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- Amen, good morning, Springhouse.

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It's a joy to see you this morning.

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Before we get going, I had a conversation

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on the phone last night with Ximena Lindsey.

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Many of you know Ximena.

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Her dad, Antonio, is in the hospital in Skyline

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for suffering from, I believe, a fall, is that correct?

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And so what I'd like to do is we're gonna pray for them.

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And so if you'll stand, we're gonna stretch our hands

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that way, I think Skyline's that way, but the Lord knows.

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But we're gonna go this way with it, okay?

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Father, thank you so much for who you are

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and your sovereignty.

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I thank you, Lord, for your peace, Lord,

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that passes understanding.

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And I thank you for your healing touch.

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And I ask, Lord, right now that you would cover

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that hospital room, the Lindsay family, God,

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I thank you, Lord, for already the miraculous signs

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and wonders, Lord, that you have performed

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in this entire ordeal.

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I thank you, Lord, that the Lindsey family is cognizant

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of your move and your presence.

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And I pray, Lord, that you would just meet them

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right where they are.

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I pray for Antonio, speed your recovery,

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be with the doctors and the nurses, Lord,

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and just cover them in this time.

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Let this be a testimony of your faithfulness.

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In Jesus' name, amen, amen.

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You may be seated this morning.

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Well, it's always a good day to be in the house

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of the Lord and with God's people.

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And this is our last Sunday of 2025.

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And man, it has been a rich year, has it not?

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It's been good.

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Traditionally, if you've been here for any length of time,

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this Sunday, we do an entire message on reading the Word.

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And that's intentional because reading the Word

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is foundational to a believer's life.

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One of my favorite things that Pastor Ronnie said

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when he would do this message is,

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you're never finished reading the Word.

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You are never finished reading the Word.

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Today, though, we are going to have a portion

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of today's service specifically bathed in that,

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although you're gonna have Scripture all throughout this.

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But the Holy Spirit, I believe,

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had something different for us today.

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And it was evident in our first gathering

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that it's exactly what I believe

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that the Lord wanted for today.

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So with that, if you'll stand with me,

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we're gonna read from Scripture.

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We're gonna read Ephesians chapter four.

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Our clicker is not working this morning,

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so we're gonna follow along with us as we read.

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And you all are gonna read like you've got four shots

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of espresso in you, okay?

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Here we go.

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As a prisoner for the Lord then,

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I urge you to live a life worthy

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of the calling you have received.

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Be completely humble and gentle.

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Be patient, bearing with one another in love.

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Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit

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through the bond of peace.

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There is one body and one Spirit,

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just as you were called to one hope

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when you were called one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

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one God and Father of all,

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who is over all and through all and in all.

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So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets,

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the evangelists, the pastors and teachers

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to equip His people for works of service

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so that the body of Christ may be built up

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until we reach unity in the faith

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and in the knowledge of the Son of God

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and become mature, attaining to the whole measure

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of the fullness of Christ.

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Father, I thank you for your word.

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I thank you that it is a light to our path, God.

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I thank you that it guides us, it transforms us.

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I thank you, Lord, that it is alive.

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I pray, Lord, that you would do your work through it today

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in Jesus' name, and everybody said amen.

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You may be seated.

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I have a question I wanna begin with today,

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and the question is who are you following?

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Who are you following?

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Walk as Christians in our tradition

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of going and attending a church,

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it is important in the kingdom to understand

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who you are following, understand and know

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who it is that you're following.

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And today, typically on the last day of the year,

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I will say here are our elders, this is our eldership.

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Here they are, they're gonna come up here.

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We're gonna pray over them, and then we move along.

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And that's a very important moment

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because it's super, super important

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that you are praying for your leaders.

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It's important that we are praying

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and covering our leaders in prayer.

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But this morning, especially because of the direction,

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I feel like the Lord's taking us in 2026,

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I felt compelled this morning to expand a little bit

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on that section with regard to who it is

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that's in spiritual leadership over this house this morning.

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And so we're gonna camp here for just a moment.

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And what I want us to do is I don't want you

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to mentally check out because I want it

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to be talking about leadership,

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but if we read the scripture,

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this is really for all believers.

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Do you know that as a believer in Christ Jesus,

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you have an assignment?

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Every one of you have an assignment.

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And so this really is for all of us.

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It's not just for a few of us.

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So the question this morning is who are you following?

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And I wanna start here.

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Go ahead and hit that slide.

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Title and position do not make you a kingdom leader.

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Calling does.

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Title and position do not make you

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a kingdom leader, calling does.

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Calling, the word tells us in Romans chapter 11

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that the gift and call of God is irrevocable,

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meaning every one of us has a call and a sign.

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If you're breathing here and you love the Lord Jesus Christ,

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you've given your heart to him,

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you have a job to do here on the planet.

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And your job is not to come in here

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and just have a consumer mentality

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and let somebody else walk out your faith for you.

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Every one of us has an assignment,

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a unique position, a unique place.

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And the title and position that you're giving

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do not make you a kingdom leader, calling does.

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If you are in any type of ministry,

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which most of us are, it may not be in the church,

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but most of you are in ministry

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because at your assigned place, wherever that is,

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you should be exuding the love and joy of Christ Jesus.

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And so in the ministry calling,

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especially when it comes to the positions within the church,

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every kingdom leader faces a point in time

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or multiple points in times where they're like,

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"I don't want anything to do with this anymore.

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"I wanna lay this down."

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And I have to tell you, over the last four years,

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there have been multiple moments

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where I've gotten to that point.

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But what keeps me going is I'm called.

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And so the choice is obey or disobey the Lord.

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And don't you know, whenever you lean into obedience,

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He meets you every single time.

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He meets you every single time.

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Calling is important because it's where we draw

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our strength from, we are equipped

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from the God of the universe.

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Hit the next slide.

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And so as we are called, the scripture tells us

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that we just read, live a life worthy

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of the calling that you've received.

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Now, this is not about perfection.

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That's why Jesus had to come.

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It's not just about what you don't do,

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but it's also about what you do.

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Our calling and our effectiveness in our calling,

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whether or not we're called to the things

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that we're called to, is measured in fruit.

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And in the kingdom, that fruit is specified as love,

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joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, self-control,

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and I would add, humility.

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And as we're exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit,

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there is evidence that we are leaning into the Spirit.

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If we are attempting to do jobs and walk in areas

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where He has not covered us, He has not called us to,

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then the Spirit of God is not going to be present.

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And the only way to have the fruit of the Spirit

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is to be leaning into the Spirit of God.

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You can be a great speaker, draw a large crowd,

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have an infectious personality, and not be a kingdom leader.

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The most dangerous thing,

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and guys, I want you to carry this away,

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the most dangerous thing a kingdom leader can attempt to do

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is to draw people to themselves rather than to Christ.

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And the litmus test in that is when you decide to show up

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to the various things that you show up for in ministry,

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when you show up to that group thing, that group following,

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you need to ask yourself,

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am I here because of the infectious personality

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of that leader, or am I here

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because they are pointing me to God?

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Otherwise, you just have a club.

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God did not call us to be impressive.

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He called us to be faithful.

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Go ahead and hit that next slide.

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We are called to make every effort,

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would you say every effort, every effort

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to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

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Every leader in this place

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should be pointing you to Jesus Christ.

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I believe that our leaders do not gossip.

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They do not complain.

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They do not tear down other people.

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We have carried the mantra of,

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this is a place where gossip goes to die.

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Unity is the evidence of spiritual maturity.

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That doesn't mean agreement, it means alignment, alignment.

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And if you want to measure the spiritual maturity

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of someone, watch what they do in the middle of a conflict.

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If you want to measure the spiritual maturity

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of any believer, watch what they do

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in the middle of conflict.

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The world champions and celebrates division and separation.

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The weapons we use to handle our issues

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should not look like the world's.

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We would rather look for leaders

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who would make us feel good about revenge

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and allow us to wallow in our bitterness

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than to take supernatural paths toward Jesus.

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Have you ever seen the movie "The Forge"?

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There is a character, the main character in there,

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his name's Joshua, and he's leading this group of guys

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in discipleship in his core circle.

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I'm gonna, spoiler alert here.

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At the end of the movie, it's discovered

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that one of the core people that he's walking with

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actually killed Josh, his name's Bobby,

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killed Joshua's son in a drunken accident.

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Yet Joshua walks in reconciliation and forgiveness.

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That type of reconciliation and forgiveness

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only comes from being spiritually mature

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and leaning on a supernatural God.

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And all of us have access to do that.

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Kingdom leaders will constantly be looking

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for a pathway forward toward reconciliation, unity, and peace.

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Go ahead and hit that next one.

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And so as he is called and appointed leaders,

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the job is to equip people

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so that the body of Christ may be built up

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because all of you have a job.

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And so your leaders, your spiritual leaders

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should be looking at your life and building you up,

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affirming you in the calling God has placed on your life,

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equipping you to move and build the body of Christ up.

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This is for everyone.

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And the leader's success is measured

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in the fruit of those they equip.

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So this is our eldership team here at Springhouse.

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And I believe that every one of these guys have been called.

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They're gonna put that picture up as soon, there it is.

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And one day we're gonna take a picture

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with all the backgrounds matching,

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but that has not happened yet.

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But this is our eldership.

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And our eldership is responsible

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for the spiritual wellbeing of our church.

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And so this group meets regularly, prays together,

263
00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,480
prays for you and looks for opportunities

264
00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:05,000
to serve the body throughout each year.

265
00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,280
We have an admin board who governs the finances.

266
00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,020
We have a pastoral team who runs the day-to-day operations,

267
00:12:11,020 --> 00:12:13,440
sets the vision and tone for our services.

268
00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,560
And then we have the eldership overseas.

269
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And today I want you to hear from a few of your elders,

270
00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:23,560
our elders at this church about the heart that we carry

271
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with regard to unity, serving the body,

272
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oversight of different ministries

273
00:12:28,740 --> 00:12:30,800
and the importance of being in the Word.

274
00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:32,520
And so I've got some elders that are gonna come.

275
00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:34,600
Hopefully you've recognized their faces.

276
00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,360
It's gonna be Pastor Justin,

277
00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:40,000
followed by Elder Jeremy Jones, then Eric Harding,

278
00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:40,840
and then Ronnie Meek.

279
00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:42,600
Would you welcome Justin Beshears?

