1 00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:03,300 Crossing family. How you doing today? 2 00:00:03,300 --> 00:00:05,200 You doing? All right, man. 3 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,700 I'm excited to be able to spend some time with you today. 4 00:00:07,700 --> 00:00:09,900 I want to welcome those of you joining at all of our different 5 00:00:09,900 --> 00:00:12,500 locations. Those of you watching online, 6 00:00:12,500 --> 00:00:15,700 and those of your part of the crossing inside family, I also 7 00:00:15,700 --> 00:00:18,400 want to welcome those of you joining for the first time or 8 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,300 the first time in a long time. We are so glad that you are 9 00:00:22,300 --> 00:00:23,800 here. Hopefully somebody's already 10 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,100 told you that they love you that they like you and that they're 11 00:00:26,100 --> 00:00:29,900 your they're glad you're here if not, it's my pleasure to be able 12 00:00:29,900 --> 00:00:31,300 to be the one of the people who gets to do. 13 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,700 That if at any point in time during the sermon, you get 14 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:35,000 bored. You like when is this guy again 15 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:36,900 stop. You can still look super 16 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:38,900 spiritual by pulling out your phone. 17 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:40,900 Click on that QR code. And it'll give you an 18 00:00:40,900 --> 00:00:45,200 opportunity to kind of take some next steps or learn more about 19 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,400 our church. What I want to do real quick is 20 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:51,200 I want to do a quick prayer on the front end. 21 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:55,000 I want to pray over a couple specific things right now. 22 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:00,100 There are four people from our church who are in India, Randy, 23 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:02,900 and Becky dress from our Location who also used to be 24 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:06,900 part of a 48th Street location as long as as well as Jim and 25 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:08,800 Karen. Dennis who basically had a 26 00:01:08,808 --> 00:01:10,500 significant impact about everywhere. 27 00:01:11,300 --> 00:01:15,100 They are in India right now, encouraging pastors, looking for 28 00:01:15,100 --> 00:01:18,300 a mission, partnering are opportunities and also working 29 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:23,400 specifically to find young men and women and figure out a way 30 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,800 to get them enrolled and pay for their continuing education. 31 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,200 So that way they can be deployed into Ministry and I just want to 32 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,200 alongside of them and pray for them today. 33 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,500 So you guys just join me in prayer for just a second. 34 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,600 Heavenly Father, we are nothing without you the sermons, 35 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:42,700 nothing. I'm nothing. 36 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:45,900 This service is nothing. This church is nothing without 37 00:01:45,900 --> 00:01:48,600 your presence. And so God, we're asking you to 38 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,100 do a work in each and every single heart and every single 39 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:57,500 life today, I also just want to pray over the dishes and the 40 00:01:57,500 --> 00:02:00,100 Dennis's and all the people that they're going to be ministering 41 00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:03,100 to and learning from while they are in India. 42 00:02:03,500 --> 00:02:05,700 Keep them safe. I know that they've been there 43 00:02:05,700 --> 00:02:07,500 for a while. Now, I'm sure that some of the 44 00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:10,800 fatigue is beginning to set in. We got our pray that they would 45 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,800 receive strength from your spirit and that they would be 46 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,100 able to be an encouragement to every single person that they 47 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:19,500 meet God. I don't know, all of the 48 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:23,500 different backgrounds in circumstances that are being 49 00:02:23,500 --> 00:02:25,600 navigated by the people that can hear my voice right now. 50 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,500 The got I know that you are bigger than a mall and that you 51 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:33,300 care about them all and help us instead of running from you to 52 00:02:33,300 --> 00:02:34,800 lean into you and your name. I pray. 53 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:39,200 Amen. I heard a cool story. 54 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,900 A couple who are part of our church clothes. 55 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:49,300 Dear friends of Jennifer and I she has a cousin who has been 56 00:02:49,300 --> 00:02:52,900 kind of going through it. They'll have a season where 57 00:02:52,900 --> 00:02:55,200 things are going really well, and when they're doing, well, 58 00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:58,600 they're one of the best and then there's Seasons where they kind 59 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:03,300 of fall off the wagon, and the kind of go into a pretty deep 60 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,100 dark pit and they don't live in the area. 61 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:08,300 But there's been a lot of interaction going back and forth 62 00:03:08,300 --> 00:03:11,300 and eventually they're like, you know, what you should, you need 63 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:13,300 to go to church. You gotta go to church. 64 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:14,900 He's like, yeah, I got to go to church. 65 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,700 Well, they don't live anywhere near here and they live out in 66 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:23,500 Maryland. And so, This guy wakes up on a 67 00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:27,100 Sunday morning and goes into this random Church in. 68 00:03:27,100 --> 00:03:32,200 Maryland, gets done with church that Sunday and calls back. 69 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,200 And goes, I just went to this fantastic church. 70 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,000 It was exactly what I needed to hear. 71 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,600 They're starting this brand new sermon series called weeds in my 72 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:46,600 garden. And we actually prayed for that 73 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:48,000 church without even knowing that. 74 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,800 Somebody from our church who has a loved one would actually be 75 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,800 attending that church. And only God can stitch those 76 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,500 kind of stories together and I know there's some of you today 77 00:03:59,500 --> 00:04:04,800 who are going You're in it and you feel like you are a long way 78 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:09,800 off from your wind story, but God's timing is perfect and he 79 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:13,100 is more in their Corner than you could ever be. 80 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:17,000 And don't ever don't ever don't ever doubt what God can do with 81 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,600 just a little bit of obedience and a little bit of prayer. 