WEBVTT 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:06.559 Hey, I'm Pastor Steve Hole. 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:11.119 I want to empower you today to walk in your true identity as a worshiper and warrior. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:14.400 Embrace the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit. 00:00:14.640 --> 00:00:17.920 Today, be encouraged with a word from my guest speaker. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.280 Welcome to the Born for War podcast. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:27.679 My name is Al McCosland. 00:00:27.839 --> 00:00:29.039 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:32.960 How many by a show of hands have not heard me preach on a Sunday morning? 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:34.479 So this is going to be fun. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.200 So fasten your seat belts. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:38.880 We're in for a ride. 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:41.280 Today I'm going to be talking about community groups. 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:50.320 I can think of no better segue than to introduce our newest member of our staff, and that's Shanna when you stand up. 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:51.840 This is Shanna Corum. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:01:00.000 For those of you that don't know Shanna, she is a fire plug. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:11.760 And so she is our assistant community group director, which would be under me, but I am so excited about all the giftings that she brings to the table. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:13.599 So let's give her a hand. 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:21.200 Can we just uh open in prayer? 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:22.640 Lord, would you come? 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:29.920 Would you open our hearts, open our minds to receive all that you have for us today? 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.560 We invite you to come, come and have your way amongst us. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:45.359 Lord, I pray that the value of being in a community group would be saturated and permeated in every member today. 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:46.560 In Jesus' name. 00:01:46.879 --> 00:01:47.519 Amen. 00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:56.560 How many of you, show of hands, would say that you know that you know the value of anything is determined by the price you're willing to pay for it. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:01:58.159 Let me say that again. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:04.239 The value really of anything is determined by the price you're willing to pay for it. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:07.280 A Rembrandt will sell for millions of dollars. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:08.000 Why? 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:10.960 Because people value them very highly. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:15.199 It reminds me of a story about Walter and Ethel. 00:02:16.560 --> 00:02:20.319 Walter and Ethel were a couple that every year they went to the state fair. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:21.919 They had a routine. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:31.599 Ethel would get a corn dog, Walter would get a hot dog, they'd share some cotton candy, they'd play a few games or take a few rides. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:42.240 Then Walter would nudge Ethel and he'd say, Ethel, this year I would really, really like to take a helicopter ride over the whole state fairground. 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:45.360 It would be really, really great. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:51.840 And Ethel would say, Oh, Walter, you know that's a lot of money for a couple like us. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:52.960 It's$50. 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:57.120 And after all,$50 is$50. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.960 Walter would hang his head in shame and he'd say, Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're right, dear. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:04.719 $50 is a lot of money. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:06.319 $50 is$50. 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:13.599 This went on year after year, decade after decade, until this year. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:15.360 This year something happened. 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:17.120 Walter turned$87. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.680 So this year they went to the state fair again and they had their routine. 00:03:21.919 --> 00:03:29.439 Ethel would get a corn dog, Walter would get a hot dog, they'd share some cotton candy, do a couple games, take a couple rides. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:39.439 But this year, Walter nudged Ethel and he said, Ethel, this year I'd really, really, really like to take a helicopter ride over the whole state fairgrounds. 00:03:39.520 --> 00:03:43.039 I think it would be really, really, really great. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:46.960 And Ethel said, Walter, Walter, Walter. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:49.599 We talk about this every year. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:52.080 You know it's a lot of money for a couple like us. 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:52.719 It's$50. 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:56.080 And after all,$50 is$50. 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:58.719 But this year, Walter stood up for himself. 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:01.599 He said, Ethel, I'm 87 years old. 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:03.840 There might not be another year. 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.120 And just as soon as he said that, wouldn't you know? 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:11.840 The helicopter pilot happened to be walking by and overheard the conversation. 00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:13.840 So, guys, I'll tell you what. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:18.959 This year, why don't I give you a free ride, helicopter ride over the whole state fairgrounds? 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:20.160 I won't miss a thing. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:24.720 But if I hear a word out of any of you, well, I'm gonna charge you 50 bucks. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:28.240 If I hear even as much as a peep out of you,$50. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:33.920 Walter smiled at Ethel, and Ethel smiled at Walter, and they looked at each other and said, We can do this. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:38.240 And Ethel said, After all, free is free. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:45.439 So the helicopter pilot took him up, and wanting to get his money out of the couple, he did a loop-de-loop. 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:47.199 He did a death spiral. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:50.480 Not even a word out of either one of them. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:54.800 So he tried new death-defying tactics he'd never done before. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:57.600 Not even a peep out of every one of them. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:07.120 So a few minutes later, disappointed, he landed the helicopter and he said to Walter over his shoulder, You know, Walter, I'm pretty impressed. 