to become more powerful and capable. In the same way, God invites us to embrace challenges that stretch our faith.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

When we face uncertainty, it is a chance to deepen our trust in him. Often, we encounter intrusive thoughts that lead us away from God's plan, but we can combat these by setting our minds on higher things. This is the essence of our spiritual journey, choosing to think differently and act faithfully, even when the way forward seems unclear. The journey of faith isn't about finding clarity. It is about continual growth.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Just as we wouldn't expect to thrive by grinding in the same area forever, we shouldn't expect our spiritual lives to flourish in familiar territory. Sometimes God leads us into murky waters to prepare us for greater quests and battles ahead. So as we reflect on this, let's remember that spiritual gains come from pushing through uncertainty and confusion. Embrace God's call even when it takes us off the beaten path. This murkiness can be a sign that we're on the right track, strengthening our faith, and building resilience for the adventure yet to come.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

And in talking about murky obedience, let's really talk about obedience. It's easy to follow God when everything is clear, but what about when it's not? The disciples didn't fully understand the significance of Jesus's action at the time. In fact, John points out that his disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. You're in your RPG quest, and the quest is unclear.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

You have to gather a specific item, let's say, but the map is very vague. You don't have all the information, but you have to decide to trust the quest giver. In our lives, sometimes God asks us to follow him into uncertain territory. Jesus told his disciples to fetch a donkey without explaining why. Imagine their confusion.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

They didn't understand the prophetic significance of this act, but they complied anyway. And this leads us to the truth that our responsibility isn't to fully understand God's plans, but to trust and obey him. In moments of murky obedience, we need to choose compliance over clarity. This isn't about having a strategic plan. It's about saying yes to God even when the path isn't clear.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Remember, Proverbs 3:5 through 6 tells us, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Think of the many characters in video games who embark on quests without knowing the end goal. Sometimes the n p c's give you vague instructions, and you must figure out the details as you go. It's all about trust.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

When we face these murky moments in life we can draw strength from God's word. He promises his promises guide us even when we feel lost. The act of following even without a clear understanding is where our faith grows. The disciples, unsure of what they were doing, still moved forward. They didn't let confusion hold them back, and we shouldn't either.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

As we move forward in faith, let's commit to obeying god even when the path seems unclear. Trust that he is weaving a beautiful tapestry in our lives, one that reflects his glory and love. The more we say yes to him, the clearer the path will become, even if we can't see it right now. God's methods are often unorthodox. He rarely follows our expectations.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Again, look at the donkey. If we were planning a grand entrance, a majestic horse would be more fitting. Right? But Jesus chose to ride on a humble donkey. This reflects his approach to leadership and power.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

A kingdom really turned upside down. If we go back to 2nd Kings, let's consider this as the story of Naaman who sought healing from leprosy. And Elijah sent a messenger to him saying, go and wash in the Jordan 7 times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean. You know, Naaman really balked at this idea. Feeling it really was truly beneath him.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

But Naaman was angry and went away saying, behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. Sometimes, God asks us to do something that feels small or foolish to accomplish great things. In the gaming world, how often do we underestimate the value of a low level quest or item? Sometimes it's the most unassuming gear that can lead us to victory in a tough boss fight. Similarly, God often uses unexpected means to bring about his plans.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Reflect on how Jesus performed miracles differently even for 1 individual. As they came to the theta, and some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and let him out of the village. And when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, do you see anything? And he looked up and said, I see people, but they look like trees walking.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again and he opened his eyes. His sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. He healed this blind man using various methods. In this instance, touching and spitting. However, other miracles required truly different methods, and each methods what each method was unique.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Showcasing that God doesn't fit into our box of expectations. When we face challenges in our lives, let's remember that God often operates outside of our understanding. He might call us to serve in ways that might seem insignificant, but they are part of his grand design. We can't reduce God to a formula. His plans are greater than we can fathom, and that's what makes following him so exciting.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

