1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,900 Well, what is up, Heights? 2 00:00:03,900 --> 00:00:05,000 Good to be with you. 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,780 Welcome, for those of you in the room. 4 00:00:06,780 --> 00:00:08,740 Welcome to those of you online. 5 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:10,420 Shout out to our online fam. 6 00:00:10,420 --> 00:00:12,500 Glad you guys are here. 7 00:00:12,500 --> 00:00:16,600 Some of you guys might notice that I'm not wearing glasses. 8 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,180 Others of you did not notice at all. 9 00:00:19,180 --> 00:00:19,840 And that's fine. 10 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:21,700 I wouldn't have noticed either. 11 00:00:21,700 --> 00:00:23,740 But I got glasses about a year ago. 12 00:00:23,740 --> 00:00:25,820 And right away, I said, man, I want to get contacts. 13 00:00:25,820 --> 00:00:27,400 I don't want to deal with these glasses. 14 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,740 And they said, you've got to get used to the glasses first. 15 00:00:29,740 --> 00:00:30,920 I'm used to the glasses. 16 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,920 And I said, all right, I want to get contacts. 17 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:35,280 And as I was going to get contacts, everyone's going, 18 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,280 hey, I don't know if you're going to like these, 19 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,480 because it's really hard to put them in and take them out. 20 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:41,900 And it might be difficult. And I'm like, it'll be fine. 21 00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:44,100 I got this. 22 00:00:44,100 --> 00:00:48,700 Turns out, I'm not very good at poking my own eyeball. 23 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:50,580 Like literally, it's the hardest thing ever. 24 00:00:50,580 --> 00:00:51,860 I'm like, are you kidding me? 25 00:00:51,860 --> 00:00:53,580 And so I got contacts on a Friday. 26 00:00:53,580 --> 00:00:56,580 And then Saturday, I was going to lead our Prescott Valley 27 00:00:56,580 --> 00:00:57,740 Kids Ministry. 28 00:00:57,740 --> 00:00:59,520 And so I was like, all right, I'm going to put the contacts in, 29 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,020 because I want to show off my beautiful face to everyone. 30 00:01:02,020 --> 00:01:03,740 And so I go to put the contacts in. 31 00:01:03,740 --> 00:01:05,060 And I'm like, OK, here we go. 32 00:01:05,060 --> 00:01:06,300 And I'm like poking my eyeball. 33 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:08,400 Literally, you've got to poke your eyeball, people. 34 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:09,340 This isn't normal. 35 00:01:09,340 --> 00:01:10,620 So I go to do this. 36 00:01:10,620 --> 00:01:12,220 And I'm like, I got this. 37 00:01:12,220 --> 00:01:13,180 I put it in. 38 00:01:13,180 --> 00:01:15,360 And the contact just bent right around my finger 39 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,140 and stayed on my finger. 40 00:01:17,140 --> 00:01:18,500 I tried that like 10 times. 41 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:20,740 And I'm like, all right, this isn't going well. 42 00:01:20,740 --> 00:01:21,500 New method. 43 00:01:21,500 --> 00:01:22,460 So I put the contact on. 44 00:01:22,460 --> 00:01:25,140 And I'm like, you've got to put your head down, put it in, 45 00:01:25,140 --> 00:01:26,380 tip it up, all the things. 46 00:01:26,380 --> 00:01:27,620 And I'm like, I think I got it. 47 00:01:27,620 --> 00:01:29,060 And then it falls out on my cheek 48 00:01:29,060 --> 00:01:30,380 and just lays there. 49 00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:31,820 And I'm like, I'm going to kill someone. 50 00:01:31,820 --> 00:01:33,180 I'm going to kill everyone. 51 00:01:33,180 --> 00:01:34,260 I'm so angry. 52 00:01:34,260 --> 00:01:34,900 So I gave up. 53 00:01:34,900 --> 00:01:36,240 I was like 25 tries deep. 54 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:37,180 And I'm like, I'm done. 55 00:01:37,180 --> 00:01:38,300 I put my glasses on. 56 00:01:38,300 --> 00:01:39,220 I get in the car. 57 00:01:39,220 --> 00:01:40,100 We're going to church. 58 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:41,380 My whole family's with me. 59 00:01:41,380 --> 00:01:42,100 They get in the car. 60 00:01:42,100 --> 00:01:42,900 And my wife looks at me. 61 00:01:42,900 --> 00:01:44,020 And she goes, really? 62 00:01:44,020 --> 00:01:46,340 You're going to let something that small affect 63 00:01:46,340 --> 00:01:48,020 your whole mood? 64 00:01:48,020 --> 00:01:50,820 I said, absolutely, I am. 65 00:01:50,820 --> 00:01:52,980 I was so frustrated. 66 00:01:52,980 --> 00:01:54,900 But the truth is this, is that small things 67 00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:57,140 can have a major impact. 68 00:01:57,140 --> 00:01:59,140 Small things can have a major impact in life. 69 00:01:59,140 --> 00:02:02,140 A lot of times, we overlook the little things. 70 00:02:02,140 --> 00:02:04,540 But in life, the little things can have a major impact. 71 00:02:04,540 --> 00:02:07,860 In our faith, we overlook the little things. 72 00:02:07,860 --> 00:02:13,980 But a lot of times, the little things can have a major impact. 73 00:02:13,980 --> 00:02:18,620 When we center our life on Jesus, even the little things, 74 00:02:18,620 --> 00:02:23,020 even the small things can have an impact. 75 00:02:23,020 --> 00:02:24,980 As you've probably heard, if you've 76 00:02:24,980 --> 00:02:26,480 been around for the last year, we've 77 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,180 been in this collection of talks called Center of All Things. 78 00:02:29,180 --> 00:02:30,780 And we started in Genesis. 79 00:02:30,780 --> 00:02:32,940 And we went all the way through the Old Testament 80 00:02:32,940 --> 00:02:36,220 looking at Jesus as the center of all things. 81 00:02:36,220 --> 00:02:37,780 We found Jesus in the Old Testament, 82 00:02:37,780 --> 00:02:40,100 even though he didn't show up on the scene for thousands 83 00:02:40,100 --> 00:02:41,420 of years into the New Testament. 84 00:02:41,420 --> 00:02:43,820 We saw him in the Old Testament. 85 00:02:43,820 --> 00:02:45,300 Then we looked at the life of Jesus. 86 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:47,660 Then we looked at when Jesus ascended into heaven. 87 00:02:47,660 --> 00:02:48,260 And he left. 88 00:02:48,260 --> 00:02:49,940 And he said, hey, go and make disciples. 89 00:02:49,940 --> 00:02:52,460 And so we've been following the early church. 90 00:02:52,460 --> 00:02:54,120 We've been looking at the early church. 91 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,080 And we've been looking at how the early church was 92 00:02:56,080 --> 00:03:00,140 spread, this idea of Jesus, this movement that 93 00:03:00,140 --> 00:03:03,180 was called the way that we now call Christianity. 94 00:03:03,180 --> 00:03:05,300 And the church that we're in today started. 95 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:07,620 And we've been looking at the different people. 96 00:03:07,620 --> 00:03:09,220 We've been looking at Paul's letters. 97 00:03:09,220 --> 00:03:10,760 And today, I want to highlight and I 98 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:14,260 want to look at some people that were absolutely amazing people. 