1 00:00:00,001 --> 00:00:02,580 (upbeat music) 2 00:00:02,580 --> 00:00:09,240 - Believe it or not, it is August 1st. 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,880 Our midweek gatherings will not begin until August 8th. 4 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:17,420 Okay, so we will not be meeting this Thursday, 5 00:00:17,420 --> 00:00:19,540 but we will be meeting the following Thursday. 6 00:00:19,540 --> 00:00:23,000 We will be beginning a series on the Galatians 7 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:24,520 here in the Ministry Center. 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,640 Our youth program will be back in swing. 9 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:31,140 Our kids ministry will be back in junior Bible quiz. 10 00:00:31,140 --> 00:00:32,640 And so we're excited about this. 11 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:34,040 August 8th, make a plan to be here, 12 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,680 six o'clock on August 8th. 13 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:38,760 So we'll start back midweek at that point. 14 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,200 Okay, so not this Thursday, but next Thursday. 15 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,000 Well, today is Youth Sunday. 16 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,520 And man, hasn't it been a rich morning already? 17 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,920 It has been incredible. 18 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:52,920 God has been so gracious. 19 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:54,400 He's been so gracious to us. 20 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,360 And we just love the Lord. 21 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,680 We've been in a series called His Church. 22 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,240 And our youth are not separate 23 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:03,840 from being a part of His Church. 24 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:07,240 They are very much a part of His Church. 25 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:09,760 And one of the things that I've learned over time 26 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:11,800 that the Lord has really helped to remind me 27 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,480 when it comes to youth and children 28 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,240 is that sometimes as adults, 29 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:20,080 we can kind of have an attitude of it's those people, 30 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,600 or that group, go sit at the kid table, the youth table. 31 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,000 But I tend to believe that the kids in youth 32 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,060 are probably the most important people 33 00:01:30,060 --> 00:01:33,200 in the building right now, quite honestly. 34 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:34,720 Not to say that you're not important 35 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,280 and that we don't love you and God doesn't love you. 36 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,880 He certainly does, but we're raising a generation 37 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,800 of warriors for the kingdom right now, 38 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:45,560 impressionable hearts back in the back there. 39 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:47,440 And so they're important. 40 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,080 And it's important for us to have this time. 41 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,820 Sherry and I had the privilege of serving as youth pastors 42 00:01:52,820 --> 00:01:54,300 here at Springhouse for six years. 43 00:01:54,300 --> 00:01:55,500 It was over a period of eight years. 44 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:59,200 We took two years off when we had our fourth child. 45 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,300 But for six years, we had the privilege of serving 46 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:03,040 as a youth pastors. 47 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:08,040 And man, what a joy it was to be in charge of the youth here 48 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:09,040 at Springhouse. 49 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,260 Some of our youth are sitting over here as young adults now 50 00:02:11,260 --> 00:02:12,280 and some of them leading, 51 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,700 some have gone on to different places or whatnot. 52 00:02:14,700 --> 00:02:16,580 But we had such a privilege and pleasure 53 00:02:16,580 --> 00:02:18,700 of working with the youth. 54 00:02:18,700 --> 00:02:22,160 And probably one of the most remarkable things 55 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:23,420 is I didn't get fired. 56 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:29,400 You know, I would bring back teens with no eyebrows. 57 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,120 I had them eat earwax from one another. 58 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,240 It's some crazy things that we did 59 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:35,960 and I won't go any further than that. 60 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,840 But I wanted to bust up a misconception about that time, 61 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:41,240 I've kind of carried for a while 62 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,600 that Kevin made these teens do this stuff. 63 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,680 No, Kevin offered them points 64 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,700 and teens do anything for points, okay? 65 00:02:48,700 --> 00:02:51,840 And so they would do the most outrageous things 66 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,840 and they did and they have some memories 67 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,340 that they established during those times. 68 00:02:57,340 --> 00:02:59,780 But one of them, 69 00:02:59,780 --> 00:03:02,960 oh, there it is. 70 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,140 They were gonna make sure to get that slide up there. 71 00:03:05,140 --> 00:03:07,300 Yeah, okay, yeah. 72 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:11,140 There are some worst pictures than this I could show. 73 00:03:11,140 --> 00:03:11,980 I'm not going to. 74 00:03:11,980 --> 00:03:13,820 You got the next slide or no? 75 00:03:13,820 --> 00:03:19,380 There are three ingredients that I look for 76 00:03:19,380 --> 00:03:21,820 in really establishing any leader in the church, 77 00:03:21,820 --> 00:03:23,460 but especially when I was working with youth 78 00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:24,560 and I looked for youth leaders. 79 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,660 We had a team of about 16, 17 80 00:03:26,660 --> 00:03:28,620 and those were the three things. 