There Has To Be A Place... For Water Walkers

Crossing family's wealth here, across this Region online inside

at all of our different locations.

If you're thankful for Jesus, can I get a whoop, whoop?

Oh man, I'm thankful for him, too.

I know it's cold out. Know how many of you are

gathered at all of our different locations and whether or not

there's a ton of you watching online.

And I know that sometimes when it gets bad weather out, some of

you will be wanting to know whether or not we're going to

have church. Let me just handle that.

We will always have church. Always always.

As always, and let me tell you why, if you're if you can't get

in, we get it. But if you can, we should have

it. And if you can't make it in

watch online. But if you can because every you

want to know why. It's because every single week

someone decides to get baptized in our church and we might as

well open the doors and let them start that relationship.

You cool with that. All right, so I'll what I want

you guys to do across all of our locations.

Would you stand up for me for just a second?

We've been doing this for the last couple weeks there.

Are some unbelievably cool stories that are coming out of

these moments. I'm hopeful that in two weeks I

get to share a story of what happened last week at one of our

locations that is just exactly who we want to be as a church.

But I know that right now across all of our different locations

and of course some of you online and inside if you were to be

honest, you would say you're in a storm.

It may be a storm of your that your own choosing.

It may be a storm that you caused or maybe you had nothing

to do with the storm, but nevertheless, you're in it.

You're being pelted by the wind and you're being hit by the

waves, you're just saying it. Could be your marriage, it could

be your finances, it could be a relationship with a friend or

your kids. They can be the loss of a job,

it could be a bad diagnosis. The bottom line is, if you were

to say, So, you would, if I were to say, if you're in a storm,

you'd go, yeah, Clayton. It's, it's storming in my life,

and I don't know how many of you fall into that category across

all of our locations, but we want to pray for you right now

is a church. So, if you'd say, yep, Clayton,

I'll be honest with you. It's, I'm in a storm, but you

put your hand up, okay. On all of across all regions,

you guys, put your hands up while they're doing that.

If you don't have your hand up and you love Jesus and you be

willing to go and put your hand on their shoulder,

difference-maker staff, and we're going to pray for all of

you with your hands up. So keep your hand up.

Until someone comes and puts their hand on your shoulder.

Okay, while you guys are moving, I want to give you all a gift.

I've told you before that, I'm not cool.

Let me prove it to you. There is a song on the Gaithers.

And it's called Master of the wind, okay?

And when I was working on when I was thinking through this part

of my message, I thought about it.

You can go home and spot a fight if you want to but the song's

called if you want to and you can buy Clayton.

This song is I can't believe you listen to this but let's the

lyrics are gold. This is what it says, my Maya,

my boat of Life sales on a troubled sea, whenever there's

wind in my sails but I have a friend who watches over me when

that breeze turns into a gale, I know.

The master of the wind, I know the maker of the rain, he can

calm. A storm make the sun shine

again, I know the master of the wind and for some of you that

are right now in the midst of a storm, I want to give you two

versus. The first one is in Isaiah

Isaiah 41 · chapter mention

chapter 41. Don't be afraid for.

I am with you. Don't be discouraged for I am.

Your God, I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my Victorious, right hand.

So those of you who are in a storm God, God is going to

sustain you in the storm. Here's another one.

This is from like the favorite passages of scripture go home.

Underlying this one in your Bible, Psalm 23 verse 4.

Psalms 23:4

Even though I walk through the darkest Valley, I will not be

afraid for. You are close Beside Me.

Your Rod and your staff comfort and protect me.

But you guys pray with me. God, you're the only person who

knows just how much of a storm we're in God.

You see every single heart, every single story, every single

circumstance simultaneously, right now.

God, you know, just how much rain were going to experience,

you know, just how high the waves are, you know, just how

strong the wind is blowing. And so God, first of all, I want

to say thank you. Thank you for being the kind of

God that can cause storms to cease.

That has the power to Deliver Us from storms.

Got I know that sometimes you don't do that.

And so I'm also thankful that if you don't stop the storm, you

give us the strength to get through the storm, that's your

resources to us, are Limitless. And got a beyond that.

