WEBVTT 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:06.379 Good morning. Awesome. I pray everybody is doing 00:00:06.379 --> 00:00:12.560 well. Happy New Year. It is 2026 now. And the 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:15.500 world has solved all its problems, right? No, 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:18.780 not quite nearly. All right. Hey, if this is 00:00:18.780 --> 00:00:21.620 your first time joining us here at Hosanna in 00:00:21.620 --> 00:00:24.920 our sanctuary, or you're watching online, we 00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:26.679 want to say welcome to all of you. We're so glad 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:30.660 you guys are here to worship with us today. You 00:00:30.660 --> 00:00:32.859 know, I love the first Sunday of the year because 00:00:32.859 --> 00:00:35.840 this is an opportunity where we're all looking 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:37.960 ahead, right? Things are fresh. Things are new. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:41.240 The calendar has turned. But for us, the church, 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:45.100 this gives us an opportunity to just stop and 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:48.859 to say, okay, Lord, before we charge into what's 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:51.939 next, we want to take an opportunity to acknowledge 00:00:51.939 --> 00:00:54.969 what you've already done. And this morning is 00:00:54.969 --> 00:00:59.049 not just a New Year's goals type of message or 00:00:59.049 --> 00:01:01.270 all of that. This is a family moment. We are 00:01:01.270 --> 00:01:04.709 here as a family of Christ to celebrate God's 00:01:04.709 --> 00:01:08.849 faithfulness, to recenter our hearts, to... To 00:01:08.849 --> 00:01:12.269 really step forward together into a new year 00:01:12.269 --> 00:01:17.670 with clarity and unity and joy. And so we're 00:01:17.670 --> 00:01:19.549 going to be taking a break from Genesis this 00:01:19.549 --> 00:01:21.670 morning. And what I'll be sharing today is it's 00:01:21.670 --> 00:01:23.709 not for perfect people. It's for a church family. 00:01:24.069 --> 00:01:26.370 Does that describe anybody in this room today? 00:01:26.629 --> 00:01:30.430 Yes. All right. Because we are people who are 00:01:30.430 --> 00:01:34.530 growing and we are learning. We are people who 00:01:34.530 --> 00:01:39.939 are healing, serving. And sometimes we're people 00:01:39.939 --> 00:01:42.900 just trying to get through. And that may be some 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:46.519 of you today starting this year, or maybe it 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:48.719 feels like you're starting another year just 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:52.239 trying to get through. But you know, as the church, 00:01:52.260 --> 00:01:55.219 we go through all of that together because we 00:01:55.219 --> 00:01:58.329 are family. We are committed to one another. 00:01:58.469 --> 00:02:01.209 We are here for one another. And real life is 00:02:01.209 --> 00:02:03.969 family doing life together. And that's what this 00:02:03.969 --> 00:02:06.549 is, the church. Now today we're going to be looking 00:02:06.549 --> 00:02:10.569 back over 2025 and just... giving God glory for 00:02:10.569 --> 00:02:12.389 what he's done. There's a lot of really neat 00:02:12.389 --> 00:02:14.189 things God did. And I just want to share them 00:02:14.189 --> 00:02:16.550 with you, the body, because they happened because 00:02:16.550 --> 00:02:19.710 of you, the body. And then we're going to look 00:02:19.710 --> 00:02:22.430 forward to 2026. And I want to share with you 00:02:22.430 --> 00:02:25.270 guys some vision that God's given me for our 00:02:25.270 --> 00:02:27.870 church and things that I think God may be having 00:02:27.870 --> 00:02:30.650 us do and get involved in. And then we'll close 00:02:30.650 --> 00:02:33.270 today with a family meeting is what I'm calling 00:02:33.270 --> 00:02:36.469 it. Now, if the term family meeting to you has 00:02:36.469 --> 00:02:38.560 always meant something negative, like, oh, no, 00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:41.259 dad's calling a family meeting. Who's in trouble? 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:44.879 Nobody's in trouble, okay? But this year, I wanna 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:46.919 do something we really haven't done in past years 00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:50.500 and give you the body, just a practical update 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:54.199 on your church's financial status, our state, 00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:56.580 where we're at, what's going on, and all of that 00:02:56.580 --> 00:02:59.240 in context of really what God has done and what 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:01.900 God is going to do. And we're gonna go over all 00:03:01.900 --> 00:03:04.360 of that in a spirit of worship. We're going to 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:07.139 do it in a spirit of worshiping God, a spirit 00:03:07.139 --> 00:03:09.719 of gratitude for what he's done, what he's doing. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:12.139 And we're doing all of this because, you know, 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.740 God is the one who matters. And we're doing it 00:03:15.740 --> 00:03:19.060 all in this spirit of gratitude and celebration 00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:22.800 because stewardship with our time and stewardship 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:26.360 with our resources, stewardship with the talents 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.860 and gifts God's given us, it's all family business. 00:03:30.729 --> 00:03:33.409 It's all spiritual business. You know, in James 00:03:33.409 --> 00:03:36.590 1 .17, it says this, every good and perfect gift 00:03:36.590 --> 00:03:40.030 is from above, coming down from the Father of 00:03:40.030 --> 00:03:43.469 lights who does not change like shifting shadows. 00:03:44.449 --> 00:03:47.389 And so we're here today to honor the Lord, the 00:03:47.389 --> 00:03:50.590 greatest gift giver of all, the one who has given 00:03:50.590 --> 00:03:53.449 us salvation, the free gift that changed everything, 00:03:53.610 --> 00:03:56.930 and everything after, it's from him. The very 00:03:56.930 --> 00:04:00.219 breath we breathe, it's from him. And we are 00:04:00.219 --> 00:04:03.860 so grateful to our good and gracious God. Amen? 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:08.300 Let's pray. Father, we love you. God, we thank 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:11.020 you, Lord, for what you've done this last year, 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:12.879 Lord. We know it wasn't a perfect year by any 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:17.060 means, Lord. And some had a good year, some had 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:19.480 a decent year, and some would call the year difficult 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:23.939 and not good at all, Lord. Lord, your word tells 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:26.620 us that you're with us through every circumstance 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:28.639 of our life. And I pray, God, that the reality 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:32.980 of your presence would just consume us, Lord. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:36.699 That, God, today as we start this new year as 00:04:36.699 --> 00:04:39.860 your church, your body, that together, Lord, 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:42.079 we would just be so thankful for what you've 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:45.939 done through our church. Lord, because it's through 00:04:45.939 --> 00:04:48.480 this church, you've reached so many lives. And, 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:51.420 God, that's awesome. And Lord, we want to look 00:04:51.420 --> 00:04:53.639 forward to what you may have for us in this year 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:56.540 coming up as a church, Lord, as you call us to 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:59.860 be a body that is collectively participating 00:04:59.860 --> 00:05:03.579 in your work, Lord. that we're all coming together, 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:07.519 Lord, following your leading, God, in the giving 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:10.939 of our time and giving of our service, Lord, 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:13.399 the giving of our resources, as we're called, 00:05:13.579 --> 00:05:15.279 the giving of our talents, Lord, because you've 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:17.699 given each one here that is a believer in Jesus 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:21.759 Christ gifts, gifts to serve, gifts to encourage, 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:25.660 gifts to teach, gifts to lead, Lord. And God, 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:28.480 we want to be your church. We want to be your 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:31.620 body. Lord, you the head guiding and directing 00:05:31.620 --> 00:05:34.839 us, Lord. So bless us today, God, as we go through 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:37.620 all of this, Lord. We love you. We thank you. 00:05:37.720 --> 00:05:40.980 But first, Lord, we do want to worship you. God, 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:43.620 worship and song and music, it's just one part 00:05:43.620 --> 00:05:46.060 of the worship that we give to you. But Lord, 00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:49.040 we want to start today and start this year, Lord, 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:51.860 as we do at every service, God, to praise you 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:55.800 because you are worth praising. You are God Almighty. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.990 You are holy, just. You are love and light. your 00:05:59.990 --> 00:06:04.110 everything. And so God, as we look forward to 00:06:04.110 --> 00:06:08.930 another year walking in Christ, guided by the 00:06:08.930 --> 00:06:11.810 Holy Spirit, Lord, we ask that you would bless 00:06:11.810 --> 00:06:15.410 us as we bless you now. We love you so much. 00:06:15.449 --> 00:06:18.350 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. If you guys 00:06:18.350 --> 00:06:21.970 will open your Bibles or apps to Hebrews chapter 00:06:21.970 --> 00:06:25.009 10, we're going to be looking at this passage 00:06:25.009 --> 00:06:28.209 this morning because this passage really frames 00:06:28.209 --> 00:06:31.779 what this morning is all about, the encouragement, 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:35.339 the vision, and all of it. And so in verse 23 00:06:35.339 --> 00:06:39.819 of Hebrews chapter 10, it says this, let us hold 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:42.420 on to the confession of our hope without wavering, 00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:46.620 since he who promised is faithful. And let us 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:48.560 consider one another in order to provoke love 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:51.899 and good works, not neglecting to gather together 00:06:51.899 --> 00:06:54.800 as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:58.019 each other and all the more as you see the day 00:06:58.019 --> 00:07:02.800 approaching. This passage gives three anchors 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:07.000 that shape everything that is said today. But 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.560 really, the foundation is this, that the day 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:13.319 is approaching. Do you guys believe that the 00:07:13.319 --> 00:07:18.560 Lord is returning? How many of you hope he returns 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:23.120 right now? All right. Some of us not, and I get 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:28.769 it, you know. No, it's not right now. So we're 00:07:28.769 --> 00:07:33.850 going to have church. But he says three things 00:07:33.850 --> 00:07:36.269 here, and I want to go through this passage real 00:07:36.269 --> 00:07:38.910 quickly because as a church, we are people who 00:07:38.910 --> 00:07:40.870 are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. We've 00:07:40.870 --> 00:07:42.689 put our faith in him. We've received salvation, 00:07:43.029 --> 00:07:45.889 right? The undeserved gift of mercy, grace, and 00:07:45.889 --> 00:07:49.230 forgiveness. And then from that point of salvation, 00:07:49.569 --> 00:07:56.629 God leaves us here. And some of you might go, 00:07:56.709 --> 00:08:02.470 why would a loving God save my soul and leave 00:08:02.470 --> 00:08:05.910 me here on this planet, which is, let's be honest, 00:08:06.029 --> 00:08:09.889 it's not the greatest place. It's because there's 00:08:09.889 --> 00:08:13.810 a mission. There's a process. There's a changing 00:08:13.810 --> 00:08:16.370 of us as we learn to live like him and become 00:08:16.370 --> 00:08:20.089 conformed to him. But we are here on this earth 00:08:20.089 --> 00:08:23.959 to carry the light of the gospel. He saves you 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:25.579 and then leaves you here so that you could tell 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:27.620 someone what he did in your life and that they 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:31.019 could be saved too. And then both of you go out 00:08:31.019 --> 00:08:33.340 with your light and tell two more. And if you 00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:35.460 guys ever heard the story of the compounding 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:39.889 penny, you know how that goes. And in the process 00:08:39.889 --> 00:08:42.309 of us doing that, we are called to gather together 00:08:42.309 --> 00:08:45.509 as the church, to grow together, to mature together, 00:08:45.730 --> 00:08:49.470 to learn together, to participate together in 00:08:49.470 --> 00:08:52.610 the mission that Jesus Christ has left for us, 00:08:52.669 --> 00:08:58.250 the church. And so here in Hebrews 23, there's 00:08:58.250 --> 00:09:00.210 three things that I think kind of frame all of 00:09:00.210 --> 00:09:02.750 that. And the first one, he says, let us hold 00:09:02.750 --> 00:09:04.909 on to the confession of our hope without wavering 00:09:04.909 --> 00:09:09.840 since he who promised is faithful. You see, we 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:12.539 are called to carry the message of the gospel 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:15.059 in our lives, through our lives, to our families, 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:18.059 our workplaces, our old stomping grounds, whatever 00:09:18.059 --> 00:09:20.799 it may be. We're called to do that. We're called 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:23.799 to take this glorious news that there is a God 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:25.779 in the universe who loved me so much that he 00:09:25.779 --> 00:09:28.019 died for every wrong thing I've ever done and 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:30.440 every wrong thing I ever will do. He died for 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:33.299 it. He paid the price to satisfy a wrath of a 00:09:33.299 --> 00:09:36.340 holy God so that I can have a relationship with 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:39.909 him again and be forgiven. And not only that, 00:09:39.970 --> 00:09:43.649 that when this life passes, that there's a hope 00:09:43.649 --> 00:09:46.830 of heaven and eternity with him. Beautiful. Wonderful. 