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Sermon Transcript:

All right, I realize people are still coming in. If you're just not coming in, we have spots for two and three here and maybe a family of four or five over there. Well, let's let's get started. And just a message that I think will be okay. Even though we have children in the room, we're going to talk about community. So give you an opportunity to learn a little bit about our church and our story and maybe connected to your own story. So Life Church has been around for 20 some odd years. And I want to know where we've been, where we're at, and where we're going. We were originally called Life Community Church that was in our official name, this idea that we would commune with one another that we would have a community and love and fellowship with one another that was built right into our DNA from the get go. We started out in some rented space, a store frontage area. And then we eventually made our way to Marty Robbins. And when we were in the Marty Robbins Center, which is right down here on Vista, Del Sol, we were all together and, and building something, we had to put together the worship, the stage lights, the music, the chairs, the whole thing. And why were we doing that lots and lots of hours that men and women gave of their time to this church, to this community to this vision, because we believe that we could have a place where ordinary people could connect with God. In fact, they would have potlucks and I've talked to some people in recent days where they would gather together and they would have meals where someone would make tacos or whatever they did, and, and to have this sort of enjoyment that we're going to have. So we have a rich history of loving one another and serving one another ie being in community. Now let's just be real clear, you can get community in a lot of different places in different leagues and different programs, you can be a part of even those that have a consistent at even places of drinking establishments, we understand that you can find community in a lot of places, because what is community, by definition, it's a group of people together in one place, especially towards practicing common ownership. That's a key word that we need to identify with. And make sure we're clear with when it comes to community in Life Church, that we are owners, and carriers of this vision that's been entrusted to us. We're sharing common attitudes, that's what a community does, shares common interests, common goals. Somewhere, though, along the way, our drive to serve one another and be around one another waned. And so when you think about COVID, a lot of what COVID did and does for our own lives and corporate lives and organizational lives, is it kind of reveals what was there or not there. And so what ended up happening for a lot of faith communities, ours included is there was some scattering that occurred during COVID. As we moved on, or as we found herself in homes, or, again, many faith communities felt this. So what happens is, is that we come together like this, we have to ask ourselves a new, what commitment am I going to have towards this body of believers towards this place called Life Church, because everybody knows that being in community takes commitment. I mean, how many of us in the room have been a part of what we used to call family reunions or family gatherings where you and I knew that you have to show up, you have to show up at Grandma's house or aunties house or whatever, you have to bring something you have to contribute. When you're really young, of course you don't, you're just a child, maybe even a teenager. But at some point, you have to contribute because when the matriarch or the patriarch dies, when grandma dies, if no one is there, to carry the vision of community and family, then it will stop, it will cease to occur because no one has taken up that monitor that mantle for the cause of the families, that family will stop gathering and meeting and community. It takes desire and commitment to live work and function in community. That's not a thought or theory, we just understand. That's how it works, right? That if you're not committed to something, if we don't roll up our sleeves and say, Man, this is something that I care about and want to be a part of that it'll just go away. It'll just die, either a slow or quick death. Life Church is a special community of people. And it's always functioned on faith always function on faith. It didn't make sense that it could work in a place like this, that we would say no, we're going to take the downtrodden, those who have been kicked around or feel that they're not worthy, just ordinary people. And we're going to create a community of faith in that the idea that it would be sustained and that would be able to be successful, was always something that was in great question to those on the inside and the outside. One of the phrases I would like to say is I look at the history of our churches that we were always punching

above our weight, you know, that phrase, you know that term, it's that whole idea that whatever we're involved in, that we somehow succeed in something that should take more money, more power, we often get this phrase from the idea of a boxer at a lower weight, who's able to go up a weight or two and still succeed, it's not supposed to work that way. It's not supposed to be possible. And I will say that we were always in the history of our church, punching above our weight, not supposed to be able to do that which we are doing, participating in and taking part of. And guess what, that's what faith is. It's always taken faith to be a part of life, church. That's what trust is. It's

it's not like, It's not unlike the dishes that grandma's house and all these kinds of things. It's the idea that we come together for this community for this project for this purpose. And a lot of times, it doesn't seem possible with what's in our hands, we think I don't have anything Lord, or pastor or brand, whatever it was, I don't have any thing. Because from a human perspective, what we've been able to do what we're desiring to do now and in the future, just doesn't add up, the resources that we're enjoying, and that we're going to enjoy. It doesn't seem possible with what we have we moved into this building years ago. And of course, we took on debt to do that that was a faith based decision. A lot of faith communities do that. And so what this does, is allows us to enjoy this room, air conditioning, I know it was kind of cool when you first came in, but it's warming up as bodies have gotten in. And I understand and you understand that that takes finances. Of course it does. But here's the deal. At some level, we all enjoy things that we didn't build with our hands, how many of us enjoy a park in this city or other communities, you didn't put that part together, you weren't part of the planning committee, we just walk out and enjoy the swings and time with our family or walking around the walking track. Think about living in your own parents house, you didn't ask for that you didn't contribute to the income at three, four or 56789 1011 12 years old, you're just in it and you're enjoying it. Think about the land that grows, the vegetables and the fruit that we enjoy. Most of the time. We didn't till that garden, so all of us understand that.