81 00:03:28,620 --> 00:03:32,780 Love the Lord, be faithful and show up. 82 00:03:32,780 --> 00:03:36,600 And if there's anything that our next generation need, 83 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,060 it's people who love the Lord, are faithful 84 00:03:40,060 --> 00:03:41,600 and will show up. 85 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:46,220 And when it came time for us to begin this transition 86 00:03:46,220 --> 00:03:49,660 into this role, I asked the Lord, 87 00:03:49,660 --> 00:03:54,660 Lord, who do you have in the leadership to take my spot? 88 00:03:54,660 --> 00:03:57,140 You see, I wasn't trying to be about, 89 00:03:57,140 --> 00:03:58,860 let me just get out of the youth group 90 00:03:58,860 --> 00:04:02,460 and they'll just figure it out because I love the teens 91 00:04:02,460 --> 00:04:06,500 and I wanted the Lord to supply the people he had chosen. 92 00:04:06,500 --> 00:04:07,340 And he did. 93 00:04:07,340 --> 00:04:10,660 He chose James and Dana Jansen to be our youth pastors. 94 00:04:10,660 --> 00:04:15,660 And James and Dana have done a phenomenal job 95 00:04:16,020 --> 00:04:19,020 with our teens, a phenomenal job with our teens. 96 00:04:19,020 --> 00:04:21,380 They work relentlessly, loving on 97 00:04:21,380 --> 00:04:26,380 and just encouraging and speaking life into our youth group 98 00:04:26,380 --> 00:04:29,160 and have done such a better job than I ever did. 99 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,080 At least everybody comes back with their eyebrows. 100 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:37,020 But here's what's so great about the transition 101 00:04:37,020 --> 00:04:40,140 between me and them and as we continue to move forward. 102 00:04:40,140 --> 00:04:42,440 The purpose and the foundation hasn't changed. 103 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,240 Go ahead and put the next slide up. 104 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,260 We want our teens to thrive in an authentic relationship 105 00:04:47,260 --> 00:04:48,880 with Jesus Christ. 106 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:50,200 And guess what? 107 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,840 We want you to thrive in your relationship 108 00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:57,220 with Jesus Christ, authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. 109 00:04:57,220 --> 00:05:00,380 Do you know at one point in time you were a teenager 110 00:05:00,380 --> 00:05:02,300 and now you're an adult. 111 00:05:02,300 --> 00:05:06,140 I pray that you are thriving in your relationship 112 00:05:06,140 --> 00:05:07,680 with Jesus Christ. 113 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,200 So our teens had quite the experience. 114 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,320 A couple of weeks ago at camp, 115 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,100 they went down to Garner Creek and they did a camp 116 00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:19,260 with a bunch of different churches together 117 00:05:19,260 --> 00:05:21,300 and had quite the experience. 118 00:05:21,300 --> 00:05:23,940 And I want to invite Pastor James to come and share 119 00:05:23,940 --> 00:05:26,020 just a little bit with you about that experience. 120 00:05:26,020 --> 00:05:28,380 Guys, welcome the best youth pastor on the planet. 121 00:05:28,380 --> 00:05:29,700 (congregation applauding) 122 00:05:29,700 --> 00:05:30,540 Yes. 123 00:05:30,540 --> 00:05:31,560 - Hey, hey, hey. 124 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,660 So it's an honor. 125 00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:38,400 First of all, it is an honor to get to serve 126 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,720 as a youth pastor in this house, to serve the Lord. 127 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:46,280 And have as much fun as we do in the youth group, right? 128 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:48,420 If you're looking to serve, guys, come on up. 129 00:05:48,420 --> 00:05:49,940 We have a ton of fun. 130 00:05:49,940 --> 00:05:52,380 I'd love to meet with you, hug your neck 131 00:05:52,380 --> 00:05:55,180 and see what the Lord does in it. 132 00:05:55,180 --> 00:05:56,860 Like Pastor Kevin was talking about, 133 00:05:56,860 --> 00:06:01,860 we have been partnered with a group of nine youth groups 134 00:06:01,860 --> 00:06:04,860 around the local area. 135 00:06:04,860 --> 00:06:06,220 A lot of the kids know each other. 136 00:06:06,220 --> 00:06:09,660 They go to the same schools, local high schools. 137 00:06:09,660 --> 00:06:13,160 And we just really have went all in 138 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:14,420 with what the Lord is doing. 139 00:06:14,420 --> 00:06:16,080 He's been growing us deep. 140 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,800 He gave me a word at the beginning of 2023 141 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,740 and it was just to dive in deep. 142 00:06:22,740 --> 00:06:25,080 And so we were going after him. 143 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,900 We're going after the gospel and learning about Jesus 144 00:06:27,900 --> 00:06:29,400 and being the hands and feet. 145 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,480 We took a group of 50 to Gulf Shores in 2023 at camp 146 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,260 and spread the gospel. 147 00:06:35,260 --> 00:06:38,720 And then we continued in the gospel 148 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:42,860 and in the book of Acts as we took a look at the early church 149 00:06:42,860 --> 00:06:44,060 and what they were doing 150 00:06:44,060 --> 00:06:47,060 and how they operated as a body of believers. 151 00:06:47,060 --> 00:06:49,080 And we're like, Lord, this is what we want. 152 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:50,420 We wanna be used by you. 153 00:06:50,420 --> 00:06:52,040 We want, we're here for yours. 154 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:57,000 And that's what we're teaching is if you wanna be used 155 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,880 by the Lord, it starts with a surrendered life. 156 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:02,900 It starts with God, I'm all of yours 157 00:07:02,900 --> 00:07:05,420 and I'm just allowing you to use me 158 00:07:05,420 --> 00:07:07,880 in whatever capacity that you want. 159 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,520 And so we've been partnering, we've been branching out 160 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,220 with these other nine youth groups. 161 00:07:13,220 --> 00:07:15,960 And the Lord has done some amazing things 162 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:17,660 in and throughout our youth group. 163 00:07:17,660 --> 00:07:20,880 We have a bunch of teens that are ready to testify 164 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,580 about his goodness and what he's done. 165 00:07:23,580 --> 00:07:25,040 So I don't wanna take up any more time, 166 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,600 but our scripture verse up in the youth group 167 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:29,120 is Jeremiah 29, 13. 168 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:30,620 It says, "You will seek me and find me 169 00:07:30,620 --> 00:07:33,640 "when you seek me with all of your heart." 170 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:38,440 We believe that and stand on that word every day. 171 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:39,820 Every day we gotta remind ourselves, 172 00:07:39,820 --> 00:07:41,780 Lord, I'm seeking you with everything I got. 173 00:07:41,780 --> 00:07:45,940 Reckless abandonment, I'm yours, God, use me today. 