Celebrating Love Through Service and Transformation

 

Summary

Reflecting on our 20th anniversary, Lisa and I decided to embark on a journey that would not only celebrate our union but also serve a greater purpose. Instead of opting for a typical vacation, we chose to visit East Africa, a region where we have been supporting a ministry led by our friends, the Pattons. This trip was not about indulging in luxury but about immersing ourselves in service and witnessing the transformative power of the gospel firsthand.

In East Africa, we encountered the harsh realities of life in the red-light district, where thousands of women live in despair, trapped in a cycle of exploitation. It was heart-wrenching to see these women, many with their children hidden under their beds, enduring such conditions. However, amidst this darkness, we also witnessed the incredible work being done by the ministry. Pat, our friend, has been instrumental in rescuing these women, helping them find new hope and purpose in life. Seeing pictures of him walking these women down the aisle on their wedding day was a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of the gospel.

This experience ignited a passion within us to do more. We realized the need to devote our lives to projects that bring freedom and hope to those in bondage. Inspired by this, we decided to leverage the book we were writing, "You and Me Forever," as a tool to raise funds for building a village that could rescue thousands of women. By offering the book for free to those who cannot afford it and selling it to those who can, we aim to generate resources to support this mission.

This journey has become a collective effort, with filmmakers, app developers, and many others joining us to create something that not only strengthens marriages but also unites the body of Christ in a mission to help our brothers and sisters in need.

Key Takeaways:

1. Service as Celebration: True celebration can be found in serving others. By choosing to spend our anniversary in East Africa, we discovered that the greatest joy comes from giving and witnessing the impact of our service on others' lives. [00:28]

2. The Power of the Gospel: The gospel has the power to transform lives, even in the darkest places. Witnessing women being rescued from exploitation and finding new hope through Christ is a testament to the life-changing power of faith. [03:22]

3. Collective Effort in Mission: When we unite as the body of Christ, we can achieve remarkable things. Our book project evolved into a team effort, demonstrating how collaboration can amplify our impact and bring about significant change. [05:17]

4. Balancing Resources and Generosity: We are called to be wise stewards of our resources, balancing the need to provide freely with the necessity of generating funds for mission work. This balance allows us to support those in need while spreading the message of Christ. [04:35]

5. A Vision for Freedom: Our vision extends beyond immediate relief to creating sustainable change. By building a village to rescue women from exploitation, we aim to provide a pathway to freedom and a future filled with hope and dignity. [03:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Anniversary Plans
- [00:28] - Choosing Service Over Luxury
- [00:46] - Encountering Starvation
- [01:19] - Red Light District Realities
- [02:04] - Transformative Stories
- [02:42] - Rescuing Women
- [03:08] - The Honor of Walking Them Down the Aisle
- [03:22] - Gospel's Power to Transform
- [03:42] - Vision for a Medical Clinic
- [04:09] - Fundraising for a Village
- [04:21] - Leveraging the Book
- [05:05] - Team Effort in Mission
- [05:31] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 25:35-40
- James 2:14-17
- Galatians 6:9-10

---

Observation Questions:

1. What were the main reasons Lisa and the pastor chose to spend their anniversary in East Africa instead of a traditional vacation? [00:28]

2. Describe the conditions and challenges faced by women in the red-light district as mentioned in the sermon. [01:45]

3. How did the pastor and Lisa plan to use their book "You and Me Forever" to support their mission? [04:21]

4. What role did collaboration play in the mission described in the sermon? [05:05]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the pastor's decision to celebrate their anniversary through service reflect the teachings of Matthew 25:35-40? [00:28]

2. In what ways does the transformation of women in the red-light district illustrate the power of the gospel as described in James 2:14-17? [03:22]

3. How does the collective effort in the mission align with the principles found in Galatians 6:9-10? [05:17]

4. What does the pastor's approach to balancing resources and generosity teach us about stewardship in a Christian context? [04:35]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you chose service over personal comfort. How did it impact you and those you served? [00:28]

2. The pastor and Lisa were deeply moved by the plight of women in the red-light district. How can you become more aware of and involved in addressing social injustices in your community? [01:45]

3. Consider the pastor's use of their book to fundraise for a mission. What resources or talents do you have that could be used to support a cause you care about? [04:21]

4. Collaboration was key to the success of the mission. How can you foster a spirit of teamwork in your church or community to achieve a common goal? [05:05]

5. The pastor emphasized the importance of balancing generosity with resource management. How can you apply this principle in your personal finances or in supporting church missions? [04:35]

6. The vision for building a village to rescue women is a long-term commitment. What long-term goals can you set in your life that align with your faith and values? [03:57]

7. How can you incorporate the idea of "service as celebration" into your personal milestones or family traditions? [00:28]

