VIA VALUES | Who Are We? | Clayton Heath

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But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people.

You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

First Peter 2, 9 and 10.

This is the word of the Lord.

Well, hello, and welcome to Via.

Y'all can have a seat.

It is so nice to see you.

We are back, baby.

Somebody say amen.

We're back.

And uh if we haven't met, my name is Clayton, and I have the privilege of serving as a part of our team here at Silverdale Young Adults.

And you know the drill if you've been here.

If you have not been here, this is the drill.

I don't care if you've never seen them before, you don't know them, or you think they smell weird.

Somebody in front of you, the person beside you, the person behind you, and the person beside you, I want you to look at them and say, I'm so glad to be at Via with you.

I'm so glad to be at Via with you.

If you have your Bibles, I'm gonna invite you to turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 2.

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

If you're new to the Bible, that's uh in the part of the Bible called the New Testament, which contains all the things that happened during and after the life of Jesus.

It's called an epistle.

It's written by the Apostle Peter.

And chapter two is where we're gonna be.

And then hopefully on your way in, uh, you got a worship guide from our home team.

Shout out to the home team in the New Jerseys tonight.

Uh we give those to you, those worship guides, for lots of reasons, but you know that we give them to you because we believe here at Via, it is no small thing that God is the creator of the universe and he speaks to you and me.

And so when he does, we want to be sure that we pay attention and that we write down the things that he says.

Tonight is our first night back, and we really are so excited.

I know for many of you, if you've been around, uh if you consider yourself part of our Via family, we take a break over the summer of our regularly scheduled programming, and uh it's like the old adage says, absence always makes the heart grow fonder.

And so we're just so excited to be back with you.

And tonight what we get to do is what we do every year at the beginning of our semester, and it's really to remind ourselves of what the heartbeat of Via is.

And so for some of you, you've been around for a minute.

Um, this is year eight of Via, we're starting season eight.

This is episode one, the premiere tonight, so congratulations, you made it.

And um, some of you have been around for a while, and uh we can tell.

And uh, I'm just kidding, but we're so glad that you're here, and so you kinda know what to expect when it comes to Via, but we wanna remind ourselves of the truth of who we are, what we believe, and where we believe God is leading us.

And for those of you joining for the first time, you're trying to find out, you know, what the vibe is.

Is this a place I wanna be?

And so we wanna help give you the most information that we can for you to make an informed decision.

But we believe uh and are thankful that you're here tonight as we talk about what it means to be via, what our heartbeat is.

Because here's the end of the the deal is this we want you on the team.

And when we talk about what makes via via, what makes via via is you.

And so when we talk about these values, these principles, these core truths, these kind of guiding lights of who we are, these aren't just slogans that we throw up on a wall.

These aren't just sayings that we say for the first week of via.

This is really what we believe God is calling us into, and we can't do it alone.

In other words, it means nothing if you and me don't do this together.

And so you're like, Clayton, I don't even understand what you're talking about.

My friend dragged me here tonight.

What are we talking about?

Well, how about we start with scripture tonight?

Let's read in God's word, 1 Peter chapter 2, the verse we just read.

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people.

For underline this in your Bibles if you got a pen, his possession, for what purpose?

So that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

First Peter chapter 2, verses 9 and 10.

1 Peter 2:9

So what is it then that makes via via?

As we step into this new season, excuse me, what is it that we are calling ourselves all to?

This the standard that we're gonna hold each other up to?

Well, the first thing is this the first thing I want you to write down if you're taking notes is that we say hello first.

We say hello first.

I want you to turn to somebody who's sitting next and just say hello.

We say hello first.

In other words, we at Via are a welcoming people because Jesus welcomed us.

Look at how the Apostle Paul writes this in Romans chapter 15.

Romans 15 · chapter mention

He says, therefore, welcome one another as what?

As Christ Jesus has welcomed you to the glory of God.

Notice, the Apostle Paul doesn't say, notice, uh, welcome your friends.

The apostle Paul doesn't say, welcome the pretty people.

The apostle Paul doesn't say, welcome people after they introduce themselves and they take the first awkward step, so they have to face rejection and not you.

Welcome them then.

No, he says to welcome others as Christ has welcomed you.

Why is that important?

Because the gospel of Jesus Christ, friends, begins with Jesus moving towards you.

Look at how Paul writes it again in Romans chapter 5, verse 8.

