THE GIFT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

0:03 In spring of 2023, my wife and I had just gotten engaged, and I remember how excited we were as we were getting ready for our big wedding day coming up in just a few months. And I remember the amount of detail that we had to put in to get ready for this amazing wedding. As a good husband, I knew that I had one responsibility. If my wife said something she wanted to do, two thumbs up every single time. Yeah, but I remember I do remember that when my wife and I, we sat down There was one thing we had to come into agreeance on and that was who we were going to invite Who were the people that we wanted to be able to be a part of our special day? And for us, it wasn't just about a moment But rather it was about a life-changing occurrence that was going to take place as we were about to become man and wife and I remember we solidified the invite list, we sent out the invites and fast forward to August 10th of 2023.

1:05 I remember walking down the aisle and seeing every single one of those people that we invited accept our invitation and we knew that it wasn't just about a beautiful day but rather it was a milestone in our lives that would change everything. Invitations are powerful. I would even dare say that we're inundated with invitations every single day. As you're driving to a destination, you see that billboard that says to take the next exit for that restaurant to eat at. If you see that Bucky's one, you know it's a declaration you have to stop. Or maybe, maybe that social media ad that tells you about the latest and greatest wallet that you attach to your iPhone. We're inundated with invites and we have the ability to say yes or no. But here's something I've come to realize when it comes to an invitation. An invitation has the power to, sure, satisfy a craving.

1:58 It can help meet the need for an iPhone accessory. But what if I told you that there's an invitation that can change someone's life? There's an amazing story about a man by the name of Albert McMacken who was a full-time salesman, but he loved God. And he would do anything necessary to serve every chance he had. and he was part of this Christian group that would travel from city to city throughout the United States. And he one day befriended a young man and this young man that he met was a little skeptical. And he wasn't very interested in any of the services that they were hosting, but he was determined to invite that young man. He invited them the first time. The young man said no. The second time around, he had to figure out a way to convince this young man to come to the service. So we offered him his truck and he said, if you come with me, I'll let you drive my truck to the service.

2:53 That young man took him up on his offer. He went to that service and he gave Jesus a shot. But little do we know what that invitation would do. In fact, I can assure you, Albert did not realize who he was inviting. He invited Billy Graham. Many of you, you know who Billy Graham is. One of the greatest evangelists in history. He would go on to preach to millions and millions and millions of people about the greatest message ever told, the gift of Jesus. But we can't get to that point without that one invitation by a man by the name of Albert, where he was invited to a Mordecai Ham revival service in March of 1934. One invite. And I bet Billy Graham would always look back on his life and remember that guy, Albert. And every time he would think about his testimony, he would think about his story, I bet he would always go back and thank God that Albert was a part of his testimony.

4:00 A question I have for our church is, what if you and I were a part of someone's story this Christmas? Christmas is approaching, and we know that this week is special for many, and for some, it may be a sore subject, but the reality is that if we call ourselves Christians, there is an opportunity that has been laid out for us. There are many people within the DFW area who don't know a single thing about who Jesus says he is and they will continue to not know if we do not say anything. So what if maybe going into this Christmas, we look at it a little bit differently because there are people who don't know anything, including people in our own lives. Church, let me ask you, who in your life doesn't know about the very thing you say changed your life? let that sit for a moment. Who in your life does not know about the very thing you say changed everything for you?

5:02 Because we can make Christmas all about us, right? We love the gift wrapping, the hours of meal prepping for all the family coming in from out of town. Maybe you are the individual that has the Christmas spirit written out all over your house, the lights, the inflatable. Meanwhile, I'll be the one driving down the road questioning your electric bill. I don't, look, I get it. And let me be very transparent with you. Those are beautiful things. And I hope many of us, I hope you cherish them. I hope that it is memories that you can absolutely hold onto, but can we maybe just shift our focus to what matters most? A gift that surpasses external needs? The gift of a relationship with Jesus. and the only way we receive that gift is if we say something. God has wired us to be creatures of communication. That's God's plan A.

5:55 There is no if, ands, or buts. That is how God has designed us and we have that opportunity laid out for us to be able to communicate the greatest message ever told. That is why we have Christmas, God coming down to earth in flesh. But of course we know that it wouldn't just be a birth, but it would be a perfect life. It would be a death on a cross and it'd be a resurrection that would change everything. Plan A is us saying something. And you see this modeled incredibly throughout scripture. There's an amazing passage, Acts chapter eight. That's what we're gonna be picking up today. And it's about a man by the name of Philip and God is using him in a significant way. He's preaching to the area of Samaria. He's doing amazing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. But there's this amazing interaction he has with one individual. An angel of the Lord sends him to go to a desert road.

6:53 That's it. Doesn't tell them anything else. And the road goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. So he goes to the desert and he meets an individual known as the Ethiopian eunuch. And this Ethiopian eunuch is curious. He doesn't know. And so we pick up in verse 30. So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, do you understand what you are reading? Notice very quickly, what does Philip do? Philip obeys God and he seizes the opportunity. He overhears this individual reading out loud scripture from the Old Testament. And it's a prophetic message. We continue on, verse 31. And he said, how can I? Unless someone guides me. He invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of scripture that he was reading was this. It was Isaiah 53.

