Faithful with a Little, or Starving on Crumbs?

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Yeah, it looks like I've got sound.

[00:00:33] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
I don't know.
[00:00:59] Let's pray.

[00:01:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
She's got like blue jeans.
[00:01:35] They look so good on her.

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy

[00:02:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
One, two, three, four.
[00:02:52] God be great forever And all the world let know His name Everyone together
[00:02:54] Sing this song of coming peace I don't ever need to keep earning it And now I spend all my evening Christ taking over, Christ taking over

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Jesus, you are the only way, my Savior

[00:04:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Jesus, you are the only way, my Savior, my Savior
[00:04:36] My Savior reigns, My Savior reigns
[00:05:06] My Savior is My Savior is My Savior is My Savior is My Savior is
[00:05:39] My Savior lives, My Savior lives, My Savior lives I know that my Redeemer lives And now I can know what He is My Savior, My Savior lives
[00:06:14] God is the only way My Savior, My Savior lives I know that my Redeemer lives And now I stand on what He did My Savior, My Savior lives
[00:06:40] Every day a brand new chance to stand Jesus, You are the only way My Savior, My Savior is

[00:07:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
I'm not going to lie, this is a very Nazarene of you, but when I was out there in the lobby getting the drums like that, I might have busted a little bit, but I'm not going to lie.
[00:07:31] That's why we have this new drum set.
[00:07:32] The old drum set would have been on the floor.
[00:07:34] Good job.
[00:07:35] Hey, welcome.
[00:07:37] I just want to thank you guys for being here with us today on this cold and rare rainy day in Mooresville.
[00:07:43] We were with family this week and my uncle said, well, what's it like living in North Carolina?
[00:07:48] I said, it never really rains where we're at, of course, today.
[00:07:52] So that's how that would go.
[00:07:54] But I just want to welcome you if you're new to this today.
[00:07:57] Thanks for being here.
[00:07:58] Just got a couple announcements for us and we'll move on with our service of the day.
[00:08:02] One is your prayer and praise cards.
[00:08:04] They would be on your seat.
[00:08:05] They're in the seat back in front of you.
[00:08:07] If you have any prayer requests or praise reports, you can write that down.
[00:08:10] And you can give them to Lou Anne, who's not here today.
[00:08:14] You can give them to Brenda or John on the offering plate.
[00:08:17] And our prayer team will pray for those every week.
[00:08:27] Next is our food pantry.
[00:08:31] I don't believe we're actually going to need, this is a blessing, I don't believe we're actually going to need to do the food drive at a neighborhood Walmart on December 6th.
[00:08:41] James told me this morning the pantry is beyond fully stocked right now.
[00:08:51] And that is a huge blessing.
[00:08:52] If you've seen pictures and seen Jean's posts, there have been times over the last month that the shelves were practically empty.
[00:08:59] And so to be beyond fully stocked and not need to do a food trial on the 6th is absolutely amazing.
[00:09:05] So there are a couple items that go quick.
[00:09:11] If you want to ask Jean after service what those are, please do, and she'll have a couple
[00:09:20] So instead of signing up for the food drive, how about we all just collectively agree to pray for the pantry on the 6th instead and just continue to pray that the shelves remain full and that we can continue to fulfill the mission of feeding and helping those around us.
[00:09:42] Next.
[00:09:42] Alright, last week Julie brought up the District Women's Retreat which will be on March 27th through the 29th.
[00:09:49] and in Larry Beach.
[00:09:50] How about that?
[00:09:51] So I don't really have a lot of info on that.
[00:09:53] They don't send it to me.
[00:09:55] I'm a man.
[00:09:56] So there's the dates and unless Marissa you know anything else about it that I know.
[00:10:08] If you want info on Christ you can see me and I'll find it.
[00:10:11] I know it's someplace in the building.
[00:10:12] I think there is a sign on the foyer table on the TV on the foyer.
[00:10:15] Not for that.
[00:10:15] Okay.
[00:10:15] Well there you go.
[00:10:16] See I'm a man.
[00:10:16] I don't know.
[00:10:17] There's the dates.

[00:10:19] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Next.

