1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,040 Welcome to the Illuminate Church podcast. 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:05,640 We hope today's message is encouraging to you. 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,600 Well, this morning I want to invite you to the table. 4 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:19,840 And I believe that within this table there's a supreme gift 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:26,080 from God that brings with it life and power and love and 6 00:00:26,080 --> 00:00:30,240 identity and stability. But I'm finding the longer I'm 7 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:35,080 in ministry that a lot of people sit and have a microwave meal 8 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:40,720 really quickly and then live over here apart from the table. 9 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,800 I don't want to invite you to the table, not just to visit, 10 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:52,920 but to regularly sit yourself right here and what God has 11 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:57,840 given us in the table. You know the table connection, 12 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:04,440 belonging, hospitality, community. 13 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,480 During men's conference, I was running around. 14 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:11,280 Men's conference is very, very, very, very busy experience for 15 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:12,800 me. Anybody remember the men's 16 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:13,840 conference? Anyone here? 17 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,880 Yeah, 311 men gathering together. 18 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,240 It was incredible. Very busy the first night. 19 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,520 I'm preaching on Matthew chapter 3, where God says of Jesus, this 20 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:31,280 is my son, whom I love, and him, I'm well pleased. 21 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:33,880 And I went on to teach them other things. 22 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,400 And afterwards I run down here, my son's down here, my brothers 23 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:37,880 are down here, my dad, my dad's best friend. 24 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,120 I'm like, hey, hey, hey, good to see you. 25 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:40,920 And I'm like, yeah, just it's a flurry. 26 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,720 I'm frenetic, right? And my dad's like kind of grabs 27 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:49,520 my arm, pulls me back, takes my hand, my head, my face. 28 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,080 What is this thing called? My face in his hands right down 29 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:54,720 here. And he's like, wait, wait, wait, 30 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,000 wait, wait. You need to hear this. 31 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:02,240 You are my son. I love you. 32 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,560 And you. I am well pleased, right? 33 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,360 Special moment for me, right. I'm glad y'all are. 34 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:14,360 That's fun. But that moment of pause to 35 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:19,800 personally connect with him is a snippet of what we are invited 36 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:24,280 to at the table. When somebody invites you to a 37 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:27,680 meal, what they're inviting you to is knee to knee, face to face 38 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:33,520 interaction. It's intimate, it's personal. 39 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,400 There's some attentionality to this moment where I want you to 40 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,360 slow down with me, and me with you, so that we can look eye to 41 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:45,480 eye and share life for a moment at the table. 42 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:49,520 The invitation to the Jesus frequently used table 43 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,200 gatherings. It was a central part of his 44 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,080 ministry. This idea of sharing around a 45 00:02:55,080 --> 00:03:00,040 table in the cultural context of first Judaism, 1st century 46 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:04,480 Judaism, eating together wasn't only about food. 47 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,120 This sharing around the table signified A deeper kind of 48 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:13,040 fellowship, acceptance, inclusion, and community. 49 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,600 Around the table. You were able to build trust. 50 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:17,840 You were able to experience equality. 51 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,240 We're all in this together and something that we don't talk 52 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:26,240 about a lot, but a covenantal relationship, it's more the mere 53 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,960 acquaintance. These are bonded, enduring 54 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:34,840 relationships that for Jesus and people in Jesus time happened 55 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:39,120 around the table. Get ready to write down a long 56 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,360 sentence if you're taking notes. If you're not, just get at your 57 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:42,680 camera and take a bunch of pictures. 58 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,360 But here's what happens around the table for Jesus. 59 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,920 Jesus intentionally leveraged the culture of the table to 60 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,960 proclaim 3 things #1 the Kingdom of God. 61 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:56,800 If you want to know what the Kingdom of God is like, then sit 62 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:02,160 with Jesus at the table. You'll experience it #2 to 63 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:06,160 extend grace to the marginalized, those rejected and 64 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:10,000 despised. Find healing and salvation at 65 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,000 the table of the Lord. Amen. 66 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,040 You said Amen after the first one. 67 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,240 You might as well say it after all #3 and finally to 68 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,399 demonstrate God's welcoming love. 69 00:04:21,399 --> 00:04:25,320 We see this over and over in the New Testament, Matthew Chapter 70 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:26,720 9. Jesus is ridiculed by the 71 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,400 religious elite. The know it alls because he's 72 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,440 dining with tax collectors and sinners. 73 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,920 To which you may ask yourself, if Jesus was not allowed to eat 74 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,200 with sinners, would he ever be able to allow to eat with 75 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,040 anybody, not even the religious elite? 76 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,160 He would dine alone. Luke Chapter 7. 