The Jesus Boat

Storms will come. Guaranteed. How we respond shapes everything. This week, we unpack how life’s chaos can actually redirect us instead of wreck us. From Hurricane Isaac to Jonah’s detour in the sea, we talk about seeing storms as wake-up calls instead of punishments, learning how God reroutes us for our good, and why delayed obedience just keeps us stuck longer than necessary.

We get real about influence and foundation, who’s shaping your mindset, and what you’re building your faith on. It’s not about panic when the “signs of the times” show up. It’s about preparation, wise stewardship, and putting your gifts to work. Church isn’t a show to watch; it’s a body to join.

Service becomes the heartbeat of this episode. We dive into what it means to show up. Ministry is more than a microphone; it’s the oil that keeps the engine running. It’s small acts that make big impact. Whether you’re behind a camera, holding a door, or leading a prayer, availability always matters more than ability.

Ready to build on rock, not sand? Tune in as we talk:
 • storms as wake-up calls
 • guarding your influences and building on Christ
 • preparing instead of panicking
 • using your gifts without comparison
 • sowing and reaping through daily habits
 • serving as belonging, humility, and growth
 • small acts that make big impressions
 • availability over ability in every role
 • serving beyond Sunday as a lifestyle

We’ve also got a great resource to help you take your next step. Swing by the Start Here Booth in the back corner of the sanctuary or online. Fill out a quick card, get plugged into First Steps, and find out where you fit and how you can start serving now.

Hit play, share it with someone who’s been stuck in a storm, and let’s talk about how to move from surviving to serving.

Contact What's the Point?

• Email jonathan.walton@point.church
• Watch live or recorded services at https://www.point.church/

Please take a moment to leave us a rating and review the podcast! Thank you!

Transcript

Icebreaker: Most-Used Emojis

SPEAKER_02 0:14

What's up everyone? Welcome back to Five Kids in a Calling Podcast. I'm your host, Audrey LaShow. With me is Hudson Walton.

SPEAKER_06 0:20

Hey guys.

SPEAKER_02 0:21

Andrea Crater. Hi. Lincoln Socier.

SPEAKER_06 0:24

Hey guys.

SPEAKER_02 0:24

And Ramsay Tabloo. Hey. So I want all of you guys to take out your phones and go and tell me what your most used emoji is. And we're gonna see what that means about you.

SPEAKER_01 0:35

Can I text it?

SPEAKER_02 0:37

Yeah, you can put it in the group chat. It's the crying face.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 0:41

Everybody got text him in the group chat.

SPEAKER_06 0:43

How do I see what my most used emoji is?

SPEAKER_02 0:45

You just whatever one is the top left.

SPEAKER_03 0:47

Mine's the crying face.

SPEAKER_06 0:48

Mine's the fist.

SPEAKER_03 0:49

Me and Audrey are apparently. No, mine's like the laughing cry because mine is the fist.

SPEAKER_06 0:54

Mine's the fist because I love supporting people, not the punch fist. Like the standard minded. Let me search fit. I stand with you, fist. Yeah, that's so funny.

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Me and Audrey are apparently sat all the time. Oh, like blinking. Yeah, like send it in the group.

SPEAKER_06 1:09

No. That one.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

Wait, which one? Which fist? That's the same thing. That's the same thing.

SPEAKER_06 1:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:16

So for those of you who can't see, um, it's it's like the fist that's going up, not the one that's punching someone.

SPEAKER_06 1:21

Yeah, I don't punch people, I support them.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:24

That's so weird. Why? What?

SPEAKER_06 1:27

I don't know. I don't like I use that like today. Like, I don't know why that's not most recent.

SPEAKER_03 1:31

I didn't even know that was an emoji. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 1:33

What can I say, guys? I'm supportive.

SPEAKER_04 1:35

Wait. Okay, so we have the crying one, and then we have the laugh crying one. And Hudson didn't say yours, dude. But my crying one is like a laugh cry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It has to be there. No, but I use it as a laugh cry.

SPEAKER_02 1:47

But like I use it as a laugh cry. Like whenever it's so funny, I'm crying. But I don't like something that's like sideways and weird. Yeah. So I do like the actual crying one.

unknown 1:56

Oh.

Sermon Thoughts

SPEAKER_02 1:56

Anyway. Um, so what did you guys think about the sermon on Sunday?

SPEAKER_06 2:00

Uh I thought it was a really good wake-up call. That's that's what it was to me. Um, like just a reminder that storms, they're coming. Like you can't avoid it, you can't hide from it. Um, it's a scary world out there. Um, and no matter what, as a Christian, you just have to, you know, accept that storms are gonna come. Yeah. That's what it was to me. Like, sometimes I can just start going through Christianity and like kind of just going with the flow, but like I have to actively be prepared for things that arise because they are gonna arise.

SPEAKER_03 2:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 2:34

So the message to me, it was just like a really it was a really good wake-up call. Oh, yeah. Especially because I feel like God wants to take our church, point church, to a higher level. Yeah. And with that, there's without a doubt gonna be storms that face members individually and us as a whole. Yeah. And so we need to prepare for that. I thought it was really good. It was good.

