Amen. Well, it's great to see you this morning. Thank you for coming. What a beautiful day, huh? And it looks so good to see all the "I Love My Church" t-shirts. If you didn't get one, I think we got a few more out there, and I think they're ordering some more actually today. So, it'll be a good chance for the rest of this series. We've got a couple more weeks or something before Easter. Can you imagine? Easter is right around the corner. Isn't that awesome?
So, just a couple of things I want to mention. First of all, thank you to our online church that's watching. We love you guys! Hey, you have a real treat today because the famous BF Randall is in our midst today. We know him as Pastor Ben. He has two great books. The first one is "Between the Lightning and the Thunder." It's a fictional Christian story about James, the brother of Jesus. Unbelievable! It's already in the process of being made into a movie. They already had the financing, and they're working on the other things. So, one of these days when he walks the red carpet, you can say, "I bought one of his books at the Father's House."
We've got the first book here, and then better than that, the first book, which is fabulous, is "Three Gates to Hell." I'm telling you, I have not read a book that's impacted my life so much as this one. Anita and I got a pre-published copy, and we listened to it on a trip that we made. We couldn't turn it off! Actually, when we got to our destination, we wanted to keep driving because it was that good. So, I'm telling you, it'll change your life to hear these fictional stories. I just want you to be sure you get one. If you don't have a copy, be sure to get it today because I think Peter's going to ask you when you get to heaven, "Do you have the book 'Three Gates to Hell'?"
Second of all, I've lost my tickets. They're on the floor. Oh, there they are! Thanks, Vance. Thank you. I knew I lost them somewhere. Anyway, Easter's coming, and we need a ticket for the Easter service. It's the unbelievable story of rescue.
So, you know what's so amazing? We're already sold out of the 9:00 service. 9:00 is totally gone—all the tickets for the 9:00. So now you have an opportunity for 7:30 and 11:00. Well, man, if we need to, we'll add a 2:00, but anyway, we'll get that. So, get your ticket today, and not only that, but get the ticket for the people you're going to invite.
Just think about it. I mean, we're almost full today, really, because if you invited your three people and somebody else invited three people for Easter, we would have no room—it would be standing room only, which is fine because Jesus deserves, on Resurrection Sunday, standing room only. So, I just really encourage you to get your tickets. They'll be outside of the church when you go out.
These are for 7:30 and 11:00. I don't have a 9:00; they're already gone. But we just love you guys. Thank you for responding. Everybody says, "Well, do I need a seat? Do I need a ticket?" If you plan on putting your heiney in a seat, right? You need a ticket because that's how we know to distribute what we've got. We'd hate for a lot of first-time guests that you invite—maybe you've been trying to invite them for a long time—and they come, and then there'd be no seats. So, get a ticket. Say to them, "Hey, I stood in line to get you a ticket for Easter service, so I want you to come and be my guest. Be my guest. Be my guest." It's going to be an awesome time, right? It's going to be a super, super wonderful time.
Well, if you have your Bibles, your iPhone, your iPad, whatever you have, let's hold it up and let's make this confession today:
"This is my Bible. It is the word of God. Today I receive the word. I confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I am... Amen."
Father, we thank you today for your love to us. We thank you for everyone who's come today in-house and those that are watching online. We don't take that lightly, Lord, that you're doing something here. This is a house of miracles, a house of healing, a house of encouragement. What a great word! We receive that word that Pastor Andrew was talking about of crops and harvest, of things that we planted coming to life. We thank you for that, Lord.
And now, as we look into your word, I pray, Holy Spirit, that you would anoint me because without your anointing, I can do nothing. It's just words. Help me to say what you want me to say. Don't let me say anything I shouldn't say today. And Lord, at the end of this day, we pray that you, above all, will be glorified and that your wonderful saints that are here would be edified. And Lord, we just pray that the devil will be terrified in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Amen. Well, I have a confession to make, if it's okay. Is it all right? Sure! I love coffee. I'm thinking about that. My love for coffee, I think, goes back when I was about five. My grandmother, I would get to stay at her house on Saturday night before church on Sunday morning. At about age five, she would fix this treat. She would take and she would cook—she made biscuits. Actually, somebody—Brenda made biscuits. They didn't go to Hardee's; they made biscuits.
