I love my church! Do you love your church? Easter season is coming up and at MCC, we have provided special invitation cards for you to invite people. Think about who you’re giving your invitation to. 

Have you ever gone to an event where there was an exclusive invitation list? You have to be "someone" to be invited, or you have to attend with someone who is "someone". At a function like that, there’s power in who you are with. I was nearly turned away at an event like that once but, the person who invited me saw I had arrived and began introducing me to people around the room. Because of the person I was with, I belonged. This is the power of Invitation. 

Invitations come in many forms - formal, informal, intimate, public, corporate, private. Regardless of how the invitation comes, it means you’re wanted. You belong. People want you included, to join them on an important day. 

Did you know an invitation can change your life? At the beginning of every job, I have always looked for a person to minister to. At one job, I met an atheist at the very beginning of my time there. I committed to building relationship and poured my life into him. Finally after many invitations from me, he came to church one day on Easter. That day, the church conducted a survey that asked people where they stood in their belief in Jesus. My friend answered that he didn’t believe and never planned on believing. I continued to declare salvation for him and to pray for him. Finally, there came a day when he realized his need for God. Those invitations I had extended were invitations that changed his life and his family's life. You can change the world with an invite. 

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples. Invitation is wrapped up in this command. Where does most discipleship happen? Discipleship happens in the church. Where did you get saved? Most people get saved in the church. People get saved and discipled more so in the church than any other organization, anywhere, for all time. 

With invitation to church in mind, how should you invite someone? It’s so easy. Here’s what you say, “You should come to church with me this Sunday.” Look for the conversational trigger. Listen for statements like “Things are not going well,” or “I’m not prepared for this” (whether they’re talking about a test or a surgery). How about, “I’m not from around here” or “I’m new in town.” We can pack out church by issuing invitations to those who give us an open door in normal conversation. 

In Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus called Andrew and Simon, James and John to become fishers of men. Jesus was the best “inviter”. He was intentional, he was an “includer” motivated by love and compassion. At one point, he told his disciples he needed to go through Samaria (to a population that was considered “less than”). It was a place you would not dare to go. But his confidence was in God and he knew he had God’s strength working in and through him. We have power to be the church in the world, in those places we would not otherwise be inclined to go. In Samaria, Jesus reached out to a woman who was the lowest of the low, rejected and ridiculed. She was a person who chose extreme discomfort in order to avoid others, coming to draw water in the heat of the day. Jesus offered living water to her and she was transformed into the greatest evangelist of that time and place. One invitation changed hundreds of lives.

Jesus set this expectation with his disciples and he sets it for you. He didn’t just call you to attend church and enjoy worship and a good word every week. He called you to become a fisher of men. Find those who are far from God so they can hear the name by which they can be saved and invite them. Where can they find freedom? Church! There is a place for them. There’s a place for everyone in the kingdom of God. 

You have a unique calling. God chose you. In his divine, perfect will, he provided for you to be where you are in this season, in this place. God created you intentionally, wonderfully and carefully. Fish for those around you. Make a difference. You may ask “What can I do?” Pray and seek God's face. Then invite people to “Come and see”. Say it with me, “You should come to church with me this Sunday.”

Anyone can catch fish. Be intentional when you fish. Fishing requires patience. Sometimes the fish aren’t biting. Don’t stop inviting. Don’t stop praying. Praise the Lord and ask for laborers. Say, “That’s me!!” He’s called me to be a laborer. Jesus says, “You’ve seen me do it. Now you do it.” Let’s do it together with Him. Compel them to come. Easter is the perfect time to Bring Your Peeps.

Happy Easter! This is a day of celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, but I want you to know that the power that it took to get Jesus out of that grave was not a one time thing. In the same way that God raised Jesus from the dead, he will give life to the mortal things, the dead things, in your life. This is good news because our hope is that Easter would be more than just a celebration. The resurrection of Jesus gives you the power to close the gap between the life you are living, and the life you could live. So, what is your next step? 

We know that Jesus died on the cross, was crucified and put in the tomb, and then three days later rose again. But why three days? It was because, in the death and burial on Friday, the waiting and uncertainty on Saturday and the resurrection on Sunday, he was showing us the process. Jesus modeled how we are to live our lives in every season and circumstance. 

Friday - The Day of Pain: Jesus experienced this day of pain, and many others, so that he could help you through your pain. Are you in pain today? Let me show you the kind of pain that Jesus endured.

The first one is physical pain. Maybe your body is in pain. The problem with hurting bodies is that it gets into your spirit, and can mess with you so that you lose hope. Jesus gets it because he experienced it himself.

He experienced emotional pain. He was despised and rejected, betrayed by those close to him. I know there are some people reading that are feeling rejected. You are dealing with sickness of the soul, possibly depression. Jesus knows this pain.

