Embracing Baptism, Prayer, and Community for Spiritual Growth

### Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate a significant milestone in the life of a young man being baptized, following the biblical command to repent and be baptized. Baptism is more than just a physical act; it symbolizes spiritual victory and deliverance, much like the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. If you haven't been baptized, we have everything you need to take this step today.

We are also embarking on a 24-hour, seven-day prayer and fasting initiative starting tonight at midnight. This is a call to spiritual warfare, where each day we will focus on different prayer points, from praying for our nation to personal needs. We encourage everyone to participate, even if it means sacrificing comfort or convenience. This is a critical time for our church and nation, and we need to stand in the gap through prayer.

The importance of community and friendship was emphasized, drawing from both biblical and contemporary insights. Friendships are vital for spiritual growth and support, and they shape our future. We are encouraged to join life groups, which provide a space for grace, healing, and mission. These groups are not just meetings but opportunities to experience God's love and support through others.

We also prayed for various needs, including those affected by recent storms and personal struggles within our congregation. The power of corporate prayer and fasting was highlighted as a means to bring about change and miracles. We concluded with a call to action, urging everyone to join a life group and to be intentional about building meaningful relationships.

### Key Takeaways

1. **Baptism as Spiritual Victory**: Baptism is more than a ritual; it symbolizes spiritual deliverance and victory, akin to the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. It is a public declaration of faith and a step of obedience to God's command. If you haven't been baptized, consider taking this important step in your spiritual journey. [0:00]

2. **Power of Prayer and Fasting**: Our 24-hour, seven-day prayer and fasting initiative is a call to spiritual warfare. Each day focuses on different prayer points, from national issues to personal needs. This is a time to draw a line in the sand and say "enough is enough," committing to seek God fervently. [12:32]

3. **Importance of Community**: Friendships and community are vital for spiritual growth and support. The Bible and contemporary studies both affirm that the people we surround ourselves with shape our future. Joining a life group can provide the grace, healing, and mission focus that we need. [49:33]

4. **Experiencing Grace in Life Groups**: Life groups are gatherings of grace where we can share our struggles without fear of judgment. These groups provide a safe space to receive support and encouragement, helping us to grow spiritually and emotionally. [01:01:04]

5. **Healing Through Confession**: Confessing our struggles and sins to one another in a life group setting can lead to healing. The Bible encourages us to pray for each other so that we may be healed, highlighting the power of community in overcoming personal challenges. [01:06:01]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[0:30] - Baptism Celebration
[12:32] - 24-Hour Prayer and Fasting Initiative
[13:24] - Dangerous Prayers Book
[14:16] - Daily Prayer Points
[15:44] - Call to Sacrifice
[16:41] - Midnight Prayer Sign-Up
[17:12] - Hourly Prayer Commitments
[18:13] - Early Morning Prayer Watch
[19:10] - Online Participation
[20:08] - Midday Prayer Slots
[21:00] - Afternoon Prayer Slots
[22:16] - Evening Prayer Slots
[24:19] - Corporate Prayer
[25:07] - Journaling During Prayer
[26:24] - Praying for the Nation
[27:20] - Praying for Storm Victims
[28:11] - Commitment to Fasting
[40:20] - Celebrating Commitment
[40:55] - Upcoming Events
[41:24] - New Signage
[43:16] - Culture of Caring
[44:23] - Importance of Friends
[49:33] - Show Me Your Friends
[54:03] - Early Church Model
[56:28] - Meeting in Homes
[57:07] - Life Group Realities
[01:01:04] - Experiencing Grace
[01:06:01] - Healing Through Confession
[01:08:30] - Life Groups on a Mission
[01:10:50] - Life Group Sign-Ups
[01:11:39] - Prayer for Life Groups
[01:12:45] - God's Love and Salvation
[01:14:57] - Join a Life Group

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Acts 2:46-47**: "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 the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
2. **Proverbs 13:20**: "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble."
3. **James 5:16**: "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Acts 2:46-47 suggest about the early church's approach to community and worship?
2. According to Proverbs 13:20, what are the consequences of the company we keep?
3. In James 5:16, what two actions are believers encouraged to take, and what is the promised result?
4. How did the pastor describe the significance of baptism in the sermon? ([0:30])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the practice of meeting in homes, as described in Acts 2:46-47, compare to modern church practices? What benefits might this model offer? ([54:03])
2. Proverbs 13:20 highlights the importance of wise companionship. How can this principle be applied in choosing friends within the church community? ([49:33])
3. James 5:16 speaks about confession and prayer leading to healing. How might this practice look in a life group setting? ([01:06:01])
4. The sermon emphasized the power of corporate prayer and fasting. How can these practices impact both personal and communal spiritual growth? ([12:32])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current friendships. Are there any relationships that might be leading you away from wisdom? How can you seek out wiser companions? ([49:33])
2. Have you ever experienced grace in a community setting, such as a life group? How did it impact your spiritual journey? ([01:01:04])
3. What steps can you take to be more intentional about building meaningful relationships within your church community? ([49:33])
4. The sermon called for a 24-hour, seven-day prayer and fasting initiative. What specific sacrifices can you make to participate in this initiative? ([12:32])
5. How can you create a safe space in your life group for members to confess their struggles and receive prayer? ([01:06:01])
6. Think of a personal struggle you are facing. How can you bring this to your life group for support and healing? ([01:06:01])
7. What practical steps can you take this week to join or start a life group, and how can you encourage others to do the same? ([01:10:50])

Day 1: Baptism as Spiritual Victory
Baptism is more than a ritual; it symbolizes spiritual deliverance and victory, akin to the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. It is a public declaration of faith and a step of obedience to God's command. If you haven't been baptized, consider taking this important step in your spiritual journey. [0:00]

1 Peter 3:21-22 (ESV): "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him."

Reflection: Have you publicly declared your faith through baptism? If not, what is holding you back from taking this step of obedience and spiritual victory?


