1 00:00:01,700 --> 00:00:03,400 Crossing family. How you guys doing today? 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,100 You're doing well man. I hope so. 3 00:00:06,100 --> 00:00:08,400 I don't know if you're here today because you want to close 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,200 out of here or you're ready to start a new one, but I want to 5 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,400 welcome you to those of you here at 48th Street. 6 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,900 Macomb Kirksville, 929, Pike County, Hannibal Lima, Mount 7 00:00:17,900 --> 00:00:22,000 Sterling Keokuk, mom, with Jacksonville online, and inside. 8 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,400 I'm so glad that we have the opportunity to spend some time 9 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:29,500 together today. I, I have a quick favor to ask, 10 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:31,500 okay. Get you at all of our locations? 11 00:00:31,500 --> 00:00:33,700 Just to stand up for just like 30 seconds. 12 00:00:33,700 --> 00:00:35,200 Could you all stand up for just a second? 13 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,400 I know, I just got ucomfy trust me. 14 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,700 Just just just just I don't ask for favors often. 15 00:00:42,100 --> 00:00:43,800 I know there's some of you gather around all of our 16 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,100 locations that you're here for the very first time you lost a 17 00:00:47,108 --> 00:00:48,900 bet. It was you know in case you 18 00:00:48,900 --> 00:00:50,600 forgot to give someone a Christmas present. 19 00:00:50,600 --> 00:00:51,700 So they said you had to come to church. 20 00:00:51,700 --> 00:00:55,400 I get your here and I just need you to know you are surrounded 21 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,000 right now by some of the best people on planet Earth. 22 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,900 These are the changes. Retire. 23 00:01:00,900 --> 00:01:03,600 On a rainy day. Bring you something to your 24 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,400 house, kind of people. And let me, let me prove it to 25 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,900 you. Okay, there are many of you 26 00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:15,500 across all of our locations that if you were to put the last two 27 00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:18,300 years of your life into one word. 28 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,000 The word you would probably use. Is loss. 29 00:01:26,300 --> 00:01:31,900 You lost a parent. You lost a grandparent, you lost 30 00:01:31,900 --> 00:01:36,900 a child, you lost a friend. You lost a neighbor. 31 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:41,500 You lost somebody that you worked with, for 20 years at 32 00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:43,200 work. You lost somebody. 33 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,800 I know here's the big risk. If you would say than the last 34 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,100 two years. If you fall into that category, 35 00:01:49,100 --> 00:01:58,200 would you just put your hand up? Now, Crossing family, if you see 36 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,300 a hand up with you go and put your hand on them, and we're 37 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:04,100 going to pray for those people, across all of our locations. 38 00:02:06,100 --> 00:02:08,699 There better not be a hand waiting up with nobody next to 39 00:02:08,699 --> 00:02:10,600 it. Take it will take some time at 40 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:14,000 all of our locations. I can't imagine carrying a found 41 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,200 a loss. You're in it. 42 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,900 You're in it. I want to give you three Bible 43 00:02:19,900 --> 00:02:22,400 verses make sure that if someone's a hand up, make sure 44 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,400 there's someone praying with them. first of all, I want you 45 00:02:25,408 --> 00:02:28,700 to hear this before, we pray some 3818, says, the Lord is 46 00:02:28,700 --> 00:02:32,700 close to the Brokenhearted and he saves those who are crushed 47 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:41,300 in spirit, Psalm 147, he heals the Brokenhearted and he binds 48 00:02:41,300 --> 00:02:44,500 up their wounds. This is this one. 49 00:02:44,500 --> 00:02:48,400 Take this one to the bank. Second Corinthians 1, praise be 50 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,600 to the God and father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the father 51 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:57,000 of compassion, and the God of All Comfort. 52 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:04,000 You are worshipping a God, who comforts you, who binds you and 53 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,500 heals, you would you pray with me? 54 00:03:07,100 --> 00:03:10,200 God, that is exactly what we're asking you to do right now. 55 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:16,500 Only you can see the full weight of the profound hurt and pain 56 00:03:16,500 --> 00:03:20,600 and loss, that is being experienced across this entire 57 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,600 region. And God, there are people in 58 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,000 here that the wounds are old and there's some that the wounds are 59 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:30,400 fresh. There's some that are still 60 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,900 navigating unbelievably dark times and they're worried if 61 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:36,600 they're ever going to see themselves on the other side of 62 00:03:36,608 --> 00:03:40,400 it. I'm praying that you would use 63 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:46,000 this church. To love them to care for them to 64 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:50,800 be your hands and your feet, and your heart in their life in 65 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:51,900 Jesus name. I pray. 66 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,300 Amen. God bless you guys. 67 00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:57,800 Would you have a seat? We're going to we're going to 68 00:03:57,808 --> 00:03:59,900 actually do this for the next five weeks. 69 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:03,700 We're going to spend a little bit of time, just praying for 70 00:04:03,700 --> 00:04:06,200 our people at the beginning of every message. 71 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:09,100 So you know, get used to a little bit of calisthenics on 72 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:12,000 the front end. But I think it's incredibly 73 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,200 important because there is profound weight that gets 74 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,300 carried into our church every single week. 75 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:20,200 And I want to make sure that we take a little bit of time when 76 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,600 we can to try to address it and give got an opportunity to 77 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,000 minister to it. And I need you to know if you 78 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,800 raised your hand, hopefully the people around you, they would 79 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,800 love to love. Well, if you give them a chance, 80 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,000 I titled this sermon there has to be a place. 