If you receive it, come on church, lift your hand. We've got it. I got him. I got him. Come on, he can say it with us. Say we got him. We are part of the worship team this morning. All over the building, just begin to praise God. Where you are, just bow your head.
Spirit of the living God, fall. Spirit of the living God, fall fresh. In this place, in our hearts, in our Lord. Our minds, our relationships. Spirit of the living God, order our steps today. They may glorify you.
So, if we come in the name of Jesus, just to pause to tell Lord, we are rejoicing today. For we understand this is the day the Lord has made. Therefore, Lord, we are rejoicing today. We pray that everything that we've done for you will be pleased with our service. Be pleased that we come to glory, Lord, in the name of Jesus.
So let the word of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in your sight, Lord. And you are. We give your name the praise, for in Jesus's name, we pray.
Oh, come on. We know him to be true. Oh, that's the best praise we have. We thank God today. You may be seated in his presence on today. Come on, let's just thank God for the gifts that he's blessed us in this house to lead us in our worship. Know how we glorify the wonderful name of Jesus.
So I greet you this morning in the perfect name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. For Jesus is real. And I give him the best praise that I have. So we thank God today for you. We thank God for those who are watching. Thank God for those who are here in this building. We thank God for his presence here on today.
And certainly, I thank God that he continues to move in mighty ways. For those of you who are watching, we thank God for you, and you're going to see on the screen moments of reflection where something is shared. So if that blesses you, make sure that you share it and bless someone else. Amen.
And you're going to have an opportunity to respond to the good news of Jesus and be a partner with us in doing this thing we call life. And I don't know about you, but I thank God that when I woke up this morning, it wasn't as cold as I thought it was.
Oh man, I thought I'd have at least four praises right there. Anybody here just like warmer weather? Putting the skull cap on. And I woke up this morning. I had on thermal underwear, y'all, thermals. My wife looked over and she said, I don't think you checked the temperature today. She said it's supposed to be near 60. So immediately I took them off. And I'm glad that I did because it's feeling a little toasty right about now. But nevertheless, God is good. And we thank him for being here on today.
Now, when I'm on something, you all are on something. And when I say I'm on something, that means I'm sticking with it until God gives me release. I've been tracking this whole idea of comparing what a fan of Jesus would do versus a follower of Jesus.
Fans admire from a distance, but followers, they pull up their sleeves and then they determine to follow Jesus with all resolve, without any hesitation, without any reservation. So we thank God that he's equipped us with a few followers in Jesus' name.
Now, I want you to see yourselves in these said scriptures because it was a book written to you, about something that resonates. Let it resonate so you'll know exactly what God has called you to do and then do it.
So I'm going to use a few passages, some in the Old Testament, some in the New Testament. And like glue, they're going to cement the you to follow along closely, take good notes because I believe they'll bless you indeed. And midway, if you hear something that you might want to tag someone, make sure you tag them so they'll know that God is speaking to them.
I want to read Ecclesiastes chapter 4. I want to read verses 9 and 10. Check this translation. It says, two people, say that with me, two people, two people are better off than one. That's what it says here. For they can help each other succeed. Two people are better than one.
It goes on to say if one person falls, the other can reach out and help. I want you to hear the last part of verse number 8. It says, but someone who falls alone is in real trouble. I'm talking about today and I want to tag this message. Here it is. The power of we versus me.
Alright, y'all got quiet right there. Maybe they jumping in the spirit online. The power of we is greater. It's bigger than the power of me. About two years ago, I bailed out of the conversation regarding the greatest of all time. I bowed out. Because you have on one side those of us who roll with MJ being the greatest basketball player that ever laced up sneakers. Then there's the other side that's on team LeBron, the greatest basketball player ever.
Now, I bowed out and the reason I bowed out of that conversation is because you stay with me. You'll discover why. Now, stick a pin because I'm coming back to this story. Who's the greatest? Is it MJ or is it LJ? Now, you have your opinion. Stick a pin.
Anyone truck? Push back truck. Alright, if you know what it is, just wave your hand in the air and wave it like you just don't know what it is. You've seen it but you don't know its name. A push back truck. A push back truck. It's a truck that's designed for one purpose. It has one role.
Let me go ahead and kind of help you out. How many of you all have ever gone on vacation that requires air trucks? Let me say it again. You've been on a plane. Good Lord. Almost let one fly. I'll pray for me. Almost one just almost slipped out. It seemed like, man, I don't know that that hour back didn't really said, Lord, keep me today. Keep me today. I've been doing real good. Keep me today.
