Here To Stay: Becoming The Church God Calls Us To Be

March 2nd, 2025/Casey Middle School

Intro: Nothing great happens without a process. You don’t just wake up ripped, fluent in French, and holding an MBA. If you do, see me after service—I need your secret!

But here’s the reality—great things take intentionality. If we want to be a church that truly changes lives, if we want to be a church that is Here To Stay, we must embrace the process and prioritize what matters most.

So today, I want to take you on a journey. Three key movements define who we are becoming:
1. The Foundation—Who we must be before we impact the world.
2. The Mission—How we truly transform our city.
3. The Vision—Where we’re going and how we step into it.

Becoming a church for the city

Title: Becoming The Church God Calls Us To Be

Pray:

Main Points:

1. The Foundation

   1. Before we serve the city, before we make disciples, before we see any significant move of God in this city—we must first be anchored in God… we must prioritize a firm foundation. Apart from a firm foundation, nothing can withstand the opposition, trials, and suffering on the road ahead. If you’re taking notes, I want to give you the 4 sides that will help build your “mold” for your foundation.
   2. Love God First
      1. 4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:4-9
      2. Explanation: Worship and devotion are the foundation of everything we do.
      3. Story: There’s been many times in my life when I was doing ministry but not prioritizing my personal time with God. Every time I felt exhausted and frustrated… it felt unsustainable. I realized I was trying to serve on empty. I had to shift my focus back to devotion first, then everything else followed.
      4. LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH EVERYTHING YOU GOT! Our relationship with Him is supreme over what we “do” for Him!

      5. Application:

         1. This is why prayer must be our foundation.
         2. This is why worship must be more than just singing—it must be a lifestyle.

         3. This is why we prioritize the personal reading of the Word.

            3. Stand for Truth with Boldness and Grace
               1. "But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ." — Ephesians 4:15
               2. Explanation: The church must hold its ground on theological truth and sound doctrine. We live in a world where truth is optional, feelings are king, and conviction is rare. But the Bible tells us that the church must be a pillar of truth.

         4. “But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” - 1 Timothy 3:15 3. Illust: Some people love truth but have no grace—it’s like getting hit with a Bible-shaped brick. Others love grace but have no truth—it’s like trying to build a house on Jell-O. Jesus showed us how to stand on BOTH. 4. Application:

         5. We don’t just preach “tickles the ears” messages—we preach the Word of God.

         6. We don’t just rebuke the culture—we reach the culture with love.

         7. People are on a quest for truth, and desperately trying to find its footing in a world that is sinking sand, it’s the church's responsibility to stand firm, be bold, and demonstrate grace in the process.

            4. Rely on the Power of the Holy Spirit
               1. We don’t just need more activity—we need more anointing.
               2. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses..." — Acts 1:8
               3. Explanation: The early church didn’t change the world because they had the best outreach methods, because they were the most charismatic, or the best church systems... they changed the world because they had the power of the Holy Spirit unleashed through their lives!!
               4. Illust: Trying to do ministry without the Holy Spirit is like trying to drive a car with no gas. You can push it all you want, but you won’t get very far.
               5. Family Creed: I am a Manuel, and with love as our motivation, we create moments, live generous, give honor, take risks, and obey God. I’m not what I do, but who God says that I am. And by the POWER of the Holy Spirit, I am unstoppable and equipped for this day.
               6. Application:

         8. This is why we pray for bold prayers..

         9. This is why we rely on God more than strategy.
         10. This is why we expect supernatural power in everything we do.
             5. Build Up the Body
                1. People outside the church should look inside and see Jesus. We are the body of Christ. We are His hands and feet in this world.
                2. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." — John 13:35
                3. Explanation: The church should be a place where people see Jesus, not division.
                4. Illustration: Have you ever seen a family fighting in public? Super awkward, right? The world is watching how we love each other.
                5. Application:
         11. Church isn’t about competition—it’s about collaboration.
         12. The way we honor each other reflects the way we honor Christ.
         13. If we want to love the world, we have to love each other first.
             6. A strong foundation is everything. If we’re not anchored in God and relying on the Holy Spirit, if we don’t love one another well, if we aren’t standing on truth—then all our efforts to reach the world will collapse under pressure.