Day 2: Power of Prayer and Fasting
Our 24-hour, seven-day prayer and fasting initiative is a call to spiritual warfare. Each day focuses on different prayer points, from national issues to personal needs. This is a time to draw a line in the sand and say "enough is enough," committing to seek God fervently. [12:32]

Joel 2:12-13 (ESV): "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

Reflection: What specific area of your life or community needs fervent prayer and fasting? How can you commit to seeking God in this area during the next seven days?


Day 3: Importance of Community
Friendships and community are vital for spiritual growth and support. The Bible and contemporary studies both affirm that the people we surround ourselves with shape our future. Joining a life group can provide the grace, healing, and mission focus that we need. [49:33]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

Reflection: Who are the key people in your life that influence your spiritual journey? How can you be more intentional about surrounding yourself with a supportive community?


Day 4: Experiencing Grace in Life Groups
Life groups are gatherings of grace where we can share our struggles without fear of judgment. These groups provide a safe space to receive support and encouragement, helping us to grow spiritually and emotionally. [01:01:04]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: Is there a struggle or burden you need to share with your life group? How can you create a safe space for others to share their struggles as well?


Day 5: Healing Through Confession
Confessing our struggles and sins to one another in a life group setting can lead to healing. The Bible encourages us to pray for each other so that we may be healed, highlighting the power of community in overcoming personal challenges. [01:06:01]

Proverbs 28:13 (ESV): "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need healing through confession? Can you take a step today to share this with a trusted friend or life group member?

Good morning! On this beautiful day, we get to celebrate with a young man being baptized in the second service.

We've got some more scripture that says, "Repent and be baptized," so we follow the pattern of Jesus. Amen?

There's something that happens spiritually when we are baptized in water. It looks like, "Well, that's just dumping in water," but it's more than that. It's a picture of how God led the children of Israel out of bondage. They went through the water to the other side in victory. They were already God's people.

So, if you've never been baptized in water, we’ve got you covered today. We have shorts, t-shirts, and towels. If you would like to be baptized and you didn't sign up, come down and see one of these lovely ladies. They'll help you, and we'll dunk you today. We'll celebrate those who want to be baptized today.

God, we give you glory in Jesus' name. Amen.

Alright, worship with them today.

Many of you believe today we need a move of God?

Yeah.

You may be seated for a moment.

I think you've heard by now that beginning tonight at midnight, we're going to start a 24-day prayer and fast for the next seven days.

So let me give you some information. If you've got your phone, you can take your phone out and go to the Father's House website, fathershousechurch.com. There we go.

If you'll scroll with me down through there, you'll see Celebrate Recovery, Leadership Training, Prayer. Then you'll come on to a little thing that looks just like that. It says "24-hour-7 Prayer and Fasting."

If you'll click that, then it'll open, and it'll tell you that we have a YouVersion plan that we're going to be using. We've used it before, but we're going to do it again called "Dangerous Prayers."

We also have some of those books, right? Steve, hand me that "Dangerous Prayer" book. I think Colette ordered some out there. We've used this before, but it's a really great book, "Dangerous Prayers."

What you can do is click here for the Prayer and Fasting PDF. So when you do that, it will bring you up and it'll say, "What's happening?"

We're doing a 24-hour prayer, seven days a week. It talks about fasting and a full fast, a Daniel fast, three-day fast, a partial fast.

Then on Monday, we're uniting on one prayer point. We're talking about, "This is war." In other words, we're not going to sit back, but we're going to draw a line in the sand and say, "Enough is enough." Enough of this in our nation, enough of this in our homes and our families.

And we're going to pray that on Tuesday. We're going to pray for the lost. Wednesday, we're going to pray for healing. Thursday, we're going to pray for our nation and the upcoming election. Friday, we're going to pray for marriages and families. Saturdays, we're going to pray for God's provision. And Sunday, ending out the fast on Sunday, we pray for our church and our community.

So what we want to do is just go old school today. Whatever kind of fast that you would choose for this time, some of you may want to do the Daniel fast. Some of you have never fasted before.

There's all kinds of information on the website, the resource there. I don't have anything printed out to hand you. It's just kind of like, "Yeah, you can print the PDF," but we don't have anything to hand you today. So you can print that.

There's information on what to do with the fast. So every day, Lisa, before time, will post a little bit about what the prayer point is.

So tonight at midnight, we're going to start praying. Now, when we say pray an hour, some of you just like suck wind on that. You think, "There's just no way."

But what we're saying is sometime between midnight tonight and 1 a.m., somebody is going to be saying, "Lord, I'm here. I'm standing in the gap at the Father's House. I'm praying for people's needs."

On that PDF, I actually give you a sample prayer of how to pray that. So utilize that. Do that.

What we want to do today is just do old school, not having to sign up on the Internet. I want to see your face and I want to see your hand.

I know some of you, the early hours might be a little stretch; that may not work for you. But maybe God wants you to sacrifice something to make a difference in our community, in our nation.

If we don't have a turnaround in our nation, we're going to go the same way as the Canadian churches and the European churches. We're just going to keep having performance and just keep moving God out of that.

The scripture tells us over and over, if we continually resist Him, then He turns us over. He turns us over. Not all at once. But you look at the book of Romans.

So I really feel like that not only the Father's House, but there are churches all around the world that are saying, "You know what? We're going to get back to prayer."

In fact, this week through a post that I did, the Lord touched me and He said, "See the need. There's a need."

So in October, we're starting a brand new series on the prayer of Daniel that prayed for his nation and prayed for individuals. So I think it's going to be an experience. It's going to be an exciting time.

