Crossing family's wealth here, across this Region online inside
at all of our different locations.
If you're thankful for Jesus, can I get a whoop, whoop?
Oh man, I'm thankful for him, too.
I know it's cold out. Know how many of you are
gathered at all of our different locations and whether or not
there's a ton of you watching online.
And I know that sometimes when it gets bad weather out, some of
you will be wanting to know whether or not we're going to
have church. Let me just handle that.
We will always have church. Always always.
As always, and let me tell you why, if you're if you can't get
in, we get it. But if you can, we should have
it. And if you can't make it in
watch online. But if you can because every you
want to know why. It's because every single week
someone decides to get baptized in our church and we might as
well open the doors and let them start that relationship.
You cool with that. All right, so I'll what I want
you guys to do across all of our locations.
Would you stand up for me for just a second?
We've been doing this for the last couple weeks there.
Are some unbelievably cool stories that are coming out of
these moments. I'm hopeful that in two weeks I
get to share a story of what happened last week at one of our
locations that is just exactly who we want to be as a church.
But I know that right now across all of our different locations
and of course some of you online and inside if you were to be
honest, you would say you're in a storm.
It may be a storm of your that your own choosing.
It may be a storm that you caused or maybe you had nothing
to do with the storm, but nevertheless, you're in it.
You're being pelted by the wind and you're being hit by the
waves, you're just saying it. Could be your marriage, it could
be your finances, it could be a relationship with a friend or
your kids. They can be the loss of a job,
it could be a bad diagnosis. The bottom line is, if you were
to say, So, you would, if I were to say, if you're in a storm,
you'd go, yeah, Clayton. It's, it's storming in my life,
and I don't know how many of you fall into that category across
all of our locations, but we want to pray for you right now
is a church. So, if you'd say, yep, Clayton,
I'll be honest with you. It's, I'm in a storm, but you
put your hand up, okay. On all of across all regions,
you guys, put your hands up while they're doing that.
If you don't have your hand up and you love Jesus and you be
willing to go and put your hand on their shoulder,
difference-maker staff, and we're going to pray for all of
you with your hands up. So keep your hand up.
Until someone comes and puts their hand on your shoulder.
Okay, while you guys are moving, I want to give you all a gift.
I've told you before that, I'm not cool.
Let me prove it to you. There is a song on the Gaithers.
And it's called Master of the wind, okay?
And when I was working on when I was thinking through this part
of my message, I thought about it.
You can go home and spot a fight if you want to but the song's
called if you want to and you can buy Clayton.
This song is I can't believe you listen to this but let's the
lyrics are gold. This is what it says, my Maya,
my boat of Life sales on a troubled sea, whenever there's
wind in my sails but I have a friend who watches over me when
that breeze turns into a gale, I know.
The master of the wind, I know the maker of the rain, he can
calm. A storm make the sun shine
again, I know the master of the wind and for some of you that
are right now in the midst of a storm, I want to give you two
versus. The first one is in Isaiah
chapter 41. Don't be afraid for.
I am with you. Don't be discouraged for I am.
Your God, I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my Victorious, right hand.
So those of you who are in a storm God, God is going to
sustain you in the storm. Here's another one.
This is from like the favorite passages of scripture go home.
Underlying this one in your Bible, Psalm 23 verse 4.
Even though I walk through the darkest Valley, I will not be
afraid for. You are close Beside Me.
Your Rod and your staff comfort and protect me.
But you guys pray with me. God, you're the only person who
knows just how much of a storm we're in God.
You see every single heart, every single story, every single
circumstance simultaneously, right now.
God, you know, just how much rain were going to experience,
you know, just how high the waves are, you know, just how
strong the wind is blowing. And so God, first of all, I want
to say thank you. Thank you for being the kind of
God that can cause storms to cease.
That has the power to Deliver Us from storms.
Got I know that sometimes you don't do that.
And so I'm also thankful that if you don't stop the storm, you
give us the strength to get through the storm, that's your
resources to us, are Limitless. And got a beyond that.