Romans 5:8

You know this verse.

But God proved his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ Jesus died for us.

Somebody say amen.

Jesus, in other words, did not wait on you to make the first move to come running after you.

He moved towards you when you didn't have anything to give him.

He noticed you when you were overlooked and approached you when you were uncomfortable.

If you know your Bible, think about the way that Jesus treated Zacchaeus.

You know that guy we have the song for?

The wee little man?

Jesus sees him, and in Luke chapter 19, verse 5, it says, When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry down and come down, because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.

Luke 19:5

Guess what?

Everybody else saw Zacchaeus in the tree.

Jesus is the only one who moved toward him.

That is the heart behind we say hello first.

It means that we refuse to stand in a room and wait for somebody else to make us feel comfortable.

That we take responsibility for somebody else feeling seen.

And so here's the problem: everything and everybody, and no, I'm not painting with a broad brush, absolutely not, is communicating to you that the right way of thinking is I'm gonna walk into a place.

Is this for me?

Do I belong here?

Are these people my people?

Will someone look after me?

Can I feel comfortable here?

And those questions are understandable and even justified when you're new.

But maturity begins, your life will be transformed, and via will be transformed when we come in asking a different question.

Who can I help feel at home tonight?

You see, that's the difference between a friendly church and a welcoming church.

I don't know if you've grown up in church, I don't know if you've been around church, I don't know if you've been at one church, you've been at 16 churches.

But if you've been around at all, you know the difference between a friendly church and a welcoming church.

A friendly church is friendly to the people they already know.

But a welcoming church is one who goes out of their way to welcome the people who are not yet in and opens up a seat for them.

Remember how the writer of Hebrews says this in Hebrews chapter 13, verse 2?

Hebrews 13:2

He says, Don't neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this, some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.

Friend, may it never be said of us when we stand before Almighty God that we have to give an account that we weren't welcoming to guests of angels because we were so concerned with ourselves.

Okay, Clayton.

Ra-ra.

We say hello first.

Your point is that we should talk to each other.

That's your point.

That's the thing that's gonna make via?

Yes.

Kind of, you know?

Because you know what's lame?

Let me tell you what's lame.

Do you know what's lame?

What's lame is when you're at a restaurant, when you're at Via, when you're out at class, when you're walking into work, and you see that person that you kind of know, but you don't really know, but you kinda know, and she dated your friend, and then he dumped your best friend, and then you kind of know them, but you know, I can't talk to them.

And we followed each other on Instagram, but we've never really had an in-person conversation.

And we see each other from across the way, but we're far enough the way that I can either pull out my phone or I can like, where's the sign for the thing over here?

And then finally, one of you, maybe somebody says something, and you're like, Oh, I didn't see you.

Hey, how it going?

You know what's lame?

That's lame.

We're not doing that at Via.

When we come to Via, we say hello first.

So, what that means is we look up from our phones.

We remember someone's name, we introduce new people to our friends, we make room in our circles, we remember that the room doesn't exist for you.

I can remember when I was a sophomore in college, I was in Knoxville, and Jesus changed my life.

I was not walking with the Lord, and I had an encounter with Jesus that uh completely flipped my life.

And so I started to follow the Lord in a new way, and I wanted to get connected to a young adult ministry.

And so I went to this church that I hadn't been to, and I went to this young adult college ministry, and um, if I can be honest, like I don't really get nervous going to new places.

It doesn't really scare me to walk in and not know that many people.

Uh but for whatever reason, when I walked in that night, I was terrified.

I mean, you know, any of that, anybody ever felt that here?

You know what I mean?

I just was nervous, I didn't know who where to go, who to talk to, where the bathroom was, how could I escape, all these different things.

And so I walked in and I was nervous.

But it was a college ministry, and they're supposed to be for me.

You know what I mean?

Like we're all supposed to love Jesus here and everybody make a spot.

And it seemed as if when I walked in, I walked into like the best friends that we've ever had of our whole life forever convention because everyone knew each other, and I didn't know anybody.

And they were all talking to their friends, and I walked in and I just kind of moseied over into an empty chair, and I pulled out my phone to text somebody, I don't know who.

I didn't have a girlfriend, I didn't really have friends at the time.

I guess I was just gonna like text my mom, like, hey mom, what's up, you know?

Like some of you did tonight, you know?