99 00:03:14,260 --> 00:03:19,060 But oftentimes, they're overlooked. 100 00:03:19,060 --> 00:03:21,340 How many of you guys are excited it's getting colder now 101 00:03:21,340 --> 00:03:23,900 and the weather is changing? 102 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:24,520 You're weird. 103 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:25,300 I don't like you. 104 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:26,500 I'm just saying. 105 00:03:26,500 --> 00:03:28,300 It was 70 degrees in San Diego. 106 00:03:28,300 --> 00:03:28,940 I looked it up. 107 00:03:28,940 --> 00:03:31,960 And I got angry and jealous all at the same time. 108 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:33,260 I don't like the cold. 109 00:03:33,260 --> 00:03:34,460 I'm from San Diego. 110 00:03:34,460 --> 00:03:35,260 I like the warm. 111 00:03:35,260 --> 00:03:37,820 And so when it comes to cold, I go, listen, 112 00:03:37,820 --> 00:03:38,980 I'm not going outside. 113 00:03:38,980 --> 00:03:40,340 I'm not doing it. 114 00:03:40,340 --> 00:03:42,940 And so I needed to figure out what my indoor activities 115 00:03:42,940 --> 00:03:45,100 would be and what I could do inside 116 00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:48,300 and stay where it's warm where humans were meant to be. 117 00:03:48,300 --> 00:03:49,580 And so I started looking. 118 00:03:49,580 --> 00:03:50,580 I'm like, you know what? 119 00:03:50,580 --> 00:03:51,620 I've always liked puzzles. 120 00:03:51,620 --> 00:03:52,820 So I need to get puzzles. 121 00:03:52,820 --> 00:03:55,420 And I'm going to do a puzzle on a snow day 122 00:03:55,420 --> 00:03:58,900 or something like that so I can stay inside and stay warm. 123 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:00,460 And it's something to do. 124 00:04:00,460 --> 00:04:03,380 And my wife just loves it because I take over the dining 125 00:04:03,380 --> 00:04:05,420 room table for a week at a time. 126 00:04:05,420 --> 00:04:06,420 Super great. 127 00:04:06,420 --> 00:04:08,860 She doesn't love it at all. 128 00:04:08,860 --> 00:04:10,140 That was a joke. 129 00:04:10,140 --> 00:04:11,860 And so I started doing puzzles. 130 00:04:11,860 --> 00:04:13,480 And then my kids, they come in and they 131 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:14,400 start making fun of me. 132 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:16,900 And they're like, dad, you're an old man. 133 00:04:16,900 --> 00:04:18,900 And I'm like, puzzles aren't for just old people. 134 00:04:18,900 --> 00:04:19,700 They're for people. 135 00:04:19,700 --> 00:04:21,860 They're for everybody. 136 00:04:21,860 --> 00:04:22,780 You should embrace it. 137 00:04:22,780 --> 00:04:23,660 We should all love them. 138 00:04:23,660 --> 00:04:25,300 And they're like, nope, you're weird. 139 00:04:25,300 --> 00:04:26,340 I'm like, OK, thanks. 140 00:04:26,340 --> 00:04:27,220 And I do the puzzles. 141 00:04:27,220 --> 00:04:30,100 And while I do a puzzle, I just pray the whole time 142 00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:31,980 that with five kids running around my house, 143 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:36,540 by the time I get to the end, I will still have all the pieces. 144 00:04:36,540 --> 00:04:37,740 And I'll put them all together. 145 00:04:37,740 --> 00:04:38,940 And I get to the very end. 146 00:04:38,940 --> 00:04:40,900 And at nine times out of 10, there's 147 00:04:40,900 --> 00:04:43,740 one or two pieces that are missing. 148 00:04:43,740 --> 00:04:45,860 And I'm like, I put 2,000 of your friends together. 149 00:04:45,860 --> 00:04:47,140 Where are you? 150 00:04:47,140 --> 00:04:48,300 And they're gone. 151 00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:48,540 Gone. 152 00:04:48,540 --> 00:04:49,220 Can't find them. 153 00:04:49,220 --> 00:04:50,500 And it's so frustrating because you 154 00:04:50,500 --> 00:04:53,580 can't be proud of a puzzle that's missing one or two pieces. 155 00:04:53,580 --> 00:04:55,120 You can't take a picture and post it, 156 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,080 because somebody is going to look at it and go, 157 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,100 you're missing a piece. 158 00:04:59,100 --> 00:04:59,780 No duh. 159 00:04:59,780 --> 00:05:01,060 Of course I'm missing a piece. 160 00:05:01,060 --> 00:05:03,420 But I put all the rest of them together. 161 00:05:03,420 --> 00:05:04,260 It's so frustrating. 162 00:05:04,260 --> 00:05:07,140 You're never more aware than in that moment 163 00:05:07,140 --> 00:05:09,900 that every single piece, no matter how small it is, 164 00:05:09,900 --> 00:05:12,780 matters to the whole. 165 00:05:12,780 --> 00:05:15,340 Every single piece matters to the whole. 166 00:05:15,340 --> 00:05:17,540 They all work together. 167 00:05:17,540 --> 00:05:20,580 See, Paul says it this way in 1 Corinthians. 168 00:05:20,580 --> 00:05:23,020 He's writing this letter to the Corinthian church. 169 00:05:23,020 --> 00:05:26,100 And he says it this way in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 170 00:05:26,100 --> 00:05:31,860 He says, just as a body, though one, just one body, 171 00:05:31,860 --> 00:05:36,100 has many parts, but all its many parts form one body. 172 00:05:36,100 --> 00:05:38,900 So it is with Christ. 173 00:05:38,900 --> 00:05:40,860 And he continues in verse 15. 174 00:05:40,860 --> 00:05:43,060 And he says, now if the foot should say, 175 00:05:43,060 --> 00:05:46,500 because I'm not a hand, I do not belong to the body, 176 00:05:46,500 --> 00:05:50,340 it would not, for that reason, stop being part of the body. 177 00:05:50,340 --> 00:05:52,900 And if the ear should say, because I'm not an eye, 178 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:56,100 I do not belong to the body, it would not, for that reason, 179 00:05:56,100 --> 00:05:58,460 stop being part of the body. 180 00:05:58,460 --> 00:06:01,220 Can you imagine if the body's talking to itself here, 181 00:06:01,220 --> 00:06:03,540 like, hey, you're not part of this body? 182 00:06:03,540 --> 00:06:04,220 That's crazy. 183 00:06:04,220 --> 00:06:04,740 That's weird. 184 00:06:04,740 --> 00:06:07,180 But the analogy itself makes so much sense, 185 00:06:07,180 --> 00:06:10,540 because when it comes to the body of Christ, 186 00:06:10,540 --> 00:06:13,300 a lot of times that's what we do or that's what we think. 187 00:06:13,300 --> 00:06:14,500 He continues in verse 17. 188 00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:17,740 If the whole body were an eye, where 189 00:06:17,740 --> 00:06:18,980 would the sense of hearing be? 190 00:06:18,980 --> 00:06:20,860 They couldn't hear if it was an eye. 191 00:06:20,860 --> 00:06:22,500 If the whole body were an ear, where 192 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:24,700 would the sense of smell be? 193 00:06:24,700 --> 00:06:28,140 But in fact, God has placed the parts in the body, 194 00:06:28,140 --> 00:06:31,460 every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 195 00:06:31,460 --> 00:06:35,060 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 196 00:06:35,060 --> 00:06:38,100 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 197 00:06:38,100 --> 00:06:41,300 The eye cannot say to the hand, I don't need you. 198 00:06:41,300 --> 00:06:43,620 And the head cannot say to the feet, I don't need you. 199 00:06:43,620 --> 00:06:48,140 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker 200 00:06:48,140 --> 00:06:50,140 are indispensable. 