Next Gen Sunday- Pastor Matt Ferguson

I'm Pastor Dave right here at Life Fellowship Church and I just want to say a moment to say hello to you and to let you know that we see you, we care about you and we want you to know that God sees you too and God wants to know you and be with you through this time. I'm the transition pastor here at Life Fellowship Church and we're in this season where God is bringing a new leader in one day in the next few months but we don't know when but until then I'm going to be preaching God's word and teaching God's word and I just want to speak to you for just a moment as you're watching this maybe on the Pando app but I just want you to know that God has a word for you and he has a word for you just as you simply hear the word or open the word and read the word. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God and right now all of us need to be people in the society we live in, in the situation you're in today. We need to walk by faith. We need to know that God is in control and that he's just wanting us to trust him. So how do we walk by faith? Well the Bible says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So hearing God's word is one way that faith can rise up in us and so we need to hear God's word and let me give you just five ways real quick that you can get a grasp on God's word because that's where our faith comes from. That's where our hope comes from. That's where life comes from. There's life in this word. So I just want to tell you five ways that we can grasp God's word and faith can come no matter what you're facing today, faith can rise up to help you overcome in this moment. The first thing is we need to hear God's word. So when you have an opportunity on the Pando app or to watch Life Fellowship Church, hear God's word, hear God's word, take some notes, write it down, but hear God's word. Another way is right there. You can hopefully just read God's word. Take God's word in, hear it, read it.

Another way is to dig in a little deeper and study it, hear it, read it, study it and you can begin to get a grasp on God's word. Another way, and this is my favorite, is to memorize God's word. You know what? I tell people memorize one verse a week, just one little verse a week, but put it to memory and get it in your heart so it's always available to you. Hear it, read it, study it, memorize it and you memorize it and God will speak that word out of you, in you, as it's in your heart and in your mind. And then the fifth one is to meditate on it. Just meditate. As you're laying down at night, as you're just sitting somewhere quietly, think about what God says. Think about that verse you're memorizing for the week. Meditate on it. Somebody said meditation is the word that is chewing the cud, it's like the cow that's just chewing the cud, he's just meditating on it, he's chewing that cud. I'm meditating on God's word today. I'm letting these words of life produce faith in my heart. So I hope that will help you today. Hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it and walk by faith, not by sight, because God sees you, he knows you, he's in control and he's going to see you through this today. In Jesus name, I want to pray for you. Father, thank you for your love to me. Thank you for your love to my friends. Thank you for your love that you so freely have given us through your son, Jesus. And I just pray that you would just let your presence just be with our friends today. These men and women of faith, help them Lord, to just know that you are with them through it all. And we praise you for it in Jesus name. Amen.

All right. See you soon. God bless you. Hey, men and women, such an honor and a blessing to come to you again through your tablet. On the Pando app from right here in McKinney, Texas at Life Fellowship Church. It's a blessing for me to be able to speak to you guys and walk with you guys. My name is Logan Williams. My TDC number is 1490218. I have four numbers after that, round and round and round the system. Just couldn't get it right, man. Would go to church when I would come to prison and then I would get out and get deceived and I'm right back into the drugs and crime and sexual sin and all the things that come with that. And man, God rescued me on August 11th, 2021. I was in a hotel room just surrounded by crazy people, a bunch of drugs. He just began to down me. Unload to me, man, hey, get up and leave this room and I got you, I got a plan for you. I'm with you, but you're gonna have to get up and leave this room. Many of you have heard my testimony many times and because that's how he is, man. He wants us to participate with him. He's gonna ask us to do hard things. He's gonna ask us to lay down sin and strive to live a righteous life. It's not just, I went to church one day and this magic wand waved over me and I'm good now. He wants us to, it's the prodigal son story in Luke 15. So when he came to himself, he said, I'll arise,

I'll go to my father. Because how many of my father's hard hands have more than enough to eat yet here I am perishing. I'll rise, I'll go to him and he rose and he took a few steps out of the pig pen. We're gonna have to rise and take a few steps. I had to rise and get up out of that hotel room. But he was true to his word, he had me, man. But I had to lay that down and it was hard. But my life has never been the same. We pray for you at Life Fellowship Church. There are two amazing prayer groups, they're right in here. One Saturday morning, I come to it at 7.30 and we put all your prayer requests up on the stage. And as we're walking around, we take an hour, we walk around, we're just praying individually. People all over this church, we walk all over the church. But we come and we lay hands on all your prayer requests and we pray for you because we love you, you're a part of our church family. And if you're anywhere near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, when you get out on a Sunday, man, we want to meet you. Come see us, look for me, I'm at all three services. Tell your friends and family that they can download the same Pando app on their phone, the same one that you watch, I have it on my phone. And y'all can watch the same messages, the same teachings, the same content. The Chosen is on there, the Bible Project is on there,

there's a bunch of books on there. Do this walk together, even though you're behind bars. Don't fall victim to the lie that I can't spiritually participate with my family because I'm over here and they're over here, that's not true. Do that and then talk about it when you speak on the phone or at visitation or when you write letters or messages to one another. Hey, what did that message speak to you? What the Holy Spirit say to you through that teaching? Hey, let's look at this teaching together and see what we come up with. This is so valuable, guys. And I want you to have that on your unit too, in the place that you're at, in your housing unit, man. Pray for some like-minded men or women to come around you, that y'all can do this thing together. And if you don't have that, man, pray for that. God will answer that prayer because it's so important. This last Sunday, yesterday, Pastor Dave preached a message. He used Psalms 3-3 to start it. I'm gonna read the first four verses of Psalm number three and then I'm gonna talk about it. Says this, Lord, how many are my foes? How many rise up against me? I mean, just verse one alone. If there's anything, if there's a group of people out there that that verse speaks to, Lord, how many are my foes?