77 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:52,280 While Jesus is sitting reclining at the table, a sinful woman, 78 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:57,560 many believed to be a prostitute, came and washed 79 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:04,000 Jesus's feet. Profoundly precious, Jesus said, 80 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,560 let it be written down forever. What this lady has done. 81 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,000 That's why we know about her to this day. 82 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:14,520 But Simon, the homeowner was disgusted because he saw this 83 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,560 prostitute being allowed at the table. 84 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:24,720 Jesus welcomed her to the table. Luke chapter 19, Jesus is 85 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:26,240 walking along, he's near Jericho. 86 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,320 He's on his way to Jerusalem to be crucified. 87 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:35,160 And up in a tree is a small man. And he says, Zacchaeus, come 88 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:39,520 down for I must stay at your house today. 89 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:42,920 A stay at somebody's house wouldn't be just like, hey, I 90 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:44,360 can I use a bedroom and a bathroom? 91 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:48,560 But a stay at their house means for the evening, can we sit 92 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,200 together? Can we dine together? 93 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,840 Can we share life together? And Jesus says that Zacchaeus, I 94 00:05:54,840 --> 00:05:56,200 must. And he goes to his home and 95 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,800 they're in his home. Zacchaeus and his entire family 96 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:05,800 find salvation simply because Jesus said, let's gather you and 97 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:07,840 me, Zacchaeus. He ate with Mary and Martha. 98 00:06:07,840 --> 00:06:10,880 He fed the multitudes miraculously multiple times. 99 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,560 He restored Peter, one of his disciples who betrayed him. 100 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,560 How? By having him over for 101 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:21,360 breakfast, broiled fish. He broke bread with his 102 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,120 traveling partners that were leaving Jerusalem, walking down 103 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,480 to Emmaus, who when Jesus broke the bread around their table, 104 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,000 they realized we're having supper with Jesus. 105 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:37,000 It's him and of course his most famous of all meals, the Lord's 106 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,160 Supper, the Passover table. You don't need to flip there, 107 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,800 but let me just read to you First Corinthians Chapter 11. 108 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,080 For I received from the Lord, but I also passed on to you. 109 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:49,960 The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread. 110 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:51,760 And when he had given thanks, he broke it. 111 00:06:52,280 --> 00:06:54,320 And he said, this is my body, which is for you. 112 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:59,280 Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after supper he 113 00:06:59,280 --> 00:07:02,400 took the cup, saying the cup is the new covenant in my blood. 114 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,120 Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of Me. 115 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:09,960 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim 116 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,960 the Lord's death until He comes. And good news, church, He will 117 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:20,040 come again. And when He does come again, 118 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:22,200 guess what He does? He invites us to eternal 119 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,920 community, where? At the table, Revelation chapter 120 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,120 19 verse 9, the Neander said to me, write this, blessed are 121 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,720 those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. 122 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:39,800 And he added, these are the true words of God from the Last 123 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:45,280 Supper to the forever stuff. Supper makes me realize I need 124 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,640 to rephrase my initial statement where I say I want to invite you 125 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:53,880 to the table to this. Jesus has already invited you to 126 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:59,000 the table by his words, by his actions, his life while he was 127 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,040 on the earth, his words that still go forth, the invitation 128 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,640 that still lasts to this day, communion and everlasting 129 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,640 reunion. This is the table of the Lord. 130 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:15,600 So I want to show you today the table you're invited to knowing 131 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,800 as we go through these things that the table is meant to 132 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:21,680 display to the world, the Kingdom of God. 133 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,160 This is what it's like. The table is meant to give hope 134 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,320 to the marginalized, those on the outskirts, those that aren't 135 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:32,880 good enough, which is all of us. And it's certainly meant to be a 136 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,679 welcome to the world, a visible display. 137 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:40,200 Come join. You are welcome at the table. 138 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,280 I want to introduce you to what I'm calling today, the Table of 139 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:48,280 Gathering now, right to read Hebrews chapter 10. 140 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,440 And I realize I haven't asked if you have your Bible yet. 141 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:52,280 If you have your Bible, please take it out. 142 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:53,920 If you need a Bible, raise your hand. 143 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,200 We'll give one to you. I also need to refer you to the 144 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,880 church app because there there's a tab, a button that says 145 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,560 community series resources and on. 146 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:04,880 There's a ton of stuff for now, but also later. 147 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,000 This is a new resource that we've developed. 148 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,280 So hear me please. When you go to lunch today at 149 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,840 Olive Garden, you're about to get your bread comatose, right? 150 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,120 There is a resource in there. You can say, hey, talk about 151 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:19,600 this over lunch. And there's all sorts of helps 152 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,160 in their scripture, things to memorize, things that you can do 153 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,960 as a family to take the message beyond one hour on Sunday. 