WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.399 Welcome to Gateway Churches Podcast. 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:06.719 Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's message. 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:21.760 Come on, let's let's do even better for Jesus. 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:24.160 Come on, put your hands together for Jesus. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:27.839 He's worthy of all of our praise. 00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:30.000 Oh, you can do better than that. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:36.000 God, we give you glory and honor unto you alone. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:42.479 Well, we love you. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:43.759 You can sit down. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:45.039 So kind. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:51.280 I wanted to let you know that a few people have asked us, are you settled yet? 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:57.359 And our response is, as settled as you can be in nine days, yes, we are. 00:00:58.079 --> 00:01:00.560 We have a home, our kids are in school. 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:04.400 And um you are the most loving people. 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:10.319 You have made it feel very easy, very fast to feel like a family. 00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:18.159 So we feel like home, and I have no clue where anything is, but this does feel like home to us. 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:21.680 So we love you, and we're so excited about all the days to come. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:23.359 So thank you. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.120 Um seven days on the job, everybody. 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:38.480 So far, so good. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.480 Nothing's we good, nothing's falling apart. 00:01:46.239 --> 00:01:50.480 I've I've been on 114 and I'm still a Christian. 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.719 Anyone else feel that with me? 00:01:57.680 --> 00:01:59.840 Uh we got our kids settled in school. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:02.879 Jonas, the youngest, came home the other day on Friday and let me know. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:06.159 He said, Hey dad, I've got a lot of fans at school. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:07.680 I said, Really, bud? 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:08.639 And he goes, Yeah. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:11.360 He goes, everybody calls me cute and adorable. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:15.120 So, well, it's true. 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.479 Um I think at least once a day I've missed the Ira E. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:19.520 Woods exit. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:21.599 Is anybody else? 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:29.919 Because there's names and letters for roads and words, and they're the same road. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:32.319 Can we choose one? 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:35.520 We just choose a name and leave it at that. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:42.879 And uh, it's it's been it's been really we take Owen to college on Wednesday, everybody, so pray for Tammy. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:44.080 Yeah. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:51.759 We just thought we would pick a 14-day window and do every major life change that you can think of. 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:53.520 Just rip the band-aid off. 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:56.000 Why not just go with it all at one time, right? 00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:00.080 No, we we were really, really humbled and honored that that God would have us here. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:05.680 If you were to ask us a year ago where we would be on this day, I would never have said, right here. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:10.479 But man plans his steps, but God orders them. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:14.000 And we can have an idea, but God has his own idea. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:20.080 And when you live submitted and surrendered, I love the song, My Whole Life, for your glory. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:28.479 When you live that way, then you say yes to Jesus and you don't write the parameters of it, you say yes, and you let him write the parameters of it. 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:33.280 And uh, I want to take just a moment before we um open God's word for just a few moments. 00:03:33.360 --> 00:03:34.960 You won't be here all day, I promise. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:39.840 You're like, uh we need to beat the Methodist to the buffet. 00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:50.719 I just want to say a big thank you to our elders who have carried so much weight in their spouses during this season. 00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:52.560 Can you thank God for them? 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:59.439 What a gift they are. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:00.240 Yeah. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:10.319 And and I know there's already been applause for it, but how thankful are you for Max Licato and Lisa Harper in this season? 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:20.319 And for Pastor Yokin we thank God for your family. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:53.759 Just step in in that season and shepherd in that way. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:55.199 What a gift. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:05:02.800 You know, many churches call these moments installation services, and I told the team, I was like, can we go with the word commissioning? 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:08.319 Because installation makes it feel like I came for a job and I didn't. 00:05:08.399 --> 00:05:09.680 I came to join a mission. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:20.399 I came to lock arms and join hands with a group of people that are committed to seeing the gospel advance in this community, in the nation, and around the world. 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:30.639 I came to join a mission, and I understand the weight of this moment and the sacredness of this moment. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:33.519 I've thought many, many moments about it. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:39.040 And today we turned the page on a new chapter of Gateway Church. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:46.000 And it's not that we're erasing other chapters because God has been working already at Gateway Church for 25 years. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:50.480 I want you to understand, I don't think that God showed up because the Floyd showed up. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:53.439 God's been at work for a really long time. 00:05:54.079 --> 00:06:00.800 And the story of Gateway Church is your story because great churches are about great people. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:08.319 And it's your story, it's the prayers you've prayed and the miracles you've seen, and some of you have raised your children here. 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:11.839 Some of you I met yesterday have met your spouse here. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:14.639 Yeah, somebody did. 00:06:20.079 --> 00:06:22.959 You've seen God do miracles in your life here. 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:24.800 You've seen God do wonderful things. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:34.639 And so just because we turned the page and we begin a new chapter in the story of this church, I don't want you to think by any means that it means we erase the other chapters. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:37.439 Because they're the story of God's faithfulness. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:42.480 They're the stories of God's goodness and of the hand of God on this church. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:48.240 And I just believe that in the days ahead, we're going to continue to see the faithfulness of God. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:53.680 That he who began the good work in you and in this church will complete the good work. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:07:00.959 That he who started it, you understand God is building his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:03.439 And we believe that wholeheartedly. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:10.399 Now I imagine that maybe you have some questions today, and I think that's fitting. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.199 We don't know each other, we're going to get to know each other. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:17.839 Um, you may have some questions like, how long does this guy preach? 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:20.800 It depends on how fast you listen. 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:26.720 You may be wondering, will I like him? 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:28.720 Will I like the way that he preaches? 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:30.639 Will I like the way that they lead? 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:33.199 And I don't, I can't answer all that. 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:34.000 I hope. 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:35.839 But what you see is what you get. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:37.439 Who we are is who we are. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:41.920 You may be wondering, can I trust a guy that chooses in and out over Whataburger? 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:44.160 I don't know. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:50.079 I may have just split the church. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:52.800 It was nice knowing you. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:54.079 God bless you. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.759 It was a fun run, all seven days. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:00.480 And I have questions about you. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:03.120 My main question is, will you come back next week? 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:04.720 That's the big one. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:06.399 It's good to see all of you. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:08.720 Hope you'll be back next week. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:18.160 But really, what we're asking, and this is not just true in a church and a pastor relationship, it's true in any relationships. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:20.560 We kind of want to know the expectations, right? 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:21.920 What can I expect from them? 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:23.439 What can they expect from me? 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:32.159 And often where hurt or tension or confusion walks in is whenever our expectations and our experience don't line up. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:36.720 It's where there's a gap between what we thought it would be like and what it actually turned out to be like. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:43.200 And so I thought it'd be very fitting on our first Sunday together to just say, here's what you can expect from me. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:50.320 And then, spoiler alert, I'm gonna ask about two things that I want to have committed from you. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.720 So I want us to go to 1 Peter chapter 5. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.120 If you have the scriptures with you, you can turn there. 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:57.840 If not, um, it'll be up on the screen for you. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:18.080 But 1 Peter chapter 5, the Apostle Peter is writing to some believers that are scattered around Asia Minor, and he's speaking to church leaders, so he's really talking to us that are entrusted to lead the church, and he says this to them, and now a word to you who are elders in the church. 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:27.360 I too am elder and a witness to the suffering of Christ, and I too will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world as a fellow elder. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:28.080 I appeal to you. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:46.159 So basically, what Peter is doing is he is addressing with what authority that he is going to be making these requests or even these demands of those who are in a place of leadership, and he says this care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:49.440 Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:54.159 Not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:10:03.279 Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:09.200 So Peter's telling these church leaders, here's how you should be operating. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:14.879 And so if I were to give this message a title, it would be this, Our Commitment to You. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:16.480 It's from this text. 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:25.039 I want to share with you four things that Tammy and I commit to be to you, things we think you should be able to expect from your pastor. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:30.879 And as I preach, I'm just gonna say these phrases, like, if you're with me, say amen, because I just want to know that you're with me. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:33.039 I want to know how fast you're listening. 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:36.240 And you'll hear me say things like this. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:37.919 If you're a note taker, write it down. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:41.039 If you're not, go ahead and write it down, anyways. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:43.519 Because note takers are world changers. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:47.200 So four commitments we want to make to you. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:49.519 Number one is this it's to love you. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:55.039 You should expect your pastors to love you. 00:10:55.919 --> 00:11:05.360 Peter said this in 1 Peter 5, verse 2, the first part of that verse, he said, care for the flock that God entrusted to you. 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:18.480 I think it's important that you hear and understand what Trey was sharing with us is that yes, it went through a process of godly leadership and prayer and fasting, but the end of the day, this wasn't a head hunt. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:27.840 It was seeking out who did God want to entrust and steward this beautiful, beautiful thing called Gateway Church. 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:32.399 And my responsibility is to love you and to love you well. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:47.440 We see this in the heart of the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, whenever he is writing to the church that he helped plant there, and he says, We were not looking for praise from you, nor from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ, we could have asserted our authority. 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:58.159 So he said we could have come in and used our position for leverage, but instead we were like young children among you, just as nursing mothers care for her children, so we cared for you. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:01.759 Listen to the language, because we loved you so much. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:07.919 We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:14.080 And so we're called to love you, and we're gonna do our very best, I promise you, to love you well. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:18.399 We're gonna love you well by our interactions with you. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:22.960 Our plan is to make it to every campus that is a part of Gateway Church. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:29.440 And we're gonna love you as we stand in the foyer and we shake your hand and learn your name, and you'll have to give me grace. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:30.320 I'm awful at names. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:32.080 Tammy is great at names. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.559 And you're like, well, which one are you coming to first? 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:40.240 I hear Jackson Hole is a great place to start. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:44.399 Just want to be a great pastor, you know. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:48.960 We're gonna love you by praying for you. 00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:51.279 And we have been every day. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:54.080 Every morning praying over this church. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.240 The church isn't the buildings, you know that, right? 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:57.919 It's the people. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:00.000 Love you by praying for you. 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:11.279 And let me state the obvious we're two people, and we're limited human beings, and some of you are thinking, yeah, I don't know that I'll ever feel love from you, but I'll do my very best. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:24.480 But one of the ways that I can do it is if I, if you allow me, I'll pour my life into this amazing staff team that we have, and they'll carry our hearts and love on people, and and they'll they'll love you well. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:28.240 I I just I met with our campus pastors this week and have had several meetings. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:33.279 What incredible men and women of God and of character and leadership. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.840 What a gift they are to our house. 00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:41.840 If you'll allow me, I promise you I'll pour my life out. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:49.120 Loving on them, loving on you, loving on our amazing staff team who I got to spend time with this week. 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:56.399 What incredible Jesus loving, committed to the house of God, kind of people we have serving in this house. 00:13:56.559 --> 00:13:58.320 They are a gift to us. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:02.159 And we're gonna commit to love you and to love you well. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:13.039 We're gonna do our very best to pray over you and to care for you and for you to feel the affection that God's already given us for you. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.919 It's a divine thing. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.440 I can't explain it. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:19.919 Number two, we're gonna commit to protect you. 00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:22.480 To protect you. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:26.879 Peter says to the elders, he says that you're to guard them. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:38.320 He says it like this to watch over it willingly, not grudgingly, for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve, that that you watch over the church. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:43.279 It's it's our responsibility, my responsibility to watch over the church. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:46.080 Paul said it this way in Acts 20, verse 28. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:49.840 So guard yourselves and God's people. 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:58.159 Feed and shepherd God's flock, his church, purchase with his own blood, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:07.200 This metaphor of shepherding is all throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament, and it's a major metaphor as it relates to leaders within the church. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:22.720 And uh the ideas in the Old Testament, the the shepherd would actually sleep at the opening of the sheepfold and would actually be the door, would actually be the guard between danger and between the flock that they were entrusted to cover. 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:29.360 And this is our responsibility is to protect the church, to protect the church from unsound doctrine. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:32.960 It's to protect the church from disunity among the body. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:34.559 It's part of our responsibility. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:45.039 I want you to know that I commit to you that if someone is standing on this platform, they will preach, thus saith the Lord, not thus saith them, not thus saith culture. 00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:47.919 Can I get a better amen? 