157 00:22:22.005 --> 00:22:25.325 And a lot of work with a lot of fun. Isn't that a great story? Yeah, 158 00:22:26.994 --> 00:22:27.827 that is, uh, 159 00:22:28.125 --> 00:22:32.085 as Jim and Jackie Green and what they've done is they have used their farm to 160 00:22:32.285 --> 00:22:33.365 actually provide a place for, 161 00:22:33.425 --> 00:22:37.445 for families or for kids who actually struggling to find a place to belong. 162 00:22:37.565 --> 00:22:40.325 I mean, that's been their journey from success to significance. 163 00:22:40.385 --> 00:22:41.645 And I'm telling you, uh, 164 00:22:41.875 --> 00:22:45.325 that those two are saints and have the privilege of knowing their family and 165 00:22:45.326 --> 00:22:47.725 their son and daughter-in-Law. Uh, but uh, 166 00:22:47.744 --> 00:22:50.685 you also heard them talk about fostering hope. Fostering hope, 167 00:22:50.705 --> 00:22:51.484 if you don't know, 168 00:22:51.484 --> 00:22:54.484 is one of our ministries that we've launched here at Hope that really has the 169 00:22:54.485 --> 00:22:55.365 exact same mission. 170 00:22:55.505 --> 00:22:58.965 How do we come alongside of those that are struggling to find a place to belong 171 00:22:59.205 --> 00:23:01.885 in a family and help them find that? And so it's, 172 00:23:01.886 --> 00:23:05.805 it's incredible when you see like a powerful partnership come together with 173 00:23:05.806 --> 00:23:07.725 those who are willing to be generous, uh, 174 00:23:07.744 --> 00:23:10.244 to bring hope to those who desperately need it. So great story. 175 00:23:10.245 --> 00:23:13.685 Thank you to everyone who's generosity helps that mission and vision come to 176 00:23:13.686 --> 00:23:18.045 life A happy Mother's Day weekend. Alright moms, 177 00:23:18.046 --> 00:23:19.125 we wanna celebrate you. 178 00:23:19.126 --> 00:23:23.445 And I know that while the responsibilities on moms are different from family to 179 00:23:23.446 --> 00:23:25.045 family, one thing that is consistent, 180 00:23:25.605 --> 00:23:30.244 I is the hope and the love and the brightness that you bring to our families and 181 00:23:30.245 --> 00:23:33.125 to our communities leaves every one of us in a better place. 182 00:23:33.145 --> 00:23:36.484 And so on behalf of Hope Community Church, uh, for me personally, 183 00:23:36.645 --> 00:23:38.845 I just wanna say thank you. We, uh, 184 00:23:38.905 --> 00:23:43.205 we wanted to do something special this weekend and I had this realization 185 00:23:44.115 --> 00:23:47.165 that I confirmed by actually talking to real moms, uh, 186 00:23:47.195 --> 00:23:49.165 that most mothers actually, 187 00:23:49.185 --> 00:23:53.045 as opposed to hearing a message that's encouraging just to moms would prefer a 188 00:23:53.046 --> 00:23:56.565 time on Mother's Day weekend, uh, of strengthening the entire family. 189 00:23:57.265 --> 00:24:01.925 And the reality is the biblical family right now is actually being deconstructed 190 00:24:02.565 --> 00:24:05.244 and culture in a way that's, it's hurting all of our, 191 00:24:05.245 --> 00:24:08.205 our sense of belonging and our sense of purpose. And we said, you know, 192 00:24:08.206 --> 00:24:09.645 we're just gonna hit this thing head on. 193 00:24:09.646 --> 00:24:12.405 We're gonna lift up high what it is that God says about families. 194 00:24:12.545 --> 00:24:15.445 And so this weekend you are in for a treat. Uh, 195 00:24:15.465 --> 00:24:18.805 in just a moment you are going to hear from our very own Mrs. Heather Sullivan 196 00:24:19.265 --> 00:24:23.205 and she's gonna come out here and she's gonna talk to you, uh, to our moms, 197 00:24:23.305 --> 00:24:24.725 really parents overall, 198 00:24:25.305 --> 00:24:28.685 I'm then going to come back out a little bit less of a treat and I'm gonna talk 199 00:24:28.705 --> 00:24:31.285 to the men, uh, to the husbands, to the dads in the room. 200 00:24:31.585 --> 00:24:35.045 And then our very own Aaron Nelson is going to come out and he asked me to let 201 00:24:35.046 --> 00:24:38.405 you know that he's going to speak to all of the children in the room so you can 202 00:24:38.406 --> 00:24:42.325 figure out what that means when he comes out here. And then as we, 203 00:24:42.435 --> 00:24:45.645 what we're gonna do though, we're gonna take a look at different aspects, uh, 204 00:24:45.845 --> 00:24:48.605 of the family through a biblical perspective. And then when we wrap up, 205 00:24:48.606 --> 00:24:52.244 we're actually gonna have a couple of our elders come out and their spouses and 206 00:24:52.245 --> 00:24:55.244 pray a prayer blessing over the families of Hope Community Church. 207 00:24:55.245 --> 00:24:57.845 And we're all gonna leave better for it. We're gonna be encouraged, okay? 208 00:24:57.846 --> 00:24:59.525 And so I'm not gonna waste any more time. 209 00:24:59.585 --> 00:25:02.525 If you would please welcome to the stage Mrs. Heather Sullivan. 210 00:25:23.975 --> 00:25:28.815 So that sound, I would have to tell you that if my brain had a heartbeat, 211 00:25:29.205 --> 00:25:30.855 that would be the sound that you would hear. 212 00:25:32.205 --> 00:25:35.105 And that sound is increasing in intensity by the day. 213 00:25:35.106 --> 00:25:40.025 And it's because I have an 18-year-old and I have a 15-year-old and we are only 214 00:25:40.234 --> 00:25:42.145 weeks away from graduation. 215 00:25:42.685 --> 00:25:45.865 And as much as I've tried over the course of time to be intentional, 216 00:25:45.984 --> 00:25:48.465 I have felt that countdown. Have you felt a countdown? 217 00:25:48.466 --> 00:25:51.265 Those of you who are parents just playing in the back of your mind, 218 00:25:51.345 --> 00:25:55.265 I have felt that countdown. And as we get closer and closer to graduation, 219 00:25:55.266 --> 00:25:59.265 here we are alive on location with a mom who's getting ready to launch her first 220 00:25:59.605 --> 00:26:03.785 out. And honestly, when I'm asked, how do you feel about that mom? 221 00:26:05.025 --> 00:26:09.175 Unprepared is the only word I can think of for as hard as I tried to prepare 222 00:26:09.176 --> 00:26:13.335 every podcast I listen to every book that I read, all the blogs that I followed, 223 00:26:13.475 --> 00:26:17.734 and every person that I asked for advice from, I still feel unprepared. 224 00:26:17.795 --> 00:26:21.455 And honestly it hurts more than I wanted to. 225 00:26:22.135 --> 00:26:25.015 I didn't wanna feel this pain. But the reality is, 226 00:26:25.016 --> 00:26:27.815 here's something that I know about pain that I've learned over time and I'm 227 00:26:27.975 --> 00:26:31.375 applying here. If you look in Romans chapter five, verses three through four, 228 00:26:31.555 --> 00:26:36.535 you'll find that pain with the right perspective can be tremendously valuable. 229 00:26:36.555 --> 00:26:41.255 We hear Paul say that if we rejoice in our suffering because we know that 230 00:26:41.256 --> 00:26:42.815 suffering produces perseverance, 231 00:26:43.285 --> 00:26:46.845 then perseverance will produce character and character will produce hope. 232 00:26:47.345 --> 00:26:49.085 And who doesn't need some hope, 233 00:26:49.175 --> 00:26:51.765 especially in a situation where there's a little pain. 234 00:26:52.345 --> 00:26:55.725 And then practically speaking, let's talk about practical. 235 00:26:55.905 --> 00:26:59.205 If a child touches a hot burner on a stove, what are they immediately gonna do? 236 00:27:00.875 --> 00:27:01.165 Cry. 237 00:27:01.165 --> 00:27:05.325 Draw their hand back and they're gonna remember that and it's gonna be seared 238 00:27:05.326 --> 00:27:07.885 into their brain. Do not touch hot. 239 00:27:08.395 --> 00:27:11.885 Well this pain that I'm feeling and the pain that probably some of you are 240 00:27:11.886 --> 00:27:14.244 feeling is a very specific type. It's called grief. 241 00:27:14.945 --> 00:27:16.925 And for a little while here I wouldn't recognize it as that, 242 00:27:16.926 --> 00:27:17.585 but that's what it is. 243 00:27:17.585 --> 00:27:22.325 And grief is different because is specifically associated with 244 00:27:22.395 --> 00:27:26.105 loss. It's specifically associated with an emptiness. 245 00:27:26.106 --> 00:27:29.545 And I would say that that's how I feel. But guys, when I became a parent, 246 00:27:29.546 --> 00:27:33.545 that's not how this conversation started. It starts with all the fun stuff, 247 00:27:33.605 --> 00:27:37.705 all the things that you imagine it's gonna be like. Starts with um, showers. 248 00:27:37.805 --> 00:27:41.505 And thank goodness this was wasn't a thing. Gender reveal parties. Uh, 249 00:27:41.565 --> 00:27:45.385 too many parties and these tiny Nikes, have you seen the tiny shoes? 250 00:27:46.105 --> 00:27:50.825 It's adorable. What you don't hear a lot is the conversations about grief. 251 00:27:50.885 --> 00:27:53.625 But in the realm of parenting, there actually are plenty of them. 252 00:27:54.015 --> 00:27:58.425 Some of you who are watching online are not here on Mother's Day because it's 253 00:27:58.426 --> 00:27:59.259 just too much. 254 00:27:59.925 --> 00:28:03.545 And I understand that there's things associated in the realm of parenting, 255 00:28:03.546 --> 00:28:06.744 like infertility, actually not being able to become a parent. 