[00:10:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
What about this one?
[00:10:22] This one has a sign under the foyer.
[00:10:25] We are having a Women's Christmas party.
[00:10:28] It will be at Julie's house on December 13th.
[00:10:32] It will be a Christmas lunch.
[00:10:33] Julie is going to have some chili and soups.
[00:10:36] Available if you could bring an appetizer of some sort or a side dish, a dessert, something of that kind to bring with you.
[00:10:43] We are going to have a carpool option, so if you are somebody who's like, I want to go but I do not want to drive to the Charlotte area, she lives just outside of Charlotte, on this side of Charlotte, so you don't have to go all the way to South Charlotte.
[00:10:57] But, if you are somebody who's like, I want to go, I need a ride, I really need to sign up in the foyer, please sign up so that we can make sure that we have enough cars to get everybody there.
[00:11:08] I think that's all.
[00:11:11] If you want to wear another Christmas sweater, feel free.
[00:11:13] I will.
[00:11:14] So, that's all.

[00:11:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Was that talked about, or are you really just wanting another Christmas sweater contest?
[00:11:23] It was disgusting.

[00:11:24] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Okay.

[00:11:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Today, that still says December 1st, it means today.
[00:11:33] Today is the first Sunday of Advent, that's the confusion.
[00:11:37] Today at 2 o'clock, if you would be interested in helping decorate the church for Christmas, we're doing that today at 2 o'clock.
[00:11:45] So you can come back after lunch.
[00:11:48] Sorry if that interrupts nap time.
[00:11:50] If you want to stay and sleep on the chairs afterwards, you can.
[00:11:52] So, but today at 2 o'clock we'll be decorating the church for Christmas.
[00:11:57] On December 14th, we are having a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser and a show for our preschool.
[00:12:06] All the benefits will go to our preschool.
[00:12:08] This is also a fun thing to combine with our children's parka and our preschool students doing some songs together that night.
[00:12:17] So every dish, $10 a plate, unless you're 500, that is free.
[00:12:23] And so, just wanted to give you a heads up on that.
[00:12:26] December 14th, there will be a spaghetti dinner fundraiser here to benefit our preschool.
[00:12:32] It's also a time of ministry together with the kids of the church and the preschool, which is awesome.
[00:12:38] Alright, next!
[00:12:39] We're going to invite our ushers to come on this morning.
[00:12:41] If you're a guest with us this morning, don't feel obligated to give.
[00:12:46] This is just our time of giving together as a family.
[00:12:50] Why don't you go ahead and stand with me and I'll pray and continue to go along in our service today.
[00:13:11] and all of it.
[00:13:14] I pray these things, God, if we're expecting

[00:13:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
The skies of Bethlehem appear as stars While the angels sang to the lowly shepherds The wise men seeking truth may travel from God All made to find the child from heaven Falling off their knees
[00:14:12] We bring an offering of worship to our King The Lord of earth deserves the praises that we sing Jesus, may you receive the honor that you'll do O Lord, we bring an offering to you
[00:14:54] The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love.
[00:15:21] There is no shadow in your presence.
[00:15:22] No mortal man could dare to stand before your door, before the only one of heaven.

[00:15:23] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
It's only by your love

[00:15:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
It's only through Your mercy, Lord, I come We bring an offering of worship to our King The Lord on earth deserves the praises that He sings Jesus, may You receive the honor that You'll do

[00:15:52] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
O Lord, I bring an offering to you.
[00:16:09] I bring an offering of worship to my King.
[00:16:10] Torn on earth to serve the praises that I sing.

[00:16:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
In Jesus' name we pray.

[00:16:44] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[00:17:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
We talk today about our obedience to God.
[00:17:24] How easy that is.
[00:17:25] Because, as Moses told his people, you don't have to look for my word.
[00:17:30] My word is in your heart and in your mind.
[00:17:35] I want you to remember that today.
[00:17:36] I want you to think about that phrase today.
[00:17:37] Everything you need to know is in God's word.
[00:17:41] If you study God's word and learn it in your heart,