I know that no matter what your word has promised us, that you

will never abandon us in the storm and that you always be

with us, right beside us. And so God, I pray not just that

you would get us out of these storms but then in the midst of

these storms we wouldn't be pushed further away from you.

But that our dependence upon you would grow God, help us as a

church help, those who are in need and who are struggling and

the come alongside of them in this storm and in this season,

For Your Glory, your name I pray, amen.

You guys can have a seat. God bless you.

We are in a sermon series and the first week of the sermon

series and I'm going to give you a hint.

I'm I need your help here with this part of the message, it's

in big lit up letters across all of our locations.

The first sermon was there has to be a place for For everyone

for the 45% of you, that our way God bless you, there has to be a

place for everyone. And it's going to take every one

of us to make it happen. And we looked at this spiritual

spectrum and we realized that we have a spiritual responsibility

to everybody on this Continuum Continuum for those who are far

from Jesus and for those who've been following Jesus for a

really long time, and we realize that we have a spiritual

obligation to this region. And our hope is to make this

region and whatever, God, grows it to be, to be the hardest

place on Earth to get to Hell from.

And then last week we talked about there has to be a place

that gives people time there was one person.

God bless you for coming. For those of you who are new, my

name is Clayton Hensel. I've been at this church for a

long time. I'm excited to be with you and I

love that you came on a cold day and you're going to love it here

because for the rest of the year it should be warmer.

Okay, so last week we talked about there.

Has to be a place that gives people.

Yeah, because it takes time. Sometimes it takes, if we're

going to be honest, it takes more time than we want for a

person to move from minus 5/2, minus 4.

Have you ever been frustrated? How long it takes for people to

grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ?

Yeah, if you're a staff member, we just, you know, we're like

you will come to the steps right now, it takes time and we

realize that we need to be patient with people as they're

making their move and their growth and their journey in

Jesus because Cuz that's what God's been with us that it took

us time for us to get serious about our faith.

And so, we need to be the kind of church that gives other

people time. In fact, if we're going to say

we love people, we need to remember that.

The very first descriptor of love and First Corinthians 13 is

love is patient. So we're going to have to be

patient with people as they try to find a relationship with

Jesus Christ. I heard a story this week and I

was like I should tell my whole church, this story it would have

been great for me too. I told that story last week

during my sermon, but since none of you guys were here, let me

tell it to you. There's this missionary and

Papua New Guinea and he was a Bible translator and so he was

working with this Village to understand their language and

then he was going to take their language and he was going to

translate the New Testament so that they could have the Bible

in their own language. And I know that seems crazy to

you guys because you've never lived in a world where you don't

have access to a Bible. You've got like six Dusty ones

at home and then one on every device, but they had nothing.

And so this missionary spent years, Are putting together this

Bible eventually, he finished it, they sent it off.

They got it published. It was printed on this really

fine paper and so the day came they're having a big party in

the village and they're passing out the New Testament to all the

villagers. So they can read the Bible.

Hear the words of Jesus and this guy comes up smoking.

Something I don't know what are you smoking?

And he goes, hey, I got to be honest with you.

He's talking to the missionary he goes.

I don't want your new testament to read it, but the papers look

awesome to smoke. Right?

And the missionary was obviously a Super Fly Guy because he goes

I'll make you a deal. I'll give you a Bible.

But before you smoke a page, you have to read a page. and the

guys like deal years later, this missionary is out of conference

and the guy who was the Bible smoker was there, and he comes

up because you may not remember me, but you gave me the Bible

and you told me I had to read a page before I smoke the page and

now I want you to know that I'm the pastor of my Village and the

guy in the missionary goes, well what happened?

He goes, well, I smoked Matthew. And I smoked mark.

And I smoked Luke. It's a lot of that's a lot of

pages of those of you haven't read your Bible in a while.

And I smoked John chapter 1 and I smoked John Chapter 2 and then

John 1 · chapter mention John 2 · chapter mention

I got to John 3:16 for God. So loved the world that he gave

John 3:16

his one and only son that whoever believes in him, will

not perish, but have eternal life and I realized that God

loved me and I couldn't shake it say with me.

