Compassion - Week 3

If you’ve got a Bible—and I hope you or somebody close to you does—I want to invite you to open up with me to Matthew 14. This is where we’re going to begin our time together today. And as we walk through this story, we’re going to make our way to John 21 by the end. And as you’re turning there, let me just say this: we’ve been sitting in this word—compassion—for the last couple of weeks. Watching Jesus. Listening to Jesus. Trying to understand what He saw when He looked at people. Trying to understand what He felt. And if we’re honest—and I mean really honest about our faith and what we believe… —those first two parts of compassion, the ones we’ve looked at these past weeks? Seeing people and feeling something for them? Those are still kind of easy. You can walk past a hurting person and have a moment of sympathy. You can drop a few dollars in a cup or say a quick prayer and feel like you’ve done something good. And in a way, maybe you have. But the truth is—nothing really changed in you. You saw. You felt. But then you moved on. Maybe not even showing another soul any compassion, mercy or grace for some while. And if we’re not careful, we can live like that—helping just enough to feel helpful, but not enough to be changed. We can show pity without ever knowing the heart of Christ. We can serve without surrender. We can hand out compassion like a product instead of living it as a commission.

Let’s read this together—Matthew 14, starting in verse 13: When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. So, before we really begin, I dont want to rush past something we see here because it exposes something we’re all vulnerable to. Every one of us is tempted to treat Jesus as a tool for our plans instead of the treasure of our lives. It’s possible,…..completely possible…..to wear the name “Christian” and yet build a version of faith where Jesus is simply the pathway to get the things we want most. And rightly so… think about that we just read here… This crowd wants to be healed of their diseases. They want evil spirits cast out of them. So they press in around Him, trying to touch Him, in order to get what they want. It’s not that they want Jesus. They want these things—healing, deliverance, whatever it is—and they see Jesus….. as a means to those things. The best way I can explain this kind of faith is like this. You’re stranded in open water, fighting to stay afloat, certain you’re not going to make it. And Then, far off, you spot a rescue boat heading toward you. And so, wanting to live, wanting a better situation, you begin to come closer, and wave, and yell to get the captains attention,. In that moment of desperations you want that boat. You’ll climb in the moment it arrives, because it’s your way out. But here’s the thing—wanting the rescue doesn’t automatically mean you love the captain. You can be thankskul he saw you, you can You can long for safety but, even in the deepness of your heart, still be indifferent toward the one who saved you. And if we’re not careful, that’s exactly what our faith can become. We can be glad Jesus saves us from hell, eager for His blessings, thankful for His provision, and still never truly want Him. Crowds can chase after His miracles and yet completely miss His heart. The question is, when all the gifts are stripped away, do we still want the Giver? And I want to be completely honest with you… I wrestle with this question every single day. I have to ask myself, “What in my life am I wanting from Christ more than Christ Himself?” Because if I’m honest, it’s frighteningly easy to want comfort more than I want Him. Or success. Or answers. Or relief from the things that hurt. And none of those things are wrong to desire, but they become dangerous when my heart quietly starts to believe that Jesus is valuable only because He gives them to me. And Listen, church…..The danger isn’t that we stop calling ourselves Christians. Thats not the danger. The real danger in our salvation and faith is that we can keep using His name, while living for what we love more than loving Him.

So, here’s what I don’t want us to miss in this moment. Jesus has just received the devastating news about John — His cousin, His forerunner — and He withdraws. This is real grief. This is family. And yet, when He steps off the boat, there they are — the crowd — pressing in, pulling on Him, each with their own needs and stories. This is so natural of humanity. All of us….are drawn to anyone or anything that meets our needs. That makes us more comfortable. And this is where the Spirit confronts me. Because if I’m honest, this is where, if people were pressing in on me, and hurting myself… my flesh wants to say, “Not today.” This is where my heart starts whispering, “I need space… I need to take care of myself first… I just can’t deal with people right now.” And you know what that is? That’s comfort talking. That’s the voice in me that says compassion can wait until it’s convenient. But Jesus doesn’t think that way. True compassion is not postponed until life is comfortable. If comfort was the condition for His compassion, there would be no cross. There would be no gospel. There would be no hope for you or for me. And here’s the danger — not just for them, but for us. Comfort, when it becomes the deciding factor for whether or not we love and want to invest in people, turns into idolatry. It’s not a gift from God anymore; it’s a throne we’ve put in the center of our lives. And that throne will never produce Christlike compassion — because comfort will always tell you to stay where you are. Paul understood this. Philippians 1:13 — “It has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” These aren’t metaphorical chains. This is cold, heavy iron, biting into his wrists. Yet the man who wrote those words is not obsessed with getting out — he’s obsessed with making Christ known where he is. Just a few verses later he says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Do you see it? Comfort is not found in the absence of hardship; comfort is found in the presence of Jesus. Which means — if Christ is truly your life — you don’t pull away from people in your pain, you pour yourself out for them, because you are safe in Him. Sounds good right? But this isn’t my words.. this isn’t my idea… Right? My natural response would be, I don’t have time. But thats not very Christ driven. How do I know this? Well, look at what Paul tells the Corinthians? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” We live in a world where affliction is real. And our comfort is real. AAnd here, Paul says, Our God is the God of all comfort. Our God is the father of mercies and he comforts us in our affliction. When we walk through affliction, God is not distant from us. God is not far from us. God is with us. He comforts us in our affliction. And I think about how families in our church have needs,and I want o comfort them in every way I can. And to know this is how God sees us in our affliction, that he comes to comfort us in our affliction. That encourages me. Then the beauty here is not just so that we might receive his comfort but that as we are comforted by God himself, then we can be a reflection of his comfort to others. So that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. So I think about how God has been so gracious to me in affliction. I mean…. Wow! Like, thin about this… Jesus in this moment of affliction, was comforted by God, and was able to comfort others in their affliction. And that comfort is in you.. have you thought about that? That God is the God who comforts, its his very name,. …. but yet, he goes further. … it also points to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, who Jesus calls The Comforter. You have The Comforter, capital C, living inside you as you walk through afflictions, hardship, and challenges. You know the God of All Comfort. The Comforter lives inside of you. He comforts us in all our affliction. So God comforts us when we walk through affliction. That in and of itself is awesome. So awesome! Then, as if thats not awesome enough… God takes it further. Paul says He comforts us “so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.” Do you see that? Not just so you can breathe easier. Not just so you can get through the night. He comforts you so that you become a dispenser of comfort. So that your life becomes a channel. So that the mercy you’ve received flows out of you to someone else who’s in pain. And I want you to pause and think about that word affliction. Think about the challenges. The loss. The nights you didn’t think you’d make it. The pain you’ve carried. The trials that broke you. And then……… remember how God met you there. It may have been in a verse you couldn’t stop reading. A song you couldn’t stop singing. A friend who sat with you in silence. It’s there — I promise you — the comfort of God in your darkest places. Remember pslam 34, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." That’s why we praise Him. He’s “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.” And then — as if it couldn’t get any better — He says, “Now go and give it away.” Not hoard it. Not hide it. Not keep it locked in your testimony like a trophy on a shelf. But spend it. Pour it out. Let the comfort you’ve received be the comfort you extend. Oh church, hear me in This… — if Christ is not your life, if all he is is a ticket to everlasting life, with no relationship, no love for the king, no love for the savior…., you don’t have access to that kind of comfort, nor do you have that kind of comfort to give. If Christ is not the center, you can’t give what you haven’t received. But if He is your life… then your pain becomes someone else’s hope. Your scars become someone else’s healing. Your story becomes someone else’s song of praise to the God who comforted you.

And here’s the sobering reality — if you’re a follower of Jesus, He’s not just calling you to admire His compassion, He’s calling you to join Him in it. Look with me in verse 15… As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

Feel the weight of this…— the disciples are looking at the situation through the lens and the filter of their lack. They are weighing the options. The hour is late. The location is remote. The crowd is massive. The resources are dwindling. And their solution? Push the problem away. ………You deal with it. You do it. Or send them away. Look with me again at verse 16.. 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Before Jesus does anything with loaves or fish, He looks straight at His disciples and says, You do it. And immediately, you can almost see the panic in their eyes. They look at the crowd—thousands of people. They look at the hour—it’s late. They look at the location—it’s remote. And then they look down at their own hand at what recourses they have—five loaves, two fish. Nothing but a Hebrew lunchable. Their whole calculation, on whether or not they ill have compassion… is based on what they see in themselves. And the conclusion? This is impossible. And isn’t that exactly where so many of us live? We see the need—massive. We see the resources—tiny. And we default to the same line: ‘Send them away. Let someone else handle it. It’s not that I don’t care… it’s just that I can’t fix this. But here’s the reality—when you measure the need against your own supply, you will always come up short. You will always say, ‘It’s impossible.’ You will always try to preserve what you have. But when you measure the need against the power of Christ, you will hear Him say, ‘Bring it here to Me.’ He’s not asking for what you don’t have. He’s not waiting until you feel ready. He’s looking for what’s in your hands—however small—right now… and He’s saying, ‘Will you trust Me enough to give it away? Will you lay it down so I can multiply it for My glory? And here’s the danger, church—if you hold on to what you have because you think it’s too small, you rob yourself of seeing what God can do with it. That’s the tragedy in so many of our lives. We wait until we have more time before we serve. We wait until we have more money before we give. We wait until we feel more confident before we open our mouths about Christ. And all the while, Jesus is standing in front of us saying, ‘Bring Me what you have.’ Five loaves. Two fish. That’s it. That’s all I got.. But the miracle wasn’t in the loaves and fish. The miracle was in whose hands they were placed.

This week, I got to thinking about this… how many times I have walked away? How many times in my life I said, God, its impossible for me, that means its impossible for you. And I walked away, and I gave up and I didn’t trust in what little I had in his hands..… And in the midst of my walking away, was not just being overwhelmed,…. but unbelief. And I get emotional… because here’s the truth behind that kind of attitude… when I came face to face with that question, I recognized this… I make my faith about me. About my own provision. My own comfort. Not being Christ centered, but Matthew centered. Not for His glory… but for my convenience, my image, my comfort. I am no different than Peter. Because in this moment, the disciples were looking at what they had to give, and it wasn’t enough. And they knew it. But then I think of Peter, in the upper room, full of boldness, looking Jesus in the eye and saying, “Even if all fall away, I will not. I’m ready to go with You to prison and to death.” That’s Peter’s way of saying, “It’s possible for me.” And yet hours later, in the shadows of a courtyard, he’s swearing, “I don’t even know the man.” Not once. Not twice. But Three times. And when the rooster crowed, the boldness was gone, replaced by shame and the crushing weight of failure. That’s what happens when faith is about your strength, and your provision instead of His. That’s what happens when you build your confidence on what you think you can bring to the table. Because when you fail—and you will—you’re left believing you’ve disqualified yourself.

And I’ve watched it happen. (Thinking of Jims death) In just eight years of ministry, I’ve seen Gods people ravages just like Jesus says to Peter… Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat” I’ve seen people who once served with passion get crushed under the weight of their own failures. Some walked away quietly, convinced God was done with them. However,… some carried shame until it consumed them. And yes, then I had to stand at gravesides, ministering at funerals for people who never made it back.

But listen closely—failure is not the end of your story. It never is with Jesus. Your failure doesn’t have to be final. Your mistake doesn’t have to define you. I need you to underhand that… when I think of successful people, I think about Jesse Cole, the owner of the Savannah Bananas baseball team. He talks about how they’ve failed hundreds of times—crazy ideas that didn’t work, things that flopped. But you know what? Even in their failures and bad decisions, they’ve become wildly successful. Because failure became a means of growth. And that’s true in your life, too. Failure can be a doorway. Failure can be a teacher. Failure can actually be the soil where God grows something new in you. Listen to what this verse from earlier.. says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3– Do you see it? God doesn’t waste your failures. He redeems them. He comforts you so you can comfort others. He restores you so you can restore others. He feeds you so you can feed others. Not in what you think your provisions is, but by placing that in his hands and trusting Christ will provide. And we don’t just see that in Paul’s words — we see that play out in Peter’s life. I want ot show you this…in John 21. Here’s Peter, the guy who denied Jesus three times. The guy who swore, “I’ll never leave You,” and then ran when it mattered most. Talk about failure. If anybody thought God was done with them, it was Peter. But watch what happens. The disciples had been out fishing all night. These were professional fishermen — and they caught nothing. Sound familiar? That’s Matthew 14 all over again. Hungry crowds. Empty hands. Not enough. And what does Jesus do in Matthew 14? He takes what little they had and feeds the multitudes. He meets the need.

And now here’s Peter in John 21 — empty nets, empty hands, and an empty heart, weighed down with shame. And once again, Jesus steps in. He calls from the shore, “Throw your nets on the other side.” Suddenly the nets are overflowing with fish. Just like before. But this time, it’s not just about the crowd. This miracle isn’t for the masses. It’s for one man. It’s for Peter. It’s Jesus saying, “Peter, I haven’t given up on you. I can still use you. I can take your failure, and your lack of faith and turn it into fruitfulness.” And then Jesus says the most ordinary, yet most powerful words… look with me in verse 12…: “Come and have breakfast.” No lecture. No shame. No “I told you so.” Just an invitation. “Come sit with Me. Come eat with Me. Come be restored.” And here’s what blows me away. In Matthew 14, when the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Send the crowds away so they can get food,” Jesus turned it right back on them: “No — YOU give them something to eat.” Did you catch that? Jesus was training them all along. He wasn’t just showing them His compassion — He was teaching them to carry it. He was preparing them to be the ones who would feed the hungry and care for the broken. He was showing them… to stop looking at your provision and look to me… Now fast forward back to John 21. Jesus restores Peter with three powerful words: “Feed my sheep.” Do you see the connection? In Matthew 14, it was “You feed them.” In John 21, it becomes “Feed my sheep.” Same call. Same heart. The difference is that in Matthew 14, it was about the crowd — in John 21, it’s about the one who failed. And this is where it gets so personal. Jesus doesn’t just feed you so you can feel full. He feeds you so you can feed others. He comforts you so you can comfort others. He restores you so you can restore others. I mean, I can’t make this stuff up! Think about it.. Both of these miracles — the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14 and the restoration of Peter in John 21 — have something in common. They are both centered on Jesus. Think about it. In Matthew 14, the disciples wanted to send the crowd away. They didn’t have the resources. They didn’t have a plan. But Jesus said, “Bring what you have to me.” And when they put it in His hands, He blessed it, broke it, and multiplied it. And then was used to love on people. In John 21, Peter carried the crushing weight of his failure. He denied the Lord three times. He couldn’t undo it. He couldn’t fix it. But Jesus didn’t leave him there. Jesus invited him to breakfast, forgave him, and gave him a new mission: “Feed my sheep.” It was Jesus who restored Peter. So that Peter could do what… love others. Do you see it? Both moments were impossible without Jesus. The disciples couldn’t feed the crowd. Peter couldn’t fix his failure. But Jesus could. And Jesus did.

And here’s the big point and as our worship team comes up to prepare us for communion. : God never comforts you just for you. He comforts you so that you can comfort others. That little phrase in 2 corinthians 1:4 …. — “so that” — it changes everything. God doesn’t bless you to stop with you. He blesses you so it can flow through you. He restores you so you can restore someone else. He feeds you so you can feed others. He takes your resources so that he can multiply it… form his glory.. not our own. That’s why Jesus says in Matthew 14, “You feed them.” And that’s why He tells Peter in John 21, “Feed my sheep.” It’s the same call, to every believer: Don’t just take in God’s mercy, pass it on. Don’t just receive or look for comfort, share it. Don’t just enjoy His grace, extend it. You see, church, you were not saved to sit. You were saved to serve. You were not redeemed to retreat. You were redeemed to reach out. Every single follower of Jesus is called into this mission. To make Christ, the center of the mission. But here’s the truth — you can’t feed anyone else until you’ve been fed by Him. You can’t comfort until you’ve been comforted. You can’t pour out grace until you’ve received it. And that’s why this table matters. Communion is not just bread and cup — it’s Jesus saying, “Come and eat. Come and be filled. Come and be restored. Come to. Be solely focused on me… not what you have… not what you think your gonna lose.. not what you want, but what he wants. So before we go out to serve, we come in to be nourished. Before we give, we receive. Before we carry the bread of life to the world, we take it into ourselves. This is where strength is found. This is where compassion begins. Here’s what I want us to do: as you come forward and take the bread and cup. And go, back to your seat and ask.. God, search my heart. Where, in my life have I not trusted you with what little I have.

And as you do that, we will take communion together here in a moment…

Pick up the communion… Ana tell story. Before we take communion, let me tell you a story. It was 1934, in Charlotte, North Carolina. A church had invited a preacher to hold revival meetings under a big tent. Night after night, people gathered. The place was packed. Every night. And one evening, two teenage boys showed up. They stood in the back for a moment, looked at the crowd, and decided, “There’s no way. No room for us. Let’s go home.” But before they could slip out, an ordinary usher saw them. Just a regular church man—no spotlight, no title, not a preacher, not famous. Just faithful. He walked over, put his hand on their shoulders, and said, “Come with me. I’ll find you a seat.” And he did. That’s all. Nothing dramatic. Nothing anyone else remembered. But that small act changed history. Because one of those teenage boys went forward that night and gave his life to Christ. His name? Billy Graham. His friend? Grady Wilson. The preacher? Was Mordecai Ham. You may know all those names. But…. you don’t know the usher’s name. Nobody remembers. Except God. And here’s what I want you to see: that unnamed usher fed the sheep of Jesus. He gave what little he had—his time, his kindness, his faithfulness—and through that, millions have been fed the gospel. And now—here we are. Jesus still says the same thing to His followers: “Feed My sheep.” Why? Because this is our Horizon: to bring the gospel to every heart, every neighborhood, and every generation—one relationship at a time. You See, church, sometimes the greatest barrier to compassion isn’t that we don’t care—it’s that we cling. We cling to comfort. We cling to security. We cling to provision. But the gospel shows us that the safest place for anything God gives us—our gifts, our time, our resources, our lives—is in His hands. And as we take this communion… lets remember, we don’t need to protect what we have—we need to plant what we’ve been given. Because Jesus didn’t save us to sit. He saved us to serve. He didn’t redeem us to retreat. He redeemed us to reach. He didn’t call us to hide, he called us to take this gospel, to every heart, every neighborhood, and every generation—one relationship at a time.

“This is the body of Christ, broken for you. This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.”

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Compassion - Week 1: Stop and See

I want to invite you to open your bibles with me to Matthew’s gospel, and find with me chapter 9. We’re in a year-long journey called Just Jesus—a commitment to see Him, know Him, love Him, and live like Him in 2025. And today we’re beginning a new mini-series within that called Compassion. Each week this month, I’ll challenge you to become a person of compassion. And at the end of each sermon, we’ll focus on one specific way to live that out. Today, we begin with this: the compassion of seeing. Now, let me remind you where we’ve just come from. We wrapped up a series called Into the Deep, and our final message was all about The Commission of Christ—how Jesus calls every disciple not just to follow Him, but to be sent by Him. But here’s the danger: if we hear the word “commission” and only think of doing big things— going, preaching, building— we might miss what it looks like to actually live it out. So here’s a simple, idea to begin with today: compassion isn’t just kindness. It’s not a warm fuzzy feeling we have when we spot someone hurting. No—true compassion is seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus, and then doing something about it. So it’s more than pity. It’s presence. It’s proximity. It’s action. And I want to start in Matthew 9 and find with me, verses 35 through 38. 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Now, I'm going to stop here for a moment… because I want you to notice something… In this whole chapter, you have Jesus traveling.. and while he is traveling, his disciples are following, and watching, and learning, and people are doing the same. And so, he’s teaching, He is proclaiming. He is healing. And look at this last part.. he says, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ” SO this next part is what this field looks like, and what would workers will face… it shows us why the workers are few… So look with me what that commission looks like in the next chapter, chapter 10, and beginning with verse one. 1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him And what did he tell them whwern thy got close? He gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Now, pause again. That sounds strange to us, doesn’t it? Why would Jesus restrict their mission field? Well listen—this is not about exclusion. This is about progression. Right? They didn’t know about the calling in Matthew 28 to go to all nations… or the calling in acts 1 where Jesus goes, the power of the holy Spirit will come on you to be my witnessed to jeruslam, Samaria and Judea and the whole world Jesus is starting right in their home place.. in Israel, with the lost sheep of God's chosen people, because the message must go to them first. But don’t miss the point—this is not where the mission ends. This is where it begins. But before they can go global, they must go local. They must start with the people right in front of them. So Jesus is saying—Go. Go to those who are near. Go to those in need. And when you go—go with authority, with your aubrhtory. Go with power. Go with compassion. And look at the commission in verse 7 and 8… “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:7–8) Now hear me—this is where the connection is made. Jesus doesn’t just say, “Believe in Me.” He says, “Follow Me.” Why the difference? I mean, cultural Christianity is just like that isn’t it? Believe in Jesus… all is well. But.. I can believe and not be following. We’ve made Christianity about believing things. Like—if I just believe the right stuff, I’m good. But Jesus didn’t walk up to people and say, “Hey, do you believe I’m the Son of God? Cool. Carry on.” No. He said, “Follow Me.” Follow Me. !!!! Drop everything. Let go of your plans. Lay down your life. Come with Me. And I wonder—how many of us say we believe, but we’ve never actually followed? I’m not trying to guilt you. I’m not. I’ve just been so convicted by this. Because I grew up thinking belief was enough. But the demons believe. Right? James says that. They believe… and they tremble. But do we? Do we tremble at His Word? Do we live like the kingdom of heaven is near? Or do we just check a box, say a prayer, show up on Sundays, and think that’s what He meant?

Last week I said, all those who are disciples, are commissioned. Right? If you ain't fishing, you ain't following… But I held back from going too deep into what that looks like inside the church, inside our community. Because I wanted us to walk through this whole month learning what compassion actually is. Because compassion… that’s what the commission looks like when it touches real people. Compassion is the visible evidence that we’ve said yes to Jesus—not just in our minds, but with our lives. It’s not a warm feeling. It’s not just saying, “I’ll pray for you.” It’s movement. It’s presence. It’s love that costs you something.