201 00:06:50,140 --> 00:06:51,540 They're actually indispensable. 202 00:06:51,540 --> 00:06:52,740 They're actually super important, 203 00:06:52,740 --> 00:06:53,780 and they may seem small. 204 00:06:53,780 --> 00:06:55,580 They may seem like they're not a big deal, 205 00:06:55,580 --> 00:06:58,100 but they're actually really important. 206 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:02,100 You ever forgotten about a part of your body until it hurts? 207 00:07:02,100 --> 00:07:04,780 Like, none of you walk around just thinking about your toes, 208 00:07:04,780 --> 00:07:07,900 but until you stub it, when you hit that toe, which it's always 209 00:07:07,900 --> 00:07:09,280 the little toe for some reason. 210 00:07:09,280 --> 00:07:11,100 I don't know why, but when you get that, 211 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:13,220 you're thinking about it. 212 00:07:13,220 --> 00:07:16,660 Do you ever forget about the inside of your cheek or your lip 213 00:07:16,660 --> 00:07:18,300 until you bite it? 214 00:07:18,300 --> 00:07:20,260 I don't think any of you woke up this morning, 215 00:07:20,260 --> 00:07:21,680 and you're like, God, I just want 216 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,100 to thank you for the inside of my cheek and my lip. 217 00:07:24,100 --> 00:07:25,980 None of you prayed that prayer, unless you've 218 00:07:25,980 --> 00:07:27,700 bit the inside of your cheek or your lip, 219 00:07:27,700 --> 00:07:28,740 and then you woke up this morning, 220 00:07:28,740 --> 00:07:30,900 and you're like, dear God, in the name of Jesus, 221 00:07:30,900 --> 00:07:34,420 heal this lip right now. 222 00:07:34,420 --> 00:07:37,340 You know when you feel it, you understand, man, 223 00:07:37,340 --> 00:07:39,620 this is the importance of it. 224 00:07:39,620 --> 00:07:42,940 It's important when that happens. 225 00:07:42,940 --> 00:07:45,460 But there's things like that in the church as well. 226 00:07:45,460 --> 00:07:47,580 The big thing is it's easy to notice. 227 00:07:47,580 --> 00:07:51,020 If your head's cut off, you'll notice. 228 00:07:51,020 --> 00:07:52,700 You'll notice. 229 00:07:52,700 --> 00:07:56,020 If I didn't show up today, you'd notice that the speaker wasn't 230 00:07:56,020 --> 00:07:58,820 here at church, but you probably didn't 231 00:07:58,820 --> 00:08:00,900 notice the 15 different positions it took 232 00:08:00,900 --> 00:08:03,460 to get me on stage today. 233 00:08:03,460 --> 00:08:06,220 The person that unlocked the door so that you could be in here 234 00:08:06,220 --> 00:08:08,540 right now, the person that cleaned the seat 235 00:08:08,540 --> 00:08:11,340 that you're sitting in, the person that's 236 00:08:11,340 --> 00:08:14,380 working the camera, the person that turned on the microphone 237 00:08:14,380 --> 00:08:17,220 so that I could talk into it so that you could hear me, 238 00:08:17,220 --> 00:08:20,260 the person that's holding the babies right now so 239 00:08:20,260 --> 00:08:22,860 that the families could be in church. 240 00:08:22,860 --> 00:08:25,740 There's so many opportunities that we have and so many roles 241 00:08:25,740 --> 00:08:29,300 and so many things that we have that are all necessary. 242 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:30,900 But a lot of times, we like to look 243 00:08:30,900 --> 00:08:33,260 at different positions that are elevated and go, 244 00:08:33,260 --> 00:08:35,900 that's the one that matters. 245 00:08:35,900 --> 00:08:37,700 But what Paul's saying, he's saying, listen, 246 00:08:37,700 --> 00:08:40,780 we are one body, and it all works together. 247 00:08:40,780 --> 00:08:43,060 They are all necessary. 248 00:08:43,060 --> 00:08:45,580 But oftentimes, we miss them unless a spotlight 249 00:08:45,580 --> 00:08:46,580 is shown on them. 250 00:08:46,580 --> 00:08:50,060 Unless we show light on them, we miss them. 251 00:08:50,060 --> 00:08:52,540 My kids like to leave landmines around the house 252 00:08:52,540 --> 00:08:55,300 in the form of little toys. 253 00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:57,540 And in the middle of the night, when I have to get up 254 00:08:57,540 --> 00:08:58,700 and I got to take care of the kids, 255 00:08:58,700 --> 00:09:00,260 or I got to do something in the middle of the night, 256 00:09:00,260 --> 00:09:01,760 I don't want to turn on all the lights. 257 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,260 I don't want to illuminate the entire house. 258 00:09:04,260 --> 00:09:05,780 And I'll see the big giant dollhouse 259 00:09:05,780 --> 00:09:07,540 that's in the middle of the floor, 260 00:09:07,540 --> 00:09:12,980 but the deadly Lego that's on the floor. 261 00:09:12,980 --> 00:09:14,180 If you don't know what I'm talking about, 262 00:09:14,180 --> 00:09:14,940 you're not a parent. 263 00:09:14,940 --> 00:09:16,620 Those things, they're evil. 264 00:09:16,620 --> 00:09:20,260 The creators of Legos, evil. 265 00:09:20,260 --> 00:09:22,180 And you've got to turn the light on to see those. 266 00:09:22,180 --> 00:09:24,740 You've got to illuminate them, because they're harder to see, 267 00:09:24,740 --> 00:09:28,580 but you understand what kind of an impact they can have. 268 00:09:28,580 --> 00:09:30,540 Today, what I want to do is I want to illuminate. 269 00:09:30,540 --> 00:09:33,940 I want to shine a light on some people in the scriptures, 270 00:09:33,940 --> 00:09:35,540 some people in the early church that 271 00:09:35,540 --> 00:09:39,100 had a massive impact that oftentimes we don't see, 272 00:09:39,100 --> 00:09:44,380 that oftentimes we don't notice, but they have a massive impact. 273 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:48,340 Because people who've centered their life on Jesus 274 00:09:48,340 --> 00:09:51,700 had a massive impact, even in the small things. 275 00:09:51,700 --> 00:09:54,180 First is epiphras. 276 00:09:54,180 --> 00:09:55,420 You guys know that one? 277 00:09:55,420 --> 00:09:56,660 Epiphras. 278 00:09:56,660 --> 00:09:58,120 Mentioned only twice in scripture, 279 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,540 only two times we even hear about epiphras. 280 00:10:00,540 --> 00:10:02,220 And in the book of Colossians, Paul 281 00:10:02,220 --> 00:10:04,820 is writing this letter to this church. 282 00:10:04,820 --> 00:10:06,380 And in the first chapter, he says, 283 00:10:06,380 --> 00:10:10,820 you learned it from epiphras, our dear fellow servant, 284 00:10:10,820 --> 00:10:14,980 who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 285 00:10:14,980 --> 00:10:19,460 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 286 00:10:19,460 --> 00:10:21,260 Oftentimes, we credit all of the churches 287 00:10:21,260 --> 00:10:22,980 that Paul wrote letters to as him 288 00:10:22,980 --> 00:10:25,020 being the person that planted the church 289 00:10:25,020 --> 00:10:26,860 and that is now leading the church. 290 00:10:26,860 --> 00:10:28,780 But the truth is what we see here 291 00:10:28,780 --> 00:10:31,640 is that most likely Paul never even made it to the church. 292 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,680 He tried on many of his missionary journeys 293 00:10:33,680 --> 00:10:35,780 to make it to the church, but he didn't. 294 00:10:35,780 --> 00:10:37,580 And what he says here is epiphras is the one 295 00:10:37,580 --> 00:10:38,580 that you learned it from. 296 00:10:38,580 --> 00:10:40,220 He's probably the one teaching you. 297 00:10:40,220 --> 00:10:42,220 He's the one who's been instrumental in this. 298 00:10:42,220 --> 00:10:45,300 The guy who's only mentioned just two times in scripture 299 00:10:45,300 --> 00:10:48,500 that isn't the one who wrote the letter that gets all the credit. 