So what I'd like to do today is I'd like to know how many of you would take midnight tonight, which would be midnight for the seven days. By raising your hand, say, "You can count on me. I'll take the 12 midnight to 1 a.m."

Alright, just raise your hand. We're just going to count numbers. Just keep it up. The ushers are counting those numbers from midnight tonight to one o'clock.

So we've got looks like seven or eight people there. How many? Nine. How many that are willing to do that? Thank you. Thank you.

Alright, now we got this hour from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. Alright, let's see some hands for that. It's like an auction bidding here.

Any anybody want to take that time? So come on, just raise. Alright, we have one. We have two. We have three over here.

Alright, so remember what time because this is between you and the Lord. Okay? And listen, it's not a sin if you forget; just double up the next day.

Pastor Andrea. Alright, we got to watch our stage up here.

Alright, from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. Oh, we did that.

Yeah. Oh. Alright, so now we're looking 2 to 3. 2 to 3.

Anybody would like to pray from 2 to 3? And if we don't have anybody in this service, we'll have somebody in the next.

Alright, Tim. Alright, back here in the back. Look, I know some of you are up. I posted something two days ago at 1:40 a.m. and I got responses.

So I'm thinking, "What's people doing up?" I was up because God woke me up. But what are you doing up at a time like that?

Alright, now we're looking from 3 to 4. 3 to 4. Alright, we got several hands here from 3 to 4.

The early intercessors are waking up. 3:30 is really a prayer watch. I've heard people around the nation say it's unusual, but God is waking me up at 3 a.m. to 3:30 praying because that's a prayer watch.

Alright, so now from 4 to 5. Raise your hand. Wow. Thank you. So many great people.

Look at these hands being raised. Our ushers are counting. We got up on the stage here. Let's start. We got two on the stage. Three on the stage.

Alright, how many? Two. Twenty. Alright. Alright, that's from 4 to 5.

Alright, from 5 to 6. Look at this. Wow. Count these hands. Every hand is important. Keep it up for a minute. Our ushers are counting behind you. They got you.

This is so important, guys. So important. Some of you are raising two hands. We need a move of God. We need a move of God.

That's just in this service. 28. Alright, now we're from 6 to 7. Wow. Look at these hands going up. Come on. Come on.

Our ushers, count them. You're doing great. Thank you so much. Those of you that are watching online, I don't want to leave you out, but I want you right there to let our hosts know that we can count on you one of those hours, whatever you would like to choose.

It's important. This is your church. We're praying. We're praying for you. Guys, this is so awesome.

This is so awesome. 7 to 8. 7 to 8 prayers. So you can count on me. Sometime between that hour, I'm going to be praying about these needs.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Wow. This looks awesome.

This looks awesome. Wow. This looks awesome. I'm going to go old school today because I wanted to see your hands, and I wanted to see this church to see you raise your hand, and I just felt like that is so important.

Now, we're 8 to 9? 8 to 9 a.m.

Alright. Several hands here. 8 to 9. Wow. This looks awesome. It looks awesome.

We've got a hand over here. One on stage. Okay. Did you get the one on stage?

Alright. 8 to 9. 9 to 10. Alright. 9 to 10.

Anybody want to pray during the hour? 9 to 10 a.m. Okay. Our p.m. Sorry.

Yeah, we're at p.m. Okay. Do we have... I think... Yeah, p.m. Right. I thought I saw two back here.

Alright. Alright. Alright. So, now we're at... 9 to 10 a.m. 9 to 10 a.m.

Okay. Awesome. Looks great. Looks great. Okie doke.

Alright. 10 to 11. Alright. Now, we're at 10 to 11. Alright. We've got some more here.

Alright. Somebody may want to take a double time. Alright. We've got those. 11 to... 11 to noon.

We just did 10 to 11. 11 to 12. Alright. Lunchtime. Good time to fast, lunch, and pray.

Okay. We'll catch some... Yeah. And I'm looking for the vacancies, and I'll plug in somewhere.

Alright. So, now we're at p.m. 12 to 1. Lunchtime. Lunchtime.

Prayers. Prayer. Pray people 12 to 1. Okay. Back here. Over here. Can you see this?

Alright. And then 1 to 2 p.m. Alright. Prayers. That's... Alright. I love you guys. You're so... You're so great.

We're going to pray. Awesome. Back here in the back. Looks good. Good. Good.

Okay. And now from 2 to 3. 2 to 3 in the afternoon. Pray.

Alright. The... Yeah. I love it. I love it. Alright. We're going to pick up some more.

So, now let's go... Put me down. I'll do that. I'm going to pick up some... Oh, we got some back here.

Alright. Okay. I'll remember. It's 2 to 3. Alright. 3 to 4.

Okay. Good time. Guys are awesome. Thank you. Thank you. 3 to 4. We have 3.

Alright. 4 to 5. 4 to 5. 4 to 5. Good time. Fast, maybe, during that time.

We got hands going up all over here. This is so awesome. Thanks, guys. I know it's taken a while, but I want you to sense this. I want you to feel our hunger.

Alright. 5 to 6. 5 to 6 p.m. 5 to 6 p.m.

Okay. Over here. Awesome. I love it. No, you're not necessarily fasting that hour. You choose the fast you want.

This is prayer. Yeah. Alright. Now, 6 to 7 p.m.

Okay. Alright. Awesome. Good time. Alright. 6 to 7.

Alright. 7 to 8. 7 to 8. Okay. Back over here. 7 to 8.

And again, those of you watching online, over here too, also. Alright. Thanks, Richard. You're a good mathematician.

Alright. 8 to 9 p.m. 8 to 9 p.m. One on the stage.

Okay. Alright. Back here. Here. Here. Over here.

