by Hope City Church on Jan 21, 2024
In the message delivered at Hope City Church, the focus is on the profound love Jesus has for people, emphasizing the eternal nature of the human soul and the Christian responsibility to make a difference in the lives of others. The narrative begins with a reflection on Luke chapter 14, which serves as both a window into Jesus' love for humanity and a mirror for self-examination. The passage describes a great supper to which many were invited, yet those invited made excuses not to attend. This parable illustrates the tendency of people to prioritize their own interests over the divine invitation, highlighting the misplaced priorities that can lead to missing out on spiritual opportunities.
The message then transitions to celebrating the church's tenth anniversary, acknowledging the significant milestone and the impact the church has made in the Savannah region. The church is recognized for its commitment to caring for people, reaching out to others, and empowering individuals. The church's growth and expansion are attributed to its adherence to the core values of adding to the community, being inclusive, and inviting others to join in the Christian journey.
The narrative further explores the concept of Jesus as an "adder" and "inviter," someone who consistently sought to include and welcome others. Jesus' presence at various gatherings throughout the New Testament is cited as evidence of his desire to be with people and to expand the circle of God's grace. The message underscores the importance of Christians emulating this inclusive approach by being proactive in reaching out to those who may feel lost or forgotten.
The speaker shares personal stories and experiences to illustrate the impact of being an "adder" and "inviter." For instance, the speaker recounts how a simple gospel pamphlet led to a transformative moment in their life, emphasizing the power of giving and outreach in expanding the kingdom of God. The message encourages the congregation to remain fluid and flexible in their service, ready to adjust and expand their efforts to reach more people with the gospel.
The message concludes with a call to action, urging the congregation to continue making room for others and to not let the church become a closed meeting. The church is envisioned as an open place where all are welcome to experience the transformative power of the gospel. The speaker invites those who feel distant from God to draw closer and to make a decision to follow Jesus, reinforcing the church's mission to make a difference in the lives of individuals and the broader community.
Key Takeaways:
- The parable of the great supper in Luke chapter 14 serves as a poignant reminder that the invitation to partake in God's kingdom is often met with excuses and misplaced priorities. It challenges individuals to examine their own lives and consider whether they are truly prioritizing their spiritual journey over worldly concerns. [55:01]
- The tenth anniversary of Hope City Church is not just a celebration of past achievements but a pivotal moment to look forward to greater works and broader outreach. The church's commitment to inclusivity and expansion is a testament to its understanding that the work of the gospel is never complete; there is always more room at the table for those seeking refuge and community. [43:11]
- Jesus' example as an "adder" and "inviter" is a model for Christian behavior, demonstrating that the essence of the gospel is about enlarging the circle and making space for everyone. This inclusive approach is not just about adding numbers but about genuinely caring for each individual and recognizing their inherent value. [01:03:42]
- Personal testimonies and acts of giving have the power to change lives and impact eternity. The story of how a simple gospel pamphlet led to a life-changing decision for Christ illustrates the profound effect that each act of outreach can have, encouraging believers to continue investing in the lives of others. [01:18:13]
- The concept of remaining fluid and flexible in service is crucial for the growth of the church and the spread of the gospel. As the church seeks to expand its reach, it must be willing to adapt and find new ways to connect with those who have yet to hear the message of Christ. This adaptability ensures that the church remains a living, dynamic force in the world. [01:08:53]
Bible Reading:
Luke 14:16-24 (NIV)
16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I have just married a woman, so I cannot come.’
21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.
24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
Observation Questions:
1. What were the reasons given by the invited guests for not attending the banquet?
2. How did the host of the banquet react to the excuses made by the invited guests?
3. What instructions did the host give to his servant after learning that the invited guests would not attend?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What do the excuses made by the invited guests reveal about their priorities?
2. How does the host's reaction to the excuses and subsequent actions reflect on the nature of God's kingdom?
3. In what ways does the command to bring in the poor, crippled, blind, and lame challenge societal norms and expectations?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you made an excuse to avoid a spiritual opportunity. What was the excuse, and what did you prioritize instead?
2. Identify someone in your life who may feel like they are on the "outside" or overlooked. What is one specific action you can take this week to reach out to them with God's love?