82 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:24,100 We are getting ready for a big Super Bowl weekend at the 83 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:28,400 Crossing I told you about this last weekend, we're bringing in 84 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,000 Steve Weatherford, it's gonna be a great service for you guys to 85 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:32,800 invite. Your friends and family, they're 86 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,200 going to have a wonderful time. Getting to hang out with him on 87 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,900 that Saturday. We're going to be doing The 88 00:04:37,900 --> 00:04:41,700 Frigid 5K and all of the money that we take in from The Frigid 89 00:04:41,700 --> 00:04:46,800 5K is going to go to support people who have been trapped and 90 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,400 are dealing with modern day slavery. 91 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,000 Specifically in sex trafficking, there's going to be over 100 92 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:54,900 million people. Watch the Super Bowl this year 93 00:04:55,300 --> 00:04:59,200 and today in our present climate, there are 40 million, 94 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,400 people still trapped, and modern-day slavery and Want to 95 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:05,200 do something about it. You're going with Clayton, it's 96 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:06,300 gonna be cold. I know. 97 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:07,800 That's why it's called a frigid 5K. 98 00:05:08,100 --> 00:05:12,600 And I know you guys all have car Hearts, okay, I know this, we've 99 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,800 lived here long enough and if you don't have some, they sell 100 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,600 them at literally almost every store. 101 00:05:17,900 --> 00:05:21,400 So go buy something warm and go for a run or walk if you're a 102 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:26,900 runner, Jill run, okay? If you're not a runner, this guy 103 00:05:27,300 --> 00:05:29,900 just come with me, we'll do like our own little side B. 104 00:05:29,900 --> 00:05:32,500 Like who can eat the most hot dogs during A 5k. 105 00:05:32,500 --> 00:05:34,700 All right. And the goal of this is its can 106 00:05:34,700 --> 00:05:37,300 be a great opportunity for us to make memories with our friends 107 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,600 and our family and also support a great cause you can sign up 108 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,000 for that on the qr-code. I'm hoping that we'll have over 109 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:48,100 500 people, join us in the first inaugural might be the only the 110 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:50,900 5K we ever do as a church. The other thing is when you get 111 00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:52,900 ready for Super Bowl weekend, would you make sure that you try 112 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:55,600 and invite some friends to hang out with you or go to a place 113 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,800 where you can point some people to Jesus because we want to be a 114 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,100 light in the world. Now We are in a sermon series 115 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:05,700 called there has to be a place, and we've talked about all kinds 116 00:06:05,700 --> 00:06:08,600 of stuff, there has to be a place that makes Jesus last 117 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,000 words their first priority. And you guys know what those 118 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,300 words are. Matthew chapter, 28, then Jesus 119 00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:16,000 came to them and said all authority on Heaven and Earth 120 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,900 has been given to me, therefore, go and make disciples of all 121 00:06:18,900 --> 00:06:21,600 Nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and the Son 122 00:06:21,700 --> 00:06:24,500 and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything. 123 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:27,400 I have commanded you and surely. I Am With You Always to the very 124 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,800 end of the age and the word discipleship. 125 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,100 This is kind of how we Explain what discipleship is 126 00:06:33,100 --> 00:06:36,100 discipleship is moving people from the left or right. 127 00:06:36,100 --> 00:06:39,500 So, if you have a minus 5, a person who, you know, hates God 128 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,600 and you have a person who's +5, who's your grandma, who's 129 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:45,900 already met God, probably because you really got to be in 130 00:06:45,900 --> 00:06:50,800 heaven, to get to the plus 5. Our job is to move people from 131 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,500 left to right. That's what being a discipler 132 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,100 is. And then we talked about there 133 00:06:55,100 --> 00:06:59,400 has to be a place that believes that Jesus still changes people 134 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:03,200 that over time, sometimes our faith and What God can do has 135 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,500 been eroded. But we want to rekindle that 136 00:07:05,500 --> 00:07:08,500 belief that God is still moving and active that. 137 00:07:08,500 --> 00:07:12,400 His power is not diminished, he's just as alive just as 138 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,200 amazing and just as life-changing as he has always 139 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:17,900 been. And then we talked about there 140 00:07:17,900 --> 00:07:20,700 has to be a place where the people of God leverage, their, 141 00:07:21,100 --> 00:07:24,100 their gifts to advance God's glorious mission. 142 00:07:24,300 --> 00:07:27,200 That all of us. Every single one of us have a 143 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:31,300 gift that was placed in Us by God, to serve the mission of God 144 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,900 through through the church. Why are we doing this? 145 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,800 That's super easy to you guys know this answer because we want 146 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,700 to make this place all ten thousand seven hundred, ninety 147 00:07:39,700 --> 00:07:42,800 five square miles. The hardest place on planet 148 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,500 Earth to get to Hell from every day when you wake up and your 149 00:07:46,500 --> 00:07:49,700 alarm goes off. I want demons going there awake 150 00:07:50,100 --> 00:07:53,900 because we are flat serious about helping people in our 151 00:07:53,900 --> 00:07:57,500 region, know the beauty of the Cross and the power of the 152 00:07:57,500 --> 00:08:00,600 resurrection and God's forgiveness and his love. 153 00:08:00,900 --> 00:08:02,700 And in order to make This a reality. 154 00:08:02,700 --> 00:08:07,000 There has to be a place that is committed to biblical Community. 155 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:12,000 There has to be a place that is committed to biblical Community 156 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,500 hear me. Jesus is not enough. 157 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:21,100 God is Not Enough. You cannot live the life that 158 00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:23,700 God called you to live or accomplish the purposes that he 159 00:08:23,700 --> 00:08:28,700 you were created to engage in if you are doing it alone. 160 00:08:28,900 --> 00:08:33,299 And I know for some of you right now you're going Clayton, I've 161 00:08:33,299 --> 00:08:36,500 been in church a long time and based on what you just said, 162 00:08:36,500 --> 00:08:41,600 there's two words that come to my mind blasphemy heresy, you're 163 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,100 gone. I knew it. 164 00:08:43,500 --> 00:08:45,600 Clayton was way too fun to be a real Christian. 