1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:02,700 Are you excited to be in church? Let me hear what? 2 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:06,400 What? Hey, time changing stopping 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:08,600 anybody around here. We decided to show up and have 4 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,900 some fun and grow in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and I am so 5 00:00:11,900 --> 00:00:13,400 excited to be hanging out with you. 6 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:16,300 Some of you might be asking Clayton, how do I know that? 7 00:00:16,300 --> 00:00:18,000 God loves Jerry Harris, more than me? 8 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:21,700 It's because when Jerry preaches, it doesn't snow on 9 00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:24,700 Thursday and he doesn't get the time change weeks. 10 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:28,200 That's how I know that God loves Cherry more than me. 11 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:32,000 I had an opportunity. What was it two weeks ago, times 12 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,400 and going fast to go to a Pastors conference while I was 13 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,200 there. I met a gentleman by the name of 14 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,300 Glenn Elliot you can look him up on Facebook. 15 00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:49,200 He is a part of Pantano. Christian Church in Arizona And 16 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:55,700 he used to be a missionary in the Ukraine, and he posts 17 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,600 updates every single day of how the church is doing and how 18 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,900 people are responding than. It's been a great way to kind 19 00:01:03,900 --> 00:01:08,800 of, just keep tabs on what's happening through a Christian 20 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,300 perspective. While I was talking to him, we 21 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:16,000 started interacting this past week in back and forth. 22 00:01:16,900 --> 00:01:22,800 And he said that one of the pastor's that he knows heard 23 00:01:22,900 --> 00:01:28,600 that there were some kids in an orphanage who had been abandoned 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,000 and he went and he found them and they were in a bomb shelter 25 00:01:31,300 --> 00:01:36,300 57 kids, I think it's 57 or 50 60, 24 year old sleeping on the 26 00:01:36,300 --> 00:01:40,600 floor, in a damp bomb, shelter him and the church went in. 27 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:42,800 They grabbed all those kids, they took him to their church 28 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:44,600 basement. They've been providing them 29 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:46,600 Round. The Clock care that. 30 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:49,900 Round-the-clock clerk are is getting expensive because 31 00:01:49,900 --> 00:01:52,500 obviously prices are going through the roof. 32 00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:55,200 And I want you to know that this past Wednesday. 33 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:58,900 Our church sent a check for ten thousand dollars on behalf of 34 00:01:58,900 --> 00:02:04,100 every single person we send a dollar on behalf of every single 35 00:02:04,100 --> 00:02:07,300 person who's going to be hearing this message this weekend. 36 00:02:07,300 --> 00:02:10,600 And for those of you who partner with the crossing financially, I 37 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:14,500 just want to say a big thank you because you've put our church in 38 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:18,400 a position where when we hear of a need we can immediately 39 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:22,300 respond and have the space to do so and I want you to know that 40 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:26,100 what you're doing is not just blessing our region, but it's 41 00:02:26,100 --> 00:02:28,800 having worldwide impact and things that you're seeing on the 42 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,600 news right now. And to think that those kids are 43 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,500 being loved and cared for out of just our normal active obedience 44 00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:38,800 and I'm just so proud to be a part of this church alongside of 45 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,100 you. And if there are other needs 46 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:44,600 that arise, we will respond again, as long as God makes us 47 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:48,300 able. Well, we In the sermon series 48 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:52,200 called better how to win at home. 49 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,300 And we started off this sermon series talking about how we as a 50 00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:58,600 church believe and I hope you believe this to that God can 51 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,500 redeem broken things. And we talked about can Suki, 52 00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:05,900 which is when a piece of pottery gets broken that is not the end 53 00:03:05,900 --> 00:03:08,400 of its life. It only represents One Moment in 54 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,100 its history and that God can take his beautiful golden finger 55 00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:15,800 of restoration and he can put us back together and he can put us 56 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,000 back together and In such a way, that it almost appears more 57 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,700 beautiful than when before we were broken. 58 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,400 And then Jerry spent some time talking about the best way for 59 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,100 your family to win, is for you to have a really strong 60 00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:30,400 foundation. And we believe here at the 61 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:34,200 Crossing that there is no better Foundation than the rock of 62 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,100 Jesus Christ that through him, you can whether everstorm, you 63 00:03:38,100 --> 00:03:41,200 can overcome every obstacle and every challenge that when you 64 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,400 hold on to him, you're holding onto the only thing that you 65 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,500 need to hold onto you can hold onto. 66 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,900 I mean, but that can disappear. You can hold onto friends but 67 00:03:49,900 --> 00:03:51,500 they can have their own challenges. 68 00:03:51,500 --> 00:03:54,100 You can hold onto politics. You can hold onto, whatever you 69 00:03:54,100 --> 00:03:56,100 want to. But I'm telling you what, unless 70 00:03:56,100 --> 00:03:58,400 you're holding on to Jesus, unless you're building your life 71 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,500 on Jesus, eventually, it will fail. 72 00:04:02,100 --> 00:04:06,400 And last week, Jerry talked about marriage and he discussed 73 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,300 how we are generally wired around gender and how we are 74 00:04:10,300 --> 00:04:15,000 generally, wired are emotionally and that was a great opportunity 75 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:17,899 for us to kind of Think through how we were doing it. 76 00:04:17,907 --> 00:04:20,500 Jennifer our laughing through that message, as we recognize 77 00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:24,400 the differences in us and then we challenge you all to go on a 78 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:28,100 Crossing date night. And I've been watching on social 79 00:04:28,100 --> 00:04:31,700 media, as many of you guys have taken that challenge and enjoy 80 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:33,200 that Jennifer and I enjoyed watching it. 81 00:04:33,207 --> 00:04:36,700 We decided to do our date on Friday, and we did a 82 00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:39,700 drive-through date and she got to pick what she wanted for me 83 00:04:39,700 --> 00:04:43,200 to eat off Panera. And I left very hungry just so, 84 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:47,000 you know, very, very hungry and it was kind of Honey. 85 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:48,900 Maybe some of you guys have the same experience. 86 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:50,900 We were kind of like, all right, let's get through this. 87 00:04:50,900 --> 00:04:54,700 Let's do these things and our lets punch out question number 1 88 00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:57,100 or lets punch out envelope. Number two, let's Punch Out 89 00:04:57,100 --> 00:05:01,300 number three and then it started to slow way down and we start to 90 00:05:01,308 --> 00:05:03,500 have a deep and meaningful conversation. 91 00:05:03,500 --> 00:05:06,700 And over the course of that, our we decided we would just things. 