154 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,160 Amen. All right, you're going to be in 155 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:33,280 Hebrews chapter 10, verse 19. And in this we'll see two 156 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,000 gatherings that God is calling us to. 157 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:40,280 Are you ready to say yes? Verse 19 Therefore, brothers and 158 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:44,400 sisters, since we have confidence to enter the most 159 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:49,120 holy place, how by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way 160 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,800 opened for us through the curtain that is His body. 161 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:54,440 Here is the body and blood again. 162 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:57,840 And since we have a great high priest over the House of God, 163 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:03,520 let us gather, draw near to God with a sincere heart and with 164 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,080 full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts 165 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,680 sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience, and having 166 00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:11,440 our bodies washed with pure water. 167 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,280 Verse 23. The second gathering, let us 168 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:19,000 hold unswarmingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is 169 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,480 faithful. And let us consider how we may 170 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:26,200 spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up 171 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:29,480 meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but 172 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:33,040 encouraging one another. And all the more as you see the 173 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:38,280 day approaching in this one piece of Scripture. 174 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:42,880 We have this beautiful imagery from God of two gatherings that 175 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:45,480 are still being put out to the world today. 176 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,080 The first gathering is to draw near to Him, which is only 177 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,440 possible through the blood of Jesus Christ. 178 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,360 He made a way where there was no way. 179 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,920 We were dead in our sins and transgressions, and while we 180 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,280 were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 181 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:03,760 Amen. Indeed. 182 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:09,640 So we gather to Him by faith in Jesus. 183 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,800 And as Pastor Christine mentioned last week, this is the 184 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,200 forever new family that we become a part of. 185 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:21,280 It doesn't replace your blood family relationships, it expands 186 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,920 it. This new family. 187 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,560 Look, your brothers and sisters are all throughout this room. 188 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,600 Do you see them? Do you count them as actual 189 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,240 brother brothers and sisters? Are they strangers to you? 190 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:40,360 Are they foreigners to you? Prove it. 191 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:45,440 But then God says there's another gathering. 192 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,240 He says, I command you to keep gathering. 193 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:53,440 Keep gathering at the table. Why? 194 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,960 Well, for your sake and for the sake of the Kingdom, keep 195 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:00,720 gathering. What we're finding out in church 196 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:08,240 research, statistics, polling is that regular church attendance 197 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,840 in the United States of America is considered attending one time 198 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:20,120 a month, which means 12 * a year to gather at the table, To 199 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:24,920 gather at that place where God's Kingdom is revealed, where the 200 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,320 marginalized find help and hope, and where the welcome of God, 201 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,320 His physical display of love, is here. 202 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:35,960 And we say I only need it 12 times or less, maybe a little 203 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:41,840 more. It's a value proposition. 204 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,520 Every time that we're choosing whether or not to gather here on 205 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:50,080 a Sunday morning, we're choosing, is it worth it to me? 206 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:54,240 Do I value it or do I value something more? 207 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,320 Do I value the beach? Do I value my own personal 208 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:01,360 devotion? I can do church by myself at the 209 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:02,920 beach. I'm going to show you today 210 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:04,040 biblical. You cannot. 211 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,440 It's not the full picture. Certainly you have personal 212 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:10,320 devotion, your prayer closet, you and God. 213 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,320 It's part of it. But there's this whole other 214 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:18,480 part of gathering that comes to us from the image of God Himself 215 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:22,960 here at the table. I'm going to show you three 216 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,560 things today that the table brings to us, and I need to tell 217 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:27,120 you this. It's going to feel a little 218 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,480 redundant. You're going to be convinced in 219 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,920 the first little bit and you'd be like, get on with it. 220 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:34,400 I'm going to keep going more and more and more until you're sick 221 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,120 of it. And then I know that I've done 222 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:38,600 my job. So when you're sick of it, just 223 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:43,000 tell me, OK? Is anyone actually going to tell 224 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,760 me they're sick of it? That'd be fun. 225 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:48,320 So 3 reasons why God commands us to gather the table. 226 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,040 Number one, it's for your own spiritual encouragement and 227 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,640 perseverance. Hebrews chapter 10 is very 228 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:59,400 explicit, urging believers not to neglect the gathering to 229 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:03,000 getting together with other believers, but to spur one 230 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:09,160 another on towards love and good deeds, knowing that isolation is 231 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:13,360 a slow poison that causes our faith to weaken. 