There Is No Maturing Without Serving
Analysis of Nolan’s Podcast "There is No Maturing Without Serving" at The Garden Surprise
Introduction
Purpose: This analysis evaluates Nolan’s podcast with a Berean mindset (Acts 17:11), testing its scriptural accuracy, logical coherence, and theological integrity against the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh) and New Testament, from a Biblical perspective that sees Yeshua as the Messiah fulfilling God’s covenant promises to Israel and the nations.
Details: Delivered by Nolan (with Miguel) prior to March 09, 2025, at The Garden Surprise, a church plant, in a 58-minute podcast-style discussion under the series "Skeptics and Saints." Format includes casual dialogue, teaching, and exhortation, with no worship or offering explicitly noted.
Theme: Maturity—both human and spiritual—requires serving others, modeled after Yeshua’s example as a servant.
1. Podcast Agenda
Goals:
Teaching: Explain maturity through responsibility and service (00:02:21–00:05:15).
Exhortation: Encourage believers to serve in the local church (00:16:39–00:20:13).
Outreach: Address skeptics and saints, bridging secular and Christian perspectives (00:00:05).
Biblical Alignment: Emphasizes Yeshua’s servanthood (Philippians 2, 00:32:23) as the basis for action, resonating with Isaiah 53’s Suffering Servant fulfilling God’s redemptive plan. However, it lacks explicit ties to Israel’s covenant role or Torah foundations, focusing more on New Testament application.
Focus Summary: The podcast urges growth through serving, contrasting self-focused culture with kingdom-minded sacrifice, rooted in Yeshua’s example.
2. Scriptural Usage and Contextual Analysis
2 Corinthians 9:7 (00:22:24): “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Application: Used to argue that serving should be joyful, not coerced (00:22:50), tied to giving one’s best to God.
Context: Paul addresses Corinthian giving for Jerusalem’s poor, rooted in generosity (Tanakh: Deuteronomy 15:10). Nolan extends this to service broadly.
Faithfulness: Accurate in principle—God desires heart-driven action—but shifts from financial giving to serving without grounding it in the Jewish context of communal support.
Depth: Milk—basic encouragement, not unpacking Torah’s giving laws or Yeshua’s fulfillment of them.
John 12:3-8 (00:24:06): Mary anoints Yeshua’s feet with costly ointment, contrasted with Judas’ greed.
Application: Highlights sacrificial service (00:26:23), showing Mary’s joy versus Judas’ selfishness.
Context: Yeshua prepares for burial, fulfilling Passover imagery (Exodus 12, Isaiah 53). Judas’ objection masks theft.
Faithfulness: Correctly captures Mary’s devotion and Yeshua’s worth, implicitly linking to Biblical sacrifice, though not explicitly tied to Tanakh prophecy.
Depth: Meat—engages Yeshua’s identity and mission, though lacks deeper Jewish context (e.g., anointing kings, Leviticus 8).
Matthew 9:1-8 / Luke 5:17-39 (00:28:19, 00:29:34): Friends lower a paralytic through a roof to Yeshua, who heals based on their faith.
Application: Service driven by faith advances God’s kingdom (00:30:23–00:31:01).
Context: Luke’s version (5:20) emphasizes collective faith, echoing Israel’s communal responsibility (Leviticus 19:18).
Faithfulness: Aptly applied—service reflects faith—but misses Torah’s love-your-neighbor root.
Depth: Meat—links faith and action, though not fully contextualized in Jewish framework.
Philippians 2:1-11 (00:32:23): Yeshua, though God, became a servant, dying on the cross.
Application: Yeshua’s humility is the model for believers’ service (00:35:55).
Context: Paul urges unity and humility, with Yeshua’s Incarnation fulfilling Isaiah 52:13–53:12.
Faithfulness: Strong Biblical tie—Yeshua as servant fulfills Tanakh—but lacks explicit Israel connection.
Depth: Meat—grapples with Incarnation and atonement, though not tied to Torah’s servant motif (e.g., Exodus 21:5-6).
Philippians 2:12-14 (00:40:17): “Do all things without grumbling or disputing… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.”
Application: Complaining undermines service (00:41:16); maturity requires a willing heart tied to active obedience (00:41:48).
Context: Follows Yeshua’s servanthood, urging sanctification amid a “crooked generation” (Deuteronomy 32:5 allusion). “Work out your salvation” calls for human effort enabled by God’s grace, not deterministic decree.
Faithfulness: Correctly ties growth to effort, but risks Reformed misreading of “God works in you” as monergistic (God alone acts). Scripture affirms synergy—human choice in covenant obedience (Deuteronomy 30:11-14), fulfilled by Yeshua’s enabling grace (Hebrews 12:2).