How many rise up against me? It's gonna be people incarcerated. There's plenty of people rising up against you. The system is rising up against you. You may be people of the opposite, whatever, beliefs may be rising up against you. Verse two, many are saying of me, God will not deliver him. But you, oh Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord and he answers me from his holy mountain. You know, I had a mentor that used to speak into my life when I first got saved. And he used to tell me, Logan, you don't have to be this amazing theologian that has the entire Bible memorized, but you need to have a scripture every day that you can fight with, that Ephesians six, sword of the spirit, where the enemy's coming against you or when you're having a disappointment, when something doesn't go your way, you need to have a scripture that you can fight with. And I wanna give you that one. Just speak that out. But you, Lord, are my shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high. Pray it back to him. Say, Lord, I'm going through this right now. But you say in your word in Psalm three, three,

but you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high. I call out to you, Lord, and you answer me from your holy mountain. Pray scripture back to him. That is very, very profitable. I found in my life and it's a weapon that you can use. It's the sword of the spirit. And so if it's not this one, man, get one. I had another mentor that used to tell me, do not leave the house until you get a word from God. In other words, open your Bible in the morning and read until God gives you something. And when I see him or talk to him now, first question he always asked me five years later, hey man, what God give you this morning? What was the scripture? What was the word that he gave you this morning? You know, it doesn't take a whole lot of time, but it does take some time and it takes some discipline. Pastor Dave Divine is our transitions pastor. He's an amazing man of God. He preaches from the word. We're really, really excited here at our future. We've come through some storms, if you will, losing our senior pastor, but man, I can tell you, because you are part of our church family, our staff is more solidified, more bound together, like a band of brothers and sisters than ever before.

Like we've been through a war together. And so we have high hopes for Life Fellowship Church and we love you guys. I love you guys. You're my heart because I've sat there. I sat there, August 24th is today's date of 2020. I was burning up on the gurney unit, just stuck in COVID. I know, I know those feelings. I didn't have a tablet though. They didn't have tablets back then, but they got them now, praise God. And I'm glad you guys are using them to watch content like this. Let me pray for you guys. Heavenly father, we love you. And I know that every single person matters to you. Although they may be a number to the state of Texas or whatever state they're in, God, we know that they are never just a number to you, that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. And you think about them more than grains of sand on this planet. That's what you say in Psalm 139. And so God, I thank you that you love us so much. If there's anyone watching this, God, let them know that they didn't just accidentally click on this. Like if they're watching this video, you're after them. You've left 99 to come and find them. And God, I don't think they're gonna get away.

I pray God that you would just chase after them with desperation. That just like you grew tired and weary walking all the way to Samaria to meet with that Samaritan woman at the well, that you would grow tired and weary chasing after my brothers and sisters that are watching. And that you would let them know how much you love them, that they are valuable to you, that they are your sons, your daughters, that they were worthy of dying for. Let them have the knowledge of that love, that love that passes knowledge, that love that changes things. And so God, I pray, man, that you would bless them to overflowing in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen, guys. Who's house? God's house. Let's give him some praise. Thank you. God bless, y'all. Have a great night. I'll see you later. Amen, God. God bless. God bless you. And God send peace upon every soul and every spirit. Amen, amen.

Thank you so much. Thank you for inviting me. We'll do a reality reality show. We'll do the Indian thing. Yeah. I didn't know guys, like even the chance to meet, but the word of God says to train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old, he will not depart from it. And this is what we're doing. We are teaching our children to worship him in spirit and in truth. Amen. We're leading by example. So come on, put those hands together. I'm dancing out of my regrets. I'm throwing caution to the wind. No, I am not ashamed to praise like this. Some would say it's foolishness. But I say it's worth the risk. I can't forget what Jesus did. No, I am not ashamed to praise like this. Where are those chains that once held me? I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free. My sin is gone, how can it be? I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free. And look at what the Lord has done. I'm never going back to the way I was I'll sing, I'll dance as I believe I'm free, I'm free Thank God I'm free

How many are thankful for being free? Amen! I found a friend that never quit There's no one that loves you as good as this And I don't care what anyone says I'll never be ashamed to pray like this Where are those chains that once held me? I'm free, I'm free I'm free, I'm free My sin is gone, I'll get it I'm free, I'm free I'm free, I'm free And look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was I'll sing, I'll dance as I believe I'm free, I'm free Thank God I'm free You took the cross and you broke your body You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see My debt is paid and my record is made I couldn't do it so you didn't want it You took the cross and you broke your body You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see My debt is paid and my record is made I couldn't do it so you didn't want it You took the cross and you broke your body You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see My debt is paid and my record is made I couldn't do it so you didn't want I couldn't do it

I couldn't do it I couldn't do it so you didn't want I couldn't do it so you didn't want I didn't do it, no you didn't want Where are those chains that once held me? I'm free, I'm free I'm free, I'm free My sin is gone, I'll get it I'm free, I'm free I'm free, I'm free And look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was I'll sing, I'll dance, good as I've been I'm free, I'm free Thank God I'm free You took the cross and you broke your body You shed your blood and now the sin appears I couldn't do it so you didn't want I couldn't do it so you didn't want You took the cross and you broke your body You shed your blood and now the sin appears I couldn't do it so you didn't want I couldn't do it so you didn't want I couldn't do it, no I couldn't do it so you didn't want I couldn't do it so you didn't want All your tears and pain But look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was And look at what the Lord has done