81 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,000 I put this line. I first, put this line in a 82 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:44,200 message. I preached a couple months ago 83 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,100 on, when we were going through the sermon series, and intimate, 84 00:04:47,100 --> 00:04:48,800 personal relationship with Jesus. 85 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,700 And I was talking about the New Covenant, And I've circled back 86 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:59,200 and watch that sermon a couple of times because every time I 87 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,300 watch it like it has an emotional impact like it it 88 00:05:02,300 --> 00:05:05,600 moves me and you know it's kind of weird to be moved by your own 89 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,200 sermon. But God used that moment in that 90 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,800 message you know that message might not have been for any of 91 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,100 you that message that might have been for me but it seared 92 00:05:15,100 --> 00:05:21,000 something in my heart that there has to be a place where people 93 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,900 can find an Summit, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 94 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,200 The second thing that happened is I was doing some study on the 95 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,800 life of Jesus. I kind of knew this from Bible 96 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:35,500 college but I just didn't realize how profound this was as 97 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:37,900 when you look at the life of Jesus. 98 00:05:37,900 --> 00:05:41,300 And if you were to trace his footsteps, if you could have put 99 00:05:41,300 --> 00:05:44,900 a GPS tracker on his Birkenstocks, you would have 100 00:05:44,900 --> 00:05:49,800 been amazed at how much time he spent by the Sea of Galilee. 101 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,400 If you were on planet, Earth used to At the highest possible 102 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,500 chance of meeting Jesus near the Sea of Galilee. 103 00:05:56,500 --> 00:05:59,500 Well, there are great ministry moments that occurred in other 104 00:05:59,500 --> 00:06:04,000 areas, and in Jerusalem, most of his ministry, occurred near the 105 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,900 Waters of and in the towns, and Villages built on the banks of 106 00:06:07,900 --> 00:06:11,100 the Sea of Galilee Galilee was his Quincy. 107 00:06:11,100 --> 00:06:15,900 His Macomb, his Kirksville. His Hannibal Jerusalem was his 108 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:19,700 Lake of the Ozarks. He would go there and something 109 00:06:19,700 --> 00:06:24,300 big and memorable would happen. But most of the time, he was at 110 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:27,800 the Sea of Galilee and incredible Ministry happened on 111 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:32,000 these Banks. And over the next couple of 112 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,300 weeks, as I was doing that study, it became clear that this 113 00:06:35,300 --> 00:06:39,600 needed to be the first sermon series, I preached as your lead 114 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:43,500 pastor and this sermon series is six weeks long. 115 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,000 I'm going to preach the first five. 116 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,100 Okay. Jerry's going to preach the 117 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:51,100 sixth one. Okay, in fact Jerry just so you 118 00:06:51,100 --> 00:06:53,300 guys are, you know, for those of your nervous, Jerry's going to 119 00:06:53,308 --> 00:06:56,900 be preaching 22 times this year. I'm bringing in a guest speaker 120 00:06:56,900 --> 00:06:59,400 four times and I'm going to preach the remaining. 121 00:07:00,300 --> 00:07:04,100 I'm asking that from now until Super Bowl that you guys would 122 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:07,600 go on this journey with us. And I believe that not only the 123 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,400 trajectory that will happen in your life individually, but what 124 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,900 could happen in our church collectively, if we were to go 125 00:07:14,900 --> 00:07:19,200 on a journey to be a place for everyone, that God could do a 126 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:24,900 marvelous work in our midst. I wanted to spend the these 127 00:07:24,900 --> 00:07:28,600 first five weeks, really zeroing in on who we are. 128 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:32,700 Where We are as a church where we're going and how we're going 129 00:07:32,700 --> 00:07:36,600 to get there. So a couple months ago, I had I 130 00:07:36,608 --> 00:07:40,700 met with our elders and I also had an opportunity couple weeks 131 00:07:40,700 --> 00:07:42,300 ago to meet with our campus pastors. 132 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:45,100 And I, in this meeting, I showed him this graphic. 133 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:48,000 And this is a spiritual Spectrum. 134 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,000 Now, this isn't like scientific. Okay. 135 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,800 So don't be like where did you get that Clayton? 136 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:57,900 Okay, but it - 52 plus 5. So minus 5 would be a person 137 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:02,100 who's a complete atheist. Who doesn't believe in God maybe 138 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:03,700 if they believe in God, they hate God. 139 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:09,900 And a plus 5, you know, would be your grandma, right? 140 00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:12,900 They love Jesus, a whole bunch, they Faithfully served them, 141 00:08:12,900 --> 00:08:14,900 they've she's got crosses on all of her walls. 142 00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:17,600 She has little prayers, she has her Bible in six different 143 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:18,400 places. Okay. 144 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:21,300 Totally sold out follower of Jesus Christ. 145 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,800 Okay. And then everybody kind of Falls 146 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,800 somewhere in between people who hate God and your grandma. 147 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:31,500 And then right here is where a person starts, an intimate, 148 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:32,799 personal relationship with Jesus. 149 00:08:32,799 --> 00:08:35,500 This is where people get baptized Yes, can understand 150 00:08:35,500 --> 00:08:37,500 that. And so I asked our campus 151 00:08:37,500 --> 00:08:41,700 pastors and I asked our elders. Where do you think we, as a 152 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:43,600 church? Do our best work. 153 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,900 Like, where do we win as a church on this? 154 00:08:47,900 --> 00:08:50,800 Spiritual Spectrum? Where do we win? 155 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:56,000 And almost universally, it was from minus 2 to, plus 2 K. 156 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,700 Which, you know, everybody was, like, probably like - 5 to +5 157 00:08:59,700 --> 00:09:03,000 know, if we really zero it in, where are we? 158 00:09:03,900 --> 00:09:05,100 Well, I don't think they're wrong. 