3. Consider your current commitments and activities. Is there anything you need to adjust or reprioritize to make more room for inviting others into God's kingdom?
4. Think of a place in your community where people might feel forgotten or marginalized. How can you and your small group actively show God's inclusive love there this month?
Day 1: Prioritize Your Spiritual Invitation
The parable of the great supper in Luke chapter 14 serves as a poignant reminder to examine one's priorities, ensuring that spiritual commitments are not overshadowed by worldly distractions. It is a call to reflect on the choices made daily and to reassess the value placed on the divine invitation to God's kingdom. This self-examination is crucial for a fulfilling spiritual journey. [55:01]
Hebrews 13:14 - "For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come."
Reflection: What worldly distractions are currently preventing you from fully accepting God's invitation to spiritual growth?
Day 2: Celebrate and Anticipate Church Growth
Hope City Church's tenth anniversary is a milestone that celebrates past achievements and anticipates future outreach. The church's commitment to inclusivity and community engagement reflects an understanding that the gospel's work is ongoing. There is always more room at God's table for those seeking refuge and fellowship. [43:11]
1 Peter 4:8-9 - "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."
Reflection: How can you contribute to your church's growth and create a more welcoming environment for newcomers?
Day 3: Embrace Jesus' Inclusive Example
Jesus' role as an "adder" and "inviter" is a model for Christian behavior, emphasizing the importance of expanding the circle of fellowship and making space for everyone. This approach is about genuine care and recognition of each person's value, not just increasing numbers. [01:03:42]
Romans 15:7 - "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Reflection: Who in your community could benefit from an invitation to fellowship, and how can you extend that invitation this week?
Day 4: The Impact of Personal Outreach
Personal testimonies and acts of giving, such as sharing a gospel pamphlet, can lead to life-changing decisions for Christ. These stories illustrate the profound effect that each act of outreach can have on individuals and their eternal destinies. [01:18:13]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 - "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."
Reflection: What simple act of outreach can you perform today that might have a lasting impact on someone's life?
Day 5: Stay Fluid in Service
The church must remain adaptable and innovative in its methods to connect with those who have yet to hear the message of Christ. This flexibility ensures that the church continues to be a dynamic force in the world, reaching more people with the transformative power of the gospel. [01:08:53]
Isaiah 43:19 - "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
Reflection: In what ways can you be more flexible and creative in your service to better reach those in need of the gospel?
Goodness, we love you, we love you, we love you! Oh, and you look so good! My goodness gracious, my Lord, y'all look good!
And just love them, love them. The integrity that you've shown, the stewardship that you've shown, the leadership. They both can preach! My goodness, but she probably preaches a little better than him.
And so, I'm just so thankful for the Ark churches that we are planting. They're a part of that; they're such encouragers. He was thanking us, and I want to thank y'all for always being for church planters.
When church planters say, "We want to go see a church," we got a great team here, and we want to learn. We say, "Well, then you go over to Hope City Church. You get over there, go see the Williams, go see their team," because you've just been an example.
I was praying for y'all this morning, and I just began to thank God for your sacrifice. Getting that trailer, people don't know that trailer, and loading up, believing God, going to the hospital, having funerals, sitting, counseling, and just the way that you sacrificed and you've served.
I've never met you, but I know your pastors, and I love you before I met you because of how much your pastors love you. So when you're around your pastors, they talk about you. They talk about what God's doing.
I felt like the Lord gave me a scripture this morning just to honor you for 10 years. It's Exodus 33:17. I really felt this in my spirit to speak over your pastors and over this church.
It says in Exodus 33:17, "So the Lord said to Moses, 'I will also do this thing that you have spoken.'" Moses was giving a request to God, pleading to God, and God said, "I'm going to do that, and here's the reason why I'm going to do it: for you have found grace in my sight, and you know my name."
I just want to say that God says to you today, "You have found grace in my sight because you have lifted up His name. You've not lifted up your name; you've not lifted up any other name to Jesus."
So I just want to say how much we love you. Can we clap our hands one more time for our pastors? We thank God for you, the real deal!
So greetings from Birmingham for Pastor Chris Hodges and Greg Sattat, all your friends, Pastor Cory and Timmy, our founder Pastor Billy Hornsby, who's a spiritual big brother to you.
