WEBVTT 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:02.319 Well, good morning. 00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:04.559 It's good to see all of you today. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:09.439 Those of you joining in person, those streaming in online, or maybe you're watching later on demand. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:10.560 My name's Tim. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:13.759 I get the privilege of being one of the pastors here and staff member. 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:19.440 Staff members, and uh there are some people here that I don't recognize, so I'm glad that you're here as well. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:26.000 And if I haven't had a chance to meet you, I'll be out in the middle of the West lobby along with Eric and some of the other staff. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:33.280 If you don't mind just coming up and introducing yourself, it just gives me an opportunity to connect with you and thank you for being with us today. 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:39.840 Uh, if you're joining in online, there's people in the chat uh that can answer any questions you have and connect with you as well. 00:00:40.000 --> 00:01:00.799 Uh as today, here we are uh at the end of August, and we're gonna be completing our sermon series that we've been on the last four weeks, uh, unveiling and unpacking what we believe God has laid on our heart is our new strategy, our new discipleship path on how we uh how we together can grow in our faith. 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:05.920 And so uh four weeks ago we looked at what this whole idea of being a disciple even means. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:08.400 Why does a church need a discipleship path? 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:10.560 Uh what does that entail? 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:14.719 And so we've been walking through this strategically over the last few weeks. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:16.239 Uh, this is our heart's desire. 00:01:16.400 --> 00:01:18.400 We want people to come to Shepherd's Gate. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:19.200 Amen. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.719 We want more people to come to Shepherd's Gate, amen. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:28.239 And the people that come to Shepherd's Gate, we want you to be connected to others that call this their church. 00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:32.560 So we want you to find your people, and that's what we looked at three weeks ago. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:37.920 Uh last week, uh, Pastor Eric took us through this whole idea of finding your place. 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:39.120 How do you find your place? 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:48.799 How do you find an opportunity to take it outside of just the Sunday morning experience to be able to plug into Bible studies and get connected to other people? 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:52.560 And so what was interesting is I was uh I was gone last weekend. 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:59.760 I was up in Port Austin for a wedding of one of the kids uh that I had the privilege of having in my youth group here at Shepherd's Gate. 00:01:59.920 --> 00:02:13.840 It was actually kind of cool he got married on Saturday, and then on Sunday I was with a completely different family that actually lives up in Port Austin, another one of my students who's married now and had their first daughter, and so I got to do her baptism on Sunday. 00:02:13.919 --> 00:02:18.159 So it was just a fun weekend, although I dearly miss you guys whenever I'm not here. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:29.199 But last weekend, uh Pastor Eric unveiled uh what he's been working on the last 12 months, which is expanding our opportunities for Bible studies here at Shepherd's Gate. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:31.120 That's why we hired him, that's why we love him. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:33.680 Uh, he's gonna be doing a lot more of that in the future. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:48.080 And what was so cool is as I was watching the service online, that after he got through announcing all of the Bible classes that we're gonna be launching, including bringing back Bible studies on Sunday mornings, which you're excited about, right? 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:54.240 Which means, you know, you're the 11 o'clock crew, it means you gotta come even earlier, go to Bible study, and then go to the service. 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:56.479 Uh, that's exactly how you responded. 00:02:56.639 --> 00:02:57.680 You clapped. 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:02.400 And I said to my wife uh who was watching with me, I said, Lisa, did you hear that? 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:06.800 They clapped after you told them about all of the cool Bible studies we're gonna have. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:10.240 That means they're all gonna sign up for Bible studies. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.439 Because what else would you clap? 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:21.199 Would you just clap and go, Glad we have Bible studies for those other suckers? 00:03:21.520 --> 00:03:27.439 No! You're clapping because you can't wait for September, which I told you in my world is the new year. 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.520 I believe it is the new year for most people. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:37.039 It's it's not January 1st, it's September 1st, and there's so much opportunity now that has been presented to you. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:38.479 And so today's gonna be easy. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:40.800 Honestly, this is what I'm most passionate about. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:46.080 Uh, it's what I feel is my life calling, is to help people figure out their purpose. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:53.599 And when I say find your purpose, it's find your purpose and who God has created you to be and destined you to be. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:04:00.560 Because there's a constant war for your attention and for your soul and for your time. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:32.079 And when you figure this whole discipleship thing out, when you really figure out why God has you on this planet, it unleashes and it unveils and it reveals to you and to me a whole different way of living in a world that's constantly drawing us towards selfishness, constantly drawing us toward negativity, constantly being this negative influence in our lives, and we know that that's not what God has for us. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:32.800 Amen? 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:36.000 So here's where it is, and we've done this with every one of these sermon series. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:43.439 We've gone back to the basics, gone back to foundational scriptures that we believe God is still speaking to us today. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:45.439 And so I'm gonna start with this scripture. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:48.639 This is the scripture of Jesus talking to his disciples. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:50.639 He's already risen from the dead. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:57.120 Uh, he's revealed himself to them, he's given them some final instructions, and these are the last things on his lips. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:00.560 These are his final instructions before he ascends into heaven. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:10.240 He says this to the disciples you are gonna receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:23.920 I'm going up to heaven, I'm gonna sit at the right hand of God the Father, and the Holy Spirit is going to come upon you, and you are gonna receive this ability now to go out and to be my witnesses. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:27.199 This is his plan for saving the world. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:33.439 This is his plan for uh for letting people know the hope they can have in Jesus. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:39.279 And by the way, this is gonna start in your local community where you're at right now in Jerusalem. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:43.519 And then it's gonna extend to the surrounding communities of Judea and Samaria. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:56.879 And oh, by the way, some of you are gonna be tapped on the shoulder and you're gonna be sent to other countries and other regions of the world so that you could proclaim that Christ has in fact risen from the dead. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:01.040 What an awesome mandate that we have from our God. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:05.360 What an awesome responsibility that He actually trusts us. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:09.360 What was he thinking? 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:18.160 Wait, I thought that's why he created Facebook. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:25.040 Don't I just get to post a Bible passage and a prayer? 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:27.199 That's my evangelism? 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.959 Oh, maybe that's why he created TikTok. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:32.959 Oh, that's right. 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:34.319 God didn't create TikTok. 00:06:34.480 --> 00:06:35.759 The Chinese did. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:56.560 No, God actually wants us to go out and to give up our most valuable resource, which is our time, and be eyeball to eyeball, shoulder to shoulder, and to boldly proclaim the hope that we have and the hope that they can have in Jesus. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:06:59.920 Now stay with me on this, okay? 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:02.079 Our mission here at Shepherd's Gate. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:03.680 How many of you know our mission statement? 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:08.480 If you don't and you call Shepherd's Gate your home, you have two more days until September 1st. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.399 You have got to have this thing memorized. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.639 Tattoo it on your arm for all I care, okay? 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:14.399 What is the mission of Shepherd's Gate? 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:14.879 Who knows it? 00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:15.759 Say it out loud. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:20.720 And look how many of you know that? 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:26.160 That our church exists to impact the world with the love of Jesus. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:28.319 This has to be part of our discipleship plan. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:35.360 We have to know why Shepherd's Gate exists if we ever want to go and be a light to our community. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:39.040 So let's just do an assessment on 2026. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:40.560 How does that sound? 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:50.879 As we close out August and we move into what I would say is the new year, how have you been impacted by the world around you in the last eight months? 00:07:54.319 --> 00:08:03.839 Anybody willing to admit that maybe they're allowing too much fear or anxiety or depression? 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:24.560 You spend too much time watching the news, you spend too much time scrolling on social media, which I just learned a new term this last week that they talk about for teenagers, and I'm like, I just don't think it's teenagers, I actually think it's adults as well. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:31.920 And what they say is teenagers that don't get out of their bed and they scroll endlessly on social media. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.440 Does anybody know what the term is? 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:34.480 Brain rot. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.919 Brain rot or bed rot? 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:47.200 And I was thinking, we actually need to move that further along and talk about people that have couch rot. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:50.159 Or lazy boy rot. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:53.200 That's a crazy term. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:54.159 Brain rot. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:56.399 You're frying your brain, bed rot. 00:08:56.480 --> 00:09:06.480 You're not even getting out of bed, you're not even experiencing the world that God has created us to live and to function in in the joys of creation. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:09.679 What about politics? 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:13.840 You letting that impact you the last eight months? 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:17.679 Wars and rumors of wars. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:27.759 Spending more time having conversations about those things than the things of God and the movement of God and the advancement of the kingdom of God. 00:09:29.759 --> 00:09:42.080 I feel like that's part of our role at the church is to realign your focus, to remind you of what your destiny and your purpose is here on earth, because Jesus already told us it's not gonna get better, it's gonna get worse. 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:52.960 And there is gonna be wars and rumors of wars, and there's gonna be earthquakes, and there's gonna be people that hate you, and there's gonna be people that don't want to hear about your Jesus. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:55.840 But don't give up. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:10:01.200 You take heart because Jesus has overcome the world. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.679 Now, how about this? 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:09.279 How has Shepherd's Gate impacted your life in the last eight months? 