Devotional

Day 1: Service as a True Celebration
In a world that often equates celebration with luxury and indulgence, true joy can be found in serving others. By choosing to spend significant moments in service, one can experience a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose. This perspective challenges the conventional idea of celebration, suggesting that the greatest joy comes from giving and witnessing the impact of our service on others' lives. When we step out of our comfort zones to serve, we not only bless others but also enrich our own lives in unexpected ways. [00:28]

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a special occasion coming up in your life. How can you incorporate an act of service into your celebration to bring joy to others?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of the Gospel
The gospel holds the power to transform lives, even in the darkest and most desperate situations. It offers hope and redemption to those who feel trapped and without purpose. Witnessing the gospel's impact on individuals who have been rescued from exploitation is a testament to its life-changing power. This transformation is not just about changing circumstances but about renewing hearts and minds, offering a new identity and purpose through faith in Christ. [03:22]

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced a significant change in your life through faith. How can you share this transformative power of the gospel with someone in need today?


Day 3: Unity in Mission
When individuals unite with a common purpose, they can achieve remarkable things. The collective effort of a community can amplify the impact of a mission, bringing about significant change. This unity is a powerful force, demonstrating how collaboration can lead to greater achievements than any individual effort. By working together, we can support and uplift each other, creating a stronger and more effective body of Christ. [05:17]

"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a project or mission you are passionate about. How can you invite others to join you in this effort to create a greater impact?


Day 4: Balancing Resources and Generosity
Being wise stewards of our resources involves balancing the need to provide freely with the necessity of generating funds for mission work. This balance allows us to support those in need while spreading the message of Christ. It requires discernment and intentionality, ensuring that our generosity is both impactful and sustainable. By managing our resources wisely, we can continue to support and expand our mission efforts. [04:35]

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)

Reflection: Evaluate your current financial habits. How can you adjust your spending to allow for more intentional generosity towards mission work?


Day 5: A Vision for Sustainable Freedom
True freedom extends beyond immediate relief to creating sustainable change. By envisioning and working towards long-term solutions, we can provide pathways to freedom and a future filled with hope and dignity. This vision requires commitment and perseverance, focusing on building structures and systems that empower individuals to thrive independently. It is about creating environments where people can experience lasting transformation and growth. [03:57]

"They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." (Isaiah 61:4, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a social issue you care deeply about. What steps can you take to contribute to a sustainable solution that offers long-term freedom and hope?

Quotes


I thought man the greatest times we've had in life have been those times when we actually serve somewhere together so we said why not do that for our 20th and go somewhere crazy and let's go to East Africa this ministry that we've been supporting our friends patents ooh I'd like to see it and she agreed. [00:22:53]

it's weird you know being in the state sometimes you can lose some of your heart for these things they become distant that we had the opportunity to actually feed some of these kids who were about to die I mean literally days away from death to be in that environment with my wife and to see her that way I want on our 20-year anniversary it was just it was powerful. [00:60:32]

just seeing these women who gosh they just look so sad literal thousand thousands of them and they're in these rooms that are barely big enough for a bed and they're just lined up side-by-side and these shacks and guys will come in and sleep with them for a dollar each and and they had their kids a lot of math they're kids under their bed while all this is going on. [01:47:96]

but then I saw these pictures and in Pat's office there are these pictures of him walking some of these girls down the aisle on their wedding day and that was just so beautiful and I'll admit I just felt like a jealousy like because what cooler thing could you do while you're on the earth I like to think that you helped a girl out of that misery like that hopelessness and you introduced her to Jesus. [02:38:11]

we were able to see what the gospel can do that there can be fruit and changed and there's girls that can be taken from this place of slavery into a place of freedom. [03:12:54]

then I go this book we've been writing we're just gonna give it away to everyone for free and then we thought no some people can afford it why don't we leverage that and use that money and help build this village in which to raise five million dollars on the one hand we have this burden like we need to get this message out for free really because why are we going to charge believers to be able to read something that might benefit them and push them towards Christ. [04:11:09]

and then on the other hand we have the spring like oh wait we've got a garner as many resources that we can to be able to fund these projects you can download the version for free for those who can't afford to buy a copy but at the same time those who can they can buy it knowing well I'm a part of what God's doing and we just started getting excited on let's do this with excellent but self-published. [04:39:05]

we start recruiting filmmakers we're getting guys that develop apps all sorts of people to just jump on the team as everyone started pitching in and wanting to do this what was going to be just Lisa and I writing a book became this team effort where you and me forever was going to be about something that was not only going to affect a bunch of marriages but it was the body of Christ coming together to help our brothers and sisters in another part of the world. [05:05:00]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jan 31, 2015. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?