174 00:07:45,940 --> 00:07:49,760 We have four kind of creeds, if you will, 175 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,480 up in the youth group. 176 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:53,880 The first one is we want the best for one another 177 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:57,760 and put others' interests above our own. 178 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,100 Amen. Amen. 179 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:02,000 We run towards people, not away from them. 180 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,820 We embrace them and show them Jesus. 181 00:08:04,820 --> 00:08:07,560 The third one is we are people who leave 182 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,560 God-sized impressions on those that we meet. 183 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,460 And the fourth one is we love big and we serve well. 184 00:08:15,460 --> 00:08:18,040 Guys, there's opportunities to serve 185 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,360 the body of Christ every day. 186 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:25,280 And when we belong to a house, when we belong to a body, 187 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,480 it is natural for us to begin to serve, 188 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,080 to begin to lay our lives down and allow God to use us 189 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,660 in whatever capacity that is. 190 00:08:34,660 --> 00:08:38,660 Okay, and so I wanna go ahead and play the video 191 00:08:38,660 --> 00:08:41,840 and then we're gonna testify to his goodness. 192 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,000 Amen? 193 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:44,660 All right, let's take a look at what God did 194 00:08:44,660 --> 00:08:47,160 over this last couple of weeks. 195 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:49,740 (upbeat music) 196 00:08:49,740 --> 00:08:53,560 Amen, amen. 197 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:56,800 30 baptisms. 198 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,880 There are 30 people for the first time 199 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,320 gave their lives to the Lord. 200 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,440 30 people for the first time. 201 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,600 228 of them recommitted their decision, 202 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,080 recommitted their life to the Lord. 203 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,960 168 of them were filled with the Spirit, 204 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,560 were filled with, said, "Yes, I was filled 205 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:19,960 "with the Holy Spirit this weekend." 206 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,720 And then 45 of them were baptized that way 207 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,060 that same weekend. 208 00:09:25,060 --> 00:09:27,460 And then we also just had another one baptized 209 00:09:27,460 --> 00:09:28,860 with Paxton up there. 210 00:09:28,860 --> 00:09:32,220 It warms my heart so much to see these kids 211 00:09:32,220 --> 00:09:33,780 go all in with Jesus. 212 00:09:33,780 --> 00:09:35,860 And guys, this is what it's meant to be. 213 00:09:35,860 --> 00:09:39,540 It's not for just a small part of where we're at. 214 00:09:39,540 --> 00:09:42,620 This is a bigger picture of community 215 00:09:42,620 --> 00:09:46,060 and this is what the fellowship of believers look like. 216 00:09:46,060 --> 00:09:49,620 It extends past Smyrna, right? 217 00:09:49,620 --> 00:09:50,840 So this is our heart. 218 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:52,580 We wanna be connected. 219 00:09:52,580 --> 00:09:55,480 We wanna be branched out and be available 220 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,600 for whatever God has in store. 221 00:09:57,600 --> 00:09:59,900 1 Corinthians 12, 13 through 14 says, 222 00:09:59,900 --> 00:10:02,600 "For we were all baptized by one Spirit 223 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,520 "so as to form one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, 224 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:07,520 "slave or free, and we were all given 225 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:09,040 "the one Spirit to drink. 226 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:12,260 "Even so, the body is not made up of one part, 227 00:10:12,260 --> 00:10:13,600 "but of many." 228 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:14,960 Amen? 229 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:17,360 So to start us off with some testimonies 230 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,360 of God's goodness, we have none other 231 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:21,840 than Allyssa Entzminger. 232 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:22,680 Y'all give it up. 233 00:10:22,680 --> 00:10:27,260 (congregation cheering and applauding) 234 00:10:27,260 --> 00:10:28,100 - Hi. 235 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:37,800 Today, I think that I should talk about 236 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:42,340 how I was freed from a ton of bondage 237 00:10:42,340 --> 00:10:47,340 and how through this camp, 238 00:10:47,340 --> 00:10:51,440 a lot of bondage and a lot of shackles 239 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:53,520 and things that have held me back 240 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,540 from a good relationship with the Lord. 241 00:10:55,540 --> 00:10:59,620 Yeah. 242 00:10:59,620 --> 00:11:07,440 So when I came back, I decided I wanna rewatch 243 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:11,640 one of my favorite TV shows, The Chosen. 244 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,620 And when I was rewatching it, 245 00:11:14,620 --> 00:11:17,580 there was one thing that stuck out to me. 246 00:11:17,580 --> 00:11:20,420 It's when Mary Magdalene was talking to Nicodemus 247 00:11:20,420 --> 00:11:25,420 after she had been freed from her demons. 248 00:11:25,420 --> 00:11:30,360 And she said, because she didn't know Jesus's name yet, 249 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,940 and she didn't know exactly who he was, 250 00:11:33,940 --> 00:11:36,860 she said, "But here is what I do know. 251 00:11:36,860 --> 00:11:39,620 "I know that I was one way, 252 00:11:39,620 --> 00:11:41,420 "but now I am completely different. 253 00:11:41,420 --> 00:11:44,180 "And what happened in between was him." 254 00:11:44,180 --> 00:11:48,560 And that is what I feel happened to me. 255 00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:52,040 And those chains have been shattered. 256 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,560 And as the devil tries to go, 257 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:59,140 "Hey, you should focus on these things." 258 00:11:59,140 --> 00:12:02,020 I'm trying to think, no, I shouldn't 259 00:12:02,020 --> 00:12:03,480 because that was my past. 260 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,880 And God doesn't wanna define us by our past 261 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:08,320 because our past is our past. 262 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,340 And God wants to define us by our is, 263 00:12:11,340 --> 00:12:14,200 but the world wants to define us by our was. 264 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,160 But our is is our is and our was is our was. 265 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:20,660 (congregation applauding) 266 00:12:20,660 --> 00:12:23,720 - That's awesome, that's awesome. 