165 00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:48,500 Yeah, okay, but just stay with me for a second. 166 00:08:48,900 --> 00:08:52,000 Can I all right? We got to deal with this a long 167 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,000 time ago when I was talking about, do Spirit, fingers, and 168 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,800 my wife, critiqued it. And so, I stopped, I stopped 169 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,800 doing this, but then recently, she said that when I do this, 170 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:04,600 come here that she hates that. So come here. 171 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,400 Genesis 1:26. Look at this. 172 00:09:08,900 --> 00:09:13,000 Then God said, let us make Mankind in our image. 173 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:18,300 Who's the US? Who's the Our God exists in 174 00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:21,000 community? The Father, the Son, and the 175 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,100 Holy Spirit. Now check this out Genesis 2:18. 176 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:27,000 The Lord God said it is not everybody. 177 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:28,900 Say this word. You guys know the word. 178 00:09:28,900 --> 00:09:29,900 Good is. Yeah. 179 00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:35,900 Good for man to be alone. I will Kim AR will make a helper 180 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,200 suitable for him. For those of you who've been 181 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:42,200 around church for a long time. Here's Adam living in perfect 182 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,500 Community with God, and God says, in that, perfect 183 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:49,400 Community, it's not good for him to be alone. 184 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:53,500 So he formed someone to come alongside of him a suitable 185 00:09:53,500 --> 00:09:55,400 helper. I can continue in the Old 186 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:59,500 Testament think of all of the main characters that and all the 187 00:09:59,500 --> 00:10:03,100 incredible Endeavors that they accomplished you had Moses and 188 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:07,400 he had Add Aaron and at times he had her Hur. 189 00:10:07,500 --> 00:10:11,000 Then you had David and Jonathan and David and his mighty men, 190 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,400 then you had Shadrach Meshach and away we go, then there was 191 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,400 Gideon. And the 300, there was Nehemiah 192 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,000 who built some of, you didn't get that joke and that's why our 193 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,200 church exists to help people who are far from Jesus finding it's 194 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,600 that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 195 00:10:26,700 --> 00:10:30,200 Nehemiah built the wall with the community of people committed to 196 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,300 the project but you are might be gone. 197 00:10:32,300 --> 00:10:34,900 But Clayton, I'm a New Testament. 198 00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:37,500 Christian. That's all Old Testament. 199 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:39,500 Okay fine. Let's hang out in the New 200 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:41,900 Testament for a little bit. There's this main character who 201 00:10:41,900 --> 00:10:44,600 arrives on the scene in the first four books. 202 00:10:45,900 --> 00:10:48,900 His name is Jesus also known as Son of God. 203 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,200 Kind of a big baller in the Bible and one of the first 204 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:55,700 things he does before he starts his Earthly Ministry is what 205 00:10:55,900 --> 00:11:00,200 Circle up a group of 12, dudes to be in community with to be 206 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,700 about his mission and then check this out. 207 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,600 When the son of God. God sends them out to do his 208 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,000 ministry. He sends them out the exact same 209 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,600 way. Noah got all the animals on the 210 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:14,000 ark to buy, that's exactly right. 211 00:11:14,500 --> 00:11:17,300 You were made for Community. If you want to accomplish the 212 00:11:17,300 --> 00:11:21,600 purposes of God, he wants you to accomplish that in community and 213 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:25,100 there might be some of you like the real grade-a curmudgeon, 214 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,200 who's going, but Clayton, that was before the Holy Spirit 215 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,100 showed up. And once the Holy Spirit shows 216 00:11:32,100 --> 00:11:36,000 up in Jesus comes into my Heart. I don't need Community anymore. 217 00:11:36,100 --> 00:11:39,600 Welcome here for a second. Read the book of Acts and see 218 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,300 what happens. You'll see that there's all 219 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:46,500 kinds of ministry moments that people are doing together, read 220 00:11:46,500 --> 00:11:49,100 the rest of the New Testament and almost in every epistle 221 00:11:49,100 --> 00:11:51,600 which is the letters that were written by Paul to the different 222 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:53,600 churches. It Ends by him sending, 223 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:58,200 greetings to the people that he was doing Ministry alongside 224 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,600 when you read the scriptures you're going to hear about Peter 225 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,200 and John Paul and Silas Paul and Timothy Paul and Is Peter and 226 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:09,000 John Mark in short, the idea of living the Christian life, 227 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:14,400 outside of community would have been foreign to the biblical 228 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,400 authors, to the biblical, text to the community. 229 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,800 And there are first century Church to all of church history 230 00:12:20,900 --> 00:12:26,600 and to God himself, you were made to live in community. 231 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:30,000 It is God's way of equipping you to manage the life that you have 232 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,800 been called to live and to excel. 233 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:36,300 Now, look at what Says here, in Ecclesiastes chapter 4, two are 234 00:12:36,300 --> 00:12:39,600 better than one because they have a good return for their 235 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:42,300 labor. If either of them falls down, 236 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:45,500 one can help the other up. Let's pause here for a second. 237 00:12:46,300 --> 00:12:49,500 Do you guys remember when you were freshly married, like in 238 00:12:49,500 --> 00:12:51,900 your honeymoon, stage, you both look good naked, remember those 239 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:57,200 like lights on times and Jennifer and I freshly married 240 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,700 and I was playing basketball. Threw my back out, okay? 241 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:03,500 And I was, it was one of those back problems. 