And here’s what I believe—many Christians love the idea of the Great Commission, but we avoid the cost of it. We sing about it. We wear the t-shirts. We celebrate the missionaries. But when it comes to stepping into suffering… when it means slowing down, showing up, and sacrificing our time, our comfort, maybe even our reputation… we hesitate. Because compassion always costs something. You can’t separate the commission from compassion. When Jesus sends us, He sends us with His heart. And His heart breaks for the broken. That’s who He is.

You know, I wear these glasses. And they’re kind of unique—my first pair of transitional bifocals with invisible lines. It’s wild. There’s no hard division in the middle. No obvious line where one lens stops and the other begins. It just transitions. Smoothly. Seamlessly. From one view to the other. Near and far… brought together in one lens. And I was thinking—that’s exactly what compassion looks like in the life of a follower of Jesus. There’s no line between “I believe in Jesus” and “I love people like Jesus.” It’s not like you can separate the spiritual from the practical. You can’t say, “Well, I do the Bible part, but I’m not really into the people part.” No. In the kingdom, those two things blend together. Just like these lenses—no break. No division. Just one lens. One life. One heart—aligned with the heart of Jesus. When we really see people through His eyes, there’s no such thing as “that’s not my calling” or “that’s not my ministry.” Because if Christ lives in you, compassion is your lens. You see pain… and you can’t unsee it. You see someone hurting… and something in you has to move toward them. That’s the Spirit of God in you. That’s the call of discipleship. That’s what happens when the Great Commission becomes more than just a verse you memorize—it becomes the lens you live through.

Now, lets go deeper… first, what do we see through this lens of compassion? Well, Compassion Reveals the Condition of the Lost. Look at verse 36 in chapter 9 again: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” This is where things get serious. Because compassion doesn’t just open our eyes to the pain of others—it opens our eyes to their condition before God. And I'm not just talking about poverty and sickness, but I want to include this… Jesus is seeing spiritual desperation in the souls of those he sees. These people aren’t just having a rough day. They’re sheep with no shepherd. To guidance, safety, peace or protection. When we look at the original language, when it says that they are harassed… harassed can mean beaten down, troubled, even torn open. Like the world is ravaging them. And guess what? Their helpless. helpless, here means thrown to the ground—cast down, unable to stand up. That’s how Jesus sees the crowd. as sheep—vulnerable, exhausted, wandering sheep. No direction. No voice to call them to safety. And here’s the piercing question: Is that how we see the people around us? I Just wonder, do we live as commissioned Christian with this kind of urgency? Like, we pass by people every day who are spiritually harassed and helpless. Its estimated that 8 billion people live in this world, and one pew study said, that only about 2.3 billion know Jesus. That means 6 billion people are in this world, without this knowledge of a savior. And I know… that can sound overwhelming… knowing that all people… not just some, but all people have explrteinced helplessness, or harrassed in some wya… but yet, Jesus says, start small. See those who are around you.. So yes—it’s overwhelming. But it’s also personal. Look at what Jesus didn’t say, “Fix the whole world.” He said, “Look at the harvest in front of you.” See what’s right around you. Your kids. Your coworkers. The woman behind the counter. The man with tired eyes sitting alone. Each other here in church. And here’s the thing: when you really see people—when you see the spiritual weight they’re carrying—it changes how you treat them. You stop being annoyed and start being aware. You stop criticizing and start praying. You stop walking past and start walking toward. Why? Because compassion doesn’t just open your eyes to pain. It awakens you to mission. Listen. Church… you will never catch fire for mission if your heart is one of the ones hurting others. James says it plainly: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness… My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:9–10). Do you hear what James is saying? You can’t worship Jesus on Sunday and wound people with your words on Monday. You can’t raise your hands to heaven and then roll your eyes at the person made in God’s image right in front of you. That’s not just inconsistency and false worship— that’s a compassion problem.

So, Jesus sees the crowd. But not just see them, he feels there suffering. Jesus didn’t just see their size and He didn’t just see their sin. He saw the depth of suffering that plagued them because of their sin. And that’s what moves Him. That’s what ignites His compassion. Because deep beneath the sickness, the poverty, the brokenness… is a deeper problem: separation. They are sheep without a shepherd. Their lost people without a savior. Think of the words, I once was lost, but now im found. Don’t skip past those verses in amazing grace.…being Lost is a real place people live every day. There are lost people all around you… you’re drowning in a sea of lost people, who do not even know of the savior you claim to love. Like this burdens me… so much.. and I wonder, how can any person claim christianity and be drowning in lost people all around them and not be compelled to speak life into them.

I think of the conversation I had with the football coach over lunch recently where a local teen took their own life not too long ago… all around us are teenagers drowning in shame and anxiety, scrolling at 2am, wondering if they matter. There’s the single mom who feels invisible in a world that’s moving too fast. It’s the husband who’s wearing a smile at church but carrying secrets in silence. It’s your neighbor. It’s your barista. It’s your cousin. It might even be you. And if we forget what it feels like to be lost—if we forget the ache, the confusion, the darkness—then we’ll lose our fire for compassion. Jesus never did that… he never lost the passion for the lost! When He looked at the crowd, He didn’t see interruptions. He didn’t see obligations. He saw sons and daughters made in the image of God, separated from the heart of the Father—and His heart broke for them.

And so what does he do? Jesus sees the crowds living in this way and He gives this commission. He says, “Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore to send out workers into his harvest field” Thats the commission of Christ. And guess where it begins? It begins with prayer. Listen, church… before He sends them out, He calls them to their knees. Why? Because compassion that doesn’t start in prayer will never last in pain. This commission for compassion never starts with a plan, or strategy, or anything else… this heart for compassion’s dn burden for the lost, hopeless and hurting is born within a believer thorough prayer, as you seek the presence of God. That’s where the fire gets lit. You want your heart to beat for the lost? Get alone with the Lord of the harvest. You want to start seeing people the way Jesus sees them? You’ve got to let Him break your heart in the prayer room first. Prayer is such an important part of our life… why… because it slows us down. And I'm not talking about prayer like, Lord, help me get a better parking spot at Walmart. Jesus, be with me as I go to king soopers and hopefully get a deal on eggs. I’m talking about the kind of prayer that makes you stop. The kind of prayer that confronts you. The kind of prayer where your driving down the road with heavy burdens on your heart and mind, listening to worship music and tears begin to flow so heavily that you gotta stop and weep because you’re in the presence of God. And then you sit in the stillness and say, “God… I’m not who I want to be. I see more of me in me, than I see of You in me.” Before Jesus commissioned His disciples into the harvest, He told them to pray to the Lord of the harvest. And maybe, some of us are trying to do the work of God without the heart of God—because we haven’t stopped long enough to pray for it.

So the question is simple: When was the last time you let God interrupt your schedule just to break your heart?

He calls us to pray… and then watch what happens—He calls us to go. What unfolds in Matthew 10 is remarkable. Jesus gathers His disciples, the very ones He told to pray, and then He sends them. Verse 1 says, “He called His twelve disciples to Him…” And that phrase—called to Him—isn’t casual. In the Greek, it’s a compound word that means to summon someone close, to draw them near for a face-to-face encounter. And this just tickles my fancy… Why? Think about it. Jesus says, pray to the Lord of the harvest.. what happens in prayer? It doesn’t call Christ to us, prayer draws us to Christ. Christ is already there in your prayer. He tells us in the great commission in Matthew 28, what? I will be with you always. We’ve got to stop thinking prayer is like some magical force where we summon the power of God on high… no prayer is us seeking the face of Jesus for a face to face encounter. To come close. Because before He ever commissions them to go out, He draws them in. And I just need us to feel that. The call to go always begins with a call to come. You can’t carry the compassion of Jesus unless you’re continually coming back to the feet of Jesus. This is not about going in your own strength. This is about being so close to Christ—so saturated with His presence—that when He says, “Go,” you’re not just carrying a message… you’re carrying His heart. Church, hear me: “The closer you are to Jesus, the more your heart starts to look like His.” Why here? Why start here? And yes, everything does begin and end with Him. But there’s a reason Jesus starts with prayer before He sends them into the harvest. Because He knows something about our hearts—He knows that if compassion starts with us, it will be selective. If compassion is ruled by our own emotions, our own convenience, or our own categories of who we think is worthy, then it will run dry real fast.

Jesus starts with prayer because He knows something we don’t always like to admit: real compassion will cost us. He says the harvest is plentiful, and the workers are few—but He never promises the harvest will be easy. In fact, look down at verse 16 of chapter 10. Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He doesn’t tell His disciples, “Go and everyone will love you.” No—He says, “I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves.” That’s a hard image. Not comfort. Not applause. But danger. And then He shows us why. Because if we really follow Him—if we really belong to Him—then what was true of Him will become true of us. Jesus was betrayed. Jesus was rejected. Jesus was hated. And He told us that a student isn’t above their teacher. A servant isn’t above their master. If we’re walking with Jesus, then we should expect the same road He walked—including the suffering. And here’s the sobering truth: the closer you get to Jesus, the more your life will start to clash with the world around you. The deeper your intimacy with Christ, the more costly your obedience will become. I’m not saying this. Jesus is saying this. Look at your Bible… the whole chapter is red for a reason. We begin wit prayer and intimacy because while the world rejects us, Christ does not. People say, “Well if we’d all just become like Jesus the world would love us.” That’s not true, if we all become like Jesus the Bible says the world will hate us, because the world hated Christ. The world didn’t love Jesus—it crucified Him. He was betrayed, beaten, and hung on a cross. Not because He lacked love or grace—but because the truth He carried exposed the darkness. And here’s what He told us: If they hated Me, they will hate you too. That’s not a maybe—it’s a promise. So listen—this is why the commission has to start with compassion. Because if we’re going to follow Jesus into a world that may very well reject us, then we can’t afford to carry shallow motives. We won’t survive with man-made passion or half-hearted conviction. The only thing that will keep us going when it gets hard—when we’re misunderstood, left out, laughed at—is the compassion of Christ beating inside of us. Listen Church, don’t miss this. The more you become like Christ, the more I become like Christ things will not get easier in our lives. The more this church becomes like Christ the more things will not get easier. They will get harder. They will get much, much, harder.

And I can just feel the fear rising in all of us. I want to be like Christ, I want to be compassionate, and see the hurting, and the distressed and dejected… but I don’t want to suffer. Im afraid. And that’s normal. But How do I confront this fear? Here’s how you confront it: number one, see with an eternal perspective. Look at verse 26… “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” (Matt. 10:26). In other words—yes, the world’s going to throw all kinds of things at you. You’re going to live differently. You’re going to think differently. You’re going to love people in ways that don’t make sense to this culture. But don’t be afraid. Because one day—God will reveal what’s true. One day, all of this will make sense. Justice will be seen. What’s hidden will be brought to light. And on that day, standing with Jesus will be worth every step, every tear, every cost. Second, speak with a holy boldness. I love this imagery, Matthew 10:27 “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.” Do you hear the intimacy in that? Jesus speaks to us personally—quietly, deeply, in the hidden places of prayer, surrender, and communion. But it was never meant to stay there. What He whispers in the stillness, we are meant to proclaim in the open. What He teaches us in the dark, we’re meant to shine in the light. listen—there are people around you who are still walking in darkness. And they’re not waiting for a sermon. They’re waiting for someone who’s heard the whisper of God and is willing to speak. To shine. To share. And what Jesus has done in you is too good to keep quiet about. Listne, what Jesus does through you is a result of what Jesus is doing within you. There is no fear in love. Perfect love drives out fear. As our worship team comes up….

Let me ask you—do you love Him enough to let that love overflow into the world around you? Do you love Him enough to stop, to see, and to step toward the harassed and helpless like He did? Because here’s the bottom line: Compassion is the commission. Listen, If we don’t stop, we’ll never see. And if we don’t see, we’ll never care. And if we don’t care, we’ll never go. So this week, here’s what I’m asking you to do. I’m calling you to something simple, but sacred: I’m ca;;filing this our compassion commission… each week I want to extend Jesus commission for compassion in our community… this weeks commission is this… stop and see. At some point this week, intentionally interrupt your schedule for someone you would normally pass by. Ask their name. Ask how they’re doing. Ask how you can pray. And then pray. Right there. No fanfare. No spotlight. Just presence. Just love. And in don’t need to know who or where or anything… this is between you and Jesus. The harvest is still plentiful. The pain is still real. And Jesus is still calling workers—workers with eyes that see, hearts that break, and feet that move.

So—who will you stop to see?*

I Will, Serve

Last week we learned about togetherness. God has designed us not only for worship, but he had also designed us to be together. If you remember, “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Every step of the way, our greatest goal is to meet the living God when we meet together. Not programs, not to make sure we have this or that in place. Our first goal is for us to be obedient ourselves in hearing and listening and worshipping and praying and proclaiming God in this service and to hear the still voice of our creator, calling each of us deeper into His plan to a part of the kingdom.

This morning, let’s go a little deeper into the one topic that if I had to pick is one topic that all churches struggle with after giving and money, it would be serving. For me, it took me awhile to learn that serving isn’t something I do, it’s something, I am. Right. I don’t do service, I am a servant. You see, serving is more than just doing, it’s being. It’s being Jesus.

It’s surrendering to Jesus in my life to become a servant unto him. And that can look different in many ways. It could mean different callings, or different positions and jobs or different ways of living… but if you boil it down to one thing… serving is Christ manifesting himself in my life, to do to others, what he was doing for others 2,000 years ago. That’s the life that I pursue.

And it’s called holiness. Holiness simply put, is Christ in me. But not just Christ in me, but he has a hold of me.. all of me. Everything that I am and all that I have, is Jesus’s. That’s all I desire. So my prayer this week while I was at holiness camp was Jesus, have all of me. All of my senses. Have you ever prayed, Jesus not only have all of me, but have all of my sense.

I want to see, hear, touch, smell and taste Jesus in my life. I mean, isn’t that how we process and experience this physical world of ours. I want Jesus to have my eyes so I can see what he sees. I want to be aware of the work Jesus is doing in my own mind and heart, but I also want to see with my own eyes the marginalized and the hurting and the broken in the way Jesus’s sees them.

I desire Jesus to have my ears. I want to hear the things Jesus heard. I want Jesus to have my ears so that I can have them tuned to hear the heart beat of his heart. To hear the voice of God, to witness voices being lifted up in adoration. Do you ever get emotional when your in a room filled with people lifting hands and voices to God and surrendering!

It’s amazing. At camp this week, I took a moment to watch people worship and in but a moment as the Spirit began to move hearts, you can witness moments where people were encountering the living God. I desire Jesus to have my hands, and to have them feel and to work as he would want them to. Jesus was a touching savior. He touched the eyes of the blind to heal, and the faithful reached out to touch him to be healed.

He’s a touching God. What about smelling Jesus? Have you ever wondered what he smelled like? I mean, this was 2000 years ago, hygiene has gotten a whole lot better since then. But what did he smell like? I was thinking about Israel and when we were there I learned that they planted rosemary all around the garden of Gethsemane. Rosemary is believed to be a memory aide.. so they planted it all over gethsemane so that when you would smell the rosemary you would remember Christ.

And I even wanted to taste Jesus… now.. this was a hard one. Because, how do you taste Jesus? If Jesus tasted anything like communion bread and juice well, he doesn’t taste all that good does he? Sometimes he’s dry, or stale. This was the hardest part for me. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t figure out how to taste Christ. Until the Lord reminded me of the garden in Gethseneame.

I couldn’t taste Christ because he drained the cup I could not drink all the way to the bittered last drop and took it to calvary in my place. Because of Jesus all I get to taste is the sweetness of his grace and His mercy and love. Now, I tell you all this because to me, my goal is to live in holiness. If we claim to be holiness people but yet we’re not pursuing Christ with all of our lives, and to be our life.

Then are we truly holy people? Let’s read this Scripture in Matthew chapter 20 and find verse 20 to verse 28. The greatest battle for holiness is our unwillingness to dethrone the sovereign. The most destructive force in this world is our carnal nature to be self centered. That’s sin. Sin isn’t just, Oh I looked over there and saw a woman and lusted for her. Oh, I had a bad thought, or I said a bad word, or I was angry.

Sin, at the deepest core is the fact that we are self-centered. And that is the most dangerous reality because this is what self centeredness does. Self Centerness stands opposed to any kind of love that doesn’t love me first. When we are self-centered, it often guarantees the failure of love. Self centeredness is opposed to all decency. There is no standards other than personal standards. You must love me to my standard.

And boy let me just tell you I got some high standards. Someone who is self-centered may be preoccupied with their own thoughts and feelings and may not be very attentive to the needs and perspectives of others. Honestly, If we only lived our life expecting others to live to our standards, there will never be peace or unity in this world. Never.. ensues our standards are meant to bring us glory, or praise or comfort.

Self centeredness is opposed to relationships. There is not one marriage that I know where two become one where both people are at odds with each other all the time. Self centered carnality is not restricted to certain parts of our life. It permits every function of our living. Every relationship, every standard, every public and private moment, all our thoughts and attitudes are effected by self centeredness. There is nothing, absolutely nothing untouched by the self centered carnality of our mind, and our hearts, and our service towards others and our relationship with others.

It’s problem. And it’s was a problem for the disciples as well. The sons of thunder were seeing a prominent role in the kingdom. Their mother was coming to Jesus and taking a moment to see an opportunity for them to sit at the right and left hand of Jesus and, it caused a lot of things to happen within the group. It was a self centered request. And anytime we are self centered and we make a request that is self centered, there are major implications that become tragic for us and others.

For instance, Look with me in verse 24. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers. The first thing we learn is this… Self-centeredness is a guaranteed recipe for tearing the body apart. These men are the core of the first church. These 12 men were to be the seeds, in the core of the apple of the first church. And you have two disciples going behind the back of the other 10, to try to gain a prominent seat in the kingdom.

And the other 10 got angry because they didn’t think of it first. The result was division. This one word in greek means two things, it means to annoy, and it means very much. When we put indignation together it means to be very much to be annoyed. Which also translates to, seized with anger. The same thing happened in Corinth. They were immature, carnal church. They were divided over loyalty.

This is my pastor, and the other person would say, this is my pastor. There was division over apostleship and leadership. These divisions came from a carnal self centered life. Paul comes into Corinth and says, For where there is envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men. He’s saying, there is no spiritual life in you. I always love this… he never calls them unchristian either.

He never says, you unchrist-like heathens. He calls them Carnal Christians. And whenever there is strife, and division among you, and envy, then the presence of self-centered carnality is always among you. Can you just hear the 10 in this moment? Jesus, that’s not fair. Those two guys went behind our backs and they used their family connections to get this honored seat beside you. And who can blame her! Any mother would want to see her two sons, who were walking with a rabbi without the comforts of life to have some sort of greater role in the kingdom.

I don’t blame her. I want my kids to have every opportunity in life. I mean, isn’t that a part of love. To see others receive? The second thing self centeredness does is that it dethrones the sovereign. We sing this song, I’m sure you’ve heard it… Let the King of my heart, Be the mountain where I run, The fountain I drink from, Oh, He is my song, Let the King of my heart, Be the shadow where I hide, The ransom for my life, Oh, He is my song…

right… Who’s the king of your heart? No where does that song say Jesus! I love the song, don’t get the wrong…, but when I sing it, I’ve got to add Jesus in there, somewhere, anywhere because it’s really easy to sing those verses to the king of my heart, and think only of myself, not Jesus. Am I the king of my heart?? If I am, then the fountain I drink from is from my self centeredness.

The mountain I run to isn’t Jesus, it’s things in this life that I have accumulated and made to become mini idols to the greater idol. Look with me in verse, 22, “You don't know what you are asking, will you be able to drink the cup I’m about to drink? What was their answer? We are able! Oh man… when I read that this week, I was thinking of that old song….

Anything you can do Jesus, I can do better… no you can’t, yes I can. Do you remember that as a kid? This is such an important question by Jesus because this is what he’s asking… James… John… are you able to drink from the cup I’m about to drink? Disciples, are you able to take one sip of the cup that I am about to drain to is bitterest ends.

This was why this week, as I was praying to taste Jesus. It was very clear that I couldn’t taste what he tasted and finished it to the end. Because not one drop was left. He drained it! There response was, We are able. And to be honest, that’s not how the greek word is translated… in the context of this moment when they said, I am able, what they are really saying is this, We are always able.

So many times we are so quick to believe that we are always able, until the suffering comes, and then we begin to doubt our ability to do what we say we can do. Our failures scream of our inadequacy. Our programs don’t work, and were not winning the lost to Christ. But yet, we, just like them find ourselves many times coming into church saying were always able, but were not able.

Honestly, so many times we say we’re able, but we’re unwilling as well. We’re able Jesus … yet They were unwilling to even stay awake in the garden, for one hour to pray. We’re always able Jesus, but yet, How could they go to the cross with Jesus? Once a moment of fright and fear came to them, they ran in fear. Their ignorance was their own dependancy. That’s not faith.

Thats not dependent upon the sufficiencies of Christ and the cross for forgiveness and love and mercy towards others. When it comes to serving, there is no serving with a right heart when your hearts are self centered. So what does Jesus say? He says, in verse 26, Yet it shall not be so among you: but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. Being a servant means being submissive.

You see, Jesus was trying to tell them that in this world, they work to try to get ahead of each other. Jesus turns the ideas of this world around and says, no, in my kingdom, we lower ourselves to be below one another. And everyone is to live in this way, in this pattern. Its our style, our way of doing it, it’s to be submissive. Haven’t you noticed that in all of Jesus’s sermons, there is this thread of servitude.

We’ve got to be careful when we say we want holiness because if that is true, that means we’ve got to be like Jesus. And Jesus had God the father at the center of his heart, and Jesus came to be a servant. How does that apply to our lives? Well, Jesus calls us to step from a position of equality, to lower ourselves to serve the person next to us.

That’s a servant. A servant is equal with another person, but they lower themselves, to serve another. Wouldn’t it be something… just think about this for a moment… wouldn’t it be something… if this is what church membership really meant? That when I take membership vows it’s not so I can make decisions. My membership isn’t about deciding what color we change the carpet to, or so that I can have my favorite kind of preference for this or that so I can be more comfortable.

But what if, membership truly meant that I was going to come into church, every Sunday, and every event, and roll up my sleeves to say, “I just want to become your servant. I am equal with you. However, the moment I see a need in your life, I will forfeit my equality and become your servant.” How different would the church be if we did that? Hcurhc, “You cannot be a Kingdom person and live for yourself.