I'm never going back to the way I was now And look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was And look at what the Lord has done I'm never going back to the way I was Hallelujah! Woo! Come on, give Him glory! He deserves it! He is worthy! Jesus, we praise you in this room this morning You got because of what you've done God, we say that we will go to the ends of the earth And we will make sure that your name is known That you will be glorified, God That you will be praised, Lord Oh, Jesus, we magnify you in this room We say that every nation, every tribe, and every tongue Will declare your glory Oh! For too long we've been quiet Silenced by the last of the air But a new song is arising From our mouths we'll sing out a new melody Oh! Oh, Jesus, be glorified I miss her this morning, Lord, and I miss her now And we will not miss this moment Cause we were born before such a time as this And reaching for our brothers and our sisters

Oh, we won't let the devil win No, we won't And we won't look back At our old lives We've seen the truth And we paid it all And now we are His He's everything I have decided I will follow Jesus Oh, that's where we will go I have decided I will follow Jesus Anywhere He leads us That's where we will go And we've got no more questions Yes, we will go In His ability Yes, we will Jesus exalted His decision And we say yes With no apologies Cause I have decided I will follow Jesus Anywhere He leads us That's where we will go And I have decided I will follow Jesus Anywhere He leads us That's where we will go

I have decided I will follow Jesus Anywhere He leads us Whatever you say, I'll say more I have decided I will follow Jesus Anywhere He leads us That's where we will go Jesus, we declare today That our generation will make Your name known That the next generation, God Will make Your name known in all the earth Oh, Jesus, we're riding for You Whatever You say, we'll say Wherever You say, go, God, we'll go We'll follow You, Lord Come on, we sing it like this, we say I'm riding with Jesus, wherever He goes I'm living surrender, this life's not my own I'm riding with Jesus, wherever He goes Living surrender, this life's not my own I'm riding with Jesus, come on We're living surrender This life's not my own We're riding with Jesus Living surrender, this life's not my own Oh, I'm living surrender, this life's not my own I'm riding with Jesus, wherever I'm living surrender I'm riding with Jesus, I'm riding with Jesus

Living surrender, this life's not my own I'm riding with Jesus, wherever he goes Cause I have decided, I will follow Jesus Anywhere he leads us I have decided, I have decided I will follow Jesus Anywhere he leads me, I will go I'm riding with Jesus, I'm riding with Jesus I'm living surrender, this life's not my own We're riding for Jesus All for you Lord Cause I'm riding with Jesus I'm living surrender, this life's not my own I'm riding with Jesus, wherever he goes Cause I'm riding with Jesus, wherever he goes I'm living to end of this life, now I'm running with Jesus wherever He goes Yes, I have decided I will follow Jesus anywhere He leads us That's where we will go I have decided I will follow Jesus anywhere He leads us That's where we will go That's where we will go Often times I feel like we sing that in a service We sing that in the church But then our ministry stops as soon as we hit those doors But I want to encourage us today and embolden us today That let our ministry not just be in this room We're saying Jesus wherever you go If it's at my workplace, if it's at my school, if it's in my home Lord let us be the example Let us be the image bearers of Christ God that you've called us to be

And make your name known And we want to start not just as adults But we want to show that even in the kids No matter how old you are That we're going to share the gospel and make Jesus' name known And here at LF we sing the song like this And this is how it goes We sing like this, we say Lace up your boots Put on your backpack It's time to run It's time to run I say lace up your boots, say Put on your backpack It's time to run We're going with Jesus, that's where we're going Come on, can we say I say lace up your boots, say Put on your backpack It's time to run We're going with Jesus I say lace up your boots, say Put on your backpack It's time to run It's time to run I say lace up your boots, say Put on your backpack It's time to run We're going with Jesus I say lace up your boots, say

Put on your backpack It's time to run We're going with Jesus, yeah It's time to run We're running with Jesus We're running with Jesus Whatever you say, go on, go on Whatever you say, go on, go on We say, I have decided I will follow Jesus Anywhere He leads us That's where we will go I have decided I will follow Jesus Come on, sing it out That's where we will go One more time we sing I have decided I will follow Jesus Wherever you go, God will go Whatever you say, do We'll do, Jesus I have decided I have decided I will follow Jesus That's where we will go Yeah, Jesus will follow you Wherever you say, go, we'll go Whatever you say, keep We'll do, God

Cause we recognize that there's no one like our King You're the only one worthy You're the only one worthy, God Thank you, Jesus, for who you are Lord God, we will go and proclaim your name Because you are holy And because you are worthy, God We will go Up above the heavens, sing Down below, it's echoing The anthem of eternity Let it rise, let it rise, let it rise Jesus, we believe To hold you now We lift our hands, we lay on the ground And highest praise we bring to you Let it rise, let it rise, let it rise Let it rise, let it rise, let it rise How holy, how holy Is the Lord God Almighty So worthy, so worthy to be praised And every nation, tribe and tongue Bows before the throne of one And praise the Father, Spirit, Son Let it rise, let it rise, let it rise And every nation, tribe and tongue Bows before the throne of one And praise the Father, Spirit, Son Let it rise, let it rise, let it rise Let it rise, let it rise, let it rise