159 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:07,200 I think our elders and our campus passes were, right. 160 00:09:07,300 --> 00:09:11,000 We're really good right here. And part of that is because here 161 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,400 at the Crossing, our mission is to help people. 162 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:17,900 Find an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 163 00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:23,100 That zero is where we focus, helping people find and start 164 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:27,000 that relationship with Jesus. In fact, you should hear that 165 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:31,100 every single week at all of our different locations that people 166 00:09:31,100 --> 00:09:33,900 can find an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 167 00:09:33,900 --> 00:09:36,900 Now, I know hear me, I know, for some of you that could get a 168 00:09:36,908 --> 00:09:39,600 little old when we say we're moving to a time of decision, we 169 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,600 walk down the steps and we start talking about an intimate 170 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:42,800 personal relationship with Jesus. 171 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,600 You're going I have heard it. For the 100th time, or the 172 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,500 1000th time. I know, I know, I know. 173 00:09:50,500 --> 00:09:51,900 I know that you hear at every week. 174 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,600 But I need you to know every single week. 175 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:57,600 There's somebody at our church who's hearing it. 176 00:09:58,700 --> 00:10:04,700 For the first time. For the very first time in the 177 00:10:04,700 --> 00:10:10,000 last two years 5412, people have walked through our different 178 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,800 doors for the very first time. And they heard it on Christmas 179 00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:18,000 Eve. A 20 year old young, man, his 180 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:19,900 birthday was right along that and you know what he asked for 181 00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:23,700 for his birthday. For his family to come to church 182 00:10:23,700 --> 00:10:27,300 with him. There has to be a place that 183 00:10:27,300 --> 00:10:30,700 backs his play. That is ready to tell them the 184 00:10:30,700 --> 00:10:32,500 good news. You may have heard it for the 185 00:10:32,500 --> 00:10:35,000 thousandth time but you'll be glad we're saying it. 186 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:38,800 When it's your kid that you bring to church when it's your 187 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,300 parent when it's your spouse, when it's your friends, you'll 188 00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:46,700 be so glad you'll be waiting on the edge of your seat for us to 189 00:10:46,700 --> 00:10:49,800 share that good news that message of hope. 190 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,300 So hear me. If you're getting tired of 191 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:54,700 hearing it, it might be because you haven't brought anybody in a 192 00:10:54,700 --> 00:11:01,600 while. Dukey, we survived a tough one 193 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,500 there. Alright, so here's what you need 194 00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:05,500 to know. We are going to keep saying it 195 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:10,000 proudly and boldly because we believe that Jesus is for 196 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,700 everyone, and everyone deserves a chance to meet him and God has 197 00:11:14,700 --> 00:11:17,200 blessed our commitment to helping people find an intimate 198 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:20,800 personal relationship with Jesus that zero moment that I was 199 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,000 showing you on that spiritual Spectrum in the last two years. 200 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:28,900 1050, people have been baptized You're at one of our different 201 00:11:28,900 --> 00:11:31,700 locations it's because we're telling people about it every 202 00:11:31,700 --> 00:11:35,500 single week and our mission fuels us and we've made other 203 00:11:35,500 --> 00:11:38,600 big commitments to God and to one another, to make sure that 204 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,700 we keep reaching people, you've heard about these commitments. 205 00:11:41,700 --> 00:11:45,600 One of them is outward, we will do whatever it takes to reach 206 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:49,300 people who are far from Jesus. I need you to hear me say this. 207 00:11:49,900 --> 00:11:55,700 We unapologetically prioritize trying to reach people Over, 208 00:11:55,700 --> 00:12:01,000 trying to keep people. Well, we feel a spiritual burden 209 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,500 to grow people in Christ. We believe that there must be a 210 00:12:04,500 --> 00:12:07,900 place dedicated to helping people far from God Drawing 211 00:12:07,900 --> 00:12:10,500 Near. Why is this important? 212 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:11,900 Well, it's because it's important to me. 213 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,000 Because it was at this church. That a girl who was far from God 214 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,600 Found Jesus. She became my wife, she 215 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,000 eventually helped her father who didn't go to church and didn't 216 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,100 speak to her for 13 years. He started coming to this church 217 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:30,300 and he found Jesus and a girl named Lisa who we invited to 218 00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:33,800 live in our house was far from God when she started coming, she 219 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,700 found Jesus here, I'll tell you more of her story. 220 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:39,000 Next week there has to be a place. 221 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:42,500 You know people that were once far from God and you're going 222 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:44,700 there has to be a place. That's willing to reach out to 223 00:12:44,708 --> 00:12:48,000 people who are far from God and bring him close. 224 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,600 Another, one of our commitments is downward, we will gladly give 225 00:12:52,600 --> 00:12:54,800 up the things we love for a future generation. 