[00:18:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
I search the world for faithful and faithful people Presenting praise and treasures that we've never known You came along and put me back together
[00:18:31] Every desire now satisfied here in your love Oh there's nothing better than you Oh there's nothing better than you Oh there's nothing, nothing is better than you
[00:19:00] I'm not afraid to show you my weakness My prayers have gone, Lord, you see them all You still call me friend The God of the mountains The God of the valleys
[00:19:30] There's not a place Your mercy and grace won't find me again Oh, there's nothing better than You Lord, there's nothing better than You Lord, there's nothing, nothing is better than You
[00:19:58] All is lovely Better than you All is lovely Better than you All is lovely Nothing is better than you Your morning's a dancing
[00:20:27] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[00:21:00] You're the only one who can You're the only one who can You're the only one who can You're the only one who can You're the only one who can
[00:21:30] Better than you, Lord, there's nothing Better than you, Lord, there's nothing Nothing is better than you Lord, there's nothing Better than you, Lord, there's nothing Better than you, Lord, there's nothing
[00:21:57] Nothing is better than You Lord there's nothing better than You Lord there's nothing better than You Lord there's nothing nothing is better than You
[00:22:27] You may be seated.

[00:22:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
We're going to go to the Lord in prayer, and then we're going to do things a little different today for the kids in here.
[00:22:49] We're going to do family prayer time, then we're going to do
[00:23:01] And so here's what we're going to do today when we pray.
[00:23:07] There's something specific that you need to pray for.
[00:23:17] I'm just going to encourage you to do that during this time.
[00:23:23] But this family prayer time today, I'm just going to do it in a form of prayer.
[00:23:29] Let's pray.
[00:23:31] Hey God, I just want to start right now by thanking you for the many answers to prayer that have turned into praises this week.
[00:23:54] Thank you so much for that.
[00:23:56] We thank you for
[00:23:58] What's going to happen?
[00:24:00] I know sometimes that's really hard to see when we're going through it or when we're praying for something specific.
[00:24:07] God, just come right now with many voices in here.
[00:24:10] We just ask that you give us strength to just praise you in advance for the things that are going to happen.
[00:24:26] Posture and mindset of praise as we go on throughout the week.
[00:24:33] If the enemy tries to fight or you're trying to tell the enemy not today, we keep giving you praise for the victories already won and the many victories to come.
[00:24:43] God, we thank you again today.
[00:24:45] In your name I pray.
[00:24:47] Amen.
[00:24:49] Alright, this time, if mom, dad, baby, and sister want to come on up,
[00:24:55] So here's how this, as they're coming up, I'm going to tell you the story of how this happened.
[00:25:02] So, a month and a half, two months ago, Kate had messaged me.
[00:25:06] They go to the preschool.
[00:25:07] Ava, Ava, wave, say hi.
[00:25:08] Hi.
[00:25:10] There you go.
[00:25:12] Ava is a part of our preschool in one of the forest classes.
[00:25:17] And...
[00:25:20] One day you were needing somewhere to change the baby so I said you could use my office and afterwards we got to talking and she said, would you baptize the baby?
[00:25:30] I said, of course.
[00:25:31] and so through that we've come up with the date and and here we are and what a precious moment this is right to baptize a little one and uh and this also goes to show the the relationship between the preschool and the church is strong and it is one family united under the lord right and so
[00:26:04] Yeah, Mom, I'm bringing you a band-aid right now.
[00:26:06] Praise the Lord for band-aids.
[00:26:07] And so, is she asleep?
[00:26:11] Well, that'll be fine.
[00:26:14] So, the way we're going to...
[00:26:19] I'm going to say a prayer for the family.
[00:26:22] Then I'm going to give a charge to the church united.
[00:26:26] That includes church and preschool together.
[00:26:29] And then we'll baptize the baby.