92 00:05:06,700 --> 00:05:09,200 Just start Louis started connect even deeper and have 93 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,100 conversations that maybe we've been wanting to have, but just 94 00:05:12,100 --> 00:05:13,900 haven't had the right context to have. 95 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,500 And so if you haven't done that yet, I want to encourage you. 96 00:05:16,700 --> 00:05:19,900 It will be a blessing to you. Your kids, your family for you 97 00:05:19,900 --> 00:05:22,400 to go on that Journey. Take the challenge. 98 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,700 If you don't have stuff talk to your campus Pastor he'll get you 99 00:05:24,700 --> 00:05:28,300 hooked up but today we're going to talk about parenting but 100 00:05:28,300 --> 00:05:33,100 listen to me this message is not just for parents, it's not just 101 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:37,200 for grandparents, it's for you because I believe that the 102 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,500 principles were going to talk about in this message. 103 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:44,700 Apply first and foremost to you as a person to you as a Christ 104 00:05:44,700 --> 00:05:46,500 follower in, this sermon will be a little bit different. 105 00:05:46,700 --> 00:05:49,300 Did a lot of the sermons are preached so just kind of hang on 106 00:05:49,300 --> 00:05:52,100 to the end. But I'm really have a desire to 107 00:05:52,100 --> 00:05:54,900 put tools in your tool belt to be able to handle the different 108 00:05:54,900 --> 00:05:56,400 challenges that you're going to face. 109 00:05:56,700 --> 00:06:00,900 And one of the hardest things you'll ever do is raise a child. 110 00:06:00,900 --> 00:06:03,500 Those of you who are parents or our grandparents you'll say 111 00:06:03,500 --> 00:06:06,400 amen. Yeah it's thinking hard. 112 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,000 Jim Gaffigan was once asked what it's like to have four kids and 113 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,600 he said, imagine you're drowning and someone hands you a baby. 114 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:16,000 That's what it's like having four kids. 115 00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:18,200 That's why Jennifer and I had three were like, we're not good 116 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:19,100 swimmers. We're done. 117 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:21,100 Okay. We can't we can't do this. 118 00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:26,300 It was someone once said that motherhood is an extreme sport. 119 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:29,300 That's why women are always wearing workout clothes, okay? 120 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:31,100 They're like it's just that's just how it is. 121 00:06:31,300 --> 00:06:34,300 Jerry Seinfeld said having a two-year-old is like having a 122 00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:37,000 blender that's on but you don't have the top for it. 123 00:06:37,100 --> 00:06:38,600 Those of you who have two year olds, you like yeah. 124 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,600 Preach Clayton. Preach how many of you have this 125 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:42,900 will be fun. How many of you ladies? 126 00:06:42,900 --> 00:06:43,900 Come on. Help me out here. 127 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,200 I kind of wish deep down inside that you are a Pinterest mom. 128 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,200 But you realize your Amazon Prime you're an Amazon Prime 129 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:52,100 mom. Yeah. 130 00:06:52,100 --> 00:06:53,800 We're an Amazon Prime church. Preach. 131 00:06:53,900 --> 00:06:55,500 Okay. Yeah, that's us. 132 00:06:56,300 --> 00:06:58,800 Word of warning to those of you who are going, man, we just we 133 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,500 just can't wait to have kids. It looks so much fun. 134 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,700 I mean we just can't wait. Here's a little test for you. 135 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:11,300 Just go home today. Find any cartoon the actually 136 00:07:11,500 --> 00:07:13,200 any of them but find an annoying one. 137 00:07:13,500 --> 00:07:18,400 Just leave it on all day loud. Do that all week and just know 138 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,700 that that's the next four years of your life. 139 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,800 If you just have one kid, okay? If you have two years, you can 140 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:28,000 be stuck in a decade of Hannah Montana, okay? 141 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,900 Or whatever it is, it gets bad. I remember us just walking 142 00:07:31,900 --> 00:07:34,800 around the house. Going when does this stop? 143 00:07:35,300 --> 00:07:37,600 And those of you who are fresh to Parenting, I want to give you 144 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,600 a pro tip. Those of you been there before, 145 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,400 you know, the truth about what I'm about to say. 146 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,100 But to literally like, man, we're just having a hard time 147 00:07:44,100 --> 00:07:45,800 like finding our kids. Like sometimes you're like, 148 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,300 where are My kids. How do I get them to listen to 149 00:07:48,300 --> 00:07:49,600 me? How do I find them all? 150 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,500 Here's all you have to do just sit down on the toilet. 151 00:07:54,700 --> 00:07:57,800 And they will find you. You won't hear them for a long 152 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:58,900 time. Like where are they? 153 00:07:58,900 --> 00:08:04,600 Kids, kids, nothing, you sit down the toilet, dad, doubt me 154 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,200 alone. Okay, get away from me. 155 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:12,400 This is not a good time, okay? Um, so if you are a person who's 156 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,800 thinking about having kids or maybe you are, I want you to 157 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,800 know this message is for you. If you're pregnant, this message 158 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,200 is for you. If you are navigating the 159 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,000 challenges of the terrible twos, This message is for you if 160 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:29,300 you're dealing with the murky Waters of Elementary and Junior 161 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:31,700 High School, this message is for you. 162 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:35,100 If you're dealing with high school students, I don't have 163 00:08:35,100 --> 00:08:38,299 any hope for you. Now this my joke in this message 164 00:08:38,299 --> 00:08:41,400 is for you. If you are holding on and 165 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:44,400 holding your breath, as your kids are leaving High School 166 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,100 into the great unknown. This message is for you. 167 00:08:47,100 --> 00:08:49,500 If you've already raised your kids but you still have a 168 00:08:49,500 --> 00:08:51,900 minivan because you're picking up the grandkids. 169 00:08:52,300 --> 00:08:57,900 This message is for Are you if you are a person who just wants 170 00:08:57,900 --> 00:09:02,600 to be a Jesus follower? This message is for you. 171 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:08,200 I believe deep down inside every parent, every deep down inside, 172 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,100 they want to be able to say what John says, in third, John 173 00:09:12,100 --> 00:09:15,500 chapter 1, I have no Greater Joy. 174 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:21,100 Then to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 175 00:09:22,100 --> 00:09:26,400 Parents. Is this not your heart that deep 176 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:31,200 down inside one day you want to be able to say, my kids are 177 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,800 walking in the truth. That nothing would fill your 178 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,600 heart up more. Not that they have a job, not 179 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,200 that they're happily married, but that they are walking in the 180 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:41,500 truth. And the truth is that they're 181 00:09:41,500 --> 00:09:46,600 walking in the ways of Jesus, And we can feel incredible 182 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,700 pressure to try and make our kids turn out. 183 00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:52,300 Okay. Better come out better off than 184 00:09:52,300 --> 00:09:54,200 we did. Avoid some of the same 185 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,600 disastrous mistakes that we made in having a child, is like 186 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,300 having your heart walk around outside of your body. 187 00:10:00,300 --> 00:10:03,100 And there's not enough Bubble Wrap in the world to protect 188 00:10:03,100 --> 00:10:06,800 him, and I need you to hear me say this, when it comes to 189 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:11,600 Parenting, you are responsible for your part. 190 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,100 Your part. There are different parts that 191 00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:17,700 come into play when it is raising a kid. 192 00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:21,200 I mean, there's your