Isn’t this the holiness message? But that’s not all Jesus says right? Look closely to verse 27, he says, and whosoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. If you want to know what that means… it means this… A servant is equal with another person, and they lower themselves to serve another. But after they serve, they can rise and become equal with them again. However, to become a slave is different.

To be a slave means they are lower and they stay lower. It’s like a picture of a galley ship. This person sits on a bench in the bottom of a great sailing ship. Everyone is shackeled together, and they are property, they are owned. The owner has a piece of paper that says, I own them. There is no sick days, there is no let’s call in sick. There is no complains, or rights.

This person doesn’t go, Im not coming into work today because there are hypocrites in the boat. This style of servitude means they have no rights. I imagine a new membership vow within church membership. Wouldn’t it be different… if God’s people declared to be a slave of Christ. I often wondered if Peter in his letter was thinking of this moment of James and John and Jesus and the 10 when Jesu says, if you want to be greater, of you want to go further in being a servant, becomes a slave.

He says, “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ..this bond-servant word means slave. But what would happen, if people came to the altar, stood up and declared to the entire congregation, I desire to lower myself to everyone here? What would happen, if our one focus will be to meet the needs of others, to pour out our energy for others? And require no appreciation and encouragement from others?

To have others not understand you, or to even be liked by others? All because you’ve given up your rights to be served in return, and you are became a slave? I think of my marriage. Its not 50/50. I declared myself to my wife to be a slave, and my one focus will be to meet her needs. I will not live for myself, but for her. My first thought will not to be for me, but for what is good for her.

I surrender all of my rights and submit to be your slave… I am losing my life to you.. and I’m not expecting anything in return form her. How different would our marriages and relationships be if that was our desire? Listen church, I have one observations about being a servant that I want to end with. Servants see needs and meet them. That’s what servants do. Jesus saw our need and came and died for us.

There is a lady named, Ruth Harms Calkin wrote these wonderful words: “You know, Lord, how I serve you with great emotional fervor in the limelight. You know how I eagerly speak for You at women’s clubs. You know how I effervesce when I promote fellowship groups. You know my genuine enthusiasm at Bible study. But how would I react, I wonder, if you pointed to a basin of water and asked me to wash the calloused feet of a bent and wrinkled old woman day after day, month after month in a room where nobody saw and nobody knew?” Jesus said, “You want to be great, you be a servant.” *

Jesus as Our Champion

I want to invite you to open your Bibles to Mark chapter 11. You know, there is nothing like this Word in all the world. It's why we gather together in a way that doesn't make sense to a lot of people—to open up a book and gather around to read it together. In our generation, this has almost become a lost form of fellowship and anticipation. Think about it: this is the Word of God, passed down for generations, century after century after century, thousands of years. And yet, it's still relevant in our lives today, right now. I've had three weeks off from preaching, and during this time, I've used it to pray. I've always promised that I would never become political at the pulpit—there's no place for that here. But during these past three weeks, I've watched as nations across the world have been scrambling to understand the political scene with tariffs, and I see all kinds of hurt and damage happening throughout our country and nation. We’ve seen tragedy strike every corner of the world with earthquakes and tornadoes, which is followed by all kinds of people shouting, often with harsh opinions about policies and politicians and how one should react to these situations. There is so much focus on politics right now, and I think we're in danger of missing the whole point as Christians among all of this. In the passage we're about to read from 2,000 years ago, the Jewish people were being oppressed by an unjust Roman Empire. These Jewish people were looking for political solutions. Actually, they were looking for a political Messiah who would restore the kingdom back to Israel—no more oppression, no more bondage under the current administration, but a free nation under the rule of God. I want you to keep in mind that Jesus was gaining so much attention and momentum as potentially being this political savior. Many people thought, "He's the one... he's the Messiah. He's the political savior we've been waiting for who's going to overthrow the government and rule!” So let me show you what happened. This is called the triumphal entry, found in Mark 11: "Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’" "And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, 'What are you doing, untying the colt?' And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!’" "And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.” Now, what's happening here is remarkable. Imagine this scene: two very different men are entering the city of Jerusalem. From the west came Pontius Pilate. If you were there, you'd hear him before you saw him. The stomping of war horses, the clanking of armor, the snap of imperial banners in the wind. Pilate rides in with all the pomp and circumstance of Rome—soldiers in formation, weapons gleaming. He's making a statement, especially during this unpredictable Passover season when Jerusalem is packed with pilgrims. And His message is clear: Rome is in charge. Don't even THINK about causing trouble. But from the east, something entirely different is happening. Here comes Jesus of Nazareth, riding not on a war horse but on a borrowed donkey, surrounded not by soldiers but by fishermen and can you believe it… tax collectors. The crowd is waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna!" They're treating him like a king, but what they don't understand is that this humble king is deliberately riding toward his death. SO, get this picture… Two men entering Jerusalem. Two champions representing two completely different kingdoms. Two entirely different approaches to power. And here’s what I want us to think about today: Every day, we face a choice between these two champions. This isn't just ancient history. This is your marriage when your spouse hurts you. Do you assert your rights and prove your point? Or do you choose vulnerability and forgiveness? This is your workplace when someone takes credit for your idea. Do you scheme to get even? Or do you continue serving with integrity? This is your parenting when your teenager pushes every button you have. Do you exert control and dominance? Or do you lead with patience and grace even when it feels like weakness? Every day, in a hundred small ways, we choose which champion we're following. And over time, those choices shape who we become.

The truth is, power doesn't create character—it reveals it. Think about that for a moment. When someone gets a promotion at work, or when someone wins an election, or when someone suddenly comes into money—their true character doesn't suddenly change. What changes is that we get to see who they really were all along. You see, we can hide our true character behind many different things in this life, but there are always outside forces, and outside circumstances that reveal to the world your true internal character. Think of it like a tube of toothpaste. What happens when you squeeze a tube of toothpaste? Toothpaste comes out, right? But the pressure didn't create the toothpaste—it was already in there. The pressure just revealed what was inside all along. Power and pressure work the same way with us. When we face difficult choices, when we have the opportunity to serve ourselves or serve others, what comes out is what is already in our hearts. Or, what about being around people that don’t agree with what we agree with.. often times we become abrasive, or snippy with them. And that's what we see so clearly in this contrast between Jesus and Pilate. One man had all the political power in the region but couldn't stand firm for what was right when tested. The other appeared to have no power at all, yet, he demonstrated incredible strength of character by remaining true to his purpose even when it cost him everything. As Jesus himself said: "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

Now, I'd like for you to look with me in John chapter 18, verses 33-38. This is the face-to-face encounter between Jesus and Pilate. Eventually, they meet. These two champions who came into Jerusalem meet face to face.. lets begin in verse 33… 33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. I want us to see this exchange between these two champions and what happens? Jesus stands firmly on truth as something real, something worth living and dying for. This wasn't just a philosophical position for Him. When He stood before Pilate, facing torture and death, He didn't compromise or look for the politically expedient answer. He declared, "For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth.” And how did Pilate respond? "What is truth?" The cynical question of a man who had reduced truth to whatever was useful in the moment. Do you see the contrast? One Champion sees truth as relative, as a tool to be manipulated for advantage. The Champion sees truth as absolute, as something worth sacrificing everything for. We face this same choice every day. Our culture constantly tells us that truth is personal, subjective, whatever works for you. "Your truth" and "my truth" as if truth changes from person to person.

But when pressure comes, that's when we see what we really believe about truth. Look with me in Matthew 27:24 (NIV): "When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood,' he said. 'It is your responsibility!’" Can you imagine? The most powerful man in the region, with armed soldiers at his command, and he caves to public pressure. Now contrast this with Jesus in Luke 22:42 (NIV). When facing the cross in Gethsemane, Jesus prays: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." That's real courage. That's real character. Jesus was honest about His anguish—He asked if there was another way. But when faced with the ultimate pressure, He aligned Himself with truth and with His Father's purpose, even when it cost Him everything. The difference between these two men isn't just about positions—it's about what happens to a heart when power becomes your purpose.. Paul describes Jesus' approach perfectly in Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV): "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Paul reveals something extraordinary about Jesus and true power. The One who had ALL power - who was "in very nature God" - didn't cling to that power. He didn't exploit it. Instead, He emptied Himself. He took the nature of a servant. He chose obedience even to death on a cross. Think about it this way: Pilate's position looked powerful, but when tested, he gave in to the crowd—choosing what was easy over what was right, choosing self-preservation over justice. His power was actually weakness disguised as strength. Jesus appeared weak—letting himself be arrested, beaten, and killed—but his surrender wasn't weakness; it was strength channeled into love. His power wasn't about controlling others but about remaining true to his purpose even when it cost him everything.

You know, church, the contrast between Jesus and Pilate isn't just a story from 2,000 years ago. It's a mirror that shows us the choices we face in our own lives every single day. I believe there are three fundamental choices that defined the difference between these two men - and they're the same three choices that shape who we become. The first choice we face daily is what I'll call the Heart Choice. Do we harden our hearts to protect ourselves like Pilate, or do we remain tender and vulnerable like Jesus? Proverbs 4:23 warns us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." But this isn't about building walls! It's about protecting your heart from hardening. Look at Pilate washing his hands in Matthew 27:24. That gesture revealed YEARS of a heart growing harder and harder. Each compromise, each political calculation, each time he chose advancement over integrity - his heart became a little more calloused. Now look at Jesus in Gethsemane. His sweat like drops of blood. Showing real anguish. Real fear. Total vulnerability. And you know what? That vulnerability didn't make Him weak! It connected Him more deeply to His Father's purpose. We think hardening our hearts protects us. But what if the walls we build become our prison? C.S. Lewis said it perfectly: "To love at all is to be vulnerable... If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give it to no one... Lock it up safe in the casket of your selfishness. But in that casket... it will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” That's exactly what happened to Pilate! His protected heart became impenetrable - to truth, to courage, to God himself. Listen, A protected heart can never be a surrendered heart. And only a surrendered heart can truly follow Jesus.

The second choice we face is what I'll call the Truth Choice. Turn with me to John 8:32 (NIV), where Jesus says, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” This verse isn't just about intellectual knowledge. It's about alignment with reality as God sees it. And nowhere do we see the contrast between Jesus and Pilate more clearly than in their relationship with truth. Let's look at John 18:37-38 (NIV) again: "'You are a king, then!' said Pilate. Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.' 'What is truth?' retorted Pilate.” When Pilate asked this, he wasn't searching for answers. He was DODGING RESPONSIBILITY. And we do the same thing all the time! There are countless times when speaking with people about the gospel, that I hear them say, "Well, that might be your truth, but it's not mine." That's basically them saying like pilate "What is truth?" in today's language. We've become masters at bending truth: We call gossip "prayer requests” We call greed "good stewardship” We call lust "appreciating beauty” We call compromise "being balanced”

And we wonder why our faith feels POWERLESS! Do you know gossip is probably one of the biggest killers in a church? It's true. What does gossip do to a church? It pokes holes in the fabric of grace. When we spread rumors under the guise of 'prayer requests,' we're not just hurting individuals—we're tearing apart Christ's body. Every piece of gossip is like saying, 'What is truth?' just like Pilate did. Meanwhile, Jesus doesn't just SPEAK truth—He IS truth! He tells us in John 14:6, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life." Every single thing He did aligned perfectly with who He claimed to be. Even when truth led to a CROSS! The Garden of Gethsemane means "the garden of pressing." It's where they would press olives until oil squeezed out. When Jesus was pressed in that garden, what came out of Him? Only a desire to do His Father's will. What comes out of you when you're pressed? When life squeezes you hard? Truth isn't just about being factually correct—it's about living a life of INTEGRITY where what you say, what you believe, and what you DO all line up! Where are you bending truth to make your life more comfortable RIGHT NOW? Listne, A lie may protect you temporarily, but only truth can transform you permanently.

The third critical choice we face is what I'll call the Trust Choice. Look with me at Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV), which says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” You know, I struggle with this one so much. I say I trust God, I sing about trusting God, but when things get hard or scary in my life - sometimes… I panic. I start making backup plans. I grab for control. I'm guessing some of you might relate to this too. And I see this same struggle in Pilate. Matthew 27:19 tells us, "While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: 'Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.’" Can you imagine? God reaches out through a dream to warn Pilate! But instead of trusting that warning, Pilate trusted what felt safe - his political instincts, the crowd's opinion, what he could see and control. And that misplaced trust led to the worst decision in human history. Now look at Jesus in Mark 14:36: "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Jesus trusted His Father completely, even when the path made NO SENSE! Even when it led through suffering! Even when it led to a CROSS! This just blows my mind: Pilate had armies, authority, political power - but under pressure, he crumbled. Jesus had NOTHING by the world's standards - but His trust produced a strength that changed eternity. I look at my own life and see how I stress about money... as if God hasn't promised to provide. How I try to control outcomes... as if I know better than God what should happen. How I panic when my plans fall apart... as if God doesn't have something better. Misplaced trust ALWAYS disappoints us eventually. Always. Just like it did for Pilate. In his moment of testing, everything he trusted in failed him. But Jesus shows us another way. What would happen in our lives if we actually trusted God like that? Not just saying it, but living it? What if we actually believed Romans 8:28 that "in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him”? The things we trust instead of God will always fail us when we need them most. Sand listne, churhc… The Champion we choose to follow, always determines the path we walk and the person that we become...

You know, in our world today, just like in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, we're constantly looking for the wrong kind of champion. We want someone who will wield power and overthrow our enemies. We're drawn to strength, to force, to might. But Jesus shows us He is a different kind of champion. Not the champion we want, but the champion we desperately need. So this morning, We’ve seen two champions enter Jerusalem. Pilate, who looked powerful but failed when tested. And Jesus, who looked weak but changed eternity. And as we head toward Easter this week, we're faced with our own choices. The same three choices that defined these men will define us: Will we surrender our hearts, or protect them? Will we align with truth, or bend it? Will we trust God completely, or grip tightly to control? So, as I close, let me challenge us with three specific ways to follow the true Champion this Holy Week: First, surrender your heart. This week, identify ONE relationship where you've built walls. Maybe it's with a family member you've been avoiding. Maybe it's with a friend who hurt you. Maybe it's with God himself. Take ONE step of vulnerability in that relationship - a phone call, an apology, an honest conversation. Write that name down right now. Commit to that step before Easter Sunday. Bury everything that is not of Christ our champion - the pride, the fear, the resentment - and let the Spirit of God resurrect what your relationship truly needs. Just as Jesus surrendered His heart completely to the Father's will, surrender yours - and watch what God can do with a heart that's no longer protected, but given.

Second, commit to truth. Identify ONE area where you've been bending the truth. Choose to speak and live truthfully in that area this week, even if it costs you something.

Third, redirect your trust. Identify ONE thing you're trying to control instead of trusting God with. Each morning of this Holy Week, physically open your hands and pray: "God, I surrender this to you today. Not my will, but yours be done.” Hav you ever hear dot he the power of the word yet? When Jesus was in the garden facing the cross, listen to what He prayed in Mark 14:36: "Take this cup from me. YET not my will, but yours be done.” That little word "yet" is where transformation happens. Jesus didn't pretend He wanted to suffer. He was honest about His desire - "Take this cup from me." But then came that powerful word: “YET. YET not my will, but yours be done.” That single word bridges the gap between our human fear and surrender. It acknowledges our weakness while embracing God's strength. It's not denying reality - it's transforming it through trust. This Holy Week, when you open your hands each morning, try praying like Jesus: "God, I want to control this situation... YET not my will, but yours be done.” The things we trust instead of God will always fail us when we need them most. But Jesus shows us another way - a path of surrender that leads through death to the Father's presence.

And that's the path He invites us to walk today. Not an easy path. Not a comfortable path. But the ONLY path that leads to life. As we enter this Holy Week, remember this truth: The champion we follow determines the path we walk and the person we become. Let's pray.Heavenly Father,

We come before You today having seen two champions: Pilate, who washed his hands of responsibility, and Jesus, who opened His hands in surrender. Give us the courage to choose the right Champion. Help us surrender our hearts, commit to truth, and redirect our trust to You. This Holy Week, as we remember Jesus's journey to the cross, transform our choices. Teach us to say, like Your Son, "Yet not my will, but Yours be done." May the Champion we follow determine the path we walk and the person we become. In Jesus's name, Amen.

May the God who entered Jerusalem on a donkey rather than a war horse give you the courage to choose surrender over control. May the Spirit who strengthened Jesus in Gethsemane strengthen you to say "Yet not my will, but Yours be done." May the Father who raised Jesus from the dead transform your heart choices, truth choices, and trust choices. And may the champion you follow determine the path you walk and the person you become, until we see Him face to face. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. *

I Will, Multiply

I want to open our bibles up to Luke chapter 4 to begin with, we will be skipping around the Bible to a couple different verses. This is the fifth message in a series where we’ve been looking at what an outward christian looks like. And we began looking at having the right attitudes, and how the wrong attitude is detrimental to our faith walk. We looked at worship and how worship is vertical that spills out into the horizontal.

Then we looked at being together. How the early church was devoted to one another, and then last week we saw how service isn’t to be self centered but Jesus centered while we serve others. Today, I want to explore another outward Christian attitude and it’s this, I will go and make disciples. I believe this is the one thing in the life of the local church as a whole, so what I am saying, is all churches, I believe many church in our culture and our generation has lost this truth that we are called to go and make disciples.

Being a disciple means a person is driven to see the gospel go to all people, and as a result, they are themselves committed to making disciples. In todays church, I just believe that we’ve lost that desire. Every follower of Christ should be (zealous!) to see the gospel taken to the ends of the earth. And it begins right here. In our own town. Every day, in the US alone.

10,000 babies are born. SO that puts us roughly around 4 million babies are born per year. Can I ask you something… If I were to ask you to write down the answer to the question “How do you make disciples?” what would you write? What does that look like in your own life? Or maybe you would say, “I don’t know if I’ve ever really made a disciple.” Let me encourage you to remember that Jesus has commanded this for all of us as His followers.

We are to go and make disciples. We don’t want to get to the end of our lives and, looking back, and realize we haven’t done this one thing He left for us to do. Can you imagine… standing before the awesome, powerful, but loving God and replaying and looking back at all of your christian life was, and all you see is just you showing up and coming to church on Sundays mornings, grumbling about services being too long or too short and the music wasn’t to your liking, and maybe, just maybe you served here or there as you lived your life outside of the church to the fullest it can be lived.

But yet, before the throne of Jesus Christ you learn that your faith only stopped at coming to know Christ. Because If the point of our lives was simply to know Him, He could have taken us home in the moment of our conversion. And I know I said the same thing, I’m not sure if I am called to do that. Perhaps you’ve said, I’m not called to be a teacher, or pastor, or an evangelist.

But the truth is, He has left us here in a world of sin and evil and injustice for a reason. He’s given us a mission which is to make disciples. So the question is: how do we do that? I want truly consider that question this morning, and my goal, my heart is for each of us to grasp this idea that Jesus calls us to be disicpleed and to disciples others.

So, let’s begin with Luke 4… I want to start where we all start. Even though we’re not fishermen… well at lease some of us aren’t, and there are some who think they are… but let’s start here in Luke with some fisherman that Jesus begins interacting with. Read Luke 4-11 The first time we see in Luke that Jesus interacts with Simon in his gospel is when Simon Peter just got back from a horrible fishing excursion and he caught nothing.

But Jesus tests his faith and calls him to go out a little further. For me, this is equivalent to moments in our life where we try new things. Right. How many times you’ve told yourself you couldn’t do something, but then when you stretched your faith, or you stretched your perspective on how you think something should be. And then, you were able to accomplish something you thought was impossible, or even wrong?

I’ve been married for 18 years, I’ve had plenty of times my perspective was changed because Alicia told me I was wrong, and she was right. Like whoa, write that down that I said that. But here’s what Jesus said to Peter and his bother Andrew, follow me. Drop your nets and follow me, and I will make you fisher of men. So what we realize, is that even here, in the very beginning of what we could say is the beginning of our faith, the calling of people to follow and becomes fishers of men is a core part of christianity.

“Follow Me, I will make you a fisher of men.” Jesus in the very first written interaction with Simon and Andrew hear the call to follow, but also Jesus is very clear on the expectations of Peter… He says, I will make you fishers of men. He’s saying, I will make you disciples, and then you’ll become disciples makers. My question is, to be a disciple would we be willing to drop everything to follow Christ?

I mean, come on, is there not a difference between a person who’s dead in their trespasses and sins and a person who now has the spirit of HIm who raised Christ from the dead dwelling in them. Vs someone who’s following behind Jesus and watching and learning and desiring, but yet are they truly a follower of Christ? Should there not be a marked difference in our lives when we follow Jesus.

I mean, we’ve seen it where you go, Wow, that’s not normal. That person has been turned around. That person is filled with the Spirit. But then there’s also such a big number of people that come to these Sunday gatherings where you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference by their lifestyle, actions, even words and so now you’re trying to get everyone in this gathering to do something together, in unity and I’m concerned that a lot of them have not really made a commitment to follow Jesus.

They believe in the lifestyle of Jesus than living the style of life in Jesus. Right! I mean we have the t-shirts, we have our bibles, we have our lingo but where is the life change in all of that? Where’s the heart change by the gospel? Where’s the desire to live everyday life to know Jesus, and to have others know Jesus just as we have come to know Him!

Where’s the devotion to one another like we read in the book of acts? Where’s the love in the churhc like we read of in Acts? When does that begin for the modern day church? So how do we do that? It begins by being an authentic follower of Jesus Christ. And an authentic follower of Jesus is one who sees Jesus in His full glory, and as full authority. An authentic follower sees Jesus for who he really is.

Remember when the disciples were asked, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” But then Jesus goes, I don't want to know who they think I am, who do you, he makes it person… he says "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” To be authentic followers we’ve got to know who Jesus truly is and what that means to us, and how we live out following Him in everyday life is depend upon seeing Christ as the king of our hearts.

Holiness is just that. It baffles me that there could be people singing, “you’re the king of my heart” with no realization that Jesus is not the king of anything in their life, but just an acquaintance of the heart. I just know about him. If we do not see Jesus for who he really is, We will never proclaim Jesus confidently in the world that is constantly living in darkness and rejecting him.