So we love what we do. I get to serve at a great church, Church of the Highlands, and of course, get to lead ARC. My family's doing well. I think there's a picture of the Rizzo family. I don't know if we have that available.
There's the Rizzo crew right there! That's our family. So, that's our baby right there, just graduated out of college and got a job! Hey! Oh, about to do a praise break on that job!
It's my son Dylan. He works there at Church of the Highlands. That's my son-in-law Trey. That's our oldest daughter; she is due any day now. She's supposed to be due next Saturday, but they moved it up to Tuesday.
So if I'm in the middle of preaching and I run out the door, I ain't running 'cause I'm shouting; I'm running to go see my first grandbaby! Y'all know what I'm talking about! Cory, you have to pick up the mantle, my brother.
So she's going to give us our first grandchild. I like her so much better than the other two! Y'all know what I'm talking about! And then that's my lovely, gorgeous wife, Delin, who is good friends with Tamama.
We've been married 35 years. I know when you look at her, you think, "How in the world did this guy get her?" It's because I'm Italian! Y'all know what I'm talking about! To God be the glory!
You can take that down. So we love our family, love this family, so we feel like family. I'm kind of one of those guys who makes myself at home whether you like it or not. I show up at your house; I get up in your refrigerator before you ask me. I'm just that kind of guy.
So we love you. I want to talk for a few minutes, come alongside what God is doing, not only in your now but in your next. I know that you're talking a lot about exceedingly more right now with great messages, but I want to talk about that for a few minutes.
I want to talk about the idea that Jesus loves people. Jesus loves people. It sounds so simple, but it's the heartbeat of this church. It's kind of the why behind the what. It's the reason why we give; it's the reason why we're on a team; it's the reason why we're in a small group.
It's the idea of John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He gave. So I want to talk about that for a few minutes.
Let's pray. Father, we love you, and we thank you for what you're doing in this house. And Lord, for a few minutes, we lean into the word of God.
And Lord, we thank you that the word of God has been preeminent in this house for 10 years—nothing beyond it, nothing above it. Lord, we thank you for the worship that we experienced this morning, all that's happening with children today and teens and students, and letting people know that we love them, we see them.
Lord, thank you for our pastors. Thank you for 10 years. Thank you for the grace of 10 years. So we love you, we love you! In Jesus' name, and everybody said a good amen!
I want you to turn to the person next to you and say, "I'm glad you made it to church today." Come on, look at them and say, "Look at that other person, your second choice, and tell them you look like you could use a little church, my friend. Just a little bit of church."
Luke chapter 14—I love the Gospels! Oh, I love the Gospels! I love Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. I love the Gospels! I love Luke; it's more detailed. My wife is a detailed person; I am not.
But my wife goes to the grocery store with a detailed list: "Detailed sugar, 16 ounces; Kosher dark, 32 ounces." I got one word on my list: "Food." I'm going to get some stuff!
Luke's details—Luke chapter 14 is such a good window, and it's a mirror about the idea of how much Jesus loves people. Because people are eternal. Every soul matters to God because it lasts forever, and we've been given the task to impact that, to make a difference.
Verse 15: "Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, 'Jesus, blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.'"
Then Jesus said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many. He sent his servant at supper time to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, all things are now ready.'"
But they all, with one accord, began to make excuses. The first said to him, "I bought a piece of ground, and I got to go see it. Can I get an excuse?"
And then another one said, "I've just got a whole bunch of oxen; I'm going to go test them out. I ask that you excuse me."
Still another one said, "I have married a wife." Ain't nothing like throwing your spouse under the bus! You know what I'm talking about? Come on now!
You're going to throw it on your wife? "I've gotten married, and therefore I cannot come."
This is so interesting, this conversation. And remember, these are the words in red; Jesus is telling the story.
So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry—Jesus used the word angry—said to the servant, "No, no, no, no, no! Go out quickly, not tomorrow, not the next day, not next week. Don't put it on your calendar; don't try to fit it into your schedule. No, no! Go out quickly into the streets and the lanes of the city and bring in here the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind."
The poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. Well, that sounds like a good group! Let's go reach some people! Let's go reach some people that are struggling.