267 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,420 We serve a God who delivers, amen? 268 00:12:27,420 --> 00:12:31,160 Amen, and I just wanna say, Pursue Camp is great, guys. 269 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,200 It is an opportunity for us to get together. 270 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,600 But the one who's in charge 271 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,360 and the one who gets the glory is Jesus, amen? 272 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,560 Amen, all right, next up we have Mr. DJ Jones. 273 00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:42,920 DJ wrote it down. 274 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:44,560 And so I'm gonna hold the microphone for him. 275 00:12:44,560 --> 00:12:45,400 Is that cool? 276 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:46,280 All right. 277 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:49,480 - Hello, my name is DJ Jones 278 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,840 and this was my first time ever going to youth camp. 279 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:53,880 My favorite part about camp was worship. 280 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:57,120 Everyone was all in, I wanna share my testimony about it. 281 00:12:57,120 --> 00:12:58,960 During Wednesday night service, 282 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:00,640 the pastor was talking about fear 283 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,700 and how it doesn't have to control you. 284 00:13:02,700 --> 00:13:06,120 The Holy Spirit was speaking to me about the fear I have. 285 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,260 My legs were shaking so bad. 286 00:13:08,260 --> 00:13:10,080 So I went to my dad for prayer. 287 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,040 He prayed with me and then Pastor Kevin came up to me 288 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:14,400 and prayed with me also. 289 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,200 I was bawling my eyes out. 290 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,480 And I felt the Lord was telling me to read my Bible more. 291 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:21,200 Pastor Kevin shared a verse with me 292 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:22,980 that has changed my mindset. 293 00:13:22,980 --> 00:13:24,880 Second Timothy 1, seven says, 294 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,460 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, 295 00:13:27,460 --> 00:13:30,880 "but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 296 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,960 This verse is now my life verse. 297 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:36,360 I'm thankful I went to pursuit camp and it changed my life. 298 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:37,640 (congregation cheering) 299 00:13:37,640 --> 00:13:39,920 - Amen, amen. 300 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,040 Praise God, praise God. 301 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:47,040 DJ is a young one in youth and DJ is not just 302 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,500 a young one in youth, he's a leader in youth, amen? 303 00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:51,400 Amen. 304 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:54,200 All right, next up we have Mr. Sebastian Geertz. 305 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:55,040 Give it up. 306 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:58,800 (congregation cheering) 307 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,640 - Hello guys, I'm Sebastian Geertz as James said. 308 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:02,460 Know what you're thinking, 309 00:14:02,460 --> 00:14:05,760 probably not a team with all this spatial hair, but I am. 310 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:11,760 I went to pursuit camp this past week 311 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,240 and I'm not a very big camp guy and all. 312 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,300 I wasn't really expecting much coming from it. 313 00:14:16,300 --> 00:14:18,440 I went to camp a few years ago, I thought I was all right, 314 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,880 but James and Dana convinced me to come this year. 315 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,140 So I went and I wasn't expecting much, 316 00:14:24,140 --> 00:14:29,140 but the first night of service, the preacher was talking. 317 00:14:29,140 --> 00:14:32,000 And I just heard this voice in my head again, 318 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,440 I've heard for six years about overlust 319 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,260 and how I've been really bad about it the past six years. 320 00:14:40,260 --> 00:14:44,120 It's been really big in my life, it's really bad, 321 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,280 but I just heard this voice again that in the past, 322 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,300 I thought it was just my own voice saying like, 323 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:52,420 you'll be okay, you can keep doing it, 324 00:14:52,420 --> 00:14:54,160 no one's gonna know really, 325 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,080 it's not hurting anyone right now or anything. 326 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,560 But I just heard it again when he was talking, 327 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,880 I was like, it can't be myself just talking, 328 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,120 it's gotta be God or it's just something else 329 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:06,000 other than me saying, this is not okay. 330 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:11,000 So the preacher said, if you need to go pray 331 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,060 with somebody you can. 332 00:15:12,060 --> 00:15:14,260 So I went to Cole to pray 333 00:15:14,260 --> 00:15:17,680 and he prayed a powerful prayer over me, man. 334 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:20,940 And ever since then, it's just been so much easier, 335 00:15:20,940 --> 00:15:23,940 felt like this weight was lifted off me over lust 336 00:15:23,940 --> 00:15:27,260 and that I just don't have to worry about it 337 00:15:27,260 --> 00:15:28,100 that much anymore. 