Let’s Go Cross the River…Transcript January 1, 2017 Let’s Go | Cross the River Matt Hessel Well Traders Point, how are we? Good. It’s good to see you. I hope you’re awake

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Transcript January 1, 2017

Let’s Go | Cross the River Matt Hessel

WellTradersPoint,howarewe?Good.It’sgoodtoseeyou.Ihopeyou’reawake.HappyNewYear!TodayifyourNewYear’sresolutionwastostartcomingtochurch,congratulations.Youareoneforone.There’repeoplewhodecided,whentheiralarmwentoffearlierthismorning,“Heyit’saholiday.We’llstartnextweekontheeighth.”Soyougivethemahardtimenextweek.Ifyou’reaguest,ifyou’revisitingwithuswelcome.We’rereallygladyou’rehere.MynameisMatt.I’mthecampuspastorofthiscampus.ThisistheNorthwestcampus.I’mgladyou’rehere.IwanttoinviteyoutostopbyConnectionCentralinthelobby,rightwhenyouleave.It’sagreatwaytomeetsomepeoplewhowouldlovetointroducethemselvestoyouandtellyouwhat’sgoingonhere,howtogetconnected.Theycanansweranyquestionsyoumighthave.Andifyoudon’tknowwhattoask?Don’tworry,they’vegotyoucovered.Thepeoplewiththeorangeshirtsinthemiddleofthelobby—stopbyandsayhi.Theycantellyouwhatyourfirstoryournextstepis,sotakesometimetodothat.Ifyou’vegotaBiblewithyougoaheadandopenittoJoshuachapter1.JoshuaisthesixthbookintheBible.Ifyouareaguest,youpickedareallygreatweekendtocomebecauseofwhatwe’regoingtodotoday.You’regoingtogetabehind-the-sceneslookatwhatweareandwhatwe’reaboutasachurchandasacampus.Thisisgoingtobekindofafamilyconversation,whereI’mgoingtobetalkingtoallofyouhereattheNorthwestlocation.Andifyouconsiderthiscampusyourhome,here’swhatIwanttodo.Iwanttotalkaboutnotonlywherewe’reat,butalsowhereweneedtogoin2017.JustfortodayIwantustogetoureyesupalittlebittoseewhoweareasacampusandwhatweneedtodo.SothisisnotgoingtobeaNewYear’sresolutionsermon.It’snotgoingtobea,“Hey,2016isover,nowwecangetafreshstart.”Iknowfortheworld2016waskindofacrazyyearandIknowformostofuswe’rereadyfor2016tobeover.Butasachurch2016wasanawesomeyear.WegottoseeGoddosomeincrediblethingsandIwouldbeabadleaderifIdidn’ttellyouaboutsomeofthosethings.IwanttotellyouaboutthosethingssowecancelebratewhatGoddidherethispastyear.

Let’sGo|CrosstheRiverJanuary1,2017

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1. Wesaw556peoplegetbaptized,556.That’sawesome.2. AlsolastyearwelaunchedtheNorthcampusandtheDowntowncampuslaunchesrightnow.It’sgoingonrightnow.Thathappenedlastyear.Wecancelebratethat.3. Wewereabletogiveover$1.1Milliondollarstostrategicpartnersacrossthecountryandin20pluscountriesaroundtheworld.Yeah,awesome,that’syourgenerosity.4. In2016wealsosawmorepeoplegetconnectedingroupsthanwehaveinanyotheryear.Allthatstuffisjustthetipoftheiceberg.2016wasagreatyearandwewanttocelebrateit.Wewanttokeepgoing.Wewanttoplayoffthatin2017.Wedon’tgettorelaxnowandkickupourfeetbecausetherearestillhundredsofthousandsofpeoplearoundIndianapoliswhodon’tknowJesus,peoplewhohaveneverheardthegospel,theydon’tknowwhatthatis—peoplewhohaveneverbeenconnectedtoahealthychurch.Sowe’vegottokeepgoing.Wecan’trelax.Wecan’tkickupourfeetbecausethegospelisurgent.Jesusiscomingback.SothequestionI’vebeenaskingmyselfis:AmIlivinglikethat?AmIlivingwiththatkindofurgencythatJesusiscomingback?Soasachurchandasacampusletmeaskyouarhetoricalquestion:Whatwouldyousayisoururgencylevelrightnow?Isithigh?Isitlow?Isitindifferent?Whereareweat?Becausewe’reallgoingtofaceurgencyatdifferentpointsinourlife,that’sforsure.Thequestioniswhattypeofurgencywillweexperienceandwhatwillwedowithit?Letmegiveyouanexampleabouturgency.ThispastHalloween,myfamilyandI,wegottogetherwithsomefriendsandwetookallofourkidstrick-or-treatinginourneighborhood.Whenitcomestotrick-or-treating,theolderkidsthey’vefigureditout.Theyknowwhat’sgoingon.Theyknowthatassoonaswestartthey’reontheclock.Sotheyjusttakeoffsprintingfromhousetohouse.They’retryingtomaximizetheirtime.Theyoungerkids,theytendnottobeasurgentastheolderonesandthentheyendupgettingseparatedfromthepackprettyquickly.That’sexactlywhathappenedtous.Myfour-year-olddaughterwascompletelycontentjuststrollingalongthroughtheneighborhoodfromhousetohouse.Shedefinitelywantedherfairshareofcandy,butshealsowantedtoshowoffherElsaswag.Shewantedtoliveupthatcostume.Soreallyquicklywegotseparated.MywifetookmyboysandIstuckwithmydaughter.We’rejustwalkingaroundtheneighborhood.We’retrick-or-treating.It’sgreat.Iactuallylikedthatalotmore,justbeingchillaboutit.Thenallofthesuddensherunsuptomewithalittledanceinherstepandacertaindistressedlookonherface.Andifyouhavekids,youknowwhatdanceandlookI’mtalkingabout.