As we navigate our murky obedience, let's be open to God's unorthodox methods. He's not confined by our expectations. Instead, he invites us into a world of possibilities. We need to trust that his ways, though different, are ultimately for our good and his glory. And in murky obedience, we must keep our focus on the kingdom.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Jesus' entry into Jerusalem was marked by praise, but it also foreshadowed his sacrificial death. The people wanted a conquering hero, but God had a different plan, a plan rooted in love and sacrifice. As we navigate our own paths, we should remember that our aim is to glorify God. The world may pull us in various directions, but our priority should be to the kingdom. Jesus spoke to Peter.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Jesus said to him, if my will that he remain if it is my will that he remain until I come, what is it that you do? What is what is that to do? You follow me. In our lives, we might find ourselves caught up in comparison, wondering who gets more recognized, or who is more effective, and this even happened within the disciples. But God calls us to focus on our own individual journeys, and what he's calling us to do, not on what others are doing.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Okay. Remember the story of the talents in Matthew 2514 through 30? If not, I suggest you open your dusty Bible and read it. The TLDR is this. Each servant was given different amounts, but what mattered was how they used what they were they had been given.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

God isn't concerned about quantity of our service, but the quality of our heart. As we seek to serve God, let's remember that every act of obedience contributes to his kingdom. Whether it's through our work, relationships, or daily interactions, we can reflect on his love and grace. The more we focus on his kingdom, the less we'll be distracted by the murkiness of our circumstances. Let's commit to making the kingdom our priority.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

When we do this, we find clarity in our purpose even admit confusion. God is at work in our lives and we have the privilege of participating in his mission. And finally, we'll know more later. In the heat of battle when things are murky, we might feel lost or confused, but trust that God is working. Just as the disciples didn't understand until later what Jesus' entrance meant, we may not fully grasp the full picture right away.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

In our spiritual RPG, we're leveling up every day even if it doesn't feel like it. God is crafting our story, and often, we'll look back and see every moment, every seemingly small act of obedience fit into his grand design. In 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 27, Paul writes, but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. Our murky moments are part of his plan to glorify himself through us.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

Think about your favorite game where you revisit past areas, and unlock new secrets or power ups, especially if you wanna come a 100% complete or platinum a game. Sometimes you don't realize the significance of an item or a quest until it's later in the game. Similarly, God often works in our lives in ways we can't fully appreciate in the moment. Trusting the process means leaning into God, even when it's hard. It means believing that he sees the bigger picture, and that our faithfulness, even in the mundane and confusing moments, contribute to his work.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

So as we journey together, let's hold on to the hope that God is at work. He has a purpose for every step we take, and in the end, we'll see how all the pieces fit together. Our obedience in the murkiness is not in vain. It is a vital part of our story and his plan. As we wrap up, let's remember the key takeaways from our journey through the shadows of doubt.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

We need to embrace the challenges that strengthen our faith, choose compliance over clarity, acknowledge that his methods are often unorthodox, keep our focus on the kingdom, and trust that we'll understand more in time. In those moments of uncertainty, remember that your obedience, especially when things seem murky, can lead to unexpected blessings. Just as the crowd raised their palm branches and shouted Hosanna in celebration, let's be faithful in the small things, trusting that God has treasures waiting for us beneath the surface. I wanna thank you for being part of this adventure. Together, let's embrace the murky moments, venture into the unknown, and follow God with our hearts.

Pastor Brandon Holm:

He is with us on this journey, illuminating the path ahead even when it feels unclear.

Greater Guild Announcer:

Thank you for joining us today on the Church Nerds United podcast. I hope today's message, Dungeon of Doubt, Finding Faith in the Shadows, has encouraged embrace the murky moments and trust in God's plan for your life. As you navigate your own journey, remember that your obedience, even in uncertainty, can lead to unexpected blessings. Don't forget to raise your palm branches and shout, Hosanna, as you celebrate the faithfulness of God. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review.

Greater Guild Announcer:

We'd love to hear your thoughts. You can also connect with us on social media for updates and more resources. Until next time, keep exploring your faith, lean into the challenges, and remember, you're never alone on this adventure. God is with you every step of the way.