Speaker 1: 0:00

What's up? Free Church man. What a powerful day in the presence of the Lord already. And if you're a guest today, thank you for joining us. Church family, welcome our guest today. We know you could be a lot of places. We're glad you chose to be here. Everybody watching online in this region and around the world we welcome you as well. And if you are a guest maybe first time or first time in a long time we just invite you to a little area down in the lobby right after service called Next Steps, and just get a chance to put a name with a face meet. Some of our team love to meet you. We have a gift as our way of saying thanks for being our guest.

Speaker 1: 0:39

And, man, we are moving forward in this summer season. Can you believe, man, we are moving forward in this summer season. Can you believe, man, this month of July is almost July, is almost, almost done and but not to not done yet. Somebody tell your neighbor not done yet. So, but we're gonna close the service today, as we do every weekend, giving you the opportunity. Two things Number one, to make a decision to follow Jesus and for church family this is not for our guests, but church family a chance to give your weekly tithe and offering and we thank you for your generosity to this house. It helps us move the vision of the church forward. We have big things happening in the fall moving to two services, a 9 o'clock service, an 11 o'clock service, making room for the things that God is doing in this house, and I'm so excited. Listen, I'm ready to preach God's word. Are you ready to receive it today?

Speaker 1: 1:38

The year was 2003, and we were living in Houston at the time and we were serving at a church, great church, our home church, and had a team that was growing. And you know, in church life you have Sunday service and then you'll have all kind of events through the week and occupying different bits of space, like this week in this building. There was even in the summer months. We have college here. People college from our friends down in the city. They use our building on Tuesdays. They had graduation on Saturday. We had staff meeting on Tuesday. We had gatherings Wednesday During the fall season. There's small groups, there's witness that meets on Sunday. There's young groups. There's witness that meets on Sunday. There's young adults. There's always something going. Freeway's coming up next week for everybody to get plugged into church life. So church life is busy life really.

Speaker 1: 2:35

And so we were in Houston, had a gathering that was the membership class like our freeway and had a great class, had a lot of people attending and at the end of it, everybody starts to clean up. And you know, when you're a part of a servant-hearted culture leadership team, everybody pitches in cleaning up. If there's something to be done, we get to do it. It doesn't matter what our role is. Our title is this is how we serve. And so we were cleaning up and, as one of the pastors on staff, I was stacking chairs and our senior pastor and their wives they were cleaning up in the kitchen and moving stuff here or there. And one of our staff members was having a conversation with one of the new families and one of the new families says wow, everybody's cleaning up. Do you need to be cleaning up? And the staff member looked back at the new member and said, oh no, I don't do garbage. And about two months later she didn't do staff members either. She was out the door.

Speaker 1: 3:42

It's the year I learned when you model servant-hearted leadership, you live servant-hearted leadership and there's nothing below whatever title you live in. Anybody can be great because anybody can serve. Why don't you turn to your neighbor and say we are having some summer shorts, and just lean over to the one next to you and just say I'm glad you don't have yours on, that's a gift. That's a gift. That's a gift. We're getting ready to close out this summer series. Next week. I'm gonna close it off with one more stint through the Gospels, but we've been in this pattern Really.

Speaker 1: 4:40

It's a passage of Scripture that's in Ezekiel, chapter one, in verse 10, and you can pull that up on the screen and it says this as for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox and the face of an eagle. And we know that this is a vision that Ezekiel had of of the Lord, not in terms of like physical appearance, but in terms of character appearance, who he was, how he would operate. And Jesus, when he walked on this earth, he walked with this character trait that Ezekiel saw in the Old Testament. And we know that the book of John, the book of John, john talks about the face of the lion that Jesus walked in, because Jesus walked in powerful, anointing, he was a hundred percent God. And then Luke talks about the face of man, that Jesus walked not only with powerful anointing, being a% God, but he was also 100% man and he was personally relational. He built relationships, he cared for people and spent time with people.