Alright. Back there. Back there. Wow, guys. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Alright. 9 to 10. 9 to 10. It's past my bedtime.

Alright. Okay. 9 to 10. Over here. Over here. Thank you. Over here. Over here.

Okay. And then 11, 10 to 11 p.m. Alright. Behind me. Thanks, Hannah.

Alright. And then from 11 to midnight. Okay.

Okay. Look at the good hands going up here, over here, back over here, and back over here. Three.

Okay. Four.

Now, what I'd like for you to do is I'd like for you to stand with me. And we're going to pray about several things.

We're going to pray, of course, for the crisis, the storm that went through New Orleans and those areas.

And we'll show you a little video in a minute. We were on the ground the first hour, the first two hours after.

We were on the ground with Convoy of Hope. We'll be at the Convoy of Hope meeting this week, and we'll bring back some more information.

And I'll show you a video in a minute how we were on the ground immediately when that happened because of you, because of your legacy giving that we're able to give.

We also want to pray today for Maggie. Maggie is home, my assistant. She's going through chemo right now, and they're trying to get all the meds adjusted.

So we pray for her, pray for Lonnie's strength. We also want to pray for the needs that you have.

Today, in a minute, I'll ask you to raise your hand if you have a need, but we want to pray for those special needs.

And then we also want to pray over everyone to spend your time. I'm going to tell you, I really would like for you to get a journal, to journal about what happens during your prayer time.

And listen, I'm not asking you to spend an hour. Some of you, it's going to be easy to spend an hour, but I've given you a prayer on that PDF thing.

I've given you that prayer, and maybe we'll find a way to, Lisa might even send that to you. I don't know how we're going to do that.

Lisa's a great guru. She said thumbs up, so you can get that to you in advance.

But I really feel like, I'm not just saying this, but I really feel like that God is going to use this time, not just for us as a church, but for you as an individual, because you've been searching to find your place.

You've been searching to feel like, "Am I significant? Am I doing anything?"

And during that time of prayer, as you pray, I want you to listen to what the Lord would say to you. He may drive you to a scripture passage, or you just may feel a word, write it down in your journal, and it's going to be just an awesome time.

But I want to pray today for these needs, and if you have a special prayer need, would you raise your hand today? Say, "Yeah, that's me. I have a need."

Okay. We have hands going up. Just keep your hand up. If you see a hand up around you, just lay your hand on that person's shoulder or their arm.

Let's pray for them.

And Lord, we come to you today, and we say, "God, may you be glorified in everything that we do. We don't do anything, Lord, that's not your will. You said your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

So Lord, you created prayer as an avenue for us to make the stairway to heaven, to call down your kingdom's will into our life.

So first of all, we pray for our nation. We ask you to forgive us of our sins and to heal our nation.

We pray for the division in our nation, the ugliness in our nation, of people dividing around hatred instead of love.

And Lord, we thank you for the freedom that we have in this nation, that you can be who you want to be, and you don't have to be persecuted for that.

And Lord, I ask that you be lifted up in this upcoming election. Lord, that we vote not personalities, but we vote policies that line up with the truth of your word.

And Lord, I pray today for the people in Louisiana, Mississippi, through those areas that have been hit by this storm.

I pray, Lord, that you provide for them. Bless the churches as they're moving in this particular time.

We continue to pray, Lord, for people here in our house that are in need, and those of you that are watching online.

If you're watching online today, just raise your hand right where you are, and we want to pray for you and the need that you have.

Just put there in the chat your prayer need, and when God answers, be sure to let us know that.

If it's not too difficult, would you just touch the shoulder of the person next to you or join hands with them?

And I want us to pray corporately. For this fast time and this prayer, whether you fast a meal or whether you fast TV, whether you fast sweets, whether you fast a day, whether you do the Daniel fast, whether you do the partial fast, look through that PDF thing there and find a place, but commit that to the Lord today.

So Father, we pray right now. I pray, Lord, you see this wonderful church. You see, Lord, this team and the ones that are online that are saying, "Lord, we need a move of you. We're hungry."

And we're willing, Lord, for the next seven days to fast. The next 24 hours around the clock, you can count on somebody here at the Father's House that's going to be praying.

God, we're going to stand in the gap and we're going to pray. We're going to pray for our nation. We're going to pray for needs, for individuals, and Lord, I know even in that, that you are going to honor this fast with signs, wonders, and miracles.

We need you, Lord. We need you so much. We need you. We need you. We need you today.

I just really sense the Lord saying, "This is not just a regular time. This is not just a regular fast, but this is going to be life-changing for you and for us."

Hey, let's continue to worship. I just feel that in my spirit. Let's just continue to worship.

Thank you for your response. Wow. My heart is rejoicing and humbled that 185 of you, plus those that are online, would be willing to commit a special time for the next seven days to seek God.

That's special. Would you just give yourself a hand clap for that?

Glad to be back. Anita and I, of course, we were at the couples retreat, which is unbelievable. And you've got to go next year. It's just going to be great.

And then we were at Macon, Georgia last weekend speaking at one of the churches that we as a Father's House help, that we've mentored and coached.

Had a great service there. God did such great things. But man, did Andrea bring the word or what? That was so good.

Next week is Connect Sunday. We've got a lot of special things that are going on. You'll love it.

I'd just like for you to wear your "I Love My Church" t-shirts that we have, or your shirts. Wear those next week.

And I want to say, I love the new signage that we have, the three new signs out front.

And I want to personally thank, as a church, first of all, Anita. Anita, would you stand? She spent a lot of time in that.

Davin, would you? I mean, Davin. Nate, would you stand? Nate was spearheading this project.

