God's Plan for your Growth - Scotty Gibbons

Jesus came so lost people could be saved. This church is not a cruise ship where we lay by the pool. This is a battleship and for 23 years we've been on mission for Jesus. For 23 years we've been worshipping Jesus, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, reaching lost people, baptizing people, helping people know God and grow in God, discover a purpose and make a difference. We've been on the mission of Jesus. For one reason, one reason, to see more changed lives. Welcome to People's Church everyone and welcome to all of you joining us online. Come on we invite you to stand to your feet. Let's lift up the name of Jesus. Come on, we're living the good news. Jesus has saved us all. Come on. There's a lot of talk going round town. I hear a lot of people running their mouths. Every word like an anchor just bringing them down, down, down. Yeah. We've all been looking for a silver lining. Something to hold on to when hope's been hiding. I know a place you can go if you want to find it. This is the good news. If you're breathing it's for you. An empty grave, a life that's changed. It all points to Jesus' name. If you've been searching and nothing's been working, I've got good news. Let's tell them Jesus loves you. Open up your eyes and look around. This is the place where your freedom is found. Take a minute, breathe it in. Watch your life turn upside down. This is the good news. If you're breathing it's for you. An empty grave, a life that's changed. It all points to Jesus' name. If you've been searching and nothing's been working, I've got good news. Jesus loves you. Hey. Hey. It's the good news of the gospel. Yeah. No matter what you bring, oh, He's in love with you. No matter your history, oh, He's in love with you. No matter your company, oh, He's in love with you. From now till eternity, He's still in love with you. The good news. If you're breathing it's for you.

An empty grave, a life that's changed. It all points to Jesus' name. If you've been searching and nothing's been working, I've got good news. Jesus loves you. Oh, He's in love with you. Oh, He's in love with you. Oh, He's in love with you. Oh, He's in love with you. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Oh, we worship you, Jesus. Oh, we thank you and we have this good news. You can call on your name. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Calling on the power of heaven, I proclaim. Every weapon formed against me, I must break. It's in the mighty name of Jesus. I draw a permanent boundary line. The enemy has no right to come near my family. And no scheme could ever undo God's plan. No matter the circumstance, the cross has sealed my destiny. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Calling on the power of heaven, I proclaim. Every weapon formed against me, I must break. It's in the mighty name of Jesus. In the mighty name of Jesus, I know. All the power of fear and darkness must go. Because every key to every victory, I hold. It's in the mighty name of Jesus. I will not fear, I will not fear when the enemy comes near. On the doorframe of my life is the blood of Jesus Christ. I will not fear, I will not fear.

There's an army of angels here. I'm protected on all sides by the blood of Jesus Christ. I will not fear, I will not fear when the enemy comes near. On the doorframe of my life is the blood of Jesus Christ. I will not fear, I will not fear. There's an army of angels here. I'm protected on all sides by the blood of Jesus Christ. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Calling on the power of heaven, I proclaim. Every weapon formed against me, I must break. It's in the mighty name of Jesus. It's in the mighty name of Jesus. I know all the power of fear and darkness must go. Because every key to every victory, I hold. It's in the mighty name of Jesus. It's in the mighty name of Jesus. It's in the mighty name of Jesus. Oh, yeah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Who thought I'd find you at the lowest place? Who thought you'd feel me in the crowd? Who knew you'd make good on my mistakes? You're nothing like I thought you were. You're better. What a God, what a God. Oh, you're so awesome, God. What a God, what a God. What a God, what a God. So awesome, God, what a God, what a God.

I thought you should of poured perfection. What kind of God was for the lost? They say it's over for a sinner. But you say, no, it's not, no, it's not. But you say, no, it's not, no, it's not. What a God, what a God, what a God, what a God. What a God, what a God, what a God, what a God. You're a way maker. You're a miracle worker, God. What a God, what a God, what a God, what a God, what a God. If the highest place I reach is at your feet, then I've done it all. If the best thing that I've seen is your glory, then I've seen it all. Your love has changed my life, forever satisfied, God. You are my everything. Come on. If the highest place I reach is at your feet, then I've done it all. If the best thing that I've seen is your glory, then I've seen it all. Your love has changed my life, forever satisfied, God. You are my everything. Each one word is the only thing you speak. Then I've heard it all. If I feel your heart and never see your hand, I still have it all. No treasure of this life could ever satisfy, God. You are my everything, oh, God. You are my everything, oh, God.