300 00:10:48,500 --> 00:10:49,980 But he was there, and he did it. 301 00:10:49,980 --> 00:10:54,020 He's mentioned again in chapter four of Colossians. 302 00:10:54,020 --> 00:10:57,460 It says epiphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ 303 00:10:57,460 --> 00:11:00,180 Jesus, sends greetings. 304 00:11:00,180 --> 00:11:03,700 He's always wrestling in prayer for you 305 00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:07,260 that you may stand firm in all the will of God, 306 00:11:07,260 --> 00:11:09,860 mature and fully assured. 307 00:11:09,860 --> 00:11:10,660 What did he do? 308 00:11:10,660 --> 00:11:11,940 He didn't do anything crazy. 309 00:11:11,940 --> 00:11:14,020 He was a faithful servant. 310 00:11:14,020 --> 00:11:15,400 And then it said this. 311 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,180 He wrestled in prayer. 312 00:11:17,180 --> 00:11:20,380 He prayed earnestly. 313 00:11:20,380 --> 00:11:22,420 Listen, every single one of you needs somebody 314 00:11:22,420 --> 00:11:25,120 who prays earnestly for you. 315 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:29,040 And in turn, you need to be praying earnestly for someone, 316 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:33,380 praying for your church, praying for your life group. 317 00:11:33,380 --> 00:11:34,980 Can you imagine the kind of impact 318 00:11:34,980 --> 00:11:36,720 that we had if every single one of us 319 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,380 could be called somebody who prayed earnestly? 320 00:11:40,380 --> 00:11:41,540 I'm not talking something big. 321 00:11:41,540 --> 00:11:43,300 I'm not talking something massive and crazy. 322 00:11:43,300 --> 00:11:43,940 It's just praying. 323 00:11:43,940 --> 00:11:45,180 It's not that big of a deal. 324 00:11:45,180 --> 00:11:49,140 But what if all of us understood that the little things matter? 325 00:11:49,140 --> 00:11:51,420 And what if we were like epiphras, 326 00:11:51,420 --> 00:11:54,020 who lived a life centered on Jesus 327 00:11:54,020 --> 00:11:57,260 and even in the little things, just praying earnestly, 328 00:11:57,260 --> 00:12:01,660 had a massive impact? 329 00:12:01,660 --> 00:12:04,300 Next is Onesiphorus. 330 00:12:04,300 --> 00:12:05,980 Mentioned one time in scripture. 331 00:12:05,980 --> 00:12:08,300 In 2 Timothy 1, verse 16, it says this. 332 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:13,220 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, 333 00:12:13,220 --> 00:12:16,060 because he often refreshed me and was not 334 00:12:16,060 --> 00:12:18,340 ashamed of my chains. 335 00:12:18,340 --> 00:12:20,140 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, 336 00:12:20,140 --> 00:12:23,340 he searched hard for me until he found me. 337 00:12:23,340 --> 00:12:25,520 See, when Paul found himself in prison, 338 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,340 which happened often, a lot of people just dumped him, 339 00:12:29,340 --> 00:12:30,820 just ditched him, just said, I don't 340 00:12:30,820 --> 00:12:31,980 want to be associated with him. 341 00:12:31,980 --> 00:12:33,020 I don't want to deal with him. 342 00:12:33,020 --> 00:12:35,220 And so he was dealing with a lot of abandonment 343 00:12:35,220 --> 00:12:36,660 from a lot of different people. 344 00:12:36,660 --> 00:12:41,140 And this guy actually showed up for him in his time of need. 345 00:12:41,140 --> 00:12:41,740 What did he do? 346 00:12:41,740 --> 00:12:42,900 He didn't do anything crazy. 347 00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:43,700 Here's what he did. 348 00:12:43,700 --> 00:12:45,620 He showed up for someone when they needed him. 349 00:12:45,620 --> 00:12:48,180 And he was actually just a nice guy. 350 00:12:48,180 --> 00:12:49,180 I'm trying to look. 351 00:12:49,180 --> 00:12:50,260 And I'm like, what did he do? 352 00:12:50,260 --> 00:12:52,700 Why would he say, may the Lord show mercy to his household? 353 00:12:52,700 --> 00:12:52,900 Why? 354 00:12:52,900 --> 00:12:54,060 Because he showed up. 355 00:12:54,060 --> 00:12:55,700 And he wasn't ashamed of me. 356 00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:57,660 He was nice. 357 00:12:57,660 --> 00:12:59,300 He was just nice. 358 00:12:59,300 --> 00:13:00,580 Listen, I got to be honest. 359 00:13:00,580 --> 00:13:06,500 The church has a reputation for being very crotchety. 360 00:13:06,500 --> 00:13:08,340 If I were to tell you a story of a time 361 00:13:08,340 --> 00:13:10,820 that a crotchety church person said something to me 362 00:13:10,820 --> 00:13:13,940 or did something to me, none of you would bat an eye. 363 00:13:13,940 --> 00:13:15,180 You know why? 364 00:13:15,180 --> 00:13:18,340 Because all of you have a story of that, too. 365 00:13:18,340 --> 00:13:19,140 We all do. 366 00:13:19,140 --> 00:13:20,940 Christian, non-Christian, doesn't matter. 367 00:13:20,940 --> 00:13:23,060 Somebody's had an interaction with a church person 368 00:13:23,060 --> 00:13:25,740 at one time where they were an absolute jerk. 369 00:13:25,740 --> 00:13:27,260 Listen, I need to tell you right now, 370 00:13:27,260 --> 00:13:30,340 there is no room for a jerk for Jesus. 371 00:13:30,340 --> 00:13:31,620 Doesn't exist. 372 00:13:31,620 --> 00:13:33,340 Some of you try to be a jerk for Jesus. 373 00:13:33,340 --> 00:13:34,140 You don't need to. 374 00:13:34,140 --> 00:13:34,820 Just cut it out. 375 00:13:34,820 --> 00:13:37,980 Listen, just be nice. 376 00:13:37,980 --> 00:13:39,820 I'm going to relieve some of you guys today. 377 00:13:39,820 --> 00:13:41,060 I'm just going to change your life. 378 00:13:41,060 --> 00:13:41,740 You ready? 379 00:13:41,740 --> 00:13:44,620 When you're in a parking lot and you don't get your parking 380 00:13:44,620 --> 00:13:49,740 spot, you don't have to lay on your horn. 381 00:13:49,740 --> 00:13:53,300 Oh, baby, chains are being broken this morning. 382 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:58,020 Listen, when you're driving and somebody cuts you off, 383 00:13:58,020 --> 00:14:01,140 it's going to be OK. 384 00:14:01,140 --> 00:14:02,700 It's going to be OK. 385 00:14:02,700 --> 00:14:04,300 I promise it's going to be OK. 386 00:14:04,300 --> 00:14:06,180 Listen, you can be nice. 387 00:14:06,180 --> 00:14:08,740 What if we were just nice? 388 00:14:08,740 --> 00:14:09,660 It's not a big thing. 389 00:14:09,660 --> 00:14:10,540 It's not a massive thing. 390 00:14:10,540 --> 00:14:11,860 I'm not going, listen, you've got 391 00:14:11,860 --> 00:14:14,260 to have a sermon prepared by next Sunday. 392 00:14:14,260 --> 00:14:17,220 No, I'm saying just be nice to people. 393 00:14:17,220 --> 00:14:19,300 Just be kind. 394 00:14:19,300 --> 00:14:22,140 Onesiphorus wasn't like, man, I hope I find myself 395 00:14:22,140 --> 00:14:24,940 in scripture someday. 396 00:14:24,940 --> 00:14:26,100 So I just want to be nice. 397 00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:31,180 Onesiphorus lived a life centered on Jesus 398 00:14:31,180 --> 00:14:34,580 and even in the little things. 399 00:14:34,580 --> 00:14:36,100 Just being nice. 400 00:14:36,100 --> 00:14:39,460 He had a huge impact. 401 00:14:39,460 --> 00:14:42,620 Next is Lois and Eunice. 