267 00:25:08.435 --> 00:25:10.145 Hello and thank you so much. 268 00:25:10.155 --> 00:25:11.745 Happy Mother's Day to all of you. 269 00:25:12.005 --> 00:25:14.545 Um, it was about 16 years ago actually 270 00:25:14.545 --> 00:25:16.185 that my family started attending Hope 271 00:25:16.605 --> 00:25:19.065 and I had one goal when I got here 272 00:25:19.125 --> 00:25:21.705 and it was to not know any of you. 273 00:25:23.385 --> 00:25:24.865 I did not want to be seen 274 00:25:24.925 --> 00:25:26.785 and I certainly did not wanna talk to anyone 275 00:25:26.885 --> 00:25:29.025 and I was really good at it. 276 00:25:29.645 --> 00:25:31.145 We probably spent about a year 277 00:25:31.145 --> 00:25:33.385 and a half showing up just a little bit late, 278 00:25:33.705 --> 00:25:35.945 dropping the kids off, sitting in the dark, dark back, 279 00:25:36.055 --> 00:25:37.305 leaving a little early, 280 00:25:37.305 --> 00:25:39.905 getting the kids no eye contact into the parking lot. 281 00:25:39.925 --> 00:25:41.345 But Joan gone. 282 00:25:41.965 --> 00:25:44.105 And when I thought about preparing for this weekend, 283 00:25:44.385 --> 00:25:47.185 I thought what in the world was wrong with me 284 00:25:48.325 --> 00:25:50.625 for a straight year and a half to behave that way? 285 00:25:50.965 --> 00:25:53.785 Uh, and the reality is I did show up here with what a lot 286 00:25:53.785 --> 00:25:56.425 of us, um, we probably would term church hurt. 287 00:25:56.605 --> 00:25:58.265 And it's unfortunate to have to say that, 288 00:25:58.265 --> 00:26:00.345 especially here, but it's true. 289 00:26:00.805 --> 00:26:03.465 People are people and people, people even in church. 290 00:26:03.725 --> 00:26:06.345 And I just decided I didn't wanna be hurt by church people. 291 00:26:06.405 --> 00:26:07.505 So I let there be a gap. 292 00:26:07.925 --> 00:26:09.625 And also I'm an introvert 293 00:26:09.725 --> 00:26:12.065 and so my favorite plans are canceled plans. 294 00:26:12.605 --> 00:26:14.625 Um, and I don't really like groups of people. 295 00:26:14.825 --> 00:26:16.785 I love all of you, but I find you exhausting. 296 00:26:17.205 --> 00:26:18.945 So I just didn't wanna be here. 297 00:26:19.245 --> 00:26:21.585 Um, but after about a year 298 00:26:21.585 --> 00:26:23.985 and a half, clearly something must have changed 299 00:26:23.985 --> 00:26:26.545 because here I am and I wake up every day 300 00:26:26.545 --> 00:26:27.945 and I think, what can I do to connect 301 00:26:27.945 --> 00:26:30.185 people to other people? 302 00:26:31.285 --> 00:26:33.105 And so I'm gonna take you on that little journey. 303 00:26:33.245 --> 00:26:34.505 I'm gonna summarize a lot of time. 304 00:26:34.855 --> 00:26:35.985 Part of it was just guilt. 305 00:26:36.665 --> 00:26:37.985 I just felt like a year 306 00:26:37.985 --> 00:26:39.625 and a half of our kids being in kid city 307 00:26:39.645 --> 00:26:41.585 and nobody in our family serving 308 00:26:41.645 --> 00:26:43.485 and contributing to that was not really great. 309 00:26:44.145 --> 00:26:47.645 So Sean and I jumped into being four 310 00:26:47.645 --> 00:26:50.045 and 5-year-old preschool small group leaders every week 311 00:26:50.205 --> 00:26:52.005 'cause we don't know how to ease into anything. 312 00:26:52.425 --> 00:26:56.005 So we're doing that every single week and it was great. 313 00:26:56.525 --> 00:26:58.005 I didn't expect it to be, but it was. 314 00:26:58.705 --> 00:26:59.805 Um, so we're doing that 315 00:26:59.905 --> 00:27:02.125 and then they start talking all the time 316 00:27:02.125 --> 00:27:04.445 around here about getting into a small group, small group, 317 00:27:04.445 --> 00:27:06.205 this small group that it was super annoying. 318 00:27:06.745 --> 00:27:09.005 Um, because if there's a anything worse 319 00:27:09.005 --> 00:27:10.645 to an introvert than a big group of people, 320 00:27:10.715 --> 00:27:11.725 it's definitely a large 321 00:27:11.785 --> 00:27:12.805 or a small group of people 322 00:27:12.805 --> 00:27:14.365 where you're gonna have a lot of small talk. 323 00:27:14.825 --> 00:27:16.725 Um, but as it ha just so happens we're standing 324 00:27:16.725 --> 00:27:19.645 around in one of our huddles, um, or a ministry team huddles 325 00:27:19.985 --> 00:27:21.845 and as it turns out everybody in 326 00:27:21.845 --> 00:27:24.405 that group also wasn't in a small group, 327 00:27:24.575 --> 00:27:26.085 we're like the island of misfit toys. 328 00:27:26.225 --> 00:27:28.925 So we thought let's just get together and try this thing. 329 00:27:29.025 --> 00:27:32.005 So we did. And it was also pretty great. 330 00:27:32.105 --> 00:27:33.885 We did the thing, we had great snacks, 331 00:27:33.885 --> 00:27:35.805 we're studying the Bible, we're meeting every other week. 332 00:27:35.805 --> 00:27:37.125 We got a babysitter upstairs. 333 00:27:37.625 --> 00:27:39.845 My church report card was looking awesome. 334 00:27:40.625 --> 00:27:41.685 I'm attending every week. 335 00:27:41.985 --> 00:27:44.925 I'm serving, I'm getting snotted on while I'm serving 336 00:27:45.465 --> 00:27:47.005 and I'm attending small group. 337 00:27:48.145 --> 00:27:50.365 But it's gonna be weird for you to hear me say 338 00:27:51.165 --> 00:27:54.725 I was missing out on having real community still even 339 00:27:55.785 --> 00:27:56.845 in all of those things. 340 00:27:58.665 --> 00:28:02.565 And I want to be clear, it wasn't them, it was me 341 00:28:03.435 --> 00:28:05.565 because serving, being on a ministry team 342 00:28:05.565 --> 00:28:07.925 and being in a small group, those things are great things. 343 00:28:07.925 --> 00:28:09.445 They are great places to connect. 344 00:28:09.475 --> 00:28:10.685 They're great places to grow 345 00:28:10.685 --> 00:28:11.725 in your relationship with Jesus. 346 00:28:11.955 --> 00:28:14.525 They're great places to learn more about the Bible 347 00:28:14.785 --> 00:28:16.605 and all of those things were happening, 348 00:28:17.305 --> 00:28:19.365 but there was still something missing. 349 00:28:20.185 --> 00:28:22.725 And I think it's possible for a lot of us to actually be in 350 00:28:22.725 --> 00:28:24.125 that place, to be showing up at church 351 00:28:24.125 --> 00:28:25.245 and to be doing the things 352 00:28:25.385 --> 00:28:29.045 but to miss what it means to really be connected to family. 353 00:28:29.705 --> 00:28:31.085 We hear Jason say that word 354 00:28:31.085 --> 00:28:32.165 and we think, what does that mean? 355 00:28:32.985 --> 00:28:34.525 If you take the word community 356 00:28:34.865 --> 00:28:37.405 and you take it back to its derivative, it comes from words 357 00:28:37.405 --> 00:28:38.645 that include commune. 358 00:28:39.295 --> 00:28:43.365 Lemme tell you how Siri defines that commune is defined 359 00:28:43.365 --> 00:28:45.845 as a group of people living together and sharing possessions 360 00:28:45.905 --> 00:28:46.925 or responsibilities. 361 00:28:47.905 --> 00:28:50.445 Now for some of you in the room for watching online, 362 00:28:51.115 --> 00:28:54.525 that just got really weird, like hold up. 363 00:28:54.525 --> 00:28:55.965 What's she about to ask us to do? 364 00:28:56.745 --> 00:28:58.405 Um, I am not asking you to build 365 00:28:58.425 --> 00:28:59.845 or invite me to your compound 366 00:29:00.705 --> 00:29:02.605 unless you have a lake house we can talk after. 367 00:29:02.905 --> 00:29:05.605 Um, so as the kids would say, it's not that serious. 368 00:29:05.715 --> 00:29:08.805 Take a deep breath. What I am trying to suggest is 369 00:29:08.805 --> 00:29:11.165 that there's a big difference between what church can be 370 00:29:11.305 --> 00:29:14.085 as a place to go or some things to do 371 00:29:14.665 --> 00:29:16.685 and what community actually is supposed to be. 372 00:29:16.685 --> 00:29:18.525 Because community is not something that we do. 373 00:29:19.515 --> 00:29:21.005 Community is who we are. 374 00:29:22.065 --> 00:29:23.925 And around here we we interchange 375 00:29:23.925 --> 00:29:25.445 that word even though community's in the title 376 00:29:25.465 --> 00:29:26.925 of our church name Hope community church. 