And so I walked in and I sat down in that chair, and this girl walked up to me, and I thought, I too thought this fire was fit, friend, and I'm glad you noticed, and she's forward.

Uh, she likes me, and I this is new for me, but I think I'm into it.

And so let me just tell you, fellas, uh, not true, okay?

I was the loner loser sitting in the corner by myself, okay?

My fit was not fire, and she certainly didn't like me.

And she walked up to me and she said, Hey, my name's Hope.

What's your name?

I said, Hey, I'm Clayton.

She said, Do you want to come sit at my table with my friends?

And I said, Yeah.

I got up and I followed her to the table.

I never missed a night for the rest of the semester.

Uh, I got into a small group with one of the guys that was at that table, and God used that ministry to change and transform my life.

We say hello first.

The second thing I want you to write down is this we know who we're worshiping.

We know who we're worshiping.

In fact, why don't you just turn to the person next to you and why don't you say, we know who we're worshiping.

We worship Jesus Christ the Messiah because, friend, he has saved us.

What does 1 Peter say?

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, holy nation, people for his possession, for what purpose, friend?

So that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light.

Can I tell you, friend, Christian worship is not some vague spirituality.

We are not singing to create a mood.

We're not manufacturing an emotional experience.

We are real people responding to a real Savior who has done a real thing in our real lives.

So we sing.

Again, because music is just the best.

I mean, music is great, but we sing because Jesus Christ is the only one who is worthy of our worship.

Look at how 1 Peter says this in chapter 1.

He says, For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life, inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ Jesus.

He says, What?

You know you were redeemed.

I want you to turn to the person next to you and say, I know I was redeemed.

You know you were redeemed.

You know, we know we were redeemed.

So what does that mean?

We know who we're worshiping.

Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, who came unto earth and lived a perfect, sinless life, who went to the cross, who died on the cross in our place and for our sins, who defeated death, hell, and the grave, who resurrected three days later, who ascended to the right hand of the Father, and who was surely coming again to judge the living and the dead.

We know that's my God.

I'm worshiping him.

And so when we sing about grace, grace is not some vague religious concept.

We're singing about the grace that met you in your sin when you were at your lowest.

The grace of Jesus Christ that broke you free from addiction.

The grace that carried you through suffering, the grace that brought you into the family of Almighty God.

In Luke chapter 7, we're given a picture of this.

Luke 7 · chapter mention

If you know your Bibles, a sinful woman comes into this house where Jesus is, and she starts pouring out this expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.

She starts worshiping Jesus.

And all the other people in the room, if you know your Bible, know they all are casting judgment on this woman, thinking about just how ridiculous she looks, how um irresponsible it is to use the money for the perfume to pour it out on somebody's feet.

But Jesus explained that her worship flowed from understanding how much she was forgiven.

Look at what he says in Luke chapter 7, verse 47.

Luke 7:47

He says, Therefore I tell you, her sins have been forgiven, and that's why she loved much.

But one who is forgiven little loves little.

She worships differently because she recognized and knew who was in front of her.

And so you're like, Clayton, I understand, but like I grew up in a different denomination, or if you came to my home church, it was a different experience, or maybe I just feel uncomfortable, or worship, you know, it's performative sometimes, and all these different things that we can say in this moment.

But really, friends, what we can be honest is that that's just a moment where our life, in our life, where our worship can become stale.

And our worship becomes casual when we forget.

We forget what we really deserve.

We forget just how much it costs to purchase your ransom.

We forget that we were in darkness until Christ Jesus called us into the light.

That's why the psalmist writes in Psalm chapter 100, verse 2 My soul bless the Lord and do what?

Psalms 100:2

Do not forget all his benefits.

And so, if my encouragement tonight to you, if you're feeling stale in your worship, is that the answer to empty worship is not greater emotional effort, it's better remembrance.

You don't have to try and muster something up to feel something in a song.

You've got to remember what did Christ Jesus save you from?

What has Christ Jesus carried you through?

When everyone else in your life abandoned you, he was there.

When there was no hope, he was there.

That's what changes and cultivates a culture of worship in our hearts, which is why the Bible tells us to prepare our hearts before we worship.

And so we sing truth, even when our day went down the gutter.

We we pay attention to the words that we're singing, because you know that when we sing words like grace and healing and salvation and hope and light and future and eternity and all these different things, these aren't just random words, but they're the manifestations, the expressions of our truest reality.

Well, if I can say it so plainly, we participate instead of merely observing.

