Together - Saddleback Weekend Service

Yeah, I'm clean and still worse ain't on me. And shame was running deep, but love was built on cattery. Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. God, how can it be? I'm ransomed and redeemed, sending in your victory. Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood. I'm as good as you. Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood, all because of you. Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. It's not what I have done, but what you've done for me paid it all upon that tree. Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. The love, how it's over, got the love. And your mercy is supreme. I'm dancing in your victory. Oh, O'Reilly, come on, I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood. I'm as good as you. Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood, all because of you. Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood. I'm as good as you. Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood, all because of you.

Oh, O'Reilly, they're out of need. But you took away my shame, and you nailed it to the cross. You got me running out of pain. Hallelujah, this is our salvation, come on. Because you took away my shame, and you nailed it to the cross. Then we're running across the grave. You got me running out of pain. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Because you took it away. You got me took away my shame, and you nailed it to the cross. You got me running out of pain. Hallelujah, you nailed it to the cross. Because you took away my shame, and you nailed it to the cross. Hallelujah, this is our salvation. Yes, we're free, we're free. Hallelujah, here I come. Hallelujah, here we come. We're free, we're free, and we raise to the wall. We're free, we're free, we're free. We're free, we're free. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Come on, we sing. I've been washed. I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood. I'm not scared of it as me. Oh, Hallelujah, I've been washed in the water, washed in the blood. Because I'm oh, Hallelujah. Amen. What a joy it is to be here to worship together. In Psalms chapter 16, we read that in the presence of the Lord

is the fullness of joy. Let us worship in joy for us together. I know who I am, because I know who you are. The cross of salvation was only to stop. We believe these words. And now I am chosen, I'm free and forgiven. And now I have a future, and it's worth a living. We declare it together. Because I wasn't made to be attending a grave. I was called by them, born and raised back to life again. I was made for more. So how would I make a bed in my shape when a fountain of grace was running my way? I know I am yours. I was made for more. Do we believe that tonight? I think I know who I am. The cause of salvation Was only the start Now I am chosen I'm free and forgiven And I have a future And it's worth living See, I was amazed to be 10 deep and brave I was called by Born and raised back to life again I was made from hope So why would I make The pain in my shame When a fountain of grace

Is running my way I know I am yours If I was made from hope To come in the mirror Hey, you You called out my name I'll sing out your place Hallelujah You buried my past I'm not going back Hallelujah You called out my name So I'll sing out your place Hallelujah You buried my past I'm not going back See, I was amazed to be 10 deep and brave I was called by Born and raised back to life again Yeah, I was made from hope So why would I make The bed in my shame When a fountain of grace Was running my way I know I am yours I was made from hope See, I was amazed to be 10 deep and brave I was called by

Born and raised back to life again I was made from hope So why would I make The bed in my shame When a fountain of grace Is running my way I know I am yours I was made from hope To come in the mirror You called out my name I'll sing out your place Hallelujah You called out my name I'll sing out your place Hallelujah You buried my past I'm not going back Hallelujah You called out my name 'til I'll sing out your place Hallelujah You buried my past I'm not going back I was made 10 deep and brave I was called by Born and raised back to life again We believe I was made from hope So why would I make

The bed in my shame When a fountain of grace Is running my way I know I am yours I was made from hope I was made from hope I was made from hope To come in the mirror I was made from hope To come in the mirror I was made from hope I'm proud Who knew you'd make good of my mistakes? You're nothing like I thought you were you a better What a God, what a God Come on, lift your voices What a God, what a God This is a worship What a God, what a God Who do you are What a God, what a God Let's lift our hearts tonight I find you show a perfection 'Cause one kind of God looks for the lost And they say it's over for the center All will you say No, it's not, no, it's not 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 Come on, lift your voice What a God, what a God What a God, what a God Yeah You're always kind You're always faithful Oh, thank you all If the highest place I reach is IOP 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 the highest If the highest place I reach is IOP 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 the highest If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If I feel your heart and never see your hand I still have it all No treasure, love is mine Forever satisfied God You are my everything the highest

If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all

If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If one word is the only thing you see Then I've heard it all If I feel your heart and never see your head I swear I know No treasure of this life You'll never sign it's fine But you are my end You are my end You are my end You are my end