377 00:29:26.925 --> 00:29:28.605 We interchange that word with the word family 378 00:29:28.985 --> 00:29:32.085 and you'll hear that a lot and we have good reason for that. 379 00:29:32.105 --> 00:29:34.045 But let's address the tension there for just a second 380 00:29:34.045 --> 00:29:35.365 because for a lot of us, 381 00:29:35.385 --> 00:29:37.885 the word family brings up some pretty negative connotations. 382 00:29:38.545 --> 00:29:40.925 For some of us family are the 383 00:29:40.925 --> 00:29:42.045 people who've hurt us the most. 384 00:29:42.425 --> 00:29:44.125 Why would we want to be associated with that? 385 00:29:44.705 --> 00:29:47.525 Family is the last group of people we would actually choose 386 00:29:47.525 --> 00:29:49.005 to spend time with if we had it. 387 00:29:49.865 --> 00:29:52.885 But there's a good reason for us to still stick with it and, 388 00:29:52.945 --> 00:29:54.765 and to not allow culture to define for us 389 00:29:54.765 --> 00:29:56.685 and to not allow our past experience to define 390 00:29:56.685 --> 00:29:57.725 for us what family is. 391 00:29:57.725 --> 00:30:01.285 And it's because God wants us to be a part of his family. 392 00:30:02.105 --> 00:30:04.325 And so rather than allow any of that to get in the way, 393 00:30:04.485 --> 00:30:05.645 I say we redefine that. 394 00:30:05.945 --> 00:30:07.285 We take that back and we say, 395 00:30:07.315 --> 00:30:08.765 what is the family supposed to be? 396 00:30:09.025 --> 00:30:13.525 What's possible to be the word family for us? 397 00:30:13.635 --> 00:30:15.765 Because the family of God is meant to be different. 398 00:30:16.625 --> 00:30:18.565 The family of God is meant for us 399 00:30:18.565 --> 00:30:20.085 to have something different 400 00:30:20.085 --> 00:30:22.245 because of what we actually can have in common. 401 00:30:22.255 --> 00:30:24.765 There is no other kind of family, no other group 402 00:30:24.765 --> 00:30:26.045 that's united in the same way 403 00:30:26.045 --> 00:30:28.165 with the same common bond as the family of God. 404 00:30:28.385 --> 00:30:31.405 And it's all thanks to the resurrection of Jesus. 405 00:30:32.545 --> 00:30:33.845 And like Jason said, 406 00:30:34.095 --> 00:30:36.285 since Easter we've been talking about all the different ways 407 00:30:36.405 --> 00:30:39.125 that Easter or the resurrection actually can change our 408 00:30:39.125 --> 00:30:40.525 world and our life and our perspective. 409 00:30:40.825 --> 00:30:43.125 But the reality is you can walk in here on Easter, 410 00:30:43.125 --> 00:30:45.285 you can walk into church on Easter 411 00:30:45.545 --> 00:30:47.125 and you can celebrate the resurrection 412 00:30:47.125 --> 00:30:48.285 and you can be super excited 413 00:30:48.285 --> 00:30:49.525 about it, be caught up in the moment. 414 00:30:49.525 --> 00:30:50.525 And then you can walk out the door 415 00:30:50.525 --> 00:30:53.245 and you can go home to the same mess, the same crisis, 416 00:30:53.585 --> 00:30:54.725 the same disappointments, 417 00:30:54.725 --> 00:30:56.845 the same disillusionment that you left with. 418 00:30:57.425 --> 00:30:58.685 And you can wonder how is 419 00:30:58.685 --> 00:31:01.365 what I just did more than just celebrating a magic trick 420 00:31:01.365 --> 00:31:02.965 because that really wasn't all that relevant 421 00:31:02.965 --> 00:31:04.325 to what's going on for me right now. 422 00:31:05.465 --> 00:31:07.085 And I want you to know that that's 423 00:31:07.085 --> 00:31:09.645 where the danger lies in just showing up and doing church 424 00:31:10.225 --> 00:31:12.205 or just doing small group or just serving 425 00:31:12.265 --> 00:31:14.685 but not allowing yourself to be a part of something 426 00:31:14.685 --> 00:31:17.885 that goes a little bit deeper than that true community. 427 00:31:19.225 --> 00:31:22.405 I'm gonna take, um, I'm gonna call it an emotional risk here 428 00:31:22.905 --> 00:31:26.205 and share with you how this breaks down in light 429 00:31:26.205 --> 00:31:27.925 of something that's actually going on in my own life. 430 00:31:28.905 --> 00:31:31.165 Uh, I was raised by Christian parents, 431 00:31:31.595 --> 00:31:32.685 grew up in a Christian home. 432 00:31:32.705 --> 00:31:33.725 It was the kind of Christian home 433 00:31:33.725 --> 00:31:35.245 where you're there Sunday morning, Sunday night, 434 00:31:35.245 --> 00:31:36.565 Wednesday night, you gotta wear a dress, 435 00:31:36.585 --> 00:31:37.885 you gotta be there for all the things. 436 00:31:37.945 --> 00:31:39.245 My dad's in charge of everything, 437 00:31:39.245 --> 00:31:40.285 everything he's not in charge of. 438 00:31:40.285 --> 00:31:42.045 My mom's in charge of. That's how life was. 439 00:31:43.025 --> 00:31:44.845 Uh, he was in the military at some point when he 440 00:31:44.845 --> 00:31:45.925 retired, he became a pastor. 441 00:31:47.305 --> 00:31:49.645 And then again, people 442 00:31:49.665 --> 00:31:53.005 or people, couple of bad church experiences, a couple 443 00:31:53.005 --> 00:31:56.525 of congregations that really hurt my, uh, my parents 444 00:31:56.695 --> 00:31:58.245 after I had already moved on 445 00:31:58.245 --> 00:32:01.005 and got out of the house, um, led to them making 446 00:32:01.005 --> 00:32:03.045 that decision that I had made temporarily. 447 00:32:03.945 --> 00:32:05.525 Hey, we don't really have to be a part of that. 448 00:32:06.265 --> 00:32:09.325 We know who Jesus is. We know, um, which channel 449 00:32:09.345 --> 00:32:11.605 to watch on tv, which songs to listen to. 450 00:32:11.625 --> 00:32:13.365 We know how to worship. We can do all that here. 451 00:32:14.425 --> 00:32:17.645 And 20 years went by. 452 00:32:19.345 --> 00:32:22.285 Now there were some times where by the way I asked my mom 453 00:32:22.285 --> 00:32:23.405 for permission to share this with you. 454 00:32:24.015 --> 00:32:26.365 There were some times where they dabbled 455 00:32:26.365 --> 00:32:27.765 with trying out a church here 456 00:32:27.765 --> 00:32:30.565 and there still the same thing. 457 00:32:32.625 --> 00:32:35.965 And in July of this last year, 20 years later, 458 00:32:36.985 --> 00:32:38.805 my dad started having some health complications. 459 00:32:38.835 --> 00:32:40.790 Just some stuff just didn't seem quite right. 460 00:32:41.145 --> 00:32:45.005 Um, after some tests and some time passed, things got worse. 461 00:32:45.865 --> 00:32:48.445 Um, and I'll fast forward through a lot of hard 462 00:32:48.545 --> 00:32:51.685 and get you to November when my dad was diagnosed with, uh, 463 00:32:55.005 --> 00:32:58.165 I told you it was a risk Lewy body dementia. 464 00:32:58.985 --> 00:33:01.005 Now if you're like me, I wasn't familiar with that term, 465 00:33:01.265 --> 00:33:02.565 but it's a monster of an illness. 466 00:33:03.155 --> 00:33:04.485 It's like you take Alzheimer's 467 00:33:04.485 --> 00:33:05.845 and Parkinson's and you put it together. 468 00:33:06.355 --> 00:33:09.725 It's extremely aggressive, pretty rapid, um, 469 00:33:09.905 --> 00:33:12.325 and definitely not something that you want anybody 470 00:33:12.325 --> 00:33:13.965 that you love to have to experience. 471 00:33:15.825 --> 00:33:18.325 And in the time since that diagnosis, 472 00:33:18.325 --> 00:33:19.765 and now it's been about six months, 473 00:33:20.155 --> 00:33:23.805 I've been on the other side of, um, my own rage, 474 00:33:24.565 --> 00:33:26.805 honestly my own sadness and a lot of my moms 475 00:33:26.805 --> 00:33:28.245 and showing up and being there for her. 476 00:33:29.425 --> 00:33:32.685 Um, and I've listened to her ask questions like, 477 00:33:33.145 --> 00:33:36.685 if God loved us, why would he allow this questions? 478 00:33:36.725 --> 00:33:38.205 I never thought I'd hear my mom ask, 479 00:33:38.225 --> 00:33:41.405 but I've, I've heard a lot of others ask it. 480 00:33:42.545 --> 00:33:43.965 And in my mind I'm going, I'm kind 481 00:33:43.965 --> 00:33:44.965 of wondering the same thing. 