Andshesaidtome,shesaid,“Daddy,IhavetogotothebathroomandIhavetogotothebathroomrightnow.”BythelookonherfaceIknewshemeantrightnow.Butofcoursewearethefurthestpointinourneighborhoodawayfromourhouse.Ofcoursewe’rethatfaraway.Igrabherhandandwestartheadinghome.Contrarytopopularbelief,theDisneyplasticprincesshigh-heelsshewaswearingarenotbuiltforspeed.Sowe’renotcoveringgroundwithanykindofspeed.Andshestartstocrybecauseshehastogosobad.SoIjustpickherupandtakeoffinthedirectionofsomefriends’houseafewblocksaway.Istartrunningthatway.Shekeepscryingandshe’stellingme,“Daddy,hurryDaddy,pleasehurry.”AndI’mtellingher,“Sweetgirl,justholdon.We’llgetthere.”InthebackofmyheadI’mthinking,“Don’tgoonme.Pleasedon’tgoonme.”ThisiswhentheurgencylevelraisessoIabandonallyard-etiquette.IjustpickherupandIstarttakingoffthroughpeople’sbackyards.I’mjumpingoverflowerbedsrunningasfastasIcanholdingacryingElsa,whichisnofunbecauseElsaisnotsupposedtocry.She’snotsupposedtocry.ButatthesametimeIreallydon’twanthertostartsingingLetitGoeither.Thatsongiscompletelyinappropriateinthissituation.Sowe’rerunningasfastaswecanandwegetaroundthecornerandIseemybuddy’shouse.I’mthinking,“We’regoingtomakeit.We’regoingtomakeit.”I’mtellingher,“Georgia,justholdon.We’realmostthere.Justholdon.”WerunuptothefrontdoorandIstartringingtheirdoorbellasmanytimesasIcanandofcoursethey’renottherebecausethey’reouttrick-or-treating.Sopanicsetsin.AndIgointosurvivalmode.I’mlookingaroundandI’mtryingtothink.ThenIremembermyfriendhasareallybigprivacyfencearoundhisbackyard.Sowe’reheadingthatway.Problemsolved.We’regoingtotakecareoftheproblemthatway.SoIgetherbackthereandgethersituatedandshesaystome,“ButDaddy,Ican’tgotothebathroomoutside.”NormallyIwouldaffirmthatstatementfrommydaughter,butdesperatetimescallfordesperatemeasuresandItrytoreassureherwith,“Heysweetheart,it’sokayjustthisonce,”whichisneveragoodparentingtactictotellyourkidit’sjustokaythisonce.That’sgoingtobackfire.Ijusttellher,“It’sokayhoney,youcangopottyhere.”Andshelooksatmeandshesays,“ButDaddy,Idon’thavetogopotty,Ihavetogo…”Yeahthatchangesthegame.HeandI,we’renotthatgoodoffriends.I’mnotgoingtodothattohim.SoagainIlookaroundtoseewhatIcando.Inoticeanotherfriends’houseandthey’vegottheirkitchenlightson.SoonceagainIpickherup,throwheronmyshoulder,runaroundthecornerandwegettothathousetotakecareofbusiness.Thatwasurgent.Thatwasurgent.