232 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,080 We don't see many spurs anymore, do we? 233 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,280 I got one cowboy over here. What's going on? 234 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:24,360 You can stand up for a minute. Do you have spurs on? 235 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:26,640 No spurs. It's all right. 236 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,200 We just don't use them anymore. Hello. 237 00:14:37,770 --> 00:14:39,730 You can see the spurs on a cowboy's legs. 238 00:14:39,730 --> 00:14:41,050 All right. Can you in your mind see them? 239 00:14:41,410 --> 00:14:43,530 Everyone, if you're not familiar, they're the little 240 00:14:43,530 --> 00:14:47,570 swirly, spiky things that you goad the horse or whatever 241 00:14:47,570 --> 00:14:49,930 animal you want to go that's spurring them on. 242 00:14:50,130 --> 00:14:53,370 Now I want you to think of the cowboy here with the spurs on 243 00:14:53,610 --> 00:14:58,490 and the horse way over there and get this mental image in your 244 00:14:58,490 --> 00:15:03,600 picture that a cowboy without a horse spurs nothing. 245 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:07,560 They're just wearing funny shoes. 246 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:11,320 Do you understand what I'm saying? 247 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:18,520 I cannot spur you and you cannot spur me unless we are together, 248 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:26,040 unless we are gathering at the table to encourage one another. 249 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,640 We cannot understate this or overstate this, whatever the 250 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:37,960 right way to say that is. I don't know about you, but when 251 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:42,400 I'm not gathered at the table, I find my faith leaking. 252 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:49,480 I find my strength sapping because doubts and insecurities 253 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:57,400 and social media with all of its news, fake news, is impregnating 254 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:01,680 me and trying to get me to live off of death. 255 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:12,160 And so from time to time I need a brother or a sister to look me 256 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:17,840 in the face and say hold fast. I know it's stormy now but 257 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,560 believe. And if you can't believe, I'm 258 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:22,760 going to believe for you and tell you can believe. 259 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:28,760 Look me in the eyes, hear my voice, hear my conviction, feel 260 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,280 the strength of my spirit as I'm believing over you, with you 261 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:36,200 spurring you on. In this middle season of the 262 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:45,200 church, from Jesus ascension to Jesus's return, I need you to 263 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,400 spur me on, and I need you to be spurred on by me. 264 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:54,240 And let me state the obvious, I cannot do that unless we're 265 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:58,800 together, unless we gather. And as you spur me on and I spur 266 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:03,200 you on, then we'll better reflect who God actually is and 267 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:07,079 the world will see his glory because they see an encouraged, 268 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:11,040 persevering, faithful church. When the rest of the world is 269 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:13,960 screaming out, the sky is falling, the sky is falling, the 270 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:18,839 church says my God is still on his throne and I believe in 271 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:25,079 Jesus name. Look at this Matthew chapter 5 272 00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:27,040 verse 14 says you are the light of the world. 273 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,680 When we encourage one another on and we stand strong in our 274 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:33,040 faith, we become the light of the world. 275 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:38,240 This you and Matthew chapter 514 is not you, but it's us. 276 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:44,280 It's plural, it's not singular. The you is an us. the US is a 277 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,360 you. It means we and we are gathered, 278 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,560 and when we gather, we are the light of the world. 279 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,880 Put it another way, when we gather, we reveal the glory of 280 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:57,840 God's Kingdom by spurring one another on in faith to 281 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,000 persevere. Hold fast. 282 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:06,040 This being a disciple is a long walk in a singular direction of 283 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:08,880 obedience. And I need you, and you need me 284 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:10,600 to spur you in case I keep walking. 285 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:17,240 Keep walking. Stay faithful #2 The reason we 286 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,320 need to gather is to experience His presence more fully in 287 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,280 community, in ways and community that we cannot experience in any 288 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:27,200 other way except that when we are gathered together. 289 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:32,440 This is the communal nature of our triune Godfather, Son, Holy 290 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:36,360 Spirit. They exist as Trinity and then 291 00:18:36,360 --> 00:18:38,760 they created us in their their image. 292 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:44,160 And in Genesis chapter 2 verse 18, God looks down and says, not 293 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,720 good for man to be alone. We live as three. 294 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:49,960 He's living by himself. I'll make a suitable helper. 295 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:55,560 Then he says, go increase and make more community over and 296 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,840 over again. Not only that, but Jesus 297 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:01,840 promises his special, very special presence when two or 298 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:03,320 three are gathered together in his name. 299 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:08,960 Matthew chapter 18, verse 20, corporate worship together, his 300 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,200 presence together. When his presence is with us, 301 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:12,800 it's different than when we're alone. 302 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:15,440 It's not. Let me say this again, having 303 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:20,520 personal devotion is absolutely necessary, but don't stop there. 304 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:25,000 Gathering together in the communal nature of our Triune 305 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,440 God is also absolutely necessary. 306 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:32,480 For when we're together, there's this unique kind of joy that 307 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:35,080 burst forth out of us. There's a unique kind of 308 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:38,880 assurance in the gathering. There's this awe in God's beauty 309 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,240 between all of us. Is this all goes back to Week 310 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:45,120 1's message if you were here. We were created for community by 311 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:47,520 community. When we gather, it's a sacred 312 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,960 practice of returning to our original design. 