Sometimes it takes. Yeah, and we're going to be a

place that gives people time. Now, today I want to talk To you

about getting out of the boat, turn to your neighbor, say I'm

getting out of the boat. Now, for those of you who grew

up rich, that doesn't make any sense, because you grew up going

to the Lake of the Ozarks and you had a nice boat, okay?

And you're like, you know, you've been down there, you hang

out with rich people, and they've got like a boat that's

got like a little mini Kitchen on it, and it's got a bathroom,

but if you grew up like I did poor, you know, if we want to

use the bathroom, we got out of the boat, right?

That's how that's how we're old, and I grew up on the water.

I mean, I love being out on. I like anything water mainly

because I feel pretty light, okay.

And makes A lot lighter when I'm in the water and we do all the

things, you know, my parents got a paddleboard and so we put it

in the pool and we try and run off the diving board and then

land on the paddleboard and then try and surf to the other end

and hop out of the shallow in, haven't made it yet.

But, you know this this is brand-new year who knows?

I've done wakeboarding I like to ski and there was this couple

about 20 years ago hear from our 48th Street campus.

When I was a youth pastor they said Clayton, you love, being

out on the water. And I'm like, I love it.

Like we'd love to take you skiing.

I'm like, this would be fantastic now.

When it comes to skiing, I'm a pretty decent skier.

I'm a I'm not good at Slalom skiing.

There's a lot of pounds per square inch on one ski and when

everybody's like, just kick Clayton, just kick and I'm

always using skis that aren't designed for 300 pounds.

Like I'm one of the most athletic 300 Pounders and

attractive you'll ever see and I'll get out on the water and

you try to do the kick thing and I'll kick and whack right in the

water. It happens that fast.

There's no. So these these this family super

excited to take me out skiing My cousin be fantastic.

I'm gonna enjoy this all day. I show up and this guy has a Jon

Boat. And I'm like, but this guy's,

thanks for bringing me out, but I don't think I'm a ski.

All know, you'll be fine. Like nah.

Oh, I've seen the size motors. It takes to get me out of the

water and that's not it, okay? Put the whole family in the

front just to keep the motor in. It's not, it's not happening.

He's like no, trust me, it'll work.

Well, he basically waterboarded me all over.

Mark Twain Lake, I was so sick. I mean, I had taken in so much.

Water, like, even when I close my mouth, so much was going in

every other hole on my face, that like I got done and I was

like the Michelin Man. Like, I have taken on way too

much water, but some and all I want to do that day was just I

just get me out of the boat. Get me out of this family.

Let me go home, sometimes. Sometimes you just got to get

out of the boat and we, as a church need to be a place that

celebrates people when they get out of the boat, when they take

their biggest Steps of Faith. 'The, we need to be a church

that encourages them and celebrates with them because if

you want to walk on water, you got to get out of the boat.

Look at Matthew Chapter, 14 verse 20, through 23

immediately. After this.

Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat

and cross to the other side of the lake while he sent the

people home. After sending them home, he went

up into the hills by himself to pray night fell while he was

there alone. Jesus has just had a very long

day. If you've grown up in church,

you know what I'm talking about? If you didn't Jesus, day started

out by him finding out that his cousin, John John, the Baptist

had been beheaded, he's trying to figure out a way to like

mourn and so he tries to get away from everybody, but the

crowd follows him. And he can't get away.

And so he turns and he has compassion on the crowd and he

heals all of their sick after he'd finished healing all of

their sick, his disciples come to him.

And they say master, we are a long way away from from any

City. And the people here are hungry

and it's here that Jesus feeds the 5000.

Then after that Jesus like, hey crowd.

You got to go and he turns the disciples get in the boat.

You gotta go because Jesus wanted to get a loan and have

some time with just himself and God In Prayer.

This isn't really a part of my message, but just a quick note,

just Jesus was the son of God. He had perfect power, perfect

strength, a perfect mind and he still found comfort and guidance

in prayer with God. And if Jesus saw a necessity to

it and he's perfect, how much more should you?

And I see a necessity in it because we will never experience

the wisdom. The power, the blessing of God

within the absence of prayer to God.