TheproblemwasthatcouldhaveallbeenavoidedifI’dhavesimplybeenproactiveandattheverybeginningofthenightsaidtoGeorgia,“Hey,whydon’twegotothebathroombeforewegotrick-or-treating.I’vebeenafatherforsevenyears.You’dthinkI’dhavelearnedthatlessonbynow,butinsteadurgencywasverymuchforceduponmealongwithareallyhighheartrate.We’reallgoingtofaceurgencyatdifferentpoints,weallare.That’sforcertain.What’suncertainiswhattypeofurgencywe’regoingtoexperience.Wegettochoose.They’retwotypes.There’sreactiveurgency,whichiswhatIexperiencedonHalloween.Thenthere’sproactiveurgency,whichiswhatIshouldhaveexperiencedonHalloween.Reactiveurgencyisallaboutaproblemthatneedstobefixed.Proactiveurgencyisaboutaccomplishingamission.Reactiveurgencyisallaboutavoidingadisaster,andstressisalwaysthebyproduct.Proactiveurgencyisallaboutmaximizingimpactandthebyproductisactuallyjoy.Sothequestioniswhichonearewegoingtochoose?Isurgencyjustgoingtobeastressortousthatwe’reconstantlyrespondingto?Or,arewegoingtobeproactiveanduseurgencyasatooltoaccomplishourmission?Nowasacampustheobviousansweriswewanttobeproactive.Wewanttobeurgentsowecanaccomplishthemission.Butifthat’swhatwe’reurgenttodo,whatarewetryingtoaccomplish?Whyarewehere?Whatarewetryingtodo?What’sthemissionofthischurch?What’sthemissionofthiscampus?Wellhereitis.LetmemakeitasclearasIpossiblycan.Here’sthemission:Wewanttomakemoreandbetterdisciples.Moreandbetterdisciples,that’sthemission.AsTradersPointthat’swhatwe’regoingtofocuson.AndastheNorthwestcampusIwantthistobeconstantlyinthefrontofourminds,makingmoreandbetterdisciples.MoremeaningwewanttoseemorepeopleputtheirfaithandtrustinJesusastheirLordandSavior.AndbettermeaningwewanttoseepeoplegrowintheirrelationshipwithJesus.Colossians1:28says,“WewanttoseepeoplematureinChrist.”Betterdisciplesdoesnotmeanperfectdisciples.Betterisallaboutgrowth,it’sallaboutprogress,notperfectionbutprogress.Andthat’saprocess.Thatshouldcontinueon.Iwanttobeabetterdisciplein2017thanIwasin2016.Andtodothatittakesalotofintentionality.Everythingwedoaroundherehassomeintention.Everythingwedoaroundher,thewhyissimplythis—tomakemoreandbetterdisciples.That’sthewhybehindeverythingwedo.We’regoingtolookateverythingthroughthatlens.Oursevenvalues,they’remeanttokeepusontracksowecanaccomplishthemission.Letmegiveyousomeexamples:RelationalEvangelism,JoyfulGenerosity,OutstandingEnvironment,thosearemeanttomakemoredisciples.Andatthesametime,JoyfulGenerosity,RelationalEvangelism,GiftedService,they’remeanttomakemoredisciples



butinthatprocesstheywillmakeyouandmebetterdisciples.AllsevenvaluesarecenteredonthemissionofmakingmoreandbetterdisciplesandIwantustobeurgentaboutthatbecauseIhavefriends,Ihavepeoplearoundmewhodon’tknowJesusandsodoyou.Iwantmyfriendswhodon’tknowJesus—Iwantthemtoenterintoarelationship.IwantthemtoknowHimasLordandSavior.Iwanttogrowinmyfaith.Iwanttobeabetterdisciple.Iwanttohelpotherpeoplebebetterdisciples.Iwanttohelpotherpeoplebeonmission.Iwanttodevelopleaderswhodevelopleaderstomakemoreandbetterdisciples.Iwantustobeurgentaboutthat.JesusdiedonacrossandwenttothegraveandrosefromthedeadsoyouandIcouldhavenewnessoflife.AndthesecondyouputyourfaithandtrustinChrist,yougetthatnewlife.Sobecauseofthatnewnessoflife,becauseofthejoywe’vebeengiven,becauseJesussaid,“Goandmakedisciples,”becauseofthat,we’regoingtobeurgentbecausewewantasmanypeopleaspossibletoexperiencethesamethingwe’veexperiencedinJesus.Thatrequiresurgency.Andthaturgencyrequiresaction.Soifyou’renotalreadythere,gettoJoshua1.We’lllookatJoshuabecausehewasamanofaction.Beforewediveintoitletmegiveyousomebackground.ThiswasrightaftertheExodusfromEgypt,thepeoplehaveleftEgypt.MosesleadsGod’speople,theIsraelites,outofslaveryinEgypt.HeleadsthemuptothePromiseLandbut,beforetheyenter,theyactuallyendupwanderinginthedesertfor40yearsbecause,forwhateverreason,theyjuststillstruggletotrustGodevenafterHe’sledthemoutofslaveryinEgypt.Sotheywanderaroundinthedesertfor40yearsandnowit’stimeforthemtoenterintothePromiseLand.Butthere’sonemorechange.TheirleaderMoses,hedies.Sonowit’stimeforhisapprentice,Joshua,tostepupandlead.MoseshadpouredintoJoshua.He’ddevelopedhimasaleader.Nowit’stimeforJoshuatostepupandtakeoverwhereMosesleftoff.ThathadtobereallyintimidatingforJoshuabecauseyouneverwanttobetheguywhofollowstheguy.Moseshadreally,reallybigshoestofill.Ontopofthat,thepeopleJoshuanowhastolead,theyareabouttwomillioninsize.Ontopofthat,thispeople-groupoftwomillionthatJoshuawasgoingtolead,rightnowthey’restaringatthePromiseLand,thelandthey’vebeenwaitingon,anticipating,lookingforwardtofor40years.Pressurehasbeenbuildingfor40years.Nowit’shereandthisiswhereJoshuahastotakeover.That’sthesceneinJoshua1.ThisisGodtalkingtoJoshuaandGodtalkingtothepeopleofIsrael.Lookatverse1.“AfterthedeathofMosestheservantoftheLord,theLordsaidtoJoshuathesonofNun,Moses’assistant,‘Mosesmyservantisdead.Now