Depth: Milk—practical focus on serving, not probing sanctification’s covenant depth or explicitly rejecting Reformed distortions.
Matthew 9:37-38 (00:54:44): “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
Application: Calls believers to serve now (00:55:02), as God prompts action.
Context: Yeshua commissions workers for Israel’s harvest, fulfilled in the nations (Isaiah 49:6).
Faithfulness: Fits kingdom urgency, but lacks Biblical harvest scope.
Depth: Milk—simple call, not exploring Israel’s role.
3. Logical Soundness and Fallacies
Argument:
Claim: Maturity requires serving (00:05:15).
Reasoning: Human growth involves responsibility (00:04:00); scripture ties spiritual growth to service (00:23:54–00:35:55); Yeshua exemplifies this (00:32:23).
Fallacies:
Overgeneralization: Equates secular responsibility (e.g., Jocko Willink, 00:01:25) with spiritual maturity without distinction (00:02:08).
False Dichotomy: Implies serving vs. knowledge as sole maturity markers (00:05:21), ignoring prayer or Torah study.
Conclusion: Reasoning holds for a general audience—service fosters growth—but oversimplifies spiritual maturity’s breadth.
4. Scriptural Corrections
2 Corinthians 9:7: Extend to Torah’s joyful giving (Deuteronomy 15:10) for covenant depth.
John 12:3-8: Link to Biblical anointing (1 Samuel 16:13) and Passover sacrifice (Exodus 12).
Luke 5:17-39: Root in Leviticus 19:18—love as service—to honor Jewish context.
Philippians 2:1-11: Connect to Exodus 21:5-6 (servant’s devotion) and Isaiah 53.
Philippians 2:12-14: Tie to Deuteronomy 32:5 and Deuteronomy 30:11-14—God empowers obedience, not overrides will. Reject Reformed predestination; affirm synergy of grace and action through Yeshua (Hebrews 12:2).
Matthew 9:37-38: Frame as Yeshua’s harvest extending Israel’s light (Isaiah 49:6).
5. Psychological Methods for Encouraging Giving
Tactics:
Stories: Mary’s devotion (00:24:06), paralytic’s friends (00:29:34), and personal anecdotes (00:47:24) inspire service.
Scripture: Ties giving to joy (2 Corinthians 9:7, 00:22:24) and Yeshua’s example (Philippians 2, 00:32:23).
Nature: Genuine encouragement, not manipulation—focuses on heart motive, not guilt.
Torah Comparison: Aligns with Deuteronomy 16:17—giving per ability—but lacks communal emphasis.
6. Calls to Action for Giving
Indirect Appeal (00:16:39–00:19:26): Join church teams to advance the kingdom.
Tone: Enthusiastic, not coercive—“get to serve” (00:28:06).
Alignment: Matches 2 Corinthians 9:7’s cheerful giving, though service-focused, not financial.
Conclusion: Biblical, encouraging participation without pressure.
7. Contradictions
Knowledge vs. Service (00:05:21–00:05:40): Claims maturity isn’t just knowledge, yet scripture knowledge drives service (e.g., Psalm 119:11).
Impact: Undermines balance—Torah study fuels action.
Resolution: Affirm both as complementary, per Hebrews 4:12.
8. Denominational Biases and Corrections
Bias: Evangelical lean—focus on personal salvation (00:50:42) and church roles (00:16:39) over covenant community. Subtle Reformed echo in Philippians 2:12-13 (00:40:17) risks implying sanctification as a divine decree rather than a response to grace.
Correction: Root in Israel’s kahal (Deuteronomy 23:1-8), fulfilled by Yeshua (Matthew 16:18). Clarify Philippians 2:12-13 as covenant obedience enabled by grace (Deuteronomy 30:11-14, Hebrews 12:2), explicitly rejecting Reformed determinism.
Conclusion: Mild Gentile tilt; needs Torah grounding and clear rejection of Reformed theology.
9. Alignment with Easy Belief or Denominational Structure
Easy Belief: Avoids “one-time salvation” trap—stresses ongoing service (00:41:48).
Structure: Evangelical-style church plant (teams, 00:16:39), flexible but not Biblical in form.
Conclusion: Challenges passivity, leans practical over covenantal.
10. Pastoral Responsibility and Authority
Evaluation: Nolan shepherds humbly (00:23:43), encouraging service without pride.
Scrutiny: Invites reflection (00:50:33), not stifling questions.
Conclusion: Accountable to scripture, not self—points to Yeshua.
11. Practical Application and Ethical Fruit
Equipping: Offers clear steps—serve in church (00:16:39), avoid complaining (00:41:16).
Tone: Integrity (Titus 2:7-8)—motivates via grace, not greed.
Conclusion: Equips the kahal for kingdom work, rooted in Yeshua.