What a God that we have A God that is not far off and distant But a God that is close and personal and personal. I'm so grateful that we have a God that cares about every burden that knows us by name. And when we gather together each week to worship, we get to be reminded of God's loving character and how He is with us through all things. We'll welcome the saddle back. I'm so grateful you're joining us today and if we haven't had the chance to meet yet, my name is Carissa and I get the opportunity to serve our online community. That's all of you that are joining us online and watching from around the world. And hey, if you're watching on YouTube right now, we want to invite you to leave a comment. Let us know where you're watching from and then maybe even reply to somebody else. We love getting to connect with our online members through our online services. And also, if you are watching on YouTube, you can head to the link in the description to access our digital program or even better. You can open our saddleback app to access our digital program as well. And if it's your first time joining us for church, we would love for you to fill out a new here form so that someone from our team can personally reach out to you and help you get connected. We know that checking out a church for the very first time can feel intimidating or you might not even know where to start and how to get plugged in. If you fill out that new here form, we would love to reach out to you to help you and do that. And also, another thing that you can do through the saddleback app is sign up and register for activate. Activate is a one hour experience that we have to share more about what our church is and what we believe, what it looks like to belong right here at saddleback. And it happens on zoom. And so next Sunday, we have a zoom class that we would love to get to know you, talk to you face to face, share more about what it looks like to belong at saddleback. And so you can register for that through the saddleback app. And another thing going on in our church this weekend is our saddleback women's gathering. Just a couple of weekends ago, we had our men's gathering and it was so awesome. But women, it is our turn to gather together to worship, to pray and to hear a super special message from Pastor Stacey. And so if you're watching, we want to invite you to join us on Sunday, this Sunday, August 30th for that event. If you're near our Lake Forest campus, it's a great opportunity to join us in person. Or if you're not able to come in person, you can join us online by going to saddleback.com/online. And we would love to worship with you there.

Well, something else that we got going on very soon is our fall small groups kickoff happening on September 12th. And so to hear a little bit more about small groups, let's check out this message from Pastor Colton. Hey, Saddleback. School is back in session. Fall is almost here. And our next semester of small groups, it begins in just two weeks. I've grown up at this church and I've seen how small groups has been a big part of my life since I was in Saddleback Kids. Now, my wife and I, we lead a group for married couples and I've seen firsthand how God uses the right people around us year after year to help us grow spiritually. When I started leading, I definitely did not have it all figured out. But our team was here and helped answer my questions. They gave me resources and connected me with people that I could turn to for support. And today, more than 7,100 people are connected through over 1,300 small groups. Nine out of 10 people have said that their group contributed significantly to their spiritual growth. And three out of four have already begun praying more consistently after joining a group. Now, your ties and your offerings help train leaders and create tools and resources to help people start or find the right group. If you regularly give, thank you. You are helping make this kind of spiritual growth and community possible for families that are just like mine. Now, as we approach the fall semester, there are also opportunities to start a group. A group can be built around anything that you already enjoy. Hiking, basketball, coffee, or just really anything else. And if you're interested, we would love to help you get ready to lead a group. Leading a group has been incredibly rewarding for me. And I know that it can be for you too. You can find an upcoming leader training at your campus through the Saddleback app. Now recently, we sent a crew to stop by one of our Saddleback small groups. Let's check this out. Hey guys, we're back here. Who is excited about fall small groups? So exciting. Who's bringing a new friend this season? I know. I've been in this life group for the past two years and it's been a place where I've come to know two of my greatest mentors. My life group leaders have been there for me through everything to help support me through any struggles or any issues that I've had. They've brought me close to the Lord as well as my whole group. They've spent their nights, their mornings, their weekends, their weekdays just really help