How holy, how holy Is the Lord God Almighty So worthy, so worthy to be praised How holy, how holy Is the Lord God Almighty So worthy, so worthy to be praised Oh Jesus, you're so worthy to be praised I will praise you forever and ever There's nobody else like you, search all the earth And find nobody like my Jesus Come on guys, let's sing about him The first, the last, the Alpha and Omega The one who was and is to come The Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain The Risen King, the Living One The first, the last, the Alpha and Omega The one who was and is to come The Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain The Risen King, the Living One How holy, how holy Is the Lord God Almighty So worthy, so worthy to be praised How holy, how holy Is the Lord God Almighty Somewhere in me, somewhere in me, somewhere in each of these waves The birds in the night, the alpha and omega The one who I need is to come He is coming! And I am not Judah, the slave who was slain No, he's the king of living water

How holy, how holy is the Lord God Almighty So worthy, so worthy to be praised How holy, how holy is the Lord God Almighty So worthy, so worthy to be praised How holy, how holy is the Lord God Almighty So worthy, so worthy to be praised Now just tell him how holy and worthy he is in your own way Just say, Lord you are holy, there's no one like you, you are set apart We worship you, we worship you in the beauty of your holiness today We honor you Lord, worthy oh Lord Thou art worthy to receive all glory and all honor and all power and praise We bless you and worship you Great are you Lord and greatly to be praised You're so worthy Hallelujah Lord Jesus Praise your name Amen, Amen Do you sense the presence of God here today? Yes, that's what you sense, it's his presence The Bible says in his presence is fullness of joy I feel joy in my heart I feel it today Well let's thank this team right here and these kids and our band Wow, thank you Thank you guys Thank you so much, thank you Thank you so much Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you Awesome, so good, Amen Well give somebody a high five before you're seated and you can sit down

So glad you've come today What a joy to be in the house of God today To be able to worship together Hallelujah One of the things I'm passionate about is just this very thing today And that is that we transfer our faith to the next generation And that's what we must constantly be doing as parents but also as a church And one of the ways we do that I'll just say is through biblical stewardship You know you model the way for your kids in everything they do But I do think that it's important that we as parents Because one of the most important things for the rest of their lives Is how they walk in God's blessing And one of the ways we walk in God's blessing is just to honor Him with the principle Of the tithe and offering which is just biblical stewardship The Bible says in Malachi 3 verse 10 to bring the tithe One translation says bring the whole tithe into the storehouse Or to the place of worship, the place where we gather And prove Him, it says test Him That He would open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing That there would even not be room enough to receive Let me tell you there is something about year after year after year Just walking in the principles of God Trusting Him with our wealth or with our income And bring in the tithe and worship Him Worshipping Him to where we walk and live in His blessing and joy and peace My wife Cindy and I are a testimony of that over many many years with God so I just want to encourage you today model the way for your family as well one of the ways you can do that is just talk about it let them know what you're doing about it and how you honor the Lord with your finances so I want to encourage you with that today let me pray for you and your family your

businesses and whatever you're putting your hands to do Lord we think we're thankful that we can gather together in your name and since your presence like we do today in this very special way Lord I pray blessing over every family that's represented here today everyone who will test you and trust you and and give of their hearts and give of their lives and the resources to you pray blessing over every businessman businesswoman every salesperson every single mom or single dad and every young adult as we as we bring the tithe and offerings to you today or this week online we just pray you'd bless and help us to walk in the place of provision and Lord we're just trust that to you we're just gonna walk with you believe you for the principle the promise that you've given us and we thank you for it today in Jesus name if you're giving today online wonderful or this week there's also the life fellowship app as you walk out the door today there's giving boxes at the at the end of the aisle way or on the other side we welcome you thank you for that so my wife and I took free indeed in 2011 at another church about six hours from here and it so rocked our world changed our lives we decided to get involved in the ministry and so we co-lead this at life fellowship and it's changed our lives free indeed to a lot of people we get this question is it like a celebrate recovery or something like that but it's really not I would say free indeed is Christianity 101 yes it deals with salvation that's the first thing we ask but it's also the sanctification part of life you know people tell us all the time there's got to be more than this than being a Christian it's just being good and we die but yes it is it walks through what Jesus paid for what we are entitled to as Christians and how to wage war against the enemy free indeed is eight weeks it's on Sundays so if you can come for a two-hour window every Sunday evening you will be paired with an awesome group that will probably become your friends eventually then it's culminated by a Saturday experience that where we wrap up everything that we've learned and it'll change your life free indeed is for anyone it would be anyone looking to learn the tools behind being a Christian behind warfare behind inner healing behind rich scripture that

explains what it's like what tools we have access to as a Christian what Jesus paid for what's up Life Fellowship and happy Sunday we are so glad you chose to be here today if you're new here text new to 510 10 and we'd love to connect with you and answer any questions you may have and help you discover all that is happening at Life Fellowship prepare for the message are we can we do that one more yeah let's do that again hi my name is Isabella and I love LF kids every weekend amazing leaders show up learn our names make us laugh and help us learn about Jesus and guess what we can use a few more awesome grown-ups on our team if you ever thought of serving we love to have you join our team you just might change a kid's life just like my leaders have changed mine one of the things I love most about Life Fellowship one of the things I love most about Life Fellowship is that students aren't just treated like we're the future of the church we're trusted to be a part of it right now I've seen students find real friendship ask honest questions discover their purpose and grow in their relationship with God honestly I've experienced those things myself there are people in this church who have invested their time energy and encouragement into my generation and I'm really grateful for that as we get today you're helping create more opportunities for kids and students to experience the same thing to know Jesus build community and step into who God created them to be thank you for responding as God leads you so giddy for all that God's gonna do today low-key same let's get ready for the message wait can I say I said I got it I got it church is gonna be fired today I'm so excited I made a face when you started church is gonna be fired today I'm so excited meet you Landry let's lock in and get ready for the message I mean I don't know what it's fire means but I think it's good and if it means the other the exits are to the back to the sides just don't run over any children on your way out okay It's gonna be an incredible, incredible day. If we have not had a chance to meet,