Let's go reach some people that maybe have a little different challenge than we have. Let's go reach some people that maybe they've not come up the same way we've had. They've not had the things we've had, or they've got some different situations that we know.
Let's just not reach people that have had the same benefits as us. Let's go reach some people that have had reduced opportunities than us. Let's go value some others that are going through something that we've not gone through.
Oh, I've never dealt with addiction, but let's go reach somebody who's fighting with some addiction issues. Oh, I'm okay in my sobriety, but let's go reach somebody else who's struggling with their sobriety.
I got plenty at my house, but let's go reach some people that don't have nothing at their house. That's what the church is for! That's why we're here!
I believe that's why God is blessing this church, and we're wall to wall. We need to add a service! Let's build another campus! Let's get some more space! Why? Because you have that heart!
We've not forgotten! We've not forgotten! Jesus says, "I tell you this story; these are the things that are on my heart."
I love what happens. The servant said, "Master, it is done as you commanded." So obviously, it fast-forwards. We jump from one verse to another real quick. We don't know all the things that transpired between verse 21 and verse 22, but the servant said, "Everything you asked and you commanded, and there is still room."
"We went out, we got everybody, we found everybody who's hurting, everybody who's hungry, everybody's going through something—people that had some different situations—and we got them in here. Everything you commanded has happened."
But then he says this: "And there's still some room. There's still some room; still got some space over here, and there's still a few tables, come on, that are not full. We've got plenty to take care of everybody. We're good over here; we got a few more seats over here."
And I love what happens. It says, "Then the master said to the servant, 'Well, that's a problem. I know we're almost full, but we're not full.'"
He says, "Go into the highways." Oh, now we're expanding the search! The first group we were going to go just right out here to some of the streets and lanes. We're going to go right just right out here in our neighborhood, going to go down one block and take a left.
We're going to cover this area right here. We're going to go just to the next apartment complex. We're going to go through the next row of trailers. We're going to go just right down the street right here in this area, this little townhouse.
Now he says to them, "Now we need to expand that. We're not going to stay in our streets and lanes." Look what he says now: "We need to go to the highways and the hedges." That's broadening the search!
Thank God for a church who says, "We've got to broaden the search!" Oh, we got a seat, but we got to make sure we get some seats for somebody else!
They broadened the search. He says, "And compel them to come in." And I love this last phrase: "That my house may be filled."
Can I have a good amen for God's word? You know, when you study scripture, what you realize is that Jesus was not a loner. You would think that Jesus is set up at like a sanctuary, like at a tabernacle. He's just over here like in a real holy place, and like, "Bring the people in."
He's over in the corner; you really can't get—you know, he's like up on some stairs, and he's kind of away, and there's some guards, there's like guarding like, you know, like attack lambs, and there's some attack doves, and it's just like, you know, it's just he's got people space issues, and he's got, you know, don't get anybody in my space.
He's just big entourage, and nobody's around him, and you know, everybody's just trying to see him. Think we can see him over there? But yet when you read scripture, Jesus is always with people.
What's interesting to me is 16 times in the New Testament, we see Jesus at a party. Jesus loved parties! Jesus loved people! So he loved to be at parties!
Over and over again in scripture, he's sitting at tables, he's on hillsides, he's in the synagogue, he's in the streets, he's walking with people, he's going to people, he's comfortable in crowds, which is so amazing to me that our Savior, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, is comfortable in crowds.
You see him on all these dinners; he's always eating with people. Every time I turn around, Jesus is at a meal because he loves people. He loves to be at gatherings.
Matter of fact, this story takes place at a gathering. He's at a party at a table, and they're chatting, and they're cross-talking at the table. You know that table you go to? Have you ever been to the awkward meal where nobody even knows each other?
It's good to see, but then you go with your squad, and everybody's cross-talking, all up on each other's conversations, and it's eight conversations, and the volume just goes up.
And that's what's going on here. He's at a table. Somebody says, "Jesus, I heard what you're saying." "Hey, I whatever you're describing, I love this, but I want to be at that too."
How many of your family is at a dinner, and you planned lunch? Oh, where you at? Come on, Hope City! We go eat lunch! We gonna find out where we're going to dinner!
This is happening at a party, talking about a party, gives an illustration at a party. But here's what's amazing: he talks about a party in a gathering, but he wants to make the gathering bigger.