2. The Mission

   1. 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” - Mark 12:29-30
   2. We pray for our city because we love God and we love our neighbor. We serve our city because we love God and we love our neighbor. We meet needs—not just to do good, but because we love God and we love our neighbor.
   3. This love for God and our neighbors culminates in Jesus' final command to His people before he ascended to be with His Father in heaven. This is where it all comes together.
   4. Make and Multiply Disciples
      1. "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." — Matthew 28:19-20
      2. Explanation: The Great Commission—If loving God is where we start, then this is where we step into our purpose.
      3. Jesus had spent three years walking with His disciples, showing them the way, teaching them about the Kingdom. And now, He looks them in the eyes—these ordinary, imperfect men—and says, "Now it’s your turn."
      4. This is the ultimate mission of the Church. It’s not just a suggestion. It’s not a good idea. It’s not a side project for the most spiritual among us. This is the clear marching orders for the people of God!
      5. And look at how Jesus structures it—three movements:
         1. Go.
         2. Baptize.
         3. Teach.
   5. Let’s break this down.
      1. GO — This Mission Starts with Movement
         1. The first word in this commission isn’t sit. It’s not wait. It’s not hope people show up. It’s GO.
         2. This is an active mission. This is actually not a command, the word “go” is a present participle, like saying “as you are going”. It assumes that we’re moving!
         3. Jesus didn’t tell us to stay comfortable, to build a Christian bubble, or to keep the message of salvation locked inside a church building. He told us to move.
         4. Illustration: Imagine you’re at the beach, and a lifeguard is just sitting in his chair while someone is drowning. You start yelling, ‘Hey! Do something!’ And the lifeguard just says, ‘Well, if they swim a little closer, then I’ll help.’ That’s ridiculous! But that’s how some Christians treat evangelism—we wait for people to come to us instead of going to them.
         5. Story: I remember the first time I shared my faith with someone, I had no idea what I was doing. But I realized it wasn’t about having perfect words—it was about being obedient. And that’s what Jesus calls all of us to do—just GO."
         6. Application:
            1. Question: Have you ever shared the Gospel with somebody?
            2. Question 2: Why not? What’s preventing you from sharing with others?
            3. Question 3: Who do you know that needs to hear the Good News of Jesus? Pray… and take that first step to start a conversation.
      2. BAPTIZE — A Public Declaration of a Transformed Life
         1. Jesus doesn’t just tell us to make converts—He tells us to make disciples. And the first step in that discipleship journey is baptism.
         2. Baptism is not a ritual. It’s a declaration.
            1. It’s a picture of death to the old and resurrection into the new.
            2. It’s an outward sign of an inward transformation.
            3. It’s saying to the world, “I belong to Jesus.”
         3. Illustration: Think about a wedding. When a couple gets married, they put on wedding rings—not to become married, but to show the world their commitment. The ring isn’t what makes the marriage—it’s a symbol of the love and promise they’ve already made.
         4. Application:
            1. Some of you have been waiting to take this step.
            2. Maybe you’ve followed Jesus for years but never gone public with your faith.
            3. Maybe you gave your life to Christ recently, and this is your next step of obedience.
         5. Today is your day. The water is ready. The invitation is open.
      3. TEACH — Discipleship is a Lifelong Journey
         1. Jesus didn’t just say make disciples and move on. He said teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. This is a process!
         2. We aren’t just called to lead people to Jesus—we are called to walk with them on their faith journey.
         3. Illustration: Have you ever seen a relay race where the first runner just drops the baton and walks off? No! The whole point is to pass it on! Yet some of us treat our faith like it’s just for us, instead of something to hand off to the next generation.
         4. Story: I can think of mentors who invested in me, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Discipleship isn’t just about learning—it’s about passing on what we’ve learned.
         5. That’s what discipleship looks like.
            1. Someone poured into you so that you could pour into someone else.
            2. Someone taught you the Word so you could teach others.
            3. Someone helped you grow in your faith so you could help the next generation do the same.
         6. I want to make this as simple as possible… Making disciples is helping people take their next step on their faith journey. This could be salvation, baptism, sharing their story with their family members or friends, teaching them how to study the bible, praying with them, etc.
         7. Application:
            1. Some of you need to start a Crew.
            2. Some of you need to start investing your lives into the next generation in our PNWD Kids.
            3. Some of you need to become disciple makers, not just disciples.
         8. Because the mission doesn’t end with you. It flows through you.

The Vision: We started today with a simple but powerful truth—nothing great happens without a process. If we want to become the church our city needs, it won’t happen overnight, and it won’t happen by accident. It happens when we commit to the process, embrace the priority, and take the next step.

It starts where Jesus started—with loving God first. Before we can reach the city, before we can serve people, before we can make an impact, we have to be a church that is deeply devoted to Him. Everything flows from that. We seek first His kingdom, we anchor ourselves in truth, and we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do on our own.

Let’s Let The Final Words of Jesus Be Our First Priority!

What’s Next?

Here’s what’s ahead for Pinewood Church and how you can take your next step:

1. Grab a Commitment Card At Your Seat
   • We’re not asking you to commit today. Take it home, pray, and ask God how He is leading you to be part of this.
2. Grab A Booklet On Your Way Out
   • This resource will provide you with more details on the campaign and how you can be a vital part of the story.
3. All-Church Commitment Sunday – March 9th (Next Sunday)
   • This will be a historic moment for our church. A day when we take bold steps together.

Invitation:

If you want to make a decision to follow Jesus. Then join me and everyone else in the building as we pray out loud together. It’s not the prayer that saves you, but your faith, making Jesus Lord of your life. We don’t let anyone go on the journey alone. If you have faith in Jesus, then let’s join together as we pray…

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free