So, early in the morning, she'd make a biscuit and she'd slice it in half. I know some of you are going to get hungry right now. She'd put it in a coffee cup, then she'd fill that up with about halfway of coffee and then halfway of milk. I forgot that in the first service. Then she'd add like four scoops of sugar and then cinnamon on top of that. She'd give me a spoon. She called it "coffee soak." Think about it—coffee soak! The biscuit just soaked up, and man, that was great! So, I think that's one of the reasons that I love coffee.
How many of you love coffee? Yeah! I'm not talking about those things—frappuccino, lattes, cappuccino, macchiato. I'm talking about coffee the way God created it to be—black! You don't add a bunch of fru-fru stuff to it, right? Good! I'm with my people here. I know, I feel you, I feel you.
But as much as I love coffee, I haven't always had good experiences with coffee. Anita and I had the privilege of going on a Disney cruise line, and the president of Disney Cruise Lines offered us his quarters—his presidential quarters on the Disney ship. So, it was like two or three rooms, a wrap-around balcony. We had concierge 24 hours a day. I mean, we loved it! But they served Nescafe coffee. I hope they've changed. Nescafe is not coffee; that's just pond water. It's just worthless! I didn't have a good experience on that Disney Cruise Line, but I love coffee.
I've been to some restaurants late at night, and I say, "I'd like a cup of decaf." And they say, "So, I ask them, are you sure this is decaf?" "Yes, sir, this is decaf." "This is decaf." But at 3:00 a.m. in the morning, when I'm wide awake, I know it wasn't decaf! Does anybody feel me?
But you know what? I still love coffee. You know, it's not uncommon to hear people say, "I love football. I love coffee. I love motorcycles." But when somebody says, "I love my church," people kind of get squirrely, like, "You know, what's up with that? You love your church?"
Well, look, Jesus loves the church. He died for the church. And last week, remember the phrase that I asked you to say over and over and over? We are the church! Say it again: We are the church!
So, look around. Why wouldn't I love my church, right? I look at you, and I see so many beautiful, wonderful people of all kinds of ages, lots of hair, chrome domes, different ages, different looks, different colors. Why wouldn't I love my church? This is where God put me. If you don't love your church, what are you doing here? There are a lot of choices in Central Florida. So, if you don't love this church, you need to find a place.
The scripture says those that are planted in the house of the Lord will prosper. So, I'm telling you, we're not in competition with other churches. We're all here working with the head of the church, and his name is Jesus.
Last week, we said the church is not a building, right? We said the church is not an event for spectators to come and say, "Well, what time does it start?" Church is not where I go just to get my needs met. You will get your needs met, but it's more than that. And the church is not a place for perfect people. We said that, right? Maybe we should have a sign out front: "No perfect people allowed." 'Cause I mean, just look around this morning. It's working, and I'm the chief of that—far from perfect! Ask my wife and Tim; they'll tell you.
And church is not an optional activity. I didn't wake up this morning and say, "Are we going to church today or not?" No! As I woke up, Anita kicked me out of bed. "You are the pastor; you have to go!" So, you will go today.
And the church is not man-made. We saw that last week. Here’s what I’d like to summarize everything with: Ephesians chapter 1, verse 23. "Christ rules the church." Say that with me: "Christ rules the church."
The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world. The world is peripheral to the church. In other words, our focus should be on the church—the Church of Jesus, for whom he died for us, and he loves us, and he put us. So, I love church!
So, in the midst of all of that, as I focus on church and kingdom life, the world is peripheral. But sadly, a lot of people get the world in focus, and the church is peripheral. But not here!
The church is Christ's body in which he, look at this, speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence. I say I love my church because this is my favorite church because I love you. Why? Why wouldn't I do that?
And I said earlier, we're not in competition with anybody. I meet with several pastors every month, and we pray. We never sit in line and brag about our churches; we just brag about what God is doing in the big sea—the church.
