Anything Is Possible Pt. 5 | Chris Gross | Radiant Life Church

Well, this morning I am pumped because

we are going to be finishing uh fun.

I've had just a great time the last uh

almost two months or a month and a half

going through the book of Nehemiah. And

uh just thankful uh for all that we've

got to see and and learn and experience.

And there's something about jumping in

and kind of walking a journey through a

book that is really eyeopening. Here in

Nehemiah, we got to experience and see

that the children of Israel, they were

in exile. They had been gone for 150

years. They had missed out really on

what God had for them because they had

gone against what his word had said and

they were exiled into a place that well

they didn't want to be of course but the

walls of Jerusalem had been torn down.

And because Nehemiah heard a voice from

the Lord, heard a call from the Lord, a

vision from the Lord, they began to

believe and he led the charge to rebuild

the walls of Jerusalem. The crazy thing

to me about this whole deal is after 150

years, in 52 days, they were able to

rebuild the walls because the hand of

God was upon them. 52 days. God can do

things way quicker and way be bigger and

better than we could imagine. But the

people didn't stop there. where they

then gave themselves to the Lord,

offered him uh their whole life, their

whole being, everything that they were

about and began to dedicate different

areas and and give sin and give things

in their life that shouldn't be uh

straight to the Lord.

There's something about that

realization. God move, but we talked

about that's the end isn't the end. It's

the beginning. The the finish line there

there isn't. We keep going and we keep

pressing on. Last week we then saw the

people that once they had experienced

all of this they came and dedicated

their finances their resources said

we're going to bring 10% we're going to

bring the first fruits our children

literally through all the other areas

and all the other things they said Lord

we're going to offer those back the

first fruits and we talk about so often

here at Radiant Life the tithe and the

first fruits and we put them together

and say Lord everything within us our

time our talent but our treasure our

finances Lord we bring those things to

you and when we get here to Nehemiah 12.

It's party time. They're celebrating.

They're lifting up the name of Jesus.

But before we dive into Nehemiah 12, I

was just thinking like what is it that

we as a church family, what is it that

we should be uh maybe or what have we

done? What's exciting maybe in your

life? What's something that you've done

that was a huge step of faith that you

you had to make a step? Now, I was

thinking about it. Uh, Pastor Rachel,

she's sitting up here on the first row.

And I'm pretty sure uh her first year of

college, which was my last year of

college, she walked into our main uh our

sanctuary, our chapel. And when I saw

her, I said, "That's who I'm going to

marry." And so about a month later, we

were dating. About four months later, I

had asked her dad. And then we became

engaged. And then eight months after

meeting the first time, we were married.

And I was like, "Here we go, Ra. Let's

go back to Columbus, Ohio. you don't

know anybody. It'll be fun. Let's just

do it. My church, like all the things of

my life. And she was like, I'm in. I'll

do it. I'm a part, right? It was a great

uh thing, right? No faith at all

involved. And here we go. We barely know

each other, but we're committed to each

other. We're going to live our lives.

We're going to do this thing, and we're

going to do it together. That was a that

was probably a big step of faith. I

think somewhat my parents might have

been like, "You sure? This is pretty

quick." But they just let me do my thing

and gave little guidance if needed. And

here we are 20 plus years later and five

kids and somehow our oldest is about to

go back to the same city where we met uh

to Evangel University uh here in the

fall. It's like what? God moves.

Maybe a step of faith in your life.

Something that you'd say, man, if we

could have a testimony. I'm sure we

could have a testimony line here. I took

this crazy step and I left my job that

was wellpaying and I did my own thing. I

started my own company. Woo. That would

be a big deal. Maybe some of you a step

of faith was the opposite and you had an

opportunity to kind of rise in a

company, but you felt God telling you,

"No, you need to stay in the role that

you're in." And you took a step of faith

the opposite direction, but it was a God

thing, a God moment. And what would have

happened if you would have done what you

wanted rather than what God wanted?

Maybe when you first bought a house, I

don't know about anybody else, but

that's a pretty big moment. And you sign

on the dotted line. and you're like,

"Lord Jesus, please let me be able to

pay off these loans, these payments, uh

you know, all of the things." And then

when the the basement flooded the first

time, when the fridge died, when the air

conditioner unit, and you realize, "Oh,

yeah, there's not a landlord to pay for

that anymore. Not only do I pay for it,

but now I have to pay for all the stuff,

right, Lord Jesus?" Those are steps of

faith.