part and then there's God's part and then 193 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:25,700 there's their part. The parents and you hear me say 194 00:10:25,700 --> 00:10:30,200 this, you do not do God's part and you're not responsible for 195 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,700 their part. You are responsible for, if I 196 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:36,200 say it with me, your part. Now I got good news for you. 197 00:10:36,500 --> 00:10:43,900 God always does his part. And God is also equipped you 198 00:10:43,908 --> 00:10:47,700 with his word as a guide, to do your part and he's equipped you 199 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:51,600 with his Spirit to help you do your part. 200 00:10:52,500 --> 00:10:56,800 But you can't do their part. Here is a truth that we all have 201 00:10:56,800 --> 00:11:00,000 to recognize that when we are dealing with our kids, the 202 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:04,100 younger, they are the more control we have and the older 203 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:08,400 they get the less control we have and some of you are like 204 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:14,000 yeah, yeah. I mean when your kid is like, 205 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:18,900 you know, car seat age, you have all the control in the world, 206 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,800 all of it. Like, you control everything, 207 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:25,500 you you, when they're in the car seat. 208 00:11:25,500 --> 00:11:28,100 I know some of you. You're like, when do I get out 209 00:11:28,100 --> 00:11:30,500 of the car seat stage where I have to keep lugging this thing 210 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:34,600 around everywhere? Listen, don't despise the car 211 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,600 seat stage because you are in absolute control in car seat 212 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:42,300 stage. And when they're like, five, you 213 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:47,900 say things like this. Because I said, so, Because 214 00:11:47,900 --> 00:11:52,100 you're in control. Try that when they're 30. 215 00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:59,000 Because I said so okay Mom and half of your like what is that? 216 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:03,800 I don't understand what that is. Okay. 217 00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:06,400 You actually it's not even that you just end the conversation 218 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:07,800 over text. You don't even know how to talk 219 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:08,600 on the phone. Okay. 220 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:14,700 Over time we lose control but at the same time that we are losing 221 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:19,000 control, there is an opportunity for us as parents that as we go 222 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,800 down in the control, we have the opportunity to go up in the area 223 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:27,000 of being a consultant. You're not a consultant. 224 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:28,800 When they're five, you're a dictator. 225 00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:33,900 You dictate everything. You prepare every meal. 226 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,400 They make, you make all the financial decisions. 227 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,100 You pick out their clothes, you even put their clothes on them. 228 00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:47,100 But when they're like 25 to 40 at best, you're a consultant. 229 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:51,000 And you will spend most of your life as a parent in the 230 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,500 consultant stage, not the control stage. 231 00:12:56,500 --> 00:13:00,900 And the way you make sure that they have a good future and that 232 00:13:00,900 --> 00:13:04,700 you get to be a part of that future is how we manage the 233 00:13:04,700 --> 00:13:09,700 transition out of control and into consultant. 234 00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:15,400 And one of the ways that we do this is with circles and 235 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,500 everyone needs a circle, I want to give a shout out to Josh 236 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:22,900 Bailey who's a part of our 48th Street campus, who helped me put 237 00:13:22,900 --> 00:13:27,700 some of the language around this message and Every single person 238 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:34,000 needs a circle. And it is through these circles 239 00:13:34,300 --> 00:13:36,400 that we get to learn how to do our part. 240 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,600 Now let me show you what I mean by a circle. 241 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:42,000 Let's take a kid. Will name this kid Emerson? 242 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,900 Okay now this kid has a circle, he has a parents, he has a mom 243 00:13:46,900 --> 00:13:51,000 and a dad and beyond that. He has family extended family. 244 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,600 Aunts Uncles, grandparents Grandma's. 245 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:56,100 All of those things nephews, nieces all of those people 246 00:13:56,100 --> 00:13:58,000 become the family and beyond that. 247 00:13:58,100 --> 00:14:00,400 There has another Circle. These are the coaches teachers 248 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:03,300 band, directors, choir, Directors, all these people 249 00:14:03,300 --> 00:14:06,700 become a part of the, their Circle, and then you've got 250 00:14:06,700 --> 00:14:09,000 their friends that they put, in their Circle and beyond that. 251 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Maybe you're a kind of person who believes in church and they 252 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,600 have church people that are part of the circle and all of these 253 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:19,200 circles help create a perfect environment for Emerson to grow 254 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,900 and develop and become a Jesus follower. 255 00:14:22,100 --> 00:14:25,100 And when there are breaks inside of one of these circles, the 256 00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:29,900 other Circle fills in the Gap, grandparents I just want to say 257 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:32,100 thank you. I see a lot of grandparents 258 00:14:32,100 --> 00:14:34,900 bringing their grandkids to church. 259 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,500 You're filling in the gap. I know some of you you make 260 00:14:39,500 --> 00:14:42,900 investments in kids that are not your kids because you want to 261 00:14:42,900 --> 00:14:46,400 help fill in the gaps. Now. 262 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,500 Let me show you how important circles are because nobody was 263 00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:53,300 ever designed to be alone. It was in the Perfection of Eden 264 00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:56,600 that God looked at Adam and said it is not good for man to be 265 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,000 alone. He put a circle around him when 266 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,600 Jesus came Jesus, who is perfect and all-powerful came to Earth 267 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:06,300 before he started his Earthly Ministry. 268 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:10,700 Do you know what? Jesus, This did he made a, he 269 00:15:10,700 --> 00:15:13,300 made a circle, he had an inner circle. 270 00:15:13,300 --> 00:15:16,800 James are Peter, James, and John were his inner three. 271 00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:20,200 Then he had another Circle, the remaining nine, and those three 272 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:24,800 plus nine, made up his Apostles, beyond the circle of The Twelve. 273 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:30,000 He had the 72 beyond the 72, he had the 120 be on the 120, he 274 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,400 had the multitudes. In fact, Jesus is a circle unto 275 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,800 himself. You have God, you have the 276 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:42,100 spirit and you have the Sun, the Trinity are their own Circle. 