So, here's a little test this week.

Just try this out this week before you get out of bed for

the next week. Like, alarm clock goes off

snooze. I got you covered.

Then the second time it goes off.

Okay. Snooze.

But in between that snooze in the third snooze, prey.

In your bed and here's something.

Here's kind of like, here's my format.

So if you never prayed before, you can use this one start off

by just saying, you know, thank you.

God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for getting me to the

day. Thank you for coming in clutch.

Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for dying for me.

Just a whole bunch of thank yous.

Then ask God to like Sears some stuff in your heart, like God

solidifying, my mind your position like where I am in you.

Remind me that. I'm adopted that.

I'm a child that I can call your dad likes ear and me that you

love me because sometimes I doubt it like, just have an

honest conversation going. God, I just need you to solidify

some things in my heart. Then this is supercritical, ask

him for help. God man.

Me and the wife we went to bed last night and it wasn't good.

And I'm going to start talking to her here in a little bit and

if you wanted to come in and help me craft those first couple

of sentences, I would really appreciate it because I don't

want to have a bad day and I'm guessing that if you do that,

it'll go well for you especially if you pray out loud.

She's still in bed. She hears Here's you going God,

I love this woman. And I feel like I didn't do it.

Right? So one, forgive me for not

loving her. The way I'm supposed to love her

and give me some guidance and wisdom on how to love her.

Well today just telling you these are free, okay?

You didn't have to pay yet then you might go.

God I got a kid. You know who I've got to get

ready and if I don't get him ready, just right.

Today. He's going to be spun out all

day and God I'm going to see. So and so at work and you know,

I don't like so and so. I've never liked her.

I don't know why you made her God, I just don't.

But I know that I'm supposed to be a light in the dark place,

and I know that she needs love just like I do.

And so God, would you grant me some patients with her today?

Just like, I'm sure lots of people are praying about having

to have patience with me, okay? Here's what I've noticed about

God. And for those of you who prayed

before, when you invite God in, he comes in When you ask for

advice, he delivers it. When you seek Him for counsel,

he shows up. I mean, he's never late.

And if you start leaning in To God In Prayer, I think you'll be

amazed at what happens. All right, let's keep going in

the story verse 24. Meanwhile, the disciples were in

trouble. Far away from land for a strong

wind had risen. And they were fighting heavy

waves about 3:00 in the morning. Jesus came towards them.

Let's not skip over this part walking on the water.

When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were

terrified In Their Fear. They cried out.

It's a ghost, but Jesus spoke them at once.

Don't be afraid. He said, take courage.

I'm here. So let's start here.

Jesus sees the disciples struggling.

And he goes out to them, walking on the water.

That's how cool your Jesus is by, Jesus didn't go around to

the other side of the lake and go.

I'm over here. Paddle harder.

Put it deeper into the water. Jesus, just comes out walking on

the water and you have to think, like, what would that visual be

like? I mean, he's walking down the

hill, comes to the bank and then just starts walking on the

water. What happens when he gets to a

wave? Like when Jesus walking on the

water and hits a wave? Does he like like, I don't know.

Or does it just part when it gets to him?

I mean, these are all things you.

This is why reading the Bible, so fun.

What does it look like when Jesus walks on water?

And then he gets there and the people freak out, they're

thinking they're seeing a ghost and sometimes we're way too hard

on people in the Bible. Because you too freaked out to

right? I mean I've seen some of you

guys at Lake of the Ozarks. If you saw a person walking on

water, you be like, how many of I had they were you seeing this?

She's like, actually honey, I'm seeing this to you.

Need to stop drinking right yuge.

This is a problem. And then Jesus like, no, it's

not a ghost, it's me. In fact, Jesus in the middle of

the storm, says three things. Don't be afraid.

Take courage. What's the last one?

I'm here. How cool is your Jesus?

He comes out walking. He says, Don't Be Afraid.

Take courage. I'm here.

So he gets done praying. He sees the disciple struggling,

he goes out to them, walking on the water and then let's keep

going. See what happens next.

Then Peter called to him. Lord, if it's really, you tell

me to come to you walking on the water?