242 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:08,000 That you can get on the toilet. But you can't get back up, 243 00:13:08,700 --> 00:13:10,500 right. Fortunately, God put me in 244 00:13:10,508 --> 00:13:13,500 community with the wife. If we the one of them falls 245 00:13:13,500 --> 00:13:18,100 down, one can help the other up, but pity anyone, I could still 246 00:13:18,100 --> 00:13:22,700 be there today who falls down and has no one to help them up. 247 00:13:22,700 --> 00:13:25,400 Let's keep going. Also, if to lie down together, 248 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,400 they will keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 249 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:30,800 Let's keep going. I'll are the one may be 250 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,200 overpowered. Two can defend themselves a cord 251 00:13:34,300 --> 00:13:36,200 of three? Strands is not quickly, broken 252 00:13:36,300 --> 00:13:37,700 guess. Who writes this? 253 00:13:39,500 --> 00:13:43,400 The guy's name is Solomon. Universally known outside of 254 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,900 Jesus, as the wisest man to ever live. 255 00:13:46,500 --> 00:13:49,900 If the wisest man who ever lived says to you, it is not good for 256 00:13:49,900 --> 00:13:53,200 you to be alone that you need to be in community. 257 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:56,200 I think we should go. All right, we got to get this 258 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,500 thing. Figured out in my experience, I 259 00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:02,700 do not know of a person who is in a small group or a d group. 260 00:14:02,700 --> 00:14:05,400 And what I mean, small group of D group thinks small group is 261 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:10,800 like co-ed Group D group, as dudes, getting together or Girls 262 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,100 getting together, I don't know, women, whatever. 263 00:14:14,500 --> 00:14:16,700 I have never seen a person who's, in a small group or D 264 00:14:16,700 --> 00:14:19,000 group, whose have their needs go unmet. 265 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,400 I've seen small groups, and D groups prepare meals for weeks. 266 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,200 I've seen them, pull their money to meet a need. 267 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:28,200 I've seen their small group show up to pray at hospitals and a 268 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,600 funeral homes. It is in biblical community that 269 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,600 you get to know people and people get to know you. 270 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,800 I had a person call me one time and they were frustrated that no 271 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:42,300 one came to to see them at the hospital and no one came to pray 272 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:44,900 for them at their house and follow up with them and see how 273 00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:47,500 they were doing. And I'm, there was a longer 274 00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:50,300 conversation and it was, you know, I was super nice and 275 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:54,300 pastoral but there was this Chunk in that conversation where 276 00:14:54,300 --> 00:14:58,300 I ask them some questions. Hey, your small group didn't 277 00:14:58,300 --> 00:15:01,100 come and take care of you, who's your small group leader, I'll 278 00:15:01,100 --> 00:15:04,100 call him up, figure out what was going on and and see how you how 279 00:15:04,100 --> 00:15:07,100 it fell through the cracks. Well, I'm not in a I'm not in a 280 00:15:07,108 --> 00:15:10,600 life group, okay? Well then let me call your 281 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:15,700 ministry leader and see how this situation was overlooked. 282 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:20,700 Well I'm not in a Ministry And I said, Okay the reason why nobody 283 00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:25,300 came in your hour of need is because nobody knew you were in 284 00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:32,800 need you had no Community pity, the person who falls down and 285 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:37,700 has no one to pick them up. Now you need to know this some 286 00:15:37,700 --> 00:15:40,500 of the very best Best pastoral care that happens at this 287 00:15:40,500 --> 00:15:42,500 church. Does not happen at my hands. 288 00:15:43,100 --> 00:15:45,700 It doesn't even happen at the hands of our campus pastors. 289 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,100 It happens because small groups in Ministry groups, know what is 290 00:15:49,100 --> 00:15:53,500 going on and are there to help you live out your Christian walk 291 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,200 biblical Community is God's way of encouraging you in your 292 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,000 faith. The Bible is full of one another 293 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,400 passages over 100 times in the New Testament 1994. 294 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,800 Different verses 47 of those verses are instructions to us is 295 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:10,800 Jesus There's a third about getting along. 296 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:14,500 A third are about loving one. Another 15% deal with your 297 00:16:14,500 --> 00:16:16,900 attitude toward one another. Look what it says in Galatians 298 00:16:16,900 --> 00:16:19,700 chapter 6 carry each other's burdens. 299 00:16:19,700 --> 00:16:24,100 And in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. 300 00:16:24,300 --> 00:16:27,300 His goal is for you to be in relationship. 301 00:16:27,300 --> 00:16:29,300 Now, some of you might be going. Oh, I understand what's 302 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:31,600 happening here. We're getting ready to start 303 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,000 first the month here, so I should get in life groups, that 304 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:35,900 way I can get my rent, paid at the end of the month. 305 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,000 That's not what this is about. This is about About you, 306 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,900 proactively being in community, and growing in Christ. 307 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:46,100 And inside of that Community, as your affections for. 308 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:50,400 One another grow, you find yourself being become bonded 309 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,400 through Christ and you become brothers and sisters, and you 310 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,200 can't help. But see somebody you care about 311 00:16:55,208 --> 00:16:57,900 and somebody that you've submitted to and somebody that 312 00:16:57,900 --> 00:17:01,900 you were in relationship with struggle, you come alongside of 313 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:04,300 them and you lift them up because I don't know if you know 314 00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:09,000 this sometimes life gets hard and sometimes the Christian Life 315 00:17:09,099 --> 00:17:15,000 is Hard derp, look what happens, Hebrews 10 let us consider how 316 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,599 we may spur one another on towards love and Good Deeds 317 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,599 because we're going to have to be encouraged and spurred on to 318 00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:25,099 take the high road. We're going to need someone to 319 00:17:25,099 --> 00:17:28,200 come alongside of us and point out our sin and help us give it 320 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:34,500 over to God. Now, let me say this, And I was 321 00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:35,600 getting nervous about doing this. 322 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:38,700 I just want to talk for just a second to our online family, to 323 00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:40,700 those of you are one of our locations, you can listen in 324 00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:43,200 because I think there's some wisdom here for you, but I want 325 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,200 to speak specifically to our online family. 