277 00:15:42,300 --> 00:15:45,400 And another way of looking at a circle is to see it as a 278 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,800 boardroom. And here is a question, if you 279 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:52,800 are the company who are making the decisions for your life 280 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,400 because you are not making those decisions by yourself, there is 281 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:01,100 a boardroom, there are circles at play in your life. 282 00:16:01,500 --> 00:16:04,400 And as you think about your kids, as you think about you, 283 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:07,300 quick question, this will be an Size for you, and you get home. 284 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:12,100 Who are the 11:52 loudest voices in your life? 285 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,500 Who sits in the boardroom of your life. 286 00:16:16,100 --> 00:16:20,300 Another question who sits in the Board Room of your kid's life 287 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,900 You we've all heard the phrase that it takes a village to raise 288 00:16:24,900 --> 00:16:26,900 a child. Let me take a quick break for 289 00:16:26,900 --> 00:16:30,400 just a second. There is a young lady on a staff 290 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,400 at our church who works in our multi-site offices on my team 291 00:16:34,100 --> 00:16:37,100 and her and her husband put together a Ministry called 292 00:16:37,100 --> 00:16:39,700 connect. And what they try to do is they 293 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:43,900 are us they try to fill in the gaps in circles for foster and 294 00:16:43,900 --> 00:16:47,300 adoptive parents and biological families who are navigating 295 00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:51,500 foster care and adoption and they kind of come around and To 296 00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:54,400 love and support them as they go through that process. 297 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,600 And if you were to go to my Facebook page, my Instagram 298 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:01,900 page, there is a link to where you can actually buy this 299 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:04,500 sweatshirt or this sweatshirt and different colors. 300 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,700 And the proceeds from that actually go to Resource them so 301 00:17:07,700 --> 00:17:10,099 that they can fill in the circle for other people. 302 00:17:10,099 --> 00:17:14,700 And if you're the kind of person who wears clothes, this is a 303 00:17:14,700 --> 00:17:18,599 great way for you to do that. Okay, if you're going yeah you 304 00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:20,800 know I definitely need something for tomorrow. 305 00:17:21,300 --> 00:17:23,800 In a couple weeks like you know, you can buy one of these. 306 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,099 And what it'll do is it'll actually help Foster and 307 00:17:26,099 --> 00:17:29,500 adoptive parents and it'll help people who are trying to be 308 00:17:29,500 --> 00:17:33,400 Circle makers for other people. There is a phrase that I heard I 309 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:35,300 asked this on Thursday night and almost nobody raised their 310 00:17:35,300 --> 00:17:36,800 hands. I don't know if I just, you 311 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:38,800 know, you guys are smarter than them or not. 312 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:42,600 So how many of you have heard that your life will be the 313 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,700 average of your five closest friends? 314 00:17:45,900 --> 00:17:50,300 Okay, okay, so I guess we're over to a long time ago, 315 00:17:50,300 --> 00:17:53,400 sociologists put together, they are some facts and what they 316 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,300 realized is that your life will be the average of your five 317 00:17:57,300 --> 00:18:00,900 closest friends, you will make about the average of your five, 318 00:18:00,900 --> 00:18:03,500 closest friends. Your marriage will be about the 319 00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:05,300 average of your five closest friends. 320 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,500 The way you navigate life, your happiness quotient will be the 321 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:11,600 average of your five closest friends. 322 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,400 So who you surround yourself with? 323 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:18,400 Matters. Well, they did sociologist did 324 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:22,000 an even deeper dive into this. And what they found out was, 325 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,300 it's not just the average of your five closest friends, but 326 00:18:25,300 --> 00:18:29,400 it's the average of your five, closest friends, five closest 327 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,500 friends, they track this through two factors, one was obesity and 328 00:18:33,500 --> 00:18:36,300 the other one was drug use. So check this out, okay. 329 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,900 Obese. If you have an obese group of 330 00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:44,300 people in your friend group, you are 45 percent, more likely to 331 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:47,100 gain weight, For the next two to four years. 332 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,800 Some of you just unfriended me, okay. 333 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,800 You just like wow, I cannot be friends with that guy. 334 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,100 I love my family too much. I get it. 335 00:18:56,200 --> 00:18:58,700 I can't be friends with me either but check this out. 336 00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:02,100 If a friend of a friend becomes obese, your likelihood of 337 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:06,400 gaining weight increases by 20% when it comes to drug use, if 338 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,900 you have a friend in your circle, you are 61 percent more, 339 00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:14,200 likely that uses drugs, you were 61 percent, more likely to use 340 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:17,900 drugs. if you have a friend of a friend, your 29 percent more 341 00:19:17,900 --> 00:19:23,800 likely, if you have a friend of a friend of a friend, your 11%, 342 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:30,400 Then they tracked it through happiness, and a friend of a 343 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:37,500 friend of a friend who is happy. You have a 6% chance or your six 344 00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:42,300 percent, more likely to become to become happier or you will 345 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:48,300 experience a 6% increase in your happiness quotient and you're 346 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:51,500 like six percent. That's not that much. 347 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:53,200 Okay, let me quantify it for you. 348 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,700 If today, your boss were to call you up and give you a ten 349 00:19:57,700 --> 00:20:01,700 thousand dollar raise, that would increase your happiness 350 00:20:01,700 --> 00:20:07,000 quotient by 2%. Who you have in your circle, is 351 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:10,800 more important than how much you make to your happiness, quotient 352 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:15,900 who you put in your circle matters. 353 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:21,200 The friends of your friends of your kids end up having 354 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,300 significant influence. The Bible told us this a long 355 00:20:25,300 --> 00:20:28,300 time ago, it knew this way before sociologists were 356 00:20:28,300 --> 00:20:30,000 invented. Look what it says in Proverbs 357 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:34,200 Chapter 13 walk with the wise and we, and become, as I say 358 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:39,400 this, yeah. For a companion of fools 359 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:44,700 suffers, who you put in your circle matters. 360 00:20:45,300 --> 00:20:48,800 Well, let's go back to this control, graphic and consultant 361 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:50,600 graphic. When you are looking at your 362 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,200 kids, the younger, your child is the more control you have. 363 00:20:56,300 --> 00:20:59,800 You control who's in their friend group, you control who's 364 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,800 in the Board Room as your child gets older, when they're 15. 365 00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:07,600 I mean, there still may be asking you, hey, you know, can 366 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,200 I, can I go to my friend's house because you're the one driving 367 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,400 them. Right. 368 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,200 But you also recognize that there's things that they're not 369 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,900 asking you anymore when your kid finds himself in their 20s. 370 00:21:18,900 --> 00:21:22,100 How much control do you have? I mean, if you're paying for 371 00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:26,900 college, you have some When they're in their 30s, what 372 00:21:26,900 --> 00:21:29,000 control do you have like I guess whether or not you're going to 373 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,400 leave them in the will whether or not you're going to watch 374 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:35,000 their kids? Like you have almost no control. 375 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,400 And if you have almost no control and your only 376 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,700 consultant, your job is to help make sure that they have people 377 00:21:41,700 --> 00:21:45,800 in their Circle. And what you want to be as a 378 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,900 parent is you want to be a person that they will consult. 