I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I know you’re out there! PLEASE WATCH…EVERYONE! Let’s make it happen! #BetterTogether #AnyoneMeansEveryone #ThisIsTheJourney
Hey there, Facebook world. This is Shawn Acrey. I look a little weird right now because I just left work, and I got so excited I actually, literally, pulled my truck over on the side of the road to share this message. I’ve got some stuff covering up some stuff because, where I work, we have a social media policy, and I just don’t have anything else to put on, so I thought, I’ll just cover it up because I couldn’t wait to get home to share this with you.
Here’s the deal, man. As a pastor, as a bi-vocational pastor, I work multiple jobs, and so I get my sermons done here and there, whenever I can, and I just as finished — yes, it’s Friday at five o’clock — and I just finished my sermon for this Sunday about three o’clock today. And, man, I’ve been so fired up. I’ve been talking to my coworkers about the sermon. I’m just fired up because I’m a guy who wants people to know that Jesus loves them.
And Sunday, what we’re going to look at, is we’re going to look at this truth: that Jesus loves you, and Jesus came for you. I don’t care who you are. You know, we’ve got this idea in our churches — in a lot of churches, I guess I should say — that only certain people are allowed. That there’s stigmas that come with you’ve got to be there: that there’s a dress code, there’s a certain way you should act, there’s a certain way your life should look. I mean, I’m going to tell you right now, that’s junk, all right?
I had a pastor when I first became a follower of Jesus, his name was David Foster, and he would always say, “That’s a lie from the pit of hell, and it smells like smoke.” And I’m going to tell you right now, it’s a lie from the pit of hell, and it smells like smoke.
At The Journey Community Church, we say that everybody’s welcome, and we mean everybody. Here’s what I’m talking about, in Luke chapter 9, Jesus talks about that He came for anyone. That anyone could come to know Jesus, and anyone means everyone.
If you don’t believe me, here’s my challenge to you. I want you to show up this Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at The Journey Community Church. We meet at the Atrium YMCA right here off of the I-75, exit 36. There’s a YMCA right there on Innovation Drive. You can’t miss it. It’s behind the Atrium Hospital. I want you to be there 10 a.m.
I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what demons you face. I don’t care how many times you’ve been married and divorced. I don’t care what addictions you’ve got going on. I don’t care what kind of sexual sin or relationships you’ve been in that you don’t think are approved by people. I don’t care who you are. I want you to be at the Journey Community Church this Sunday because there’s a truth in God’s Word that not everybody’s willing to share, and we’re going to share it this Sunday. And that truth is that Jesus came for everyone. And I’m not just saying that because I love people. I’m saying that because that’s straight out of God’s Word, and we’re going to look at it this Sunday.
So, here’s what I’m going to do. I’m setting out extra chairs. I’m setting out extra chairs because I think that you’re going to take my challenge. You’re going to show up, you’re going to get out of bed, you’re going to get there — we’ve got coffee, donuts. It’s free. We don’t charge money for that stuff. It’s ridiculous. We just want you there.
So, we want you to get there early, about 9:45. Get to know some people. Come in there, and I want you to hear what Jesus wants you to hear. Not what Shawn wants you to hear, although I do, but it’s straight out of the mouth of Jesus Christ Himself. You are loved, and you are accepted. There is no clause that only certain people can come to know Who Christ is. That’s not the way this works, man. And I want people to know that.
I started this church so that we could tell so many people who are far from God that God loves you, and He wants a relationship with you. That He wants to help you clean up the mess. That you don’t have to have it cleaned up to come to Christ. He wants to help you get it cleaned up.
And so, would you be my guest? Would you show up? Just show up. You don’t have to ever come back if you get there and you’re like, “No, this ain’t for me,” fine. Thank you for coming. But I can guarantee you, you’re going to be glad you showed up.
So, Sunday morning 10 a.m., the Atrium YMCA. Man, I am fired up, and I can’t wait to see what God does this Sunday. I can’t wait to see the lives God changes.
But here’s the deal. You got to show up. If you don’t show up, there’s nothing I can do. I can’t make it more clear for you. We’ll set out extra chairs. We want you there. So share this video. Send it to people.
If you’re watching this video, and you’ve ever thought, “I can’t go to church because I wouldn’t be accepted, listen. That’s junk. That is a lie from the pit of hell, and it smells like smoke.
Do me a favor. Go on our website, www.thisisthejourney.org, and just go and look. We have a little tab, What to Expect and I’m New. And read what we write there. There’s no dress code. God doesn’t judge you by your outside appearance. Why would we? Just show up! Bring your kids. We’ve got an amazing kids ministry. They have an hour of secured fun together. And so, I want you to come. You’ve got no excuses of why you can’t show up on Sunday morning.
So, Sunday morning, 10 a.m. Show up. I hope I’ll see you there. Man, it’s going to be incredible. We’re setting out extra chairs. Set up team, be ready. We’re setting out extra chairs because people are coming.
I hope to see you guys on Sunday.