226 00:12:54,800 --> 00:13:00,600 We love even more right now. We are revamping our entire 227 00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,500 02:18 Ministry. We've been working on it for six 228 00:13:04,500 --> 00:13:08,000 months, we're going to debut it the weekend after Super Bowl, 229 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,100 we're going to have an entire series about it, we now more 230 00:13:12,100 --> 00:13:13,800 than ever. We need to make sure Sure, that 231 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,700 kids are getting an opportunity to find a relationship with 232 00:13:16,700 --> 00:13:19,100 Jesus Christ before they make some of the same mistakes that 233 00:13:19,100 --> 00:13:20,500 we've made. Can I get an amen? 234 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:22,300 At that? Okay, those of you've made 235 00:13:22,300 --> 00:13:25,200 mistakes. So why is this important while 236 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:28,800 tell you it's important to me because my sons are 8 and 10. 237 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,700 They're in that Ministry. And while they have two good 238 00:13:32,700 --> 00:13:37,100 Godly Parents, most of the time I want as many reinforcements as 239 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:40,200 I can possibly get around them. The other reason why this is 240 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:45,100 important to me is my successor, Is in one of our Crossing 241 00:13:45,100 --> 00:13:48,100 locations. In kids ministry right now and 242 00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:50,300 some of you are going pulley can't get here fast enough 243 00:13:50,300 --> 00:13:54,200 Kenneth but thank you, gotta wait some time, but we want to 244 00:13:54,208 --> 00:13:56,800 start raising that kid up as soon as we possibly can. 245 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:01,000 Here's another one relevant. We will do fresh things in fresh 246 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:03,300 ways to reach people. No one else is reaching. 247 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,500 There will be times when we change things up, there will be 248 00:14:06,500 --> 00:14:08,800 times when we start new programs and they'll be times when we 249 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,300 shut others down and hear me, we will do this for the express 250 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,700 purpose of keeping our church doors from becoming a time 251 00:14:15,700 --> 00:14:21,700 machine where it's 20:22 outside in the parking lot and it's 1995 252 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:25,700 inside the auditorium. We have to make sure that that 253 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,800 doesn't happen. I remember Andre my 254 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:32,300 brother-in-law, you know, he he met my wife and he lived in 255 00:14:32,300 --> 00:14:34,500 Jamaica was a missionary. And so they got married and she 256 00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:35,700 had to bring him here to the states. 257 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:39,300 And Andre is worshiping in the Macomb campus for the very first 258 00:14:39,300 --> 00:14:41,700 time two songs, he had never heard before. 259 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:45,800 He was singing, you know, our songs and he was like Full Tilt 260 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:48,700 like at a level 10 worship, like he was going all-in. 261 00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:52,100 And after the service I asked him, how were you able to 262 00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:56,700 worship because you didn't know Of the songs and Andre, you 263 00:14:56,700 --> 00:15:00,500 know, shame on him. Looked at me and said, Clayton, 264 00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:04,900 I'm a mature Christian, I can worship Jesus anywhere. 265 00:15:04,900 --> 00:15:08,800 Anyhow, I don't need to know the words to the song to be able to 266 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:13,100 worship Jesus like, RI you can shut up, okay? 267 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:18,200 I don't need that can't hear me. Those of you who are mature 268 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:22,100 followers in Jesus, and you can play whatever song you want in 269 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:24,300 your radio. You can clip it on on Spotify, 270 00:15:24,300 --> 00:15:26,500 when you're getting ready in the morning, you can get your 271 00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:32,600 worship exactly the way you like it all week long. but for an 272 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,900 hour a week, Could you have a some freedom and some 273 00:15:35,900 --> 00:15:38,500 flexibility to give people who are far from God? 274 00:15:38,500 --> 00:15:40,200 An opportunity to connect with him? 275 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:45,000 Maybe the more mature we become in Christ, the less preferences 276 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,000 we have on how we worship Christ. 277 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,600 Here's another one, innovate. We will take big faith-filled 278 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,100 risks and never insult god with small thinking and safe living. 279 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:01,500 As a church, we have taken some big faith-filled risks. 280 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:07,200 We've had major wins, but we've also had brutal losses. 281 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,400 I remember when we close Paducah, I drove down to be a 282 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:16,900 part of that last Sunday. And it was excruciating, the 283 00:16:16,900 --> 00:16:21,000 pain and the hurt from closing that campus Still Remains in 284 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:25,800 different forms to this day. And I remember driving back and 285 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,700 feeling the strong compulsion in my heart and so I figured, I 286 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:33,900 might as well tell you. That I wouldn't have it any 287 00:16:33,900 --> 00:16:38,000 other way. I would rather launched a campus 288 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,200 and try and reach people and later have to shut it down. 289 00:16:42,100 --> 00:16:46,400 Then be a church that never tries to be a church that never 290 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,600 takes risks and a church that maintains a perfect track 291 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:53,000 record. I think, I think God and His 292 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,100 gospel in his message, deserves more from us. 293 00:16:57,200 --> 00:17:01,800 Not all seed that is sown. It takes root, but God has 294 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,700 called us called you and me to plant the seed and to water it. 295 00:17:05,700 --> 00:17:09,400 But who's the one who supplies the growth god? 296 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:12,900 So, let's go and let's find opportunities for us to partner 297 00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:14,700 with him and sometimes we'll win. 298 00:17:14,700 --> 00:17:18,500 And sometimes we may lose, but at least if we lose, we lose 299 00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:21,900 trying to make a difference instead of trying to preserve 300 00:17:21,900 --> 00:17:24,700 the status quo. Here's another one, another one 301 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:27,599 of our commitments will make leaders We will develop leaders 302 00:17:27,599 --> 00:17:30,500 who honor God, and inspire people and they will change the 303 00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:32,700 world. I