256 00:28:06.925 --> 00:28:10.145 You get a diagnosis while you're pregnant that you weren't expecting. 257 00:28:10.146 --> 00:28:13.105 And all of a sudden you realize this might not go exactly as you thought for 258 00:28:13.106 --> 00:28:16.905 your child. Life might be a little harder and you grieve that maybe like me, 259 00:28:17.065 --> 00:28:18.665 you faced a miscarriage at some point. 260 00:28:19.494 --> 00:28:23.435 Or maybe you've done as hard a parenting job as you can and your kids have gone 261 00:28:23.436 --> 00:28:24.244 prodigal. 262 00:28:24.244 --> 00:28:28.475 Maybe you're watching your teenagers struggle with anxiety or mental health or 263 00:28:28.476 --> 00:28:31.355 maybe like me, here you are on the verge of letting go. 264 00:28:32.765 --> 00:28:37.505 And grief is an intruder. Grief is a taker and we don't know what to do with it. 265 00:28:37.506 --> 00:28:40.505 We wanna silence it, we wanna shove it away. We want it to end quickly. 266 00:28:40.725 --> 00:28:43.425 We wanna at least be able to manage it if there's seven steps to it, 267 00:28:43.426 --> 00:28:46.425 where am I and what's next? And how am I gonna deal with that when I get there? 268 00:28:47.265 --> 00:28:48.145 In my experience, 269 00:28:48.805 --> 00:28:51.665 one of the most famous passages of scripture that helps us deal with our grief 270 00:28:52.085 --> 00:28:53.225 is Psalm 23. 271 00:28:53.845 --> 00:28:57.585 And I wanna go through that with you right now and I want you to act like you've 272 00:28:57.586 --> 00:29:00.745 never heard it before. And I want you to put it in the light of parenting. 273 00:29:01.635 --> 00:29:05.825 Psalm 23 says, the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. 274 00:29:06.325 --> 00:29:10.025 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. 275 00:29:10.505 --> 00:29:12.225 He refreshes my soul. 276 00:29:13.135 --> 00:29:15.955 He guides me along the right path for his namesake. 277 00:29:16.495 --> 00:29:18.635 And even though I walk through the darkest valley, 278 00:29:18.835 --> 00:29:22.675 I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff, 279 00:29:22.676 --> 00:29:23.495 they comfort me. 280 00:29:23.495 --> 00:29:26.675 You prepare a table for before me in the presence of my enemies. 281 00:29:26.676 --> 00:29:29.635 You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows. 282 00:29:30.455 --> 00:29:34.075 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will 283 00:29:34.076 --> 00:29:36.275 dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 284 00:29:37.585 --> 00:29:40.645 Now where's the place that you most commonly hear that passage of scripture 285 00:29:40.715 --> 00:29:44.635 read? It's really interactive here. Funerals. 286 00:29:44.636 --> 00:29:46.235 Thank you and funerals. 287 00:29:46.495 --> 00:29:49.395 And when I have been in funerals and I've listened to that passage of scripture, 288 00:29:49.455 --> 00:29:51.635 it has meant something to me and it has been comforting. 289 00:29:51.655 --> 00:29:55.355 So as I took this situation and this grief that I was feeling and tried to apply 290 00:29:55.356 --> 00:29:59.195 it to this passage or have this passage apply to it, I searched for those words. 291 00:29:59.735 --> 00:30:01.235 But you know what happened instead? 292 00:30:01.705 --> 00:30:03.995 That very first line hit me right where it hurts. 293 00:30:04.615 --> 00:30:08.515 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. 294 00:30:09.905 --> 00:30:13.645 Now I felt challenged instantly because I would tell you the Lord is my 295 00:30:13.765 --> 00:30:13.915 shepherd. 296 00:30:13.915 --> 00:30:16.925 I've had the blessing of knowing a relationship with Jesus and having a 297 00:30:16.926 --> 00:30:21.485 relationship with Jesus and since I was a little girl, but here I am wanting 298 00:30:23.145 --> 00:30:24.325 and this says that I won't. 299 00:30:25.155 --> 00:30:27.815 And because I'm wanting and I'm not getting what I want, I'm grieving. 300 00:30:28.905 --> 00:30:33.035 And just as that pain of that hot burner 301 00:30:33.795 --> 00:30:37.115 communicate something to a child, that grief has something to say to me. 302 00:30:37.575 --> 00:30:41.235 And grief has something to say to all of us. And I don't want you to miss this. 303 00:30:41.455 --> 00:30:42.955 And here's what I'm not gonna say. 304 00:30:43.335 --> 00:30:45.955 God does not expect you to go through life without grief. 305 00:30:46.015 --> 00:30:49.155 And I'm not gonna tell you not to grieve and you're not gonna tell me, 306 00:30:49.156 --> 00:30:50.915 and I'm not gonna tell me not to grieve. 307 00:30:51.835 --> 00:30:54.975 But this is what you do need to know about grief. Grief creates a gap, 308 00:30:55.685 --> 00:31:00.015 that gap that has that emptiness attached to it and it forces an important 309 00:31:00.375 --> 00:31:03.375 question. So when you feel that emptiness as a result of grief, 310 00:31:03.405 --> 00:31:07.975 this is what you should be asking yourself. What do I feel that I have lost? 311 00:31:09.165 --> 00:31:13.345 What is it that's creating that gap in the court? In the case of our parenting, 312 00:31:13.346 --> 00:31:18.145 it often is the exact thing that is creating a gap in our trust of our shepherd. 313 00:31:18.805 --> 00:31:21.385 For me, what is it that I'm not trusting? 314 00:31:28.105 --> 00:31:32.845 Perhaps I'm not trusting that Seth will be okay. 315 00:31:34.285 --> 00:31:38.215 Perhaps I'm not trusting that God can feel what I think is gonna be a vacancy 316 00:31:38.365 --> 00:31:40.255 with more goodness than what I could imagine. 317 00:31:41.165 --> 00:31:45.855 Perhaps I'm not trusting that there's even more beauty ahead or that 318 00:31:45.945 --> 00:31:48.815 God's plan is better than the one I would've come up with. 319 00:31:50.195 --> 00:31:54.495 Or maybe I'm not trusting that God could love my child more 320 00:31:55.245 --> 00:31:58.035 than I could. You see, 321 00:31:58.135 --> 00:32:01.515 God has things to do in Seth's life that can't happen if he stays where he is. 322 00:32:02.095 --> 00:32:05.765 And what do I really want from him to stay with me? 323 00:32:06.525 --> 00:32:10.815 Y'all I'm a hot mess. He doesn't need to stay with me. 324 00:32:11.115 --> 00:32:11.948 If he does, 325 00:32:12.155 --> 00:32:15.855 he won't ever reach that place where he feels the feeling of lacking nothing. 326 00:32:16.195 --> 00:32:19.495 And here's where the threat lies for us as parents, the threat. 327 00:32:20.815 --> 00:32:23.705 When I am fearful of him going away, 328 00:32:24.045 --> 00:32:26.825 I'm putting myself in the place that the shepherd, the good shepherd, 329 00:32:26.925 --> 00:32:31.345 is supposed to hold. I am just an under shepherd, a guide, a protector, 330 00:32:31.665 --> 00:32:35.705 a provider for a time. And truthfully that time is probably largely passed. 331 00:32:36.565 --> 00:32:38.945 Really, I'm just an older, wiser sheep 332 00:32:40.555 --> 00:32:45.305 and so are all of us. My job becomes to model well. 333 00:32:45.765 --> 00:32:48.185 And if I'm vulnerable enough as a parent, 334 00:32:48.975 --> 00:32:51.385 then my kids get to see the good shepherd. 335 00:32:51.775 --> 00:32:55.185 Pull me back from mistakes that I've made and forgive. 336 00:32:55.695 --> 00:32:58.605 They get to see me led beside quiet waters. 337 00:32:58.606 --> 00:33:03.245 They get to see me resting and finding comfort and finding a cup that overflows. 338 00:33:03.425 --> 00:33:07.725 And they get to walk alongside me as I walk alongside him and hear his voice 339 00:33:07.726 --> 00:33:11.925 closely enough so that in that proximity they will find 340 00:33:12.835 --> 00:33:15.245 that they understand and know the voice of their shepherd. 341 00:33:15.715 --> 00:33:19.885 Because here's the point that proximity matters because 342 00:33:20.375 --> 00:33:24.215 sheep are dumb. And I'm not just talking about our kids. 343 00:33:24.216 --> 00:33:28.255 Sometimes I'm talking about us. We're dumb. We're prone to wander. 344 00:33:28.595 --> 00:33:31.895 And if we wander away and our kids are following us because that's what sheep 345 00:33:31.915 --> 00:33:33.495 do, we've now led them away. 346 00:33:33.625 --> 00:33:35.775 We've led them away from the voice that they most need to hear. 347 00:33:37.155 --> 00:33:40.165 In the Book of John, we find when uh, 348 00:33:40.166 --> 00:33:43.445 Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd and he says that as the good 349 00:33:43.605 --> 00:33:47.645 shepherd, he lays down his life for his sheep. And then don't miss this. 350 00:33:47.885 --> 00:33:51.845 In that exact same passage he warns that there is a thief who comes only to 351 00:33:51.846 --> 00:33:56.165 steal and kill and destroy that thief. 