[00:26:30] Don't worry, we're not taking the baby all the way out, especially while I'm sleeping.
[00:26:35] We've just got some water in here and we'll do a sprinkle.
[00:26:42] God is, thank you so much for this opportunity.
[00:27:08] I pray for the family standing up here today and the extended family sitting down, that together they can come together and support and encourage one another as this family raises these two children.
[00:27:25] So God, again, in the whole motion of praise, God, we give you praise today for the victories already won.
[00:27:40] What about you?
[00:27:42] We'll talk about that later.
[00:27:48] And then for the church.
[00:27:51] Church, preschools, extended family together.
[00:28:17] And so today, the exact same, as we are under one roof as one church, as a church body, a preschool body, to come together and encourage this family.
[00:28:38] Some of you may not have any idea who they are, and that's okay.
[00:28:51] So because they are connected to our church, it is the church's responsibility to lift these kids and this family up in your prayers as well.
[00:29:02] So if you commit to doing that, say, I will.
[00:29:06] I will.
[00:29:07] This is the fun part now, that she's sleeping.
[00:29:27] So here's what I'm going to do.
[00:29:28] I'm just going to dip my fingers in here and then we'll put some on our forehead.
[00:29:32] Alright?
[00:29:33] Lily Rain Ellerbee, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son,
[00:29:50] Let's pray together with them.
[00:29:56] God, again, we thank you so much for this family.
[00:30:03] We just pray right now for the baby's lovely, that you just continue to watch over her.
[00:30:14] Guide and direct her family's steps as they lead her the best they can towards you.
[00:30:19] As a church family, we come together now, and I just pray that these people will continue to be an encouragement and a source of light to Lily and the whole family.
[00:30:28] We thank you again for all you've done and all you will continue to do.
[00:30:33] God, today we give you the glory.
[00:30:35] It's your name I pray.
[00:30:35] And everyone said, Amen.
[00:30:36] Awesome.
[00:30:38] Thank you guys.
[00:30:39] Here is her certificate of baptism.
[00:30:42] Thank you.
[00:30:46] For those that were baptized last week, I have your certificates of baptism as well, including yours, Patrick.
[00:30:54] I didn't drop it in the lake.
[00:30:57] We're still working with a couple others to get baptized as well.
[00:31:01] So now, if you are a kid in here and you are going to go to children's church today, I'm going to have you come on forward.
[00:31:22] My view of this when the kids come up is great, because they all come up like this.
[00:31:29] It's kind of scary sometimes, but it was good.
[00:31:31] Alright, so then we're going to put our hands in, and on the count of three, we're going to say, Faithful.
[00:31:40] Okay?
[00:31:41] One, two, three, Faithful!
[00:32:07] So let me start by saying that...
[00:32:10] I have to say it a lot, how much of a blessing this is.
[00:32:17] Let me put a little bit... You can clap if you want.
[00:32:27] Let me begin is when we arrive, we're what, maybe two kids that regularly attend.
[00:32:33] Regular attendance these days is twice a month.
[00:32:38] And to now have this many kids, which is still low today, we average 14 on Sunday.
[00:32:43] Our attendance as a church has doubled in over a year.
[00:32:50] This isn't a, look what we've done.
[00:32:53] This is the opposition to what we've done, right?
[00:32:56] If you notice at night, if you drive by, you can't see in here.
[00:32:59] We've had some people put some little lights out that should help at night.
[00:33:03] Our sign has been ordered for over a year.
[00:33:07] It is piece by piece being put together as we speak.
[00:33:11] A double-sided LED sign that will definitely light up the way.
[00:33:15] Second, these doors, which have been a hassle for a little while, have been ordered, were supposed to be put in yesterday.
[00:33:22] A manufacturer problem happened, so we're getting an upgraded set of doors, which should cost double what we're paying, and we're still getting it for the cost we bought them for.
[00:33:32] The enemy is trying to prohibit people from getting in, but we're growing anyway, right?