I know that no matter what your word has promised us, that you
will never abandon us in the storm and that you always be
with us, right beside us. And so God, I pray not just that
you would get us out of these storms but then in the midst of
these storms we wouldn't be pushed further away from you.
But that our dependence upon you would grow God, help us as a
church help, those who are in need and who are struggling and
the come alongside of them in this storm and in this season,
For Your Glory, your name I pray, amen.
You guys can have a seat. God bless you.
We are in a sermon series and the first week of the sermon
series and I'm going to give you a hint.
I'm I need your help here with this part of the message, it's
in big lit up letters across all of our locations.
The first sermon was there has to be a place for For everyone
for the 45% of you, that our way God bless you, there has to be a
place for everyone. And it's going to take every one
of us to make it happen. And we looked at this spiritual
spectrum and we realized that we have a spiritual responsibility
to everybody on this Continuum Continuum for those who are far
from Jesus and for those who've been following Jesus for a
really long time, and we realize that we have a spiritual
obligation to this region. And our hope is to make this
region and whatever, God, grows it to be, to be the hardest
place on Earth to get to Hell from.
And then last week we talked about there has to be a place
that gives people time there was one person.
God bless you for coming. For those of you who are new, my
name is Clayton Hensel. I've been at this church for a
long time. I'm excited to be with you and I
love that you came on a cold day and you're going to love it here
because for the rest of the year it should be warmer.
Okay, so last week we talked about there.
Has to be a place that gives people.
Yeah, because it takes time. Sometimes it takes, if we're
going to be honest, it takes more time than we want for a
person to move from minus 5/2, minus 4.
Have you ever been frustrated? How long it takes for people to
grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ?
Yeah, if you're a staff member, we just, you know, we're like
you will come to the steps right now, it takes time and we
realize that we need to be patient with people as they're
making their move and their growth and their journey in
Jesus because Cuz that's what God's been with us that it took
us time for us to get serious about our faith.
And so, we need to be the kind of church that gives other
people time. In fact, if we're going to say
we love people, we need to remember that.
The very first descriptor of love and First Corinthians 13 is
love is patient. So we're going to have to be
patient with people as they try to find a relationship with
Jesus Christ. I heard a story this week and I
was like I should tell my whole church, this story it would have
been great for me too. I told that story last week
during my sermon, but since none of you guys were here, let me
tell it to you. There's this missionary and
Papua New Guinea and he was a Bible translator and so he was
working with this Village to understand their language and
then he was going to take their language and he was going to
translate the New Testament so that they could have the Bible
in their own language. And I know that seems crazy to
you guys because you've never lived in a world where you don't
have access to a Bible. You've got like six Dusty ones
at home and then one on every device, but they had nothing.
And so this missionary spent years, Are putting together this
Bible eventually, he finished it, they sent it off.
They got it published. It was printed on this really
fine paper and so the day came they're having a big party in
the village and they're passing out the New Testament to all the
villagers. So they can read the Bible.
Hear the words of Jesus and this guy comes up smoking.
Something I don't know what are you smoking?
And he goes, hey, I got to be honest with you.
He's talking to the missionary he goes.
I don't want your new testament to read it, but the papers look
awesome to smoke. Right?
And the missionary was obviously a Super Fly Guy because he goes
I'll make you a deal. I'll give you a Bible.
But before you smoke a page, you have to read a page. and the
guys like deal years later, this missionary is out of conference
and the guy who was the Bible smoker was there, and he comes
up because you may not remember me, but you gave me the Bible
and you told me I had to read a page before I smoke the page and
now I want you to know that I'm the pastor of my Village and the
guy in the missionary goes, well what happened?
He goes, well, I smoked Matthew. And I smoked mark.
And I smoked Luke. It's a lot of that's a lot of
pages of those of you haven't read your Bible in a while.
And I smoked John chapter 1 and I smoked John Chapter 2 and then
I got to John 3:16 for God. So loved the world that he gave
his one and only son that whoever believes in him, will
not perish, but have eternal life and I realized that God
loved me and I couldn't shake it say with me.