And we know that worship isn't just singing, right?

Some of you are like, well, when are you gonna get to the part where you don't worship isn't just singing?

Worship isn't just singing, which is why Paul in Romans chapter 12 can write this: therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, and this, friend, is your true worship.

Romans 12 · chapter mention

In other words, listen to me, the depth of our worship is shaped by the clarity of our view of Jesus.

The depth of our worship is shaped by how clearly we can see Jesus.

So if you feel like your worship is stale or distant or unconnected, can you see Jesus clearly?

In other words, when you're worshiping, when we're singing, when we're praying, are you thinking about your day?

Are you thinking about the people beside you?

Are you thinking about what the people beside you are thinking about you, or are you thinking about your Savior?

Because when we remember who Jesus is and what he has done for us, worship doesn't end when the music stops, but it becomes our living and true worship.

It becomes this proclamation, which is what Peter has written in the Word.

We have received mercy so that we might proclaim.

So we say hello first at Via.

We know who we're worshiping.

The last thing I want you to write down is this we don't keep it to ourselves.

We don't keep it to ourselves.

I want you to turn to the person you're sitting next to and say, I'm not gonna keep it to myself.

Look at what 1 Peter says again.

You're a chosen race, a royal priesthood, holy nation, so that you might proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous lights.

If you are going to proclaim, somebody else is gonna be involved in the equation.

Think about the uh in the New Testament when we read about the apostles Peter and John.

Acts chapter 4 tells us what they're up to, how they felt.

Acts 4 · chapter mention

Acts chapter 4, verse 20 says, uh, Peter writes this about him and John, for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Acts 4:20

Peter and John are not sharing a theory.

Rather, they are telling somebody and somebody's about the person of Jesus Christ that they had encountered.

They had seen Jesus live, die on the cross, be resurrected from the grave, ascend to the Father, give his Holy Spirit, and they talked about it.

So if I could ask a more pointed question, what is it that you're unable to stop talking about in your life?

If I came and just hung out with you for the day, I just walked like weirdly, like three and a half feet behind you.

Just watch where you went, just listened to how you talked.

What would be at the top of my notepad of what you talked about more than anything?

It's the same pattern that runs through to the Gospels.

If you know your Bibles, remember when Jesus goes and he's on a trip and he stops at a well, and the Samaritan woman comes and she's fetching out water in the middle of the day.

And he has this encounter with her and he reveals himself, just like Sidney was talking about earlier.

She comes face to face, she sees Jesus for his glory.

And then how does she respond?

John chapter 4, verses 28 and 29 shows us, look at it.

John 4:28

Then the woman left her jar, went into town, and told the people, Come see a man who told me everything I ever did.

Could this be the Messiah?

Her invitation was simple, friend.

Come and see.

So here's the thing: what is it that we're not keeping to ourselves?

Okay, Clayton, you're talking about Via.

You're talking about your expectations for me as a participant and a consumer and a contributor to this environment.

So, what do you want me to not keep to myself?

There's three things, you ready?

You have three stories to tell.

First off, shamelessly with pride in my chest, I want you to tell people about Via and bring them with you.

We're not keeping Via to ourselves.

So bring your whole team, bring your whole sorority chapter, bring your co-workers and your boss, tell them about Via.

Via is not the gospel, and can I tell you, Via never saved anybody from their sin.

But here at Via, people get introduced to Jesus Christ, who does.

So you say, come sit with me.

I'll meet you outside.

Text me when you're here.

Do you want to sit on my row with my friends?

That's the first thing.

The second one is we tell people what Jesus is teaching us.

The psalmist writes this in Psalm chapter 66 come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for me.

Psalms 66 · chapter mention

This is why we do what's called ask around at Via.

We're gonna do it in just a minute.

I'm gonna explain it when we get there.

We do ask around because you talk out loud to the people around you about the things that God is teaching and doing in your life.

What you read in scripture, what convicted you in the message, how God is changing your priorities, where you're learning to trust Jesus, how he carried you when you walked through suffering.

Yeah, Clayton.

I just really don't have anything that powerful to share.

I haven't suffered that much.

I've gotten pretty much everything I've ever wanted.

Life's been pretty good to me.

Watch this, right?

Let's just do an exercise together.

Um, have you ever been encouraged?

Have you ever been encouraged, exhorted?