- Hey, I'm up here. We started around Jesus' Bible and barbecue, but we're more than just about me. We like to hang out, connect, fellowship, and pray. - I've been going to Saddleback here for a few years now, and this is really my first time participating in this men's small group. Really enjoy the common ronody and hanging out with a bunch of guys, breaking bread and really just doing life together. (upbeat music) - At our young adults' small group, we value serving so much. We try to do at least once a month's service events so that our hearts are always postured towards Jesus' which is, you know, to go out, make disciples of all nations and just go out and love local, love our community. - Thanks for joining us for Small Group this week. It was so awesome having you. And hey, don't forget this fall, sign up for a small group. We would love to have you. (audience applauding) - Well, hey, everybody, welcome to Saddleback. We are so glad you are with us today. It's a great day to be at church. I especially want to welcome those of you who are watching online or those of you joining us at any of our campuses and a special welcome

to our brand new campus in the men's prison in Duval, Philippines. Let's give a warm welcome. (audience applauding) - I want to say to you guys for just a second. It's tempting to think that you're just watching church in prison. That's not the case. You are a church in prison. And we are so, so thankful that you're a part of our church family. Well, welcome everybody. Really glad you're here. I want to start our time together by showing you a picture. And I think, in a minute, when I put the picture on the screen, your first thought is it means that is the cutest picture I've ever seen. That is the cutest picture. And as I tell a story, your emotions might shift from cute to, oh, that's a very sad picture. In fact, if you have a heart, you're gonna shift from cute to sad as I tell a story. Well, here's the world's cutest picture. There it is right there. How many of you and all of our campuses raise your hand if as soon as I put that picture on the screen, you know what this story is. How many of you?

So many of you, I had no idea. I had no clue until I was preparing for this message about this story. And this week, I learned about Punch the Monkey. I'll take a long, sad story and make it short, Punch the Monkey was born in a zoo in Japan, for some reason, right away, Punch's mom neglected Punch. And not only did Punch's mom neglect Punch and abandon Punch, but so did all the other monkeys. And so the zoo workers very quickly realized that this cute little monkey has nobody, has no friends, has no mom that's nurturing. And so they thought, well, I wonder if maybe we buy Punch a friend if that might solve the problem. And so that picture that you saw is Punch hugging this stuffed animal that the zookeepers bought for him because he had no relationships. And all over the internet, there's picture after picture after picture, simultaneously, incredibly cute and so sad of Punch hanging out with this inanimate little friend. Not only did I recently hear about Punch the Monkey, but this week, I also heard about a woman who moved from the country to a big city. And because she was brand new in this city, she had no friends, she had no connections, but she did somehow manage to befriend a penguin.

And so she's walking through the big city with a penguin and a police officer sees this. And the police officer very quickly says, ma'am, you have to take that penguin to the zoo. And so she says, okay, I will. And she does. And just a few hours later, later on in the afternoon, she's walking through the city with the penguin. And the officer happens to see her again and says, ma'am, I thought I told you to take the penguin to the zoo. And she said, well, I did. And we had so much fun. We're gonna go see a movie now. (laughing) Now, here's the thing. When we think about relationships, Punch the Monkey. Wonderful, wonderful, but he's not meant to be in a relationship with a stuffed monkey. Even animals are meant to be in relationship with each other. As awesome as animals are. I've heard this. I've heard some of you call your dog your son. This is my daughter, Bella, whatever your dog's name is. Those of you who are cat people, cat people. You love your cat. You have a friendship with your cat. This lady had a friendship with her penguin. But we're created uniquely to be in relationships not just with man's best friend,

but we're created uniquely to be in relationship with each other. We're designed to be connected to one another. It's the way God wired us. In fact, when you go to the book of Genesis, the very first book in the Bible, and as you read the creation story, some of you are familiar with this, as God is creating the heavens and the earth and the sun and the stars and the land after everything he creates every time. He creates something. He looks at it and he says, this is good. He creates something. He looks at it and he says, this is good. He creates something, this is good. He creates Adam and then he looks over everything he's created and he says, this is very good. And then he gives Adam a job. And this might be where mankind's love for animals kind of originates because Adam's first job is to start naming the animals. And so Adam has a very important task. Adam has a relationship with God. God's given him this task. And at some point there, scripture says this in the book of Genesis. Let's look at this together. It says this, the Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone.