I say that because of this.. To call people, to make disciples who are not disciples themselves, that’s pretty much a dead end. Listen to that again: To call people, to make disciples who are not disciples themselves, that’s pretty much a dead end. IN the book growing up by Robby Gallaty, he writes “When the church becomes an end in itself, it ends. When Sunday school, as great as it is, becomes an end in itself, it ends.

When small groups ministry becomes an end in itself, it ends. When the worship service becomes an end in itself, it ends. What we need is for discipleship to become the goal, and then the process never ends. The process is fluid. It is moving. It is active. It is a living thing. It must continue to go on. Every disciple must make disciples.” SO, let’s go back to our question…

how do we do that? Well, first we aim to follow, but in the following Jesus must command every step of our life. Flip over with me to Matthew 28… and find with me verse 18. 8 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. IN this moment, what Jesus is saying is this.. I’m king. I’m Lord. There is no more questions.

He has lived a perfect life, He has died the death you and I deserved to die on the cross and He has risen from the dead in victory over sin. He is about to ascend into heaven and be seated at the right hand of God in this moment…. And He’s saying, I have authority over everything. Sometimes people will say, “I’ve come to the point where I’ve decided to make Jesus Lord of my life.” Whenever you hear that, realize that person really never had a choice in the matter.

Jesus isn’t Lord because we choose to make Him that. He is Lord already. What we choose is whether we’ll bow our knee to His Lordship now—or will we bow the knee to His Lordship when it’s too late. He is Lord. That is a fact. Think about what that means in our lives. As our Lord, our lives are His too direct. He determines where we go, how we live, what we do, and he determines who comes and goes.

If you remember last week, we become servants and slaves. This is what it means to be a disciple: we die to ourselves, surrendering our right to determine the direction of our lives. He determines where we live, how we live, what we do. He has commanded us to make disciples and He can lead us to do that in all kinds of different ways. He might be calling you to be a Sunday school teacher.

He might be calling you to sell all you have and become a missionary overseas… or he might be calling you away from your sick and dying mother to pastor a church. Our lives are His to determine how we live. So What’s the first answer to how do we make disciples?, We follow Christ as a disciple of Christ under His lordship and authority to will and do what he calls for us in our life.

And there are three implications that he teaches us to do as a disciple totally sold out to Christ… And the first one is this: He Teaches Us,and commands us to Share the Word. Jesus in this moment of Matthew 28 is telling his disciples that they re to go share the word with people they do not know and to people who have never heard it. And that’s pretty much everyone.

I believe we have disconnected evangelism from our every day christian lives. We’ve made church more about comfort than conviction. Can I ask something, what’s the purpose of Sunday school. It’s to teach right? What’s the purpose of small groups? It’s to teach right? What’s the purpose of coming to church, hearing some songs, hearing some words and walking out of here, maybe feeling good about ourselves, but not desiring to share the gospel with others?

That’s comfort! Church aim to do this kind of comfort church every week, but yet I’m sure if you go into any church that follows this pattern of church service, Sunday school and small groups, you’ll find that they have disconnected evangelism from their purpose. Why? Because it’s uncomfortable. We need holy Spirt boldness in our life. Remember in acts 4:13.. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.

What happened later in chapter 4? Peter and John returned to the church and the church prayed for them to have boldness to share the gospel with others. And then it says in verse 31, after they prayed, the place was shaken and the Spirit filled them and they went and spoke the word boldly. Listen, church… evangelizing is not a solo Sport.. we’re called to encourage one another. Paul and John evangelized by sharing the word boldly, and they accomplished that not in their own power, but in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the prayers of within the local church.

Secondly, Show us the Word. Go and make disciples, and do what.. baptize them. After we share the word, we show the word in baptism. In Christian baptism we’re identifying with Jesus and with the gospel. Romans 6 tells us we are put in water as a picture of death to sin and self, then we are raised out of the water as a picture of being raised to life with Christ.

We see in Ephesians 2 that baptism is a picture of being publicly identified with Christ’s life, death, burial and resurrection, showing that we are now followers of Him. But baptism goes deeper than that. Not only are we identified with the life of Christ, but we’re also identified with the body of Christ. When you were baptized it was you becoming a part of the local body of Christ. When we’re baptized, we’re saying, “I belong to Christ as a member of His body, the church.” This is so significant in the process of disciple-making.

We share the Word so they might believe the gospel, then we see them baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We teach them to understand that their life is now identified not just with Christ but also with the community of faith—people who will help them grow in the life they now have in Christ. Now, think of this…. Imagine for a moment you left here today and you led someone to Christ.

How would they begin to grow? How is the new believer going to begin to grow in Christ? How will they learn to study the Bible, for example? You could give them some books on Bible study, or recommend they go to a particular Bible study—and that would be helpful, yes. But How is that believer going to learn to pray? Maybe you’re thinking, “Wait a minute. In order to show somebody else how to study the Bible, I’ve actually got to know how to study the Bible myself.

I’ve got to start praying myself, to lead someone else to pray. I’m convinced that every follower of Jesus will plateau in their relationship with Christ—we’ll hit a ceiling—as long as we’re just living for ourselves. This is where being comfortable sets in…. When we’re ok living for ourselves. When we live for ourselves we become comfortable. But if we’re living to see other disciples grow in the image of Christ, grow in the Word, grow in prayer, grow in evangelism, grow in disciple-making themselves, then we have to show them what all of these things are.

I just wonder…What is our plan for multiplication?!! Do we have one? Is it just, Lord, I hope you send people here to church, or is it, Lord, put people in my life, or the ones already in my life and lead me to lead them to you. One calls for comfort and the other calls us to pursue people with conviction. I guess if a church has no plan for multiplication, then they can just expect nothing but opportunities for division?

Showing the word is living out of our baptism in the body, through love that is in Jesus Christ. Lastly, Look with me in Matthew 28 and verse 20, “Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” We share the Word, We show the Word, then We teach the Word—teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded. Teaching is more than just standing in front of people and relaying information.

Yes, that’s one avenue of teaching. But for instance, I remember teaching my son to change a tire, I didn’t just have him watch from the side on how I did it. I put the tools in his hands, I explained what needed to be done, he went and began to struggle with the lug nuts, but I came along side of him and helped him. We jacked up the car, removed and plugged the tire, put it back on, and we drove away.

Teaching is taking your knowledge and experience and walking along side of someone in hopes that one day they will be able to replicate and reproduce what you’ve taught them. So, Let me ask you… are you a receiver of the Word or are you a reproducer of the Word? How do we listen in such a way that we’re not just receiving, but that we can also reproduce it? How can we say, “Everything I’m learning about the Word isn’t just intended for me, but it’s to be passed on through me to other people whom I can help grow in Christ”?

This is disciple-making, when every disciple of Christ shares the Word, shows the Word and then teaches the Word. We’re going, we’re baptizing and we’re teaching people to obey everything Christ commands. Church, The recipe for multiplication is simple. All it takes is the word of God, the Spirt of God and the people of God willing to put all three to practice. And we’ve got all three here at this church, and around this table.

The final question I have for us is this…: “Will the Word stop with you or will it spread through you?” *

What is Your Legacy?

I want to invite you to open your bibles back to Luke chapter 5. This is the fourth message in our series called, into the deep. We’ve been walking through this incredible moment between Jesus and Simon Peter, watching how an ordinary fishing trip turns into an extraordinary calling. In week one, we asked, “Can He use your boat?”—and we talked about what it means to make ourselves available to Jesus. In week two, we looked at Jesus’ invitation to go deeper, and we asked, “Will you go?”—recognizing that deep faith means trusting Him beyond the shallows of comfort. In week three, we wrestled with the tension between our way and God’s way, learning that obedience to Jesus will often challenge our logic and stretch our surrender. And now, here we are—at a turning point. Today we’re asking a question that I believe will shape how we live, how we give, and how we leave a mark in this world: What’s your legacy? What kind of life are you building? And I want to ask you one more question to get us started today—something that gets personal really quickly. If I handed you a piece of paper and asked you to answer this: “How do you make disciples?”—what would you write? What does that actually look like in your life? Or maybe, honestly, you’d say, “I don’t know if I’ve ever made a disciple.” If that’s you—let me just offer a word of encouragement: You are not disqualified. You’re not behind. But you are called. Jesus commanded every single one of His followers to go and make disciples. This isn’t optional. It’s not just for pastors or missionaries. This command is for every Christian, in every nation, in every generation.

This past week, our staff and board gathered together for a retreat at Glen Eyrie, and we prayed and worshiped and sat with the Lord together. And as we listened for His voice, it was like the presence of God settled on us like a fog—thick, gentle, and unmistakable. And as we talked, we asked a deeper question: Who are we? How do we be a church that honors our Nazarene heritage, but also obeys the unique calling God has for us here in Falcon? And what began to rise to the surface—over and over again—was this: we must be a church that makes disciples. Not just attenders. Not just consumers. Disciples. And I can’t help but to ask this piercing question… how are you being discipled to go and make disciples? How does that look for you as a fellowship member? Or as a full member of a church? Because here’s the truth—we don’t want to get to the end of our lives and realize we missed the one thing Jesus explicitly told us to do. Think about it. If the only purpose of salvation was to know Him, He could’ve taken you to heaven the moment you believed. But He left you here. He left me here. Why? In a world full of injustice and pain and brokenness… what’s the point? The point is this: He gave us a mission. And that mission is to make disciples. So how do we do that? What does it look like? To answer that, we’re going to start in Luke chapter 5—where we see the beginning of Peter’s calling. And then we’ll turn to Matthew 28 to see the continuation of that same call—the call that belongs to every follower of Jesus. Let’s read all of Luke 5, verse 1-11:

So did we witness as the beginning of discipleship for Peter. Well first we see, Availability. Let’s look again at Luke 5:3: “He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.” (Luke 5:3, NIV) Now I want you to notice something really simple but incredibly powerful: Jesus got into Peter’s boat. Peter didn’t go searching for Jesus—Jesus came looking for him. And Peter’s response? He let Him in. He made his boat available. Can I just say something to you this morning? Before God ever calls you to do something great, He’s going to ask you to give Him something ordinary. Something simple. Something that you already have. It might be your time. Your talents. Your resources. Your kitchen table. Your willingness to listen. Whatever it is—Jesus will start with what’s already in your hands. Think about it: Peter’s boat wasn’t a temple. It wasn’t a church building. It was his workplace. It was messy, smelly, and probably still had fish guts on the floorboards. But that’s what Jesus chose to step into. So, Here’s the truth: Jesus doesn’t wait for your life to be spotless before He uses it. He just wants you to open the door. Romans 12:1, of course is one of my favorite verses for God asking for what’s in our hands. (NLT) says: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.” I always think the message version teaches us this in easier understanding.. it says, (MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. You don’t need to be spectacular. You just need to be surrendered. That’s worship. Worship is availability. Let’s be honest—we live in a culture that praises busyness. If your calendar isn’t packed, people assume you’re unimportant. But what if God’s greatest invitation this week isn’t to add something big, but to be available for something small? Like helping your neighbor carry groceries. Or mentoring a teenager. Or inviting a co-worker to coffee just to check in. A few weeks ago, I was at Glen Eryie on a Monday, and I was sitting there, and these older couple pulled up and they were unloading their car to their meeting room. And I notices that they were.. well struggling. So, I got up, and asked, can I help? And of course, they said yes. What does it take for you to just see someone coming into a door, and just wait or slow down for a moment to hold the door for someone. What does it take to just walk pass someone in the grocer store and say, hey, I love your blouse, or shoes or hey, keep smiling, your smile made my day. If God can use a fishing boat, He can use your life. Availability is the very beginning of every spiritual legacy. Listen, Church, God doesn’t need your ability. He’s already got plenty of that. What He’s looking for is availability. Let’s keep going in the story. Luke 5:4–5 says: “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” The is obedience: Now this is where it gets real. Jesus tells Peter to do something that makes absolutely no sense. Peter’s a professional fisherman. He knows the water. He’s already put in a full shift—he’s tired, discouraged, and probably just wants to go home and rest. But instead, he obeys. Think of what Isaiah says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. How many times does God ask us to do something that doesn’t make sense? Isn’t it hard to understand God sometimes? Forgive someone who hurt you… even though they didn’t say sorry. Tithe when your finances already feel tight. Share your faith when you're scared of being rejected. Stay in a hard relationship or step out into a new ministry when the outcome is unclear. Most of us want to understand first and then obey. We want to see how it all works out before we say yes. Its true isn it… What about our desperate prayers. God, help me, then I will do. Help me get through this moment, and I promise I will tithe, or go to church, or be a better christian. But that’s not how God works. God says, “Trust Me first. Obey Me now. And understanding will come later.” Why? Because obedience is always a test of faith. When you obey even when you don’t understand, you're saying, “God, I trust You more than I trust myself.” You're saying, “Your ways are higher than my ways. Your thoughts are better than mine.” That’s faith in action. Faith is believing what you can’t see. Obedience is doing what God says even when it doesn’t make sense. So here’s the big question: Where does the joy come in? How do we get from obedience to joyful obedience? Because let’s be honest, sometimes obedience feels hard, sometimes it costs us something. Sometimes it’s painful. So where does the joy come in? The answer is simple: Joy comes when you remember who you’re obeying. You’re not obeying a distant God. You’re obeying a loving Father. The God who made you. The God who sees the big picture. The God who is always working for your good. That changes everything. Suddenly obedience isn’t a burden—it’s a blessing. It’s not just about doing the right thing; it’s about walking closely with the One who knows what’s best for you. And here’s what I’ve found over and over again—joy always follows obedience. Not always immediately, but eventually. You obey in faith, and somewhere along the way, joy sneaks in. Peace shows up. You look back and realize, “Wow… God really did know what He was doing.” Obedience positions you to see His hand, experience His faithfulness, and live in His blessing. Luke wild later write these words of Jesus…., “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28). Blessed. Joyful. Fulfilled. That’s the fruit of faith-filled obedience. I think of Peter and Pua. Peter stepped out, by faith. He had a heart, or a nudge to take the picture of Pua’s resume and then send me a text to say, I think I may have found someone that would fit in perfectly with the church. Now, his family is a major part of our church family. So, Here’s the deal: Delayed obedience is disobedience. And partial obedience is still disobedience. But when we obey—even when we’re unsure, even when it feels like the deep waters—God meets us there. That’s where the miracle happens. listen, God doesn’t require you to understand fully. He just asks you to obey faithfully.

Lets look again to the next part. Because if you think obedience is hard, this next part is even harder. Look with me in verse 8: “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” Now remember, Peter just saw the biggest catch of fish he’d ever experienced. This was a moment of breakthrough. But instead of celebrating, he hits the ground in brokenness. Why? Because when you come face to face with the power and purity of Jesus, you also come face to face with the mess in your own heart. Have you ever noticed in your faith, that God’s goodness has a way of exposing our need. When I think of this part of Peter’s story, I’m struck by what he didn’t do. It would’ve been so easy for Peter to be mesmerized by the catch. He could’ve said, “Wow, this is it! Let’s haul these fish in, get them to market, and cash in. We’re set for life! Look at what this man just did for us—I can finally live in comfort.” That’s how most of us would think, right? In our flesh, we default to self—self-focus, self-gain, self-security. But Peter didn’t do that. In that moment, he fell to his knees. He confessed. Why? Because God’s goodness has a way of exposing our deepest need. The Bible shows us this over and over again. Think of Isaiah’s vision of God’s glory in Isaiah 6:5. The moment he sees the Lord high and lifted up, what does he say? “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Isaiah sees God’s holiness, and suddenly his own sin is undeniable. Or think of Paul in Romans 2:4 where he writes, “Don’t you see that the kindness of God is meant to lead you to repentance?” God’s kindness, His mercy, His goodness—they aren’t just meant to bless us. They are meant to break us, to wake us up, to lead us back to Him. Peter’s response on that boat was the same as Isaiah’s and Paul’s. When he saw the power of Jesus, he saw his own heart. And I wonder—when’s the last time God’s goodness stopped you in your tracks? When’s the last time you looked past the blessing to see the One who gave it? Because your greatest need has never been a bigger catch. It’s always been Jesus. Always. And can I tell you something important? That’s not a bad place to be. That moment when the weight of your sin hits you… that’s not condemnation. That’s invitation. That’s Jesus saying, “Now that you see your need, let me show you my grace.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV) says: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Notice the promise: Confession leads to cleansing. Honesty opens the door to healing.Maybe you’ve had one of those moments—where you’re in worship, or you’re praying, or reading your Bible—and all of a sudden, the conviction sets in. You realize, “God, I’ve been pretending. I’ve been going through the motions. I’ve been holding back.” That’s not God trying to shame you. That’s His Spirit trying to free you. You can’t be filled until you’re emptied. You can’t be commissioned until you’ve been cleansed. Peter said, “Go away from me, Lord. I’m a sinful man.” But Jesus didn’t walk away. He leaned in. Because that’s what Jesus does when you confess—He doesn’t cancel you. He calls you. Listen Church, Jesus isn’t looking for perfect people. He’s looking for honest ones. And confession is where true discipleship begins.

Now, look at what happens after the confession, Luke 5:10–11: “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” I love this moment. Because Jesus doesn’t end the story with Peter’s confession—He gives him a commission. Jesus says, “You were a fisherman… but from now on, you’re going to catch people.” That phrase—“from now on”—signals a new identity, a new direction, a new legacy. Peter’s life just changed forever. How many times have you confessed and went right back into your old life? Be honest. We all have done it. There had been moments where our hearts were warmed by the very presence of Christ, we confessed our sin, and …. Well just fell back into our old life again. Its a struggle, I get it. And I also get Peter could have fallen to his knees in confession and then when Jesus says get up, he could have went right back to cleaning his nets. But he didn’t… he followed Jesus. And notice—Jesus doesn’t say, “Go get your act together first.” He says, “Let’s go. Right now.” Because when Jesus calls you, He also equips you. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) says: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” DO you realize what this is saying… you’re new life, in Jesus. Through availability, obedience, and confession is saying this… you are God’s poem. Thats the greek word for handiwork in Ephesians. It means you’ve bene made new and crafted for purpose and with purpose. It means you’re not random. You’re not accidental. You’re not mass-produced. You were intentionally created by God. Designed. Shaped. Formed by His hands for a reason. You’re not junk. You’re not a mistake. You are God’s work of art and a living poem. You’re life is being created in Jesus Christ to do good works. Do you hear that? You weren’t just saved from something. You were saved for something. Some of you think God could never use you because of your past. But can I remind you? Peter was impulsive. He denied Jesus three times. He sank in the water. And yet—Jesus used him to preach at Pentecost and lead the early church. Why? Because Jesus doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. This is what happens when we say yes to the call: we leave behind what’s temporary so we can step into what’s eternal. Peter left his boats, his nets, and his biggest catch ever—not because he was reckless, but because he had found something better. He had found a purpose worth living for. And more than that—a Savior worth following. As a pastor friend of mine would put it, If you ain't fishing, you ain't following. That’ll preach.

So what does this all have to do with the question: What is your legacy? It’s this—what began in Luke 5 with Peter’s calling is fulfilled in Matthew 28 with our commission. That day by the lake wasn’t just Peter’s moment; it was the beginning of a pattern. Jesus calls. We respond. And then He sends us. He doesn’t just save us from something—He saves us for something. And that something is this: Go and make disciples. You see, we are a part of Peters legacy. That began with Jesus. That began at the first words in Genesis. In the beginning was God. We a re a part of the story of God. I siad this at our retreat. At Falcon community chgruhc, I want you to envision this… all kinds of people here, from many nations, or ethiciityies, and cultures, and here God is making this beautiful tapestry of different lives, from different places, and different generations, all in one place, while weaving the gospel message us to share with others. And if we’re going to take that command seriously, we need to pay attention to the four core actions Jesus gives us in these final verses. They’re not optional. They’re not suggestions. They are the very legacy we are meant to live and leave behind. First, we are called to Share the Word. Jesus says, “Go…” That’s movement. That’s mission. That’s a refusal to stay in comfort or convenience while the world lives and dies without the gospel. This is not a call just for missionaries or pastors—it’s for every single follower of Christ. Share the Word. Tell people the story of what He’s done in you. Evangelism is not a personality type. It’s obedience. And it starts with the people already around you. Who has God placed in your life right now who needs to hear the good news? You don’t need a platform—you just need to open your mouth and trust that the power is in the message, not the messenger.

Second, we are called to Show the Word. Jesus said to baptize them. Baptism isn’t just a ritual; it’s a declaration. A public statement that someone’s old life is gone and their new life is in Christ. But it doesn’t stop at the water. We show the Word by modeling what it means to follow Jesus daily. You don’t have to be perfect—you just need to be real. Invite someone into your rhythms. Show them how you study the Bible. Let them hear you pray. Let them see what it looks like to walk with Jesus when you’re tired, when you’re tempted, when you’re full of joy, and when you’re in pain. Discipleship is not about information—it’s about imitation. Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” That’s our role, too.

Third, we are called to Teach the Word. Jesus said, “Teach them to obey everything I’ve commanded.” Notice—He didn’t say teach them to know everything. He said to obey. That’s a big difference. Obedience is the goal of discipleship, not just knowledge. So we don’t teach for entertainment or applause—we teach for transformation. And this can happen over coffee, at the dinner table, or in a text thread. It’s teaching truth through relationship. And it only happens when the Word of God isn’t just something we hear—it’s something we live.