thereforearise,gooverthisJordan,youandallthispeople,intothelandIamgivingtothem,tothepeopleofIsrael.EveryplacethatthesoleofyourfootwilltreaduponIhavegiventoyou,justasIpromisedtoMoses.FromthewildernessandthisLebanonandasfarasthegreatriver,theriverEuphrates,allthelandoftheHittitestotheGreatSea,’”that’stheMediterranean,“‘towardthegoingdownofthesunshallbeyourterritory.Nomanshallbeabletostandbeforeyouallthedaysofyourlife.“‘JustasIwaswithMoses,soIwillbewithyou.Iwillnotleaveyouorforsakeyou.Bestrongandcourageous,foryoushallcausethispeopletoinheritthelandthatIsworetotheirfatherstogivethem.Onlybestrongandverycourageous,beingcarefultodoaccordingtoallthelawthatMosesmyservantcommandedyou.Donotturnfromittotherighthandortheleft,thatyoumayhavegoodsuccesswhereveryougo.“‘ThisBookoftheLawshouldnotdepartfromyourmouth,butyoushallmeditateonitdayandnight,sothatyoumaybecarefultodoaccordingtoallthatiswritteninit.Forthenyouwillmakeyourwayprosperous,andthenyouwillhavegoodsuccess.HaveInotcommandedyou?Bestrongandcourageous.Donotbefrightened,anddonotbedismayed,fortheLordyourGodiswithyouwhereveryougo.’”That’squiteapre-gamespeech.GodsaystoJoshua,“Alrightman,it’stimeforyoutostepup.I’vebeenpreparingyouforthismoment.I’vebeenpreparingmypeopleforthis.NowIwantyoutogetup,Iwantyoutostopwanderinginthedesert.It’stimeforyoutotakethislandIhavesetupforyou.Go.”Andwhilehe’sdoingthisGodrepeatsonethingthreedifferenttime,oneencouragementthreedifferenttimesbecauseHe’stryingtojustreallydrivethishomeforJoshuaandthepeople.Hesays,“Bestrongandcourageous.Bestrongandcourageous.Bestrongandcourageous.”AndeverysingletimeHesaysit,Hesaysitattachedtosomethingveryspecific.ThisiswhatIwantustopulloutofthetext.Thisiswhatwecanlearn.ThefirsttimeHesays,“Bestrongandcourageous,”He’dsayingthis,“IwantyoutocrossthisriverandIwantyoutogowiththepeopleandtakethislandI’vesetupforyou.ThisiswhatIwantyoutodo.”Here’showwecanparaphraseit.Bestrongandcourageousandacceptthemission.Bestrongandcourageousandlet’sacceptthemission.GodhadteeduptheIsraelites,He’dteedupJoshuaforthismoment,forthismissionandnowHesays,“Stepupandgetafterit.”Thesamethingcouldbetrueofus.We’vebeengivenamissiontogoandmakedisciples.JesuswasveryclearaboutthatinMatthew28.Sowecouldapplythesamemessagetous.Let’sbestrongandcourageousandacceptthatmission.



I’veheardJakesaysomethingIabsolutelylove,“Wearesavedfromsomethingforsomething.”We’vebeensavedfromsomethingforsomething.Ilovethat.That’sabsolutelytrue.BecauseofJesuswe’vebeensavedfromthepenaltyandtheslaverythatissinandwe’vebeensaved,becauseofJesus,forHisfamilyandforHismission.SoasChristians,asachurch,astheNorthwestcampus,we’regoingtobestrong.We’regoingtobecourageous.Andwe’regoingtoacceptthismissiontomakemoreandbetterdisciplesbecausethat’swhatwe’vebeencalledtodo.That’swhatwe’vebeensavedtodo.Atthesametime,justlikeGodhadgivenJoshuaandtheIsraelitesaveryspecificlandtogoafter,He’sdonethesamethingforus.It’sZionsville,Whitestown,Lebanon,Brownsburg,Pike,Indianapolis,andothercommunitieswherewelive,work,andplay.HowdoIknowthisiswhereGodhascalledustobeonmission?It’sbecausethisiswhereweare,thisiswhereweliveandtherearetoomanypeopletocountinourownbackyardwhodon’tknowJesusandarefacingthecrisisofeternity.There’retoomanypeopletocountinourownbackyardwhoarenotconnectedtoachurch.There’retoomanypeopleinourownbackyardwhoarereadytogrowintobetterdisciplesandtheymaynotevenknowityet.Wedon’thavetotraveltotheothersideoftheworld.ThesameneedforpeopletomeetJesusandgetconnectedtoachurchwheretheycanthriveandgrowandserveandbeonmission,thesameneedisinourownbackyard.Sowe’regoingtostepup.Let’sacceptthatthemissionwe’renotonlycalledtobuttheonewe’vebeensavedto,wegettobeapartofthat.Thatleadsintothesecondpoint,thesecond,“Bestrongandcourageous.”GodsaystoJoshua,“Acceptthemission,butyouandthepeoplemakesureyoudon’tstrayawayfromMyWord.MakesureyoufollowandobeyMyWord.Consumeit,thelightinit,becauseifyoudoIpromiseyousuccessinthemission.Youwillhavesuccess.Youdon’tevenhavetoworryaboutfailure.”Sohere’swhatwecantakefromthis:BestrongandcourageousandobeytheWord.Itreallyisthatsimple.Thisiswhybiblicalauthorityisoneofourvalues.BecausethemoreweobeyandfollowGod’sWord,themorewedelightinit,themoreweconsumeitthemorewe’llbetransformedintothecharacterofJesus.Andwhenthathappens,successforthemissionispromised.It’sguaranteed.Thepower’sallrighthere[intheBible].Wedon’thavetogolookingforit.Graceandtruthisallrighthere.Wedon’thavetomakeitupeither.Thecontentishere.Allwehavetodoisobeyit.Allwehavetodoisfollowit.Allwehavetodoisleadpeopletoit.