Speaker 1: 5:54

And we say this that as leaders, as followers of Jesus because how many know, as we follow Jesus, we're leading somebody you don't have to have a title to have influence. Anyone can have influence, anybody can be great because anybody can serve. And so this is the thought that we have to be anointed, we have to spend time with Jesus, we have to spend time seeking the Holy Spirit. We need to live with an anointing because it's not by might, it's not by power, it's not by strength, says's not by strength, says the Lord, but by my spirit. So it's the anointing that makes the difference, it's the anointing that lifts the burden and destroys the yoke. So we have to live with an anointing, we need to pursue the anointing in our life.

Speaker 1: 6:45

But we can't just be all about the anointing. We have to be good with people and if you pray for patience, you might be anointed to be patient, but you're going to have to be patient around people. I dare you to drive through Oak Park and stop at a stop sign for too long. And stop at a stop sign for too long. You pray for patience. You're gonna have to sit at the stop sign for a minute and not be mad when they honk their horn at you. We gotta be good with people. People are not an interruption to our business, people are our business. So that was the book of Luke.

Speaker 1: 7:30

So John talked about the powerful anointing of Jesus, luke talked about the powerful ministry or relational aspect of Jesus. And then last week we talked about Matthew. Matthew was an accountant. Matthew gave us the face, the characteristic of the face of the eagle of Jesus, that he did all things well. And man, what a lesson for us to learn. Last week, as my mic went out in battery power while I'm preaching on excellence, I almost fired myself, but I don't fire people on Monday, so I made it, and then I was calm by Tuesday.

Speaker 1: 8:13

So we should pursue excellence. Excellence is not perfection, but it's doing the very best with what we have in front of us. The very best with what we have in front of us. It means when we see a little piece of paper on the floor, we don't walk past it. Husbands, when you walk through the living room and the pillows on the couch are a little funky because the kids were laying on it earlier, fluff it up. Put it straight you want a great marriage, pursue excellence in your home. That's just extra credit, man, it's so fun to preach in this house. You are the best audience to preach to.

Speaker 1: 9:11

So now we get to the book of Mark. We say Mark for last, which is ironic, because Mark talks about the characteristic of Jesus in the face of the ox. And if you know anything about the ox, the ox is there to serve. The ox is what digs, ditches, the ox is what carries heavy loads, and the book of Mark gives us the example of the servant-hearted leadership of Jesus. Which is interesting to me, that Mark, that we're looking at this book last, because Mark was actually the first one to write the gospel. It's second in order of the New Testament, but he was the first one to write it. Which is interesting because doesn't the Bible say the first will be Like things don't just happen. Which is interesting because doesn't the Bible say the first will be Like things don't just happen for a reason. Everything happens for a reason. Things don't just happen circumstance like oh, it was a coincidence. There's nothing that ever just occurs to God. So Mark talks about the servant heart leadership of Jesus and Mark wrote his letter that we call the gospel of Mark. It's actually John Mark, but in order to not be confusing between the book of John and the book of Mark, we don't want to call it John Mark.

Speaker 1: 10:38

So Mark wrote to the Romans and the culture of the Roman culture of that day. This is why. This is why Mark skips telling about the genealogy of Jesus, because Roman culture wasn't so concerned with the birth of the savior. They wanted to know about the beginning of the ministry of the savior. So Mark writes and begins with the beginning of Jesus' ministry, which was his baptism.

Speaker 1: 11:07

Look open up the book of Mark, chapter 1, if you've never read it, it's a great read. And you read the first opening, like Mark's, letting you know. This is what's happening. John came to preach a message. But here we go Jesus gets baptized, and that's the beginning. And so Mark spends time. Gets baptized, and that's the beginning, and so Mark spends time.