Here in Leesburg, aren't you glad God put you—now listen, some of you are going to get a little antsy with this—but aren't you glad that God put you in Leesburg, in Central Florida, and you found a church that you could worship him? If so, say Amen! Yes! This is where God put me, and he is the great God, and Jesus is the founder of the church, and the church's message is hope to the world.
I was raised in church. I can't remember when I started. I was born in church. I mean, we had church Sunday morning, Sunday night, sometimes afternoon, then every Wednesday night, and then revival once a quarter—Friday night, Saturday night, Sunday night. I mean, we were churched out!
I've learned to sleep on slat bench pews. Just had a hard bench. See how much we love you guys? You have padded pews! We have air conditioning! I mean, we serve coffee! Can you imagine? I could never imagine serving coffee at the little country church I grew up in. You know, they'd say, "No, Jack Daniels, maybe, but not coffee." Just kidding!
Most of the time, I hear people say, "Well, the church is dying. The church is weak." No, no! Look, when I read about the church and I read about the future of the church, look at this verse: Ephesians 5:27, "That he"—capital H, Jesus—"might present the church to himself in glorious splendor."
Could you read it out loud with me? "Without spot or wrinkle or any such things, that she might be holy and faultless." That's saying there's coming a time when Jesus is going to present us—the church, the bride of Christ—to himself. Awesome!
But it's not going to be like when you think of a wedding. Listen, it's not going to be like the bride is rushing in at the last minute, mascara running down her face, and she's in hot pants and they're torn and ragged, and she says, "Hurry, Jesus, marry me! The devil's after me! I don't know what I'm going to do!" No, it's not like that!
He said when I come back after a church, it'll be a glorious church—without spot, without wrinkle. It'll have worldwide effect, and that church will be presented to him at something called the marriage supper of the Lamb. Whether that's literal or physical, I don't know, but I'm signed up! I'm ready to go! Have you made your reservation? If you've made your reservation, say Amen! Yes! I'm on my way!
Look, don't love the church because of what it does for you because sooner or later it won't do enough. Don't love the church because of a leader because human leaders are fallible, and they'll let you down. Don't love this church because of me. I'm glad you like me. I'm glad that you tolerate me. I'm glad that you say, "Who's next? I hope Andre or Tim or somebody else is preaching beside him." But I thank you for enduring us.
But one day, I won't be here. But it would break my heart to think that you wouldn't keep coming to the Father's House because I'm not here. Now, that's sad for me to think that age is catching up with me, but you know it will inevitably. And then different things that God has planned for my future, and I won't always be here. But if this is where God has put you, guess what? You'll be here regardless of who is here. Amen?
And don't love the church because of a program or a building or activities because all those things get old. You might want to take a picture of these. Don't love the church because of a certain group of friends because friendships change and people move. That's a reason not to love the church.
But let me tell you how to love the church. Love the church because of who shed his blood to obtain the church, and his name is Jesus. Love the church because of who the church belongs to—his name is Jesus. Love the church because of who the church worships—who? Jesus! Love the church because you love Jesus Christ and his glory. Love the church because Jesus is worthy, faithful, and true.
Love the church because Jesus loves the church. Every house reflects its owner. If I walked into your house and you weren't there, just by me looking around, I could tell what you value, right? I could tell, well, if you had kids, if you have grandkids, maybe you value swimming, maybe you value bicycling, maybe you value a lot of things. I can tell whether you're a messy housekeeper or a type A personality because you see, the house will reflect the owner.
Your house does not necessarily reflect Anita and my house, but you see, that's the same way with the church. The church should reflect the owner of the church, and his name is Jesus. For that reason, you won't see my picture on any billboard out front welcoming you. You won't see my name or any of the pastor's names on the promotional things that we send out. Why? Because it's not about us!
But you see, when you come to this campus, you may not see my picture; you may not see my name. But what you will see is a reflection of the owner. When you pull onto this parking place here, you're going to see the heart of God displayed. As you pull into the parking lot, you're going to see nice, manicured, clean property that some of you men and women come during the week, and in the sweat, in the rain, you take care of this property.