And finally, we are called to Serve the World. Jesus said, “Make disciples of all nations.” That’s not poetic language. That’s International strategy. There are still over 3 billion people who haven’t heard the name of Jesus. And while not all of us are called to go overseas, we are all called to care. To pray. To give. To be open to the possibility that God might send us somewhere beyond what we expected. Because the Great Commission is not just about your neighborhood—it’s about the nations. We are not just a local church—we are a global church, part of God’s unstoppable movement to bring the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation. That’s the legacy. Not success. Not status. Not safety. Disciples. That’s what we leave behind. That’s what we live for. And here’s the promise: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” When you open your mouth to share the Word, He is with you. When you walk with someone through the ups and downs of discipleship, He is with you. When you teach truth, and when you serve beyond your comfort zone—He is with you. His presence is the power behind your obedience. So let me ask you one last time: What legacy are you living for? Are you building something that will last only for this life? Or are you pouring your life into people who will carry the gospel into eternity? Let’s be a church that doesn’t just attend services but makes disciples. Let’s build a legacy not of comfort, but of calling. *

Jesus as Our Friend

I want to invite you to open your bibles with me to Matthew chapter 17. All month long we've been diving into this series called "Defining the Relationship," where we're looking at how people saw Jesus, like really saw him. And if you've been with us, you might have noticed we keep coming back to this one amazing story - the transfiguration of Jesus. It's perfect for what we're doing because here's what happens: Jesus takes a few of his closest friends up a mountain, and right there in front of them, he just... changes. It's like they're seeing the real Jesus for the first time. And since we're spending all of 2025 trying to see Jesus more clearly - what we're calling our 2025 vision - this story is exactly where we need to be. We've already uncovered some pretty cool things about Jesus in this story. A couple weeks ago, we talked about how God calls him his Son - that's huge, right? Jesus asked the disciples to define the relationship and Peter defined it. You are the Messiah, the son of God. The the Father confirmed it.. This is my son… Then last week we dug into those words "whom I love." Get this - Jesus isn't just God's Son, he's God's BELOVED Son. And we saw how Jesus both receives and gives this incredible, life-changing love of God. And because Christ is in us, we can receive and give this same love. Now, this is important because what we looked at last week on love goes right into this weeks message. This week… We're going to see something else - we're going to see Jesus as our Friend. Not just any friend, but the kind who speaks life into us, who wants the absolute best for us, and who believes in us even when we don't believe in ourselves.

But before we jump into what happens in Matthew 17, I need to tell you about something that happened to me in third grade. This is the story about…. The playground king. You know that school bully everybody seems to have a story about? Well, this was mine. It was a beautiful day at ShadyBrook Elementary, everyone was out at recess, and for whatever reason - I still don't know why - this kid and his little gang decided I was going to be their target that day. Now, if you grew up in the 80s, you know playground equipment back then was... let's say... interesting. Like, those metal slides on a hot summer day? Yeah, you weren't sliding down those things - you were leaving a layer of skin behind! Am I right? Kids these days and their safety slides. We went from 0 to 100 and left two skin marks as our clothes were burned off and our butt cheaks slid down the slide. We had these turtle-shaped climbing dome things with little triangles all over them. So there I am, getting chased by this kid and his friends, and I've got two choices - get caught and pounded, or surrender and... still get pounded. Great options, right? So I'm running, and I make it to the top of this turtle thing. They're jumping up, trying to grab my legs - I'm kicking, they're climbing, I'm shoving them back down, and then... WHAM! I turn left, and this fist just comes out of nowhere, right into my nose. Yeah, it broke. Blood everywhere. And yeah, I definitely cried. And… its still a little bit crooked today.. Life can be hard sometimes, can't it? Amen? You know what's crazy? Sometimes we don't even know who our real friends are. When you're a kid, it's simple - you just know who you want to hang out with and who you want to avoid. But now that we're adults, we get it. Some people just drain you, make you feel small, make you want to hide. And others? They light you up. They make you feel like you can do anything. Some folks just want to use you to feel better about themselves, while others genuinely want to see you succeed because they care about you. Keep that in mind as we dive into Matthew 17. Because what we're about to see? It's going to change how we think see Jesus as our friend… Turn with me to Matthew 17:1-7. 1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” So right there, God the Father just confirmed and defined the relationship. What was the response? 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. I want to stop right there for a minute. Let that image sink in - these guys are face down on the ground, terrified. You know that feeling, right? That overwhelming moment when all you can do is hit the deck? That's where we find these guys. The Bible says they were terrified. Theres fear. And in their fear they cower. It’s a posture we know all to well - When we are scared, we tense up. Its our body’s way of preparing us for what we think might happen… which is usually we’re thinking, I'm going to be harmed in some way. If there was ever a moment for Jesus to be the playground king, it would be in this moment. This was a moment where Jesus could have put his foot on the back of the disciples and say, I’m king. Im the guy. I am the one God says is his son. But he doesn't do that. Not even close. And what he does instead? It changed these guys forever. You know how I know? Because these same guys who are eating dirt right now? They don't stay there. Take John, for instance. This same John, nicknamed one of the sons of thunder - the one who's currently face-down and shaking in his sandals - years later would write something incredible. Listen to what he writes, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Did you catch that? The opposite of fear isn't courage - it's love. And that... that changes everything about how we see what God the Father says on this mountain: "This is my beloved Son, whom I love." Think about how that plays into Jesus going to the cross. That was a moment where, honestly, the human side of Jesus should have been shaking in his sandals too. But if there was ever a moment where we see John's words in action - that there is no fear in love - it's right there. Jesus faces the cross not because he's the bravest person who ever lived, it wasn’t courage that drove him to the cross, it was love….. The opposite of fear is love. There are so many expressions of fear… ...Afraid to talk to the girl, or that guy…. What about investing in the new venture. Alicia and our family had every right to be fearful of mombivng 1500 miles, but it was love that drew us here to apply for this adventure. How about the fear of having to kill the spider. Its amazes me… the spider does nothing to me. Doesn’t show aggression like a dog or cat can, isn’t the biggest, but yet, it paralyzes us in fear. And then theres the fear of heights. DO You know what I realized about fear? When you really dig down to the core of it - when you get past all the surface stuff - fear is really just us trying to protect ourselves. Thats it! Thats at the center of our fear.. our own self preservation. And I think about this in my life, and I wonder, if fear just only drives my natural desire to be comfortable, and to never step out by faith, or to never give myself wholly to someone else, whether it be to my wife, or to my kids or to the mission God has on my life,… or even bigger yet, if fear never lets me give my whole self to Jesus.. how will I evert be made into the image of Christ, to be holy as he is holy, and to love others as myself. I can't love Him and others, while only thinking of my own self. Fear causes us to turn from one another, but love Turns us towards one another, and makes us one. Its a real issue church….. We’re afraid of getting hurt. Afraid of failing. Afraid of looking foolish. I mean, who here hasn't stayed quiet in a meeting because you were afraid your idea might sound dumb? But here's what's fascinating. John - you know, who wrote about perfect love driving out fear? He wasn't just writing some nice quote for a a t-shirt.… This guy lived it. He experienced it first hand with Jesus. Picture this: We find him face-down on this mountain, literally shaking in his sandals. He's terrified. But then... then he watches something unfold that changes everything. He watches Jesus - the son of God, the beloved Son and what does Jesus do with all that power? He comes close and he touches them… Its true… look with me in the last verse… in verse 7, But Jesus came and touched them. 'Get up,' he said. 'Don't be afraid.’ See what the word says? 'Jesus came.' He didn't stand at a distance. He didn't send an angel. He didn't shout instructions from afar. Real friendship closes the gap. Now, that might not sound revolutionary to you, but think about what He didn't do: He didn't stand at a safe distance He didn't send an angel with a message He didn't shout 'Hey guys, get it together!' from across the mountain

You know what He did? He closed the gap. Because that's what real friendship does - it closes the gap. And watch this - Jesus shows us four things about what real friendship looks like. This is beautiful… First, He Initiates. He takes the first step. When we're face down in fear, He moves toward us. He doesn't wait for us to get our act together first. Its the same with our lives, before you knew of Jesus, He knew you. We call that in the theological world, prevenient Grace. Which means, before you pursued God, he had already been pushing you first. Second, He Identifies. He gets down on our level. The God of the universe... comes to where we are. That's incredible! It began for us at the birth, that God the father would send his son, for unto us a son is born. There was a time, when I was a young adult, around 19 or 20 years old, and I had a panic attack. Life was overwhelming me. Its true.. I'm human. I have struggles and real needs too overcome in my life just like anyone else. And my best find Ryan couldn’t get ahold of me so he shows up at my house and he finds me underneath the computer desk. He notices that I'm not ok, so he gets on his knees, and he tries to shimmy in with me under the desk and he goes, man, I'm here for you, I’m here to listen whats going on. He identified something was wrong and he got down on my level. Thirdly, Jesus invests. He touches them. Right there in their fear. In their mess. In their uncertainty. He makes physical contact. Sometimes jut a simple touch can remind us that were alive and this is real and were not alone in our struggles. And finally - this is my favorite part - He Transforms. He doesn't just help them up and leave them the same. No, when Jesus touches your life, everything changes.

And here's what gets me - He's still doing all four of these things today. Still initiating. Still identifying. Still investing. Still transforming lives… and its all through the power of love and friendship. Because, Real friendship closes the gap.

Now, watch what happens next. Because it's not just what Jesus does - it's what He says. You know how some words just…well, they just sit there? Like when someone says 'cheer up' or 'don't worry.' Not exactly life-changing, right? And look, I get it. Sometimes we just don't know what to say when someone's hurting. We throw words out there, hoping something will stick, hoping something will help. We've all been there. But when Jesus speaks… look at what he says, 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” Now, this is where it gets interesting. When Jesus speaks to these terrified disciples, He uses a word that's absolutely packed with power. In the original language, it's ‘Egiero.' This isn't just any word. This is a resurrection word. A life-giving word. Watch this: A few verses later, when they're coming down the mountain, Jesus uses this same word when he says, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the son of man has been raised from the dead” It’s also the same word He uses a chapter earlier when he said that the son of man will be raised to life after three days. And in Matthew 9? There's this powerful scene where Jesus is standing over a little girl who had died. Everyone's laughing at Him when He says she's just sleeping. But Jesus sends them all away, looks at this dead little girl, and speaks this same word: 'Egiero' - get up.”

You see, when Jesus speaks into your life, He's not just offering empty words or cheap encouragement. He's speaking with resurrection power. Like, I'm so passionate about this... and at the same time, so burdened... because we don't make much of our salvation anymore. And maybe... I don't know this isn’t condemnaiotn or judegemnt, just a burned heart trying to think it through…… maybe we don't see spiritual life explode in our lives and in the church because we've forgotten or made very little of our salvation. You know, in the New Testament, when you see Peter full of the Holy Spirit, it says he preaches with power. And what was the message? He preached... very simple… he preached, repentance. That’s it… Not, if yore saved you’ll prophecy. If your saved you’ll heal… not if your saved, you can walk on water… He made much of Jesus and the call for salvation through repentance. And im not saying you wont be called to preach, or anything else… im just saying, why not everyday make much of Jesus and the day you became alive in him. Celebrate it everyday. There's life in salvation... there's life in our salvation, in the salvation of others. And it begins when people are honest with where they are in their hearts. I went to men's retreat last weekend, and the first night... all I'll say is this - men were honest. I can't tell you what they were honest about, because what happens at men's retreat stays at men's retreat... but that first night, honesty came pouring out. And I told Kent... my heart is hurting right now... Because without repenting, confession is no more than boasting of our sin. So I prayed and prayed, and then the last night? The altar was filled with men repenting and giving their lives over to Christ. I got a message on Sunday morning that more men had come to the altar at their home church to receive Christ. There was an afterglow of salvation pouring into churches.. and that afterglow also pours into our church when Kent testified last Sunday. Here's what it comes down to: The words of Jesus have resurrection power. The question is - are we listening, and are we responding?

But there's one more thing we need to see here. Because Jesus doesn't just come close, and He doesn't just speak life - He does something even more remarkable. Henri Nouwen, is one of my favorite writers, and he helps us understand what's next.. … Henri writes: “The biggest trap we face isn't failing at life - it's believing we're not worth loving in the first place.” Let’s pause and thin about that for a moment.. Our biggest problem isn't that we mess up sometimes. It's not that we fall short. It's not even that we're afraid. Our biggest problem is that somewhere along the way, we started believing a lie. A lie that says we're not worth loving. Not worth pursuing. Not worth coming close to. You know, I've seen this play out for years. Remember that playground bully I told you about earlier? The one who wanted everyone to bow down or get punched? He wanted control. He wanted power. He wanted to dominate. But here's what I learned later - and what I'm still learning: behind that need for control was a deep hurt. A wound that hadn't healed. Years later, just after graduation, I heard that he had taken his own life. And it taught me something I'll never forget - we're all fighting battles others can't see. We're all trying to win and control something in our life. These disciples are face down in fear, probably feeling completely unworthy to even be there. And what does Jesus do? He does exactly what Nouwen talks about. He doesn't just address their fear - He addresses their worth. See, when Jesus comes close to someone who doesn't feel worthy of being close to... \When He touches someone who feels untouchable... When He speaks life to someone who feels dead inside… He's not just helping them up - He's rewriting their story. He's saying, 'You're worth more than your fear tells you.’

Because here's what I've learned: Nobody acts out of power unless they're acting out of pain. & Nobody pushes others down unless they feel down themselves. But Jesus? He doesn't come to push us down. He doesn't come to remind us of our unworthiness. He comes to lift us up. To speak worth into our worthlessness. To bring love into our fear. And to transform and resurrect our lives through his love. As Peter comes up… \\

Right now, some of you are face down this morning - maybe not physically, but in your hearts. You're believing the lie that you're not worth loving, not worth pursuing, not worth saving. As I look out at our church family this morning, I see two kinds of people… First, there are those of you who are face down in fear right now. Maybe it's not physical - but emotionally, spiritually, you're flat on your face Maybe you're paralyzed by something - a failure, a relationship, a mistake Maybe you just can't seem to get up on your own And I want you to hear this: Jesus wants to come close to you today. Just like He did on that mountain, He wants to touch you and speak life into whatever has you face down. But there's a second group here today. Those of you who God is calling to be Jesus to others. You know someone who's living in fear Someone who's face down and can't get up Someone who needs to know they're worth loving But here's what we all need to hear this morning...You can't pour out what you haven't first received. If you're pushing Jesus away from yourself, how can He work through you to reach others?" So here's what I want to challenge us with this week If you're face down - Take one step toward friendship with Jesus Start each morning with 5 minutes in His Word Write down one fear and pray specifically about it Reach out to someone and share your struggle If you're called to help others - Start with your own cup Evaluate your own relationship with Jesus Ask Him to fill you up before you pour out Look for one person this week who needs to know they're worth loving Because here's the bottom line: You have a friend in Jesus. A friend who doesn't demand your fear - He desires your friendship. A friend who doesn't push you down - He lifts you up. A friend whose perfect love drives out every fear. And He's still coming close today. Still speaking life. Still transforming lives through friendship. The question is: Will you let Him be that kind of friend to you this week? And will you be that kind of friend to others? Lets pray… As we go from here today, may you know the peace of having Jesus as your friend. May you experience His perfect love that drives out all fear. And may you walk in the confidence of knowing that whenever you're face down, He's the friend who comes close, speaks life, and lifts you up. Go in the peace and friendship of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." *

Whispers - Envy

If you have your bibles, turn with me to Numbers chapter 12…. Have you ever walked into a room and two people you know have their heads very close together and they’re whispering. But when you get close, their eyes drop. Maybe their voices get really loud and high pitched all of a sudden, and you just know they were talking about you. All throughout history we find that every person, of every age, and in every generation at some point whispers to another person.

I read a study this week that out of the 467 conversations, only 34 individuals did not gossip at all. That means 7% of those studied did not gossip in their conversations. In this study, the gossip was coded either, positive, negative or neutral. And out of the 467 conversations, 75% we’re found to be neutral. Neutral gossip is defined as talking about others solely to share information. It is generally harmless.

It’s a social skill in many societies. For example, Neutral gossip is like this… Pastor Matthew went to Starbucks on Friday to write the sermon for Sunday. And while he was there, he met and talked with multiple people and shared conversations with people from all different walks of life. Neutral gossip is information that is shared between people. Then there’s Positive Gossip. Positive gossip is when information that could benefit a person or that results in people developing a positive view of a person.

For instance, Positive gossip would be like, "Oh I know Tony’s car garage… Tony is a really nice guy and he’s always there to help and he’s fair on prices and takes really good care of you. If you go, let him know I said hi. That’s positive gossip. It’s conveying information that would help or benefit someone. Then there’s what we all know as Negative Gossip. Now, the truth is when we hear the word gossip, I believe we all instantly think that any gossip is bad.

And that may be true too… because all gossip, whether positive, neutral or negative, is, subjective. Gossip is based purely on our own experiences and thoughts, and how we have in our own opinion and preference taken the information about the situation. But, it is important to differentiate between negative gossip, because it aims to harm or bring others down. Ultimately, We’ve got to learn to become mindful of the impact our words may have on others.

We can use our words to speak life, or we can use our words to speak death. If we claim Jesus is in us, wouldn't our words also speak Jesus from us? But Negative gossip is where we spread rumors about someone else private life, in an attempt to lift ourselves up or even our own perspective, or our own preferences of what we believe, above theirs. It’s a way to elevate oneself in the eyes of others by bringing down someone else.

Negative whispers creates a false sense of popularity and unity among those who participate in it. And what is dangerous, is that when half false or negative gossip is shared between one or more people, they can bond over their shared negativity towards another person. Thats what we’re going to realize in our story today. Whispers sometimes may seem small, but it’s echo can shatter relationships and harm the hearts of others, even those we love.

In numbers chapter 12, verse 1 it says, “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.” In my Bible, the CSB, it uses the word criticized. Miriam and Aaron were together on this and it began as a brother and sister speaking about a family matter that they didn’t agree with. I’m sure we all have family members we don’t agree with and there are plenty of stories through-out time about how someone didn’t like someone else’s new wife, or new husband.

But the negative criticism didn’t stop there… the whispering went deeper. Look with me in verse 2: “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” Now, the root of the criticism is exposed in this moment. Aaron was the high priest. Miriam was a prophetess, and worship leader. They both had prominent roles that God had granted to them to lead the people of God.

Their first beef with Moses was that he married the wrong woman. It’s honestly, in my opinion a petty family squabble. But as they continue to whisper, we begin to see the second beef they had with their brother. Their second beef is that Moses seems to be getting all the credit for what God is doing among His people. This is a hard truth to preach about, because let’s be honest.

We’ve all done this. It’s embarrassing, but true. I’m not proud to admit it, but I’ve felt this way before, and I have said these same words. Basically, it’s saying…. Why… Why did this… fill in the blank. Or why do they always___ fill in the blank. Or why does God always____ blank for others, and not me. It’s an endless list. Miriam and Aaron were criticizing about Moses and what were witnessing is a little bit of envy coming out of their heart.

Thats where whispers truly begin. In the heart. Jesus tells us, the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. (Matthew 15:18) The heart is what holding slander and evil, and jealously and insecurity but more importantly, Miriam and Aaron was forgetting three things. The first is that all people, including their brother is made in the image of God. That person that’s hard to be around…

yup, made in the image of God. That co worker you’re gossiping about… yup, made in the image of God. That atheist that rejects God and makes fun of you, made in the image of God. And not only that… The second is that all people are deeply loved by God. You will not find a person on earth that God isn’t deeply in love with. And listen, no one can love God and not love others.

It just doesn’t work like that. But the third thing, is that when it comes to those of us who are in Christ, we’re together in this journey of faith. There’s no second team. Every person in Christ, has skin in the game. There’s no try outs. You’re in, when one places their faith in Christ. In Christ, they’re being call up to the big leagues of walking by faith, just like you and me.

I believe that is a part of wy Jesus says: “Love each other as I have loved you.” Love the person who’s 50 years of faith and love the person who’s 1 day old in the faith. And Miriam and Aaron forgot this. They forgot that God loves Moses, but I also believe they also forgot that Moses probably loved them too. It’s easy to forget that we whisper about others and forget they might love us.

It’s easy to love those that love us back, and it’s easy to whisper to those who agree with us, but I think one of the truest tests of Jesus in us, is loving and encouraging those we may not agree with, even in our private life, and of course, even in our private conversations. So Miriam and Aaron have this moment when they are gossiping together about their brother, but then something happens….

I left this out on purpose because here is where the thunder comes in… look with me back in verse 2… And they said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" And the Lord heard it. There is not a single syllable that comes out of our mouths, no matter how quietly we say it, that the Lord does not hear. In our most private conversations about anyone and everyone, the Lord hears every conversation.

And you want to know something that should rattle your soul? This is an example of why I fear the Lord… Psalm 139:4 says, “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” God knows my heart. And that whisper that is locked and loaded on my tongue… it’s created within my heart. Before we even share it, before we even whisper it, before it’s even locked and loaded on our tongues, it’s manufactured in our heart.

Because it’s origin is sin. And God is going to deal with it… Just like a parent would. Look with me back in our Scripture and find verse 4: At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” Now, I dunno about you. But raising three kids I understand this kind of tone. Do feel that parental tone from God?

From Father God…. I bet it was really deep and low… kids… come here… all of you. There were times when our three kids we’re playing together, and let’s just be honest. Anytime you have three siblings playing together, at least two of them are gonna go against one. It’s enviable. Just like Miriam and Aaron verses Moses, at some point in time, two siblings are gonna team up.. There have been times when our kids were little and they would be playing.

And at some point, one of them, would begin to cry. Mostly because one of them didn’t get thier way. And in that moment, as a parent, what do you do? You raise your voice, and you go, ( Kids! Get over here. ) And instantly, they come because they heard your voice… and they know… they know something is up. Watch what happens… look with me in verses 5 - 9 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam.

When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord.

Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. Oh man… God put down the hammer didn’t he? Can you picture it? They’re all standing there before Him, and He is as a cloud, so they can’t see the full fury of His face. He says, “Aaron and Miriam, step forward!!!!!” I dunno about you, but my palms would have been sweaty and my knees shaking, if this was me…

Think about it.. one moment you’re just chewing the fat. Whispering to someone else.., and it turns from just a simple… innocent… “I can’t believe Moses married that woman, and then the conversation turns into, doesn’t God speak to us as well?” We, speak our mind to someone else and let’s be honest, It’s a moment where we’re being raw and honest about how we feel. We’re finally speaking to what’s been bothering us, and the next moment we’re face to face with a holy and Just God..

how scary would that be? If that happened you… What would you do? Actually, it happens to us everyday but we don’t realize it because we have no fear of God. It’s true. And what’s even scarier about whispering and God calling us to confront him in what we’ve been saying…… is that, it happens daily and we’ve conditioned our hearts to never realize that we are actively rejecting God’s call to come before him, and to listen to him.

As Christians, we may not be experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit because we have pushed Him away. Don’t get me wrong, God loves us always, and the Holy Spirit is always present with us, and he’s for us, and in us. Just like God was present with Moses, Aaron and Miriam. BUt many times, because of sin, we ignore the voice that says, Matthew, Come here. Paul tells the Thessalonians church, “Do not quench the Spirit.” (5:19) Quenching the Spirit is what happens when we don’t listen to the Spirit, when we do what we know is wrong following our own worldly desires.