[00:33:39] And that kind of is, and that wasn't planned, but that's kind of the lead-in to the message today, which is being faithful with a little.
[00:33:52] Being faithful with a little.
[00:33:54] Now this is maybe a hard truth to hear right up front, but...
[00:34:00] When Marissa and I moved here, there was a sense of being faithful with a little.
[00:34:09] We came from a church that was knocking on the door of a hundred a week.
[00:34:14] We were feeding the homeless in our community every Sunday morning a hot meal.
[00:34:19] Marissa had started a tutoring center at our church on Wednesday nights.
[00:34:22] It would have 20 kids from the community come up and get homework done or ask questions.
[00:34:27] We had a couple teachers.
[00:34:28] Some retired, some active.
[00:34:33] I'm really saying that you were faithful and here's these things happening.
[00:34:37] And then he started leading us here.
[00:34:39] To which let me be honest with you.
[00:34:42] If the DMs watches this, I'm sorry, you know it's true.
[00:34:45] They fluff attendance when they try to get a pastor to come to a church.
[00:34:50] He said, yeah, the church runs around 60...
[00:34:56] We took the interview and there might have been 50 or 60 at the interview portion of the meeting because everyone wants to see how the new pastor might be.
[00:35:08] But then those first couple Sundays come and kind of the newness wears off pretty quick.
[00:35:12] The average after looking at the numbers during the interim period was 33.
[00:35:18] That's 60 less than we were used to.
[00:35:22] There's a little sticker shock to that in a negative way.
[00:35:25] If I'm being real with you, we never really had the question of what did we do?
[00:35:33] Because we knew that God's been faithful before.
[00:35:38] And if you're faithful with a little, I'll give you more.
[00:35:43] Three months into us being here, we told you guys our plan and vision for growing the youth and children's departments.
[00:35:51] Be faithful with a little, and I'll give you more.
[00:35:56] Got a text on our drive home from Thanksgiving from our preschool director, Robin, who's sitting back there today.
[00:36:02] We're at 50 kids at our preschool.
[00:36:05] We hit the 50 mark last week officially, which is amazing.
[00:36:08] Yes.
[00:36:13] And that's pretty much capacity.
[00:36:16] And that's awesome.
[00:36:20] Be faithful with a little.
[00:36:21] What was the number, Robin, during the COVID year?
[00:36:25] And so we've been ticking up praying for 50 over the last year and a half and to hit that number is awesome.
[00:36:34] Be faithful with a little and I'll give you more.
[00:36:39] I had to laugh.
[00:36:41] I was on Facebook during Thanksgiving because when you're at your grandpa's house and the football games don't come through quite right because he doesn't have cable.
[00:36:50] What cable?
[00:36:51] He's trying to steal from a satellite tape on his windows.
[00:36:58] What else are you going to do, man?
[00:36:59] You can browse Facebook while you're waiting on the food to be ready.
[00:37:02] You're going to eat at 2.
[00:37:03] 3 o'clock you'll finally sit down.
[00:37:05] And I see all these other churches and pastors post these really beautiful and really nice Thanksgiving pictures for their church.
[00:37:14] And so what did I do?
[00:37:15] I posted a picture from the show Friends.
[00:37:17] I said, this is my stretch pants.
[00:37:19] And I ask you guys, what's something random that you're thankful for?
[00:37:23] Unless your heart's with really good Christians, but nobody put anything random.
[00:37:29] The purpose behind the question.
[00:37:31] And your answers, I believe, were true.
[00:37:32] You're thankful for the Lord.
[00:37:33] You're thankful for your church.
[00:37:34] You're thankful for your friends.
[00:37:36] All that's also.
[00:37:37] But what is something little and random that you're thankful for?
[00:37:45] A lot of us have a lot of things to be thankful for.
[00:37:49] Being back home made me remember and realize some small things that I was thankful for.
[00:37:56] This big one.
[00:38:05] Anybody like Fifth Avenue candy bars?
[00:38:08] Anybody despise them?
[00:38:09] Raise your hand.
[00:38:11] Alright, Jean, this is yours.
[00:38:15] So, I can't say it was always my favorite.
[00:38:19] I haven't had one in a while.