You are my everything. What a God, what a God, what a God, what a God, yeah! What a God, what a God, what a God, yeah! If the highest place I'll reach is at your feet, then I've done it all. If the best thing that I've seen is your glory, then I've seen it all. Your love has changed my life, forever satisfied. God, you are my everything. If one word is the only thing you speak, then I've heard it all. And I feel your heart and never see your name. I still have it all. No treasure of this time could ever satisfy. God, you are my everything. God, you are my everything. Yes, you are. You are my everything. Oh, God, you are. You are my everything. God, you are. You are my everything. You're my everything. Hallelujah. We love you, Lord. We worship you, God. We give you all of our worship. We give you all of our praise. God, you're our everything. You're all that we need in our life.

And Lord, we put our trust in you today. Speak to us, Lord. Touch our lives. We thank you that you're here, that your presence is surrounding us, God. Touch us today. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. Come on, give Him praise one more time. Amen, amen. Well, church family, before you're seated, let's take a few moments, find two or three people, learn some names, shake a few hands. Let's take some time to connect. All right, well, welcome to People's Church, everybody. Hey, my name is Rob Champion. I'm the campus pastor here at the Oklahoma City campus. Whether you're joining us online or in the house today, we are family. We are so glad to have you with us today. I do want to take a moment just to welcome all of our first-time guests. Welcome to People's Church. Come on, family. Would you show them some love today? We're so glad to have you here. Well, People's Church family, every time that you give, you're making it possible for people all around the world to be provided with food, water, kids to receive education, and the gospel to be preached through the ministries that you support. And one of those ministries is called Children's Cup, and it's a ministry to children and to families. And we want you to check out this update video to see the impact that you made in 2025. Check it out. Hey, it's Dan Lurken with Children's Cup.

In the Dominican Republic, a young man named Ariel went through the Children's Cup Foundations program, learning life skills, and he discovered he had a passion for mechanics. Now his dream has become a reality. He now co-owns a workshop with a friend. What he found at his care point wasn't just a trade. It was the truth that when you follow God's dream for your life, anything is possible. This story is just one picture of what your friendship makes possible. And then there's Rayene, a beautiful little five-year-old girl in Belize who used to cling to her mom's leg. She was too shy to even go play with the other kids. But as we've seen happen over and over, the love of Jesus and the kindness and care that the Children's Cup team showed Rayene and her family changed everything. Today she's laughing, playing, and learning about Jesus. And the best part, Rayene and her whole family have given their lives to Christ and joined their local church. Stories like these are why we do what we do. It's why your friendship matters so much. Because of you, kids are finding hope, they're discovering purpose, and they're experiencing life change that lasts for eternity. So from all of us at Children's Cup, thank you for giving hope, inspiring dreams, and changing worlds. Yeah, amen. Praise the Lord. Well, church, I just want to say thank you so much for not only meeting needs, but helping to change the eternity for these children and these families. Because of your faithfulness to give, lives are changed and will continue to be changed by Jesus' power. Father, we thank you for the ministry of Children's Cup and, Lord, the lives of these kids and these families that are changed forever by your power. God, we pray that you would bless this ministry, that you would use them, Lord, to reach even