338 00:15:28,100 --> 00:15:29,740 I mean, I still pray about it obviously, 339 00:15:29,740 --> 00:15:31,340 so I don't fall into that trap again, 340 00:15:31,340 --> 00:15:34,940 but it's just so much easier now after that. 341 00:15:34,940 --> 00:15:37,080 And I feel like this weight slipped off my shoulder 342 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:39,160 and everything's so much easier after that. 343 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:40,000 Thank you. 344 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:44,400 - Yeah, amen, give it up for the Lord. 345 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:50,020 Our God is a God of freedom, amen. 346 00:15:50,020 --> 00:15:51,220 Amen. 347 00:15:51,220 --> 00:15:53,500 All right, next up we have my niece 348 00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:56,260 and your very own Lilly Mack. 349 00:15:56,260 --> 00:16:00,460 - I also wrote mine down, so bear with me. 350 00:16:00,460 --> 00:16:04,300 But God definitely moved in a mighty way at camp. 351 00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:07,100 And if you're there, you know what I'm talking about. 352 00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:09,660 I watched as many teams got set free from bondage 353 00:16:09,660 --> 00:16:10,900 and filled with the Holy Spirit 354 00:16:10,900 --> 00:16:13,460 as well as experience it for myself. 355 00:16:13,460 --> 00:16:15,620 We were taught what it means to be a citizen of heaven 356 00:16:15,620 --> 00:16:18,900 and how we're supposed to act in response to that calling. 357 00:16:18,900 --> 00:16:21,100 Everyone experienced camp in their own way, 358 00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:23,280 but these lessons really stuck out to me. 359 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,800 As a citizen of heaven, we are supposed to know 360 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,920 and believe God's truth. 361 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,580 How are you supposed to know, let alone believe His truth, 362 00:16:31,580 --> 00:16:35,380 if you never take the time to sit down and study His word? 363 00:16:35,380 --> 00:16:37,660 Now, I knew what God said about me, 364 00:16:37,660 --> 00:16:40,180 but it was so easy for me to believe the lies of the enemy 365 00:16:40,180 --> 00:16:43,940 that said that I wasn't enough or that I was unforgivable. 366 00:16:43,940 --> 00:16:45,820 Camp taught us to run back to the Bible 367 00:16:45,820 --> 00:16:49,080 whenever the enemy would come and try to steal our peace. 368 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:52,000 God's word is the greatest weapon that we have. 369 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,080 I know that I'm enough because God says 370 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,340 that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 371 00:16:56,340 --> 00:16:58,580 And I know that I am forgiven because He says 372 00:16:58,580 --> 00:17:00,980 if we confess our sins, He's faithful and just 373 00:17:00,980 --> 00:17:02,820 to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us 374 00:17:02,820 --> 00:17:05,500 from all unrighteousness. 375 00:17:05,500 --> 00:17:07,860 We have to be careful with what we choose to believe 376 00:17:07,860 --> 00:17:09,800 and make sure that it lines up with God's word 377 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,260 before we choose to believe it as truth. 378 00:17:12,260 --> 00:17:15,340 Your identity can be found in the Bible. 379 00:17:15,340 --> 00:17:17,540 The next takeaway from camp was the power 380 00:17:17,540 --> 00:17:20,780 that the Holy Spirit has and how it can not only help you, 381 00:17:20,780 --> 00:17:23,140 but help others through you. 382 00:17:23,140 --> 00:17:25,980 In Acts 1a, it says, "You shall receive power 383 00:17:25,980 --> 00:17:28,220 whenever the Holy Spirit comes upon you." 384 00:17:28,220 --> 00:17:31,100 This power can be used in a multitude of different ways. 385 00:17:31,100 --> 00:17:34,380 But at camp, the Holy Spirit gave me the power of faith 386 00:17:34,380 --> 00:17:37,400 to believe that God will get me through any battle that I face, 387 00:17:37,400 --> 00:17:39,600 as long as I submit to His will. 388 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,540 And I also received the gift of intercession for others. 389 00:17:42,540 --> 00:17:44,280 And I now have the urge, like no other, 390 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,860 to go and pray for as many people as I can, 391 00:17:46,860 --> 00:17:49,420 even though it can be really intimidating. 392 00:17:49,420 --> 00:17:53,140 Because I've seen the way that God answers prayers. 393 00:17:53,140 --> 00:17:55,720 And He also calls us to humility. 394 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:58,760 And I'm just so blessed that I got to experience 395 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:02,080 God's power and authority at the Pursuit Camp 2024. 396 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:03,760 And I'm excited to see the effects that 397 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:05,520 is last on the kingdom. 398 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:09,360 Amen. 399 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:11,280 Amen. 400 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:13,080 Awesome job. 401 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,640 The Spirit and the Word work together. 402 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:20,040 The scripture compares it to like a battle bowl of Ephraim. 403 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:23,560 Pulls, he draws back his bow, and the arrow, the word of God, 404 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,320 is sent out. 405 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,240 OK, they work together. 406 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:31,040 And when we believe that with all of our heart, 407 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,400 that our foundation is in the Word, 408 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:36,520 and the Spirit is the power that works through us, 409 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,040 then God's unstoppable. 410 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,760 I mean, regardless, in and throughout our lives. 411 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:41,840 Amen. 412 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:43,240 Good word, Lilly. 413 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:45,000 Next up, Mr. Luke MacLeod. 414 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:46,440 He shared with us his first service. 415 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,200 I'm excited to hear what God's put on his heart for a second. 416 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:50,680 Take it easy. 417 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:55,160 [APPLAUSE] 418 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:57,480 Hi. 419 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,200 I did not write anything down, so we're 420 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:02,360 going to see how this goes. 421 00:19:02,360 --> 00:19:04,400 Before I start, I want to say that camp 422 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,280 was such an incredible life change for me. 423 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:10,720 I really just experienced God on a level 424 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:12,840 that I never had before. 425 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,400 But to follow that, I was not looking forward 426 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,880 to camp this year. 427 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,640 I had heard that there would be like 500 plus kids there. 