SPEAKER_04 2:53

Um, I really liked whenever Bishop said the Lord will not send a storm as a punishment to a believer, but to direct the believer into his will. I thought that's so cool because like a lot of times people people will go through things and they're like, okay, this is God punishing me for not doing something or for doing something. But in reality, God is God might be sending that storm, or you might have gotten yourself into that storm by yourself. Um, but just like up, just like Hudson said, everyone will experience storms in their lives, and it's really impossible to to avoid them.

SPEAKER_06 3:24

Yeah, and like you said, it's not always a uh a storm sent by God. Like, I feel like sometimes we can jump the gun on that a lot. Like we go through the smallest thing and we're like, man, I must have sinned. God is killing me right now. Yeah. But like sometimes Bishop said it in the message, things just happen. Life is life. Like it didn't happen because you did anything, it didn't happen because God's punishing you, it just happens. Or sometimes you did it to yourself because we can all be a bit foolish sometimes.

SPEAKER_04 3:51

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 3:52

It's not always from God.

SPEAKER_04 3:53

Yeah. So there's several reasons why we have storms.

SPEAKER_05 3:56

Yeah, I I took the same thing from it about how storms are gonna come. Uh, but for me, I've in like my past, I've always looked at the storm, I was like, the devil is attacking me. Yeah, but uh I feel like when I would do that, I was giving too much credit to the dough because the storms sometimes that are sent by God are to direct you or redirect you from where you're going. But whenever you're going the way you think is the right way, you you think anything that's gonna take you off that track is the devil. And by us doing that, we give them too much credit. Yeah, I agree.

SPEAKER_06 4:27

Yeah, because like imagine if Jonah thought that the devil sent the fish. Yeah, it would have been a whole different storm. Yeah, because Jonah said, I just gotta withstand this. God will bring me out.

SPEAKER_03 4:38

Because Jonah literally just created his own storm, like bro, defied God and got thrown off the ship.

SPEAKER_04 4:44

So literally, God sent a physical storm to direct Jonah spiritually to where he was supposed to go. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 4:51

What's crazy is that it took bro three days.

SPEAKER_04 4:53

Bro didn't pray for three days. It took him three days in the belly of a fish, a huge fish, to be like, um, God, I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_05 4:59

I mean, to be completely honest, I don't know what I would do if I was in the belly of a fish. I'd probably try to break.

SPEAKER_04 5:05

I would think I'd be dead.

SPEAKER_06 5:06

We gotta have some critical thinking here. Like, you best believe if I directly disobeyed God and then a few hours later I'm in the belly of a fish. Like, bro, I'm praying right there.

SPEAKER_01 5:16

I know. I don't know why it took him so long.

SPEAKER_06 5:18

I mean, bro was getting comfortable in that fish.

SPEAKER_02 5:22

That's funny. Um, so back to the message. I really liked when he got on the topic of like um, you know, the voices and stuff. So he used first Thessalonians 5.3 that says, When they say peace and safety, then cometh sudden destruction. So that whole thing was really good, but I liked when he got on the point that the they in that scripture is the voice that we are listening to. So the people who have the most influence over us, the people who like are the loudest in our head. And I think we have to be careful who has influence over our lives because the wrong voices in your head can cause your spirit to fall asleep when it needs to be awake. And it can really make you numb to the feeling of like the presence of God and the things you need to be listening to, and you completely ignore what God is talking to, like saying to you. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:04

I like when he brought up like how you like the storms will come no matter what, but if you just build your life on Jesus, like you won't fall, like he won't knock you down, like you won't okay, you won't fall. But and I know that's something we always heard like growing up and stuff, but it's just so true. Like if you just read your word in the truth, you're like even if he sends the storms, or if you put the storms on yourself, you're not falling.

SPEAKER_05 6:28

Yeah, and God won't send a storm that's gonna kill you. Yeah, he's just gonna send a storm that's gonna mold you to be the best version of yourself for his kingdom.

SPEAKER_04 6:35

Yeah, yeah, it might almost kill you, it won't kill you. He won he won't kill you. You're gonna grow in your storm no matter what it is.

SPEAKER_06 6:42

Uh I like what Ramps was saying about how we have to build a strong foundation. Like there's a difference between knowing that, like we all know that, it's not simple, but we gotta actually apply that.

SPEAKER_04 6:52

Yeah, you have to apply what you're doing.

SPEAKER_06 6:53

As a believer, yeah, you should know that it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Yeah, storms are gonna come.

SPEAKER_03 7:00

It might be because I'm wrong.

SPEAKER_06 7:01

Small storms, big storms, long storms, short storms, like they're gonna come.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Yeah, all you can do is prepare for them.