have so much to say about 304 00:17:32,700 --> 00:17:34,700 this. I've been having this feeling 305 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:38,500 this strong desire, my heart for a while, now not to double or 306 00:17:38,500 --> 00:17:43,100 triple or quadruple, but exponentially expand this part 307 00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:45,600 of our church and there's going to be way more on this in the 308 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,700 future. But for the time being we there 309 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:51,700 needs to be a place that gives people an opportunity to play 310 00:17:51,700 --> 00:17:56,000 and learn and grow and develop. You have done this for me. 311 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,500 But I want to make sure I make a place for other people to be 312 00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:02,500 able to do the same the couple weeks ago. 313 00:18:02,500 --> 00:18:05,300 I was talking to a couple that are actually here today, and 314 00:18:05,300 --> 00:18:08,100 they go when you first started preaching, you just wore us out. 315 00:18:08,100 --> 00:18:11,600 You talk so fast and Jerry used to always about Clayton, Slow 316 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,700 Down. Slow down, slow down, but he 317 00:18:14,700 --> 00:18:17,800 didn't pull me off stage. He kept giving me an 318 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,100 opportunity. He kept giving me more reps to 319 00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:24,100 become a communicator. I got a message from, I don't uh 320 00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:26,800 sweet person in our church and they sent me a card. 321 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:28,600 And then they just were thanking me. 322 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:30,800 And one of the lines was I really don't appreciate your 323 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:34,900 sense of humor. And I'm like, yeah, you and my 324 00:18:34,900 --> 00:18:38,700 wife can start a support your support group and she goes but I 325 00:18:38,700 --> 00:18:44,300 but I appreciate your heart. And listen, I'm going to be, I'm 326 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:46,800 trying to get skinny but I'm probably going to be a fat funny 327 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:51,600 guy for those long as you're here and I can't. 328 00:18:51,700 --> 00:18:55,200 It's how God made me. I have an edge to me. 329 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:57,100 I'm going to say stuff and you're going to go. 330 00:18:57,300 --> 00:19:00,100 That was really funny and I'm going to say some stuff in your 331 00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:03,000 like that. You shouldn't have said that and 332 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:05,400 you can send me the email and I'll probably agree with you, 333 00:19:06,100 --> 00:19:07,800 okay? But we need to give people an 334 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,100 opportunity to grow because we don't know what they will 335 00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:14,600 become. Here's another one we grow, we 336 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:16,500 will never. We will never stop measuring 337 00:19:16,500 --> 00:19:18,900 changing and moving for growth because nothing matters. 338 00:19:18,900 --> 00:19:22,400 More to God than people. We want to have a laser focus on 339 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,400 leveraging, everything in our power to join God in his saving 340 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,800 work. There has to be a place 341 00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:32,300 dedicated to reaching growing baptizing and discipling people 342 00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:35,900 that Jesus died for. Or how about this one? 343 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:38,600 This is another one of our commitments were one. 344 00:19:39,300 --> 00:19:41,700 The church is the hope of the world, and we can accomplish 345 00:19:41,700 --> 00:19:43,600 infinitely more together than apart. 346 00:19:44,500 --> 00:19:48,400 We are the church. Our locations is Where We 347 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,800 Gather. But you and you and you and me, 348 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:56,400 we are the church and we take what God has given you and what 349 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:58,500 God has given you and what God has given me. 350 00:19:58,700 --> 00:20:01,200 And we put it together and then we place it. 351 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:04,500 Collectively in God's hands. There's no telling what he could 352 00:20:04,500 --> 00:20:05,200 do. Us. 353 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,600 It is our commitment to this Mission and these core values. 354 00:20:09,700 --> 00:20:13,600 Our faith in God, our trust in his scriptures, the enabling of 355 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:17,900 His Holy Spirit, and your desire to follow God and Reach. 356 00:20:17,900 --> 00:20:21,300 People that has caused the crossing to experience. 357 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:27,900 Tremendous success recently. The Crossing Church, we have a 358 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:30,800 lot to be thankful for. We were just listed as one of 359 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,100 the 100 largest churches in the country. 360 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:38,600 We were also listed, yeah. We were also listed as one of 361 00:20:38,608 --> 00:20:41,900 the fastest growing churches in the country and we were a 362 00:20:41,900 --> 00:20:45,600 handful of churches that were actually on both lists. 363 00:20:46,300 --> 00:20:51,200 Yeah, it's amazing. As I stated earlier we've had 364 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,800 over 1,000 baptisms and 5,400 people visit our church for the 365 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:58,400 very first time. We have 11 locations in 10 366 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,500 cities that are serving 22 counties. 367 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,000 In fact, if you want to know what our church looks like, this 368 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:09,400 is what our church looks like. This is us when Jeff Bezos goes 369 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,200 UPS in space. He can see our church. 370 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,900 It's huge. Our church spans, over 10,000 371 00:21:16,900 --> 00:21:21,200 square miles, when you drive into it, it takes hours before 372 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:23,900 you can drive out of it. But let me put it in 373 00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:27,800 perspective, this is Puerto Rico, this is Connecticut, 374 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:30,100 Delaware Rhode Island combined. This is New Hampshire. 375 00:21:30,100 --> 00:21:32,700 This is Maryland. And here's the crossing, we're 376 00:21:32,700 --> 00:21:35,600 bigger than six states. Yeah, like, you know, Jerry's 377 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,200 like technically the governor, the spiritual governor of this 378 00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:41,700 of this region. Okay, each week we have over 379 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,900 Thousand people attend physically, at one of our 380 00:21:43,900 --> 00:21:47,800 locations, this does not include R5 inside locations or the two 381 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:52,000 to four thousand people here. This two to four thousand people 382 00:21:52,100 --> 00:21:58,000 that join us every week online. All of this occurred while we 383 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:03,100 were in the throes of covid-19. Speaking of pandemics. 