Maybe in your life there's a specific

one that jumps out at you. But the

people of Israel, the people returning

to Jerusalem, the people saying, "Yeah,

the walls are built, but now we've got

life to live." It was a massive deal, a

massive step into what God had. But we

see in Nehemiah 12 that they went to

dedicate the wall. And when they did, it

was party time before the Lord. In fact,

Nehemiah 12:27 begins and it says, "And

Nehemiah 12:27

at the dedication of the wall of

Jerusalem, they sought the Levites in

all their places to bring them to

Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication

with gladness, with thanksgiving, and

with singing, with symbols, harps, and

liars. And the sons of the singers

gathered together from the districts

surrounding Jerusalem and from the

villages, right? They they came together

for the singers had built for themselves

villages around Jerusalem. and the

priests and the Levites purified

themselves and they purified the people

and the gates and the wall. They came

together because of the greatness of

God. Anything was possible. But not only

was it possible, they wanted to dedicate

for the future. They wanted to dedicate

for what was coming still in their life

and in their situation. In fact, there

were two groups of people that that we

read about that were sent that were a

part of this awesome uh choir that was

sent to praise and to sing and to

worship God all the way around

Jerusalem. Two leaders were there and if

you can imagine they went to the exit

and they said, "Okay, we're going to

pray." And some people went to the

right, the south, and to the east along

the wall. They were passing gates and

singing and worshiping. And the other

group was led and they went instead of

south, they went north and they went

west and they began to make their way

around the city. maybe two miles of this

wall that had been rebuilt right in that

ra range and they were worshiping and

praising every gate every moment saying

Jesus God for them right God move God

you're great God you did this God you

are the miracle worker God you brought

us back to our homes you brought us back

into blessing you brought us back they

were able to praise and worship in verse

43 it says and they offered great

sacrifices that day and rejoiced For God

had made them rejoice with great joy.

The women and children also rejoiced in

the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

The people celebrated the power of their

God of what he had done. And in a way of

dedicating, as the rest of the chapter

would show, they continued to give

service to the temple. They began and

continued to make reforms to be the

people of God that they were called to

be.

When I think about this, there's a few

things I just want us to point to uh

today. And first is that we have to

throw a party before you see the

promise. I think sometimes we realize

God has moved. There's things that have

happened. He's begun a work. Maybe the

walls are rebuilt. But did you know just

being there with the walls that wasn't

the promise? The promise that he would

walk with them. The promise is that he

would be with them. The promise that he

wasn't leaving and that he was going to

be there and protect and take care of

them. And the walls were a sign. They

were a representation to the people, but

God wasn't going anywhere. And they

began and they they threw a party before

they saw the promise. And this morning,

I want to invite our ushers uh to come.

And they've got some uh pieces of paper.

If you didn't get one of these and you

didn't get one of the half sheet papers

today, I encourage you if you would uh

raise your hand up as the ushers come

through the aisles and they give you one

of each of these. Be sure you have one

of each. But the one that says 2025 on

it, I just want to take a few minutes

and celebrate the things that God has

done. There's powerful things, the power

of God. We can look on this sheet of

paper and we see our RADF fam, what's

happened here at Radiant Life Church

local, our partners in our community in

the Columbus and surrounding areas, our

global partners. We could see a team

that went from here and built a church

building, built a parsonage to help a a

new village in Tanzania in the Yata

Valley receive the message of Jesus, the

love of Jesus, the power of God. We got

to build and and be a part of equipping

leaders in Asia. We got to reach the

unreachable. uh helped launch the first

ever which is amazing but those that are

going into one of the Koreas and

experiencing God in a place that we

could not go but there's people that are

going to share the message of Jesus

strengthen global workers and providing

equipment for King's Castle where we

sent a team in South America like God is

moving wherever it is and I want you to

know we have 76 missionaries that we got

to support last year or organizations to

share the love of Jesus all around the

world. Pastor Matt and Katherine,

they're going to be our 77th

missionaries. In May, they begin the

itineration process to go to Southeast

Asia for the power of God to use them.

We get to support and we've got to this

last year and there's something to

celebrate. You know, it didn't only stop

in our world, but it's went on to local.

We got to support Revive Church 20

minutes from here with the power and the

love of God. We got to bring hope

through backpack giveaways, through

Christmas outreaches, through food,

through clothes. In fact, this morning

people said, "Where do we put the

clothes?" I bet last year we took a

hundred bags of clothes somewhere in

that range to revive church, to see them

be able to do ministry and show love and

support on the hilltop. We got to see

two new churches that were planted here

in the Columbus area that were sent from

Radiant Life Church. We got to uh do

events for our network, for the

Assemblies of God as we say, "Thank you,

Jesus, for all that you're doing and

host these things in the facilities that

he gave us." We got to partner with

Royal Family Kids Camp, with Ohio State

University, with uh with uh Victory

Ministries, with International

Friendships. We got to partner with

those in our own community and city. And

I'm so thankful and we've celebrated

maybe a time or two, but soccer, we

finally are allowed the hard work of

getting the approvals that in March,

less than a month, we're going to have

Dublin Soccer Club kids out in our

fields and there's going to be fields

going in and goals going in and they're

going to be here a new group that we get

to pour the love of Jesus into.