Leadershipisembodyingwhatyou’reinvitingpeopletofollow.We’reinvitingpeopletofollowJesus.HowdoyouknowwhoJesusisandhowdoyouknowtofollowHim?That’swhyGodgaveusHisWord.Butifwe’regoingtoinviteanybodytofollowHim,we’vegottoembodyitourselves.Andsuccessinthemissionisnotbaseduponourstrengthsorourgiftsorourtalents,it’snotatall.It’sbasedonourobedienceandourfaith.Oursuccessinthemissionofmakingmoreandbetterdisciplesasacampus,itwillgoasfarasourfaithfulnessandourobediencegoes.Thepowertoseepeoplesavedandbecomebetterdisciplesisnotourown.That’suptoGod’spower.AndGod’spowerwillshowupinourfaithfulnessandobedience.IthinkoneofthemostsoberingversesintheBibleisMatthew13:58.Itsaysthis,“AndHe,”meaningJesus,“andHedidnotdomanymightyworkstherebecauseoftheirunbelief.”There,that’stalkingaboutNazareth,Jesus’hometown.Jesuswasthereonmissionbutitsaysbecauseofthepeople’slackoffaith,theymissedoutonseeingJesus’power.Idon’twantZionsville,Lebanon,Whitestown,Brownsburg,Pike,Indianapolis,Idon’twantourcommunities,Idon’twantourcitytomissoutonseeingJesus’power,tomissoutonexperiencinggospeltransformationbecauseofourlackoffaith.Thatcanstartwithme.Idon’twantittobebecauseofmylackoffaithbecauseIdidn’tobeyGod’sWordorbecauseIwasn’tboldinthemission,orbecauseIwasn’tboldinmyprayer.Ireallydon’twantMatthew13:58tobesaidoftheNorthwestcampus.Successinthemissionisnotbasedonourpower,ourgifts,ourstrengthit’sbasedonourfaithfulnessandit’sbasedonourobedience.Soiftheresultsarenotuptous,wecantrustGodinthis.WecanbestrongandcourageoustoobeyHisWordandwedon’thavetobescaredofthat.WecantrustHimintheoutcome.Wedon’thavetomanipulateGod’sWordbecauseifwemanipulateitallwe’regoingtohaveismanipulatedresults.WecantrustHiminthis.Here’sthethirdone.HetellsJoshua,“Acceptthemission.MakesureyouandyourpeopleobeyandfollowMyWord,”andthenontopofallthatHesaysthisinverse9,“Don’tbescared.IknowwhatI’mcallingyouto.Iknowthat’salot,buttrustMe.Don’tbescared.”Whatwecanhavethetemptationtodoistolookatthemagnitudeofthemissionandthenjustfreakout.That’swaytoobig.That’swaytoomanypeople.That’swaytoomanytownsandcities.That’swaytoomanypeople.Wecan’tpossiblydothat.”Don’tlookatthemissionlikethat.Themissionisonepersonatatime,oneconversationatatime,oneinviteatatime,oneactofserviceatatime,andoneinvitationatatime.Atthesametimewe’lllookatthemissionandwe’llbetemptedtobacktrack.“Ican’ttalktomyfriendsormycoworkersaboutJesusbecausewhatiftheyaskmeaquestionI



don’tknowtheanswerto?Ican’tserveinthisparticularministry.Ijustreallydon’tthinkI’mqualifiedforthat.”Or,“Ican’tbepartofagroupbecausewhatiftheyfindoutaboutthisoneparticularthingaboutme?”Fillintheblankwithwhateveryouwanttoputthere.CanIjustbereallydirectwithyouasoneofyourpastors?Allofthosearejustfear-basedexcuses.Fearandinsecuritywilllietoyouandtellyouthatyouhavetoowntheresultsofthemissionwhenthat’snotsomethingwewereevercalledtoown.Wheneverwetryandwheneverwethinkwehavetoowntheresultsofthemissionwearevoluntarilyputtingaweightonourshoulderswewerenevermeanttobearbecauseifwecanowntheresultsthenwecanowntheglorytoo.TheresultsbelongtoJesusandtheglorybelongstoJesusalone.Allwearecalledtodoisfaithfullyandobedientlyownthemission.That’sit.SoiftheresultsareuptotheLordandnotbasedonourpower,wedon’thavetobescared.Wedon’thavetobeoverwhelmed.Whenitcomestothemissiontheworstthingthatcanhappenwouldnotbeyoufailing.Theworstthingthatcouldhappenwouldbeifyouneverstepupatall.Sohere’sthethirdthing,here’sthethirdpointwecantake:Bestrongandcourageousandlet’snotfreakout.What’sgreatabouttheseencouragementsthatGod’stryingtodrivehomeisthatthey’reallframedwithHispromises.Hesaysbeforeandafter,“Iwon’tleaveyou.Iwon’tforsakeyou.Iwon’tleaveyoualone.Iwillgowithyouwhereveryougo.”Thischargetobestrongandcourageous,themission,it’sallrootedinGod’spromises.We’renotouttherehanginginthewindbyourselves.Forusitgoesupanotherlevel.BecauseofJesus,we’vebeengiventhegiftoftheHolySpirit.Soifyou’veputyourfaithandtrustinChrist,theBiblesaysthesamepowerthatraisedChristfromthedeadnowlivesinyou.IntheOldTestamentthere’sthislanguagethatGodwaswithHispeople.God’snotwithuslikeHewasJoshuaortheIsraelites.Sometimesthat’sthediscouragement.Wethink,“IfonlywecouldseeGodactlikeHedidintheOldTestament.IfonlyGodwouldspeaktouslikethatthenhey,I’dbebold,I’dbeobedient.Idon’tknowwhattheIsraelitesproblemwas.I’dbefaithful.Whatanadvantagetheyhad.”Butactuallyit’stheopposite.We’retheoneswhohavetheadvantage.YouseethislanguagethroughouttheOldTestament.GodwaswithHisservants.GodwaswithHispeople.Hewaswiththem.Hewaswiththem.Hewaswiththem,keywordwith.AndthenthatlanguageallofthesuddenstopsassoonasyougettotheBookofActs.ItgoesfromGodwaswiththemtoGodwasinthem.God’sSpiritisinus.That’sagame-changer.Thatmakesthischargetobestrongandcourageous,thatmakesitlegitimate.Anditalsomakesthischargenotjustamindsetbutanaction.Here’swhatIwantustosee.WhenGod’speoplewerestandingthereattheJordan