12. Anti-Semitic Language
Findings: None detected—no anti-Jewish tones; focus is universal service.
Conclusion: Honors Yeshua’s Jewishness implicitly (Philippians 2), though not Israel’s role explicitly.
13. Warnings to a New Believer
Risk: Shallow Jewish context—misses Torah roots (e.g., Leviticus 19:18).
Caution: Study Tanakh to see Yeshua’s fulfillment, not just New Testament.
Risk: Subtle Reformed echo—Philippians 2:12-13 could suggest God controls all, not you choosing to serve.
Caution: Reject Reformed ideas; God enables, you obey (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).
Summary: Test all against scripture, not pastors—Torah reveals Yeshua’s full mission.
Final Assessment
Recap: The podcast teaches maturity through service, using scripture soundly (e.g., Philippians 2:1-11) but thinly (milk-level depth). Logic holds but oversimplifies; giving is encouraged biblically, with a subtle Reformed ambiguity in Philippians 2:12-13 corrected below. Nolan shepherds humbly, equipping practically, free of anti-Semitism, though warnings urge deeper roots.
Strengths: Ties service to Yeshua’s cross, inspiring action.
Weaknesses: Lacks Torah-Biblical depth (e.g., Isaiah 53 linkage) and risks Reformed misreading of sanctification as deterministic (Philippians 2:12-13).
Fixes: Ground in Tanakh (e.g., Deuteronomy 30:11-14 for synergy, Exodus 21 for servanthood) and explicitly reject Reformed predestination, affirming free response to Yeshua’s grace.
Depth Check:
Scriptural Engagement: Milk—basic readings, not linking Tanakh fully.
Theological Complexity: Milk—simple, not wrestling with covenant theology or refuting Reformed distortions explicitly.
Audience Demand: Milk—assumes minimal background, unchallenging.
Shepherd Accountability: Nolan invites scrutiny (00:50:33), aligning with James 3:1’s call to point to Messiah, not self.
Reject Human Traditions: Subtle Reformed echo in Philippians 2:12-13 detected—corrected by affirming covenant obedience (Deuteronomy 30:11-14) over predestined process. Scripture alone must rule—shed Gentile layers like Reformed Theology, Dispensationalism, Mormonism, Catholicism, Five Solas, or end-times guesses that stray from Torah’s truth.
Back to Scriptural Roots: Urge hearers to read Torah, Prophets, and New Testament as one narrative of Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah fulfilling God’s promises (Genesis 12:3, Isaiah 49:6). Test all against the Word, not pulpits—Tanakh is the rock; human systems falter.
Use: Valuable if deepened with Biblical roots and purged of Reformed ambiguity—study scripture personally.
Expanded Summary for a New Believer
Welcome to your journey with Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah promised in the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh) and revealed in the New Testament! Nolan’s podcast, “There is No Maturing Without Serving,” from March 09, 2025, at The Garden Surprise, is a podcast-style talk (58 minutes long) where he and Miguel explore how growing up—both as a person and as a follower of Yeshua—means serving others. Imagine it like this: just as a kid learns to take out the trash or a teenager gets a job (00:04:00), growing in faith isn’t just about knowing stuff—it’s about doing, especially helping others, because that’s what Yeshua did for us. Nolan says you can’t mature spiritually without rolling up your sleeves and serving, whether that’s at church or in everyday life (00:05:15). Let’s break this down simply, look at what the Bible says, and talk about how to stay on track while avoiding traps along the way.
What’s the Main Idea?
Nolan’s big point is that maturity—becoming a strong, faithful follower of Yeshua—comes through serving others, not just sitting back or soaking up knowledge. He starts with everyday examples: babies can’t feed themselves, but adults care for families or even whole communities (00:04:07–00:05:03). Then he ties this to faith: you don’t grow closer to God by just memorizing verses (though that’s good!)—you grow by acting on what you learn, like serving at church or helping a friend (00:05:21). He says our selfish culture—think social media’s “look at me” vibe (00:14:43)—pushes against this, but Yeshua’s life shows the opposite: He served us all the way to the cross (00:32:23). So, if you want to grow up in faith, start serving—it’s how you become more like Him.
Key Takeaways Rooted in Scripture
Here are the podcast’s core lessons, explained with Bible verses from both the Tanakh and New Testament, so you can see how they fit God’s whole story:
Serve with Joy, Not Complaints—It’s a Gift to Help Others
Nolan shares how Mary poured expensive perfume on Yeshua’s feet (John 12:3-8, 00:24:06), not grumbling but joyful because she loved Him. He also says complaining kills the mission (00:42:53), like when his kid whines about chores (00:27:31). The Bible backs this: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (Philippians 2:14, 00:40:17), and “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, 00:22:24). In the Tanakh, God told Israel to give with a glad heart (Deuteronomy 15:10)—it’s the same idea. When you serve—like greeting people at church (00:20:59) or texting a friend a prayer (00:38:51)—do it because you get to, not because you have to. Yeshua washed His disciples’ feet (John 13:4-5, 00:39:15), showing us it’s an honor to serve.