But it’s also doing what is wrong, and hardening our heart to any correction, and before long, we begin to believe what we’re doing isn’t that bad. Even whispering to others, about others. . Imagine the Holy Spirit as a fire. Right, he’s not a fire, he’s a person… but we use imagery like wind, water, and fire to help us understand Him. But When we quench the Holy Spirit, we are dampening God’s flame instead of fanning it, pushing it down instead of helping it grow stronger and more beautiful.

But the sin is evident in our lives, and yes, I'm talking about the sin of wrongfully whispering about others. When we aim to negatively whisper about others, and we might not be committing an act of physical murder, but we are murdering them. We’re murdering their character, and we’re doing it with others… How many times can you imagine have you been an accomplice in the murdering of someone else’s character, just by listening to someone else whispering about them?

Paul tells the church, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.” Whispering about others isn’t Christ like. When we listen to our sin, and we don’t grieve the Spirit.

We live the way we did before we knew God. Quenching and grieving the Spirit both come from choosing our own selfish desires over love, faith, and intimacy with God. It’s choosing our sin over God. And I dunno about you, but When we are facing God who is holy, holy, holy (like we learn in Revelation), there is no justifying our sin. Miriam and Aaron isn’t whispering now. Not a single word is recorded from them in this moment.

But do you know what… we don’t hear anything from Moses either. How many times after we hear someone whispering untruths about us, we want to get even? And so, we begin whispering our own truths about them? Moses doesn’t do that… You see, if you remember in verse three, I skipped it on purpose because I wanted to bring it into the conversation at this moment…. Verse three tells us, (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Do you wanna know what humility does?

Humility always surrenders the right for any kind of retaliation… Humility, although it looks like weakness to some. And you may not find it often in many leaders. But to a Christian, humility is one of our greatest weapons because it involves recognizing our own limitations, and weaknesses, and flaws, and humility chooses to put the needs of others before our own. Humility involves surrendering control to God and acknowledging that He is the one who ultimately has the power and authority to judge and punish.

James tells us, "But he gives more grace. 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. I dunno about you, but I know, I need more grace. God is always listening… God is always testing our words and more importantly, he’s always looking and searching our hearts…. We can use our words to speak life, or we can use our words to speak death. I think one of the most important parts of this story, it’s learning how humility applies grace to our daily life.

You see, the Holy Spirit in our life today, is in our life today because of Jesus. Without the cross, without the resurrection, there would be no grace available to us. And we’ve got to learn, “It’s always a grace when God exposes our sin and gives us a chance to run from it.” Do you know the rest of the story, let’s read it together… Find verse 10 with me…

10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, 11 and he said to Moses, “Please, my Lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.” 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” Did you hear the love in Moses’s voice…

with humility, he pleads… Please, Father, Heal her… Sounds like Christ to me… when in his nakedness, stretched on the cross, he cries out with great humility and love, “Oh Father, forgive them.” Heal them Father… they do not know what they are doing… just like Miriam may not of truly known the full extent of her whispering heart. It’s true, sometimes when we are in our sin, we dont see it, but others do.

And we know God sees it… How different would churches be if today, we would do the same with each other…If we would pray for one another, Please, Jesus, Heal them… and heal me too. There so much humility in that prayer, that it is just drenched in grace. Verse 14 goes on to say: 14 The Lord replied to Moses, “If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days?

Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.” 15 So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back. 16 After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran. There’s a lot I can say about this, but for the sake of time. I just want to mention this…

Do you know what has to happen before a leperous person can be brought back into the camp…. You’ll find it in Leviticus 14:5-7… it says, And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. 6 He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water.

7 And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field. They would send a team of priest out to the person who’s outside of the camp. The priest is to take one of the clean birds and kill it in an earthenware vessel over living water, which means running water.

It can’t be from a pool or a lake, but it’s got to be moving. Then the second bird… is alive, and bound to a piece of cedar wood by scarlet yarn, and a hyssop branch. And then dipped in the blood of its fellow bird mixed with the water. Finally, the blood and water mixture was sprinkled on the cleansed leper by means of the live bird before the live bird then would be set free to fly out into the open field.

It’s the blood… that washed away sin. Jesus is the fulfillment of those two birds. Jesus, prayed, Father, heal them, forgive them… and then he emptied himself in his earthly vessel, tied to a cedar cross and the scarlet blood poured out of his body. David would say, “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” The guards took hyssop upon a sponge and wiped it upon the lips of Jesus…

and he died. It’s blood… The blood through the cross of Christ is what cleanses us from sin. Not our good intentions. Not our pleasant words of encouragement and grace and oh how do you do, oh you’re loved! No! If you have sin in your heart, you need the blood applied. Only the blood can wash away my sin… nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again…

nothing but the blood of Jesus… Oh! Precious is the flow. That makes me white as snow. Oh no other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus. Only the blood can heal a persons heart that fulls of sin…, and Miriam’s sin. Was no different than ours. You see church, when the blood is applied, only then can we be brought back into the family of God. And wouldn’t you know…

Miriam was still used by God.*

DTR - Week 1 - Jesus as the Son of God

I want to invite you to open your Bibles with me to Matthew Chapter 16. And church, I've got some good news for you - we've just completed our first month of our Just Jesus series, where we explored Vintage Jesus. You know, our heart for 2025 is pretty simple - we want to See Him, Hear Him, Love Him, and Live Him together. That's what this whole year is about. And today, we're stepping into the second of our twelve MINI series for 2025. Now, it's no accident that we're starting this new series on the first Sunday of February. You know February, right? It's that month when suddenly everything turns red and pink, and everyone's thinking about relationships.

This reminds me of being a kid around Valentine's Day. There was always this... question hanging over everybody: 'Who's going to be my Valentine?’ And if you weren't already dating someone - which, let's be honest, in elementary school just meant telling your friends you were 'going out,' even though none of us were allowed to go anywhere - you had to come up with what felt like a master plan. Here's how it went: First, you'd look around your classroom, trying to act like you weren't looking. Then, you'd pick out that special someone. And then came the big moment - writing that note. You know the one: 'Would you be my Valentine? Check yes or no.’ But the worst part wasn't writing the note - it was waiting after you gave it to your friend to deliver it. Do you remember? How Those minutes felt like forever as you waited for them to bring back that folded piece of paper… And you know what's funny? Years later, we're still trying to figure out relationships - just with bigger consequences than a checked box on a note. And that brings us to what we're talking about today. In fact, for this whole month, we're going to be talking about a relationship that matters more than any other. A relationship that changes everything else in our lives. You see, in Matthew 16, Jesus has this conversation with His disciples. But it's not just any conversation - it's basically the biggest 'define the relationship' moment in history. And where it happens matters. Jesus takes His disciples to this place called Caesarea Philippi. Now, if you were there back then, you'd see temples everywhere. Every God you could think of had a spot there. It'd be like walking through a city where every building was a different kind of church or temple. And right there, in this place where everyone's trying to figure out which God is real, Jesus looks at His disciples and asks them two questions that will determine how then define the relationship. Look with me in Matthew 16, find with me verse 13 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” SO first, Jesus asks, 'Who do people say I am?' Pretty straightforward, right? He’s just asking for the word on the street. Who do people say that I am…. And The disciples probably looked around at all those temples as they answered in verse 14: 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” But then Jesus asks the question that really matters - the one that each of us still has to answer today, he turns if from who they thing.. to who do you think… Look in verse 15… 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” You see, Jesus wasn't interested in public opinion polls. He wasn't looking for what people were saying on the ancient equivalent of social media. He wanted to know what they - personally - believed about Him… He wanted to know if their minds had agreed with their hearts. Think about that for a minute. These guys had been walking with Jesus, eating with Jesus, seeing miracles, watching Him change lives. But now it was time to put it into words - to really define who Jesus was to them. And Peter - you know Peter, right? The one who always seems to speak first and think later - the guy had a tendency to put his foot in his mouth… but this time he gets it exactly right.

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Now, this wasn't just Peter throwing out a good answer like we sometimes do in church. right? You know what I mean - when the pastor asks a question and we all know to say 'Jesus' because that's usually the right answer? I’ve done that… We all have… But, No, this was different. Jesus tells Peter something incredible. Look with me in verse 17, 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. (NIV) Now, to understand this before we turn the next page to look at chapter 17, look at what Jesus said,… he said who revealed this to you? The father right. He wasn’t defining the relationship through anything else… Jesus was telling Peter, 'You didn't get this from others, and who they thought I was… You didn't figure this out by being smart, or better than anyone else.. You didn't learn this from another person.' No - this kind of understanding, this revelation of who Jesus really is, it came directly from the Father. This was a moment where God the Father, opened Peter's eyes to see Jesus for who He really was. The Father defined a moment in Peter's heart and mind through a conversation with Jesus.

And this brings us to a critical question: Where does defining the relationship begin? Think about any deep relationship in your life. Did it start with studying facts about the person? No - it started with a real encounter. When I met Alicia for the first time, I probably could have learned a lot about her from other people. I could have asked her friends about her. But our relationship didn't really begin until we met. Face to face. Personally. Until there was that moment of real connection, everything else was just information. That's what God wants with us. Not secondhand information, but firsthand revelation. Not just knowledge about Him, but a real, personal encounter with Him. He doesn't want you to just know facts about Jesus - He wants you to know Jesus. That's why Paul says in Philippians 3:10, 'I want to know Christ.' Not just know about Him - but know Him. Experience Him. Have a real relationship with Him.” And when that happens - when we truly know Him - everything changes. Just like it did for Peter.

Now, watch what happens when we flip the page to chapter 17. Because something incredible is about to unfold. Peter has just had this moment where he realizes Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus tells him, 'This wasn't your idea - my Father revealed this to you.’ But God isn't done yet. Because sometimes the Father doesn't just tell us who Jesus is - He shows us. Look at it with me. Verse 1: 'Six days later...' - Just six days. The words from the last conversation are probably still ringing in Peter's ears - 'This was revealed to you by my Father.' And now Jesus takes Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and leads them up a high mountain to be alone. Look at verse 2 with me. The Scripture says, 'As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light.’ Now, try to picture this. You're Peter. Six days ago, you had this revelation that Jesus is the Son of God. And now, you're standing there watching as Jesus starts... glowing. His face is shining like the sun. His clothes are literally radiating light. But it gets better. Verse 3 tells us that suddenly, Moses and Elijah appear and begin talking with Jesus.

Now, pause… Moses and Elijah! These aren't just any ordinary people - these are two of the biggest names in Israel's history. And Peter, James and John are there watching all of this, and all of sudden three people are before them. And Peter - you know Peter, right? - he does what many of us would probably do. He starts talking. It's like... it just pours out. You ever been in one of those moments that's so incredible, so overwhelming, that your mouth starts moving before your brain can catch up? That's Peter. Here he is, standing on a mountain, watching Jesus glow like the sun, seeing Moses and Elijah - two of the biggest names in Israel's history - and what does he do? He starts making construction plans!

Look at what he says in verse 4: 'Lord, it's wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I'll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ Peter's trying to capture the moment, trying to build something permanent, trying to... just do something. Anything. Because sometimes when we don't know what to do with a holy moment, what do we do… we try to manage it. We try to take ownership of it… We try to take the lead in it. But before Peter can even finish his construction proposal…he gets interrupted… Verse 5: 'But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”’

Have you ever had God interrupt your plans? Your ideas? Your well-meaning but misguided attempts to figure things out There are so many times I would go... 'Ya know God... you would be a lot cooler if you did...' and then fill in the blank. Like that time I thought I had the perfect plan for my life, and God was probably up there thinking, 'Oh, really? You think so?’ That's what's happening here. Peter's getting ahead of God - just like I have done so many times, just like we all do. We try to build our own shelters, create our own solutions, manage our own spirituality. We say things like: 'God, I've got a great plan for how this should work...' 'Lord, I think I know what would be best here...' 'Jesus, what if we just…' But God stops Peter mid-sentence - doesn't even let him finish his grand construction plans - and essentially says, 'No, Peter. You don't understand... you don't need three shelters. You don't need multiple options. This is my Son... Listen to him.’

This brings us to a crucial question: When it comes to defining your relationship with Jesus, where are you?

Let me ask you something - when it comes to defining our relationship with Jesus, I believe we can trace every person's journey through these three stages we see in Peter's life. And today, I want us to be honest about where we are.

First, there's what I call 'The Spectator.’ Let's talk about The Spectator for a minute. You know what a spectator is, right? It's someone who watches but never gets in the game. In sports terms, it's like someone who knows every stat, can name every player, has every jersey - but has never actually played the game. They've got all the knowledge, but none of the experience. We see this all through the gospels… Jesus had what? People that just followed and watched. "You know, I’ve watch some home renovation shows. I can tell you all about load-bearing walls, backsplashes, and proper crown molding. I can quote Chip and Joanna Gaines. But put me in front of a wall with a hammer? Well, let's just say knowing about renovation and actually doing it are two very different things. And that's exactly what happens with Jesus sometimes. We can be experts about Jesus without ever really knowing Jesus. Look at John 5:39-40 with me. Jesus is talking to some religious leaders, and He says something fascinating: 'You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.’ Did you catch that? These people knew their Bibles inside and out. They could quote Scripture all day long. But they missed the whole point - they knew about Jesus, but they didn't know Jesus. Think about social media today. You might follow someone's every post, know their favorite coffee shop, what they do on weekends, where they vacation - but does that make you their friend? No - you just know about them. You're a spectator in their life. And here's what's dangerous about being a spectator - you can feel really good about yourself because you've got all the right information. You're in church. You know the songs. You know the stories. But at the end of the day, you're still just watching from the sidelines. You’re still hinging your faith on your initial salvation moment, but yet many times you have never moved closer to him. BUt understand this: Information without transformation is just religion.

And let me ask you something - are you just coming to church and bibles studies collecting information about Jesus, or are you really being transformed by Jesus?

Now, let's talk about the Casual Follower. This is different from the spectator because they've actually gotten in the game - sort of. They're playing, but they've got one foot on the field and one foot off. You know what I mean? These are the people who follow Jesus... when it makes sense. When it fits their schedule. When it doesn't cost too much. The Casual Follower has moved beyond just watching. They're involved. They're participating. But - and this is key - they're following Jesus on their terms. It's like what Jesus describes in Luke 9. Three different people come to Jesus, and each one says something like, 'I'll follow you, but...' 'But first let me go bury my father’ 'But first let me say goodbye to my family’ 'But first let me get my life together’ It's like having a gym membership. One time I bought a planter fitness membership but Hardly ever went. I was committed enough to pay the monthly fee. I bought all the gear. I showed up sometimes. But when life got busy, when it's inconvenient, when something better comes along - well, the gym can wait, right? That's how some of us treat our relationship with Jesus. We're in... sort of. We follow... sometimes. We surrender... partially. But here's what Jesus says- 'No one can serve two masters.' He doesn't say no one should serve two masters. He says no one can. It's impossible. Matthew 6:24 The problem with being a Casual Follower isn't that you're not trying - it's that you're trying to define the relationship on your own terms. And that never works with Jesus." Listen, church, Part-time devotion is still full-time indecision. Because when it comes to Jesus, there's no such thing as casual commitment. He's either Lord of all, or He's not Lord at all."

And that brings us to the third response - The Surrendered. The Surrendered life - this is what happens when you stop trying to negotiate your relationship with Jesus and simply say, 'Whatever you want, Lord.’ I want what you want. Look at what happens to Peter and the others in verse 8 again - 'When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.' That would have been embarrassing to make three shelters to only look up and only see Jesus there. That's what surrender looks like. Everything else fades away. All the other voices quiet down. All the other priorities shift. You know, it's like what happens in a marriage. There's a difference between dating and 'I do.' Amen? When you're dating, you're still keeping your options open. When you get engaged, those options close very quickly… But once you say say 'I do,' you're saying 'I don't' to every other possibility. That's what surrender to Jesus looks like. It's not just adding Jesus to your life - it's making Jesus your life. "Look at what Paul says in Philippians 3:7-8: 'But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.’ Listen - the Surrendered person isn't perfect. They still struggle. They still fail. Peter did - even after his mountain-top experience, he denied Jesus three times. But here's the difference: surrendered hearts have settled the question of who Jesus is and who's in charge. They're not trying to build three shelters anymore. They're not trying to keep their options open anymore. They're not trying to negotiate with God anymore. They're focused on Jesus alone. When Jesus becomes your everything, suddenly you see exactly where everything else belongs."

We've got the same choice he had. As our Peter comes up… You see, Simon Peter had a 'Define The Relationship' moment with Jesus. He moved from watching to following, and from following to surrendering. And when he and the others looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Today, it's your turn for a DTR moment with Jesus. No more 'it's complicated' status with Him. No more trying to build three shelters. Just Jesus. Because here's the truth we've seen today: How you define your relationship with Jesus defines everything else. Everything. And God's invitation is the same as it was on that mountain: 'This is my Son... listen to Him.’”

"You know, when you walked in today, you got something. It might have reminded you of those old school Valentine's notes. Pull that out for a minute. But this isn't just any 'check yes or no' note. This is your DTR moment with Jesus. And unlike those grade school valentines, this one really matters. Look at what it says: Spectator: I know about Jesus ☐ Casual Follower: I follow Jesus when it's convenient ☐ Surrendered: Jesus is my everything ☐ Now, here's what I want you to do. First, and you don’t need other duo it now… you can pray over it and then fill it out… but first, I want you to check where you are right now. Be honest - this is between you and God. But don't stop there. On the back, there's a space for you to write where you want to be. Because here's the truth - you can move from spectator to surrendered. You can go from casual to committed. All it takes is for you to be honest for where you are, and where God wants you to be…. I wan tot challenge you to take this home. Put it on your fridge for at least this month. Let it remind you every day of the choice you're making about your relationship with Jesus. Because remember - how you define your relationship with Jesus defines everything else. Let's pray…"

Let's pray together... Father, thank You for that mountain moment when You revealed who Jesus really was. And thank You that You're still revealing Jesus to us today. Right now, some of us are spectators, some are casual followers, and some are surrendered. But all of us need to see Jesus more clearly. Lord, for those who checked 'spectator' - move them from just knowing about You to actually knowing You. For those who checked 'casual follower' - show them that partial commitment is still indecision. And for those who checked 'surrendered' - strengthen their resolve to keep their eyes on Jesus alone. Because when we look up, like those disciples on the mountain, we want to see no one except Jesus. And now may you leave here today knowing this truth: How you define your relationship with Jesus defines everything else in your life. May you have the courage to move from watching to following, from following to surrendering, until Jesus becomes your everything. In Jesus' name, Amen. And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit reveal to you who Jesus really is, transform how you see Him, and empower you to surrender everything to Him. Go in peace, knowing that when Jesus becomes your everything, everything else finds its proper place. God bless you, church. See you next week." *

Fake Faith

I started thinking about this for, Palm Sunday. As you turn to I John chapter two, I want to give some context to where my heart has been. It’s palm Sunday and we find in all four gospels the triumphal entry. . In Matthews Gospel, Jesus descends from the Mount of Olives towards Jerusalem, and the people lay their clothes on the ground, and along with tree branches and they begin to have this procession with shouts of Jubilee, Hosanna!

Hosanna, is a word of adoration, praise and joy. Verse 10 in Matthew chapter 21 has people singing and praising and the people of Jerusalem are like, who’s this guy? And they reply, it’s the prophet, Jesus of Nazareth! From Galilee! Now, Jesus comes in, Cleanses the temple, the blind and the lame come to the temple, and Jesus heals them. In Matthew account, Jesus has many run ins with the chief priests, he talks a good bit about the end times, and the signs of the end of the age.

Judas makes a deal to to betray Jesus, and Jesus is taken, and then goes on trial. This whole week of passion week, I suggest reading this account, it leads us into why Easter is so important to us. But here’s what caught my attention: In Matthew 27, the crowd went from singing hosanna to then yelling, Crucify Him! And I wondered why? Why would people go from, Hosanna to crucify Him?

Why would anyone, after all Jesus has done, lose to another guy named barbabbas? I think, one thing we can pull from this moment, that there was no authenticity in the hearts of those there. I’ve learned on this grace filled journey with Jesus, that: “Authentic Love is the Fruit of Authentic Faith!” Authentic and real saving faith in Jesus helps us to love those we deem unloveable, and even those who are invisible.

It’s like a radical love that we learned a couple weeks ago. Radical love isn’t forced upon others, and it’s perseveres, it endures. Yes, we want to see people come into this church but not at the expense that they are lured in here by eloquent words and no substance to faith. Jesus tells us in johns Gospel, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” I dunno about you, but I wanna be a friend to everyone, Perhaps it’s my extrovertness..

I dunno Just this week, I made two new friends at Starbucks on two different days. CS Lewis once said, ”Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." Here’s what he means… Friendships add meaning, joy, and richness to our lives, and they make our experiences more valuable and fulfilling. Do you remember the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus?” What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry; everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear; all because we do not carry; everything to God in prayer! It’s a tender song in my heart because the writer, Joseph Scriven wrote the hymn to assure his mother that; though he couldn’t be there with her, Jesus is with her and he is a friend like no other.

And I know, my mom can testify to that. She understands that my calling calls me to be here. Because Authentic love is a love that stands true even when there is distance between two people. You see, I’m a firm believer that intimacy isn’t just spacial, but intentional and relational. Intimacy doesn’t depend on how close or small something is; it depends on being genuine in love for the other person and being a friend no matter the circumstance.

Even when two people are worlds apart, relationship can keep deepening with intnetial love for the other. Even when sin creeps in and you find that you or the other person are faltering in your friendship, Authentic love still covers all sins. Grace is still sufficient. My prayer, for the last few months has been, “Jesus.. help me to not forget that there’s enough grace for anything, and for anyone. Even myself.” Authentic love, always produces the fruit of authentic faith.

How? Well., first “by avoiding being a fake by having authentic faith” I’m working on a paper right now that talks about how my generation and the next generation is deconstructing faith to find authenticity. It dangerous because some are deconstructing doctrine, and they are walking away from faith all together. But one thing I can testify about the Millennial generation, is that this generation can sense when something is fake.

They can enter a place that feels forced or sleek, and it feels weird. It feels unauthentic and forced love. That’s why I hate going to car lots. That’s why I feel more comfortable just searching online, finding a car, and just driving around the lot in the comfort of my car, because many times I feel the salesman's job is to either get me into anything, or to up-sell me, or to get me in a car like the one I wanted, but it’s not the one I came for.