Speaker 1: 11:26

In fact, one of the key scriptures in the book of Mark is Mark, chapter 10, verse 45. And it says this even the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark tells us about the servant hearted leadership of Jesus, tells us about the servant-hearted leadership of Jesus, and it's amazing to me that Jesus flips the script or flips the culture upside down. It's not the greatest will be the greatest. It's actually. If you wanna be the greatest, you're gonna have to be the least. If you wanna be first, you're gonna have to be used to being last. There's a little book that if you want to be first, you're going to have to be used to being last.

Speaker 1: 12:09

There's a little book that if you're a leader and you want to distinguish yourself in an audience, in a community, in a workspace, in church life, there's a book. It's entitled Leaders Eat Last, eat last. And it is a principle of leadership that even though I'm the leader and maybe I should go through the line first, maybe I'm entitled to that. No, you're not Eat last. Let everybody else go first. I always love it when I sit in an audience of leaders and I watch when it's time to have lunch. I just love watching who goes first and it makes a big difference Because you can see it, not only when they go through first in line, but in the rest of their leadership. That's just extra credit. So Jesus flips that upside down. And Jesus did not come expecting a crown. He came carrying a towel. And what do you do if you're the strongest person in the room? You wash feet. And Jesus showed us the way into the kingdom. Authority is through serving. It's not through title, it's not through a throne. It is through serving. It is through picking up the towel and getting some work done.

Speaker 1: 13:41

Shelby shared in our team rally today and she shared a passage of scripture out of the gospels that sometimes really, I'll be honest, sometimes I don't like it when people share it, and it's the story of Martha and Mary. And Martha was the one who was serving in the kitchen, serving around the house, hosting Jesus and all the people in the house. The house was full and Martha was serving, serving, serving, serving, serving man. There's nothing like going into a home where there's a good host. That's why I love coming into Free Church, because we have such a great host team and you come in here and you feel right at home, you feel welcome, you get the best cup of coffee, feels like home.

Speaker 1: 14:27

So Shelby was talking about this not in my notes, but it just occurred to me as I was thinking about this moment and there's Martha who serves, serves, serves, serves, serves. And then there's Mary who's doing nothing but sitting at the feet of Jesus and Jesus actually says she's doing the most important thing. But listen, nobody gets to the feet of Jesus unless somebody's serving and hosting. And that's what Shelby said and I was like I was about to be mad because she was sharing that scripture before team rally. And then she flipped it and I was like well done, shelby, as a great word, because no one gets to get to the feet of Jesus unless we serve, unless we do what God's called us to do Open the door for somebody. Smile, have good breath, welcome High five Fist bump, good cup of coffee. Find a seat, get close to the front. Leaders lead from the front. Nobody gets into the presence of God if we just all expect it to be all about us. Anybody can be great because anybody can serve. Servanthood is the front door to the kingdom of God and his power.

Speaker 1: 15:40

The foundation of a servant-hearted leader is found in attitude and motivation. Why am I serving? Am I serving so I get good pats on the back and that-a-boys and way to go and accolades and the attention and advancement and acceleration, or am I serving to make a difference in somebody's life, to help them find their way to Jesus Attitude and motivation? Jesus did not come to be served, he came to serve. And in our culture we live in a culture that is give a little but get a lot culture.

Speaker 1: 16:20

Did you hear that we serve in a culture of what have you done for me lately? Ooh, yeah, that's Miss Jackson, if you're nasty, sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. We live in a culture what have you done for me lately? But our attitude as servant leaders is what can I do for you? We have to flip that script upside down. We come into a room. We're not there to be served, we're there to serve. We're there to say what can I do? How can I help you? Man, it's so good to see you. Can I get? Let me, let me get you over to the coffee bar, let me get you. Come on. Do you need some water? What do you need? Do you need a mint? People listen.

Speaker 1: 17:27

This is the thing when you live in a give a little, take a lot world people's hearts, motivated by self-interest, put their own agendas, their own safety, their own status, their own gratification ahead of those affected by the decisions they're making. You hear that it is impossible to make a decision to help somebody else if you're living only for your self-care, your self-need, your self-gratification, your self-fulfillment. In fact, if you study the hierarchy of fulfillment in sociology, psychology, the greatest level of fulfillment is not doing something that you love, it's doing something great for somebody else. And I need to preach a series on that. Write that down.