Let's increase the gathering! Jesus was an includer! Jesus was an adder! Jesus was an inviter! I am such an inviter! Del says, "How many people are coming over?" I don't know, you know, five to twenty! I like more people!
How many ever been somewhere like to a party, and you get there, and nobody's there? Say, "Hey, what's up? What y'all doing? Where everybody at?"
"Oh, there's no one else coming but me and you." Okay, that's creepy! I'm leaving, man! I want to have some people there!
He's adding to the gathering! I mean, he's such an includer! He's just enlarging the search! He's like, "Let's open up the circle! Let's open up the circle!"
What I love about Jesus, there's one story in the New Testament; he even invites himself to a party! He just says, "Zacchaeus, I'm coming to your house tonight!"
Y'all know what I'm talking about? Invited myself to the gala! I don't know, Pastor Cory invited me, but I was telling him, "Sorry, I can't make it to the gala. I really want to get in for the gala, but I've got to do this high school."
He never said, "You invited to the gala." I invited myself to the gala! I will invite myself to something!
The other day, me and Del were walking in this nice house. She said, "I don't remember getting the invitation." I said, "I ain't get no invitation, but I'm going to tell you right now, they want me up in there! I'm going to make this whole thing better! I'm going to make this whole vibe!"
Oh, come on! I'm going to make this whole situation better! When I roll up in there, Jesus invited himself to a party!
I came to Christ because of an adder and an inviter. The person who reached me included me. He opened up the circle of God's mercy, of God's grace. He added me; he reached out to me.
I would have never showed up in church. I would have never wandered into the banquet of God. There was nothing about me that said I need to go to church. Nothing! I was lost!
But the church came to me! Do you know there are many people that will never make a first move to Hope City until we make the first move?
And thank God you're in a church, and you give to a church, and you serve at a church, and for 10 years, and for the next 10 years, we are people of the first move!
But we see you, we hear your pain, we identify with your suffering, we see what you're going through in that broken marriage. We understand what's happening in that trauma. We're coming to you; we're looking for you; we're making room for you.
You wouldn't grow like you're growing if there were people that were inviters. They were kind of hashtag bringers. We're just bringers!
You know why? Because once you come to faith, you want to make sure you keep the faith door open. I've always felt like, "Lord, help me now to be the person that once I crossed over in forgiveness, once I've crossed over into healing, once I've crossed over into restoration, once I've crossed over into a new beginning and a fresh start, don't let my life, don't let my giving, don't let my attitude, don't let my spirit let the door shut behind me."
Here's what I know: Hope City Church is not a closed meeting. You ever heard one of them closed meetings? "It's a closed meeting; it's closed; it's invite only." No, no, no, no, no!
Open meeting! Open meeting! Open church! We love you! The doors are open for you! We care about you! Jesus loves you!
We're not closing the door on anybody! We're here for you to present the gospel, to present Jesus, to give you truth, to give you the word, let you find restoration, let you find transformation, let you find redemption, let you find a born-again experience. The door is open for that!
What I find so interesting when I read this story, just something to pull out, when you look at these verses, there's two things I think are so interesting about those who are already in the house.
What I find interesting about those that are in the house, when you read these scriptures and you meditate upon the words of Jesus, something about the servants is they had to stay fluid, flexible, to keep adjusting so that they could keep expanding.
He was, "Well, you know, they went out once, came in, they about to—they're ready to enter the party; they're ready to get a cupcake; they're ready to go get a little slider, their sandwich; they're ready to eat."
Now we've been out once, and they come back in and say, "Hey, we invited everybody; some of them ain't coming." It's talk, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on, hold on, hold on! Where you going? I think we're done."
"We're not done yet! Let's go out and reach the hurting! Let's go reach those who have been forgotten! Go back! Okay, load up! Let's go! We're going back out! We're going to go back and serve! We got another serve day! We got another Easter! We got another reach! We're going to open another campus!"
Okay, okay, great, great, great! Then you come back, "I think we're done." "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! There's the gospel window still open! There's still lost, broken humanity!"
So we're going, "We're not done yet!" Can I tell you something about this church? We're not done yet!