SPEAKER_06 7:07

Yeah, and you gotta you gotta know that and prepare for it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 7:11

I heard uh Jeff Arnold, he talked, he preached a message and he was talking about how some people view Christianity as like a cruise ship. I think I might have said this before, but he said in all actuality, it's a battleship. Like it's not all sunshines and rainbows, like you're always saying. Like you're gonna you have to be ready to take on what being a Christian is gonna throw at you because when you're a Christian, you're living a Christian life, you you really do have the whole sinful nature world against you. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:37

So you're fighting off all the evil that there is and like these evil things coming against you in the world and stuff like that. So it's gonna be hard.

SPEAKER_06 7:43

And you can't fight that battle if you don't have that strong foundation that Bishop was talking about. Yeah, like yeah, you can't just go to church and hear that and then not apply anything. You can't just hear the word, you gotta apply it. Yeah, build that foundation, keep building, stay building, twin.

SPEAKER_04 8:00

I knew you were gonna say that. I really like whenever Bishop said um that every sin has a built-in consequence. Like I thought that was so cool because you we often don't think about it that way.

SPEAKER_06 8:11

That was an eye-opener. That was so cool. I never heard it put like that, but when you think about it, it makes sense.

SPEAKER_04 8:15

Yeah, and he got he went on to like give examples. So alcoholism, um a built-in consequence for that is liver failure or death, because you know, alcohol can ruin your liver and then you'll die. Drugs, addiction, overdose, death, homosexuality, SEDs, death. So ultimately, every sin, your built-in consequence might be death.

SPEAKER_02 8:36

Yeah. Um, I liked honestly just the thing he opened up with about the Isaac Storm story because like that was really good in itself because it just related to like what Christians are. So um Isaac Storm is pretty much it was a hurricane that wiped out Galveston in what was it, 1930s? 1900. And um, this guy Isaac, who was in the town, he was a weatherman and he told everybody it's not gonna be that bad. Like it's I've like done the research, it's fine. So all the kids and all the people just acted normal, like it was a normal day. They played outside, they went to the diner, they did whatever. And then it came and everything got destroyed. People were killed because they did not prepare. And I think a lot of people do that with their walk with God. They think, oh, I have time, like he's not coming back anytime soon. I have time to walk, like walk with God, but also have fun in life and then do that later. And it's like, that's not how it works. You need to start preparing now. It's like like Tutum was saying, it's a wake-up call. You have to start preparing now, you have to be ready. And if you're not, you're gonna get wiped away.

SPEAKER_04 9:33

And especially with everything that's happening in the world right now, like there's so many different things that are taking place. And one of the things that Bishop said, just like you were talking about, was the warning signs are everywhere, but are we gonna listen to them? And he said, the warning signs are the signs of the times. And so in the Bible, Jesus said, Um, you'll know like I'm coming soon by the signs of the times, and that so some of those are explained in the Bible. So wars and rumors of wars, pestilences, so severe sickness outbreaks, famines, earthquakes, um, and all those things are happening on such a larger scale. So we gotta be prepared, guys, because we don't know when Jesus is gonna come back.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 10:09

Start digging in your Bibles now and stay in it. And like, and the way I see it is like even if you don't think that God isn't coming back for 300 years, you should still be just as prepared as someone who thinks he's coming back tomorrow. Yeah. Like you should always be prepared and there's always more to learn.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

He brought that up. He was like, you could just blink an eye now, and like the information that can be learned is like doubled in this world.

SPEAKER_06 10:35

Yeah, like you can always get closer to God, you can always know more about God. Yeah. Yeah. You should just always want to be prepared.

SPEAKER_04 10:42

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Because the word of God is alive, and so there's always something that we can learn from it. Like you can read it 20 million thousand times, frontwards, backwards, chronologically, whatever. But there's always something that we can learn from the Bible because it's alive.

SPEAKER_02 10:58

Yeah. Um, I really liked when he was talking about making the church great. So I like whatever he said, like to be like Noah. Um, and he said to bring bring people with you. Like, you know how Noah, you know, the flood happened, but Noah knew and Noah built the boat and everything. Yeah. So we are kind of the Noah's of this world. We know what's coming and we know what to expect, and we know the answer. And it's our job to spread it and to help others and take them with us and get them on the boat or on the Jesus boat, if you will, and sail away into heaven. That's good.

SPEAKER_06 11:29

That's my go-to from now on. Hop on the Jesus boat.

SPEAKER_03 11:32

Hop on the Jesus boat. You're not flyers.

SPEAKER_06 11:34

We're surviving the flood. Hop on the Jesus boat.

SPEAKER_03 11:37

Hop on the Jesus boat, everybody. That's funny. Let's sail into heaven together. That can be like the tagline. Hop on the Jesus boat.

SPEAKER_06 11:45

If I uh if I bring enough people to church, do I eventually upgrade to the Jesus yacht?

SPEAKER_02 11:50

Oh I'm thinking, yeah. Or the Jesus super yacht.

SPEAKER_05 11:54

Super yacht.