313 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,560 We're meant to be together to gather. 314 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,880 And as I said in the last point, when we gather, we reflect more 315 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:05,000 better the image of God unlike any other kind of gathering on 316 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,120 the planet. When we gather, we're doing 317 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:09,720 something different. If you go to a concert, you're 318 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:12,120 watching. You go to a game you're you're 319 00:20:12,120 --> 00:20:17,880 watching, it's not sacred. If you go to a conference and 320 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:19,600 there's somebody up there flapping their lips and you're 321 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,160 learning a life skill or how to make more money or whatever 322 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:26,720 we're doing, it's not sacred. But when we gather as the body 323 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:31,480 of Christ, each of us far-flung throughout the week and we come 324 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:33,960 me to me, whether that's two or three of you gather together in 325 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:38,640 AD group, right here in the sanctuary and an E group, youth 326 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:45,960 group, young adult group, group, group, group, there's something 327 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:47,960 sacred that happens. It's like the puzzle finally 328 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:50,720 gets completed and you were the missing piece. 329 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:56,480 We we've been missing this part of the body and now we gather, 330 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,280 we reflect the image of God isolated from one another. 331 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,560 We're incomplete, but together we are whole and wholly 332 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:08,400 experiencing our design, which is being made for community. 333 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,680 When we gather in any sort of This could be at your table at 334 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:18,000 home. This could be at Panera. 335 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,600 Side note, Panera started a value menu. 336 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:27,760 It's only $20.00 for a salad now. 337 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:34,200 Yeah, whenever you gather, forgive me, and you Share your 338 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:38,160 story with another person, or you're in a small setting and 339 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:41,160 you're singing, or here at the church and you're singing, or 340 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,040 you're watching with your eyes the evidence of God changing 341 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,640 somebody's life, then it's going to change your life. 342 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:52,080 You're going to be inspired and encouraged and challenged by 343 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,840 what you see and hear. But let me state the obvious. 344 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,760 You see nothing and you hear nothing. 345 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:07,880 If you're not together, gathered are united worship in small 346 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:09,360 gatherings. This large gathering that 347 00:22:09,360 --> 00:22:14,440 displays the gospel visibly, especially here on a Sunday 348 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:18,600 morning, we get to show the world a reconciled body under 349 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:21,560 Jesus Christ. What the world tries to divide 350 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:26,360 genders, ages, races, God has brought together under the blood 351 00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:28,520 of Jesus. When we walk out of here on a 352 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:32,200 Sunday and people are driving by on Sinclair and Connector Rd. 353 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,600 here and they're looking down on our parking lot, like look at 354 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,560 all those different people. Look at all those people. 355 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:42,920 It's a lot of people. And what they see is wow, God's 356 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:48,120 doing a healing work in the people in Jesus name. 357 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:55,760 I asked if the people around you are foreigners or strangers. 358 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:57,880 Look what Jesus says, Ephesians chapter 2. 359 00:22:57,880 --> 00:22:59,120 It's not really Jesus, He is the word. 360 00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:01,280 It's Paul writing anyway, verse 19. 361 00:23:02,360 --> 00:23:13,720 Consequently, you, all of us are no longer foreigners and 362 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:18,680 strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also 363 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:23,000 members of His household. The new family built on the 364 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,600 foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus 365 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:27,680 Himself as the chief cornerstone. 366 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:31,280 In Him the whole building is joined together and rises. 367 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,160 We rise to become a holy temple in the Lord and in Him. 368 00:23:35,360 --> 00:23:39,120 You 2 are being built together to become a dwelling in which 369 00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:42,960 God lives by His Spirit. You were foreigners and 370 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,240 strangers, but because of the blood of Jesus, you have become 371 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,200 one household rising in faith to give Him glory. 372 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,920 You here is not singular either. It's plural. 373 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,240 You as us, Us as you are the people sitting around you, 374 00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:01,760 strangers to you. They're your brothers and 375 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:02,520 sisters. Davin. 376 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:07,040 I'm your brother, Davin. You're supposed to stay back. 377 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:09,400 They thank you. Davin. 378 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:14,720 Can I just follow the spirits leading right now? 379 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,720 I need you to stand up and hug a brother or sister that wait. 380 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:32,520 Thank you for your enthusiasm that help me God in your life. 381 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,120 At some point you treated as a foreigner or as a stranger. 382 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:42,720 Do you hear what I'm saying? Somebody maybe you prejudged 383 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:50,920 before because of their age, because of their race, because 384 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:55,160 of their gender. The world try to make you divide 385 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,120 from them, but here in God's house you're saying I'm uniting 386 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:00,880 to you. This is going to take some of 387 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:03,840 you some courage. Don't just go hug somebody you 388 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:07,520 feel comfortable hugging and hug appropriately. 