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:13.679 Has it been positive? 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:16.879 I hope so. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:18.960 Otherwise, I don't know why you're here. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:23.360 Did anybody come to church today and say, I hope I get beat up? 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:34.559 Anybody come and like, man, I just want a really good like message where I feel like crap when the service is over. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:39.440 If that's you, you can talk to Pastor Eric after the service, okay? 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:41.279 No, you don't come to church. 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.039 You come to church to be uplifted. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:49.360 We come to church to receive God's good gifts and blessings, which he's already given us in holy communion. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:57.679 And as we open his word, as he draws us closer to him and reminds us how precious and valuable we are, in fact, to him. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:06.240 How much we're loved by him, how he never, ever, ever stops pursuing and working his perfect will in our lives. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:11.840 So now that we're starting this new year, can I ask you this? 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:19.360 What do you want to see happen in the four remaining months of 2026? 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:24.000 And I'm asking this because I don't think a lot of people think about this. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:28.399 I think our schedules get so crazy. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:45.360 And all of the things that are about to happen, and many of us we like the fall, especially if you have kids, because there's this routine and you know, there's schedules and there's schools, and you know, at my house, I'm the one that kind of manages putting most of the stuff on our Google calendars. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:48.240 Anybody else you use a you use an online calendar? 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:59.200 And because I'm so ADD and OCD and everything in between, I love to have everything on the calendar before the fall starts. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:15.919 All the kids' days off of school, half days, anything that they have related to their jobs, their work, their schooling activities, all of those things, and then we can kind of plan out and look at what this is going to entail. 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:20.240 But one of the things that I find fascinating is many of you operate the same way. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:23.120 This is the only way that you kind of communicate with your spouse. 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:26.320 Like many of us, we go to bed at night and saying, okay, let's pull up the calendar. 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:27.519 What do we have the next day? 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:28.799 And what do we have this weekend? 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:32.399 You know, who's picking up this person and how are we doing this or that? 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:38.320 And I would say this: what does the calendar look like when it comes to spiritual matters? 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:47.360 If you're 11 o'clock and you know that you're gonna worship every Sunday at 11 a.m., why not put that on your Google Family calendar? 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:50.320 Why not make sure that's the priority? 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:58.879 And as you look at all of these Bible classes and all of these opportunities to get plugged in around here, have you had that discussion? 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:07.679 Have you figured out where you're going to further investigate and further grow in your faith and get it on that calendar and commit to being part of it? 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:14.960 Or maybe you're gonna join, you're gonna sign up and join one of the small groups that Eric's is creating, whether it's in somebody's house or it's here at the church. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:20.240 And so you're gonna have to create margin and space for those things to actually take place. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:34.559 Maybe a better way to ask it is this if you could determine where your relationship is with God on December 31st, what would you want it to look like that would make it different than it is today? 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:36.399 What are the steps? 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:39.120 What are the things that maybe you would need to do? 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:47.519 Are there some scheduling things that you need to change in the morning and getting up early and reading your Bible and having that cup of coffee? 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:59.600 Or maybe it's setting an alarm on your phone because you're like a midday person, and so part of your lunch break is just to open the word and to read God's words for you for that day. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:11.679 Or maybe it's being intentional about reclaiming that family table and mealtime and making sure you're intentional about having spiritual conversations in your home. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.639 Again, none of this is a got to, this is a get-to. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:19.919 We get to do these things as we walk with the Lord in our relationship with him. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:28.720 See, our vision here at Shepherd's Gate is that we're going to value everyone we meet, influence everywhere we go, and live generously with everything that we have. 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:33.360 And if you're new to Shepherd's Gate, you're probably wondering why are these words in brackets? 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:41.919 And the reason they're in brackets is because when we say everyone, we mean everyone who calls Shepherd's Gate home, we expect them to be nice to other people. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.759 Isn't that crazy? 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:55.679 And yet sometimes some of the people that are the meanest to us are the ones that say that they're in the same church family. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:59.600 That doesn't make any sense. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.600 God help us. 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:20.559 But not only from an individual standpoint, how about collectively as a church that everyone that walks through our doors, they're like, man, there's this church on 23 mile. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:23.759 They actually want more people to become part of their community. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:30.399 You can just sense it, you can feel it, you can hear it when you walk through the doors of their church. 