SPEAKER_02 11:55

100%. So um, so I also really liked when he said to be a wise steward of the gifts that God has given you. Um this kind of has to do with what Andrea was saying about things like sins having consequences. Oh yeah. Like, you know, you have to take care of yourself and your body because everything has a consequence. Um I think it's well so he talked about 1 Peter 4 10. So that says each of you should use whatever gift you have to receive, have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. So this is pretty much saying use your talents for like that the Lord has given you and spread, you know, what the Lord has done. Um so you need to share the word the word with the people in the world, spread his love to those around you. That is very nice.

SPEAKER_06 12:39

Yeah, and like don't compare yourself to other people. Like God gave us each our own unique gifts.

SPEAKER_02 12:43

Yes, that's a big thing. Sometimes it takes a little while to fight.

SPEAKER_06 12:46

Audre and Ramsey, they sing, yeah. And you're gonna sound so like I could be like, bro, they sing and I can't. I'm never gonna be able to reach the crowds that they can't.

SPEAKER_02 12:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 12:57

I just don't have that gift.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

Without Hudson, none of us would be able to hear them. Yeah, what's the point of singing if we don't have a sound guy to help us be heard?

SPEAKER_06 13:04

That's so facts, guys.

SPEAKER_01 13:06

Wow.

SPEAKER_06 13:06

But it's all God.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

Yeah. Another thing that he had brought up that I really was like you always hear it, but it's so true is that you reap what you sow. So you can't feed yourself and your mind with things of the world that aren't of the truth and like the Bible. And expect to be seen as like a Christian and that expect that you're I don't know how to explain it, but just no, I know what you're saying.

SPEAKER_02 13:31

Expect expect the good things from God from God. Like expect the right things.

SPEAKER_01 13:35

And all the things that you would get if you were doing what you were supposed to. Yeah. And yeah, and you need to start planting the right seeds and sowing the right things. Because he's like, you can't plant what was he saying? You can't plant something and get like an apple tree.

SPEAKER_06 13:47

Like you have to plant he was saying like you can't plant one thing and get another. Yeah, you have to plant I think he actually used right seeds. It was apples. I was gonna say you can't plant an apple tree and expect acorns.

SPEAKER_03 13:58

Yeah, yeah. Oh, yeah, that's what he said.

SPEAKER_06 14:00

Yeah, I mean, you'll either plant good things or you'll plant bad things and just keep planting the good things. Yeah, just keep planting the good things. Don't be a bad farmer.

SPEAKER_02 14:09

I really liked well, pretty much the whole point was, you know, doing the right thing can help you to manage or avoid certain storms in your life. I think that in itself is like its own like obvious statement. Like doing the right thing, like Ramsay was talking about, doing the things you're supposed to and not the things that like like, oh, I'm a Christian, but then go doing everything a Christian would not do. Doing the right things can help you know how to manage the storms that come up in your life. Like if you're not close with God and something bad happens, you think, why God? Why did you let this happen? But if you're close to God, you can realize He's preparing me for the next level. Like this storm is for a reason, everything is happening for a reason. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 14:44

Like it sounds uh sounds simple, but like if you follow God, read the Bible, stay in constant communication with God, and pray before you make big decisions, then you'll avoid a lot of unavoidable storms.

SPEAKER_02 14:59

Yeah, if God by your side, you can navigate through any storm.

SPEAKER_06 15:03

That was another point. Uh there are storms that are very avoidable. And a lot of the times we cause those storms. That's our own fault. Because like I said earlier, we can be a bit silly sometimes.

SPEAKER_02 15:26

So, what do you guys think it means to be involved in the church? And is serving important?

SPEAKER_06 15:32

I think, yeah, serving is I think it's really important. Um you can't just go to church just as a spectator. Like it's not this third party thing that you're going and watching everything, going around and getting your touch of God and then going home. Yeah. Church, it isn't just the building, it isn't just the experience, it's the body. And if you're going to church, you're joining that body. And so you have to take part in that.

SPEAKER_02 16:01

Like everyone should have a part in it. Everyone should have something to, you know, we all go here together, we're all one family. We have to all chip in.

SPEAKER_04 16:10

And serving is vital to the body of the church because every person is a part of the church and it has a function. Um, and so skipping around in 1 Corinthians 12, it discusses how the human body has a lot of parts, but and many parts make up one body, but it's still one body. And so it is with the body of Christ. So everyone has different parts in the church because in 1 Corinthians 1 12, um, here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church. First are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, and then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, and those who have the gift of this leadership, and those who speak in unknown tongues. So everyone has a purpose, and everyone's purposes are different, but they are of equal value, just like we were saying earlier, how like Ramsay and Audrey sing, but Hudson does the sound. And so those two things are completely different, but they are of equal value because we are all serving God together.

SPEAKER_02 17:10

Yeah, I think serving is super important because it allows for spiritual growth in a person. Exactly. Um, because God sees your efforts and he sees that you're using the tools that he's given you and he's and that you are preparing for the next level that he asked for you. Um, and it's putting your faith into action. And James 2.17 says, faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead. So we have to put our talents and our things that God's given us into action.