352 00:33:57.225 --> 00:34:01.995 Look at the thieving of all as he comes to wreck our homes and our kids 353 00:34:01.996 --> 00:34:02.829 future homes. 354 00:34:02.975 --> 00:34:07.115 By having us be the ones who in our own insecurity lead them so far away from 355 00:34:07.116 --> 00:34:07.825 the good shepherd, 356 00:34:07.825 --> 00:34:10.715 that they don't recognize the voice of the one who has laid down his life. 357 00:34:10.715 --> 00:34:14.725 For them, our pride leads them to want to depend on us. 358 00:34:15.225 --> 00:34:18.565 And we get in the way of what it is that God can do in their lives. 359 00:34:18.985 --> 00:34:22.405 The green pastures, the still waters, the rest and the goodness and the mercy. 360 00:34:22.864 --> 00:34:25.485 And when we point out those things instead to our kids, 361 00:34:25.675 --> 00:34:28.685 when we get out of the way and we're willing to share our own failures and what 362 00:34:28.686 --> 00:34:32.844 it is that the good shepherd can do, his voice becomes more familiar than ours. 363 00:34:33.145 --> 00:34:38.114 And when they face something after they leave that they weren't expecting or a 364 00:34:38.235 --> 00:34:39.915 struggle that they didn't know was headed their way, 365 00:34:40.185 --> 00:34:43.155 they will be able to rely on the one who is strong when they are weak 366 00:34:45.305 --> 00:34:47.965 in my own home. As I close here, 367 00:34:47.985 --> 00:34:52.165 I'd love for you to know how it is that we've chosen to practically 368 00:34:53.465 --> 00:34:57.355 approach this. In the book of Nehemiah, there's a story, 369 00:34:57.435 --> 00:34:59.715 I won't get into the whole thing, but the priest, 370 00:35:00.075 --> 00:35:03.235 Ezra has gathered the whole group of people in front of him, the whole assembly, 371 00:35:03.655 --> 00:35:06.235 and they're gathering together to celebrate a new beginning. 372 00:35:06.235 --> 00:35:09.114 And they're celebrating all that it is that they've seen God do. 373 00:35:10.165 --> 00:35:13.425 And as they gather around and he opens God's word taken to you. 374 00:35:13.445 --> 00:35:17.265 I'm taking you to Nehemiah chapter eight. It says, as Ezra opened the book, 375 00:35:17.565 --> 00:35:22.185 the people all stood up. Ezra praised the Lord the great God, 376 00:35:22.186 --> 00:35:25.305 and all the people lifted their hands and responded, amen. Amen. 377 00:35:25.545 --> 00:35:28.505 Then they bowed down and they worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground 378 00:35:30.635 --> 00:35:33.614 and they wept. And when we think about God's goodness, 379 00:35:33.615 --> 00:35:36.495 when we look back over the, our life with our kids, truthfully, 380 00:35:36.614 --> 00:35:39.125 I should be be so thankful that I can even feel sadness. 381 00:35:39.126 --> 00:35:42.965 Because the reason why I am sad is because guys, my kid is amazing. 382 00:35:44.025 --> 00:35:45.325 He is delightful to me. 383 00:35:45.925 --> 00:35:48.864 And I will miss the time that I get to see him on a daily basis. 384 00:35:49.165 --> 00:35:52.185 But I am so excited to see what it is that God can do in his life. 385 00:35:52.525 --> 00:35:54.825 And truthfully together we've seen some things, 386 00:35:56.765 --> 00:36:01.465 feared some things, and I have some fears about his future. That's natural. 387 00:36:01.935 --> 00:36:04.785 It's okay to be sad. We've been in some pastures together. 388 00:36:04.835 --> 00:36:06.825 We've been besides some quiet waters together. 389 00:36:07.165 --> 00:36:10.385 But my good shepherd says that I don't have to want and neither does he. 390 00:36:11.755 --> 00:36:14.515 Nehemiah jumps up as these people are weeping and he says, 391 00:36:15.065 --> 00:36:18.835 this day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep. 392 00:36:19.215 --> 00:36:22.755 Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks because in this sacred day, 393 00:36:23.015 --> 00:36:26.395 you should not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength. 394 00:36:28.175 --> 00:36:29.594 And that's what I wanna leave you with. 395 00:36:30.385 --> 00:36:33.245 As you look back over your life and you reflect on that psalm and you look at 396 00:36:33.246 --> 00:36:36.245 all the things that are hard about your kids or any place in your life right now 397 00:36:36.246 --> 00:36:37.045 that you're grieving, 398 00:36:37.045 --> 00:36:40.885 I want you to focus on the places where you knew confidently that you were being 399 00:36:40.905 --> 00:36:43.125 led by a good shepherd who laid down his life for you. 400 00:36:43.955 --> 00:36:46.895 That's what God wants for you. And that's what he wants for your kids, 401 00:36:47.075 --> 00:36:51.105 is to see his goodness. And mama, 402 00:36:54.055 --> 00:36:57.495 the joy of the Lord is your strength. We're gonna be okay. 403 00:36:59.035 --> 00:36:59.868 Thank you. 404 00:37:07.935 --> 00:37:09.825 Note to self never Father Heather, 405 00:37:09.826 --> 00:37:13.905 Heather Sullivan and a speaking engagement. Hey listen, 406 00:37:14.425 --> 00:37:19.145 men in the room. Um, being a man is not easy. Uh, and I, 407 00:37:19.225 --> 00:37:22.625 I wanna let that sit in 'cause I mean that uh, the world that, 408 00:37:22.626 --> 00:37:25.225 that we're a part of it often expects us to provide, 409 00:37:25.765 --> 00:37:29.585 to protect many times to lead. But then we also have to do so with compassion, 410 00:37:30.135 --> 00:37:32.864 with gentleness, with love. And then by the way, don't make any mistakes. 411 00:37:33.065 --> 00:37:36.185 And whatever you do, don't take an opportunity to let your feelings come out. 412 00:37:36.364 --> 00:37:38.465 And then here's a new one that we're hearing. Listen to this, 413 00:37:39.945 --> 00:37:40.985 masculinity is toxic. 414 00:37:42.305 --> 00:37:45.265 And and I don't wanna trigger anything by that 'cause I know like I'm not for 415 00:37:45.266 --> 00:37:46.985 like alpha males dominating anything, 416 00:37:47.005 --> 00:37:51.545 but we're told it's possible and quite likely that our natural intuitions and 417 00:37:51.546 --> 00:37:53.465 tendencies actually need to be suppressed. 418 00:37:54.864 --> 00:37:57.525 And then we wonder why it feels like families are lacking. 419 00:38:00.094 --> 00:38:04.435 And I would argue that at best there's confusion around and at worse 420 00:38:04.864 --> 00:38:08.195 there's an all out assault on biblical manhood. 421 00:38:09.614 --> 00:38:14.035 And as a result I think we've lost our way as to what's most important for us 422 00:38:15.114 --> 00:38:18.114 as men. You know, the Bible specifically the New Testament, 423 00:38:18.115 --> 00:38:22.315 like there's a few sections that for hundreds of years were referred to as the 424 00:38:22.316 --> 00:38:26.155 household texts and it clearly teaches how we should operate within the 425 00:38:26.156 --> 00:38:29.755 household of God. And so in the few short minutes that I have with you, 426 00:38:29.756 --> 00:38:31.955 what I wanna do is I wanna lift up as high as I can, 427 00:38:32.105 --> 00:38:34.435 kind of this twofold job description, 428 00:38:34.436 --> 00:38:39.205 like the two most important aspects of what it means to be a man inside 429 00:38:39.225 --> 00:38:40.125 the family of God. 430 00:38:40.505 --> 00:38:43.885 And so the text I wanna look at is Ephesians chapter five and six. 431 00:38:44.125 --> 00:38:45.325 And so if you wanna go there, you can, 432 00:38:45.385 --> 00:38:49.085 I'd encourage you go home and read it later. Don't go home now, go home, 433 00:38:49.086 --> 00:38:52.565 read it later. Uh, we only have time to highlight a couple verses, 434 00:38:52.785 --> 00:38:57.085 but if I had to sum up the entire passage for us as men, 435 00:38:57.305 --> 00:39:01.695 it would be this. Here's our twofold job description. Love your wife 436 00:39:03.515 --> 00:39:05.495 and train up your children in the ways of Jesus. 437 00:39:07.055 --> 00:39:11.835 That's what it means to be a man of God. Ephesians 5 25, 438 00:39:11.895 --> 00:39:12.356 it says, 439 00:39:12.356 --> 00:39:17.075 husbands love your wives as Christ love the church and gave himself up for her. 440 00:39:18.275 --> 00:39:21.315 Uh, if you don't know how Jesus loved the church, it is a joy uh, 441 00:39:21.316 --> 00:39:23.875 for me to tell you that the Bible says when we were at our worst, 442 00:39:24.055 --> 00:39:28.075 Christ gave up his life for us. In fact, it says that left to ourselves, uh, 443 00:39:28.215 --> 00:39:32.995 our sin as a result of that we were deserving hell and separation 444 00:39:33.105 --> 00:39:37.035 from God's love. That was the price. But Jesus in love, the Bible says, 445 00:39:37.364 --> 00:39:38.875 while we were still sinners, 446 00:39:40.255 --> 00:39:43.675 he died for us so that we could have new life and a restored relationship with 447 00:39:43.676 --> 00:39:48.315 God. Paul is saying our priority here is men is in the same way to 448 00:39:48.795 --> 00:39:53.685 sacrificially love the woman in our lives that we are married to. Period. 449 00:39:55.125 --> 00:39:58.905 That's number one. Yes we provide, yes we protect. 