[00:38:28] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
I'll turn off the mic.

[00:38:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
It holds meaning and a purpose.
[00:38:38] You know, I haven't been able to find these here.
[00:38:43] Not small ones.
[00:38:51] Now I know.
[00:38:52] So I went to the BP this morning because I left mine from Kentucky at home this morning.
[00:38:57] And they only had king-size ones.
[00:39:00] Little did BP know that actually goes with the sermon perfectly.
[00:39:06] Why Fifth Avenue?
[00:39:07] What does that mean?
[00:39:07] Did I grow up on Fifth Avenue?
[00:39:09] No.
[00:39:11] Far from it.
[00:39:13] But every time I would go to my mammy's house.
[00:39:18] If you've been here with us a while, you've heard me talk about mammy.
[00:39:20] It was my dad's mom.
[00:39:23] Every time I'd go to mammy and Pat Ball's, Pat Ball, Bill, my grandpa, he would have a Fifth Avenue candy bar hidden in the bottom
[00:39:39] Why?
[00:39:41] Fifth Avenue is his favorite candy bar.
[00:39:43] And so when I was about Selah's age, doing Selah things, probably always walking to him, asking him where mine was, he would say, you can't have a candy bar, you're too little.
[00:39:55] And one day, he said that, and Mammy looked at him and said, Bill, you be nice to that grandbaby.
[00:40:03] If he wants a candy bar, you give him a candy bar.
[00:40:07] I love Mammy.
[00:40:09] So, he would go to Sam's Club.
[00:40:12] At the time, you could buy the mini Fifth Avenue.
[00:40:14] So he'd buy it by the box.
[00:40:16] And every time we'd come over, there would be a mini Fifth Avenue in that bottom left-hand drawer by the sink.
[00:40:23] Why was it in there?
[00:40:24] Because as a little kid, what did I do?
[00:40:26] I got into everything.
[00:40:28] So wouldn't you know my surprise, there's a family video floating around somewhere of this.
[00:40:32] We'd be walking through the kitchen, pulling the towels off the oven bar,
[00:40:38] I'd open all the drawers.
[00:40:40] I'd open that bottom drawer and there was the candy bar that Papaw eats.
[00:40:45] I'd pull it out and I'd say, Got it!
[00:40:47] Every time I'd go over, I'd look for that candy bar.
[00:40:55] And it never failed.
[00:40:56] It was always there.
[00:40:59] As I got older, Papaw died when I was seven.
[00:41:04] As I got older, the candy bars grew a little bigger.
[00:41:16] I went to stay all night, or I went to see their cat that I liked that lived outside and climbed the trees.
[00:41:23] Because I would say, that cat's up there where my treehouse is going to be.
[00:41:27] I told the story before, Papaw bought all the wood to build my treehouse and that's when he got sick and he passed away several months later and never got built.
[00:41:35] But I always wanted to see where the cat was because the cat was telling me where the treehouse was going.
[00:41:40] So I went to stay all night, I went to see their cat, I went to walk around the woods just past their fence.
[00:41:48] I'd go out because every time I was hungry and sometimes even not, Pam would say, are you hungry?
[00:41:58] Yes.
[00:41:59] And my goodness, the first time I ever had steak for breakfast was at Pam's.
[00:42:06] So I'd go out for all these other reasons.
[00:42:24] I'll give you a lot.
[00:42:27] Scripture today comes out of Luke chapter 16.
[00:42:31] Luke 16 verse 10.
[00:42:34] Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with much.
[00:42:41] I've never seen a king size Fifth Avenue.
[00:42:44] The first ones I ever saw were
[00:42:58] Is there spiritual significance in a candy bar?
[00:43:01] Nothing's gonna happen except your calorie count goes up.
[00:43:07] But I fully believe that you can find significance in things, in life, that God has provided that some people would never notice is from the Lord.
[00:43:18] And sometimes we don't pay attention to that.
[00:43:22] So when I asked the other day, what's something random that you're thankful for
[00:43:30] I believe the answers were true.
[00:43:31] I bet all of us can go home today and think of something small that we maybe take for granted that if it wasn't there, man, things would be really different.
[00:43:48] After Papal Bill passed away, Mammy tried to continue putting candy bars in the drawer.
[00:43:59] When she sold her house and moved into town, I remember mom and dad helping unpack the house and put it in boxes for packing the house.
[00:44:09] And the drawer still had a candy bar in it.
[00:44:12] I never went and looked for one after Pavel passed away.
[00:44:21] And honestly, this is probably only the second one I've had since.
[00:44:40] And a lot of us have that now in our life.
[00:44:43] There are so many little things.
[00:44:47] Now sometimes you can hear this and think, first world problems, of course.
[00:44:53] But there are these little things that happen every day in our life that we just take for granted.
[00:45:01] What little thing has God given you that He's asking you to be faithful with so it can
[00:45:16] And sometimes something little really turns into a lot.
[00:45:21] Again, the story of us coming here brings some life back in.
[00:45:33] And that is fully a from the Lord thing.
[00:45:35] I can't share this story enough because it blows my mind.
[00:45:39] Us driving down here before we ever talk to the DS and we're pulling out of Cambridge, Ohio and Marissa gets a phone call from Mooresville, North Carolina.
[00:45:49] We haven't told a soul, just us, that we were even driving down to look at the area and it was the high school, Mooresville High School, calling her about a job opportunity.

[00:46:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
You kidding me?

