KICKOFF SUNDAY | Get in the Game: Embracing Gods Call to Action

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

Woo! Oh, that was kind of lame. Give me

Give me a better woo. Woo! Woo! All

right. Well, we're going to kick this

off with our our

pastor. I can't talk today, guys. I'm

sorry.

>> Pastor Benley, the man who is the

legend. Come on up, coach.

>> Praise the Lord.

Aren't they fun?

Hallelujah. Hey, it's a good day to be

in church,

>> man. Look at you guys. You guys see some

jerseys out there? Uh the I just dress

how the women in my life tell me to

dress. So, look at this

>> coach.

See?

And then and then they were asking,

"Should I put coach on the on the coat?"

I said, "No, I want to wear the coat

forever."

>> Yes.

>> Yeah. So, I got the I got the coach

outfit today. And uh man, we're going to

be uh uh sharing with you a little bit

about uh the capital campaign and uh you

know, it's I I watched the Michigan game

last night.

>> It's very sad. I must have been. It's

very sad. But you know, the kickoff is

that big moment at the beginning of the

game. That's that starts the game. And

uh the kickoff doesn't mean that we won

anything yet.

The kickoff means that we need to get

ourselves pulled together as a team and

run the plays on the field.

>> So, kickoff Sunday. Uh, hey, if you're a

first- time guest with us, uh, welcome.

My name is Ben. I have the opportunity

to serve as lead pastor here. And, uh,

like Miss Whitney said, our referee,

man, you came on a good Sunday.

>> And, uh, we are a little extra today,

aren't we?

>> Yeah. So, I want to start out by giving

you the why behind the what and, uh,

sharing with you kind of what are we up

to here. And so, uh, really before we

step into the most significant, one of

the most significant seasons in the life

of our church, I want to just speak

directly to you. And it's not about

numbers.

It's not about money. Look at your

neighbor and say,

not talking about money today. Uh, I

want to give you the why. Uh, why we're

here in this season and really where God

is leading us.

I want to give you the why behind the

what. You know, if you've been coming

here for even just a couple of weeks or

a couple of years, whatever it is, uh,

you can feel the excitement in the room

when we meet together. God is on the

move. God is up to something. Uh, we've

all felt it. There's a an energy uh in

this church uh that God is moving us.

And really on Sunday mornings, these

walls are buzzing.

>> Sometimes I walk over to the office uh

between services or sometime with the

worship team, the walls literally buzz

outside, man. But but spiritually, even

on the inside, man, there's this there's

a buzz in the atmosphere. There's a

sense that God is doing something big.

And and really, I'm a stats guy. I'm a

numbers guy. Uh the numbers confirm what

we've been feeling and uh over the

summer we spent time doing surveys and

polls and all these different things.

90% of you had a positive feed gave us

positive feedback that we should move

forward into this direction. But uh the

why behind the what we've seen over 50%

increase in attendance in short order.

>> That means people are getting saved. Uh

we're currently seeing right around 240

people every Sunday come through uh on a

weekend. And so here's the reality. Uh

professionals that know a whole lot more

than we do say that this space, this

building is designed between for between

97 and 129 people. Look at your neighbor

and say that's a problem.

>> We're quite literally overflowing with

life. We're overflowing with salvation

and freedom and redemption. And those

are good problems to have. And I'll say

this, God is not slowing down anytime

soon

>> because he is in the salvation business.

Our biggest opportunity, I'm sorry, our

biggest priority here with this campaign

is not comfort. It's people.

>> Our mission has not changed. Our

capacity to fulfill it has.

And I'll say this, our capacity to

fulfill the mission that God has for

this house has to change to get us

there.

>> So a campaign isn't about building a

monument. Preached on that a few weeks

ago. It's about fulfilling the mission.

And not just for us in this space, but

for generations to come.

We're doing this essentially for people

we may never meet

until we get to heaven. And I think

about our kids, our youth program.

Uh this is what I believe about kids.

They're not just the church of tomorrow.

We hear that thrown around sometimes.

The youth are the church of today.

And too many churches I've been in, they

have this great worship center for the

adults and then the kids are shoved in

this little space. I remember when I was

a kid, I used to go to grandma's church

and uh they would we had to go through

this creepy old church into the basement

in this little damp room and we'd all do

little crafts together. It was like six

kids in this space and I'm like, "Oh,

this feels insane." I mean, the the

church is an older church and beautiful.

I love it. one of my favorite churches

has all the stained glass and it's like

ornate and like at some point in history

people came together pitched in and

built this incredible building and the

kids get the little wet creepy basement

with the pipes exposed in the ceiling

and I'm like

oh we're not that kind of church. So,

one of our main initiatives is is

thinking about our kid ministry area.

And they need some space. And it's not

just uh uh a room. It's not just more

space. They need some functional space,

some productive space, uh some engaging

space where they can encounter the same

Jesus that we know. and the uh

facilitators, our teachers, those that

are pouring into the next generation, uh

feel like they have what they need in

order to bless them and that we can

train up as a church, train up the next

generation in the way that they should

go.