my name is Matt Ferguson, and I have the pleasure of serving as the next gen pastor here at Life Fellowship, which is really just a cool way to say that I get to work with the best team in the house and the best ministries in the house. We got our kids' ministries, our student ministries. Y'all better make some more noise than that. Kids, students, young adults. Man, it's an incredible, incredible calling. It's an incredible job, and I'm so grateful for Pastor Danny and for Grayson and kids and how they are developing a generation of disciples. And I love what's happening in our student ministry. I got to travel to Brazil this summer with them. We've been hanging out on Wednesday nights, and Pastor Eddie is just killing it in young adults. He is the coffee aficionado of the staff. He knows all the great coffee shops, and that's what he does. He goes and meets people and has coffee, and it's a great gig. It's a great job, and I'm so grateful for he and for the entire team. And so thanks for being here today on Next Gen Sunday. This is a special day for us where it's not just simply back to school, but we're actually gonna commission a generation. We're gonna commission a church

to partner alongside this coming generation because we believe that God is doing something great in them and through them, and we definitely wanna be a part of that. So whether you're joining online or you're in the room or maybe you're even joining us from the Texas Department of Corrections, I wanna say I'm so glad you're here today. God has something for you, and I hope that you lock in and you hear it from him today because it's gonna be a great day. As we get started, we're gonna be in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. We're gonna be in Deuteronomy chapter six. I promise it's not as dry as it sounds. It's actually got some great spiritual richness in there, so Deuteronomy chapter six. And while you guys are turning there in your Bibles or opening up your Bible apps, before we get started in the message, I thought it might be good for me to start with just a simple confession, okay? Now, I don't wanna ruin whatever illusion you have of me. Why was that funny? Okay, I see where we're at now. I don't wanna ruin whatever illusion you have of me, but back in the day when I was in school, I genuinely loved the first day of school. I was all about it. Stop.

I loved getting new school supplies. I loved showing up on the first day of school ready to take notes on the front row. Man, my teachers would give the rules. In my heart, I love a good set of rules. I just love a good set of rules unless they don't benefit me and then I don't like them. I had a brother a couple years younger than me and he would show up on the first day of school with no school supplies, and his goal was to break as many rules as he could before lunch. So he and I were somewhat different. But I loved the idea of the first day of school because everything was fresh and clean and it was a brand new start. And I could confidently go into school and think, this is my year. I'm gonna take that 2.4 and we're coming out of 4.2, baby. We're doing it. He turned water into wine. He can heal this too. He can heal this GPA. And maybe you can relate. Maybe you love the idea of a fresh start, a clean slate. One of the things that I think doesn't happen anymore, because I think most everybody gets all their school supplies on like Amazon or you do a pickup order. Like there's not really necessarily back to school shopping, correct?

Like we just do it all online and have it sent to us. Okay, but catch this. Back in the day, in the late 1900s, let that sink in for a second. When it was time to go back to school shopping, your parents brought out the horses and the covered wagons and you rode them into town to a place called Walmart. And Walmart had all the things. And you just got everything in a one-stop shop. You could get some acid wash jeans. You could get a cool, like Michael Jordan dupe T-shirt and get your school supplies. And everybody knows the most important school supply that you had to think the most about was your... What? Who said? Lunchbox, yes. Your lunchbox, yes. Because back in the day, they sold these plastic square lunchboxes that did not keep anything warm and nothing was leak-proof. Just throw the thermos that came with it away because it was trash. But the most important thing about your lunchbox was what was on the front. Because they would have like movies or celebrities or sports teams or like really cool designs. And so you had to like lock in at the first of school what you were gonna represent for the whole year

because you only got one lunchbox. And after that lunchbox was done, you were getting a Walmart bag. And that was it. So if you picked Power Rangers, you better be ready to represent the Power Rangers from August all the way to June, okay? Almost a whole year. And then some of us chose, like we went the sports route. like the Michael Jordan lunchbox that was a pretty safe bet back then and some of us chose the Dallas Cowboys lunchbox because you thought this is going to be their year and I'm here to tell you that we have no we have finding God we have freedom we have freedom groups here for you today it's going to be great because it this is going to be their year we're just going to keep saying it until it happens okay but I love the idea that everything was new and fresh and I was getting a fresh start and it's been just a little bit since I've been in school just a couple years and I can't tell you where any of those lunchboxes are I can't tell you where the folders landed definitely didn't do the homework definitely didn't pull that GPA up but I can tell you the names and faces of the people who showed up in my life at key points to encourage me to speak life over me teachers who looked at me and said you're better than this coaches who came alongside because that's right I used to play sports one time it was great coaches who said man you can do this small group leaders and pastors who said we see something in you and I love that because today we're looking at the next generation and our role in what what we are to do for them because pastor Dave's done a great job as we continue our series God for us Romans 8 31 we know this one if God is for us who can be against us but my question for the house today is this I just want to tweak it just a little bit if God is for us who are we going to be for so let's let's unpack this together let's jump into Deuteronomy 6 before we read scripture man let me just pray for us as we get ready to hear from God's word God take your word today God make make it come alive to us make make your word known to us God speak to us as we unpack these scriptures God as we study what you have have written down what you have taught us God help us to become the men and women you've called and created us to be and all God's people said