If you've been on an airplane, you've seen or experienced the push back truck because an airplane is great. Airplanes are superior. Airplanes do the thing that it was designed to get you from point A to point B in a short period of time.
Now, this airplane has Wi-Fi. They have restrooms. They have televisions. They have all of these things to make your flight great. But on an airplane, there's no such thing as a reverse gear like you get in your car. You want to go backwards, you put the car in reverse and you go backwards and all. An airplane has no reverse. They only go forward.
But in order to get on the runway, an airplane needs a push back truck. It's ugly, nondescript, but it latches on to the front wheel of the plane and it grips it and it pushes the plane backwards so that the plane, in all of its glory, in all of its splendor, can get on the runway and take off.
So, as great as the plane is, it's nothing without a push back truck. Say that word with me, push back truck. Now, back to the story. Now, I don't get into the conversation about who's the goat because I don't believe MJ or LJ would be great without a few push backs inside of their repertoire.
Now, think about MJ's going nowhere without Scottie. You can say what you want. You can fix it the way you want to fix it. There would be no six championships without two key players. First three, Scottie Pippen. The next three, Dennis Rodman. You get rid of any of them, there was no three-peat because everything great, everyone great needs a push back. They need someone to help them get on the runway so that their greatness is on display.
Y'all ain't caught what I'm trying to say. The push back. Now, MJ wouldn't have been MJ. LJ is not LJ without others who are on board playing their role. Steve Kerr was a shot shooter. Horace Grant did the work on the inside, the dirty stuff, and Dennis Rodman did it on the second three-peat. Then you had Ron Harper for the first goal. No one great makes it by themselves.
That's why I can't mess around with that argument anymore because I understand, had it not been for Phil Jackson, he was just the face that made all those personalities come together. You want to thank somebody? Look at Tex Winter. He's the one who invented the triangle and told Michael, if you're going to win, you got to stop shooting so much.
No one great makes it alone. I know what you're saying. It's just me, else. I don't need someone to come alongside. No one great makes it alone. Had it not been for Tim Grover, who was Jordan's personal trainer. After Detroit, you remember that, Detroit, were the bad boys on the block. Got three championships. You had to bulk up. No one makes it by themselves.
Now, if this is true in basketball, y'all stay with me, then it's got to be true in our walk with Jesus, see, because going at it alone is like running on a treadmill. You're moving, but you ain't going nowhere. You still in the same position, but you're not making any progress.
See, going at it alone, you have motion, but no progress. Teaming up is like building a bridge, and it leads us to roads that we could never have imagined. But see, all cultures, we glorify the self-made. And we are excited because we hear their story and think that this is something that I can do, but everyone had help along the way.
Look back over your life. Think about where you've gone and how far that you've made it. You didn't make it on your own. Somebody believed in you. Somebody prayed for you. Somebody invested their time into you. Someone spent their hard-earned money on you.
The whole African proverb says that if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. Ecclesiastes, two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed if one person fails. Are y'all hearing me on this today?
Now think about this. The pursuit of success, I told you earlier, it's like walking on a treadmill. Despite all of our effort, we find ourselves in the same place. And this solo journey might seem intriguing, might be a good story to look back and tell people how you made it, but it's an illusion that takes the attention away from working together.
Now scripture has a lot to say about this, you all, and I want to read this verse because I think this verse puts it in proper context. Now when you get a chance, read Joshua, chapter six, verses one through 20. You know what that is. That's the battle of Jericho.
Now think about this. The Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, they were united in faith. They were lucky to have God dictating and ordering their steps along the way, marched around the city of Jericho for seven days, and on the seventh day, with a collective shout, the trumpets rang out, and the walls came tumbling down.
It wasn't just Joshua. It was the collective effort of everyone that made it possible that didn't move you any. Read Judges chapter seven. That's Gideon and the 300. Now God says you got too many. Now let me go ahead and help you out. The ones that sup with their hands while they're watching, those are the ones that you roll with.
300 alone with Gideon facing the Midianites. Let you know the power of working together. That's not enough. Nehemiah didn't build the wall by himself. Read Nehemiah chapter four through chapter six. He had been ridiculed, talked about, mocked, plot against him, but he stood with the people working together to build the wall so that God would get the glory in all of this.
Man, y'all ain't praising God. Let's jump on over to the New Testament, Acts chapter two, verses 42. They held everything in common, shared everything that they had, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
It wasn't just Peter. It wasn't just all of the disciples. It was a collective unit working together to bring about glory for God. Y'all ain't praising God yet. You remember the story of Moses? Aaron and Hur doing the battle against the Amalekites. When Moses got tired, then they propped up his hands, and as long as his hands were held up, the Israelites prevailed.