Sometimes it takes. Yeah, and we're going to be a
place that gives people time. Now, today I want to talk To you
about getting out of the boat, turn to your neighbor, say I'm
getting out of the boat. Now, for those of you who grew
up rich, that doesn't make any sense, because you grew up going
to the Lake of the Ozarks and you had a nice boat, okay?
And you're like, you know, you've been down there, you hang
out with rich people, and they've got like a boat that's
got like a little mini Kitchen on it, and it's got a bathroom,
but if you grew up like I did poor, you know, if we want to
use the bathroom, we got out of the boat, right?
That's how that's how we're old, and I grew up on the water.
I mean, I love being out on. I like anything water mainly
because I feel pretty light, okay.
And makes A lot lighter when I'm in the water and we do all the
things, you know, my parents got a paddleboard and so we put it
in the pool and we try and run off the diving board and then
land on the paddleboard and then try and surf to the other end
and hop out of the shallow in, haven't made it yet.
But, you know this this is brand-new year who knows?
I've done wakeboarding I like to ski and there was this couple
about 20 years ago hear from our 48th Street campus.
When I was a youth pastor they said Clayton, you love, being
out on the water. And I'm like, I love it.
Like we'd love to take you skiing.
I'm like, this would be fantastic now.
When it comes to skiing, I'm a pretty decent skier.
I'm a I'm not good at Slalom skiing.
There's a lot of pounds per square inch on one ski and when
everybody's like, just kick Clayton, just kick and I'm
always using skis that aren't designed for 300 pounds.
Like I'm one of the most athletic 300 Pounders and
attractive you'll ever see and I'll get out on the water and
you try to do the kick thing and I'll kick and whack right in the
water. It happens that fast.
There's no. So these these this family super
excited to take me out skiing My cousin be fantastic.
I'm gonna enjoy this all day. I show up and this guy has a Jon
Boat. And I'm like, but this guy's,
thanks for bringing me out, but I don't think I'm a ski.
All know, you'll be fine. Like nah.
Oh, I've seen the size motors. It takes to get me out of the
water and that's not it, okay? Put the whole family in the
front just to keep the motor in. It's not, it's not happening.
He's like no, trust me, it'll work.
Well, he basically waterboarded me all over.
Mark Twain Lake, I was so sick. I mean, I had taken in so much.
Water, like, even when I close my mouth, so much was going in
every other hole on my face, that like I got done and I was
like the Michelin Man. Like, I have taken on way too
much water, but some and all I want to do that day was just I
just get me out of the boat. Get me out of this family.
Let me go home, sometimes. Sometimes you just got to get
out of the boat and we, as a church need to be a place that
celebrates people when they get out of the boat, when they take
their biggest Steps of Faith. 'The, we need to be a church
that encourages them and celebrates with them because if
you want to walk on water, you got to get out of the boat.
Look at Matthew Chapter, 14 verse 20, through 23
immediately. After this.
Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat
and cross to the other side of the lake while he sent the
people home. After sending them home, he went
up into the hills by himself to pray night fell while he was
there alone. Jesus has just had a very long
day. If you've grown up in church,
you know what I'm talking about? If you didn't Jesus, day started
out by him finding out that his cousin, John John, the Baptist
had been beheaded, he's trying to figure out a way to like
mourn and so he tries to get away from everybody, but the
crowd follows him. And he can't get away.
And so he turns and he has compassion on the crowd and he
heals all of their sick after he'd finished healing all of
their sick, his disciples come to him.
And they say master, we are a long way away from from any
City. And the people here are hungry
and it's here that Jesus feeds the 5000.
Then after that Jesus like, hey crowd.
You got to go and he turns the disciples get in the boat.
You gotta go because Jesus wanted to get a loan and have
some time with just himself and God In Prayer.
This isn't really a part of my message, but just a quick note,
just Jesus was the son of God. He had perfect power, perfect
strength, a perfect mind and he still found comfort and guidance
in prayer with God. And if Jesus saw a necessity to
it and he's perfect, how much more should you?
And I see a necessity in it because we will never experience
the wisdom. The power, the blessing of God
within the absence of prayer to God.
So, here's a little test this week.
Just try this out this week before you get out of bed for
the next week. Like, alarm clock goes off
snooze. I got you covered.