00:09:48.049 --> 00:09:51.169 And God's like, yeah. Tell people about that. 00:09:51.850 --> 00:09:54.970 And we're called to do that. And part of holding 00:09:54.970 --> 00:09:57.250 on to our confession of hope without wavering, 00:09:57.289 --> 00:10:02.250 the idea is that we do this without hesitation. 00:10:02.330 --> 00:10:05.370 We do this without worry. We do this boldly. 00:10:05.370 --> 00:10:08.750 We do this confidently. And the reason It's because 00:10:08.750 --> 00:10:12.230 he who promised is faithful. That's the starting 00:10:12.230 --> 00:10:15.570 point of everything. From the very beginning 00:10:15.570 --> 00:10:17.950 of time, God made a promise to save our souls, 00:10:18.049 --> 00:10:19.529 and he was faithful to fulfill that promise. 00:10:22.250 --> 00:10:25.750 God's faithfulness is the basis of everything. 00:10:26.909 --> 00:10:29.549 2025 wasn't a perfect year, I'm sure, for many 00:10:29.549 --> 00:10:31.830 of us. I don't think any year has ever really 00:10:31.830 --> 00:10:35.110 been a perfect year for anybody. We stand here 00:10:35.110 --> 00:10:37.129 again at the beginning of a brand new year because 00:10:37.129 --> 00:10:40.950 we have a faithful God. He has carried us through 00:10:40.950 --> 00:10:44.490 another one, good and bad. He has brought us 00:10:44.490 --> 00:10:46.710 here to the beginning of a new year because he 00:10:46.710 --> 00:10:50.049 is faithful. As we look back on our years and 00:10:50.049 --> 00:10:52.870 look forward to the next year coming, we could 00:10:52.870 --> 00:10:55.149 see so much of what God has done. People have 00:10:55.149 --> 00:10:57.730 been saved. People have gotten baptized. We've 00:10:57.730 --> 00:11:00.649 grown. God has given provision for things. Lives 00:11:00.649 --> 00:11:03.590 have been changed. And as we do that today, as 00:11:03.590 --> 00:11:05.649 we're looking at this starting point of the year, 00:11:05.730 --> 00:11:09.429 we're not celebrating ourselves. We're not celebrating 00:11:09.429 --> 00:11:13.549 us and look at what we have accomplished. What 00:11:13.549 --> 00:11:15.929 we're saying is, Lord, you kept your promises 00:11:15.929 --> 00:11:20.289 again. You did it the year before that and the 00:11:20.289 --> 00:11:21.769 year before that and the year before that. You 00:11:21.769 --> 00:11:24.669 kept your promises again. You sustained us. You 00:11:24.669 --> 00:11:27.789 sustained our lives. You carried us. And thank 00:11:27.789 --> 00:11:31.909 you. Like, this is why we can enter a new year 00:11:31.909 --> 00:11:33.769 with hope. It's not because we control the future. 00:11:34.149 --> 00:11:36.090 It's because we know the one who controls the 00:11:36.090 --> 00:11:39.470 future. And so as we start this year saying, 00:11:39.590 --> 00:11:41.830 God, you have been faithful, guess what this 00:11:41.830 --> 00:11:45.110 upcoming year is going to be? God being faithful. 00:11:45.929 --> 00:11:49.029 Because he's always faithful. And so that first 00:11:49.029 --> 00:11:50.769 thing there, that first anchor of everything 00:11:50.769 --> 00:11:52.570 I'm going to share today in our vision and stuff 00:11:52.570 --> 00:11:55.230 is remembering that God is faithful and he will 00:11:55.230 --> 00:11:57.610 be faithful. The second thing it said there in 00:11:57.610 --> 00:11:59.490 Hebrews, he says, let us consider one another 00:11:59.490 --> 00:12:03.690 in order to provoke love and good works. That's 00:12:03.690 --> 00:12:06.870 a second anchor for the vision that I believe 00:12:06.870 --> 00:12:10.070 God has for our church this year. Christianity 00:12:10.070 --> 00:12:14.470 is not just me and Jesus. Although our secular 00:12:14.470 --> 00:12:18.110 culture and progressive Christianity wants to 00:12:18.110 --> 00:12:20.289 turn it into that, it's just about you and Jesus. 00:12:20.370 --> 00:12:24.330 You live however you want. It's not about anybody 00:12:24.330 --> 00:12:27.049 else, but Christianity really is us together 00:12:27.049 --> 00:12:32.490 in Jesus. We are here as God's children to affect 00:12:32.490 --> 00:12:35.269 the world around us for the gospel. And this 00:12:35.269 --> 00:12:38.289 is a major part of the vision that I believe 00:12:38.289 --> 00:12:40.309 the Lord has given me for our church this coming 00:12:40.309 --> 00:12:44.350 year is that we all move towards a renewed understanding, 00:12:44.750 --> 00:12:49.070 a renewed commitment that that church isn't just 00:12:49.070 --> 00:12:55.049 for me, but I'm here for others. You see, when 00:12:55.049 --> 00:12:58.769 we gather together as the church, We shouldn't 00:12:58.769 --> 00:13:01.389 be asking questions like, well, did I get what 00:13:01.389 --> 00:13:07.629 I need? Was the Bible study good? Did Pastor 00:13:07.629 --> 00:13:15.549 Nathan get a good haircut this time? Or serious 00:13:15.549 --> 00:13:19.389 questions like, was the worship to my liking, 00:13:19.570 --> 00:13:23.070 right? I think all of you know that if I had 00:13:23.070 --> 00:13:25.950 my way, the worship would be metalcore and hardcore 00:13:25.950 --> 00:13:30.679 100 % of the time. I'd love that. In fact, there 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:32.820 is a church in Oklahoma that is led by an ex 00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:34.860 -metalhead, and the worship is metal all the 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:39.820 time, and I'm going to visit that church. But 00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:43.039 I'm a little bit suspicious that most of you 00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:45.059 don't enjoy that type of music like I do, and 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:49.960 so therefore, right? But instead of asking those 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:51.919 questions, did I get what I want? Did it minister 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.460 to me? Did it do this? And I'm not saying those 00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:58.429 are bad questions. But the priority above those 00:13:58.429 --> 00:14:01.330 questions should be, who can I encourage today? 00:14:02.490 --> 00:14:05.289 Who can I minister to today? Who might be alone 00:14:05.289 --> 00:14:07.169 today that I could sit next to and say, hey, 00:14:07.230 --> 00:14:10.230 I'm here with you? Who might need prayer today? 00:14:11.929 --> 00:14:16.330 Who do I need to forgive? Who can I serve? That's 00:14:16.330 --> 00:14:17.690 what it's talking about when it says consider 00:14:17.690 --> 00:14:20.950 one another. That's something that this church 00:14:20.950 --> 00:14:23.590 is about, and I want to see even more of that 00:14:23.590 --> 00:14:27.629 in this church. That when we come together congregationally, 00:14:27.629 --> 00:14:31.830 this isn't just us being an audience. This is 00:14:31.830 --> 00:14:36.789 us being a body. That is here to be poured into. 00:14:36.889 --> 00:14:39.269 Yes, we come to hear teaching. We come to worship 00:14:39.269 --> 00:14:42.389 together. Hallelujah. Praise God. But then we're 00:14:42.389 --> 00:14:49.669 here to connect, encourage, support. You know, 00:14:49.690 --> 00:14:51.389 one of the reasons why we open the coffee shop 00:14:51.389 --> 00:14:54.919 at 9 a .m. is so you can get here early. Sit 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:57.019 and talk with one another if you'd like to. Hey, 00:14:57.019 --> 00:14:58.720 how's that thing going? I've been praying for 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:01.659 that for weeks now. Is God doing? Oh, you look 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:04.279 upset. Are you okay? Can I sit with you? That's 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:06.240 why we opened the coffee shop after church, so 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:09.620 there could be time to connect together as the 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:13.740 body. We'll all have time to get to our lunches 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:17.149 and our family events and things, but... But 00:15:17.149 --> 00:15:19.090 here, for this moment, for these couple hours 00:15:19.090 --> 00:15:20.830 we're here on Sunday, this is our opportunity 00:15:20.830 --> 00:15:27.830 to spend this family time together. This is what 00:15:27.830 --> 00:15:31.610 makes a church strong. It's not cool ministries 00:15:31.610 --> 00:15:35.350 and cool programs or events. It's people who 00:15:35.350 --> 00:15:41.049 are thinking about each other all the time. It's 00:15:41.049 --> 00:15:44.350 carrying each other's burdens, stirring one another 00:15:44.350 --> 00:15:47.110 up in love and good works, provoking one another, 00:15:47.230 --> 00:15:49.789 it says, in love and good works, challenging 00:15:49.789 --> 00:15:51.990 each other to step forward, to go further in 00:15:51.990 --> 00:15:55.629 the Lord and to do things, to step out in faith 00:15:55.629 --> 00:15:57.789 and, oh, I'm scared, but yeah, I have my whole 00:15:57.789 --> 00:16:00.049 brotherhood around here with me to carry me and 00:16:00.049 --> 00:16:02.429 I could do this and that's what this is about. 00:16:02.490 --> 00:16:08.700 That's what church is. You go through the New 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:10.539 Testament and I challenge you to do this if you've 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:13.220 never done it before is find all the verses in 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:15.139 the New Testament that say the phrase one another. 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:20.080 And you might be a little overwhelmed when you 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:23.500 see that we're called to love one another and 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:27.440 to pray for one another and to carry one another's 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:30.940 burdens and to encourage one another and on and 00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:33.899 on and on and on because why? This is about one 00:16:33.899 --> 00:16:38.110 another. That's what church is and so consider 00:16:38.110 --> 00:16:41.690 one another. Think about, that means think about 00:16:41.690 --> 00:16:43.970 your brothers and sisters and more than just 00:16:43.970 --> 00:16:48.809 Sunday, right? Do you see your nuclear family, 00:16:49.009 --> 00:16:51.750 your biological family once a week and then never 00:16:51.750 --> 00:16:53.570 even call or text them again throughout the whole 00:16:53.570 --> 00:16:57.690 week? Some of you maybe. You need to work on 00:16:57.690 --> 00:17:01.330 that. But in most cases, no, we're connected, 00:17:01.529 --> 00:17:06.240 right? Same thing here. Same thing. This is family. 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:12.980 And so the third thing he says is not neglecting 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:14.880 to gather together as some are in the habit of 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:16.779 doing, but encouraging each other as all the 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:20.599 more as you see the day approaching. You see, 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:22.380 the church, we're meant to be connected both 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:26.259 inside and outside because we are family. This 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:28.779 is where Hebrews gets super practical. God is 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:31.079 calling the church here through his word to prioritize 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:36.059 gathering together for a reason. It's not just 00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:40.319 because, well, that's what we do. There's a reason 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:46.240 God says don't neglect this. And I would add 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:50.440 into this, in every way you can, don't neglect 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:56.900 this. Pastor Rick. Not feeling great today. He's 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:59.680 here to do announcements. Even though he's talking 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:05.720 like that, he's still here. Right? He's like 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:09.420 my little brother, so I tease him a lot. Last 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:13.480 week, though, he came in to church, and wow, 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:17.380 he sounded terrible. I said, go home. I'm supposed 00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:20.700 to be here at church. I'm like, I appreciate 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:23.160 that, brother. Go home. Get well. Right? You 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:26.880 know, it's just we put aside ourselves to come 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:30.599 serve, and when he says don't neglect, he's like, 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:33.519 you know, some people just don't feel like it. 