384 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,900 Did you know that historically churches have always grown on 385 00:22:07,900 --> 00:22:12,500 the backside of a pandemic? Check this one out. 386 00:22:12,500 --> 00:22:17,400 It was the Roman Empire that went from crucifying Jesus to 387 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:21,000 300 years later claiming Christianity as its National 388 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:23,500 religion. How could that happen? 389 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:27,300 Well historians would say there were two plagues that occurred 390 00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:31,100 during that time. One occurred in 165 in which 391 00:22:31,100 --> 00:22:33,600 there was a 25 percent mortality rate. 392 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:39,400 The other, one happened in 249 ad and it was how Christians LED 393 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:42,900 and loved during He's devastating pandemics that 394 00:22:42,900 --> 00:22:47,600 changed everything here in America, the Spanish Flu of 1918 395 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:51,700 devastated, America, 50 million people died worldwide of the 396 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:54,200 Spanish flu and on the heels of it. 397 00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:58,100 The church exploded in growth as Revival took place. 398 00:22:59,100 --> 00:23:01,600 Tyler Mackenzie, who spoke at Men's Conference this year? 399 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:05,500 He said this, we would never pray for this pandemic. 400 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:10,800 But we were made for it. I don't know how long the covid 401 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,900 and all of its variants are going to be around. 402 00:23:13,300 --> 00:23:16,200 I don't know what kind of political challenges lie ahead. 403 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:19,200 I don't know what kind of racial tensions will have to be 404 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,200 navigated. And I know that when you're 405 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:23,500 tucking yourself in at night and be while you're getting ready to 406 00:23:23,500 --> 00:23:26,500 go to sleep, I know you would never pray for any of the 407 00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:30,600 problems that America or this world is facing, but I need you 408 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,500 to know that we have been equipped with the Holy Spirit 409 00:23:32,500 --> 00:23:36,100 which means we were made for moments just like this. 410 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:40,700 It's in our spiritual DNA, the church has overcome and 411 00:23:40,700 --> 00:23:43,800 ministered and thrived in the most devastating of 412 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:48,200 circumstances. There has to be a place that's 413 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:53,200 ready for that for the last year or so you may have heard me 414 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:56,100 talking and maybe you kind of felt like I was putting my 415 00:23:56,100 --> 00:23:58,100 finger in your chest and poke in you a little bit. 416 00:23:59,100 --> 00:24:02,900 It's because I was you might have been going I mean listen 417 00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:06,100 this past year I've popped off about masks I've popped off at 418 00:24:06,100 --> 00:24:09,400 the mouth about no masks I've popped off about vaccines. 419 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,600 No vaccines I've popped off at the mouth about build a wall. 420 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:14,300 Tear one down. I've popped off about 421 00:24:14,300 --> 00:24:15,500 Republicans. I popped off. 422 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:18,900 Democrats, I've done my best part to kind of make everybody a 423 00:24:18,908 --> 00:24:23,400 little mad. And you might be going Clayton. 424 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,100 You know, what's the Burr under your blanket? 425 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:29,600 Well, I'll tell you. I have people in my family who 426 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:34,300 are vaccinated and people in my family who aren't I have people 427 00:24:34,300 --> 00:24:37,300 in my family that vote for republicans and I have people in 428 00:24:37,300 --> 00:24:39,100 my family that vote for Democrats. 429 00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:44,800 I keep saying that there has to be a place for everyone because 430 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:48,600 I want to make sure that there's a place for me and my family and 431 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:53,000 for you and yours. I've always been so profoundly 432 00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:57,300 proud of this church. I was worried a little bit about 433 00:24:57,300 --> 00:25:00,700 how this church, how you guys would handle a young, Pastor 434 00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:02,900 mayor and a single mom with a bi-racial kid. 435 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:05,000 Now, you'd never done anything to make me think that you 436 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,000 wouldn't be good with that. But I had grown up in churches 437 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,900 where I was pretty sure that I would have been pushed out. 438 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:17,100 And I'm so unbelievably thankful that you guys leaned in and I'm 439 00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:22,600 asking for your help to make this church, a place for 440 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:26,300 everyone, but it is going to take every single one of us to 441 00:25:26,300 --> 00:25:28,900 make that happen in order to do that. 442 00:25:28,900 --> 00:25:32,500 I want to give you a couple verses and there's this intimate 443 00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:35,300 moment that we get to peek into Jesus hard. 444 00:25:35,300 --> 00:25:39,600 It says this in Luke chapter 19, but as he, this is, Jesus came 445 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,500 closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead. 446 00:25:42,500 --> 00:25:45,400 He began to everybody say this word. 447 00:25:48,200 --> 00:25:52,300 Jesus looks out and he sees a large group of people And he 448 00:25:52,308 --> 00:25:54,900 knows that they will not trust in him and he knows that they 449 00:25:54,900 --> 00:26:00,000 will not believe in him. He sees people that are sheep 450 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,300 without a shepherd. He sees the least and the lost 451 00:26:04,300 --> 00:26:08,800 and the broken and his heart. Brakes. 