more people in 2026 for your glory and for your namesake. In Jesus' name, amen. Yes. There was no way until you made one. Oh, my life, you've been right here by my side. God, I'm just grateful for you. God, I'm just grateful for you. Oh, oh, there's only one. Oh, there's only one. ♪ Who did I let You give it ♪ ♪ Who am I that You keep me on Your mind, God ♪ ♪ I'm just grateful for You, God I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ All my life You've been right here by my side, God ♪ ♪ I'm just grateful for You, God I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ Who am I that You keep me on Your mind, God ♪ ♪ I'm just grateful for You, God I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ All my life You've been right here by my side, God ♪ ♪ I'm just grateful for You, God I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ Oh, we're so grateful for who You are ♪ ♪ We're so grateful for what You've done, yeah ♪ ♪ And I, yeah, I'm lifting both of my hands ♪ ♪ Cause You give me chance after chance, after chance ♪ ♪ And I, yeah, I'm giving all that I am ♪ ♪ Cause You gave me chance after chance, after chance ♪ ♪ And I, yeah, I'm lifting both of my hands ♪ ♪ Cause You gave me chance after chance, after chance ♪ ♪ And I, yeah, I'm giving all that I am ♪ ♪ Cause You gave me chance after chance, after chance ♪ ♪ Who am I that You keep me on Your mind, God? ♪ ♪ Who am I that You keep me on Your mind, God? ♪

♪ I'm just grateful for You, God, I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ All my life You've been right here by my side, God ♪ ♪ I'm just grateful for You, God, I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ Who am I that You keep me on Your mind, God? ♪ ♪ I'm just grateful for You, God, I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ All my life You've been right here by my side, God ♪ ♪ I'm just grateful for You, God, I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ I've survived and I'm here to testify, God, I'm just grateful for You, God, I'm just grateful for You ♪ ♪ I'm alright if they say I'm out of my mind, God, I'm just grateful for You, God, I'm just grateful for You ♪ Come on, are you grateful for Him at all of our campuses? Are you grateful for Him today? Bless the Lord. Come on, let's give it up for the choir. All of our campuses, we celebrate you, we love your choir. Amen. You can be seated today. I'm so glad I came to church. How about you? I love choir Sunday. It's always so special. My name is Scotty Givens. I'm the lead pastor here at People's Church. Honored to serve alongside our senior pastors, Pastor Herbert and Tiffany Cooper. They're at the Northwest Campus, worshiping with our Northwest family today. So if you're at Northwest, make sure and keep your eyes open for Pastor Herbert and Tiffany. I know they love to see you and say hello. But whether you're watching from our Midwest City Campus,

our Edmond Campus, our Indianapolis Campus, our Nasset, our church family online, or right here at OKC, we are family. Aren't you thankful for your church? Come on, put your hands together. All of our locations thank God for our church. God is so good to us and so glad you came to church today. Years ago, I was going to the local gym to check it out and see if I just might be interested in a membership. I felt like it was the right thing to do. As a young adult out of college now, to play sports, don't play sports anymore, but I still need to stay in shape. Still wanted to get into a gym, and so I went to the local gym and I checked it out, and this, they took me on a tour. It had everything. I mean it, high-tech equipment. They were showing me different people over there. Look how they use that, look at that class that they have over there. All of that comes with a membership. Listen, my eyes were getting bigger and bigger. In my mind, my biceps were getting bigger and bigger. I just thought, I need to do this thing. I don't remember exactly how much it cost. If I remember correctly, it was around $500 or so, maybe $300, $400. I just remember thinking, I'm gonna have to take out a loan,

sell my car if I want to get this membership. Well, they talked me into it, and I signed up. They were so kind, they helped me out. They said I could do it in installment plans. Wasn't that nice? And so I went ahead and I signed up for that. I made a one-year commitment in that contract for that gym membership. My participation lasted less than two months. How many can relate? You know a story like that in your own life? The bills didn't stop, my participation is what stopped. Well, you know what, I think about that, and how many of you know it wasn't the gym's fault? The gym delivered on everything that they promised, all that equipment, it was still there. I was the one who wasn't there anymore. You know, there are a lot of Christians in churches today who have the benefit of membership without participating and enjoying and experiencing all that God has, not because it's not available, but because they do not participate. Our word for this year is grow, somebody shout grow. Come on, all of our campus, everybody shout grow. God wants you to grow in your relationship with him. He wants you to be stronger in your faith. He wants you to be stronger in your peace, stronger in your fulfillment, stronger in your relationship with God.