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:40.839 Really? I don't know anybody. This is how you 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:45.720 get to know somebody. Hi. I'm an introvert. I 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.660 can't do that. Great. All the extroverts, find 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:51.329 that introvert. Bombard them. No. That might 00:18:51.329 --> 00:18:55.210 make them leave, you know, so. But we're called 00:18:55.210 --> 00:18:57.690 to gather together, not as a duty, not as a legalistic 00:18:57.690 --> 00:19:00.950 checkbox. The reason God says prioritize gathering 00:19:00.950 --> 00:19:05.369 together is because love requires presence. You 00:19:05.369 --> 00:19:07.309 have to be present for love to fully express 00:19:07.309 --> 00:19:09.809 itself. And you go, well, I could FaceTime. Great, 00:19:10.009 --> 00:19:18.029 can you give him a hug? It's not the same. Well, 00:19:18.069 --> 00:19:19.549 I could talk to them. Great. That's awesome. 00:19:19.609 --> 00:19:21.349 I'm not saying any of that stuff is good. I chat 00:19:21.349 --> 00:19:23.630 with friends on Discord. I text. I do all that 00:19:23.630 --> 00:19:26.670 stuff as well. But it is not the same as physically 00:19:26.670 --> 00:19:30.369 being together. To be able to engage in that 00:19:30.369 --> 00:19:32.930 way. And so love requires presence. Spiritual 00:19:32.930 --> 00:19:35.970 formation happens in a gathered people. And it 00:19:35.970 --> 00:19:38.490 really comes down to thinking beyond our own 00:19:38.490 --> 00:19:43.150 individual spiritual life and thinking to, if 00:19:43.150 --> 00:19:46.890 I'm not there, what effect will it have on somebody? 00:19:48.009 --> 00:19:51.089 Not because you're great, not because there's 00:19:51.089 --> 00:19:54.490 anything in us, but the idea is sometimes the 00:19:54.490 --> 00:19:57.029 most spiritually effective thing we could do 00:19:57.029 --> 00:20:01.569 is simply show up. Because you might walk through 00:20:01.569 --> 00:20:05.410 the door and find yourself standing next to somebody 00:20:05.410 --> 00:20:07.950 and worshiping with them and you have no idea 00:20:07.950 --> 00:20:09.829 they're barely hanging on in life right now. 00:20:11.509 --> 00:20:13.490 But as you're standing next to them praising 00:20:13.490 --> 00:20:17.750 God, they're just encouraged. Maybe it's the 00:20:17.750 --> 00:20:22.730 parents who you bring your kids to church. And 00:20:22.730 --> 00:20:25.150 if they're little, children's church or youth 00:20:25.150 --> 00:20:28.829 group or youth ministry and stuff, and you do 00:20:28.829 --> 00:20:32.390 that because just bringing them is teaching them 00:20:32.390 --> 00:20:35.410 something very important. I've shared this statistic 00:20:35.410 --> 00:20:39.650 before, but it says in today's America, amongst... 00:20:41.379 --> 00:20:43.180 evangelical, professing believers who are like 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:45.519 solid, like I love Jesus and I know it and they're 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:48.599 like, everything's great. They attend church 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:56.839 on average once a month. Once a month. Imagine 00:20:56.839 --> 00:21:00.119 if you saw your family once a month. Probably 00:21:00.119 --> 00:21:02.859 get mad at you. But even more important, like 00:21:02.859 --> 00:21:04.519 parents with kids, if you bring your kids to 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:06.660 church once a month, what are you teaching them 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:08.319 about the priority of gathering with the body 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:10.819 of Christ? What you're teaching them is it's 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:14.900 not all that important, is it? Little things. 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:18.319 Just showing up can have a huge effect. Maybe 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:22.180 you showing up is just reminding a new believer 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:23.680 that they're not alone. Maybe they've gotten 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.559 saved and all their friends left them and all 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.220 their family left them and they're like, I did 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:30.339 this Jesus thing and it's cost me my entire social 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:33.980 life and you have no idea. But you walking up 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.759 to them during greeting and going, hi, how you 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.480 doing? My name's so -and -so. I'm so glad you're 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:40.509 here. Just. is the thing that tells them, I'm 00:21:40.509 --> 00:21:45.849 not alone. I have a new family. You know, this 00:21:45.849 --> 00:21:47.710 is especially important on those big holidays 00:21:47.710 --> 00:21:51.089 where the world is watching, you know, Christmas, 00:21:51.150 --> 00:21:55.109 Easter. It's important. The world's like, oh, 00:21:55.150 --> 00:21:57.049 you guys profess to believe in this, you know, 00:21:57.069 --> 00:21:59.950 this Jesus, and oh, in this one day a year, the 00:21:59.950 --> 00:22:01.690 whole world is celebrating his birthday. What 00:22:01.690 --> 00:22:04.710 are you going to do? I stayed home. It's cold. 00:22:06.549 --> 00:22:13.029 Okay. Now, by and far, this church shows up, 00:22:13.069 --> 00:22:17.069 and I'm very blessed by that. Very blessed. Last 00:22:17.069 --> 00:22:19.009 couple years, I'm getting more and more from 00:22:19.009 --> 00:22:21.809 believers that are just friends and family. You 00:22:21.809 --> 00:22:28.269 have church on Christmas morning? Why would you 00:22:28.269 --> 00:22:31.950 do that? I'm like, why would you not do that? 00:22:32.730 --> 00:22:34.509 That's the day we're celebrating his birthday. 00:22:34.609 --> 00:22:36.609 I can take a couple hours out of my day to come 00:22:36.609 --> 00:22:39.190 celebrate his birthday with the family, right? 00:22:40.190 --> 00:22:42.730 Now, again, I'm not trying to make people feel 00:22:42.730 --> 00:22:45.150 guilty here, but one of the things we want to 00:22:45.150 --> 00:22:47.910 lean into this year in vision is just really 00:22:47.910 --> 00:22:52.769 committing to that fact of there's a reason why 00:22:52.769 --> 00:22:56.029 God says gather together. There's a reason why 00:22:56.029 --> 00:22:58.890 he says come together as the church. There's 00:22:58.890 --> 00:23:00.970 a reason why he stays connected outside. And 00:23:00.970 --> 00:23:02.890 he says it right here in these verses, to provoke 00:23:02.890 --> 00:23:06.769 love and good works. To provoke love and good 00:23:06.769 --> 00:23:09.849 works. We need each other. God has chosen to 00:23:09.849 --> 00:23:12.230 work through us, his body. It's you and me. That's 00:23:12.230 --> 00:23:15.210 who God's chosen to work through. And whether 00:23:15.210 --> 00:23:17.329 you think that was a good idea or not, that's 00:23:17.329 --> 00:23:20.789 what he chose. And sometimes we need each other 00:23:20.789 --> 00:23:24.150 to encourage one another. Sometimes we need to 00:23:24.150 --> 00:23:27.329 provoke one another to do the things God is calling 00:23:27.329 --> 00:23:28.990 us to do, and that's why we gather together. 00:23:31.069 --> 00:23:32.750 Because we've got enough bombardment everywhere 00:23:32.750 --> 00:23:35.609 else about doing the ungodly things. We need 00:23:35.609 --> 00:23:38.710 to be surrounded with each other to stir each 00:23:38.710 --> 00:23:40.430 other up and say, yeah, let's do the thing, and 00:23:40.430 --> 00:23:41.829 let's go to the thing, and let's commit to the 00:23:41.829 --> 00:23:48.049 thing. It's an idea of stewardship. Stewardship 00:23:48.049 --> 00:23:51.230 is more than belief. It's about action. We have 00:23:51.230 --> 00:23:53.829 a stewardship to pray for one another. We have 00:23:53.829 --> 00:23:55.589 a stewardship to serve one another. We have a 00:23:55.589 --> 00:23:58.809 stewardship to encourage one another. And yes, 00:23:58.890 --> 00:24:01.410 we have a stewardship to financially participate 00:24:01.410 --> 00:24:03.490 in the work God is doing through our church. 00:24:05.210 --> 00:24:07.750 But these verses in Hebrews here, they give us 00:24:07.750 --> 00:24:10.289 the roadmap for today's message as I want to 00:24:10.289 --> 00:24:14.069 share with you guys just our direction and what 00:24:14.069 --> 00:24:16.910 we'll be doing as a church. God is faithful. 00:24:17.410 --> 00:24:20.950 He always is. He always will be. So consider 00:24:20.950 --> 00:24:24.109 one another. Don't forsake the gathering. Stir 00:24:24.109 --> 00:24:27.690 up love and good works. And with that foundation, 00:24:27.950 --> 00:24:30.930 let's celebrate together what God has done. Because 00:24:30.930 --> 00:24:33.950 when you know God is faithful, you could remember 00:24:33.950 --> 00:24:37.950 with joy and step forward with courage. Now, 00:24:37.990 --> 00:24:39.710 one of the most repeated commands in Scripture 00:24:39.710 --> 00:24:42.289 is to remember, right? That's why we're going 00:24:42.289 --> 00:24:45.549 to be celebrating communion today. So what did 00:24:45.549 --> 00:24:48.500 God do this year? Over our four community groups 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:52.779 in 2025, we had 52 different groups gather together. 00:24:53.460 --> 00:25:00.359 That's amazing, right? Each season, we had about 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:03.400 45 average attendees across those groups, and 00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:05.859 that's people in our church committing to fellowship 00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:07.940 and committing to community. It's a great thing. 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:12.680 We had 23 participants go through our discipleship 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:15.079 microgroup ministry, which I'll talk about in 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:18.039 a little bit. Had four baptism services. We do 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:20.119 them once a quarter. Ten people got baptized 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:23.720 this last year. Between summer and Christmas, 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:26.539 when we did our community outreaches and gave 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:29.200 stuff away, including toys, we had over a thousand 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:31.380 people from the community come through to our 00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:36.759 church and receive a gift from you guys. This 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:39.019 last year, we launched Arrows, our pro -life 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:41.559 ministry, as we're leaning into really engaging 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:45.220 into that whole issue of saving lives, saving 00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:49.640 the lives of children. We participated in a prayer 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:51.960 walk out at Planned Parenthood, and a number 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:56.319 of you came out to that. diaper and formula drives 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:59.259 to help local pro -life center we work with. 00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:02.700 We raised $850 for free ultrasounds. That's you 00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:04.680 guys. That's what you did, you know? And it's 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:08.380 awesome because those free ultrasounds is women 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:10.400 in crisis coming in thinking about murdering 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:12.279 their child because they think they have no other 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:14.839 option. But then they get that free ultrasound 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:18.500 and they see that child and they go, wow, that's 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:20.809 my baby. And the numbers of women who decide 00:26:20.809 --> 00:26:23.769 to keep their baby just from an ultrasound is 00:26:23.769 --> 00:26:27.089 astounding. Our evangelism ministry just passed 00:26:27.089 --> 00:26:30.130 out thousands and thousands of gospel tracts. 00:26:31.630 --> 00:26:33.950 Imagine how many more we'd pass out if every 00:26:33.950 --> 00:26:38.430 single one of us did that on the regular. Our 00:26:38.430 --> 00:26:40.569 Hosanna kids and youth ministries are growing. 00:26:42.230 --> 00:26:45.289 Everybody's having babies. That's great. How 00:26:45.289 --> 00:26:47.329 do you keep a church alive into the future? Babies. 00:26:49.139 --> 00:26:51.140 Right? Wow, our youth ministry isn't growing. 