Everything else was good. Collectively it was very good, except for the fact that God said, you know what? It's not good for man to be alone. And when you think about it, it's kind of interesting because Adam wasn't really alone. He had a friendship. He had a connection, a relationship with God. And those of you who have gone to church for a while, those of you who are already followers of Jesus, you have said it, people have said it to you. Hey, you know, you can be all alone, but as long as you've got God, you're never really alone. As long as you've got God, you're never really alone. And that is true. And yet God himself, God the Father, when he saw Adam, all Adam had was the relationship with God and God himself said, this isn't good. I want more for my creation. And it's not just this random good idea. The reason God created you and I to be in relationships is because you and I, the Bible says, we're created in the image of God. He formed us in his likeness, in his image. And God is a triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God exists in relationship. And for the last several weeks, as we've been working our way through the Live Sense series, you've heard us talk over and over and over and over again

about small groups. Just today, church news talked about small groups. Your campus host, your campus pastor, has talked about small groups. We've been talking about small groups in our messages, in our announcements for weeks. And it's possible, if you're honest, that you might be going, okay, I get it. But what's the deal? Like why all the hype about small groups? I've heard about it, but why are small groups such a big, like what's the big deal with small groups? I already go to church, and now you want me to also join a small group. What's the deal with small groups? Well, today, we're gonna take a quick look at three reasons small groups are a big deal. Three reasons small groups are a big deal. And I'm gonna start by just admitting something. I'm gonna admit something at the start of our time together, and that's this. I don't naturally, I don't naturally desire to be in a small group. I don't. I'm a raging extrovert, and this is my scene right here. Like I love this. I love having lots and lots and lots of super short, super shallow relationships. I just wanna kinda go to like, hey, how you doing?

How's it going? How's your week been? I don't really care, quit talking, how are you doing? Like this is my scene right here. Like I can just kinda flow through life. And the idea of being in a closer relationship with a smaller group of people, it just doesn't naturally connect with me. Even though I don't naturally want it Wow, do I need it? Man, do I need? Being in a small group my wife and I are in a couple small group and it's one of the best things that's ever happened to us It's it's good for our marriage. It's good for our friendships It's good. It's good for so many reasons and it makes sense when you start thinking about well God is a relational God and he created me in his image to be in relationships Like God created us to need and want and benefit from stuff way deeper than just how you doing? How's it going? Hey, hi. Hi, that's not what life is meant to be And so tonight we're gonna take a quick look at three reasons why small groups are a big deal Let's jump into it together. Here's here's one big reason is simply this in a small group I'm seen in a small group I'm seen now I need to pause and address a group of us. I'm in this group that We feel very unseen. It's a whole generation of people that feel unseen in fact Gen X is called the forgotten generation How's that the forgotten generation and when you watch news and they have sociologists and they're studying culture They'll talk about boomers. They'll talk about millennials They'll talk about Gen Z gen alpha and they never talk about Gen X

nobody sees us if Your age kind of 45 to early 60s you're in Gen X raise your hand at all our campuses if you're Gen X Raise look at how many of it. Look at us. I See you. I see you. I have not forgotten you now I was thinking why they forget about us. Here's my only conclusion The media and sociologists forget about Gen X for only one reason We're just too busy being awesome To get all caught up in the news, right? I mean it was just Like they talk about boomers. They're selfish. They talked about millennials. They're lazy. What can we say about Gen Z? What can we say about Gen X? I don't know they're awesome. I get like they don't We don't make the headlines. We're just too busy running the world to make the headlines now There is one water company. You'll be happy to hear this Gen Xers There is a water company that is marketing Gen X's. They see us they came out with a new line of water Just for Gen X check it out. It's right here There it is Water hose. Oh, yeah, you love the water hose tastes so good Little a little a little hint of rubber Full of iron right ah Perfectly lukewarm. It's wonderful now In a small group You're seen you're noticed and that's a good thing in a big church like ours It's really easy to wonder like the people know I'm here. Will anybody notice this? I'm not here. Yes We love it. You're here. We notice when you're not here, but in a small group You're you're really seen and you're known and you're noticed. We want you to come to church every single weekend and If you were to miss a Sunday at Saddleback Hopefully somebody would notice and and and we would reach out the reality though is if you miss a small group You're gonna get a phone call

