WEBVTT 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:10.320 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:16.800 Well, today we're concluding our series Future Church. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:30.960 We spent the last five weeks diving into the book of Acts and studying the early church, looking back to how the church began to help us understand how we are to be the church today. 00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:37.280 And through the last few weeks, you can't help but say, you know, this is a church of high impact. 00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:41.920 The early church was on the move and was making incredible impact. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:46.960 The apostles teaching with power, they were doing miracles and wonders. 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:56.560 I mean, you just saw the spirit moving, and lots and lots and lots of people were coming to know Jesus. 00:00:56.719 --> 00:01:05.040 And the question for us today is how do we become a high impact church in the heart of the Silicon Valley? 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:13.599 Like, is that early church, that church of impact, that church on the move, was that just for then way back when? 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:19.200 Or could that be for us here in the heart of the Silicon Valley? 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:23.040 Well, today I want you to put on your leadership hat, if you will. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:30.560 In fact, I want to talk to you as leaders, that we would together say, okay, how do we do this together as a church? 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:39.599 In fact, we're going to look at uh Acts chapter six, and it's really a case study in leadership or a case study in church leadership. 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:48.719 And so as I read it, would you begin to have the eyes and lens or begin to think with the eyes and lens of a leader? 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:56.000 And so if you got your Bibles, would you pick it up at or open them up to Acts chapter six, verse one? 00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:15.280 It says, In those days, when the number of the disciples were increasing, literally multiplying, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because the widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:18.080 Okay, first, what in the world's going on here? 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:21.199 So, one, we first see the numbers increasing. 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:31.039 In fact, what's incredible, scholars tell us that the church at this point is probably somewhere between the uh 15 to 25,000 people. 00:02:31.439 --> 00:02:32.639 Isn't that amazing? 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:39.360 And so, you know, growth is exciting, but also growth brings so much challenges with it, too, right? 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:40.719 And here's one of the challenges. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:45.280 The Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:58.560 Now, let me explain this for a second because most of us don't really know what's going on here, because we think of, oh, you're you're Jewish, but there was actually two different types of Jewish people in Jerusalem. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:05.360 In fact, they would have different types of synagogues, one for the Hellenistic Jews and those for the Hebraic. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:13.599 Now, the Hebraic Jews were the Jews who were born really in Jerusalem, who spoke Aramaic as their primary language. 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:18.560 They certainly spoke Greek, but Aramaic, and so they would read the scriptures in Hebrew. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:23.039 And so when they would worship, they would worship in Aramaic or Hebrew. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:35.280 Uh and this was, you know, they had just kind of a little bit of this elitism that, like, hey, we're really, you know, following uh God's law the way it was intended to. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:39.919 Now, the Hellenistic Jews had adopted the Greek culture. 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:54.879 Many of them lived outside of Jerusalem, and some would move back to Jerusalem, just feeling like it, you know, they wanted to die in, you know, or live their final days in their homeland, in their home country, in the city of God, Jerusalem. 00:03:55.039 --> 00:04:01.280 And so their primary language was Greek, and they spoke Greek and they adopted the Greek culture. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:04.000 And so there was this rift, there was this vision. 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:13.919 And here's what's interesting is these Christians now, they stepped into a new life in Jesus, but they brought some of their old patterns into this new life. 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:17.600 And so we're seeing an injustice take place. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.600 They're being overlooked. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:26.560 Uh, and there's a challenge here of the distribution of food for those who are in need, the widows. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:27.360 And so it goes on. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:29.519 So, how are we going to solve this problem? 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:31.680 We have a leadership crisis on our head. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:43.519 So the 12 gathered all the disciples uh uh together and said, It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:47.839 Jesus gave us a calling, he gave us a job to be a witness. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:49.759 And so we got to be witnesses. 00:04:49.839 --> 00:04:52.160 We can't be uh waiting on tables. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:53.680 And so, what's the solution? 00:04:53.920 --> 00:05:01.759 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the spirit and wisdom. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:07.120 In fact, in your Bible or maybe in your notes over wisdom, just write the word skill. 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:13.040 Wisdom is literally the skill of navigating life well in God's universe. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:19.680 And this is the skill, these were skilled people in a particular area of administration and organization. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:29.839 And then he goes on and says, We will turn this responsibility over to them, and we'll give our attention to prayer and to the ministry of the word. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:34.959 Well, uh, this proposal uh pleased the whole group, and they chose. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:50.000 Now, notice this they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Procorius, Nicanor, Timon, yeah, and Peraminus and Nicholas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:54.399 Now, what's incredible is all of these names are Greek names. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:06:05.519 So when they're trying to solve the problem, they say, let's choose those whose hearts are most deeply connected to the problem and want to be a part of the solution. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:10.079 They presented these men to the apostles who prayed, they laid hands. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:18.560 The laying on the hands was the sign of blessing, the giving of authority, and the commissioning for a specific task on them. 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:19.600 And it continues on. 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:21.360 Says, so the word of God. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:29.439 So here's the result of this leadership decision in the midst of this leadership crisis or challenge, the word of God spread. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:38.959 The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, high impact, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.920 Those who were serving in the temple began to become followers of Jesus. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.160 So, what do we learn? 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:50.079 This is a case study, if you will. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:58.560 What do we learn in this leadership case study of how today we can become a high-impact church? 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:03.120 How we can become like the church, how it began. 00:07:03.519 --> 00:07:13.040 The first thing I want you to see is a high-impact church believes that growth is normal, it's expected, and it's imperative. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.879 That healthy churches grow. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:24.160 Now, on the flip side, let's be honest, not all growing churches are healthy, but healthy churches are growing. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:32.639 I want you to pay attention to this because there's a tension in our day and age around numbers and growth and all these sort of things. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:41.680 But Luke is so intentional about counting and numbering and telling us the progression of the church. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:51.199 In fact, in the first 19 chapters, there's approximately 18 different times where he says, and the Lord added to their number, and the number increased. 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:52.720 I mean, I'll just read a few. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:08:02.079 Acts 1, 15, that tells us that the disciples were numbering 120, then Acts 2, 41, then 3,000 were added to their number. 00:08:02.399 --> 00:08:08.560 A few verses later, Acts 2, 47, it says, And the Lord added to their number daily those who are being saved. 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:15.360 And then Acts 4, 4, and grew the number to about 5,000 followers in men. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:16.639 Acts 5, 15. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:20.639 I mean, it just goes on and on and on. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:23.920 See, a healthy church. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:32.240 And I want to say healthy because I think if you might have a hard time when I say a high impact church, a healthy church. 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:38.639 Let me define what a healthy church or a high impact church really is all about. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:43.759 A healthy church is where lost people are coming to know Christ. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:50.320 And the Lord added to their number daily, where lost people are coming to know Jesus. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:59.519 Where we're seeing a healthy church sees people come to know Jesus, and then found people are growing to maturity. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:05.279 Where there's the progression that you're becoming more and more like Jesus. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:12.960 It's and maturity, by the way, is not how much you know, but it's how much you obey. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:20.639 See, for some, and this isn't maybe necessarily as much today, but it used to be I'm mature because I know so much of God's word. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:23.840 And man, it's so good to know God's word, get into God's word. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:25.360 We got our Bible reading plan. 00:09:25.440 --> 00:09:26.960 We want you in God's word. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:34.480 But mature person is the one who obeys what they know. 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:41.679 And Jesus had said, if you love me, you will obey my commands. 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:47.120 Lost people coming to know Christ, a healthy church sees this happening consistently. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:53.440 Found people are growing to maturity, then mature people are reproducing their life. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:10:00.799 If you're spiritually mature, then your life is being reproduced in other people's lives. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:04.960 Matthew uh 28, 18 through 20 is the great commission. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:09.600 It's not just for the super spiritual, it's for every single believer. 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:15.679 It says, therefore, go, or literally, as you're going about your day, make disciples. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:29.360 And so a mature follower of Jesus is making disciples, has a heart for their friends or maybe family members or neighbors or coworkers. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:45.120 You know, in our all church update, I gave a little bit of a challenge and I had a three by five card and I said, Would you, leading up to this Easter season, write down the names of people in your life who do not know Jesus and start praying for them? 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:57.519 Pray daily that God would begin to move and draw them closer to you, to himself, that they'd come to know him, and then look for opportunities to share in some way about Jesus. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:11:00.879 I did that, I shared this story in our all-church update. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.240 I did that in high school. 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:12.399 God used a, you know, a scrawny 17-year-old kid, and I don't know where I got this idea, but I just started writing down names of friends in high school. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:17.919 And over the course of that year, I saw all, you know, I don't know, I can't remember 12 or 13 names. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:20.000 All of them come to know Christ. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:30.480 See, mature people are reproducing their life, and a healthy church then goes on to say where they're meeting significant needs in the community. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.600 Did you see that? 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:35.519 That the early church took seriously the needs of the community. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:51.120 The early church said, you know what, this both spiritual and physical, that we're gonna proclaim the gospel of Jesus, and we're gonna address and help the poor and correct injustices. 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:58.399 This is a healthy church, and literally, I stole this from my dad, what he calls a high impact church. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:02.320 This is what it means for us to be the church. 