WEBVTT 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:08.400 Where we're going to in the message today is that the joy of the Lord is our strength. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:19.679 And not only that, and I'm gonna preach before I'm preaching here, but the joy of the Lord is not just something that happens because of our circumstances. 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:23.280 Galatians 5 tells us it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:27.679 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:30.079 Against these things, there is no law. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:37.200 So as we walk in today, we should be walking in with people who have joy in our heart no matter what we're going through right now. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:38.560 You want to know why? 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:40.799 Because I'm going to heaven. 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:43.280 And I have the hope of heaven. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:48.640 And those of you who are in Christ, you do as well. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:53.840 So do not let the enemy steal your joy today. 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:56.719 Woo. 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:14.799 But right now, I'm I'm I'm burdened over this word today because I want it to encourage you so deeply. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:17.040 And so let me pray for us. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:22.000 Father, right now, Lord, I pray today, God, as we receive your word. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:27.359 God, I pray in family dynamics that are complicated and painful. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:38.480 Father, today I'm I'm praying right now, Lord, that we're going to receive your word and that it's going to encourage us, it's going to teach us, it's going to help us. 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:41.519 Father, it's going to change us. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:47.439 So, God, I pray today, Father, that Lord, joy that's been lost will be restored. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:56.480 Father, I today I pray, Lord, that your joy that it's given to us and flowing out of us, that it will be our strength. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:04.239 Father, I pray, God, today that, Lord, you would have me behind your cross. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:08.240 So you speak truth and love today. 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:10.240 We praise you in the strong name of Jesus. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.680 Everybody said amen. 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.319 Tell somebody good morning as you grab a seat. 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:17.360 Say good morning to somebody. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:22.879 Glad that you're here. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:27.680 We uh we've had a heavy few weeks here at Multiply. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:30.159 Uh, we had our Hills sermon series. 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:31.919 Praise the Lord, we're through that. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:42.080 Now we moved into this family trip series that kicked off last week from Pastor Seth Nolan out of Nashville, Tennessee, who gave a great word about what to do when the family breaks. 00:02:42.319 --> 00:03:10.800 And so uh I would encourage you all to go and listen to that message from last week on our website, multiplyky.com sermons, to listen to the beginning of this sermon series that's setting this course for us as we take a look at the family, because so many of us we we uh we just have challenging, difficult, sometimes hard, sometimes filled with joy, sometimes filled with pain, relationships with our family. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:13.120 I saw uh this funny quote last week. 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:19.439 It said, Vacations might be expensive, but you can't put a price on arguing with your family in a different place. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:23.039 So welcome to Family Trip Series, everybody. 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:29.120 We're we're helping you and your family find your way. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:40.960 I was reading a story this last week of a man who realized mid-flight that he was flying to Panama City, Florida, instead of his desired destination of Panama City, Panama. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:54.159 Apparently, this happens actually more than you realize with places that have similar sounding names like Greensboro, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, and Columbia, Missouri. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.479 People just showing up the wrong place. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:04:00.319 Rochester, Minnesota versus Rochester, New York. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:08.800 The European country of Austria's airport had a funny advertisement for people who thought that they were coming to Australia and showed up in Austria. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:11.439 There's no kangaroos in Austria, okay? 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:22.000 And as we jump into this next installment of Family Trip, the title of my message is That Annoying Question from Your Kids, Are We There Yet? 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:24.079 When you're on the family trip. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:30.639 Your family, and I have some questions for you as we think about are we there yet? 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:32.800 Has your family arrived? 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.639 What's the destination that you're going for? 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:45.199 If you're anything like me, you want to see things improve and become better in the relationships with your family. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:47.680 And so, have you arrived yet? 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:49.680 Where are you going? 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:57.519 Growing up, my family used to drive the 12-hour trip twice a year to go see my grandparents in LA. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:59.120 That's lower Alabama. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:04.800 And my brother and I would fight like cats and dogs the whole way. 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.279 Have I gotten a spanking on the side of the interstate? 