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:52.320 And we're not gonna follow the trends of the day. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:58.879 If God says it, but everybody else is saying something different, let God be truth and everybody else be a liar. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:07.120 If someone is standing in front of your children or your grandchildren, you can be confident that they're gonna be preaching thus saith the Lord. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:07.759 Are you with me? 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:15.279 If they're leading a small group, we're gonna do our very best to vet and make sure they are giving you thus saith the Lord. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:19.840 Let the word of God be our guide, let the word of the living God be our foundation. 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.039 We will protect you. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:24.639 We will not bring people into this platform that are building themselves. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:29.919 They will build up the name of Jesus, his body, the local church. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:37.440 I'll protect you from that. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:41.120 And I'll do it with great honor. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:48.399 And I already feel a little bit of like fight inside over you're my people already. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.840 I don't I hope you'll allow me to be your people, but you're my people. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:58.000 I already feel a little like come at us. 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:04.319 I got a little Peter in me still, you know? 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:06.880 He was saved, but he carried a blade. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.599 Read your Bible, it's in there. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:18.960 Number three, we're committed to grow you. 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:28.319 You know the I tell people the worst thing someone could ever say to me is to not see me in a few years, and when they see me, go, you haven't changed a bit. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:30.640 That'd be a dagger in my heart. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.960 Because it means I haven't grown any. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:35.039 I haven't got better. 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.759 I haven't moved forward. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:41.680 And my commitment to you is to not let you stay where you are. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:48.240 Second Peter chapter 3, verse 18, he says this to the leaders. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:53.279 He says, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.400 But grow. 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:57.359 You're not supposed to be stuck where you are. 00:17:57.680 --> 00:18:00.400 You're not supposed to, it's not just let me get fire insurance. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.599 I want to go to heaven one day. 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:04.240 No, that's the starting block of this thing of faith. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.680 It's not the finish line. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.119 We want to see you grow. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:15.359 Colossians 1, 28 through 29, he says, this it is, he is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that what? 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:20.079 So that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:27.200 Paul said, To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. 00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:34.640 Paul's saying, with everything I've got, I'm working towards this one thing that I would be able to present you fully mature in Christ. 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:41.759 That means my job is to help you grow, to become more like Jesus, to grow closer to Jesus. 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:47.440 That means some Sundays you're gonna want to clap and amen, and some Sundays you're gonna say, oh no. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.799 Ouch. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:52.799 I'm not gonna let you stay in a place of comfort. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:57.440 I wanna see you grow, and I believe growth happens a step at a time. 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:02.000 Maturity doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen over time. 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:10.720 And if you'll lock in and you'll be consistent and you'll take a step after step after step, I promise you you won't recognize yourself in a year. 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:16.160 If you'll just continue stepping closer and closer and closer to Jesus. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.359 Can I tell you something? 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:18.559 This isn't rocket science. 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.319 You, I don't know if anybody told you, you got a C student from East Tennessee. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:25.680 Where the men are men, and so are the women. 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:29.200 I'm kidding, I'm joking. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.480 It's a joke. 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.839 If you're from Tennessee, forgive me. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:35.440 I don't want to offend you. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:43.200 Just take a step closer to Jesus. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:48.559 If you've never accepted Christ, take a step and receive the gift of salvation. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:52.960 If you've received the gift of salvation, take a step and get water baptized. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:57.680 If you've been water baptized, but you don't have an ongoing, take a step and start a quiet time. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:00.640 Learn to read your Bible and pray and worship on your own. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:05.039 If you've never served the needs of others, then take a step and start making a difference. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:12.319 If you've never gotten into community where real transformation happens, then take a step and get into a small group. 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:17.200 It's all about I just continually, and isn't that your story? 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:23.039 That just step after step, opportunity after time, you just kept following the voice of God. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:27.039 And you're gonna hear me say things like this give me a year of your life. 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:29.119 Just give me one year. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:30.400 Go all in. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:33.119 Go all in in every way. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:38.880 And if at the end of the year you're like, I don't know Jesus any better, then you and I will both go find a new church. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.839 I'm kidding. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.119 I'm not leaving. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:45.359 I'll just let you know you did something wrong. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:53.440 But I promise you, if you'll go all in, make church a priority, be in the house of God every Sunday. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:57.359 Get into a group, get on a serve team, go all in. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:00.960 I can't make you grow, but I can create environments. 00:21:01.200 --> 00:21:08.559 And our amazing team can create environments where if you'll take a step, I promise you the Spirit of God will do work in your life. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.920 All right. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:14.799 Number four, final one. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:16.799 We're committed to lead you. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.640 We're committed to lead you. 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:25.039 1 Peter 5 3 says, Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them. 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.000 How? 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.599 By your own good example. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:30.720 Hebrews 13 7 echoes the same sentiment. 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:33.680 It says, Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:40.799 Think of all the good that has come from their lives and follow the example of their faith. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:48.640 And I'll just let you know right now, I'm not perfect. 00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:52.640 But I'm in pursuit of the one that is perfect. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:57.119 And I'll do my very best to be an example worth following. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.039 To be someone that. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:03.920 That you can be so proud to go, that's my pastor. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:10.000 And I can tell you this I'm not perfect, but I start every morning of my life. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:12.799 There's some days I miss, but they're rare. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:16.559 Before I talk to anybody else, I'm talking to Jesus. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:18.079 And I'm opening his word. 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:20.480 I started my morning today like that. 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:28.079 Letting his word permeate my heart, convict my heart, show me where my sin is. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.480 Draw me closer to him. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:34.720 I promise you that my family is my number one priority. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:36.640 The church should be. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:41.279 Now the Bible tells me if I can't steward my own home, I'm not worthy to steward the house of God. 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:58.400 I tell you, I'd do my very best to be an example for this beautiful staff team we have to follow and for you to follow. 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:09.359 But along with being an example worthy of following, we didn't uproot our family and move here to maintain the status quo. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:13.759 We didn't come to maintain, we came to multiply. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:17.200 The Bible says, to whom much is given, much is required. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:21.599 The Bible called the servants that did nothing with their talents, lazy and wicked. 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:25.839 I will not stand before God and be called lazy or wicked. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:28.880 But we came to push back on darkness. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:31.920 We came to advance the kingdom of God. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:40.640 There's some territory gateway church that we need to regain, and there's some new territory that we need to take for the kingdom of God. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:45.119 We didn't come to play it safe. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.559 We didn't come to be risk adverse. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:51.279 We came to take big steps of faith. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:24:00.160 We came to reach the lost and let them know that there is a loving Savior that sent his only son, that God sent his son to die for lost humanity. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:02.559 We came to help people step into calling. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:05.599 We came to raise up the next generation of leaders. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:12.640 We came to let you know that you have a purpose and a calling on your life and God wants to use you to make a difference. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:16.559 We came to shame the devil and put hell on notice. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:20.400 That every tear you cried is not wasted. 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:23.759 That every prayer you prayed is not wasted. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:27.200 That all the fire you walked through is not wasted. 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:32.079 That God is going to turn days of sorrow into days of joy. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:36.640 And the best days of this church are out in front of us. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:39.519 Our history is not the best. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:43.599 Our future is the best for the glory of God. 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:51.680 If you believe it, put your hands together and give Jesus the greatest ovation of praise. 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.839 The best is yet to come. 00:24:56.880 --> 00:25:02.160 That's not hype, that's conviction that God's not done. 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:05.759 If it's not good yet, it's not God yet. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:10.720 So we came to lead. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:13.519 So buckle your seat, Bell. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.759 Let's get ready to ride. 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:19.599 Or I'm in Texas. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.519 Jump on the bull, y'all. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.559 Did you notice I said y'all? 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.480 And not you guys. 