We’ve always been passionate about the next generation being raised up and developed around here. But to actually believe in and invest in the next generation takes a heart for who is next and takes a passion for unity. 20 years separates us – there could be so many things that divide us. But God has done something special here. He has given us a passion for unity that supersedes our age and our preferences. Most churches get old as the leaders get old. The preferences of the older generation begin to create less and less room for the next generation to thrive. 66% of High School Students step away from their faith when they graduate High School. By having a passion for unity, we as a church can help change this statistic, but we have to make room for the next generation to not only grow, but to thrive!

Jesus is making all things new. There are several spheres of influence that we have as we go about life. As we follow Jesus, He begins to change us in every one of those areas. That’s what we have been talking about – we started this series talking about the first sphere – our abiding relationship with Jesus. Then last week Richie introduced us to the second sphere – the church. This is where we are going to pick up today. As followers of Jesus, we have been given a mission to reach this world for Jesus one person at a time. The primary way that we do this is by being in intentional relationships with the people around us – as we grow together in being and making disciples of Jesus. That word relationship is what can get us into trouble. Mostly from personal experience, we all bring our own definitions to what relationship looks like – most of which look totally different. Jesus’ church has always been and still is where we are supposed to learn how to be in intentional relationships with the people around us.

Why is the church here? What is the purpose of the church? Why do we need the church in our lives? How do we interact with the church? What is our role in the church? I wonder if we just attend and not think about some of these questions? I wonder if it would be important for us to spend a few minutes unpacking this conversation…I think it is actually essential to know what you believe and how you live within the church. When Paul wrote the book of Ephesians – he wrote more about the church than anything else. What a mess it could be – lots of different opinions and desires all colliding within the church. Who’s right? Wrong? What is God’s heart and plan? What does maturity look like within the church?

As a church, what kind of people are we going to be? The saddest Christian in the world is the one who only seeks God half-heartedly or casually. That person cannot enjoy sin anymore because they know it’s wrong but will not experience any of the joy and fulfillment of the gospel because they are not all in with Jesus. Remember Jeremiah’s statements? Those who seek God wholeheartedly will be in for the adventure of their lives. Those who are half-hearted and compromise will live a life of pain and separation from the goodness of God. When we look at the gospel, it is hard not to be moved by the goodness of God and hunger to know him better. The only way we will genuinely reach this world for Jesus one person at a time is by laying a foundation of faithful connection to God through day-in, day-out spiritual discipline. This world needs something real. They need SOMEONE real. They need Jesus. The more connected we are with him, the more people will see him shining through our lives. God loves you and wants to be in deep community with you. Will you create the space? Will you let him in?

We want to present all of us Mature in Christ. Each of us becoming who God made us to be. That is a process of transformation. Each of us are learning what it means to be mature in every area of our life. You see up here – there 5 spheres of life you walk through every day. Jesus, church, family, world, spiritual realm. Maturity is essential in each of these spheres. Today we are spending more time in this abiding sphere – your relationship with Jesus – everything flows from that – if you are immature there – everything else will be affected. He is the source of life and power to be transformed in every area of your life. Without his power – you have no hope to become who he made you to be.

A new thing. That is what we are talking about in this series. God has you here for a purpose. He wants you to know who you are and who He is. But there is a very big thing that keeps us from that – sin. Sin is everything that is against God’s plan for your life and it is toxic. Our sin can’t just be cleaned up. The world is selling a story of self-improvement. The Bible tells a story of total transformation from the inside out. A new way of thinking. A new way of doing. A new way of being. You were created with a purpose and to do good works in every area of your life. But before you can walk into those, you must learn how to abide in Jesus. And that starts with the death of the worldly way of living and the birth of a new life.

When we come to faith in Jesus – we bring all our brokenness and baggage – maturing is about leaving that behind and becoming someone new. All things are made new in Christ. If we don’t work out our salvation with fear and trembling – we risk staying in the same place as where Christ rescued us. Still wrestling in our broken ways. Are you becoming new in all areas of your life? Pursue, connect, give and multiply. Are you maturing in Christ? This is my heart in this message and in this whole series…are we becoming new? Are you allowing Jesus to transform every area of your life? We baptize so many people around here – we call us to get connected in a group – but maturity is isn’t just connection – it’s a whole process of every area of your life being transformed. We can’t accomplish this on a Sunday – we need conversations and relationships to help us mature this way. So let’s start the conversation on Sunday’s and allow you to work through this in your connections and relationships.