280
00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,100
(congregation applauding)

281
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- Thank you, brother.

282
00:12:48,980 --> 00:12:50,120
You might not recognize me.

283
00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:53,360
They put my freshman yearbook photo up here.

284
00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:54,180
Good Lord.

285
00:12:54,180 --> 00:12:56,400
I worked too dang hard to get to senior year

286
00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,160
for them to put that skinny picture up there of me.

287
00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,000
You guys might wanna be skinny for 2026, but I don't.

288
00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:03,260
I'm going the opposite way.

289
00:13:03,260 --> 00:13:06,000
Good Lord.

290
00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:07,160
I've already got texts.

291
00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,120
The moment they put that up, my wife looked over

292
00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:10,760
and then I got two text messages.

293
00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:15,480
Pastor Kevin said, "One of the qualifications is humility."

294
00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:16,780
And God said, "Well, we're gonna deal with this

295
00:13:16,780 --> 00:13:17,940
right out the gate."

296
00:13:17,940 --> 00:13:21,680
(congregation laughing)

297
00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:23,280
I am Pastor Justin here.

298
00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,200
I'm an associate pastor here at Springhouse.

299
00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:29,280
But before I was on staff as a pastor, I was an elder.

300
00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:33,000
And long after my time on staff is done,

301
00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:36,360
whether someday I retire or most likely

302
00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:40,080
after a breakfast meeting, and I'm no longer on staff here,

303
00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,120
I will still remain an elder here

304
00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,800
because one of the qualifications of eldership

305
00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:47,560
is able to teach.

306
00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:51,360
And although that my primary function here

307
00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:54,220
from this platform is teaching and studying

308
00:13:54,220 --> 00:13:57,920
and leading group studies in here or Thursday nights

309
00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,280
or Sunday mornings from this platform and equipping you,

310
00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,920
I function in a lot of ways as an overseer

311
00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:04,940
and elder of this house.

312
00:14:04,940 --> 00:14:07,180
And I take that role very seriously.

313
00:14:07,180 --> 00:14:11,560
And so this morning I'm gonna talk about unity.

314
00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:14,180
I wanna open up with a scripture that's been

315
00:14:14,180 --> 00:14:19,180
kind of the primary scripture over this body of believers

316
00:14:19,180 --> 00:14:21,420
and elders when it comes to unity.

317
00:14:21,420 --> 00:14:23,420
And this is in Psalm 133.

318
00:14:23,420 --> 00:14:27,640
And it says, "How good and pleasant is it

319
00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,200
when brothers dwell together in unity?

320
00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,840
It is like the precious oil on the head,

321
00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:35,620
running down the beard on the beard of Aaron,

322
00:14:35,620 --> 00:14:38,100
running down on the collar of his robes.

323
00:14:38,100 --> 00:14:39,740
It is like the dew of Herman,

324
00:14:39,740 --> 00:14:41,860
which falls on the mountains of Zion,

325
00:14:41,860 --> 00:14:45,900
for there the Lord has commanded the blessing life

326
00:14:45,900 --> 00:14:47,620
forevermore."

327
00:14:47,620 --> 00:14:49,960
Unity is very important to the body.

328
00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,100
So let me start off by telling you guys

329
00:14:52,100 --> 00:14:53,720
what unity is not.

330
00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,620
Unity is not agreement.

331
00:14:56,620 --> 00:15:01,620
I don't consider myself to be very argumentative,

332
00:15:01,620 --> 00:15:06,700
but judging by the laughter,

333
00:15:06,700 --> 00:15:09,620
you guys do consider me to be,

334
00:15:09,620 --> 00:15:13,100
I wouldn't say argumentative, but let's just use argumentative

335
00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:15,340
for lack of a better term here.

336
00:15:15,340 --> 00:15:17,460
Unity does not mean agreement.

337
00:15:17,460 --> 00:15:20,760
There have been many occasions over the years

338
00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:23,020
before I was on the elder board

339
00:15:23,020 --> 00:15:26,360
and since I've been on the elder board,

340
00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:28,420
that we do not see eye to eye

341
00:15:28,420 --> 00:15:33,040
or we do not agree on a decision or a direction.

342
00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,500
We debate often, we discuss,

343
00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:37,780
and sometimes we end up coming to an agreement

344
00:15:37,780 --> 00:15:41,220
and other times we still disagree.

345
00:15:41,220 --> 00:15:46,220
So how can you walk in unity if you're not in agreement?

346
00:15:46,220 --> 00:15:49,620
So unity is not agreement.

347
00:15:49,620 --> 00:15:51,140
Now let me tell you what unity is.

348
00:15:51,140 --> 00:15:54,760
Unity means a shared heart posture.

349
00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,660
The last thing that Pastor Kevin

350
00:15:56,660 --> 00:15:59,780
or the pastoral staff need is a bunch of yes men.

351
00:15:59,780 --> 00:16:02,580
He doesn't need us to hooray, hoorah,

352
00:16:02,580 --> 00:16:06,300
and champion every decision that he has, okay?

353
00:16:06,300 --> 00:16:09,780
Instead, what he does need is an eldership

354
00:16:09,780 --> 00:16:14,220
with a shared heart posture based on mutual submission,

355
00:16:14,220 --> 00:16:15,420
trust in one another,

356
00:16:15,420 --> 00:16:20,020
and a willingness to follow the Holy Spirit together.

357
00:16:20,020 --> 00:16:23,620
So your eldership, while sometimes disagreeing,

358
00:16:23,620 --> 00:16:28,540
walk in lockstep under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

359
00:16:28,540 --> 00:16:31,140
Unity is a shared heart posture.

360
00:16:31,140 --> 00:16:34,140
So now how do we walk in unity?

361
00:16:34,140 --> 00:16:36,900
How do we achieve that here at Springhouse?

362
00:16:36,900 --> 00:16:40,540
Well, unity has to be decided beforehand.

363
00:16:40,540 --> 00:16:43,020
We go into it, whether it's a meeting

364
00:16:43,020 --> 00:16:46,780
or an email thread or something,

365
00:16:46,780 --> 00:16:48,420
if there's a decision to be made,

366
00:16:48,420 --> 00:16:50,300
or if there's something that we're discussing

367
00:16:50,300 --> 00:16:51,540
or we're praying over,

368
00:16:51,540 --> 00:16:54,060
we go into it with the mindset

369
00:16:54,060 --> 00:16:57,380
that we're gonna walk in unity no matter what.

370
00:16:57,380 --> 00:17:01,180
And so because we've decided beforehand

371
00:17:01,180 --> 00:17:02,780
we're gonna walk in unity,

372
00:17:02,780 --> 00:17:06,300
then no matter what it takes for however long it takes,

373
00:17:06,300 --> 00:17:11,300
we will not leave a conclusion until we're united in it.

374
00:17:11,300 --> 00:17:15,940
We're not striving for unity, we're walking in it.

375
00:17:15,940 --> 00:17:17,740
And because your leadership here,

376
00:17:17,740 --> 00:17:20,740
the spiritual oversight at Springhouse is walking in it,

377
00:17:20,740 --> 00:17:23,620
that gives you guys a model to walk in it.

378
00:17:23,620 --> 00:17:25,860
Because what the world says is

379
00:17:25,860 --> 00:17:28,700
that because you don't agree with one another

380
00:17:28,700 --> 00:17:30,300
and you don't see eye to eye,

381
00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:34,020
then you should be diametrically opposed to one another.

382
00:17:34,020 --> 00:17:36,740
If your theology doesn't match their theology,

383
00:17:36,740 --> 00:17:37,580
then matter of fact,

384
00:17:37,580 --> 00:17:40,100
you two should just sit on opposite sides of the church.

385
00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:44,820
No, we have to find the commonality and walk together.

386
00:17:44,820 --> 00:17:46,860
We don't necessarily have to be

387
00:17:46,860 --> 00:17:48,460
in complete agreement on everything.

388
00:17:48,460 --> 00:17:49,740
And I know the scripture says,

389
00:17:49,740 --> 00:17:52,780
how can two walk together unless they be agreed?

390
00:17:52,780 --> 00:17:56,660
But agreement is not necessarily, I think, the same as you.

391
00:17:56,660 --> 00:17:58,700
It means that we're going to be united

392
00:17:58,700 --> 00:18:00,420
in the cause of Christ,

393
00:18:00,420 --> 00:18:02,500
and we're going to surrender and yield

394
00:18:02,500 --> 00:18:05,660
to the Holy Spirit and His leading.

395
00:18:05,660 --> 00:18:09,660
So here at Springhouse, we are not striving for unity,

396
00:18:09,660 --> 00:18:11,100
we're walking in it.

397
00:18:11,100 --> 00:18:14,020
Unity is not something that we're trying to achieve,

398
00:18:14,020 --> 00:18:18,100
it's something that we're actively modeling for the body.

399
00:18:18,100 --> 00:18:19,260
Amen?

400
00:18:19,260 --> 00:18:21,380
Now welcome Elder Jeremy Jones.

401
00:18:25,500 --> 00:18:27,420
Good morning, Springhouse.

402
00:18:27,420 --> 00:18:30,900
My name is Jeremy Jones, and I've,

403
00:18:30,900 --> 00:18:35,940
see, I started here at Springhouse in 2008,

404
00:18:35,940 --> 00:18:39,220
and then I became an elder in 2019

405
00:18:39,220 --> 00:18:43,180
with Pastor Justin, Elder Justin and I came in together.

406
00:18:43,180 --> 00:18:46,220
We were the last and only five-star class.

407
00:18:46,220 --> 00:18:51,540
That was Justin and I voted, and we both agreed to that.

408
00:18:51,540 --> 00:18:53,980
So, we're going to be together.

409
00:18:53,980 --> 00:18:55,740
We agreed to that, so.

410
00:18:55,740 --> 00:18:57,900
(audience laughing)

411
00:18:57,900 --> 00:19:00,300
We're going to talk about humility today.

412
00:19:00,300 --> 00:19:03,020
(audience laughing)

413
00:19:03,020 --> 00:19:05,380
And also unity, remember, we may not agree,

414
00:19:05,380 --> 00:19:07,500
but we all get to a place we align.

415
00:19:07,500 --> 00:19:11,620
The other thing I thought was interesting with this picture,

416
00:19:11,620 --> 00:19:13,420
you go back to the picture.