Then the second time it goes off.
Okay. Snooze.
But in between that snooze in the third snooze, prey.
In your bed and here's something.
Here's kind of like, here's my format.
So if you never prayed before, you can use this one start off
by just saying, you know, thank you.
God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for getting me to the
day. Thank you for coming in clutch.
Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for dying for me.
Just a whole bunch of thank yous.
Then ask God to like Sears some stuff in your heart, like God
solidifying, my mind your position like where I am in you.
Remind me that. I'm adopted that.
I'm a child that I can call your dad likes ear and me that you
love me because sometimes I doubt it like, just have an
honest conversation going. God, I just need you to solidify
some things in my heart. Then this is supercritical, ask
him for help. God man.
Me and the wife we went to bed last night and it wasn't good.
And I'm going to start talking to her here in a little bit and
if you wanted to come in and help me craft those first couple
of sentences, I would really appreciate it because I don't
want to have a bad day and I'm guessing that if you do that,
it'll go well for you especially if you pray out loud.
She's still in bed. She hears Here's you going God,
I love this woman. And I feel like I didn't do it.
Right? So one, forgive me for not
loving her. The way I'm supposed to love her
and give me some guidance and wisdom on how to love her.
Well today just telling you these are free, okay?
You didn't have to pay yet then you might go.
God I got a kid. You know who I've got to get
ready and if I don't get him ready, just right.
Today. He's going to be spun out all
day and God I'm going to see. So and so at work and you know,
I don't like so and so. I've never liked her.
I don't know why you made her God, I just don't.
But I know that I'm supposed to be a light in the dark place,
and I know that she needs love just like I do.
And so God, would you grant me some patients with her today?
Just like, I'm sure lots of people are praying about having
to have patience with me, okay? Here's what I've noticed about
God. And for those of you who prayed
before, when you invite God in, he comes in When you ask for
advice, he delivers it. When you seek Him for counsel,
he shows up. I mean, he's never late.
And if you start leaning in To God In Prayer, I think you'll be
amazed at what happens. All right, let's keep going in
the story verse 24. Meanwhile, the disciples were in
trouble. Far away from land for a strong
wind had risen. And they were fighting heavy
waves about 3:00 in the morning. Jesus came towards them.
Let's not skip over this part walking on the water.
When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were
terrified In Their Fear. They cried out.
It's a ghost, but Jesus spoke them at once.
Don't be afraid. He said, take courage.
I'm here. So let's start here.
Jesus sees the disciples struggling.
And he goes out to them, walking on the water.
That's how cool your Jesus is by, Jesus didn't go around to
the other side of the lake and go.
I'm over here. Paddle harder.
Put it deeper into the water. Jesus, just comes out walking on
the water and you have to think, like, what would that visual be
like? I mean, he's walking down the
hill, comes to the bank and then just starts walking on the
water. What happens when he gets to a
wave? Like when Jesus walking on the
water and hits a wave? Does he like like, I don't know.
Or does it just part when it gets to him?
I mean, these are all things you.
This is why reading the Bible, so fun.
What does it look like when Jesus walks on water?
And then he gets there and the people freak out, they're
thinking they're seeing a ghost and sometimes we're way too hard
on people in the Bible. Because you too freaked out to
right? I mean I've seen some of you
guys at Lake of the Ozarks. If you saw a person walking on
water, you be like, how many of I had they were you seeing this?
She's like, actually honey, I'm seeing this to you.
Need to stop drinking right yuge.
This is a problem. And then Jesus like, no, it's
not a ghost, it's me. In fact, Jesus in the middle of
the storm, says three things. Don't be afraid.
Take courage. What's the last one?
I'm here. How cool is your Jesus?
He comes out walking. He says, Don't Be Afraid.
Take courage. I'm here.
So he gets done praying. He sees the disciple struggling,
he goes out to them, walking on the water and then let's keep
going. See what happens next.
Then Peter called to him. Lord, if it's really, you tell
me to come to you walking on the water?
Yes. Come Jesus said.
So, Peter went over the side of the boat.