379 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,800 So you have a say in who they put in the boardroom of their 380 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,400 life. Why is this important you 381 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,100 already know this? Is because a better Circle 382 00:21:58,100 --> 00:22:03,500 provides a better experience. The quality of your circle, 383 00:22:03,500 --> 00:22:08,100 increases the quality of your child's life their choices and 384 00:22:08,100 --> 00:22:11,500 their Direction. Ecclesiastes chapter 4 tells us 385 00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:15,500 what we already knew. Two are better than one because 386 00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:17,500 they have a good return for their labor. 387 00:22:17,900 --> 00:22:21,200 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up but 388 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,900 pity anyone, who falls and has no one to help them up. 389 00:22:25,700 --> 00:22:28,700 Also if to lie down together, they will keep warm. 390 00:22:28,700 --> 00:22:31,000 But how can anyone keep warm alone? 391 00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:35,600 The one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves? 392 00:22:35,900 --> 00:22:39,800 A quart of three strands is not quickly broken. 393 00:22:40,300 --> 00:22:43,000 There is going to come a time in your child's life where they are 394 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,400 going to fall. Where they are going to be cold 395 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:50,100 and they are going to have to defend themselves and we as 396 00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:53,100 parents want to put enough people in the boardroom, the 397 00:22:53,100 --> 00:22:56,700 kind of people that will help them when they fall down. 398 00:22:56,800 --> 00:23:00,500 Keep them warm when they are cold and not abandon them when 399 00:23:00,500 --> 00:23:02,100 they need someone to fight for them. 400 00:23:03,100 --> 00:23:07,400 And the way we do that is make sure that we behave ourselves in 401 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:11,400 the boardroom of Life can hear. Is sometimes what happens is you 402 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:14,500 look at your kids board room and you know, Do you have a seat at 403 00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:16,500 the table? You know that when you're 404 00:23:16,500 --> 00:23:19,500 sitting in the Board Room? Like you had a seat at the 405 00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:21,400 table. In fact they're used to just you 406 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:25,400 used to be the only seat but over time, there were more seats 407 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:29,800 added and while you're in the boardroom in still trying to 408 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:35,300 operate as a controller, instead of Consultants you misbehaved, 409 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:39,800 Let me put it this way. Parents, when you start fighting 410 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,300 your kids start asking themselves, do I want you in the 411 00:23:42,300 --> 00:23:46,200 boardroom the way you speak about their stepmom or their 412 00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,400 stepdad impacts whether or not they want you to be in the 413 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,400 boardroom? How you treat the kids that they 414 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:54,700 are inviting into the boardroom other life? 415 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:58,100 You know what ends up happening is over time, you used to be 416 00:23:58,100 --> 00:24:01,200 sitting right next to him and they've slowly pushed you down 417 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:04,200 and you find yourself far away from where the decisions are 418 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,700 made in the boardroom. You still have a right to a 419 00:24:07,700 --> 00:24:10,400 seat. But they're not listening to 420 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,600 your voice anymore, and they start looking for other people 421 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:18,400 to fill your seat because you didn't manage the control. 422 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:25,000 That is why you need people in your circle in your boardroom 423 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,500 who will guide and direct you. We need first Thessalonians 424 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:32,200 chapter 5 kind of people in the boardroom of our life and we 425 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:36,100 urge you brothers and sisters warn those who are idle and 426 00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:40,400 everybody say this word. Disruptive encourage the 427 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:44,400 disheartened. Help the weak be patient with. 428 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:46,400 Yeah. Keep going. 429 00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:53,200 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for Should I read that 430 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,300 part again, for all your divorced? 431 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:58,700 Parents out there. Step parents out there, angry, 432 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:03,100 ticked off people out there. Make sure that nobody pays back 433 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:06,100 wrong for wrong. You need to be in the circle, 434 00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:07,400 and you need to be stopping people. 435 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:10,500 Don't pay back wrong for wrong. Be patient with everyone 436 00:25:10,700 --> 00:25:14,600 encourage the disheartened, but always strive to do, what is 437 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:20,800 good for each other and for everyone else, if you're in the 438 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:22,400 boardroom and you're trying to do, what's good. 439 00:25:22,500 --> 00:25:25,400 For you. You're not the kind of board 440 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:29,900 member your kid needs and if you don't have people on your board 441 00:25:29,900 --> 00:25:33,600 who are telling you, what is good for everyone else not for 442 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,700 you, you have got the wrong people in the boardroom of your 443 00:25:36,700 --> 00:25:40,900 life and as your child ages, they're going to start filling 444 00:25:40,900 --> 00:25:44,200 in seats even if you do everything right. 445 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,800 You'll be driving down the road and you'll hear them say 446 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:50,000 something you back. Where did where did you hear 447 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:54,400 that? Well, Bob says Okay. 448 00:25:55,100 --> 00:25:59,000 What else does Bob say? Okay, I don't think that's right 449 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:00,900 man. I mean you know it was Bob a 450 00:26:00,908 --> 00:26:02,500 doctor. Okay. 451 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,800 I don't think so. Let me I think he's 7, he wore 452 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:08,200 different colored shoes on to school the other day. 453 00:26:08,500 --> 00:26:10,100 I don't know if we should be trusting him. 454 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:12,200 They'll say something else about. 455 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:14,000 Where did you hear that? Becky. 456 00:26:15,100 --> 00:26:17,100 Okay. Yeah, I'm Becky knows. 457 00:26:17,100 --> 00:26:20,700 Lots of things. Dad, does she and what you want 458 00:26:20,700 --> 00:26:23,400 to say back? He's an idiot. 459 00:26:25,700 --> 00:26:28,300 Becky's trash. Like we don't, we don't want to 460 00:26:28,308 --> 00:26:33,800 listen to Becky anymore. So you know what you end up 461 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:35,300 saying? Oh that's cool. 462 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:43,800 She sounds, she sounds fun. Parents track with me because if 463 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:48,700 you go off on Becky, Well, how did that work for you? 464 00:26:48,700 --> 00:26:52,500 When you were growing up, when your parents tried to isolate 465 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:57,000 you from somebody, Did it make you want to leave them alone? 466 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:01,000 Or did it make you want to be around them even more? 467 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:06,900 How you handle the boardroom matters, how you shift out of 468 00:27:06,900 --> 00:27:11,700 control and into consultant matters, because it works both 469 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:15,600 ways because parents, there's going to come a day when you 470 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:18,700 will have been saying the exact same thing over and over and 471 00:27:18,700 --> 00:27:21,800 over again to your kid and they won't listen to a word of it. 472 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:27,000 And then one coach will just say it in passing after practice and 473 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:29,100 your kid will come home. Like they've had an epiphany. 