Oh, clap your hands! We're not done yet! We're not about done yet! Not just we're going to believe God for a great 10 years. No, no, no! We're going to believe God for a great 20 years!
We're going to believe God for your children and your children's children, and we're going to believe God for the next hurting and the next group that's been through pain. We're just going to keep—that's who we are!
We keep being fluid and flexible to adjust so that we can keep expanding the Great Commission. Oh, I need to go to another service? Okay, that's—oh, I'm going to need to park over here.
I can work—oh, you need me to go be a part of a launch team at a campus? You need me to be able to move a little bit, adjust my normal? I need to be inconvenienced so that I can broaden the search?
Okay, I'm going to do that because I'm a servant of the Most High! I'm already in the house! I'm already in it, and I want to do everything I can to see those that have not yet heard hear what I've heard!
So the servants stay fluid and flexible. Oh, Pastor, oh, you need me to now move on to this?
I never forget we were pastoring our church in Baton Rouge. My wife and I planted to pastor a church for 20 years in Baton Rouge. I had the honor of serving there and just loved it.
And we were expanding, and we're adding services, and we had one couple that was doing one thing in our church, and I remember going to them and saying, "Hey, we're going to need to adjust that and make some adjustments to that and add some folk and move some folk."
They wouldn't let me! They had taken that ministry hostage! "You won't come in here; everyone will bleed before you get this from us! We're all going down!"
I was like, "Whoa, whoa! That's a little much! Fluid, flexible!" I'm glad that those that prayed for me gave to that little church who did an outreach, were a part of that team.
I'm glad they were fluid and flexible so the gospel expanded and it reached out to me. If people that were in the house would not have been fluid and flexible, I would have never made it into the house!
And so we—hey, so we stay fluid and flexible! That's who we are!
The other thing I pull out of scripture when I'm just meditating on the words of Jesus, I think it's so interesting that others were invited, but their excuses caused them to miss out.
And it wasn't like sinful things, like, "Man, I'm going to the club! Y'all don't know I'm going to the club! Now I'm about to go rob a bank! I'm about to go have a séance and get in the ult!" No, no, no! None of that!
They were misplaced priorities! They just had their priorities! "My calendar reminder, boy, I'm busy! I'm in por! Got a lot going on! A lot of people hitting me up! I'm super important! Got so much, man! I'm handling! I'm an entrepreneur! Got to do entrepreneur things! Got me some ox! Got me some land! Got me some properties! Got me some things going on! Got me some—got to throw a TikTok out! I got to do some influential things here! Y'all don't understand what I'm dealing with! I'm in high demand! Got my girl trying to holler at me! I need to cut the grass! I need to get milk! Can't get involved with that small group! I can't lead! I can't be on a team! Y'all don't know how much demand I am in! I'm not going to be able to make it!"
And the master said, "Fine! We're going to keep filling up the house!"
God wants to use you! God wants you! I thank God for everything! I thank God for our businesses! I thank God for hard work! Those who lay bricks and bake cupcakes and all the entrepreneurs and engineers and landscape folk and, you know, carpet layers and selling tennis shoes—all these things and everything we do!
Man, I've done it all! Laid carpet for a couple of years! I dug foundations for a couple of years! I roofed a house for three months! I've done some stuff in my—I thank God for everything like that!
But I thank God for the moments that He has used me to fill the house! Why? To know God, to find some freedom, discover some purpose! What's the heart of this house? To make a difference!
To make a difference! Because I think it's so interesting that they said, "We're not done yet! Now we're going to need to go, and we're going to need to get some others because there's something that needs to happen next!
We're grateful for what's happening right now, but he looked at the servants and said, "There's room for what's next, and there's room for who's next! So let's go make a difference!"
I wrote down some application to this because I think it's super important. Just, you know, what does this look like in my life, and what does this look like in my family, and how do I walk in this, and how do I make sure that I'm in that serving and I'm enjoying the—because a lot of times we—God says, "I want you to enjoy everything that's in the house even while you expand the house."
And sometimes we think it's one or the other. No, it's both and! Thank God for how He's building us as a disciple and what we're growing in and how we're learning, but also at the same time, we're reaching and we're noticing and we're connecting because we're not going to let that door shut behind us!