Even Small Acts Build God’s Kingdom—You’re Part of His Story
Think of the friends who ripped open a roof to get their paralyzed buddy to Yeshua (Luke 5:17-20, 00:29:34). Their faith moved Yeshua to heal (00:31:01), proving little acts matter. Nolan says setting up chairs or playing guitar at church “takes territory” for God (00:18:29). The Tanakh says God uses humble people: David, a shepherd boy, became king (1 Samuel 16:11-13, 00:45:30), and God told Israel to love their neighbor (Leviticus 19:18)—that’s service! Yeshua said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37-38, 00:54:44)—He needs you, even if it’s just smiling at someone. Every step you take helps spread His light (Isaiah 49:6).
Yeshua’s Service Saves You—Follow His Lead
The heart of it all is Yeshua: “Though He was God, He… took the form of a servant” and died for us (Philippians 2:5-8, 00:32:23). Nolan says this flips everything—God came down to save selfish people like us (00:36:20). The Tanakh promised this: Isaiah 53:5 says the Messiah was “pierced for our transgressions.” When you get that He died for you, you’ll want to serve too (00:50:42). Nolan’s story of grace at 16 (00:49:37) shows how God’s love sparks action. Torah says a servant who loves his master stays forever (Exodus 21:5-6)—Yeshua’s love keeps us serving.
Warnings: Watch Out for These Traps
As a new believer, you’re like a seedling—God’s growing you, but there are weeds to avoid. Nolan’s podcast is solid, but it’s light on some roots, and the world’s full of ideas that can trip you up. Here’s what to watch for, with encouragement to stay true:
Shallow Roots Miss the Full Picture
Nolan doesn’t dig deep into the Tanakh—like how Leviticus 19:18 ties to serving or how Isaiah 53 shows Yeshua’s sacrifice. This can leave you with half the story. Warning: Don’t just read the New Testament—start with Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy) and the Prophets. They show Yeshua’s Jewish roots and God’s promises to Israel (Genesis 12:3). Encouragement: Dive into Psalm 119—it’s all about loving God’s Word. You’ll see Yeshua everywhere when you know the whole Bible!
Man-Made Doctrines Twist the Truth
Nolan hints at “work out your salvation” (Philippians 2:12-13, 00:40:17), which some twist into Reformed Theology—a system saying God controls everything, you’re totally helpless, and can’t choose to obey. That’s not what Torah says: “This commandment… is not too hard for you” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14). Other traps like Mormonism (extra books), Catholicism (traditions over scripture), or Dispensationalism (Israel vs. church split) add layers God didn’t give. Warning: Reject anything that changes scripture—test it like the Bereans did (Acts 17:11). Encouragement: Yeshua’s grace empowers you to choose obedience (Hebrews 12:2)—you’re free to serve, not forced!
Service Alone Isn’t Enough—Know God Too
Nolan pushes serving hard (00:05:21), but barely mentions prayer or studying God’s Word. If you only serve, you might burn out or miss God’s voice. Warning: Don’t let doing stuff replace knowing Him—Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Encouragement: Balance it—serve like David with the sheep (1 Samuel 16:11), but also sing to God like he did (Psalm 23). Ask Yeshua to guide you daily!
Church Can Drift from God’s Plan
Nolan’s church setup (teams, 00:16:39) is practical, but it’s Gentile-style, not like Israel’s kahal (assembly, Deuteronomy 23:1-8). If leaders lean on their ideas, not scripture, you could follow a pastor instead of Yeshua. Warning: Don’t trust pulpits blindly—check everything against the Bible (Matthew 15:9 warns of “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men”). Encouragement: You’re part of Yeshua’s kahal (Matthew 16:18)—seek a community that honors Torah and Messiah together!
Encouragement: You’re on the Right Path
New believer, you’re not alone—Yeshua’s with you! Nolan’s right: serving grows you up, and it’s amazing to join God’s work. Every time you help someone, you’re living out Torah’s love (Leviticus 19:18) and Yeshua’s example (Philippians 2:7). Don’t worry if you feel small—God used Moses, a stuttering shepherd, to free Israel (Exodus 4:10-12). Start where you are: pray for a friend, join a church team, or just listen to someone hurting. God sees your heart (1 Samuel 16:7), and He’ll grow you as you go. Grab a Bible—start with Genesis, then Matthew—and ask Yeshua to show you Himself. You’re part of His family now, fulfilling promises from Abraham to today (Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:29). Keep going—you’ve got this because He’s got you!