450 00:39:58.925 --> 00:40:02.265 But see those kinda get worked through the act of loving. 451 00:40:02.405 --> 00:40:03.465 And and here's what I mean. 452 00:40:03.466 --> 00:40:06.105 If you show me a man with a big bank account who's never at home, 453 00:40:07.835 --> 00:40:09.895 or if you show me a man that's built like a castle, 454 00:40:10.215 --> 00:40:11.935 a fortress for the safety of his family, 455 00:40:11.995 --> 00:40:16.175 but he constantly shuts down his wife's dreams, I will show you a broken family. 456 00:40:18.585 --> 00:40:23.075 God's plan is for our wives to experience the gospel 457 00:40:23.635 --> 00:40:28.395 in a bit of the tangible love and grace of God through us as their husband. 458 00:40:30.195 --> 00:40:33.485 Now I know this can be hard. 459 00:40:33.745 --> 00:40:36.885 And so for the love of God, don't say this out loud, okay? 460 00:40:36.886 --> 00:40:41.565 Especially on Mother's Day weekend. But you might be thinking, but Jason, 461 00:40:42.195 --> 00:40:46.185 sometimes my wife is hard to love. Listen to me. 462 00:40:47.805 --> 00:40:51.435 That's the point. Okay? So are you and so am I. 463 00:40:51.436 --> 00:40:53.235 The Bible says in our worst moment, 464 00:40:53.655 --> 00:40:57.035 Christ died for us and we're called to love in the same way. 465 00:40:57.055 --> 00:41:02.035 So we have a unique call as the husband to model that love for our family and to 466 00:41:02.036 --> 00:41:06.315 show that love to our wives. That's the foundation of how families thrive. 467 00:41:07.415 --> 00:41:11.145 Men, we gotta love our wives. What else does Paul say? 468 00:41:12.344 --> 00:41:15.114 Ephesians six verse four. It says, fathers, 469 00:41:16.195 --> 00:41:20.775 do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the 470 00:41:20.776 --> 00:41:23.775 discipline and in the instruction of the Lord. 471 00:41:24.975 --> 00:41:29.385 What does it mean to provoke to anger? Uh, here's what I know. 472 00:41:30.025 --> 00:41:32.985 Uh, as a dad, it is easy to be overly critical, 473 00:41:33.125 --> 00:41:34.905 critical just by a show of hands, 474 00:41:34.925 --> 00:41:39.275 how many of us like it when people are overly critical with us? Okay, 475 00:41:39.605 --> 00:41:42.475 small crowd. So I don't think this is on purpose. Now, 476 00:41:42.476 --> 00:41:44.835 some of us were raised this way and we get it and they get stuck in this. 477 00:41:44.836 --> 00:41:46.594 I don't think this is on purpose, but as men, 478 00:41:46.595 --> 00:41:49.915 we get busy and in the midst of our busyness, we feel this pressure, right? 479 00:41:49.916 --> 00:41:53.955 To see our kids succeed in school and sports and whatever it is. But, 480 00:41:53.975 --> 00:41:58.915 but what happens often is our expectations create this tension 481 00:41:59.425 --> 00:42:04.145 that our busyness will not allow us to resolve. See, 482 00:42:04.146 --> 00:42:06.545 like we have this tension of what we want to see our kids do, 483 00:42:06.546 --> 00:42:09.265 but we're not investing. And so we get frustrated and if we're honest, 484 00:42:09.266 --> 00:42:12.465 we spend more time saying do this, don't do that, don't do this. 485 00:42:12.585 --> 00:42:16.065 I can't believe I'm having to tell you again to do the same thing. 486 00:42:17.285 --> 00:42:20.864 And the reality is our children, 487 00:42:21.875 --> 00:42:25.245 like they have this prefrontal cortex that's not connected yet. 488 00:42:26.685 --> 00:42:28.025 And so if no one's told you this, 489 00:42:28.885 --> 00:42:33.225 you're going to have to tell your children a lot of things, a lot of times. 490 00:42:35.495 --> 00:42:35.916 And this, 491 00:42:35.916 --> 00:42:39.515 what this is saying is you're gonna have to work against that leading you to a 492 00:42:39.516 --> 00:42:44.114 place of being overly harsh. I mean this is essentially saying, Hey, 493 00:42:44.165 --> 00:42:46.995 let's ensure that our interactions are as loving and as emotional, 494 00:42:46.996 --> 00:42:50.395 as emotionally healthy with our children as they can possibly be. 495 00:42:50.396 --> 00:42:55.225 Sometimes the best thing to do as a parent is to stop and 496 00:42:55.226 --> 00:42:58.485 take a deep breath and be firm 497 00:43:00.215 --> 00:43:01.048 yet gentle. 498 00:43:03.844 --> 00:43:06.285 What else Paul goes on to say, 499 00:43:06.286 --> 00:43:09.485 but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 500 00:43:11.485 --> 00:43:12.318 Men. 501 00:43:12.344 --> 00:43:16.844 Our responsibility as dads is not to make sure that our kids get straight A's. 502 00:43:17.675 --> 00:43:20.125 It's not to make sure that they get a scholarship to college. 503 00:43:20.195 --> 00:43:23.685 It's not even to make sure that they do good on the family name. 504 00:43:24.225 --> 00:43:26.565 Our responsibility within the family of God is this. 505 00:43:27.485 --> 00:43:29.485 It's to point our children towards the ways of Jesus. 506 00:43:30.065 --> 00:43:34.315 That's our call like that is on our job description before God. 507 00:43:34.335 --> 00:43:36.795 And I know for a lot of us that can be intimidating, 508 00:43:37.475 --> 00:43:40.655 but I want you to hear me say the next to loving your wife. 509 00:43:41.795 --> 00:43:46.355 It is the most important work that you'll ever do. Listen, 510 00:43:46.745 --> 00:43:51.705 none of us would show up as men at our jobs and say, Hey boss, listen, 511 00:43:52.465 --> 00:43:54.325 I really appreciate the paycheck, 512 00:43:54.545 --> 00:43:57.805 but this new assignment that you've given to me, it's a little bit intimidating. 513 00:43:58.145 --> 00:43:59.765 And so if it's okay, I'm just gonna hang. 514 00:44:00.065 --> 00:44:02.925 I'm just gonna hang back and I'm gonna hope that somebody else picks up the 515 00:44:02.926 --> 00:44:04.565 slack for me. Like we're not gonna do that. 516 00:44:07.475 --> 00:44:10.675 But for some reason as it relates to this topic, like we, 517 00:44:10.676 --> 00:44:13.875 we kind of sit back and we think maybe someone else will do it. Listen to me. 518 00:44:14.605 --> 00:44:15.545 No one else can do it. 519 00:44:15.935 --> 00:44:19.745 Like we have a responsibility before God and our children look to us in a 520 00:44:19.746 --> 00:44:20.525 certain way. 521 00:44:20.525 --> 00:44:24.425 No one else can call them into the ways of Jesus the way that we can. And again, 522 00:44:24.426 --> 00:44:25.344 I know it's intimidating, 523 00:44:25.345 --> 00:44:29.425 but what this really means is ensuring that our children both know and see the 524 00:44:29.426 --> 00:44:32.885 gospel lived out in in their families, in your family. 525 00:44:33.585 --> 00:44:37.795 And what's the best way that they can see that? Going back to number one, 526 00:44:38.094 --> 00:44:42.555 seeing you sacrificially love your wife the way that Jesus loved the church, 527 00:44:45.315 --> 00:44:48.114 I wanna give you some practical things really quickly 'cause I know that this 528 00:44:48.115 --> 00:44:49.995 can be like, okay, great, it's Father's Day. 529 00:44:50.114 --> 00:44:53.035 I was going to church with my wife and I thought it would be an encouraging 530 00:44:53.036 --> 00:44:54.035 thing and now you're challenging me. 531 00:44:54.094 --> 00:44:56.355 That's because you guys won't come to church on Father's Day. 532 00:44:56.655 --> 00:44:59.995 You golf and go fishing. And so we're gonna hit it on Mother's Day. 533 00:45:00.295 --> 00:45:05.155 So three things we gotta do here. One we gotta read our Bibles is men. 534 00:45:05.215 --> 00:45:09.075 I'm just telling you that we have no chance at loving our wives the way that 535 00:45:09.235 --> 00:45:11.915 Christ loved the church or pointing our kids towards the ways of Jesus. 536 00:45:12.055 --> 00:45:16.035 If we're not spending time getting to know the ways of Jesus and whether you 537 00:45:16.036 --> 00:45:19.195 know it or not, the world is gonna throw stuff at us and it's gonna distract us. 538 00:45:19.335 --> 00:45:23.275 And the Bible says that we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. 539 00:45:23.364 --> 00:45:26.114 We've got to get into the word of God. So you might think, man, that's hard. 540 00:45:26.145 --> 00:45:28.475 I've never done that before. You're a man. 541 00:45:28.855 --> 00:45:32.665 We can do hard things and what's gonna happen is you're gonna get into the word 542 00:45:32.666 --> 00:45:33.585 of God and it's gonna be, 543 00:45:33.586 --> 00:45:36.985 it says it's gonna be like honey on our lips and we're wanting to go back to it 544 00:45:37.085 --> 00:45:39.905 and go back to it. That's number one. We've gotta read our Bible. Secondly, 545 00:45:40.055 --> 00:45:40.888 find a mentor. 