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:53.039 I keep telling Pastor Rick, wait about 10 years. 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:55.980 It's going to be great. Babies all over the place, 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:58.900 right? New faces, new people. We had our first 00:26:58.900 --> 00:27:00.920 annual egg hunt last year. Incidentally, that 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:03.319 was the most attended kids ministry event of 00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:07.819 the year. We're going to do it again. They loved 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:10.680 it. They had so much fun. And for me, I'm like, 00:27:10.759 --> 00:27:19.180 how cool is it to connect the sanctuary To having 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:22.160 fun in Jesus' name, right? This isn't a stuffy 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:24.759 place. This isn't, you know, some of you are 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:26.079 like, well, Pastor Nathan, you don't let us bring 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:28.279 coffee in here. We'll deal with that later, okay? 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:32.019 So I'm sneaking in. It's fine. You know, don't 00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:39.799 spill. But the idea is that this isn't some big 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:42.180 stuff. The kids had a great time. How awesome 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:44.460 was that? Pastor Rick this last year got involved 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:47.730 in the Bible Club. in the Bible Club at Belfast 00:27:47.730 --> 00:27:49.730 High School's campus. And the first year, it 00:27:49.730 --> 00:27:52.390 was a handful of kids. And then over the, he 00:27:52.390 --> 00:27:54.250 made relationships there and over the summer 00:27:54.250 --> 00:27:56.309 stayed connected. And then I think it was the 00:27:56.309 --> 00:27:58.730 first day when he came back or first week or 00:27:58.730 --> 00:28:00.750 something, there was like 40 kids in the Bible 00:28:00.750 --> 00:28:04.450 Club. God's doing something on our campuses, 00:28:04.509 --> 00:28:07.750 right? Our collective participation helps Pastor 00:28:07.750 --> 00:28:11.430 Rick get to those Bible Clubs. One of the things 00:28:11.430 --> 00:28:14.319 he does is he brings stacks of pizzas and He 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:16.480 has to walk across the whole campus to get to 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:19.359 the Bible club. There's no greater invitation. 00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:22.559 Yo, where are those pizzas going? Come to Bible 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:24.980 club. Room fills up with kids. They hear the 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:29.299 gospel. I mean, awesome, right? That's just a 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:31.559 handful of the things God did. I mean, there 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:33.839 was so much growth here and you guys coming to 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:36.700 know the Lord better and your own maturity in 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:39.900 Christ. And it's just awesome because God is 00:28:39.900 --> 00:28:43.279 faithful. Now this isn't just a list of celebrating 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:45.700 activity. This is us as a church celebrating 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:49.940 that God is alive. Celebrating that, excuse me, 00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:52.799 the gospel still changes people's lives. Celebrating 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.660 that Jesus is still building his church because 00:28:54.660 --> 00:29:00.519 he is. So as a pastor, I just want to say thank 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:04.500 you to you, the church. Thank you because it 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:06.480 was through you as God was working through his 00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:10.480 people, someone prayed. Someone showed up early. 00:29:11.649 --> 00:29:15.869 Someone stayed late. Someone sat with someone 00:29:15.869 --> 00:29:18.309 who was crying and didn't try to fix it, just 00:29:18.309 --> 00:29:22.990 cried with them. Some gave faithfully when nobody 00:29:22.990 --> 00:29:26.230 applauded and nobody noticed. Some served in 00:29:26.230 --> 00:29:29.650 the nursery. Some led a community group. Some 00:29:29.650 --> 00:29:34.529 invited a friend. This is your church, and you 00:29:34.529 --> 00:29:36.910 guys are participating. It's beautiful. So yeah, 00:29:36.950 --> 00:29:39.759 thank you, but ultimately, thank the Lord. Thank 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:42.059 the Lord that he uses us, his people, to do his 00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:49.160 work. Now for many, this year was difficult and 00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:53.519 included grief and health battles and financial 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:59.160 pressure, anxiety, relational pain, loss of loved 00:29:59.160 --> 00:30:01.900 ones. And for some, it might still feel like 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:04.640 unanswered prayers. We just have to understand 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:07.220 that celebration doesn't erase pain and it's 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:11.150 not meant to erase pain. But it does anchor us 00:30:11.150 --> 00:30:13.970 all in the truth that God was faithful even in 00:30:13.970 --> 00:30:16.930 the valley. God was faithful even in the challenges. 00:30:17.069 --> 00:30:19.109 God was faithful even in the difficulties. God 00:30:19.109 --> 00:30:22.109 was faithful in the quiet. He carried us through. 00:30:22.269 --> 00:30:25.910 Why? Because we're here today. And so we thank 00:30:25.910 --> 00:30:28.410 Jesus for those things. Now, before we talk about 00:30:28.410 --> 00:30:31.630 what's to come here in the future, I just want 00:30:31.630 --> 00:30:33.990 to remind us all as the church that we have to 00:30:33.990 --> 00:30:37.789 actively avoid the consumer mindset that that 00:30:37.789 --> 00:30:40.410 is constantly trying to invade the church and 00:30:40.410 --> 00:30:42.430 unfortunately has taken hold in a lot of the 00:30:42.430 --> 00:30:44.869 church around the world. Consumer mentality, 00:30:45.109 --> 00:30:47.509 meaning that church is for me, it's like a drive 00:30:47.509 --> 00:30:49.710 -through, right? I pull up and go, beep, boop, 00:30:49.750 --> 00:30:51.390 boop. I'd like a Bible study and some really 00:30:51.390 --> 00:30:53.289 cool worship according to the genre I'd like. 00:30:53.369 --> 00:30:55.569 Okay, pull up to the window. You get what you 00:30:55.569 --> 00:30:59.509 want and then you leave. And that's how a lot 00:30:59.509 --> 00:31:04.910 of Christians interact with church. Questions 00:31:04.910 --> 00:31:07.089 like, do I like this and does this meet my preference 00:31:07.089 --> 00:31:11.069 and does this fit my schedule? Real questions, 00:31:11.170 --> 00:31:13.329 but they're ultimately, they're me focused, right? 00:31:14.390 --> 00:31:16.529 The Bible describes the church very differently 00:31:16.529 --> 00:31:18.609 than that. The Bible describes the church as 00:31:18.609 --> 00:31:20.869 a body, not an audience. You guys are not an 00:31:20.869 --> 00:31:23.730 audience. You're a body, the body of Christ. 00:31:25.250 --> 00:31:28.210 It describes the church as a family, not a crowd. 00:31:29.130 --> 00:31:31.309 In a family, you know each other. In a crowd, 00:31:31.349 --> 00:31:32.829 it's a bunch of strangers gathered together. 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:36.339 Bible describes a church as a mission, not a 00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:40.019 weekly production, right? We have a production 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:42.059 team. It's called that, right? Because we're, 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:44.240 you know, making sure lights and everything works. 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:48.299 And I'm not putting you guys on blast, but they 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:56.579 mess up all the time. That's okay. Is the word 00:31:56.579 --> 00:31:59.720 getting out? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, there's things 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:01.640 we try to tighten up and, you know, da -da -da 00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:05.609 -da -da. But at the end of the day, Like, I'm 00:32:05.609 --> 00:32:07.690 not some mega church pastor that's like, oh, 00:32:07.690 --> 00:32:10.250 our TV show has to be perfect. I'm like, is the 00:32:10.250 --> 00:32:16.690 word getting out? Okay, well then we botched 00:32:16.690 --> 00:32:18.910 that transition from camera to camera. Okay, 00:32:19.069 --> 00:32:22.809 we'll fix it. Let's work on it, right? We're 00:32:22.809 --> 00:32:24.769 a mission, not a production. We're a people, 00:32:24.910 --> 00:32:28.710 not a building. And you've all heard this. The 00:32:28.710 --> 00:32:32.079 church is the people. This just happens to be 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:36.480 the physical place we gather in on Sunday. But 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.400 we need to understand, church isn't something 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:45.640 we watch. Church isn't something we attend. Church 00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:49.319 is something we belong to. Church is something 00:32:49.319 --> 00:32:51.799 that we are a part of and that changes everything. 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:55.119 That understanding changes how we love and how 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:58.420 we serve, how we forgive. It changes how we show 00:32:58.420 --> 00:33:00.720 up, how we get involved. It changes how we give 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:02.920 and build for the next generation. It changes 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:06.240 how we pray and carry each other's burdens. 1 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:08.359 Corinthians 12, you guys are familiar with this. 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:14.859 It says we're one body with many parts. If the 00:33:14.859 --> 00:33:18.460 hands didn't show up, how are we? You're able 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:22.220 to give things to people in need. If the eyes 00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:24.720 don't show up, who's paying attention and noticing 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:27.460 those that are hurt or in pain and need some 00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:29.660 ministry? If the mouth doesn't show up, who's 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:33.859 teaching and sharing and encouraging? And that's 00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:36.019 the idea in 1 Corinthians 12. Acts 2, it says 00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:38.440 the church was devoted, generous, and together 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:41.539 as much as they could possibly be. Ephesians 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:44.759 4 says we are built up so that each part does 00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:50.740 its part. Right? I can't do it all. I don't want 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:55.740 to do it all. That sounds exhausting. We are 00:33:55.740 --> 00:34:00.819 called to share the burden together. So if we 00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:02.759 want a stronger, healthier, more effective church 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:05.700 in the coming year, it's not starting with a 00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:07.680 new program or new event. It's starting with 00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:10.840 the people who are in the church. Not a perfect 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.800 people, but a present people, and you are present. 00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:17.599 Praise God for you guys. That he's brought you 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:22.400 together to be this church at Hosanna. So where 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.900 are we going? What does our faithfulness look 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:26.079 like in 2026? Well, our mission as a church never 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:28.539 changes. To know the truth, to live the truth, 00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:31.340 to share the truth, right? We want to know the 00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:33.420 truth. Jesus is the truth. He said, I'm the way, 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:35.780 the truth, and the life. To know Jesus changes 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:37.699 everything in life, and so we're about that. 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:40.119 We're about studying the Bible. We're about learning, 00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:42.559 right? All these things. But then we don't just 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:45.139 learn so that our heads are full of good knowledge. 00:34:45.179 --> 00:34:48.099 We want to live the truth, practice it. Wow, 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.739 I've read about all these one another verses. 