482 00:33:46.585 --> 00:33:47.845 Are we being punished because we 483 00:33:47.845 --> 00:33:48.965 didn't go to church for 20 years? 484 00:33:49.745 --> 00:33:51.685 And then honestly her own version 485 00:33:51.865 --> 00:33:55.125 of I just wish I wasn't even alive to experience this. 486 00:33:56.825 --> 00:34:00.045 And here's the truth, that thank God the Holy Spirit has 487 00:34:00.045 --> 00:34:02.165 given to me to keep me tethered to what is true. 488 00:34:02.185 --> 00:34:05.125 And it's this God did send his son so 489 00:34:05.125 --> 00:34:06.685 that we would not perish so 490 00:34:06.685 --> 00:34:08.885 that we would not live this deathlike existence so 491 00:34:08.885 --> 00:34:10.245 that we would have eternal life. 492 00:34:10.545 --> 00:34:13.685 But if it was all just about eternity, like the way many 493 00:34:13.685 --> 00:34:14.725 of us grew up in church 494 00:34:14.725 --> 00:34:16.525 and were were raised to believe, Hey, 495 00:34:17.075 --> 00:34:19.045 once you believe in all of this, you repent. 496 00:34:19.105 --> 00:34:22.285 You confess your sin, you repent, you receive, you, 497 00:34:22.305 --> 00:34:25.005 you believe, you receive and your eternity is secure. 498 00:34:25.105 --> 00:34:26.805 All of that is true. But if it was only about 499 00:34:26.805 --> 00:34:28.405 that we'd be gone. 500 00:34:29.875 --> 00:34:31.735 The moment that we believe it, the moment 501 00:34:31.735 --> 00:34:35.535 that we receive it, when in reality we're in a meantime, 502 00:34:35.535 --> 00:34:37.745 right now we're in 503 00:34:37.745 --> 00:34:40.785 between the time when when Jesus was here, he died, 504 00:34:40.785 --> 00:34:41.825 he was resurrected 505 00:34:42.685 --> 00:34:46.825 and he sent his disciples out as witnesses of what it was 506 00:34:47.215 --> 00:34:50.545 that they had seen three years of ministry, three years 507 00:34:50.545 --> 00:34:51.905 of watching how he did his life 508 00:34:52.205 --> 00:34:53.265 and coming to understand 509 00:34:53.265 --> 00:34:54.505 what it was that he had done for them. 510 00:34:54.805 --> 00:34:56.265 He goes back to heaven and he says, 511 00:34:56.285 --> 00:34:57.705 you are going to be my witnesses. 512 00:34:57.755 --> 00:34:59.225 There is nothing about being a witness 513 00:34:59.225 --> 00:35:00.465 that doesn't include other people. 514 00:35:00.645 --> 00:35:03.585 Go tell people what you saw, what you've experienced, 515 00:35:03.585 --> 00:35:08.475 because I need them to know that I have power over death. 516 00:35:09.055 --> 00:35:11.875 You see, this is this life, this earth, these things, 517 00:35:11.875 --> 00:35:14.875 these diagnoses, these are what we're actually saved from. 518 00:35:16.445 --> 00:35:18.795 We're saved into a future that does not include death, 519 00:35:18.795 --> 00:35:22.475 disease or suffering or we're saved into a family. 520 00:35:23.835 --> 00:35:26.805 And a promise that at some point 521 00:35:26.965 --> 00:35:28.205 this isn't how it's gonna be. 522 00:35:28.985 --> 00:35:30.445 The resurrection demonstrates 523 00:35:30.445 --> 00:35:32.005 that Jesus has power over death. 524 00:35:32.265 --> 00:35:34.205 And yes, that does matter for eternity, 525 00:35:34.345 --> 00:35:35.885 but it also matters right now 526 00:35:36.195 --> 00:35:39.525 because right now it gives us hope at times when we would 527 00:35:39.525 --> 00:35:40.805 otherwise feel despair. 528 00:35:40.805 --> 00:35:42.045 And despair is a real thing. 529 00:35:42.075 --> 00:35:43.765 It's actually a thing that happens in your brain. 530 00:35:43.765 --> 00:35:45.605 And you experience despair long enough 531 00:35:45.745 --> 00:35:48.765 and you come up hopeless, completely hopeless. 532 00:35:49.775 --> 00:35:52.115 And you've seen around you what hopelessness can lead to. 533 00:35:52.875 --> 00:35:55.555 Hopelessness leads to all sorts of terrible things. 534 00:35:55.605 --> 00:35:58.435 Everything ranging from addiction to isolation, 535 00:35:58.775 --> 00:36:01.115 to worst case, people taking their own lives. 536 00:36:01.175 --> 00:36:03.115 And there's an epidemic of that right now. 537 00:36:05.415 --> 00:36:09.155 And here's the reason why. Despair is always a live option. 538 00:36:09.255 --> 00:36:11.475 No matter whether you have a relationship with Jesus or not. 539 00:36:11.575 --> 00:36:15.555 My mom had, my mom's been saved since she was 18 years old 540 00:36:15.575 --> 00:36:18.155 and still she's asking these questions and it's 541 00:36:18.155 --> 00:36:20.235 because we still have an enemy. 542 00:36:22.005 --> 00:36:24.385 And the same scripture where Jesus promised that he came 543 00:36:24.385 --> 00:36:25.745 to give us abundant life, he says, 544 00:36:25.745 --> 00:36:27.425 caution though there's a thief 545 00:36:28.485 --> 00:36:30.185 who doesn't want what's best for you. 546 00:36:30.205 --> 00:36:32.105 He wants to steal, he wants to kill, 547 00:36:32.165 --> 00:36:33.225 he wants to destroy you. 548 00:36:33.225 --> 00:36:35.265 And despair is one of his favorite tools. 549 00:36:37.725 --> 00:36:40.865 We know that Jesus came to give us life and then we doubt it 550 00:36:40.865 --> 00:36:43.105 because he prays upon us and he doesn't give up. 551 00:36:43.105 --> 00:36:45.545 But why a Christian? Why would he waste his time with us? 552 00:36:45.615 --> 00:36:47.825 Because what's better than a hopeless Christian 553 00:36:47.825 --> 00:36:49.385 who won't show or share the love of Jesus, 554 00:36:49.385 --> 00:36:50.905 that they've been a witness of their whole life. 555 00:36:52.575 --> 00:36:54.105 Your life looks no different than mine. 556 00:36:54.165 --> 00:36:55.705 Why do I want what it is that you have? 557 00:36:57.485 --> 00:37:01.225 And then at some point it becomes very simple, very easy 558 00:37:01.285 --> 00:37:02.665 for us to stop believing 559 00:37:02.665 --> 00:37:03.905 what it is that we've come to believe. 560 00:37:05.935 --> 00:37:07.315 So now that I've laid all that on you, 561 00:37:07.865 --> 00:37:09.795 what do we do, Heather? 562 00:37:09.825 --> 00:37:12.955 What do we do? You tell us what we do. Well, it's simple. 563 00:37:14.095 --> 00:37:17.995 You remember well time to go. 564 00:37:19.895 --> 00:37:21.355 That's not so easy, is it? 565 00:37:22.185 --> 00:37:24.515 It's not so easy to just remember the truth when 566 00:37:24.515 --> 00:37:25.635 you're in the middle of the crisis. 567 00:37:26.295 --> 00:37:28.395 But I wanna show you a group of people 568 00:37:29.025 --> 00:37:31.835 that set themselves up to be able to remember super well. 569 00:37:31.915 --> 00:37:33.675 I wanna take you into Acts chapter two. 570 00:37:34.295 --> 00:37:35.875 And if you were here last week 571 00:37:35.875 --> 00:37:37.915 or you watched online, uh, online last week, 572 00:37:37.915 --> 00:37:40.035 you saw Aaron give a message where he um, 573 00:37:40.035 --> 00:37:41.995 touched on Acts chapter two. 574 00:37:42.015 --> 00:37:43.195 And he talked to us about Peter 575 00:37:43.255 --> 00:37:44.715 and he talked to us about being an ambassador. 576 00:37:44.815 --> 00:37:46.155 And truthfully, Peter, one 577 00:37:46.155 --> 00:37:47.595 of the disciples was one of the first. 578 00:37:48.295 --> 00:37:51.555 Um, and in Acts two, when you get there, I'm gonna ask you 579 00:37:51.555 --> 00:37:53.715 to go to um, verse 37. 580 00:37:55.695 --> 00:37:58.795 We see Peter, he takes the stage at a festival 581 00:37:58.795 --> 00:38:00.635 that has thousands of people at it. 582 00:38:01.295 --> 00:38:02.355 And he gets up on stage. 