546 00:45:41.735 --> 00:45:45.505 Look around and find somebody who's been on this earth a little bit longer that 547 00:45:45.506 --> 00:45:49.785 you have and whose marriage is still intact and seems to be thriving. And man, 548 00:45:49.945 --> 00:45:52.305 as a bonus, have children that are following the Lord and say, Hey, 549 00:45:52.525 --> 00:45:57.105 can you please help me? And if you are that person, 550 00:45:57.285 --> 00:45:58.465 if you're on the other side, 551 00:45:58.466 --> 00:46:01.985 if you've got a little bit of gray hair I do in my beard, uh, 552 00:46:01.986 --> 00:46:05.425 and you and your marriage is still intact and by God's grace and mercy 553 00:46:05.525 --> 00:46:07.065 you have children that are following the Lord, 554 00:46:07.255 --> 00:46:10.425 look around and find another young whipper snapper and say, listen, 555 00:46:10.825 --> 00:46:12.185 I know what you're about to go through. 556 00:46:12.625 --> 00:46:17.005 I would love to help point you into the ways of Jesus and help you find someone. 557 00:46:17.125 --> 00:46:19.245 I want you to know I'm trying to practice what I preach. 558 00:46:19.425 --> 00:46:21.005 I'm starting a new small group, 559 00:46:21.085 --> 00:46:25.965 a discipleship group for young dads ages 25 to 35. I've got five, 560 00:46:26.105 --> 00:46:29.005 I'm looking for 12. And so if you fit that demographic newly married, 561 00:46:29.006 --> 00:46:31.885 you've got kids on the way or young kids, I would love to talk with you. 562 00:46:31.945 --> 00:46:35.765 See what God might be doing. My email address is Jason g@gethope.net. 563 00:46:35.955 --> 00:46:39.445 Drop me in line and we'll see what we can do. But man, find a mentor. Third, 564 00:46:40.114 --> 00:46:42.405 this is like low hanging fruit for every one of us. 565 00:46:43.505 --> 00:46:48.445 We created a resource here at Hope. It's an app, it's called Hope in Real Life, 566 00:46:49.125 --> 00:46:51.045 right? And if you're thinking, man, I don't know how to read the Bible. 567 00:46:51.225 --> 00:46:54.925 Inside of this app is a daily Bible reading plan. Uh, 568 00:46:54.926 --> 00:46:58.045 there's a growth track for what it means to grow in your relationship with 569 00:46:58.046 --> 00:47:02.005 Jesus. There's a masterclass for how to build a MAs that thrives. 570 00:47:02.006 --> 00:47:05.125 There's a masterclass for how to parent God's way. Uh, 571 00:47:05.126 --> 00:47:09.005 there's a link inside of it to our podcast that we do where you've got me ho 572 00:47:09.006 --> 00:47:13.765 interviewing other guests who can help you find hope in the everyday areas 573 00:47:13.864 --> 00:47:16.765 of your life. And so this, again, low hanging fruit wives, 574 00:47:17.585 --> 00:47:20.885 if you're a mother Happy Mother's Day to you, hold them accountable. 575 00:47:21.645 --> 00:47:22.885 Download this app, super simple, 576 00:47:23.275 --> 00:47:26.725 text the word app to 7 2 9 8 9. 577 00:47:27.405 --> 00:47:30.925 The link will be sent to your phone, a PP to seven two nine eight nine. 578 00:47:30.926 --> 00:47:34.525 The link will be sent to your phone and you can jump in, follow along. 579 00:47:34.825 --> 00:47:39.015 I'm telling you it will be bene beneficial for you. Listen again, 580 00:47:39.094 --> 00:47:41.135 I know this can be intimidating. Um, 581 00:47:41.455 --> 00:47:43.975 I do want to show you one other resource that might offer you some 582 00:47:44.135 --> 00:47:45.935 encouragement. I stumbled across this book this week. 583 00:47:49.325 --> 00:47:51.765 There are dads way worse than you. So for those of you that are listening, 584 00:47:51.766 --> 00:47:55.405 there's a book I found and it has a picture of Darth Vader who cut off Luke 585 00:47:55.406 --> 00:47:58.285 Skywalker's hand. He did that as a dad. Chances are you haven't done that. 586 00:47:58.305 --> 00:48:02.085 Listen a moment of levity for us. I know this can be intimidating. 587 00:48:02.485 --> 00:48:03.885 I know that a lot of you're thinking, man, 588 00:48:03.945 --> 00:48:06.205 no one showed me how to do this God's way. 589 00:48:06.425 --> 00:48:09.525 And you probably feel like you've blown it and you probably feel like, man, 590 00:48:09.526 --> 00:48:11.925 there's no way that I can actually be this kind of parent. 591 00:48:11.926 --> 00:48:15.445 And this is a time if you're a wife or maybe you reach over and grab your 592 00:48:15.446 --> 00:48:17.645 husband's hand. But I want you to look at me for a minute. 593 00:48:19.245 --> 00:48:24.145 That's a lie from the enemy because he doesn't want you to step into what it is 594 00:48:24.146 --> 00:48:25.105 that God has for you. 595 00:48:25.125 --> 00:48:28.745 I'm reminded of Paul's words in Second Corinthians chapter 12, nine, 596 00:48:28.795 --> 00:48:31.385 where he says, but he said to me, God said to Paul, 597 00:48:32.305 --> 00:48:35.945 my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect and weakness. 598 00:48:36.125 --> 00:48:37.025 So then Paul says, 599 00:48:37.026 --> 00:48:41.785 therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's 600 00:48:41.786 --> 00:48:44.185 power may rest on me. And you, 601 00:48:44.385 --> 00:48:47.465 what you need to know is you are both stronger than you realize, 602 00:48:47.765 --> 00:48:51.265 but also in desperate need more than you realize of the grace of Jesus. 603 00:48:51.665 --> 00:48:52.485 And as men of God, 604 00:48:52.485 --> 00:48:56.025 the place that we need to stand is both in the front of the cross of Christ and 605 00:48:56.026 --> 00:48:59.625 beside an empty tomb. And know that we can go to Jesus and say, Lord, 606 00:48:59.745 --> 00:49:04.145 I need to call on that resurrecting power to fill me in my life and to give me 607 00:49:04.146 --> 00:49:06.705 the strength to live the life that you've called me to live. Men. 608 00:49:06.706 --> 00:49:11.665 Could you imagine if this church was filled with men who loved our wives 609 00:49:11.885 --> 00:49:16.225 as Christ loved the church and who trained up our children in the ways of Jesus? 610 00:49:16.605 --> 00:49:19.425 Our families are desperate for it. Our community is desperate for it. 611 00:49:19.565 --> 00:49:22.145 Our world is desperate for it men. Let's be that church. 612 00:49:22.165 --> 00:49:25.625 If we can do anything to help you, please let us know. Love you guys again. 613 00:49:25.626 --> 00:49:26.459 Happy Mother's Day. 614 00:49:34.555 --> 00:49:37.155 Alright, before we get too far into this, uh, children in the room, 615 00:49:37.156 --> 00:49:39.955 do me a favor. I need you to raise your hand for me. As a matter of fact, 616 00:49:39.956 --> 00:49:42.635 I want you to stand up children in the room. Go ahead and stand up for me. 617 00:49:43.864 --> 00:49:47.545 'cause I wanna tell you something, um, before we get too far into this thing, 618 00:49:49.145 --> 00:49:52.105 uh, you are a valuable part of Hope Community Church 619 00:49:53.645 --> 00:49:57.415 like you are, hope . Uh, 620 00:49:57.416 --> 00:49:59.094 we don't think of you as anything less than, 621 00:49:59.095 --> 00:50:00.455 we don't think of you as second rate. 622 00:50:00.456 --> 00:50:04.855 You are a part of the church and I can't express to you how glad we are that 623 00:50:04.856 --> 00:50:07.455 you're here. Now, what I wanna do for the next few minutes, and I'll be honest, 624 00:50:07.456 --> 00:50:10.335 stay standing for just a second, is, uh, we don't do this very often. 625 00:50:10.364 --> 00:50:12.255 This is actually something we could be better at. 626 00:50:12.955 --> 00:50:15.375 But I don't wanna just talk about you for the next few minutes. 627 00:50:15.895 --> 00:50:17.855 I want to talk to you, okay? 628 00:50:18.945 --> 00:50:23.125 And not talking about you talking to you. I want to tell you, 629 00:50:24.255 --> 00:50:28.925 raising and dealing with children is tough. Okay? 630 00:50:28.926 --> 00:50:30.364 You can go ahead and grab a seat. , 631 00:50:31.395 --> 00:50:36.364 raising and dealing with children is tough. It's a lot of hard work. 632 00:50:36.465 --> 00:50:38.645 And I know some of you guys already know this. 633 00:50:38.795 --> 00:50:41.085 When I was working with middle schoolers over at the Apex campus, 634 00:50:41.086 --> 00:50:42.125 like the nine 30 service, 635 00:50:42.355 --> 00:50:44.565 some of our middle schoolers were going serving Kids City. 636 00:50:44.566 --> 00:50:48.364 And then I would see them at 1115 and I'm like, dude, do you need a cigarette? 637 00:50:48.365 --> 00:50:50.205 Like you're 12, what's wrong with you? And he's like, 638 00:50:50.206 --> 00:50:51.844 I've been dealing with five year olds all day. 639 00:50:52.075 --> 00:50:54.885 Even a 12-year-old knows that a 5-year-old, 640 00:50:55.045 --> 00:50:59.745 a 6-year-old is a lot of tough work. And I want you to know, 641 00:50:59.785 --> 00:51:02.465 I just want to invite you into the perspective of your parents for just a moment 642 00:51:02.466 --> 00:51:05.864 to let you know that raising you is tough work. 643 00:51:05.865 --> 00:51:07.105 And so here's what I want us to do, okay? 644 00:51:07.106 --> 00:51:09.265 I want everybody to take part in this game. 645 00:51:09.614 --> 00:51:11.225 Whether your kids are with you or not, 646 00:51:11.425 --> 00:51:13.305 I want you to turn to the person that's sitting next with you. 647 00:51:13.306 --> 00:51:15.745 If your kids are with you, have kind of a family moment here, 648 00:51:15.925 --> 00:51:19.705 and I'm gonna give you 30 seconds and all I want you to talk about, 649 00:51:20.065 --> 00:51:21.265 I actually want you to participate in this. 650 00:51:21.455 --> 00:51:26.185 Take 30 seconds and talk about what do you do for 651 00:51:26.186 --> 00:51:29.255 your children in a given week, okay? 652 00:51:29.256 --> 00:51:32.055 Just list off as many things as you possibly can. Ready? 