Yes. Come Jesus said.

So, Peter went over the side of the boat.

I'm getting out of the boat and walked on the water towards

Jesus. I love Peter.

You guys have a friend like Peter.

Yo, man, if there's a, there's a party.

I'm going. There's a dance floor.

I'm in the middle of it like, hey, Jesus.

If it's really you walking on the water, I'm coming out, like

let me try. And that's exactly what he does.

And I'll be honest with you that is exactly the kind of church

that I want us to be. I want us to be the kind of

church that we see Jesus working and our natural desire is to

join him in his Work. Peter sees, Jesus walking on

water and his natural tendency is, can I come out there with

you? And I want us to be a church

that sees God moving and we go, can we come out to, can we get

out of this boat? And can we come and be with you?

There have only been two people on planet Earth that have walked

on water. One is the Son of God.

Jesus Christ himself. The other one is a fisherman

turned Apostle named Peter That's who I want us to be and

there has to be a place that cheers for people and Roots them

on and supports them as they take their biggest Steps of

Faith. Look at this, spiritual

Spectrum. We have to realize that every

move from left to right is a is a water-walking moment for

people instead of getting discouraged, we need to be

celebrating when people make these moves, for instance, when

a person's here and they don't even believe in God, and they

start asking questions. About God instead of us being

defensive about them asking those questions, we should be

thrilled that they're asking questions about something that

they don't even believe exists. And when they go to, like, what

time are the service times we should be going.

You're not bothering me. This is fantastic.

You might come to church with me.

One of these days when they go from watching online to actually

physically attending, when they start serving, or they start

getting it to get baptized or they start joining our church in

filling out a card. Any of those things, is a huge

step of faith. And we need to be a place that

cheers for. Them along the way but too

often. We spend all of our energy

trying to talk them back. Into the boat.

We are rooting for people so often to have faith when there

here and there here, and there, here, and there, here, and there

here, and there here. And then I've seen this happen.

In fact, I've even done it myself that once they have a

relationship with Jesus Christ, we shift from trying to talk

them, kick them, out of the boat, and have them walk on

water, to try to talk them back into the boat.

And I want you to follow Jesus, but don't give up sports, or I

want you to follow Jesus, but don't go into Ministry, Man.

Follow Jesus, but don't become a missionary follow Jesus, but

don't take a different job which allows you to move or that

allows you to invest more in the kingdom of God.

I want to be a church. That every step of the way we

are rooting for people when they're getting ready to take a

big faith-filled risk and you're going to be listening to

somebody. You're going to go, man.

I feel like I'm supposed to do this and they're giving me like,

well, I mean, it's That's, that's a pretty big step.

And I want us to be a church that goes.

Yeah, it's a pretty big step. But we serve a pretty big God.

Last, I checked men make taking that step of faith.

It might It might break you. It might hurt you.

Yeah, it might. But last, I checked, we serve a

God who heals and restores. I want us to be a church that

Embraces big faith-filled water-walking risks.

Here's what I mean, the last couple of years have been things

that have just been heavy on my heart that I'm going to.

I wonder if we could and I keep adding to the list and couple

weeks, something else got out of the list.

And I just want to tell you some of my crazy ideas that maybe one

day a group of people just like us could actually accomplish in

our I'm in our communities, I've been wondering.

Could we be a church that one day has 1,000 kids that have

been adopted through families in our church that have decided to

give kids a second lease on life?

I wonder if one day we could be a church that Fosters 1,000 kids

and gives them the most enjoyable transitional period

that they can have here on planet Earth while they're

trying to be reunited with their biological family.

I pray that one day, our church could take over Section 8,

housing in all of our communities and make sure that

people are treated with dignity and respect, and given the time

they need to get on their financial feet.

I don't want to be a church that inside of one calendar year,

since a thousand people on mission trips because I think

you would absolutely change their lives.

I want to be a church that sends out a hundred people to launch

our next location. Who'd be willing to move into

that area to help it become a success.

I want to be a church that raises up young and old male and

female to become ministers in our church and in other churches

that we would send out to be a blessing.