amen so here we are in Deuteronomy chapter 6 and before we get to Deuteronomy 6 let me set this story up for you a little bit this is the story of Moses you guys know Moses he was born in Egypt God called him up to raise up a people Moses met God at the burning bush he went back to Egypt pulled the entire Israelites out of slavery led them through the wilderness for decades and they are finally on the edge of the promised land they are about to enter the promised land and God through Moses Moses has instruct God has instructed Moses and Moses is going to pass those instructions along but here's something important to note here Moses already knows he's not going into the promised land with them he's preparing them to enter a land that they have prayed for for generations and this is what he tells them he says listen oh Israel the Lord is our God the Lord alone and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul all your strength and you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today repeat them again and again to your children talk about them when you're at home when you're on the road when you're going to bed and when you're getting up tie them to your hands and wear them on your foreheads as reminders write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates you see the first thing we need to notice here is that Moses has gathered the adults he hasn't gathered the kids yet and he's saying you have to love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind write it on your foreheads write it on your wrists write it on the doors because the first thing we have to do with God's word with our relationship with him is we have to possess it it's got to be something that we own I can't give you something I don't have you can call me and ask me all the car engine questions you want I am not going to have any answers for you it doesn't start have you googled it that's about as far as I can get you I don't possess any car knowledge we can't pass along something that we don't already have these commands that I give you today are to be on your hearts before Moses says anything about the Lord before Moses says anything about teaching kids he talked to the adults when he says hear it love him live it and then teach it church I can tell you this We can tell our kids all day long, read your Bible, say your prayers. Are you going to church this weekend? Did you worship?

Did you go to small group? And eventually, what's gonna happen? You know what they're gonna ask us? Did you? My kids could fill up a whole revival tent with stories about ways dad has missed the mark and the ways dad has had to pull over on the side of 75 and just apologize to everyone in the car because he got cut off and lost his mind for 10 seconds. I can't pass along something I don't possess. It's on me. It's on me to know the Lord, to love the Lord, to learn from Him. I can't ask my kids to do something they don't see me doing. The faith we want to see in the next generation has to be visible in our generation. God isn't telling the Israelites through Moses, He's not saying, you're gonna do all these things and then I'm gonna be for you. He's already for them. He's already proven that when He pulled them out of Egypt, when He parted the Red Sea, when He led them out of the wilderness. He's already proven that God's for us. So what are we gonna do with that? If God is for us, who are we gonna be for? The first step is to possess it. Second step is we gotta practice it. Then in verse seven, Moses moves into this

and he says, impress them on your children. Talk about them when you are at home, when you walk along the road and when you get up. My translation says it this, and I love the way this is worded. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you're at home, when you're on the road, when you're going to bed, when you're getting up. That's so ordinary. That's everyday life. And I don't mean to offend, I don't mean to ruffle feathers, but scripture doesn't say once a week, gather in a dimly lit room, get incredible worship, turn on the smoke machine and become a disciple. I love all of those things. We have to worship together. We are called to fellowship together. But if I'm trying to do that once a week and make it through the other six, it's not gonna work. I've got to practice it. I've got to read my word. I've got to guard what I listen to and watch. I've got to model for my kids what I want to see them do. We're in a really scary season at our house right now. My daughter is 15, and the nanosecond she turned 15, she came into the kitchen one day,

we were eating dinner, and she presented her mother and I with a folder. And any time a kid has a folder, it's scary, because either they failed something and you've got to sign something, or there's some sort of like procedure document that's about to happen. And she lays the folder down and she goes, mom, dad, I have something I want to tell you. And I put on my best poker face and I said, okay, sweetheart, you can tell me anything. And on the inside, I was like, please help me, Jesus. She goes, I'm 15. And in the state of Texas, when you're 15, and in the state of Texas, when you're 15, you're allowed to get a driver's permit. I've already signed myself up for an online course. I've paid the fees. I've actually begun logging some of the modules and I'm ready to begin to learn driving. And I went, well, that's great for you, but that ain't happening here. But she's insistent, so she's asking questions. And what do these lines mean? And what does that number mean? And what's a blinker? So we taught her those things. And okay, fine, you can make a lap around the Life Fellowship parking lot, okay. But guess what?

She's actually pretty good. She's a pretty good driver. And then a couple of weeks ago, my wife did an insane thing. We were loading up the car to go somewhere and she tossed her the keys and said, okay, babe, you drive. And I went, no, thank you. Luke and I got in the back seat and held hands and had a prayer meeting. But we made it. We went down 75 on a Saturday. We changed lanes. It was glorious. And I was not hungry when we got to dinner. I can't just tell her. I can't just show her. I have to let her practice it too. We can't just say, read your Bible, memorize some verses. I gotta tell my kids, here's what the Lord's done for me. Here's why I love Matthew 28. Look at this note in my Bible. I've got all kinds of Bibles and I've got notes in them for each of my kids. Hey, here's when the Lord taught me this. Here's when the Lord showed me this. I've got things tucked in there for them so that one day when I give them those. Bibles, they're going to have that to grow with folks.