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:51.940 I need to come to church and go into my life 00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:56.260 and my workplace and do these things. And then 00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:58.800 our overflow of being connected with the Lord 00:34:58.800 --> 00:35:01.739 and growing is to just be so passionate about 00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:04.039 what he's done and what he can do that we can't 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:06.500 help but to just tell people the truth, to share 00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:10.449 it with them, whether it's tracks. In many ways, 00:35:10.469 --> 00:35:13.010 it's just your life, your behavioral change. 00:35:14.429 --> 00:35:17.949 You're different. Why are you different? Everybody 00:35:17.949 --> 00:35:20.010 else cheats on the time clock, but you won't 00:35:20.010 --> 00:35:24.889 do it. Nobody's watching. Why? Well, it's because 00:35:24.889 --> 00:35:29.610 I'm a Christian. That kind of thing, right? So, 00:35:29.630 --> 00:35:32.050 we want people to know Jesus. We want disciples 00:35:32.050 --> 00:35:34.369 to grow. We want families strengthened. We want 00:35:34.369 --> 00:35:37.170 our communities served. We want the gospel spread. 00:35:38.269 --> 00:35:40.670 So as we step into this new year, there's a few 00:35:40.670 --> 00:35:42.969 priorities I think God has laid on my heart that 00:35:42.969 --> 00:35:46.349 I want to share with you, the body. As we collectively 00:35:46.349 --> 00:35:48.329 move forward, we see what God wants to do. The 00:35:48.329 --> 00:35:51.289 first one is deeper discipleship. Deeper discipleship. 00:35:51.289 --> 00:35:55.550 You see, one of the challenges in our faith is 00:35:55.550 --> 00:35:57.789 we can find ourselves satisfied with the depth 00:35:57.789 --> 00:36:02.130 of our relationship with God. Now, we're thankful 00:36:02.130 --> 00:36:03.989 for our relationship with God to wherever place 00:36:03.989 --> 00:36:05.969 it is. Absolutely, right? Praise God, I'm saved. 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:09.840 But to be satisfied with our depth when there's 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:14.219 always deeper that we can go in our maturity 00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:16.639 and walk with the Lord is not necessarily the 00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:20.360 best place to be. Disciples do more than just 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:25.179 attend. They go deeper. They themselves study 00:36:25.179 --> 00:36:28.360 and commit and learn and apply. And so one of 00:36:28.360 --> 00:36:31.480 the things we're leaning into very heavily this 00:36:31.480 --> 00:36:34.989 year. we soft -launched it last year, was a discipleship 00:36:34.989 --> 00:36:37.409 ministry that we're doing called Microgroups. 00:36:37.409 --> 00:36:43.329 The idea is to get everybody here in the church 00:36:43.329 --> 00:36:47.210 connected with a few other people where you guys 00:36:47.210 --> 00:36:49.349 meet together and challenge one another to grow 00:36:49.349 --> 00:36:51.909 deeper in your faith. That's what, essentially, 00:36:52.050 --> 00:36:55.150 discipleship is. It's living life together in 00:36:55.150 --> 00:36:59.150 a way, as much as you can, to challenge one another, 00:36:59.269 --> 00:37:02.760 to sharpen one another. You know, like discipleship, 00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:05.000 it's intentional relationship in which we walk 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:07.059 alongside other disciples in order to encourage, 00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:10.860 equip, challenge one another in living towards 00:37:10.860 --> 00:37:15.079 maturity in Christ. And so in February, we soft 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:16.860 launched this last year and had a number of people 00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:18.380 go through it and they were just really blessed. 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:21.960 And so this year, we're just kind of opening 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:24.699 it to everybody. And in February, we're gonna 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:26.960 have a launch event for our micro groups ministry. 00:37:27.300 --> 00:37:30.699 If you're interested in. committing to a discipleship 00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:33.000 that is just pushing further and going deeper 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:35.179 in your relationship with the Lord, your maturity 00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:39.139 in Christ. The idea is that we'll connect, you 00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:41.099 know, no more than three or four of you together 00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:43.480 in a micro group, and then you guys will meet 00:37:43.480 --> 00:37:46.579 regularly, probably once a week if that works, 00:37:46.699 --> 00:37:49.659 and then go through a curriculum we have, but 00:37:49.659 --> 00:37:51.639 more importantly, to spend that time together 00:37:51.639 --> 00:37:54.559 in vulnerability and growth so that you just 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:56.480 keep growing in your faith and growing in the 00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:59.130 Lord. We're going to be leaning heavily into 00:37:59.130 --> 00:38:03.150 that. Because we don't just want more people 00:38:03.150 --> 00:38:06.409 in church. We want more disciples in church. 00:38:07.130 --> 00:38:08.969 And so that's why we're going to be pushing into 00:38:08.969 --> 00:38:13.230 that really heavily. Stronger community. You 00:38:13.230 --> 00:38:15.550 know, our community groups have been a huge blessing, 00:38:15.730 --> 00:38:18.969 but we want to continue to encourage the body 00:38:18.969 --> 00:38:22.440 to be together. and the body to come together 00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:25.599 to share time together because this is the family 00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:28.000 that we turn to when the world is hurting us 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:30.699 and attacking us and assaulting us. This is a 00:38:30.699 --> 00:38:36.320 place where Hosanna, our church. My prayer is 00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:37.760 that someone would walk through the door of our 00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:41.519 church for the first time and not only feel welcome, 00:38:41.659 --> 00:38:43.719 which we hear all the time, and I'm so blessed 00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:45.840 to hear that, but to feel like they're known, 00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:50.340 like somebody sees me. And I'm cared for and 00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:53.000 I'm connected, right? That's what this is all 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:55.559 about. One of the things we're doing this year, 00:38:55.619 --> 00:38:57.840 and we mentioned it last week, to just foster 00:38:57.840 --> 00:39:00.360 more opportunity to come together is we're starting 00:39:00.360 --> 00:39:03.599 a new midweek service here at Hosanna on January 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:05.940 21st. It's going to be a Wednesday evening midweek 00:39:05.940 --> 00:39:09.000 service led by Pastor Ron. And, you know, I know 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:11.179 there's been a handful of people who have been 00:39:11.179 --> 00:39:12.639 like, hey, when are we going to start up the 00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:15.340 midweek service again? Then I'd be like, why 00:39:15.340 --> 00:39:16.840 don't you go to a community group? And they'll 00:39:16.840 --> 00:39:23.099 go, no. Okay. How about a midweek service? Okay, 00:39:23.159 --> 00:39:25.559 so we'll see all of you here on Wednesdays as 00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:28.340 another opportunity to gather together. But again, 00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:31.159 everybody has different means of connecting, 00:39:31.320 --> 00:39:36.840 right? And we get that. I get that. And so we're 00:39:36.840 --> 00:39:40.139 putting that on the calendar just to foster stronger 00:39:40.139 --> 00:39:43.300 community. One of the things God's really put 00:39:43.300 --> 00:39:45.440 on my heart is to invest in the next generation. 00:39:46.650 --> 00:39:48.110 We're not here to babysit, even though that's 00:39:48.110 --> 00:39:50.869 what happens in the nursery. We have youth ministries 00:39:50.869 --> 00:39:53.070 and children's church and stuff that are designed 00:39:53.070 --> 00:39:58.170 to come alongside the parents. We're to come 00:39:58.170 --> 00:40:01.329 alongside you to help you disciple your children 00:40:01.329 --> 00:40:03.630 in the Lord. And we're not to do all the work 00:40:03.630 --> 00:40:06.349 for you, but if you leave them with us, we'll 00:40:06.349 --> 00:40:08.610 do as much work as we can. But the idea is to 00:40:08.610 --> 00:40:12.299 partner with the parents in discipling. that 00:40:12.299 --> 00:40:15.119 just, you know, requires funds and stuff. And 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:17.639 that requires, you know, counselors to serve 00:40:17.639 --> 00:40:20.139 in the ministry. That requires, you know, getting 00:40:20.139 --> 00:40:22.300 kids to camp and these opportunities we have 00:40:22.300 --> 00:40:24.579 to really pour into you guys because we love 00:40:24.579 --> 00:40:26.420 you guys. We want you to know Jesus. We want 00:40:26.420 --> 00:40:29.960 you to grow and be blessed. And as the body, 00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:31.860 we want to rally around you guys, the youth, 00:40:31.980 --> 00:40:34.900 to help in that, you know. Pizza costs money, 00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:36.940 and so we want to rally around pizza so these 00:40:36.940 --> 00:40:39.320 Bible clubs can keep going out. We want to see 00:40:39.320 --> 00:40:41.579 that God would open up more campuses for Pastor 00:40:41.579 --> 00:40:43.699 Rick to go to because he's not busy enough already, 00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:46.039 and so we want to put him on every campus in 00:40:46.039 --> 00:40:51.900 the local area. Excuse me. And then one of the 00:40:51.900 --> 00:40:53.739 big ones, God put this on my heart about a month 00:40:53.739 --> 00:40:57.039 and a half ago, but it was the idea of mission. 00:40:57.710 --> 00:41:00.150 And the idea of this is how do we bless our city 00:41:00.150 --> 00:41:02.429 in practical, consistent ways? Because we're 00:41:02.429 --> 00:41:05.269 not just meant to be inward focused. We're meant 00:41:05.269 --> 00:41:08.750 to be outward focused. And 1 Thessalonians 5 00:41:08.750 --> 00:41:12.070 .14 says this. And we exhort you, brothers and 00:41:12.070 --> 00:41:14.650 sisters, warn those who are idle, comfort the 00:41:14.650 --> 00:41:16.550 discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with 00:41:16.550 --> 00:41:22.690 everyone. That is how we're going to focus on 00:41:22.690 --> 00:41:27.760 our outward ministry this year. God gave me a 00:41:27.760 --> 00:41:32.460 vision about a month and a half ago about a family 00:41:32.460 --> 00:41:34.420 resource center. And those of you that have been 00:41:34.420 --> 00:41:35.940 around for a long time, you're going to laugh 00:41:35.940 --> 00:41:37.900 because our building down the street used to 00:41:37.900 --> 00:41:43.139 be called the Family Resource Center. But I heard 00:41:43.139 --> 00:41:44.980 about schools. A lot of the schools in our local 00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:48.530 areas are having... extensive after -school programs 00:41:48.530 --> 00:41:50.449 now because parents are busy working right and 00:41:50.449 --> 00:41:53.769 so the schools and the teachers are kind of becoming 00:41:53.769 --> 00:41:56.730 the the child care program for kids and some 00:41:56.730 --> 00:41:59.309 of them are open as late as 7 p .m because that's 00:41:59.309 --> 00:42:04.969 that's the need right and We have upstairs in 00:42:04.969 --> 00:42:07.409 our building down the street that we're working 00:42:07.409 --> 00:42:09.230 out some final details with the city to be able 00:42:09.230 --> 00:42:11.389 to use again, but I just thought we could open 00:42:11.389 --> 00:42:13.110 up a faith -based after -school program, and 00:42:13.110 --> 00:42:15.230 then we're kind of close to a lot of schools. 00:42:15.469 --> 00:42:19.489 I know a lot of kids walk home because parents 00:42:19.489 --> 00:42:21.389 are at work, and I'm like, well, we have a van. 00:42:21.510 --> 00:42:24.369 Maybe we could do an after -school program and 00:42:24.369 --> 00:42:26.429 have it be a faith -based thing where it's, yeah. 00:42:29.130 --> 00:42:32.050 and stuff, and then I thought, wow, you know, 00:42:32.090 --> 00:42:33.489 that's just helping the kids, but what about 00:42:33.489 --> 00:42:35.570 the parents? You know, a lot of parents are struggling 00:42:35.570 --> 00:42:39.489 and stuff, and then, you know, God reminded me 00:42:39.489 --> 00:42:41.550 that, you know, one of our pastors here, Pastor 00:42:41.550 --> 00:42:45.849 Manny, is a, are you getting your PhD this year 00:42:45.849 --> 00:42:50.150 or next year? Licenses, okay. He's like a licensed 00:42:50.150 --> 00:42:55.010 therapist, counselor, and so I talked to him 00:42:55.010 --> 00:42:57.360 about it, and he goes, oh, man. I'd love to come 00:42:57.360 --> 00:42:59.079 back in the church and work full -time offering 00:42:59.079 --> 00:43:01.460 counseling services to families and parents and 00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:03.719 marriage counseling and parenting classes and 00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:06.139 all this stuff that he's like trained how to 00:43:06.139 --> 00:43:08.619 do. I was like, oh, that would be a neat service 00:43:08.619 --> 00:43:11.039 to the community. And then that just kept kind 00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:13.679 of growing and developing. And so I'm praying 00:43:13.679 --> 00:43:16.699 about what God would want us as a church to be 00:43:16.699 --> 00:43:18.420 able to reach out to the community through something 00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:21.280 like this. A place for parents to have their 00:43:21.280 --> 00:43:23.920 kids go after school. A trusted place. A place 00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:25.519 where they could get help and therapy if they 00:43:25.519 --> 00:43:27.300 need it. Kids could get therapy. Parents could 00:43:27.300 --> 00:43:30.360 get help. A place where we could have an expanded 00:43:30.360 --> 00:43:32.340 food ministry to help with food and clothing 00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:34.699 and items for the families in our community that 00:43:34.699 --> 00:43:37.139 are struggling and suffering. And that just falls 00:43:37.139 --> 00:43:38.920 right there on the whole thing. Warn those who 00:43:38.920 --> 00:43:41.500 are idle. Well, let's have a faith -based program. 