By the way, aren't you glad this property looks nice when you pull in? Yeah! Except for the sucky sign, and that's going to be replaced very shortly because we're raising money, right, to replace that sign?
When you pull in the parking lot, you experience the super parking guys and gals that already know that God sent you here today, and they would be the first person to welcome you and to let you know, "Welcome home! We're glad you're here!"
You walk to the front door, you're going to see some of the nicest greeters. I mean, if you come grumpy, by the time you grab a cup of coffee, you're going to at least feel a little better. I mean, you're going to be greeted by people saying, "How you doing? Love you, man! It's great to see you! How long have you been coming?" Some will ask you, "Is this your first time?" "No, I've been coming for 20 years!" You know, it's just because that's just sort of what happens.
And then when you get in here, the ushers will greet you, they'll seat you, they'll treat you so nicely. The production team is helping with the stuff on the screen and sending out all those notes. The worship team is here; the prayer team is here. That's the picture of this church. That's why this church is so special—not because we're special, but because of him!
Everything we do should create an experience that makes it easy for people to come to church and love God. One of these days, I'm going to speak a word of prophecy. One of these days, this back wall you see that says "Jesus," that's going to be a giant screen! Yeah! And we're going to have unbelievable capabilities and possibilities of what we put on there on a Sunday morning to encourage you as you worship.
How awesome would it be as we're in the midst of worshiping God? I mean, they put some worshipful scenery on there that just ignites you and makes you worship. So, we do everything we can to create an experience here because here's what we know: Jesus owns this church! Amen!
But we are to steward our influence, and we have an assignment from God. Look at this in the scripture: "God, but we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only in regard of the area of influence God has assigned to us."
Look at your neighbor and say, "You've got an assignment!" You've got an assignment!
"For we are not overextending ourselves as though we did not reach you, for we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel. We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others, but our hope is that as our faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you without boasting of the work already done in another's area of influence."
God sent Anita and me here 28 years ago, the last of this month, and said, "You create an influence. You be an influence in this city." When we came, Anita straightened me out last week. You know, after 28 years, you forget. But when we came, we really didn't know anybody. We met three people for dinner that night, and we talked about what God would do and how he could do it here with a fresh new work.
And so we got excited. We said, "We're going to do that!" I called my pastor, Rick Godwin, in San Antonio. I said, "Rick, we met a bunch of people there—a few people, three people, evangelistically speaking—but they represented you." So, I said, "We met them, and we're going to run. We're going to see if God would raise up a church here."
And Rick said, "Well, run an article in the paper, and if God is in it, people will show up." Well, people showed up that first Sunday. I don't know, 1630, something like that. In my mind, it was 130. We had no music; we had a jam box. You know, a little CD you carry on your shoulder.
Anybody remember a jam box? Boom box? Yeah! I got a generation gap here! Yeah, but that was our music. And what a seed that was! Amen!
It's not a Sunday I don't come in and sit right there beside Tim because he's been in this battle with me for a long time, and I'll say, "Tim, look across this congregation. This is God! It's not me; it's not you, but it's God!"
And we just both will cry and rejoice. The scripture said in Ephesians 3:10, "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus."
In him and through him, in faith, we have approached God with freedom and confidence. I'm telling you, the church is not dying; the church is growing because this particular scripture says right here that Jesus is going to show to principalities and powers, that spiritual wickedness all around.
What a church! What a group of people can become when they come together! Forget about race, forget about culture, forget about age, but come together under one banner—not under Terry, not under Tim, but come together under one banner, and his name is Jesus! And we give him glory, and that's what it's all about!
And he's going to say, "Look, look, principalities and powers! You thought you crucified me; you killed me! But I purchased a body, and I want you to see the church in Leesburg at the Father's House as they're representing me and lifting me up. I want you to see what I can do with a bunch of people that were losers!"
That's right! Come on! That became winners in the name of Jesus Christ! Love the church, and he gave his life for her.