Speaker 1: 18:22

So look at this passage of scripture 2 Corinthians, chapter six, verse seven. It says this Paul's writing we faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and in the left hand for defense. We serve God, whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or they praise us. We are honest, but they call us imposters. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts, our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, yet we have everything.

Speaker 1: 19:17

That is the attitude of a servant-hearted leader. I don't live for the applause, the applause, the applause. I live for the audience of one, and if I do what I'm supposed to do and what I'm called to do, no matter what anybody else thinks, it does not impact my attitude or my motivation to serve. Listen, you have to learn to tell your feelings, what you think and what you believe. If you're going to serve, if you're going to model servant-hearted leadership, you have to tell your feelings, what you think and what you believe, because, listen, your feelings are real, but they're not always right. And notice how Paul had all these things that were stacking up against him, but it did not impact his attitude. Because my attitude, I'm not serving. So you say good job, it feels good, I like it. I'm serving because this is the mandate on my life Jesus came to serve, not be served. And therefore, if I want to model the ministry and the leadership of Jesus, I have to serve and not be served. And so this means servant-hearted leader. This means for you wake up every day and say this I will wake up every day and have the best attitude.

Speaker 1: 20:46

Remember Charlie Brown, the comics man? Students, young adults, y'all missed the days like you missed out on the comic section. Google it. But Charlie Brown had a little friend Linus no, not Linus. Who was the other guy? Who was the guy that was so messy and dirty? Oh, his name was Pigpen.

Speaker 1: 21:18

Imagine that Walked around in the comic strip with a little cloud of dirt and dust over his head. That's the way some of you walk into a room every day. And how are you going to serve people when you've got a crummy attitude? I'm cold, I'm hot, I'm thirsty, I'm tired, I'm hungry, my feet hurt. What have you done for me? That's what you're saying.

Speaker 1: 21:54

But, man, we need to train ourselves and teach ourselves as servant-hearted leaderships. I'm gonna flip the script. I'm gonna have the best attitude every day when I wake up. Guess what? Because my attitude is not based on how you treat me. In fact, in the book of Proverbs it says doing good things and kind things to people that mistreat you is like dumping coals of fire on their head. Listen, you don't have to trade insults or bicker back and forth or point fingers. Just be nice and serve, and man. It'll ruin their day but make it so much better. So there's a word for having the best attitude in the room, there's a word for having this motivation inside of you that's not predicated on how people treat you, and it's called joy man.

Speaker 1: 23:14

I know I always tell you this about my parents, sorry, sometimes I have thoughts. My dad passed away a few years ago and sometimes I have thoughts my dad passed away a few years ago and sometimes I have thoughts that are just that emotion of losing him like just sneaks up on me. But they used to sing this song, this joy that I have, the world didn't give it and the world can't take it away. And they lived that. Pastored in eight years in Bay City, michigan. Pastored for 35 years in Grand Rapids, michigan. Had people treat them terrible, do terrible things to them. They were not honored in many ways that I feel like they should have been honored and still they never lost the joy of serving Jesus and serving people. I was thinking about it when Urs and I were dating.

Speaker 1: 24:06

My dad had a Chevy pickup truck and it was this two-tone blue and gray pickup truck. It was a big truck. It was so much fun to drive. It was really fast for a truck and I could pull a boat with it and my dad gave it away to somebody that needed a vehicle. Well, there goes, my truck had the best cassette player in it. And then he bought another car and it was an Oldsmobile Cutlass and I was like, well, this is cool too. It's got some wider tires, it's got some good rims, this is kind of fun to drive. And he gave that away. And then he had a car, a Monte Carlo, and he let me drive it. But he bought a Lincoln because he wanted a little bit fun. Like the Monte Carlo hurt his back when he was riding in it and so he let me drive the Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo hurt his back when he was riding in it and so he let me drive the Monte Carlo. He bought a Lincoln and then he gave that away.