417
00:19:13,420 --> 00:19:14,260
The other thing I thought was interesting

418
00:19:14,260 --> 00:19:15,540
with this picture too,

419
00:19:15,540 --> 00:19:18,900
is that it really is a very diverse group of people,

420
00:19:18,900 --> 00:19:20,940
and a lot of people have a,

421
00:19:20,940 --> 00:19:22,460
kind of think along different wavelengths,

422
00:19:22,460 --> 00:19:24,140
ultimately getting centered

423
00:19:24,140 --> 00:19:26,100
what the Holy Spirit's telling us to do.

424
00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:28,780
But you have Elder Eric Harding,

425
00:19:28,780 --> 00:19:31,020
and then Hal Laughlin wear the same clothes,

426
00:19:31,020 --> 00:19:33,980
and then also want to be right beside each other.

427
00:19:33,980 --> 00:19:36,180
So, well done, guys.

428
00:19:36,180 --> 00:19:47,540
That's because Barbie and Val shop at the same place.

429
00:19:47,540 --> 00:19:49,980
All right, here we go.

430
00:19:49,980 --> 00:19:53,780
Our calling and our desire and responsibility

431
00:19:53,780 --> 00:19:55,180
to serve the body.

432
00:19:55,180 --> 00:19:58,260
1 Peter 4, verse eight through 11.

433
00:19:58,260 --> 00:20:00,540
"Above all, love each other deeply,

434
00:20:00,540 --> 00:20:04,020
because love covers over a multitude of sins.

435
00:20:04,020 --> 00:20:07,060
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

436
00:20:07,060 --> 00:20:09,860
Each one of you should use whatever gift you have received

437
00:20:09,860 --> 00:20:13,420
to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace

438
00:20:13,420 --> 00:20:15,180
in his various forms.

439
00:20:15,180 --> 00:20:17,500
If anyone speaks, they should do so

440
00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:20,180
as one who speaks the very words of God.

441
00:20:20,180 --> 00:20:22,180
If anyone serves, they should do so

442
00:20:22,180 --> 00:20:24,140
with the strength God provides,

443
00:20:24,140 --> 00:20:27,500
so that in all times God may be praised through Jesus Christ,

444
00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:31,140
to him be the glory and the power forever and ever.

445
00:20:31,140 --> 00:20:31,980
Amen."

446
00:20:31,980 --> 00:20:34,340
If anyone serves, they should do so

447
00:20:34,340 --> 00:20:35,780
with the strength God provides.

448
00:20:35,780 --> 00:20:38,860
I currently serve in children's ministry,

449
00:20:38,860 --> 00:20:42,700
and that was something I was called to do,

450
00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:44,820
because I don't like kids.

451
00:20:46,820 --> 00:20:49,620
(congregation applauding)

452
00:20:49,620 --> 00:20:51,100
I like my kids.

453
00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:52,260
I love my kids.

454
00:20:52,260 --> 00:20:55,700
But the Lord called me to do that with Arwen,

455
00:20:55,700 --> 00:20:57,140
and we've been doing it for years.

456
00:20:57,140 --> 00:20:58,580
I don't even know how many years we've been doing it.

457
00:20:58,580 --> 00:21:00,620
We took a break for a period when June was born,

458
00:21:00,620 --> 00:21:01,620
and then we're back now.

459
00:21:01,620 --> 00:21:06,420
And it is something that is something I look forward to.

460
00:21:06,420 --> 00:21:07,860
It's something that I feel like

461
00:21:07,860 --> 00:21:10,400
just have a great responsibility for.

462
00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,860
I currently teach the small group

463
00:21:13,860 --> 00:21:16,100
with fourth and fifth grade boys.

464
00:21:16,100 --> 00:21:18,580
And then after that, we pass them over here to youth

465
00:21:18,580 --> 00:21:21,380
and try our best to be able to equip them

466
00:21:21,380 --> 00:21:23,500
with the things they're currently going through right now.

467
00:21:23,500 --> 00:21:26,220
They're so coachable, they're teachable, they're moldable.

468
00:21:26,220 --> 00:21:29,820
And it's the area that the Lord called me

469
00:21:29,820 --> 00:21:33,300
to be able to serve in, but he's also equipped me for that.

470
00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:36,500
Before, before the Holy Spirit called me to do that,

471
00:21:36,500 --> 00:21:38,460
I was definitely not equipped for that,

472
00:21:38,460 --> 00:21:41,900
but the Lord changed my heart specifically for that season.

473
00:21:41,900 --> 00:21:43,380
So I'm there in that season

474
00:21:43,380 --> 00:21:45,260
until the Lord calls for something else.

475
00:21:45,260 --> 00:21:48,780
But that's the position of your eldership.

476
00:21:48,780 --> 00:21:49,620
In addition to that,

477
00:21:49,620 --> 00:21:52,900
we'll read from Philippians 2, verse one through eight.

478
00:21:52,900 --> 00:21:55,180
"Therefore, if any of you,

479
00:21:55,180 --> 00:21:57,500
encouragement from being united with Christ,

480
00:21:57,500 --> 00:21:59,940
if any comfort from his love,

481
00:21:59,940 --> 00:22:02,380
if any common sharing in the Spirit,

482
00:22:02,380 --> 00:22:04,700
if any tenderness, compassion,

483
00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:07,700
then make my joy complete by being like-minded,

484
00:22:07,700 --> 00:22:10,340
having the same love, being one in the Spirit,

485
00:22:10,340 --> 00:22:11,700
and of one mind.

486
00:22:11,700 --> 00:22:15,180
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

487
00:22:15,180 --> 00:22:18,340
rather in humility, value others above yourself,

488
00:22:18,340 --> 00:22:20,220
not looking in your own interest,

489
00:22:20,220 --> 00:22:22,780
but each of you to the interest of the others.

490
00:22:22,780 --> 00:22:24,180
In relationship with one another,

491
00:22:24,180 --> 00:22:26,740
have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,

492
00:22:26,740 --> 00:22:28,940
who being in the very nature of God,

493
00:22:28,940 --> 00:22:30,780
did not consider equality with God

494
00:22:30,780 --> 00:22:33,240
something to be used to his own advantage.

495
00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,660
Rather, he made himself nothing

496
00:22:35,660 --> 00:22:38,220
by taking the very nature of a servant,

497
00:22:38,220 --> 00:22:39,780
being made in human likeness,

498
00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:41,500
and being found in appearance as a man,

499
00:22:41,500 --> 00:22:44,820
he humbled himself by being obedient to death,

500
00:22:44,820 --> 00:22:45,660
even to the cross.

501
00:22:45,660 --> 00:22:50,260
The takeaway is this, your elders are imperfect people,

502
00:22:50,260 --> 00:22:52,500
just like you are imperfect people.

503
00:22:52,500 --> 00:22:56,180
But we've been called to be able to serve in this capacity,

504
00:22:56,180 --> 00:22:58,860
and it's something that every single year we take serious,

505
00:22:58,860 --> 00:23:01,660
because eldership is a lifelong appointment,

506
00:23:01,660 --> 00:23:04,540
but it's not something we do as a lifelong serving,

507
00:23:04,540 --> 00:23:05,860
actively serving.

508
00:23:05,860 --> 00:23:08,940
So every year, Kevin and the pastors ask us

509
00:23:08,940 --> 00:23:11,740
to be able to pray and ask if we wanna be serving

510
00:23:11,740 --> 00:23:12,580
and doing something,

511
00:23:12,580 --> 00:23:15,260
and we pray and ask if we wanna be serving

512
00:23:15,260 --> 00:23:16,980
in the eldership capacity again.

513
00:23:16,980 --> 00:23:22,180
We need your prayers.

514
00:23:22,180 --> 00:23:23,860
Just like we pray for you guys,

515
00:23:23,860 --> 00:23:25,580
we need your prayers as well.

516
00:23:25,580 --> 00:23:28,460
Because just as Pastor Justin just talked about,

517
00:23:28,460 --> 00:23:33,500
it's a challenge to walk in unity at times,

518
00:23:33,500 --> 00:23:35,140
but we do it through the Holy Spirit,

519
00:23:35,140 --> 00:23:37,660
and we do it by being sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

520
00:23:37,660 --> 00:23:39,700
It's a challenge at times to be able to go and serve

521
00:23:39,700 --> 00:23:40,660
in different capacities,

522
00:23:40,660 --> 00:23:42,580
by the Holy Spirit's calling.

523
00:23:42,580 --> 00:23:44,220
So we thank you for the opportunity

524
00:23:44,220 --> 00:23:45,860
to be able to be an elder.

525
00:23:45,860 --> 00:23:48,140
And there's gonna be a moment here,

526
00:23:48,140 --> 00:23:49,460
we did this in first service,

527
00:23:49,460 --> 00:23:50,900
but there'll be a moment at the end of service

528
00:23:50,900 --> 00:23:53,700
where Pastor Kevin asked people to come up and pray,

529
00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:56,060
step outside your comfort zone.

530
00:23:56,060 --> 00:23:57,620
That's not me telling you that.

531
00:23:57,620 --> 00:24:00,060
That's what I feel like the Holy Spirit's telling us to do.

532
00:24:00,060 --> 00:24:01,740
So if you don't know how to pray for people,

533
00:24:01,740 --> 00:24:02,740
you haven't done that before,

534
00:24:02,740 --> 00:24:04,180
just come up here and I guarantee you,

535
00:24:04,180 --> 00:24:06,740
the Holy Spirit will tell you something for that.

536
00:24:06,740 --> 00:24:08,260
Thank you guys.

537
00:24:08,260 --> 00:24:10,260
Pastor, I mean, elder, elder.

538
00:24:11,260 --> 00:24:12,100
Eric Corning.

539
00:24:12,100 --> 00:24:17,660
Good morning, Springhouse.

540
00:24:17,660 --> 00:24:22,660
Guess how we do shop at the same place, apparently.

541
00:24:22,660 --> 00:24:24,620
So good morning.

542
00:24:24,620 --> 00:24:26,860
So I'm honored to represent the elders

543
00:24:26,860 --> 00:24:30,460
and have a chance to talk about the heart posture

544
00:24:30,460 --> 00:24:32,380
with regards to shepherding

545
00:24:32,380 --> 00:24:34,820
and being watchmen for this house.

546
00:24:34,820 --> 00:24:37,380
These roles are not Springhouse born.