452 00:26:10,500 --> 00:26:15,600 If you want an Old Testament story, God calls a prophet named 453 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,900 Jonah and he tells him to go to a town called Nineveh and Jonah 454 00:26:19,900 --> 00:26:23,900 does everything in his power, not to go to Nineveh and preach 455 00:26:23,900 --> 00:26:28,200 the gospel of repentance. And so he fights every way he 456 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,800 can, eventually you've heard the story, he gets swallowed by a 457 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,800 fish and God spits them out on dry ground at Nineveh. 458 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:39,100 And and Jonah goes into town and he preaches and check this out. 459 00:26:39,100 --> 00:26:43,700 Guess what happens at the end of his sermons, the entire town 460 00:26:44,700 --> 00:26:49,500 repents of their sins and start calling on God and Jonah. 461 00:26:51,700 --> 00:26:55,800 Is angry about it. Because he knows that God is 462 00:26:55,800 --> 00:27:00,400 full of grace and compassion and truth that he's slow to anger 463 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:04,600 and abounding in love and so Jonah goes out of the city 464 00:27:04,700 --> 00:27:08,800 builds himself, a little Shack in the desert and he lays down 465 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:14,400 in it and it gets really hot. And so God causes a plant to 466 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,800 come up and provide him some shade. 467 00:27:18,700 --> 00:27:22,900 And then God, kills the plant and makes Jonah hot all over 468 00:27:22,900 --> 00:27:25,200 again. And Joan is angry. 469 00:27:26,300 --> 00:27:28,200 I want you to see what God has to say, to Jonah. 470 00:27:29,700 --> 00:27:33,300 But the Lord said you have been concerned about this plant 471 00:27:33,500 --> 00:27:35,800 though. You did not tend it or make it 472 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,700 grow its spring up overnight and it died overnight. 473 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:45,800 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh in 474 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:50,100 which there are more than 120,000 people who cannot tell 475 00:27:50,100 --> 00:27:54,200 their right hand from their left and also many animals. 476 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:58,800 Do you hear God's heart? God has a heart for cities 477 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,300 because cities are comprised of people, and you might be going 478 00:28:02,300 --> 00:28:06,400 Clayton. This would be a great sermon in 479 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:11,800 a different place because none of our cities have 120,000 480 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,400 people in them. Yeah, you're right. 481 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:16,600 But I told you the very beginning that we are a church 482 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,500 that Services 22 counties. And if you add up those counties 483 00:28:19,500 --> 00:28:22,200 there are four hundred and eighteen thousand people in our 484 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:23,800 communities. And what would it look like for 485 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,800 this church to make sure that there is a place for 2% of them? 486 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:34,200 Or 4%. Or 5% or 10%? 487 00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:38,400 I'm asking you can you can you try with God's help to start 488 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:41,400 seeing our communities through his eyes? 489 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:46,200 I'm asking you to join with me and try and start seeing and 490 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:48,900 hurting for our communities with his heart. 491 00:28:50,300 --> 00:28:52,600 There's some of you across all of our locations that right now. 492 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:57,200 If you were to take a truth test, you would say Clayton. 493 00:28:57,200 --> 00:29:01,200 I need time to heal. And if that's you, I want you to 494 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:04,600 know that this is going to be a place where you can heal and 495 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:07,300 there's some of you right now and you're going Clayton. 496 00:29:07,300 --> 00:29:10,300 I need time to mourn and I want you to know that this church is 497 00:29:10,300 --> 00:29:13,700 prepared to mourn with you. There's some of you are going to 498 00:29:13,700 --> 00:29:15,600 Clayton. I need time to recoup and I want 499 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:18,600 you to hear me say this is going to be a place where you can 500 00:29:18,700 --> 00:29:23,500 recuperate. But if there's a couple of you 501 00:29:23,500 --> 00:29:28,400 out there, they have a little left in the tank. 502 00:29:29,900 --> 00:29:33,000 If there's some of you out there, you're a car guy. 503 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:35,800 It's time for us to find another gear. 504 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:39,000 If you're a golfer, it's time for you to get out a bigger 505 00:29:39,100 --> 00:29:40,800 Club. If you're a painter, it's time 506 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:42,600 for you to get out a bigger brush. 507 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,700 If you're an accountant, it's time for you to sharpen a new 508 00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:47,000 pencil. If you're a Knitter, it's time 509 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,100 for you to get another hook. I threw that in there because my 510 00:29:49,100 --> 00:29:52,900 mom's a Knitter, okay? If you're a brewer it's time for 511 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:56,800 you to start another batch. I'm saying, if the world around 512 00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:01,500 us is going to need a church, A place to find Jesus and grow in 513 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:03,800 Jesus. If there's a chance that on the 514 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:08,500 heels of covid that people are going to need a place of hope 515 00:30:08,500 --> 00:30:12,100 and healing that I've been asking myself this question. 516 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,100 Why not here? Why not with us? 517 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,500 And why not now. Together, my prayer. 518 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:29,800 Is that we can make this place? The hardest place to get to Hell 519 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:35,500 from on planet Earth. The many years from now. 520 00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:40,900 Our children and our grandchildren. we'll say, I was 521 00:30:40,900 --> 00:30:44,500 lucky enough to be born in a county that had a church called 522 00:30:44,500 --> 00:30:49,700 The Crossing and made a place for my mom and my dad, and they 523 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:52,700 made a place for my uncle and my aunt, and they made a place for 524 00:30:52,700 --> 00:30:55,200 my grandma and my grandpa. They made a place for my 525 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:57,500 Republicans and my Democrats. They made a place for my 526 00:30:57,500 --> 00:31:00,400 massacres in my no massacres. My vaccine hers, and mine o back 527 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,300 Cedars. The made a place for my sisters 528 00:31:02,300 --> 00:31:05,700 and my brothers. They made a place for me and my 529 00:31:05,700 --> 00:31:10,500 life is forever different. A my eternity is forever 530 00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:14,400 changed. Because there has to be a place. 