389 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:12,400 Do you understand what I'm saying? 390 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:14,320 I'm just making this up right now. 391 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,160 Let's see what happens on your Marks cassette. 392 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,560 Go in the name of Jesus. If you're watching online, I'm 393 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,400 hugging you. You're hugging me. 394 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:26,360 We're saying we are won by the Spirit, one of the bond of 395 00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:29,800 Christ. Lord Jesus, thank you. 396 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:38,640 Come on, church, hug a brother, hug a sister. 397 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:43,920 No longer foreigners, no longer strangers. 398 00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:52,240 One household of faith. Ann Hunt. 399 00:25:53,200 --> 00:26:08,670 Brendan. All right, All right. 400 00:26:08,670 --> 00:26:16,710 Everybody clap your hands. Hey, good job, Church. 401 00:26:19,070 --> 00:26:22,030 Did you meet somebody? Did you meet a brother? 402 00:26:22,950 --> 00:26:26,320 Did you meet a sister? Are you here? 403 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:30,400 Do you have mouths? Did you meet somebody? 404 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,160 Did you hug a sister? Did you hug a brother? 405 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,200 Did you hug somebody you never knew? 406 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:41,440 That's your family, That's your family, That's your family. 407 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:50,800 Amen. When we gather, we reveal the 408 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,880 unity of God's Kingdom. Big settings, small settings. 409 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:56,080 When we gather, that's what we do. 410 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:58,200 Here's the third thing. Let me just remind you, the 1st 411 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:00,840 2:00 when we gather is for your spiritual encouragement and 412 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,280 perseverance. When we gather, it's to 413 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:05,920 experience His presence more fully and community. 414 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:10,800 And finally, when we gather, it's to build up the body for 415 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:18,520 maturity, service, and witness. I train you, You train me. 416 00:27:20,280 --> 00:27:23,200 Together we grow up into all things Christ. 417 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:28,960 I cannot do this by myself. I can get to a certain distance 418 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,560 with me and God alone in my prayer closet in my Word. 419 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:36,240 He trains me in his word. But God designed it that the 420 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:39,240 other part of me that needs to be trained and raised up happens 421 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:43,040 by the impact of your life and your teaching, your 422 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:46,640 encouragement, your rebuke and reproof in my life. 423 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:54,200 Isaiah 64 eight, I'm paraphrasing here, essentially 424 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:56,800 says that he is the Potter and we are the clay. 425 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,520 We are the work of his hands. Well, guess what? 426 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:04,160 His hands are mine and your hands are his. 427 00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:10,640 He uses your hands to shape this lump, and my hands to shape you, 428 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:18,160 and you to shape one another. And we cannot do that unless we 429 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:23,600 gather. Acts chapter 2, Ephesians 430 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:29,240 chapter 4, Jesus and his disciples, story after story of 431 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:35,480 story, where they gather and they grow, they gather and they 432 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:40,000 participate in the sacraments, communion, baptism, where they 433 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:44,000 gather and they worship the entire time that they're 434 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:49,360 gathering. What's happening is that life on 435 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:55,320 life, transference is happening. What you've learned from God is 436 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:59,400 impacting me and vice versa. I cannot do this life without 437 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:03,520 you, and you can't do this life without me seated at the table. 438 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:06,840 We need each other. We need to gather. 439 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:09,480 I put in a sense, when we gather, what happens is we 440 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:13,000 reveal the transformational power of God's Kingdom. 441 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:18,840 If we gather and there's no transformation, then shut the 442 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:23,960 doors, what's the point? Why have AD group? 443 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:29,480 Why come to youth unless we walk out of these doors differently 444 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:33,760 and say I once was, but now I am fill in the blank. 445 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:39,000 God, in his mercy and his grace and his wisdom has transformed 446 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:43,240 me through other disciples, people who speak into my life 447 00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:49,600 and shape me and form me. It happens at the table, not 448 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:53,080 when I'm off by myself in a corner. 449 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:57,600 Jesus invites us to the table through his broken body and his 450 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,920 shed blood. And as we arrive at the table of 451 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:05,440 faith and enter into the new household of faith, we find that 452 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:07,480 our brokenness and our isolation are gone. 453 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:12,760 And then he commands us to keep returning to the table over and 454 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,800 over in us, to form in us the heart and the mind and the life 455 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,840 of Jesus. And as we gather at the table, 456 00:30:19,840 --> 00:30:23,840 we have the opportunity to uniquely display to the world 457 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:31,240 the glory, the unity, and the transformation of God's power. 458 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,400 Amen. I saw this at men's conference. 459 00:30:36,680 --> 00:30:41,480 It was a table that was set. Sir, are you all right? 460 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:45,600 You come for a hug. I'm coming down. 461 00:30:58,320 --> 00:30:59,200 Hold on now. Hold on. 462 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:03,960 What's your name, brother? Love you, brother. 463 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:10,200 We safe you. You're safe right here, OK? 464 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:14,040 Jesus is here for you. All right? 