I'm getting out of the boat and walked on the water towards
Jesus. I love Peter.
You guys have a friend like Peter.
Yo, man, if there's a, there's a party.
I'm going. There's a dance floor.
I'm in the middle of it like, hey, Jesus.
If it's really you walking on the water, I'm coming out, like
let me try. And that's exactly what he does.
And I'll be honest with you that is exactly the kind of church
that I want us to be. I want us to be the kind of
church that we see Jesus working and our natural desire is to
join him in his Work. Peter sees, Jesus walking on
water and his natural tendency is, can I come out there with
you? And I want us to be a church
that sees God moving and we go, can we come out to, can we get
out of this boat? And can we come and be with you?
There have only been two people on planet Earth that have walked
on water. One is the Son of God.
Jesus Christ himself. The other one is a fisherman
turned Apostle named Peter That's who I want us to be and
there has to be a place that cheers for people and Roots them
on and supports them as they take their biggest Steps of
Faith. Look at this, spiritual
Spectrum. We have to realize that every
move from left to right is a is a water-walking moment for
people instead of getting discouraged, we need to be
celebrating when people make these moves, for instance, when
a person's here and they don't even believe in God, and they
start asking questions. About God instead of us being
defensive about them asking those questions, we should be
thrilled that they're asking questions about something that
they don't even believe exists. And when they go to, like, what
time are the service times we should be going.
You're not bothering me. This is fantastic.
You might come to church with me.
One of these days when they go from watching online to actually
physically attending, when they start serving, or they start
getting it to get baptized or they start joining our church in
filling out a card. Any of those things, is a huge
step of faith. And we need to be a place that
cheers for. Them along the way but too
often. We spend all of our energy
trying to talk them back. Into the boat.
We are rooting for people so often to have faith when there
here and there here, and there, here, and there, here, and there
here, and there here. And then I've seen this happen.
In fact, I've even done it myself that once they have a
relationship with Jesus Christ, we shift from trying to talk
them, kick them, out of the boat, and have them walk on
water, to try to talk them back into the boat.
And I want you to follow Jesus, but don't give up sports, or I
want you to follow Jesus, but don't go into Ministry, Man.
Follow Jesus, but don't become a missionary follow Jesus, but
don't take a different job which allows you to move or that
allows you to invest more in the kingdom of God.
I want to be a church. That every step of the way we
are rooting for people when they're getting ready to take a
big faith-filled risk and you're going to be listening to
somebody. You're going to go, man.
I feel like I'm supposed to do this and they're giving me like,
well, I mean, it's That's, that's a pretty big step.
And I want us to be a church that goes.
Yeah, it's a pretty big step. But we serve a pretty big God.
Last, I checked men make taking that step of faith.
It might It might break you. It might hurt you.
Yeah, it might. But last, I checked, we serve a
God who heals and restores. I want us to be a church that
Embraces big faith-filled water-walking risks.
Here's what I mean, the last couple of years have been things
that have just been heavy on my heart that I'm going to.
I wonder if we could and I keep adding to the list and couple
weeks, something else got out of the list.
And I just want to tell you some of my crazy ideas that maybe one
day a group of people just like us could actually accomplish in
our I'm in our communities, I've been wondering.
Could we be a church that one day has 1,000 kids that have
been adopted through families in our church that have decided to
give kids a second lease on life?
I wonder if one day we could be a church that Fosters 1,000 kids
and gives them the most enjoyable transitional period
that they can have here on planet Earth while they're
trying to be reunited with their biological family.
I pray that one day, our church could take over Section 8,
housing in all of our communities and make sure that
people are treated with dignity and respect, and given the time
they need to get on their financial feet.
I don't want to be a church that inside of one calendar year,
since a thousand people on mission trips because I think
you would absolutely change their lives.
I want to be a church that sends out a hundred people to launch
our next location. Who'd be willing to move into
that area to help it become a success.
I want to be a church that raises up young and old male and
female to become ministers in our church and in other churches
that we would send out to be a blessing.