7:46 And it was actually a literal prophetic message on the coming Messiah. Or in this case, the Messiah that had already come. So then it continues on. Verse 34. The eunuch said to Philip, Who is this writer talking about? Is it himself? Is it someone else? what is the eunuch saying I don't know but I want to know do you know how many people I come in contact with where I hear those words I want to grow closer to God I want to know more but we fail to realize that that opportunity was meant for us to say something and then it continues one of my favorite verse, verse 35 then Philip opened his mouth. And beginning with the scripture, he told him about the good news of Jesus.

8:44 Philip said something to him. The passage goes on to say that the Ethiopian eunuch would make the decision to give his life to Christ in that moment. As they were on their way on the chariot, he would get baptized along the desert road. And it concludes with this, the Ethiopian eunuch greatly rejoiced. I believe that this Christmas, through the power of an invitation or us simply stepping in and saying something, people can walk away greatly rejoicing. Why? Because they will receive the greatest gift ever known to mankind, and that is a relationship with Jesus Christ. But it requires us to say something.

9:27 And I bet that that Ethiopian eunuch would always look back on his life and always remember Philip, the man who said something. What if you and I were a part of someone's story this Christmas? We know many individuals that God has changed our lives, right? But for some odd reason, we say God has changed our lives, but we remain silent. We don't wanna say anything. And I don't think we've come to realize that our silence has consequences. do you know what's at stake do you know what's the cost eternity eternity with god or separation from god now i'm not the pastor who's telling you because you didn't seize the moment that god cannot orchestrate that individual from finding the lord later on no no i'm not saying that but i believe that god has placed opportunities in our lives that we should have taken But I would argue it comes back to what I shared with us earlier.

10:27 We make Christmas so much about us. The traditions, the big family picture, you fill in the blank. Not bad things. It's just not the main thing. The main thing is Jesus. And we should say something. Extend an invitation. so that people can walk away greatly rejoicing.

10:56 I want you to picture from the lens of a loved one in your life. Imagine if they were in danger. You knew that their life was on the line, whether it was a destination they were going to or it was a decision they were about to make. And you knew what the outcome would be. If you knew, what would you do? You would say something. Why? Because you care about them. if we care about what God has done in our lives, why would we not care about our brothers and sisters who are currently lost and don't know a single thing? Why not say something? In the most receptive time in our world where people are eager to learn and all we have to do is just go back a moment and just remember Christmas, it's about Jesus. Enjoy the gifts, enjoy the lights, enjoy everything, but don't forget what is the main thing. And if maybe for some of us who call ourselves Christians, what if we look back on our lives where we once were, when we were lost and broken, and maybe the simple term we didn't know, and then we look at where God has us. And then we thank God that someone said something because of someone sharing, it changed our hearts.

12:17 It changed everything. And that should inspire us to go, I want to do the same for someone else. What if as a church this week, we shifted our focus and said, I don't just wanna keep filling the seat. I want to help fill the seat. Because here's the thing, ladies and gentlemen, helping fill the seat is not about making sure that everyone can hold a candle, take a nice picture together. That's never been about that. When I say to you, help fill the seat, it's saying maybe for some of us in the room, we have to stop getting into the headspace of I'm gonna sit in the same seat with the same people every single weekend and I'm gonna make it my mission and our family's mission to bring that individual who does not know who Christ is so that way that seat is not just a beautiful piece of furniture, but rather it represents a soul that could be one for Christ. Let God use you.

13:11 But here's, I bet there's some people in the room, JC, I love it. Go, share, invite. It's not that easy or I'm just too busy. Really? And you call yourself a Christian? Let me be very transparent with you. I wrestle with this and I'm a pastor. But we say yes to many different invitations, do we not? We say yes to the Christmas work party. We say yes to the family vacation. We say yes to all sorts of things. and I would even argue that if we knew that it was taking place, we would be disappointed if we were not invited. How many people have I come in contact with who have said, I wish I would have known sooner?

13:56 And they could have. But we could have said something. Here's the problem that we tend to forget and we overlook many times. It's something that I think we actually don't recognize in our own lives. People don't know anything if we do not say anything. People will continue to live a life not knowing who Jesus is if we do not say anything. That is why Romans 10, 14 is such a crucial scripture. And it says, how then will they call on him whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in him whom they've never heard? and how are they to hear without someone preaching?

14:39 We're living proof of someone sharing. 2,000 years ago, eyewitness testimonies of those who saw the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ sharing the good news. 1,000 years after that, it would continue. 500 years after that, it would continue. Here we are today sharing about the same gift that is available to anyone. and they can begin with an invitation. This is what boggles my mind. Statistics show 82% of those who do not regularly attend a church service are more receptive to come to church through an invitation. That's not the problem. The problem is that only 2% of Christians will extend an invitation this Christmas. So maybe we can put it into a little bit more practical. 98% of us who say we follow Jesus are going to be silent.