Speaker 1: 25:03

But he never did it for the responsible people. He did it because that's the way he served. He gave, he was generous and even when people treated him poorly and hurled insults his way, I would watch him just stand there and just be a man and stand up for what he knew, but then serve the mess out of those people Because he had this joy that the world did not give and the world cannot take away. You see, people need us to walk with anointing and they need us to walk with the ability to be relational and get along well and be good with people. They need that and they need us to walk with excellence so that there's a standard that creates comfort and honors God. But people need to be around people who have joy and serve with joy.

Speaker 1: 25:57

Doesn't the Bible say serve the Lord with gladness that will wreck some churches. I'm so thankful, lord, I just gotta give thanks to God. I'm so thankful that Free Church is not a church where we have to like prod and poke and pull you to serve the Lord with gladness. That church can be enjoyed. It doesn't have to be endured, like when people like Christy stand here leading worship. Stop and have a vulnerable moment to tell you. This is why I don't give up in pursuing the presence of the Lord, because he healed me. Listen, we'll write checks for that all day long. We'll give to this house as much as we can give. Why? Because some of us with the gift of giving. We give to that, because we know more miracles are on the way. So people need the anointing. People need to be in relationship because it develops discipleship. People need the pursuit of excellence because it honors God and creates comfort. But people need to be around us because we have joy, we serve with gladness.

Speaker 1: 27:12

It's like you could just say this this is why I married Urshana, because Urshana has lived her life with this principle I will be the life of the party. I will bring the party to any environment. If you've ever been around her, you know that's right. A lot of work to do, but you know what. We're going to stop and have a party. A lot of work to do, but you know what. We're going to stop and have a party and, like man, when it's time to plan a party, be around this one, because it's just. There's so much excitement and lists and honey to do's, excitement and lists and honey to do's. I think she said one time she was like I think we're going to redo the whole kitchen before Saturday. I was like for what? But you know why? Because she brings the party to the environment and I'm going to tell you if you would live with that attitude, people won't run from you in the office any longer. You know who you run from in the office. Hey, how are you doing today? I'm out, I'm out, but get around the one who had some fun, bring some joy in the room. Man, come on. That will change the environment. I will change the environment with a party attitude. I know that sounds simple, but it is so powerful if you will live in it.

Speaker 1: 28:50

Joy isn't just a byproduct of serving, it is the fuel to serve. Product of serving, it is the fuel to serve. If you serve without joy. There's a two-word thing that there's a few words I don't like about church words and one of the church words that's used nowhere else. But there's a word called burnout, because people are like well, I was serving and I was really giving my all in the church, and then there's a list of things that happened the way people responded, the way they were treated or the way they were not treated, and then they're like so I burned out. But really what happened was they were serving with joy and then they stopped serving with joy and then they burned out Because they weren't serving with the proper motivation or fuel. I want to cancel that burnout attitude. If we're going to cancel things in this culture, let's cancel burnout and let's serve with joy. It is a joy. It is a joy to serve the Lord. It is a joy to be in God's house. It is a joy to be in God's service.

Speaker 1: 30:17

Nehemiah 8.10 says this Skip up, okay, this is the best. This is why I love the Lord. Look at what Nehemiah says Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks. Oh, by the way, in August, you know? In January, we have 21 days of prayer and fasting. In August, we're going to have 21 days of prayer and feasting Because of this verse right here Come on somebody. Eat, be merry, have fun, break bread with one another, take over restaurants. Let's go. Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks. I'm going to get some sweet tea today that's what I'm having and then send some to those who have nothing prepared.

Speaker 1: 31:13

This day is holy to our Lord. Now watch this and do not grieve. Watch this For the Lord. The joy of the Lord to our Lord. Now watch this and do not grieve. Watch this, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Why can I serve the Lord with gladness? Why can I serve his house with joy? Because the joy of the Lord is my strength. It's what sustains me. I have sustainable joy, not based on circumstance, but based on the Lord, is my strength. It's what sustains me. I have sustainable joy, not based on circumstance, but based on the Lord. And the joy of the Lord be in my strength. All right, let's close it, wrap it, liam. You better come.