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:08.720 You bet you I have. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:10.399 I sure have. 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:15.040 Because when it comes to family, it's rarely a smooth ride. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:24.480 Actually, I was thinking back to all the hardship conversations that I have had with people in ministry over the last 18 years. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:31.040 And oftentimes those things have to do with people's jobs and hardship and career or health issues. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:43.600 But by and large, the conversations that I've had with people in ministry that are working through hardship and hurting have to had to do with their family relationships and strife. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:50.000 Because here's the thing no one is immune because our families are made of people and people make mistakes. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:06:01.279 And so what if the the journey that you're on right now with your family, what if it doesn't look like what you imagined it would look like? 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:11.279 Or maybe you're someone who felt has felt like that you're behind, or maybe that you're alone, or that your family's off course. 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:17.519 And how in the world are you going to keep going if you're not sure you're even heading in the right direction? 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:22.160 We hear this all the time: this statement, it is what it is. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:24.480 Everybody say it is what it is. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:26.319 It is what it is. 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:28.560 You know that's a lie when it comes to your family. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:31.680 What if Jesus took that approach? 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:34.319 Oh wow, you know. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:40.000 Well, they're sinful, they're they're dead in their sin, and well, you know, it is what it is. 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:49.040 Well, compared to my perfection, uh, well, I know I should extend them grace, I could, but you know, it is what it is. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:59.519 What if the person who took you to church or led you to Christ had given up earlier in their life on their faith and said, you know what? 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:00.879 Well, it is what it is. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:04.000 Have you given up? 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:06.240 Have you thrown your hands up? 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:13.199 Today we're gonna take a look at a family in the scripture that isn't talked about a whole lot. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:18.720 And we're gonna talk specifically about the young leader, the young pastor named Timothy. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:22.639 Timothy was raised in a divided home. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:27.360 He was spiritually formed by his mother and his grandmother. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:36.079 And he was discovered by Paul in one of Paul's missionary journeys, where he met this young Timothy, who he refers to as young. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:56.720 And even though he was young, Paul mentored him and discipled him and placed him as a leader, the pastor of one of the most influential churches of its time in the port city of Ephesus, a diverse city and an affluent city that had major leadership problems and major spiritual issues. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:09.839 And what I want us to zero in on today is the legacy of faith that Paul calls out over this young Timothy, who's living out his purpose with Christ and living out a life of faith with Christ. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:14.560 And so we're gonna be in 2 Timothy as Paul's writing this letter. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.959 He writes two letters to young Timothy. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:18.000 This is the second one. 00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:19.439 If you've got your Bibles, turn to it. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:23.600 If you've got your Bible on your phone, pull it up, go to 2 Timothy. 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:29.279 It's also gonna be on the screen, 2 Timothy chapter 1. 00:08:29.360 --> 00:08:35.840 We're gonna start in verse 5, as Paul talks about his spiritual legacy and calls us out in Timothy. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:47.840 He says, I'm reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and I'm persuaded now lives in you also. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:58.399 For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:06.159 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:12.480 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:18.240 Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:21.919 He has saved us and called us to a holy life. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:27.759 Not because of anything we have done, but because of his purpose and grace. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:33.519 This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:46.399 But has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:55.759 And then Paul goes on about Timothy's spiritual heritage and lineage in verse 14, a few verses later. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:10:17.440 He says, But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have been convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:57.279 Paul calls out this spiritual legacy and the fact that he's now received the knowledge of the holy scriptures from his mother, Eunice, from his grandmother, Lois, and that from infancy they're teaching young Timothy the scripture, and then ultimately, as they become followers of Jesus, they are now teaching him what it means to follow Jesus in the gospel that has interrupted their Jewish life. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:09.279 Now, it's interesting that Paul talks about Timothy's mother and grandmother, but leaves out his father. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:22.639 But there's a clue in the book of Acts as Luke talks about Paul's missionary journeys of why Paul leaves out his father in chapter 16, verse 1. 00:11:22.799 --> 00:11:31.600 Paul came to Derby and Elisha, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer, and whose father was a Greek. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:46.799 So from this description, and Paul leaving out his father, what is to believe be believed is that his father was not a follower of Jesus, but of Greek culture and paganism. 00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:53.039 And so Timothy is growing up in a household that's divided. 00:11:53.679 --> 00:12:06.240 And even in the midst of what's happening in their household, his grandmother and his mother are helping him to learn the scriptures and teach him even from when he was a small child. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:11.200 And us as believers, we need to do the same thing for our children. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:15.279 We need to be reading the scriptures to our kids. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:17.120 My wife, she's done a great job. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:34.879 And my wife, she's been reading to them the storybook Bible that is it gives the gospel and talks about the story of scripture at a child's level. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:46.399 And I want to let you know that the faithfulness of my wife over the last five years to continue to read the scripture, my oldest has begun to understand the gospel and she's gotten saved this year. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:49.039 Which is amazing. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:13:00.320 And I know for me, I I want to keep continuing to teach our kids the scripture as well, and they're and they're learning so much in the kids' ministry. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:09.360 The other day, my five-year-old said, Dad, my favorite story in the Bible is Esther, because she was created courageous and saved her people. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:13.919 And I said, I didn't even know who Esther was until I was in like college. 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.840 How do you even know that story? 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:25.120 And then she brought over to me this little face mask thing that they had made of Esther's face and put it over her face, and she said, I'm I'm courageous because she'd made it in kids' ministry. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:29.120 And taught my little girl a story that I didn't even know until I was in college. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:31.759 And blown away. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:39.919 See, we need to be teaching our children about Christ and the scriptures from infancy. 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:48.480 But we as followers of Jesus, for us to be able to do that, we have to make sure that we graduate out of infancy and we don't stay stuck in infancy. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:53.759 That we have to know the word of God and the wisdom of the scriptures. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:14:18.559 So us moms and dads, grandparents, can teach the next generation, teach our children inside of our home and outside of our home what it means to follow Jesus in a life and in a journey that's going to take them in a lot of different places and a lot of things that they don't understand and aren't going to be anticipating, these things called detours. 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:26.159 And for you, as you are teaching your children, for you to be an example, what it looks like to endure the detours. 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:27.679 That's my first point. 00:14:27.840 --> 00:14:29.759 We need to endure the detours. 00:14:30.559 --> 00:14:35.840 See, Timothy's grandmother believed the gospel. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:58.000 She was probably living a great Jewish life when she was in when she encountered the story of Christ, gave her life to Jesus, and it disrupted her daughter's life, Eunice, and then passed on to her son, and they didn't let any excuses or the excuse of the fact that their home was divided keep them from sharing the truth. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:01.759 And they didn't give the excuse, well, I didn't I don't have any support. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:45.519 Instead, what they did is they built a legacy of faith, because listen to me a legacy of faith is not built on perfect families, it's built on persistent faith of you showing up, for your family in Christ, for you being the example, because listen to me, God can use your faith to change generations, even if you feel behind right now, even if you feel behind today, God can use you for your children's and children's children's salvation and for the story and legacy of faith in your life. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:50.000 Now, I'm not much of a cook, but I do love to cook barbecue on a smoker. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:16:01.600 And it takes hours, and it's very annoying because there's times when I tell my family dinner is gonna be at this time, but then the meat's not done on the smoker, and then it's like two hours after the fact and everybody's mad. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:03.759 All right, okay, maybe I'm the only one. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:08.879 But it's so good when it's done right. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.799 That's why you don't cook barbecue in a microwave. 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.000 If you do that, you should go straight to jail. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.679 That's not how it's supposed to be made. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:22.000 Do you know your spiritual legacy? 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:24.240 It should be slow cooked. 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:26.720 You can't microwave it. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:49.519 The present chaos and the complexity of the situation that you're in with your family, it's a slow cook of the legacy of Christ that you're going to be a witness to and show them what it means to know and follow our King Jesus. 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:54.879 Yesterday we had baby dedication in this room and several families. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.919 It was so beautiful, guys. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.759 It was so cute, these little babies. 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:03.279 And these families are sitting at tables and dedicating their children to the Lord. 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:17.119 And at the end of the baby dedication, have a time where the families have an opportunity to surround the baby and the parents and to pray over the baby silently or out loud. 