00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:44.360 We're going to kindly and lovingly, you know, 00:43:44.360 --> 00:43:46.440 make it about Jesus. And comfort the discouraged. 00:43:46.699 --> 00:43:48.500 And that's through counseling and therapy services 00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:50.880 and helping the weak. And that's through donations 00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:53.139 and food and clothing. And then be impatient 00:43:53.139 --> 00:43:55.820 with everyone. The whole thing being centered 00:43:55.820 --> 00:43:59.320 in the love of Jesus Christ. I don't know what 00:43:59.320 --> 00:44:00.800 God's going to do with that. It's just a vision 00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:03.579 he gave me. But I thought there's a need out 00:44:03.579 --> 00:44:05.239 there in our community. And there's a need with 00:44:05.239 --> 00:44:08.699 the families around us. And how cool. Maybe God's 00:44:08.699 --> 00:44:11.230 going to do something with that. This next year, 00:44:11.289 --> 00:44:12.909 we're gonna be partnering with Olive Crest even 00:44:12.909 --> 00:44:14.809 more. They're a family services ministry down 00:44:14.809 --> 00:44:16.670 the street. In a few weeks, we'll be introducing 00:44:16.670 --> 00:44:20.349 a ministry they have called volunteer hosting. 00:44:20.570 --> 00:44:24.949 And volunteer hosting is simply where you can 00:44:24.949 --> 00:44:30.099 open up your home to... a parent, single parent, 00:44:30.239 --> 00:44:33.239 mom or dad or whatever, who is having a very 00:44:33.239 --> 00:44:36.219 short -term emergency. Maybe they have to go 00:44:36.219 --> 00:44:37.719 to the hospital tonight and they have nowhere 00:44:37.719 --> 00:44:40.320 to drop off their kid. Or maybe they have to 00:44:40.320 --> 00:44:42.500 take an extra work shift and they need someone 00:44:42.500 --> 00:44:44.800 to watch their child. And this is an opportunity 00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:47.739 for us, the body, to exercise hospitality where 00:44:47.739 --> 00:44:49.739 should you choose to be a part of the program, 00:44:49.960 --> 00:44:52.199 it's you basically open your house up for anywhere 00:44:52.199 --> 00:44:57.039 from one to three nights to watch a kid. And 00:44:57.039 --> 00:44:59.880 this is just an opportunity for ministry and 00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:03.079 hospitality and ministry to those parents. And 00:45:03.079 --> 00:45:05.360 it's just a neat practical way to say, hey, I 00:45:05.360 --> 00:45:09.659 have a couch, you know. I could spend time with 00:45:09.659 --> 00:45:11.420 your kid. And then the relationships that grow 00:45:11.420 --> 00:45:13.260 from that and the evangelism that gets there, 00:45:13.460 --> 00:45:15.019 there's just a whole lot of stuff going on with 00:45:15.019 --> 00:45:17.179 that. So we'll have more information about that 00:45:17.179 --> 00:45:19.619 later. And then, you know, of course, leaning 00:45:19.619 --> 00:45:22.800 into more leadership development and discipleship 00:45:22.800 --> 00:45:26.909 and volunteer training. Those are kind of the 00:45:26.909 --> 00:45:30.409 focuses, and of course we're continuing to do 00:45:30.409 --> 00:45:32.250 the stuff we're already doing, but my question 00:45:32.250 --> 00:45:34.530 to everyone here and everyone watching online 00:45:34.530 --> 00:45:39.449 is, what will you say yes to this year? Not a 00:45:39.449 --> 00:45:42.630 vague intention, not a New Year's resolution 00:45:42.630 --> 00:45:44.389 that you're going to give up on in a month, but 00:45:44.389 --> 00:45:49.210 what will you say yes to? Of course, the challenge 00:45:49.210 --> 00:45:51.469 is always to say yes to Jesus fully and completely 00:45:51.469 --> 00:45:55.559 with your everything. But what about yes to consistent 00:45:55.559 --> 00:45:58.980 community in the church? What about yes to serving 00:45:58.980 --> 00:46:01.920 one another or serving here in the church joyfully, 00:46:02.059 --> 00:46:06.079 sacrificially, regularly? A yes to giving faithfully 00:46:06.079 --> 00:46:09.639 and obediently. A yes to growing in your own 00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:12.980 just maturity in Christ intentionally and seriously 00:46:12.980 --> 00:46:16.340 and humbly because the future of this church, 00:46:16.519 --> 00:46:19.059 every church really, but this church isn't built 00:46:19.059 --> 00:46:24.420 on my vision alone. It is built by a body together, 00:46:24.539 --> 00:46:27.179 each part doing its work. That's how we grow 00:46:27.179 --> 00:46:29.579 stronger in our effect for the kingdom of Jesus 00:46:29.579 --> 00:46:34.480 Christ. So with that foundation, I want to shift 00:46:34.480 --> 00:46:38.159 gears and have our family meeting, okay? Everybody 00:46:38.159 --> 00:46:46.219 breathe in. Family meeting time. Now, this is 00:46:46.219 --> 00:46:48.420 something we haven't typically done here at Hosanna 00:46:48.420 --> 00:46:50.659 and something myself and the board of directors 00:46:50.659 --> 00:46:54.079 kind of decided that, you know, with this idea 00:46:54.079 --> 00:46:56.420 that we're all collectively participating in 00:46:56.420 --> 00:47:00.230 what... this thing is the church, is to be transparent 00:47:00.230 --> 00:47:02.929 about our finances and where we're at as a church 00:47:02.929 --> 00:47:06.150 and stuff. I thought that would be just a good 00:47:06.150 --> 00:47:07.590 thing to do, and we prayed about it, and the 00:47:07.590 --> 00:47:10.929 Lord seemed to emphasize that, and so that's 00:47:10.929 --> 00:47:12.809 what I'm going to do. Now, this isn't to guilt 00:47:12.809 --> 00:47:17.090 or manipulate or twist arms. The door's locked? 00:47:17.809 --> 00:47:26.289 Okay, cool. All right, so. Excuse me. None of 00:47:26.289 --> 00:47:28.570 that, right? My heart behind this is just to 00:47:28.570 --> 00:47:30.510 be wise and to be transparent with you, the body, 00:47:30.590 --> 00:47:33.949 because as we as the body collectively participate, 00:47:34.150 --> 00:47:36.750 and this is where the finances come from, of 00:47:36.750 --> 00:47:40.670 course the church runs on donations, right? And 00:47:40.670 --> 00:47:43.010 the giving and all that, it's a biblical thing 00:47:43.010 --> 00:47:45.940 we're called to do. And I just think... you guys 00:47:45.940 --> 00:47:48.460 knowing what's going on can be helpful. Now, 00:47:48.539 --> 00:47:51.239 we need to remember that God is the one who funds 00:47:51.239 --> 00:47:53.639 his plans, right? God gives vision, God funds 00:47:53.639 --> 00:47:55.940 his plans. God is the one who does that, but 00:47:55.940 --> 00:47:58.139 he has chosen to do that through his people, 00:47:58.219 --> 00:48:01.340 right? And oftentimes we can find ourselves going, 00:48:01.480 --> 00:48:06.179 well, someone else will do it. Look to your left, 00:48:06.260 --> 00:48:08.440 look to your right, and say, you're someone else, 00:48:08.559 --> 00:48:13.769 okay? God has chosen to fund the work of his 00:48:13.769 --> 00:48:15.949 kingdom through us because how we handle our 00:48:15.949 --> 00:48:18.809 finances and our money individually has a whole 00:48:18.809 --> 00:48:20.989 lot to say about our relationship with the Lord 00:48:20.989 --> 00:48:23.449 and trust and all of these types of things. But 00:48:23.449 --> 00:48:27.150 the reason I said that is because sometimes people 00:48:27.150 --> 00:48:28.789 say, well, if the Lord wants to do it, he'll 00:48:28.789 --> 00:48:32.210 provide. And then they're not obedient in their 00:48:32.210 --> 00:48:36.570 own giving. And then provision's not provided 00:48:36.570 --> 00:48:38.969 and the church can't do the thing. And they go, 00:48:38.989 --> 00:48:42.679 well, see, the Lord didn't want to do it. if 00:48:42.679 --> 00:48:44.539 resources aren't there to do the things we need 00:48:44.539 --> 00:48:46.820 to do because of our disobedience to the Lord 00:48:46.820 --> 00:48:49.820 in our generosity, it's not that the Lord didn't 00:48:49.820 --> 00:48:53.119 want to do it. We're being disobedient. Now, 00:48:53.119 --> 00:48:55.760 can God fund things any way he wants? Yes. But 00:48:55.760 --> 00:48:58.099 I share all that to say this, that theologically, 00:48:58.340 --> 00:49:00.820 when it comes to church finances and the work 00:49:00.820 --> 00:49:03.619 and the mission here, theologically, it's a family 00:49:03.619 --> 00:49:06.880 shared responsibility. Right? It's not to fall 00:49:06.880 --> 00:49:09.219 on one person or a few people. It's something 00:49:09.219 --> 00:49:11.539 that we're all called to participate in because 00:49:11.539 --> 00:49:14.539 there's power in the participation of the whole. 00:49:15.380 --> 00:49:17.280 The work of the kingdom here at Hosanna, our 00:49:17.280 --> 00:49:19.840 church, the work that happens to us, the body, 00:49:19.980 --> 00:49:23.139 it isn't financed by someone else. It's financed 00:49:23.139 --> 00:49:26.440 by us, the body of Christ. And so the body here 00:49:26.440 --> 00:49:28.360 at Hosanna, I just want to say straight up, you 00:49:28.360 --> 00:49:30.340 guys are generous. You guys are really generous, 00:49:30.380 --> 00:49:33.980 and praise God for that, you know? A matter of 00:49:33.980 --> 00:49:39.679 fact, overall giving increased in 2025 from 2024. 00:49:40.139 --> 00:49:45.500 Praise God. That's faithfulness, you know? And 00:49:45.500 --> 00:49:51.880 that's to celebrate. However, operational expenses 00:49:51.880 --> 00:49:55.260 go up every year. And those operational expenses 00:49:55.260 --> 00:50:01.369 have increased consistently more. than the overall 00:50:01.369 --> 00:50:03.969 giving has gone up. And so I wanted to share 00:50:03.969 --> 00:50:06.190 some of that with you just so you know. You know, 00:50:06.230 --> 00:50:08.610 the operational expenses, when I say that, these 00:50:08.610 --> 00:50:10.429 are the practical things, right? These are the 00:50:10.429 --> 00:50:13.829 unglamorous things like utilities and insurance 00:50:13.829 --> 00:50:16.369 and payroll and supplies and maintenance and 00:50:16.369 --> 00:50:19.309 technology and facility costs and all that kind 00:50:19.309 --> 00:50:21.170 of stuff, right? These are the unglamorous things. 00:50:21.329 --> 00:50:24.010 You know, we love to give to save a child, yes, 00:50:24.210 --> 00:50:27.489 and ah, but yay, light bill, right? It doesn't 00:50:27.489 --> 00:50:31.480 have the same ring to it. But there's a reality 00:50:31.480 --> 00:50:35.099 to operational costs of having this place that 00:50:35.099 --> 00:50:37.960 is a foundation, a home base for us to do ministry 00:50:37.960 --> 00:50:42.780 from. And so, like I said, it's not that there's 00:50:42.780 --> 00:50:44.920 not generosity here. I think in some cases it's 00:50:44.920 --> 00:50:46.900 maybe just context. And so I wanted to share 00:50:46.900 --> 00:50:49.380 a couple things with you in context. Like, we 00:50:49.380 --> 00:50:52.260 have to carry commercial insurance, right? Because 00:50:52.260 --> 00:50:54.159 if the building burns down, you know, we want 00:50:54.159 --> 00:50:57.170 to be able to fix it. If someone, you know, wants 00:50:57.170 --> 00:50:59.190 to come in and, you know, trip on the stairs 00:50:59.190 --> 00:51:01.230 and then sue us for a bajillion dollars, you 00:51:01.230 --> 00:51:03.650 know, insurance covers all these types of things. 00:51:03.789 --> 00:51:05.949 Well, last year, the cost of our insurance increased 00:51:05.949 --> 00:51:10.829 16%. We're having an insurance crisis in California, 00:51:11.090 --> 00:51:13.389 right, with fires and everything. But just so 00:51:13.389 --> 00:51:16.309 you guys have context, today, our monthly insurance 00:51:16.309 --> 00:51:21.250 bill is $3 ,500 a month, okay? Health insurance 00:51:21.250 --> 00:51:26.480 for our employees, right? California requires 00:51:26.480 --> 00:51:28.900 you to offer health insurance by law we wouldn't 00:51:28.900 --> 00:51:31.539 offer it anyways but it's not a thing we can 00:51:31.539 --> 00:51:34.199 cut is why I share that but that goes up every 00:51:34.199 --> 00:51:37.679 year and last year it increased 9 % our insurance 00:51:37.679 --> 00:51:40.619 bill right now for just health insurance and 00:51:40.619 --> 00:51:43.300 in some of the employees are participating in 00:51:43.300 --> 00:51:46.980 it and stuff but it's $2 ,100 a month that's 00:51:46.980 --> 00:51:51.469 just real life We do have a mortgage over the 00:51:51.469 --> 00:51:54.829 years as major things have needed repair and 00:51:54.829 --> 00:51:58.389 there wasn't the money in the bank for those 00:51:58.389 --> 00:52:01.070 types of things. We've refinanced and had to 00:52:01.070 --> 00:52:03.349 pull money out and stuff to cover those things. 00:52:03.469 --> 00:52:05.949 But as of today, our mortgage sits at about $1 00:52:05.949 --> 00:52:10.269 .1 million. And the payment on that is $11 ,000 00:52:10.269 --> 00:52:16.429 a month. Electricity, just as an example, during 00:52:16.429 --> 00:52:22.150 the summer, So many here are so gracious to make 00:52:22.150 --> 00:52:26.130 sure I know that it's too hot. And really reminding 00:52:26.130 --> 00:52:28.730 me and helping me to understand that we need 00:52:28.730 --> 00:52:30.309 to turn the air conditioners on, which we do 00:52:30.309 --> 00:52:32.250 because, of course, we want to be comfortable 00:52:32.250 --> 00:52:33.869 in here, and then during the winter it's heaters. 