Y'all ain't caught it yet. No one makes it all by themselves. Now, now, why did I bring that up? Look at Galatians chapter six, verse two. It says share each other's burdens and in this way obey the law of Christ. Y'all catch what that's saying.
It doesn't say that we should bear one another's burdens because each of us have our own burdens that we have to carry, but we have to be so in tune with one another that when you have a burden and we are brothers and sisters in Christ, then I'm supposed to come along and help you bear that burden.
But you know we got rules, y'all. We have rules that hold us back. Come on, what happens in this house? It what stays in this house? But have you ever paused to consider that sometimes maybe the answer resides outside of your house? Because if you just get the same information over from the same people over and over, maybe there's a new perspective, a new insight, or a new way to handle this.
We share each other's burdens. That's why I'm glad God put friends in my life, you all. You have them friends that can come right alongside and help bear your burden. You know, friends that don't judge you for your shortcomings. You know what I'm talking about. Friends who stick closer than their brothers.
You know, friends, that's why men and women are different. I was sharing this with my wife, you all. Men and women are different when it comes to their friends. You know, men don't have filters and we don't say things gracefully. Y'all don't know where I'm going with this, you know.
Now I have good friends and my good friends have a subtle way of saying things to get me back on my game. You know what I'm talking about. My friend told me, man, you fat. But he added something on the end of it. Y'all read between the lines. Y'all ain't been saved all of your lives.
Man, you fat ass. Jesus, where y'all minds at? You fat ass Jesus. Where y'all minds at? I thought I was about to say something that Red Morse would say, no. And then I looked in the mirror, I'm like, I am fat. But we didn't fall out. We didn't have an attitude towards one another.
And what we did was, hey, man, I'm going to be at the gym on this day. You more than welcome to come. You really should. You more than welcome to come and work that fat off. That's how we talk to one another. But you can't say that to a sister.
Come on, y'all. Come on, y'all. Do these jeans make me look fat? Oh, no, baby. Those jeans were made by the grace of God to grace your body as they is. I can't think of anything else who could fit those jeans like you wear. And I bet not ever hear you ask that question because you are fearfully and wonderfully made.
When God made you, he broke the mold so that there would never be another just like you wear those jeans. Bear one another's burdens. And then that same friend, that's how friends come along. We bear one another's burdens. He saw my picture for shepherd's appreciation. He said, man, I'm proud of you on your journey. But you need some new pictures.
We ain't fell out. We left because what he said was true. He came alongside Galatians chapter six, verse two, share each other's burdens. And this way you obey the law of Christ.
Now, can I come and tell you what I came to tell you? Y'all laughing at me in the spirit. Now, think about this. Think about this. We are together when we are together. It's easy to move a couch when it's more than one person that's moving it.
You ever try to move something that's big and heavy all by yourself? No, it's impossible because it's designed for us to come together and work it out together. Acts chapter two, and I'm gonna set camp right here. The believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
They sold their property and possessions and shared the money among those who were in need. Look at what it said. They worshiped together at the temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity, all while praising and enjoying the goodwill of all people.
It says right here, and the Lord added to the fellowship those who were being saved. Now, now I want you to catch this. So, I want you to lean in on this part right here. God designed us not for us to walk alone in this time.
Now, it amazes me that when we start going through, that's when we start to pull away. Let's see, when we're going through, that's not the time when we're supposed to pull away because his design is not for us to walk the journey alone but to walk the journey together.
So, I want you to remember up. Sharing what we have. Moving forward with a shared vision. That's what the early church did, you all. They didn't gather for the sake of gathering. No, when they gathered together, you all, they were a community bound by love. They were driven by a common purpose and they were moved by the spirit of God.
So, I want every one of you today. Now, I want you to reflect. Reflect on the relationships that are within your church community. Are they surface level or are they rooted in genuine love and concern? And so my goal is to deepen at least one relationship this week.
You know, to go deeper. To move on. I can make it all by myself too. No, brother. I need you. I don't know about you. I love God. I love Jesus. I love my church, but God has placed people in my life like oxygen. I need it in order to thrive. I need it in order to survive.
Yeah, I have my wife. Yes, I have my family, but God has made us in such a way for y'all to build greatness together. No one becomes great all by themselves. Are y'all hearing me? This morning, no one becomes great by themselves, but I have a vision for you that God has called you to greatness, but he won't do it by yourself.
So, I want you to think about this as we conclude this. I want you to think about the areas in my life where I've went at it all alone and then ask yourself where did I end up? Because at some point, I can't tell you when, I can't tell you how, but at some point, your world will be disrupted.