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:30.160 And I couldn't help but think of the grandmothers that were in the room praying over their grandkids, probably in the same way that Lois was praying over Timothy. 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:41.759 A spiritual legacy that these children were being grown up in the family of faith. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:46.160 Because growing in your faith isn't just limited to grandparents and parents. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.240 Let me let me take you. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:56.880 I started us, we're gonna stay in in 2 Timothy chapter 1, and I started in verse 5, but let me take you up to the beginning to verse 1. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:11.119 As Paul talks about his relationship with Timothy, Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear what? 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:18.960 Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:30.480 The beginning of the first letter to Timothy in Timothy 1, verse 2, Paul addresses him as his true son, his dear son. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:45.279 And as far as we know, there was no blood relationship between Paul and Timothy, but instead there was a relationship of mentor and mentee of disciple and disciple maker. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:50.400 And I I know I'm challenged, and a few weeks ago I was specifically challenged. 00:18:50.480 --> 00:19:04.400 I was on a phone call with a very prominent, uh, longtime really great pastor out of Nashville who's led this gigantic church with all kinds of campuses and church planning, who's now retired after 32 faithful years of ministry. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:10.400 And we were on the call and he challenged me and said, Forrest, you now need to get some Timothy's in your life. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:15.519 And I've only been a lead pastor for now you know four or three years. 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:17.359 And we were having this conversation. 00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:32.480 I was thinking about now, I felt like a Timothy, but now I'm at a place and to not only just discipling people, then to see other people be raised up into ministry and people be launched to pastoring. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:47.839 See, because what I want you all to know is that my wife and I, this entire journey of planting multiply church over the last four years, we have either been leading or been in a small group this entire time so that we can be in the making of disciples and be disciple makers. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:52.079 Can could I this isn't to my own horn, but I'm gonna tell you that's rare. 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:59.039 So that we are leading the way in making disciples of Christ. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:04.000 We talk about around here being and making disciples a whole lot. 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:09.519 And I wonder for you do you have any true sons and daughters in the faith? 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:18.240 Whether they're inside of the four walls of your home or outside of them, because here's what I need for all of you in the room to be. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:21.599 I need for you to be the parent in the car on the trip. 00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:31.279 Now, this should be an encouragement to you in the room, whether or not you have kids or you don't. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:49.680 That for you to be called into what Jesus has led us into, for us to be the one who's the adult in the room, the parent in the car, and you're saying, and maybe you've said this, you know, forrest. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:52.319 I just I don't know, I don't know the Bible like that. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:53.599 I couldn't help anybody like that. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:59.279 I couldn't possibly try to open the word of God with anybody or help anybody in that way. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:01.200 I've got too much going on myself. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:04.079 Do you know that you don't have to be perfect to be a God? 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:10.160 You have to just be a little bit ahead of where somebody else is. 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:16.319 And do you know that your spiritual presence could be the turning point in someone else's story? 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:21.279 If you're willing to do it. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:24.720 Again, we talk a lot about being and making disciples. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:52.559 And we talk about how, just like Timothy, who began at infancy, that when you become a follower of Jesus, you begin and you start out and being an infant, just like Paul talks about on the in uh the comparison of where you would receive the milk versus the meat, that you were a child and then grew up to then be a man and put away childish things, that you're growing in your relationship with God in a similar way as we grow up in our lives. 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:59.759 And as you give your life to Christ, then you begin in spiritual infancy, which is basically you come to Christ, you you you fill with joy just. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:06.319 Like a little baby brings a whole joy to the room and a smile on everybody's face, but you have to be spoon-fed everything. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:10.480 And somebody else has to constantly be cleaning up your messes. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:18.799 Do you know that I have known a lot of 80-year-olds in my last 18 years of ministry who are still spiritual infants? 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:39.440 Who never grew in their faith, never began to do what it just a spiritual child could do, just like our children that you could, just like a kid, you could begin to read the word for yourself, begin to feed yourself, do things in the kingdom of God. 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:53.599 But just like a child that is normally just like my kids, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, oftentimes our spiritual maturity at that point of being a spiritual child, it really things just are revolving around yourself. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.400 Like, you know what? 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:59.200 I'm gonna read the scripture and I'm gonna bring my family to church because it makes me feel good. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:01.440 And it's good for my family. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:09.279 And I'm gonna do certain things because I want to make sure that I'm in the right spot. 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:12.559 But there's a time when you begin to cross over. 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:21.759 Just like Jesus said, that he came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:29.519 That we see that Jesus wasn't self-focused, instead, he was others focused all the way to the cross to lay his life down. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:39.039 And so we, as we grow in our faith in Jesus, we need to begin to be others focused just like Jesus was, and so the minute says like the minute your mindset becomes like this. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:39.440 You know what? 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:48.400 I'm gonna serve in the kids' ministry so that other people can go to church and understand the scripture and so that they can have a distraction-free environment to learn from the word of God. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.720 You know, I'm gonna hold this baby in the kids' ministry. 00:23:50.799 --> 00:24:01.599 I'm gonna teach, I'm gonna teach somebody, or I'm gonna, I'm gonna welcome somebody who's coming through the door because I remember what it was like for me when I first came to church and how nerve-wracking and how anxiety-ridden it was. 00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:12.240 And I was already like in anxiety, just getting out of the car, walking in here, and I want to be the joy that somebody needs to receive in Christ on a Sunday, and it's not just all about me. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.680 Is anybody hearing me? 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:25.759 So, what I need for all of us to be, I want us for all, and wherever you're at in your spiritual walk, I want for each one of us to be growing in order that we are the parent in the car. 00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:49.759 I'm so grateful for our current team leaders and small group leaders who have literally crossed the line already and said, you know what, I know I may not know everything, but I'm going to I'm gonna step into loving, caring, serving, showing others the scripture, praying for them, and that that they've been doing this, and you know what, we need more. 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:53.680 Can we put our hands together for our current leaders, volunteer leaders? 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:07.759 We're growing, we're growing in our faith, we're helping others to grow in their faith as well. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:21.200 And what we need to be doing is that with our own children, and just like Paul and Timothy, where we have also, listen to me, we're walking in our spiritual motherhood and fatherhood. 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:29.200 We're just like Paul and Timothy, he says, You're my dear son, you're my true son. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:35.599 You know, Paul doesn't say that about everybody in the scripture, he says this about Timothy. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:42.400 And not only that, he goes on to talk about what it's even like just being around Timothy. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:44.079 Go to verse 3. 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:57.920 I thank God, whom I serve as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers, recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with what? 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:02.160 I'm reminded of your sincere faith. 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:04.799 Again, starting back to verse five. 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:13.359 I'm reminded of your sincere faith, which lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I'm persuaded now lives in you also. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:15.359 Oh my goodness, you all. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:30.880 I'm I I am such a type A personality, I can get so bogged down in all the details and all of the tasks to get done that I'm missing out on the joy of the relationships that I have. 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:38.079 In my family, and then outside of my family, in that family of faith. 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:47.039 And and I know I can get so task-oriented, and I can just get you know laser focused, and people get frustrated with that. 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:52.799 I've already had somebody roll their eyes at me today, this Sunday morning, irritated with me. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:27:03.599 I want to make sure as as I'm stepping into this place, that I'm stepping into this place, not just focused on the task to get done, but the joy that Jesus has for me and for you. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:13.599 And maybe, maybe right now, your family, maybe even your church family, it feels more like a burden than a blessing. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.240 Can I tell you this? 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:24.799 Paul says of Timothy, I can't wait to be in your presence because there's joy. 00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:30.319 And I wonder for you, and I would like for you to make it a joy to journey with you. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.119 Are you a joy to be around? 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:39.599 You say you're a Christian, you say you're in faith, you say that you know Jesus. 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:47.200 And in Galatians chapter 5, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:51.839 But I grew up in a church which the people who've been walking with Jesus the longest looked the meanest. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:56.559 It was like the more spiritual you were, you know, the mean of your face looked. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:59.680 There wasn't a whole lot of joy going on. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.240 And maybe that was because they were just beaten down by life or what all the things that have gone on. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:10.160 But I just know this is that as we are walking with Jesus, there should be the fruit of the Spirit that's pouring out of us. 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:15.119 And Paul says to Timothy, I can't wait to be around you because it's gonna be filled with joy. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:24.400 And you know, you're and I'm there's I'm sure many of you right now that are this thinking, you know, for us, people wear me out. 00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:26.720 All these people wear me out. 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:29.519 Don't you think that you wear other people out too? 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:32.640 Don't you think that they're saying the same thing about you? 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:42.480 God wants you to be someone that others love to walk with. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:53.039 I learned years ago when it came to hiring and church staff and chemistry and all that, somebody asked me uh and told me that don't it there's this thing called the Atlanta test. 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:56.240 Anybody ever been in Atlanta traffic before? 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.440 It's crazy. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:29:04.960 And they said the Atlanta test is if you wouldn't take a road trip from here to Atlanta with this person, don't hire them. 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:09.279 Because the the chemistry is not there. 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:14.319 Does somebody want to go on the journey with you? 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:16.400 Are you a joy? 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:21.359 Are you living out and flowing out the fruit of the spirit? 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:25.519 And it's not just it's not just touching you. 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:37.119 It's being manifest in your kids and your grandkids and your spiritual kids. 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.200 So I've got some questions for you. 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:43.440 Are we there yet? 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.720 Yep. 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:50.240 I know it's an annoying question these kids ask, but it needs to be asked spiritually. 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:52.480 Are we there yet as a family? 00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.799 Are we there yet as parents? 00:29:55.039 --> 00:30:11.119 Are we there yet in the healing that we need to receive from Christ to put away the bitterness and the shame and let that go to the pit of hell where it came from and be healed by the Father so then we can be the one who is a joy to journey with? 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:17.200 Are we there yet in our walks with Christ? 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:20.720 Here's what I want you to do: I want you to know your destination. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.440 I got more questions for you. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:25.759 What kind of family are you building right now? 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:32.079 What kind of son, daughter, parent, or friend are you wanting to be in five years? 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:36.160 What spiritual legacy do you want to pass on? 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:40.559 What will you do to become a spiritual parent? 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:43.519 Because you need to expect detours. 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:46.480 You're gonna hit roadblocks. 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:48.880 How in the world are you gonna respond? 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:53.759 Because if you stay in the center of God's will and his purpose, you're never off track. 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:59.200 No matter the barriers and the roadblocks. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:04.319 Lois didn't expect to become a Christian. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.000 She just heard the gospel. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:21.680 Do you think that Eunice expected to be teaching her son without her husband's help about the gospel in Christ? 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:27.119 But listen to me, they stayed faithful on the journey and in the detours. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:31.519 What does faithfulness look like for you right now? 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:34.400 And make the journey joyful. 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:38.400 Are you a joy to be with, or do you drain the life out of the room? 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:45.440 What's one way that you can become more joyful and life-giving in your home? 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:48.000 Because listen to me, imagine this. 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:55.440 Imagine if every single child in this church had somebody praying for them by name. 00:31:56.880 --> 00:31:58.319 What could God do? 00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:12.880 Imagine if the next generation could say, you know what, I saw a genuine faith in my mom or in my mentor or my small group leader, and now I have it too, because what I've seen. 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:15.440 It starts so small. 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:25.119 I was in a conversation this week with some guys in one of them said that there's a he has a friend that will just text him randomly and say, Hey, praying for you. 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:32.400 And he said, Whenever I get that text, thinking about you praying for you, he's like, it's it's just like my day stops. 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:46.000 And I think about this friend of mine and my relationship with the Lord, and I just a moment that I receive that and changes my whole perspective. 00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:59.440 I I'm not saying you gotta be a biblical scholar, but what I'm not saying is that like you're just gonna smile at somebody at the groceries, grocery store, and then say, like, well, I told him about Jesus because I smiled at him one time or gave him a bottle of water. 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:20.000 Talking about you actually just stepping into a a spiritual motherhood and fatherhood to just start with prayer, start with praying, and we have no idea what God can do with it and through it. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:22.079 I love the summertime. 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:28.240 I love the summertime in church because the real ones come to church in the summertime. 