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:13.519 I thought for sure when I did the loop-de-loop and the death spiral, you guys would be screaming, but not a word out of any of you. 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:17.360 And when I tried those new death-defying tactics, I'd never done them before, Walter. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:21.600 So when I did those, not even so much as a peep out of any of you. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:33.439 Walter said, Well, you know, I sure was tempted to say something about halfway through during the loop-de-loop and the death spiral and when Ethel fell out. 00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:41.920 But one thing Ethel's taught me is$50 is$50. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:50.560 The value of anything is determined by the price you're willing to pay for it. 00:05:51.519 --> 00:06:01.920 I woke up this morning and said to the Holy Spirit, let's see if we can ingrain the value of being in a community group to the congregation this morning. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:11.199 So, you know, community groups are called many things: small groups, life groups, cell groups, D groups, C groups, home groups, house churches. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:15.600 But the common denominators are all small groups and meeting homes. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:19.040 In 1976, Chris Christian wrote a song. 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:21.120 And just think about that name for a minute. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:22.560 Chris Christian. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:26.000 If you want to evangelize your neighborhood, can you think of a better name? 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:27.600 You know, it's like, what's your name? 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:28.639 John the Baptist? 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:29.040 You know? 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:30.399 Chris Christian. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:33.120 So he wrote a song that says, We've got to get back to the Bible. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:39.120 And it goes something like this, and forgive my voice, because I've got a voice that makes old ladies run for blocks. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:43.759 So we've got to get back to the Bible. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:47.279 We've got to get back to the Bible. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:53.199 We've got to get back, or pretty soon we'll be running in the wrong direction. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:56.959 We've got to get back to the Bible. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:58.800 So let's get back to the Bible. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:03.920 If you have your Bible today, I've got a bunch of scriptures we're going to put on the screen. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:05.920 And I'm just going to go over them. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:16.319 I'm going to read them kind of quickly, but anytime anyone's speaking up here, if you have the app, another good reason to get the app, you can look on there in their sermon notes. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:19.600 So you can print those off of your phone and you can write in. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:23.120 But the first one is Acts 2, 46, 47. 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:36.000 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all people. 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:41.600 And the Lord added to the church daily those that were being saved. 00:07:42.240 --> 00:07:43.839 Acts 5 42. 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:51.199 And daily in the temple and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:53.519 How about Acts 12, 12? 00:07:53.839 --> 00:08:02.480 So when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, mother of John, whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered and were praying. 00:08:02.879 --> 00:08:04.959 Acts 20, 20. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:13.279 How I kept nothing back and nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you and taught you publicly from house to house. 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:17.920 Romans 16, 3 through 5. 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:31.600 Greet Priscilla and Aquila and my fellow workers in Christ who risk their own necks for my life, who not only I give thanks, but also the churches of the Gentiles likewise greet the church that is in their house. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.639 1 Corinthians 16 19. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:42.080 The churches of Asia greet you, Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord with the church that is in their house. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:44.639 Colossians 4.15. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:50.480 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea in Nymphus and the church that is in his house. 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:53.919 Philamon or Philemon, you can say it either way. 00:08:54.080 --> 00:08:57.039 By the way, when I first got saved, I knew nothing about God. 00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:00.799 For two years I thought Nebuchadnezzar was Nebuchadnezzar. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:05.679 So I thought Malachi was Malachi, the Italian prophet. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:07.679 So you could say this either. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:22.960 Philemon, Philamon 1, verses 1 through 2, Paul, prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to beloved Athea and Archipas, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:26.720 The common denominator on all these is they met in homes. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:31.039 There's a reason for that, I believe, and I'll mention it in a minute. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:34.480 Another common denominator is they met daily. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.519 So that's what the Bible says about the early church. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:39.440 What does history tell us? 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:44.879 Well, all this time the believers were being persecuted. 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:47.600 There were two mass persecutions. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:50.080 One happened in 249 A.D. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:53.840 with the Emperor Decius, and again in 303 A.D. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:55.919 with the Emperor Diocletian. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.679 And they rounded up people. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:02.159 And the reason they didn't meet in big groups is because it was easier to round up. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:08.320 It's harder to round them up when they're meeting in so many different houses scattered throughout the city. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:10.559 But then something happened. 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:14.879 A few years later, Constantine got saved. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.480 He became a Roman emperor. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:22.399 And in 313, at the Edict of Milan, he made Christianity legal. 