474 00:27:30,300 --> 00:27:32,200 Right, I've got a friend of my life. 475 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:34,100 I, you know, I've been navigating stuff with them and 476 00:27:34,100 --> 00:27:36,600 I've been given good, solid advice, hasn't listening to a 477 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:38,300 word of it. I called up somebody that we 478 00:27:38,300 --> 00:27:40,400 both respect said, hey, would you call this person? 479 00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:43,000 They're like, sure they call my friend. 480 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,600 They give my friend this exact. Same advice that I've been given 481 00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:47,500 my friend calls me and says, hey, I just talked to. 482 00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:49,900 So, and so and they had some really great great insights on 483 00:27:49,908 --> 00:27:55,200 how I should navigate this. Hold on. 484 00:27:55,900 --> 00:28:00,900 Parents do I want my kids to get the right advice and listen to 485 00:28:00,900 --> 00:28:03,400 it or do I want them to give me credit for it? 486 00:28:05,700 --> 00:28:08,600 I want them to get the right advice and follow it. 487 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:12,800 Who cares who gets the credit? I just want them to have the 488 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:16,400 right, people in the circle that they have wise counsel in their 489 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:18,500 Circle. And that's why we as a church 490 00:28:18,500 --> 00:28:20,900 want to partner with you, we want to help you fill out your 491 00:28:20,900 --> 00:28:23,300 kids Circle in the circle of your kids. 492 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:25,300 We want to make sure that they have difference makers and 493 00:28:25,300 --> 00:28:28,400 mentors and life group leaders that will all play age play a 494 00:28:28,408 --> 00:28:31,900 huge role in the spiritual development of you and the 495 00:28:31,900 --> 00:28:34,000 spiritual development of your child. 496 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,600 My parents. With me on multiple occasions, 497 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:40,900 they put older people that I thought were cool in my life to 498 00:28:40,900 --> 00:28:42,800 make sure that I was getting Good. 499 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:46,000 Counsel reinforced, we were so thankful for our daughter, 500 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:49,500 Kennedy who had difference makers and small group leaders 501 00:28:49,700 --> 00:28:53,000 make an investment in her life when she was going through 502 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,000 Journey Junior and high school years. 503 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:58,100 I love it that some of the coolest people on planet Earth 504 00:28:58,100 --> 00:29:02,000 to my kids are people who called this church home. 505 00:29:02,700 --> 00:29:06,100 My parent, my kids are my boys, They're still old enough that 506 00:29:06,100 --> 00:29:08,200 they want to be me when they grow up. 507 00:29:09,300 --> 00:29:12,400 It was only like two years ago, like up until two years ago, 508 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,700 they thought I was the strongest guy in the world and then I took 509 00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:18,900 him to CrossFit and they met same dancer and they're like, 510 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:20,300 Dad. I don't think you can beat him 511 00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:25,300 up like I don't think so either. Okay till I tell you should arm 512 00:29:25,300 --> 00:29:28,700 wrestling like no no I'm good, that's good. 513 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:30,400 You know they asked me the day before. 514 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,200 Can you pick up a car? I'm like out of like one car at 515 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:35,000 a time. Yeah, probably. 516 00:29:35,300 --> 00:29:37,000 And then the next day, they're like do you think you could arm 517 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,000 wrestle Sam? And like, if you haven't seen, 518 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:42,600 same dancers arms their thighs. Okay. 519 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,100 And it's like, oh, but my kids still want to be me, but I know 520 00:29:46,100 --> 00:29:49,900 the days coming. And I love it when they start, 521 00:29:49,900 --> 00:29:51,900 when I'm picking him up and I'm driving them home and they're 522 00:29:51,900 --> 00:29:55,500 talking about some of the cool things that people who call this 523 00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:58,400 church home are saying to them. That when they come in here, 524 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:02,600 they're looking for other grown man to give high fives to that 525 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:06,100 are following the Lord. We need to make sure that we are 526 00:30:06,100 --> 00:30:08,300 putting the right people in their Circle. 527 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,000 Just so, you know, let me give you a little insight secret. 528 00:30:11,100 --> 00:30:14,300 We asked all of the difference makers at our church, to pick a 529 00:30:14,300 --> 00:30:18,200 service to serve. So that way, when your kid To 530 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:22,100 church, they will regularly. See the same person who will be 531 00:30:22,100 --> 00:30:25,800 making a Strategic investment in them every single week. 532 00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:28,800 So they're not having like their spiritual leaders rotated out, 533 00:30:28,900 --> 00:30:31,300 but they'll have the same person reinforcing what we're teaching 534 00:30:31,500 --> 00:30:34,400 at home. That's why Camp is so important 535 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,100 because it gives them more time with a circle. 536 00:30:36,100 --> 00:30:38,900 That's why regular Church. Attendance is important because 537 00:30:38,900 --> 00:30:42,200 it reinforces principles and it gives them plenty of time with a 538 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:46,200 circle because every Circle needs to challenge them. 539 00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:50,200 A good Circle will never leave you where you are, it will 540 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:53,600 accept you and it will love you but it will also love you 541 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:55,000 enough. Not to leave you there. 542 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,300 Proverbs 27 says this as iron sharpens, iron. 543 00:30:58,300 --> 00:31:01,900 So one person sharpens another, I'm not saying that your circle 544 00:31:01,900 --> 00:31:04,100 shouldn't comfort you because we can't neglect what it says in 545 00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:06,900 Galatians chapter 6 carry each other's burdens. 546 00:31:06,900 --> 00:31:09,900 And in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ, but I 547 00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:11,800 am saying that your circle should push. 548 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,900 You look what it says in Proverbs. 19 verse 20, listen to 549 00:31:14,900 --> 00:31:17,300 advice and accept. A point. 550 00:31:17,300 --> 00:31:20,700 And at the end, you will be counted among the wise, we as a 551 00:31:20,708 --> 00:31:23,300 church are not going to delay spiritual maturity. 552 00:31:23,700 --> 00:31:26,400 We do not need to put off challenging and pushing each 553 00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:30,100 other and our kids in the area of spiritual growth, we don't 554 00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:32,100 get everything, right? And so we are going to need 555 00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:36,800 people to coach us and help us navigate the challenges of life. 556 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:39,800 You heard me talk about this on Super Bowl weekend. 557 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:43,400 We've been in the process of revamping our 02:18 Ministries, 558 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:45,700 and we've been rolling stuff out at all of our different 559 00:31:45,700 --> 00:31:47,500 locations. And one of the changes we've 560 00:31:47,500 --> 00:31:49,900 made in this might not seem like a big deal to you, but it's a 561 00:31:49,900 --> 00:31:53,500 huge deal to us for the longest time, we've called 02:18 this, 562 00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:56,800 our next gen Next Generation, we try to have shortened up. 563 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,200 So to be hip and cool and you know, you might go in but we've 564 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:02,900 actually changed what we're calling 02:18 Ministry. 565 00:32:02,900 --> 00:32:07,500 It's no longer next-gen, we're calling it this gin because 566 00:32:07,500 --> 00:32:11,500 they're not next there. Now, they're facing challenges 567 00:32:11,500 --> 00:32:14,200 right now and they need to be equipped to lead. 568 00:32:14,300 --> 00:32:17,300 Now we're not raising up leaders just for Auro. 569 00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:20,100 We are going to raise up leaders for today. 570 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:22,700 We wanted them to be prepared to make a difference. 