I want to be a church that puts together an Government fund that

makes Summer Camp, free for all who want to attend but couldn't

afford to go. I want to be a church that one

day sends people on the mission field fully supported both

spiritually and financially. So they don't have to spend all

of their time trying to find money in a bunch of other

places. What they would know that just

one place has their back and we'll be all the wind and the

sails that they could ever need to say.

I want to be a church that finds a way to offer counseling and

medical services to people who are underserved and

disenfranchised. And I don't want to just do it

at one location. I To do it at every single one

of our locations, I want to be a church that believes if God

calls us out on the water that we could actually walk on it.

You know what, I think, I think you do too.

I think there are things that break your heart, stir your

soul, ignite your passion. What is the thing that you

believe that God has been calling you to do?

And what is the step you feel? Are you that you are supposed to

make? Because we want to be a church

that cheers you on. As you make it look what

happens, Matthew chapter. 14. But when he saw the strong wind

and the waves he was terrified and began to sink.

Save Me Lord. He shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, you have so

little faith. Jesus said, why did you doubt

me? When they climb back into the

boat, the wind stopped, and then the disciples worshipped him,

you really are the Son of God. They exclaimed.

Peter goes from walking on water.

To sinking. Why?

Because his Focus shifted instead of focusing on Jesus.

He started to focus on the wind and the waves too many people

jump way too far into this story and don't spend enough time.

Recognizing the fact that Peter actually walked on water.

He did The Impossible he experienced success but then he

got distracted, he got distracted from his Savior by

his circumstances and you know this truth because you know, you

guys have been there before you Walk on water.

If your eyes aren't focused on the one who's making it

possible. And as we as a church, get ready

to take big faith-filled, risks, we must we must, we must, we

must, we must keep our eyes focused on the one who makes it

possible. We not only need to focus on

him. We need to be a church that

helps people keep their eyes focused on Jesus.

I don't know if you've seen this, but I'm sure seen this

during the last couple of years, I've noticed that the people who

spend a lot of their time, focusing on Washington In

politics. And a lot of people who spent a

lot of their time focusing on news and social media have not

fared nearly as well as those who kept their eyes focused on

Jesus. Have you noticed that that the

people who seem the most spun out, are the people trying to

enter a room with no spin But the people who kept their eyes

focused on Jesus, we're going Jesus wasn't surprised by what

we're going through and he'll get us through what we're going

through. We have to be a church that

helps people keep their eyes focused on Jesus, then Jesus

gets inside the boat and The wind stops.

We can forget that. Jesus has the power over the

wind and the waves. Colossians tells us in him.

All things, hold together. We can forget that.

Jesus is bigger than anything we Face.

We forget that Jesus is bigger than our storms, bigger than our

circumstances, and bigger than our trials.

And we have to be a church that Embraces that Jesus is bigger.

That's the real point of the story that the people came to

the conclusion that Jesus is God and that is exactly.

Happens all creation moves at his command.

And when you and I step out in faith, when you and I keep our

focus on him, the world will see that Jesus is God, that there is

life in him and that he can be trusted when we step out of the

boat you. And I please God Hebrews 11 says

this. And it is impossible to please

God without faith. The old translations used to

say, and without faith, it's impossible to please God, that

if you and I want to put a smile on God's faith, it's going to

require us lifting a leg over the side of the boat and

actually trusting him and trying to do the very things that God

is calling us to do. Here's what that looks like.

There's a guy at a local treatment facility, a couple of

years back by the name of Brett. And Brett was at the treatment

facility and we were offering our services in that treatment

facility through our online platform.

And so, he started attending and two of the people that were

working there on behalf of our church of just volunteers.

They, they started telling Brett that God has big plans for him.

Well months later, one of those leaders said that one day, Brett

would be leading the Bible study at the treatment center.

And it wasn't long before that Vision cast became a reality.

It was the first time he had been trusted with something

since he had been clean and sober.

It was a huge milestone in his life and his walk with Jesus,

then he started attending our 99 campus and he was asked to serve

communion at the service and they might not sound like a big

deal to most of you but to him, he couldn't believe that he was

being trusted with this. Then John Mitchell kept asking

Brett to serve more. He eventually became a service

leader started speaking. On stage and became a

contributing voice and the decisions that were made at that

campus, then he was introduced to celebrate recovery.