>> So, this campaign is about securing the

faith of the next generation.

You guys know, if you've came here for

any sort of time that we are an

evangelistic church. It's our DNA. We

love reaching new people and by God's

grace, we're getting pretty good at it.

Would you agree?

>> But we are approaching a threshold.

There's a spiritual ceiling that we're

about to hit and it's made of drywall

and steel.

Look at your neighbor and say, "Bust

down the walls."

>> My goodness. We're going to raise the

roof on this place. Woo.

I almost started singing, but it wasn't

a church song.

It's running in some of your heads. I

apologize for putting that song in your

head. Listen, in one mile radius of

here, there are thousands of people that

need to hear the gospel message. There

are thousands of lost souls, thousands

of individuals that need a community of

believers, a lifegiving church. Amen.

>> And that's the why behind the what? We

want to reach people. They're the

mission field. They're the calling. And

I don't want to be a church that's

limited on who we can reach because

we're limited on space.

It's about a whole lot more than just a

building. It's about legacy. This is

what God gave me.

200 people can pitch in and build a

structure. Not just physical structure,

but a spiritual structure that will

impact generations to come.

>> For me, it's not what the building's

going to cost.

It's what it will cost this community if

we don't build it.

So, we have an opportunity to lay a

foundation for our children, for our

children's children, and beyond. And how

many know that that's biblical?

That's biblical.

Deliverance, freedom, more marriages

restored, more households saved,

forever changed by the power of Christ.

That's the why. So, I think it's behind

me. Look at this. This is our theme. One

summit every generation.

>> One summit every gener. Could we just

say that together? You guys ready? One

summit every generation. That's the why

behind

the what.

So, uh I want to introduce uh our

campaign chair. Um she's been amazing at

this point and uh we wouldn't be

standing here today and kickoff Sunday

without her. Uh our campaign chair,

let's celebrate Miss Loretta as she

comes.

[Applause]

>> Good morning. Thank you guys. Uh, I'm

just honored and very humbled to be able

to serve you guys in this capacity. So,

thank you for that. Um, I'm excited to

watch God grow us. Are you guys excited?

>> All right. Me, too. Me, too. Well,

without further ado, we have an amazing

team that God has put together, and we

would like to introduce them uh right

now. Okay. All right. First up, we have

our spiritual emphasis team, and we've

got two leaders. This team is carrying

us through prayer. This team is also

going to carry you guys through prayer.

So, we've got a lot of activity that's

going to happen through these teams. And

so, if I can get Pastor Dan and um I'm

blanking right now. I'm like, "Oh,

Pastor Dan and John Gross. Come on up."

I was see

>> There we go. Come on up, guys.

>> The two most spiritual guys in the

church leading the way. I was looking

back there and I was like, where did he

go? So, he moved on me. Okay, awesome.

And next up, we have our creative

graphic genius of communications. Uh,

you see the wonderful logo that she has

created.

>> They do. They do. She does.

>> Miss Whitney Best, she's heading up our

communications team. Come on up,

Whitney.

[Applause]

>> Awesome.

>> And hey, guys, be careful. She's the

referee for this whole thing. She's

going to blow the whistle. is. I heard

she was ready to throw some flags, so

look out. So, next up, we need somebody

to keep us on point. We need reminders.

We need help with arrangements. And no

one better to do that than Miss Barb.

Come on up, Barb. Woohoo.

>> Yes, she's going to be heading up our

arrangements and reminders team. So,

thank you for for that, Barb. All right.

Next on our list, we have got an

advanced challenge team. This team is

going to challenge us and challenge you

because we truly want to live for

Christ. We want to live sacrificially.

And so, they're going to help us be

challenged to do that. So, this team

consists of Mr. Carrie Gerber back here

on the camera. Everybody give him a

shout out. And our very own Ethan Best.

Come on up, Ethan. All right.

Wonderful.

>> I'm I'm thankful that Carrie's on the

team. We don't put Ethan in charge of

things, do we?

>> Ethan gets to be in charge of this. He's

very motivational. So, we're very

thankful for that. All right. And then

we have our last team. Uh, this

gentleman could not be here. One of

them's here, one's not. So, we have

Chris and Kenny Hannah. Come on up. Hey,

Kenny.

Woo. This team is going to be

responsible

for our uh presentations and creativity.

So, they're going to help us expand

outside the box and get very creative in

our ways of giving and things. So, we

are very thankful for this team. And

guys, we would we would love to give

them a big round of applause if we can.

Thank you. Yeah.

Awesome.

And then uh if we can have Pastor Ben to

pray over this team.

>> Pray.

>> Yeah. If you if that's okay.

>> I think I know how to do that.

>> I think you can do that one. You do that

very well.

>> But can I get some help with it?

>> Absolutely.

>> Cuz you guys you guys know how to pray,

right?

>> Yeah. Yeah.

>> It's that thing where you talk to God.

>> There we go.