402 00:14:42,620 --> 00:14:45,700 Mentioned just one time in scripture, in 2 Timothy, 403 00:14:45,700 --> 00:14:47,860 Paul is writing this letter to Timothy. 404 00:14:47,860 --> 00:14:49,900 And he writes this letter to Timothy. 405 00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:55,820 And he says, I am reminded of your sincere faith. 406 00:14:55,820 --> 00:14:56,420 That's awesome. 407 00:14:56,420 --> 00:14:57,580 I'm glad he has sincere faith. 408 00:14:57,580 --> 00:14:59,180 And then he says this, which first 409 00:14:59,180 --> 00:15:02,580 lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, 410 00:15:02,580 --> 00:15:07,100 and I'm persuaded, now lives in you also. 411 00:15:07,100 --> 00:15:08,980 Your mom and your grandma. 412 00:15:08,980 --> 00:15:11,580 Listen to me, moms and grandmas in this room, 413 00:15:11,580 --> 00:15:14,900 your role matters more than you know. 414 00:15:14,900 --> 00:15:16,300 It is more important than you know. 415 00:15:16,300 --> 00:15:20,300 And you need to erase the phrase, I am just a mom. 416 00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:21,900 I am just a grandma. 417 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:23,360 You need to forget that right now, 418 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,420 because what you do matters. 419 00:15:25,420 --> 00:15:26,860 And what you do is important. 420 00:15:26,860 --> 00:15:28,820 And what you do is needed. 421 00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:30,340 And you showing up every single day, 422 00:15:30,340 --> 00:15:32,180 pouring your life into that little person 423 00:15:32,180 --> 00:15:34,460 is something that could have an internal impact. 424 00:15:34,460 --> 00:15:38,180 And Lois and Eunice, they just did what they did. 425 00:15:38,180 --> 00:15:40,980 Again, they weren't like, man, you know, I just really hope 426 00:15:40,980 --> 00:15:43,220 in 2,000 years somebody at church is going to be reading 427 00:15:43,220 --> 00:15:44,740 about us in the Bible. 428 00:15:44,740 --> 00:15:46,660 No, they just said, man, this is life. 429 00:15:46,660 --> 00:15:47,500 And I'm doing it. 430 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:49,160 But when your life is centered on Jesus 431 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:53,740 and you do the little things, you can have a massive impact. 432 00:15:53,740 --> 00:15:56,300 Nobody has more potential to influence a child 433 00:15:56,300 --> 00:15:58,060 than their parent. 434 00:15:58,060 --> 00:16:01,180 And faith starts at home. 435 00:16:01,180 --> 00:16:03,460 It starts in the household. 436 00:16:03,460 --> 00:16:05,380 Your role matters. 437 00:16:07,700 --> 00:16:08,740 It's just a little thing. 438 00:16:08,740 --> 00:16:11,100 It's not a big deal. 439 00:16:11,100 --> 00:16:12,480 When our life is centered on Jesus, 440 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:17,260 even the little things can have a massive impact. 441 00:16:17,260 --> 00:16:19,060 I love this next one. 442 00:16:19,060 --> 00:16:26,940 Romans chapter 16, verse 13 says, greet Rufus. 443 00:16:26,940 --> 00:16:31,580 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord and his mother, 444 00:16:31,580 --> 00:16:34,980 who has been a mother to me too. 445 00:16:34,980 --> 00:16:36,140 Rufus' mother. 446 00:16:36,140 --> 00:16:37,900 She remains nameless in scripture. 447 00:16:37,900 --> 00:16:38,860 We don't know her name. 448 00:16:38,860 --> 00:16:40,420 We just know Rufus' mother. 449 00:16:40,420 --> 00:16:41,460 But what did she do? 450 00:16:41,460 --> 00:16:45,660 She stepped in as a mother figure to Paul. 451 00:16:45,660 --> 00:16:47,860 Paul, who's had more influence on the church 452 00:16:47,860 --> 00:16:49,260 and more influence on Christianity 453 00:16:49,260 --> 00:16:51,140 and more influence in shaping our theology 454 00:16:51,140 --> 00:16:54,020 than anyone except Jesus himself. 455 00:16:54,020 --> 00:16:54,860 And what does he say? 456 00:16:54,860 --> 00:16:57,060 He says, man, I need you to greet her because she's 457 00:16:57,060 --> 00:16:59,460 been like a mother to me. 458 00:16:59,460 --> 00:17:05,100 She stepped in as a mother figure in my life. 459 00:17:05,100 --> 00:17:08,780 You know how powerful that is? 460 00:17:08,780 --> 00:17:12,980 I was 22 years old when I got hired at my first full time 461 00:17:12,980 --> 00:17:15,020 youth pastor position. 462 00:17:15,020 --> 00:17:16,500 And I got hired at this church. 463 00:17:16,500 --> 00:17:18,900 And so we had some seniors that were going to graduate. 464 00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:20,220 And so I only got a year with them 465 00:17:20,220 --> 00:17:21,580 right before they graduated. 466 00:17:21,580 --> 00:17:23,920 And I remember it was getting close to graduation. 467 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:25,020 I'm 22 years old. 468 00:17:25,020 --> 00:17:27,660 And our seniors are only 18. 469 00:17:27,660 --> 00:17:32,180 And this student walks up, and he's got a necktie with him. 470 00:17:32,180 --> 00:17:34,580 And he comes up to me, and he goes, hey, Todd, 471 00:17:34,580 --> 00:17:37,100 can you help me tie this tie? 472 00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:38,820 And the truth is, I have absolutely no clue 473 00:17:38,820 --> 00:17:40,140 how to tie a tie. 474 00:17:40,140 --> 00:17:41,980 So we had to look it up together. 475 00:17:41,980 --> 00:17:43,700 And together, we worked on tying this tie. 476 00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:46,420 And as we were figuring out how to tie this necktie, 477 00:17:46,420 --> 00:17:48,260 all these other students came around. 478 00:17:48,260 --> 00:17:50,340 And they're wondering what in the world is going on. 479 00:17:50,340 --> 00:17:52,760 They started asking, and they're going, what is going on? 480 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:54,620 What are you doing? 481 00:17:54,620 --> 00:17:57,020 And this senior, this 18-year-old, turned to them. 482 00:17:57,020 --> 00:17:58,780 And I wasn't expecting what came out of his mouth 483 00:17:58,780 --> 00:17:59,620 as he looked at them. 484 00:17:59,620 --> 00:18:01,540 And he goes, well, Todd's the closest thing 485 00:18:01,540 --> 00:18:05,060 I have to a father in my life. 486 00:18:05,060 --> 00:18:05,660 He was 18. 487 00:18:05,660 --> 00:18:06,300 I was 22. 488 00:18:06,300 --> 00:18:09,980 We're in real trouble, if that's the case. 489 00:18:09,980 --> 00:18:10,900 But here's the thing. 490 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:13,340 There are students and there are kids in our church 491 00:18:13,340 --> 00:18:15,140 that are just waiting for somebody 492 00:18:15,140 --> 00:18:18,260 to step in as a father figure or a mother figure to them, 493 00:18:18,260 --> 00:18:21,300 just like Rufus's mother did to Paul and said, listen, Paul, 494 00:18:21,300 --> 00:18:22,940 I'm going to step into your life, 495 00:18:22,940 --> 00:18:25,700 and I'm going to care about you, and I'm going to pour into you, 496 00:18:25,700 --> 00:18:27,180 and I'm going to invest in you. 497 00:18:27,180 --> 00:18:30,500 And there are students in our youth ministries. 498 00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:32,940 And there are kids in our kids' ministry 499 00:18:32,940 --> 00:18:35,540 that just need somebody to come alongside of them, 500 00:18:35,540 --> 00:18:38,540 that just need somebody to say, listen, I care enough 501 00:18:38,540 --> 00:18:40,740 to pour into your life. 502 00:18:40,740 --> 00:18:43,500 I care enough to walk and to love you 503 00:18:43,500 --> 00:18:46,460 and to be somebody that can step in as a mother or father figure 504 00:18:46,460 --> 00:18:48,420 and can point you to Jesus. 