00:52:34.530 --> 00:52:36.829 But during the summer, our average electricity 00:52:36.829 --> 00:52:39.309 bill is between $3 ,000 and $4 ,000 a month. 00:52:40.070 --> 00:52:43.630 And we've replaced everything with LEDs, and 00:52:43.630 --> 00:52:45.949 we've done everything we can to try and mitigate 00:52:45.949 --> 00:52:50.050 that. But the reality of our financial position 00:52:50.050 --> 00:52:53.110 today, just for transparency's sake, is over 00:52:53.110 --> 00:52:57.730 the last 36 months, which is about three years, 00:52:57.869 --> 00:53:00.289 we have been at a deficit, a monthly deficit, 00:53:00.489 --> 00:53:05.130 29 out of those 36 months. Deficit means that 00:53:05.130 --> 00:53:06.989 we didn't have enough money come in through offerings 00:53:06.989 --> 00:53:09.150 and ties and whatnot to cover the operational 00:53:09.150 --> 00:53:13.900 expenses. trying to be wise and mindful, myself 00:53:13.900 --> 00:53:16.099 and the board and others, we've cut just about 00:53:16.099 --> 00:53:21.199 everything we can. Anything excess, we've cut. 00:53:22.179 --> 00:53:24.920 Outside of laying off staff, which would be even 00:53:24.920 --> 00:53:27.320 more difficult because we're already at a skeleton 00:53:27.320 --> 00:53:31.820 crew, there's not a whole lot left to cut. And 00:53:31.820 --> 00:53:36.920 so it's been a tough but faithful few years, 00:53:37.000 --> 00:53:40.679 right? In 2025, just so you understand, our average 00:53:40.679 --> 00:53:45.019 monthly expenses is $65 ,000 as a church. The 00:53:45.019 --> 00:53:47.920 average tithe that came in that are things to 00:53:47.920 --> 00:53:51.679 cover those expenses was $58 ,000. So we've had 00:53:51.679 --> 00:53:54.840 an average deficit of $7 ,000 a month over the 00:53:54.840 --> 00:53:58.059 last year. Now, some of you might be like, well, 00:53:58.199 --> 00:54:03.949 how are we surviving? pleased and blessed to 00:54:03.949 --> 00:54:05.909 share with you the body that a few years back, 00:54:06.090 --> 00:54:09.949 we had a very, very, very significant donation 00:54:09.949 --> 00:54:13.989 to the church come in. And in hindsight, it was 00:54:13.989 --> 00:54:17.730 very timely. And that significant donation has 00:54:17.730 --> 00:54:21.190 been subsidizing our deficits over the last few 00:54:21.190 --> 00:54:24.050 years. And so bills are paid. We're not behind 00:54:24.050 --> 00:54:28.550 on anything. We can only do that for so long 00:54:28.550 --> 00:54:31.449 as you can imagine. Eventually, the extra runs 00:54:31.449 --> 00:54:38.530 out, and no money, no church, right? So I share 00:54:38.530 --> 00:54:41.030 all that to say that that's our position. What 00:54:41.030 --> 00:54:45.349 that means today is what's coming in on a regular 00:54:45.349 --> 00:54:47.449 basis just isn't enough to cover the operating 00:54:47.449 --> 00:54:50.329 expenses, which are going to increase again this 00:54:50.329 --> 00:54:54.929 year because they increase every year. The result 00:54:54.929 --> 00:54:58.230 of that simply is that we're, you know, somewhat 00:54:58.230 --> 00:55:02.550 treading water. We can't save a head for extra 00:55:02.550 --> 00:55:05.550 things. Our building's 120 years old, so, you 00:55:05.550 --> 00:55:07.269 know, things start to break and it's expensive 00:55:07.269 --> 00:55:10.969 to fix. But we don't have extra to save towards 00:55:10.969 --> 00:55:13.550 those types of things or pay down the mortgage 00:55:13.550 --> 00:55:18.090 or let alone contemplate pursuing greater ministry 00:55:18.090 --> 00:55:20.190 or greater outreach and those types of things. 00:55:20.389 --> 00:55:22.980 And, you know, it's just... The reality. And 00:55:22.980 --> 00:55:24.920 so the reality we've been operating under the 00:55:24.920 --> 00:55:28.559 last few years is we have to think about like, 00:55:28.659 --> 00:55:31.760 well, do we do VBS this year or not? Because 00:55:31.760 --> 00:55:34.539 in order to do VBS, we have to shift money over 00:55:34.539 --> 00:55:36.960 to VBS, right? And then something else maybe 00:55:36.960 --> 00:55:41.360 doesn't happen. Now again, utilities and all 00:55:41.360 --> 00:55:42.880 this stuff, these aren't things separate from 00:55:42.880 --> 00:55:47.820 ministry. These support ministry. The lights 00:55:47.820 --> 00:55:50.320 on means we could do ministry here and gather. 00:55:50.780 --> 00:55:54.199 For church, right? Insurance means that we could 00:55:54.199 --> 00:55:56.920 gather responsibly and not have to worry about 00:55:56.920 --> 00:55:58.900 getting sued to oblivion if somebody twisted 00:55:58.900 --> 00:56:02.219 their ankle. Payroll means ministry is consistent 00:56:02.219 --> 00:56:04.559 and accountable. And just, you know, with complete 00:56:04.559 --> 00:56:07.900 transparency so you guys know, on average, what 00:56:07.900 --> 00:56:10.539 we pay our employees is below the average for 00:56:10.539 --> 00:56:13.619 our area. And we just have done that as a way 00:56:13.619 --> 00:56:16.380 to be mindful and responsible with finances. 00:56:18.409 --> 00:56:22.329 A facility means kids can learn. It means people 00:56:22.329 --> 00:56:24.329 can be counseled. Groups can meet. The body can 00:56:24.329 --> 00:56:27.070 gather for study and worship. And a facility 00:56:27.070 --> 00:56:30.170 is simply practical, but we can't just look at 00:56:30.170 --> 00:56:32.590 it as practical. It is spiritual because it all 00:56:32.590 --> 00:56:36.510 supports the work of the gospel. So again, it's 00:56:36.510 --> 00:56:39.050 not a question of generosity per se because giving 00:56:39.050 --> 00:56:42.250 was up. last year, right? Every time we do a 00:56:42.250 --> 00:56:44.110 fundraiser, you guys come out like crazy. It's 00:56:44.110 --> 00:56:46.269 just amazing, you know? I mean, all the kids 00:56:46.269 --> 00:56:48.349 are paid for camp. That's you. That's the body. 00:56:48.449 --> 00:56:51.369 That's your hearts, right? You guys get it. You're 00:56:51.369 --> 00:56:53.650 understanding it and understanding what it's 00:56:53.650 --> 00:56:56.269 all about, but maybe it's perhaps a question 00:56:56.269 --> 00:56:58.250 of context, right? And that's why I wanted to 00:56:58.250 --> 00:57:00.570 share some of these details. Like, oh, I didn't 00:57:00.570 --> 00:57:02.250 know the electricity bill was that high. Those 00:57:02.250 --> 00:57:07.320 kinds of things. From a numbers perspective, 00:57:07.440 --> 00:57:10.059 just so you understand, and this is fairly typical 00:57:10.059 --> 00:57:12.780 across churches and businesses and wherever, 00:57:12.940 --> 00:57:17.300 but about 20 % of the giving congregation here 00:57:17.300 --> 00:57:21.460 at Hosanna provides about 80 % of the annual 00:57:21.460 --> 00:57:24.639 budget. And then 80 % of the congregation provides 00:57:24.639 --> 00:57:29.639 about 20 % of the annual budget. That's not atypical. 00:57:30.690 --> 00:57:32.829 That's just how it works. Some are blessed and 00:57:32.829 --> 00:57:35.130 able to give more, and some are just in positions 00:57:35.130 --> 00:57:37.530 where they give less. But it's not about the 00:57:37.530 --> 00:57:39.730 money and how much. It's about the faithfulness 00:57:39.730 --> 00:57:42.449 and the consistency and obedience to that. So 00:57:42.449 --> 00:57:46.909 am I scared? Are we worried? No. God is faithful. 00:57:47.849 --> 00:57:49.590 He was faithful the last three years. He's going 00:57:49.590 --> 00:57:52.130 to be faithful this year. God is faithful. He's 00:57:52.130 --> 00:57:54.369 always been faithful. We're okay because God 00:57:54.369 --> 00:57:57.530 is faithful. Today, we're fine because a few 00:57:57.530 --> 00:57:59.130 years back, God was like, hey, you're going to 00:57:59.130 --> 00:58:02.519 need this. put it on someone's heart to be generous 00:58:02.519 --> 00:58:06.239 in a really incredible way. And so there's no 00:58:06.239 --> 00:58:08.619 panic here. There's no, I'm just, we're trying 00:58:08.619 --> 00:58:11.440 to be wise, and I want to be honest and transparent 00:58:11.440 --> 00:58:14.019 with you, the body of where we're at. So you 00:58:14.019 --> 00:58:16.699 guys know, okay? And then, of course, the invitation 00:58:16.699 --> 00:58:19.960 is always that we, as the body here, the whole 00:58:19.960 --> 00:58:25.320 body, participate in the shared participation 00:58:25.320 --> 00:58:28.139 of what our church is doing and where we're going. 00:58:29.009 --> 00:58:31.190 And pastorally, my heart for you, the body, is 00:58:31.190 --> 00:58:34.409 that you guys don't miss the blessing of obedience 00:58:34.409 --> 00:58:38.329 to the Lord in any way. You know, it's often 00:58:38.329 --> 00:58:41.230 said that the last part of a person's life that 00:58:41.230 --> 00:58:44.489 God gets a hold of is the wallet, right? He gets 00:58:44.489 --> 00:58:46.690 our heart. He gets our service. He gets our time. 00:58:46.769 --> 00:58:48.349 He gets our, then the wallet. We're like, you 00:58:48.349 --> 00:58:51.429 know, and that may or may not be the case, you 00:58:51.429 --> 00:58:54.650 know, here in your life and all that. But I know 00:58:54.650 --> 00:58:57.369 that when you're faithful to the Lord, there's 00:58:57.369 --> 00:59:00.199 blessing and obedience. I know that. There's 00:59:00.199 --> 00:59:02.400 blessing in your life individually. I'm not saying 00:59:02.400 --> 00:59:03.980 give money and he's going to give you a mansion. 00:59:04.099 --> 00:59:06.360 That's not how it works. But the blessings God 00:59:06.360 --> 00:59:11.340 lays onto your life are just incredible. And 00:59:11.340 --> 00:59:14.980 when you don't obey in any area of life, you're 00:59:14.980 --> 00:59:16.280 going to miss out on whatever those blessings 00:59:16.280 --> 00:59:20.000 are that God has for you. And so really it's 00:59:20.000 --> 00:59:23.760 that we, the body, are ready and able to engage 00:59:23.760 --> 00:59:26.039 in whatever the Lord calls us to in ministry. 00:59:26.889 --> 00:59:29.769 And I would hate for, you know, anything like, 00:59:29.809 --> 00:59:34.170 you know, a financial position to be a reason 00:59:34.170 --> 00:59:36.309 where we're like, man, God is very clearly laying 00:59:36.309 --> 00:59:38.309 in our heart to pursue this or go this way, and 00:59:38.309 --> 00:59:42.210 we can't, you know. Now, if everybody is faithful 00:59:42.210 --> 00:59:45.110 in obedience and money's there and God says no 00:59:45.110 --> 00:59:46.909 and closes the door, well, then God didn't want 00:59:46.909 --> 00:59:49.510 us to do that, right? Easy peasy. But I hope 00:59:49.510 --> 00:59:50.869 you guys understand where I'm coming from. Are 00:59:50.869 --> 00:59:55.090 we good? Okay. The reality is that he's chosen 00:59:55.090 --> 00:59:58.480 to financially take care of everything that he 00:59:58.480 --> 01:00:01.739 wants to do through us, through his people, through 01:00:01.739 --> 01:00:07.639 his body. So there's an ask here as we're entering 01:00:07.639 --> 01:00:10.539 into a new year. I'm doing an ask here to the 01:00:10.539 --> 01:00:12.159 body and something for you guys to pray about 01:00:12.159 --> 01:00:16.280 and prayerfully consider. We ran the numbers 01:00:16.280 --> 01:00:19.019 on things and double and triple checked them 01:00:19.019 --> 01:00:21.440 to say, okay, what does next year look like as 01:00:21.440 --> 01:00:25.789 we're forecasting forward? Because again, certain 01:00:25.789 --> 01:00:27.969 expenses, they go up every year, and if we assumed 01:00:27.969 --> 01:00:31.510 just a modest 5 % increase in expenses across 01:00:31.510 --> 01:00:34.030 the board, which is not a weird number to look 01:00:34.030 --> 01:00:37.969 at, what we found out is that if every single 01:00:37.969 --> 01:00:41.489 person that is currently giving, because there 01:00:41.489 --> 01:00:43.230 are some here that aren't, and that's between 01:00:43.230 --> 01:00:46.269 you and the Lord, but if everybody that is a 01:00:46.269 --> 01:00:48.309 part of this church that says, this is my home 01:00:48.309 --> 01:00:52.369 church, okay? Now, again, I'm not including those 01:00:52.369 --> 01:00:54.369 of you that may be visitors today, and this isn't 01:00:54.369 --> 01:00:57.730 your home, okay? This isn't for you per se. If 01:00:57.730 --> 01:00:59.949 you're moving or leaving and stuff, you know, 01:00:59.949 --> 01:01:01.909 praise God, you know, he's taking you somewhere. 01:01:01.989 --> 01:01:04.710 But if you're here and you're, you know, like, 01:01:04.809 --> 01:01:06.630 this is my home and I'm expecting to be here, 01:01:06.949 --> 01:01:10.050 what we found out is if every giver, existing 01:01:10.050 --> 01:01:13.489 giver, was able to increase the amount they were 01:01:13.489 --> 01:01:16.989 giving by 7%, we would break even next year and 01:01:16.989 --> 01:01:19.929 not have any deficit. Now, just so you understand 01:01:19.929 --> 01:01:22.409 what that means is if you're giving $1 a month, 01:01:22.630 --> 01:01:26.250 and this isn't a joke, if you're giving $1 a 01:01:26.250 --> 01:01:30.030 month, if you increase that to $1 .07, okay, 01:01:30.090 --> 01:01:33.650 if you're the person that's able to give $100 01:01:33.650 --> 01:01:37.190 a month, increase that by $7. That's what I'm 01:01:37.190 --> 01:01:40.489 talking about, 7 % increase. We would break even 01:01:40.489 --> 01:01:43.250 next year, already assuming the increase in all 01:01:43.250 --> 01:01:47.739 the operating expenses. You know, it's always 01:01:47.739 --> 01:01:51.840 interesting when you start talking about collective 01:01:51.840 --> 01:01:55.980 participation. You know, the power of the compounding 01:01:55.980 --> 01:01:59.980 penny and stuff. So it was like, well, just for 01:01:59.980 --> 01:02:03.340 giggles, what would happen if everybody that's 01:02:03.340 --> 01:02:05.619 currently giving was able to increase by 10 %? 01:02:06.219 --> 01:02:08.780 Not additional 10 % on top of what you're giving. 