Ephesians 5:15 says, "Be careful how you live. Live wisely, not foolishly. Make the most of your time and take every opportunity to do good because evil is everywhere. Don't live carelessly without thinking."
And instead, read this with me: "Make sure you understand what the Lord wants you to do with your life."
Let's say it again: "Make sure you understand what the Lord wants you to do with your life."
So, we love him, and because we love him, we love his church. Say, "I love my church!"
So then, how do I love my church? Do I do it just in word? Do I do it just by wearing a t-shirt? And thank you for wearing it! And we got a few more out there; we're ordering some more this week. I just had a last-minute idea: let's wear these, and we can wear them the rest of this series if you want.
Takes away the thought of what clothes am I going to wear, so I don't have to lay out five outfits and ask Anita which one would be the one I should wear today. I just can wear this shirt! All right? Is that fair?
I love my church! So, how do I put actions to loving my church? Church, I'm going to share with you in the next couple of weeks two or three things, but the number one thing is here in your notes:
Number one: Live on mission! Say that with me: Live on mission!
The church has a mission that was given by Jesus. You know, when people say, "Well, what's your mission?" Well, we didn't come up with a mission; Jesus gave us a mission here in the word. He gave a mission for his church. So, every church that calls Jesus Lord should have the same mission.
Now, the words may change a little bit, but our mission is the same. Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, "This is his last conversation before he's leaving: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.'"
Very clear! He said, "I want you to come to church together to worship, to be equipped, to mature. But then when you leave, I want you to walk out that door to the mission field. You're on the mission field! Who can you influence? Who can you share? Who can you invite to church? Who can you tell about Jesus?"
In other words, well, let's look at this next verse: Matthew 22:37-39. Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the first commandment, and the second one is like that: you should love your neighbor as yourself."
So, he says there's two things I want you to do: I want you to love God, and I want you to love people. Make disciples, or we could say it like this: Serve the world!
So, where are you serving? Where are you using your influence to say, "You know, every morning I get up and I pray, 'Lord, please help me to make a positive influence and impact somebody's life today.' And, Lord, if you open the door, help me to share the good news—the hope of the world—and your name is Jesus."
I pray that every day: "Make me a person of influence, not a person that pulls people down, but a person of influence, and give me the opportunity to open the door to somebody to know you."
Matthew 1 and Acts 1:8, Jesus said, "But you're going to receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you'll be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere. I want you to start in Jerusalem, and then go to Judea, and then to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Jesus said, "I want you to go. I want you to be my church. I want you to be my people. But I want you to go. I want you, as you go, love God, love people, and serve the world."
He says, "So here's what I want you to do, and start in Jerusalem." "No, Lord! Fifty days ago, they got together and crucified you! This is a place where you were really hurt and offended!"
Jesus says, "No, I want you to start in Jerusalem. I want you to start on your home ground. I want you to start in your family."
Some people say, "Well, you know, if I could go to Africa and be a missionary, I'd really be a great missionary, tell people about Jesus." No, you wouldn't! If you can't do it here, you're not going to do it there! A change is not going to be because you take you with you wherever you go.
But he said, "I want you just as you are. I want you to start where you are, where people wounded you, where people maybe didn't like you, they ostracized you. I want you to go to your sphere of influence—on your job, in school. Start there!"
And then he said, "I want you to go to Samaria." Go to those places that you don't like. Jews hated Samaritans. So, if I was walking down the street and I'd see a Samaritan walking towards me, I'd cross the other side of the street because I wouldn't want to walk on the same side of the street.
But Jesus said, "After you evangelize Jerusalem, after you deal with your family and where you live, I want you to go to those people that you may not like a lot—those people that you've already written off, those people that you look at and you've already judged them."
And then he said, "I want you to go places that you don't even know yet."
I want to thank you for how you give, and we're coming up on our Leave a Legacy offering at the end of this month. But I want to show you where that missions money goes to. The ushers are coming. If you didn't get one of these little brochures when you first came in, just raise your hand, and our wonderful ushers—don't we have great ushers? Yeah! Give them a hand!