653 00:51:32.056 --> 00:51:33.415 30 seconds on the clock go. 654 00:51:38.775 --> 00:51:41.114 If you're sitting with your spouse, you and your spouse can talk about it. 655 00:51:41.115 --> 00:51:42.755 If you're here by yourself, go ahead and just, 656 00:51:42.765 --> 00:51:45.114 maybe you can turn to a neighbor sitting next to you and think through it. 657 00:51:46.625 --> 00:51:47.875 Give you about 10 more seconds. 658 00:51:54.625 --> 00:51:57.995 Okay? Listen, I I couldn't hear every conversation specifically, 659 00:51:57.996 --> 00:52:02.995 but if I had to guess, uh, my guess would be to summarize all of it. 660 00:52:03.395 --> 00:52:04.475 Uh, when you were a baby, 661 00:52:04.715 --> 00:52:06.515 I cleaned up your poop and I haven't stopped ever since. 662 00:52:06.695 --> 00:52:10.995 That's basically what it means to be a parent. Now, I don't know this firsthand. 663 00:52:11.114 --> 00:52:13.795 I, I don't have kids. I am excited to announce my wife Morgan. 664 00:52:13.805 --> 00:52:16.195 We're expecting our first in September of this year. 665 00:52:16.335 --> 00:52:18.035 So really looking forward to that. Thank you. 666 00:52:18.735 --> 00:52:23.635 But here's how I know it's tough raising children because I've been one 667 00:52:23.636 --> 00:52:24.755 my entire life, . 668 00:52:25.215 --> 00:52:29.685 And I could just see looking at the life of my single mother who raised me, 669 00:52:29.785 --> 00:52:31.245 how tough it is. Now, 670 00:52:31.246 --> 00:52:34.565 on top of all of those things that parents that you listed earlier, kids, 671 00:52:34.566 --> 00:52:38.205 what I want you to understand is on top of that long laundry list of things, 672 00:52:38.925 --> 00:52:40.935 your parent is still a person as well. 673 00:52:42.255 --> 00:52:45.715 So on top of all of that stuff, uh, they still have emotions. 674 00:52:46.225 --> 00:52:48.985 They still have a marriage to maintain. 675 00:52:49.765 --> 00:52:54.555 They still have a walk with the Lord to keep up with. They still have, uh, 676 00:52:54.614 --> 00:52:58.715 mental health issues that they're dealing with and annoying people at work with 677 00:52:58.716 --> 00:53:01.395 problems that they feel like they need to solve for them. And on top of that, 678 00:53:01.396 --> 00:53:03.435 they need to bring you to soccer practice four times a week. 679 00:53:04.895 --> 00:53:07.745 Raising kids is tough work. 680 00:53:08.795 --> 00:53:11.495 But as I read the Bible, I realize that as Christian parents, 681 00:53:11.496 --> 00:53:13.295 there's an extra layer that comes to this. 682 00:53:13.296 --> 00:53:16.015 And we learned that from the verse that Jason just read a few minutes ago. 683 00:53:16.015 --> 00:53:18.335 Ephesians six, four, uh, we're not gonna read it, 684 00:53:18.336 --> 00:53:20.614 but if we can throw it up on the screen so you can be reminded of it, 685 00:53:20.645 --> 00:53:23.335 they're reminded that they're not supposed to provoke you to anger, 686 00:53:23.435 --> 00:53:27.245 to discipline, or they are to, to, uh, discipline you and instruct you. 687 00:53:27.505 --> 00:53:30.844 So when your parents are disciplining you and instructing you, 688 00:53:30.915 --> 00:53:32.885 they're not trying to ruin your life. 689 00:53:34.175 --> 00:53:38.225 They're doing what God has placed them in your life to do. 690 00:53:38.935 --> 00:53:40.635 And I don't know if you've ever thought about it this way before, 691 00:53:41.215 --> 00:53:45.665 but your parents are God's assigned 692 00:53:46.165 --> 00:53:50.405 people given to you to help mold you into the image of Jesus. 693 00:53:51.805 --> 00:53:54.265 That's actually who your parents are. Now, 694 00:53:54.266 --> 00:53:56.745 they're not always gonna get it right because they're broken and fallen people. 695 00:53:56.746 --> 00:54:00.945 And guess what? So are you. And so this verse Ephesians six, 696 00:54:00.946 --> 00:54:03.305 four that Jason read for us, it talks about, yeah, 697 00:54:03.325 --> 00:54:06.945 all the responsibilities on the fathers, you gotta do this, you gotta, yeah. 698 00:54:06.965 --> 00:54:09.465 But right before that, in Ephesians six, one through three, 699 00:54:09.594 --> 00:54:11.385 let's read what it says together. It says, 700 00:54:12.265 --> 00:54:15.465 children obey your parents in the Lord. For this is right, 701 00:54:16.805 --> 00:54:18.475 honor your father and mother. 702 00:54:18.705 --> 00:54:21.995 This is the first commandment with a promise that it may go well with you and 703 00:54:21.996 --> 00:54:23.795 that you may live long in the land. 704 00:54:23.895 --> 00:54:26.195 And then that's when we get to verse four where he talks about fathers, 705 00:54:26.196 --> 00:54:29.325 don't provoke your kids to angry discipline. 'em instruct them. See, 706 00:54:29.326 --> 00:54:31.525 the command is not just given to the parents, 707 00:54:31.635 --> 00:54:33.165 it's actually given to you as well. 708 00:54:33.675 --> 00:54:38.645 Because together a healthy family is when both the parents and the 709 00:54:38.646 --> 00:54:43.594 kids cooperate with each other to live the type of lives that Jesus has 710 00:54:43.755 --> 00:54:46.175 designed them to live. If I was Paul, 711 00:54:46.255 --> 00:54:48.735 I would've paraphrase this a little bit differently. I would've said, yo, 712 00:54:48.995 --> 00:54:53.795 cut your parents a break. Or if you wanna get a little more eloquent, 713 00:54:53.915 --> 00:54:56.355 I would say, help your parents be better parents. 714 00:54:57.864 --> 00:55:02.705 What can you do to help them parent you and lead you 715 00:55:02.844 --> 00:55:05.945 better? Paul gives us two words. He says, 716 00:55:06.655 --> 00:55:11.175 obey and honor. And I don't know if you've noticed this, 717 00:55:11.235 --> 00:55:15.295 but I said I was talking to the kids in the room, but a lot of times I say we. 718 00:55:15.315 --> 00:55:18.614 And the reason why is because I recognize in this room this weekend and, 719 00:55:18.675 --> 00:55:20.535 and over all of our campuses watching online, 720 00:55:20.795 --> 00:55:24.135 not everyone listening is or will ever be a mother. 721 00:55:25.585 --> 00:55:27.765 Not everyone is or will ever be a father. 722 00:55:29.045 --> 00:55:33.485 Every person who has ever lived will be a child with parents, 723 00:55:33.955 --> 00:55:35.445 with a mom and with a dad. 724 00:55:35.665 --> 00:55:40.125 And there's a way that God commands us to live in that relationship. 725 00:55:40.126 --> 00:55:43.565 And that is to obey and to honor none of the obedience part. 726 00:55:43.565 --> 00:55:46.765 This happens right out the womb, right? It feels like from day one, 727 00:55:46.766 --> 00:55:49.285 your parents have been telling you, Hey, can you just listen , 728 00:55:49.705 --> 00:55:53.685 can you obey? But I want you to think about this through a different lens. 729 00:55:53.805 --> 00:55:58.805 I want you to see being obedient to your parents is more than just doing what 730 00:55:58.806 --> 00:56:01.205 they tell you to do. Instead look at it as, man, 731 00:56:01.405 --> 00:56:04.805 I I actually get to honor God by the way I treat my mom and dad. 732 00:56:06.325 --> 00:56:10.685 That's what obedience is. When you obey your parents, 733 00:56:11.864 --> 00:56:14.315 it's not just behavior modification and saying, oh, 734 00:56:14.335 --> 00:56:16.715 I'm gonna grit my teeth so that they don't yell at me. It's thing, 735 00:56:16.785 --> 00:56:18.835 it's it's shifting your mind to realize, man, 736 00:56:18.875 --> 00:56:23.005 I actually wanna live in a way that brings honor to God. And the number, 737 00:56:23.035 --> 00:56:26.114 number one place where you can do that most often is at home. 738 00:56:27.105 --> 00:56:28.864 'cause your parents are the ones you're gonna spend the most time with. 739 00:56:30.355 --> 00:56:33.315 And then the second layer of this, I think Paul knows what he's doing, 740 00:56:33.415 --> 00:56:35.755 he raises the stakes a little bit. He says, Hey, I actually, 741 00:56:36.114 --> 00:56:39.925 I don't want you to just obey your parents, I want you to honor them. 742 00:56:41.555 --> 00:56:42.435 And just really quick, man, 743 00:56:43.395 --> 00:56:47.415 I feel like the obedience part is the thing that I really had to work hard at 744 00:56:47.416 --> 00:56:50.805 when I was a kid. But now that I'm older, 745 00:56:51.905 --> 00:56:55.035 but still a child now, 746 00:56:55.105 --> 00:56:59.295 it's the honor part where it feels like, man, God is really working on my heart. 