Disrupted in such a way you never imagined. Disrupted in a way that will call into question your very faith. And I'd hate for that moment of disruption to happen and you're doing life alone. So, if you don't have anybody in your life, that's why I'm super excited that we're kicking off our groups once again because the stories that I hear from those who are in their respective groups is how much the group has changed their lives.
I love getting the phone calls, the text messages, the emails that state how when one was sick or hospitalized, how the groups came together and galvanized and they were there ministering to that person, praying for that person, serving that person, feeding that person, doing the things that God's word calls for us to do.
So, if you hadn't become a part of a group, man, I'm praying that you let this be the opportunity and the moment where you become part of one because if you wanna go fast, go alone. But if you want to go further, God designed this life for us to walk it together because we go further, faster together. Do you believe that?
Well, let me stand. Let me ask you this. Stand to your feet. Let me, let me do this. Yeah, come on, stand to your feet. It's alright to give God a clap offering of praise. Now, here's what I wanna do. I'm gonna pray for you. That's what I wanna do because all of you solo believers who like to move in solidarity, who like to move in silence and secrecy, all of the above, I pray that Father, in the name of Jesus, I want you to speak right now.
I want you to speak right now to that person who's made up their mind that I'm doing life alone. To help them understand and hear, Lord, today from your word that two are better than one. That if a fall has to happen, Lord, thank God that you've brought people into their lives to help them get through that next season.
And then, Lord, I pray right now in the name of Jesus for that person who's made up in their mind, Lord, that I've trusted too much, been hurt too often. I pray that you would grace up and let the sun shine in.
And so, Father, we pray that as we get ready to kick off this fall season of group life for those who said that they don't that life is better together. Help them to see, Lord, in the name of Jesus that the power of we is greater than the power of me.
And so, Lord, we trust you right now. We trust you in the name of Jesus that you would bring pushback trucks in our lives. That we can help someone get on their runway to greatness. And then, Lord, we pray that we're able to reciprocate and that we all can be great together in the name of Jesus.
We pray and ask this, Lord, today because too many have decided to be lone ranger believers. That's a fallacy, Lord, because sometimes we're not always as strong as we pretend to be. And so, Lord, I sense it right now in the name of Jesus that someone's right there on that edge. Help them to see, Lord, that there are people in their lives waiting to minister to them right where they are.
So, Lord, we thank you in advance in the name of Jesus that we'll be able to see the comforters, the encouragers you've brought in our lives in Jesus' name. We pray and ask this, amen.
Were you blessed today? You may be seated in the Lord's presence. All of us need others to get us onto the runway of greatness. And I pray that you have somebody in your life. God, just bless me now to have a few. But I pray that you have a few in your life that can do the very same thing.
Being a part of a church family is more than just attending a worship service. Being a part of a church family means that I move from just being a fan or an admirer of Jesus to a fully devoted follower of Jesus.
Now, how do we do that? Because we've made being a part of our church real simple. Since we have this digital and physical experience going on right now, you can text the word MarsHeal, MarsHeal to 33777 and then follow the instructions. And then that gets you into our system.
Now right now in the comments section, I'm going to ask the digital pastor to drop a comment card. It's called a connection card. And when that connection card drops, you can fill it out, then there's an indication from that drop-down menu where you are in your walk with God. And then submit that form back to us and we'll follow up. Just that simple.
Now, you heard this and said, man, I'm ready to move my walk with Jesus beyond just attending on a Sunday or watching on a Sunday. I need to get connected to a group. We fixed that for you. To be a part of a group, a life group, what we call them, you can text. Now, here's the word. Life group. Life group. One word together. You can text that word to the number 33777.
Then you'll see a link to fill out that form and boom, fill it out. And then there's another drop-down menu. You can select what group you like to be a part of. And we even have a group that meets online via Zoom. Or you can go to our website. Our website has been completely redesigned in order to facilitate this and to make it real easy to be a part of what goes on at Mars Hill.
I'm excited about that because not only do we get to do this physically, but we get to do it online as well. So that's how you connect. Things have changed. And I thank God because in order for something new to be birthed, something old has to die. And we thank God for just keeping us right there on the edge of what it means to be relevant. Amen?
Amen. So those of you watching this online, I want you to drop it in the comments section. What stood out? Let us know what stood out. And then let us know what you're going to do about it. And in that way, the message continues to live. Praise God. I thank God today. A lot stood out for me.
And I'm just trying to remember all of those who helped me to become great in my walk with God as well. Praise God. We thank Him here today. Now I'm going to call the team back up because now is a good time to transition into our communion moment.