428 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:25,560 And I was just curious to how there 429 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,280 was going to be like a real and good connection 430 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:29,440 with the Holy Spirit there. 431 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:34,720 And I just kind of started out with a bad mindset. 432 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:39,160 So we get there, and it was just kind of all right. 433 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:40,720 I was just going through it, and I 434 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:44,680 got put in like a middle school cabin, which I was not 435 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:48,280 happy about, but which turned out 436 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:51,000 to be like such a big thing for me 437 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,920 to mentor those younger people later on in the week. 438 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:58,120 And I really believe that God just moved through that. 439 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:03,400 But I was still not happy until we 440 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,280 got to worship on the first night. 441 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,840 And everybody just rushes the front, 442 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,240 and they're in the altar, and everybody is just worshipping. 443 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:17,320 And I feel like God touched me, and He made me feel and know 444 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:18,520 that He was real. 445 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,360 And that was like such a big word for me, this camp. 446 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:23,440 That was just real. 447 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:28,080 Like He is so present no matter what you're going through. 448 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:32,360 And something I was thinking about this service 449 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:36,360 is just like you don't have to be a camp to experience 450 00:20:36,360 --> 00:20:37,280 the Holy Spirit. 451 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,160 Like everybody who went, what about this worship? 452 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,320 Like God was in this room. 453 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:46,260 Like the Holy Spirit of the Lord was like here. 454 00:20:46,260 --> 00:20:50,520 So one thing that I want to say just to everybody that 455 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:54,840 was at camp and everyone in here, 456 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:58,960 the way to keep a connection with God is to be in His word. 457 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:01,200 You need to be reading the Bible diligently 458 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:05,140 to be able to still know what He wants. 459 00:21:05,140 --> 00:21:08,700 And that's literally what He told people 460 00:21:08,700 --> 00:21:10,560 to write down for us. 461 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,560 God, He's just-- 462 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:19,660 I don't know, it's insane to me like everything that 463 00:21:19,660 --> 00:21:20,980 was happening at this camp. 464 00:21:20,980 --> 00:21:23,660 Like there were so many people who gave their lives to God, 465 00:21:23,660 --> 00:21:26,060 and they're experiencing what I did. 466 00:21:26,060 --> 00:21:28,740 And I'm just so grateful for that. 467 00:21:28,740 --> 00:21:29,980 Camp this year was awesome. 468 00:21:29,980 --> 00:21:36,300 Yeah, that's all I got. 469 00:21:36,300 --> 00:21:38,060 Yeah, give it up. 470 00:21:38,060 --> 00:21:40,460 That's awesome. 471 00:21:40,460 --> 00:21:42,780 We serve a God that is not far from us. 472 00:21:42,780 --> 00:21:44,520 He is right next to us. 473 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,060 He's as real as the air that we breathe, 474 00:21:47,060 --> 00:21:48,620 and we have access to Him. 475 00:21:48,620 --> 00:21:49,620 Amen? 476 00:21:49,620 --> 00:21:50,760 Amen. 477 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:55,100 Next up, it's my pleasure to introduce Ms. Ximena Lindsey. 478 00:21:55,100 --> 00:22:00,420 Ximena has been helping out in youth for some time now. 479 00:22:00,420 --> 00:22:05,380 And she has been a prayer warrior on the front lines 480 00:22:05,380 --> 00:22:10,020 and also helping to really instill the word of God 481 00:22:10,020 --> 00:22:12,620 deeply into each one of these teams. 482 00:22:12,620 --> 00:22:16,160 She serves on Sunday morning upstairs at 9 o'clock 483 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:21,800 and is committed and dedicated to this house, to these teams. 484 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,240 And I'm just so thankful to have you along, Ximena. 485 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,080 Thank you for sharing today. 486 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:27,760 Absolutely. 487 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,960 Thank you, James. 488 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,620 I know you've been hearing a lot about camp this year, 489 00:22:33,620 --> 00:22:40,340 and it is everything that all of these teams said and then some. 490 00:22:40,340 --> 00:22:42,700 But I also want to bring up the fact 491 00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:46,700 that we do have a program here at Springhouse that 492 00:22:46,700 --> 00:22:48,900 goes year round. 493 00:22:48,900 --> 00:22:53,400 And our youth leaders are a team who 494 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,620 are committed to being faithfully present 495 00:22:56,620 --> 00:22:58,700 in the lives of the teens here. 496 00:22:58,700 --> 00:23:01,740 And I would just like to take a second, if I could, 497 00:23:01,740 --> 00:23:04,620 to recognize our team members. 498 00:23:04,620 --> 00:23:07,860 If you serve on the youth leadership team, 499 00:23:07,860 --> 00:23:10,580 could I ask you to please stand for just a moment, Sandy 500 00:23:10,580 --> 00:23:13,860 and Taylor, Kaylin, Cole, Hannah. 501 00:23:13,860 --> 00:23:18,340 [APPLAUSE] 502 00:23:18,340 --> 00:23:21,780 There are so many. 503 00:23:21,780 --> 00:23:24,500 Thank you so much. 504 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:26,380 They pour into the lives of my own sons. 505 00:23:26,380 --> 00:23:28,180 My husband and I have three sons. 506 00:23:28,180 --> 00:23:31,100 And this year, my husband Ronnie also 507 00:23:31,100 --> 00:23:33,100 joined our youth leadership team. 508 00:23:33,100 --> 00:23:36,700 He's actually up at the soundboard in the back. 509 00:23:36,700 --> 00:23:41,980 So you can't see him right now, but he has also been a big part. 510 00:23:41,980 --> 00:23:46,100 And it's been kind of fun being a family in the youth program 511 00:23:46,100 --> 00:23:47,260 here. 512 00:23:47,260 --> 00:23:49,140 But I did want to at least share a little bit 513 00:23:49,140 --> 00:23:51,860 about what's been going on throughout our year. 514 00:23:51,860 --> 00:23:56,460 We did begin a youth Bible study almost two years ago now. 515 00:23:56,460 --> 00:23:59,540 And that has been such a blessing 516 00:23:59,540 --> 00:24:01,740 to be able to dig deeper into the Word. 517 00:24:01,740 --> 00:24:04,540 And as you heard from so many of the kids, 518 00:24:04,540 --> 00:24:08,660 camp was just a reinforcement that we need to keep digging. 