547
00:24:37,380 --> 00:24:40,180
They are scripturally charged and defined.

548
00:24:40,180 --> 00:24:41,980
They represent responsibilities

549
00:24:41,980 --> 00:24:44,340
that include spiritual leadership,

550
00:24:44,340 --> 00:24:47,860
protection, accountability.

551
00:24:47,860 --> 00:24:48,780
While they overlap,

552
00:24:48,780 --> 00:24:51,620
they portray two different facets of care.

553
00:24:51,620 --> 00:24:55,140
The shepherd focuses on nurturing and guidance,

554
00:24:55,140 --> 00:24:58,100
while the watchman focuses on vigilance and warning.

555
00:24:58,100 --> 00:25:02,380
So what does the word say about shepherding?

556
00:25:02,380 --> 00:25:06,300
In 1 Peter 5, verses two and three, it says,

557
00:25:06,300 --> 00:25:09,220
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care,

558
00:25:09,220 --> 00:25:11,620
"watching over them, not because you must,

559
00:25:11,620 --> 00:25:14,700
"but because you are willing as God wants you to be,

560
00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:18,540
"not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve,

561
00:25:18,540 --> 00:25:20,820
"not lording it over those entrusted to you,

562
00:25:20,820 --> 00:25:24,380
"but being examples to the flock."

563
00:25:24,380 --> 00:25:25,620
As Jeremy mentioned,

564
00:25:25,620 --> 00:25:28,620
every year we are provided the opportunity to seek the Lord

565
00:25:28,620 --> 00:25:31,740
and renew the commitment for that year to be active

566
00:25:31,740 --> 00:25:35,260
or to make the decision to be inactive for the next year.

567
00:25:35,260 --> 00:25:36,460
And this is important.

568
00:25:36,460 --> 00:25:38,780
That's the willing part of that definition.

569
00:25:38,780 --> 00:25:40,980
This is important because it allows us the opportunity

570
00:25:40,980 --> 00:25:43,220
to hear from the Lord and really confirm

571
00:25:43,220 --> 00:25:46,180
that we are still able to perform

572
00:25:46,180 --> 00:25:48,500
in this important capacity.

573
00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:50,940
These roles do not have end dates,

574
00:25:50,940 --> 00:25:53,100
do not have term limits to them.

575
00:25:53,100 --> 00:25:56,100
So this provides us an opportunity for each of us

576
00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:59,540
to really assess life and the season we are in.

577
00:25:59,540 --> 00:26:04,620
1 Timothy 3, verses one through four

578
00:26:04,620 --> 00:26:07,820
provide a description of what an elder should exemplify.

579
00:26:07,820 --> 00:26:11,860
And it reads, "Here is a trustworthy saying,

580
00:26:11,860 --> 00:26:16,340
"whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

581
00:26:16,340 --> 00:26:19,220
"Now the overseer is to be above reproach,

582
00:26:19,220 --> 00:26:22,740
"faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled,

583
00:26:22,740 --> 00:26:26,780
"respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

584
00:26:26,780 --> 00:26:30,820
"not given to drunkenness, not violent, but gentle,

585
00:26:30,820 --> 00:26:33,420
"not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

586
00:26:33,420 --> 00:26:35,260
"He must manage his own family well

587
00:26:35,260 --> 00:26:37,500
"and see that his children obey him.

588
00:26:37,500 --> 00:26:41,100
"And he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect."

589
00:26:41,100 --> 00:26:44,900
So shepherding does not mean controlling.

590
00:26:44,900 --> 00:26:47,300
It is not about a title.

591
00:26:47,300 --> 00:26:49,060
So what does it mean?

592
00:26:49,060 --> 00:26:51,180
This is not an exhaustive list of statements,

593
00:26:51,180 --> 00:26:53,220
but a few things that we hold dear,

594
00:26:53,220 --> 00:26:55,020
that we are here to protect the vision

595
00:26:55,020 --> 00:26:57,620
that God has provided to Springhouse.

596
00:26:57,620 --> 00:26:59,740
We are here to guard the safety of our children

597
00:26:59,740 --> 00:27:01,180
and our youth.

598
00:27:01,180 --> 00:27:04,620
We are here to ensure the ministries are healthy

599
00:27:04,620 --> 00:27:07,860
and spirit-led, and we are here to serve

600
00:27:07,860 --> 00:27:11,100
the entire pastoral staff and their families,

601
00:27:11,100 --> 00:27:13,580
ensuring that they have space for rest,

602
00:27:13,580 --> 00:27:17,820
they are not overworked, and they have clarity there

603
00:27:17,820 --> 00:27:19,940
then to hear from the Holy Spirit.

604
00:27:19,940 --> 00:27:25,180
Beyond these duties, shepherding is absolutely

605
00:27:25,180 --> 00:27:28,500
about personal connections and relationships.

606
00:27:28,500 --> 00:27:31,540
That's the nurturing part of the care.

607
00:27:31,540 --> 00:27:34,180
We strive to be hospitable, gentle,

608
00:27:34,180 --> 00:27:37,700
and ensuring that the congregation feels seen and known,

609
00:27:37,700 --> 00:27:40,700
to not lead by command, but rather being examples

610
00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:42,580
in the walks of our lives.

611
00:27:42,580 --> 00:27:44,940
And we are called to keep watch over all.

612
00:27:44,940 --> 00:27:47,220
And that requires, that's where the relationship piece

613
00:27:47,220 --> 00:27:49,860
comes in, to really ensure that the reaching out

614
00:27:49,860 --> 00:27:51,960
to those that are hurt or in need.

615
00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:55,740
And we also act with a sense of urgency,

616
00:27:55,740 --> 00:28:00,180
and you provide real support alongside prayer.

617
00:28:02,300 --> 00:28:06,100
Our Lord and shepherd, thankfully, is not afraid

618
00:28:06,100 --> 00:28:10,140
to walk through the mud with us, as a shepherd should, right?

619
00:28:10,140 --> 00:28:12,020
And neither should the elders be.

620
00:28:12,020 --> 00:28:14,860
When written down, and I go through this,

621
00:28:14,860 --> 00:28:16,820
it seems like a lot for this group to cover,

622
00:28:16,820 --> 00:28:20,200
but as Justin said, that's where walking in unity

623
00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:23,440
and support of each other with the Holy Spirit

624
00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:26,100
assures that the elders' duties and responsibilities

625
00:28:26,100 --> 00:28:27,100
are fulfilled.

626
00:28:27,100 --> 00:28:31,060
The watchman role, as I mentioned in the beginning,

627
00:28:31,060 --> 00:28:35,100
does demand vigilance and warning.

628
00:28:35,100 --> 00:28:38,120
While the shepherd guides the flock with a staff,

629
00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,860
the trumpet is used by the watchman

630
00:28:40,860 --> 00:28:45,860
to provide sound of alarms for invading armies and sin.

631
00:28:45,860 --> 00:28:48,440
And these things are still happening today.

632
00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:52,000
The spiritual wars and the armies are very real today.

633
00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,260
If you read in Acts, sorry, in chapter 20,

634
00:28:55,260 --> 00:29:00,260
verses 28 through 31, it reads, "Keep watch over yourselves,

635
00:29:00,300 --> 00:29:02,440
and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit

636
00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,560
has made you overseers.

637
00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:06,200
Be shepherds of the church of God,

638
00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:08,340
which he bought with his own blood.

639
00:29:08,340 --> 00:29:09,840
I know that after I leave,

640
00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,340
savage wolves will come in among you

641
00:29:12,340 --> 00:29:14,580
and will not spare the flock.

642
00:29:14,580 --> 00:29:16,340
Even from your own number,

643
00:29:16,340 --> 00:29:19,060
men will arise and distort the truth

644
00:29:19,060 --> 00:29:21,820
in order to draw disciples after them.

645
00:29:21,820 --> 00:29:23,240
So be on guard."

646
00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:26,980
This is not what happened.

647
00:29:26,980 --> 00:29:28,460
This is what's happening.

648
00:29:28,460 --> 00:29:30,460
So this is not just the word of God,

649
00:29:30,460 --> 00:29:33,320
it's absolutely the living word of God.

650
00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:35,740
This is still happening today.

651
00:29:35,740 --> 00:29:38,480
The enemy is getting more and more sophisticated

652
00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:41,380
as he comes after our church family,

653
00:29:41,380 --> 00:29:44,200
and as he comes after our families at home.

654
00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,260
We as elders and parents cannot be naive,

655
00:29:47,260 --> 00:29:50,720
nor can we allow to be caught sleeping at the wheel.

656
00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:55,740
In Susud's "The Art of War," he says,

657
00:29:55,740 --> 00:29:58,240
"If you know the enemy and yourself,

658
00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,660
you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

659
00:30:01,660 --> 00:30:03,780
If you know yourself, but not the enemy,

660
00:30:03,780 --> 00:30:07,120
for every victory, you will also suffer a defeat.

661
00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:09,460
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself,

662
00:30:09,460 --> 00:30:12,420
you will succumb to every battle."

663
00:30:12,420 --> 00:30:15,380
And so this emphasizes that knowledge

664
00:30:15,380 --> 00:30:17,600
is the foundation for success

665
00:30:17,600 --> 00:30:19,900
in really any competitive situation,

666
00:30:19,900 --> 00:30:21,420
whether that's business,

667
00:30:21,420 --> 00:30:24,500
whether that's leadership or warfare,

668
00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:27,620
and our knowledge comes from the word of God.

669
00:30:27,620 --> 00:30:30,940
So what does scripture then say of our enemy?

670
00:30:30,940 --> 00:30:33,580
All the way back in Genesis,

671
00:30:33,580 --> 00:30:36,280
we are told what that enemy looks like.

672
00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:40,420
Genesis chapter three, verse one, God tells us,

673
00:30:40,420 --> 00:30:42,320
"Now the serpent was the most cunning

674
00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:45,500
of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made.

675
00:30:45,500 --> 00:30:47,920
He said to the woman, 'Did God really say

676
00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:50,160
you cannot eat from the tree in the garden?'"

677
00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:55,160
So that is absolutely cunning, and it's also manipulative.

678
00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:56,240
And that's the type of enemy

679
00:30:56,240 --> 00:30:59,460
that we are up against every single day.