571 00:32:22,900 --> 00:32:26,500 We want them ran ready to handle their faith at an early age. 572 00:32:26,500 --> 00:32:29,200 We want to make sure that they are equipped to be the right. 573 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:33,700 Kind of kids that you want in. Your kids has Circle, we want 574 00:32:33,700 --> 00:32:37,600 them to be empowered to be in somebody else's boardroom, at an 575 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:40,700 early age, and being in a circle, takes commitment. 576 00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:43,500 And sometimes it takes goes unnoticed, and sometimes it's 577 00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:46,600 unappreciated and this week, we want to challenge you at all of 578 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:48,700 our Different locations to take some time. 579 00:32:48,700 --> 00:32:51,100 We've got thank you cards at the steps that many of our 580 00:32:51,100 --> 00:32:54,100 locations, some of them will have them at an info bar, but we 581 00:32:54,100 --> 00:32:57,000 want you to do is we want you to come up and we want you to grab 582 00:32:57,300 --> 00:32:59,600 some Crossing, thank you cards, and some envelopes. 583 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:02,900 And this week, we want you to write some thank you cards to 584 00:33:02,900 --> 00:33:05,900 the circle, makers in your life and in your kids, as life, 585 00:33:06,700 --> 00:33:09,300 because there are people who have been making sacrifices on 586 00:33:09,300 --> 00:33:13,800 behalf of you and on behalf of your kids and it goes unnoticed 587 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:17,600 and unthanked on a regular time. And as a church, We want to make 588 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:21,400 sure that they know that we noticed and we are thankful and 589 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:24,000 we recognize all the love and care that they've been 590 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,000 providing. Maybe it's a teacher. 591 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,200 Who's loving your kid? Well, through a difficult time, 592 00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:32,900 maybe it's a Difference Maker at one of our locations, maybe it's 593 00:33:32,900 --> 00:33:35,800 a life group leader who's been pouring into you and helping you 594 00:33:35,800 --> 00:33:37,700 navigate, some of the challenges. 595 00:33:37,700 --> 00:33:39,200 We want them to know. We love them. 596 00:33:39,300 --> 00:33:41,400 We're thankful for him. And we care about them because 597 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:43,700 being in a circle, is sometimes a thankless job. 598 00:33:44,100 --> 00:33:49,400 I said this earlier, I'm always impacted every single week. 599 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:52,400 By the number of grandparents, I see bringing their grandkids 600 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:56,000 They could have checked out and bought a home in Florida and 601 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,900 just enjoyed the warm weather and definitely. 602 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:04,500 But instead of buying, you know, their retirement car, they just 603 00:34:04,500 --> 00:34:09,199 got another beat up minivan so that they can be there for their 604 00:34:09,199 --> 00:34:12,500 grandkids. And I love that they haven't 605 00:34:12,500 --> 00:34:14,199 checked out. In fact, they checked in, they 606 00:34:14,207 --> 00:34:16,900 didn't just check in some of them are doubling down, and I 607 00:34:16,900 --> 00:34:21,600 want you to know. I am thankful for you and I know 608 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,900 that you don't get all the thank yous that you wish you got from 609 00:34:23,900 --> 00:34:27,199 your kids. But I notice and it matters. 610 00:34:27,699 --> 00:34:30,699 Now hear me, this sermon is not just for your view about your 611 00:34:30,699 --> 00:34:32,800 kids. This sermon is about you and 612 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:37,400 about who is in your circle and whose Circle are you in, and 613 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,600 what kind of board member are you being and what kind of board 614 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,699 member? You want to be, and I know we're 615 00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:47,000 at church and I told you this term was gonna be a little bit 616 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:48,600 different, but let me tell you something. 617 00:34:49,100 --> 00:34:54,800 I firmly believe That you will never be the parent, the 618 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:57,900 grandparent, the board member, The Circle Maker that you were 619 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,000 that you want to be until you put Jesus Christ in the 620 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,600 Chairman's seat of the boardroom of your life. 621 00:35:06,300 --> 00:35:08,600 I've said this multiple times. I don't know if other campuses 622 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:10,300 get to hear it. I say it a lot here at 48th 623 00:35:10,300 --> 00:35:12,100 Street, when I'm laying in the plane. 624 00:35:13,100 --> 00:35:16,200 But the best decision that I ever made was making Jesus 625 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:18,000 Christ, the lord and savior of my life. 626 00:35:18,900 --> 00:35:22,000 My biggest regret is that I didn't do it sooner. 627 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:25,500 Because there's not a situation that I face. 628 00:35:25,700 --> 00:35:27,900 There's not a problem I have to navigate. 629 00:35:27,900 --> 00:35:30,300 There's not an experience that I'm going to have that. 630 00:35:30,300 --> 00:35:34,400 He is not perfectly and flawlessly equipped to lead me 631 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:38,000 through and I know you're going. But Clayton, that might be great 632 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:40,800 for you, but I'm actually navigating some real challenges. 633 00:35:41,500 --> 00:35:43,600 And I just need you to know Jesus. 634 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:48,500 He's really stinking smart. Like he came up with life. 635 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:54,200 But he invented all of this. You haven't invented anything. 636 00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:59,800 He's smart but Clayton, I'm dealing with people who wronged 637 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:03,500 me. Just throwing this out there. 638 00:36:03,900 --> 00:36:08,600 He's navigated that too. But because right now, I'm going 639 00:36:08,600 --> 00:36:13,500 through some really challenging circumstances, I need you to 640 00:36:13,500 --> 00:36:15,000 know. He went through some pretty 641 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:18,900 challenging circumstances to the Bible says, he was tempted in 642 00:36:18,900 --> 00:36:22,000 every way the difference between you and him is when he went 643 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:25,000 through challenging circumstances, he didn't sin not 644 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:29,100 even once. Because now, I've got people in 645 00:36:29,100 --> 00:36:32,700 my life who abandoned me? Yeah, he went through that. 646 00:36:33,500 --> 00:36:37,200 Well, I'm, I'm going through and navigating some circumstances 647 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:42,300 because I had people abused me and hurt me, and Jesus would 648 00:36:42,300 --> 00:36:43,000 tell you. Yeah. 649 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,400 I've been there too. Clayton. 650 00:36:46,400 --> 00:36:50,400 I've had people betray me. And leave me all alone. 651 00:36:51,500 --> 00:36:55,500 And I need you to hear me say this, Jesus went through that 652 00:36:55,500 --> 00:36:59,900 too, but he went through it perfectly, he went through it in 653 00:36:59,900 --> 00:37:03,700 such a way where he didn't lose his character, he didn't abandon 654 00:37:03,700 --> 00:37:06,600 who he was. In fact through that process. 655 00:37:06,700 --> 00:37:09,600 He redeemed, you, and me, that's one of the things I love about 656 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:13,700 Jesus, is he left his privilege in heaven and came to identify 657 00:37:13,900 --> 00:37:17,900 with my poverty here on Earth. He stepped into my situation to 658 00:37:17,900 --> 00:37:22,500 redeem my situation. He gives me the perfect example 659 00:37:22,500 --> 00:37:25,300 of how to love my family and how to make a circle and how to 660 00:37:25,300 --> 00:37:27,500 navigate each and every circumstance. 