15:34 are you going to accept that cost? And my hope and prayer would be, we would say as a church, no. Because the church is called to share the greatest gift that has changed our lives, our family, and our purposes. Whether you are in construction, in retail, a stay-at-home mom in tech, or a business owner, God has placed you right where you are to extend an invitation to that individual because you know people that I don't know, and I know people that you don't know, and you've got to allow God to use you. I once heard a great theologian say this, you've got it, now use it. Talk about our pastor.

16:17 But I'm just so thankful for the fellowship of church, a church that was established on the principle that we are a rescue society, that there are heaps of humanity, not only here today and at all of our campuses who don't know who Christ is, but even outside the church wall who don't know who Christ is. And we are called not just to get a spiritual tan, but rather we are not spectators. We are contributors in building the kingdom of God. We say something because God has changed our lives. So why wouldn't we say something to someone else? What if as a church, we started praying some bold prayers, asking God, Lord, use me in a way to reach people who don't know you so that they may be known by you. And I believe that we'll see God do something significant.

17:08 At the conclusion of service, our team's gonna be passing out this Christmas invitation. What you choose to do with it is fully up to you. For some of you, you won't even grab it. For some of you, you'll grab it, but it'll end up in the trash as soon as you walk out the door. Maybe for some of you, you'll walk out, leave a little inspired, but then forget about it and leave it on the dashboard of your car.

17:41 But I believe that there are some people, not only here today, but at all of our campuses, who are gonna look at this invitation and not just see it as a piece of paper, but they're gonna see it and go, we're gonna pray for every single invitation. We're gonna put a name to every single invitation. We're gonna personally deliver it to that individual and we're gonna do the very thing that God has called us to do. And that is plan A. We're gonna share and then we're gonna let God do the rest. What if this simple invitation introduces that one person who may be broken, who may be lost, who may have questions to a personal relationship with their Lord and Savior? Ladies and gentlemen, we do not know what God can do if we don't do something about it. I'm very passionate about this because that's my story. I'm a product of an invitation my sophomore year of high school in my geometry class my buddy Chris turned around and said dude do you want to come with me to the mix it's my youth ministry at church I was skeptical and then he said I'll buy you Little Caesars and I started reciting the Lord's Prayer right there and I'll never forget he did buy me Little Caesars and he also picked up another seven football players I had a kid named Jelly sitting on my lap.

19:02 So imagine, Little Caesars, Jelly, the mix. Great mixture of things, right? But do you think that Chris knew what would take place because of that invitation? Do you think I knew? I didn't know that I would find my purpose when I walked through the doors of Fellowship Church. He didn't know that I would need a ride every single week. He didn't know that I would find my best friends that I still do life with to this day. He didn't know that I would find the love of my life, my beautiful bride, Daniela. He didn't know anything. But there was one day he didn't know, I didn't know that I would walk out knowing full well who Jesus was and he was my personal Lord and savior. This church has changed my life. And not only do I know Jesus full well, but now I have the joy of raising my own little girl in a place where she will one day know Jesus. Church, I plead with you.

19:55 understand. Maybe that invitation will, yes, fill a seat, but maybe that individual will have a life that is so impacted that it'll change their entire family. One soul who doesn't know who Christ is, is worth fighting for. And my hope and prayer for many of us is that through those invitations, we don't forget what God had done in our lives. that the same God who came, lived perfectly, died sacrificially and rose bodily, he died for that individual who doesn't even know him yet. one invite can change everything. One invite at a time and you let God take care of the rest.

20:47 Maybe you're here today because of an invitation. Someone offered you a ride. Maybe they saw how life has been going and they said, look, I'd love for you to join me. And we're so glad you're here. But if I were to ask you the question, Do you know? Do you know who Jesus is? I'm not saying, do you have good morals or do you have an understanding or do you have this concept of who Jesus is? I'm not saying that. I'm asking you a sincere question. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? And if your answer is, I think, I don't know, I'm unsure.

21:27 Do you think that God laid his life down for you so that you can walk out of here questioning that? No. Today, if you find yourself at your seat and you don't know who is Jesus, let me tell you, yes, God sent his son down to earth to die on a cross for our sins, our imperfections, because we couldn't do anything about it. And he didn't just stay on that cross. He rose from the grave three days later. And you can receive the greatest gift, and that is your eternity secured through Jesus Christ. The greatest gift is knowing him personally. so I ask you will you receive that gift because I assure you it will change everything let's pray if you find yourself in this room today and you have never made the personal decision to put your hope and faith in Jesus Christ I want you to pray this prayer after me you can say it out loud to yourself it's not the words it's the faith behind it you can say Jesus I'm a sinner I need you I have that relationship with you right now I believe that you are the savior of the world you came you lived the perfect life and you died on the cross for me and you rose three days later.

23:14 From this day forward, I choose and commit to follow you. Thank you, Jesus, for being the greatest gift I will ever have. Lord, right now, we pray for every single person in this room and at all of our campuses that as a church, that we do not forget our own story, that we share this week, and that we invite to our Christmas services, not just to fill a seat, but to reach that one soul who does not know you.