Now, we have regeneration in an incredible Man by the name of

Jim Dennis. And if you met Jim Jim Dennis,

you know, enough. But to this day, Jim Dennis is a

father figure to Brett, providing advice Direction, love

and support to him, then John Mitchell asked Brett if he

wanted to move in with his family and so that way, he can

be a part of the develop program.

And for those of you who went on the wreck, the roof Journey, Why

you made that possible? And so Brett became a developer

and he moved in with the Mitchells and that's where Brett

learned, how a Godly family is supposed to live and are and how

they're supposed to look. And so, John became another

mentor and another father figure and Brett's life, then one day,

Brett was given the chance to be on staff here at the Crossing

each one of those moments and Brett's.

Life was a water-walking move for Brett at that time and we as

a church, we're ready. Cheer him on and help him.

Keep his eyes focused on Jesus and reminding him that Jesus is

bigger than his storms, because Jesus, is god, let's just one

story, here's another one, this is right, here is Paul Paul's a

sophomore in high school here at our 48th Street location.

And he has a younger brother Ben who has special needs.

And this is his brother Ben will go.

The next picture is brother Ben and his awesome wife are

awesome. Mom, Jennifer and growing up

Paul heart broke! Because his mom and dad never

really had a chance to have a date night and time off because

it was just hard. It was difficult.

I mean even if they got a sitter oftentimes they'd get called

back early because a problem would arise Paul sophomore in

high school He had a heart and a passion to provide a place for

kids with special needs, and adults with special needs to be

able to come and have fun and learn about Jesus.

And while they were learning about Jesus here at the church,

their caregivers could go and have a date night.

So he started a Ministry called No Limits and they had their

first meeting last Friday. And there were 10 different kids

that showed up and there were 20 difference makers that helped

him make it possible. That's what it looks like.

When we as a church, come alongside a sophomore in high

school and he's going. I want to take a step of faith

and we go. Yeah.

How can we help? He didn't come to us and say,

hey, here's a step of faith. I want you to take Because

that's not how it works. He came.

And said, I want to do this, can you help?

And we, as a church circled around him, some incredible

people said. Yep.

We will make it happen. There has to be a place that

encourages people as they take their biggest Steps of Faith,

there has to be a place that helps people keep their eyes

focused on Jesus. There has to be a place that

reminds people, that Jesus is God, but I need you to hear me

say this, you can't encourage people from the boat.

You can't. Too often.

What we want to do is just build a bigger boat with company or

cushions and a and taller walls. No, that's not how it works.

If you want to encourage and cheer people on as they're

taking water, walking steps of Faith, you need to be out of the

boat and on the water because when they see that God is

providing and sustaining and taking care of you, they will

believe that God can sustain and take care of them if You're

going to look at them and say, trust me, you can walk on the

water if God's in it, it's a whole lot easier for them to

hear you when you're not in the boat and you yourself are

walking on water. There has to be a place that

believes that God can move there has to be a place that keeps

people's eyes focused on Jesus. There has to be a place that

celebrates it when people take steps of faith, and I keep

wondering, Why not here? Why not with us?

And why not now. There has to be a place.

This world needs it. And our response to God deserves

it. So I'm getting out of the boat.

And I hope you will too. We're moving your time a

decision. There's some of you in here

right now. But you know, what's getting

ready to happen? You know, we're getting ready to

have this invitation time. We're going to encourage people

come up to the steps. We're going to encourage people

to get baptized and be going. Yeah.

That sounds really, really good for other people.

And I get that. And I know sometimes we talk

about people coming up here, the steps, like, we talk about it.

Like, it's just super-easy, and you're going Clayton.

I'll be honest with you. That's a big step of faith for

me. I've never done anything like

that. I'll be lying to you if I said

it's easy. Because it's hard.

It's hard to take small Steps of Faith like that, because those

small Steps of Faith are actually like, big steps.

Let me let me tell you what it's like for me.

So when I'm not here, I travel around other locations and I'll

go to these other locations for church.