You're wanted and seen and noticed in a small group, and that's an important thing in fact It says this in in scripture We are many parts of one body and we all belong to each other First Corinthians says this all the members care for each other if one part suffers all the parts suffer with it And if one part is honored all the parts are glad scripture takes all kinds of analogies when talking about us about the church scripture calls us his bride scripture calls us a family scripture calls us a body and It's a wonderful analogy because every part of the body is needed and every part of the body needs The the body and that's what's so amazing about a small group is in a small group You you're in a closer more meaningful relationship with the other members of the body It's so tempting especially if you're wired like I am it's so tempting to say look But doing life solo if you carry the analogy of the body out, it would really be like a thumb saying look I'm good like this just Somehow detach me from the rest of the body. I'll just do my thumb thing on My own makes no sense and it'd be like the body saying we hey thumb. We don't need you no We're meant to be connected to be together now because I'm an extrovert One of the reasons I don't naturally Want to be in a small group like I said is because things can get kind of deep kind of quick People start asking questions people actually care in a small group when they say how's your week been they actually kind of want to take the time to hear how how your weeks been and As an extrovert, I don't love this and part of the reason being a small group makes me nervous is I'm weird I'm a weird guy You don't know that because we just do this to each other After after church today, I'm gonna stand at the doors. I'm just gonna hi. Thanks for coming. Thanks for coming Nothing weird about that but in a small group like People start to notice the weird stuff about about Kurt Here's the thing I'm weird

Small groups are weird Which is why there's room for you in a small group because because you're weird We're all weird like small groups are just where weird gets together And it's the way God designed it Here's one of the weirdest things about me is even though an extrovert there comes a moment where the switch switches Some of you might relate to this I could be at a party. I could be at a funeral I could be hanging out after church and there comes a moment where on the life of the party I'm enjoying it and then the switch switches. I can't wait it, but it's just it's time to go And I'll say it to my wife the switch is switched and it's not like hey Over the next 30 minutes. Let's work our way to the car. It's hey the switch switched I'm out and I just I just kind of leave I Don't really know how to explain it but you know when you see it in fact, I saw this video and this is a Snapshot of what my life looks like when the switch switches The second I falsie from this plane as fast hit the guys I have to leave immediately I've hit a wall. I have nothing left. So I'm gonna go down There's nothing left for me. I've told every story and I've laughed at everything You guys are my best friends, but I have to go home You don't have to say anything. You can just hang out. It's not up to me. I can't just sit here I have nothing left. I wish it were different, but there's nothing I can do I'm gonna go home now. Who is it great hanging out? It was great hanging out. Did I say something? You didn't say anything. You're not moderating No, I'm not bad This has been one of my favorite nights in years, and now I'm gonna go I drove you here Am I alone or raise your hand at your camp? Am I the only? Oh, thank you. See I feel so seen I feel so seen It is so tempting To get so consumed

With our weirdness our secrets if people knew the real me it's so tempting to let that stuff keep us from getting in deep relationships and Satan has a lot of tricks We don't we don't talk about Satan all the time in church We love to talk about how much God loves us, and he does we love to talk about the plan God has for our lives And he does but the reality is that there is there's an enemy that hates us and The enemy would first of all love for us not to have a relationship with God And if he loses that battle, you know what his next trick is Just isolate him Like let him not have any meaningful relationships Just let him try to figure it out on their own because if they're living life on their own long enough, I'll get at him Let's let's not give that opportunity to the one who hates us God created us to be in relationships. He created us to be in tight But one of the best ways for that to happen is to jump into a small group where I can be seen That's why small groups are such a big deal another reason small groups are a big deal is simply this in a small group I'm strengthened in a small group. I'm strengthened We're gonna put a passage of scripture. It's a really Famous and powerful passage of scripture. It's a little bit longer. I'm gonna ask us to read it out loud together Let's read Ecclesiastes 4 9 through 12 together. It says this Two people are better than one for they can help each other succeed If one person falls the other can reach out and help But someone who falls alone is in real trouble Likewise two people lying close together can keep each other warm But how can one be warm alone a person standing alone can be attacked and defeated But two can stand back to back and conquer Three are even better for a triple braided cord is not easily broken. I Mentioned earlier that the enemy Satan hates us in fact There's a passage in scripture and this is my paraphrase But there's a passage in scripture that says this that Satan roams around like a lion Looking for who he can devour

