WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.840 Forrest Coleman, lead pastor here at Multiply. 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:03.200 If I've not met you, welcome. 00:00:03.279 --> 00:00:12.640 If you're new with us here today, we are glad that you are here joining us this morning as we are in our series moving forward. 00:00:13.119 --> 00:00:19.280 And myself, my family, about a hundred other people helped to launch Multiply Church almost two years ago. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:23.280 And excited that you're here today if you're new with us. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:31.679 This morning, we're jumping into a passage of scripture and into a sermon that I'm calling Framework Church. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:40.960 And I have right here the plans for the new building that we will be moving to very soon. 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:45.679 Can you believe next Sunday is our last time here in the movie theater? 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:47.920 I cannot believe it. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:58.240 I'm excited for next Sunday as we move out of this place and pack up everything after service and love for you to be a part of that and helping us make that move. 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:03.359 But these plans, the last time I held these plans up was in July of last year. 00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:07.599 And at that point, when I held up these plans, they were just paper. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:14.879 And nothing that was a part of the plans for the change of this new building had actually been done. 00:01:15.439 --> 00:01:25.120 But now, after months and months and months of work, what's on these pages of his plan is now a reality. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:35.519 And it's a reality because of the power of our God, for the work of his people, for the sacrifice that's been made. 00:01:35.760 --> 00:01:44.400 And I think about the vision that we started with so long ago. 00:01:45.519 --> 00:01:50.879 That for us, what kind of church were we gonna be? 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:54.159 What was it gonna look like? 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:56.319 How would Frankfurt be different? 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:59.840 How could we love and care for Kentucky State University? 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:05.200 And even just the question of gosh, how do you go about starting a church? 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:07.439 How do you even do that? 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:09.439 How's that even happen? 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:17.039 And thankfully, then we had a framework that we could look at, a plan. 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:31.120 We had the foundation of what it looked like for us to be a church that serves Jesus, loves Jesus, and does the mission and the calling that Jesus has called us to. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:38.080 And thankfully, we're not just making it up as we go, but instead we have a plan and a foundation in God's word. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:41.919 See, here's the thing. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:45.199 We have a description, and we've been in this series of moving forward. 00:02:45.280 --> 00:03:07.520 We're looking at different moments, miracles, and movements in the book of Acts as we see the earliest of the church, the earliest version, the very beginnings, and how it exploded onto the scene because of them seeing the way that Jesus did his ministry and modeling their lives after the way Jesus did his ministry in life. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:21.520 And for us here today, there even right now and in the weeks to come, whether we've been in a movie theater or when we go into a permanent space, the enemy wants nothing more than us to abandon the plan. 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:26.960 The enemy wants nothing more than for us to look at each other and say, you know what? 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:28.639 Hey, we did it. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:32.400 Hey, we're moving to space, like, wow, amazing. 00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:33.759 We're done. 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:44.639 Or for us to fall into a place of comfort and say, you know what, well, it's all right, like we can uh we can abort mission now. 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:57.680 But instead, what we know is that God has a plan, a calling, and a purpose for our church and for your life. 00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:02.159 For our church and your life. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:11.919 And the the that plan and purpose in God's church, it does not include fear. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:25.279 It really probably doesn't even uh include at times a carefree life or a life that's filled with comfort. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:39.519 It certainly doesn't include a me, me, me, me, me kind of mentality when we come as a body of believers and people walking out our faith in Christ. 00:04:40.319 --> 00:04:52.000 Instead, for us to have a mentality of loving God and seeing an outpouring and overflow to the people around us in the love and the light of Christ. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.519 See, we can't abandon the plan. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:57.839 We can't abandon the mission. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:11.759 And the enemy wants nothing more than to hold us back and keep us from walking out the faith that we've been entrusted with and the way that's been modeled by Jesus and his disciples. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:18.319 See, at some pivotal points in our church, we've recentered around the passage of scripture that we're going to go through today. 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:25.920 And it's this description of the earliest iteration of the Christian church, and it's something that we've looked at over and over and over again. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:34.319 I remember the first time we walked through this passage, uh, this was years ago now, probably close to almost three years ago, in Liberty's House. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:48.480 There's a circle of us, about, I don't know, 12, 15 of us, walking through this book and this section of Acts, and looking at what the early church was doing and looking at what the disciples were doing, and multiplied church. 00:05:48.560 --> 00:05:49.279 That was it. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:51.120 One living room. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:06:02.319 And then there was a time where we looked at this passage in a very weird part of our history when we were in the office space next to the treasury. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:06.720 Yep. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:13.759 Some of y'all came to multiply at that point, or in the very beginnings, you're and you walked out thinking, like, I don't know about this. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:16.319 This is kind of weird. 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:43.920 We looked at this passage of scripture together in September of 2022, six months into the life of our church here in the movie theater, and now two weeks out before moving into the permanent space, we're going to look at this passage again. 00:06:44.319 --> 00:07:04.079 And the enemy wants nothing more than for us to turn off our minds, turn off our hearts, turn off our intellect, turn off our focus, and to let the passage today and the centering passage for it to just go in one ear, out the other ear, because it may not be the most comfortable thing. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:14.000 It may not be the most comfortable version of church that maybe we grew up in, or maybe we have seen from afar, or maybe that you're used to. 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:25.759 And ultimately, the enemy wants to put all kinds of excuses in your mind about how we couldn't do that. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:29.920 Oh gosh, I can never be part of a small group. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:31.680 Are you kidding me? 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:34.319 Go to somebody's house that I don't know. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:36.079 They're gonna open the Bible. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:37.120 I don't know any of the answers. 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:39.040 Are they gonna ask me a question? 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.040 I don't know what to say. 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:49.839 When my life is not cleaned up enough to go and to talk with other people about God, I couldn't possibly put myself in that situation. 00:07:56.480 --> 00:08:01.279 The enemy wants to stop us, hold us back, cut us off. 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:06.160 So here's here's here, let me set the scene for the passage. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.639 It's Acts 2, 42 through 47. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:15.120 Ahead of this passage, what's happened is the Holy Spirit has fallen onto the church. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:27.360 The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised after his death, his resurrection, he's ascended to heaven and he's promised the coming of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:39.200 And so we see in the very beginning of Acts that the Holy Spirit descends on this day of Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit is unleashed on the earth through believers. 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:58.879 And it's this gathering at Pentecost of this multinational, multi-ethnic group of people, and it blew the doors off of the great commission that Jesus gave to the disciples in Matthew 28 to say, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I've commanded you. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:02.639 And law be with you always to the very end of the age. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:07.360 And then it fulfills the promise that he gave to them in Acts chapter 1, verse 8. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:19.600 When Jesus spoke to the disciples, and he said, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:26.320 And these promises and this command from Christ, all of a sudden, just the doors get blown off. 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:33.679 The day of Pentecost, and then this was their response to that holy moment that we'll talk more about next week. 00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:38.799 But in Acts chapter 2, verse 42, this is what they did in response. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:42.960 3,000 some believers have come now new to the faith. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:46.960 What are we going to do with all these new believers in Jesus now? 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.200 And what they did was this in verse 42. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:56.960 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, the sharing of meals, including the Lord's Supper, and to prayer. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:58.240 Verse 43. 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:02.480 A deep sense of awe came over them all. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:06.480 And the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:11.120 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything that they had. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:19.759 They sold their property and possessions, they shared money with those in need, and they worshipped together at the movie theater each day. 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:33.679 No, they should the temple each day and met in homes for the Lord's Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity, and all while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:42.000 And each day, the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. 00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:58.799 We, as a body, we get to walk in unity together and need to follow the framework set before us. 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:08.960 So, you know, we're gonna move into this nice, shiny, uh, uh, uh new permanent facility in a couple weeks, but it wasn't that long ago that it looked like this. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:11.440 Got a picture somewhere. 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.200 Just frames. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.840 Just frames. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:29.440 And there's people whose their whole job is just to show up and do the frames, and then somebody else comes later and does the drywall. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:36.879 But at one point, all it was was just some metal studs and an open room, and there was a framework. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:45.039 And built on that framework, we're going to get to enjoy the blessing of the Lord in the new space that we're gonna have. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:12:07.919 But it didn't get there without it being, it didn't get here without it being there at one point, and in the same way, we get to step forward with the framework, with the blueprint of what the local church should be and follow the framework that we see in unity, and we need to do that. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.600 So, what is it that we need to do? 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:11.360 What is it that we need to do? 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:13.840 What is it that you need to do? 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:19.840 Well, the first thing that we need to do and what they did is to meet together. 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:29.440 Meet together in one place, meet together in homes, fellowship with meals and prayer and teaching. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:35.039 See, this is a little education for just a second on the early days of our church. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:43.440 Before there ever was a service or one song sung at Multiply, we began with small groups. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:52.879 Our church started with meeting in a living room and sharing a meal, not just because I love Taco Night, because the disciples did it too. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:56.240 And the new believers, they did it as well. 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:57.840 They shared meals together. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:02.559 And Emily and I were the very first group leaders. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.759 The very first of our church. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:11.600 And a few weeks ago, the Tony Small Group, anybody in Tony Small Group, get your shout out right now. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:15.440 The Tony Small Group multiplied a few weeks ago. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:28.720 And right now, in just a couple of short years in the life of our church, Emily now, Emily and I now are great grandparent group leaders of the multiplication that's happened in the work of multiply church. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.919 And just a couple short years. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:34.240 And that's, don't miss this. 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:38.720 That's disciples who are making new disciples. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.519 Who are now making new disciples. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:48.960 Where's it gonna be years from I I don't know, but we're just Emily and I just gonna keep getting older. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:51.200 More generations. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:14:00.960 And we've seen people making life-changing decisions in living rooms across the city. 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:04.960 And I know that there's gonna be more. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.320 I believe it. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:20.159 See, because just like what the apostles and what these early believers were doing and gathering in homes, why were they doing that? 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:22.159 Because they were in relationship with one another. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:26.399 Caring for one another, loving for loving one another. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:33.919 And so that the new space that we're gonna move into is gonna be a space of worship and of serving. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:40.639 But discipleship is gonna happen like the early church in homes around our community and communities beyond here. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:55.120 Sharing of meals, talking about the scripture, learning from the apostles' teaching, growing as disciples and those who make other disciples. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:03.679 Ironically enough, today is the launch back of our small groups. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:08.639 There's some of you who've been coming to our church or have come new in the last month. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:15.360 We haven't had our groups rolling with our Christmas break, but they're back now, and we would love for you to jump in and to be a part of one. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:18.720 You've got a card there in your seat, and we'll talk more about it. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:24.080 But we're gonna meet together in one place and in homes. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:36.960 The next thing we're gonna do is we're gonna through the power of the Holy Spirit and God's power, we're gonna see miracles manifest. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:42.639 We're gonna manifest miracles in the power of God. 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:49.600 Last time I talked about this passage, I told this story that's very near to me. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.320 My friend in college, his name's Brad Bell. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:16:02.879 And years and years ago, when we were in college, Brad felt a call to go to the mission field and to be a missionary, and ultimately ended up going to Ethiopia for three years. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:13.200 But before he could get onto the mission field and could be approved, he had a health issue that was going on in his life that was keeping him from being able to step onto the mission field. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:19.039 And what it was was that he had whatever it's called, I'm not a doctor, but the condition where you have a small hole in your heart. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:38.879 And Brad's country church in Monticello, Kentucky, years ago, for him to be able to go on the mission field, they brought Brad uh in together and they all laid hands on Brad and they prayed for his healing, and he went back to the doctor, and the hole in his heart was gone. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:51.279 And he spent three years on the mission field, and he's recently pastored a church in Louisville for some time, and now is teaching other people to be missionaries, and God did a mighty work. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:56.960 I told that story the last time I shared this passage in September of 2022. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:09.519 And last year in our church, Sally Stanley, who you may know, who's on our staff and team and her family, last year she went to the doctor and they told her that she had a hole in her heart. 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:22.480 And so we prayed for her, and she went back to the doctor and they did the scan, and they said, We we don't know how to explain this. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:31.039 We actually have not seen this before, but the hole in your heart is gone, it's not there anymore. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:33.519 We can't see it on the scans anymore. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:37.839 I told that story in 22. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.519 That happened in 23. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.440 You know what else? 00:17:44.319 --> 00:18:05.680 In the last year, I know of at least four people who were prayed for by leaders and people in our church or a part of church, our church, who were told that they did or likely had cancer, whose scans came back and said otherwise in the last year. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:09.039 Now, I don't know if that was, I don't know if that was because of our prayer. 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:09.680 I don't, I don't know. 00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:22.960 I can't say, oh, that was because our prayers or maybe somebody else's prayers, but I know this that we can celebrate and see the fact that the Holy Spirit is moving in a miraculous way in our midst. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:24.720 And I want to see more of it. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.799 And I know you do too. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:34.240 Some of the ones who those that scan and that happened are sitting here right now in this room. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:48.960 We're meeting together, we're fellowshipping, we're sharing meals, we're praying together, we're we're we're seeing the teaching and learning the teaching from God's word. 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:55.680 We're seeking God's power, asking him to move and to manifest miracles among us. 00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:57.119 He's going to continue to do it. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:03.440 And the next thing that they did together in the early church is they shared. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.759 They shared with one another. 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:07.440 They shared meals and money. 00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:10.720 They shared meals and money. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:18.559 In homes with the poor, giving of their lives. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:25.119 You all know how important it is to me that Multiply Church be a generous church. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:31.920 From the very early days, we said, hey, we are going to be generous. 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.519 We're going to continue to be generous. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:41.119 And that generosity has not just stayed in year and giving and different initiatives that we've done, but that generosity has gone throughout our church. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:53.119 The individuals who are in our church that have loved, cared for one another, when people have lost jobs, when people have had major crises, when things have had uh challenges. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:01.279 There are people in our midst, in our church, in small groups and otherwise, that have stepped up with the heart of generosity to share with others. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:04.160 Can we meet every single need in our community? 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.759 No, we can't. 00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:07.839 Can we pay everybody's electric bill? 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.319 Can we do it? 00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:09.759 No, we can't do all that. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.559 But we can do for one person what we wish we could do for everyone. 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:21.119 See, we can make a difference collectively is that if each one of us decides, you know what, I'm gonna help one person. 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:23.440 I'm gonna be generous and I'm gonna help one. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:31.039 And there may be something that comes up along the way that we can't do it for everybody, but we're gonna do it this for this one somebody for the glory of God. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:34.079 We're gonna help in this one situation. 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:50.720 We're gonna help this one family, we're gonna help this one organization, we're gonna do this one thing, and collectively, us together and the sharing of meals and our giving, that we have a heart of generosity. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:21:02.960 And I can say with full confidence that that heart of generosity is not just something that we say, it's not just something listed on a website somewhere or something that's just a tagline. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:06.240 It truly is what we're walking out as a church. 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.160 And we're gonna continue. 00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:10.079 Can you believe it? 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:11.440 Can you believe? 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.839 I still this I still can't believe it. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:23.039 I don't even want to go too hard in the paint on this because we're gonna be talking about this more, but in a couple of weeks, we're moving into this permanent space with zero debt. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:29.519 Completely paid for. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:10.000 Get in step and in alignment with His will for us, as individuals, as our homes, as single people, or collectively as a church. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:15.200 And I'm not saying, you know, it's the end of the world for us to have debt in the future. 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:18.559 I'm just saying that this is what God's done in response for us now. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.720 And I genuinely believe this. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:25.119 Because somebody said it to me a few weeks ago in the midst of all the giving and everything. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:38.160 And as they were giving, they said, the fact that you are doing this the way that you've done it is going to mean and going to be able to allow you to be that much more generous in the community. 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:41.759 Because you don't have a banknote to pay off. 00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:48.559 We can step into this new space with the heart of generosity that God has implanted in us and continue to move it forward. 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.880 We're going to continue to do it. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:56.720 We're going to continue to share these meals and share money. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:09.519 And the next thing that they did that we need to do and align ourselves with is multiply new disciples. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:14.160 Why even start a church? 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:18.000 Are there like enough churches around? 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:22.000 Why are we even doing this? 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:40.640 Well, for one thing, I found out in coming to Frankfurt and moving back to Kentucky that pre-COVID, the number was in Franklin County, 87% of people do not go to church. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:45.599 Pre-COVID, it was 13.6% of people are committed to a church. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:48.400 87%, that was before COVID. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.079 87% of our neighbors are not connected anywhere. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:24:03.359 Not regularly going, not invested in God's mission and in the goodness that comes from being a part of his body. 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:15.440 They may say, oh yeah, well, I've got my grandma's church or something, but not actually rooted, being a part, seeing the fruit, walking it out in relationship with Jesus and others. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:18.160 And we know that new works reach new people. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:29.920 And that a new work and a fresh wind and what we've gotten to be a part of that it brings a fresh wind into our community and hopefully brings encouragement to other churches here locally. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:35.519 See, because we're very clear here about what our competition is. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:47.599 It is not other churches, it's the enemy, it's evil, it's Satan, and it's his plans to destroy our community and destroy homes and families and lives and individuals here. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.119 That's our enemy. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:25:03.680 Our enemy that we're going to attack is a way that Satan wants to steal, kill, and destroy. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:07.519 Listen to me. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.400 Listen to me. 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:10.319 This was said to me years ago. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:15.200 And I've and I've seen it be true. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:21.680 If you make disciples, then you'll make a church. 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:26.720 If you make disciples, then you'll make a church. 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:57.200 If we focus on making new disciples of Jesus that are walking with him, we're going to see the overflowing, multiplying, full of peace and grace be multiplied to you life that we know so many people in our lives, in our midst need to have, that are missing out on, that haven't yet received it, that haven't yet been walking it out. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:13.920 And for us to multiply new disciples, to see God move and manifest miracles and our meeting and our commitment there together, and for us to step forward and to see God use our giftings in the local church to serve others. 00:26:14.079 --> 00:26:17.279 The only thing we say around here is find your X factor. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.160 What does that mean? 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:21.680 That means that each one of you in this room is gifted in some way. 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:35.759 If you're a follower of Jesus, if you have been saved, if you have been redeemed, if you have been restored, then part of the Holy Spirit's gift to you is that He gifts you a specific gift of the Holy Spirit for you to walk out for God's purpose. 00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.599 Everybody say, I'm gifted. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.160 You are gifted. 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:48.079 Some of you, you may just have one gift, and others have other, have more than one according to your word, to God's word. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:51.359 But each one of us have a gift from the Holy Spirit. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:27:02.319 And we get to uncover that and find out what that gifting is, not just for your own benefit and your family and your children, but for the benefit of others in the kingdom of God. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:12.640 For you to walk out your purpose and calling, and for you to walk out the way that God has uniquely made and built you to be gifted for his kingdom. 00:27:13.119 --> 00:27:22.559 Very quickly, here's some of those specific spiritual gifts of leadership in Romans 12:8, and administration in 1 Corinthians 12 and 28. 00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:37.039 Teaching, knowledge, wisdom, prophecy in Romans 12.6, discernment, exhortation, shepherding, faith, evangelism, apostleship, serving and helps in Romans 12.7, mercy, giving, hospitality in 1 Peter 4:9. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:42.160 There are specific gifts that are given to us by the Holy Spirit. 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:51.519 If you are following Jesus and you get to uncover what that gifting is and walk it out in your life for God's glory. 00:27:53.119 --> 00:28:02.640 And we get to do it together as we make new disciples, and people receive the gift that God's given to them. 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:25.920 And Jesus is asking him very plainly, well, who do you say that I am, Peter? 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:29.200 Jesus kind of does a DTR. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:32.240 He kind of defined the relationship between him and Peter. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:35.680 What are you thinking right now, Peter? 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:38.319 Who do you say that I am? 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:55.680 And Peter kind of snaps back and says, Well, you know, some people are saying that you're John the Baptist, some people say that you're Elijah, others say that you're Jeremiah, that you're some other prophet that has returned, and he says, But who do you say that I am? 00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:58.559 And really nails him down. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:08.960 And Simon Peter in verse 16 answered, You're the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:18.079 And Jesus replied, You're blessed, Simon, son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:20.640 You did not learn this from any human being. 