747 00:57:01.195 --> 00:57:04.594 Where even despite the times when I agree or disagree with my parents, 748 00:57:04.835 --> 00:57:08.515 I still have a responsibility to honor them. This word honor, uh, 749 00:57:08.575 --> 00:57:13.114 to honor someone, it means to recognize or place value in them. 750 00:57:14.495 --> 00:57:17.275 And I just wanna ask you kids, do you, kids of all ages, 751 00:57:18.145 --> 00:57:20.365 do you view your parents with value? 752 00:57:21.935 --> 00:57:26.475 Do you recognize that they're people trying their best to honor God and 753 00:57:26.965 --> 00:57:28.245 they're not always gonna get it right? 754 00:57:30.445 --> 00:57:32.225 We have a responsibility to honor them. I've, 755 00:57:32.226 --> 00:57:34.985 I've actually had the experience this very recently in my own life. 756 00:57:35.065 --> 00:57:39.105 I mentioned earlier that Morgan is pregnant and, uh, my, my father, um, 757 00:57:39.165 --> 00:57:41.745 who I've never had a great relationship with, um, 758 00:57:41.885 --> 00:57:44.305 him and my mom were never married, but, um, 759 00:57:44.455 --> 00:57:47.665 he's kind of been around just kind of in the background from time to time. 760 00:57:47.965 --> 00:57:52.765 He and I haven't talked in almost two years. And I just knew, 761 00:57:53.105 --> 00:57:53.938 I'm like, man, 762 00:57:54.165 --> 00:57:57.885 I don't want this guy to find out about his grandchild on social media. 763 00:57:59.055 --> 00:58:01.995 And so as much as I didn't want to do it, I said, well, 764 00:58:01.996 --> 00:58:03.515 the honorable thing that I have to do right now is I, 765 00:58:03.595 --> 00:58:05.355 I have to give him that phone call and I have to tell him, 766 00:58:05.356 --> 00:58:07.475 and lemme tell you the conversation. It was brief, 767 00:58:08.095 --> 00:58:10.515 it ended with congratulations. And I love yous, 768 00:58:10.516 --> 00:58:12.195 and I don't know the next time we're gonna talk again. 769 00:58:13.545 --> 00:58:17.205 But I know that in that moment, that was the honorable thing to do. 770 00:58:17.305 --> 00:58:19.325 Not because of the way he had previously treated me, 771 00:58:19.425 --> 00:58:23.925 but because of how I knew God called me to place value in him as a human being. 772 00:58:25.945 --> 00:58:30.335 My mom, I recently, like just as soon as this week, uh, 773 00:58:30.395 --> 00:58:35.395 my mom and I got in one of the biggest arguments that we've ever been in and 774 00:58:35.535 --> 00:58:37.915 in the problem solving in that, of saying, okay, 775 00:58:37.935 --> 00:58:40.955 how do we move forward because I care deeply about you, man, 776 00:58:40.956 --> 00:58:43.875 we've had to try a couple of different things. Like I texted her and I said, 777 00:58:43.876 --> 00:58:46.235 Hey, listen, I can't call you because I know if I call you, 778 00:58:46.236 --> 00:58:47.835 we're just gonna get into another shouting match. 779 00:58:47.975 --> 00:58:51.115 But I want to text you so that I can voice my concerns and you can read them and 780 00:58:51.116 --> 00:58:51.735 understand them. 781 00:58:51.735 --> 00:58:55.115 And I want you to do the same thing so I can read you and understand you without 782 00:58:55.515 --> 00:58:58.835 us shouting over each other. Listen, is that the ideal way to communicate? No. 783 00:58:58.935 --> 00:59:03.875 But is it what I'm capable of right now in order to show honor to her? Yes. So 784 00:59:05.445 --> 00:59:09.325 what does it look like in your context to honor your parents? 785 00:59:09.525 --> 00:59:13.845 I wanna go ahead and invite Heather and Jason to come back out here because, uh, 786 00:59:13.925 --> 00:59:17.725 I, I recognize that this is not an easy topic for everyone, 787 00:59:19.795 --> 00:59:22.405 honoring parents who I, I don't know your situation. 788 00:59:22.406 --> 00:59:24.485 Maybe they aren't even around. Maybe they skipped out on you. 789 00:59:24.486 --> 00:59:27.325 Maybe they did something horrible to you. I don't know what it is, 790 00:59:27.326 --> 00:59:29.725 but that is something that man, lemme tell you, honor, 791 00:59:29.795 --> 00:59:31.325 like we can't conjure up honor. 792 00:59:33.175 --> 00:59:35.545 This is something that Jesus has to cultivate in us. 793 00:59:35.546 --> 00:59:37.505 And so I just wanted these two up here to be able to, 794 00:59:37.645 --> 00:59:39.745 to look at you as a church family and say, 795 00:59:40.005 --> 00:59:44.225 if you need people to walk with you through that process to say, Hey, 796 00:59:44.226 --> 00:59:46.345 I've been walking with Jesus and now I wanna walk with you two. 797 00:59:46.585 --> 00:59:48.185 And so you two can meet and they can show, 798 00:59:48.285 --> 00:59:51.545 he can show you how to honor your parents. Well, as a church, 799 00:59:51.685 --> 00:59:52.705 we want to be there for you. 800 00:59:55.575 --> 00:59:57.075 You know, one of the most, uh, 801 00:59:57.685 --> 01:00:02.445 clear narratives in scripture is that God's desire is for his people 802 01:00:02.505 --> 01:00:04.005 to be a family of families. 803 01:00:04.965 --> 01:00:07.725 And then that only happens when we actually get into God's word and we say, 804 01:00:07.726 --> 01:00:09.445 okay, good. What is it that you has for us? 805 01:00:09.465 --> 01:00:13.885 And so that's why this time is so important. Uh, many of you may not know this. 806 01:00:14.145 --> 01:00:16.885 We, um, have elders here at hope and, 807 01:00:16.945 --> 01:00:21.765 and regularly we get together and we actually just spend time in prayer for 808 01:00:21.766 --> 01:00:26.125 the families of hope. And so I was thinking, man, this week, uh, 809 01:00:26.126 --> 01:00:29.245 we're spending the whole weekend talking about families. 810 01:00:29.246 --> 01:00:30.165 How appropriate it would, 811 01:00:30.166 --> 01:00:34.085 would it be just to have a couple of the elders and their spouses come up and 812 01:00:34.285 --> 01:00:38.085 actually pray for the families of our church? And so coming up here now, 813 01:00:38.105 --> 01:00:42.885 we have, uh, Carl and Gail Wilkins and Jay and Debbie Jennings, 814 01:00:42.886 --> 01:00:46.965 if you all wanna go ahead and come on out and, uh, don't be shy. 815 01:00:51.265 --> 01:00:54.285 Listen, I want you to know these are, uh, they would never want me to say this, 816 01:00:54.385 --> 01:00:58.325 but these are some of the most godly men and women that I've ever walked 817 01:00:58.355 --> 01:01:02.885 alongside of in my life. And they care deeply about the things of God. 818 01:01:02.886 --> 01:01:07.325 And they care deeply about this church experiencing what it is that God has for 819 01:01:07.326 --> 01:01:10.445 them in our lives. It's a privilege to be able to serve alongside of you all. 820 01:01:10.725 --> 01:01:12.005 Karl love. If you all would pray for us. 821 01:01:14.205 --> 01:01:16.885 Heavenly Father, we know you are good. 822 01:01:18.665 --> 01:01:22.765 And as part of creation, you created man in the family and you said it was good. 823 01:01:24.465 --> 01:01:28.485 We believe that then. And we believe it now. Father, 824 01:01:28.545 --> 01:01:32.365 we thank you that we put all the families at hope at the Raleigh campus, 825 01:01:33.345 --> 01:01:37.725 garner Apex, Fuqua Verina, Northwest car, 826 01:01:38.265 --> 01:01:40.525 and all the extended families who are listening today. 827 01:01:41.485 --> 01:01:46.125 We put every family in your capable hands where they can be nurtured, 828 01:01:47.395 --> 01:01:50.965 protected, where they can be led by you in your word. 829 01:01:52.025 --> 01:01:57.005 We pray for every family that they would thrive and be a 830 01:01:57.006 --> 01:01:57.925 light in this world. 831 01:01:59.145 --> 01:02:04.085 We lift up parents who have a hard job to lead and to guide and nurture 832 01:02:04.086 --> 01:02:05.525 their own children and their family. 833 01:02:06.505 --> 01:02:11.205 We pray for children who are listening that they will be successful 834 01:02:11.325 --> 01:02:15.005 in everything they do, and particularly for this time of year, 835 01:02:15.155 --> 01:02:18.885 they have to finish strong academically or whatever endeavor they end. 836 01:02:19.705 --> 01:02:23.565 We pray for their total success now. Father, 837 01:02:23.625 --> 01:02:27.725 we thank you that this ministry is blessed to have a family ministry 838 01:02:28.505 --> 01:02:33.485 and we pray for them as they equip and come alongside every 839 01:02:33.486 --> 01:02:36.925 family. Every student that's listening, 840 01:02:38.405 --> 01:02:39.965 we ask your blessings upon them. 841 01:02:40.745 --> 01:02:44.565 We thank you that you would continue to have your hand on them, 842 01:02:45.845 --> 01:02:46.685 And we thank you for that. 843 01:02:51.485 --> 01:02:52.318 Heavenly Father, 844 01:02:55.185 --> 01:02:59.445 we ask for your continued blessing on this family that we call Hope Community 845 01:02:59.446 --> 01:03:02.925 Church as elders, you have, uh, 846 01:03:03.225 --> 01:03:07.965 called us to love and to serve these people who these 847 01:03:09.715 --> 01:03:12.365 fathers, these mothers, these sons, these daughters, 848 01:03:13.635 --> 01:03:15.005 it's in a humble privilege. 