326 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,300 And I know right now, you could be going. 327 00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:50,100 Oh, you better be careful because I will click the X. 328 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:54,200 I will swipe up and work. Can I can I just be your pastor 329 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,700 for just a second? I want to tell you a couple 330 00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:05,000 things one, we love you. We put a ton of time and energy 331 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,600 and resources to give you the very best online experience that 332 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,300 we can week after week last week. 333 00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:14,800 There was a group of people from Peoria who watch online and they 334 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:16,900 got up at 6 a.m. and they drove all the way from. 335 00:18:16,900 --> 00:18:21,100 Peoria, all the way to be here at first service on Sunday here 336 00:18:21,100 --> 00:18:23,300 in Quincy. They're trying hard to start a 337 00:18:23,308 --> 00:18:26,100 DOT TV location in someone's living room and I think they 338 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:28,900 have desire that one day. Maybe there could be a location 339 00:18:28,900 --> 00:18:30,900 there during second service last week. 340 00:18:30,900 --> 00:18:34,400 At 48th Street and 11 year old boy, Boy was baptized here. 341 00:18:34,700 --> 00:18:37,600 He was watching online with his family for the last two years 342 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,300 and he realized that his next step was that he needed to be 343 00:18:40,300 --> 00:18:42,900 baptized. So they're very first time at 344 00:18:42,900 --> 00:18:47,100 the Crossing was when they drove two hours to show up at our 345 00:18:47,100 --> 00:18:50,200 church that came on a Saturday went out to Texas Roadhouse 346 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,400 which is what people do. They stayed in a hotel that got 347 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,700 up the first time, they walked in there and our doors was the 348 00:18:55,708 --> 00:18:57,700 day. Their child was getting baptized 349 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,800 However, as awesome as those stories are. 350 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:02,500 Yeah, you can applaud if you guys are still awake. 351 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:05,000 Yeah, that's great. Listen to both of you who 352 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,100 Applause. God bless you. 353 00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:08,400 May God repay. You know, just take care of you. 354 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,100 Those of you who are asleep, may God wreak havoc on your life, 355 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,400 just messing with you. Listen, however, online online 356 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:18,800 is at its best when you are using it to stay connected and 357 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:22,900 dealing with sickness and you're navigating travel online is at 358 00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:25,200 its best. When people are using it as an 359 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:28,100 opportunity to get to know our church before they attend our 360 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:32,000 church, Church. However, online is at its worst. 361 00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:36,400 When you use it to avoid the weekend services and being 362 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:40,900 connected to community. If you live in community, where 363 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:44,100 it's too hard for you to find a church or where the crossing 364 00:19:44,100 --> 00:19:47,700 doesn't exist, I want you to hear me say this, we will work 365 00:19:47,700 --> 00:19:50,200 with you. We will make it our priority to 366 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:53,300 help you find a really great. Fantastic Church. 367 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:56,200 There are better preachers. Better pastors and better 368 00:19:56,200 --> 00:20:00,600 churches out there than we can provide to you online, and you 369 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:05,100 will be blessed by God inside of his Plan for Community. 370 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:10,000 My experience is that those who begin to neglect the Gathering 371 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:15,700 of the assembly end up growing cold in their faith week in 372 00:20:15,700 --> 00:20:19,000 their walk. There is less evangelism, less 373 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,900 growth less serving, less caring for and meeting the needs of 374 00:20:22,900 --> 00:20:27,700 others less discipleship. It appears to me that they can 375 00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:31,200 end up being lulled into spiritual complacency and give 376 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:33,800 up participation in God. Glorious Mission. 377 00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:37,000 They can just end up checking a box. 378 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,400 My parents have a huge wood burning fireplace in every 379 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,600 Thanksgiving we go. When we spend the whole week 380 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,000 there and we chop wood and we throw it in the fireplace. 381 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:49,500 And you can take fiery, hot coal and you can pull it out and you 382 00:20:49,500 --> 00:20:52,100 can leave it in the fireplace, but you can put it off to the 383 00:20:52,100 --> 00:20:55,900 side right at the corner and it won't take long before it glazes 384 00:20:55,900 --> 00:20:58,300 over becomes gray and cool to the touch. 385 00:20:59,100 --> 00:21:01,900 However, you take that cold call and you put it back into the 386 00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:04,800 fire with the other coals and in no time at all. 387 00:21:04,900 --> 00:21:08,800 It is brought back to a fiery orange and red and I believe 388 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:13,600 that that can happen to you. You listen to me right now as 389 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:15,800 I'm talking some of you hopefully are feeling a little 390 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:19,000 Convicted that for one reason or another. 391 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:21,100 You haven't made being a part of a church. 392 00:21:21,100 --> 00:21:24,100 A priority. And Satan might be whispering in 393 00:21:24,100 --> 00:21:26,400 your ear. Yeah, I'd like to go back but 394 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,500 it's going to be awkward because it has been too long. 395 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,500 I want you to hear me say it. Not true. 396 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:37,000 We will rejoice, and be excited. And I will wear my arms out. 397 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:41,100 Giving you hugs that you are back, you were not supposed to 398 00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:44,800 do life alone. And the very moment you're being 399 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:48,300 pointed towards truth. Satan will try to rob it. 400 00:21:48,300 --> 00:21:51,900 Look what it says, Hebrews chapter 10 and let us consider 401 00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:53,900 how we may spur one. Another on towards love and Good 402 00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:55,400 Deeds. Look what happens, the very next 403 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:59,100 verse not giving up meeting together as some are in the 404 00:21:59,100 --> 00:22:03,300 habit of doing but encouraging one, another and all the more as 405 00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:06,500 you see the day approaching, it is hard for you to be encouraged 406 00:22:06,500 --> 00:22:08,600 when you are not in community. Now, I want to be clear. 