SPEAKER_04 17:33

Yes, because we're called to be active participants in the mission of pointing people to Jesus. And that's one of our churches, well, that that's our church's motto is we point people to Jesus. Yeah. And we cannot point people to Jesus unless we serve. Throughout the Bible, um, we are commanded to serve. Like it's not just a oh, you should know. We are commanded to serve. And in Romans 12, 11, it says, never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

SPEAKER_00 17:59

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 18:00

And another verse in Joshua says, Um, but if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods of your ancestors before serve served beyond the Euphrates River, or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. There are several instances where God is calling us to serve. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 18:25

Yes, like serving is a it's a pretty big deal. Like with all the verses she just said, like you can't just pick and choose. Like you can't just be wishy-washy. You can't just go to church. Like you have to be involved in the body. Like I think that's a big misconception because I found myself in similar uh seasons in my life where I would just go to church and be a part of the experience, the church experience. I'd go Sunday and Wednesday, I'd talk to people, to fellow believers, to friends, and I'd experience God, but I wouldn't get involved in the body. And if you don't do that, you're missing out on church. Because you're not just going for you to get a touch from God for you, you're going to be a part of the body. Exactly. You gotta think about like your own, uh like your own body. Like there's nothing in your body that serves no purpose. Every single part of the church body has to be doing something.

SPEAKER_02 19:17

Yeah, it's like think of it as a real body, like everybody's doing their part, but you're the arm of the body, and when you're not helping, the arm's not there, and they don't have an arm. And so now they have to manage with one arm.

SPEAKER_06 19:32

I mean, that'd be a pretty big part of the body.

SPEAKER_00 19:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:35

I think it helps because it makes it less about you and more about like Jesus because you can get so caught up in just doing things for yourself, and it's almost it's not it's like a sacrifice that you would make to help out the church. Like, I serve so much that it's become part of my identity. Like, if I'm not serving, then I'm going find something to help with because there's always something that you could help with. Cause I don't know, it's just yeah, there's always something that's missing a little help from.

SPEAKER_02 20:05

It lets you be like part of something that's bigger than yourself and put put your talents towards the kingdom, be better the kingdom.

SPEAKER_04 20:10

And serving makes you selfless, yeah. Because serving really takes your selfish qualities out of you because serving in church and serving God gives you nothing automatically. So say I'm I like I volunteer for kids' church. I'm a Sunday school teacher. Like materially, that gives me nothing.

SPEAKER_06 20:32

Um probably gives you some anger issues with the kids.

SPEAKER_04 20:36

But in reality, whenever you serve, you are sowing seeds no matter if you're singing, if you're preaching, if you're um behind a pulpit, or if you're a Sunday school teacher, or if you're the sound guy, or if you're the guy that no one ever sees. You are sowing seeds no matter where you are. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 20:53

Yeah, and I think that uh I think it uh honestly it it perfectly like captures the heart of Jesus because Jesus himself came down to serve others. Yeah, exactly. And so following in his heart, we should want to serve others always, continually.

SPEAKER_05 21:08

Yeah, the backbone of Jesus' ministry was uh in service. Right. And Mark Mark 10 talks about how he came not only to serve but to be, I mean, not only to be served, but to serve. Yeah, yeah. So his I mean his service was dying for us. I don't know many of the people that would serve in that way. But I'm gonna be honest.

SPEAKER_06 21:29

I try, but I don't think I'm at that level. So I love you guys, but nice to know.

SPEAKER_05 21:37

Yeah, serving comes and it comes, you have to be home, like you should be humble when you're serving because it not only is humbling, but it's a sacrifice. Like when you come and you serve, you're you gotta wake up early because you go to one service, you serve one service. If I'm serving second service, I gotta wake up at a certain time to get a first service. So it's like you're you really are giving something up in order to serve the higher the higher man.

SPEAKER_00 22:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 22:04

Yeah. And I just think if everyone in the church has a heart of servitude, it goes into building a community together with your church. Yeah, yeah. Like the community and the unity within the church is gonna be so much stronger if everyone pitches in. Because when everyone pitches in and when you start pitching yourself, you start actually getting a feel of what it's like to be a part of it, yes, and not just be a spectator, not just a visitor. Like when you start serving at Point Church, you become point church, and that brings a sense of belonging.

SPEAKER_02 22:35

Yes, exactly. I agree, that's good.

SPEAKER_05 22:36

And you'll make lifelong friendships through that service people. Like I know since I've started holding the door, like I've met people who I didn't even know came to the church. I was like, wow, and and they're really good people, and they're like, I've been coming here all my life.

SPEAKER_02 22:51

Oh, how funny, me too.

SPEAKER_06 22:53

Nice to meet you.

SPEAKER_05 22:55

I've been here for 12 years, I've never seen you, but you're lying, bro.

SPEAKER_06 22:59

You ain't been here. You're a guest.

