Recap:
Opening – Pastor David:
Forty years ago, I was a 15-year-old kid sitting right here in this church when the leaders around me lit a fire in my soul. They taught me something that changed my life: “It’s not all about me.” They gave me a vision that stretched beyond Shawnee, Kansas, a vision for the world to know Jesus.
That same vision is alive today. We’re not just three churches, Cross Points, Park City, and Bridgeway, we are Connect KC. A family of churches doing life and ministry together, dreaming big, and believing that God can use us to plant hundreds of churches throughout Kansas City and beyond.
You are a part of this. Whether you joined in the last five months or five years, this is your story now. The church is not just a building you attend, it’s a movement you belong to. And together, we believe in a future where more people experience the love of Jesus than ever before.
Sermon – Pastor Chris:
Let’s talk about what it really takes, not just to plant churches, but to live out the mission God has given us. Whether you’re stepping into something new or carrying something heavy today, this word is for you.
I want to walk us through three essential rhythms of following Jesus into new territory:
Pray. Proceed. Persist.
1. Pray – Courage Begins in the Presence of God
In Joshua 1, God says again and again: “Be strong and courageous.” But where does that kind of courage come from?
It’s not from strategy. It’s not from hype. It’s born in the quiet place, in prayer.
Before Joshua ever led a nation, he lingered in the tent of meeting. Long after Moses left, Joshua stayed. He stayed in the presence of God. That’s where strength was formed.
I can relate. Before we ever planted Bridgeway, there was a season where God woke me up every morning at 3 or 4 a.m. I didn’t ask for it, I certainly didn’t want it, but He was drawing me into deeper prayer. And I didn’t realize it then, but He was planting the courage I would need for what was coming.
Church planting begins in prayer. Bold decisions begin in prayer. Godly courage is born in God’s presence.
So before we move forward, have you been in the tent lately?
2. Proceed – Obedience Even When the Waters Don’t Part
God told Israel: “Follow the Ark. Move out.” And they did, right to the edge of the Jordan River.
But it wasn’t dry ground. The river was at flood stage. The waters didn’t part until the priests took a step of faith into the river.
Some of you are standing at your own river’s edge right now. You’ve prayed. You’ve heard the call. But now… it’s time to take a step.
It’s scary. It’s unknown. But faith doesn’t mean all the obstacles disappear. It means God walks with you through them.
Obedience doesn’t mean easy. It means trust.
If Connect KC had waited until everything was perfect, we never would’ve planted a single church. But we followed the presence of God. And He has been faithful every step of the way.
Some of you are in a place where you need to stop asking, “God, will you part the waters?”
And start stepping. Because He’s waiting for your faith.
3. Persist – Keep Fighting, Even at 85
Joshua 14 tells us the story of Caleb, 85 years old and still saying, “Give me that hill country!”
He was promised land 45 years earlier, and he never gave up. He didn’t coast. He didn’t say, “That was for my younger years.” No, he kept the fire.
And listen, I want to be like that. I want to be 85 and still believing God for new ground, still chasing the promises of God like I’m 25.
Persistence is a long obedience in the same direction. It’s fighting the same battles over and over and still showing up. It’s not giving in to fear. It’s not settling for comfort.
And it’s not just for church planters, it’s for all of us.
- If you’re a mom exhausted from the everyday grind, persist.
- If you’re a leader who feels unseen, persist.
- If you’ve been praying for a loved one for years, persist.
God is not done with you yet.
Ending Word – Pastor Matt:
After hearing from Pastor David and Pastor Chris today, my heart is full. This movement we’re part of, Connect KC, it’s real. It’s alive. And it’s deeply personal.
At home, I’ve got twin daughters who are almost 13, and let me tell you, they love messing with me. Lately, at exactly 8:16 p.m., they all shout, “It’s 8:16!” And I still don’t know why. It’s a joke, and I’m not in on it.
But then, out of nowhere, they started saying this phrase: “In the mended wood.” And I did recognize that one.
It’s from a book series we read together called The Green Ember. It’s about rabbits, yes, rabbits, who live in a world broken by war and grief. But in the middle of all the chaos, they hold on to one hope-filled phrase:
“It will not always be so… in the mended wood.”
And church, that sounds a lot like the gospel to me.
Because maybe you’re here today and you’re carrying grief. Or loss. Or anxiety. And while we’re talking about planting churches and multiplying ministry, you might be thinking, “I’m just trying to survive the week.”
If that’s you, hear this:
The gospel is not just something we share, it’s something we receive.
And it says to you: “It will not always be so.”
That’s the heartbeat of Connect KC.
- It’s why we plant churches, not because it’s trendy, but because we believe Jesus is healing what’s broken.
- It’s why we serve and pray and persist, because we believe God is mending this world.
And we’ve seen glimpses of it already:
- At Cross Points, through 33 for 30.
- At Bridgeway, as people walk through grief with hope.
- At Park City, as we partner with groups like Exodus Cry to restore dignity to those who’ve been trafficked.
But before we go out and do more, I want to speak to the weary:
If you’re tired, struggling, or feel like you’re barely holding on, Jesus meets you there.
Let Him carry you. Let someone pray with you.
For all of us, this is our shared vision.
Let’s pray. Let’s proceed. Let’s persist.
Because the world is being mended.
And we get to be a part of it.
Amen
Group Questions:
Icebreakers
- If you could instantly become amazing at any hobby or sport, what would it be?
- Share a funny or memorable phrase your family always says (like “It’s 8:16!”).
Discussion Questions
Opening Vision (Pastor David)
“It’s not all about me… the church is not just a building, it’s a movement.”
- What does it mean to you personally that you’re part of a church that’s planting other churches?
- Pastor David said the church isn’t a building, it’s a movement. How does that shift your view of what it means to “go to church”?
- What’s one way you can embrace the idea that “it’s not all about me” this week?
1. Pray – Courage Begins in the Presence of God (Pastor Chris)
“Have you been in the tent lately?”
- When in your life have you felt God forming courage in you during a time of prayer?
- What gets in the way of spending quiet time with God, and how can you overcome it?
- Share one way you can build a rhythm of lingering in God’s presence this week.
2. Proceed – Obedience Even When the Waters Don’t Part
“Faith means stepping even when the river hasn’t parted yet.”
- Is there a “Jordan River” in your life right now, a place where God is asking you to take a step of faith?
- What would obedience look like in that area?
- How do you distinguish between waiting on God and needing to step out in faith?
3. Persist – Keep Fighting, Even at 85
“Persistence is a long obedience in the same direction.”
- Who’s someone in your life who inspires you by their spiritual persistence?
- Are you currently in a season that requires extra endurance? If so, what’s helping you keep going?
- How can this group support you in persisting through whatever you’re walking through?
Closing Reflection (Pastor Matt)
“It will not always be so… in the mended wood.”
- What part of Pastor Matt’s reflection on hope stood out to you?
- Where in your life do you need to hear, “It will not always be so”?
- What’s one glimpse of “mended wood” (God at work healing something broken) that you’ve seen recently?
Wrap-Up Prayer Prompt
Have everyone write one word on a notecard:
- A prayer request
- A step of faith
- Or an area they’re persisting in