It's his plan that you would grow. Not only is it his heart and his desire that you and I would grow, he's giving us everything that we need so that we can grow. But it's also his expectation that you and I would do our part if we're going to grow. You know, it's unnatural for something that is intended to grow not to grow. But that's the unfortunate reality for a lot of Christians today. They aren't stronger in their faith today than they were a year ago or five years ago. It's not because God doesn't want them to be, they just have not done their part. It's not that God doesn't have everything, his promises, his word right at their disposal. They just don't reach out and take advantage of it. They aren't rooted and built up in their faith. They're not flourishing in their walk with God. And as a result, it's impacting every single area of their life. That's not God's plan. That's not God's desire. He wants us to be strong. He wants us to thrive. And he shows us how to do that in 2 Peter chapter one. Before I get to that passage and read it and teach from it today, I want to give you a picture. I want you to think in terms of the kiddie pool

at the water park. You remember when you used to go as a kid and how fun it was, maybe three, four, five, six years old, and you'd get over there, it's just a little water area, just enough to make a little splash, and you'd get over there. I could spend hours there as a kid, right? No slides, no diving boards, but then you start growing up just a little bit. Then you look over your shoulder and you see the big kid's pool. You know, when you had the realization, like when you were little, you didn't even notice it. You just went over there and splashed in the water, played in the water. That's all that it took, but you started growing a little bit and you looked over and realized, oh, there's a whole nother world. And so you go over to the big kid's pool and you start off in the shallow wind, and it's fun, this is a new world. You get a little older, you go to the deep until ultimately, eventually, you're jumping off the diving board, you're doing your flips and you're enjoying it. How many of you know that there are a lot of grown adults, spiritually speaking, still playing in the kiddie pool today? Not because God hasn't given them something else that he has for them, something far greater,

but a lot of times, as Christian adults, spiritual adults, we're sitting in the little kiddie pool, mad at God, frustrated at God. This isn't satisfying, this isn't fulfilling, this isn't fun, this isn't enjoyable, mad at God. Not because God has not already done his part, but we're not doing ours. He's giving us everything we need. Somebody say everything. I want us to teach today, to learn today as I walk down through 2 Peter chapter one verses three and following, look at what it says. It says, by his divine power, that's God's. By his divine power, God has given us everything. Somebody shout everything. God has given us everything we need for a godly life. We have received all this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you, hear that today church, they enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. God has given you everything. Not some things, not a lot of things. He has given you everything that you need to live the godly life that he's purposed and intended for you.

To escape the evil, the worldly corruption that the devil tries to pull you into. I just can't help myself. Yes, you can. He's given you everything that you need. I can't seem to get over this. Try as I may, I can't get freedom. He has given you everything that you need. You can do it. You can grow. This is a word for somebody today. Because the devil's been lying to you thinking that Christianity's for everybody else, but apparently it's not for you. That God's grace, that God's favor, that God's blessing, it might work in other people's lives, but it cannot work for you. I want you to know today that the devil is a liar. God has given you everything that you need to enjoy all that he has. You don't have to stay stuck. Somebody shout, God wants me to grow. Come on, tell your neighbor, God wants you to grow. You don't have to stay stuck. You don't have to be trapped by the corruption of this world. You don't have to be bound by evil desires. You don't have to stay stuck in addiction or be trapped by poor choices or bad decisions that keep ruining your life.