680
00:30:59,460 --> 00:31:01,900
So as we close, the elders,

681
00:31:01,900 --> 00:31:05,940
we ask you to please realize that that certain serpent

682
00:31:05,940 --> 00:31:08,780
did not appear until God established the family.

683
00:31:08,780 --> 00:31:12,440
He went right around Adam because he hates the family,

684
00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:16,780
as it is the engine of generational faith.

685
00:31:16,780 --> 00:31:19,300
As elders, we are sounding the trumpet today.

686
00:31:19,300 --> 00:31:20,860
Do not let the enemy drive a wedge

687
00:31:20,860 --> 00:31:23,540
between you and those that you love.

688
00:31:23,540 --> 00:31:25,760
It is our duty to stay on guard,

689
00:31:25,760 --> 00:31:27,740
expose the enemy's footholds,

690
00:31:27,740 --> 00:31:29,880
and shine a light into those dark corners.

691
00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:34,020
The God of angel armies is absolutely on our side.

692
00:31:34,020 --> 00:31:36,180
When we know our God and we realize

693
00:31:36,180 --> 00:31:39,860
and we call out our enemy, we will prevail.

694
00:31:39,860 --> 00:31:42,640
Now please, batting forth for the elders,

695
00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,300
I give you Ron Amick.

696
00:31:45,300 --> 00:31:48,800
(congregation applauding)

697
00:31:52,500 --> 00:31:56,040
Yeah, the fourth hitter is the heavy guy.

698
00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,920
The third hitter is the best hitter in the lineup.

699
00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:01,040
Just saying.

700
00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:07,020
If you're having trouble picking me out

701
00:32:07,020 --> 00:32:09,600
and those pictures up there, so am I.

702
00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:17,360
I did used to have hair though, yeah.

703
00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:20,840
In the summer of 1975,

704
00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:25,560
I had an encounter that absolutely changed my life.

705
00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:28,600
It wasn't when I gave my life to the Lord,

706
00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:30,360
I did that in 1956.

707
00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:34,900
I was a six-year-old and kneeling at the altar.

708
00:32:34,900 --> 00:32:40,080
But I had been up and down and over and out and around

709
00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:43,120
and just not consistent.

710
00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,720
I don't know if anybody can relate to that.

711
00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:50,480
And for the past six years prior to that,

712
00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,340
I'd really been running as hard as I could

713
00:32:53,340 --> 00:32:54,720
away from the Lord.

714
00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:59,000
But in the spring of '75, I gave my life back to the Lord.

715
00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,480
And I really felt that that summer that he told me

716
00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,880
to go down to Chattanooga and visit my friend,

717
00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:08,880
David Busby, who I'd gone to high school with.

718
00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:11,200
And after high school, we'd gone our separate ways.

719
00:33:11,200 --> 00:33:13,560
And they'd been very separate ways.

720
00:33:13,560 --> 00:33:16,440
I had really gone away from the Lord.

721
00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:20,440
And he was a youth pastor at a big old Baptist church.

722
00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:22,040
Down in Chattanooga.

723
00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:26,160
And I felt like, well, I need to go down there and see David.

724
00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:28,200
It just felt that in my heart.

725
00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,240
And so I went and spent, I don't remember,

726
00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:34,340
two or three days, maybe four, but a few days.

727
00:33:34,340 --> 00:33:36,760
We had some really sweet fellowship,

728
00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:39,160
a really good time in fellowship.

729
00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:41,840
But actually the Lord has sent me there

730
00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:43,940
for a divine appointment.

731
00:33:43,940 --> 00:33:48,940
I went with David to his youth group.

732
00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:52,400
And he brought a teaching that night

733
00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:55,440
about reading the Word, the benefits of reading the Word

734
00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:57,680
and the importance of reading the Word.

735
00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:02,680
And it just, it went right through me and permeated me.

736
00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:06,780
I'd never heard of a teaching quite like that before.

737
00:34:06,780 --> 00:34:09,680
And I've taught it several times since.

738
00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:16,060
But at the end of it, he did an extremely Baptist thing.

739
00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:20,240
He asked us to sign a commitment card.

740
00:34:20,240 --> 00:34:22,700
I don't know if you've ever done that or not,

741
00:34:22,700 --> 00:34:25,640
but the commitment card that he wanted us to sign

742
00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:29,580
was a commitment to read the Word every day.

743
00:34:29,580 --> 00:34:32,660
And we put on there how long,

744
00:34:32,660 --> 00:34:35,200
either a period of time each day

745
00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:37,000
that we were committing to read the Word

746
00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:38,440
or a number of chapters

747
00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:40,600
that we were supposed to read each day.

748
00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,520
And I was just kind of swirling.

749
00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:47,220
And it really felt like the Holy Spirit said to me,

750
00:34:47,220 --> 00:34:49,760
"You're supposed to put down a number of chapters,

751
00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:52,980
put down 15 a day."

752
00:34:52,980 --> 00:34:57,280
Yeah, and that's exactly how I felt when he told me that.

753
00:34:57,280 --> 00:34:58,680
But I did it.

754
00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:02,780
He said, "Well, did you keep that commitment?"

755
00:35:02,780 --> 00:35:06,120
Duh, I'm a baby boomer.

756
00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:10,680
It wasn't like it is now.

757
00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:12,280
It wasn't you make a commitment

758
00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:14,240
and then you decide if you wanna keep it

759
00:35:14,240 --> 00:35:15,840
when you get there.

760
00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:18,560
I mean, if you made a commitment, you did the commitment.

761
00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:25,120
And there are a handful of baby boomers in the room

762
00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:28,020
and they can identify what I'm saying.

763
00:35:28,020 --> 00:35:32,480
Or did you do it the whole year?

764
00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:35,400
I did it about 10 years, actually.

765
00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:42,480
Before I go a little bit further into that

766
00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:44,060
and tell you why I stopped.

767
00:35:44,060 --> 00:35:48,280
I didn't stop reading daily.

768
00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:50,860
I stopped doing the 15 chapters a day.

769
00:35:50,860 --> 00:35:57,120
Let me tell you a little bit about David's teaching.

770
00:35:57,120 --> 00:36:02,120
He brought up six or seven points from Psalm 119.

771
00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:05,380
And I don't have time for six or seven points, of course,

772
00:36:05,380 --> 00:36:08,720
but let me blitz through three of them

773
00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:12,460
that might be significant to you.

774
00:36:12,460 --> 00:36:15,220
Psalm 119, verse 45 says,

775
00:36:15,220 --> 00:36:20,220
"I walk about in freedom because I pursue your precepts."

776
00:36:20,220 --> 00:36:23,740
Now we talk about freedom in this country,

777
00:36:23,740 --> 00:36:26,600
but we're mostly talking about political freedom

778
00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:28,960
or maybe we're talking about financial freedom

779
00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:31,340
or the freedom to travel or something like that.

780
00:36:31,340 --> 00:36:32,220
But come on, people.

781
00:36:32,220 --> 00:36:35,800
I mean, we know that's not real freedom.

782
00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:37,680
That's just stuff.

783
00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:39,540
And there are people who have all that stuff

784
00:36:39,540 --> 00:36:41,640
and maybe that's some of you,

785
00:36:41,640 --> 00:36:46,020
but inside and in our lives, we're just so bound up.

786
00:36:46,020 --> 00:36:52,080
Jesus said, "Whoever sins is a slave to sin."

787
00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:56,940
And a lot of us don't walk about in freedom

788
00:36:56,940 --> 00:37:00,420
because we don't pursue his precepts.

789
00:37:00,420 --> 00:37:05,380
Five verses later, in verse 50, it says,

790
00:37:05,380 --> 00:37:09,220
"My comfort in suffering is this.

791
00:37:10,340 --> 00:37:12,760
Your promise preserves my life."

792
00:37:12,760 --> 00:37:16,420
Now everybody in here has suffered at some point in time.

793
00:37:16,420 --> 00:37:18,380
Some of you may be suffering right now.

794
00:37:18,380 --> 00:37:22,940
And all of you know, if you got a lick of sense,

795
00:37:22,940 --> 00:37:26,240
that you're gonna be suffering again at some point in time

796
00:37:26,240 --> 00:37:28,040
and you're gonna need comfort.

797
00:37:28,040 --> 00:37:31,080
And that comes from the Word.

798
00:37:31,080 --> 00:37:33,600
That's where it comes from.

799
00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:35,980
And when you have a steady stream of it,

800
00:37:35,980 --> 00:37:38,940
it's not like, "Oh, I'm suffering now.

801
00:37:38,940 --> 00:37:40,540
I need to go get some comfort."

802
00:37:40,540 --> 00:37:45,380
No, it's already a part of the fabric of your life.

803
00:37:45,380 --> 00:37:51,840
And then it's verse 165, 119, 165 says,

804
00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:56,740
"Great peace have those who love your law."

805
00:37:56,740 --> 00:37:57,740
Great peace.

806
00:37:57,740 --> 00:38:02,520
A moment's peace can be purchased at a day spa,

807
00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:05,620
but it's just a moment's peace.

808
00:38:08,180 --> 00:38:13,180
If your peace resides in the bank somewhere,

809
00:38:13,180 --> 00:38:15,000
you need to understand that that brings

810
00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:17,920
just as much anxiety as it does peace.

811
00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:22,820
Whatever's in the bank or not in the bank for that matter.

812
00:38:22,820 --> 00:38:24,800
If your peace comes because you own

813
00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,040
a bunch of guns or something,

814
00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:29,060
you might consider the fact

815
00:38:29,060 --> 00:38:31,380
that you might not actually have peace.

816
00:38:31,380 --> 00:38:34,240
You might just have fear.

817
00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:38,780
Great peace though.

818
00:38:38,780 --> 00:38:43,740
Isaiah says, "You will keep in perfect peace

819
00:38:43,740 --> 00:38:46,840
in whom's mind has stayed on you."

820
00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:49,900
And the way for our minds to be stayed on him

821
00:38:49,900 --> 00:38:55,420
is to be in the Word, to be in the Word daily.

822
00:38:55,420 --> 00:38:59,740
I told you I did the 15 chapter a day thing

823
00:38:59,740 --> 00:39:01,020
for about 10 years.

824
00:39:01,020 --> 00:39:04,940
And what happened, one of the reasons why I quit,

825
00:39:04,940 --> 00:39:09,000
took the Lord a couple of years to get me out of it,

826
00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:11,780
quite frankly, because I was becoming

827
00:39:11,780 --> 00:39:13,960
the 15 chapter a day guy.

