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>> [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> [MUSIC] >> [MUSIC] >> Hey Tory, welcome home from school.
I'm just playing a little volleyball. While I was waiting for you to get home, I decided to pull up this old volleyball from the garage and practice with it. >> Oh cool.
“Do you remember moms at me to that volleyball camp?”
I kind of remember that. >> It was really fun. And I learned how to volleyball, but you need two people. Want to play together? >> Sure.
>> Okay, let me just sit down on my backpack. There. All right, can I show you how? >> Yep, I'm ready to learn.
All right, first you'll put your hands together like this.
Like this? Guess like that, very good. Next you'll stretch out your arms and keep the nice and straight. All right, done. Very good, all right.
Now your goal is to hit the volleyball to the other person using this soft place on your arm. But what that hurt? It's a little uncomfortable at first, but eventually you get used to it. I remember the first time I hit the volleyball.
It kind of stunk, but now I can fully hit really hard. It doesn't hurt at all.
“It's mostly important to learn what to expect.”
>> Okay, let me try that. What we did show you how to do it first? Good idea. Here's the volleyball. Okay, I'm going to toss the ball up and volley it to you.
Then you can try to hit it when it comes your way. Just try to copy how I hit it. Ready? Ready? The. I got it.
The. Very good TJ. The. I got it. Oh, I don't got it.
I missed. Should we sort over? Sure, you want to start this time? Okay. Ready?
Ready. The. Nice TJ. The. Got it.
The. But it's come your way TJ. I got it. Oh, bummer. I didn't get it again.
I'm not getting much better at this. Hey, kids, welcome on from school, Tori. How's your day today? It was a good day, mom. I was thinking about you when you were at school.
Did you know that? Well, made you think of me. Well, I was mending one of TJ's button-up shirts because the button had popped off. As I was looking for a new button to replace it in my sewing supplies,
I found some scraps of violet velvet fabric. It's so soft and beautiful. Maybe think of you. I guess I just thought you'd like the violet velvet. And maybe you'd have some very good idea of what to create with it.
Oh, wow, thanks, mom. One of my favorite colors of this violet and velvet is such a soft fabric. I wonder what I can make with it. Well, you don't have to decide now. Looks like you and TJ are already having fun with the volleyball.
We were, but mom, I'm not getting any better. You're not? Have you been practicing? I have, and Tori even gave me instructions on how to hit the volleyball.
I'm still missing it.
Well, there's a difference between what is visible and what is invisible, TJ.
Visible? Invisible? What do you mean, mom? I mean, sometimes when we practice something, it doesn't look on the outside like we're making much progress. But the practice or the habit of going through the motions over and over and over again,
make what we're learning visible in time.
“That's why it's important that we value the change we can see,”
what's visible and the change we can't, what's invisible. So you think I'm getting better even though what I'm practicing doesn't seem to be making of visible difference? Oh, I sure do. Sometimes we don't know we're growing until bam. We can see how we've changed right there in front of us.
It actually reminds me something that's important about church. About church? Do we play volleyball at church, mom? We don't, Tori. At least not that I know of. But did you know God has given us the visible church as a way that we grow and change? The visible church? Does that mean?
I know exactly what your thing is, TJ. Mom, are you saying part of the church is? Invisible? Well, actually kind of, but not in the way you're thinking. In what way then, what is the visible church? A very good question, kids. And you know?
“No, I think I know what you're going to say.”
What do you think I'm going to say, Tori? That is the perfect question for an adventure. You guessed it, Tori. What do you say? Up for an adventure? Will it help me with my volleyball skills? Probably, but it might just remind you of how important it is to keep doing something,
even when you don't see immediate change. Very intriguing. Well, have fun and stay in the neighborhood. And if you get stuck or need help, just come find me. You know I'd love to help. Hmm, the visible church. And the invisible church. What does that mean? Hello, kids. Mighty fine day for a walk through the neighborhood.
What are you two up to today? Hey, Mr. T, we're out on an adventure. Yeah, and maybe it's when you can help us with. Oh, man, I'd love to help you out. But I'm actually on my way to play a concert with my friend Vivian.
“If you want to walk with me, maybe I can help before we get there.”
Okay. We're not sure what it's like. So as long as you're walking in the neighborhood, that's why I'm with me. I'm staying in the neighborhood. In fact, we're not far from where my friend Vivian is setting up. We're going to play a little neighborhood concert. Well, that's the, we're trying to understand something a little confusing.