Yeah, there we go! We have them! So, just raise your hand. We love that!
So, I want you to look at this. We give at least 10% of everything that comes into the Father's House away a year plus. So, there are some of the places that we get to in our community—in our Jerusalem.
Christian Care Center over at First Baptist—they have a pregnancy and a family care center. They have a children's shelter, and we help sponsor them. We do diaper drives; we do all kinds of things. Why? Well, we don't have to reinvent a pregnancy and a family care center when Pastor Cliff and them have a great job at First Baptist. So, we come alongside Cliff and say, "We want to come alongside of you. We want to help you." Is that all right?
So, part of your money goes to right here in our very city, helping us. And then also to Leesburg Elementary School that's next door. We're able to help them give to the teachers at Christmas time. We give Christmas gifts to all the kids, and we do several things.
And then Unforsaken Women—this is a ministry that helps women that have been abused. This is locally to help them and their children. And then also E3 Family Solutions. This is an organization equipping youth to make healthy choices. Actually, they get into the school. Darla Huddleston, who comes here, she's in charge of that.
And then Florida FCA—Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Our own Michael Huey is the volunteer missionary to Lake and Sumter County, doing a great job, and we help—we give to FCA, to the national organization, every month.
And then in the nation, we give to Victory Junction Camp—our friend Kyle Petty that we've become friends with on some of the rides that we've done. They have a camp in North Carolina for kids that have different diseases, and they come to the camp, and they come free. We help sponsor that every month.
And disaster relief through Convoy of Hope—we give them between $20,000 and $25,000 every year because they're the first responders on the ground. And in the world, we have A21. We help that works against human trafficking in Europe and Middle East Ministries.
Threads of Hope—this is a ministry in which we take women off the street from prostitution. We teach them a trade; we help them to get a job. Then Open Door Ministry and the Return Center in Israel. And then Faith Comes by Hearing, Compassion International, the Bible Project.
Follow the Need—Richard and Laya, right here, you guys stand. Richard and Laya, that's a ministry that they head up, and we're so happy. You can go on the website and check, and they've got a million different places for you. And if you spend two minutes with them, they'll have some of your money!
Anyway, we sponsor them every month. We do that. And then the Heart of Titus Ministries in Ecuador—our own attorney, Dr. Nardella. This is his ministry. He's the best attorney in Orlando. He's the highest-paid attorney in Orlando, but we've only got the best. But you know what? He's also a missionary. He spends time in Ecuador. He's going to be here coming very soon to share with us because we help sponsor them.
The Joshua Project, Youth for Christ, the ARC church planning—we help plant churches every year—and Missionary Ventures. Those are just a few of the places that our giving helps go to.
And so when we do Leave a Legacy, we're believing this year for $200,000. There's a green envelope in the chair in front of you, and if you'll take this green envelope and on Easter Sunday, which is our 28th church anniversary, you bring that offering. We're going to celebrate. Our goal is $200,000—$160,000 of this for missions, $40,000 of this to fix signage and some stuff to make the property look better.
But I'm believing we're going to exceed $200,000. But let me challenge those of you that are part of the online church. You're not able to be here, but you know the church comes into your home every week. Would you partner with us in this Leave a Legacy? You can do that. You can put there and say, "Hey, I'm in! Give me some information," and we'll get that to you this week.
Let me also say to you that are business owners, maybe you want to start tithing from your business. I know between services, one lady said to me last year, "I started tithing off of my business, and I have an increase of $40,000 this year, and the only reason is that because I tithe from my business."
Or maybe you've been coming for a while and you've never given. Would you ask God to help you to know what to do to give a substantial one-time gift to leave a legacy to put us over the top and make a difference? How about that? Would you do that? Would you do that? Yes? Okay, one person!
I better have a cup of coffee! I know you're going to do that! Somebody asked me this week, after 28 years, "Why is the Father's House still growing?" Like I had like an instant miracle to give them in a can. In fact, we've got that pastor with us. He's next door—Pastor Billy. He's one of the churches that I speak into, and in the next phase of my life and my ministry, there will be a lot of that I will be doing as your representative as we help churches.