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:32.160 Now I say to you, I say that you are Peter, which means rock, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:37.359 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.519 He tells Peter. 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:46.720 This has been revealed to you from heaven. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.680 This is the truth. 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:56.480 The proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah, the one that was saved. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:59.359 The one sent to redeem. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:03.200 The true Son of God. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:08.720 And his response is to say, Peter, you're right. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:11.519 This has been revealed to you by the Lord. 00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:19.119 And I'm going to build my church on you and the rest of the apostles. 00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:25.279 And give you the keys to the kingdom. 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:35.759 And the gates of hell will not overcome it. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:41.440 The powers of hell, the gates of hell. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:44.640 Cannot conquer it. 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:52.400 We follow the plan. 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.880 Follow the plan. 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:06.319 What we get to do is push back the darkness. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:10.160 Everybody say push. 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.839 Jesus looks at Peter. 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:20.400 And he says, I'm going to give you the blueprint. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.759 I'm going to give you the framework. 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:24.079 I'm going to build my church. 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:30.000 And the gates of hell are not going to prevail. 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:40.160 And you're going to be used by my power to push back evil and to push back the plans of the enemy. 00:31:40.400 --> 00:32:00.480 And push back the darkness that wants to overtake not just them 2,000 years ago, but right now, today, here in our community, in our homes, in people all throughout our community, that we would be part of this church that not we're building. 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:02.720 Jesus said, I will build my church. 00:32:03.039 --> 00:32:04.720 Jesus is building it. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:06.640 He's the one doing the work. 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:08.240 He's the one with the power. 00:32:08.400 --> 00:32:15.039 And in doing so, he's going to allow us to join him in pushing back the darkness. 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:17.200 The true enemy. 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:19.039 Can you imagine with me for a second? 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.000 Can you imagine with me? 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.920 And I've imagined this many times. 00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:31.200 Can you imagine when we have a small group of outposts studying God's word in every neighborhood in Franklin County? 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:36.720 How about when we have a small group that's meeting in Shelbyville? 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:38.720 Right now we have one that's in Lawrenceburg. 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:40.799 What about one that's in Owington? 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:42.960 Maybe even Scott County. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:50.240 The last time I preached this message, I said, can you imagine when small groups could meet on Kentucky State's campus? 00:32:50.319 --> 00:33:04.319 And all this last semester, we had a Bible study every Thursday with athletes for the very first time on K-State's campus in the field house, studying God's word with young people, it's come to fruition in just one year's time. 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:06.880 How much more is God gonna do? 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.880 How much more does he want to do? 00:33:09.119 --> 00:33:15.359 How many more outposts is he going to put into the streets and into our communities and into our schools? 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.559 I gotta share this with you. 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:18.079 I gotta share this with you. 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:22.079 And I'm uh giving some dap to somebody this morning. 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:30.880 She doesn't know I'm gonna say this, she's probably gonna be mad at me for saying it, but Dana Dickerson, who's in our church, got baptized a couple years ago at Multiply. 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:35.119 And this last week, we got a picture of the FCA meeting with 20 students. 00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:38.079 They're meeting at 2nd Street School where she's a teacher. 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:40.319 She's in the purple right there in the back. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:53.599 Helping to see a group of students studying and learning God's word in a school here in our community that wasn't happening the last time I preached this message. 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:56.319 It wasn't happening just months ago. 00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:02.400 But of her faithfulness and others to step up and say, you know what? 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:10.239 Yeah, I'm gonna step forward, I'm gonna push back the darkness, I'm gonna bring the truth of God's word, and I'm gonna bring it into our community, and I'm not gonna back down. 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:15.840 And God's doing some great things in her life. 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:20.000 And there's others among us. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:24.400 Just imagine it with me. 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:26.000 Imagine it with me. 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:28.960 Imagine it with me. 00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:31.440 The new space that we're gonna be in. 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:34.320 At some point I have no idea, but it being full. 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:35.760 Don't know when that's gonna happen. 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:45.440 But then it doesn't just stay there on Sundays, but it goes out. 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:56.159 Goes out from there into outposts and schools and nonprofits and in living rooms all across our community. 