I want to be a church that puts together an Government fund that
makes Summer Camp, free for all who want to attend but couldn't
afford to go. I want to be a church that one
day sends people on the mission field fully supported both
spiritually and financially. So they don't have to spend all
of their time trying to find money in a bunch of other
places. What they would know that just
one place has their back and we'll be all the wind and the
sails that they could ever need to say.
I want to be a church that finds a way to offer counseling and
medical services to people who are underserved and
disenfranchised. And I don't want to just do it
at one location. I To do it at every single one
of our locations, I want to be a church that believes if God
calls us out on the water that we could actually walk on it.
You know what, I think, I think you do too.
I think there are things that break your heart, stir your
soul, ignite your passion. What is the thing that you
believe that God has been calling you to do?
And what is the step you feel? Are you that you are supposed to
make? Because we want to be a church
that cheers you on. As you make it look what
happens, Matthew chapter. 14. But when he saw the strong wind
and the waves he was terrified and began to sink.
Save Me Lord. He shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, you have so
little faith. Jesus said, why did you doubt
me? When they climb back into the
boat, the wind stopped, and then the disciples worshipped him,
you really are the Son of God. They exclaimed.
Peter goes from walking on water.
To sinking. Why?
Because his Focus shifted instead of focusing on Jesus.
He started to focus on the wind and the waves too many people
jump way too far into this story and don't spend enough time.
Recognizing the fact that Peter actually walked on water.
He did The Impossible he experienced success but then he
got distracted, he got distracted from his Savior by
his circumstances and you know this truth because you know, you
guys have been there before you Walk on water.
If your eyes aren't focused on the one who's making it
possible. And as we as a church, get ready
to take big faith-filled, risks, we must we must, we must, we
must, we must keep our eyes focused on the one who makes it
possible. We not only need to focus on
him. We need to be a church that
helps people keep their eyes focused on Jesus.
I don't know if you've seen this, but I'm sure seen this
during the last couple of years, I've noticed that the people who
spend a lot of their time, focusing on Washington In
politics. And a lot of people who spent a
lot of their time focusing on news and social media have not
fared nearly as well as those who kept their eyes focused on
Jesus. Have you noticed that that the
people who seem the most spun out, are the people trying to
enter a room with no spin But the people who kept their eyes
focused on Jesus, we're going Jesus wasn't surprised by what
we're going through and he'll get us through what we're going
through. We have to be a church that
helps people keep their eyes focused on Jesus, then Jesus
gets inside the boat and The wind stops.
We can forget that. Jesus has the power over the
wind and the waves. Colossians tells us in him.
All things, hold together. We can forget that.
Jesus is bigger than anything we Face.
We forget that Jesus is bigger than our storms, bigger than our
circumstances, and bigger than our trials.
And we have to be a church that Embraces that Jesus is bigger.
That's the real point of the story that the people came to
the conclusion that Jesus is God and that is exactly.
Happens all creation moves at his command.
And when you and I step out in faith, when you and I keep our
focus on him, the world will see that Jesus is God, that there is
life in him and that he can be trusted when we step out of the
boat you. And I please God Hebrews 11 says
this. And it is impossible to please
God without faith. The old translations used to
say, and without faith, it's impossible to please God, that
if you and I want to put a smile on God's faith, it's going to
require us lifting a leg over the side of the boat and
actually trusting him and trying to do the very things that God
is calling us to do. Here's what that looks like.
There's a guy at a local treatment facility, a couple of
years back by the name of Brett. And Brett was at the treatment
facility and we were offering our services in that treatment
facility through our online platform.
And so, he started attending and two of the people that were
working there on behalf of our church of just volunteers.
They, they started telling Brett that God has big plans for him.
Well months later, one of those leaders said that one day, Brett
would be leading the Bible study at the treatment center.
And it wasn't long before that Vision cast became a reality.
It was the first time he had been trusted with something
since he had been clean and sober.
It was a huge milestone in his life and his walk with Jesus,
then he started attending our 99 campus and he was asked to serve
communion at the service and they might not sound like a big
deal to most of you but to him, he couldn't believe that he was
being trusted with this. Then John Mitchell kept asking
Brett to serve more. He eventually became a service
leader started speaking. On stage and became a
contributing voice and the decisions that were made at that
campus, then he was introduced to celebrate recovery.
