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Opening Illustration

We are taking a break from our Path to Proser series for a very important project!

We are currently in and I expect to continue to be in a season of expedited growth...

We need space…We need volunteers

TODAY WE ARE SOWING INTO BOTH OF THOSE NEEDS

While today is about the investment of our treasure…our money.

I also would like to let you know that there opportunity to invest your time and talent.

KIDS MINISTRY

PRODUCTION

WORSHIP

GREETING

Serve on a team

PARTY WITH THE PASTORS IS TODAY…WE WILL GET YOU PLUGGED INTO A TEAM IMMEDIATELY AS YOU GET READY FOR SERVE 101

WE ARE PREPARING FOR A GREAT HARVEST OVER THE COURSE OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON AND INTO THE NEW YEAR...

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The elastic waste band invention

As we head into Thanksgiving season…I want to teach you about a couple of men who deserve our appreciation this holiday season.

Thomas Hancock

Alexander Simpson

In 1820 Thomas Hancock began experimenting with this stretchy material to make suspenders.

The material was incredible because it was strong enough to not break when tension was put on it but had enough flexibility to grow to nearly 1.25% of it’s actual size.

Later this material would be called elastic

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Improving on innovation

In 1934 a man named Alexander Simpson began incorporating this material into the waste-band of pants and the rest is history.

So now in seasons where we’ve eaten a little to freely and our denim starts to feel little too tight...

We have elastic waste-band pants.

THE market has been saturated by thousands of varieties of this product

Hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue have been generated because someone created a product that did one thing...

IT MADE ROOM FOR GROWTH! There is extensive value in simply making room for growth.

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Not just doing ministry…facilitating ministry

The expand offering is going to accomplish ministry…but it is also going to facilitate ministry.

Last week we had over 60 in our kids ministry in second service in 1300 square feet

It’s not even that we would like to expand…WE HAVE TO EXPAND.

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I would be open to expanding if it was because we didn’t have room in our auditorium.

But I’m excited because our need to expand is the most biblical one you can have..

BECAUSE WE NEED TO CREATE ROOM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION!

Purchases made on present value are expenses.

Purchases made on future value are investments.

AS WE STEP INTO OUR EXPAND INITIATIVE…IT IS AN INVESTMENT.

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Isaiah 54:2–3 NLT

“Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams. Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined cities.

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Build for the future not based on the past

Isaiah 54 is a prophetic chapter placed immediately after the foretelling of Christ’s suffering.

The suffering of Christ was the price paid for the flourishing of the church!

Because Jesus suffered....the church has been armed with the best message in history…the gospel…the good news.

The prophet tells those possessing this message to make preparations for the growth accompanying the telling of the good news.

This is a proactive call to renovation.

DON’T BUILD AS A RESPONSE…BUILD AS A PREPARATION

Many of us make the mistake of waiting for a sign to operate in faith…FAITH STEPS OUT ONTO THE UNSEEN AND IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE WHAT’S UNHEARD OF.

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Steps of faith precede acts of God.

We went to two services by faith this year…AND GOD BLESSED IT…

We grew by 100% from December to February

Jan - May (Median attendance of 157)

We’ve grown by another 11.5% over the summer Jun - Nov (Median attendance of 175)

While we celebrate what God has done...

We are not building based on past experience…

WE ARE BUILDING BASED ON FUTURE EXPECTATION!

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Expansion should be expensive. “Spare no expense”

He throws in as an addendum to the prophetic call to spare no expense.

Why would he mention this in correlation to the growth of the church?

Expensive projects create expansive opportunities for generosity.

There’s a part of me that is hesitant in these moments…I don’t like to talk about money…I don’t like to ask for money...

BUT WHAT I’VE REALIZED IS WHILE I SHOULD BE HESITANT TO ASK FOR MONEY

I SHOULD NOT FEEL HESITANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH OPPORTUNITY!

This number is large so our faith will be as well.

$80,000 total

$55,000 for renovation of lobby and kids area

$15,000 for sound system upgrades

$5,000 for local community project

$2,500 for global mission projects

$2,500 for kids curriculum and camp scholarships

The ask is large enough for our faith to stretch.

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The expansion of the present has an expectation for the future. (your descendants)

I am so excited for this expansion because it’s for our kids.

We are investing in the discipleship of our babies.

THAT IS THE MOST LUCRATIVE PLACE TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT

The Barna Group's research highlights that nearly half (43%) of American Christians accept Jesus as their savior before the age of 13, and 64% do so before turning 18. They further state that 83% of all Christians make their first commitment to Jesus between the ages of 4 and 14. For American children aged 5 to 13, the probability of accepting Christ is 32%, but this drops to 14% for those aged 14 to 18. Only 6% of adult Christians make their decision to follow God after the age of 18, indicating that 94% make this decision in their childhood or teenage years​​​​.

When you give…you are creating room for your child to have their first experience with Christ.

I stood up here last Wednesday and prayed with my 9 year old son with tears running down his face because he felt the presence of God.

I have seen some of your kids have those same kind of tears well up in their eyes.

THAT’S WHAT YOUR INVESTING IN.

Our kids need an opportunity to know the truth and experience the presence of God moreso now than ever!

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Targeted Giving

As we prepare to give today…I want us to target our giving.

Luke 6:38 NKJV

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

We are obeying the command of Jesus...

And in this particular moment of above and beyond giving

We are defining what the “it” is in this verse

Give and a better marriage shall be given unto you

Give and a growth of business shall be given unto you

Give and a lost loved one’s return to Christ shall be given unto you.

Whatever the case is…we are bring our response to God’s ask with a grateful heart and an ask of our own.

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I’m sowing in faith and believing I will see ___________________ expand.

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