Satan roams like a lot. He's on the prowl And he's looking for prey and if you understand Nature and how that works in the in the real world is when there's a lion in the wild looking for food Who does that lion target? The one who's alone They're there there's safety and in numbers and that's what this passage is Explaining to us. I want to show it to us in a real simple way. I need a volunteer real quick a volunteer Yeah, okay, right there. You're in the front come on up come on up. I'm gonna join me up here Yeah, give it up ladies and gentlemen And what's your name? Bobby Bobby, okay, not that you care because you're an extrovert He said not that I care because I'm an extrovert now. I do care about Bobby. What do you do for a living? I'm retired retired from what I was in law enforcement law enforcement. Yes, okay I might pick the wrong guy. Yeah, give it up for a law enforcement. All right, all right here I'm just gonna give you this dowel. I just want you to just I just want you to snap it Yeah, just snap it Okay, okay. That was pretty easy. Hold on stay there. Stay there Mike. Hold on. Hold on Bobby Yeah, you just throw those on the ground. You can take it home for yeah. Yeah, okay. I'm gonna give you three Three. Yeah, I I've got some safety goggles here No, they're there for me. I don't care about No, I'm just joking. You go ahead. You go ahead. All right Bobby just grab those things and and and give them your best shot Not that way well, I mean do it do it good Way harder wait tougher way tougher You cannot have the glasses you cannot have the glasses. Hey give it up for Bobby ladies and gentlemen a Triple braided cord is not easily broken There's strength in numbers There's safety in numbers Does the enemy still target you when you're in a small group? Yeah Does life still get tough on your small group sure a

Triple braided cord is not easily broken going through life solo You're way more vulnerable connected in relationships stronger You're seeing in a small group and you're strengthened in a small group There's another verse in Proverbs. It says it this way. It's just sort of another way of saying the same thing It says this in Proverbs 27 17 as iron sharpens iron So a friend sharpens a friend is iron sharpens iron. So a friend sharpens a friend Now, I I love the idea of being stronger Especially I like physically. I love the idea physically of getting stronger where I don't like is the pain involved in getting stronger When it comes to getting stronger there there is some pain involved and the pain is really kind of what sharpens us Relationally you see when all I do is live life on the surface You don't call me out of my stuff You don't follow up when I if I were to share a prayer request, you're not following up and saying hey you mentioned this Have you done what you were praying about doing? In a small group, you see, my small group, they see me and they know I'm weird and they love me anyway and they love me enough to sharpen me and to say, Kurt, this is something to think about. Hey Kurt, I wonder if you've ever noticed this about how you relate to us, how you treat people. Hey Kurt, you said this to Rachel last week and it felt kind of weird. Is everything okay? Like that is the sharpening. We hold each other accountable. We challenge each other. If you were to study the old ways of knife sharpening and iron sharpening iron, it was, it's hard and there's sparks, there's like tension in the relationship between the iron but sharpening is happening. And in a small group, there's going to be some tension, there's going to be some tough times,

but the benefit of that, yeah, it's great to avoid it. It's great to avoid it, but without it, I don't get stronger, I don't get sharper. I need to be seen. I need to be strengthened, I need to, I need to be sharper. Small groups are not the only place for that to happen, but they really, really are the best. They really are the best place for that to happen. Now, small groups are a big deal for all kinds of reasons. Small groups are a big deal because I'm seen. Small groups are a big deal because I'm strengthened, but that's not the only reason small groups are a big deal. Those are sort of what's in it for us. That's the what's in it for me, a sales person might say, those are the benefits. Sell the benefits. Well, the benefits are your senior. There is a bigger, more important benefit or reason to join a small group. You see, being seen and being strengthened and sharpened, all of that is in preparation to be sent. We're seen and sharpened together in preparation to be sent to make a difference in the world. There's a powerful moment, there's a powerful scene in the gospel of John towards the very end of the gospel of John as Jesus is wrapping up his ministry. In fact, it takes place during the last supper, up in the upper room. And Jesus knows he's going to go to the garden and pray, Jesus knows he's going to get betrayed and arrested and crucified. And he's in the upper room having the last gathering, the last supper, the last meal with his disciples. And towards the end of the time together, Jesus prays a really powerful prayer over his disciples. It's a prayer asking for unity. It's a prayer of commissioning. It's a prayer of blessing.