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:33.279 And oh, by the way, they're involved in their community. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.840 They don't just come to church, sit, listen, and leave. 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:38.559 They actually want people to go out and serve. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:51.519 And they'll even find people that are willing and send them on mission teams and mission projects all over the world because they actually believe what Jesus said in Acts 1.8. 00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:56.159 When he said it to the disciples, he's also continuing to say it to us today. 00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:11.120 And oh, by the way, when they say live generously, they actually mean they want people to give up their most precious resource, which is their time before they ever open their checkbook to go and to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:11.840 You guys know this. 00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:23.360 This is why we have so many local partners, and we have our immersion weekend that we had back in June, where our church was deployed all over Metro Detroit, and projects continuing to happen week in and week out. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:28.720 And so there's micro-level projects that happen, and then there's church-wide initiatives that we do. 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:31.279 But there's a pace to these things. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.360 We don't want to overwhelm our church. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:41.039 We don't want to get so far out there that we're constantly doing mission work, but yet we're not filling our own lives up with God's word. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:56.559 And I told you this week one, this is why Eric is a great compliment to me here, because he's so so focused on the discipleship with the kids, students, and adults and all the people that work in that area, because I'm always going to push you to get outside the walls of the church. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:17:02.559 I'm always going to push you and try to push you outside of your comfort zone. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:05.519 But I recognize that you need both and a church. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:08.160 There's a healthy balance in having both. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:15.599 Isn't it cool that we do have people that have answered the call and they're willing to go to the far reaches of the world? 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:26.240 Places that we've had partnerships with in the past, new places that we are exploring, some of these places where individuals serve on long-term basis. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:33.039 Some of these places that we believe God may be opening the door for future partnerships. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:39.039 And if you didn't hear, if you didn't know, I spent part of the summer in Ethiopia. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.200 And I didn't go on a mission trip. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:43.279 I didn't go build anything or paint anything. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:45.519 I didn't kick a soccer ball or run a VBS. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:52.480 I went on a vision trip where I got to see an organization firsthand that's doing incredible ministry. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:18:12.480 33 different cities and towns that they're partnered with, and I got to go to eight of the 33 and see firsthand the way that they are bringing the gospel to people, which this is so hard to believe in 2026 that there are still people living in extreme poverty. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:14.000 Isn't that sad? 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:16.799 It's insane. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:29.759 Rolling up to a village where you still have kids that are covered in dirt from that, from their head to their toe, and they're malnourished, and there's no education and there's no infrastructure or system. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:32.960 And you go, how in the world does this still happen? 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:35.279 How is this still going on? 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:49.200 And is there anything that maybe we could do to come alongside churches in these communities that are doing exactly what we're doing, trying to figure out how to go and partner with the people in their community? 00:18:49.359 --> 00:19:03.599 And the way they do that is by providing resources to them, first physical resources with nutrients and simple things like clothes and helping them fix up their homes, and then they begin to educate. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:09.519 And slowly but surely it opens the door for them to be able to share the gospel. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:17.599 God, what is it that you would do through us where we could have a worldwide kingdom impact? 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:20.880 And we're gonna be talking more about that in the future. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:25.680 I want to walk through with you today Acts chapter 13. 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:33.119 Because we know that Jesus gave this mandate to the disciples. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:40.400 And I want you to see how it actually lived out past even that group of disciples. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:43.279 Acts chapter 13 is one of my favorite chapters. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.599 It talks about a church in Antioch. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:58.000 So there's an established church now, and look, they have prophets and teachers, they have church workers, they have people that are dedicated to helping develop people to become more fully devoted followers of Jesus. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.720 And what's so cool is look at all the names that are listed here. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:07.359 A guy named Barnabas and Simeon called Niger and Lucius of Cyrene and Manion and Saul. 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.960 And what does it say they're doing? 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:11.599 They are worshiping. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:15.519 Just like what we do when we come together. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:22.720 And I'm so thankful for our dear brother Jeff, who's now been here two months, two months with us. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:30.240 So crazy is a group of us had the opportunity to help him finally move into their house. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:35.440 He and his wife and four kids have been living with another family from Shepherd's Gate. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:40.480 They paid a huge sacrifice to move here from Omaha. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.839 And yesterday, this is his wife over here, Joe. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:47.599 Aren't you glad all of your possessions are now in your house? 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:50.799 Now you have to unbox everything. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:56.799 I believe that God is just getting started in what he's gonna do in and through Jeff, just so you know. 00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:06.319 You are gonna see and you are gonna experience the spiritual temperature in this place increase as he gets fully into his position. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:07.200 Amen. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:13.599 And you're gonna want other people to be part of the worship expressions and services that we have here at Shepherd's Gate. 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.319 Amen? 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.319 It's gonna be awesome. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:16.960 I can't wait. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:17.759 Look what they're doing. 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:19.200 They're worshiping, they're fasting. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:26.079 The Holy Spirit's the one that says, hey, tap those people on the shoulder, Barnabas and Saul, and guess what? 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:30.240 You're gonna place your hands on them and you are gonna send them out. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:33.519 So they go out with the Holy Spirit. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:37.359 And it says they sailed to Cyprus. 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:41.680 Wouldn't that be cool to get on a boat and go do mission work for Jesus? 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:46.160 Do you know Canadians need Jesus? 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:51.119 We have a lot of boat owners in this church. 00:21:51.519 --> 00:21:55.599 I was thinking we should get a boat posse together and just send them to Canada. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:58.960 I don't know if you know, Canadians are not very happy with us right now. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.680 I don't know why. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.519 Like we did anything. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:06.559 They really, I feel like God might be opening the door because they're so mad that we can just go and hug them. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.720 Say, whatever. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.400 Jesus loves you. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.880 Come on, folks. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.720 Now we get on planes. 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:24.000 We actually have a member of our church that serves on a ship for months and months, sometimes a year at a time. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:29.920 Her name's Angela Rosek, and she serves on a mercy ship off the coast of Africa. 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:32.880 It says they proclaimed the word of God. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:35.200 They opened their mouths. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:37.279 They had conversations. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:40.000 They were eyeball to eyeball with people. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:48.000 Paul and his companions also got in a boat, went to some places. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:51.359 John actually returned back to Jerusalem. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:54.000 All this movement that's going on. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:58.799 And God's opening the doors, even to go into their religious institutions. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.640 And what do they do? 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:04.000 They hear the reading from the law and prophets. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:05.359 What are the law and prophets? 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.480 Who knows? 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.079 It's the Old Testament. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:12.720 And I know some of you are super excited. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:17.680 You cannot wait for us to get back into the book of Exodus. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:22.480 I mean, even my own kids were like, Dad, what are you preaching on today? 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:25.519 Dude, are you ever going to get back to the book of Exodus? 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:27.119 Yes, September. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:29.359 We are turning that corner and we're going to get back into it. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:31.039 We're going to read the law and the prophets. 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:42.400 We're going to dig deep into God's scripture and we are going to watch it come alive in our lives because it's breathing and living and active and has the power to change and transform us from the inside out. 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:50.000 They're hearing the Old Testament read, and they're saying, if you have any words of encouragement, go ahead, say it to the people. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:57.599 They had favor with the people, they had relationship with the people so much that they gave them the floor in their own religious building. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:59.119 How cool is that? 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:02.720 God moving mightily. 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:09.599 In fact, the next week, the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:12.960 The name of Jesus being spread. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:21.519 More and more people intrigued and wanting to know who this Jesus is and did He really rise from the dead. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:28.079 Can you imagine with me, folks, if all of Shelby Township showed up next week to Shepherd's Gate? 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.799 And they took your parking spot. 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:38.559 And they sat in your seat and they drank your coffee. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:40.559 How would you respond? 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.000 Praise God. 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:45.519 You know there's like 80,000 people in Shelby Township alone? 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:48.400 Imagine what God can do. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:57.759 Do you realize the only way that anyone's ever going to step foot into this church is because you invite them. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:01.279 It's still the number one evangelism tool. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:07.039 You can read any consultant, any statistic in any denomination, any church body. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:15.359 The number one way to see people grow and come to faith in Jesus is by a personal invitation. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:18.000 You and me. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:23.839 Being willing to be Christ's ambassadors to a lost world. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:30.079 This is what's so cool is that this momentum started spreading throughout the whole region. 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:41.039 And if you've never been part of something like this, then you don't realize what's coming next because the scripture tells us this, and we see it over and over and over again. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:48.799 It said these people that were willing to step out in faith, they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:52.400 It doesn't say they were fatigued. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:54.319 It doesn't say they were tired. 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:57.839 It doesn't say they checked the box and now they're good for the rest of the year. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:02.160 They figured out the secret to living with purpose. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:05.680 That it's much greater than we even realize. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:11.119 And there's a joy that comes from the Lord that the world does not understand. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:26.079 There is a joy that comes when we step out in faith, we give up our time, we have these conversations, we willingly serve the marginalized people in our community, or we serve the people that maybe aren't even nice to us. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:33.920 And yet God, the Holy Spirit, has this ability to put something in our hearts that's so hard to contain. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:37.839 That's why when people go on mission trips, they come back and they're all fired up. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.519 Why are they fired up? 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:46.960 Because they had nothing else to distract them for an entire week. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:49.519 I've seen it over and over again. 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.119 It is no different. 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:55.200 You can be in Ethiopia, you can be here, there, anywhere else. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:27:05.359 It's literally living for the fact that every day you are living to serve somebody else and love somebody else and to share Jesus with somebody else. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:10.480 But how do we how do we integrate this into the reality that we find ourselves in? 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:13.519 We have schools, we have jobs, we have responsibilities. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:21.920 How do we create this healthy rhythm of each and every day being the mouthpiece of sharing the gospel? 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:25.119 Here's what I'd say. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.799 You want to find your purpose? 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:30.000 Number one thing you have to do is get your attention off yourself. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.880 No amens on that one. 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.359 Okay. 00:27:38.319 --> 00:27:44.880 Number one way to find your purpose on this planet through Christ is to get your attention off of yourself. 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:48.079 Isn't that so hard to do? 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.519 It's so hard to do. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:59.519 And yet that's exactly what Christ called us to do, and that's what he modeled for us to do with the way that he lived his life. 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:04.720 I do think there are certain seasons that you actually are allowed to be selfish. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:12.160 If you are in a crisis and you are hurting, you need to get help and you need to get healing. 00:28:12.559 --> 00:28:20.559 Whether you've gone through a painful situation, you are you are you are caught up in an addiction, something is collapsing around you. 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:23.359 Here's the thing: you can't go through life alone. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:29.680 You've got to let fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord surround you and encourage you and help you during those times. 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:34.880 I am so thankful that we have one of the best care programs here at Shepherd's Gate. 00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:38.160 Classes that again are gonna be busting at the seams. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:49.279 People going through crisis, whether it's a divorce or they've lost a loved one, or they just need somebody else to just sit and to empathize with them and to weep with them and to and to pray with them. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:53.839 All of the people that serve so faithfully in care, week in and week out. 00:28:54.400 --> 00:29:00.319 And you know statistically that still 80% of the people that are in our care program don't even go to our church. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:02.000 They're from the community. 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:17.200 And I'm so thankful to be part of a church as the classes continue to expand and multiply, as they're specializing in even more things, as they hear and they research the felt needs of what people are struggling with in our own community. 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:21.119 And if that's you, you have every right to get the help that you need. 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:25.759 Get that counselor, talk to one of us, let us come alongside you. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:27.599 Don't do this alone. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:33.119 You know, another time I tell people I think they're allowed to be selfish. 00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:46.720 And if you're in here today, college students, the demand on you and your studies and figuring this life out in such a small window of time is insane. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:50.000 It's crazy the pressure that's on you now. 00:29:50.480 --> 00:30:00.640 And I believe for that season of your life, you are allowed to focus on your studies because you are preparing yourself for what it is that God is going to do with you in the future. 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:04.000 I'll give you another one. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:06.960 Anybody get engaged this weekend? 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:09.200 No? 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.480 No rings. 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:18.720 I think premarriage couples should be focused on themselves. 00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:25.680 There's so much pressure on them now from parents and in-laws and outlaws and aunts and uncles. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.839 Good Lord. 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.319 And I say, you know what's okay. 00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:33.359 The scriptures say the two become one flesh. 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:35.599 The circle's drawn around the two of you. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:38.640 Everybody else now is outside of that circle. 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:50.240 And it is important that you develop that relationship, that you don't get so hyper-focused on your wedding day that you forget the most important part of this is your future together as husband and wife. 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:58.480 In fact, your focus should be on your future and your marriage even more than your wedding. 00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.440 Amen? 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:13.039 Because God has something greater for the two of them in bringing them together that He's gonna do more for His glory and honor through and in them than they could ever do if they remained single. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:18.559 Once you get your attention off yourself, obviously the next focus is to find somebody else. 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:20.720 You just gotta find somebody else that's hurting. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:22.960 Does anybody know anybody that's hurting? 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:24.799 Go ahead, raise your hand. 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:27.759 Anyone in here, you don't know anybody that's hurting? 00:31:28.799 --> 00:31:31.519 That means you're probably bedrotting, okay? 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:34.960 That means you actually have to get out of the house. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:40.319 Good Lord, there's so much hurt and pain in people's lives. 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.680 Come on. 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:47.359 People use excuses like, well, we're in the post-Christian, the post-modern, the post-this, the post-that. 00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:48.079 Guess what? 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:51.279 Jesus hasn't come back, so there's still work to do. 00:31:52.960 --> 00:31:56.640 And thanks be to God, it's his Holy Spirit that'll work in and through you. 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:58.160 Go back to the beginning verse. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:00.160 He is going to give you the power. 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:02.640 You don't have to muster it up on your own. 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:12.480 You just got to make yourself available as we respond to the incredible mercy and grace that He has given for us and through us and in us. 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:15.839 In fact, this is what it tells you: find the people that are in distress. 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:21.039 Find the people that don't need to hand out, they need to hand up. 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:24.000 Speak. 00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:26.720 Speak truth into them. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:29.519 Speak hope into them. 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:32.400 Speak Jesus into them. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:39.839 When we say find your purpose here at Shepherd's Gate, and you're going to hear this over the next five years, we believe everyone can be involved in local missions. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:42.240 We're not a sit, listen, and leave church. 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.279 Everyone can be part of this. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:48.960 In fact, in the future, we're going to be talking more about this: that everyone can be involved in global missions. 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:53.519 And it doesn't mean you have to leave to be involved in global missions. 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:58.559 And I'm excited to unveil and unpack these things in future sermons. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.680 So here it is, folks. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:02.079 It all comes back to this the SG path. 00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:06.960 We want you to find your people because you are part of God's church. 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:12.559 And you're part of God's church because He's produced faith in your heart and you're part of His family. 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:16.000 We want you to find your place. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:19.279 We want to teach you how to read the Bible. 00:33:19.599 --> 00:33:25.680 We want to show you and model for you and then release you to know how to pray. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:31.200 And pray in your marriage and pray in your household and pray for others. 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:32.160 We're going to do that. 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.359 We're going to help you do that. 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:39.759 We're going to have incredible teachers that are going to be teaching these classes and all the things that are going to be happening this fall. 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:50.640 And finally, as we're fed the word of God, as God builds us up and that fire continues to be ignited in our souls. 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:52.240 Oh man, I can't wait. 00:33:52.400 --> 00:34:01.279 Trust me, I'll be the one with the slingshot, sending you out to go and live that life of purpose that God has called every follower of His into. 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.160 Amen. 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:06.640 So today we're going to end with this prayer. 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:14.639 And this is a prayer that Jesus actually prayed for his disciples before going to the cross. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:21.920 And I want you to think of this prayer as we've gone over everything that we've gone over today, and I want you to personalize it to you. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:25.920 I want you to hear it from Jesus' lips into your life. 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:31.679 And so I don't want you to bow your heads or close your eyes because I want you to see the words as I read these words. 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:35.119 But I want you, if you would, would you just open your hands like this today? 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:40.880 And as you're doing this, you're putting yourself in a physical posture of receiving the words of Jesus. 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:42.960 So hear these words together. 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:47.280 Jesus praying to God, I have given them your word. 00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:50.559