Something exciting. There's exciting

things locally. There's exciting things

right here in the Rad fam. We got to

send 60 kids to camp. Somebody 60 kids

that got to experience the life uh the

the power of Jesus in services. They got

to play together. Build them up

together. And I want to encourage if you

have kids, get them to summer camp.

Whatever they're doing in school, it's

not important. Get them to summer camp.

It's lifech changing, lifealtering. In

fact, this church, we get to be a part

of making it happen. We run one of those

camps. Week three of youth camp. It's

amazing. We send leaders to kids camp.

Something powerful about our kids

experiencing the power of Jesus. This

year, we upgraded signage throughout the

building, including our yellow signs

outside drawing attention. We got to

send four missions teams around the

world. We got to create a new engagement

pathway, an open house hopefully. And

we've been seeing more people get

connected into the life of who we are.

We're believing God. We're just

starting. But local right here in the

Radfam, our local ministries, our global

partners, church, we get to celebrate

over a hundred that they gave their

lives to Jesus. We get to celebrate an

average attendance of 400, but 300 of

those who have said, "Hey, I'm going to

be a part of disciplehip." And have come

and made it habit to be involved in

disciplehip. There's something about the

power of God and what he has done. In

fact, can we just give just a a couple

of seconds of praise to God for 2025 for

what he did? He's amazing. Thank you,

Lord. Thank you, Lord. And I'm not going

to make us do our old school thing, Mom

and Dad. Jericho marching around the

room today. I think that would change it

up a little bit. Maybe you know what I'm

talking about. Maybe you don't. But we

used to march around when I was a kid. I

don't know if we've gotten too civilized

or I'm not sure what, good or bad. But

I'm not going to make us do that. But

God is good and he is moving and we have

to throw a party even before we see all

of the things he's going to do. Give him

glory for what he has done and we

position oursel for Lord Jesus. Keep

doing it. Keep moving. Keep pouring your

spirit out. A part of that for them was

was dedication. It was dedicating it

before they dominated it before what's

coming. And when I think of 2026 and I

think of the next year, there's a whole

bunch of things that we're saying, Lord,

whatever you have, whatever your glory

or whatever brings glory to your name,

we want to be a part of it. And I'm not

going to go through all of them, but you

can read them. Building secondary

school, high school in Tanzania, which

is exciting because the schools that

we've been a part of building in

Tanzania for elementary kids, those kids

would get shipped off. They would get

sent to secondary schools in other

places and they would never come back to

the yada valley to the village in the

villages and to these schools and these

churches. But now there's going to be a

secondary school right where they are so

they can be trained up built up and our

belief and our prayer and by ours the

missionaries the local people and that

then they're going to be able to help

strengthen the culture help strengthen

the strength of the that valley of the

villages that all of a sudden they're

going to learn and grow in fresh water.

They're going to learn and how to plant

and how to do things because we have

been a part of seeing these kids

experience Jesus in school but also grow

in who they are. We get to be a part of

that. There's fueling church plants in

Alaska, church planters in Sri Lanka, uh

India going where the gospel has not

been taken or they don't have the

representation of the gospel. Continuing

to support our missionaries, our local

ministries, royal family kids camp, all

of the things we get to be a part of.

continuing to raise up students and

Royal Rangers and girls ministries right

here. Our our summit for our high

schoolers on Wednesday nights, our Bible

quizzes. We get to be a part of

something special. In fact, can I just

ask you all on June 10th, we get to come

and we're going to be celebrating all of

our student ministries, our Bible

quizzes and our our summit students, our

Royal Rangers, our girls ministry. It's

going to be awesome. And would you put

it on your calendar right now? There's

plenty of time. It's a Wednesday night.

join us on that night so we can

celebrate our kids. And you might say,

"I don't have any kids." That's okay.

But you're part of the RAD fam. And if

you're a part of the Rad fam, you have a

lot of spiritual kids running around. So

come join us. We're a part of the

family. And we're going to celebrate our

student ministries. We get to be a part

locally. We get to be a part of that

soccer that is beginning outside. We get

to be a part church. Real practical, but

we just put some air conditioning and

heating units on the roof in the spring.

Uh, we're going to make it so dad

doesn't have to keep filling potholes on

the front when they come in. He seems

like he does it all the time because

we're going to put down some new asphalt

out there, right? We're going to get to

do these things locally, church, because

we're united. We're together. And when I

think about where we're going, we get to

praise him for the past, but also we're

dedicating the future, what we're

believing for 2026. And I want you to

know there's dreams and visions for

beyond that. He's going to keep moving.