Yeah. Thank you, guys. Nate spearheaded this. I just loved it. He said, "You know, I'd be willing to take on this project if you want, spearhead it, take up a lot of time that Anita and I wouldn't have to do."

And then with Davin's help and the sign wizards, right? Sign wizards. We were able to do that.

And you guys gave and responded. Let me say this. Every year, we give a substantial amount of money. I think last year, we gave $20,000 to Convoy of Hope from your giving, from Legacy.

Because we said, "We want to merge with an organization that's actually on the ground doing something."

And so as soon as this crisis hit in Louisiana, Convoy of Hope, you and I were there through our giving.

And this is a video they sent this week of saying, "Thanks. Thanks for being partners."

Wow. Wow. That's because of you.

Yes.

Well, let's pray.

Father, we thank you today. Man, we just sense your spirit here in such a special way.

Thank you, Father, for sending people to the Father's House and the culture that's here, a culture of caring and helping, a culture that doesn't want to just go to church. They want to be the church.

So I pray as we are in this series of Connect that you would anoint today, help me to say what you want me to say. Holy Spirit, I need you.

Don't let me say anything I shouldn't say. And Father, I pray for everyone who takes their place in the next seven days around the clock, calling after you.

Even if we didn't do anything else except stand and read out loud a scripture passage, letting you know that we're here.

We need you, Lord. We need you today.

Father, at the end of today, we pray that you might be glorified, the saints would be edified, and Lord, that the enemy would be terrified in the name of Jesus.

Well, some of you are old enough to remember that way before a lot of the things that we have today, we had vinyl.

Anybody remember vinyl? Some of you that are younger, you have to go back on the internet and look at vinyl. What does that mean?

But they say it's coming back. But in around 1967, the Beatles, don't hold it against me, came out with this album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

And the second song on side A was from Ringo. And the lyrics are this. In case you didn't remember who these guys were, they're such handsome guys.

Alright? Here are some of the lyrics. "What would you think if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?"

And then he goes on to say, "Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends. Gonna try with a little help of my friends."

One of the greatest vocals, I need a little help of John, Paul, and George. Without them, Ringo would be another drummer who sang off-key.

But I want to take that thought today about "with a little help of my friends."

How many of you are thankful that you have friends? Right? Aren't you thankful for your friends?

Now, if you don't have any friends, guess who you can blame? You.

Scripture says if you want to be friends, show yourself friendly.

Yeah, friends. Some people say, you know, and it's important because Jesus said in John 15 and 15, "I'm not going to call you servants, but I'm going to call you friends."

Isn't that amazing? Jesus wants to call you his friend.

Now, when I say the word friends, that's a whole long gamut. You know, there are some people that we have acquaintances with and they think they're our friends.

Well, and then we have Facebook friends for whatever that means. And we have then a few close, close friends.

And then we have probably a handful of real friends. One of the greatest titles that you can give to someone is to say, "You're my friend."

Now, just because I know you doesn't mean I'm your best friend. Best friend is not a term that you need to throw around lightly.

Best friends are people that do life together more than just a couple of times a week. Do you know what I'm saying?

So probably you only have, if you're like me, you probably have maybe two or three, maybe at the most four or five really best good friends.

And you should never take that lightly. The issue is, some of you don't want to be bothered. You've got it all together and you don't need friends.

Let me tell you, the day will come that you'll need friends. And if you wait till that time, it's too late.

Because they're generating then something that'll just, somebody to help you just out of mercy, not out of friendship.

Friendship is something to be cherished. Friendship is messy. Is marriage messy?

Yeah. Yeah. Friendship is messy. And it's important who you hang out with.

Moran Cerf, who's a neuroscientist for Northwest University, did a 10-year study on relationships and people in relationships and friendships.

And the impact, the impact that your friends have on you. And here's what he concluded at the end of this 10 years.

The more we study engagement, in other words, people being with people, friends with friends, people you hang out with, we see time and again that just being next to certain people actually aligns your brainwaves with them.

Over time, they'll naturally pick up on attitudes and behaviors.

What he's saying is that without any effort, without any planning, just being in the proximity of people that you do life together, your brainwaves begin to sort of sink.

In your notes, it says this, it's a fill-in. Show me your friends and I'll show you your future.

Show me your friends and I'll show you your future. Your future and my future will be impacted by the people that we do life with or without.

Because I'm going to get on some of your toes today because you have without. You don't have friends because you've never put yourself out there to be vulnerable and you've never understood how much you need friends.

I've been through crisis before and I know without real friends, I would have never made it.

There were a lot of times I contemplated ending it all, that there was no use, this and all this. But about that time then, a friend moved to God would call and say, "You know what? I made it through with just a little help of my friends."

3,000 years before this neuroscientist, there was another man by the name of Solomon who didn't have the ability to look inside our brain and our brainwaves, but he wrote this.

Proverbs 13 and 20. Would you read it out loud with me? "Walk with the wise and become wise. Associate with fools and get in trouble."

Break that out. Walk with the wise. It says, and in other words, it just with no effort, no intentionality, just hanging around people that are wise contrasted with fools.

Fools in the Bible is someone who doesn't live thoughtfully, just lives for the day. He says, "You're gonna get in trouble."

Not simply that you'll become like a fool. You become like a fool if you hang around fool people.

At Proverbs 18, this is not in your notes, Proverbs 18, 1 and 2. If you want to mark this one down, I've got it here somewhere.

That's what happens when your string gets away. Proverbs 18, 1.

And Proverbs 18 and 1, an unfriendly person isolates himself and seems to care only about his own issues.

Don't bother me. Don't ask me out to lunch. Don't ask me to get in a life group. I'm not gonna give anybody the gate code to my community to come into my house.

He who isolates himself seems to only care about his own issues. For his contempt of sound judgment makes him a recluse.