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:27.759 And so it was at that time after that that they started building churches. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:36.240 The other thing they did is they put the pastor, the bishop, or the leader up on a pulpit and speaking down at the congregation. 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:38.799 I think those two things are detrimental. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:42.159 The church took a step backwards. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:48.240 It's much easier to minister to people in a small group and when you're speaking with them and not at them. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:53.360 So today let's talk about the six top values for being a community group. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:54.080 Are you ready? 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:55.600 Number one. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:58.240 Community groups provide community. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:59.679 Go figure, right? 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:02.080 Even the word community. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:03.679 Don't you love that? 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.000 Come unity. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:07.279 Community. 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:09.120 Come union. 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:09.919 Communion. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:12.240 Who doesn't like unity and union? 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:16.240 The Bible says where there's unity, he commands a blessing. 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:20.559 And the place of unity is always the place of power. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:21.919 Community. 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:26.240 Community groups provide a sense of belonging. 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.639 I think people are born with three B's. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:31.759 Desire to be, belong, and beget. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.480 Even premature babies want to be. 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:36.559 They struggle for survivor. 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:38.080 People want to belong. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:41.519 They want to be a part of something that's bigger than themselves. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.120 And people want to beget. 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:45.039 They want to create after their own kind. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:46.879 Be, belong, and beget. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:49.919 Community groups give you a sense of belonging. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:56.080 Community groups are a great place to develop long-lasting relationships. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:59.759 It's hard to develop that sometimes at church. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.559 Why? 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:05.440 Because the only time we really have to talk is before church and after church. 00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:07.919 During church, you have the sermon, you have worship. 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:12.399 So there's 10, 15 minutes before, 10, 15 minutes afterwards. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:17.039 But when you go to a community group, you're going to someone's house, you might be there a few hours. 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.600 You really get to know people. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.679 Think about it. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:24.960 We were created for community. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:34.879 Community groups turn a large church into close family-knit units where everyone knows and supports one another, and everyone knows your name. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.639 Remember the show, Cheers, everyone knows your name. 00:12:38.879 --> 00:12:41.120 That's what it's like at a community group. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:50.080 You know, we have like up to 400 guys on Tuesday for our men's breakfast right here in this room, and I'm meeting or greeting each one of them as they're coming in. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:52.480 I try to name off as many names as I can. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:59.600 I've yet to name off all 400, but but I know a ton of them, you know, so everybody likes to be recognized. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:02.799 We were created for community. 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:06.080 Genesis 2.18 says it's not good for man to be alone. 00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:07.519 He created Eve. 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.480 In fact, we were not meant to be in isolation. 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:17.679 One of the greatest things or the worst things the devil does is he isolates us. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:22.080 When we're by ourselves, we just naturally think of worst-case scenarios. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:24.799 We need people, we need community. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:31.679 Typically, the smaller the group, studies have shown the smaller the group, the greater the engagement from people. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:34.559 People talk more when they're in smaller groups. 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:37.919 They're less intimidated than when they're in a big group. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:40.799 Large groups promote passivity. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:43.919 It's easy to hide in a large group. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:52.240 When the group gets bigger, we become more of an audience and less of a family and less of community. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:14:02.639 You know, many people measure the depth of their, or the depth of their wealth by the depth of their relationships, the degree of their wealth by the depth of their relationships. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:07.840 There's no greater place to develop relationships than in community groups. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.679 I said before we can't do this on our own. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:11.120 No man is an island. 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:13.519 No woman is an island. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:18.960 How many of you heard the expression, God wants to take us beyond our wildest dreams? 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.720 Most people. 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:26.080 I think the problem is for most people, we've forgotten how to dream wildly. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:29.600 Tonight, ask God to invade your dreams. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:43.200 Where you're dreaming the kind of dreams that are so big, so vast, so beyond your capabilities that you're bound to fail at unless God comes and intervenes or he sends people to your side. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:54.000 But know this when you dream a dream that God gives you, rest assured it will always come a couple sizes too big for you to grow into. 