407 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,100 Biblical Community is not friends who get together to 408 00:22:13,100 --> 00:22:16,500 coffee shop or go on shopping trips or who are all the fun 409 00:22:16,500 --> 00:22:18,600 moms on the travel baseball team. 410 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:21,700 Listen, it's not a bunch of guys going hunting or golfing. 411 00:22:21,900 --> 00:22:23,700 That's not what I'm talking about. 412 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:28,300 You can do all of those things, but that is not what I'm talking 413 00:22:28,300 --> 00:22:30,300 about. When I say being in community, 414 00:22:30,900 --> 00:22:34,500 here are the four components as we see in scripture, when it 415 00:22:34,500 --> 00:22:38,200 comes to biblical Community, it has an intentional leader, a 416 00:22:38,208 --> 00:22:41,300 relational environment, A Biblical foundation and a 417 00:22:41,300 --> 00:22:44,100 reproducible process. Here's what I mean, when I talk 418 00:22:44,100 --> 00:22:47,300 about an intentional leader, an intentional leader, is someone 419 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:50,900 who is committed to moving people on the content on the 420 00:22:50,900 --> 00:22:53,900 spiritual Continuum. Okay, they are going. 421 00:22:53,900 --> 00:22:56,800 How can I move somebody? They're obsessed by it. 422 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:58,700 It's there. They're wanting to help people 423 00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:02,100 mature in Christ and grow in Christ and learn and Christ. 424 00:23:02,100 --> 00:23:04,600 This is what Jesus did with all of his disciples. 425 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,100 This is what Paul did with those who are doing Ministry, 426 00:23:07,100 --> 00:23:09,400 alongside of them, they feel a spiritual. 427 00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:13,400 A burden to take ownership and responsibility of what is 428 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,200 happening in their French Circle. 429 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:18,500 And the lives of the people they care about they're strategically 430 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:22,700 going, how can I help this person move closer to Jesus? 431 00:23:22,900 --> 00:23:25,600 You have to have an intentional leader. 432 00:23:25,700 --> 00:23:28,600 You also have to have a relational environment, okay? 433 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,200 You have to have an environment where there can be dialog where 434 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:34,100 you can hear from one another. This is not a relational 435 00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:38,800 environment, okay, I'm talking to you and I'm assuming an awful 436 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:40,800 lot about. What's going on in your world or 437 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:42,400 what? You need to hear and I'm relying 438 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:44,400 too heavily on the holy spirit for that. 439 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:48,500 But some of the best growth that ever happens, happens across a 440 00:23:48,500 --> 00:23:52,000 kitchen table and in the middle of the back swing while you're 441 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:57,400 golfing, while someone is trying to help you grow in Christ then 442 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,100 you got to have a Biblical Foundation. 443 00:24:00,300 --> 00:24:02,600 Hey, the reason why you have to have a Biblical Foundation is 444 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:05,600 because if we are going to meet week, There's No Foundation that 445 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,000 has been laid other than Jesus Christ. 446 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:10,400 And if we are going to help somebody build their life, they 447 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,900 need to build it on a foundation that will not crumble when the 448 00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:15,300 storms come, look what it says in. 449 00:24:15,300 --> 00:24:19,000 Second, Timothy all scripture is god-breathed and is useful for 450 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:23,300 teaching, rebuking correcting and training in righteousness. 451 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:28,300 So that the servant of God, may be thoroughly equipped for every 452 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:31,200 good work. Work when we commit ourselves, 453 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,300 as a group of Believers as a community of Believers to the 454 00:24:34,300 --> 00:24:38,100 Bible, we are going to be made useful for every good work that 455 00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:39,700 God has us to do. Now. 456 00:24:39,700 --> 00:24:41,600 Why are all three of these things important? 457 00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:44,800 Well, imagine what would happen if you take one of these away. 458 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,400 What if you took away a Biblical Foundation, you just had an 459 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:49,600 intentional leader and relation environment. 460 00:24:49,700 --> 00:24:51,700 You have a recipe for a really cool cold, right? 461 00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:53,900 That wouldn't be good. Anybody want to be a part of a 462 00:24:53,900 --> 00:24:54,900 cult? Didn't think so. 463 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,100 Okay, why don't you get rid of relational environment? 464 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,400 Well, now you have a classroom, all of us were like, hey, we got 465 00:24:59,500 --> 00:25:02,200 Out of school for a reason, we are not going back, okay? 466 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:04,100 What if you don't have an intentional leader, you have 467 00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:06,500 chaos, you have a bunch of people trying to do stuff, but 468 00:25:06,500 --> 00:25:10,200 nobody actually helping people move strategically forward. 469 00:25:10,300 --> 00:25:12,800 But the last thing you have to have, you have to have a 470 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,700 reproducible process. Were you raise people up to 471 00:25:16,700 --> 00:25:20,600 eventually be the intentional leader in their own relational 472 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:24,600 environment, where eventually you come alongside and say, you 473 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:28,500 know what, I want to help people grow and develop in their walk 474 00:25:28,500 --> 00:25:31,600 with the Lord where they leave your biblical community and 475 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,900 start a Biblical community on their own. 476 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:38,900 Eventually the kids need to leave the house. 477 00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:42,700 Eventually you're going I'm not making you your macaroni 478 00:25:42,700 --> 00:25:45,700 anymore, you can make it Yourself. 479 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:47,400 Get them clicking. I will. 480 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:50,700 Okay. You got to, you got to step into 481 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:54,100 this gently, but you want to help people realize that God 482 00:25:54,100 --> 00:25:57,700 made them to make a difference too. 483 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:01,900 That there's some of you right now like you're going man, I I 484 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:05,400 do feel a sense of spiritual ownership over what's happening 485 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,800 in people's lives and I do want to be a part of people growing 486 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:11,600 in the relationship with Jesus that that might just be the Holy 487 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,000 Spirit telling you you just might be an intentional leader 488 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:19,100 and what you need to figure out a way is to create a relational 489 00:26:19,100 --> 00:26:22,700 environment so you can help people grow, do you know how you 490 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:25,900 came to Faith? You came to Faith because other 491 00:26:25,900 --> 00:26:28,600 people were intentional leaders, they branched out. 492 00:26:28,700 --> 00:26:32,600 And made sacrifices to help you grow and it would be a shame. 