SCC | STRONGHOLDS 2025
STRONGHOLDS 2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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MATTHEW WAS TAX COLLECTOR —MOST HATED PEOPLE STOLE FROM PEOPLE — THIS WAS A RADICAL CHANGE FOR HIS LIFE
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A KING TO FREE THEM FROM THE ROMAN EMPIRE
LAST WEEK — BE ATTITUDES — “DO YOU BELIEVE GOD WANTS WHATS BEST FOR YOUR LIFE?
THIS WEEKEND — TALKING ALL ABOUT LEGACY
ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THESE STUDENTS COULD HAVE COLLECTIVELY — BUT ALSO INDIVIDUALLY
Leaving behind a legacy — having an impact starts with us realizing God has a plan and purpose for our lives.
We learned that Legacy starts with “HERE I AM” Just being open and available.
When you and I daily walk with an attitude of “LORD HERE I AM, USE ME” ordinary things turn into God Opportunities.
1 So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town. 2 Just then some men brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”
THE RESPONSE OF THE FRIENDS
At some point, these people knew a man who needed Jesus, and carried him to Jesus.
What would happen if the people of Sycamore Creek decided to just carry people to Jesus?
What if we became so completely NOT OKAY that there are people in our life who don’t have Jesus that we were willing to pick them up and carry them to Jesus?
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOST PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE?
PEN AND TELLER — HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE TO HATE SOMEONE TO NOT TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS?
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEED THIS PLACE.
Every day you are crossing paths with people who are hurting, lost, in need of hope that can only be found in Jesus? Have we become indifferent to the fact that they need Jesus?
WHENEVER GOD WANTS SOMETHING DONE HE CHOOSES TO USE PEOPLE. HE’S CHOSEN YOU.
3 At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming!” 4 Perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? 5 For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
THE RESPONSE OF JESUS
JESUS CAME WITH A NEW MESSAGE.
THAT A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WASN’T FOR THE PERFECT, FORGIVENESS WASN’T JUST FOR THE ONES THAT DID THE RIGHT THINGS AND HAD IT ALL TOGETHER
IT WAS FOR EVERYONE. IT WAS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVED.
JESUS FLIPPED THINGS UPSIDE DOWN
THE RELIGIOUS ELITE OF THE DAY PREACHED THAT YOU NEEDED TO EARN YOUR WAY TO GOD.
A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WAS ALWAYS JUST OUT OF REACH.
BUT JESUS CAME WITH A MESSAGE OF HOPE AND RESTORATION AND FORGIVENESS.
6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” 7 So he got up and went home.
Jesus doesn’t refute the fact that they said he was blaspheming because only God can forgive sins but rather proves he has the authority to forgive and leaves them to understand that Jesus and the father must be one, he must be the messiah we’ve heard of.
8 When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God, who had given such authority to men.
THE RESPONSE OF THE CROWDS
They were left in awe of what Jesus could do.
The local church is the greatest evangelistic tool on the planet. And when we as a people, decide to take God at his word, carry people to Jesus, it starts a movement that people take notice of.
What if all of Pickerington was in awe of what Jesus was doing here.
It Starts with a group of people saying “Here I am, I’m available.”
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
19 Go
GOD WANTS TO USE YOU.
HE’S NOT LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT, HE’S NOT LOOKING FOR THE ONES THAT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER HE’S LOOKING FOR THE AVAILABLE.
AT ONE POINT WE WERE THE CROWD THRN WE MET JESUS NOW WERE THE FRIENDS
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS GO. SOMETIMES WE COMPLICATE — JUST BRING
SO ARE YOU AVAILABLE?
“HERE I AM”