SPEAKER_04 23:02

I think oh wait, you can go. And whenever you serve and you are serving in a place that God has put you or in a place um that just needs help, you will find like-minded people who are called to serve in that area. And whenever you are around those like-minded people who have the same passions as you or who have the same likes as you, that can really help in your spiritual growth because you connect with each other like on a different level than someone who doesn't share the same calling as you. Yeah, create a spiritual family.

SPEAKER_02 23:31

Like those people will be with you when you're struggling and they'll support you, and they're just there for you, and they'll challenge you to grow in your faith, too, which is exactly a big thing because you can get to the next step when you have people holding you accountable, which is something we've talked about before.

SPEAKER_05 23:43

And with serving, you have to be available, exactly. And that's what God looks for. I think uh Brother Jonathan talked about that. He said the greatest ability is availability.

SPEAKER_02 23:51

I remember that. That was good. I love that.

SPEAKER_06 23:53

I really like that point. Yeah, because uh God doesn't need you to be good at something to serve, he just needs you to say yes, whether it be in church, the building, or in the body. You don't have to be good at it, you just have to be willing to do it. Yeah, I honestly I think you'll find a lot more people that are good at it than people that are actually willing to do it. Yeah, because it's scary.

SPEAKER_04 24:11

Yeah, serving can be scary.

SPEAKER_01 24:13

Yeah, I think people also almost get scared of serving, like they don't have anything that they think they're good at, and so they just won't even ask or try. But serving can be like just picking up trash on the floor if you see it, exactly, or saying welcome to a guest that you've never seen before, or just I don't know, just doing literally anything.

SPEAKER_02 24:34

We have greeters, we have ushers, like there's something for everyone, they're for somebody. And if you don't want to be seen at all, if you're kind of like more of a shy person, you could be like a trash person, like that's even helpful.

SPEAKER_06 24:43

Like and when you really think about it, being scared to serve because you're not because you don't feel that you're adequate enough or good at it, is kind of silly if you take a step back. Because think about it. This is the God of the universe, he created everything, he can do anything. He doesn't need you to do anything for him. He's not looking for your perfection, you'll never be perfect enough to do as good as God. That's good. So, like, what are we doing here? Like, he's not looking for you to be good because compared to him, your skills are nothing compared to God, like ever. So, like, he's not looking for you to be good, he just needs you to be available, exactly. Like what Lincoln says.

SPEAKER_02 25:26

Yeah, he wouldn't call you to something that he knows you can't do. He's not gonna be like, you know what, Ramsey, I'm gonna make you be able to sing halfway, but when you go on the stage, you're gonna suck. Like he doesn't, like he will qualify you, he will make you good. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_06 25:37

Yeah, like as long as your heart is in the right place and you're serving because you want to serve the kingdom, not for your own.

SPEAKER_04 25:45

I think heart posture is a big part of it. You're good. Exactly. You have to serve for the right reasons. You can't have a selfish, well, I mean, I guess you could like have selfish motivations to serve, but your service will have a better effect on you and the people around you whenever you are doing it out of a selfish, selfless um heart. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_06 26:05

Like, I know you guys may sometimes see me stand up in the sound booth while I'm running sound. It's not because I want to be seen. It's because sometimes that chair makes my back hurt. My heart's in the right place. I try.

Is Serving Just for Sunday?

SPEAKER_02 26:31

So we've talked about that, but do you guys think that serving is just for Sunday? No, absolutely not. I mean, wait. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_03 26:39

Absolutely not. I'll put you down.

SPEAKER_04 26:40

Don't worry about it.

SPEAKER_06 26:41

The crowd agrees with you.

SPEAKER_04 26:43

I think if the church does not serve, then we are not the church because the church is called to be like Jesus, and we have to be his hands and feet on earth every single day. And there's a verse in Matthew 25, 34 through 40. I'm not gonna read all of it, but practically um Jesus had separated the like people on his right hand, on his on his left hand, and he said, These people will inherit the kingdom. These people will inherit the kingdom of God. For whenever I was hungry, you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. And then the righteous will say to him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you as a stranger and take you in or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? And Jesus will say to them, Sure, assuredly, I say to you, as you did it to the least of these, you did it to me. And so that tells us point blank that service happens every single day and not just on Sunday.

SPEAKER_02 27:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 27:53

Like service is it's a lifestyle.

SPEAKER_04 27:57

Exactly.

SPEAKER_06 27:58

I think it's very dangerous if you uh box off your serving into Sunday service and Wednesday service or a church event.

SPEAKER_00 28:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 28:06

Because serving isn't a position in the church that you have, it isn't a role, it isn't a position in the church. It's your heart and your lifestyle.

SPEAKER_04 28:14

Exactly.

SPEAKER_06 28:15

You don't just serve on Sunday and Wednesdays, you should be serving continually, always, to everyone you meet.

SPEAKER_02 28:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 28:23

I think that's who we all should strive to be. And I'm not saying like I'm not that person, but that's who I'm trying to be. If I follow God, I want to serve continually.