465 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:20,040 You hear me? A month ago I was blind in my 466 00:31:20,040 --> 00:31:23,600 left eye and I couldn't see because I trust in God. 467 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:30,560 God the Bible says for my peace was placed upon him, that the 468 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:33,840 chastisement of my peace was placed upon him, and by his 469 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:43,240 stripes I am healed. A month ago I was crippled, I 470 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:46,440 couldn't walk. I was almost blind out of my 471 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:49,480 left eye, but I see a beautiful brother in front of me. 472 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:53,040 I see the pastor. Hallelujah. 473 00:31:53,040 --> 00:31:53,760 Love you. Yeah. 474 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:56,600 I want you to be careful. I'm concerned. 475 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,040 I just want you to be careful. Right? 476 00:31:58,040 --> 00:31:59,600 They got to. Don't be nervous. 477 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,600 You're in the House of the Lord. They got to see, right? 478 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:03,760 I hear you. Do you hear what he said? 479 00:32:03,760 --> 00:32:05,120 He said a month ago I couldn't walk. 480 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:07,040 A month ago his left eye was blind. 481 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,960 Left eye was blind. But now he's seen and standing. 482 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:12,120 Somebody give God glory here. Love you. 483 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:26,280 Hey you pray the Lord interrupts your service and he does and you 484 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:29,280 just rejoice in Jesus name. Love you my brother, Thank you 485 00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:35,320 for your courage. He said Hallelujah. 486 00:32:45,740 --> 00:32:48,660 Hey I'll forget the rest of my notes now. 487 00:32:48,660 --> 00:32:58,440 Let's just say this man came for a hug, couldn't do that by 488 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:08,480 himself. He came to the table and 489 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,640 together we get to see this is what the Kingdom of God looks 490 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:14,640 like. Healing, connection, hugs, love, 491 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:22,920 a welcome. Jesus wants to invite you to the 492 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:25,800 table this morning. Now when we come to church on 493 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:31,800 Sundays, this is what we're doing, what I'm doing, you know, 494 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:34,160 I'm seeing everything that's going on. 495 00:33:34,160 --> 00:33:35,760 I'm learning. Oh, look what they're eating. 496 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:39,560 It's amazing. Look at the beautiful people, 497 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:45,160 right? Single. 498 00:33:45,160 --> 00:34:00,120 Just saying. Oh, that's also not in the 499 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:08,320 notes. So just we show up, right? 500 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:11,880 But what God wants us to do is more than show up. 501 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:18,920 He wants us to huddle up, to take our seat at the table and 502 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:21,840 have an opportunity to look others right in the eye and 503 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:25,679 learn from them, feel their stories, hear their hearts, and 504 00:34:25,679 --> 00:34:28,440 to share in a moment that doesn't happen in any other way 505 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:35,159 on the face of the planet except that we sit and we look and we 506 00:34:35,159 --> 00:34:37,000 listen. Your faces are all saying so 507 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:38,719 much stuff right now. It's amazing. 508 00:34:38,719 --> 00:34:43,639 And when we sit like this, we reflect the image of God. 509 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:45,760 And I believe God comes and sits right in the middle of the 510 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:48,920 table. Maybe God is the table and he is 511 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:50,760 the food and He is the light, right? 512 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:53,280 He's all of this as we sit together. 513 00:34:53,440 --> 00:34:56,880 So thank you for letting me sit at your table for a second. 514 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:59,000 I want to invite you to the table. 515 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:01,560 Yes to faith in Jesus Christ. That's the first yes to the 516 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:03,960 table. To say I want to be a part of 517 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:08,280 the forever family, to have a seat in the heavenly realms 518 00:35:08,720 --> 00:35:12,200 where God himself dwells. To know that one day I will 519 00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:14,760 spend eternity with him. And that day starts the moment 520 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:19,360 you say yes to Jesus. And then secondarily, to hold 521 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:23,720 fast to what we learn in Hebrews, to not give up the 522 00:35:23,720 --> 00:35:28,040 gathering of the Saints, to say I'm going to be a part when the 523 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:30,040 church gathers, I'm going to be there. 524 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:33,920 I'm not going to be the one person who comes one time once a 525 00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:37,320 month, but I'm making a commitment to be in God's house 526 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:40,440 when the doors open. And then finally, to go beyond 527 00:35:40,440 --> 00:35:43,320 just to huddle. This is, I'm sorry, just to show 528 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:49,600 up and to huddle up, to sit down at the table in the D group, in 529 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:54,720 an E group, at youth group in young adults. 530 00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:58,040 And you don't even have to do anything officially at the 531 00:35:58,040 --> 00:36:00,640 church. This just could look like you 532 00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:05,160 saying, hey, want to come over to my house this evening and 533 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:07,680 let's eat together and let's open the word. 534 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:13,680 Let's let's gather at the park bench, have a conversation about 535 00:36:13,680 --> 00:36:17,040 what God's doing in our lives. Where two or three are gathered 536 00:36:17,040 --> 00:36:18,760 there I am with them. That's a gathering. 537 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,280 Anytime that we gather, I need you. 538 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,400 You need me. It's the way God designed it. 539 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:26,280 It's not good for any of you to be alone. 540 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:32,080 Not one. So gather in the family, at the 541 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:36,480 church, and in your homes. Don't just show up. 542 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:40,560 Huddle up. I'm going to say it again. 543 00:36:40,720 --> 00:36:42,640 You say the tagline, Don't just show up. 544 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:46,440 Don't just show up. Look at your neighbor. 