Now, we have regeneration in an incredible Man by the name of
Jim Dennis. And if you met Jim Jim Dennis,
you know, enough. But to this day, Jim Dennis is a
father figure to Brett, providing advice Direction, love
and support to him, then John Mitchell asked Brett if he
wanted to move in with his family and so that way, he can
be a part of the develop program.
And for those of you who went on the wreck, the roof Journey, Why
you made that possible? And so Brett became a developer
and he moved in with the Mitchells and that's where Brett
learned, how a Godly family is supposed to live and are and how
they're supposed to look. And so, John became another
mentor and another father figure and Brett's life, then one day,
Brett was given the chance to be on staff here at the Crossing
each one of those moments and Brett's.
Life was a water-walking move for Brett at that time and we as
a church, we're ready. Cheer him on and help him.
Keep his eyes focused on Jesus and reminding him that Jesus is
bigger than his storms, because Jesus, is god, let's just one
story, here's another one, this is right, here is Paul Paul's a
sophomore in high school here at our 48th Street location.
And he has a younger brother Ben who has special needs.
And this is his brother Ben will go.
The next picture is brother Ben and his awesome wife are
awesome. Mom, Jennifer and growing up
Paul heart broke! Because his mom and dad never
really had a chance to have a date night and time off because
it was just hard. It was difficult.
I mean even if they got a sitter oftentimes they'd get called
back early because a problem would arise Paul sophomore in
high school He had a heart and a passion to provide a place for
kids with special needs, and adults with special needs to be
able to come and have fun and learn about Jesus.
And while they were learning about Jesus here at the church,
their caregivers could go and have a date night.
So he started a Ministry called No Limits and they had their
first meeting last Friday. And there were 10 different kids
that showed up and there were 20 difference makers that helped
him make it possible. That's what it looks like.
When we as a church, come alongside a sophomore in high
school and he's going. I want to take a step of faith
and we go. Yeah.
How can we help? He didn't come to us and say,
hey, here's a step of faith. I want you to take Because
that's not how it works. He came.
And said, I want to do this, can you help?
And we, as a church circled around him, some incredible
people said. Yep.
We will make it happen. There has to be a place that
encourages people as they take their biggest Steps of Faith,
there has to be a place that helps people keep their eyes
focused on Jesus. There has to be a place that
reminds people, that Jesus is God, but I need you to hear me
say this, you can't encourage people from the boat.
You can't. Too often.
What we want to do is just build a bigger boat with company or
cushions and a and taller walls. No, that's not how it works.
If you want to encourage and cheer people on as they're
taking water, walking steps of Faith, you need to be out of the
boat and on the water because when they see that God is
providing and sustaining and taking care of you, they will
believe that God can sustain and take care of them if You're
going to look at them and say, trust me, you can walk on the
water if God's in it, it's a whole lot easier for them to
hear you when you're not in the boat and you yourself are
walking on water. There has to be a place that
believes that God can move there has to be a place that keeps
people's eyes focused on Jesus. There has to be a place that
celebrates it when people take steps of faith, and I keep
wondering, Why not here? Why not with us?
And why not now. There has to be a place.
This world needs it. And our response to God deserves
it. So I'm getting out of the boat.
And I hope you will too. We're moving your time a
decision. There's some of you in here
right now. But you know, what's getting
ready to happen? You know, we're getting ready to
have this invitation time. We're going to encourage people
come up to the steps. We're going to encourage people
to get baptized and be going. Yeah.
That sounds really, really good for other people.
And I get that. And I know sometimes we talk
about people coming up here, the steps, like, we talk about it.
Like, it's just super-easy, and you're going Clayton.
I'll be honest with you. That's a big step of faith for
me. I've never done anything like
that. I'll be lying to you if I said
it's easy. Because it's hard.
It's hard to take small Steps of Faith like that, because those
small Steps of Faith are actually like, big steps.
Let me let me tell you what it's like for me.
So when I'm not here, I travel around other locations and I'll
go to these other locations for church.