583 00:38:02.375 --> 00:38:05.715 And as a minister of reconciliation, as an ambassador of 584 00:38:05.715 --> 00:38:07.875 what he knows about Jesus, he shares 585 00:38:07.875 --> 00:38:09.515 with this entire crowd essentially 586 00:38:09.705 --> 00:38:11.595 what we've been hearing about since Easter, 587 00:38:13.075 --> 00:38:16.285 that there was sin, that God had a plan to reconcile us 588 00:38:16.285 --> 00:38:18.285 to himself, that he wants a relationship with us, 589 00:38:18.475 --> 00:38:21.405 that he sent Jesus, and that Jesus died because of our sin. 590 00:38:21.405 --> 00:38:22.885 And these people who are standing here are people 591 00:38:22.885 --> 00:38:25.525 who were probably in the crowd, who were a part 592 00:38:25.525 --> 00:38:27.405 of yelling, crucify him. 593 00:38:27.945 --> 00:38:29.445 And it breaks their hearts. 594 00:38:29.445 --> 00:38:32.125 In Acts two verse 37, it says that when they heard this, 595 00:38:32.125 --> 00:38:34.805 they were cut to the heart and they said to Peter 596 00:38:34.865 --> 00:38:36.925 and the other apostles, what shall we do? 597 00:38:38.985 --> 00:38:41.965 And Peter is able to say, oh, there's such grace. 598 00:38:42.985 --> 00:38:45.045 You can fix this, but not on your own. 599 00:38:45.545 --> 00:38:47.085 God already did everything that you need 600 00:38:47.085 --> 00:38:48.645 to do and you can be free. 601 00:38:48.955 --> 00:38:50.965 Acts 2 38, if you repent 602 00:38:51.425 --> 00:38:53.925 and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ 603 00:38:53.945 --> 00:38:55.405 for the forgiveness of your sins, 604 00:38:55.425 --> 00:38:56.845 not I'm gonna put more weight on you 605 00:38:56.845 --> 00:38:58.165 and you have to do a whole bunch of things, 606 00:38:58.185 --> 00:39:00.445 but there's grace and it's yours. 607 00:39:00.705 --> 00:39:02.325 And the way that you achieve it 608 00:39:02.325 --> 00:39:05.645 or you receive it is just by saying, I believe it. 609 00:39:06.425 --> 00:39:08.525 You just own it. And at that point right there, 610 00:39:08.525 --> 00:39:10.045 you become a new creation. 611 00:39:10.345 --> 00:39:13.885 And then baptism is a decision to symbolize. I'm new. 612 00:39:14.555 --> 00:39:16.605 When we baptized around here, which by the way, we, 613 00:39:17.225 --> 00:39:19.645 and this so far this year at this church, 614 00:39:20.145 --> 00:39:23.885 we have had 103 people make a decision to be baptized. 615 00:39:24.225 --> 00:39:26.605 That's incredible. Yes. Please clap for that. 616 00:39:28.005 --> 00:39:31.565 103 people have chosen to say, I want new life. 617 00:39:31.845 --> 00:39:33.485 I want to be a part of the family of God. 618 00:39:33.485 --> 00:39:34.725 And that's what that represents. 619 00:39:36.385 --> 00:39:39.565 But most of the time, let's not say most of the time, 620 00:39:40.205 --> 00:39:43.645 a large majority of the time in the American experience, 621 00:39:43.825 --> 00:39:47.885 and this was true of my own experience in some random order, 622 00:39:48.545 --> 00:39:50.405 we end up in church, we hear this message, 623 00:39:50.505 --> 00:39:52.925 we make a decision, we choose to be baptized. 624 00:39:53.505 --> 00:39:55.125 And then after a little while 625 00:39:55.915 --> 00:40:00.915 something happens and 626 00:40:02.775 --> 00:40:05.725 Now what I did all that stuff 627 00:40:06.865 --> 00:40:08.125 you promised abundant life. 628 00:40:08.125 --> 00:40:11.005 You said my life would be full. But now what guys? 629 00:40:11.005 --> 00:40:12.685 This doesn't have to be our story. 630 00:40:14.585 --> 00:40:16.365 We can have a life that Jesus promised 631 00:40:16.365 --> 00:40:17.565 that's full and abundant. 632 00:40:17.565 --> 00:40:19.805 But how do we move from knowing that 633 00:40:20.225 --> 00:40:21.405 to actually living it out? 634 00:40:22.075 --> 00:40:24.245 Well, I'm gonna take you further into Acts two 635 00:40:24.245 --> 00:40:26.085 and this time we're gonna, we're gonna spend a little time. 636 00:40:26.085 --> 00:40:27.685 We're gonna hang out there. All right? 637 00:40:27.765 --> 00:40:29.325 I want you to go to Acts chapter two. 638 00:40:29.555 --> 00:40:32.205 This is the first group of people to make this decision 639 00:40:32.265 --> 00:40:33.565 to say, I hear it. 640 00:40:33.885 --> 00:40:35.325 I want to be able to remember it. 641 00:40:35.725 --> 00:40:37.165 I wanna make sure that I don't forget 642 00:40:37.165 --> 00:40:39.325 and that I never again get to a place where I feel the way 643 00:40:39.325 --> 00:40:41.965 that I felt when I heard you saying that we were responsible 644 00:40:41.965 --> 00:40:43.365 for Jesus having to die. 645 00:40:43.665 --> 00:40:48.325 And in resurrect Acts two verses 42 through 47, um, 646 00:40:48.385 --> 00:40:50.485 in my Bible, this section is titled The 647 00:40:50.485 --> 00:40:51.685 Fellowship of the Believers. 648 00:40:52.355 --> 00:40:54.205 It's a community that word fellowship. 649 00:40:54.435 --> 00:40:55.805 This is a family of people. 650 00:40:56.185 --> 00:40:57.645 It says they devoted themselves 651 00:40:57.705 --> 00:40:59.845 to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship. 652 00:41:01.305 --> 00:41:04.355 So first they're studying scripture together, 653 00:41:05.105 --> 00:41:07.755 they're spending time together unpacking it. 654 00:41:07.755 --> 00:41:09.075 If you devote yourself to the fellowship, 655 00:41:09.075 --> 00:41:10.275 you're devoting yourself to the family. 656 00:41:10.275 --> 00:41:13.595 This takes time to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 657 00:41:14.535 --> 00:41:15.795 Now, commonly around here, 658 00:41:15.815 --> 00:41:17.235 or commonly in the church world, 659 00:41:17.575 --> 00:41:18.955 we know that that is associated. 660 00:41:18.955 --> 00:41:21.555 The breaking of bread is associated with what Jesus did 661 00:41:21.555 --> 00:41:24.075 with his disciples just before he went to the cross. 662 00:41:25.255 --> 00:41:26.435 We call that communion. 663 00:41:26.725 --> 00:41:30.235 There, you see that word again, commune, communion. 664 00:41:30.265 --> 00:41:32.475 It's a thing that we do together where we remember 665 00:41:32.475 --> 00:41:33.845 what it is that God did for us 666 00:41:33.845 --> 00:41:36.085 because it's important for us to go back to that place. 667 00:41:38.015 --> 00:41:40.515 And so these people devoted themselves to the breaking 668 00:41:40.535 --> 00:41:42.555 of bread and then to praying together, 669 00:41:45.235 --> 00:41:47.155 remembering together the death and the resurrection of Jesus 670 00:41:47.155 --> 00:41:48.315 and the grace that it represented. 671 00:41:48.495 --> 00:41:52.715 And it says everyone was filled with all and many wonders 672 00:41:52.715 --> 00:41:54.955 and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 673 00:41:54.955 --> 00:41:56.035 And I just have to believe 674 00:41:56.185 --> 00:41:58.195 that those could have been connected to some 675 00:41:58.195 --> 00:41:59.395 of those prayers that they prayed. 676 00:41:59.395 --> 00:42:01.435 And what wouldn't it cause you to have awe 677 00:42:01.435 --> 00:42:03.035 as you see these prayers being answered, 678 00:42:03.055 --> 00:42:04.915 as you see this beautiful stuff come to life. 679 00:42:05.095 --> 00:42:07.475 And also they're seeing God's faithfulness even more clearly 680 00:42:07.475 --> 00:42:09.835 because there's more people around to say, did you see that? 681 00:42:12.075 --> 00:42:14.845 What? What I just witnessed? Yeah, I did. 682 00:42:14.845 --> 00:42:16.605 Look, I just witnessed this over here. 683 00:42:17.295 --> 00:42:19.645 God's faithfulness all around being reminded of it. 684 00:42:20.225 --> 00:42:21.645 And all the believers were together 685 00:42:21.665 --> 00:42:22.805 and they had everything in common. 686 00:42:22.945 --> 00:42:24.725 Now, this doesn't mean their preferences like you know, 687 00:42:25.825 --> 00:42:28.645 Marvel over DC or how do you feel about guacamole? 688 00:42:28.645 --> 00:42:31.245 That's not what that means. It means what's mine is yours. 689 00:42:31.245 --> 00:42:32.565 Because none of it is ours. 690 00:42:32.755 --> 00:42:34.765 Because we have an entirely different perspective. 