849 01:03:18.145 --> 01:03:22.525 We are honored as elders to pray the the blessing that uh, 850 01:03:22.585 --> 01:03:26.405 you commanded Aaron to pray over your people. 851 01:03:27.945 --> 01:03:30.525 May the Lord bless you and protect you. 852 01:03:32.105 --> 01:03:35.685 May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 853 01:03:36.865 --> 01:03:40.405 May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. 854 01:03:41.945 --> 01:03:44.605 And all God's people said, amen. 855 01:03:55.005 --> 01:03:58.045 I just wanna invite you all to stand and we're just gonna have a moment to 856 01:03:58.046 --> 01:03:59.125 respond to worship together. 857 01:04:05.505 --> 01:04:05.945 Church. 858 01:04:05.945 --> 01:04:09.325 We just wanna sing this blessing over you and your family. 859 01:04:11.285 --> 01:04:14.205 We just pray that you would receive it in the mighty name of Jesus today. 860 01:04:17.365 --> 01:04:17.685 Come. 861 01:04:17.685 --> 01:04:19.365 Let's this together. The Lord bless you. 862 01:04:22.645 --> 01:04:23.285 Lord. 863 01:04:23.285 --> 01:04:24.118 Bless you. 864 01:04:25.725 --> 01:04:26.558 And. 865 01:04:31.765 --> 01:04:34.165 Upon you and be gracious. 866 01:05:17.365 --> 01:05:17.565 The. 867 01:05:17.565 --> 01:05:22.325 Lord bless, Lord bless you. 868 01:05:24.485 --> 01:05:25.765 And keep you. 869 01:05:27.765 --> 01:05:32.125 Make upon you and be gracious. 870 01:05:34.405 --> 01:05:35.238 Lord. 871 01:05:44.845 --> 01:05:45.725 Come on. If you're comfortable, 872 01:05:45.815 --> 01:05:48.565 would you just lift your hands towards the heavens as we sing this today? 873 01:05:48.765 --> 01:05:49.598 Come on sing. Amen. 874 01:06:57.205 --> 01:06:58.038 Their children. 875 01:07:14.605 --> 01:07:18.445 Before you and behind you and beside you, 876 01:07:19.025 --> 01:07:23.645 all around you and with you. He's with you. 877 01:07:24.605 --> 01:07:29.605 He's you in the morning, in the, and you're 878 01:07:31.245 --> 01:07:35.645 and you're going and you're weeping and rejoicing. 879 01:07:36.605 --> 01:07:40.645 He's for you, he's for you, he's for you, 880 01:07:41.685 --> 01:07:45.525 he's for you, he's for you, he's for you. 881 01:07:46.645 --> 01:07:48.725 He's for you. He's for 882 01:08:21.485 --> 01:08:23.205 favor. Be upon 883 01:08:26.805 --> 01:08:31.685 generations and children 884 01:08:36.365 --> 01:08:38.965 go before you, behind you, 885 01:08:40.325 --> 01:08:42.485 beside you around you. 886 01:09:23.854 --> 01:09:24.687 Sing that one more time. 887 01:09:38.125 --> 01:09:40.604 Sing this out the Lord 888 01:09:44.085 --> 01:09:44.918 and 889 01:09:47.245 --> 01:09:52.165 make his faith upon and be gracious, 890 01:09:54.285 --> 01:09:55.118 Lord. 891 01:10:07.885 --> 01:10:09.205 Come on, let's give the Lord some praise. 892 01:10:22.235 --> 01:10:26.025 When we get to a moment like this, uh, sometimes it's, uh, 893 01:10:26.095 --> 01:10:30.025 easy for us to kind of just breeze over it, but I think 894 01:10:31.575 --> 01:10:33.025 that the Lord has, um, 895 01:10:35.854 --> 01:10:37.625 something that he's sharing with our church. 896 01:10:37.685 --> 01:10:41.345 And so I just wanna take a minute for us to just pray. 897 01:10:42.805 --> 01:10:46.345 And so if we could turn our posture and our this moment to just prayer, 898 01:10:47.275 --> 01:10:50.905 let's take a moment. Father, we thank you. 899 01:10:53.165 --> 01:10:56.104 We thank you for this time of worship today. 900 01:10:58.765 --> 01:11:00.064 We thank you for, um, 901 01:11:01.085 --> 01:11:05.305 the opportunity to just take a moment to focus on the family. 902 01:11:07.645 --> 01:11:09.985 Father, we know that the, the home, 903 01:11:10.405 --> 01:11:15.405 the family is a growth environment where people grow in their relationship with 904 01:11:15.406 --> 01:11:19.085 Jesus and are launched out into the world to make a difference for you. 905 01:11:21.505 --> 01:11:23.045 We know that in the family, uh, 906 01:11:23.645 --> 01:11:27.325 everyone has the opportunity to be strengthened and encouraged and to grow. 907 01:11:27.326 --> 01:11:32.125 And there is great hope that comes with what happens in the life of a family 908 01:11:34.525 --> 01:11:37.564 and Father, we also know that because of that, the enemy tries to steal, 909 01:11:37.635 --> 01:11:42.485 kill and destroy what you mean to be a great source of impact in the 910 01:11:42.486 --> 01:11:46.405 world. And so Father, that song that we sung, 911 01:11:46.406 --> 01:11:51.365 that blessing is a prayer that we pray over every family that is a 912 01:11:51.366 --> 01:11:52.405 part of Hope Community Church, 913 01:11:52.564 --> 01:11:55.564 or associated with Hope Community Church or comes into contact with Hope 914 01:11:55.565 --> 01:11:56.398 Community Church. 915 01:11:56.425 --> 01:12:00.725 We pray that the families will be a mighty force for the kingdom of God in and 916 01:12:00.726 --> 01:12:03.085 around this triangle area and around the world. 917 01:12:04.665 --> 01:12:07.085 We pray that you would be glorified through the families 918 01:12:10.405 --> 01:12:14.365 that are represented here. And Father, 919 01:12:14.545 --> 01:12:18.085 if we have any opportunity as a church to help, 920 01:12:19.025 --> 01:12:22.965 to restore a family, to strengthen the family, to serve a family, 921 01:12:22.985 --> 01:12:25.645 we pray that you would show us how we can best do that 922 01:12:27.604 --> 01:12:31.604 and help us to be faithful to that work. Father, 923 01:12:31.625 --> 01:12:34.965 we thank you for this opportunity to worship you 924 01:12:36.775 --> 01:12:38.575 and we pray that lives would be changed 925 01:12:40.975 --> 01:12:45.575 and that families would step into what you have for them. In Jesus name we pray. 926 01:12:46.645 --> 01:12:50.335 Amen. Come on, let's give God some glory. One more time there. 927 01:12:58.314 --> 01:12:59.335 Listen. Um, 928 01:13:00.415 --> 01:13:04.335 I am so thankful for that time of worship that we had today and what we got to 929 01:13:04.336 --> 01:13:07.615 experience. And I'm excited for what that means, uh, 930 01:13:07.675 --> 01:13:12.255 for the families who will hear this message and be able to respond to it. Uh, 931 01:13:12.275 --> 01:13:16.615 we are so thankful, uh, for our families here at Hope and we're thankful, uh, 932 01:13:16.616 --> 01:13:19.935 knowing that it's Mother's Day, what that means, how families will, uh, 933 01:13:19.936 --> 01:13:23.854 spend time together and we hope that you have been encouraged by all of this 934 01:13:23.855 --> 01:13:27.535 today. You know, uh, even as I was listening earlier to the story, uh, 935 01:13:27.635 --> 01:13:31.695 of a family who just decided to do something to serve other families, 936 01:13:31.935 --> 01:13:35.535 I was very encouraged by that. And I believe that's a model for, uh, 937 01:13:35.536 --> 01:13:38.175 many of the things that we have the opportunity to do here at Hope Community 938 01:13:38.176 --> 01:13:38.645 Church. 939 01:13:38.645 --> 01:13:43.575 They just saw a need and stepped in and provided a space to strengthen families 940 01:13:43.875 --> 01:13:47.735 and to make an opportunity for families to thrive by inviting 'em to a farm. 941 01:13:48.625 --> 01:13:52.245 You know, uh, at Hope Community Church from time to time, we share, uh, 942 01:13:52.246 --> 01:13:54.685 what it means to be, uh, a giver at hope. 943 01:13:54.686 --> 01:13:57.245 And I need you to know that things like that, moments like that, 944 01:13:57.805 --> 01:13:59.085 the strengthening of families, 945 01:13:59.086 --> 01:14:01.604 those are the things that your giving goes towards. 946 01:14:02.545 --> 01:14:06.485 And so when you give to Hope Community Church, it goes to moments like that, 947 01:14:06.486 --> 01:14:07.564 opportunities like that, 948 01:14:07.565 --> 01:14:11.285 where we have an opportunity to share the love of Christ with all kinds of 949 01:14:11.286 --> 01:14:15.445 people, which include our families. Now, if you're new to Hope, 950 01:14:15.446 --> 01:14:18.245 you may not know this, but there's a couple ways that you can give. Uh, 951 01:14:18.246 --> 01:14:22.125 you can go to get hope.net/give. You can go to Hope Community Church App. Uh, 952 01:14:22.126 --> 01:14:26.325 you can give by simply texting the word Give to 7 2 9 8 9 or in and around our 953 01:14:26.604 --> 01:14:28.604 campuses during the week and on the weekends, 954 01:14:28.925 --> 01:14:31.405 there are offering boxes right outside our auditoriums. 955 01:14:31.625 --> 01:14:35.325 Here's what we want you to know, that your giving does make a difference. 956 01:14:36.205 --> 01:14:38.385 And so we appreciate you. We thank you. 957 01:14:39.045 --> 01:14:43.625 We also wanna take one last opportunity to say thank you to all of our mothers 958 01:14:43.785 --> 01:14:47.025 on Mother's Day, and that we hope to see you guys back here next week. 959 01:14:47.125 --> 01:14:51.305 So God bless you. We love you. Happy Mother's Day. We'll see you soon.