Speaker 1: 31:50

This is why, listen, your strength is not for ego, it is for assignment. Strength is not for ego, it is for assignment. That's why Jesus, notably the strongest person in the room, got down on his knee, grabbed a towel, a basin of water and washed feet. Because your strength is not for ego, it's for an assignment. In fact, romans Paul says this to the Romans. He says each one of you needs to look after the good of the people around you, asking yourselves how can I help? That's the motivation, not what have you done for me lately? How can I help?

Speaker 1: 32:31

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Because look at this passage, underline this Circle. This, take a picture of it. This is the line that we live by at Free Church. This is servant-hearted leadership Strength is for service, not status. It's not the joy of the job, it is the joy of being. It is not the joy of being recognized, it is the joy of the Lord, joy sourced Jesus, joy sourced Paul.

Speaker 1: 33:25

And that is a strength that cannot run out, because it is a strength you do not earn. It is a strength you are given. Because it is a strength you do not earn, it is a strength you are given. When I go to the gym and I lift my weights. I have this recurring theory about going to the gym and lifting weights, that I could go to the gym every day for years and it not really changed my like, my arms have been the same in the gym or out of the gym. So some of you may say, well, you're not lifting enough, and then I would say, well, I'm lifting everything I can, Like that 35 pounds. Listen, when I am in the gym I am getting stronger Because I'm earning that strength, because I'm investing.

Speaker 1: 34:31

But listen, the joy of the Lord is not a strength that you earn, it's a strength that's given and it can't be taken away. Scripture says that the Lord, when he gives a gift, he doesn't take it back. He never he doesn't take it back. It says the gifts of the Lord are without repentance. A number of ways you could write that and work on that and like preach it out. But the reality is, when God gives you something, he's not gonna take it away. That's why you can have joy in any circumstance and that's why joy can fuel you to serve. It gives you a strength that you didn't earn, and so I can serve in any circumstance. Strength is not a platform, it's a plow. Strength is not just a spotlight, it's a shovel, and God gives you joy so that you can go further than your feelings.

Speaker 1: 35:43

So back to this thought. I bring the party to the environment. It comes from this joy that the Lord gives you and you can actually just prepare yourself. I'll be the happiest person in this room. That's gonna. My gift to this room is I'm gonna be happy today. Why are you smiling? Because I'm happy and even if I don't feel it, I'm gonna talk myself into it.

Speaker 1: 36:13

I'm alive, I'm awake, feel it, I'm going to talk myself into it. I'm alive, I'm awake and I feel great. But, pc, you stayed up all night working on a project. Yeah, I know, I feel great. Talk me down, try to talk me down. It's just, it's the gift God's given me and the gift God's given you. It's the same gift. I know there is a fruit of the spirit that is joy, but God gave you joy before he ever gave you the spirit, and that joy is your strength. Set yourself apart, distinguish yourself apart, distinguish yourself, be a positive.

Speaker 1: 37:02

Yes, we can person. I mean, the world is going to hell, but we can do something about it. We can, we can, we can, we can. God has a plan, but he just needs somebody to believe that he can do it. Listen, man, summer crowd. This is a big crowd for summer. It looks good in this house.

Speaker 1: 37:36

Well done, coming to church on Sunday. Our young adults, our youth, are coming back tomorrow. They land at like 10.30. You'll feel the ground shake when they land and they'll be in this house next week and it's going to be electric. And then Sunday night they'll do a this house next week and it's going to be electric. And then Sunday night they'll do a combined service with young adults and the youth and they'll be in this house sharing testimonies. You're welcome to be a part of that on Sunday night.