691 00:42:34.905 --> 00:42:36.605 Our whole kingdom and our whole world 692 00:42:36.605 --> 00:42:37.765 has been flipped upside down. 693 00:42:37.785 --> 00:42:40.085 The stuff that we have here doesn't matter in light 694 00:42:40.085 --> 00:42:42.045 of eternity, it doesn't matter. 695 00:42:42.045 --> 00:42:44.245 In light of where we're going, my stuff is your stuff. 696 00:42:44.245 --> 00:42:45.845 They were selling their possessions and goods 697 00:42:45.845 --> 00:42:47.725 and they gave to anyone as he had need. 698 00:42:47.955 --> 00:42:51.035 Note, there's still needs. Life's not perfect. 699 00:42:52.375 --> 00:42:53.515 The things don't go away. 700 00:42:54.215 --> 00:42:55.475 But now they have people, 701 00:42:56.855 --> 00:42:59.275 and rather than them lingering long enough, 702 00:42:59.275 --> 00:43:01.155 when they do have these needs in order for despair 703 00:43:01.155 --> 00:43:02.595 to be created, the needs get met. 704 00:43:02.695 --> 00:43:06.195 And every day, every day, that's a lot. 705 00:43:06.965 --> 00:43:08.835 Every day they continued 706 00:43:08.835 --> 00:43:10.515 to meet together in the temple courts. 707 00:43:10.735 --> 00:43:13.475 And although this isn't a part of our custom now for us 708 00:43:13.475 --> 00:43:14.715 to get together every single day, 709 00:43:14.735 --> 00:43:16.515 it was theirs every single day. 710 00:43:16.515 --> 00:43:18.715 These people did go to the temple for us. 711 00:43:19.295 --> 00:43:20.875 We do that on average once a week. 712 00:43:23.125 --> 00:43:24.265 But not only that, 713 00:43:25.055 --> 00:43:27.265 they broke bread in their homes and they ate together. 714 00:43:27.285 --> 00:43:28.785 Now here we have that breaking of bread 715 00:43:29.245 --> 00:43:32.665 and that can mean communion in their homes. 716 00:43:32.685 --> 00:43:34.465 You don't have to show up at church to do that. 717 00:43:34.525 --> 00:43:35.625 You can do that in your home. 718 00:43:35.805 --> 00:43:37.145 If you were a part of our Good Friday 719 00:43:37.145 --> 00:43:38.545 experience, you may have done that. 720 00:43:38.545 --> 00:43:40.825 We did that with our friends and our home. 721 00:43:42.305 --> 00:43:45.795 They break broke bread in their homes and they ate together. 722 00:43:48.205 --> 00:43:53.045 Hmm. There's just something about eating a meal 723 00:43:53.045 --> 00:43:54.325 with people isn't there? 724 00:43:55.205 --> 00:43:56.375 There's so much good 725 00:43:56.375 --> 00:43:57.815 that happens when you're sitting at a table 726 00:43:57.815 --> 00:43:58.895 with people eating good food. 727 00:43:59.265 --> 00:44:02.255 Jesus came eating and drink. Jesus loved a good party. 728 00:44:02.315 --> 00:44:04.055 He showed up at dinner parties all the time. 729 00:44:04.595 --> 00:44:06.095 That's about the only place he went. 730 00:44:06.095 --> 00:44:07.935 Dinner party to dinner party. What a life. 731 00:44:09.035 --> 00:44:11.175 But it's because when you're sitting at a table, that's 732 00:44:11.175 --> 00:44:12.215 where conversation happens. 733 00:44:12.215 --> 00:44:13.375 That's where stuff comes up. 734 00:44:13.555 --> 00:44:15.695 And a lot of us don't experience that right now. 735 00:44:15.695 --> 00:44:17.055 We don't make the time for that in our 736 00:44:17.055 --> 00:44:18.775 life and we're missing out. 737 00:44:19.715 --> 00:44:21.575 But not only do we not do that in our own family, 738 00:44:21.675 --> 00:44:22.935 are we doing that with other people? 739 00:44:22.945 --> 00:44:24.415 These people are sitting down together 740 00:44:24.415 --> 00:44:26.255 and they're having meals together in their homes 741 00:44:26.515 --> 00:44:28.255 and they're praising it says, I'm sorry, 742 00:44:28.365 --> 00:44:29.895 with glad and sincere hearts. 743 00:44:29.895 --> 00:44:31.805 Who doesn't want that praising God? 744 00:44:32.825 --> 00:44:34.845 No mistaking who gets the credit for the things 745 00:44:34.845 --> 00:44:36.005 that they're seeing around them 746 00:44:37.505 --> 00:44:39.605 and enjoying the favor of all the people. 747 00:44:41.425 --> 00:44:42.605 And I love that part 748 00:44:42.605 --> 00:44:44.845 because it could be easy just to gloss right over that. 749 00:44:44.865 --> 00:44:47.085 But in reality, here's what I want you to see. 750 00:44:47.795 --> 00:44:50.765 When you leave this place, or when you go back to your home 751 00:44:50.765 --> 00:44:52.725 and you go back to your mess that we've talked about, 752 00:44:54.595 --> 00:44:56.805 it's not going back to church 753 00:44:56.875 --> 00:44:58.965 that you actually think is gonna fix it, is it? 754 00:45:00.695 --> 00:45:02.715 And for the people that you're encountering in the world 755 00:45:02.715 --> 00:45:05.635 around you, they're not waiting for their problem 756 00:45:05.695 --> 00:45:08.275 to be solved truthfully by going to church. 757 00:45:09.305 --> 00:45:11.635 That feels like another thing to do a lot of times. 758 00:45:13.175 --> 00:45:15.675 Unless they see something in your life 759 00:45:15.675 --> 00:45:17.635 that looks compelling enough to say, 760 00:45:18.295 --> 00:45:19.835 why is your life like that? 761 00:45:21.215 --> 00:45:24.795 Why are you praising God? Why do you see so seem, so glad? 762 00:45:24.815 --> 00:45:28.395 And sincere? People aren't looking for church. 763 00:45:28.395 --> 00:45:29.795 They're looking for community. 764 00:45:29.985 --> 00:45:33.275 They're looking for who to be a part of, 765 00:45:33.575 --> 00:45:34.795 not what to go and do. 766 00:45:36.955 --> 00:45:39.415 And what was the result of this behavior? 767 00:45:39.485 --> 00:45:41.495 What was the result of living their life this way? 768 00:45:42.395 --> 00:45:46.465 It says, the Lord added to their number daily. 769 00:45:50.805 --> 00:45:52.075 Those who are being saved. 770 00:45:55.675 --> 00:45:56.775 I'm gonna go back through this. 771 00:45:57.405 --> 00:46:00.455 They're at home, they're praying, 772 00:46:00.765 --> 00:46:03.175 they're breaking bread, man. 773 00:46:03.175 --> 00:46:04.375 They go to church a little. 774 00:46:04.485 --> 00:46:05.775 They're selling their possessions. 775 00:46:05.775 --> 00:46:07.135 They're giving all their stuff to each other. 776 00:46:08.485 --> 00:46:11.855 They're praising God, eating meals. 777 00:46:12.595 --> 00:46:15.295 And the Lord added to their number daily, those 778 00:46:15.295 --> 00:46:16.815 who are being saved, guys, 779 00:46:17.075 --> 00:46:19.975 people are not craving an organization to be a part of. 780 00:46:19.975 --> 00:46:21.015 They wanna be a part 781 00:46:21.015 --> 00:46:23.695 of a people they wanna belong to people. 782 00:46:24.445 --> 00:46:26.415 This world right now is faced with the crisis 783 00:46:26.415 --> 00:46:27.815 that sin created in the garden. 784 00:46:28.395 --> 00:46:30.655 Who am I? Where do I fit? And what is my purpose? 785 00:46:32.085 --> 00:46:33.745 And they won't experience that. 786 00:46:33.745 --> 00:46:36.505 Sitting in a chair next to you, you won't experience that. 787 00:46:36.505 --> 00:46:37.985 Sitting in a chair next to somebody else, 788 00:46:38.015 --> 00:46:41.265 singing a worship song, bowing your head, listening 789 00:46:41.265 --> 00:46:43.105 to a teacher, and then getting up and going out the door 790 00:46:43.165 --> 00:46:44.545 and never talking to those people 791 00:46:44.555 --> 00:46:45.665 again for the rest of the week. 792 00:46:45.665 --> 00:46:48.145 You just won't. I'm not trying to beat anybody up. 793 00:46:48.335 --> 00:46:49.945 What was it, Matt, a few weeks ago said, 794 00:46:49.945 --> 00:46:52.185 I don't wanna stomp on anybody's toes, but stomp, stomp. 