RiverlookingatthePromiseLand,theyweren’tlookingatheaven.Here’swhatImean.AssoonastheygotintothePromiseLand,whentheycrossedtheriverandgotintothePromiseLandthemissionstarted.TherestoftheBookofJoshuaisallaboutthatmissionandwhatneededtobedone.WhentheygottothePromiseLandtheyhadn’tarrivedandtheyweren’tdone.Andthemissionwasn’tleadinguptothePromiseLand.OncetheygottothePromiseLandthemissionwasjuststarting.SoasthechurchandtheNorthwestcampuswecanunintentionallymakethemistakeofconfusingthePromiseLandwithheaven.BecausetheNorthwestcampusisnice,itis,becausewe’vebeenhereforalongtime,becausewe’velaunchedothercampuses,becausewe’lllaunchtheWestcampusthisyearwecanunintentionallythinkwe’vearrived,thatwe’redone,thatwe’vedoneourpartwhenwe’rejustgettingstartedhere.WecannothavethemindsetastheNorthwestcampusthatwe’vedoneourpart,thatwe’vearrived,thatwecanbeoncruisecontrolnow,orthateverything’stakencareofandsomebodyelseonourcampusistakingcareofthemission.Wecan’thavethatmindsetbecausewe’renotdone,wehaven’tarrived.We’rejustgettingstarted.Everysingleoneofusishereforareasonandeverysingleoneofusherehasaroletoplay.ThisisourPromiseLandhere.We’reatourPromiseLandbecausethisiswhereGodhascalledustobeonmission.Butwe’renotlookingatheavenhere.We’llseeheavenwhenthemission’sended.Rightherethemissionisjuststarting.Jesussaid,“Theharvestisplentybuttheworkersarefew.”IthinkanassumptionthatgetsmadewiththeNorthwestcampusattimesisthatwedon’tneedanybodyelse,thatwe’vegoteverythingtakencareof,“Thisissobigthey’vegoteverybodytheyneed.”Or,“Ican’thavemuchofanimpacthere.Idon’tknowwhatIcandotocontribute.”Icompletelyunderstandhowthisassumptioncanbemade.ButcanIjusttellyousomething?Thatcouldn’tbefurtherfromthetruth.Theharvestisplentyhere,buttheworkersarefew.Weneedeverysinglepersonwhocallsthiscampushometostepup.Ownthiscampus,ownit.It’syours.Ownthemission.WearenotdonehereatNorthwest.We’rejustgettingstartedonmakingmoreandbetterdisciples.Andthegreatestthreatourcampuswillfaceisnotanexternalthreat.Thegreatestthreatourcampuswillfaceisinternalcomplacency.That’sourbiggestthreat.Everythingseemstoberunningfine.Everything’stakencareof.Idon’tknowwhatIcoulddoanyway.Don’thavethatmindset.Weneedeveryonetostepupandownthemissionhere,ownthiscampus.Andhere’sthething.WhenIsraelwasstaringatthePromiseLandbeforetheycouldtakethePromiseLand,beforethemissioncouldstart,theyhadtocrosstheJordan