>> Yeah. Can Listen, you guys, these are

the team captains, right? They're going

to be navigating. And And I got to say

this, uh if it wasn't for them, we would

not be doing a capital campaign. If it

was all on me, man, this thing would

have crashed and burned. So, I I'm

excited that we have a team wrapped

around this this initiative and and what

fulfilling what God's doing. So, could

we extend a hand this way and pray over

our team captains?

>> Father, we thank you, Lord, for those

that have accepted the call. Father,

those that you've called for such a time

as this, Lord, those that you've raised

up and established, Father, we thank you

for the gifts and abilities and the

calling upon each of their lives. And

Lord, in this season, Lord, I pray a

blessing and a strength and a grace over

their life and over their ministry.

Father, that they would lead us well.

>> Yes.

>> Lord, we thank you for the impact they

have in the kingdom of God.

>> And so, Lord, we pray, Father, that we

would be solidified, unified as a team.

Lord, that we would be a group of people

that would be easy to lead.

>> Yes, God. And so, Father, we commission

them today to lead this initiative in

Jesus name.

>> Amen.

>> Praise the Lord.

>> Amen. All right. Thank you guys.

Everybody give them one last round of

applause. Thank you. Thank you.

All right. And so with this team, uh you

guys are going to see these people

around a lot. Uh a lot of you guys are

going to be involved on some of these

teams um because we need members, we

need help. And so, uh, be on the lookout

for that. So, are you guys excited for

what God's doing?

>> Yeah, me too. I'm very excited about

this capital campaign. Uh, we have had

um a lot of input from you guys and

we're very excited to know that yes,

there is a need for this capital

campaign. Um, I get to discuss the goals

and the values of the campaign with you

guys today. So, I'm very excited to see

that God has just really put a vision on

all of the leaders, the staff, on Pastor

Ben. Um, and this vision goes right with

everything that God's doing here at

Grace Summit. So, the campaign is going

to be focused on uh two goals, financial

and non-financial. And with that, we are

going to be very transparent. We are a

transparent church. Um, God's got this,

not us. like we we're kind of fumbling

along like, "Okay, God, we're just going

to be prayed up and stay with what the

Holy Spirit gives us, right?"

>> All right. Thank you. So, with this um

our vision is going to continue to be

bringing people together to serve uh in

the way that Jesus has taught us. And

we're going to do that through our

mission by um be bringing the lifegiving

message um that Jesus has put on us

through the Holy Spirit um so that each

of us can live fully devoted lives um in

Jesus Christ and everything because

that's very important and that's what

this campaign is about is truly digging

deeper and living for Jesus. So with

that we know you can see some elbow room

here. We are tight. Um our kids are

tight. our kids, our legacy. We need

room. And so with that, we are going to

be doing um a lot of different asking

over the next several months. And I'm

excited about that. Are you guys excited

about that? Yeah. I don't even know what

God's going to put on me yet. Like I've

been praying and I'm like, God, what are

you putting on me? And so I'm just

seeking and all I know right now is I

have a lot of excitement. Um, and so I

ask that you guys would join us on this

journey for the Capitol campaign to

raise the 2.1 million that God has put

on us. Are you guys ready for that?

>> Yeah. Me too. Me too. Pastor Ben, are

you ready for that?

>> I am. You know what I You know what I

like about it, Loretta? I'm going to

jump in.

>> What do you like? Jump in. Do you

>> You know what I like about it? Because

the word the M word makes me

uncomfortable. Millions. And we're like,

we're we're going for two of them.

>> We're going for two. 2.1 of them. 2.1 of

them. Yes.

>> And uh you know, if it was like

attainable, like, hey, we could just

take up a a love offering today and it

was it was a reachable number, you know,

uh few thousand, we could we could we

could take it up, you know. But here's

the thing. In my walk with God,

>> um I'm a lot of times God brings me to

this place that I look at it and I go,

that is absolutely unrealistic.

>> Absolutely.

>> Absolutely unrealistic. And God says,

where you're weak, I'm strong. Amen.

>> And God says that he's going to do the

impossible. God's going to do the

miraculous. And so I look at this and I

go, "Hey God, whatever you're up to,

man, I'm in."

>> Absolutely. Yeah. We serve a big God. He

does big things. Uh he does the

immeasurable for us. And so here's some

of the things that we're also going to

ask God to do in us. Okay? We're going

to ask him to grow us stronger in our

faith. We're going to ask him to help us

to live in purpose.

We want him to build us stronger

together to be unified and we also want

to trust in his vision as he's given us

thus far. We want to trust in his vision

and share Jesus with other people. It's

a lot of asking, right?

>> Is it a lot of asking? But that excites

me because that's going to take

sacrificial living. And I am so excited

to live sacrificially for Christ. Aren't

you? All right. Give me a big shout if

you're ready. Woo! All right. All right.

So, we want to to live sacrificially and

in order to do that, we have an amazing

opportunity to leave a legacy. As you

continue to hear, we are one summit

every generation. So, I'm just really

excited to see how God is going to grow

us, how he's going to grow me, what he's

going to do here at at Grace Summit

Church. So, I am just ready for some

next steps from Pastor Ben to see how we

are going to do this with all the teams

and seeking God's lead. Are you guys

ready?