505 00:18:48,420 --> 00:18:49,780 It's not a huge thing. 506 00:18:49,780 --> 00:18:51,820 It's not a big thing. 507 00:18:51,820 --> 00:18:53,780 But it's something that you can step in. 508 00:18:53,780 --> 00:18:55,780 And when Jesus is the center of your life, 509 00:18:55,780 --> 00:18:58,420 even the small thing can have a massive impact. 510 00:18:58,420 --> 00:19:02,140 And that student, that young man or that young woman, 511 00:19:02,140 --> 00:19:04,740 someday is going to look back and they're going to go, man, 512 00:19:04,740 --> 00:19:07,780 thank that person because they were like a mother to me, 513 00:19:07,780 --> 00:19:12,300 because they were like a father to me. 514 00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:15,620 Rufus's mother, she lived a life centered on Jesus. 515 00:19:15,620 --> 00:19:18,340 And even in the little things of just stepping in, 516 00:19:18,340 --> 00:19:22,300 she had a massive impact. 517 00:19:22,300 --> 00:19:25,700 Tertius and Lydia both only mentioned one time 518 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:27,180 in scripture. 519 00:19:27,180 --> 00:19:30,980 Only one time do we have any mention of them in scripture. 520 00:19:30,980 --> 00:19:34,100 In Romans chapter 16, verse 22, it 521 00:19:34,100 --> 00:19:37,580 says, I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, 522 00:19:37,580 --> 00:19:40,140 greet you in the Lord. 523 00:19:40,140 --> 00:19:41,260 That's it. 524 00:19:41,260 --> 00:19:44,700 Lydia, one mention in scripture in Acts chapter 16, 525 00:19:44,700 --> 00:19:48,020 she was saved and then she was baptized. 526 00:19:48,020 --> 00:19:53,300 And then she invited Paul and Silas to come stay at her house. 527 00:19:53,300 --> 00:19:53,780 That's it. 528 00:19:53,780 --> 00:19:56,820 She just invited them to come stay at her house. 529 00:19:56,820 --> 00:20:01,420 Both of these people, they did what was needed. 530 00:20:01,420 --> 00:20:03,820 Tertius was the scribe that wrote down the letter. 531 00:20:03,820 --> 00:20:05,180 Paul wrote it. 532 00:20:05,180 --> 00:20:06,740 He just wrote it down. 533 00:20:06,740 --> 00:20:09,820 He did what was needed. 534 00:20:09,820 --> 00:20:11,300 Lydia practiced hospitality. 535 00:20:11,300 --> 00:20:12,460 They needed a place to stay. 536 00:20:12,460 --> 00:20:15,060 And she said, just come over to my house. 537 00:20:15,060 --> 00:20:17,740 She did what was needed. 538 00:20:17,740 --> 00:20:20,660 Those aren't huge things, but they were needed. 539 00:20:20,660 --> 00:20:25,260 Tertius and Lydia, they lived a life centered on Jesus. 540 00:20:25,260 --> 00:20:28,900 And even in the little things, just writing down the letter, 541 00:20:28,900 --> 00:20:32,100 just inviting them over, they had a major impact 542 00:20:32,100 --> 00:20:36,980 because they did what was needed. 543 00:20:36,980 --> 00:20:38,180 Listen to me, church. 544 00:20:38,180 --> 00:20:42,540 We need to start giving God our hands, not our plans. 545 00:20:42,540 --> 00:20:45,020 Because sometimes we want to give God our plans and say, 546 00:20:45,020 --> 00:20:46,580 God, this is how it needs to be done. 547 00:20:46,580 --> 00:20:47,500 This is what I want to do. 548 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:49,500 Instead of just giving Him our hands and saying, 549 00:20:49,500 --> 00:20:50,220 I'm available. 550 00:20:50,220 --> 00:20:51,500 Here I am. 551 00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:53,540 What little thing do you have for me to do? 552 00:20:53,540 --> 00:20:56,700 What do you have for me to step into? 553 00:20:56,700 --> 00:20:58,860 We see the spotlight. 554 00:20:58,860 --> 00:20:59,900 We see influence. 555 00:20:59,900 --> 00:21:01,220 We see the big. 556 00:21:01,220 --> 00:21:04,020 But God's saying, no, I just need the small. 557 00:21:04,020 --> 00:21:07,580 I just need you to be the little puzzle piece in the big story. 558 00:21:07,580 --> 00:21:12,700 We are one body, and I just need you to step in. 559 00:21:12,700 --> 00:21:14,660 So what do you step into? 560 00:21:14,660 --> 00:21:18,220 You step into what's in front of you. 561 00:21:18,220 --> 00:21:20,100 But we like to tell God things, right? 562 00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:21,300 We like to tell God, well, listen, 563 00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:24,100 I checked out that ministry, and it just wasn't for me. 564 00:21:24,100 --> 00:21:25,660 It just didn't work for me. 565 00:21:25,660 --> 00:21:27,860 I saw some things, and it just wasn't for me, 566 00:21:27,860 --> 00:21:28,780 and I didn't like it. 567 00:21:28,780 --> 00:21:33,340 And me, listen, it's not about you. 568 00:21:33,340 --> 00:21:34,700 That's good that it wasn't for you, 569 00:21:34,700 --> 00:21:36,500 because it's not about you. 570 00:21:36,500 --> 00:21:38,700 All right, we like to tell God, OK, God, you know what? 571 00:21:38,700 --> 00:21:40,740 I'll serve, but here's the ways that I will serve. 572 00:21:40,740 --> 00:21:42,340 And I won't serve in any other capacity, 573 00:21:42,340 --> 00:21:44,780 but these are the ones that you can use for me. 574 00:21:44,780 --> 00:21:46,140 Here we go, God. 575 00:21:46,140 --> 00:21:47,700 I'm giving you my plans. 576 00:21:47,700 --> 00:21:49,860 And God's going, I just want your hands. 577 00:21:49,860 --> 00:21:51,540 Now, here's the list of the things that I can do, 578 00:21:51,540 --> 00:21:52,820 and this is all I'll be able to do, 579 00:21:52,820 --> 00:21:54,500 and you won't get me to do anything else. 580 00:21:54,500 --> 00:21:58,780 Instead of stepping into what is in front of them. 581 00:21:58,780 --> 00:22:01,780 Listen, I'm not saying to not use your gifting. 582 00:22:01,780 --> 00:22:03,100 In fact, I want to be very clear. 583 00:22:03,100 --> 00:22:06,220 If you don't like kids, we do not want you 584 00:22:06,220 --> 00:22:08,900 serving in kids ministry. 585 00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:10,780 Listen, I want to be very clear. 586 00:22:10,780 --> 00:22:13,500 If you struggle just turning on your phone, 587 00:22:13,500 --> 00:22:15,340 we do not need you in our tech department. 588 00:22:15,340 --> 00:22:17,820 We don't. 589 00:22:17,820 --> 00:22:19,420 I'm not saying to not use your giftings. 590 00:22:19,420 --> 00:22:21,580 What I'm saying is a lot of times that we want to tell God, 591 00:22:21,580 --> 00:22:23,420 hey, listen, I'm going to use your phone. 592 00:22:23,420 --> 00:22:24,820 But we want to tell God, hey, listen, 593 00:22:24,820 --> 00:22:26,780 this is the only way that you're going to be able to use me. 594 00:22:26,780 --> 00:22:29,780 And when God's saying no, I want to use you in the small things. 595 00:22:29,780 --> 00:22:31,820 And you need to be willing to give me your hands 596 00:22:31,820 --> 00:22:33,760 and say I'm willing to step into whatever 597 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:37,100 is needed in front of me. 598 00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:39,900 I started coaching baseball. 599 00:22:39,900 --> 00:22:42,460 For years I've been coaching, but last year I 600 00:22:42,460 --> 00:22:44,380 started coaching at the college level. 601 00:22:44,380 --> 00:22:46,140 I started coaching at Embry-Riddle University. 