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:42.720 And I think about this fall, and I don't know what's gonna happen, and I don't have a crystal ball, but but I think about how many more people in our city are gonna encounter Jesus, are gonna come into our faith family. 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:55.200 And we need for us to have more parents in the car to love, to share, to pray, to teach. 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:59.200 What's God gonna do in you? 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:02.960 What are you gonna give him as you grow? 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:07.680 Now you may be in the room and you're you're saying, Force, I don't know what in the world you're talking about. 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:14.559 I'm just I'm here for the first time, or I'm here, I'm just trying to figure all this Jesus stuff out, and I'm just I don't even know, I've got all these questions. 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:26.239 Can I tell you that Jesus loved you so much that he died for you on the cross 2,000 years ago so that you can be in right relationship with him and so you can journey with him now and into eternity. 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:29.280 And today is the day of your salvation. 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:52.559 If you will ask for his forgiveness that he gave to you on the cross, if you'll receive it, if you'll believe it in your heart, if you will confess your sin and acknowledge the fact that you have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and as you commit your life to him, he will carry you through till the very end. 00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:54.639 And today can be the day of your salvation. 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.639 Can I pray for all of you? 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.599 Would you bow your heads? 00:34:57.679 --> 00:35:09.519 Father, I pray over every home right now that's represented, every mother and father, and grandparent, and spiritual mother and father. 00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:14.480 Lord, we we know that it's a joy. 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:22.320 But God, we also know, Lord, that our family dynamics and life is also filled with pain. 00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:34.880 So right now, Father, I want to pray specifically for those in the room who is whose heart is filled with pain and disappointment when it comes to their family, their earthly family. 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:44.559 God, I pray right now that you would bring peace overflowing to them. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:59.519 That God, they are grafted into your holy family, spiritual family, and that God, you are writing a new and beautiful story through them. 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:04.480 Father, I pray right now for strained relationships. 00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:15.360 That God, by the by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you would help our people to be a witness. 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:21.440 Even in the most chaotic scenarios. 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:35.519 And Father, right now, I want to pray over anybody in this room who's not received you as Savior, who's not crossed over from death to life, who've not given you their life, their heart, that today would be the day of their salvation. 00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:42.159 That Jesus, they would right now be ready to step across the line to receive you. 00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:48.480 And if that's you, I want you to pray in your heart and mind, Jesus, save me. 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:54.000 I believe that you are the Son of God. 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:56.639 That you died on the cross for my sins. 00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:58.639 And you walked out of the grave. 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:05.840 Forgive me, cleanse me, wash me so that I can be in heaven with you one day. 00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:11.039 I give you my life as you gave yours for mine. 00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:13.920 I commit my life to you. 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:17.199 Thank you for saving me. 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.400 Nobody looking around today. 00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:31.360 If you prayed to receive Christ as your Savior, to be forgiven and free, I want at the count of three for you to raise your hand so I can acknowledge you, so I can pray for you as a sign before heaven. 00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:33.360 Ready, one, two, three. 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:33.840 Raise your hand. 00:37:34.000 --> 00:37:34.880 Anybody right here? 00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:35.840 I see you, sister. 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.960 I see you right here in the back. 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:37.920 Keep up, hold them high. 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:38.639 Hold them high. 00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:40.639 I see you back here, see you here. 00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:41.840 Keep holding them up. 00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:47.599 Father, right now, I pray in this room for those that are. 00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:48.880 I see you back here, brother. 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:49.519 I see you. 00:37:49.679 --> 00:38:10.639 Father, for those right now who are moving from death to life, Father, I pray that this moment right now is a day that they will remember receiving your grace, your love, purchased for them on the cross, that they were bought with a price, and that you're sealing them in salvation. 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:18.480 Father, I pray, God, that each hand that was just raised, that it comes from a genuine heart, that they would take the steps of obedience to follow you from this day forward. 00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:21.039 So, Father, I thank you, Lord. 00:38:21.199 --> 00:38:23.119 Salvation has come to the house today. 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:29.599 And God, we're gonna we're gonna respond in the joy that you've given us. 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.719 We love you. 00:38:30.880 --> 00:38:31.760 In Jesus' name. 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:36.559 Everybody said, Church, will you put your hands together and celebrate Christ?