>> All right. All right. There we go. Let's

give it up for Pastor Ben to take some

next steps.

>> All right. Hey, next steps. So, uh uh

before we get into that, man, I'm coach,

right?

>> Yep.

>> That's uh that's what they tell me I am.

Anyways, uh do you guys know that we

have an assistant coach on the field?

Can we celebrate Pastor Jessica? She

actually has

the MS coach.

Look at that.

And uh I just got to say she's the most

beautiful

>> uh Mrs. Coach I've ever seen in my life.

>> She's pretty fabulous. Um I want to

share next steps. And this is uh kind of

what we would call uh the game plan. uh

calling the plays and uh those of you

that appreciate uh football um you know

that a lot of times when they're sharing

the the plays, you ever see them over

there and they're and they're doing this

and they're and they're covering it

because uh they don't want us the team

to be able to read their lips and see

what's being said, right? Uh so I'm not

going to continue to speak like this,

but that's what's going on, right?

Because uh man, here's where I'm at. Uh

when God's in on it, uh it just it's

victory all the way. And so the devil

can hear all he wants, but we're going

to kick the devil's butt.

[Applause]

>> 15 of you are going to kick the devil's

butt. My goodness. All right. Hey,

what's next? Where do we go from here?

Uh what we're not doing is uh taking up

a big offering today and and asking you

to give give money today. Uh we're not

going to do the old school method that

some of our pastors did of have the

ushers stand at the door and block them

until we get to a certain amount. Uh my

pastor used to stand up and say, "I have

a number in my mind and we're going to

get there." And we just keep taking

offerings until we get to that number.

And I'm like, "This is uncomfortable.

We've already given I didn't only brow

so much cash, pastor. Sheesh." Uh we're

not doing that today. Uh this is

kickoff. Okay. And so what it's going to

look like, man, is uh we are going to

season this that we already have, but

we're going to continue to season this

initiative with prayer. Uh we have

prayer Sunday coming down the line. And

uh have you guys gotten these yet?

>> Not yet. Ushers are going to hand these

out to you. And this has just some

special dates on it. Uh some different

information. You can take that and put

it on your refrigerator, put it on the

dashboard of your car. Uh but prayer

Sunday and some coming Sundays. Our

spiritual emphasis team is going to be

leading us with some uh powerful

devotions. Uh they're going to be

challenging us with prayer and fasting

opportunities. And some of you might be

uh sitting in here going, "Man, I just,

you know, I know my finances and I don't

have money to give, but all of us can

pray, right?" And so, uh we're going to

pray into this. Our kids ministry, our

connection groups are going to be doing

the same thing. Uh prayer and fasting

will cover this campaign.

And then we're going to be having

challenge Sunday.

And it's going to be a challenge

to us. In other words, a charge for us

to really receive or listen to what God

is speaking to us. And so, we start out

pursuing God. We start out chasing God

and saying, "God, h how would you have

me to participate in this?" And uh we're

not going to ask uh you for money, but

we are going to ask you to seek God and

say, "God, what would you have me to do?

And so then we'll get to challenge

Sunday where that's where we respond to

what God's been ministering to us to

live sacrificially. Uh we'll be given

different opportunities to participate.

Uh behind that we'll have commitment

Sunday and that's the opportunity for us

to take a step of faith uh to follow

through and do what God has challenged

us to do now and over the next several

years. Uh really three years is what

we're looking at kind of responding to

God with. And then to wrap this whole

thing up, we're going to have

celebration Sunday.

I like celebration Sunday that we get to

celebrate all that God's doing. And man,

we didn't talk about this or put it in

the plans, but Loretta, can we have

cake?

>> Absolutely.

>> For you guys want cake for celebration

Sunday?

>> Cuz cake in church, man, that's just a

good thing, right?

So

sacrificial living to leave a legacy and

it's one summit every generation. Our

theme verse in Psalms 127, unless the

Lord builds the house, we build it in

vain. And so we're seeking God. So I

want to ask Pastor Larry to come. He's

going to pray and bless this initiative.

And uh can we celebrate Pastor Larry as

he comes?

[Applause]

It is so exciting. When we found this

building,

we realized when we moved in, it was too

small.

And there's 10 acres off to the east

that we have first option if he ever

decides to sell. And even back then, I

felt the Holy Spirit speak and say, "One

day that piece of property is going to

be yours." So, this is just one phase

of moving toward what God wants to do in

the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Let's pray. Father, there is an

excitement in our hearts because we're

partnering with you.

You who own the cattle in a thousand

hills. You who created the gold and

silver and all the precious gems.

You don't need the finances. you created

them.

And I pray for prosperity upon your

people

that they may prosper the kingdom.

I pray prosperity of heart that they

would hear from you.

Lord God, the end result is to see men

and women who are right now without hope

come to a saving knowledge of who you

are.

And as a result, Lord God, more praise,

more worship is going to go ascend to

heaven.

So we ask this

in the name that is ascribed above every

name, the name of Jesus, our Christ, our

Messiah, our Lord, our King. Amen. And

amen. Praise the Lord. Now, we're ready

for the word of God. Are you ready for

the word?