Speaker 1: 38:03

And listen, god has a plan to save this community. Do you believe he can do it and are you willing to allow him to do it through you? Because he's not going to do it if we don't serve? We gotta make room for people to get to the feet of Jesus. We gotta serve our way to make sure everything's ready, in store, in stock, ready to go. Doors are ready, open doors.

Speaker 1: 38:33

Somebody turned the AC on earlier this morning, all these things. Somebody came and turned the sound system on. Somebody came and set the instruments up. Somebody came. All that was done before we walked in here. You know what? And most of you made a decision before you ever got into this room if you'll ever come back again based on how you felt walking in the room and none of that gets ready if we don't serve. So listen, I'm gonna close this service by just compelling you. You'll find your greatest joy in fulfillment when you serve. I mean, it's great to be in church. Two of you, thank you. It is great to be in church, man. We have great services, but as great as our services are, you'll feel even better serving.

Speaker 1: 39:21

And if you've never joined a team, been on a team, I want to invite you next week to freeway extreme. We call it. We're going to call it extreme for one sunday and then it'll forever be just called freeway again, but extreme because we're doing it all in one one-on-one, two-one one, three one. We're doing it all in like an hour and a half to hour and 45 minutes. Maybe two hours, we'll just see. But no, it'll be, we're gonna streamline it. Get everybody that can. If you've never done freeway or if it's been a few years since you've done freeway, you should do it again. We'll have a light continental breakfast, a little brunchy kind of style, ready for you, and we'll have childcare.

Speaker 1: 39:58

And our goal is to get you to be a part of a team as we get ready to launch two services. Because how many know the vision, the vision? There's some weight to the vision of filling this house two times, not because we wanna be big, but because people need Jesus and God has a plan but needs us to be willing to believe it. And so my thought is this that if we can double our team as we get ready to go to two services, if you're not serving, that means we're making room for you to serve and find more fulfillment and walk in a power and an anointing and a joy that you never experienced before. So sign up, register through Renee forward slash freeway, register for freeway man.

Speaker 1: 40:46

There's so many things coming up. We are going to race our way through the end of this summer. We are going to launch into small groups. We're going to launch into two groups. We're going to launch into two services. Big Ask is coming. It's going to be how many are having the best year of your life? And guess what? It's going to keep getting better.

Speaker 1: 41:05

You know what my prayer is every day God, show me how good it can get. Show me how good it can get. God, because you're able. All the gifts from God are good. Man, what a great day to be in God's house. Can you receive that word today? I need to quit preaching. Let me pray for you.

Speaker 1: 41:29

Father, I thank you for this room. I thank you for every person in this room. I thank you, god, that you've given us the ability to follow you, to follow you, be more like you, and even in all the areas that we might fall short in, you've given us a grace to get back up and keep going. Hey, listen, if you're in this room, you never made a decision to follow Jesus. I'm going to pray this prayer. Maybe it'll be the first time you've ever prayed it, or the first time in a long time, and I just want you to pray this prayer. Church family, we're all going to pray this together, but maybe this is your first time, or first time in a long time. You ready, let's all pray. Dear Jesus, thanks for loving me, for paying a price I could not pay to give me a gift I could never earn. Be my Lord and Savior. I turn from my own ways and I wanna follow you in Jesus' name. Amen, amen. Hey, if that's your first time, first time in a long time, praying that prayer text, this word decided the number's coming up on the screen Text, the word decided to that number, you can stop by. We have Bibles down in the next steps area to give you as our way of helping you take next steps and listen.

Speaker 1: 42:48

God's up to something good. Register for freeway. Hang out a little party in the lobby. Maybe not the patio, depends what the weather's doing, but we have a popsicle for everybody in the house, all the kids and all the adults that think they're kids. Everybody gets a popsicle in the house. Today's gonna be delicious, hey, if you're giving today, thanks for your generosity. Come on, let's all stand together and just thank God one more time for a great day in his house. Hey, may the Lord keep you, bless you, cause his face to shine upon you. We'll see you next week, everybody. God bless you.