And it's a little bit of a long prayer, but towards the end in the book of John, in John 17, here's what Jesus prays to God the Father. He says this, "God, just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. Just as you have sent me, I am sending them." I've got good news. Jesus is still in the sending business. That's what Jesus does. He sends us into the world. Small groups are a big deal because we get to gather. We get to be seen and we get to be strengthened, but not just for our own benefit. That's good, but it's really kind of, it's out of balance. In fact, here's a way to think about it that works for me. I like to think of two words when it comes to small groups. We gather, and here's kind of a picture of a typical, maybe a small group, and they gather and they're praying at the end and they're kind of inward focused, right? It's nice. It's comfortable. We get together. We're a little holy huddle. Just loving on each other, seeing each other, strength in each other, sharpening each other. But that's not why small groups ultimately exist. Small groups exist so that after you gather one day a week, for the other six days a week, you go. So small groups are a place to gather so that you can be more equipped and confident to go into the world and represent the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere you go. Last week, if you were here last week, Pastor Andy said something really powerful. Last week, Pastor Andy said this. He said, "When you choose to live sinned…" of Jesus Christ. And Andy said, when you choose to live sin, you choose to live at war.

When you choose to live sin, you choose to live at war. And that makes sense. The scriptures talk about that. We know the enemy hates us. He's looking out to see who he can devour. If you're a follower of Jesus today, you understand that. I'm going to go out a little bit of a limb. I don't think as much of a limb at all and say this, even if you're here this week at church and you're not a Jesus follower, you do recognize that life is a battle, right? I mean, life's a battle. Relationships are hard. Work is hard. Figuring out culture and our place in it. You don't have to love Jesus. If you're just sort of like somebody who's trying to do right in the world, you recognize, man, this is I'm up against it sometimes. This is a fight. Here's what I would suggest. Yep, life is a battle. Why would you ever fight it alone? Why would you fight the battle by yourself? There's safety in numbers. The enemy is out to get us. The world is out to get us. The cards feel stacked against us sometimes. Why would we choose if we have a choice and we do to say, no, I got it. I got it. I'm good. Or no, I'm going to go to battle with others. I'm going to have people have my back. There's weapons of war. I believe one of the greatest weapons of war is a small group. It's a small group. It's what Ecclesiastes talked about, shoulder to shoulder, back to back, keeping each other warm, looking out for each other. A triple braided cord is not easily broken. Today, I'm going to ask for you to think about one of three opportunities, responses. I want to talk to those of you for a minute who you're not in a small group. If you're not in a small group and you're listening to this and you're thinking, I might be up for it. I would love for you to let us know. In fact, on your next step cards that are on your chairs, if you want to be in a small group, just write the word join. Just write the word join on the back, put an email address, a cell phone number, however you want us to track you down, and we won't hound you for anything other than the word you write on here. So if you write join, we will help you find a small group. Some of our small groups are a little bit more about being seen and making friends. Some of our small groups are a little bit more about being strengthened in our walk with Jesus. They're a little bit more discipleship, Bible study oriented. If you just write the word join, somebody at your campus will reach out to you this week and help you find a small group. I want to talk to some of you who maybe you're not in a small group, chances are you are this group of people, but you might be feeling a nudge to take a step and stretch yourself and lead or start a small group. If you're interested in just learning a little bit more about what it would be like to lead a small group, just write the word lead on your

card. If you write lead somebody this week at your campus, they will reach out to you and they'll talk to you about writing the word lead doesn't commit you to leading. It just says I'm interested in hearing what it's about and we'll talk to you about what that looks like to lead a small group. Now small groups are a big deal because they put us in relationship with each other and relationship with each other is a very very important thing. It's part of why we were created. Ultimately there is a relationship that matters more than your relationship with others. It's what sets a stage for all other relationships and that's a relationship with the creator. It's a relationship with God through Jesus and if you've been coming to church for a long time, maybe you hardly ever come to church and you think I've never really thought much about falling Jesus by sure would be open to it or I would at least be open to talking to somebody about it. I'm going to ask you to do something kind of brave and I'm going to ask you on your card just to write the word Jesus. Just write the word Jesus. Writing the word Jesus doesn't have to mean you're committing to follow him forever today. It might, that'd be amazing but if you write the word Jesus somebody They'll shoot you an email, whatever you put down, whatever you want for us to connect with you. And we'll talk to you about who Jesus is and what a relationship with Him looks like and how it can change your life. This is the most important relationship you could ever have. Some of you might be willing and ready tonight just to say, "I'm in, I want right Jesus." And when I pray here in a second, you can just pray and ask Jesus to make Himself known to you and to come in your life, tell Jesus that's what you want, let us know, and we would love to talk to you more about it. Small groups, they are messy. People in small groups are weird. They are a risk. It is risky. It is risky to join a small group