But we also need to understand soberly that that those expenses that I do have the mortgage and the debt, that's our largest monthly expense by far. And we have carried for years long before I got here long before I was making decisions, we carry well over a million dollar debt that causes us to have to spend $9,000 In a monthly mortgage payment every month. On top of that, because we have electric water and gas. But the numbers don't add up. They never have I don't say that to scare you or scare me. I'm not scared. I'm not here to beg you to give or what will fail. I'm just sharing the facts that were a faith based community historically. And that's up to today because rest assure whatever you and I are going to be a part of individually or corporately it's going to take faith, it just is going to take faith. It always begins with us, we got to decide, okay, what are we going to do? What are we going to be a part of do we want to be a part of this community for this season, believing that God will multiply our efforts. That's why I'm here. You think about my own story, we have the story of Life Church, but I think about my own story as a as a man who's now in his early 40s. And, you know, I came from Tennessee, and I'm gonna set up a contractor and the son of a guidance counselor in a public school system. And I have two older sisters and certain things shaped me and how I think about the world around me and I enjoy hunting and I enjoy my family and I enjoy going on vacation when I can. There's all these things that make up who I am. And one of the things that I realized at some point, just by God's grace is that, that he wants to use all of my experiences and bent towards his glory. And then I can choose to be a part of that. Or if I choose to bury my talent or skill or whatever it is, God has given me that it could be so quickly taken away, or God Himself could use someone else to accomplish his purposes. Isn't that so sad? When we think about our story or your story or the church's story, that God wants to do this? He wants to multiply our efforts. The people of God have always been faced with this sort of scarcity, where they look around, say, I think things are scarce. I mean, guys, we live in a desert where water is scarce. We're standing the people of God when God was leading people and the wilderness and Moses himself. And so we've always sort of struggled with it seems like I don't have enough for the day to run out for the month to run out. We've always been in this predicament or challenge and I want to share one such story with you that may be familiar, but I think shows again, the Kingdom mindset

Get in these sorts of situations. Let's look at the book of John, very famous passage here about this idea after this Jesus, this is from the New Testament book of John Jesus crossed over the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberius. Huge crowds kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration. Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him, turning to fill up, he asked, Where can we buy bread to feed all these people he was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. Philip replied, Even if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them. Then Andrew, Simon, Peter's brother spoke up, there's a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with his huge crowd, tell everyone to sit down, Jesus said, so they all sit down on the grassy slopes, the men alone numbered about 5000. Then Jesus took the loaves gave thanks to God and distributed them to the people. Afterward, he did the same with the fish, and they all ate as much as they want. And after everyone was fooled, Jesus told his disciples Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted. So they picked up the pieces and build 12 baskets, with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves when people saw him do this miraculous sign they explained, surely he is the prophet, we have been expecting. When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself. Think about this story, this story is the only story besides the resurrection. That's told in all four Gospels, it's one of the most famous stories around Jesus's time, people who don't even go to church, a lot of times know, this story. But it doesn't make sense. I mean, let's just be real clear that when you take five pieces of bread, or five loaves of bread, and two fishes, and you're gonna be 5000 Men, plus women and children, that doesn't make sense, we've got to realize this is kingdom stuff going on here. And this isn't some just ancient story of miraculous thing that occurred, but it occurs individually and corporately in our lives all the time. Because it doesn't make sense, in a worldly sense. But it makes sense when kingdom stuff is going on. There's not enough money for for enough food, right? They very clearly said we could work for months, Jesus, he knew what he was going to do. He says in the text, he Jesus knew what he was going to do. But he asked them to see where their mindset was. Because one of the ask, what do you have in your hand, I think it's interesting that went and got a got a boy who had five loaves and two fishes eating as interesting that I don't know if there's one of the 12 or all 12 went and sort of hijacked this poor little boy, that is, you know, lunch or whatever his mom had given him. But it's interesting that that they find out this is always God. And I know as I look at you, you sit here and you think, I got nothing pasture, like, you know, we used to say back where I came from, I don't have a pot to pee, and you just sent them and I don't have anything in like these hands, the skills I have. And I didn't have this education. I didn't go to this place. I didn't have this kind of mommy or daddy or whatever, we often look at what we don't have. And Jesus is always asking you what what do you have? That will be enough. Because what Jesus does is he takes what we have, and he multiplies it. That's what he does for you and me, whatever you have in your hand, God wants us for His glory. That's so key, that our eyes and our affections are always tilted upward. That's why we worship and sing the songs. And that's why we do what we do. I know five loaves and two fishes doesn't seem relatable. So fill in the blank was whatever you feel like you've got in your hand. Right? I know that when we gather here in El Paso, what do we often take with us? I know what I began to take with us as I've embraced the El Paso culture, we take breakfast burritos, right? Because they're good all day. You just get the eggs and the flour, you put exactly what you want in them, and you put the salsa to the side. And it's just amazing. Wrap it up real tight, and it's just warm for hours. Why just bring that up to say that? Have you ever been there when then you have to distribute that yet figure out a way to feed your buddies or your friends or your family around you. That one or two breakfast burritos that you and I pack for later doesn't go very far. We think there's nothing else we can do with this kind of thing. So take whatever you make sense in your mind because five loaves and two fishes may be too big of a jump because I've never packed a fish for anywhere because it always spoiled for me real quick, right? But take whatever you have your cooking ability, your construction ability, the fact that you can hunt or fish that you can host that you're a people person that you're good with numbers, that you've been blessed with some extra money that you're good with people