545 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:47,520 Say it. Don't just show up. 546 00:36:51,200 --> 00:36:56,560 Let's pray, let's pray. If you've never received Jesus 547 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:59,080 as your Savior, you've never taken your seat at the table, 548 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:03,360 now is your time. This is your day to say God. 549 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:07,520 I want in the Bible says that if you confess with your mouth and 550 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:10,880 believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved right 551 00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:14,840 then. Save from sin, save from eternal 552 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:20,720 damnation, save from a lifetime apart from God and save to grace 553 00:37:20,720 --> 00:37:25,280 and forgiveness. Save to the new life, the oldest 554 00:37:25,280 --> 00:37:27,600 gone, the newest come. Save to in eternity with your 555 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:31,040 Father, in His presence, fullness of joy. 556 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:34,520 If you'd like to receive Jesus today, then just pray this 557 00:37:34,520 --> 00:37:36,680 prayer with the entire church. They're going to pray with you. 558 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,200 Everyone repeating after me saying, Father, in the name of 559 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:46,880 Jesus, I recognize that I am a Sinner in need of a Savior, and 560 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:51,080 I confess and I believe that Jesus is Lord. 561 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:57,120 I receive you as my savior. Come Jesus and live your life 562 00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:00,440 through me all the days of my life. 563 00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:07,520 Just want to sit here in a moment and let those of you that 564 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:10,520 are praying that for the first time today, make it, make it 565 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:14,320 your own. Yes God, I believe I'm coming 566 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:19,680 into the family. You prayed that prayer and 567 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:23,000 received Jesus. Today is your new birthday, 568 00:38:23,920 --> 00:38:28,920 March 8th, 2026. You've been born again. 569 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:32,320 I'm going to do something that I'm going to ask you just to be 570 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:33,240 bold. I'm going to count to three. 571 00:38:33,240 --> 00:38:34,920 If you're a brand new believer, you're going to raise your hand 572 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:37,720 as high as you can. The reason why is my ushers are 573 00:38:37,720 --> 00:38:40,480 here ready to give you something right here right now that you 574 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:43,520 must have. So this is very important on the 575 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:47,800 count of 3123, anyone believing Jesus for the first time. 576 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:51,000 Yes, Sir. Come on any others we see you 577 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:54,840 keep your hand up just a minute. Keep your hand up just a minute 578 00:38:54,840 --> 00:38:57,240 till we get you something. Our ushers are coming ending up 579 00:38:57,240 --> 00:38:58,640 in the mezzanine. We're looking for you. 580 00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:01,440 If you're online and being saved, then just type in the 581 00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:04,680 notes I'm being saved and we'll get we'll get connected with you 582 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:07,640 as well in Jesus name. Praise be to God. 583 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:11,240 Any others today anyone nervous and didn't raise your hand. 584 00:39:11,240 --> 00:39:15,520 You're like I better anybody I do. 585 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:16,680 We don't want to miss this moment. 586 00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:20,560 We take our time. Secondarily, I want you to pray 587 00:39:20,720 --> 00:39:25,480 with me this simple prayer, if it's your intention to be 588 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:30,720 committed to regular consistent church attendance, showing up at 589 00:39:30,720 --> 00:39:36,440 the table so that we can glorify God in unity and transformation 590 00:39:37,320 --> 00:39:43,640 and revealing his glory saying, Father, I recognize that I've 591 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:51,160 undervalued your house and today I make a commitment to choose 592 00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:53,920 you. Sundays belong to you. 593 00:39:55,560 --> 00:40:01,080 I'll be here because I know you're here in Jesus name. 594 00:40:02,320 --> 00:40:04,400 If you've made that commitment today, I'm going to count to 3 595 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:05,360 and you're going to raise your hand. 596 00:40:05,360 --> 00:40:07,800 We're not giving you anything. This is just you visibly saying 597 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:11,400 I'm in. I'll be here 123 anyone be here 598 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:12,320 with me. I'll be here. 599 00:40:12,400 --> 00:40:15,320 Come on, Jesus name y'all be here too. 600 00:40:21,450 --> 00:40:24,600 Here's the last thing. If you're willing to take a step 601 00:40:24,600 --> 00:40:26,960 beyond Sunday services, I'm not going to have you pray. 602 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:28,960 I'm not going to have you raise your hand. 603 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:32,360 I just want you to go search the church app or go to our brand 604 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:34,200 new Connect Central. Did you see it out there? 605 00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:42,640 Come on, let me just say this. 25 people said yes to building 606 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:44,440 that thing out there. And you know what they found? 607 00:40:45,040 --> 00:40:48,600 They found a table out there. They make community as they made 608 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:50,360 that thing. I sat with them when we had 609 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:52,640 pizza with chicken and banana Peppers. 610 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:58,080 Weird. They ordered it anyway, so they 611 00:40:58,080 --> 00:41:01,400 didn't just do a task. They did life together and they 612 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:03,320 said, hey, this is what we want to happen. 613 00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:06,320 One Sunday they leave and it's old Connect Central. 614 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:08,320 The next Sunday they come back and it's brand new Connect 615 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:11,520 Central. That was the goal. 616 00:41:11,920 --> 00:41:14,960 But along the way, they found they were sitting at the table 617 00:41:14,960 --> 00:41:17,720 of life. They enjoyed laughter. 618 00:41:18,400 --> 00:41:21,440 They enjoyed the good feeling of doing a work together in the 619 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:22,880 name of Jesus. That's what happens when you 620 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:28,520 serve on the Dream Team. You find friends that are full 621 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:31,040 of faith. There's so much here that you 622 00:41:31,040 --> 00:41:34,000 could step next to in community. I just invite you all the way 623 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:38,400 in, In Jesus name, Amen. Amen. 624 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:39,280 Amen. Stand to your feet. 625 00:41:39,280 --> 00:41:42,400 Hallelujah. Thanks for joining us today. 626 00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:45,480 We hope God is speaking to your heart through this message. 627 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:48,480 If you'd like to connect with us, you can text connect to 628 00:41:48,480 --> 00:41:55,000 407-588-0115 or visit Illuminate dot church. 629 00:41:55,480 --> 00:41:56,680 Have a great week.