SPEAKER_02 28:34

Yeah. God's called us to live out our faith daily. We have to practice fruit of the spirit daily. Guys, I'm wearing a fruit of the spirit shirt. I didn't even plan this. But let's keep it. Icon. Thank you. Um, and Jesus, Jesus loved and he healed and he taught not just on Sunday. He did this every day. He did miracles daily, not just, not just, oh, on Sunday.

SPEAKER_04 28:55

And they got mad at him whenever they did it, whenever he did it on Sunday.

unknown 28:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 29:00

Can you imagine?

SPEAKER_04 29:01

Sabbath, dude. Keep it holy. Literally.

SPEAKER_06 29:02

Can you imagine how funny it would be if Jesus would like go up to the people he healed in the Bible and be like, well, sorry, dude. Gotta wait till Wednesday.

SPEAKER_02 29:10

It's not Sunday.

SPEAKER_06 29:11

I can't heal you today. I can't restore your sight today.

SPEAKER_02 29:15

Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 29:17

It'll be alright. Just pass away. I'll bring you back on Wednesday. Sorry, I can't do that today.

SPEAKER_04 29:22

Literally. So that just proves that service happens every single day. Because like the verse that we had just read like people who are sick don't come to church. I mean, well, they do come to church sometimes, but like you go and visit the people who are sick, that is involved outside of church hours. Or um in prison. Like if you're in prison, you are not coming to a church service because you are locked up. And so whenever we go visit you or whenever you go to you, it's outside of a church time.

SPEAKER_02 29:51

Yeah. Because we're the flesh and some people can't get we're the flesh of the church. Some people can't get to the building or to the church. So we can bring it to them. We could spread his goodness and his His mercy.

SPEAKER_06 30:00

Like big shocker, the people not in the church are the ones that need the church the most.

SPEAKER_02 30:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:07

We have living testimonials. We have to bring church to them because we are the church. We are the every person is the church.

SPEAKER_06 30:14

Like if you think about it, ideally everyone within the church, like, these are our people. Like we're all good. Like we're locked in with Jesus. It's the people that are out in the world that they need to be locked in with Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 30:28

That's a big point.

SPEAKER_05 30:29

And if we take the tools and the stuff that we learn on Sundays and on Wednesdays, and apply that to Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday and Saturday, I feel like we could be way more efficient.

SPEAKER_04 30:40

Yeah. And effective.

SPEAKER_05 30:41

Yeah. If we instead of just limiting service to Sundays and Wednesdays. Yeah. Like it should be a Monday morning thing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:50

You ever heard the song Monda Monday morning? Monday morning faith? Yes. Yes. I like that song. I found it recently. I know who's by. Look up Monday morning faith. I think it's by Sue. SEU. I thought it was a different person.

SPEAKER_04 31:01

It's the same people that came out with what a God. Yeah. Oh.

SPEAKER_02 31:05

Yeah, I've been liking them.

SPEAKER_06 31:06

I also think on like a on a lesser scale, um, serving individually to you will lead to more joy and purpose in your life. Exactly. Like it really does make you feel better to be connected in a community art. When you serve with like-minded people, you find purpose. Yes. It it gives you a purpose because it feels good to do something that's not about you, to serve something greater than yourself.

SPEAKER_05 31:31

Yeah. And serving is like the foundation of what ministry should be. Yes. So don't limit your ministry to a pulpit. Like, don't think that ministry isn't limited to just a pulpit. Like, just because I'm not preaching or I'm not teaching, or that doesn't mean that you're not serving. Like, just because you're not in the spotlight doesn't mean that what you're doing behind the scenes isn't like the oil of an engine. Like, what's behind the scenes is what's running and allowing things to work.

SPEAKER_06 31:58

I mean, like, think about it practically. Like, you may think that the preacher, he's the one in the ministry, he's the one, like, these people are hearing him, they're hearing the word of God, and they're getting saved. But if someone walks up to your church doors and there's no greeter, yeah, and they walk into the door and they don't know where to go, they don't know where to sit. They walk into a packed building and there's no uh there's no person saying member there to lead them to an open seat or no one there to greet them, they may feel isolated as soon as they walk in. Yeah, and that person never even hears the message.

SPEAKER_02 32:27

Yeah, I hear a lot of stories about that actually, like a surprising amount, and people just don't know what to do. Nobody's welcoming them, nobody shows them around. They're like, okay.

SPEAKER_06 32:35

Especially if you walk in late, like things have already started, like service is going, service may be packed.

SPEAKER_02 32:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 32:40

And like you're not just gonna stand in this place you never know in the back.

SPEAKER_02 32:43

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 32:44

They end up walking out and they never like I'm walking out, like I feel uncomfortable. Yeah, and so even the smallest positions, what you perceive is the smallest position, they have a big impact.