>> Amen. Pastor Benjamin Leu is going to

bring us a good word.

[Applause]

>> I'm back again.

>> Hey, it's just me.

>> I just follow the order of service. Hey,

it's kickoff Sunday, guys.

>> And uh man, I know we've taken some time

and and I don't feel like we'd be having

church if we didn't get into the word of

God. You guys excited to get in the word

of God?

>> Amen. So, hey, uh we're about to step

into something uh new and powerful and

and at that transition, uh Pastor Larry

a couple of years ago handed me the

playbook and uh man, we're we're about

to uh get on the field and run some

plays. And so, uh for the next few

weeks, we're not just attending church,

but we are becoming a team and learning

the playbook and getting off the

sidelines and into purpose. Uh really,

the specific purpose that God has for

each one of us. And uh some years ago

uh my wife and I uh were called to plant

a church and that scared the living

daylights out of me uh because I had

never planted a church and had no idea

what I was doing. And so in that season,

man, I was really uh digging in and

praying and and and intentional about

hearing from God. And God gave me a

scripture and I'm going to share it with

you today. Before we do, let's pray.

Father, we thank you Lord for the

anointing upon your word. Lord, we thank

you God for blessing us,

giving us the freedom to hear your word.

And so, Lord, I pray that you

communicate with us in this time in

Jesus name. Amen.

Acts chapter 2 and verse 42. And uh I

Acts 2 · chapter mention

know that you can't see my eyes. Matter

of fact, our production team told me I

should take off the hat when I preach.

Do you guys know this is the first time

I've ever preached in a hat?

>> My pastor, I guarantee like he would

have he would have had me out in the

hallway.

Yeah. Preaching in a hat. Uh so anyways,

I do have eyeballs,

but for today, you're not going to see

them real good. Acts chapter 2:42

the early church said this talking about

them it says and they devoted themselves

say devoted

>> they devoted themselves to the apostles

teaching and the fellowship

to the breaking of bread and the prayers

and awe came upon every soul and many

wonders and signs were being done

through the apostles

and all who believed were together and

had all things in common.

Verse 45, and they were selling their

possessions and belongings, and

distributing the proceeds to all

as any had need. And day by day,

attending the temple together, and

breaking bread in their homes, they

received their food with glad and

generous hearts, praising God, and

having favor with all the people. And

the Lord added to their number day by

day those who were being saved.

The Lord added day by day those who were

being saved. It sounds very similar to

the church that we're in today.

There are devoted people devoted to uh

the word of God, devoting to the

fellowship,

all these connection groups and meeting

together, to the breaking of bread,

devoted to prayer,

giving sacrificially. Sell these early

church, man. They sold everything they

had and gave to each one as they saw

need in the individuals.

That's the call upon the church of Jesus

Christ. And catch this. Day by day,

there were those that were being added

of who was being saved.

And just sticking around here for a

little bit, uh there's day by day new

faces coming. They give their life to

Christ. And and I love it because uh I

love watching the work of God. And I I

my hope is that I can share some

scripture with us today that'll pour a

little fuel on the fire for what God has

for us the next few months. And I know

uh some of you uh the word capital

campaign uh can bring a mix of emotions,

excitement, anticipation

uh but also maybe some anxiety.

It can sound like just simply a

financial initiative.

But I got to share with you, it's so

much more than that. It's so much more

than that. What it is is an opportunity

for us as a body of believers to get off

the bench and get in the game.

To really find purpose. It's not about

funds. It's about faith.

It's not about building a building. It's

about souls. It's not about reaching a

goal. It's about God's glory. Look at

your neighbor and say, "Get in the

game."

You know, it's discouraging. I'm I'm a

numbers guy. I'm a stats guy. And uh

I've seen this. I've lived this in

church world. But the stats say this

that about 20% of the people do 80% of

the work. And that in the American

church system is a healthy church.

The realistic side is that most pastors

uh talk about 10% of the people doing

90% of the work.

>> Look at your neighbor and say, "That's

sad.

It's interesting because that's not

Grace Summit Church and never has been

because we have a high amount of people

that have caught the vision that serve

every week that serve in different ways

in different capacities. And man, that

the old church model from that

shephering movement was the one pastor

at everything.

>> And the church would kind of hit a

ceiling and could only get so far.

And one of the reasons that we're

experiencing

spiritual growth and numerical growth is

because you've been getting in the game.

Church is not a spectator sport.

Can I just say this? In the culture that

we live in, church is not a concert.

Church is not a motivational speech. Oh,

I just feel so good. He just he just

really he just stirs me up and I feel

better when I

I I hope that you're hearing from God. I

don't care if you come and hear me. I

hope that you come and hear God.

>> Not a concert, not a motivational

speech. This is one body with many

parts, all participating for the

building of the kingdom of God.

Day by day,

souls added to the church.

I believe this. Before we can run the

play, we have to understand the game.

So, if you have your Bibles, and I hope

you do, and I know we've gone long. I'm

not going to preach too long. Is that

okay? I just heard some bellies grumble

like, "Get me to the restaurant,

pastor."