The Millennial generation just wants to find the truth. We want the truth; just tell me as it is. Love me for me, not for any other surface reason. So to have authentic love, there must be authentic faith in God who is love. When we love God, and Love others with a god given, authentic love, it’s usually found when we’re transparent and we have honest motives. We’re losing the younger generation because churches haven’t always been that way.

The church has made it about numbers more than being relational. Let me show you… Watch this: Play Crocker Video. Dr. Crocker is our General Superintendent, and he’s our presiding superintendent right now for our district. Did you catch what he said about the younger generation? Right now, 80% of those coming to Christ are in the age range of 4-18. But churches spend 80% of its budget on those 41 and over.

My question is this: How can we as a church make sure that we hear the call to serve the least of these and still be authentic in our faith? Well, it begins by relationship. A relationship with Jesus. Anything that presents itself as better than Christ is Anti-Christ. Look with me in I John, and I’m gonna read in chapter 2, and verse 18. [18] Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come.

Therefore, we know that it is the last hour. Here is some context, “John emphasizes the importance of having a relationship with God, loving one another, and avoiding loving the world. And he is warning against those who try to do the opposite.” He is also telling them, that there will be anti Christ’s, in this world. People who are counterfeits. Their knock offs… For instance, this microphone I have on.

I bought this microphone back in 2015. I searched different websites to buy a microphone and there were many sites proclaiming they had this microphone, and not only that, it was cheaper. Now, cheaper sounded like my kind of language, right?. I can get a $400 dollar microphone for $300? But then, I happened to go to the website of Rode, who makes this microphone. And right there, on their front-page of their website was a disclaimer.

It said, “If you do not buy our microphones from an approved retailer, we will not honor any warranty.” But, Rode! Don’t you understand I can get it cheaper on Amazon? I can get it easier, and faster. But in the end, if it was broken or defective. I couldn’t get it fixed or replaced. Think about that in the terms of our faith… Would you want a faith that had no warranty, or guarantee of eternal life at the end of life?

Would you want a faith that had an imitated love, and it produced some sort of imitated, or false comfort in life, you lived a good life…but then in the end to find out, it wasn’t real? Of course not… You see, the enemy wants to deceive us from that. Anything that presents itself as better than Christ, is anti-Christ. It’s against Christ. The message John is telling us, is that if you want to true, authentic faith—avoid being a fake—you must be aware that there are going to be people in this life, and there are going to be things in this life that are “Counterfeits.” Get this, anything that God says is good, Satan will find a way to counterfeit it.

If it’s something valuable, someone will seek to recreate it. If you ever watch shark tank, that is one of the reasons why they ask the entrepreneur, do you own the patented. Because if this product or service becomes good and begins to sell, someone will find a way to counterfeit it. But how do we know what is real and what is counterfeit in a world flooded with counterfeits? Well, first it comes from realizing that we have God’s presence.

Find verse 20: “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth..” To Be anointed by the holy one, is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Verse 27 confirms this… look with me… “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” When we read this, in a world full of counterfeits, it could be read like this: “you have been given the Holy Spirit by the Father and the Son, ( that’s verse 20, ) Now couple verse 20 with verse 27…

and when you receive this anointing it’s because you abide in him and he abides in you. John is echoing what Jesus said in the gospel of John: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” When a person becomes a Christ-follower, by faith alone in Jesus, he or she is given the Holy Spirit.

He is our seal that God’s presence is with us; and in us. He is the only avenue for help, comfort and peace; Right? The Holy Spirit instructs us and the Holy Spirit guides us. Because there is something of value when it comes to being anointed.. this is why we see so many counterfeit anointings… because anointing has value, especially eternal value. The anointing directs our lives to the truth, which is Jesus.

Right, this anointing directs our lives to Jesus. Anything that presents itself as better than Jesus, is anti-Christ. In this chapter, chapter 2 of 1 John, he says, Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. This is so important to the life of the Christian because without the anointing, without presence in our life, everything we try in our own effort to accomplish becomes about us…

that’s sin. One of the greatest warning signs that we have sin in our life… is that what we do is aimed to lift me, and not Jesus. Remember one of Peters great embarrassing moments was when Jesus asked, who do you say I am, and Peter goes, you’re the messiah… he gets kind of a pat on the back, but then just after this, Jesus tells the group, I’ve got to go to Jerusalem.

I will suffer, be ridiculed, and criticized, and then Jesus gives them a glimpse of the cross… He goes, I will be killed and lifted in three days… Peter, full of confidence speaks up again… and goes. “Oh No.. this will never happen to you.” And Jesus goes, get behind me Satan. It’s one of those moments, where Peter was being influenced by Satan’s, attempt to get Jesus to avoid the cross.

Right after this moment.. what does Jesus say in Matthew chapter 16? He says, if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. Without the cross, without the anointing, without the Holy Spirit and God’s presence…without seeing sin for what it is in our life, and abiding in Christ, everything else we do in our walk is powerless. We must constantly seek God's presence and guidance to truly live a life authenticity.

But it isn’t just presence, there’s another part to what John is saying in verse 20… “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth..” John says, we have the anointing, and we know knowledge, which is truth. Truth is important because without it, we would live a life falsehood and deception. “Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” John 8:31b-32 (NIV) When I was 16, I woke up one morning to my mom asking me to come in and sit down. My older brother had showed up to our house, and kind of unexpectedly. He began to tell me that two of my best friends was in a major car accident. My friend who was driving had his seat belt on, and my other friend in the passenger seat did not.

As they were coming home after a late night at work in the early morning, the driver fell asleep and they went over an embankment, hit a tree right which saved them from being thrown into the river and the passenger was ejected face first from the car as he was sleeping. My brother was there to take me to the hospital to see the passenger who was ejected because he had some major injuries to his face from going through the windshield.

The truth is… seat belts save lives. That night, I had one friend practicing that truth, and one friend who wasn’t. C.S. Lewis wrote, “You never know how much you really believe anything until it's truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.” In that moment, both of my friends experienced truth. And Regardless of any personal opinion… my passenger friend never knew how important the truth, “that seatbelts save lives” was, until it became a matter of life and death for him.

The truth is, the gospel should be so precious to us. Because we know it’s a matter of eternal life and death for every living soul. David writes, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your words, for by them you have preserved my life.” Psalm 119:92-93 (NIV) The ultimate delight…. In other words, David is saying, if it weren’t for your truth, I would perish in my affliction in my troubles.

I dunno about you, but that’s a matter of life and death for me. I’ve made many mistakes in my life, and I’m humble to know I have Jesus as my savior… but My one burning delight, which I spent years running from but could not run away from anymore, is to ultimately weave the saving gospel message into the tapestry of every heart I come into contact with for the glory of Christ Jesus.

Jesus is my greatest joy! When Jesus becomes our greatest joy, When we know that our identity is in Christ, then… we will ultimately long for purity…. morally, ethically and theologically. IN layman’s terms..We would crave holiness. So we have the anointing, and we have truth… and finally, we need one more thing… look with me in verse 28: “[28] And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

[29] If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.” We have the power of God in us when we abide in Him. Abide in him helps us to avoid shrinking shame and to increase our confidence. (28). When we are in Him, we become like Him—not counterfeit, not a fake, but authentic in love and faith. Verse 29 says that the righteousness in our life is the fruit of Christ in our lives.

Do you know wha tit means to have the righteousness in our life, and the fruit of Christ? It means there’s authentic faith showing in your life. It is one thing to testify that we know Christ and are in Him; it is quite another to have a life that reveals that He is our righteousness. We recognize other believers by their lives, not their lips. Because Righteousness is a family characteristic, in the Father and His children.

I had no clue how I wanted to finish this sermon today and even this morning I prayed for clarity… All I could think about last night as I laid in bed praying this message, was this letter I read one time form a an article written by a young college lady. She wrote a letter to the church members, not to the pastor. Is said, “Last Sunday I attended your church and I heard your preacher.

When he spoke he said everyone and sinned and turned away from God. Because we rejected God we all face eternal separation from God. But then he said that God love us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to reconnect us with God and forgive us of our sins. All we have to do is believe in Him and we will go to Heaven and live with God forever.

My parents recently died. I know they did not believe in Jesus Christ. So if what your preacher said was true, they are damned to hell. After being with you, I am convinced that either you yourself don’t believe this message, or that you don’t care. We have live only three blocks from your church my whole life, and no one ever told us about your Jesus.” Authentic faith will always produce authentic love.

We hold within our hands and our hearts the gospel. We hold within us the anointing of the Spirit. Just like my friends knowing the truth about seatbelts, we daily make choice on whether we will act on that truth or not. If we have authentic faith, wouldn’t that also produce authentic outreach? Be light, and Go shine. *

Invitation to Life

He is not here! He has Risen! He has Risen Indeed! Say it with me… He is not here! He has Risen! He has Risen Indeed! This is our reality today! He has risen! Have you ever received an invitation? How did it make you feel? Perhaps an invitation to a wedding? The possible enjoyment of watching two people come before God and pledge their love to one another. Or at least, the invitation to come to a wedding for the food.

I might not know them couple, but knowing that free food is involved, that excites me. Right.. everyone likes free food. Maybe an invitation to go to a birthday party? This week Abby had two birthday invitations. One, I went with her and it was a Mario Brothers theme for a girl in her class and we had an amazing time at the movie theatre watching the new Mario movie, playing games and eating snacks.

And the other was a girl in her class that had her party at a sports complex. We had a great time… and we also had plenty of snacks to eat. I truly believe that invitations are amazing gateways into meaningful relationships. Think about it.… How did it make you feel when someone else invited you to something? Maybe it was an invitation for job interview?

The feeling of newness or new possibilities. The feeling that your experience and skills are being recognized. or an invitation into a relationship or a friendship, The feeling of being included and that you don’t need to walk this adventure alone. Invitations are generally moments where others are requesting for us to go somewhere or for us to do something, but often these invitation doesn’t call for us to experience it alone.

When we receive an invitation, we're being recognized and chosen by someone who sees value in us, even if the invitation is to help them move. Their valuing our strong biceps and back. Many times, I believe, somewhere in all of us, we all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves, but we don’t know how or we don’t feel included, or maybe sometimes we just don’t feel appreciated or wanted.

I can’t tell you how many times, I wished someone would have just invited me to something… but they never did. And How, those moments often felt lonely and I felt left out. But one thing I do know, that’s not Christianity. All throughout the gospels, we see this main thread of invitation to come and see, is constantly being extended to those being invited. And we see that in every moment this invitation is extended, it brings with it an opportunity for not only faith, but also opportunity for growth and relationship with those God brings into our life.

Today grab your Bible or Bible app and turn with me to Matthew chapter 28:1 Today we celebrate the day in which Death was Arrested. Today we celebrate the morning that the stone was rolled away and the morning that a vacancy sign was placed on the borrowed tomb. Just three days earlier the body of Jesus Christ had been placed in this tomb. The tomb had been sealed with an incredibly large stone, sealed by the Roman authorities and guarded.

Three days have passed since the burial and everything has changed. Everything has changed! And at the ore of this change, this, something different we find ourselves in the midst of yet, another invitation. At the core of every invitation we learn that… , “The most fulfilling journey begins with a simple invitation to come and see.”. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” This is Matthew’s account of the resurrection. Mary and Mary, which sounds like some sort psychedelic 1970’s record album cover.

These two women were on their way to anoint the body of Jesus and found themselves before an angel on the morning of the resurrection. And, to their surprise, the angel extends a simple invitation to Mary and Mary… he says, Jesus is not here…come and see…. That’s the phrase I want to zero in on because it’s the phrase that sets in motion so many amazing moments of faith when we hear the invitation into this journey.

First, notice what the angel said, He simply said, come. To come means to move towards something. It’s like when my hunting dog Chester is out in the field, and I motion with my hand, palm open with the command to come, he knows that means to move towards me. But it’s more than just a command, he knows it means relationship and he comes with trust. It also means reward.

Often I reward this behavior with some sort of treat, or pet, or verbal reward, like good boy. "The truth is, without Chester making the decision to accept the invitation to approach, there would be no action.” And in our story, Mary and Mary could have ran away at that moment. But in this moment, Mary and Mary had courage. They heard the invitation and they took a chance to witness something amazing.

We find this truth to come and see all throughout the gospel when it comes to having faith. Faith is simply hearing the invitation to trust in Jesus, and then walking in His Presence. I wanna show you that this morning… First, turn with me to Matthew 4:19. Every one who would say they are followers of Jesus, begins faith like Peter and Andrew. Many times, we’re just living life. We’re working, taking care of our families, and going through real world problems.

Let’s just be reminded of that… just because this was back 2,000 years ago doesn’t mean the early disciples didn’t deal with hurt, or disappointment , or sin, or lack of love towards one another, or fear, or any other kind of emotion… And in this moment, Jesus calls out the early disciples to drop their everyday life and to come, follow him. Look, Jesus says,“Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Here we find that word “come”.

It’s the same Greek word as with Mary and Mary.. it means Deu’te. To come, or to come now. It’s a word that invites the hearer to come near. Every person in faith is met with that same kind of invitation, to simply come near.. and to follow. Have you ever noticed that to follow doesn’t mean to be dragged? Right? Jesus isn’t chaining us to faith and dragging us. Why not instead of luring people, we allured them with authentic radical love and conversation.

Think about it, the early disciples, chose to drop their old life behind and follow Jesus freely. But What if they didn’t? What if, Peter in his arrogance said no, I have work to do? I don’t have time for you teacher.… I dunno what could of happened. I’m glad he decided to be in conversation, because otherwise there could have been no relationship, and there would be no 1st and 2nd Peter letters.

Before any great relationship can ever begin, it begins with being invited to and being willing to be in conversation. In Matthew 4:19, it represents a fresh start, a new beginning in life as a disciple of Jesus. For all of us, our faith began when we we’re willing to be in conversation. Through the Holy Spirit, and grace and by doing life with one another. Just being here today, in this congregation and listening online, you’re saying, I’m willing to be in the conversation.

Now, whether or not you respond that’s up to you. You see, "Invitations are more than just an offer, Invitations are a recognition of value and a call into intimacy. Can you imagine if you’ve never invited someone into your life? When Alicia and I began by calling one another, We both were looking for relationship. Then I invited her into marriage, I wanted to take this conversation into a relationship, and then 18 years we keep inviting each other every day in this amazing relationship we call life.

I can’t imagine doing life without her in it, and it has only deepened because we both desire to stay in the conversation with one another. Everyrtng we have experience in our 18 years of marriage, all began with the first invitation to come. What about you? Have you made that commitment yet? Have you looked at the brothers and sisters in this room right now, and made a commitment to invite them into a conversation?

No real relationship grows without a meaningful invitation to be in the conversation with one another. It’s the same with our faith. Have you ever felt a tug on your heart, calling you to something more, or even deeper? What’s holding you back? For us, we say that’s prevenient grace tugging on your heart to know Jesus. And You’ll never know Jesus if you’ve never responded to the initial invitation for conversation.

Now, maybe you’ve already accepted that invitation. You see, invitation not only leads us into conversation, but also into active participation. The second moment of "come" is found in Matthew 14:29. This was the moment Peter had decided to follow Jesus, and now his faith was being tested. The storm was raging all around him, and he sees a silloiute coming towards them, and he simply asked, “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” So Jesus says, Come,”.

There is that word again, Deu’te Jesus invites Peter to come out of the boat and to walk on water with him, and Peter responds in faith, stepping out of his comfort zone and onto the waves. This is where faith meets trust. This is a moment of testing and courage. This is a moment where, the ongoing conversation calls us beyond what we can understand. Think for moment, all the moments you know of in the Bible where it didn’t make sense, but by faith someone stepped out.

Moses leading people into the wilderness. What do we eat, what do we drink? Noah building a boat in the dessert… Being mocked and ridiculed by others. and now, Peter walking on water. Just as our initial decision to come and follow Jesus requires a commitment to growth and obedience, so too does our ongoing journey of faith present us with opportunities to step out of our comfort zones and deepen our trust in him.

The truth we learn is, “You cannot expect to walk on water if you're not willing to get out of the boat.” It takes risk.. Just like staying in the conversation when someone hurts you. You see, forgiveness is risky.. it’s risky because real Christ like forgiveness takes real Christ like love. it takes trust but it also leads us to see that it takes encouragement. and we should actively see that being lived out in our fellowship and community.

One thing, I think we forget about the story of Peter walking on water, is that teaches us that our faith is not a solitary journey, but rather one that is lived out in community with other believers. Because you see, th other disciples were there… Jesus was there… Yes Peter was the only one who stepped out, and many times that’s what you see in a Christian community…. We marvel at the one person stepping out…

It’s very rare to have a christian community in todays church, where every person is a step out to walk on water kind of faith. Max Lucado said, "We are not called to walk on water alone, but to walk with Jesus and with one another.” I want to remind you this easter season, that just like weddings, the invitation is to come celebrate with the groom and bride, but it’s also with those who were invited as well.

But the issue is, many times, we dont know the other guest. And many times, we’re int he same room where we’re hurt by others… How many times have you gone to a place where you’re invited and there’s someone who you don’t like is there?. You see, when we are invited into conversation, and into participation, were gonna get hurt by others sometimes. Ideas aren’t always going to be welcomed.

Words aren’t always going to be soothing and encouraging. We need to remember that Sometimes, not every person in church has sanctified thier our old life, and it rears it’s face sometimes and we say or do something that has the potential to hurt someone else. How do we handle those moments in community? Look with me in John chapter 21 at the next moment we see Jesus say, come. Peter, going through the heart ache of the crucifixion and death of Jesus while also knowing that he had denied Jesus.

He said he wouldn’t let Jesus die. But Jeuss died. he said he would go to death to protect Jesus… but instead, when the moment came, he denied Jesus and ran away. Once, confident Peter, in front of all of his friends was a fraud. He didn’t do what he said he was going to do. In that moment, to Peter, he failed, and I believe he felt that the relationship was broken…

not because of Jesus… but because he had failed to live up the kind of faith he was boasting about in front of the other disciples. Many times we do that in church. We try to dress Christian We speak the lingo, using words like blessed and holy. We act holy and loving. I wonder at times.. can there be Christians in churches today that boast a holy Christ driven life, but when others find out they aren’t living that life, can they become embarrassed?

What do we do in those moments? Do we, make fun of them? Do we, drive them away and cast them away? Do we, point our fingers and call them names, like your unchrist like, or your worthless.. NO! We invite them back into the conversation to seek out reconciliation. We bring them back into community with Jesus. James tells us that when a brother or sister begins to wonder from the truth, we’re to help turn them from thier error.

Peter leaves and He goes back fishing… he goes back into his old life. Now, watch what happens in John 21.. verse 7.. “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.” Peter doesn’t take any chances.

Two reminders here… First, The disciples that Jesus loved, which was John.. Peter wasn’t going to let John beat him to Jesus this time… And two, because Peter knew from times before that if it was Jesus on the shore… Jesus always invites others into restoration. And when Peter gets to shore, here’s Jesus’s invitation to all the disciples in verse 12…“Come and have breakfast.” In jewish culture, eating around a table was a significant part of their relationship with one another.

It is a sacred act of hospitality and it was seen as an opportunity for people to come together and build relationships. But it’s also an opportunity where everyone is equal and sharing a meal leads to those at the table to receive reconciliation. Peter needed it the most in that moment, but I am sure all of the disciples needed to be there. I love that thought.. think about it…

Not only did Peter need forgives and reconciliation But Jesus also brought all the disciples around that fire and offered them to come, and eat. From the first chapter, to the final chapter, we constantly see Jesus inviting guest, sinners and saints to the table of grace, and he shares a meal with them. It’s a simple invitation to come, and everyone who’s willing to come and sit, has received the same invitation to be near Jesus.

Just as Jesus restored fellowship with his disciples, we are called to seek reconciliation and forgiveness with others as well. The Apostle Paul wrote, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” You see church: the reason , “The most fulfilling journey begins with a simple invitation to come and see.” Is because this simple invitation, to come, is what opens the door that leads us to Jesus.

It leads us from a simple conversation, into faithful participation, which involves daily reconciliation and it’s made available to you and me all because of the Resurrection. When Mary and Mary came to the tomb to hear the angel say, Come and See, he was inviting those two hurting hearts, into the conversation of seeing Jesus Glorified. He is not here! He, has risen…. He has risen indeed.

I want you to listen to your heart right now, and hear the words of Jesus saying to you, Come. Jesus says, time has come,” “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” He says: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Every one of us, has a physical invitation in our hand, and every one of us is somewhere on this spectrum of faith.

We’re either, 1) Just first hearing Jesus saying come Follow, for the first time. To walk away from our old life, to leave it behind and to come, follow Jesus on this journey called, Faith. He’s calling you into a conversation… 2) or we’re hearing Jesus say, come, test your faith, Step out by faith. Step out of the comfort of the boat.. and let the circumstance your in, build character and endurance.

So that you can do even greater things. ”God is always more interested in our character than our comfort, and he will use the storms of life to shape us into the people he wants us to be." 3) or perhaps.. you need to hear Jesus say, Come, and eat and be reconciled. Many times, what we need to do is let go of our bitterness, our hate, or our pride, so that we can truly embrace Jesus….

Just remember, God’s grace is on display to His people through Jesus Christ. Jesus’s Grace always allows for a full embrace. When Christians truly embrace the Gospel – they begin to be Jesus to everyone everywhere! All these moments are readily made a reality because of the blood shed on the cross for you and me… The communion Supper, this table is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit.

It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ. Church, All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We COME to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit. The bread, is the reminder of the body broken for you and for me, The juice, is the reminder of the blood shed for the forgiveness of sins, for you and for me It’s all offered here by invitation, waiting for participation, asking if there needs to be reconciliation.

What will you do, with your invitation? It’s up to you…. Would you consider, like Mary and Mary, to COME AND SEE for yourself, what a life of resurrected faith is like? *

Together in Groups

Let’s open our bibles to Matthew chapter 4. We’re actually going to be moving around in the Bible as we look at a what together in groups means to us at momentum church. We’re called to be together. Do you remember what unity means? Unity is when we as a group make a conscience decision and a covenant to love and to live for one another in Jesus Christ. So what does it look like to be together in groups?