He's going to keep showing himself. He's

going to keep doing things that blow us

away as we walk in his presence and walk

in his plan.

Last five weeks, we've been praying and

walking through and going through

Nehemiah and mostly talking about our

spiritual walk and our our just growth

and our disciplehip. And today, I want

to be real clear that disciplehip

includes an element that some people

love to talk about. I love it as a

pastor, but also I see the blessing. And

some people are like, uh, don't talk

about my money. And I'm not going to

make you raise your hand and say which

side you're on. But today, there's

something about these things happening

because of prayer, because of hard work,

because of our time and our talent, but

also because of our treasure, because of

what God has blessed us with. In fact,

when our mind goes, it's not mine any

longer, but he's given me some stuff to

steward. And whatever he wants in my

time, my talent, my treasure, I give it

back to him. And today we're talking

specifically about our finances of Lord,

how do we see one more for Jesus? How do

we believe as a united group of people?

How do we believe for these things to

happen? And what our prayer is at

Radiant Life is we're going to give at

least 18%. What comes in, we're going to

give it away to the projects and the

missionaries. And in fact, you know what

my prayer is? that that 18% means that

this list or the 76 and then seven with

pastor Matt and Katherine is not near

enough and we have to pick up new

missionaries and we have to come up with

new projects and we've got to partner

with new people because the blessing of

God is poured out on you on his church

family and on the rad fam as we unite

together to see one more for Jesus both

rad fam local in our community and

globally.

When we think of that for this year, we

are moving to a one fund approach for

giving, which means starting next week,

we're going to come and we're going to

talk about uh these elements. We're

going to give and then as a church,

we're going to give 18% away of what

comes in. And we're going to believe God

that when we get to partner together,

greater things are going to happen. that

this year we got to see $470ome

thousand dollars that went through

missions trips and through these

partners and and projects all over the

world. And our prayer is Lord, could we

do more? Lord, could we give away more?

Lord, the heart and the vision of Pastor

Dave and Kay when they started the

church with the four people in their

living room. Lord, now we want to see

more given, more people come to know

you, more people experience the power of

God right here in Dublin as well as

around the world and we get to be a part

of it. And we're going to dedicate,

Lord, we give you these things that we'd

put on a piece of paper, but Lord, we

give you our hearts, our lives. We give

you our finances. We give you every part

of who we are. And I would ask us,

Radiant Life, that we would dedicate our

time, our talent, our our one fun

commitment to God's vision. Don't just

admire what he's done, but let's step

into what he is about to do and say,

"Lord, you've got it. Lord, you are the

one. Lord, take me from where I've been

to where you have me to go."

We looked at those last few verses.

Verse 43, Pacificus says, "They sang or

and they offered great sacrifices that

day and rejoice for God had made them

rejoice with great joy." In chapter 10,

they talked about bringing their first

fruits, bringing the tithe even and

they're bringing their sons, bringing

their children the first, giving the

best to the Lord. And as a church

family, that's what we commit ourselves

to do that when money and funds come in,

we're going to give first. We're going

to bless first. I think back to 2008, if

you remember, that was a great financial

time. And uh Pastor Dave and Kay, they

said, "Hey, we're going to we're going

to give." And I was on staff. We were on

staff at the time. And uh he's like,

"Well, I'm not sure if we're going to

get paid, but our missionaries are going

to get paid because we're going to give

the first to what God has called us to

give to." And you know what? I don't

know. We might have delayed like three

days one time, but God took care of us.

But you know what else he did? He took

care of the ministry of God because of

the faithfulness of our lead pastors.

And that's the kind of church that we

are that we commit. We're going to give

first and we're going to watch God fill

in the gaps. And when we think of our

own, we think of our own finances.

My prayer is Lord, change my heart. It's

not my own finances, but Lord, whatever

you would entrust me with, I offer it

back. And therefore, it's your finances.

It's yours. You've got to worry about

it. and I just have to be obedient and I

have to step in lock step with you and

that's as a church our goal and Lord

help us as individuals

in fact when we think about these things

this morning throw a party before you

see the promise right dedicate it before

you dominate we've got to say this is

what we're going to do and third today

is dream beyond what you can do

beyond what is easy go beyond what is

normal go beyond what makes sense

If we look around, I'm thankful there

I'm sure churches that give more than

18%. But we're like, Lord, we're going

to keep pushing. And in fact, our goal

isn't 18%. But let's get to 18 and a

half. And then let's get to 19. Let's

get to 20 because we believe, Lord,

you're going to supply. You're going to

take care. And so, Lord, we're going to

keep pushing and keep believing. And

when you ask, we're going to take a step

of faith. Lord, we're going to dream

beyond.