Has your faith ever been sparked by what someone else in your life told you about what God was doing in their life?

If that's ever happened to you, would just raise your hand.

Hey, I've been encouraged by somebody.

Look at that.

So here's the thing, friend.

When we get to ask around, when we talk about small groups, when we talk about carrying our testimony in our everyday life, the only thing you're doing by keeping your mouth closed is robbing the people around you of what God wants to use in your life to spark faith in them.

That's why we do ask around.

That's why we don't keep it to ourselves.

So we're gonna bring people to via.

We're not gonna keep it to ourselves.

We're gonna talk about what Jesus is teaching us.

And lastly, just, you know, we're kind of about it.

We tell people the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul writes this in Romans chapter 1.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

He says, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.

The good news, friends, is that church is not the one who cleaned us up.

Via is not the one who made our life so much better.

Jesus Christ died for my sins in my place.

He resurrected from the grave, he reconciled me to Almighty God, and he has given me his spirit to live in the life he has provided for me.

That is the gospel of Jesus.

We can be made new and forgiven.

And do you know something?

The gospel every time always moves outward.

It never moved, it never just stays inward.

Our good friend Sam Rogers says it this way: that the gospel came to you because it's going to somebody else.

Another Bible quiz for you.

If you grew up in church and you know your Bible, in Mark chapter 5, Jesus comes across a man they call the demoniac who's possessed by demons, and he heals him.

Mark 5 · chapter mention

And he struggled with self-harm and he's crazy and he lives amongst the tombs, but and God cat Jesus cast the demons out of him.

And after he does, it says he's in his right mind, he's clothed, and he's sitting at the feet of Jesus.

And he wants to follow Jesus, but Jesus doesn't let him.

He gives him an assignment.

Look at it in Mark chapter 5, verse 19.

Mark 5:19

He says, Go home to your own people and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.

Notice what Jesus told him to share.

What the Lord had done and how the Lord had shown mercy on him.

That is your testimony.

Can you tell somebody what God has done in your life?

Can you talk to somebody about how God dispenses grace and his mercy on you?

That is what we're called to do.

So, what does this look like at Via?

We intentionally invite.

We participate in ask around.

We join a small group and we open our mouth to talk about what the Lord has done in our life and how we have received mercy.

We practice sharing the gospel.

We grow in our ability to naturally talk about faith.

You know why?

Because what Jesus has done in us is too good to stop with us.

What Jesus has done in you is too good to stop with you.

So all of this together.

We say hello first because Jesus welcomed you when you didn't have anything to offer.

We know who we're worshiping because Christ Jesus, Almighty God, died on the cross for your sins.

He's rose to be in heaven at the right hand of the Father.

He is the only one who is worthy of our worship.

And we don't keep it to ourselves because Jesus always saves us in order to send us.

And so you're like, Clayton, I don't know, man.

You're telling me about like this is Via and this is who we are, and you want me on the team.

I'm not a very outgoing person, brother.

This is not about us becoming more outgoing.

This is not us about forcing emotion during worship, and it's not about turning every conversation into a pre-rehearsed dialogue.

It's about becoming the kind of people that the gospel creates.

What does 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 9 and 10 say?

1 Peter 2:9

For you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of the darkness and into his marvelous light.

Via is entering season eight.

Episode one.

This is the premiere.

And our heartbeat for Via is the same now as it was when we started eight years ago.

What we've talked about is that Via isn't just this thing.

Via isn't just this place, and Via certainly isn't just a program.

But what our heartbeat, our team has prayed for and worked for, and you have been a part of is that we want to see truly a move of God amongst 18 to 25 year olds in our city.

We talk about this every year.

Maybe some of you know this, maybe some of you don't.

The largest church in America was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, during the 60s and the 70s.

The largest church in America was downtown Chattanooga.

It doesn't exist anymore.

Not it's smaller, not it changed its name to be a non-denominational church to attract more people.

It doesn't exist.

There was a temple, a college and a seminary in downtown Chattanooga that trained young people just like you to be pastors and ministers and missionaries and sent them all over the world.

Chattanooga made a mark on the faith of the entire world.

That college and seminary, it's not smaller, it didn't move, it doesn't exist anymore.

Billy Graham, the greatest evangelist America has ever seen, he first removed the ropes of segregation at a revival in downtown Chattanooga.

Chattanooga has been a place that, particularly among people of your generation, God has used to spark a movement here and across the world.