and put yourself out there. It's risky to lead a small group and put yourself in a position of some level of organizational authority that it's risky stuff. But you guys, because life is a battle, I would simply say this. Yeah, small groups are risky, but it's a risk that you can't afford not to take. Let's pray. Jesus, thank you for loving us. Father, thank you for the church. Father, thank you that church is at just some place that we're supposed to go to, but it's a family that we can belong to. Father, church isn't just a place where people see us real quick, it's a place where we can be deeply seen and deeply known. And God, thanks for the opportunity that you provide for us to join a small group. Jesus, I pray that you would nudge us if we haven't to take a chance. Take a chance, join a group, lead a group. Father, for any men and women here tonight today who don't already know you, they haven't put their trust in you. They don't have a friendship, a relationship with you. I pray, Jesus, that even right now, they would simply surrender control of their life to the one who loves them with a deep, never-ending love.

Father, you died on the cross for us so that we can have a friendship and an eternal relationship with you. Father, I pray that you would give us the desire to know more about you. Father, we love you. Those of us who love you, the only reason we love you, the Bible says is because you loved us first. God, thanks for loving us. Thanks for looking at us and saying it's good and then giving us so much more. The gift of your love and the gift of relationship with your people. For that, we say thanks. In your name, we pray. Amen. ♪ So was it made to be tinting a grave ♪ ♪ I was co-bining born and raised back to life again ♪ ♪ Oh, I was made from war ♪ Small to me. ♪ Why would I make the bed in my shape ♪ ♪ When a fountain of grace is running my way ♪ ♪ I know I am yours ♪ ♪ I was made from war ♪ ♪ So I was amazed to be tinting a grave ♪ ♪ I was co-bining born and raised back to life again ♪ ♪ Back to life again we'd weep ♪ ♪ And I was made from war ♪ ♪ So what would I make the bed in my shape ♪ ♪ When a fountain of grace was running my way ♪

♪ I know I am yours ♪ ♪ I was made from war ♪ ♪ We were smart and we're still wasting other than you ♪ ♪ So I made you, yeah ♪ ♪ You call out my name to my sing ♪ ♪ I know I am yours ♪ ♪ I know I am yours ♪ ♪ You buried my past ♪ ♪ I'm not going back ♪ ♪ My name, yeah ♪ ♪ You call out my name ♪ ♪ I see how you're great ♪ ♪ I'm a man, yeah ♪ ♪ You buried my past ♪ Tonight was a pain to be chanting a grave I was called by Go on and raise back to life, baby I was paid for more That's why I put up a pain, a pain in my shame In a fountain of grace, it's running my way I don't know why I am yours, now I was paid for more I am so grateful that you joined us for service today And it's so awesome getting to hear from Pastica and to be reminded of the importance of small groups, God created us for connection and for community with other people And it's so encouraging knowing that we don't have to walk through life alone And so if you're not in a small group right now, we want to encourage you this fall to take that step of faith and to join a group Or maybe God is prompting your heart to lead a group this semester We want to come alongside you and train you and equip you to lead and to start a group Or maybe there's something else that God is putting on your heart that you might need prayer for Or to start relationship with him for the very first time

You can let us know what next step that you might want to be taking by going to the Saddleback app or clicking that link in the description to access our digital program We as a church want to come alongside you to pray for you and to support you As you walk in your journey with Jesus We're so grateful that you joined us this week And we hope to see you again next weekend as we continue our Live Sense series We love you so much and we'll see you again soon [Music]