As Rachel and myself, we have dreams. I

mentioned that in one day I decided I

was going to marry her. In four months

we were engaged. In eight months we were

married. And now that we have our oldest

daughter who is just about to be 18

years old and just about to go to

college and we're going to send her. I

It's hard to fathom. It's hard to

believe. It's like we cannot be that

old, dear. But I guess we are. I don't

know. It's It is what it is. And we

believe that God is going to do

something in our family through our

children that we keep pouring into them.

We keep loving them. We believe that

we're going to see them mature into the

the young people and then the not so

young people anymore as we found out

that God has created them to be. We're

believing beyond what we can do. And you

know what? When it comes to our

finances, our time, every part of our

life, Lord, that's our prayer. We want

to give. We want to be faithful. We want

to serve. We want to do anything you've

asked. And we our goal is to give 15%.

We're working. We want to keep up with

the church. So Lord, we've got three

more percent to get to match it, right?

So we're like, Lord, you do it. You move

us. Keep moving us. But this year

stepping, our goal is 15% because we

believe that he's going to repay. We

believe that there will be blessing. We

don't see it as a have to, but it's a

get to. And we are pumped about the

opportunity and say, Lord, I can't wait

to watch you be faithful where we may

not fully understand how it's going to

happen. And in our faith walk with the

Lord, that's what we see. It makes no se

sense here in Nehemiah that in 52 days

what had been torn down for 150 years

could be done. It made no sense that

when they had to hold spears and swords

in one hand with their tools in the

other because they had to protect

themselves and they had to fight off

enemies, it made no sense that just 52

days later there was fear from all of

the people around them because they knew

that their God had showed up there.

makes no sense maybe in your life or in

some situation where what you thought

was going to happen where God came

through. I'll tell you what, it makes no

sense that in our sin, that Jesus came

and he gave himself and he died for us.

And even wherever you were, wherever I

was, he said, "Come, my child. I love

you. Come to the family. Be a part of

what I'm doing." And he's welcomed us as

his children. When we believe and when

we ask him, he says, "You're my son.

You're my daughter." It doesn't make

sense, but church, we can dream beyond

what we can do. And sometimes we can

dream beyond what we even can have faith

for. And we ask him, Lord, give us faith

to believe my time, my talent, my

treasure, every part. Lord Jesus, Lord,

I'm going to follow you. Lord Jesus, I'm

going to go in you. Lord Jesus, I want

to experience you and your goodness. One

more time, 52 days. And everything they

had lived with for their entire lives

was entirely different because they

trusted the hand of Jesus.

And I think in our culture, I think in

our day and our age so often it's be

realistic. Limit your expectations. Stay

in control. I think that's a big one.

Let me just I'm going to control. But

when we come before the Lord and we

offer him all parts of our lives, we

start to say, Lord, I'm not in control.

I actually realize what is the truth.

I'm not in control. At any moment, my

life could be over. At any moment, the

the comforts of my life could be taken

away. At any moment, just turn on the

news. At any moment something could

happen that is not and was not a part of

the plan. So Lord, I can't control any

way. So I give you all.

Take who I am. Take what you've given

me, Lord, what you've offered me. And

will you run it? Will you lead me? Will

you lead what I do? Will you lead who I

am? Will you lead how I parent, how I'm

a husband? Will you lead how I am at the

place that you've given me to work? I'm

so thankful that we get to lead this

church. Lord, I cannot do it. I need

your help. We pray Lord you take it all

in our disciplehip journey I think we

understand this Lord take us one step

and in our giving journey so often it

feels impossible or feels like Lord I

don't know if I can do it and that's why

I want us to be encouraged in the Lord

that we are on a journey and it takes

dreaming it takes walking in him and

saying Lord I'm going to believe that

with you all things are possible as it

says in Matthew 19:26 it may be today

Matthew 19:26

your finances are a mess Yes, it's time

to come and say it's not mine anymore,

but Lord, it's yours.

And sometimes that means, oh boy, Lord,

I need to make some changes on my

finances. Have you ever been there with

the Lord in whatever area it is, life is

a little rough and you're like, oh, I

might have brought that on myself. I'm

not going to make anybody raise hands.

But we've all been there. And maybe

sometimes there's that. And there's

another thing when I try to control it's

mine. But when I give it to the Lord

that all of a sudden blessing can come

in my life. And I want to encourage in

every area of your life. We need to be

growing in the Lord. We need to be

dreaming beyond what we can do to what

he can do through us. Worship team, if

you want to make your way on up here, I

want to just encourage you. If you have

the half sheet page today, there's four

groups that I believe we could all fit

in in one way or another when it comes

to our finances. It's disciplehip

journey. It's a disciplehip step. The

first is a learner. Maybe you're here

and like, I don't know. I'm not sure.