If you have your Bibles, open them up to

Ephesians. And we're going to set the

foundation for what's to come. Most of

us understand the concept of the bench.

Man, in sports, that's the place where

you sit when you're not in the game.

It's the bench.

It's for substitutes. It's for the

backups, for the ones resting, the ones

that the coach hasn't called on yet. Uh

when I was in middle school, I I loved I

played sports all through school and

loved sports. Here was my issue, and I

don't blame my mom, except for it was my

mom's fault. She started me in school

really young. I was a year younger than

almost everyone in my grade. And uh

there was a season uh where uh I won't

say the word, but chemicals in the human

body start to change. And I remember

this uh one summer coming back to school

and I'm like all of my friends are like

and I'm like what what happened?

I that didn't keep up over the summer.

And uh I remember riding the bench even

though I was fast, strong, man. And I

remember uh uh that feeling of just

sitting there going, "Man, this is lame

and boring." And I had a whole lot more

fun last year when we were all the same

size and I was able to get out on the

field or get out on the court.

The bench is boring.

Look at your neighbor and say, "Get in

the game."

>> The bench is where you sit when you're

not in the game.

We

benchwarmers show up to the game. We

wear the colors. We cheer when something

good happens. We know all the stats and

all the plays. And in America, in the

church, we have a lot of super fans for

Jesus, but we're lacking of players.

>> Amen.

>> I mean, we live in a culture. It's this

is the most bizarre Christian culture.

We We have t-shirts for Jesus. We have

bumper stickers and hats and and we have

uh weird pastors that wear coach shirts

on on the platform. I mean, this is just

a bizarre season of Christianity where

we have really an opportunity to become

super fans and not players.

In the early church, you didn't have a

choice. You show up, you're in the game,

right?

And it's not uh well, so and so's sick.

pastor, could you pray for them?

That's our church culture. Do you know

that you have the power of Christ living

on the inside of you? That you can get

the same feeling I get, man. My hands

get feeling like Holy Ghost jumper

cables, man. And I got to I got to lay

my hands on somebody. There's going to

be an impartation of grace. And man, I'm

going to start praying down for my sha

na na. And we're going to we're going to

have some church and we're going to

we're going to see some people get free

and get some power and get some healing

and get some deliverance. That's not

just for the pastor. That's for you

because you're in the game.

>> You're on the field. You're running the

plays.

My start, man. Do be a victory lap. Hey,

>> glory to God.

Not a spectator sport. And and I want to

share this wherever wherever you're at

in Christianity. Don't settle for the

sidelines of Christianity.

Get in the game. Pray it through. Say,

"God, how how would you use me?

What should I do? Where should I go?

Have a heart that cries out to God. Put

me in, coach.

Don't settle for ringside seats.

And I just believe this. God today is

blowing the whistle, calling your

number, getting you off the bench, and

saying, "Okay,

okay,

you've you've you've read the playbook.

Okay, you've learned. So, now it's time

to get in the game." Look at your

neighbor. Say, get in the game.

>> Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 8,

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

famous scripture. It says, "For it is by

grace that you have been saved through

faith. And this, not from yourselves. It

is the gift of God, not by works, so

that no one can boast."

Man, we love to quote this scripture. We

might have this one on a t-shirt or a

bumper sticker. My goodness, I love it,

man. We didn't earn it. uh we don't

boast about it. It's all grace. It's all

grace. And too often we stop there in

the scripture and treat salvation like

it's the finish line, like we've got our

ticket to heaven and now we can just sit

in the pew and and wait till God calls

us home, brother. Homesick for heaven.

That's not the vision. Let's continue to

read here. Verse 10 says this, "For we

are God's handiwork

created in Christ Jesus." Catch this. To

do good works.

To do good works.

To do good works. We're not saved by

works, but we're saved to do good works.

>> We're saved by grace that God could do

something through us.

To do good works, which God prepared in

advance

for us to do. We're not just saved from

something.

We're saved for something. Man,

Wednesday night, you guys, we we kicked

off uh bold advance. We're doing both uh

youth group uh here in the sanctuary.

Many of youth is knocking out of the

park with youthled worship team. And

man, I love the excitement that that

God's doing in our in our uh middle

school and high school age. And and in

the back, man, we had some refreshments

and hung out. And we got in we one of

the things that we were talking about

Wednesday. Can I just say this, man? It

was powerful. At the end, we were able

to pray for different ones. One person

said this. Uh we prayed that they were

experiencing physical pain in their

body, debilitating pain. And we just got

around and laid hands and prayed and uh

the meeting ended and afterwards we're

standing in the hallway and that

individual said, "It's amazing. I feel

no pain in my body right now."

>> Can we just give God glory for that?

He's raising his hand.

[Applause]

God is on the throne. God is alive and

well. God is doing things. But in this

Wednesday night meeting, we were talking

about uh repentance and God kind of

looking at some definitions and one of

them was changing allegiance.