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:30.000 I've been working on that. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.960 You can be seated. 00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:40.960 So I have two commitments to ask of you. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:58.960 And if I could be vulnerable enough to ask these, and I really thought through this and I just felt like the Holy Spirit was like, no, just ask. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.480 So number one. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.960 We're new here. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:07.839 So my ask is, will you commit to love us? 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:22.240 And will you commit to come on the journey? 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:26.559 To take a step at a time. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:32.880 Because it's not hype to me. 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:37.759 If I didn't believe that God was up to something great. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:44.160 And that God wasn't orchestrating all this, I wouldn't be here today. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:51.359 But I really believe that God is doing something very special among us. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:54.319 And we haven't seen anything yet. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:57.759 Will you pray with me today? 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:03.680 With every head bowed and every eye closed, you're going to learn this about me. 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:08.400 I don't end the service without giving you the opportunity to respond to Jesus if you don't know him. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:18.079 If you're here today and you have never accepted the grace and the forgiveness of Jesus, then I'm going to give you the opportunity to do. 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:28.559 I'm not asking you today if you would culturally say I'm a Christian or even if your name is on a membership roll somewhere. 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:30.720 I'm asking, do you know Jesus? 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.880 Has your life been transformed? 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:37.920 Is there a before you met Jesus U and an after you Jesus U? 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:41.200 Has your life been transformed by the gospel? 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:44.960 If not, I want to give you the opportunity to receive it. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:47.519 The Bible says that we are all sinners. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:49.920 We have a problem none of us can solve. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.759 We're not mistakers who make mistakes. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:53.200 We are sinners who sin. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:56.240 It's hard rired in our DNA from birth. 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:58.799 And if you don't believe me, you've never had a toddler. 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.799 And that's why Jesus came. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:09.119 He lived the life you and I could never live, a perfect life, and he died the death that all of us deserved. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:15.440 And he offers this free gift of salvation, and the way you receive it is by faith. 00:28:16.240 --> 00:28:22.720 And he says, if you'll confess him as Lord, meaning I'm done calling the shots and running my own life, I surrender to you. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:27.920 And you'll believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, that's the resurrection. 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:30.960 Then on the authority of God's word, you'll be saved. 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.960 Today will be a day of brand new beginning. 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:37.440 Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and said, if any man or woman be in Christ, they're a new creation. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:40.480 All things pass away and everything becomes new. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:47.039 So if you've never taken that step today, if you'd say, Pastor, I know in my heart I'm far from God. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:49.440 And I want to give you the opportunity in just a moment. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.240 We're going to pray together. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:52.880 But before we do, I just want to know who I'm praying with. 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:58.960 So when I count to three, I just want you to shoot your hand up high enough long enough for myself or your campus pastor to see. 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:02.640 No one's going to come to you or pull you out of your seat. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:10.240 It's a moment between you and God, but if you say that's me, then when I count to three, you just shoot your hand up high, and then we're going to pray together on three. 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.519 One, two, three. 00:29:11.599 --> 00:29:13.119 You just shoot it up high. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.400 God bless you. 00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:15.359 God bless you. 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:17.200 I see in the very, very back. 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.599 More importantly, God sees you. 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.279 Beautiful. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.400 You can put it down. 00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:26.880 Church, will you pray this out loud together for the benefit of those who just slip their hand up? 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.400 We don't want anybody praying alone here. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:30.880 Just say, Jesus, I need you. 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:34.559 I ask you to forgive me of all my sin. 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.720 I believe you died for me. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:39.839 I believe God raised you from the dead. 00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:42.880 Today I make you my Lord and Savior. 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:45.839 Thank you for a brand new beginning. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:48.319 In Jesus' name. 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:50.079 Everybody said amen. 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:52.960 Come on, let's celebrate those who made that decision. 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:55.119 Thanks for joining us today. 00:29:55.279 --> 00:30:00.720 If you'd like to connect with us, text Connect to 71010 or visit gatewaypeople.com. 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:02.880 We hope you have a great week.