531 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:19,100 There has to be a place for everyone but it's going to take 532 00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:24,800 everyone to do it. And I say that place is here and 533 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:29,200 I say that place is with us and I say that place needs to start 534 00:31:29,300 --> 00:31:32,400 happening. Now, Crossing Church. 535 00:31:33,100 --> 00:31:35,800 Will you join me in that we're moving to a time of decision? 536 00:31:43,900 --> 00:31:46,900 so, those of you in this room and those of you watching 537 00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:51,700 online, if you have never started an intimate personal 538 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:57,100 relationship with Jesus Christ, This church is crazy about that. 539 00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:01,800 That's what that's what eats us up. 540 00:32:02,300 --> 00:32:06,000 That's why we serve, that's why we give, that's why we raise our 541 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:09,000 hand in worship. That's why we clapping the video 542 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,600 is because we know what it's like to be lost. 543 00:32:13,300 --> 00:32:14,800 And we know what it's like to be found. 544 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,800 And if you're going Clayton, that that's me. 545 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:21,700 I'm lost. We want to help you find Jesus. 546 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:25,400 Listen, it's not us that you need to find its him but we can 547 00:32:25,400 --> 00:32:28,100 talk to you about him. We can show you the way we can 548 00:32:28,100 --> 00:32:30,700 answer your questions. There's some of you you've been 549 00:32:30,700 --> 00:32:33,000 on the fence for a long time. You've never started it. 550 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:36,400 I get it. I'm going to talk about those 551 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:40,800 people next week. I hope you come, but I get it. 552 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,400 You've been watching. Other people start that 553 00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:44,000 relationship but it's never been you. 554 00:32:45,300 --> 00:32:48,400 If you have questions about that looks like or how to start that. 555 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:50,300 We would love to have an opportunity to talk with you 556 00:32:50,300 --> 00:32:53,100 today and just a few moments, all the weird people around, you 557 00:32:53,100 --> 00:32:55,100 are going to stand and sing and some of them are going to come 558 00:32:55,100 --> 00:32:58,300 up to the steps but if you want, you can either talk to somebody 559 00:32:58,300 --> 00:33:01,100 in your row or you can come and talk to somebody who's going to 560 00:33:01,100 --> 00:33:03,600 be over there by the baptistry and we'd love a chance to talk 561 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,500 with you about what that looks but that looks like and what it 562 00:33:06,500 --> 00:33:09,900 could mean for you. To the rest of you in the room. 563 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:14,400 The Christians. I'm asking for your help. 564 00:33:15,900 --> 00:33:17,500 It would you start off this new year? 565 00:33:17,500 --> 00:33:19,400 Would you start off this sermon series? 566 00:33:20,100 --> 00:33:25,800 With me on your knees asking God to make this a place? 567 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,100 And when I say this a place, I'm not saying this building, I'm 568 00:33:30,100 --> 00:33:33,700 saying with you I'm have to say this in a couple weeks. 569 00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:35,200 I'm gonna have to tell her whole church. 570 00:33:35,700 --> 00:33:38,700 I'm not your pastor. I'm one of them. 571 00:33:39,800 --> 00:33:42,500 I'm one of them, I am not going to be at all of your kids As 572 00:33:42,500 --> 00:33:44,300 baseball games. I'm not going to marry all of 573 00:33:44,300 --> 00:33:45,800 your kids. I'm not going to bury all of 574 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:48,600 your parents. I'm just one of your pastors and 575 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:51,700 there are infinitely better pastors on our staff than me. 576 00:33:53,300 --> 00:33:56,900 But the truth of the matter is, is what I'm hoping is that 577 00:33:56,900 --> 00:34:00,200 sooner rather than later, you will start to see yourself as 578 00:34:00,200 --> 00:34:04,700 the pastor, the pastor of your home, the pastor of your 579 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:08,400 workplace, the pastor of your neighborhood, the pastor of your 580 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:12,000 street, the pastor of your school, the pastor of your 581 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:16,000 friends that you would be their Pastor that you would love them, 582 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:18,500 and lead them, and guide them and direct them. 583 00:34:18,699 --> 00:34:21,500 That the place that I'm referring to is not the building 584 00:34:21,500 --> 00:34:24,600 of the Crossing. The heart of the people of the 585 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:27,900 crossing and would you get down on your knees and say, God, I 586 00:34:27,900 --> 00:34:29,800 need you to make room in my heart. 587 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:35,500 For the people in my life. But God, in view of your mercy 588 00:34:35,500 --> 00:34:37,500 and view of everything that you've done for me. 589 00:34:37,699 --> 00:34:41,199 This is not a time for me to shrink back into small living 590 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,300 and safe living. But it is a time for me to give 591 00:34:44,300 --> 00:34:48,100 my very best to you because that's exactly what you gave to 592 00:34:48,100 --> 00:34:54,400 me. man, I wonder I wonder what happens when a church 10,000 593 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:58,600 square miles big gets on their knees and prays for God to open 594 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:00,400 their heart for the people in their lives. 595 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:06,100 I wonder what he'll do. But we'll never know unless you 596 00:35:06,100 --> 00:35:09,000 do it too. Would you stand with me? 597 00:35:19,700 --> 00:35:21,400 See this moment in our hearts, God. 598 00:35:26,700 --> 00:35:31,900 Embedded in our memories. How much you loved us, how much 599 00:35:31,900 --> 00:35:36,000 you pursued us how much you sacrifice for us. 600 00:35:37,000 --> 00:35:41,800 And God, help us have a god-honoring response to that 601 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,600 use the people in the sound of my voice. 602 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:49,300 Whether in this room or to the thousands watching online to 603 00:35:49,300 --> 00:35:54,600 start something, to finish, something to continue the work 604 00:35:54,600 --> 00:36:00,200 that you've started in US. Got as we get down on our knees, 605 00:36:00,700 --> 00:36:04,200 meet us in this moment and take all the ground. 606 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:06,600 You want to take your name? I pray. 607 00:36:07,100 --> 00:36:00,200 Amen. Got as we get down on our knees, 608 00:36:00,700 --> 00:36:04,200 meet us in this moment and take all the ground. 609 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:06,600 You want to take your name? I pray. 610 00:36:07,100 --> 00:36:07,600 Amen.