It's changing from one team to another

team. Switching teams. We do this in

salvation, don't we? We we we switch

teams and we go uh from the kingdom of

darkness into the kingdom of God. We

switch teams. That's repentance. We've

we've we've switched things over. But

it's also

switching teams from the kingdom of self

to the kingdom of God.

Not just the kingdom of darkness, but

it's also the kingdom of self. Here's

what God does with me. My spending

oftentimes tells the story

telling of myself

a little bit.

My spending a lot of times tells the

story of where my heart is, what I'm

willing to invest in. You know, it's

comical to me and not comical in a funny

way, but comical in a sad way of the

culture uh that we live in. We have a

tendency culturally to invest thousands

in temporary distractions, temporary

escapes, but complain about any

investment in eternal things.

>> We don't budget ourselves for things

that are eternal. We live in a culture

that will easily spend $60,000 on a

vehicle, $400,000 on a home, $20,000 on

vacations, and then spend $3 to $500 on

a ticket to go to a concert or a or a

ball game,

and then complain when the church has a

fundraiser.

Have you ever done it?

They want more money.

I gave them 20 bucks last week.

Yeah. Concert tickets. What happened to

those things? Remember it used to be

like 50 bucks, 60 bucks.

Dan's old. Pastor Dan's old. He says 20.

Was that back in the 60s?

I like picking on you.

>> Our spending oftentimes can reveal

what's in our heart. Selfishness will

fund personal distractions but criticize

eternal investments.

We'll spend our resources on things that

will rust and break

that one day will end up in the in the

dump.

and will criticize investing in souls.

We'll criticize investing in future

generations. Have you been there?

We budget for everything but eternity.

So when we got saved, we got drafted

into the army of God. We're on team

Jesus.

He saw your potential.

Even though we didn't have a whole lot

to offer him, he saw something in us.

And he paid the ultimate price for you.

Do you know that when you got saved, he

put his name on your jersey?

You're on team Jesus.

And when I wear the the jersey, I want

to I want to do good for his name.

I want people to to see that that Jesus

on my jersey. And that's just coming out

of my heart and coming out of my life.

Man, I want people to see that and know,

man, that that that he's he's

representing well.

You're on the team. 1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 9 · chapter mention

chapter 9 and verse 24. Do you not know

that in a race all the runners run, but

only one gets the prize. Run in such a

way as to get the prize. Everyone who

competes in the games goes into strict

training. Say strict training.

They do it to get a crown

that will not last.

But we do it to get a crown that will

last forever.

Therefore,

I do not run like someone running

aimlessly.

I do not fight like a boxer beating the

air. No, I strike a blow to my body and

make it my slave so that after I have

preached to others, I myself

will not be disqualified for the prize.

We're on the team. And it's not just

repenting from the kingdom of darkness.

The scriptur is pulling it out. It's

repenting from self. He says, "I bring

my body under subjection. I beat

myself." And man, yeah, I would like the

new truck. Yeah, I'd like to have a

speedboat. Yeah, I'd like to have some

stuff. But you know what? I got to

budget for eternity as well because that

stuff will pass away.

I got to bring myself under subjection.

Another scripture,

Hebrews 12 and verse one.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by

such a great cloud of witnesses, let us

throw off everything that hinders and

the sin that so easily entangles.

And let us run with perseverance the

race marked out for us, fixing our eyes

on Jesus, the pioneer and the perfector

of faith.

For the joy that was set before him, he

endured the cross, scorning its shame,

and sat down at the right hand of the

throne of God.

Time to get off the bench and get in the

game.

You'll never know the thrill of the game

from the bench. You'll never feel the

roar of the crowd, the sweat on your

brow,

the excitement of executing the perfect

play that scored the point.

Unless we get in the game.

This is where I'm at. I'm vision. I'm a

visual by nature. I'm visionary. And I

can just visualize at the end of this

thing. Next year at this time, we could

be walking through a brand new foyer

past a brand new kids worship center.

And and I God brought me here. I was

just praying. I was thinking about, man,

well, what's the outcome here? And and I

picture myself walking through and

hearing 50 young people worshiping God

together.

Yes.

>> 200 people can build a legacy that lasts

for generations for the building of the

kingdom. We have an opportunity

to be a part of that. I personally want

to get off the bench and I get it. The

bench is comfortable.

It's safe. There's no risk sitting on

the bench. I'm not going to fumble the

ball and lose the game. All right.

But hear me. There's no reward sitting

on the bench either.

And I'll close with this.

The prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament,

he had a vision.

He saw God on the throne

high and lifted up

and he hears the voice of God. And God

isn't speaking to angels, but God is

speaking directly to Isaiah.

He heard the voice of the Lord say,

"Whom shall I send and who will go for

us?"

So Isaiah chapter 6,

Isaiah 6 · chapter mention

whom shall I send

and who will go for us? At that moment,

Isaiah had a choice to make.

He could have

said, "Man, I'm not qualified.

I'm just going to stay on the bench."

God God's God's giving this call. Who

who in the world? All these people, who

shall I send? Who will go for us? And

Isaiah had a choice to make. He could

have said, "I'm unqualified. I'm a man

of unclean lips. I I don't think I'm up

for it. It's it seems risky. I mean,

that's a lot of responsibility, God, and

so I don't want to be the guy that

messes this thing up." He He says God

says, "Who will go for us?" In other

words, who's going to get in the game?