SPEAKER_02 32:54

Yeah, it's important for us to like branch out from the things that are comfortable and normal for us, normal for us, so that we can witness to people and that we can show others like, hey, you belong here, like we want you here. Um, and that goes back to last week's die daily. Like we have to like continuously let ourselves, not let ourselves down, but like forget what our flesh wants, forget ourselves and do it for God, do it for the kingdom, do it for the better good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 33:20

And whenever we are serving, we are building his kingdom actively because we're we're not called to build our own kingdom, like we are called to build his kingdom. Exactly. And one time, um, I don't remember when, and I'm not quoting him directly, but Pastor Jared compared serving to like investing your time, and so he said, Um, serving gives us roots in the church and it invests us. Those who are invested and give they give up their time and they don't want to miss church as often because they are invested and they have spent time building something and building the kingdom of God. But those who do not serve, they do not have that time invested in the kingdom and they might have an easier time or an easier time with um missing church because they they have not invested their time into something. Yeah, yeah, like it changes the game when you feel like you're actually like a part of it, and that you make a difference because your serving does make a difference. Yeah. And if you're wondering, where do you serve? We have a great resource for you. It's called the Start Here booth. You can go to the Start Here booth, it's in the back corner of the church in the sanctuary, and you can fill out a little like next steps card and you can be put in first steps where you can learn what your purpose is and how you can actively serve in the church. Or we we always need like volunteers in kids' church or nursery or or production and sound, um, camera, coffee.

SPEAKER_02 34:51

Like vital for every church to have something like that. Like just you don't know where to go, we could lead you in the right direction. Exactly.

SPEAKER_06 34:56

As for our point church listeners, um, if you don't go to point church and you heard that, you're welcome to come.

SPEAKER_03 35:02

Yes, we we invite you. Come hang.

SPEAKER_06 35:04

This isn't a recruitment program or anything, guys.

SPEAKER_04 35:06

No, no, no, no, no. Don't misunderstand this.

SPEAKER_06 35:08

We want you to come because we love you. And that you love the Lord.

Serving God and Others Cont...

SPEAKER_04 35:13

Yeah. Going back to what somebody said, service strengthens your relationship with God because service makes us more like Him. And just like Lincoln said, the backbone of Jesus' ministry was service. And so if it was so important that Jesus did it for 33 years of his life, which was his entire life, why do we think it's something that's too far for us? Like, why do we think we can't do it?

SPEAKER_02 35:55

That's good. Ask yourself that, listener.

SPEAKER_06 36:01

Yeah. But no, yeah, uh, I agree. Like, you can't uh you can't say that you wanna um follow in Jesus' footsteps or be like Jesus, be after his own heart and not serve like him. Like you gotta follow all parts of it.

SPEAKER_04 36:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 36:21

He came to serve, he served, like Lincoln said, to the point where he gave his life for us. So serving is vital. Yeah, like the body doesn't flourish, uh, the word isn't spread if no one serves. Like someone has to do it. Let it be.

SPEAKER_00 36:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 36:38

And you don't gotta be like Lincoln was saying, like a preacher, uh missionary, like all the way down to a door greeter, like everything that's serving the kingdom.

SPEAKER_01 36:49

Yeah. Um just being kind, just being nice, saying hi to someone.

SPEAKER_05 36:53

Yeah, sometimes all people need is a smile.

SPEAKER_06 36:56

Like that, literally, if you're just giving someone a smile, uh, you could have made their day better.

SPEAKER_01 37:00

Compliment.

SPEAKER_06 37:01

Like you may not think it, but that is quite literally spreading the joy of God.

SPEAKER_02 37:04

New serving position, smiler.

SPEAKER_06 37:07

Just walk around the church and smile at you.

SPEAKER_04 37:08

Everyone who walks in. Smile. No, like today I went to a coffee shop and I got coffee, and my barista guy was so nice, and he smiled at me and he was like, Have a great day. And that just made my day better. So that's an example of you know, just smiling and being happy and being joyful to do your job or just to be here at church or to be anywhere. Like that makes an impact on people because that barista guy does not know that he made my day better. Yeah, and whatever you find your hands to do, do it to the best of your ability.

Final Thoughts/Outro

SPEAKER_02 37:37

Amen. Whatever you're serving, it's not too small and it's not too big. It could be something super simple like sweeping the floor or watching. It's just as important as the people on the stage you were helping. So don't think your your talent or your gift or your position is nothing compared to this person's.

SPEAKER_06 37:53

Here's my challenge to all of our listeners this week. Find someone that you do not know and just make them smile. And not like a not like an awkward smile like they want to stop like I want to stop talking to you, smile. Like compliment them or something. Yeah. Do something nice for them.

SPEAKER_02 38:09

Tell them they're pretty if you video it and send it into the podcast link.

SPEAKER_06 38:13

Okay. Disclaimer, do not video people without the kids. That's not what we're saying.

SPEAKER_03 38:19

And we do not have a link that you can send it in.

SPEAKER_02 38:22

Well, everyone, I think we touched on some really good topics today. So um, if you're listening, thank you so much for listening. And make sure to tune in for next week's podcast. Bye, everyone. Bye.

SPEAKER_06 38:32

Bye guys.