When you walked in, you should have received communion elements, the bread and the wine together. And I want to take this moment to set the tone in the atmosphere about the ultimate exchange. Because we've moved from being unworthy to being loved. From being unworthy to being unbelievably loved during all worthiness is found in Jesus.
And He extends that invitation to come as you are but not to stay as you are. Communion is a special time for believers. When we come together to remember what Jesus has done for us in our reflect on our own lives and how we fall short of God's glory.
But even in the midst of this reflection, we find hope not in ourselves but in Jesus. Communion is not about all worthiness. It's about the worthiness of Jesus. Powerful reminder that God sees us through the perfect lens of His perfect Son.
That's why 1st Corinthians, chapter 11 verse 28 says, that is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. Communion. Before taking communion, I want you to just spend a moment while our team just ministers a verse or two.
And while they're ministering in song, I want you to reflect. I want you to close your eyes. And I want you to reflect and consider the ways Jesus has changed your life. Can you do that? So could you right now just take a moment and our team's gonna just sing a verse or two to set the atmosphere considering the ways.
Seeing all imperfection. Seeing His perfection. Think about it. You unworthy. None of us are. Those of you who are online, we want you to get your communion elements. Get them ready while we prepare our hearts and our minds.
You are the risen King. Are you thinking about it? Seated in majesty. So, I'm gonna ask in the days of communion, when we look inward, we see our imperfection. Looking upward, we see His perfection. And as we take communion, you see the flaws but Jesus sees you.
And when you can't come to Jesus, we need to acknowledge our shortcomings. But this is a moment to celebrate the one who forgives. And as Romans 3:23 says, for everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God's glorious standard yet God in His grace freely makes us right.
He did this through Jesus when He freed us from the penalty of our sins. So, the bread, you peel that first flat back, that's the bread that represents the body of Christ. Peel that second flat back, the ultimate sacrifice. No more bloodshed, no. We're all worthy in His sight.
First in Romans 11:26, for every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord's death until He comes again. So, let us now in the mysterious presence of Jesus, let us commune together. And remember, whatever you do or you say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father, Colossians 3 in verse 17.
Were you blessed today? Come on, let's give God a clap offering of praise. You may be seated. We're going to ask Reverend Morris, he's going to come, he's going to talk a little bit about giving the offering. So, let's receive him with a good hearty amen.
How many of you are excited that we are coming back together live and in person? Let me know that in the comments section. Please, let me know that in the comments section. If you are excited about us coming back live and in person, let me know that in the comments section, and the brother would greatly appreciate that.
Since you are excited and you think that it's cool for us to gather weekly, you're letting me know in the comments section by raising your hands or shouting it out because we are a 5G church. What does that mean? We gather, we group, we grow, we go, and we give.
And because of that, we're excited that we have this opportunity to come back. I know what some of you all are saying. Pastor Storrs, you know, I love you, I follow you, but you're not my pastor, and I have a pastor. Hey, I get that. I don't even have to be your pastor for you to benefit from the work that we do as a ministry. Would you agree?
And to bring a weekly online gathering, and now we're adding in-person gatherings, we must first sustain the work that we're doing digitally. Would you agree? So with that stated, we need more of you to partner with us. We need more of you to consider partnering with us.
I'm already a tither, Pastor. That's cool. We love that, and we wouldn't be able to sustain the work that we do without you giving it. Now, we need partners. In addition to consistent tithers, we also need partners who will give regularly.
Now, if anyone benefits from this ministry, consistently partners with us, let's just say on average $100 a month, we can meet all of our financial needs. And I want to remind you, it takes between 40 to 60 hours of human labor to make this ministry happen consistently.
So we need partners to step up and consider reoccurring gifts. And we've made it so easy and obvious here at Mars Hill. And we're not asking you to give based on promises. We're asking you to give based on results.
And I believe here at Mars Hill, it's all about results. And you've been blessed, empowered, enlightened, educated, affirmed, given the keys to live abundantly every single day.
Now, to set up that gift, whether it's reoccurring or one time, you can text MHGIR to 33777. Or you can go to our website and follow the prompts on MarsHillChicago.org slash giving. Follow the prompts and you can give that way. You can set it up as reoccurring, one time, however you want to do it.
Or you can mail in that gift to P.O. Box 6159 River Forest, Illinois 60305. With that stated, I want to make sure that you know that we can't do this without you. We are in partnership. We are in cooperation together. So we thank God for each and every one of you.
That's right, Mary. I'm excited as well. And I love it. Excited that we're getting back each Sunday during this fall.
on Nov 05, 2023