828
00:39:13,960 --> 00:39:18,080
And the Lord goes, "No, no, no, no.

829
00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:19,740
We don't want to go there."

830
00:39:19,740 --> 00:39:26,020
That was my path for a season.

831
00:39:26,020 --> 00:39:27,700
And then he brought me into a different season.

832
00:39:27,700 --> 00:39:30,260
But the important thing that night wasn't

833
00:39:30,260 --> 00:39:32,380
that I wrote down 15 chapters.

834
00:39:32,380 --> 00:39:34,420
The important thing that night was

835
00:39:34,420 --> 00:39:39,420
that I committed to read the Word every day of my life.

836
00:39:39,420 --> 00:39:46,180
And I can honestly say, well, we're past 50 years now.

837
00:39:46,180 --> 00:39:50,740
Oh, and it's so rich and it's so good.

838
00:39:50,740 --> 00:39:52,880
But here's a warning also.

839
00:39:52,880 --> 00:39:56,820
You see the elders at the church here,

840
00:39:56,820 --> 00:39:58,440
we look to the Word for guidance.

841
00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:00,420
We look to the Word for answers.

842
00:40:00,420 --> 00:40:03,880
But we do so with humility.

843
00:40:04,820 --> 00:40:09,760
Because it is so easy to fall into the position

844
00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:12,040
and to the place that the leaders,

845
00:40:12,040 --> 00:40:14,960
the spiritual leaders of Christ's day were in,

846
00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:19,960
they loved the Word, but they were so convinced

847
00:40:19,960 --> 00:40:22,400
of their interpretation of the Word

848
00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:24,560
and what they thought about the Word

849
00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:26,320
that they couldn't recognize God

850
00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:28,920
when he stood and looked them right in the face.

851
00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:32,600
So it's important to keep your heart soft.

852
00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:37,600
You are not designed, I am not designed to drive this F1.

853
00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:42,340
The Holy Spirit is the only one who can drive it.

854
00:40:42,340 --> 00:40:48,080
So you have to give him room to bring something new to you.

855
00:40:48,080 --> 00:40:51,880
You might see something that you've thought this

856
00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:55,780
for 50 years, but today the Holy Spirit says,

857
00:40:55,780 --> 00:40:57,180
now look at it this way.

858
00:40:57,180 --> 00:41:02,000
I'll close with this.

859
00:41:02,000 --> 00:41:05,520
Jesus told a parable about the Word.

860
00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:07,080
It's a parable of the sower.

861
00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:09,160
Many of you I'm sure are familiar with it.

862
00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:12,880
And some of the seed fell on the path

863
00:41:12,880 --> 00:41:14,300
and the birds came and ate it up

864
00:41:14,300 --> 00:41:16,360
before it had a chance to do anything.

865
00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:19,840
And of course that's the person who hears the Word

866
00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:22,720
and they don't hear the Word.

867
00:41:22,720 --> 00:41:24,900
You know, the Word is going forth,

868
00:41:24,900 --> 00:41:28,480
but it doesn't get in anything, doesn't penetrate.

869
00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:31,720
And then some of the seed fell on rocky soil

870
00:41:31,720 --> 00:41:33,880
and that's not soil with a bunch of rocks in it.

871
00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:37,880
It's soil with a bedrock in it and a thin layer of soil.

872
00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:42,880
And the seed immediately sprung up and they were so glad,

873
00:41:42,880 --> 00:41:47,680
but then it died just as quickly.

874
00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:51,760
And sometimes that's the person who hears something.

875
00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:55,040
They'll hear a sermon or they'll hear a teaching

876
00:41:55,040 --> 00:41:58,080
or they'll just hear something from God and they'll go,

877
00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:02,600
yes, yes, this is going to change my life.

878
00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:07,600
And it does for about three days or maybe a week.

879
00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:09,260
And then it's gone.

880
00:42:09,260 --> 00:42:14,540
And then there was seed that fell on thorny soil.

881
00:42:14,540 --> 00:42:19,540
And that soil was capable of producing fruit,

882
00:42:19,540 --> 00:42:22,600
but there was so much other stuff in it.

883
00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:26,140
Jesus says it's the cares of this life

884
00:42:26,140 --> 00:42:28,800
and the deceitfulness of riches.

885
00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:33,040
And boy, have I lost a lot of seed in my life.

886
00:42:33,040 --> 00:42:36,780
And you probably have to, that's that kind of person.

887
00:42:36,780 --> 00:42:39,840
And then there's the seed that fell on good soil

888
00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:44,840
and it produced a crop 30, 60, 100 fold.

889
00:42:44,840 --> 00:42:48,080
And I've always thought that's the one I want to be.

890
00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:50,300
That's the soil that I would like to be.

891
00:42:50,300 --> 00:42:52,700
But the truth of the matter is I'm all four

892
00:42:52,700 --> 00:42:55,540
and you're all four.

893
00:42:56,540 --> 00:42:59,780
And so I can't just depend on,

894
00:42:59,780 --> 00:43:02,000
well, hopefully when the right time comes,

895
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:04,060
it'll fall in the right kind of soil.

896
00:43:04,060 --> 00:43:08,100
I need it every day, every day.

897
00:43:08,100 --> 00:43:09,740
I need a lot of seed.

898
00:43:09,740 --> 00:43:13,360
And some's going to bear good fruit.

899
00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:14,200
Pastor Kevin.

900
00:43:17,980 --> 00:43:18,820
- Thank you.

901
00:43:18,820 --> 00:43:24,620
2026, next Sunday,

902
00:43:24,620 --> 00:43:26,360
we're going to start a new series.

903
00:43:26,360 --> 00:43:29,800
We've been in the greatest stories ever told in 2025.

904
00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:32,400
We're going to be looking at John chapter 15,

905
00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:35,040
Abide in Christ, Remain in Christ.

906
00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:39,000
And so we have put together a Bible reading plan for you

907
00:43:39,000 --> 00:43:42,280
to follow along where we're going to be going on Sundays.

908
00:43:42,280 --> 00:43:43,760
And we encourage you to be a part of that.

909
00:43:43,760 --> 00:43:45,520
Now, if you go on our church app right now,

910
00:43:45,520 --> 00:43:48,600
you're still going to see this year's

911
00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:49,520
current Bible reading plan,

912
00:43:49,520 --> 00:43:51,380
'cause we're still in this year.

913
00:43:51,380 --> 00:43:52,760
But by Thursday,

914
00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:55,660
that new one's going to be uploaded.

915
00:43:55,660 --> 00:43:59,180
Make a commitment to be in the Word every day.

916
00:43:59,180 --> 00:44:00,340
Amen?

917
00:44:00,340 --> 00:44:01,280
Amen.

918
00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:05,240
The church, the church was not man's idea.

919
00:44:05,240 --> 00:44:06,940
The church was God's idea.

920
00:44:06,940 --> 00:44:08,800
And so if you are an elder here,

921
00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:11,500
if you will come and make your way forward,

922
00:44:11,500 --> 00:44:14,940
all of us have a part to play.

923
00:44:14,940 --> 00:44:20,380
You all do not attend Kevin O'Dea's church.

924
00:44:20,380 --> 00:44:23,380
You do not attend the eldership's church.

925
00:44:23,380 --> 00:44:26,920
Christ is in charge of this church.

926
00:44:26,920 --> 00:44:27,760
Christ is.

927
00:44:27,760 --> 00:44:30,000
And we all play a role.

928
00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:31,400
And so I've asked the elders to come

929
00:44:31,400 --> 00:44:34,100
and we're going to do something a little messy this morning.

930
00:44:34,100 --> 00:44:34,940
And that's okay.

931
00:44:34,940 --> 00:44:37,500
We can do messy just fine.

932
00:44:37,500 --> 00:44:40,000
Okay, so we're going to do four things.

933
00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:41,280
The first thing we're going to do

934
00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:44,040
is I'm going to ask you all to come

935
00:44:44,040 --> 00:44:46,160
and pray over the elders.

936
00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:47,840
Find the elder you don't like

937
00:44:47,840 --> 00:44:50,140
and come and pray for them this morning.

938
00:44:50,140 --> 00:44:52,640
Lay hands on them and pray.

939
00:44:52,640 --> 00:44:53,880
Pray for them this morning.

940
00:44:53,880 --> 00:44:54,960
Wait, wait.

941
00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:56,960
Cole knew exactly where he was going.

942
00:44:56,960 --> 00:44:58,020
(congregation laughing)

943
00:44:58,020 --> 00:45:00,440
So wait, wait, wait till I call you, okay?

944
00:45:00,440 --> 00:45:02,820
Want you to pray over,

945
00:45:02,820 --> 00:45:04,260
you can pray over a couple of elders.

946
00:45:04,260 --> 00:45:05,620
You don't have to do all of them.

947
00:45:05,620 --> 00:45:08,400
You can pray daily for all of them.

948
00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:11,280
You should pray daily for all of us.

949
00:45:11,280 --> 00:45:14,160
But today, pick one or two and come and pray.

950
00:45:14,160 --> 00:45:16,600
We're going to take five or six minutes and do that.

951
00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:18,720
After that is over,

952
00:45:18,720 --> 00:45:21,660
I recognize, we recognize that several of you

953
00:45:21,660 --> 00:45:24,820
are involved in ministry leadership here at Springhouse.

954
00:45:24,820 --> 00:45:27,820
Whether you work with Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry,

955
00:45:27,820 --> 00:45:30,360
Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, F-Stop,

956
00:45:30,360 --> 00:45:32,700
the Food Ministry, there's so many ministries here

957
00:45:32,700 --> 00:45:33,640
that you are tied to.

958
00:45:33,640 --> 00:45:36,360
If you are in any type of leadership,

959
00:45:36,360 --> 00:45:40,220
the eldership, each of them have prayerfully considered

960
00:45:40,220 --> 00:45:42,220
which ministries they'll oversee this year.

961
00:45:42,220 --> 00:45:43,900
And so I'm going to ask you to come forward

962
00:45:43,900 --> 00:45:44,900
in just a little bit,

963
00:45:44,900 --> 00:45:47,020
and we're going to pray over the different ministries

964
00:45:47,020 --> 00:45:48,500
and you as a ministry leader,

965
00:45:48,500 --> 00:45:52,100
because we're supposed to pray for one another, okay?