But you could say, I could do something.

this is my church family and I need to

be a part of doing something. It's just

learning obedience. It's listening for

the Lord. Lord, I'll give. Lord, I'll be

a part. Maybe it's a few bucks. Maybe

it's a few hundred. Maybe it's a few

thousand. I don't know. But where we

say, Lord, whatever you have, I'm going

to jump in and begin this process of

learning.

Maybe you'd say, you know what, I am

been there, but I want to really start

partnering.

What we ask you to pray about and to

think about is what percentage are you

at? We believe in the principle of the

tithe throughout the word and getting to

that point. But maybe in the disciplehip

journey today, you're like, I need to

start with one or two or five or seven

or eight or 9%. I'm getting there. I'm

I'm working that way. And I would

encourage you when we take a step in our

disciplehip journey. I believe God just

continues to do. He continues to open

our heart. He continues to give freedom.

And I would ask you maybe today you pray

and you say, "Lord, I'm going to partner

with you. And Lord, would you help us?

we're going to start. I'm going to give

2% this year. I'm going to believe for

four or seven, whatever it might be. Or

maybe you're there. You've been giving

consistently, but you say, "Lord, I I

see the principle of the tithe in the

word and I want to jump to that tithing

place and you say, "That's me." And if

so, I would encourage you to take a step

of faith. And for some, it might be from

zero that you just feel this is what I

see in the word. This is what they said

in Nehemiah. This is what they say in

Malachi. It's what they did in the early

church. Jesus didn't talk a lot about

the tithe because it was just a part of

their culture and of their time.

But the principle throughout the word,

Lord, I want to take that step and you

take a big leap of faith. Maybe that's

you. Or maybe you've been giving. You

you've been tithing or maybe the Lord

just drops on your heart like Pastor

Rachel and myself. Lord, we we are going

to tithe. There's no way we wouldn't do

that. But Lord, we feel there's above

and beyond. And you say, I want to be a

kingdom builder above and beyond that

principle, working towards it. or I

believe church we're working from it the

principle of the tithe and this isn't

about pastor asking please please please

but I believe so much in my heart from

the word of God that disciplehip in fact

the word says where our money is there

our heart is

that's a pretty big deal Jesus talked

about money more than anything else any

other topic and when we come before him

we say Lord we give you all and we're

going to close this morning just with a

moment of prayer of worship of asking

asking him, Lord, you're the name.

You're everything. So, Lord, what would

you have me do? We've done different

things and I just believe so strongly

that when we take that step, Lord, I'm

going to start. I'm going to be a

learner. I'm going to be a partner. I'm

going to pick a percent that God would

give me. I'm going to jump into tithing.

Come on. I'm going to be a kingdom

builder. I believe God is so proud of

his church when we're walking and we're

taking a step and we're growing in our

disciplehip and our love for Jesus in

every area of our life.

And maybe today you begin to pray and

you're like uh maybe that learner thinks

that's big deal for you.

Maybe God speaks and he would encourage.

I would encourage listen to what the

Lord has and I promise you he will take

care of you.

Maybe you're like I give a lot and the

Lord would say do something. Do what the

Lord would say. It's not about me. But

we want to be those that give joyfully.

There's something that happens when we

come and we give them every part. And

I'm so thankful for this church because

what you see giving away $470ome,000,

that does not happen by just a few bucks

getting put in a plate. It comes because

there's a church of people that you're a

part. You're partnering. You're tithing.

You're a kingdom builder. And church,

can we all take a step in the things of

God? So that that 18%, that means we've

got to pick some new projects. We can

fix a little more parking lot. That

means we can give and we can see more

things in soccer or in our kids

ministry. We can have another kid or two

or three sponsored to go to camp.

Whatever it is, we get to be together.

We get to be united as we give as a

church family from what God has

entrusted us with.

My dad always said, "If he can get it

through you, he'll get it to you." And I

I'll tell you what, there's something

about that when we're open to the Lord.

And so my prayer over the next five

minutes, I'm going to pray a bre

blessing over us. And then they're going

to lead us in a song. And that song,

maybe you should sing the words or maybe

you should find a place at the altar.

Maybe you should sit or stand in your

chair, whatever it is today, that we'd

say, "Lord, would you speak?" Not what

Pastor Chris said, but what your word

would say. Not but spirit. Would you

speak to me? And as we take a step, as

we're learners, as we're partners, as

we're tithers, as we're kingdom

builders, as a family, church, anything

is truly possible. I want to say I'm so

proud of this church. I'm proud of you

because when we even have these

conversations, when we open our heart to

him, anything is possible. Let him speak

and let's take that step in him. And if

you're able this morning, could we stand

to our feet? If you're unable, hey, in

your heart, we're praying. We're

standing together and we're believing.