And so we're not doing via friends.

Can I just tell you if I can just preach at you for a minute?

We're not doing via so you can find a spouse.

We're not doing via so you can find friends.

We're not doing via because via is so great, or Silverdell is the best.

To be clear, I think those things.

I think Via is great, and I think Silverdell is the best.

I hope and pray you find your spouse here, and I know your friends are already here, whether you know their names or not.

But can I tell you something?

We do via because Jesus Christ saved souls.

And he started a movement here at our church eight years ago with about 24 young people that met in a different building, and what he's continued, he has grown into us tonight.

And what we're content with is we're not content for that to be the finish line.

We wanna see our prayer.

I believe in faith, I'm praying for you this semester that we are gonna see more of you answer the call of God to ministry vocationally.

That we're gonna see more people be sent on mission from our church, from our place, our place of worship via.

That we're gonna read God's word, God's holy and inerrant word, every Thursday.

You know why?

Because God's word is God's truth, and God's truth is the authority in our life.

We're gonna worship Jesus.

So we're gonna sing and we're gonna sing loud.

We're gonna pray that God's Holy Spirit comes upon us because you know what Jesus says in Acts chapter 1, verse 8?

Acts 1:8

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

So can I just tell you, we're not living lives crippled by anxiety, we're not living lives that's crippled by addiction, we're not living lives that's hung up on the generational curses and sins of our family.

We're walking in the freedom that Jesus Christ bought and died for you to have.

That's what we're walking into.

So, if that's what you want to be a part of, then buckle up, brother, because we're not stopping.

We're not gonna be content with just this is a good crew, and we're gonna have some summer hangs and we're just gonna be good and it would just all show up.

No, no.

We wanna walk in obedience to Christ Jesus.

So we're calling out sin.

We're calling against, we're working against what everyone else in your life outside of here is saying to you, what's valuable, how you should live, what you should work for, not us, we're going after Jesus, my friend.

Wherever he calls me, whatever he wants to do for me, whatever that life looks like, I'm saying yes.

If that sounds good to you, somebody please say amen.

So if you want purpose, if you want clarity, if you want mission, if you are sick of the influencer life being sold to you, if you're discontent with believing the lie, that happiness can be found with sleeping, whoever you want to sleep with, or whatever drug you can take, or whatever bottle you can finish, if you want your life to matter, not to an audience of followers, but to Almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, the one who died on the cross for your sins and in your place.

If you want in on that, friend, then we've got a seat for you.

That's where we're going.

That's what we're praying for, that's what we're believing.

So this is who we are.

That's why we say hello first.

Not because we're trying to be kitschy or we're trying to make some cute Instagram real video.

Okay.

We know who we're worshiping, not because we want some Instagram real video of worship, but because the Spirit of Almighty God will speak to you when you worship Him.

And we don't keep it to ourselves because we both know and believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save you in order that he might send you.

That we gather around and we tell of what God is doing in our life.

If you're in on that, somebody say amen.

Would you pray with me, Lord Jesus, we love you.

God, we're thankful for who you are and for what you've done for us.

We're thankful that you are God and that we are not.

God, we're thankful that we get to be a part of what you're doing.

We're thankful that you have started a work here just at Via, not to mention everywhere in different churches across Chattanooga, in different ministries, in different places.

But God, you are always at work, and all we are asking is that you would open up our eyes to see you at work around us.

And so tonight, Jesus, would you view our worship offering to you as pleasing?

Would you help, as the writer of Hebrews says, fix our eyes on you, the author and perfecter of our faith.

God, would you fill us with your spirit so that we might walk in the identity that you just named for us, you just called us, chosen and royal and your possession.

God, I pray for the spirit of unity and the bond of peace.

I pray that people would make friends.

I pray that people would encourage one another in their faith.

I people would pray that people would invite people around them.

I pray that we would pray for our roommates and our teammates and our coworkers and our bosses and our cousins and our sisters and our moms and our dads and our little brothers and all the people, God, that you can place in our life.

God, we are not content with Chattanooga just to fizzle out this mark of a generation.

God, we're asking that you would spark us, that you would fill us, that you would lead us, and that you would guide us.

It's in your holy, holy, holy.

In precious name we pray.

And all God's people said.

Via is Silverdale for 18 to 25 year olds.

We gather on Thursday nights at 8 p.m.

in Chattanooga, Tennessee.