And you know what Isaiah said?

He said, "Here I am. Send me.

Here I am. Send me." He had that heart

to say, "Put me in, coach.

Put me in, coach.

God, I see the need. I feel the nudge.

And I'm available.

[Music]

Here I am, Lord.

send me. The Bible

wasn't just given to us to increase our

knowledge.

The Bible was given to us to direct our

mission.

It's the playbook.

[Music]

Paul told Timothy this and

he said all scripture is God breathed

and is useful for teaching,

rebuking, correcting,

training in righteousness. Catch this.

So that the servant of God may be

thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I believe that you're thoroughly

equipped for every good work. You

believe that? You're thoroughly equipped

for every good work. I was the least

likely to go to church, let alone be a

preacher.

The least likely. Pastor Dan and I were

getting a joke. We were talking about

our GPA in high school.

Mine was like a 1.4, something like

that.

Didn't didn't graduate. Had to go back

to some alternative schooling.

Yeah, I was the least likely to be

successful at anything. Class clown. I

got voted that every year.

Knew how to make the folks laugh.

You might be sitting here going, "Man, I

I just don't think I have much to offer.

I don't even know what my giftings are.

I don't even know what my what my

calling is."

God will show you.

God can't steer a parked car. It's time

for us to get up and get moving and

moving forward and and let God minister

to you the direction that he would have

for you

to pray in such a way as to say, "God,

how can I get in the game?"

The Bible trains us and equips us so

that we're ready when the coach calls

our name.

And I believe God is calling us today,

not just as individuals, but as a body

of believers

to move to the next step.

So church,

it's kickoff Sunday.

The ball's in your hands.

I'll say this. You're not alone on the

field.

We have number one, a powerful body of

believers. Number two, we have a

powerful playbook that's lifegiving. And

can I say this? You have a coach. I know

that I've got it hanging right here, but

we have a divine coach in heaven.

Our father in heaven leading the way. Do

you know that you have the same coach,

divine coach through the power of the

Holy Spirit living on the inside of you,

directing every step.

The bench is comfortable,

but the bench is boring.

James chapter 1

James 1:22

verse 22 says, "Do not merely listen to

the word and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says.

Do what it says. I don't think God's

looking for us as individuals to be star

players. Maybe that's you.

Maybe it's not. I think he's just asking

us to take a step off the sidelines

and get in the game.

Maybe for you that means finally

committing to a connection group as

we're kicking off.

What is it? 27 groups.

I bet there's one in there you would

enjoy.

Maybe it's getting connected.

Maybe for you it's serving,

greeting at the door, serving in kid

ministry, blessing the next generation.

Maybe it means for you starting to tithe

faithfully for the first time and

letting God bless you in that of help

fund his vision.

I mean, maybe it means having a

spiritual conversation with a coworker

or family member that you've been

putting off because of fear.

Whatever that next step is,

God's asking you to take that next step

today to get off the sidelines and get

into the game. Maybe you're in this

house and you're hearing all this and

the next step for you is salvation.

Maybe you're in here and you're going,

"I don't even know if I'm on the right

team.

I don't even know which jersey I've got

on.

And maybe for you, taking that next step

is getting alone with God and saying,

"God,

I'm asking you to come into my life

and save my soul,

to free my heart, free my mind." And

I'll tell you from experience, God will

do it.

Did you guys know that the sinner's

prayer that we do is in in the Bible?

It's a fairly recent church practice,

maybe a hundred years or so, where the

pastor would lead you in a salvation

prayer. Do you know that's not in the

Bible? It's healthy. It's good. But if

that's you and you're looking to take

that step off the sidelines and get on

the team, I want to encourage you to

spend some time with God today

and pray.

[Music]

I'm going to ask Pastor Dan and Miss

Loretta to come up and they're going to

help us close the service. I know we

went a little longer today, but God's up

to something. And as they're coming, I

want to close with just a couple of

scriptures. Matthew chapter 9 verse 37.

Matthew 9:37

And then he Jesus said to the disciples,

"The harvest is plentiful,

but the laborers are few. Therefore,

pray earnestly to the Lord of the

harvest to send out laborers into his

harvest."

In 1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10

says that each of you

should use whatever gift you have

received

to serve others as faithful stewards of

God's grace in its various forms.

Father, I thank you, Lord, that you

didn't call us just to be a spectator,

but God, you called us to serve you.

Lord, I'm thankful for this nudge, for

this push from heaven, God, to get in

the game, God, to run these new plays.

Father, I'm thankful, Lord, for a

spiritual initiative, God, that you've

laid upon us as a body of believers to

move forward. And Lord, I'm thankful

for a season such as this, a season of

excitement. Lord, I'm thankful that I've

caught the vision to see where you're

taking us as a people. So Lord, I pray

that you continue to bless this people,

bless this church. We thank you Lord in

Jesus name. Amen.

[Music]