966
00:45:52,100 --> 00:45:54,460
After that's over, I'm going to ask the elders

967
00:45:54,460 --> 00:45:57,040
to come to the stage with the pastoral staff,

968
00:45:57,040 --> 00:45:59,460
and we're going to pray over the pastors,

969
00:45:59,460 --> 00:46:01,700
over the pastoral staff here at the church, okay?

970
00:46:01,700 --> 00:46:02,980
So those are the things that we're going to do

971
00:46:02,980 --> 00:46:04,080
to close out today.

972
00:46:04,080 --> 00:46:06,940
So if you guys would come this morning

973
00:46:06,940 --> 00:46:10,480
and lay hands on our elders and spend some time in prayer

974
00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:12,700
over these brothers who are leading.

975
00:46:12,700 --> 00:46:13,640
Come on, you come.

976
00:46:13,640 --> 00:46:16,220
(gentle music)

977
00:46:16,220 --> 00:46:26,440
Okay, at this time I would ask if you are a ministry leader

978
00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:29,480
in any capacity, if you consider yourself

979
00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:32,600
a ministry leader here, whether you teach the children,

980
00:46:32,600 --> 00:46:34,840
the youth, you're involved in worship,

981
00:46:34,840 --> 00:46:37,720
you're involved in one of the men's or women's ministries,

982
00:46:37,720 --> 00:46:40,560
any ministry leadership.

983
00:46:40,560 --> 00:46:44,340
Our eldership has decided to oversee all of the various

984
00:46:44,340 --> 00:46:45,920
ministries, they've prayed over that,

985
00:46:45,920 --> 00:46:47,880
so they're going to find you if you guys will kind of

986
00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:51,240
get together in like ministry groups,

987
00:46:51,240 --> 00:46:52,560
the eldership will find you.

988
00:46:52,560 --> 00:46:55,080
This is a little messy because some of you are in multiple

989
00:46:55,080 --> 00:46:56,780
ministries and that's okay.

990
00:46:56,780 --> 00:46:58,620
You'll get prayed for for one and somebody will come

991
00:46:58,620 --> 00:47:01,180
and pray for you in another, that's okay.

992
00:47:01,180 --> 00:47:03,400
But let's just work that area,

993
00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:05,700
and if you're out in the congregation,

994
00:47:05,700 --> 00:47:08,060
you're probably involved in one of these ministries.

995
00:47:08,060 --> 00:47:11,580
Be in prayer during this time, don't check out.

996
00:47:11,580 --> 00:47:14,220
Let's allow the Holy Spirit to move.

997
00:47:14,220 --> 00:47:16,060
So let's take a few moments and pray.

998
00:47:16,060 --> 00:47:33,660
Okay, at this time I would ask for our pastors

999
00:47:33,660 --> 00:47:37,440
to come to the stage, okay, if you'll come to the stage,

1000
00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:40,820
and the elders, if you will come behind them to the stage.

1001
00:47:40,820 --> 00:47:55,840
So if I can have our pastoral team just kind of take

1002
00:47:55,840 --> 00:47:58,560
center ground here and step forward so the elders

1003
00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:00,360
can have room behind.

1004
00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:03,580
So elders, you're coming up behind the pastoral team.

1005
00:48:07,040 --> 00:48:08,540
Yeah, right here is good, yeah.

1006
00:48:08,540 --> 00:48:16,580
So if you guys would stand for just a moment

1007
00:48:16,580 --> 00:48:20,380
and extend your hands this way, I'm gonna ask Brother Howell

1008
00:48:20,380 --> 00:48:25,380
to pray over the pastoral staff, and then after that,

1009
00:48:25,380 --> 00:48:30,460
if Elder James and Wade would pray over me and Shari,

1010
00:48:30,460 --> 00:48:32,100
that would be wonderful.

1011
00:48:32,100 --> 00:48:35,880
Thank you for this time, this opportunity to come and pray

1012
00:48:35,880 --> 00:48:37,340
for those that you have chosen.

1013
00:48:37,340 --> 00:48:40,660
You've picked every one of these leaders and pastors

1014
00:48:40,660 --> 00:48:44,120
that are involved with the ministries of Springhouse.

1015
00:48:44,120 --> 00:48:46,700
I ask Father that you continue to anoint them

1016
00:48:46,700 --> 00:48:49,080
for this service they've been called into.

1017
00:48:49,080 --> 00:48:52,120
I ask Father that you put a hedge of protection around them

1018
00:48:52,120 --> 00:48:55,460
that protects them from the enemy in the onslaughts.

1019
00:48:55,460 --> 00:48:58,960
Father, I ask that you send them people to serve

1020
00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:01,920
alongside of them so that their burden is not so heavy

1021
00:49:01,920 --> 00:49:04,060
with what it is that they do.

1022
00:49:04,060 --> 00:49:05,700
I ask Father, you continue to bless them

1023
00:49:05,700 --> 00:49:08,220
and give them insight as they carry forward

1024
00:49:08,220 --> 00:49:12,100
with their ministries, and just to be able to show

1025
00:49:12,100 --> 00:49:14,820
that it's not a heavy burden, but it's a light burden,

1026
00:49:14,820 --> 00:49:16,580
and it's something that they love to do

1027
00:49:16,580 --> 00:49:19,300
and that they are called to do, and it not be burdensome.

1028
00:49:19,300 --> 00:49:21,060
In Jesus' name, amen.

1029
00:49:21,060 --> 00:49:30,300
Father, we thank you.

1030
00:49:30,300 --> 00:49:32,620
We thank you for Kevin and Shari.

1031
00:49:32,620 --> 00:49:35,480
We thank you for their heart for you, their love for you,

1032
00:49:35,480 --> 00:49:37,260
their love for this body.

1033
00:49:37,260 --> 00:49:39,940
We thank you, Lord, for the way that they pour their life out

1034
00:49:39,940 --> 00:49:42,860
as a beautiful example of being Jesus

1035
00:49:42,860 --> 00:49:46,320
and what that looks like to love on people, to love on us.

1036
00:49:46,320 --> 00:49:49,540
We're grateful that you've called them

1037
00:49:49,540 --> 00:49:51,500
to minister to this body.

1038
00:49:51,500 --> 00:49:52,980
We thank you for the call that you have

1039
00:49:52,980 --> 00:49:55,960
in each of their lives, the giftings that you've given them.

1040
00:49:55,960 --> 00:50:00,660
We pray that those giftings would be used to great purpose

1041
00:50:00,660 --> 00:50:04,460
in your kingdom, in our midst, in this community.

1042
00:50:04,460 --> 00:50:07,520
Father, we thank you for the leadership

1043
00:50:07,520 --> 00:50:09,160
that you bring through them, and we

1044
00:50:09,160 --> 00:50:11,140
ask you to lead them and guide them this year.

1045
00:50:11,140 --> 00:50:12,760
Direct them, Father.

1046
00:50:12,760 --> 00:50:14,860
May we come alongside them as you do.

1047
00:50:14,860 --> 00:50:17,120
May our hearts just join with theirs,

1048
00:50:17,120 --> 00:50:19,740
and may we lift their arms up.

1049
00:50:19,740 --> 00:50:21,940
May we encourage them by our response

1050
00:50:21,940 --> 00:50:24,080
to your calling on their life, and your leading

1051
00:50:24,080 --> 00:50:26,340
through them in our body.

1052
00:50:26,340 --> 00:50:30,420
Father, we ask for you to bring just this closeness.

1053
00:50:30,420 --> 00:50:32,140
Lord, we thank you for the compassion

1054
00:50:32,140 --> 00:50:33,800
that you've spilled out through them,

1055
00:50:33,800 --> 00:50:37,100
the heart for the lost, a caring for the people in this place

1056
00:50:37,100 --> 00:50:38,420
and in this community.

1057
00:50:38,420 --> 00:50:40,860
We ask that it might be infectious among us,

1058
00:50:40,860 --> 00:50:43,640
and that we might carry that compassion with them

1059
00:50:43,640 --> 00:50:48,020
as we walk with them and as we do your will.

1060
00:50:48,020 --> 00:50:50,180
And we're just used for your purposes, Father.

1061
00:50:50,180 --> 00:50:52,380
And then we ask you to guard them.

1062
00:50:52,380 --> 00:50:54,820
We ask you to guard their family, their relationship

1063
00:50:54,820 --> 00:50:58,280
with one another, that it would be set apart and set

1064
00:50:58,280 --> 00:51:02,340
in a special way with some guard and a special time.

1065
00:51:02,340 --> 00:51:05,140
And Lord, that you would guard this house, Lord.

1066
00:51:05,140 --> 00:51:08,900
We thank you for your word and the provision

1067
00:51:08,900 --> 00:51:13,920
it brings to us to hear your voice, to know your call,

1068
00:51:13,920 --> 00:51:16,540
to recognize the voice of the evil one.

1069
00:51:16,540 --> 00:51:22,140
We pray that you would bless them with this guardianship,

1070
00:51:22,140 --> 00:51:25,820
this guard for their family, for their relationship with you

1071
00:51:25,820 --> 00:51:29,040
and one another, and for the relationship in this body.

1072
00:51:29,040 --> 00:51:31,820
Help us, Lord God, walk and have their back.

1073
00:51:31,820 --> 00:51:34,420
Thank you, Jesus.

1074
00:51:34,420 --> 00:51:36,060
Yes, Lord, we agree.

1075
00:51:36,060 --> 00:51:39,220
We say thank you for Kevin and Shari.

1076
00:51:39,220 --> 00:51:43,620
We are so grateful for them as shepherds in this house, God.

1077
00:51:43,620 --> 00:51:47,380
We just know that there's so many sacrifices, Lord,

1078
00:51:47,380 --> 00:51:49,140
that they lay down.

1079
00:51:49,140 --> 00:51:50,940
And it's all for you, God.

1080
00:51:50,940 --> 00:51:52,940
It's all for these people.

1081
00:51:52,940 --> 00:51:54,860
It's for this church, God.

1082
00:51:54,860 --> 00:51:58,220
And so as they continue to sacrifice and pour

1083
00:51:58,220 --> 00:51:59,860
of themselves into this place, God,

1084
00:51:59,860 --> 00:52:01,540
I pray that you would honor that, Lord.

1085
00:52:01,540 --> 00:52:03,100
You do.