You don't have to stay spiritually stagnant. God wants you to grow up because he has so much more for you. And so Peter says in verse five, we're continuing down through 2 Peter 1. He says, in view of all this, everything that we just said, that God's given you everything that you need, in view of that, look at what he says. Make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith. I wanna pause for just a second. Notice what Peter is doing. He's talking about everything that God has given you. He's given you everything that you need. And then he says in light of the fact that that's all available, and then he pivots and he turns to you and me and he says, make every effort. In view of all of this, God has done and will do for us his great promises. You and I have a responsibility. Make every effort. We have to own our growth. We have to work out our salvation. If you're still at the kiddie pool of life today, don't be mad at God. If you're staying stuck, if you're staying bound, if you feel trapped, stop blaming God. Peter turns to you, he turns to me and says,

you gotta work out your salvation. Like Pastor Herbert talked about earlier in this series, we cannot make excuses. In view of all that God has done for us and given to us, we can't just sit back, be lazy, be passive, be complacent Christians, content to like believe in God and go to church from time to time. I'd make it to two out of four of the four-week challenge. We might go crazy and make it to three out of four out of the four-week challenge. No, no, no, no, no, no. We're not going to tiptoe into it. We're not gonna dabble in it. We're not gonna play with. We're gonna understand I have responsibility for my growth. Just make every effort to respond. That's action on my part. Look what he says, supplement your faith. What is that talking about, supplement your faith? Do we have to add something to our faith so that we can be saved? Do I have to add something to my faith so that I can be saved? so that I can get to heaven? No, that's not what the Bible teaches us. It is by grace that you and I are saved through faith, faith alone in Jesus Christ. When you have faith in Jesus Christ, you are saved by his grace.

Are you thankful for that today? Are you thankful for God's amazing grace? We are saved by grace, through faith. Then what is he talking about? Add something to my faith. Well, what he's meaning is that we supplement with what God has provided freely to us. It's a partnership that we were together with what he has provided. He has done his part, and now I need to do my part. Not for salvation, for growth. Ephesians chapter two taught us that faith is a gift from God. It doesn't come from myself, God entrusts it to me. I like what one writer says. He says, what we do with our faith is now our gift back to God. The faith that you and I have to put our hope and our trust in him is a gift that he entrusts to us. By faith, you believe God loves you. By faith, you believe he has a plan for you. By faith, you believe he's given you everything that you need so you can grow and experience his grace and peace and all that he has for you. And now Peter says, now add this to your faith. It's a partnership. But many people don't want to do their part. Then they get mad at God when their marriage isn't what they hoped it would be,

when their finances aren't what it's supposed to be. Why God? Why won't you help? I'm over here stuck in a kiddie pool, getting a sunburn, hearing everybody else laugh and cheer and going down the slides. Why God? It's because God has provided everything that I need. I'm just not doing my part. I'm staying stuck, not because of God, but because of me. I have great news for you today, church. Anybody ready for some good news? Come on, you want some good news today? Listen, God has given you everything that you need to flourish and Peter's about to show us what it looks like if we do our part. That's what we're gonna look at and learn from. How do you do your part? Let's keep reading in verse five. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with, here comes number one, get ready for it, a generous provision of, number one, moral excellence. This is how he wants us to grow. The first thing on the list is moral excellence. It's this concept. It's the right and proper fulfillment of something's purpose. And that's what this concept here in 2 Peter

when he's using this phraseology of moral excellence, he's talking about something carrying out its intended purpose fully and completely. How many of you know you have a purpose? How many of you know you were created by God for God with a divine design? To live out that purpose is to live on mission and to live out that purpose is to live with the excellence that God designed and desires and we do it unto him. Ephesians chapter two and verse 10 says, for we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. He has plans for your life. God's plan is not that you would feel stuck. God's plan is not that you would feel trapped. God's plan is not that you would feel defeated and discouraged. God wants you to grow. God wants you to flourish. God wants you to experience prosperity, his blessing, his favor. He's provided everything that we need. We have to do our part to step into becoming the masterpiece that he wants us to be. You have to work it out. You live like you really believe you have a high calling. You live like you really believe your life matters. Why? Because you know that you have a purpose.