Let’s start with our Scripture. You should have your bibles open to Matthew 4. Here’s some context. Jesus was isolated in the wilderness for 40 days. If you remember last week I said there is good isolation. But we’re never meant to be complete isolated off from others. And if there’s one thing we learn from isolation and being alone, is that it can cause moments where we have our greatest spiritual battles against the enemy of our souls.

But after this isolation in the wilderness, what does Jesus do? He begins to build his community and he does that by calling the disciples. Let’s look at it in Matthew, 4 verse 18. 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Jesus, the teacher, the rabbi just gave them an offer of the lifetime. He’s saying, come follow me. That was every jewish boys dream. It was such a great honor to have a rabbi say, follow me. At 12 or 13, the boys transitioned into a new way of life. Either a rabbi would say, follow me, or they would be sent back home to learn the family trade. And I dunno about you, but if I put myself in the shoes of these young kids, I would feel discouraged.

What if I really wanted to be my rabbi’s disciple but I didn’t get picked so I had to mend fishing nets, and fish for stinky fish, and be smelly, cold, and wet all the time to make a living. Fishing is great when it’s leisure, but so much when it becomes your bread and butter. But here’s the encouragement that I get from this moment… when Jesus tells Peter and Andrew, and James and John, to, follow me.

Jesus is saying to them.. I have a new way of life for you. Drop everything you’re doing and follow me. I think about that.. and I go… wow.. isn’t that my life? I’ve given a lot up to follow Jesus and to pursue the calling he has on my life. And did you notice this.. he didn’t call the most choice of people. I would even go as far as to say they were ordinary men.

It’s almost like entrepreneurs hearing this call, start this new thing with me. We’re gonna change the world. And that’s what he’s telling these disciples. That’s what I wanna do with my life, whatever this is, I have Jesus and others and I want to do whatever it is you’re calling me into. Like, Jesus….. You’re calling me to be your disciple. I’m in.. I’ll do it. That’s what’s also pretty incredible about this passage, Jesus is picking his disciples.

And he picks the most random ordinary people. People just like you and me. Hoagie slingers. Cleaning people. Factory workers. High schoolers. House wife's. Retirees. Ordinary people.. Jesus is saying, come, follow me, be my disciple. If you’re a christian that’s why your here today. And of course, they do what? They followed him. They dropped everything and followed him. And I pray that we we would do the same. Become a disciple.

So what’s the first step in this process… well it’s proximity. These disciples got close. They gathered. They surrounded Jesus. And for me, just know, he didn’t pick the best crew. He didn’t pick all these people that fits his personality. He picked a bunch of rag tag group of disciples, and that’s what where we are as a church. Ordinary people hearing Jesus saying, come follow me. We’re all living different stages of life, but we just need to be in proximity with each other.

Let me prove this to you. All throughout the gospel of Matthew Peter would continually have rage issues. If you have watched the Chosen it’s very evident in season 1 and 2 that there is abrasion between Matthew and Peter. John poke fun at Peter as well… remember, John puts in his gospel that he beats Peter in a. Foot race, and not only that but emphasis that he is the disciples that Jesus loves.

Peter is over here mouthing off, chopping of other peoples ears. He’s worried about what other people think of him… he sounds like me. Andrew, is doubting. James and John are called the sons of thunder not because of farting… but Jesus is saying, guys.. you got rage issues. You should be like me, humble in heart, and gentle, but you’re thundering all the time. And so, they have problems. They fear.

They question. They fail. And so hear me… when it comes to community life.. Jesus isn’t looking for maturity. He was looking for availability. Do you want Jesus to use you in your life? Then get in proximity of Jesus and others and make yourself available. So many people say, man, I don’t have any friends. Do you even show up? I’ve heard it so many times.. I wish I had friends…

where were you when others gathered? I’m struggling with my faith. Where are you when the church gathers? Get in the proximity of others. I’m an introvert. I get it. It’s harder for you. But find a way. Find a way… I know it’s hard.. but trust me it’s important so that your faith can grow…. How do I know that.. Well that leads me to the next part of community.

Look with me in chapter 8 and find verse 23.. 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” The disciples get in proximity of one another and Jesus and follow Jesus into a boat. What happens? A storm comes. Right? Think about it. As soon as they get together, and you find in chapter 8, a man is cleansed, they witness the faith of a Centurion, there’s healings at Capernaum, Jesus talks about the cost of following him, and then leads his disciples into a storm.

Can I Just ask… when we gather at church do you think we’ll never experience storms together? You and I know that’s not true. We have storms of misunderstanding. We will experience storms of being let down by someone. We will face the storm of hardships with money, and things breaking, and people leaving. And how many times, does it feel like we follow Jesus in a calling, or in anything…

and all of a sudden we get into a storm and we run to Jesus, just to feel like Jesus is just sleeping? Like, where are you Jesus in this storm? Are you not seeing this Jesus? How many times does it seem like when we go through storms, God is asleep? Where are you God? I’m here. You told me to be here. God, I’m here only because I followed you, I was led but he Spirit to be here.

And now I feel like you’re nowhere at all. This is what I’ve leaned about faith. There’s going to be many times, God doesn’t fix the problem I am in until I have deeply felt the depth of the problem and until I’ve really come know how much I need Jesus in the situation. God brings us into the storm to help us realize how much we need Jesus. And so here is what I believe God is doing among our storms and within a community of followers.

I believe the next step after proximity, is that he is calling his community to vulnerability. The issue we have many times is that.. we tend to privatize vulnerability in our lives. We’re afraid to cry in front of others. We’re afraid to show emotion, and we’re afraid to make mistakes or ask questions. And many times, we’re afraid because we’re worried about what others would say, or think about us being vulnerable.

When a community sweats together, and is scared together, and gets hurt together, that vulnerability creates a deeper intimacy of friendship. You find this true many times in war. Men who fight for thier life together, in the trenches together, trying to stay alive together,… it creates this bond between them. A flowing and growing Jesus community requires vulnerability… and that’s why I said earlier… if you’re an introvert. Make a way to be vulnerable, not distant and unapproachable.

Really it’s trusting Jesus, and for you introverts, what a beautiful opportunity to trust Jesus to guide you, while strengthening you. That’s two parts of community, the third part comes from Matthew chapter chapter nine, so turn with me there. So look at this progression in Matthew. Jesus calls some of the disciples, and they are following him, the get in proximity to Jesus. Jesus then takes his disciples onto a boat and they just go through a major hardship.

They face vulnerability together. But now, Jesus is about to rock the boat some more. What does Jesus do in Matthew chapter 9… he calls Matthew the tax collector. This is insane. A tax collector? Now to be disciple of Jesus? I can only imagine Peter… Jesus. Are you sure? That guy! Know one likes tax collectors. They not only betray thier own people, but also GOd. But yet Jesus still calls Matthew to follow him.

Let’s watch it together. What we learn about community through the calling of Matthew is this… A community of disciples learn to practice together. After Jesus’s isolation in the wilderness. What does Jesus do? He preaches the best sermon ever… the Beatitudes. Fast forward and what do we see, Jesus has assembled this pool of messy, messed up and broken disciples, and he brings them within proximity of one another, to where you can only imagine this is going to not only cause internal abrasion, but also external with the pharisees, and he begins to teach them to practice what he preaches.

Think about it. The beatitudes. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. And now, around a table. Where the jewish people believe is one of the most intimate things you can do, which is bring people around a table where forginvess is offered, and friendship and community. He says, not with words, but by his actions, you, as my disciples must live this way.

Like me. What he is teaching his disciples is this… They were learning to practice hospitality. They were learning to forgive, to listen, to serve. They were leaning to love on the least of these. The outcast, the forgotten, the invisible people. Even in front of of critics who say… I can’t believe you’re mingling with “Those” people. And I promise you, don’t think for a moment that these fishermen were not extremely stressed out that they were eating with and sharing a meal with tax collectors and sinners, and pharisees saw it.

I can promise you this.. it was uncomfortable for them. Although these were ordinary rough men.. they followed the torah. They loved God. They grew up memorizing the Torah and now they’re over here eating grapes, laughing and carrying on with sinners and a tax collector. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it must have been to be there. Have you ever been in a moment where you were embarrassed by who your around?

If someone sees me, what would they think. This person is known as this, or that. I hear this all the time… well the Bible says to “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” What was Jesus teaching them? Jesus is teaching them rethink your way of community. You see, here’s a truth for you…I believe people can be vulnerable, and even in proximity, close to one another and not loving towards one another.

We can gather every Sunday, and every Wednesday and still not love one another around these tables. Because practicing is not so much as doing as much as it’s being loving towards others. I’m going to let you in on a secrete.. maybe you know, maybe you don’t. Have you noticed how we start off our time together on Wednesday nights. I ask questions like, what’s one prayer you hope GOD WILL ANSWER?

What is something you’re praying, that GOd will come through for you this week? Those are vulnerability questions. They are questions that do two things. One, they show me how vulnerable you’re becoming within the group. Im gauging our walk together. But just as important, I’m seeing how as a loving community respond to someones vulnerability. And I’ve got to say.. last week, no names, but one of us opened up and did you see how the group responded.

We got in closer proximity to that person, laid hands on them, and prayed. Now, that person could have left here still burdened, but they didnt leave here believing they were alone in this walk of faith. :ast Wednesday, we got in proximity, all of us God vulnerable and then we practiced the power of prayer. A healthy community practices together. Finally, the fourth characteristic to begin together Which comes from Matthew chapter 10, let's read it together…

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

And now, lets read verse 8.. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. So, lets see… 12 disciples. This was Jesus’s together group. This was Jesus’s Sunday morning, Wednesday night together group that’s been in proximity of each other, vulnerable in ministry and have watched Jesus practice, and now they are given direction and an opportunity to practice all of these things, to heal, raise the dead, cleanse the church and drive out demons.

Fishermen.Tax collectors. Doubters. Betrayers. Zealots. And more All in one group. And I know, this is not the best together group, but yet they’re all together. We’ve got to understand something… Communities are messy, and when God brings others here, it just keeps getting messier. Jesus in verse 8 gathers his group and begins saying, ok, you’ve lived together, been vulnerable together, practiced together. But now Jesus says, okay, I brought you in, to send you out into this community.

What we have here, within our group… go do it out there. Listen, what you do in here and why we do it isn’t to get people in the seats. What we’re doing is to restore relationships. It’s to pray to God, to heal people of their sicknesses. It’s to renew people’s minds from depression and anxiety. It’s to adopt all kinds of messy people into our family and we expand the kingdom of God together, as we grow together.

And I honesty need to walk us through this because I believe that none of us will be formed like Jesus, if we refuse to be together. You see, Jesus sends out the 12 and the last part is this… a community that is living for Jesus will be a community on mission for Jesus. A disciple of Jesus who’s walking by the Spirit, led by the Spirit and living by the Spirit would be a disciple who’s on mission.

Are you living on mission? Are you living on mission with this community? What does mission look like. We serve together. Everyone is making a great effort to be at our service projects. It’s helping each other and encouraging each other as you’re witnessing to your coworkers, coming up with strategies to invite people to church, whatever it is, can you imagine. If we began to create this kind of community at Momentum church, and I believe we can do it, but if we lived on mission together, this church will grow.

But we have to do it together. There is no other way… than to be together. Thats the beauty of communion. Jesus takes the cup and the bread when he gets his disciples in proximity of one another. And then he gets vulnerable. He washed their feet. He gives them a practice… we call it the holy supper and then what did Jesus do? Does anyone know… he went out into the garden to pray but why?m What was about to happen.

(That’s right. He was to be crucified for our sins.) What was Jesus showing his disciples and to us???? Do ever think about it? He was showing us, how to live, and how to be on mission… for God’s will, and for God’s glory. And now, he places his Holy Spirit in us, so that’s proximity. He leads us into vulnerable moments together…. And he forms us into the image of Jesus though circumstances and practices.

And then leads us to be on mission. *

The Freedom of God's Love

I recently had a conversation with Alicia where we discussed how we sometimes do something special for someone in our lives, but don't always receive the recognition we feel we deserve for it. For instance, In 2019, Alicia left for a Womans retreat and while she was away, I was wanting to make sure she knew everything in the house was ok while she was away. And I also wanted to send her some sexy pictures of me, so I sent her these: ** Slide **(The one on the left is me washing dishes, and the other is me sweeping the floor.) You know ladies, there’s nothing hotter than a bearded husband doing house chores.

Amen? And guess what… no appreciation for any of the awesome things I did. Here’s another one for you… last year while my wife was away at another Womans retreat, we had a major leak in our bathroom. And so, to do what we husbands do best, I alerted the wife to our dilemma. Here’s the conversation. Show conversation slide - ** Slide ** Now at this point, Alicia knew what I was talking about because we’ve been fighting this leaky shower head for months.

We would tighten it and tighten it, and it just kept leaking and getting looser and spraying water everywhere. So, I fixed it… here’s a before picture of the leak. ** Slide ** No! Appreciation. And if you look close enough… you’d see that there was actually two leaks I took care of, not just one. It can be disheartening when we put effort into something meaningful and it goes unnoticed or unappreciated.

I’m sure you’ve experienced this as well. Maybe you did something, or made something, or fixed something and the recognition was lacking, or maybe you just wanted a simple thank you, but it never came. What do you do when those moments come into our lives? What do you do when it seems like relationships are just one sided? Or your work goes unnoticed? The Spirit has had my heart camped out in Hosea, and it’s a beautiful book.

Hosea is a lesser-known prophet. The book of Hosea tells the story of a prophet named Hosea who was instructed by God to marry a promiscuous and unfaithful woman named Gomer. And so throughout this book, Hosea’s relationship with Gomer serves as an analogy for God's relationship with Israel, which had strayed away from God and turned to idols. But Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remained faithful and continued to love them, just as Hosea continued to love and care for Gomer even when she was unfaithful to him.

So what we learn is that Hosea's story is a touching reminder that even when we stray from God, He remains faithful and loving towards us, and is always ready to welcome us back into His arms. Would it be ok for me share two scriptures that have deeply touched me. ** Slide ** Hosea, 6:6 says: “For I desire Faithful Love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Faithful love, is love that is a committed and unwavering in devotion.

It is a love that endures through the ups and downs, the good times and the bad, and still remains steadfast and loyal. Faithful love is greatly lived out throughout he life of Jesus and If I had to pick just one moment where we see faithful love in the way the Father had intended it, it would be the cross of course, but it would also be for me, the Gethsename moment.

In but a moment, 12 disciples that just broke bread with Jesus, who was fed by Jesus, who had their feet washed by Jesus, prayed over by Jesus, we’re now sleeping against a tree while Jesus wept in agony. When you’re willing to be ridiculed by others, alienated by others, criticized by others, and left alone in an olive grove, the place of pressing and trials because others have left or deserted you in your most vulnerable time of need…

and you’re still willing to go a little further, and fall to your knees and go, O my Father, Abba Father…, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: Yet, not as I will, but as you will. That’s Faithful love…. It’s loving without condition…… It’s faithful to the end.. even when death is inevitable. Faithful love is dripped in grace, and washed in mercy. And it continues on, even when others abandon you.

I’m not a fan of a certain phrase and I wish it would be forgotten, especially in our lives and in the church. Because there is no Biblical ground in my opinion for it. It’s this… “if you scratch my back, I’’fill scratch yours.” It’s not biblical. It’s actually faithless to say such a phrase. It sounds good… yeah. It sounds like brotherly love, it sounds like unity, but it’s missing something…

“if you scratch my back, I’’fill scratch yours.” …. It’s missing relationship. That’s why I hate it so much, because when this phrase and motto infiltrates the heart of the church, it immediately requires obedience without love because it’s more of a transaction than a relationship. THis is the kind of love that says, “Look at what I’ve done, or look at how many years, or look at me… when are you going to recognize what I’ve done, and do your part.” “if you scratch my back, I’’fill scratch yours.

comes in and instead of building a relationship, and trust, and unconditional love through mercy and grace, and looking for opportunities to love freely without condition, it will always demand for either of the parties to uphold what was bargained. And if, or I should say when, the agreement is breeched, It gives any side the right to leave, or to abandon or even be abusive. And leaving, and being abusive to others, by word or deed…

that’s not a faithful love. To me, that sounds like bondage. Turn with me to Hosea chapter 14. Here’s the second Scripture that had touched me. ** Slide ** “I will heal their iniquity, I will freely love them.” God desires faithful love, but even when we do not walk in faithful love, God tells us that through forgives and repentance, He will freely love. A love that is freely given, that’s a love without bondage.

It means "without cost or payment" or "given as a gift." Jesus tells his disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons, and to do so "freely," without charging any money for their services. Matthew 10:8 Paul tells us in Romans, that believers are justified "freely by grace. Salvation isn’t earned, it’s given. As a gift. TO freely love also means "willingly" or “spontaneously." David worships in Psalsm, "I will freely sacrifice unto thee”..

what David means is that he will give without being compelled or obligated. It indicates an attitude without obligations. He wants to freely give because there’s no bondage. To love freely there needs to be freedom. Freedom is the key to love, and the key to freedom lies in having complete trust in God's love. The Father's love of life… which becomes available through the Son who made himself available. And it is all free, purchased by the death of Jesus, received by faith alone.

What does Paul say to the Galatians…. ** Slide ** He tells them, “For Freedom, Christ sets us free.” Not one ounce of the fathers love is available to you or me without Jesus. Jesus tells us, no one comes to the father unless through me. You have no access apart from Christ. Think of it like this… my son wants to use the car to take the trash out… he thinks it’s great to drive over the trash…

well, he can’t drive the car unless the father gives him the keys. The key is what makes the car start… it’s what gives permission for the car to say, let’s go… let’s ignite. The car is only able to do what it’s intended and designed to do, with the key. Otherwise, without the key, everything about that car is useless. For us, Christ is our key. Jesus is the key, the only key to receiving love, and grace, and fogginess, and mercy from the Father.

Think of it this way, Can I read to you something from Oswald Chambers, I found this bit in a Devotional from Utmost for HIs highest, ** Slide ** Oswald writes: "The springs of love are in God, not in us. It is absurd to look for the love of God in our hearts naturally, it is only there when it has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” Paul writes: For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.

(Romans 7:18-19) Apart from Christ, nothing good dwells within me… apart from Christ is noting but emptiness. This is why so many people with wealth will come to the end of their years and go, I’ve accumulated it all… and I still feel empty. Charles Darwin, the famous biologist, reportedly said "I am not the least afraid to die" shortly before his death, but also expressed a sense of emptiness at the end of his life.

He wrote in a letter to a friend: "I have very little satisfaction in life — but have been sustained by a conviction that my work has been useful”. He felt empty because they’ve never tasted freely given, faithful love. Listen, church, Freely given and faithful Love is motivated by the joy of sharing the fullness of what we have in Christ Jesus, but the works of the flesh are motivated by the desire to fill our emptiness.

What does Paul mean, works of the flesh? He doesn’t mean our bodies… What he means is our pride. Our inner ego that which feels a deep emptiness and uses the means within its own power to fill that emptiness. For some… that’s religion. They may use the law. If it’s something that’s ungodly, or faithless, it could be other things, like booze, or tobacco, or unhealthy relationships that bring no honor to Christ.

It is enslaved to one desire after another in its effort to fill an emptiness which only Christ can fill. Look with me… in Galatians 5… ** Slide ** x 2 We’re looking for the freedom to love and Paul tells the Galatians in Chapter 5, verse one, this freedom you seek, is Christ… Christ sets us free. And then in this verse, verse one, he says something very important… Paul then goes on to say, Don’t submit again, to a yoke of slavery….

He’s talking about sin. He’s saying, you’ve been set free, by faith in Christ, but don’t fall back into who you once were… We have a tendency to do that.. We also have a tendency to come to faith in Christ, and then we stop pursing Christ. Most times, we stop pursuing Christ because we come to Christ with this mind set, Jesus, if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

And many times, we’re like, Jesus, I come to church, I pay tithes, I serve here and I do this… and ya know.. I Don’t feel like I’m being blessed right now. You’re not doing your part. That’s not freedom, but again, that’s bondage. That’s a transaction… I give, you give… listen, the transaction has already taken place… it was between Christ Jesus and God the father when our sin debt was paid.

Now why do I say all of this? I say all of this because of this reason..… “When you and I do not love freely, or Faithfully in Christ, we will enviably attack one another.” Look with me in verse 13: 13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.

15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. Faithful love is free love, and free love is made available through Christ, and Christ makes us free to love those around us. Without love… from Jesus… we will do nothing but bite and devour one another. Didn’t Jesus say, They will know that you are my disciples by what? Because you came to church?..

No… by how you pay your tithe? No… by how you dress in a certain way?… no… I was praying the other day and I had this thought… if Jesus showed up to his church today to just listen in and see if there’s any transformation thier loves… I guarantee you there will be people bickering over the fact that he wore sandals to church. They will know that you are my disciples by what?

Jesus, in his sandals said, You are my disciples by how you, love one another. Where not to clothe ourselves in our sin or our old selves, but in perfect love because we’ve been set free. When, Perfect love casts out fear, and when we love Christ and one another freely and faithfully, we’ll experience the freedom and joy of Fathers love. What we learn is this.. here’s todays main idea for the message, this is what Jesus wants us to know today…

When we freely love others as God loves us through Christ, we break down walls of division and build bridges of grace and reconciliation. If we as a church desire to be a church of love, and unity… it begins by all of us clothing ourselves in Christ. Colossians says, "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14) The choice is ours… we will either create division because we feel that the other person isn’t paying their debt owed to us, or we will freely give the love we received through forgiveness.

My prayer, for us as a body of Christ,….. is that we abound more and more in love for one another and for all men (1 Thessalonians 3:12). We can only love if we are freed to love. What are you not free of this morning? Jesus promises.… “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Freedom begins with repentance and forgiveness.. and is then lived out through holiness.

Holiness is perfect love. Did you know you can have perfect love right now… You and I do not need to wait till heaven to be perfected in love. It’s available to us right now in Jesus. His Spirit, within your chest right now… has the ability to perfect you in love, right now, in this moment…. But You’ll never experience perfect love with an imperfect attitude. You’ll never experience perfect love with a “if you do for me, I’ll do for you attitude.” Because when the other person doesn’t pay what you feel you deserve, you will always, and eventually cancel the agreement of friendship and love and try to collect the debt somewhere else.

The debt has been paid… Stop trying to collect a debt that you have no right to collect. *