You see, our mom told us that there's something called the visible church. And we're trying to understand what that means. And also, that probably means there's an invisible church. And what in the world does that mean? Oh, wow. Your mom asked you some very good questions.
But you think the answer is?
Well, visible just means nothing we can see. And invisible means nothing you can't see. That's a good start. Now what about the church? What does that mean? The church is where we go every Sunday.
Almost. I know we all go to church on Sunday, but that's really just the place where the church gather. The church isn't actually the building. To place where the church gather, we'll all of our friends have followed Jesus. Go there on Sundays. So does that mean the church is the people? Exactly. The church is the people of God in every time and every place.
In every time and every place. So like, far back into history. That's right. And into the future? Exactly. The church is God's people who have lived at any time and in any place. So like, people who live here and people who don't?
Very good. People across the street and people who live across the ocean. You're getting it. Church is God's people in every time and every place. Well, the church is very big. I wish I could see how big the church really is.
Instead, I can always see our little church in the neighborhood.
And in this time, we can't see people who have worshiped here before us. Or he will worship here after us. You got it, guys. I think you're about to discover what the visible church is.
The visible church is the church we can see.
God's church is so much bigger than what we can see.
“There are even people who follow Jesus, we might never meet or know our following him.”
But God knows. God knows every person who's ever been part of his great big church. You might even say the size of God's great big church is invisible to us, but God can see what we can't. And God gives us our local churches that we can see so we can see what it's like to be part of his church. The visible church is how God lets us see it experiencing being a part of the people of God.
The visible church that worships on Sunday morning is likely made up of people still asking
hard questions about who God is and whether or not they will follow Jesus with their whole lives.
“And that's good. We want those people to worship with us on Sundays.”
And continue to ask those great big questions. Every time we gather together as the visible church reminded that God's church is bigger than we can even imagine. And the only God sees our hearts. Only He knows how big his church really is. Oh, hey look, we're here. Hi, Truman. I'm just getting us set up for our concert. Hi, Vivian. Thanks for getting us all set up. Hey, look, these are my friends TJ and Tori.
Hi, TJ and Tori. Are you going to be joining us for our concert today? We'd love to. Say, we were just talking about the visible church on our way over here. Mind if we start with a song about that? Very good. Let me just grab my violin. Oh, that's going to add so much of Vava Vume to our song. TJ and Tori listen in while we play. This song is all about the visible church.
Sunday morning, boys, there's rice. We gather together and sing to Christ. The church lifted up. Their joy filled Christ. The visible church is right before our eyes. The visible church is what we see. When we worship joyfully, with voices out and hearts who are glad. They are God. For all we have, but there's a church so vast and wide. The visible church God sees inside.
For every land and every race. God sees us people in every place. God sees every heart that is. No matter where that person lives, he can't see over God, sure God. He's had this vision since time began. The visible church is what we see. When we worship joyfully, with voices out and hearts who are glad. They are God. For all we have,
but there's a church so vast and wide. The visible church God sees inside. For every land and every race. God sees us people in every place. So that's my mom meant by the visible church.
“Yeah, I think I get that now, but what did you mean about practicing, about doing things again and again,”
even when you can't see how they change you? I wonder if she was still talking about the church, TJ? How so, Tori? Well, you know how sometimes I complain about going to church on Sundays? Yeah, I complain sometimes too. Sometimes I just want to watch cartoons.
We're playing the back yard. I did too, TJ, but that has always reminded me
that going to church changes us over time. Not right away, but as we make a habit of going to church,
We grow and change.
to the visible church, right? Even when we can't see how we're growing by going to the visible
“church, as we make a habit of it, we're growing. Well, I thought I was getting it,”
but now I have so many other questions. Like, what is worship? Is there visible and
invincible worship? Oh, my head is going to explode. How about just one of inches for today, TJ? Hmm, sounds like another adventure is right around the corner.
“Tinytyologians, did you love going on the Jesse Tree adventure with TJ and Tori at Christmas?”
Well, guess what? They're back, and this time we're celebrating Easter. TJ, Tori, and the whole
neighborhood are getting to walk you through the true story of Holy Week, from the very first events,
“all the way to the resurrection of Jesus and beyond. Here's the best part. We've created a beautiful”
felt banner for you to hang in your home with one symbol for each day of the podcast. Plus, a matching card set to open your Bible, guide family discussion, and help you see exactly what Jesus has done for you. The He is risen banner and card set launch soon in the podcast series begins March 28th. Visit Tinytyologians.shop to learn more. We can't wait to celebrate Easter with you.