As a child of God, you just stand out. You live with a spirit of excellence. Your attitude is different from the attitude of others. Your work ethic is different than those around you. The way you treat others, even the way you greet somebody, the way you honor somebody, it's like another world. It's like Christ-like. It's Christ-like like Jesus. You're looking like him. Why? Because you're living with what Peter's calling a moral excellence question for you today. Do you find yourself just sloppily? Lazily? Half-heartedly? Just going through life trying to make it, trying to survive, trying to hang on? Or are you living with divine purpose? Is there pep in your step because you know that you are created by God? And for God Colossians 3 23 says it this way whatever you do somebody say whatever Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord not for human masters It doesn't matter if you're flipping burgers laying bricks grading paper selling real estate filing paper do it with excess for the glory of God That's what he's talking about here. You can take steps in that this year. He gives us a second thing look at it He says supplement your faith 2nd Peter 1 5 with a generous provision of moral excellence and with moral excellence Here's number two with knowledge You see we can't live with excellence like Jesus Without this knowledge of who he is and what he's like The only chance we have it living like him is truly getting to know him. We need to grow in our understanding of his ways Do you know more about God today than you did last year you're growing in your understanding of his character of his promises

2nd Peter chapter 3 verse 18 says rather you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I Hope in 2026 that we can grow in our knowledge of God growing in our depth of understanding of who he is Grow in our awareness of how he moves how he works and what he has for me what he has for my family and listen When we talk about something like the four-week challenge, this is what we're trying to accomplish We just know that if you're going to grow in God, you've got to grow and your understanding of God You've got to be faithful to the house of God So you sit under the teaching of the Word of God one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your family is to say This is gonna be my best year yet spiritually speaking in my life Wouldn't you just love to know that this year that 2026 is gonna be your best year yet spiritually you get to choose that So when you come you're going I'm gonna be a part of the four-week challenge And listen, if you're gonna grow deeper in the things of God get into a small group Today is the small group launch at all of our campuses and there are there are tables in the lobbies for people who are not Yet in a small group You can just go out there and say I want to be a part of a small group Be a part of growing in your knowledge of your of God growing alongside your brothers and your sisters in Christ For some of you might be thinking man. I'm not quite ready just for a full-on step small group type experience You know what be a great opportunity for you come to brotherhood and sisterhood At your location at each of our campuses doing brotherhood and sisterhood Edmund campus would meet at OKC But it's a chance for you to come to the campus and we'll have something for you and your entire family the kids ministry Have something going on the youth the students have something going on You'll be able to come and meet people and and leadership will help you to get plugged in why because we want you to grow This year grow in your knowledge of God Peter gives us a third thing. You can write it down number three We want to grow in our self-control Second Peter chapter 1 verse 5 again supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence and moral excellence with knowledge and knowledge with Self-control, this is speaking to controlling your passions

Rather than being controlled by them You know for a lot of people today singing songs about the goodness of God Declaring how good God is how big is how powerful he is and yet still living trapped still living defeated Still living discouraged. You've got to let this get in your spirit today church family That is not the plan of God for your life. He wants you to be free He wants you to flourish you have to do your part. He's given you Everything that you need to live and to grow in a self-controlled life I know so many of you participated on our 21 days of prayer and fasting man way to go good job with that and now Listen keep on keeping on You don't have to go from the discipline in life of getting up early for prayer to where now you're gonna sleep in an extra Two or three hours trying to catch up for the month of January. You don't have to do that You can learn to control your appetites to control your passions rather than a bit allowing them to control you Proverbs chapter 25 and verse 28 says a person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls God wants you to grow in self-control He wants you to be strong. He wants you to be fortified. He wants you to be safe. He wants you to grow Titus chapter 2 verse 11 says for the grace God for the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people it Teaches us so we're learning this it teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self controlled upright and godly lives in this present age you can keep growing in self-control this year you don't have to feel stuck nor do you have to feel like you gotta get from Genesis to Revelation from A to Z from start to finish from struggling to perfect in one day you can take a step somebody say take a step you may not score a touchdown today but how many of you know you can get a first down today you can go in the right direction you can just make some habits in your life you don't have to binge watch you don't have to binge eat you don't have to binge shop tell you neighbor if pastors met on with me now he's stepping on my toes he's getting a little too personal you can grow in self-control let me give you number four he says you can grow in patient endurance he says knowledge with self-control and self-control with