519 00:24:08,660 --> 00:24:11,340 We need to keep learning more and more about Jesus. 520 00:24:11,340 --> 00:24:14,180 And the best way to do that is through His Word 521 00:24:14,180 --> 00:24:15,900 and by digging into the Bible. 522 00:24:15,900 --> 00:24:19,460 And that is one of my passions as one of the youth leaders 523 00:24:19,460 --> 00:24:20,620 here. 524 00:24:20,620 --> 00:24:25,420 We studied about prayer and its significance. 525 00:24:25,420 --> 00:24:29,780 We did a study on grace and what that means. 526 00:24:29,780 --> 00:24:32,860 Grace is a concept that I think that so many people 527 00:24:32,860 --> 00:24:34,620 in the Christian church might not 528 00:24:34,620 --> 00:24:36,060 have a full understanding about. 529 00:24:36,060 --> 00:24:39,500 And really, honestly, there are so many things about the Lord 530 00:24:39,500 --> 00:24:41,780 that blow the mind. 531 00:24:41,780 --> 00:24:46,940 But I think it also encourages us to dig deeper and learn more. 532 00:24:46,940 --> 00:24:49,540 And so when we studied grace, we actually 533 00:24:49,540 --> 00:24:53,660 worked a lot from the definition that Wayne Barry used 534 00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:55,300 in his book, Ponderings. 535 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:56,780 And I'm going to read that for you. 536 00:24:56,780 --> 00:25:00,140 It's, "Grace is the unmerited favor 537 00:25:00,140 --> 00:25:04,340 of God's empowering presence, enabling 538 00:25:04,340 --> 00:25:09,500 me to be who He created me to be in order to do 539 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:13,020 what He has called me to do." 540 00:25:13,020 --> 00:25:16,020 So we worked from that this year in youth group. 541 00:25:16,020 --> 00:25:18,260 We also studied the Book of Acts. 542 00:25:18,260 --> 00:25:22,060 And we made it through the beginning of the book. 543 00:25:22,060 --> 00:25:25,420 And then we took it a little bit deeper the second half 544 00:25:25,420 --> 00:25:26,980 of the school year. 545 00:25:26,980 --> 00:25:29,780 That was also really inspiring. 546 00:25:29,780 --> 00:25:32,540 But let me tell you, once we got to camp, 547 00:25:32,540 --> 00:25:37,660 that has been just a real bedrock foundation 548 00:25:37,660 --> 00:25:39,020 for our kids. 549 00:25:39,020 --> 00:25:41,620 And it's been such a blessing, not just to them, 550 00:25:41,620 --> 00:25:44,620 but I'll admit to me as a leader, 551 00:25:44,620 --> 00:25:47,300 whenever I got back from camp, people would say, how was it? 552 00:25:47,300 --> 00:25:47,780 How was it? 553 00:25:47,780 --> 00:25:51,620 Aside from being exhausted, as you can imagine. 554 00:25:51,620 --> 00:25:54,340 But I learned so much. 555 00:25:54,340 --> 00:25:57,500 And I was so encouraged and so inspired 556 00:25:57,500 --> 00:26:01,900 by the younger generation who poured themselves into me 557 00:26:01,900 --> 00:26:02,580 as well. 558 00:26:02,580 --> 00:26:05,220 And that's been such a blessing. 559 00:26:05,220 --> 00:26:08,660 I do have to admit that my husband got back. 560 00:26:08,660 --> 00:26:10,340 He's been dragging all week. 561 00:26:10,340 --> 00:26:14,180 And I do have to say there's a special place in heaven 562 00:26:14,180 --> 00:26:18,540 for young men who stay in the junior high boys' dorm. 563 00:26:18,540 --> 00:26:22,180 So he and Doug Jones, they deserve extra accolades 564 00:26:22,180 --> 00:26:22,940 for that. 565 00:26:22,940 --> 00:26:25,900 [APPLAUSE] 566 00:26:25,900 --> 00:26:30,100 But seriously, we do this because we're called. 567 00:26:30,100 --> 00:26:33,500 And we do it in the power of the Holy Spirit. 568 00:26:33,500 --> 00:26:37,940 And as we close today's service, or this portion of it anyway, 569 00:26:37,940 --> 00:26:39,340 I do want to share this verse. 570 00:26:39,340 --> 00:26:42,020 And I've always told the kids that if you ever 571 00:26:42,020 --> 00:26:45,180 have a question for our leadership team, 572 00:26:45,180 --> 00:26:48,180 I'm always going to do two things. 573 00:26:48,180 --> 00:26:50,860 I'm going to encourage you to pray. 574 00:26:50,860 --> 00:26:53,460 And I'm going to point you back to the Word of God. 575 00:26:53,460 --> 00:26:57,100 And I'm going to point you back to the Word of God. 576 00:26:57,100 --> 00:27:02,660 And so this is what I pray that as we come back from camp 577 00:27:02,660 --> 00:27:08,100 and as we have this rich deposit that we're pouring out, 578 00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:09,780 I want to encourage you to do this. 579 00:27:09,780 --> 00:27:14,060 This is Luke chapter 11, starting with verse 9. 580 00:27:14,060 --> 00:27:17,380 "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you. 581 00:27:17,380 --> 00:27:19,660 Seek, and you will find. 582 00:27:19,660 --> 00:27:22,340 Knock, and it will be opened to you. 583 00:27:22,340 --> 00:27:28,260 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds. 584 00:27:28,260 --> 00:27:32,340 And to the one who knocks, it will be opened." 585 00:27:32,340 --> 00:27:33,420 Let me encourage you. 586 00:27:33,420 --> 00:27:35,300 Seek God. 587 00:27:35,300 --> 00:27:36,980 Seek Jesus. 588 00:27:36,980 --> 00:27:39,540 Look into His wonderful face. 589 00:27:39,540 --> 00:27:47,460 Thank you, Ximena. 590 00:27:47,460 --> 00:27:52,700 So it's great to hear their experiences. 591 00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:56,380 Here's the Word of the Lord to you all today. 592 00:27:56,380 --> 00:28:01,500 Our is is our is and our was was our was. 593 00:28:01,500 --> 00:28:05,380 He has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, 594 00:28:05,380 --> 00:28:07,180 and a sound mind. 595 00:28:07,180 --> 00:28:10,380 He can set you free. 596 00:28:10,380 --> 00:28:13,900 Your identity is found in the Word of God. 597 00:28:13,900 --> 00:28:18,460 God is real, and dig deeper in the Word, 598 00:28:18,460 --> 00:28:20,940 and seek Jesus' face. 599 00:28:20,940 --> 00:28:21,780 Amen, church? 600 00:28:21,780 --> 00:28:25,180 Can we receive that today? 601 00:28:25,180 --> 00:28:26,460 Fabulous job, guys. 602 00:28:26,460 --> 00:28:27,420 Thank you so much. 603 00:28:27,420 --> 00:28:30,140 You guys are dismissed. 604 00:28:30,140 --> 00:28:32,900 He is such a great-- he's such a great God, 605 00:28:32,900 --> 00:28:34,220 and he is a comforter as well. 606 00:28:34,220 --> 00:28:38,140 Dana, would you join us on stage for just a moment here? 607 00:28:38,140 --> 00:28:42,100 I'm going to let Pastor James share just a smidge bit more 608 00:28:42,100 --> 00:28:45,180 as we close out this morning. 609 00:28:45,180 --> 00:28:48,660 Now, the scripture verse that we worked off of during camp 610 00:28:48,660 --> 00:28:53,380 is out of Philippians 1, verse 27. 611 00:28:53,380 --> 00:28:57,460 It says, "Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, 612 00:28:57,460 --> 00:29:01,020 conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the good news 613 00:29:01,020 --> 00:29:02,540 about Christ. 614 00:29:02,540 --> 00:29:06,260 Then whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, 615 00:29:06,260 --> 00:29:08,940 I will know that you are standing together 616 00:29:08,940 --> 00:29:14,220 with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, 617 00:29:14,220 --> 00:29:16,860 which is the good news." 618 00:29:16,860 --> 00:29:18,380 Friends, I'm here to tell you this morning 619 00:29:18,380 --> 00:29:20,980 that he is the good news. 620 00:29:20,980 --> 00:29:25,020 He has made the way, and he lives and breathes 621 00:29:25,020 --> 00:29:26,860 and works on our behalf. 