Jesus dealt with relational pain. If you are single, he knows what it’s like. He knows what it’s like to be tempted as a single. The Bible said he was tempted on all points and yet never sinned. Maybe you have pain from your marriage relationship. He was single on this earth, but the Bible calls us, as the church, the bride of Christ. He is the groom. Not only does he know what it’s like to be married, but he knows what it’s like for his wife to cheat on him. We have all done that. He was rejected and disbelieved by his own family. His brothers and sisters weren’t all in. He was on his own without their support. Can you imagine how that felt to him? 

Why am I telling you all this? There’s a lesson that I want you to see. I want you to see that God knows how to flip the script. He put purpose in the pain. I don’t believe he gives you the pain, but he will take it and use it. There is no pain that his purpose cannot redeem.  

Saturday - The Day of Confusion: Did you ever think about the fact that the disciples were not sitting around on the next day, saying, “Well, just one more day and it’s Easter.” The Bible says that they got so depressed and confused on that day, that they went back to their old patterns. It was a season of waiting, terrible uncertainty. In this season, you know you’ve had pain, and you know there is promise, but it’s not happening and you feel stuck. You want answers, feeling that even if God doesn’t fix it, you need to know why you had to go through this. In confusion, we begin to doubt. Some of you have been in church so long that you don’t even think it’s real anymore because you’re stuck in a Saturday of your life. 

When we are really stuck, we tend to give up.  One disciple gave up so much that he actually committed suicide, and one of the greatest disciples, Peter, decided to quit the ministry and go back to fishing. Being stuck can cause us to feel alone. If you’re experiencing these things, you may be stuck in Saturday.

When you need to get out of confusion, scripture and life tell us to get close to God. When you think he’s far away, get into worship and draw near to him. I’ve learned to become totally satisfied that I will get all my answers when I see him face-to-face. But I trust him in this life. There is no confusion that his presence cannot calm.

Sunday - The Day of Resurrection: The things that you thought were dead can be resurrected. If the first day is pain (war), and the second day is confusion (waiting), the third day is resurrection (winning). I want you to know, you are just one sunrise away from your miracle and your whole life turning around.

You say, “OK Dave, how do I get that one?” The answer to this is found in one word, and that word is, “JESUS”! He is the one person that can take your life and turn it around, taking those dead areas of your life and resurrecting them. Come on church!!!   

He doesn’t just offer resurrection. He is Resurrection.  “I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live; And whoever continues to live and believes in (has faith in, cleaves to, and relies on) Me shall never [actually] die at all. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 AMPC). You do not have to stay in the Friday or the Saturday of life, because there is no death that his power cannot resurrect.

Paul said, ”I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.” Paul had some Fridays and Saturdays going on in his life too. “I want to suffer with him [FRIDAY], sharing in his death [SATURDAY], so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! [SUNDAY]” (Philippians 3:10-11 NLT).

But you can’t have any of it without knowing Christ. This is not head knowledge but actually intimate knowing. Jesus is your answer, today and everyday. He desires a real, daily, active relationship with you. 

Father, I pray right now for people who are contemplating a step. They’re tired of the gap and they’re ready to go from where they are to where they could be. Lord, I ask that you would give them the courage to believe. Help them with their unbelief and move them across that line of faith. Pray this prayer if you are ready, “Thank you for sending your son to die in my place. Today I ask you to forgive me for living my life without you Jesus. Take my life. I surrender everything to you. Be the Lord of my life. I want to live for you with all of my heart. I give you my life.” 

If you prayed this prayer, please let Motor City Church know by completing an online Connect Card. We will send you some online resources that will help you as you begin this journey of resurrection living. 

Today is Palm Sunday. If it’s Palm Sunday, why are there a bunch of rocks on the scene in the biblical account instead of palm trees?   What do palm trees and rocks have in common? Let’s go back to that first Palm Sunday.

In Luke 19, Dr. Luke describes Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem.  “When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.” The people were shouting, praising God and waving palm branches. Waving palm branches was a sign of victory. Do you know, in Christ, you are already victorious? This day was a parade, a celebration. The people thought Jesus was coming to claim his throne, but Jesus was on the way to his death, the crucifixion. However victory was his. He rose again the next Sunday. Thank God! And he’s still alive today. 

As the noisy crowd progressed along the route, haters and whiners (a.k.a. Pharisees) came and told Jesus to get the crowd under control. They did not want people to praise him. But Jesus told them, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!“ If you don’t acknowledge Jesus, the rocks will cry out. 