00:34:58.559 --> 00:35:05.199 That we're walking in God's power to push back the gates of hell, and God wants to use you to do it. 00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:07.199 He wants to use me to do it. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:10.800 And so you may be here today, and you may be not even knowing about God. 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:12.480 You don't even know what's going on. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:18.400 You're you're you're you're you're at the point where Jesus is looking at you and saying, Hey, who do you say that I am? 00:35:18.639 --> 00:35:20.000 Do you believe? 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:23.519 Will you receive the fact that I'm the Son of God? 00:35:23.679 --> 00:36:07.760 That Jesus is the is the true Messiah, the Son of God, He is the true God, and then His death on the cross purchased life for you, that you could walk out of darkness and into the glorious light of God's salvation, and one day that you'll not be separated from God in a place filled with anguish called hell, but instead that you'll step into a heaven, into heaven, that your last breath on earth will be your next breath in the arms of the Father and of Jesus Himself, covered by his blood, because you can't save yourself, you can't forgive yourself, but through Jesus' death on the cross in your place, he purchased life for you. 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:28.480 That you could walk in his power, but you've got to receive it, you've got to accept it, you've got to ask for that forgiveness, and you've got to, by the power of the Holy Spirit, step forward to repent and to change and to move a different direction, to turn around and to walk towards him. 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:55.280 And maybe you're in the room today and you've already done that, and maybe it was years ago, and God wants to see someone else to receive that truth and power through the work of your life, through the work of your family, through the work of your children, through the work of your hands in your living room, and your mouth, and somebody else could receive the hope that you get to walk in. 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:11.199 And us collectively together, we're gonna move forward in faith and in power and love and God's grace. 00:37:17.760 --> 00:37:21.039 Where are we gonna be the next time I preach this passage? 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:26.639 What are the what's what's gonna what's it gonna look like? 00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:28.800 What's what's gonna change for the better? 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:31.280 What's what new lives are gonna be restored? 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:35.039 What new people will have received him? 00:37:35.679 --> 00:37:38.000 What new works who have begun? 00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:43.840 What new neighborhoods will have a gathering and a meeting of the truth. 00:37:45.679 --> 00:37:48.159 Will you join me as we pray for that right now? 00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:51.440 Let's pray for it right now together, church. 00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:55.840 Father, we thank you, Lord. 00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:58.719 We thank you for your goodness. 00:37:58.800 --> 00:37:59.920 We thank you for your mercy. 00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:09.280 We thank you for how powerful you are, and you allow us to get to walk with you and in community and in fellowship with you, God. 00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:16.079 Father, I thank you for all the things that we've gotten to see even over this last year. 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:23.199 Things that we can't even explain, but God, we know that we can explain them through your power and your might. 00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:26.719 Father, I pray right now, all across this place. 00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:38.800 Lord, that we would be people who receive your mission, we walk it out in love for those that are around us. 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:42.639 And that God, we get to be people who push back the darkness. 00:38:42.719 --> 00:39:11.679 So, Father, I pray right now, all across this room, if there's anybody in this place who has not received you as their Savior, that has not asked for your forgiveness, has not received your perfect sacrifice on the cross and the resurrection power of you walking out of the grave so that they could have new life and follow you, that today would be the day of their salvation, that they would believe you, Jesus, and believe in you, Jesus, and believe on you, Jesus, for now and into eternity. 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:22.960 And if you that's you right now in this room, you can receive Christ today by praying to him, asking him to save you through prayer. 00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:25.920 You can do it right now, your mind and heart are from a genuine place. 00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:29.039 Say something like this Jesus, save me. 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:38.320 I believe that you're the Son of God, that you died on the cross for my sins, and that you're alive. 00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:46.159 Forgive me, cleanse me, so that I might be in heaven with you one day. 00:39:48.239 --> 00:39:52.320 I give you my life as you gave yours for mine. 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.480 Transform me. 00:39:57.440 --> 00:39:58.719 In Jesus' name. 00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:06.800 No one looking around today, you prayed that prayer for you to receive the finished work of Jesus, for you to be saved, for you to ask for forgiveness. 00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:16.880 I'm gonna ask you in just a moment so that I can pray for you that that you just raise your hand up as a sign, not not just to me, but to the Lord at the count of three. 00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:21.360 One, two, three. 00:40:21.599 --> 00:40:29.679 Anybody in the room today pray that Father, we thank you. 00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:34.079 We thank you, Lord, for the work that you're doing in and among us. 00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:49.920 Father, we pray, God, for not only ourselves as we follow you, but for more people and new disciples to follow you, to be saved, to receive you as Savior. 00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:52.960 We thank you, we praise you. 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:54.559 In the strong name of Jesus. 00:40:54.719 --> 00:40:56.320 Everybody said, Amen. 00:40:56.400 --> 00:40:58.400 Church, stand to your feet as we close in worship.