622 00:29:26,860 --> 00:29:28,700 Amen? 623 00:29:28,700 --> 00:29:32,700 Now, it was everything that I could do to just come up here 624 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:36,300 and stand before you this morning. 625 00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:41,140 Dana and I had found out that on July 4th of this year 626 00:29:41,140 --> 00:29:45,180 that we are expecting another baby. 627 00:29:45,180 --> 00:29:51,300 So we go in. 628 00:29:51,300 --> 00:29:58,380 We go into camp with this just mountaintop, high experience, 629 00:29:58,380 --> 00:30:01,420 like, "Can't get no better than this, Lord. 630 00:30:01,420 --> 00:30:04,180 God does these amazing, incredible feats 631 00:30:04,180 --> 00:30:08,460 and moves in lives like we've never seen, guys. 632 00:30:08,460 --> 00:30:11,660 It's been incredible." 633 00:30:11,660 --> 00:30:15,260 But we have an adversary, 634 00:30:15,260 --> 00:30:19,300 and the enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. 635 00:30:19,300 --> 00:30:24,300 So we go the day that we get back from camp on Monday. 636 00:30:24,300 --> 00:30:27,700 We have an ultrasound plan, and it's our first one. 637 00:30:27,700 --> 00:30:33,420 And so we go to the doctor, and the words that we hear are, 638 00:30:33,420 --> 00:30:36,340 "We can't find a heartbeat." 639 00:30:36,340 --> 00:30:42,580 And I'm just praying, "Lord, this is your promise. 640 00:30:42,580 --> 00:30:46,500 God, this is what you have brought. 641 00:30:46,500 --> 00:30:49,140 How can it be?" 642 00:30:49,140 --> 00:30:53,820 And, guys, this week has been so tough for us. 643 00:30:53,820 --> 00:30:56,140 Our emotions have been up and down. 644 00:30:56,140 --> 00:30:59,140 We've been believing and trusting in God 645 00:30:59,140 --> 00:31:01,420 that he is gonna move 646 00:31:01,420 --> 00:31:06,700 and that when we go back on Tuesday for our next ultrasound, 647 00:31:06,700 --> 00:31:09,020 that there will be a heartbeat, 648 00:31:09,020 --> 00:31:11,740 that there will be a live baby in there. 649 00:31:11,740 --> 00:31:13,060 And then if there's not, 650 00:31:13,060 --> 00:31:18,060 then we have to be okay with trusting God, 651 00:31:18,060 --> 00:31:23,700 with saying that, "God, we're gonna still follow you 652 00:31:23,700 --> 00:31:29,780 and still believe you no matter what comes our way." 653 00:31:29,780 --> 00:31:32,940 And so this is real. 654 00:31:32,940 --> 00:31:37,180 This is -- I wanted full transparency this morning, 655 00:31:37,180 --> 00:31:39,580 and I know that we have a church family 656 00:31:39,580 --> 00:31:43,940 who believes wholeheartedly and prays on our behalf. 657 00:31:43,940 --> 00:31:48,900 And so you know now -- you know now, 658 00:31:48,900 --> 00:31:52,620 and we're just believing by faith 659 00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:56,380 that the Lord is gonna do something miraculous. 660 00:31:56,380 --> 00:31:58,820 Either way. Either way. 661 00:31:58,820 --> 00:31:59,820 Amen? 662 00:31:59,820 --> 00:32:01,420 Amen. 663 00:32:01,420 --> 00:32:05,620 Scripture says that in our weakness, he is made strong. 664 00:32:05,620 --> 00:32:09,220 And you guys are watching a living testimony of that 665 00:32:09,220 --> 00:32:13,020 this morning as James came and proclaimly -- 666 00:32:13,020 --> 00:32:15,540 boldly proclaimed the gospel in front of you, 667 00:32:15,540 --> 00:32:17,500 having walked through this week 668 00:32:17,500 --> 00:32:19,300 and what they're walking through. 669 00:32:19,300 --> 00:32:24,020 The Word says also that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. 670 00:32:24,020 --> 00:32:25,540 He's close to the brokenhearted. 671 00:32:25,540 --> 00:32:30,500 As we draw near to him, he draws near to us. 672 00:32:30,500 --> 00:32:35,300 And we also believe that if the answer is no, 673 00:32:35,300 --> 00:32:38,980 he is still sovereign, and he is still good. 674 00:32:38,980 --> 00:32:41,860 He's still sovereign, and he's still good. 675 00:32:41,860 --> 00:32:43,980 We're gonna pray for James and Dana, 676 00:32:43,980 --> 00:32:46,940 and then we're gonna go into another time of worship. 677 00:32:46,940 --> 00:32:49,860 Now, immediately following this gathering, 678 00:32:49,860 --> 00:32:53,460 there is a meeting for those who have kids 679 00:32:53,460 --> 00:32:57,500 moving into youth group upstairs. 680 00:32:57,500 --> 00:33:00,460 James and Dana, remember I said, 681 00:33:00,460 --> 00:33:03,900 love the Lord, faithful, and show up. 682 00:33:03,900 --> 00:33:06,020 They wanna serve with excellence. 683 00:33:06,020 --> 00:33:08,940 So I know that because many of you can empathize 684 00:33:08,940 --> 00:33:10,700 with where they are right now, 685 00:33:10,700 --> 00:33:12,860 you want to hug their neck, you wanna encourage them, 686 00:33:12,860 --> 00:33:14,020 that's appropriate. 687 00:33:14,020 --> 00:33:15,860 I'm gonna ask you to hold that. 688 00:33:15,860 --> 00:33:19,060 If I talk to James, hold that for right now. 689 00:33:19,060 --> 00:33:20,660 Pray, sow into prayer. 690 00:33:20,660 --> 00:33:23,100 Let's believe alongside with them, okay? 691 00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:25,180 And as the Lord leads you this week, 692 00:33:25,180 --> 00:33:29,420 you can reach out, call, encourage, all of those things. 693 00:33:29,420 --> 00:33:31,700 They wanna be ready to receive you guys 694 00:33:31,700 --> 00:33:33,780 for this meeting up here that they're gonna have, okay? 695 00:33:33,780 --> 00:33:36,180 And it's not gonna be helpful at this moment 696 00:33:36,180 --> 00:33:37,780 if everybody tries to hug their neck. 697 00:33:37,780 --> 00:33:39,360 They know you love them. 698 00:33:39,360 --> 00:33:41,500 They know that really, really well. 699 00:33:41,500 --> 00:33:43,620 So guys, stand and stretch your hands this morning. 700 00:33:43,620 --> 00:33:45,780 We're gonna pray for my brother, 701 00:33:45,780 --> 00:33:48,240 my best friend and his family. 702 00:33:48,240 --> 00:33:52,100 Father, right now I just ask that you would cover James 703 00:33:52,100 --> 00:33:54,140 and Dana, Father, and this baby. 704 00:33:54,140 --> 00:33:56,260 And Lord, we just ask, Lord, right now 705 00:33:56,260 --> 00:33:59,580 for a miraculous touch because we know you can do it. 706 00:33:59,580 --> 00:34:02,500 And Father, but above all of that, 707 00:34:02,500 --> 00:34:04,660 our hearts cry is that your will be done. 708 00:34:04,660 --> 00:34:05,980 And in the midst of that, Lord, 709 00:34:05,980 --> 00:34:07,680 that you would bring a comfort and a peace 710 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:09,620 that passes all understanding. 711 00:34:09,620 --> 00:34:11,020 We believe, Lord, in you. 712 00:34:11,020 --> 00:34:12,060 We trust you. 713 00:34:12,060 --> 00:34:16,060 You're sovereign and you are good today and forevermore. 714 00:34:16,060 --> 00:34:17,300 In Jesus' name. 715 00:34:17,300 --> 00:34:21,780 And the church agrees and says amen, amen, amen. 716 00:34:21,780 --> 00:34:23,260 We're gonna worship together, guys. 717 00:34:23,260 --> 00:34:24,540 So let's lean in. 718 00:34:24,540 --> 00:34:26,180 Didn't the teens do a good job today? 719 00:34:26,180 --> 00:34:27,520 Let's hear it for the teens. 720 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:29,260 (congregation applauding) 721 00:34:29,260 --> 00:34:30,340 Let's worship. 722 00:34:30,340 --> 00:34:31,180 Come on, Cole. 723 00:34:31,180 --> 00:34:33,760 (gentle music) 724 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:35,760 [music fades out]