And I'm not the kind of guy that can hide in a room because you,

well, you know, I'm huge, right? And so I'll be sitting at a

church service. And jarriel finished preaching.

It'll be a better sermon that I preached and then the campus

Pastor get up and do the plane landing and then I'll feel in my

heart like I should I should go the steps.

And you know what? I think sometimes.

Well, if I go to the steps, people are going to go.

Oh no. What's wrong with Clayton?

Did he come all the way here? So that the people at 48th

Street didn't see him go to the steps about this particular

thing. I wonder what's going on.

In his mind one of his marriage is okay.

But I'll say to myself, maybe you know what I should do?

Maybe I shouldn't go to the steps and pray, because I'll be

a distraction to everybody else. like I think I have the same

stuff go through my head that probably goes through your head.

And you and I found out about this church.

At least the right kind of people in this church.

You don't give a rip whether or not I go to the steps or not

because during the plane landing, you're not supposed to

be worried about my relationship with Jesus.

You're supposed to be worried about your relationship with

Jesus. I've, I've never sat there or

who stood there during invitation, and when somebody

walked up there, go, I wonder what they're up there for But

Satan will put that thought in my head when I want to go to the

steps, my talking to anybody yet.

You know what? You know what the heartbeat of

this church should be and I think it is, That when we see

people going to the steps were going.

Thank you, Jesus. That's it.

And if God puts it on her heart, we would go up and join them.

Put our hand on the back and let them know they're not walking

alone. Some of you, there's nothing

special about these steps. Nothing.

There's nothing special about anything physical at any of our

locations. What's special is when you

decide to give a rip with the world thinks and just keep your

eyes focused on him that God can do a lot with a heart like that.

And when you decide God, I'm gonna humble myself and get down

on my knees. But God meets you in those

humble moments in. The Bible says that he will lift

us up. I don't know, for some of you.

What I'm talking about today, might seem trivial.

But for some of you in this room, you're going and I've

never made any move like that and I wonder what would happen

if you made a move just a small. You just put you just put your

foot over the edge of the boat to see if it's solid.

And some of you you're going man, I I keep seeing everybody

else, get baptized and that's a huge step to make.

Jesus Christ. Your lord and savior is not

something to enter into lightly. But we want to be a church that

celebrates it roots for you as you try to live it out.

And some of your old man I would love to get baptized, but I'm

not ready to be perfect yet. Newsflash.

Judging by what my wife's been telling me lately?

I'm not perfect. That God is making me more like

him but I am not him. And that even after you get

baptized, you're still going to fail and you're still going to

fall short because we're not Jesus.

But I'll tell you what, you don't have any shot at being the

person that your family needs you to be Without the holy

spirit in you and you will never have the Holy Spirit in you

until you become obedient in the area of baptism.

I know that seems like a big step of Faith, but I just need

you to know, in advance. This church is ready to cheer.

You on when you make that move, And it just a few moments when

the people around you staying and some of them come to the

steps to the pray. If that's you, there's me

somebody right over by the baptistry.

They love to talk with you and answer some of the questions

that you have to the rest of you people in the room.

Those of you who've already had a relationship with Jesus.

Here's what I'm asking you to do.

Would you come up to the steps today and just pray like one or

two prayers? One?

God help me to get out of the boat.

The longer you're a Christian, the easier it is for you to get

comfortable. And you will never grow in your

comfort zone. You never grow in the boat.

Never happens, takes no faith to be in the boat.

It takes Faith to get out of the boat.

Would you come up and pray? God. put some faith in me, just

just a little maybe the second prayer you would pray.

It's got used my life to point people to the fact that Jesus is

God. And I wonder what could God do

with the church? The prayed prayers like that.

I said we find out you stand with me.

Heavenly Father, used this moment right now.

Use this moment right now to bring about a change in every

heart and every life in this room and to those watching

online, God, I know it's scary out there.

I know it's tough out there. We got in here.

We want to celebrate the fact that you are over us and you are

covering us and you are calling us.

We're just asking you to give us the strength and the courage and

the faith to respond in your name.

I pray. Amen.