River.Forsomeofyou,you’reonmission.Alotofyouownthisplacealready.Youhumblemeandencouragemebythewayyouleadandbyhowyouserveandbyhowyou’retryingtomakemoreandbetterdisciples.Butsomeofyou,it’stimeforyoutocrosstheriver.It’stimeforyoutogetinthegame.Andmaybeforyoucrossingtherivermeansservinghereontheweekends.Maybethat’sservinginConnections,orinKidsMinistry,orinStudentMinistry.Acrossthecampusyouhavespecificgiftsandstrengthsthatcanmakemoreandbetterdisciplesinthoseministries.Justdon’tmaketheassumptionyouknoweverythingthatgoesoninhereandyoucouldn’treallyhaveanimpact,orthatyoumightnotthrivehere.Youmightbesurprised.Alsodon’tmaketheassumptionthere’snotaneedhere.Thiscampusjustsentoutabout600volunteerstoNorthandDowntown.That’stheuniqueopportunitywegettohaveastheNorthwestcampus.Wegettosendpeopleout.Butwiththat,atthesametime,weneedpeopletocrosstheriverhere.Maybeforyouit’stimeforyoutostepupandlead.Maybethat’stheriveryouneedtocross.Maybeit’stimeforyoutoleadagroupinyourhome.God’sbeenpreparingyoutolead.Maybeyoudidn’tevenrealizeit,butnowit’stimeforyoutocrossthatriverandlead.Maybetheriveryouneedtocrossistogetintoagroup.Thebestwaytogrowhereistogetconnectedtoagroup.Andwhenyou’reconnectedtoagroupyouwillgrow,butatthesametimeyou’regoingtohelppeopleinyourgroupgrowinwaysyoumightnothaveeverrealized,aslongasyou’restrongandcourageous.Andmaybethatriveryouneedtocrossistostartinvitingpeople.Maybeinvitepeopleyouknowhereontheweekends,peopleinyourlifethatdon’tknowJesusandarenotconnectedtoachurch.Maybeit’sbeingintentionalwithpeopleyoumeetandinvitingthemhereonaweekend.Theworstthingthatcanhappenwhenitcomestoyouinvitingsomeoneisnotthemsayingno.Theworstthingthatcanhappenisiftheywouldhavesaidyesandyouneverasked.InDecembermywifeandImetacoupleatourson’sschool.WeweretalkingwiththemandinvitedthemtoChristmasEvehere.Theyverypolitelyandrespectfullysaidno.That’sokay.That’stotallyokay.Maybewe’llgetanotheropportunitywiththematanotherpoint.ButwhatKelleyandIarenotgoingtodoiswe’renotgoingtoletthatpreventusfromaskingthatnextpersonwhomightsayyesifweinvitethem.Maybeyouneedtoinvitepeopleintoservewithyou.Orinvitepeopleintoyourgroup.Maybeyouseeriversinfrontofotherpeople.Agoodleaderwillnoticewhereotherpeopleareat,willseewhatriverstheyneedtocross,willseetheirgiftsandtheirstrengthsandwheretheneedisandhowtheycouldthriveandmakeahugeimpact.A



goodleaderwillinvitethosepeopletocrossariver.Whatriversdoyouneedtoinvitepeopletocrossandtellthem,“I’llcrossthemwithyou?”Whatriverdoyouneedtocrossrightnow?Crossingtherivermeanssteppingupbutatthesametimeasacampusweneedtobeconstantlysettingupotherpeople.Joshuawasagreatleader.Hewasagreatleader.Buthemadeonehugemistake.Heneverreplacedhimself.Heneverreplacedhimself.MoseshadtrainedupJoshua.MosesdevelopedJoshua.He’dbeenpouringintohimforyears.JoshuawaswithMosesinEgyptandallthewayupuntilMoses’death.MosesintentionallyraisedupanotherleaderinJoshuasowhenhistimewasoverJoshuacouldcrosshisownriverandthepeopleofIsraelwouldn’tmissabeat.That’sexactlywhathappened.YoureadDeuteronomy.MosesdiesinDeuteronomy34andinthenextchapter,Joshua1,JoshuatakesoverandthepeopleofIsraeldon’tmissabeatbecauseMosesmultipliedhimself,hereplacedhimself,hetrainedupsomebodyelse.Joshua,however,hedidn’tdothat.Hedidn’tmultiplyhimself.Hedidn’treplacehimself.Hedidn’ttrainupotherpeoplebehindhim.Hedidn’tsetupotherpeople.EverythingwasfocusedandcenteredonJoshuasowhenhewasgoneeverythingfellapart.ReadtheBookofJudgesrightafterJoshua.Theywerepeopleinchaosbecausehedidn’tsetanyoneelseup.AstheNorthwestcampus,whoisitrightnowyoucandeveloptolead?Whoisitrightnowyoucantrainuptoserveintheroleyouservein?Howcanyoudevelopotherpeople?Howcanyoumultiplyyourselfrightnow?Joshuahadanimpactonthepresent,heabsolutelydid.Hehadahugeimpactonthepresent.Buthedidn’tmultiplyhimself,hedidn’treplacehimself,hedidn’tsetanybodyelseupbehindhimandbecauseofthatithadanegativeimpactonthefuture.Multiplicationisallaboutfutureimpact.SoifIsetupotherpeopletoreplacemyself,tomultiplymyself,Icanhaveanimpactrightnowandinthefuture.Asacampus,ifweallstepuptoserveandleadandatthesametimeallofus,asacampus,setupotherpeoplebehindustoserveandleadthat’swhenwe’rereallygoingtostarttakinggroundforthekingdomandmakingahugeimpactasacampus.Sohere’sthequestionIwanttoaskyouasanindividualandalsoastheNorthwestcampus,andthisisabigquestion.Idon’tmeanforthistobeclichéatall.Idon’twantyoutojustoverlookthis.Reallythinkaboutthis.Talkaboutthiswhenyougettogetherwithyourgroupnext.Talkaboutthisonyourwayhometoday.Talkaboutthiswithfriendsoranaccountabilitypartner,amentororamentee.WritethisinthemarginofyourBible.Putitsomewhereitisgoingtobeinfrontofyouconstantly.Hereitis:Whatwillyourlegacybehere?Whatwillyourlegacybe?AsaNorthwest