And I want to pray a prayer of blessing

over this church today, over you, that

God will show himself in your life. And

so, Lord, right now, we're thankful for

this church family. I'm thankful for

these people, Lord. Lord, that we want

to be more like you. And we understand

that disciplehip is a journey. It's a

process. We're not at the end when we

start, Lord, but we're working on it.

And Lord, when it comes to our finances,

in the same way today, Lord, I pray

every one of us would have our hearts

open to you. Lord, that we would take a

step in you, we say, Lord, if it's I'm a

learner, I'm just going to start

somewhere. I'm partner. I'm going to

start with some percentage consistently,

a tither. Lord, that big step in you. Or

Lord, maybe above and beyond as a

kingdom builder. Lord, would you bless

your people? And I know that you are

proud of your people. You're joyful when

we take a journey, a step with you. And

today, Lord, help us to walk. And in

fact, Lord, as we think to 2026, God, we

declare that you will use the RAD fam to

see lives changed, leaders developed in

the love of Jesus shared everywhere. We

declare that our city will see the

evidence of God's hand. We declare that

anything is possible when your people

move in faith and that by your word and

by your spirit and through our obedience

we believe it. We receive it. We will

walk in it. Today, Lord, we choose to

pick up the tools to lay down our pride,

our selfishness, our own desires, the

things we just don't know. We lay them

down and step into the blessing that you

have for your rad fam today. Lord, today

we submit every part of our lives to

you, Jesus. And Lord, we watch. We watch

as you transform us from the inside out,

Lord. Move in your people. And even in

these next few minutes, Lord, as we

stand, as we sit, as we come to an

altar, as we kneel, as we think about,

Lord, what you want, Lord, I pray not

because of my words, but because of your

word, the the Bible and Holy Spirit,

your word, would you speak to us? Let us

know what's the step we need to take as

individuals. While as a church family,

we keep pushing forward to see one more

person come to know you, both here at

the Rad Fam, locally, and all around the

world. So Lord, we turn this into a

place our hearts are open before you.

Speak, be glorified that every nation

and every soul would experience you. We

love you. We love you. Let's have our

hearts opened as we just listen for what

the Lord would have each of us do as we

connect with him.

I could say

your name

for all my life

and still

find more to love each time.

Jesus be the name ever on my lips.

Sweeter every time that I call on you.

There's just something about your name.

There's just something about your name

that makes me cry holy.

There is no other name.

No, there is no other name.

There is no other name.

Jesus, you're worthy.

You have been the friend who never

left. I won't

forget

your faithfulness.

Jesus be the name ever on my lips.

Sweeter every time that I call on it.

There's just something about your name.

There's just something about your name

that makes me cry holy.

Oh, there is no other name.

No, there is no other name.

There is no other name.

Jesus, you're worthy.

There's just something about your name.

There's just something about your name

that makes me cry holy.

Oh, there is no other name. Jesus,

there is no other name.

Oh, there is no other name.

Jesus, you're worthy.

You're so worthy, God.

Oh Jesus,

you're so worthy, God.

Jesus, your name is like the morning

light, the one the darkness can't deny,

the resurrection

and the life. Jesus.

Jesus, your name can save. Your name can

heal. Your name can make the storm be

still. You never fail. You never will.

Jesus,

Jesus, the bread of life broken for us.

The wounded and the worthy one. The

first, the last, the soon to come.

Jesus.

Jesus the king who overwhelmed the

grave. The Lord who will forever reign.

The name above all other names. Jesus.

Oh Jesus be the name.

Yes. Jesus be the name.

Oh Jesus be the name

that gets all the glory.

Oh Jesus be the name.

Yes Jesus be the name.

Oh Jesus be the name

gets all the glory.

Oh Jesus

you get all the glory. God, you get all

the glory, Jesus.

Oh, you're worthy, God.

Oh, Jesus be the name.

Oh Jesus, be the name.

>> Jesus, you are so good. And we're

thankful today, Lord. It's not all about

money. It's just one part. But Lord,

you're guiding us and you're directing

us, Lord, from sin away from it. You're

guiding us in our relationships. You're

guiding us with what we do, with our

time, our talents, but Lord, you also

are guiding us in our treasure. And

Lord, help us be individuals in a church

that Lord, we're taking a step in every

area. We're walking towards you. We're

saying, Lord, move. And Lord, as

individuals, but then as a church

family, Lord, would you lead us and

guide us? Lord, we want to be the best

stewards of time, of resources, of

talent, of everything, Lord, to see one

more person come to know you. So, I pray

this week, Lord, as we pray about these

cards, as we pray about what our step

is, as we pray, Lord, how do I take a

step? Lord, I'm thankful for this

church, and I pray that every person

would know that when we say yes and we

listen to what you have, wherever we're

at on this giving pathway, Lord, you're

proud and you're happy and you're

cheering us on. And so Lord, let us take

those steps. Let us step out in you,

Lord. We're thankful. We need you, Lord,

that one more person would know Jesus.