He's been overwhelmed when he came here. He said, "I'm just overwhelmed!" And he's over in the kids' ministry watching that, so he'll be so overwhelmed at lunch. He'll be on Sky High! "How do you do that?" I said, "I can't answer that. All I can tell you is we've got a church full of people that love God!" Yes!
They have a place to serve, and they make a difference with their life. And the other thing is we've been doing this for 28 freaking years! That's in the Greek, of course! We've been—how many Sundays is that? That's a lot of Sundays! We've just been consistent!
Not every sermon was a hit. Some people walked away and said, "Man, what was that teaching? That was squirrely!" 1450! Well, I got to sit down! 1450 Sundays I've been showing up! Wow! Praise the Lord! Where do we go? Awesome!
How about you? What's your record? You know why the Father's House is growing? Because we bring everything that we do and we surrender to the head of the church. It's all about him! That's why you serve, and that's why some of you for Easter are going to serve all three services because you have a heart to help people.
Our mission, remember? Let's say it again: "We are bringing hope and impacting our community by leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus."
I tell people sometimes, I tell our staff, "Remember, we'll do everything short of sinning to win one more person to Jesus—to reach people that nobody is reaching."
It may be that we do things that nobody else is doing because we want to create an environment here where you can bring your friends, and they're going to hear about Jesus. They're not going to hear about how great we are or how great I am; they're going to hear about Jesus!
Because I know some of you have friends that you love so much, and you've tried to witness to them, but you feel inept at closing the deal. I'm just going to ask you, bring them on a Sunday! Bring them on a Sunday! Let me do the work for you! Let me close the deal!
At the end of the teaching, and almost every week we have somebody that raises their hands. In every environment we create, every environment—that's why we do screens, that's why we do this music, that's why this team works so hard. We want to create an environment where it's easy for people to give their heart to the Lord. We're trying to make that easy.
Let me ask you a question: How many of you plan on going to heaven? Who are you taking with you? Who is it? When, after about a thousand years of the new heaven and the new earth, I'm not going to be floating around on a cloud. Whatever I did on earth, I'm going to do then. But now I'll have the capabilities of just getting to another galaxy if I want to.
It wouldn't be "Beam me up, Scotty." It would just be "Beam me up! Let me go!" And after about a thousand years, somebody comes up to you and says, "Tim, thank you for doing that memorial yesterday for 100 people unchurched. You shared the gospel. I didn't respond, but later I came to—" Jimmy is one of our armor bearers. I was talking to him this morning. I said, "Jimmy, somebody asked him, I think it was Andrea. Jimmy, when you first came to church, what did you think about the church?"
He said, "I didn't think anything about the church. I was in another place." And he said, "I don't even—I probably was scrolling on my phone the whole time." He said, "I was evaluating this in light of the life that I've had to live as a soldier."
He said, "Evaluating." But he said, "After a few Sundays, I wasn't looking at my phone anymore. I was looking around at people and thinking, 'This is a real deal, and I want to surrender my life to a man that can change so many people's lives.'"
And now Jimmy's probably more on fire for God than anybody I know! But it started by his wife badgering him to come to church.
Who are you inviting for Easter? I got several people I'm inviting. One of them is a dear friend of mine who needs the Lord—a very successful young man. And I'm always asking him, "Hey, you coming to church? We're looking for your church. We saved your seat."
This week, I texted him. I said, "Look, dude, I don't want you to feel like I'm always pressuring you and always trying to get you to come to church or something. I just want you to know I really care about you, and I care about your future."
And he texted me back, and he said, "I know. I understand." So, who are you inviting for Easter? Who? In fact, who's going to show up in heaven because of you?
Some people talk about the love language. What's your love language? Well, you know, my love language is gifts and touch. Those are my word languages. Jesus has a love language. You know what it is? People!
As long as there's one lost person in our community, we've still got something to do. Who are you inviting? You never know who is one invitation away from surrendering their heart to Jesus or coming to church.