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:10.000 And where we begin to get in our hearts and minds that okay, as a high-impact church, growth is normal. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.159 It's expected. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:16.639 In fact, it's imperative for us to grow. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:27.840 The second thing, then, is that a high impact church understands that the mission never changes, but the methods continually change. 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:30.960 The mission never changes. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:38.320 See, the growth of all what was happening, it caused some problems for these early followers, right? 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:51.039 And the early church adopted its organizational, thank you very much, structure in order to minister effectively to the needs around them. 00:12:51.279 --> 00:13:06.639 In fact, when it said it chose seven men, it actually was taking the best organizational, administrative strategies of its day in Judaism from the synagogue and from the the way towns were organized, that they would, the city council would have seven. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:08.240 And he said, let's do that. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:17.840 That we're gonna take whatever the best strategy is for organizing as long as it aligns with God's word, and we're gonna leverage it and use it. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:20.240 And the mission was always the same. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.120 What's the mission? 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:28.000 Make disciples, to reach those who are far from Jesus, to bring people into new life in Christ. 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:30.720 But our method is constantly gonna change. 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:33.679 How we organize is constantly gonna change. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:38.399 The structure is to support the size of the church. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:43.440 The structure isn't to be worshiped, the size isn't to be worshiped, Jesus is to be worshiped. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:49.840 The mission never changes, but our methods will continually change. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:56.960 You know, we said we exist to awaken this generation to new life in Jesus. 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.720 That's our vision, that's what we're about, that's what we're getting after. 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:04.879 And yet, how we do that will change. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:09.519 It has to change because we're about reaching this generation. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:14.799 And we're gonna figure out okay, how do we connect uh with this generation? 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:24.240 How do we, like we said, all the way back in part two of this, how do we begin to speak the language of this generation that they would hear the gospel in their own language? 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:27.200 Part of that's music, right? 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:36.639 And and by the way, the greatest worship music on the planet is the one is the time when you came to know Christ. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:38.399 That is the greatest worship music. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:38.879 Right? 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:43.039 The minute you really gave your life to Jesus, oh, that is the greatest. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:47.279 And that's the reason Delirious is the greatest worship band of all time. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:51.840 Except most of you probably don't even know who Delirious is. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:57.039 But that's when my life was being shaped and formed by Christ. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:11.679 And yet, here's what we know about music music is the language of the soul, music is also the language of a generation, and so our music is gonna be brought in such a way that it's speaking the language of a generation to lead them to Jesus. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:13.840 And so there may be a day. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:21.519 There may be a day where I'm not in love with the style of music, and who cares because it's about this generation. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:29.759 We're gonna fall in love with the vision, we're gonna fall in love with the mission, we're not gonna fall in love with the method. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:32.000 And here's why this is so important. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:42.480 When we do this, it compels us to die to our preferences and change for the sake of those who are not yet a part of the family of God. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:45.039 And we would die to our preferences. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:46.399 I don't prefer this. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:16:04.639 And the people that I am so incredibly grateful for, when we started eight and a half years ago and is basically a college ministry, you know, with um uh tons of young people, were the few gray hairs that came and said, This, I I don't, I don't see anybody like me. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:09.279 But I like to be a part of what God's doing here, and I'm gonna show up. 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:15.840 This music doesn't it doesn't meet me, but I'm gonna show up and I'm gonna serve and I'm gonna be here. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:16.799 Why? 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:21.440 Because they fell in love with the mission, not the method. 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:23.279 High impact church. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:26.879 Growth is normal, expected, it's imperative. 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:28.559 The mission never changes. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:32.240 That stays the same, but our methods will continually change. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:37.519 And then it goes on, and I notice this uh with um the disciples' response. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:42.399 It requires healthy leaders, healthy leaders to embrace the law of focus. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:45.360 Well, what does a healthy leader look like? 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:48.879 You see, the apostles they responded so healthily. 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:51.360 Like we know unhealthy leaders, right? 00:16:51.519 --> 00:17:03.679 Unhealthy leaders that they make everything about themselves, unhealthy leaders that will not give up control, unhealthy leaders that have to micromanage everything that's going on around them. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:12.079 Unhealthy leaders who don't know their limits, and so they are then the lid of growth. 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:17.839 See, a healthy leader embraces the law of focus. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:22.559 The focus is getting clear on what is it only you can do. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:27.279 There's this clarity on what only you are called to do. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:33.920 You notice that the uh Peter and John and James and all the rest, they they were so clear on their calling. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:41.599 And it wasn't about a lesser, you know, uh thing or a greater thing, it was about being clear on your calling. 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.559 It's like we've been called, Jesus gave us a job. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:55.359 We have to preach the word of God, we have to sit in his presence because that's that's developing the health and heart of a leader to be able to lead well and wisely. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:00.079 And so there's things that we can do, but we're not called to do. 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:06.400 And if we can do it, but we're not called to do it, that means we're stepping into areas that other people are gifted to do it. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:12.480 And so we're gonna focus the law of focus on what is it only we can do. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:17.119 And when we embrace what is it only we can do, then notice what they did. 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:25.519 They handpicked godly, capable leaders to do the ministry. 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:31.200 I and I love this because if you're a leader, I I want you to I want you to think about this. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:36.240 I want you to think about the reality of this handpicking. 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:37.279 He chose. 00:18:37.599 --> 00:18:42.240 Oftentimes, we need to look around of who are the capable? 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.559 Like they they have the capacity. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:47.920 Remember, I had you, you know, write skill above wisdom. 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:50.559 They they have this skill in this particular area. 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:54.720 These seven men, they they were gifted in administration and organization. 00:18:54.880 --> 00:19:01.039 They had skills that the 12 didn't have, and they were spirit-filled, they were godly. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:04.880 And so you delegate responsibility, not just task. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:12.319 And so a high impact church then unleashes God's people to do significant ministry. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:22.720 It un a high impact church doesn't have just a few people to do a few things, and everybody else is watching. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:26.000 A high impact church says, you know, gross normal. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.119 Yep. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:32.880 And by the way, our mission never changes, but how we do things, that's gonna change. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:48.799 And so we're as leaders, we're we're going to be healthy and focus in on what is it that we're called to do and then unleash, unleash God's people to do significant ministry. 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.640 Think about this. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:20:01.519 If this moment didn't happen, it would have limited the impact and the scope of what the disciples and what the church could have become. 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:06.640 If they decided, hey, we're gonna focus on on, you know, oh, we we have this need. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.039 And here's here's what here's what people do. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:13.119 They go, like, well, if it's important, then the pastor should be a part of it. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:17.599 If it's important, you know, Peter, you should be a part of this. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.799 We have this need. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.400 We we this is an injustice. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:23.119 This we we need this ministry now. 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:32.720 And the gospel would have been limited because they would have been diverting their energy to things that are important but not part of their calling. 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:43.039 And people who are gifted never would have utilized their gifts to bring supernatural good to the community of God and those around them. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:21:02.720 Well, we need, by the way, spirit-filled, wise, women and men ready to take up the towel of service and say, okay, I want to leverage, I want to leverage my expertise, I want to leverage my skill for the sake of the gospel. 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:14.640 Now, the reason we struggle with this is there's there's an American model of ministry uh that that we've adopted and inherited that many of us think about. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:22.640 And the American model of ministry looks something like this pastors are the star players, and God's people are the supportive fans. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:39.119 Like pastors, like you know, you come into church and you know, depending on where it is, it's an audience, and you're standing up on the stage, and it's like, whoa, and then when you talk about your church, sometimes you're talking about your pastor, something you're like, pastors are the star players, and they're on all these sort of things. 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:42.640 And then God's people are the supportive fans, like, oh yeah, that's great. 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:44.079 I want to talk about my church. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:51.359 That's not God's design for the church, and that keeps us stuck from being a church of impact. 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:58.720 God's design is simply this pastors are the coaches, God's people are the star players. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:13.839 My job, when you show up online, when you log on, when you are joining into one of our groups, the job of our staff is to help coach, help to equip. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:22.559 Like our Sunday service, I want you to think of it instead of like, I'm watching an event, is I'm a part of a huddle where the coach is pulling us around. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:32.640 And I know not everybody's sports, so I'll try to keep it not as, you know, uh sports related, but but where you go like, and I'm going like, okay, here you go. 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:34.799 Okay, you got this, you got this, you got this. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:40.559 The coach isn't on the field, the coach is helping those that are out there making the plays. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.880 See, that's my job. 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:46.799 It's our team's job at awakening is how can we equip? 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.759 How can we empower? 00:22:47.920 --> 00:23:09.839 How can we how can we give the ministry away and empower God's people to be the star players, to unleash a significant ministry, not insignificant and just task-driven things, but significant ministry. 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:13.200 In fact, let me tell you about small stars at awakening. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:19.759 Let me tell you about a number of them, and I don't have time to tell you about all of them. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:30.799 Let me tell you about Reed Burke, who has been a part of our church forever before we planted as a church, and he has this um incredible skill. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:34.079 He works at he's an engineer at Yahoo, and guess what? 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:38.400 He said, I'm gonna leverage my expertise to strengthen and build up the church. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:41.440 And so our website is because of Reed Burke. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:43.119 We had did live stream. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:47.039 We're one of the very first churches in America to do live stream. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:47.279 Why? 00:23:47.440 --> 00:24:05.519 Because we had Reed Burke and other technical people who were able to do it and our transition into church online and all these sort of things because of his skill, not because of a staff person's skill, not because the pastor did it, because Reed Burke, an all-star. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:10.640 Let me tell you about a guy named John Overmeyer, who's retired now. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:18.480 He was, you know, in the tech management, highly gifted in administration, leads a small group. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:26.640 But he said, I, you know, I'm gonna leverage my retirement and use my management and my administration skills. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:47.359 There is so much behind the scenes that you'll have no idea how organized, how systematized, how everything's held together because he's one of those seven types of people that is just leveraging their skill, their um influence to strengthen the church. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:50.079 Let me tell you about a gal named Annie Chang. 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:56.079 Annie Chang's just this amazing woman who's looking around and saying there's a need in the church. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:25:04.000 And as we're growing, the care of, you know, is growing as well, like the need for people to be cared for. 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:12.640 And so God birthed a vision in her heart and she's said, Hey, do you think I could start a care team and uh where we just begin to minister to people? 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:27.839 And I mean, she started this and it started small, and then all of a sudden there's 30 people in her group, and I mean, the the needs they're meeting, the people they're praying for, the way they surround people in their hurt and their pain, and then it just keeps building from there. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:36.400 Within the care team was a gal named Angie Chang, and she said, Well, I want to care for the homeless. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.160 It's amazing. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:42.160 And so she started our homeless ministry. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.200 She started. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:48.000 See, we're talking about people who are starting significant ministry. 00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:58.640 In fact, as we look at this last year and the ministries that have begun, they've been started by our all-star people, God's people. 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:04.400 She started this, and we're able to minister to the most vulnerable in our society because of that. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:09.519 I think of Eric and Amy Frampton with our racial justice and reconciliation team. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:13.839 I think of uh Caleb and Maddie and the YP team. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:18.720 Uh, they're these young professionals go, hey, we want to reach young professionals. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:28.240 I mean, I think of Melissa, who many of you see at the connection table every single week, and she serves with such love and care. 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:31.279 And and yet she hasn't, her job is HR. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:41.279 So she brings that expertise in how to make things better and more organized, and how for us to do this as a church, and she leads a small crew. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:44.720 You see, pastors are not the all-star. 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:47.200 Never designed to be. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:48.400 That's not God's model. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:54.079 The coach, God's people are the star players. 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:57.279 You are the star player. 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:01.759 And the question then is how do we get there? 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:07.440 How do we become that high-impact church where we go, okay, growth is normative. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:16.559 We're not going to be about our method, but we're gonna marry, we're gonna our mission, it is just permanent. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:25.039 Where we're gonna embrace the laws of focus and healthy leadership and unleash God's people to significant ministry. 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:31.119 Well, let me just give you perhaps the next step wherever you're at. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:37.680 Okay, so maybe you're uh just starting to join us online. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:44.559 Maybe you started attending over the course of COVID and you've been watching for a few Sundays. 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:49.839 Um, maybe uh you're just starting to check church out. 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:53.200 Let me give you what I call just simply step one. 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:55.359 You're in the explore stage. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:28:01.839 Would you take time and really explore and say, do I want to join the movement of what God's doing at awakening? 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:03.599 This is what we're about. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:05.119 Join the movement. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:06.559 And so take time. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.920 Actually, do this. 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:18.559 Say, I'm gonna commit for the next month, and I'm gonna attend whether it's online or in person, and I'm gonna really discern I'm in the exploration stage. 00:28:18.799 --> 00:28:22.079 And after Easter, we have a class called Intro class. 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:26.559 It tells you all about who we are, what we're about, and where we're headed. 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:28.480 Would you take that next step? 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:30.799 In fact, I like to talk about the intro classes. 00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:36.079 Most times we're never taught how to like, you know, um find a church. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:41.519 I want to teach you how to find a church and how to really be a part of that church. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:43.519 And so, step one, maybe that's where you're at. 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:46.720 You're exploring and you're deciding whether you're going to join the movement. 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:52.160 Step two, maybe you've been exploring, you've been around, you've been hanging out, you've been maybe here for a few months. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.440 Would you engage? 00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:55.039 Would you engage? 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:58.799 And the first step to engagement is experiencing community. 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:02.880 There's like two main ways that we experience community. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:17.200 The first is in our small groups, our groups that happen throughout the week, where you would engage and go, okay, that's where you begin to do life on life, where you're uh you're able to encourage others, and others are able to encourage you. 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:21.680 Our groups are simply growing together to become more like Jesus. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:24.640 The other way that we experience community is when we serve. 00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:30.160 You know, pre-COVID, close to half of our church was actually serving in some way. 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:33.839 And we needed it, the setup and teardown and all those sort of things. 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:37.759 Um, but when you serve, you feel apart, don't you? 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:47.200 The minute you begin to feel like you're contributing and you just look, and there's so many ways where you're going, like, I don't know different things that you can serve both digitally and in person. 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:51.119 And where you just go, okay, what are those ways that I can serve? 00:29:51.279 --> 00:29:52.079 What are those ways? 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:57.440 And you just fill out a connection card and we'll get you connected in that way. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:30:00.319 Well, you may be going, like, Ryan, there was a class for explorer. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:01.920 Is there something here for me to engage? 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.799 Absolutely. 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:06.480 It's a class or an environment, really, that we call startup. 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:12.640 And it's to jumpstart you into community, into the life of our church. 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:18.240 Well, many of you, you're like, I'm exploring, I've already explored, and I'm engaged. 00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:20.640 I'm in a group and I'm serving in some way. 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.000 What's the next step for me? 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:26.079 And it's to lead, to join the movement, to go, you know what? 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:31.440 I want to be one of those stories, one of those all-star stories that you're telling me about. 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:33.759 And I want to live on mission. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:42.640 I want to embrace that it's not Ryan or Chris or Christina or Felicia or Nassim or whoever else is the all-stars. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:43.759 It's not staff. 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:47.599 No, our job is to equip, our job is to empower. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.079 And you're to live on mission, on purpose for Jesus. 00:30:52.400 --> 00:30:57.279 And so would you begin to say, okay, God, what are you doing in me? 00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:59.440 And what do you want to do through me? 00:30:59.680 --> 00:31:03.119 And God's starting to burst something in you, and you go, guess what? 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:03.680 I have a dream. 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.400 All those things. 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:06.720 I have a dream about what God would want to do. 00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:09.279 And it's not like, oh, Pastor, you need to do this. 00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:10.000 You know what it is? 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:13.039 It's like, okay, I have the Spirit of God in me. 00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:14.559 I have this skill set. 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:17.599 I would love to leverage these in this way. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:23.599 In fact, we have a course we call Leadership Essentials to help you grow in your leadership. 00:31:23.680 --> 00:31:26.079 And for some, you're like, I don't really feel like a leader. 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:35.279 Well, you all of us have influence in some way, which means we get to lead in some way and think about your sphere of influence. 00:31:35.359 --> 00:31:39.039 And we want to help you grow and develop in that. 00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:42.559 Would you out of this series, future church? 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.319 Would you take the next step? 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:51.279 What is your next step to take that we might be a high impact church? 00:31:52.480 --> 00:32:04.799 A church where lost people are coming to know Christ, found people are growing to maturity, mature people are reproducing their lives, and we're meeting significant needs in the community. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:07.359 That's what the early church was. 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:11.440 And that's God's heart for our church today. 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:15.680 Jesus, thanks so much for your grace. 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:18.000 Thank you so much for your word. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:25.359 Thank you that this isn't something for way back then, and it's something for us today. 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:29.359 It's your heartbeat for our church and the church. 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:39.599 And so, God, I ask that out of the sermon, you would give each person just the wisdom, the discernment to know what the next step is and then the courage to do it. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:45.839 For many, it's just filling out a connection card and saying, I want to serve, or I want to, I want to know more about something. 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:48.000 God, would you give them the courage to do it? 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:54.480 And would we would you make us your kind of church for your glory in Jesus' name? 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.440 Amen. 00:32:56.640 --> 00:32:58.880 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:32:59.119 --> 00:33:04.160 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:06.640 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:12.720 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash card.