1086
00:52:03,100 --> 00:52:05,460
And you give so much.

1087
00:52:05,460 --> 00:52:07,140
So we're so grateful.

1088
00:52:07,140 --> 00:52:09,860
We're so thankful for Kevin and Shari

1089
00:52:09,860 --> 00:52:12,220
and how they shepherd this house.

1090
00:52:12,220 --> 00:52:15,860
And Lord, we just pray blessings over them in 2026, God,

1091
00:52:15,860 --> 00:52:17,740
that it wouldn't have to wait until then.

1092
00:52:17,740 --> 00:52:19,660
But over these next couple of days, God,

1093
00:52:19,660 --> 00:52:21,860
that they would begin to notice that you're just

1094
00:52:21,860 --> 00:52:24,740
pouring out increase and supernatural wisdom

1095
00:52:24,740 --> 00:52:28,260
and insight, Lord, for what's to come, God.

1096
00:52:28,260 --> 00:52:31,580
Thank you for using them in such mighty ways.

1097
00:52:31,580 --> 00:52:34,660
Lord, I just pray that you be honored in everything

1098
00:52:34,660 --> 00:52:36,740
that they do in this house.

1099
00:52:36,740 --> 00:52:40,020
In Jesus' name, everybody said amen.

1100
00:52:40,020 --> 00:52:40,540
Amen.

1101
00:52:40,540 --> 00:52:42,020
Amen.

1102
00:52:42,020 --> 00:52:45,500
Thank you, God.

1103
00:52:45,500 --> 00:52:46,460
Thank you, man.

1104
00:52:46,460 --> 00:52:56,700
I love you guys.

1105
00:52:56,700 --> 00:52:58,820
It's a blessing to be on this journey with you.

1106
00:52:58,820 --> 00:53:04,340
If you guys will have a seat for just one more moment with us.

1107
00:53:04,340 --> 00:53:06,940
We have a ministry here called F-Stop.

1108
00:53:06,940 --> 00:53:10,500
And F-Stop is comprised of a team of people

1109
00:53:10,500 --> 00:53:14,980
who catalog and take photographs of our life that's

1110
00:53:14,980 --> 00:53:16,180
happening here.

1111
00:53:16,180 --> 00:53:18,940
David Warren is leader of that ministry.

1112
00:53:18,940 --> 00:53:23,940
And they have put together a year in review video for 2025.

1113
00:53:23,940 --> 00:53:26,140
And so I'm going to let him set this up.

1114
00:53:26,140 --> 00:53:27,620
And then we have this gift for you.

1115
00:53:27,620 --> 00:53:29,660
So David.

1116
00:53:29,660 --> 00:53:31,580
Thank you, Pastor Kevin.

1117
00:53:31,580 --> 00:53:34,420
Thank you, Pastor Kevin.

1118
00:53:34,420 --> 00:53:40,860
This project came out of our theme

1119
00:53:40,860 --> 00:53:43,340
that we had this year, the greatest stories ever told.

1120
00:53:43,340 --> 00:53:47,020
So we decided that we were going to tell a little bit

1121
00:53:47,020 --> 00:53:49,660
of the Springhouse's story.

1122
00:53:49,660 --> 00:53:53,500
And it became real evident early on that this isn't--

1123
00:53:53,500 --> 00:53:56,500
our story isn't about the stuff that we do.

1124
00:53:56,500 --> 00:53:57,940
We do a lot of stuff.

1125
00:53:57,940 --> 00:53:59,460
It's not about the stuff that we do.

1126
00:53:59,460 --> 00:54:02,940
But it's about the people and the hearts and our postures

1127
00:54:02,940 --> 00:54:03,980
of everyone here.

1128
00:54:03,980 --> 00:54:07,220
And it's an amazing family.

1129
00:54:07,220 --> 00:54:09,980
So I hope you're going to see that in this presentation

1130
00:54:09,980 --> 00:54:10,860
here in just a moment.

1131
00:54:10,860 --> 00:54:13,020
I have to thank a few people real fast.

1132
00:54:13,020 --> 00:54:15,180
Because without them, this wouldn't be on the screens

1133
00:54:15,180 --> 00:54:16,340
today.

1134
00:54:16,340 --> 00:54:19,260
I want to thank the F-Stop photographers who put in time

1135
00:54:19,260 --> 00:54:20,580
and covered events.

1136
00:54:20,580 --> 00:54:23,860
I want to thank the ministries that contributed for those

1137
00:54:23,860 --> 00:54:25,660
themselves.

1138
00:54:25,660 --> 00:54:30,500
I want to thank Brittany and Jonathan Grisham for the music.

1139
00:54:30,500 --> 00:54:32,580
I want to thank Pastor Kevin and the leadership

1140
00:54:32,580 --> 00:54:36,500
here that support a ministry like F-Stop.

1141
00:54:36,500 --> 00:54:39,900
And I have a special thanks to my brother, Jim Caldwell,

1142
00:54:39,900 --> 00:54:42,740
who put this video together.

1143
00:54:42,740 --> 00:54:44,860
And I hope it's a blessing to you.

1144
00:54:44,860 --> 00:54:48,540
So with that, I hope you will enjoy the greatest stories ever

1145
00:54:48,540 --> 00:54:53,500
told, the Springhouse Chapter 2025.

1146
00:54:53,500 --> 00:54:56,980
[APPLAUSE]

1147
00:54:56,980 --> 00:55:02,460
[MUSIC - "SPRINGHOUSE CHAPTER 2025"]

1148
00:55:12,900 --> 00:55:20,980
Little brick building, stained glass windows and pews.

1149
00:55:20,980 --> 00:55:27,820
I remember that old mauve carpet under my best pair of shoes.

1150
00:55:27,820 --> 00:55:31,660
You should have heard a Sunday.

1151
00:55:31,660 --> 00:55:36,060
The singing and dancing was something back then.

1152
00:55:36,060 --> 00:55:40,740
And somewhere in the front row, a deep southern voice

1153
00:55:40,740 --> 00:55:44,820
would say, amen.

1154
00:55:44,820 --> 00:55:49,420
Yeah, this place has changed a lot over the years.

1155
00:55:49,420 --> 00:56:00,260
But there are memories in these walls I will forever have here.

1156
00:56:00,260 --> 00:56:07,620
My tears are soaked in the carpet in the altar space.

1157
00:56:07,620 --> 00:56:15,300
I've been baptized in the waters of amazing grace.

1158
00:56:15,300 --> 00:56:18,500
I've gained decades worth of family.

1159
00:56:18,500 --> 00:56:21,580
It feels like some I've always known.

1160
00:56:21,580 --> 00:56:30,660
There's just something about Sundays in this house

1161
00:56:30,660 --> 00:56:33,180
that feels like home.

1162
00:56:33,180 --> 00:56:44,140
It's a little bit bigger now than it was 20 years ago.

1163
00:56:44,140 --> 00:56:47,660
But there's a few more empty seats

1164
00:56:47,660 --> 00:56:50,820
sitting in the front row.

1165
00:56:50,820 --> 00:56:55,380
Wish I could tell you all the stories,

1166
00:56:55,380 --> 00:56:59,380
take you back in time somehow.

1167
00:56:59,380 --> 00:57:01,580
There were prayers for you, but you

1168
00:57:01,580 --> 00:57:04,020
were not the only one.

1169
00:57:04,020 --> 00:57:07,260
There were prayers prayed in the altar.

1170
00:57:07,260 --> 00:57:10,660
We call miracles now.

1171
00:57:10,660 --> 00:57:16,460
Oh, my Jesus changed some lives here through the years.

1172
00:57:16,460 --> 00:57:26,140
And there's a legacy we will always have here.

1173
00:57:26,140 --> 00:57:32,620
I've been soaked in the carpet in the altar space.

1174
00:57:32,620 --> 00:57:40,380
I've been baptized in the waters of amazing grace.

1175
00:57:40,380 --> 00:57:43,740
I've gained decades worth of family.

1176
00:57:43,740 --> 00:57:46,060
It feels like some I've always known.

1177
00:57:46,060 --> 00:57:55,700
There's just something about Sundays in this house

1178
00:57:55,700 --> 00:58:00,180
that feels like home.

1179
00:58:00,180 --> 00:58:03,660
And I said my vows to my best friend

1180
00:58:03,660 --> 00:58:07,660
right on that very stage.

1181
00:58:07,660 --> 00:58:10,980
And I prayed over my children where

1182
00:58:10,980 --> 00:58:15,140
my daddy gave my hand away.

1183
00:58:15,140 --> 00:58:21,140
And I've said hard goodbyes to many I'll see again someday.

1184
00:58:24,340 --> 00:58:31,860
All in this place where my tears are soaked in the carpet

1185
00:58:31,860 --> 00:58:35,820
in the altar space.

1186
00:58:35,820 --> 00:58:43,140
I've been baptized in the sweetness of amazing grace.

1187
00:58:43,140 --> 00:58:46,780
I know church is not a building.

1188
00:58:46,780 --> 00:58:49,780
That's not what I'm trying to say.

1189
00:58:52,460 --> 00:58:57,900
There's just something about 50 years of God's grace.

1190
00:58:57,900 --> 00:59:07,380
And spending 20 years within that same place.

1191
00:59:07,380 --> 00:59:12,500
There's just something about this spring

1192
00:59:12,500 --> 00:59:16,340
house that feels like home.

1193
00:59:18,780 --> 00:59:29,220
[APPLAUSE]

1194
00:59:29,220 --> 00:59:34,540
Guys, stand with us this afternoon.

1195
00:59:34,540 --> 00:59:37,140
If you are on the pastoral team, would you join us on the stage?

1196
00:59:37,140 --> 00:59:38,740
We're going to close in a high praise song,

1197
00:59:38,740 --> 00:59:40,020
but I want to go ahead and bless you.

1198
00:59:40,020 --> 00:59:41,820
If you're the pastor's staff, come on up.

1199
00:59:41,820 --> 00:59:42,480
Raise your hand.

1200
00:59:42,480 --> 00:59:44,980
Let me give you a blessing.

1201
00:59:44,980 --> 00:59:48,300
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

1202
00:59:48,300 --> 00:59:53,700
continue to grace us and equip us to build one another up

1203
00:59:53,700 --> 00:59:55,420
for his kingdom's sake.

1204
00:59:55,420 --> 00:59:58,460
In Jesus' name, amen.