795 00:46:52.215 --> 00:46:55.745 It's just true. That's not how we find the life 796 00:46:55.745 --> 00:46:57.625 that Jesus came to make available to us. 797 00:46:58.615 --> 00:47:00.745 Have you ever experienced anything like this? 798 00:47:02.535 --> 00:47:07.055 I can tell you confidently that that time 16 years, uh, 799 00:47:07.455 --> 00:47:09.615 14 years ago when I started doing all the things, 800 00:47:09.635 --> 00:47:11.295 and I say I wasn't experiencing that. 801 00:47:11.725 --> 00:47:13.255 That wasn't what my life looked like. 802 00:47:13.255 --> 00:47:15.575 They were great people and they were all good things to do, 803 00:47:15.595 --> 00:47:17.295 but that's not what my life looked like. 804 00:47:17.995 --> 00:47:20.375 Let me tell you something. I'm not 805 00:47:20.935 --> 00:47:22.535 a qualified expert in this area, 806 00:47:25.435 --> 00:47:26.655 but this is my life. 807 00:47:28.785 --> 00:47:29.885 This is my life. Now, 808 00:47:35.035 --> 00:47:38.325 there's a group of people in Garner, North Carolina. 809 00:47:38.635 --> 00:47:39.885 Some of them are at the Garner campus. 810 00:47:39.885 --> 00:47:41.205 Some of them are actually in this room. 811 00:47:43.905 --> 00:47:48.405 And they would drop anything To be anywhere, 812 00:47:50.775 --> 00:47:54.465 anytime that I needed these people pray for me. 813 00:47:54.535 --> 00:47:57.985 They pray for each other. They disciple my sons. 814 00:48:01.005 --> 00:48:02.265 The devil doesn't like this, y'all. 815 00:48:07.615 --> 00:48:10.025 They rally when they find someone else in need. 816 00:48:10.025 --> 00:48:12.745 They show up at games and sit in the bleachers. 817 00:48:13.135 --> 00:48:15.505 They notice when people are hurting and they invite them in. 818 00:48:15.505 --> 00:48:20.345 They make amazing brownies. They cel. 819 00:48:20.345 --> 00:48:22.905 We celebrate birthdays together. We celebrate graduations. 820 00:48:23.005 --> 00:48:26.265 We celebrate when people get their decree decrees degrees. 821 00:48:27.165 --> 00:48:28.945 We celebrate when people wake up on time. 822 00:48:29.035 --> 00:48:31.665 We'll celebrate anything to have cake. 823 00:48:34.045 --> 00:48:38.775 And life is full. It just is. 824 00:48:39.555 --> 00:48:40.815 And I had to get over some stuff 825 00:48:42.095 --> 00:48:43.895 'cause my house is not clean all the time. 826 00:48:46.295 --> 00:48:48.575 I had to be okay with kids bouncing on my couch. 827 00:48:51.735 --> 00:48:53.135 I had to be okay with 828 00:48:54.195 --> 00:48:56.895 not having a full course meal at all times to feed people. 829 00:48:56.895 --> 00:48:58.135 Everything not being perfect. 830 00:48:58.315 --> 00:48:59.535 Me not having the perfect day, 831 00:48:59.535 --> 00:49:01.175 but still having people just show up. 832 00:49:01.535 --> 00:49:04.335 I had to be okay with a lot of things. But you know what? 833 00:49:04.415 --> 00:49:07.015 I would never trade it in a million years for 834 00:49:07.015 --> 00:49:08.255 what I'm experiencing right now. 835 00:49:08.255 --> 00:49:10.575 Because when death diagnosis 836 00:49:10.595 --> 00:49:12.655 and disaster come in my life right now, 837 00:49:12.655 --> 00:49:14.015 these people show up with scripture. 838 00:49:14.365 --> 00:49:16.335 They show up with food, they show up 839 00:49:16.335 --> 00:49:17.935 with silence if that's what's necessary. 840 00:49:18.235 --> 00:49:19.975 And my life, they break bread 841 00:49:20.035 --> 00:49:22.815 and remind me that there is no death that I can face 842 00:49:22.815 --> 00:49:24.455 that has not already been overcome. 843 00:49:26.155 --> 00:49:28.295 And on Sundays, we gather 844 00:49:28.725 --> 00:49:30.215 because it is important for us 845 00:49:30.215 --> 00:49:31.535 to gather with other believers. 846 00:49:32.515 --> 00:49:34.415 And we sing together and we pray together 847 00:49:34.415 --> 00:49:35.495 and we're encouraged by scripture. 848 00:49:35.495 --> 00:49:36.855 And we look for each other when we walk 849 00:49:36.855 --> 00:49:37.895 in and we look for each other. 850 00:49:37.895 --> 00:49:39.175 When we go to leave. We try 851 00:49:39.175 --> 00:49:40.615 to find ways to have lunch together. 852 00:49:40.635 --> 00:49:43.535 We see each other later. Guys, can this really work? 853 00:49:44.565 --> 00:49:47.055 Practically speaking, if you want this to be true 854 00:49:47.055 --> 00:49:49.015 of your life, there's a few things 855 00:49:49.015 --> 00:49:50.415 that you're going to have to embrace. 856 00:49:52.225 --> 00:49:53.295 Let's make this practical 857 00:49:54.075 --> 00:49:55.895 and know you don't have to build a compound. 858 00:49:57.715 --> 00:49:59.855 You might have to be okay with a little dirt on your floor. 859 00:50:00.115 --> 00:50:04.175 But here's three concepts, if you will, that you're going 860 00:50:04.175 --> 00:50:05.535 to have to practically embrace. 861 00:50:05.595 --> 00:50:07.575 If you want this to be a part of your life, 862 00:50:07.595 --> 00:50:10.175 and if you want to really experience the life 863 00:50:10.175 --> 00:50:13.055 that Jesus came to make available to you through family, 864 00:50:14.475 --> 00:50:17.375 and they are, you're gonna have to be intentional. 865 00:50:18.875 --> 00:50:21.135 You're gonna have to embrace the unpredictable. 866 00:50:22.165 --> 00:50:24.785 And you're gonna have to under complicate a lot of things. 867 00:50:28.895 --> 00:50:30.635 Now, I actually don't think you're gonna remember that. 868 00:50:31.615 --> 00:50:33.195 And it's not because I don't have faith in you. 869 00:50:33.195 --> 00:50:35.635 It's 'cause it's really not very easily me. 870 00:50:35.895 --> 00:50:37.675 Uh, very easily memorable. 871 00:50:38.615 --> 00:50:40.035 So I'm gonna say it a little differently 872 00:50:40.055 --> 00:50:41.235 in a way that I hope that you will. 873 00:50:43.095 --> 00:50:44.395 The first thing that you're gonna have to do 874 00:50:45.895 --> 00:50:47.115 is fill some coolers. 875 00:50:48.455 --> 00:50:50.035 Now, coolers in my life 876 00:50:50.705 --> 00:50:52.155 have caused a little bit of conflict. 877 00:50:52.275 --> 00:50:54.955 I don't have just one cooler. I have about 11 coolers. 878 00:50:54.995 --> 00:50:56.355 I know that's ridiculous, okay? 879 00:50:56.815 --> 00:50:58.875 But about eight-ish years ago, 880 00:50:58.955 --> 00:51:00.395 I started being a football team mom. 881 00:51:00.395 --> 00:51:01.595 And I'm telling you, you just need 882 00:51:01.595 --> 00:51:02.715 all kinds of coolers, guys. 883 00:51:03.615 --> 00:51:06.755 But at my house, on my carport, a cooler always sits. 884 00:51:07.455 --> 00:51:08.875 And when I see sodas on sale, 885 00:51:08.875 --> 00:51:11.715 when I see Capri Suns on sale, I throw 'em in. 886 00:51:11.865 --> 00:51:15.715 Because every Wednesday at about 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 887 00:51:16.315 --> 00:51:18.235 a whole throwing of people are gonna show up 888 00:51:18.235 --> 00:51:21.295 and they're thirsty and they can pull from 889 00:51:21.295 --> 00:51:22.455 that cooler anytime they want. 890 00:51:22.515 --> 00:51:24.095 And what that cooler represents 891 00:51:24.095 --> 00:51:26.015 for me is an always be ready. 892 00:51:27.715 --> 00:51:30.695 And don't make it so hard. People are thirsty. 893 00:51:30.885 --> 00:51:32.095 They need to feel like family. 894 00:51:32.245 --> 00:51:34.255 Just make sure there's something cold for 'em to drink. 895 00:51:35.535 --> 00:51:37.345 There's lots of different ways that you can do that. 896 00:51:37.855 --> 00:51:40.425 Lots of different ways. I say coolers, it can be anything. 897 00:51:42.925 --> 00:51:44.225 But find a way to make sure 898 00:51:44.225 --> 00:51:46.545 that people feel welcome in your 899 00:51:46.545 --> 00:51:48.665 life and watch what happens. 900 00:51:50.005 --> 00:51:52.705 The second, this is the one I think you'll remember the 901 00:51:52.705 --> 00:51:56.345 most, Is bury your possums. 902 00:51:57.765 --> 00:52:01.545 You're gonna remember that. I wanna go back 903 00:52:01.545 --> 00:52:02.705 to my mom and dad for a minute. 904 00:52:04.065 --> 00:52:05.225 I don't want you to leave here 905 00:52:05.225 --> 00:52:07.305 and think that I've left my mom and dad in that state 906 00:52:07.305 --> 00:52:08.585 because I do know that truth. 