602 00:22:46,140 --> 00:22:47,900 And it was different for me because it's 603 00:22:47,900 --> 00:22:51,740 the closest level to where I finished playing myself. 604 00:22:51,740 --> 00:22:54,140 And so it's been different because there's a part of me 605 00:22:54,140 --> 00:22:55,620 that goes, man, I still got this. 606 00:22:55,620 --> 00:22:57,180 Maybe it'll change once I get older. 607 00:22:57,180 --> 00:22:59,300 But right now I'm close enough that I'm like, 608 00:22:59,300 --> 00:23:01,220 I can do some of the stuff they can do. 609 00:23:01,220 --> 00:23:03,500 I can keep up a little bit with them. 610 00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:06,780 And so the hardest part for me has been showing up to games 611 00:23:06,780 --> 00:23:09,140 and watching them take the field while I sit back. 612 00:23:09,140 --> 00:23:11,660 Listen, I was never good at sitting the bench. 613 00:23:11,660 --> 00:23:12,940 I didn't do it very often. 614 00:23:12,940 --> 00:23:14,620 I wasn't very good at it. 615 00:23:14,620 --> 00:23:16,140 You know what coaches do? 616 00:23:16,140 --> 00:23:17,700 They sit the bench the whole time. 617 00:23:17,700 --> 00:23:18,500 That's all they do. 618 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:20,540 That's their job. 619 00:23:20,540 --> 00:23:22,260 And it's terrible because I show up to the field 620 00:23:22,260 --> 00:23:23,060 and they take the field. 621 00:23:23,060 --> 00:23:24,860 And I'm like, I want to go out there so bad. 622 00:23:24,860 --> 00:23:26,500 I want to do it. 623 00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:27,500 And we would all agree. 624 00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:30,020 None of us are like, yeah, sitting the bench is fun. 625 00:23:30,020 --> 00:23:31,140 I'd love to be on the team. 626 00:23:31,140 --> 00:23:33,860 My favorite position is left bench. 627 00:23:33,860 --> 00:23:35,340 Like none of you would say that. 628 00:23:35,340 --> 00:23:36,900 But here's the thing is most of you, 629 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:39,340 when it comes to your faith and when it comes to church, 630 00:23:39,340 --> 00:23:41,980 you just sit the bench and you never get in the game. 631 00:23:41,980 --> 00:23:43,940 Oh, that's a gut punch right there. 632 00:23:43,940 --> 00:23:45,060 That's hard to swallow. 633 00:23:45,060 --> 00:23:47,140 But the truth is a lot of you have been sitting the bench 634 00:23:47,140 --> 00:23:48,140 for far too long. 635 00:23:48,140 --> 00:23:49,780 And you're watching the game happen around you. 636 00:23:49,780 --> 00:23:51,620 And God's saying, listen, I just need your hands. 637 00:23:51,620 --> 00:23:52,660 I need you to step in. 638 00:23:52,660 --> 00:23:54,500 But you've been sitting on the bench. 639 00:23:54,500 --> 00:23:57,220 And you need to get up and off the bench and into the game. 640 00:23:57,220 --> 00:24:01,260 Because God says, listen, I don't need anything big. 641 00:24:01,260 --> 00:24:04,900 I just need you to center your life on me. 642 00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:09,700 And even the small things can have a massive impact. 643 00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:11,620 So what does that look like? 644 00:24:11,620 --> 00:24:15,380 What does it look like to get in the game? 645 00:24:15,380 --> 00:24:18,180 It looks like faithfulness. 646 00:24:18,180 --> 00:24:20,780 It looks like faithfulness. 647 00:24:20,780 --> 00:24:23,900 See, the problem is we live in a microwave society. 648 00:24:23,900 --> 00:24:26,540 We like everything to be like now. 649 00:24:26,540 --> 00:24:28,660 You ever put something in the microwave before 650 00:24:28,660 --> 00:24:30,940 and you push 30 seconds and then you take it out 651 00:24:30,940 --> 00:24:34,380 with like two seconds left because you couldn't wait? 652 00:24:34,380 --> 00:24:37,220 Couldn't wait those extra two seconds you got to take it out? 653 00:24:37,220 --> 00:24:39,300 All right, you ever gone to the drive-through before 654 00:24:39,300 --> 00:24:41,460 and you pull up to the drive-through window 655 00:24:41,460 --> 00:24:43,300 and you're like, they got to make my food? 656 00:24:43,300 --> 00:24:44,300 What is wrong with them? 657 00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:46,580 It should just be ready. 658 00:24:46,580 --> 00:24:48,420 I got to have it now. 659 00:24:48,420 --> 00:24:51,300 We would have laughed at this one 10, 15 years ago. 660 00:24:51,300 --> 00:24:53,820 You ever get mad at the internet because it took four seconds 661 00:24:53,820 --> 00:24:56,620 to load instead of one? 662 00:24:56,620 --> 00:24:57,660 I don't got all day. 663 00:25:00,140 --> 00:25:01,940 We live in a microwave society and the problem 664 00:25:01,940 --> 00:25:06,460 is we don't understand that faithfulness takes time. 665 00:25:06,460 --> 00:25:09,660 Long obedience in the same direction with Jesus 666 00:25:09,660 --> 00:25:12,380 at the center leads to the life that you 667 00:25:12,380 --> 00:25:14,300 are created for in Jesus. 668 00:25:14,300 --> 00:25:16,300 I'm going to say that again because some of you 669 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:17,660 might have looked down. 670 00:25:17,660 --> 00:25:21,300 Long obedience in the same direction with Jesus 671 00:25:21,300 --> 00:25:24,660 at the center leads to the life that you 672 00:25:24,660 --> 00:25:26,140 are created for in Jesus. 673 00:25:28,540 --> 00:25:29,940 I want to celebrate my mom. 674 00:25:31,620 --> 00:25:33,300 She's in the service actually. 675 00:25:33,300 --> 00:25:35,420 She's been serving in her church for 30 years 676 00:25:35,420 --> 00:25:38,940 in the kids ministry, same church, same church in San Diego. 677 00:25:38,940 --> 00:25:43,940 And for 30 plus years she showed up 678 00:25:43,940 --> 00:25:46,940 to third, fourth, fifth graders. 679 00:25:48,300 --> 00:25:51,580 Many kids pastors have come and gone, kids directors. 680 00:25:51,580 --> 00:25:52,580 She's never asked for more. 681 00:25:52,580 --> 00:25:54,700 She's never seen when the next promotion's coming. 682 00:25:54,700 --> 00:25:55,540 She's never wanted more. 683 00:25:55,540 --> 00:25:57,180 She's been faithful. 684 00:25:57,180 --> 00:25:58,340 It kills her to be here this week 685 00:25:58,340 --> 00:26:00,940 because she had to miss her class. 686 00:26:00,940 --> 00:26:03,700 She said, what am I fifth graders going to do without me? 687 00:26:03,700 --> 00:26:04,940 Because she's faithful. 688 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:09,060 Faithfulness, long obedience in the same direction. 689 00:26:10,580 --> 00:26:12,380 I want to celebrate Miss Beth. 690 00:26:12,380 --> 00:26:14,940 Miss Beth, if you know her, yeah, there we go. 691 00:26:16,340 --> 00:26:19,940 Miss Beth for 17 years at Heights Church, 692 00:26:19,940 --> 00:26:22,140 she served in the two and three year old room. 693 00:26:23,820 --> 00:26:26,420 May the Lord bless her soul, two and three year olds. 694 00:26:27,420 --> 00:26:29,140 And every week she shows up. 695 00:26:29,140 --> 00:26:30,700 And what you need to know is that there are two 696 00:26:30,700 --> 00:26:34,820 and three year olds that only come to church because of her. 697 00:26:34,820 --> 00:26:35,660 And you know what that means? 698 00:26:35,660 --> 00:26:37,380 That means there might be someone sitting next to you 699 00:26:37,380 --> 00:26:39,860 right now that's only in church because their kid 700 00:26:39,860 --> 00:26:43,860 would only come because of her. 701 00:26:43,860 --> 00:26:45,020 That's long faithfulness. 