We're going to keep the door open! So I wrote down these few things. When you think about the value of adders and words about what it looks like to continue to be a people in a church, in a house where Jesus loves people as we expand into a new campus, as we expand and grow into new services—all these different things, these opportunities, these four values of adding to that.
Here's the first: It takes time! Lord, I offer up my time to you! You know what I've realized about this? That things that are valuable get time! Valuable things get time!
If I lose my phone, it's in the trash! One time I threw my phone away! Can I tell you something? I didn't care what I had on my schedule; I need to find that phone!
About two hours later, I'm in a dumpster! Somebody's calling my phone, and I hear my phone ringing! Why? Because it was lost, but it was valuable! And that lost thing requires some time!
Reaching lost people requires some time! It takes some time! Takes a little time! And why? Because things that are valuable require time!
It takes time to lead a small group! "Lord, I have time to be serving! I have time to be in the family! Time, Lord, here's my time!"
They didn't want to give them any time! "I don't have time for that! My time is valuable! I've already allotted that time!"
And the master says, "Yeah, but everything's ready! The house is full!"
"Oh, Lord, I offer up some—I know my time is precious and my time is valuable, but I want to make sure because of the value of time that I offer some time up to you!"
Like what we're doing right now! Like what we did on Friday night at the G! I give you some time! Oh, how important that is!
Here's the second thing that I wrote down: Care! Jesus loves people because Jesus cares about people! Care!
And it was the house was partially full, and it said, "That's a no-o with the H! There's room!" The house is—I care enough that there's room! There's opportunity! There's a chance for somebody else!
I never forget we were at Disney World. Everybody's done this; you've heard these stories. And, you know, we lost one of our children. We had all three of them, and I'm trying to find them.
I never thought, "Well, I got two; I'm all right! I mean, percentages and numbers, I'm winning!" No! I looked at the other two and said, "Hey, trying to get a $35 turkey leg and a $16 piece of ice and an $800 ice cream! Hold up on the $800 ice cream! We got to find your sister!"
That's what matters right now! We care for her! We care for that which is lost! We care for that which maybe is wandering and has been forgotten!
We give time, and we give care! Why? Because the reason why we want more space and the reason why we want to increase the footprint of Hope City Church—why? More space, more souls! More space, more reach! More space, more love! More salvation! More impacting eternity!
It's time! It's care!
Third thing is give! Lord, it's give! I love what Mother Teresa said: "We are never more like God than when we give."
We are never more like God than when we give! Oh, when we give, it opens doors! It expands the kingdom of God! Somebody gave so that I could receive a tract!
And when I received that tract two weeks later by my bed, this little gospel pamphlet, I read this gospel pamphlet and gave my life to Jesus Christ on June the 21st, 1982, by myself in my condominium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina because of a sheet of paper and a witness!
And there are people that paid for it that I've never met and then invested in the giving in the offering, put something in the—all these different things!
And that in turn turned into a gospel pamphlet that found its way in my hand that the Holy Spirit was being poured out in the name of Jesus was being poured out on!
And I prayed a prayer and invited Jesus into my heart! Don't you think nobody's being impacted when you give out that book pack and you give out them groceries and you wash somebody's house or you go and build a wheelchair ramp or you let somebody know we see you, we love you?
You give out that Christmas gift! You give out—come on, those HST for fam and those bikes for Tikes and all these things that we do for the kingdom of God!
Don't you think no eternity is being impacted? You never know! You never know the impact of a give for the cause of Jesus Christ!
And then the last thing I wrote down, and this is the heart of this house, I just wrote down the word more! This is an exceedingly more season!
Let's do whatever it takes to build and expand the search! Can I have a good amen?
The other day I was in—amen! When I was—I was in one of those days, you ever have one of those days? You all about yourself, or am I the only one?
It was a Dino day! I just thinking about Dino! Dino! Oh, Dino! Dino got problems! Dino got issues! Dino in my head! In my head!
Going through Starbucks, ordering a drink, don't even remember the order! Get my drink from some bris, no interaction 'cause I'm so worried about me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me!
Shutting down, pulling in, and I pull up, put my truck in park in the drive-through line because I'm so out of it! I'm just fogged out in my money, my future, my kids, my worry, my care, my concern!
And I hear somebody knock on the window! Startle me! Guy's knocking on the window! "Hey! Roll down your window!"