493 00:26:33,900 --> 00:26:37,900 For us not to pass that very blessing on that brought so much 494 00:26:37,900 --> 00:26:43,700 joy and life changed in to us. There has to be a place that is 495 00:26:43,700 --> 00:26:49,000 committed to biblical community and I say it's here and I say 496 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,100 it's with us and I say it's now we're moving to a time of 497 00:26:53,100 --> 00:26:59,700 decision. All listen to me if you are here 498 00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:02,300 and you've never started an intimate personal relationship 499 00:27:02,300 --> 00:27:04,900 with Jesus Christ. I want, you know, we would love 500 00:27:04,900 --> 00:27:08,500 for you to be a part of our community because being a part 501 00:27:08,500 --> 00:27:11,000 of our community. You don't have to believe all 502 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,300 the right things or have done all the right things. 503 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,300 Do you know what the qualifications are for you to 504 00:27:16,300 --> 00:27:20,100 being a part of this community? Jesus died on the cross for your 505 00:27:20,100 --> 00:27:24,000 sins because that is the only qualification that unites any of 506 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:28,700 us that God poured out, his love on us when we did not deserve it 507 00:27:28,900 --> 00:27:31,800 and it has nothing to do with whether or not you've responded 508 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:33,600 to it or not and you might be going too. 509 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:36,900 You mean I can be in a Biblical community and be mad at God. 510 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:39,000 Yeah. Can I be in biblical community 511 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,500 and not believe in God. Yeah. 512 00:27:42,500 --> 00:27:44,900 Can I be in biblical Community? If I've only been to church 513 00:27:44,900 --> 00:27:46,200 once? Yeah, there's not like a 514 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:48,500 prerequisite for how many times you have to come to church 515 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:49,800 before. You can start receiving the 516 00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:52,400 blessing of the church because the church exists, for all the 517 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:56,700 people who haven't found Jesus. Yet it exists to glorify God in 518 00:27:56,700 --> 00:27:59,400 accomplish his mission, which means you are. 519 00:27:59,500 --> 00:28:04,600 Welcome here, you can belong, here you can Be a part of what 520 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:08,900 God is doing here and this church is committed to this, 521 00:28:09,100 --> 00:28:13,200 this church is committed to you, but here's what happens when you 522 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,600 come into an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 523 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,700 He deposits his holy, spirit into your heart, and he brings 524 00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:23,900 about change from the inside out. 525 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:26,900 You know why you get frustrated? Is because so, much of our 526 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:31,000 change is, from the outside in. You just got done with your New 527 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:33,600 Year's resolutions. And when I'm done, I mean, 528 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:36,400 Already done with the resolutions you made, okay, you 529 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:40,300 know, and we kind of take that approach into our relationship 530 00:28:40,300 --> 00:28:42,800 with Jesus Christ. You know what, I'm going to 531 00:28:42,808 --> 00:28:47,200 really get my sin figured out and then and then I'll get 532 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:49,500 serious about Jesus. Like then I'll step into the 533 00:28:49,500 --> 00:28:51,300 relationship. Like I'm not going to buy the 534 00:28:51,300 --> 00:28:53,600 swimsuit until I should put the swimsuit on. 535 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:57,300 And so you're working hard all on your own to accomplish 536 00:28:57,300 --> 00:28:59,000 something. Just so you know that you 537 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:00,900 couldn't have fixed from the very beginning. 538 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,600 Check this out. If you could fix. 539 00:29:03,700 --> 00:29:07,000 Hugh. God would not have sent his son 540 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:10,600 to die on the cross for you. If you're thinking, man, I've 541 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:14,200 got to get enough things right in my life, before I start a 542 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:18,200 relationship with Jesus. Satan is clouding, your mind. 543 00:29:18,300 --> 00:29:21,800 He is doing everything in his power to keep you from accepting 544 00:29:21,900 --> 00:29:24,500 the grace. That is a free gift, deposited 545 00:29:24,500 --> 00:29:26,500 into your life. When you accept that 546 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:28,600 relationship with Jesus, here's what happens. 547 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:31,900 We just come to the realization that we can't fix it. 548 00:29:31,900 --> 00:29:35,200 If we could have fixed, it would have already been fixed, but 549 00:29:35,600 --> 00:29:38,700 This comes and says I love you where you are. 550 00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:40,600 And I love you enough, not to leave you there. 551 00:29:40,900 --> 00:29:43,900 And so you go to him and you say I'm ready to begin an intimate 552 00:29:43,900 --> 00:29:46,800 personal relationship with you. I want to make you Lord and 553 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:48,700 Savior. My Life savior means that. 554 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:51,600 He is the one who rescues you redeems. 555 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:54,300 You he's the one who handles your sins of your past in the 556 00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:57,800 sins of your present. He's the one who purifies you 557 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:01,200 and makes you holy and then you make him your lord where you're 558 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,000 going. Alright, from here on out 559 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,400 because of what you've done for me, I am ready. 560 00:30:05,500 --> 00:30:08,100 To live for you. I believe that your way is the 561 00:30:08,100 --> 00:30:10,700 best way and I want to live in accordance with that and just so 562 00:30:10,700 --> 00:30:13,500 you know, you're going to screw it up because some of you might 563 00:30:13,500 --> 00:30:15,800 be going, I mean I want all that but I'm pretty sure I'm in a 564 00:30:15,808 --> 00:30:19,000 mess up just so you know, you are surrounded by a bunch of 565 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,700 monumental screw-ups. They emailed me, you are sitting 566 00:30:22,700 --> 00:30:27,100 by some messed up people, we all still mess up, but that doesn't 567 00:30:27,100 --> 00:30:29,100 take away. God's grace, that doesn't take 568 00:30:29,100 --> 00:30:32,400 away God's vision for our life. That doesn't take away his love. 569 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,200 You've been dealt with so many people who love. 570 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,400 So Poorly who their love is based are the love that you have 571 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:41,200 with them is based on conditions. 