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:58.080 Because you can't accomplish it on your own if God gives it to you. 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:05.279 When a baby is learning how to crawl, I feel like I'm childlike, I feel like I'm always crawling. 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:12.159 But a baby might see a toy 10 feet away, and it's like, whoo, you know, and it wants to get that toy. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:21.360 It's got to learn to reach and stretch and grow and do things it's never done before, move in ways it's never done before to reach that toy. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:27.360 Community groups help us do that, reach beyond our limitations. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:30.159 We need each other, we need community. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:33.279 Ed Cole, he's a hero of the faith to me. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:35.919 You may or may not be familiar with him. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:39.919 He had a national men's ministry and he had so many great quotes. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:42.799 I got six pages of Ed Cole isms. 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:49.279 One is truth is absolute, but our perception of it is fragmentary. 00:15:49.679 --> 00:15:52.799 Meaning we only see part of the puzzle. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:58.159 That's why we desperately need others in our lives so we can see the big picture. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:00.000 We need that. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:08.480 One of my favorite sayings is just as metal shavings are attracted to a magnet, our vibe will attract our tribe. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:16.399 You can tell if you're talking to another believer within a matter of 30 seconds to a minute if they're swimming in the same spiritual stream as you. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.799 I always say it takes a long time to make an old friend. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.440 But you know, old friends had to start somewhere, right? 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:27.279 When you get to a community group, let that be your somewhere. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:31.519 A year later, they might be some of the best friends you've ever had. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:36.799 Community groups just naturally speed up that process. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:40.960 Number two, community groups provide equipping. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:46.159 They're a powerful tool to provide equipping and training to develop spiritual growth. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:17:00.799 Smaller groups provide an environment where people can openly discuss their faith, ask questions, explore biblical teachings in a much greater depth, and they can do it without the intimidation of being in a large crowd. 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:06.319 2 Peter says, God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:10.240 If God has given us all things, what's he given us? 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:19.839 Well, he's endowed each of you with characteristics and traits and gifts and talents and assets that set you apart from everyone else on earth. 00:17:20.160 --> 00:17:24.160 Steve, there's never been anyone else on earth like you. 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:27.599 There'll never be a Steve like you in the future. 00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:34.559 And when God created you, Steve, he put so much of himself in you that he said, I don't need another Steve. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.000 One is enough. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:39.440 So, I mean, well, one is enough. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:42.319 He's pretty, pretty amazing guys. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:46.079 But they provide equipping. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:59.680 People are less intimidated to pray for someone in a smaller setting, or have a word of knowledge, or a word of wisdom, or prophesy for someone, or exercise their spiritual gifts and see them developed. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:01.680 What if they screw up? 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:06.880 Well, you're surrounded by family and friends that are gonna nurse you back to health. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:17.839 1 Corinthians 14, 26 says, whenever you come together, each of you have a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:21.039 Let all be things, all things be done for edification. 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:28.640 It's hard to do in a big setting for each of you to have one of those, but in a smaller setting, you can do that. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:34.799 Smaller settings allows everyone to participate and grow. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:39.599 Another thing smaller settings offer is confidentiality. 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:43.119 And when that happens, people tend to open up. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:46.880 So, number three, community groups provide encouragement. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:58.880 If you've been around me for any length of time, you've heard me say this saying, and that is so many people have gone so much farther than they ever thought they could because someone else thought they could. 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:05.119 When we believe in people, they end up amazing themselves and us two along the way. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:09.440 God has never looked in your mirror and wished he'd seen someone else. 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:15.119 Even on your darkest days when you've really screwed up, he looks at you and he's giddy. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:18.319 He's happy to see you, he loves you. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:22.720 You know, we're all our own worst enemies at times, would you agree? 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:28.240 We find ourselves in the holes that we've dug ourselves into, and then what do we do? 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:31.200 We kick ourselves for being in the hole. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:35.759 Jesus comes along, sees the hole I've dug myself into, and it's deep. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:39.359 And he looks at the hole and he smiles, he looks at me and he smiles. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:41.759 And he comes and he puts his arm around me. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:47.200 Instead of busting on me for the hole I've dug myself into, he does just the opposite. 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:51.279 He says, Ow, what a great foundation you've dug. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:20:00.480 Because instead of seeing me in the misery of my failure, he chooses to see me in the fulfillment of his purposes for my life. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:09.359 So probably about 25 years ago, I said, God, open my eyes so I can see the prisms of your presence, so I can see what you see. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:13.920 Open my ears to hear the frequencies of heaven so I can hear what you hear. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:17.279 Open my heart and my hands to touch and love people like you do. 