Happy Easter REALLIFE! We have hope and life because Jesus lives. We have freedom and expectation for God to move powerfully because He defeated the thing that separated us from Him - sin and death itself!

What we do when things are good, and God seems to be speaking and moving in profound ways, often reflects the depth of our faith and our intimacy with God. But everyone can be good when things seem good. The reality is that what we do when we DON’T hear God’s voice and have a hard time seeing his movement can actually be a more powerful testimony to God’s goodness and the strength of our faith.

It’s easy to follow Jesus when miracles are obviously happening around us, but it is a much greater act of worship to remain faithful and committed in the silence. God IS moving! Will we have the patience and faith to stay the course? Will we hold on to the hope that God is doing something incredible during the down time? Will we believe that salvation and the powerful work of God will burst forth in new creation when the time is ripe? We are God’s treasured possession, and he loves us very much. Let’s live like that is true, even through our own silent years!

In this episode, Richie walks us through the life of King Josiah, and how God may want us to reform areas of our lives.

God has entrusted you with a position of great influence. Can you see it? Are you aware that he has brought you to the crossroads of your world in the realms of your family, your neighborhood, your workplace, and many others? God has put you there because the darkness that is present in those places is no match for the light of Christ within you. Will you let him shine? Will you allow God to reach the world through you? Will you fight right, stewarding your crossroads well? God has used person after person through history who took this seriously to bring revival and salvation all over the world. He wants to do the same thing through us.

God wants to use your deserts to refine your character and to prepare you for what is coming next in your life. Will you run away from the desert, complain bitterly about it, reject God in the midst of it, or give up? Or will you trust him to lead you like a bride, knowing that if you trust his process of refinement you are going to be so much stronger spiritually, wiser, and more prepared for what is to come at the end of it?

God has called us. God is calling us to reach and invite people into his family and we are to be together with God to bring hope and restoration to the world. God is calling us beyond being the center of our own universe and seeing that we are a part of a miraculous story that has been moving through human history for centuries. We are a part of a rescue plan. God wants all his children rescued from sin and shame and brought back to right relationship with him.

Reaching the world for Jesus is not something that we have to figure out on our own. Our job is to walk with God one day at a time – trusting Him to guide us. Proverbs 3.5-6 NIV – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Knowing that sin has affected every person that has ever been born compels us to spread the message of hope everywhere we go. That God has a plan to restore everything. As we go

about life, we will have the opportunity to show the people around us what God is like – to help them see where they fit into His story. This is WHY you were created – to be God’s image bearer and partner with him in this world. The rebellion of people was disastrous – no question about it. But God’s response is what gives us reason to hope. We don’t have to look any further than the cross to see just how much God loves us! And He has called us to partner with Him in His mission.

We long to be a church of impact. A people who actually see the world changed through us. We long to be a generous people. We are created with a purpose. We are called to love and see our city and our world changed through us. We have finances in our lives to be able to love and bless people with. I am so proud of you all for embracing this conversation. I believe God is turning our hearts toward him through this principal of Sowing and Reaping. I pray your heart is responsive.  

We are going to talk about money today. Everyone’s favorite topic. In fact many of you invited friends to be with you – “oh great.” Ha! I know it makes us uncomfortable – but that is exactly why we need to talk about money. To make us more and more comfortable with God’s design for finance. We need to talk about it so we can be free from it. When we keep things in the dark they tend to own us. When difficult things are brought into the light – God has the opportunity to speak and direct and heal and transform. As long as we leave stuff in the dark – the enemy has the ability to control us through those things. I wonder though have you ever thought about money the way God thinks about money? Have you ever considered if you have God’s perspective of money? Do you know what God thinks about money? Jesus talks about money more than almost anything else. That means we should pay attention to what the Bible says about money. 

We love you REALLIFE! All of this is here for you!

We are empowered beyond what we can even comprehend. God WANTS to partner with us. He WANTS to perform his miracles through us by the power of his holy Spirit. He WANTS to bring glory to his name through our lives. He WANTS to reach the world for Jesus one person at a time through us. Will we commit to him? He is committed to us! Will we walk in the power of his Spirit?  

We are a called people. God has gifted you for the assignment he has given you. Your confidence is not from your performance nor circumstances – rather from God himself. He is the one who called you and gifted you and loved you. He always equips those he calls. He will match you gifting with your calling perfectly. Move into that calling with confidence.  

I believe God wants to grow your confidence in 2023. He wants you to see who you are and where you are amazing. God wants you to walk in your giftedness this year. When you believe you have been given amazing gifts and an amazing place in life – you steward it with a sense of responsibility and joy and tenacity.