702 00:26:45,020 --> 00:26:47,740 That's long obedience in the same direction 703 00:26:47,740 --> 00:26:49,260 with Jesus at the center. 704 00:26:51,300 --> 00:26:53,700 And when you do that, you start discovering 705 00:26:53,700 --> 00:26:56,380 the life that you were created for in Jesus. 706 00:26:56,380 --> 00:26:59,540 Pastor Ben said this week, he told me, 707 00:26:59,540 --> 00:27:01,260 salvation comes through faith. 708 00:27:01,260 --> 00:27:03,860 And we know that, salvation comes through faith. 709 00:27:03,860 --> 00:27:06,500 But growth comes through obedience. 710 00:27:08,020 --> 00:27:09,100 Growth comes through obedience. 711 00:27:09,100 --> 00:27:10,380 It comes from stepping out and saying, 712 00:27:10,380 --> 00:27:12,420 God, here's my hands. 713 00:27:12,420 --> 00:27:14,300 I wanna be a part of the puzzle. 714 00:27:14,300 --> 00:27:16,140 I know that every body part matters 715 00:27:16,140 --> 00:27:17,140 and I'm part of the body. 716 00:27:17,140 --> 00:27:19,660 And so I'm willing to do what it takes. 717 00:27:22,300 --> 00:27:25,420 So what does it look like for you to be faithful 718 00:27:25,420 --> 00:27:26,780 with what's in front of you? 719 00:27:29,220 --> 00:27:30,340 Here's what I want you to do this week. 720 00:27:30,340 --> 00:27:32,940 I want you to think and I want you to pray. 721 00:27:32,940 --> 00:27:35,780 God, what is it that you want me to step into? 722 00:27:35,780 --> 00:27:39,300 Next week, we're gonna have a serve team sign up. 723 00:27:39,300 --> 00:27:40,700 We're gonna have an opportunity next week 724 00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:42,300 for you to step into. 725 00:27:44,020 --> 00:27:45,740 A serving opportunity. 726 00:27:45,740 --> 00:27:47,420 All the ministries will be represented 727 00:27:47,420 --> 00:27:49,740 and say, hey, this is what we have. 728 00:27:51,220 --> 00:27:53,100 And you have an opportunity to give God your hands 729 00:27:53,100 --> 00:27:55,620 and not your plans and say, I'm willing to step in. 730 00:27:55,620 --> 00:27:56,780 I'm willing to sign up. 731 00:27:56,780 --> 00:27:58,300 I'm willing to show up. 732 00:27:58,300 --> 00:28:00,380 And I'm willing to allow God with Jesus 733 00:28:00,380 --> 00:28:03,500 at the center of my life to make even the little things 734 00:28:03,500 --> 00:28:05,940 have a massive impact. 735 00:28:05,940 --> 00:28:09,020 What is it that God wants you to do? 736 00:28:10,660 --> 00:28:13,300 I want you to think this week, what little things 737 00:28:15,340 --> 00:28:17,940 can you put Jesus at the center of this week 738 00:28:19,660 --> 00:28:21,660 so that when they take your parking spot, 739 00:28:22,860 --> 00:28:23,780 you can handle it. 740 00:28:24,780 --> 00:28:26,580 So when you get cut off, it's okay. 741 00:28:27,620 --> 00:28:30,500 So when you can't get your contact in, it's gonna be okay. 742 00:28:30,500 --> 00:28:32,740 What little thing can you do this week 743 00:28:32,740 --> 00:28:35,020 to put Jesus at the center of your life? 744 00:28:36,740 --> 00:28:38,740 Because when you live a life centered on Jesus, 745 00:28:38,740 --> 00:28:43,260 even in the little things, you can have a huge impact. 746 00:28:45,340 --> 00:28:47,460 Did you catch where it starts though? 747 00:28:47,460 --> 00:28:50,220 With a life centered on Jesus. 748 00:28:51,700 --> 00:28:52,540 See, if you're in here right now 749 00:28:52,540 --> 00:28:56,140 and you've never made Jesus the Lord of your life, 750 00:28:56,140 --> 00:28:57,540 you've never centered your life on Him 751 00:28:57,540 --> 00:29:00,420 because you've never said, God, I wanna go to Jesus 752 00:29:00,420 --> 00:29:02,980 and I wanna give up and it's nothing I can do 753 00:29:02,980 --> 00:29:04,500 because I wanna give up and make sure 754 00:29:04,500 --> 00:29:06,980 that my faith and trust is in Jesus alone. 755 00:29:08,900 --> 00:29:10,620 There'll be people after the service up front 756 00:29:10,620 --> 00:29:12,220 that wanna talk with you, that wanna pray with you. 757 00:29:12,220 --> 00:29:13,580 If you need to make that decision today, 758 00:29:13,580 --> 00:29:15,580 don't let today pass. 759 00:29:15,580 --> 00:29:18,260 For the rest of you that have made that decision already, 760 00:29:19,300 --> 00:29:20,220 life happens, man. 761 00:29:20,220 --> 00:29:21,900 Sometimes we just lose focus. 762 00:29:21,900 --> 00:29:24,100 Sometimes we just drift a little bit. 763 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:26,780 But if we're gonna have an impact, 764 00:29:26,780 --> 00:29:30,500 our life needs to be centered on Jesus. 765 00:29:30,500 --> 00:29:33,740 When you walked in today, you were given a cup. 766 00:29:35,940 --> 00:29:40,220 Communion is a time for us to stop, 767 00:29:40,220 --> 00:29:43,700 to reflect and to re-center. 768 00:29:44,660 --> 00:29:46,660 So you're gonna have a few moments here to re-center, 769 00:29:46,660 --> 00:29:50,100 to refocus, to think about what Jesus did for you 770 00:29:50,100 --> 00:29:54,420 and to allow what He did for you to become the focus 771 00:29:54,420 --> 00:29:56,340 so that Jesus can be the center of your life. 772 00:29:56,340 --> 00:29:57,500 It'll take a few minutes to do that 773 00:29:57,500 --> 00:29:58,860 and we'll take it together. 774 00:29:58,860 --> 00:30:24,780 'The Most High' video 775 00:30:28,860 --> 00:30:49,420 Jesus was around a table with his disciples, and Jesus knew what was coming. 776 00:30:49,420 --> 00:30:52,660 He knew he was heading to a cross. 777 00:30:52,660 --> 00:30:57,660 As they were sharing a meal, Jesus took the bread and as he passed it around to them, 778 00:30:57,660 --> 00:31:01,620 he said, this bread represents my body. 779 00:31:01,620 --> 00:31:03,100 It was broken for you. 780 00:31:03,100 --> 00:31:06,540 He said, take, eat in remembrance of me. 781 00:31:06,540 --> 00:31:15,540 Let's eat together. 782 00:31:15,540 --> 00:31:21,540 It says that in the same way he took the cup, he said, this represents my blood that was 783 00:31:21,540 --> 00:31:23,540 poured out on your behalf. 784 00:31:23,540 --> 00:31:30,540 He said, take, drink this and remember me. 785 00:31:30,540 --> 00:31:45,500 God, we come before you this morning, Lord, as humbled servants of you, of undeserving, 786 00:31:45,500 --> 00:31:52,380 but God, we know that you loved us enough to send Jesus to that cross. 787 00:31:52,380 --> 00:31:55,860 And Lord, we are eternally grateful. 788 00:31:55,860 --> 00:32:04,540 God, I pray for each one of us that we would allow our life to be centered on you, that 789 00:32:04,540 --> 00:32:09,820 we would refocus and re-centered because God, we know that when our life is centered on 790 00:32:09,820 --> 00:32:15,500 you, even the little things can have a huge impact, not because of us, but because of 791 00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:16,500 you. 792 00:32:16,500 --> 00:32:22,360 I pray for each one of us, Lord, that you would show us what it is you would have us 793 00:32:22,360 --> 00:32:26,820 step into. 794 00:32:26,820 --> 00:32:34,780 What it is you have for us, God, that we can get in the game and serve so that even in 795 00:32:34,780 --> 00:32:41,700 the little things, through you, we can see a huge impact. 796 00:32:41,700 --> 00:32:43,460 Lord, we love you. 797 00:32:43,460 --> 00:32:44,460 We praise you. 798 00:32:44,460 --> 00:32:46,660 We pray all of this in Jesus' name. 799 00:32:46,660 --> 00:32:47,660 Amen. 800 00:32:47,660 --> 00:32:52,660 Amen.