patience endurance oh this is a good one Peter wants us to grow in patient endurance or in perseverance because far too many Christians give up way too easily throwing in the towel believing the lies of the enemy face some hard hardship face some difficulty get discouraged start losing hope going through pain that's real pain but giving up thinking I can't make it patient endurance is the ability to keep on keeping on despite the challenges we all will face in life the devil wants you to give up but God wants you to keep going the devil wants you to think that your prayers aren't being heard or answered God wants you to know in your situation he's on the move the devil wants you to think that you can't get over this sin because it's so big God wants you to know that his grace is greater than all of your sin don't you give up don't you grow weary you keep on keeping on you can grow and it's not just some hope some pep rally Hebrews chapter 6 verse 19 says we have this hope as an anchor somebody say it's an anchor we have this hope as an anchor for the soul it's firm and it's secure our hope is not tied to our bank account our social status instead it's tied to the unmovable unshakable God of the universe he never failed me yet and he won't start now come on praise him at all of our campuses he's with you he goes on to add to this godliness he says self control with patient endurance and patient endurance with godliness this thought of godliness is the idea of a deep and true reverence for God and who he is it's an awareness and appreciation that God is God alone and you're thankful for all that he's done to the degree that it now affects your life your choices your decision your life now reflects that listen you choose to grow in God not because you feel like he's mad mean or angry but because you love him and you worship him and you adore him you choose not to sin not because you're scared of getting punished but because you love him and want to honor him you don't worship money because you choose to worship God you don't chase the world because of its empty ways and an evil and traps that at least they want because my love for God is greater than all of these things he says his divine power has given us everything we need for what a godly life somebody say

godly life you can grow in that in 2026 you can take steps and living a Christ honoring godly life you can grow in godliness this year let me give you the sixth thing here only two left number six is brotherly affection he says patient endurance with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection to grow in our love for God is to grow in our love for one another how many of you wish it was as easy to love your neighbor and yet that co-worker who gets on your nerves you wish it was as easy to love them as it is to love God wouldn't that be great as easy to love your spouse as it is to love God wouldn't that be amazing I mean if I could just but here's what he says if I'm growing in my love for God I've got to grow in my love for my brothers and sisters I heard a story of a preacher told about Christians being a lot like two porcupines out in the cold freezing trying to survive they come close together so that they can be warm and then when they get close to Together their quills come out and they start poking each other. So now to get away from each other they Separates and now they're back to facing the adversity all by themselves and realize this is cold I think I need you and then come back together and then when you get close together Oh the quills come back out again and start poking each other. I don't like you anymore I don't want to be around you anymore and separate again. That is a good picture a lot of times what happens in the church. I Know that I need you. I know we need each other. Let's do this together. Oh, you're getting on my nerves Whoo, you're making me mad. Whoo. You're frustrating me. I think I've had enough of that. Thank you very much I'm gonna get a little space right here. You know, this isn't the way it's designed to be I think we're supposed to be working together. I think that we're supposed to we can accomplish more together. Whoo. You're getting on my nerves Oh, you're causing me pain. That's a good picture And so what Peter is teaching us is that we have to grow in our love for one another First John chapter 4 verse 20 says if someone says I love God, but hates a fellow believer that person is a liar For if we don't love people we can see How can we love God whom we cannot? see I Think that right now the Holy Spirit's probably bringing some people to our hearts and minds that we need to do better at showing brotherly love learning to overlook flaws