And I'm not the kind of guy that can hide in a room because you,
well, you know, I'm huge, right? And so I'll be sitting at a
church service. And jarriel finished preaching.
It'll be a better sermon that I preached and then the campus
Pastor get up and do the plane landing and then I'll feel in my
heart like I should I should go the steps.
And you know what? I think sometimes.
Well, if I go to the steps, people are going to go.
Oh no. What's wrong with Clayton?
Did he come all the way here? So that the people at 48th
Street didn't see him go to the steps about this particular
thing. I wonder what's going on.
In his mind one of his marriage is okay.
But I'll say to myself, maybe you know what I should do?
Maybe I shouldn't go to the steps and pray, because I'll be
a distraction to everybody else. like I think I have the same
stuff go through my head that probably goes through your head.
And you and I found out about this church.
At least the right kind of people in this church.
You don't give a rip whether or not I go to the steps or not
because during the plane landing, you're not supposed to
be worried about my relationship with Jesus.
You're supposed to be worried about your relationship with
Jesus. I've, I've never sat there or
who stood there during invitation, and when somebody
walked up there, go, I wonder what they're up there for But
Satan will put that thought in my head when I want to go to the
steps, my talking to anybody yet.
You know what? You know what the heartbeat of
this church should be and I think it is, That when we see
people going to the steps were going.
Thank you, Jesus. That's it.
And if God puts it on her heart, we would go up and join them.
Put our hand on the back and let them know they're not walking
alone. Some of you, there's nothing
special about these steps. Nothing.
There's nothing special about anything physical at any of our
locations. What's special is when you
decide to give a rip with the world thinks and just keep your
eyes focused on him that God can do a lot with a heart like that.
And when you decide God, I'm gonna humble myself and get down
on my knees. But God meets you in those
humble moments in. The Bible says that he will lift
us up. I don't know, for some of you.
What I'm talking about today, might seem trivial.
But for some of you in this room, you're going and I've
never made any move like that and I wonder what would happen
if you made a move just a small. You just put you just put your
foot over the edge of the boat to see if it's solid.
And some of you you're going man, I I keep seeing everybody
else, get baptized and that's a huge step to make.
Jesus Christ. Your lord and savior is not
something to enter into lightly. But we want to be a church that
celebrates it roots for you as you try to live it out.
And some of your old man I would love to get baptized, but I'm
not ready to be perfect yet. Newsflash.
Judging by what my wife's been telling me lately?
I'm not perfect. That God is making me more like
him but I am not him. And that even after you get
baptized, you're still going to fail and you're still going to
fall short because we're not Jesus.
But I'll tell you what, you don't have any shot at being the
person that your family needs you to be Without the holy
spirit in you and you will never have the Holy Spirit in you
until you become obedient in the area of baptism.
I know that seems like a big step of Faith, but I just need
you to know, in advance. This church is ready to cheer.
You on when you make that move, And it just a few moments when
the people around you staying and some of them come to the
steps to the pray. If that's you, there's me
somebody right over by the baptistry.
They love to talk with you and answer some of the questions
that you have to the rest of you people in the room.
Those of you who've already had a relationship with Jesus.
Here's what I'm asking you to do.
Would you come up to the steps today and just pray like one or
two prayers? One?
God help me to get out of the boat.
The longer you're a Christian, the easier it is for you to get
comfortable. And you will never grow in your
comfort zone. You never grow in the boat.
Never happens, takes no faith to be in the boat.
It takes Faith to get out of the boat.
Would you come up and pray? God. put some faith in me, just
just a little maybe the second prayer you would pray.
It's got used my life to point people to the fact that Jesus is
God. And I wonder what could God do
with the church? The prayed prayers like that.
I said we find out you stand with me.
Heavenly Father, used this moment right now.
Use this moment right now to bring about a change in every
heart and every life in this room and to those watching
online, God, I know it's scary out there.
I know it's tough out there. We got in here.
We want to celebrate the fact that you are over us and you are
covering us and you are calling us.
We're just asking you to give us the strength and the courage and
the faith to respond in your name.
I pray. Amen.