572 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:46,100 I'll love you as long as but God has all of you anyway, I love 573 00:30:46,100 --> 00:30:47,500 you. Anyway, you can get things right 574 00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:50,500 today and screwed up tomorrow. And God says, I love you anyway. 575 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,500 You can be talking to somebody and you could be on, man. 576 00:30:53,500 --> 00:30:56,800 I remember when we had a good fill in the blank, I remember we 577 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:59,300 had a good run, you don't have a good run with God because God 578 00:30:59,300 --> 00:31:02,600 never runs from you. He stays with you every step of 579 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:04,500 the way. And if you're here today and 580 00:31:04,500 --> 00:31:07,500 you've never started An intimate personal relationship with Jesus 581 00:31:07,500 --> 00:31:09,800 Christ. Please don't walk out of here, 582 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:11,300 without talking to somebody about it. 583 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:13,900 That just a few moments when the people around, you stand up and 584 00:31:13,900 --> 00:31:15,900 they start singing and some of them come to the steps. 585 00:31:16,300 --> 00:31:18,700 There's any somebody over there by the Baptist, who would love a 586 00:31:18,700 --> 00:31:22,000 chance to connect with you or maybe you want to talk to 587 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,900 somebody over at the info bar in the lobby or maybe you want to 588 00:31:24,900 --> 00:31:28,100 talk to somebody in your row but talk to somebody, get some of 589 00:31:28,100 --> 00:31:30,500 your questions. Answered some of you know that 590 00:31:30,500 --> 00:31:32,200 you just need to make that decision today. 591 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:33,800 Like you need to stop putting it off. 592 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:35,300 You've watched everybody else start there. 593 00:31:35,500 --> 00:31:38,200 Relationship with Jesus and you're just kind of Holding Out 594 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:39,600 for. I don't know what, let's talk 595 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:43,200 about that to the rest of you in the room, Christians. 596 00:31:44,500 --> 00:31:52,900 Come here. We have to be committed to this. 597 00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:59,400 We have to be committed to allowing people closer than 598 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:02,400 Arms. Reach have to let people in. 599 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:06,700 Not just for them, not just because they need an opportunity 600 00:32:06,700 --> 00:32:10,600 to learn and grow from your triumphs and your struggles, but 601 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:13,700 because you need an opportunity in humility to learn from them. 602 00:32:15,100 --> 00:32:18,500 But you're going to need people around you to encourage you and 603 00:32:18,500 --> 00:32:20,800 support you as you try to live the Christian walk. 604 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:30,200 And when you do this life without community, What I've 605 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:33,600 seen. Is overtime Satan wins? 606 00:32:35,400 --> 00:32:40,800 He plucks you from The Herd. He steals the joy that you once 607 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:47,000 had in your salvation. Not only that the best way to 608 00:32:47,000 --> 00:32:52,100 reach the people we care about. Is in community where they 609 00:32:52,100 --> 00:32:55,800 actually experienced love and there's dialogue and you can 610 00:32:56,000 --> 00:33:01,200 help them grow and I'm praying. But you. 611 00:33:02,500 --> 00:33:05,800 That you would take this seriously, you're going. 612 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,700 Oh man, Clayton know. I was actually really glad that 613 00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:10,800 my friend was here because I wanted my friend to hear this. 614 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,000 And I want that person who sit in front of me for them to, 615 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:15,200 really listen to your sermon. I'm taking this one off. 616 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:20,600 No, come here. God has equipped you to make 617 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:23,700 disciples. He has equipped you to make a 618 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:26,900 difference. He has put it inside of you to 619 00:33:26,900 --> 00:33:30,200 be an intentional leader. That's what the family 620 00:33:30,300 --> 00:33:34,300 originally was it was the place where kids were were developed 621 00:33:34,300 --> 00:33:36,400 and grown in the Lord and in some of us go, you know what, on 622 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:38,600 top of the responsibilities of my family. 623 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:41,400 I'm going to make an investment in somebody else's family for 624 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:44,500 their good. And I know you might be gone but 625 00:33:44,500 --> 00:33:46,700 I don't have all the answers just so, you know, I don't 626 00:33:46,700 --> 00:33:51,000 either sometimes people ask me question, I have no clue, so I 627 00:33:51,008 --> 00:33:53,900 go to Google and my Bible and I figured out and I get back to 628 00:33:53,900 --> 00:33:55,900 him. But I'll tell you this, it's in 629 00:33:55,900 --> 00:33:57,800 those conversations. And in those questions that my 630 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:01,300 faith has grown the most, what if, what was holding you back 631 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:03,100 from growing? The most in your faith? 632 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:06,600 Was you taking responsibility to help somebody grow in. 633 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:09,699 There's, here's what I'm asking. If you're Christian, if you've 634 00:34:09,699 --> 00:34:12,300 been touched by the blood of Jesus, if your life has been 635 00:34:12,500 --> 00:34:16,199 changed by Mercy and his grace, would you find some time to the 636 00:34:16,199 --> 00:34:18,900 next song to whether go? You go to the bathroom, put your 637 00:34:18,900 --> 00:34:22,100 hands in the water. You've decided to just pray, 638 00:34:22,100 --> 00:34:23,900 right, where you're at or you want to come here and get down 639 00:34:23,900 --> 00:34:30,699 on your knees, but would you ask God to help you take a step 640 00:34:30,699 --> 00:34:33,400 towards community? Would you stand with me? 641 00:34:34,900 --> 00:34:39,500 Heavenly Father, we love you. We're thankful for you. 642 00:34:39,900 --> 00:34:43,900 We don't deserve you, but God, I'm asking that you would do a 643 00:34:43,900 --> 00:34:48,300 work in our church today. Not just here at our 48th Street 644 00:34:48,300 --> 00:34:50,900 location. Not just to those watching 645 00:34:50,900 --> 00:34:54,300 online and not just to those who will eventually watch inside. 646 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:58,400 But at every single one of our locations, That you would fire, 647 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:03,000 some people up to be intentional leaders, that you would get some 648 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,600 people to the point where they're ready to be in community 649 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:09,300 and step out of isolation. Got that you would use this 650 00:35:09,300 --> 00:35:13,000 church with all of her deficiencies and all the areas 651 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:18,100 where we fall short. To reach people that nobody else 652 00:35:18,100 --> 00:35:20,100 is reaching and your name? I pray. 653 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:18,100 Amen. To reach people that nobody else 654 00:35:18,100 --> 00:35:20,100 is reaching and your name? I pray. 655 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:20,900 Amen.