661 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:33,400 I'm firmly and fully convinced that you will never live the 662 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:35,600 life that you were designed to live until you met. 663 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:39,400 Jesus Christ, the chairman of your board, the director of your 664 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:43,500 path, The Shepherd of your life. And I believe that it is only 665 00:37:43,500 --> 00:37:46,900 after you do that that. Everything else has the 666 00:37:46,900 --> 00:37:50,500 opportunity to be made, right? The Bible says search see. 667 00:37:50,700 --> 00:37:54,100 First, the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these 668 00:37:54,100 --> 00:37:58,100 things will be added unto you that until we get that decision, 669 00:37:58,100 --> 00:37:59,700 right? We'll never make every other 670 00:37:59,700 --> 00:38:01,700 decision, the way it's supposed to. 671 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:04,600 I told you this sermon is not just for those of you who are 672 00:38:04,600 --> 00:38:07,700 parents and grandparents, this sermon is for everyone because 673 00:38:07,700 --> 00:38:11,300 when you get that seat fixed when you put Jesus there, 674 00:38:11,500 --> 00:38:15,500 everything else has a chance. I want you to think about that 675 00:38:15,500 --> 00:38:24,100 as we move to this time of decision, So I know this sermon 676 00:38:24,100 --> 00:38:26,700 was weird, so I appreciate you guys kind of tracking with me, 677 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:29,900 hopefully it kind of gave you some some ways, to some 678 00:38:29,900 --> 00:38:32,800 terminology to kind of put in your parenting and in your life. 679 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:34,900 And some of you right now, I just want you to really 680 00:38:34,900 --> 00:38:38,200 evaluate, is, is Jesus in the chairman seat? 681 00:38:39,500 --> 00:38:45,500 Is he where he's supposed to be? Because for some of us, we've 682 00:38:45,500 --> 00:38:47,800 never started that intimate personal relationship with 683 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:50,700 Jesus. And for one reason or another, 684 00:38:51,100 --> 00:38:52,400 you've watched other people do it. 685 00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:55,000 You've seen other people. Get baptized, and you've gone, 686 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:56,400 man, that looks like it's great for them. 687 00:38:56,400 --> 00:38:59,000 I just don't know if it'll work for me, and I just need you to 688 00:38:59,008 --> 00:39:00,500 know. It will work for everybody 689 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:04,800 because Jesus isn't a savior for some, he's a savior for all 690 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:11,100 which means he's a savior for you. the issue, the issue for 691 00:39:11,100 --> 00:39:15,600 you is you're going but Clayton I've got to I've got a lot of 692 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:17,300 challenges. I've got a lot of Hill things, 693 00:39:17,300 --> 00:39:19,400 I'm navigating. And if I can get these things 694 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:22,100 figured out first, then maybe and I just need you to know the 695 00:39:22,100 --> 00:39:23,900 answer to that. Question is a resounding? 696 00:39:23,900 --> 00:39:28,100 No, you don't get your life fixed and then find Jesus 697 00:39:28,300 --> 00:39:32,200 because he's a savior, you don't save yourself and then start 698 00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:35,400 your relationship with him. You recognize that you need a 699 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:40,200 savior and he comes and he rescues the crazy thing about 700 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:45,900 Jesus is he made the first move. He came on your Before you ever 701 00:39:45,900 --> 00:39:50,900 messed it up. And if you're willing today to 702 00:39:50,900 --> 00:39:53,500 ask those questions and maybe you're going, you know what, I 703 00:39:53,508 --> 00:39:55,700 want to talk to somebody about it and just a few moments, when 704 00:39:55,700 --> 00:39:58,600 the people around you stand up and maybe as they come to the 705 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:01,900 steps to pray or to grab cards, you'll make your way over by the 706 00:40:01,900 --> 00:40:03,200 baptistry, they'll be somebody there. 707 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:05,800 Who wants to talk with you about what that looks like and how to 708 00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:09,200 start it to the rest of you. In the room who already have a 709 00:40:09,207 --> 00:40:11,800 relationship with Jesus? I want to encourage you to do a 710 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:14,300 couple things one. Would you come up here when you 711 00:40:14,300 --> 00:40:17,600 get down on your knees and would you pray over your kids, pray 712 00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:20,900 over your grandkids That you would be a better. 713 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:25,400 A better Circle Maker, a better Circle, contributor and while 714 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:26,700 you're down here, would you pick up some of these? 715 00:40:26,700 --> 00:40:29,200 Thank you cards and that we would be the kind of people that 716 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,500 say thank you to the circle makers in our lives. 717 00:40:32,400 --> 00:40:35,000 I know some of us have a brain new appreciation for teachers 718 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:37,900 after having to kind of pseudo homeschool our kids during the 719 00:40:37,900 --> 00:40:41,000 pandemic. Like I know we got frustrated at 720 00:40:41,000 --> 00:40:43,600 teachers like yeah, man, you know, they want more money and 721 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:46,800 they want their Summers off and we like did like two days of 722 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:50,000 virtual schooling or like forget this give them as much money as 723 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:52,200 they want and get my kid back in the school. 724 00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:54,500 I am not doing this. Yeah. 725 00:40:54,500 --> 00:40:56,600 Maybe we should love them a little bit more. 726 00:40:57,300 --> 00:41:00,000 Maybe we should say thank you for putting up with stuff. 727 00:41:00,400 --> 00:41:02,600 I've never heard a parent. Go man, I just wish summer would 728 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:05,300 just keep coming. I love it. 729 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:07,400 Like usually by the end of June there. 730 00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:09,300 Like when is school starting, is it? 731 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:11,000 Next week. Oh August. 732 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:12,500 I have to make it from now till August. 733 00:41:12,500 --> 00:41:16,300 Okay, maybe we should send some. Thank you cards to teachers. 734 00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:19,400 Maybe we should send some, thank you cards to principals and 735 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:21,900 superintendents, who I'm guessing just throwing this out 736 00:41:21,900 --> 00:41:23,900 there. I bet they're year hasn't been 737 00:41:23,900 --> 00:41:26,300 super easy. I bet the last two years have 738 00:41:26,300 --> 00:41:29,200 been challenging and maybe Christian should be known for 739 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:31,500 our thanks, not just our critiques. 740 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:34,900 Maybe we should go. Hey, I see you and I'm thankful 741 00:41:34,900 --> 00:41:36,900 for you. Thank you for the investment 742 00:41:36,900 --> 00:41:39,900 that you're making in my kid. Maybe there's people who are 743 00:41:39,900 --> 00:41:42,000 difference-makers here at our church that serve selflessly. 744 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:44,400 You see their face every single week but you don't know their 745 00:41:44,400 --> 00:41:47,700 name and they are serving in the midst of their pain and their 746 00:41:47,700 --> 00:41:49,800 own struggle. But they're still making time to 747 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:52,500 invest in your child here at the Crossing, we don't offer 748 00:41:52,500 --> 00:41:56,200 childcare, we offer spiritual environments for kids to develop 749 00:41:56,200 --> 00:41:58,900 an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 750 00:41:58,900 --> 00:42:01,400 They are training your kid. While you're in here, being 751 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:02,800 trained and maybe we should tell them. 752 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:05,300 Thank you, but maybe more than anything, we should get down on 753 00:42:05,300 --> 00:42:07,800 our knees and said, God help me. Navigate help me navigate, help 754 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:10,700 me navigate. The transition from control to 755 00:42:10,700 --> 00:42:13,500 consultant because that's how he's operated with. 756 00:42:13,500 --> 00:42:17,600 You does god control you? Could he? 757 00:42:18,100 --> 00:42:22,300 Yeah but does he know. Does he have all the answers? 758 00:42:22,900 --> 00:42:25,900 Yeah. Has he given you his word? 759 00:42:26,100 --> 00:42:29,100 Yeah. And does he pick up the messes 760 00:42:29,100 --> 00:42:31,000 that you make by your own free will? 761 00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:34,300 Yeah. How good is our God? 762 00:42:35,400 --> 00:42:37,000 Maybe we should follow his example. 763 00:42:37,700 --> 00:42:40,800 Would you stand with me? God used this moment right now, 764 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:43,800 use this time right now to bring about a change in every heart 765 00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:48,000 and every life, and this room and watching online, God uses us 766 00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:53,300 to draw people closer to you use us to draw better circles, 767 00:42:53,300 --> 00:42:57,000 stronger circles and got his parents and grandparents get 768 00:42:57,000 --> 00:43:00,500 down on their knees. And we pray and lift up our kids 769 00:43:00,500 --> 00:43:04,300 and our grandkids meet us. In this moment, seared into our 770 00:43:04,300 --> 00:43:06,900 hearts Your name I pray. Amen. 771 00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:06,900 Your name I pray. Amen.