We have to practice what we preach. We can't just sit here and go through the motions. We've got to participate. We've got to practice it. How many of you have heard the term Gen Alpha? About four more people than the last service. Fantastic. How many of you heard Gen Z? We know Gen Z, right? Gen Z gets all the headlines. They are 20 to 30 somethings. Gen Z has been around for a while, but Gen Alpha is coming on its heels pretty quickly. And let me just tell you something. You think Gen Z is wild? Gen Alpha about to be in the house. Gen Alpha, you're born 2010 to about 2024. They are an incredibly astute generation of kids. They have grown up with things that simply did not exist when you and I were kids. Social media, cell phones. They carry personal computers in their pockets with a gateway of information. It used to be the parent's job was to protect kids from the information. Now, we're just helping them process the information because there's so much we can't keep up. The Fuller Institute is a really respected Institute in the Southeast that just did this big study on Gen Alpha. They surveyed 3,000 teenage Gen Alphas.

So those 13 to 15, 16 in there, and they asked them a series of questions related to their spiritual life, their emotional health, and their mental health. And it was really, really interesting. One of the things that stuck out was that, you know, Gen Alpha born between 2010 and 2024. 3,000 teenagers were surveyed. And when they asked them who most influenced their spiritual beliefs, and I had to go back and check this because it didn't sound right to me. When asked about who influenced their spiritual beliefs the most, parents and caregivers were number one at 65%. Well, I thought, surely that's not right. No kids are saying that. And I go back and there were two more studies that backed it up. They're not saying, leave us alone. They're saying, come walk with us. Now, I'm going to burst your bubble just for a second, kids. Some of you are doing a really, really good job of making your parents think that you don't want them. I get the attitudes and the huffs and the puffs and the eye rolls. I get all that. Parents don't buy it for a second. It is just a phase because deep inside, they still want you. They need guidance. They need help. Of those surveyed, 40% said. An elder, a counselor, a parent, a spiritual advisor, somebody

they could confide in would help them grow in their faith. So I refuse. I refuse to buy into this narrative that this next generation doesn't know anything or is worthless. I get it. They don't know how to do right cursive. They don't know how to do long division. I get it. I can't attach a PDF to an email. We're even. These kids are dealing with more at ages. Way earlier than we ever dealt with anything. That's not a generation to look down on or to push to the side. That's the generation. We should go after and say, let us walk with you. Let's help you. They're a resilient generation. They don't need perfect adults. They need present adults. I'm just going to tell you this summer. I went to Brazil with the students. We've had students at our house all summer. I've been here on Wednesday nights. There's been a lot of change this summer. And in all of that, you know what the number one question I get from kids? Well, who's going to lead us now? Now, what's going to happen? What about this? What about that?

And you know what my answer has been every time because it's going to be the same answer for us as it is for Life Fellowship. As long as I have the mic and as long as I'm here. We are going to walk with you. Not just Pastor Matt. Not just the Next Gen team. Not just the staff team, but we're going to raise up an army of adults who are willing to invest in them and walk alongside them because here's the thing. If we don't somebody else definitely will. And they're too precious and they're too good of a kids to get lost to the junk of the world. So for this house, we're always going to be about the next generation because we're going to possess it. We're going to practice it. And finally, we're going to pass it. to them. Deuteronomy 6.12 excuse me 6.10 the Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham Isaac and Jacob it is a land with large prosperous cities that you did not build the houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce you will draw water from cisterns and wells that you did not dig and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant and when you have eaten your fill in this land listen to this be careful not to forget the Lord who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt and I think it's super relevant for us in this room today because we're living in spiritual houses that we didn't build God gave the vision for life fellowship to somebody else who birthed it he gave vision to to people who gave and buildings were built we enjoyed a worship set today that we didn't plan we drank coffee that we didn't make our kids are being ministered to and discipled with curriculum that we didn't put together or volunteer for and that's not a hit that's just me telling you we come from a long rich spiritual ancestry and God's word reminds us it's okay to enjoy those things but don't forget what the Lord did don't forget who God is

I can I could name them right now people who spoke life over me even when I didn't understand my first question for you today is is this who spoke life over you who was that person let their face come to your mind who said I'm gonna help you I'm gonna walk with you I'm gonna walk with you might have been a parent a relative a grandparent a teacher coach pastor a leader somebody prayed for you somebody showed up you can picture them because that person said yes at some point they answered a call they felt the leading of the Lord and they said yes there are a bunch of kiddos in here today that I love little Gigi one day is going to grow up and she's going to be the capital boss lady of the world and she's going to get up on this stage and she's going to tell her story a lot of these kids will they're going to become teachers and doctors and lawyers husbands and wives and parents and one day they're going to share their testimony and somebody's name is going to be mentioned somebody's face is going to come to their mind is it going to be yours or are we just going to enjoy what somebody else built and continue on with our day this passage in Deuteronomy echoes a very famous passage in Matthew 28 at the end of the life of Jesus he has been crucified he has died he has risen again and he's gathered his disciples one last time and he gives them some incredibly important instructions that we call the great commission says this in 18 Matthew 28 18 I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit now listen teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you and be sure this I am with you always even to the end of the age Moses tells the Israelites in chapter 6 teach your children Jesus teach the nations teach the new disciples you got to pass it on because what God did for us was never meant to just end with us it was meant to be for them for the next person and I love the beauty of scripture I love that by the end of Deuteronomy Moses has died