I don't know! I ain't rolling down my window! I don't know you, man! Come up on my truck like that! Don't come up on my truck, fam!
I said, "What are you doing?" He said, "You blocking the drive! 15 cars around Starbucks!" I pull up!
He's walking up! He said, "I missed the bus! I'm in the wrong part of town, and I'm homeless!" My man said, "I'm homeless!"
So where you trying to go? He said, "I'm trying to get down to St. Vincent's shelter." We have a Dream Center right there; it's outreach things that we all do.
And I said, "I said it close at 7:00 at 5:00." I said, "Man, jump in my truck! I'm going to run you down there!"
Now listen, I am not an advocate for letting people up in your vehicle, but he was a real small guy! I'm a double X! Somebody's going to understand this!
I'm in my truck in Alabama! I'm all right! Y'all know what I'm talking about? I'm good! I'm in control of the situation! We ain't got a problem!
Somebody—you feel me? You feel me? You know what I'm talking about? I ain't got to say nothing! I ain't got to say nothing!
Y'all got Mr. Security? My security guys all with me right here! Yeah, I like him now! I like—I know about first, but we riding there!
I said, "What's your name?" "Benjamin." I said, "Benjamin, that's in the Bible!" He said, "I know! My mother tells me about it!"
I said, "Benjamin! Benjamin's in the Bible!" He said, "What's your name?" "Dino." He said, "You're in The Flintstones!"
So now we cracking on each other! I run by Burger King, get him my burger! I got some stuff in my truck! "Here, take this! Take this!"
Pull up, tell them about things we're doing at the Dream Center! He gets out the truck! I get to pray with him! Had a good moment of prayer!
He's walking into the shelter! I said, "Oh Lord, thank you that you sent me to Benjamin! Thank you that you used me today! It's a blessing! Glory to God!"
Hey, hey! Boy, I'm a man of God! Lord have mercy! He said, "I didn't send you to Benjamin! I sent Benjamin to you!"
Oh, come on, somebody! To get you out of your selfishness! To get you out of your closed mind! To get you out of your fear!
Oh, somebody ought to help me preach for just 60 seconds! To get you out of your mind! To get you out of your anxiety! To get you out of your situation!
Benjamin was the gift! Cause you to expand your...
1) "Jesus loved people, so he loved to be at parties. Over and over again in scripture, he's sitting at tables. He's on hillsides. He's in the synagogue. He's in the streets." [01:00:28] (Download)
2) "Jesus was an includer. Jesus was an adder. Jesus was an inviter. I am such an inviter. Delano says, how many people come over? I don't know. Five to 20. I like more people." [01:02:36] (Download)
3) "I came to Christ because of an adder and an inviter. The person who reached me included me. He opened up the circle of God's mercy, of God's grace. He added me." [01:04:38] (Download)
4) "We're not closing the door on anybody. We're here for you to present the gospel, to present Jesus, to give you truth, to give you the word, let you find restoration, let you find transformation." [01:06:44] (Download)
5) "What I find interesting about those that are in the house when you read these scriptures and you meditate upon the words of Jesus, something about the servants is they had to stay fluid, flexible to keep adjusting so that they could keep expanding." [01:07:02] (Download)
6) "We're not done yet. We're going to believe God for a great 20 years. We're going to believe God for your children and your children's children and we're going to believe God for the next hurting and the next group that's been through pain." [01:08:16] (Download)
7) "I think it's so interesting that they said, we're not, we're not done yet now. We're going to need to go and we're going to need to get some others. Because there's something that needs to happen next." [01:13:01] (Download)
8) "We care for that which is lost. We care for that which maybe is wandering and has been forgotten. We give time and we give care. Because the reason why we want more space and the reason why we want to increase the footprint of Hope City Church." [01:17:20] (Download)
9) "I thank God for everything like that. But I thank God for the moments that he has used me to fill the house. Why? To know God. To find some freedom. Discover some purpose. What's the heart of this house? To make a difference." [01:12:36] (Download)
10) "The other day I was in, amen, when I was in one of those days you're all about yourself or am I the only one? I'm in my head, in my head, going through Starbucks, ordering a drink, don't even remember the order." [01:19:49] (Download)
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