[00:46:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Turn 1.
[00:46:08] We decided before ever coming down that her name was going to be Magnolia.
[00:46:13] Wouldn't you know, the street that connects to our street is Magnolia Street.
[00:46:18] Are you kidding me?
[00:46:25] Be faithful with the little.
[00:46:28] You can turn into much.
[00:46:30] And what was a little, sometimes we don't even realize it's from the Lord.
[00:46:35] The little, which I've told you guys before, the little was literally an addiction of mine.
[00:46:40] It sounds worse than it is.
[00:46:44] Hello, children.
[00:46:45] Anybody in here ever get on Zillow and look at houses?
[00:46:58] I had an addiction looking at Zillow every night I'd go to bed.
[00:47:04] That turned into an email which led us here.
[00:47:07] Something small.
[00:47:17] Whoever can be trusted with the little
[00:47:35] Not only is it a blessing to the family, but it's also a reminder to us as a church that with something little, much can happen.
[00:47:44] One of the great reports that we had today was Cheryl Elmer's great-granddaughter, Hattie, was having surgery Wednesday, and the amount of blessings that have come from that and good reports are awesome.
[00:48:09] There's probably countless people in here that have prayed to the Lord for something small and you never told another soul about it because it seemed like too little to ever bring up.
[00:48:28] Give God the little too.
[00:48:33] We don't even pray about the little things because we don't think it's important.
[00:48:37] And we only give God this big stuff.
[00:48:39] We only give God the mountains.
[00:48:41] And we never give Him the smallest grain of sand.
[00:48:44] Anybody ever had something in your eye?
[00:48:48] That's little.
[00:48:49] It can ruin everything.
[00:48:54] But when that finally gets out of your eye, give God the little too.
[00:49:11] I used to absolutely never want to be a youth pastor.
[00:49:16] Ever.
[00:49:18] I called it the dark side of ministry.
[00:49:21] I was a youth pastor for 20 years.
[00:49:25] And I loved every minute of it.
[00:49:28] But can I tell you, I still prayed about the opportunity every day.
[00:49:33] Even though I didn't want it, because I knew in my heart
[00:49:38] One day it was going to come, and the Lord started prompting my heart and twisting at it, and I said, just pray, God, whenever you're ready.
[00:49:46] And I knew, I always knew that when I was married, that door would open.
[00:49:53] The moment we got engaged, we got a, what, the rest of the next week?
[00:49:57] We got a call from the DS of East Ohio about an opening to be a senior pastor.
[00:50:07] I can't see it.
[00:50:11] I just know one day it might happen.
[00:50:27] Very rarely do we ever see the small thing that gets stuck in our eye.
[00:50:34] Give God the small things too.
[00:50:38] We've given you the small things your whole life that have turned into amazing things that we take for granted.
[00:50:50] Matter of fact, a lot of our prayers are for big things to turn smaller.
[00:50:54] God, this thing has been rocking my life.
[00:50:56] I can't get away from it.
[00:50:57] Everywhere I look, it's like I'm just in a shadow.
[00:51:00] Take it away.
[00:51:03] Shrink it.
[00:51:06] God works in the other way, too.
[00:51:08] Faithful with a little, it can turn into much.
[00:51:18] That scripture is followed with something I think that's very important.
[00:51:24] So whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted
[00:51:43] I need this little thing from God, not taking it to Him at all, because I just feel like He doesn't have time for my little nonsense that I'm concerned about.
[00:51:53] To me, that's being dishonest with the Lord about this little small thing of mine.
[00:51:58] He wants all of it.
[00:52:00] All of us.
[00:52:02] Our whole heart, our whole mind, our life.
[00:52:08] So a lot of times a sermon like this is preached, it's the pastor saying, hey, you know that hidden thing, that big thing in your life, do you give that to the Lord?

[00:52:16] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Today it's kind of the opposite, the small things in your life.