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:21.039 So I started seeing people, not for who they were or who they are. 00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:26.559 I started seeing them for these gifts that are within them and for who they can become. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.640 400 people in the men's breakfast. 00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:32.319 I've probably taken, I would say 200 out for breakfast. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:45.200 My heart is to see the gifts, especially at men, draw those gifts out of them, equip them in their gifting, and release them to be everything they're called to be as men and women. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:52.319 You know, there's nothing in a caterpillar that tells it it's gonna be a butterfly. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:57.440 Likewise, in each of you lies the spectacular. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:21:01.680 We draw that out of people by encouraging them. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:05.119 God's not a mass producer, he's a handcrafter. 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:12.240 He grows each of us a little bit differently, and we're all unfinished versions of what we can become. 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:15.440 So we're all able to change. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:21.200 There's no greater place to encourage someone than in a community group, even smiling at people. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:24.880 I say smiling is contagious, try it and see. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:27.839 Turn to your neighbor and smile at them, see if they smile back. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:31.839 Smiling is contagious. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:39.279 I say smiling has the same effect, people, on people that sunlight has on an unbudded rose. 00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:43.759 It may allow a struggling life to blossom once again. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:47.200 I tell this story about smiling at people. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:52.960 Years ago, when my two of my kids were still at home, I have four kids, they're all grown. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.960 My grandbabies are growing up. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:59.279 My oldest granddaughter called me up a couple months ago and said, I'm getting married. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:04.079 I Can't think of a way to make my day more special than for you to perform the ceremony. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:04.880 Will you do that? 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:06.160 And I cried. 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:10.720 Then my number two grandchild called me up and said, I'm gonna be a mommy. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:13.680 And I thought, I'm gonna be a great grandpa, you know? 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.599 And uh people said, How does that happen? 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:19.680 I said, Well, when you have kids when you're seven, I guess that that happens. 00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:25.039 I wanted to wait till I was eight, but you know, I mean, I didn't have the willpower to hold off. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:30.240 But so I'm gonna be a great grandpa, and my and my one granddaughter's getting married, my other one. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:33.759 So um, smiling at people. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:45.279 So when my youngest two, Hannah and Sarah, Hannah Eileen means graceful bearer of the light, Sarah Elizabeth means princess set apart for God. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:52.720 When they were teenagers, but not yet driving age, they wanted me to take them to the mall during Christmas time for Christmas shopping. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:55.839 Can I tell you, I hate the mall with a passion. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.279 The big crowd and everything. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:04.720 If I go there, I'm on my own, I make a beeline for the shops I like, see a couple shades of blue, do a little power shopping, get the heck out. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.759 I hate it. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:09.839 But when I'm taking my kids there, I know I'm gonna be there for a few hours. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.680 I'm like a captive audience, right? 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:15.920 But every mall on either end has these comfortable chairs, right? 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.200 You can sit down in. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:20.319 I think they created them and put them there for guys like me. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:23.599 So the one year they said, Dad, you got one job, guard the packages. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.880 I said, I can do that. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:27.440 So these chairs are comfortable. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:32.720 I sat in that chair and I was really relaxed, and next thing you know, I'm snoring. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.880 I was there snoring for a good while. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:36.240 I woke myself up snoring. 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:40.880 I woke up and I stretched, oblivious to the packages that were all around me. 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:44.880 And I went to the other end of the mall and I sat down in that chair and I fell asleep in that one. 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.240 The girls found me and they said, Dad, where are the packages? 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:49.440 I said, Packages? 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:53.599 And we went to the lost and found someone turned them in, thank God. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.640 Knock on what? 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:57.759 They said, So the next year they said, Dad, you got two jobs. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:00.799 Stay awake and guard the packages. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:03.279 So I said, How am I gonna stay awake? 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:07.839 I thought, well, maybe I'll just smile at people and see what kind of effect it has, right? 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:10.480 But I didn't want to give them any old ordinary smile. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:14.400 I wanted to give them a cat that ate the canary kind of grin, you know, a big cheesy grin. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:17.200 So I did that with everybody I was walking by. 00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:19.759 Some people give me the thumbs up, smile back at me. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:23.039 Some people looked at me like this guy is weird, you know. 00:24:23.519 --> 00:24:26.480 I know I never get offended if someone thinks I'm weird. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:32.000 God told me a long time ago, the loudest boos come from the cheapest seats. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:35.519 And so he said, I like you, and that's all that matters. 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:37.599 And so I was smiling at people. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:41.359 This happened Saturday and Sunday after church, it happened also. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:44.160 And this guy comes up to me Sunday, he says, You were here yesterday. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:46.319 I said, That's right, and so were you. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.279 He says, huh? 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:48.799 I said, I remember you. 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:51.680 You had a blue jean jacket on and a baseball cap. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:53.039 He said, That's right. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:57.759 He said, Let me tell you about my last three days. 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:05.599 Three days ago, I came home from work and there was a Dear John letter on the table, and my wife left with my baby, the baby boy. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:08.559 I thought my life had ended. 00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:13.519 Yesterday, before you saw me, I went into work and they fired me. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:24.480 When you saw me, I was walking through the mall to go to the sporting goods store at the other end of the mall to buy some ammo for my gun to end it all. 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:29.359 But then you saw me, and you smiled at me. 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:33.359 And something happened, something changed. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:40.240 And maybe for the first time in years, I felt a little sense of hope. 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:43.200 And I had to come back today to see if you were here. 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:54.400 I had him sit down and told him all about Jesus and how much he loved him and that God had a purpose and a plan for his life, and he ended up accepting the Lord. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.960 Folks, all I did was smile. 00:25:57.440 --> 00:26:01.920 There's no greater place than to build up people and encourage him than in a community group. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:07.119 Number four, community groups are a great vehicle for outreach and evangelism. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:14.240 It's the perfect platform to evangelize your neighborhood by inviting friends and neighbors. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:20.880 It creates this disarming environment where newcomers feel comfortable to explore their faith. 00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:27.119 There's a church in Baltimore called The Rock Church by Bart Pierce was a pastor. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.079 Or it was. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:31.440 I haven't checked in on them in the last good few years. 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:34.640 But um, they had something called Adopt a Block. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:36.960 Once a month they'd take an offering called Adopt a Block. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:47.440 When they had enough money, they'd they'd buy a house, move a Christian family in there from church, give it to them free, and just said, have block parties every week till the whole block gets saved. 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.960 I thought, what a great idea. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:52.400 So the last time I checked in on them was like 2007. 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:55.279 At that time, they had bought 34 houses. 00:26:56.160 --> 00:27:01.359 They also had intercessors raised out raised up for every member of the Baltimore Police Department. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:05.519 So it's a great place to evangelize. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:15.200 When I was in first married back in the 18th century, we we were the youngest small group leaders in the church. 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:19.119 20 years old, we had the biggest small group, 40 families. 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.480 It was like a church. 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:26.160 Every week I'd knock on 40 doors, tell people to come, come and just eat. 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.839 You don't even have to stay for the Bible study. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.440 I'd say that to the non-believers. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:35.920 And they'd eat and they'd feel compelled to stay, and 26 of those 40 families end up getting saved. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:40.559 So it's a great place to evangelize. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:51.599 Community groups can organize local service projects, volunteer activities, and other outreach efforts, extending the church's impact beyond its walls. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:56.559 I'd like to say we catch a lot more fish outside the boat than you do inside. 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:59.119 That's what community groups can do. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:03.759 Number five, community groups they provide accountability. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:08.799 It's been proven relationships develop much quicker in smaller settings. 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:14.160 People foster a sense of commitment and accountability to one another. 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:24.000 If Betty and Bob are going to the community group tonight, I'm gonna go because I like them, they're fun, and uh, if they go, they're gonna be expecting me to go. 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:26.319 I don't want to let them down, so I'll go. 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:29.359 And so that's one reason to go. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:34.079 Community groups are a great place to develop bloodstained allies. 00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:40.240 Pastor Steve coined that term years ago, and it's really people digging in the trenches with you, fighting the war with you. 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.200 It's a great term. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:44.480 We tend to be like the five, six people we hang out with the most. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:46.799 Who are your five or six people? 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:54.960 I give the illustration that when you die, you have six to eight people to pick you up and carry you as a pole bearer at your funeral. 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:59.920 Wouldn't it be great to have six to eight people to pick you up and carry you when you're alive? 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:03.359 That's what being in a community group can be. 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:08.640 On our men's breakfast, we have sixty tables with seven chairs every table. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:12.079 There's nine, ten, eleven, twelve guys assigned to every table. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:20.079 I know lives are fluid, nine, ten, eleven, twelve twelve guys don't normally show up, but sometimes they do, and sometimes they're packed. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:24.880 Um, but they developed, they become blood-stained allies. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:31.680 Mentoring and discipleship are a natural byproduct of community groups. 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:39.599