01:02:09.659 --> 01:02:12.500 If you were able to give $100 a month and you 01:02:12.500 --> 01:02:15.280 increased that to $10 instead of $7. Do you understand? 01:02:16.360 --> 01:02:20.119 So it's a very small movement we're looking at 01:02:20.119 --> 01:02:22.239 here, but we just forecasted the numbers and 01:02:22.239 --> 01:02:26.360 said, if every giver did that this year, instead 01:02:26.360 --> 01:02:28.780 of just breaking even next year, instead of being 01:02:28.780 --> 01:02:31.480 in a place where, okay, there was no growth, 01:02:31.519 --> 01:02:34.599 no expansion, no real movement forward, lots 01:02:34.599 --> 01:02:37.480 of fundraisers, you know, but we were still trading 01:02:37.480 --> 01:02:41.320 water. Instead of that, we would end the year 01:02:41.320 --> 01:02:46.940 with like $22 ,000 surplus in the bank. And I 01:02:46.940 --> 01:02:49.079 share that just so you understand that if you're 01:02:49.079 --> 01:02:50.679 given a dollar a month and that's all you're 01:02:50.679 --> 01:02:53.320 able to do, and you increase that by a dime, 01:02:53.420 --> 01:02:57.260 that participates in this church's ability to 01:02:57.260 --> 01:03:01.440 move forward and be funded. And maybe we wouldn't 01:03:01.440 --> 01:03:03.619 have to fundraise all the time for things. Maybe 01:03:03.619 --> 01:03:05.940 we wouldn't have to constantly ask for things 01:03:05.940 --> 01:03:08.699 because we would be able to have those things 01:03:08.699 --> 01:03:11.360 budgeted ahead of time is kind of what I'm looking 01:03:11.360 --> 01:03:14.280 at. And so do you guys see the power of everybody 01:03:14.280 --> 01:03:17.469 participating? That's the idea, right? That's 01:03:17.469 --> 01:03:18.949 why I'm putting this out there to the church 01:03:18.949 --> 01:03:20.530 is just so you don't understand. It's not one 01:03:20.530 --> 01:03:25.909 person increasing their giving thousands of dollars. 01:03:26.090 --> 01:03:28.250 That's not how the church is supposed to operate. 01:03:28.889 --> 01:03:32.309 God has those people in his church that are doing 01:03:32.309 --> 01:03:34.909 very well financially and can do that, but it's 01:03:34.909 --> 01:03:38.289 not about that. It's about everybody's $7. Or 01:03:38.289 --> 01:03:41.210 seven cents is what comes together. And then 01:03:41.210 --> 01:03:44.070 as a church, we are collectively able to go pursue 01:03:44.070 --> 01:03:46.550 the things that he wants us to pursue as a church. 01:03:47.230 --> 01:03:49.429 And this doesn't just mean outward stuff. This 01:03:49.429 --> 01:03:51.949 also means inward stuff, right? One of the things 01:03:51.949 --> 01:03:53.690 a church is supposed to do is to take care of 01:03:53.690 --> 01:03:57.150 the widows and the orphans. You know, those funds 01:03:57.150 --> 01:04:00.050 to help us do that come from the body participating 01:04:00.050 --> 01:04:04.670 in these things. And so here's the ask. This 01:04:04.670 --> 01:04:07.170 year, I'm just asking everybody in the body just, 01:04:07.769 --> 01:04:10.309 Pray, seek the Lord between you and him and say, 01:04:10.409 --> 01:04:13.449 am I participating the way you want me to participate? 01:04:14.730 --> 01:04:17.050 That's a question between you and him. It's not 01:04:17.050 --> 01:04:21.170 compared to someone else. It's simply, are you 01:04:21.170 --> 01:04:23.369 being faithful as he has directed you to in his 01:04:23.369 --> 01:04:28.949 word? I'm asking the body this year to seriously 01:04:28.949 --> 01:04:32.170 consider if you are able to increase what you're 01:04:32.170 --> 01:04:37.440 giving by 7%. If it's... Well, I could do less, 01:04:37.500 --> 01:04:40.400 praise the Lord. If it's I could do more, praise 01:04:40.400 --> 01:04:44.360 God. But across the board, sharing the burden, 01:04:44.500 --> 01:04:47.300 that's simply what I'm asking. If this is your 01:04:47.300 --> 01:04:50.860 church home, if this is the place you call your 01:04:50.860 --> 01:04:54.360 spiritual home, then move towards consistency 01:04:54.360 --> 01:04:57.599 if maybe you haven't been consistent. One -time 01:04:57.599 --> 01:05:00.519 gifts are welcomed and awesome and we're so grateful 01:05:00.519 --> 01:05:05.340 for those things. But the one -time $100 gift, 01:05:07.119 --> 01:05:10.139 isn't as effective across the board as the $10 01:05:10.139 --> 01:05:13.000 a month for the whole month is the idea with 01:05:13.000 --> 01:05:16.579 the consistency. And so, and please hear me, 01:05:16.619 --> 01:05:20.059 this isn't about amounts. This isn't about this 01:05:20.059 --> 01:05:21.500 and that, even though amounts are a part of the 01:05:21.500 --> 01:05:25.059 conversation. This is simply about surrendering 01:05:25.059 --> 01:05:28.019 to the Lord with everything we have and being 01:05:28.019 --> 01:05:30.099 a collective participant in the ministry of what 01:05:30.099 --> 01:05:33.460 God has us to do at this church. Again, if you're 01:05:33.460 --> 01:05:36.599 new, If it's your first time and you're like, 01:05:36.659 --> 01:05:39.380 I don't know if this is my home yet, this isn't 01:05:39.380 --> 01:05:41.780 for you. If God wants you to participate, great. 01:05:42.159 --> 01:05:44.000 But this is for those that this is your home. 01:05:45.739 --> 01:05:49.420 Now imagine if everybody that isn't giving added 01:05:49.420 --> 01:05:54.119 to that equation. Resources are just a reality 01:05:54.119 --> 01:05:56.300 of life. It's an uncomfortable topic. I don't 01:05:56.300 --> 01:05:58.500 like talking about it. I know people are like, 01:05:58.539 --> 01:06:00.199 oh, and somebody's going to walk out of here 01:06:00.199 --> 01:06:01.800 today and go, oh, that's all churches talk about. 01:06:02.440 --> 01:06:05.099 Well, listen to the last 51 messages from the 01:06:05.099 --> 01:06:07.159 previous year and you'll see differently. But 01:06:07.159 --> 01:06:11.219 it's just finances are a reality of existing 01:06:11.219 --> 01:06:13.900 as a church and doing the work of the church 01:06:13.900 --> 01:06:17.780 and moving forward as a church. And so we shouldn't 01:06:17.780 --> 01:06:21.219 feel uncomfortable talking about it. We should 01:06:21.219 --> 01:06:23.400 be raw and real about it, even in our own families 01:06:23.400 --> 01:06:25.440 and stuff. And again, that's between you guys 01:06:25.440 --> 01:06:30.380 and your families. But step into ownership. If 01:06:30.380 --> 01:06:33.679 you're connected, but not invested, a new year 01:06:33.679 --> 01:06:37.219 is a great time to move from attending to belonging. 01:06:37.699 --> 01:06:40.280 It's a great time to move from watching to participating. 01:06:41.039 --> 01:06:44.079 It's a great time to move from consuming to contributing. 01:06:44.800 --> 01:06:47.679 Now, if you're in a season right now in your 01:06:47.679 --> 01:06:51.400 life where finances are truly tight, and you're 01:06:51.400 --> 01:06:54.260 like, I hear you, Pastor Nathan, but it is absolutely 01:06:54.260 --> 01:06:58.679 not possible, please don't hear condemnation 01:06:58.679 --> 01:07:02.070 in this message this morning. Let the church 01:07:02.070 --> 01:07:05.309 be the church for you in your time of need. That's 01:07:05.309 --> 01:07:09.710 why we all collectively contribute so that when 01:07:09.710 --> 01:07:12.269 any of us are truly in a time of need, the church 01:07:12.269 --> 01:07:14.250 can step in and help to the best of its ability. 01:07:14.849 --> 01:07:17.590 So if you're in that place, do not feel condemned. 01:07:17.750 --> 01:07:19.829 And I rebuke the devil from condemning you right 01:07:19.829 --> 01:07:24.829 now. Instead, ask and let the church help. And 01:07:24.829 --> 01:07:27.849 then when your situation changes and things are 01:07:27.849 --> 01:07:31.599 better, then be the one who contributes so that 01:07:31.599 --> 01:07:33.619 the next person here in the family that is struggling 01:07:33.619 --> 01:07:37.239 could be helped as well, right? So God has been 01:07:37.239 --> 01:07:40.960 faithful. He will be faithful. I believe he's 01:07:40.960 --> 01:07:44.159 inviting us into this year of just deeper discipleship 01:07:44.159 --> 01:07:46.719 individually, stronger community, greater mission, 01:07:46.960 --> 01:07:51.119 shared responsibility and ownership. The most 01:07:51.119 --> 01:07:54.099 exciting part is the story that God's gonna write 01:07:54.099 --> 01:07:57.280 in 2026 for Hosanna is not just gonna be about 01:07:57.280 --> 01:07:58.940 what happens here in the pulpit or up on the 01:07:58.940 --> 01:08:02.079 stage or even in this building. The story of 01:08:02.079 --> 01:08:03.820 what God does through Hosanna is gonna be written 01:08:03.820 --> 01:08:05.900 through every single one of you and how you follow 01:08:05.900 --> 01:08:09.159 the Lord's leading in your life. The lives you 01:08:09.159 --> 01:08:11.280 touch, the change you wrought through sharing 01:08:11.280 --> 01:08:15.099 the truth and it's gonna be hundreds of acts 01:08:15.099 --> 01:08:18.800 of ordinary faithfulness. It's gonna be prayers, 01:08:18.840 --> 01:08:20.939 service, generosity, repentance, compassion, 01:08:21.319 --> 01:08:24.460 invitations. It's gonna be written through discipleship 01:08:24.460 --> 01:08:26.720 and kids learning about Jesus and marriages healing 01:08:26.720 --> 01:08:29.300 and relationships restored and prodigals coming 01:08:29.300 --> 01:08:33.479 home. It's gonna be the addicted healed and set 01:08:33.479 --> 01:08:37.159 free. That's the story God is writing through 01:08:37.159 --> 01:08:41.680 our church, through you guys. So we're a church 01:08:41.680 --> 01:08:43.680 that exists to know the truth, to live the truth, 01:08:43.819 --> 01:08:46.699 and to share the truth. It's Jesus. It's always 01:08:46.699 --> 01:08:49.920 Jesus. And as long as God would have us here, 01:08:50.000 --> 01:08:52.020 we want to be a place that is proclaiming Jesus. 01:08:53.819 --> 01:08:55.699 So let's enter the new year the right way. In 01:08:55.699 --> 01:08:58.539 gratitude for what he's done, 2025 was pretty 01:08:58.539 --> 01:09:02.560 cool. Considering. Faith for what he will do. 01:09:04.100 --> 01:09:06.180 God has a whole lot of stuff ahead of us as a 01:09:06.180 --> 01:09:09.020 church. And commitment to the body together. 01:09:09.279 --> 01:09:12.300 Why? Because we are better when we are together. 01:09:12.800 --> 01:09:19.189 Amen? Let's pray. Father as we enter this time 01:09:19.189 --> 01:09:28.210 of communion God we're grateful. We are grateful 01:09:28.210 --> 01:09:31.510 for all you've done Lord. We're grateful for 01:09:31.510 --> 01:09:33.289 the good times and the bad times. We're grateful 01:09:33.289 --> 01:09:36.250 for the joy and the sorrow Lord because you were 01:09:36.250 --> 01:09:40.090 there with us in all of it. And God the most 01:09:40.090 --> 01:09:42.189 important thing that we are about as a church 01:09:42.189 --> 01:09:45.750 is that people would know you. And Lord we gather 01:09:45.750 --> 01:09:52.819 as a body to remember in communion. That God, 01:09:52.840 --> 01:09:55.060 we take this time as you directed us, Lord, that 01:09:55.060 --> 01:09:56.800 we would remember the cost of our salvation, 01:09:57.000 --> 01:09:59.479 Lord, in your body being nailed to that cross. 01:10:01.239 --> 01:10:05.420 That we would remember the extent of your wrath 01:10:05.420 --> 01:10:10.260 against sin as we remember all the beating that 01:10:10.260 --> 01:10:14.600 Jesus took. It was terrible. God, we remember 01:10:14.600 --> 01:10:18.159 as he took that bread and broke it and gave it 01:10:18.159 --> 01:10:20.260 to the disciples and said, this is my body given 01:10:20.260 --> 01:10:22.659 for you, that Jesus, you laid down your life 01:10:22.659 --> 01:10:26.800 very painfully and sacrificially to be the atonement 01:10:26.800 --> 01:10:28.800 for our sins, Lord, and that is a price we can 01:10:28.800 --> 01:10:35.340 never repay. And Lord, you shed your blood. Not 01:10:35.340 --> 01:10:37.439 that our penalty would just be forgiven, but 01:10:37.439 --> 01:10:39.899 the very stain of sin would be washed from our 01:10:39.899 --> 01:10:45.279 lives forever. And God, I don't even know if 01:10:45.279 --> 01:10:50.180 we fully understand that, but God, you look at 01:10:50.180 --> 01:10:54.079 us as sin -free. You look at us as beloved children 01:10:54.079 --> 01:10:57.260 of you, adopted into your family, loved with 01:10:57.260 --> 01:11:02.220 a love we will never understand, God. Lord, you're 01:11:02.220 --> 01:11:06.640 everything. Lord, I pray that this church, this 01:11:06.640 --> 01:11:10.539 part of your body, Lord, that we would be ready. 01:11:11.470 --> 01:11:13.670 to do whatever you call us to do as a church. 01:11:16.329 --> 01:11:19.329 To not just know the truth, but to live it in 01:11:19.329 --> 01:11:22.270 every aspect of our lives, God, as we gather 01:11:22.270 --> 01:11:24.829 together to mutually encourage and build up one 01:11:24.829 --> 01:11:27.029 another and then to turn outside to go into the 01:11:27.029 --> 01:11:29.170 world and to take the gospel of Jesus Christ 01:11:29.170 --> 01:11:31.850 in the light of hope that has changed so many 01:11:31.850 --> 01:11:36.170 of us. Lord, we trust you with our church. We 01:11:36.170 --> 01:11:39.970 trust you with our finances. God, your word is 01:11:39.970 --> 01:11:42.949 clear, and I pray for those that, Lord, maybe 01:11:42.949 --> 01:11:44.789 haven't entered into that obedience yet, Lord, 01:11:44.850 --> 01:11:46.810 that they would experience the blessing of that 01:11:46.810 --> 01:11:52.029 obedience as they do so. But, Lord, even in that, 01:11:52.109 --> 01:11:54.090 it's about us, your people. It's not about this 01:11:54.090 --> 01:11:57.069 building or anything. Lord, you want us and our 01:11:57.069 --> 01:12:00.170 hearts to grow, to become more like you in all 01:12:00.170 --> 01:12:02.930 things. And so help us, Lord, to be individually 01:12:02.930 --> 01:12:07.439 people. who know you and shine your light, and 01:12:07.439 --> 01:12:10.300 together, Lord, as a city on a hill, just brightly 01:12:10.300 --> 01:12:12.520 reach out to the world around us for the truth 01:12:12.520 --> 01:12:16.680 and the hope and the love that is found in you, 01:12:16.739 --> 01:12:22.840 Jesus Christ. We thank you. We love you. It's 01:12:22.840 --> 01:12:23.659 in Jesus' name we pray.