907 00:52:08.605 --> 00:52:10.905 And I am a little bit more capable of being a one 908 00:52:10.905 --> 00:52:13.665 who can go into their life and speak and, 909 00:52:13.665 --> 00:52:15.145 and break bread over what's happening. 910 00:52:16.455 --> 00:52:20.455 'cause though I'm though I'm sad, it's different 911 00:52:20.455 --> 00:52:21.775 for me than it is for my mom. 912 00:52:22.715 --> 00:52:25.095 And it's different for both of us than it is for my dad. 913 00:52:27.155 --> 00:52:29.335 And I don't exactly know what to do. I can't fix it. 914 00:52:29.835 --> 00:52:32.335 So what can I do? I can show up. 915 00:52:34.115 --> 00:52:36.015 And literally, that's what family does. 916 00:52:36.115 --> 00:52:38.495 That's what your community does. They just show up. 917 00:52:38.495 --> 00:52:39.935 Sometimes there's nothing you can say 918 00:52:39.935 --> 00:52:42.095 and there's nothing that you can do but show up. 919 00:52:42.355 --> 00:52:44.375 And a couple of weeks ago, that's what I did. 920 00:52:44.415 --> 00:52:47.375 I didn't know what to do, so I just drove there. 921 00:52:47.375 --> 00:52:48.735 They live about four hours away. 922 00:52:48.765 --> 00:52:50.495 This adds to the complication of it all. 923 00:52:51.055 --> 00:52:54.175 I showed up and I'm looking around 924 00:52:54.175 --> 00:52:56.575 and I'm thinking like, my goodness, what can I do 925 00:52:56.715 --> 00:52:59.375 to actually bring some joy, to bring some 926 00:53:00.335 --> 00:53:01.935 gladness into this environment? 927 00:53:03.355 --> 00:53:06.575 And I thought, I know I'll cut the grass. 928 00:53:08.435 --> 00:53:10.095 And I'm walking around outside with my mom 929 00:53:12.235 --> 00:53:14.215 and suddenly she says, oh no, 930 00:53:16.605 --> 00:53:18.175 this is gonna give you a little sneak peek 931 00:53:18.175 --> 00:53:19.335 into what kind of mom I have. 932 00:53:19.955 --> 00:53:22.055 My mom feeds the wildlife around her house. 933 00:53:23.795 --> 00:53:26.845 And one of the possums that she feeds had crawled up 934 00:53:26.845 --> 00:53:28.685 underneath the shed and died. 935 00:53:28.705 --> 00:53:30.125 It looked like it died a peaceful death. 936 00:53:31.105 --> 00:53:32.525 It didn't do an autopsy or anything. 937 00:53:34.105 --> 00:53:35.485 And I just knew in that moment, 938 00:53:35.645 --> 00:53:37.965 I can't let my mom bury this possum by herself. 939 00:53:39.905 --> 00:53:41.685 My mom and dad have felt alone, 940 00:53:41.685 --> 00:53:43.005 and they have felt regretful 941 00:53:43.005 --> 00:53:44.565 that they cut their community out 942 00:53:44.565 --> 00:53:46.445 because they have been going through the hardest season 943 00:53:46.465 --> 00:53:50.005 of their entire life and have wondered, does anyone care? 944 00:53:50.915 --> 00:53:55.245 What have we done? And so I said, mom, 945 00:53:55.865 --> 00:53:57.005 we gotta bury that possum. 946 00:53:58.025 --> 00:54:00.605 She said, You can't, you, you're gonna bury the possum. 947 00:54:00.635 --> 00:54:04.445 Gave me the shovel. And next thing you know, for me, 948 00:54:04.585 --> 00:54:06.925 family meant digging a hole 949 00:54:06.945 --> 00:54:09.045 for a 12 pound possum in the woods. 950 00:54:10.905 --> 00:54:12.445 And just so you know, my mom told me she'd never 951 00:54:12.445 --> 00:54:13.525 seen a woman dig a hole like that. 952 00:54:13.525 --> 00:54:15.405 I've been riding that compliment for weeks. 953 00:54:17.665 --> 00:54:18.725 But that's what we have to do. 954 00:54:18.825 --> 00:54:21.805 You gotta embrace stuff that's unpredictable. 955 00:54:21.835 --> 00:54:23.365 It's not gonna look like what you expect. 956 00:54:23.395 --> 00:54:25.125 It's not neat and tidy all the time. 957 00:54:26.065 --> 00:54:29.365 And then last of all, under complicated, 958 00:54:29.405 --> 00:54:30.605 I I didn't pick a different word. 959 00:54:30.765 --> 00:54:32.965 'cause that would be complicated. Just under complicate it. 960 00:54:33.295 --> 00:54:37.925 Don't make it so hard. Be where your people are. 961 00:54:39.585 --> 00:54:41.165 Eat food together. Doesn't have 962 00:54:41.165 --> 00:54:42.805 to be good food Sometimes it could be. 963 00:54:42.805 --> 00:54:47.405 That'd be good. Read the Bible together. Pray together. 964 00:54:48.105 --> 00:54:50.045 Sit at your table, laugh together. Cry together. 965 00:54:50.075 --> 00:54:51.805 Play games together. Group text together. 966 00:54:51.805 --> 00:54:52.685 If that's your thing, you 967 00:54:52.805 --> 00:54:53.565 probably should start a group text. 968 00:54:53.705 --> 00:54:58.165 I'm sorry. But you gotta stay in touch with one another. 969 00:55:01.825 --> 00:55:03.565 If you need more ideas. I have so many. 970 00:55:06.345 --> 00:55:07.765 Here's the last thing I wanna say. 971 00:55:08.915 --> 00:55:11.285 There's a lot of our small group leaders at this church 972 00:55:11.665 --> 00:55:12.925 who have been doing this. 973 00:55:13.185 --> 00:55:15.365 You've been building this kind of community, 974 00:55:15.465 --> 00:55:17.325 you've been creating this kind of family. 975 00:55:18.025 --> 00:55:19.125 And I wanna thank you. 976 00:55:20.225 --> 00:55:22.005 You are bringing hope to places that could 977 00:55:22.005 --> 00:55:23.965 otherwise be filled with despair. 978 00:55:24.555 --> 00:55:26.765 Keep it up. We're thankful for you. 979 00:55:28.315 --> 00:55:29.405 Some of you're hearing this. 980 00:55:29.465 --> 00:55:31.685 And no matter where you are, no matter 981 00:55:31.685 --> 00:55:33.645 where you're listening from, your heart is pounding 982 00:55:33.645 --> 00:55:34.885 because you know you've never 983 00:55:34.885 --> 00:55:36.205 experienced anything like that. 984 00:55:37.225 --> 00:55:39.325 And if you're honest, you're kind of tired of doing church. 985 00:55:41.185 --> 00:55:43.805 Sunday mornings are hard, man. 986 00:55:43.805 --> 00:55:46.125 This is just a lot more stuff for me to carry. 987 00:55:47.345 --> 00:55:51.565 If that's you, I'd love to talk to you. 988 00:55:52.865 --> 00:55:55.365 I'd love to connect you with some of those people that want 989 00:55:55.365 --> 00:55:56.885 to create those sorts of environments 990 00:55:56.885 --> 00:55:58.725 and want you to feel like you belong with them. 991 00:55:59.425 --> 00:56:01.485 And maybe some of you are thinking, you know what? 992 00:56:01.925 --> 00:56:03.805 I, I'd roll out a cooler for that. 993 00:56:04.705 --> 00:56:05.845 I'd throw some nuggies in the oven. 994 00:56:05.865 --> 00:56:07.005 Invite people into something 995 00:56:07.005 --> 00:56:08.485 that they've never had the chance to experience. 996 00:56:09.225 --> 00:56:11.045 If either one of those things is you, 997 00:56:11.625 --> 00:56:13.125 I'm gonna ask you to do what we do around here. 998 00:56:13.185 --> 00:56:14.485 I'm gonna ask you to take your phone 999 00:56:15.745 --> 00:56:16.845 and text that phone number. 1000 00:56:16.855 --> 00:56:18.685 We're always saying seven two nine eight nine. 1001 00:56:18.765 --> 00:56:21.885 I want you to text connect to 7 2 9 8 9. 1002 00:56:22.305 --> 00:56:23.645 We need people who are ready 1003 00:56:23.705 --> 00:56:26.205 to take our church from the place where we're doing church 1004 00:56:26.755 --> 00:56:29.085 into the community in a way that changes it 1005 00:56:29.085 --> 00:56:31.445 and helps people see the life that Jesus actually came 1006 00:56:31.445 --> 00:56:34.045 to make available, whether they were to show up here or not. 1007 00:56:34.045 --> 00:56:36.165 Because just sitting here and doing this week 1008 00:56:36.165 --> 00:56:37.765 after week together is not enough. 1009 00:56:39.475 --> 00:56:44.205 It's not enough. And then the last group of people, 1010 00:56:45.555 --> 00:56:48.365 there's some of you who heard just the same way that 1011 00:56:48.365 --> 00:56:50.045 that first fellowship of believers did, 1012 00:56:50.635 --> 00:56:51.845 that God has grace for you. 1013 00:56:51.845 --> 00:56:53.565 That he had a plan that he started long 1014 00:56:53.565 --> 00:56:55.405 before you were ever here, that you didn't have to ask him 1015 00:56:55.405 --> 00:56:58.165 for it, but that he doesn't want you to stay in the crisis. 