People that you deal with words that you get with a camera, we can use any and all and so much more of that here at Life Church, we think about community, but it's going to take faith on our part. Not to be real clear in our hearts, we've got to decide, always decide, okay, I'm enjoying a chair that I did not pay. And I'm gonna sit on a table, that I was even here when they bought this. But if we're going to enjoy it, and we're going to continue to be good stewards of what God has entrusted with us, it's going to take faith because the numbers and the time won't add up individually and corporately, if I was to go around the room and I said, How many of y'all got a few extra hours or time or money in your pocket to contribute to anything else, we'd all say, No, I got nothing. I'm already shot, then I'm already stressed out. But when we get on board with what God has for us, somehow he makes time, somehow it works in the kingdom a different way than our mind can even wrap its head around. And so that's why Jesus, when he tells another story about the parable of the talents, he's real clear that if you and I don't invest in us what He has given us, even that which we have, will be taken away. It's in the parable of the talents there. I think about this in terms of some people who have given and been on mission for God before. And that's what we're really calling ourselves to, isn't it, that we're on mission for God in the community, whether it's part of the rich or whether it's part of enjoying one another, whether it's part of serving this church and being a part of what we're doing here for however long we're here. Think about someone like Jim Elliott, who was on mission, and he said, he is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep, to gain when he cannot lose that I don't know if you've heard that phrase before. But it's really cool, because think about that, he is no fool or she is no fool who gives what they cannot keep, to gain what they cannot lose. That's how precious the gospel has to become to our hearts in our lives. And the very spirit of God has to move to where we ask, How can I serve? Where am I going to serve, and of course, it takes sacrifice in time, we can all get lazy, flat footed and merely consumers, right. That's what happens is everything is after our attention and grabbing us to pull our hearts and our minds away from God, we can get civilized, but who's hungry for the things of God, of course, we're gonna sit and enjoy a meal here as community and as a fellowship, and as a people, but who's hungry for the things of God who desires to be committed to a cause greater than themselves. That's a life worth having, not just one that nibbles off the dribble that's given to us, from our culture. In our world, I think about Queen Elizabeth who just died in the last year or so. And how many of you remember when she took the crown at a young age, she said these words. I declare before all of you that my whole life, whether long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of our great imperial family, to which we all belong. Now she's saying that as a monarch, as a representative of the British nation, but I love that phrase, whether my time be long or short, I'll be committed to this family. And I just want to ask, you are closing up here and I know that kids are getting antsy. But as far as it's up to you and me for as long as we have our time here in El Paso in Life Church, will you give yourself whether it be long or short to the cause of Christ in this community, it is a call to serve and to sacrifice. Christianity always has been thinking about all the commitment level that Jesus is asking us to do, ultimately laying down our lives for the cause of Christ taking up our cross and following him. We always have an opportunity to do that we're gonna transition here in a minute to a mealtime. And behind me is going to be a QR code that is always an opportunity to serve in the season. We function more like we did in the past, which is that we need everyone to take their place, and to ask themselves, what is it I'm going to do during this season at Life Church, that's going to contribute to the greater cause. Because if you believe in the kingdom of God, even God is working here, we need your help. And I would say one of the major ways we need your help is with Kid life. When we move to one service, we knew that that would mean that more people would have to serve in kid life. Because when I want opportunity to gather and worship together, we need 100 volunteers in kid life. Now that's very doable, because there's two 300 people in the room. But we need 100 volunteers to serve so that every person can only serve once a month. That way there's part of this community the other three times a month, he said, Well, Pastor, when are we going to go back to to services and to kid lives when we bust out the scenes when we're sitting in a room like this, whether it's round tables around rows, and there's no more room in this auditorium.

And we all know that God is moving and blessing in such a way where we need to multiply. That's the way God does things. He doesn't do things by addition. He doesn't by multiplication, and I believe that but I want to give you an opportunity. We're gonna leave this up the whole service, you don't have to just snap it right now. We'll give you an opportunity to move into what God has first like church. I'm excited. I'm excited to be a part. But I want to be sober minded and honest with you enough to say that, if we choose to back, please talk to someone else. Yeah, I'm good right now. I'm busy right now. God will get his purposes done. But whether he'll use us or not, that's the huge question whether we'll waste our life or not. That's the huge question.

Let's pray. Father, I thank you so much for allowing us to spend a few minutes together and look at your word. I pray for those in the room and I pray for the meal that we're about to enjoy that you would encourage us that you would nourish us that you would help us to fellowship maybe get to know a couple of people around the table for with people who aren't family that you would calm the kids as much as you can so we can enjoy one another and leave this place after communion, loving you more and knowing you more as this in Christ's name, Amen.