[00:52:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Are you going to acknowledge the fact that it's even there to give it to the Lord, or are you just going to keep living as if it doesn't exist because you've taken it for granted for so long?
[00:52:29] That could be giving it to God because it's a hindrance in your life and you just chose to bury it, or it could be a blessing in your life that God is just waiting to say, hey,
[00:52:40] And this isn't a message of prosperity gospel, but I do think that we should give God credit for all the things in our life, small or big.
[00:52:54] Scripture alone tells us that if we can be trusted with a little, little can be much.
[00:53:01] So what is it for you?
[00:53:04] What is that little thing in your life that you just need to give God a little credit for?
[00:53:17] That moment in your life you were so thankful for, but then for whatever reason you had a falling out and you just quit going back to it.
[00:53:29] That moment in your life you got angry at God about something, so you decided to quit giving Him praise for that as well.
[00:53:46] We hold this grudge against God, and so we quit giving Him praise for even the smallest thing.
[00:53:52] It wasn't my grandma's fault that my grandpa passed away.
[00:53:55] My little kid brain, though, knew my grandpa was the one that gave me this.
[00:54:00] So I just, which is God, I quit looking for Him.
[00:54:02] So sometimes our life, we just have to cut God off because something didn't go our way.
[00:54:08] Sometimes we quit praying.
[00:54:10] Sometimes we quit asking.
[00:54:11] Sometimes we quit seeking.
[00:54:13] Sometimes we quit reading.
[00:54:20] For some of us, that small thing, if you remember anything today, remember this.
[00:54:24] For some of us, that small thing that God wants is just for us to talk to.
[00:54:29] And us to acknowledge His presence.
[00:54:32] Whoa.
[00:54:34] God's presence is huge.
[00:54:35] But can I tell you, as a Christian, sometimes His presence can seem minuscule because we're so used to walking in it.
[00:54:42] That we quit giving Him thanks for even being there.
[00:54:48] So maybe for some of us today, he just wants you to say, hey, God, thank you.
[00:54:56] Thank you.
[00:55:02] I was giving some of you guys a hard time commenting on that post, because really you commented the truth of it.
[00:55:08] But sometimes it's the little things that
[00:55:23] What is it that God has entrusted you with?
[00:55:30] What small things has He entrusted you with?
[00:55:32] What small things does He want you to talk to Him about?
[00:55:35] What thing is it that you've taken for granted?
[00:55:51] As you sing, maybe take time to reflect on those questions today.

[00:56:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
I know who I am I know who You are The cross of salvation Was only the start I am chosen
[00:56:45] I have a future in this world of reminiscence I wasn't made to be tamed in a grave I was called by my name Born and raised after the life of death I was made for more
[00:57:19] I know who I am Cause I know who you are The cross of salvation
[00:57:51] Now I am chosen, free and forgiven.

[00:58:16] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
I have a future in this world to live in.
[00:58:18] I was engaged to be tending a grave, I was called a king.

[00:58:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
I was born and raised back to life again, and I was taken home So why would I make a bed in my shame when the ground still breaks?

[00:58:42] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
And running my way like a flying ghost?
[00:58:54] You call out my name, I'll sing out Your name, Hallelujah You bury my past, I'm not going back
[00:59:11] Alleluia, You call out my name, I'll sing out Your praise Alleluia, You carry my past, I'm not falling back

[00:59:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
I was born and raised back to life again I was made for more Why would I beg?
[01:00:04] I beg my shame when I'm found in grace Running my way I know I am lost I was made for more
[01:00:14] My shame was in a mountain race, but in my way I know I am Yours, I was made for all

[01:00:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Some of the smaller things that maybe Jesus doesn't get credit for.
[01:00:52] We think of the miracles that happened.
[01:00:53] We think of the big, big things.
[01:00:56] There was Zacchaeus in the tree.
[01:01:00] Literally was told he was a small person.
[01:01:04] He was touching the sick woman.
[01:01:05] Nobody else would do that.
[01:01:07] We see that.
[01:01:09] So small.
[01:01:10] Blessing the children, allowing the children to come to Him.
[01:01:13] It doesn't seem like a big miracle, but He was setting the way.
[01:01:16] How about eating meals with ordinary people?
[01:01:22] Not something that anybody of royalty was doing in those days.
[01:01:27] And turning water to wine at a wedding.
[01:01:30] We don't think of that as a very big deal, but it was the first miracle.
[01:01:40] Those miracles we might not see as very big, but to the people that it affected, it was life-changing.
[01:01:48] So what way, through something small, is God going to show you how big He is?
[01:01:56] Let's pray together.
[01:01:58] Hey God, thank you again so much for this day.
[01:02:03] God, we all have a lot to be thankful for, and sometimes we forget what those things even are.
[01:02:09] May you make those evident
[01:02:15] For many victories and celebrations that we've been able to have over this last week, including today at the baptism.
[01:02:24] So God, I just pray for your continued blessings upon that family.
[01:02:27] May you guide and direct all of our steps.
[01:02:31] Keep us safe as we leave this place today.
[01:02:33] In your name I pray.
[01:02:34] Everyone said, Amen.
[01:02:36] You're dismissed.