We love you. We love you, Jesus. Come

on, church. Our God is good. He's good.

He's good. He's good.

And I want to encourage you, take this

card home. Next week during worship

towards the beginning, we're going to

have a our own celebration a little like

in Nehemiah. I don't know if we'll go

around the room, but we'll at least

maybe come to the front, put them in a

bucket, we'll believe, and then we're

going to start a new sermon series, the

Jesus way out of John, starting in 14.

And I'm pumped about the next several

weeks, maybe a few months, going through

the John 14 through the end. And I

encourage, let's give all to Jesus, not

just in finances, but in our heart and

who we are. If he's asking you to take a

step, let's take it. But take this card

home, bring it back next week, and

obviously we'll give new ones out. If

you leave it at home, no worries. We're

going to celebrate. Let's all take a

step in him. And I want you to know I'm

so proud of you, church. I'm so thankful

that Pastor Rachel and I that we get to

lead here because it is so much fun and

you make it that. We love you. We're

thankful for what God is doing. I also

before we leave want to invite you

tonight, 6:00 our Super Bowl party in

the gym. You can come hang out. Super

Bowl starts at 6:30. Going to be

relational, a good time. and we're going

to be celebrating, having fun, but a

great place to connect, get to know some

people, maybe get connected to a life

group, and we'd invite you to come join

us. Bring a a chair, something

comfortable from your house. We have

folding chairs. If you want to sit in

those, that's fine, but something that's

comfortable. Bring it out with you.

Maybe not a recliner. Leave those at

home, but you know, like a foldable

chair, something along those lines.

It'll be good. Uh, and it's going to be

good. Also, food. Bring a tailgate food

item to share. And uh we're going to

have a great time as we celebrate

together and just have a good time. At

halftime, you get to go home and you can

watch the second half at home. So you

can be in your bed just enjoying it. But

first half, come and join us. And one

other thing, if it's all right before we

leave this week, in fact, last night,

one of our executive presitters, we're

part of the Assemblies of God. One of

our national leaders had a heart attack

and passed away. And literally this

week, two of our executive prespitters

from death or other reasons had to step

away from that that top level

leadership. And uh can we pray for

Allison Park Assembly of God in P

Pennsylvania for Jeff Leak? Uh he's with

Jesus. He's experienced his reward. But

for his church and for our fellowship,

can we believe that God will move and he

will give grace and peace and his love

to what just ah the hearts. I can't

imagine his family, his church, and even

our fellowship. And so, could we just

take a moment and pray? Lord, we just

ask you right now for Jeff Leak's

family, for his church. Lord, he's a

big-time church planner. Literally,

hundreds of churches he has planted

through Allison Park, Assembly of God.

And we pray that you, Lord Jesus, would

be there for all of those that are

hurting that knew him personally, that

he was their spiritual father. Lord, we

pray that you would build them up, that

they would feel your love and your grace

and your mercy for that church, God,

today that's grieving. Lord, would you

give them the way forward,

Lord Jesus? Would you be them there for

them and specifically for his family,

God? We ask that you would take care,

Lord. Would you let them feel your love,

your hug around them, God? Lord, I pray

that they would feel the spiritual just

impact. Lord, I'm sure there's many

others that are praying and believing

and asking you to move in their

situation. God, would you let them feel

your grace? So, we're thankful for

Pastor Jeff and the legacy that he has

left and now be with his church, with

this family, with our fellowship, the

other situation. God, we pray that you'd

be in it as well. Lord, would you guide

us as a fellowship? Lord, guide us as a

church. We want to see one more come to

know you. Lord, we pray for Pastor Doug

Clay, our national leader. Lord, that

you'd give him wisdom, Lord Jesus. That

you'd give all of our national

leadership wisdom. Lord, we're thankful

for it. We love you. Thank you that you

are in control. You're our God. You're

the one that leads us forward. We love

you and praise you. In your name we

pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you for praying

with us. And uh I encourage have a great

day today. Come back at 6:00 tonight.

Pray about what God what step of

disciplehip and finances he would have

you do. And next week, we're going to

celebrate and we're going to jump into a

new series, The Jesus Way. This week, be

careful what you watch. Be careful what

you listen to.