You say, "But I've invited them so many times." Invite them again! Because you are the influence of Jesus into their life. In fact, let's bow our heads, and I'd like for you to just listen to the Holy Spirit and say, "Holy Spirit, who do you want me to invite? Who do you want me to go out on the patio and get a ticket for? Who is that? Who is that?"
There's someone that Jesus wants you to invite. Right there where you're sitting, just very quietly, would you call out their name to the Lord? Just pray, "Lord, I pray for every believer in this house and the people that they're going to invite for Easter—invite next week. I pray you'll make the hearts receptive."
As you continue to pray, let me talk to some of you that may be here today and you're in need. Let me tell you the good news is that you came to the right place. Maybe you're feeling a burden; maybe you're feeling the weight of your sin. Maybe you don't know where you stand with God, and you wonder where you really stand with God. If you were to die right now, where would you spend eternity?
Let me tell you about Jesus. Jesus came for people like you and me. He came for the broken. He came for those that feel ashamed and guilty—those that are not sure what they're going to do with their life. Jesus came as the Son of God, and he shed his blood on the cross for my sins and your sins. And on the third day, God raised him from the dead that as many as call upon his name—and that will also be you—will be saved!
He'll forgive you of your sins. He'll make you brand new. He'll make you into somebody you've always wanted to be. So, if you're here today, you're watching online, and you say, "You know, I'm that person. I need to surrender my life to Jesus. I need his grace. I need his forgiveness. I want to know him. I want to step away from my old life. I want to surrender today. Terry, I want to give up my life to Jesus."
I don't know what that means; I don't know how hard it is, but I believe it's the right decision today. I need to make a decision for Jesus. As this church is praying for you, would you raise your hand and make eye contact with me and say, "Terry, that's me. I need to make that decision today." Thank you! I want to make that decision today.
And those of you that are watching online, thank you! Thank you! Others, raise your hand. Let me see. "I need forgiveness, Terry. That's me. I need to be sure that my eternity is settled."
Those of you watching online, just raise your hand right where you are. Let me lead us in a prayer today. Would you pray this prayer with me?
"Father God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. As best as I can, I'm going to serve you all the days of my life. Thank you, Jesus. Fill me with your Spirit."
Church, would you celebrate with me today with those who prayed that prayer? If you prayed that prayer today, before you leave today, just drop by First Step here. First Step here, I got some resources that I want to give you.
Hey, we're getting ready to receive our tithe and offering, and then we'll be out of here in just a few seconds. But if you can kind of hold tight, the ushers are coming. We're going to receive our tithe and offering. Remember, Legacy gift coming in the last of the month. Thank you for your regular tithing and giving because you give, we're able to do a lot of things.
I want you to watch this video again because it's all about the seed that you sow. If you have a seed, whatever that is, as you return the tithe and give an offering, one day that seed is going to plant. It's going to become a plant, and then a tree, and make a difference. But it starts with you sowing a seed.
So, would you do that today as the ushers pass the buckets? Let's watch this video.
A forest begins with one seed that grows and multiplies. But the seed needs to be released to see a miracle come to life. When you plant the seed, it may not seem like much is happening at first. There needs to be patience, faith, sacrifice. But slowly, the seed shows signs of life. Before we know it, from the seed grows a tree. The more seeds, the more trees, and one day, a forest.
The forest won't come today, but it won't happen without a seed. Patience, faith, sacrifice—this is what it means to leave a legacy. The time is now; the possibilities are endless, and this seed is our legacy. Leave a legacy; make a difference!
Thank you for being here today! Hey, let's stand and worship a little bit of this song. Our prayer team is coming down front. If you need prayer today, I love you guys! Thank you for coming! Thank you for being part of his church! I love my church! Right? Let's worship!
There's never been a king like this. He died so we could live. Then he rose up from that grave. Name another king like this! Now all authority forever belongs to him. He reigns in victory. Name another king like this!
There has never been a love so great. He died so we could live. Then he rose up from that grave. Name another king like this! Now all authority forever belongs to him. He reigns in victory. Name another king like this!
on Mar 10, 2024
