God loves His Church and He takes leadership very seriously. Scripture warns that those responsible for leading His sheep astray will experience harsh consequences. As Pastor Jimmy will challenge in today’s message, if you’re in a position of leadership, whether that’s as a pastor or some other role in the Church, take it seriously. Dedicate yourself to humbly seeking the guidance and wisdom of our Father as you carry out the duties you’ve been blessed with - it’s a great opportunity and responsibility.  

As we approach the topic of qualified leadership within the Church, Pastor Jimmy will examine what Scripture has to teach us, including the roles of men and women in this context. Equality is fundamental to our faith. Whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female - it’s important that we remember that all of us were created in God’s image and He doesn’t favor one over the other. This does not mean we’re all the same, though. God designed us to be unique and diverse and that’s a good thing.  

How are you using prayer? Is it an opportunity to lay out your grocery list before God, asking Him for provision and blessing? Is it a time to ask for His help in specific challenges you’re facing in life? Both of those are common ways that many of us find ourselves praying on a daily basis, and neither are bad, but prayer is so much more powerful than that. As Pastor Jimmy will challenge us in today’s message, we need to see prayer as a first resort, not a last resort as we encounter this fallen world.

We all need to be teachable. As Pastor Jimmy will stress in today’s message, while it’s important for Christians to mentor newer believers, we all need to continue being mentored by those who are more mature than ourselves. If you ever feel like you’ve plateaued and don’t know anyone who’s more advanced than you in your faith - that’s spiritual arrogance and it’s time to step down off your pedestal. Humility is vital, especially for those in positions of leadership in the Church.

Shame and fear are extremely effective tools that our enemy uses to keep us from living out the life that God desires for us. While God forgives and forgets our sins, Satan never does. He’ll bring it up over and over again. Whether it was a serious sin from a long time ago or a small slip-up, he’ll wave it in front of you and make you question who you are in Christ. In today’s message, Pastor Jimmy will remind you that God can and will use you because you’ve been redeemed in His Son. 

What’s your “origin story”? How did you find Jesus? In his message today, Pastor Jimmy encourages us to share our origin story with someone, but also to realize that God has a plan for your future. If we're not dead, God's not done. No matter our circumstances in life, God still wants to use us. All we need to do is carry The Holy Spirit to someone who needs the life Jesus offers. God will use our origin story if we share it. Let's be the cup that carries the life-giving water to a thirsty soul today. 

Did you know you have a superpower? If you believe in Jesus, you've got a superpower from God. Pastor Jimmy teaches us, today, that God gives us His power to do things beyond our abilities. The Holy Spirit came upon us when we accepted Jesus. We've got the power to go into the world and make disciples. Simply sharing our origin story, how we found Jesus, is enough to spread the Good News of Jesus. We carry the Helper that someone else needs. Let's listen carefully when The Holy Spirit prompts us.

God has placed you where you are for a reason! It might feel like your dreams have been crushed because you aren’t where you feel like you should be in life, but God has a purpose for your chains. He uses your circumstances to reach people who need Him. In today’s message, Pastor Jimmy is going to encourage you to maximize the position that you are in. God may put you in a place that feels painful, but you can use your suffering for good. Paul was beaten and imprisoned but still used it to spread the Gospel. 

What comes to mind when you think about a mission trip? Probably going to help the poor. In today’s message, Pastor Jimmy is going to remind you that it’s not just the poor that need to hear about Jesus. Sometimes the people who need Jesus the most are the rich and influential people in the world. Just because someone looks happy and well off, doesn’t mean they are, and they probably are filling their life with things other than Jesus. It’s your job to spread the Gospel to everyone, rich or poor.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish?” Well, this phrase plays true when it comes to how you walk out your spiritual life. It’s so important to finish the race with God. You can be a believer your whole life, but if you decide to walk away from God at the last minute, you’ve given up everything you’ve sacrificed and worked for. In today’s message, Pastor Jimmy is going to remind you that sacrificial leaders finish well. Don’t give up in the last mile, push through.