and Joshua has stepped in to his role as leader and the Lord tells Joshua in chapter 1 verse 9 have I not commanded you be strong and courageous do not be afraid do not be discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go I want to tell you something church there's coming a day where we won't be able to enter every classroom every life scenario that our kids are gonna face our job isn't just to protect them because there are things they should be protected from from but we need to prepare them for the road ahead and God says don't be afraid don't be discouraged so I'll talk to the kids just for a second where's my elementary kiddos at you know give me a whoop whoop love it they're awake they're ready hey can I tell y'all hey this school year that's started or getting ready to start God's placed you with that teacher in that classroom at that school for a reason do not be afraid do not be discouraged you're gonna face some really hard things this year do not be afraid do not be discouraged hey teachers he put that kid in your class not to give you gray hair but because he has something for that kid through you hey high schoolers golly where do we even start there's so much to carry God sees you God's with you he cares deeply about you he has not left you abandoned you or forsaken you college kids live in life doing your thing figuring it all out what am I gonna be when I grow up God is with you God is for you do not be discouraged hey maybe you're watching online today in fact maybe you're one of the men and women joining us from the Department of Corrections and I want you to know something too God is for you he's with you do not be afraid do not be discouraged there's somebody he wants to reach through you right where you're at today lean in ask him to give you eyes chase him with everything that you have so what's your yes today for some of you it's I need to do better discipling the people in my house we need to create some spiritual habits in our house some of you may be I need to be a better steward of our resources I need to give more I need to look for ways to bless others I'm not gonna dance around it some of us need to grab an oar and help row this boat not because we're trying to fill a volunteer position or a job but because there

are kids in here who need to know that somebody else is for them they need somebody other than mom and dad to go I see you and you're worth it there are college kids trying to figure out how do I budget how do I how do I propose how do I plan for a ring those are real questions our way is ask her ask us and there are businessmen who are incredibly successful in our church who could help with some of that well let me show you how I did it when I was your age I get to brag on her cuz she's here but my wife led 10th 11th 12th grade girls for the last couple years and students and I'm not gonna look at it cuz I'll cry but uh can I just tell you this cuz we know we're not cool we are the most uncool people you will ever meet she's a teacher I'm a pastor we're poor and uncool okay but those girls clamored to be with her simply because somebody picked up the phone and said I'm going to get iced coffee you want to go hey will you come show me that new coffee shop you were telling me about they are desperate for somebody I'm telling you church it's gonna be us we're gonna answer that call so in just a minute I'm gonna in fact let's do it now I'm gonna ask you to bow your head and close your eyes there may be somebody in this room today who has felt the piercing of the holy spirit on their heart because they know they have never possessed the gift of salvation through christ jesus if that's you i want to ask if you i want to ask you to do something really bold really courageous do not be afraid do not be discouraged would you just slip your hand up so that i can pray for you if that's you today and you're ready to accept christ thank you thank you i see you you can put your hands down i want to ask you to do something really bold i want the entire church to repeat this prayer let's repeat this together and if you've never prayed this prayer before pray it out loud god thank you for your son jesus god i confess that i'm a sinner who's fallen so short god i believe that jesus died for my sins and rose again god i'm inviting you to live in my life to be the center of my heart to be the center of my soul god thank you for loving me and saving me there's a second group of people in here i want to pray for today there are people in here today who've been sitting on the fence for a while they're trying to decide what's our family going to be about what's my business going to be about and the lord is asking you to trust him and to lean into a moment

so if that's you today and you feel like maybe the lord is asking you to do something i'm not saying you're you're necessarily raising your hand to serve but you feel like the lord is asking you to take a step it doesn't have to be the same specific steps i mentioned today but if you feel like the lord's asking you to take a step would you raise your hand just really quickly so i can pray for you yeah that's good y'all can put your hands down good it's good god thank you thank you for these men and women god thank you for how you're moving in lives god how you are transforming us god for those today that feel the presence of your spirit asking them to take a step god would you give them a sense of boldness and courageousness god whatever this step is god would you make it abundantly clear and then god would you give them the courage to lean in and follow through god we thank you for how you've moved today we ask blessings for these kids these students or in adults as they begin school god for our teachers and administrators god would you begin a revival in each of us that transforms this world and it's because of jesus that we pray this amen now we're going to end a little bit differently today um we've got some stations in the lobby i'm just going to explain those very quickly here in a moment but a couple of things if you prayed that prayer today for the first time you accepted christ for the first time today i want you to text the word jesus to 5 10 10 our myself and a couple of pastors will be down front after this we'd love to pray with you we'd have some bibles some resources for you we'd love to put some things in your hands to help you secondly if you're a teacher an administrator here today we want to pray for our teachers and administrators so again myself and a couple of pastors will be down front we would love to pray for you as well but for the majority of us i'm going to ask you to do something really really bold and courageous we have some stations out of the lobby there are stations where you can write a prayer for your school if you're a school age kid or have kids in school there's a station where you can pick up a card to encourage your teacher this year bonus points if you put a starbucks card on it your teacher will probably bump up your gpa just a little bit that's a win we've got a station with the cross where you can write names of friends that you want to see come to know the lord this year we're going to pray as a staff over those names and then finally the most special one to me is what we're calling our prayer station our blessing station we want to pray over and bless each and every individual kid student young adult family that's with us today so i'm going to ask our prayer team and our staff that's ready if you guys will make your way out there to the station i'm going to release

them here in just a second but it's we personally by name want to pray over each of you we got a little fun bag tag you can put on your backpack man we want you to know that life fellowship church is with you and for you church we're going to be with them and for them and we're going to stand in the gap with them amen amen let me ask you to stand to your feet i want to pray one last blessing over us as we go may the lord bless you and keep you may the lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you and give you peace. God we pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. You guys be blessed and we'll see you next week.