Choosing to see the good in others Knowing that we're all broken. We all have issues. I can see you in your humanity and Yet still love you and celebrate the Jesus that is in you not waiting for you to change something I can grow up. I Can mature more so that I can honor God with a way that I love My brother Hebrews chapter 13 in verse 1 says keep on Loving each other as brothers. Oh And I think that the reason he had to say keep on doing it is because we would be tempted from time to time to Quit doing it Let us grow in how we love one another then he gives us this final one number seven is this He goes from just saying love your brothers and sisters in Christ and number seven. He says grow in your love for everyone Faith is the root of your spiritual walk in relationship Peter ends here with this list with love because it is the ultimate fruit of your spiritual walk in relationship with God and in 2026 God wants all of us to build on he's placed the root of salvation inside of us He's given us access to all of the resources of heaven so that we can grow and as we take our steps to grow in love the fruit of Salvation will be expressed and shown in the way that you love the people that you come in contact with Paul calls love the greatest of these 1st Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13. He says three things will last forever forever faith Hope and love and look what he says and the greatest of these is love He didn't want any confusion about what that means and what he looks like So he broke it down in verses 4 and following. He says love is patient Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast It is not proud

It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always Perseveres, love never fails We got to grow in that church family I'll wrap up with what he said in verse 8. He says for if somebody say if you possess these qualities in increasing measure They will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive In your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ Christ Let me read it to you. That was the NIV. Let me read it to you out of the NLT The more you grow like this those seven things We just mentioned the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ God wants you to grow He wants you to be stronger in your faith He He's given us everything that we need. This year with his help, by the grace of God, we can take steps. We may not score touchdowns on every play, but we can get first downs by the grace of God. I'm gonna ask you to bow your heads and close your eyes at all of our campuses. And Lord, I pray in the name of Jesus that you would help us to grow, help us to be closer to you and stronger in you, because you've given us everything that we need. Now with heads bowed and eyes closed,

today, if you realize that your first step, your big step is gonna be just to begin your relationship with God, it starts by putting your hope in him. Recognizing that no matter where you've been or what you've done, God loves you. He cares about you. No matter how great your sin, his grace is greater than all your sin. If you just say, God, I need you. Come into my heart and change me. I repent of my sin. I want you to be the Lord of my life. And today, if that's you, I wanna lead you in a prayer. So when I count to three, you slip up your hand saying, I wanna commit or recommit my life to Christ. One, two, three. Come on, raise it up at all of our campuses. Awesome, I wanna lead you in a prayer. Just say, dear God, thank you for your grace and your mercy. Today is the day that I surrender my life to you. Today is the day that I ask you to be the king of my heart, the Lord of my life, be my savior. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. I'm gonna turn it back over to the host at all of our campuses today. Come on, let's thank the Lord for his goodness. Praise the Lord, praise the, come on, church, we can do better than that.

Can we praise God? He's a faithful God. You know, this series is challenging for me. You know, no matter how long we've been people of faith, we still have growing to do, amen. We haven't arrived yet and we still need God's help because we might be stuck in some habits and some ways that we're saying, Lord, help me grow, help me to be all that you want me to be. And so before we leave today, can we just take a moment to just ask God to help us? We serve our God, this song I love. It says, what a God, what a God. We serve a mighty God who's able to help you today, amen. Do you believe it? Would you stand up with me all over this room? Prayer team, would you come at this time? If you have a need in your life, our prayer team's gonna be down here to pray with you at this time. Come on, let's pray, let's sing this together. Come on, declare you need him today, church. Come on, we need you, God. What a God, what a God. You're an amazing God. You're available to help us, God. What a God, what a God. Thank you, Lord. What a God, what a God. You are my everything.

You are my everything. You are my everything. What a God, what a God. What a God, what a God. What a God, what a God. What a God, what a God. What a God, what a God. Hallelujah, we serve an amazing God who's able to help us to live how he wants us to live, to grow, to be all that God has called us to be. Keep reaching out to him, church family. Well, church, you do not wanna miss next week, Pastor Herbert will be back to continue our series, our growth series. So all of our first-time guests here today, if you're looking for a home church, we hope you don't need to look any further. I can tell you, you are among some of the most kind and loving people in all of Oklahoma. Give us a year of your life. Go to growth track get baptized get plugged in get planted in the house and watch what God Will do in and through your life. We're family here at people's church We shout it at the end of every service because we really do believe it. Come on. Shout it with me on 3 1 2 3