You seek your own harm if you isolate yourself. Ecclesiastes 4, 9 and 10 says this, "Two are better than one. If one falls, one will lift up his friend. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him."

It's a true principle that you become like those that you hang out with the most. Right?

We come to church on Sundays. In fact, let's do a little fun thing. This group here and this group here, would you stand? Just stand up.

Oh, that's great. You can stand. Now, what I'd like for you to do is I'd like for you to turn and I'd like for you to look at these other three groups that are sitting, okay?

Just turn and look at them. Take a good look at them. Every one of them has something in common.

Every one of them. What is it? They're all sitting in a chair looking at me.

Every one. You guys pass the test. You guys are really brilliant. Give them a hand. They did a great job.

You come once a week on Sundays. You stare at the back of somebody's head and then you move next week to find somebody whose light doesn't reflect off the back of their head.

That hurts. But you see, you can be part of a church and not know anybody.

Who is that person? I mean, we can't intimately know everybody. That's why we say the Father's House is a church of small groups called life groups.

We don't have life groups, but we are a church of life groups. Small groups.

Because we've learned that life is better in circles than in line. So next week, we have life group sign-ups.

So I hope that you'll find one that you can be part of. You see, your friends are the future you.

Look at your friends and I'll tell you how you're going to act.

Jesus gave us a pattern in Acts chapter 2 if you want to turn there with me. Acts chapter 2 verses 46 through 47.

They worshiped together at the temple. What does it say? And they met in homes for the Lord's Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.

All the while, what were they doing? Read it with me. Praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.

And each day, the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

So, they met every week at 9 and 11. They met every Sunday at 9 and 11.

No, they met how often? Every day. Not only did they meet in the temple, the church in Jerusalem at this time, they tell us, according to historians, was over 100,000 members.

That was an original super church, right? Mega church. You couldn't get that many in one, especially at that time.

So, they met in little temple houses, little temple courts all around the temple.

But not only that, but they realized, and of course, they didn't have chairs, they stood. They stood during the whole time of worship.

But they also then met in houses, homes together. But it says, each day they met.

Not just on Sundays at 9 and 11, when they're not too tired, or the weather is good or bad, or the game was late last night, or the wrestling, and you stayed up late, or your team lost yesterday, so you've been in recluse for a week.

And they didn't stay home because they had family and friends that came from out of town.

That's the lamest, silly excuse I've ever heard in my life. We have friends from out of town, so we can't come to church.

What, are you ashamed of your family? That's a pet peeve of mine, so don't ever give me that excuse.

And every day, they broke bread where? Where? House to house in homes.

You mean they gave somebody the security code to their gate? They invited somebody into their house onto their brand new carpet?

That's it. So the pattern is, Jesus says, "This is my pattern for my church."

It's okay to do church in rows, but you also need to do church in circles.

Sitting around a circle, sitting around a table, sitting around the pool, sitting around the fire pit, sitting around the table at Coffee Snobs, sitting around the table at Starbucks, looking at people eyeball to eyeball, and just getting to know people that you can open up the door and start to develop a friendship.

Now, I'm not saying in every small group that you're part of that you'll leave making friends.

Can I be honest? Can I just really be honest? Some people in your life group are just weird.

And you would not choose to hang out with them regularly because you just don't match.

But you know what you can do? You can come together for 10 weeks, 11 weeks, what are we having this time, Tim? 10 weeks, and you can open up yourself, get over your own silly self, selfish self, that you don't want to get to know other people and let them into your life.

And you know what? You're going to learn that that person is an alright person. Maybe it's you that's weird. Ever thought about that?

And I know some of you that are introverts. We talk about life groups. Your palms get sweaty.

Pastor Terry, please. I'll clean the bathrooms. But just don't ask me, please. There must be another way.

There's only one way to Jesus and there's only one way to be the early church that Jesus wants.

To meet together, corporate worship, and then meet in small groups.

And I know it's tough for some of you, but it's only 10 weeks. And if that life group doesn't work this year, this term, join another one next week, next year, alright?

And so, there's someone saying, "Give it a chance."

How many of you, just be honest with you, how many of you would say that, you know, even sometimes extroverts or introverts when it comes to small groups, but how many of you would honestly say that the first time you went into a small group, you sort of felt a little uneasy that, you know, but you got over it and you're glad you did it?

Would you raise your hand? Look at that. Almost everybody in this house. Almost everybody in this house.

The fundamental difference, look at this quote. The fundamental difference between the early church and people today is this.

The first century church believers desperately needed each other; they knew it.

Say, "Need each other and know it." But believers today desperately need each other and they've forgotten it.

Look, every life group is not going to be perfect. Sometimes it's a little difficulty. Sometimes it's messy.

Sometimes you have one person that wants to talk more than anybody else and they tell the same story every week.

Anybody been in a life group like that? I mean, every week. They're taking you in the past and telling you what they've come through every week.

Now, I know they think they're doing it for God's glory, but you're sitting there saying, "Get over it. Come on. I've heard this. Let's move on."

And then there are those of you that hardly ever say anything because you're afraid you'll say it wrong.

Guess what? You can't say anything wrong in a small group, in a life group.

Now, if you say something heathenistic, that life group leader will change. Gently and quietly get you back on track.

But life groups are important. There are three things that you will experience in a life group that you probably won't experience anywhere else in the same quality.

Number one, get ready because with a little help from my friends, as Ringo said, you're going to experience grace.

Say grace. That's the first thing I promise you. In the culture of life groups, you're going to experience grace.

It's a gathering of grace. Say that. A gathering of grace.

Grace is, we get something we don't even deserve. I could tell you story after story after story, but one of my favorite stories from a life group from a friend of mine told me.