1016 00:56:58.345 --> 00:57:00.245 The situation, the sadness, the depression. 1017 00:57:00.365 --> 00:57:02.045 He doesn't want you to stay in that dark place. 1018 00:57:02.345 --> 00:57:04.925 He knows you have an enemy and he's already defeated him. 1019 00:57:05.505 --> 00:57:07.445 And no, we're not in heaven yet. 1020 00:57:07.785 --> 00:57:09.125 But he wants your life here 1021 00:57:09.125 --> 00:57:10.605 to look a whole lot more like it. 1022 00:57:12.305 --> 00:57:14.565 If you've never given your life to Jesus in that way, 1023 00:57:14.565 --> 00:57:16.045 if you've never said, you know what? 1024 00:57:16.125 --> 00:57:18.045 I do want that life, 1025 00:57:18.055 --> 00:57:20.325 there is no better decision that you can make. 1026 00:57:21.805 --> 00:57:25.985 We have actual people, not a text of actual people 1027 00:57:26.005 --> 00:57:27.225 who wanna talk to you about that. 1028 00:57:28.405 --> 00:57:30.345 If you're online, tell us in the chat. 1029 00:57:30.565 --> 00:57:31.865 If you're at one of our campuses, 1030 00:57:31.935 --> 00:57:33.505 there's something we talk about all the time. 1031 00:57:33.575 --> 00:57:36.065 Next steps. There's go there 1032 00:57:36.605 --> 00:57:38.705 and there's people there who wanna talk to you about that. 1033 00:57:39.045 --> 00:57:40.465 And if you already have done that, 1034 00:57:41.125 --> 00:57:44.025 and you wanna take another step into being a part, 1035 00:57:44.025 --> 00:57:45.545 committing to being a part of the family, 1036 00:57:45.605 --> 00:57:47.945 if you wanna commit to being a part of the family of God 1037 00:57:48.485 --> 00:57:52.185 and this family, we'd love to see you added to that 103. 1038 00:57:53.095 --> 00:57:55.545 We'd love to see you make the decision to get baptized. 1039 00:57:55.845 --> 00:57:57.025 And there's someone there who can 1040 00:57:57.025 --> 00:57:58.065 talk to you about that as well. 1041 00:57:59.775 --> 00:58:01.505 Guys, I believe that we can be a church 1042 00:58:01.505 --> 00:58:02.825 that changes our community. 1043 00:58:03.625 --> 00:58:06.065 I believe that our gatherings will have more meaning when we 1044 00:58:06.065 --> 00:58:08.065 are showing up and we are spending that time together 1045 00:58:08.065 --> 00:58:11.305 with our family, celebrating the life that came 1046 00:58:11.305 --> 00:58:12.705 because of the resurrection of Jesus. 1047 00:58:12.725 --> 00:58:14.665 And because we don't have to believe 1048 00:58:14.665 --> 00:58:15.905 that this is all there is. 1049 00:58:17.275 --> 00:58:21.665 Lemme pray for us. God, I thank you for every single person 1050 00:58:21.725 --> 00:58:23.225 who falls under the sound of my voice. 1051 00:58:24.415 --> 00:58:25.745 Some of those people are my family. 1052 00:58:25.815 --> 00:58:27.825 Some of those people are my friends who are like my family. 1053 00:58:27.855 --> 00:58:29.025 They are my community. 1054 00:58:31.645 --> 00:58:33.505 And God, there are people who are listening 1055 00:58:33.505 --> 00:58:35.985 who have never had the opportunity to experience 1056 00:58:35.985 --> 00:58:38.065 what it really means when you say, you came 1057 00:58:38.065 --> 00:58:39.785 to give us life to the full. 1058 00:58:40.165 --> 00:58:41.985 Our cup runs over God. 1059 00:58:41.985 --> 00:58:44.465 And I want people to be able to experience that. 1060 00:58:44.535 --> 00:58:46.905 Lord, I pray that if anyone's heart was moved 1061 00:58:46.905 --> 00:58:49.465 by hearing this, that you would lead them to not just sit in 1062 00:58:49.465 --> 00:58:52.825 that, to not let another week go by where they feel alone, 1063 00:58:53.255 --> 00:58:54.825 purposeless, despair. 1064 00:58:55.285 --> 00:58:58.025 God, I just pray that they would take a step 1065 00:58:58.025 --> 00:59:00.145 that might feel like it requires courage. 1066 00:59:00.175 --> 00:59:01.625 Lord, I just pray that you would lead them 1067 00:59:01.625 --> 00:59:04.345 to realize it's actually the simplest, most impactful step 1068 00:59:04.345 --> 00:59:05.545 that they can take all at once. 1069 00:59:05.575 --> 00:59:08.465 Lord, I pray that you would move in their hearts to, to come 1070 00:59:08.465 --> 00:59:10.545 after you and to be a part of what it is 1071 00:59:10.545 --> 00:59:11.585 that you've called us all into. 1072 00:59:12.145 --> 00:59:13.225 I thank you for this church. 1073 00:59:13.505 --> 00:59:14.985 I thank you for what it's meant to my family. 1074 00:59:15.145 --> 00:59:16.745 I thank you for what it means to our community. 1075 00:59:16.745 --> 00:59:18.145 And I pray that you enabled us 1076 00:59:18.485 --> 00:59:20.505 to do even more than we've already done 1077 00:59:20.505 --> 00:59:22.160 because of you, you and your Holy Spirit. 1078 00:59:22.160 --> 00:59:23.765 And it's in your name we pray. Amen. 1079 00:59:32.755 --> 00:59:36.125 Well, amen. Man. What a great word. 1080 00:59:36.125 --> 00:59:39.325 Thank you so much, Heather. Um, I'm very thankful 1081 00:59:39.505 --> 00:59:44.045 for our church and you know, just the number of, uh, 1082 00:59:44.565 --> 00:59:47.565 communicators that we have that, uh, are willing to share, 1083 00:59:48.145 --> 00:59:49.645 um, the word with us. 1084 00:59:49.785 --> 00:59:51.845 Are you guys thankful for that? Yeah. 1085 00:59:56.095 --> 01:00:00.665 Want to end, uh, today with, uh, praise Last week, 1086 01:00:01.005 --> 01:00:05.545 um, we put out, uh, an urgent need, um, for our brothers 1087 01:00:05.545 --> 01:00:07.625 and sisters in Haiti. 1088 01:00:08.645 --> 01:00:10.745 And, uh, we set a goal, uh, 1089 01:00:10.745 --> 01:00:13.745 to raise $20,000, uh, to help them. 1090 01:00:14.845 --> 01:00:19.625 And I, I wanna let you guys know that, um, we more than, 1091 01:00:19.655 --> 01:00:22.865 well actually, we doubled that number and we raised $40,000. 1092 01:00:25.615 --> 01:00:29.985 Yeah. And that allowed us 1093 01:00:30.045 --> 01:00:33.585 to respond immediately with, uh, relief 1094 01:00:34.245 --> 01:00:38.465 and help and in a way that we can share hope, 1095 01:00:39.085 --> 01:00:44.025 um, with a, uh, broken, uh, place and broken people. 1096 01:00:44.365 --> 01:00:48.745 Uh, and, um, I am so, so thankful for your generosity 1097 01:00:48.845 --> 01:00:52.385 and how God is using that, um, right now. 1098 01:00:52.845 --> 01:00:54.865 And, you know, we, we are a family 1099 01:00:54.925 --> 01:00:58.265 who loves God follows Jesus and shares hope 1100 01:00:58.525 --> 01:01:03.145 and through, uh, generosity that is a way that God uses, 1101 01:01:03.525 --> 01:01:05.945 um, his church to share hope. 1102 01:01:05.945 --> 01:01:07.465 And so, so, so thankful for that. 1103 01:01:08.325 --> 01:01:12.785 Um, if you would like to partner with us, uh, 1104 01:01:12.785 --> 01:01:15.545 here at Hope, um, in giving 1105 01:01:16.365 --> 01:01:17.825 and you've never done that, uh, 1106 01:01:17.825 --> 01:01:19.265 I wanna give you the opportunity to do that. 1107 01:01:19.485 --> 01:01:22.865 You can text, uh, the word give to 7 2, 9 8 9 1108 01:01:23.285 --> 01:01:27.945 or you can go to, uh, get hope.net/give. 1109 01:01:28.285 --> 01:01:32.105 And you know, we believe here at hope that, uh, 1110 01:01:32.365 --> 01:01:35.025 giving brings joy to God. 1111 01:01:35.025 --> 01:01:37.345 The Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver. 1112 01:01:37.805 --> 01:01:42.425 And so, um, we would love to partner with you in that way, 1113 01:01:42.685 --> 01:01:44.025 uh, as we exit today. 1114 01:01:44.205 --> 01:01:48.625 Uh, just wanna remind you guys, let's keep our heads up 1115 01:01:49.205 --> 01:01:53.905 and our eyes open for what God is doing around us 1116 01:01:54.325 --> 01:01:56.145 so that we can share the love of Jesus 1117 01:01:56.765 --> 01:01:59.745 and the power of the resurrection, uh, that he has to offer. 1118 01:01:59.945 --> 01:02:01.545 I love you all. We'll see you next week.