campuswhat’sourlegacygoingtobe?Whatdowewantittobe?Thischurchis183yearsold—183yearsofmakingmoreandbetterdisciples.Therewereseasonsthatwerebetterthanothers,absolutely,butyoudon’tdothatforthattimeperiodwithoutsteppingupandsettingupotherpeoplebehindyou.That’salegacyofmultiplicationandIwanttobuildontothatchain,notforthenameorgloryofTradersPointbecauseontheothersideofeternitywe’renotgoingtobetalkingaboutTradersPoint.We’renotgoingtobetalkingabouttheNorthwestcampus.We’rejustnot.There’sgoingtobealotcoolerthingstotalkabout.IwanttobuildontothatrightnowforGod’sgloryandforthenameofJesusalone.YouandI,we’rehererightnowbecausewe’vebeensetupbymenandwomenwhohavecomebeforeus.Someofthosemenandwomenwemayknow.SomeofthemarestillherebutmostofthemhavediedandgoneontobewiththeLord.Andyetthey’restillhavinganimpacttodaybecausetheysetuppeopleintheirtime.That’salegacy.Nowit’sourturn.It’sourturntocrosstheriver.It’sourturntoownthemission.It’sourturntobestrongandcourageous.It’sourturntohaveamindsetofmultiplication.It’sourturntostepupandsetupotherpeoplebehindus.It’sourturntomakemoreandbetterdisciples.Andifwewanttodothat,ifwewanttodothatasacampus,we’vegottoconstantlyaskourselves,“WhocanIinvite?WhocanIserve?HowcanIserve?WhathasGodgiftedmetodo?WhocanIdevelop?WhocanIdisciple?WhocanItrainup?WhocanIraiseup?HowcanIreplacemyself?”Makingmoreandbetterdisciplesisamissionthatisfueledbyserviceandfaith.Whenwefillthisplacewithourfaith,whenwegetafterthistoserveeverybodywhowalksthroughthesedoorsandeverybodywemeetinourtowns,ourcities,andourcommunitiesinthenameofJesusthat’swhenmultiplicationisgoingtohappen.That’swhenwe’regoingtohavealegacy.AndIwantyoutoknowI’mexcitedtodothiswithyou.I’mcrossingtheriverwithyou.I’vegotyourback.AndIwanttourgeyou.Iwanttopushyou.Beproactive.Beurgentaboutthis.Ownthemission.Ownthiscampus.Thisisyourcampus.Ownthischurch.AndtheonlythingIcanpromiseyouisthisisnotgoingtobeeasy.It’snot.Jesusdidnotcallusintoamissionofcomfort,JesuscalledustopickupourcrossandfollowHim.AttheNorthwestcampusthat’sexactlywhatwe’regoingtodo.We’regoingtofollowJesus.Sonowit’stimeforallofus,everysingleoneofus,it’stimeforustocrosstheriver.Let’sgo.Iwanttoenterintoatimewherewejustreflectonthat,wherewethinkaboutJesusandwhatHe’sdoneforus.Thisisthetimeofcommunionandifyou’reaguestandnotaChristian,youcanjustletthetraypass.



We’regoingtotakesomejuiceandsomecrackersthataremeanttoreflectJesusdyingonthecrossforus—breakingHisbody,spillingHisblood.Sothisisourchancetoreflectonthat,tothankHimforthat,tothankHimforsavingusfromthepenaltyandpunishmentofsinandsavingustoHisfamilyandtoHismission,savingustothemissionofmakingmoreandbetterdisciples.Wegettodothis.Iwantyoutotakeacoupleofminutes,reflectonthat,pray.Prayfor2017.Anditdoesn’tendin2017.ThisendsthedayourlifeendsorthedayJesuscomesback,whichevercomesfirst.That’swhenthemissionisover.Thenwegettoseeheaven.Letmeprayforyou.Father,thankYousomuchforsendingYourSon,thatHewoulddieinourplace,thatYouwouldconquerdeathandraiseHimfromthedead,thatwecouldbegivennewnessoflifeinChrist,thatwecouldbeforgivenandredeemedandnowwecanbesavedtoYourmission.Ilovethatthereissomethingwecando,nottosaveourselvesorimpressYou,buttosay,“Thankyou,”andletotherpeopleexperiencethejoywe’veexperienced,thenewnessoflifewe’veexperienced.Father,helpustodothatasacampus.UniteusastheNorthwestcampusandgivesusanidentitythat’saboutmakingmoreandbetterdisciples,it’saboutsteppingupandserving,it’saboutsettingupotherpeople.Giveusunity,giveushealth,giveuspeace,giveusjoy.LetuswatchYoumoveandflex,letusseeYourpower.Strengthenourfaith.Ipraythiswouldbeacampuswhereeveryonewhodoesn’tknowyoufeelswelcome.Theycanwalkinhereandexperiencesomethingdifferentfromtheget-go.Andwhatthey’reexperiencingispeoplewhoknowJesus.WeaskYourpresencetobehere.WeloveYou.It’sinJesus’namewepray.Amen.

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Let’s Go Cross the River…Transcript January 1, 2017 Let’s Go | Cross the River Matt Hessel Well Traders Point, how are we? Good. It’s good to see you. I hope you’re awake