He said, there was this new lady that came to church and he said, we encouraged her to get into a small group.

She got into a small group and she felt very uneasy because her lifestyle was not equal to church people.

So in the very first life group, she burst this out saying this, "I need help. I'm a single mom and I'm a stripper. It pays good and I don't know what else I can do, but I don't want to do it."

And she braced herself for judgment. But instead of judgment, that life group came around her, said, "We're here for you. The past is not who you are. We're going to help you get out of this. We're going to financially help you get out of this."

Another story. A man. Men sometimes don't share as easy.

But a man got in a life group and about the third weekend he hadn't really said anything, but he said, "You know, I risk really being alienated here, but I'm really struggling. I'm struggling with pornography."

And he just paused. And the people in the life group at that time, no judgment.

No judgment. No, "You're going to go to hell" or "You got to get over that." But they just surrounded him.

They gave him encouragement. Some in the group said, "You know what, bro? I struggle with the same thing. We're going to make this through together."

Grace. I love my life group when I experience grace.

When I say to them, "You know what? I failed last week." I've said this at times. "I got in a big argument with Anita. It was all her fault."

But anyway, I got to argue. So, because if I said that, the group that I've been in didn't say, "Come on, bro. What'd you do? You know, what'd you do?"

And that's it. That's that grace.

Here's what Paul said. I love this verse. And I'm going to paraphrase it, okay? It's a PT paraphrase.

"You have a permanent place in my heart. You've remained partners with me in the wonderful grace of God."

He's given me grace. So, how could I be in this? I could be in a small group and be so judgmental that I would push somebody away.

No. In life groups, when you share with someone, they're not going to push you away, but they're going to wrap their arms around you.

And listen, if you're in a life group, what Sped said in a life group stays in a life group.

Fooey baloney on you, and may you have cooties next week. If you leave a life group and pick up the phone and say, "You don't believe what Steve told me. You know what Kimberly does?"

No. No. What's said in a life group stays in a life group.

Number two, you'll experience in a life group, you'll receive healing with a little help from my friends.

Receive healing with a little help from my friends.

Those of you that are anal, you're already worried and struggling and looking around everybody's page.

I skipped a fill-in, okay? If I skip a fill-in in looking at eternity, it doesn't matter anything, alright?

Just watch the second service and you might get it. Or watch online and they'll put it in.

How many of you were struggling because I skipped somebody? Raise your hand. I knew, I knew you were here.

Jesus honoring life group is a gathering of grace. See, you didn't need me. Why'd you need me?

I love you guys. Number two, receive healing with a little help from my friends.

Sometimes we think we talk to God in prayer and God does everything.

But it's interesting, Paul tells us something that in the light of friendship, in the light of small groups, in the light of a church meeting, here's what he says in James 5, 16.

By the way, if you want to do a good study of James and everything that's going on there, you need to get the bishop's book "Between Lightning and Thunder."

Do we have any of those in the bookstore? In the resource, we have some of those? Good, good.

He's on his like fifth book now. One of these days he'll be on TV and you'll say, "I knew him when?"

Alright. I remember that bald guy. I remember him. He's the one with the good-looking young wife, right?

He's the old man. I don't know. What'd you give me today, Steve, to drink? I have this.

It's just good to be home, alright?

James 5 and 16. "Confess your..." Surely that doesn't say that. Does that really mean sin, Pastor Ben?

You studied James more than anybody else. Does it really mean sin?

Yeah. "Confess your sins to each other and then pray for each other so that you may be what?"

I wonder if some of you, you've been praying for God to do something. He's been waiting for you to do something.

See, what you keep in secret controls you. But what you bring out into the light, the enemy can't beat you up with it anymore.

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you might be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."

When you come to a life group, a small group, and you get to the place that you feel comfortable enough to share what you're struggling with, you're...

We'll say it in a real religious way. We don't say sins. We say, "I'm struggling with this."

Alright. Like, we'll give you that. But when you share that, you know what you're going to find?

You're going to find... No, you're going to find somebody around the room that says, "I struggle with the same thing."

And you're going to find a group that begins to cry, weep, come over and lay... I've watched this, grown men get up from where they are in a public restaurant, walk across the room, across the table, and say, "Let me pray for you, bro."

And lay their hands on... And pray for somebody boldly right there.

And boy, something just changes. Something happens.

Number three, realize this is the third thing that you're going to get from life groups.

Realize that this is bigger than just a meeting. With a little help from my friends, I'm on a mission.

A mission. That means that we're not just meeting together and, you know, those of you who meet at the coffee snob, those of you who meet at another restaurant, Tim meets at another restaurant, meets men, some of you meet in small groups.

It's not just that you're doing it at that time and it's just another meeting.

No, look. The divine... We have a divine purpose and a divine calling.

Acts chapter 2 says this. "They worshiped together at the temple each day, met at homes for the Lord's Supper, shared their meals with great joy and generosity, all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all people."

And each day... Look at this. Each day, the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

So when I read that, it says that when we come together corporately here and we come together and do as the Scripture says, the Lord adds.

But He also adds as we meet in small groups.

See, a life group is a chance for you to invite a neighbor that hasn't come to church with you to come and hang out with some other people from the Father's House and find out we're just real people.

And the Lord added to them each day those that were being saved.

See, I see life groups as we move into our next phase. Life groups being a real evangelistic tool to us to invite our friends.

See, sometimes people just need to hang out. They need to feel like they belong before they believe.

Life groups should be a safe place for you to belong. That's my group.

Even maybe before you believe. Before you receive Holy Spirit into your life.

That's happened in a lot of small groups.

So here's what I'd love to do. Next week, our life group leader, Simone, will be out there around the tables.

You'll be able to go online. The life groups there will be there. You'll be able to sign up.

Service will be a little shorter next week, maybe. And you're going to hear some great testimonies about people who've connected with this Father's House.

You're going to hear some of our people online talk about how they've connected to the Father's House and how it's changed their life.

But then also, we've got a special treat we're going to give you. But also, you're going to be able to go out there and see the life group leaders and sign up.

Be part of that. Boy, I'd love to have 75% of our Sunday attendance be in the life group next semester.

But to do that, that means some of you need to step out of where you've been and to become a life group leader.

And you can fill out that connection card and say, "You know what? I'm interested in that."

We'll do our best to get you a crash course or get you ready for the next one because we need that.

But today, I'd love to pray for us. And I'd like you to bow your heads with me and I want to pray for us today with this upcoming life groups with a few of our friends, with a little help from our friends.

I ask you today to do a work in us. God, help us to go against the selfishness of our culture.

Help us to draw near to you, Lord. Help us to be willing to take a risk to start a small community, to start a life group with the right training.

Lord, help us to take the risk if we've never done that before to step out.

Lord, I pray that this message wouldn't just be a message that people feel good and go on their way and laugh a little bit, but they would recognize how desperately we need one another.

And they would take action and be intentional, intentional about being a friend.

As you continue to pray today, I want to tell you about the goodness of God.

He didn't create us because He was lonely. He created us because of His love.

And what He wants to do is He wants you today to receive His love.

Love's not something He does. It's who He is.

And all I want you to hear today is that He loves you.

Some of you today and here and watching online, you don't know where you stand with God.

But I believe God is drawing you to Him today. Scripture says, "God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to die for us."

What did Jesus do? He came for the broken. He came for the sick. He came for the sinners.

And He gave His life so that we could be forgiven.

So right now, sitting here today or online, if you recognize, "Terry, I'm not sure I really know Him personally."

And today you say, "You know what? I want to be willing to step away from my sin."

What I'd love for you to do is just lift up your hand and make eye contact with me.

And I want to pray with you today. I want to pray with you today and believe and know without a doubt that you experience His love.

Thank you. Help us today. I need His love.

I want to say yes. I'm a sinner in need of a Savior.

And those of you that are watching online, hey, would you pray this with me today? Pray this with me today.

Father God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for my sins.

I invite you into my heart and my life. I confess with my mouth.

And I believe with my heart that you are Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins, giving me a purpose to live.

Thank you, Lord, in your name.

Listen, let's celebrate with those who prayed that prayer today.

If you prayed that prayer today or in the past and you don't have resources, you don't have a Bible, stop here at First Steps or out there.

Our prayer team is coming down front. If you need prayer at the end of today, listen, next week, join a life group, join a life group, join a life group.

And I think Dr. Simone's books are still out there. So grab some of those. Those are great.

And puzzle, if you haven't connected with the puzzle piece, do that.

Let's worship a little bit in this and see you. If you're new, I'd love to meet you today at the end of the service.

1. "There's something that happens spiritually when we are baptized in water. It looks like what you say, well, that's just dumping in water, but it's more than that. It's a picture of how that God led the children of Israel out of bondage. They went through the water to the other side in victory. They're already God's people." [12:32] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




2. "We're talking about this is war. In other words, we're not going to sit back, but we're going to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough. Enough of this in our nation, enough of this in our homes and our families. And we're going to pray that on Tuesday. We're going to pray for the lost. Wednesday, we're going to pray for healing. Thursday, we're going to pray for our nation and the upcoming election." [14:16] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




3. "If we don't have a turnaround in our nation, we're going to go the same way as the Canadian churches and the European churches. We're just going to keep having performance and just keep moving God out of that. And the scripture tells us over and over. If we continually resist him, then he turns us over and he turns us over. Not all at once. But you look at the book of Romans." [15:44] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




4. "I really feel like that God is going to use this time, not just for us as a church, but for you as an individual, because you've been searching to find your place. You've been searching to feel like, am I significant? Am I doing anything? And during that time of prayer, as you pray, I want you to listen to what the Lord would say to you." [25:48] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




5. "We need a move of God. We need a move of God. That's just in this service. 28. All right. Now we're from 6 to 7. Wow. Look at these hands going up. Come on. Come on. Our ushers, count them. You're doing great. Thank you so much. Those of you that are watching online, I don't want to leave you out, but I want you right there to let our hosts know that we can count on you one of those hours, whatever you would like to choose. It's important. This is your church. We're praying. We're praying for you." [19:10] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




6. "The fundamental difference between the early church and people today is this. The first century church believers desperately needed each other they knew it. Say, need each other and know it. But believers today desperately need each other and they've forgotten it." [59:16] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




7. "Confess your sins to each other and then pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. When you come to a life group, a small group, and you get to the place that you feel comfortable enough to share what you're struggling with, you're... We'll say it in a real religious way. We don't say sins. We say, I'm struggling with this." [01:07:36] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




8. "Jesus gave us a pattern in Acts chapter 2 if you want to turn there with me. Acts chapter 2 verses 46 through 47. They worshiped together at the temple. What does it say? And they met in homes for the Lord's Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. All the while, what were they doing? Read it with me. Praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day, the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." [54:28] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




9. "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future. Your future and my future will be impacted by the people that we do life with or without. Because I'm going to get on some of your toes today because you have without. You don't have friends because you've never put yourself out there to be vulnerable and you've never understood how much you need friends." [49:05] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)




10. "I want to pray for us today with this upcoming life groups with a few of our friends, with a little help from our friends. I ask you today to do a work in us. God, help us to go against the selfishness of our culture. Help us to draw near to you, Lord. Help us to be willing to take a risk to start a small community, to start a life group with the right training. Lord, help us to take the risk if we've never done that before to step out." [01:11:39] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)