You are meant to be part of this parade. We’re supposed to be crying out. Jesus was and is the center of our worship. We raise our hands like palm branches in thanksgiving and worship. What makes you cry out or get excited? It’s March Madness right now. Does basketball get you excited enough to cry out? If you don’t cry out for Jesus, a rock will take your role. (Rock n role…get it?) We are made to cry out. Don’t let a rock take your place. Make Jesus the center of your parade, give him glory and honor. Worship him with all that is within you.

What is worship? Worship is an expression of your love. We’re made to worship and he doesn’t want us to waste our worship on things that aren’t important. Don’t cry out and celebrate at a basketball game and then come to church and stand like a statue waiting for worship to be over. Make Jesus the center of your life and celebrate him! 

The passage in Luke 19, verse 41 tells us Jesus started to weep. Why was he weeping? He was weeping over the hardness of the hearts of people. God was there in the midst but he knew they would be turning their back on him. People matter to God. And because they matter to God, they matter to us. Have you shed tears over souls? Have you known the joy of someone you have prayed for coming to know Jesus? Jesus was shedding tears for souls. He wanted them to know his love and care. 

If you continue to read over what happened the next week, the rocks did cry out. When Jesus died, the earth shook. Rocks were rocking. Tombs were opened and risen saints went around praising God. Don’t let a rock take your role. In our culture today, the church has stayed quiet on so many things.  Speak up! We need to tell the truth now. Don’t be quiet. God has changed your life. Declare what he’s done. Where would you be if it weren’t for Jesus? I never would’ve made it. One of the ways we can worship is by telling others what he’s done in our life. Live your life in a way that bears witness, but speak up as well. This week, ask people to come to church with you.  Who can you invite? 

Why did Jesus choose rocks to take on the role of praise if the people didn’t praise him? There are a lot of places in the Bible that talk about rocks. When Joshua crossed the Jordan with the children of Israel, the priests led them into the flood-stage river with the Ark of the Covenant and it dried up to let them pass through. As a memorial, they pulled rocks from the dry river bed and set them up on the opposite bank to testify how God brought them through.  What if one of those rocks could talk? It would say “Take a step, have faith. God will be with you. David pulled smooth stones from the valley to fight Goliath. What if that rock could talk? It might say, “No matter how big the giant is, God’s got you.” Nehemiah rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem with rocks while battling the enemy. Those rocks might say “You can do it. God will fight the battle. No weapon formed against you will prosper!” There was the woman caught in adultery and subject to being stoned with rocks. Jesus challenged those who were poised to kill her, “If you’ve never sinned you throw the rock.” Those rocks might have said, “God is forgiving. His grace is sufficient. He  gives you mercy and grace.” Moses hit the rock in the desert and water poured out. That rock might have said, “God will nourish you even in your desert season.” 

Think about the rock at the tomb, the one that was rolled away. It could give testimony of God’s resurrection power saying, “He’s alive! He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Do you know him?” 

Next weekend is Easter. It is a celebration and a time where so many people will give God a look, a chance. I’m praying that this week we will have an open door, that we will take advantage of an opportunity to tell someone or invite someone to come with us to church,  to tell someone the difference God made in our life. Be a hope dealer. Let them know where they can get hope. 

Jesus is the Rock of ages. Build your life on the Rock knowing that the storms can come and the winds can blow, but your foundation is solid. Have you received Jesus in your life? Today you can make Jesus your rock.

Today, my message is about water baptism. Baptism is vital to your spiritual journey. My goal today is that you understand the priority of baptism. The Lord gave us two ordinances, two ceremonies, that he wants us to observe as we worship together. One is holy communion and the other is water baptism. Matthew 28:19 (NLT) speaks of Jesus commanding, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” You could say baptism is as important as the great commission because it is part of the great commission. So why do so many believers go without being baptized? 

First of all, I think some may not understand the importance of water baptism. Maybe they haven’t been taught what the Bible says.

Secondly, I think a lot of people aren’t baptized because they’re part of a church tradition where infants are baptized. Going through water baptism at a later time can seem like you are turning your back on your religion and your parent’s faith. But if you have your own relationship with God and want to get baptized, this is a personal decision, not a reflection of your parent’s choices.

In regard to scripture, I will tell you infant baptism and sprinkling are not found in the Bible. This is critical for you to understand. Until the middle ages, the Roman Catholic Church baptized infants by immersion, and it was only in 1311, at the Council of Vienne that they began to sprinkle. They teach that the infant is saved through baptism and that if a child is not baptized and dies, the baby goes to a place of limbo, deprived of eternal happiness with God. This teaching is not in the Bible and certainly it is not reflective of the heart of God. 

Martin Luther, the reformer and the founder of the Lutheran Church was strong on justification by faith, but never disentangled himself from infant baptism. He believed that baptism cleanses the baby of sin and that somehow the infant must be able to believe. There’s nothing in the New Testament about salvation apart from a personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is no infant baptism in the Old Testament or in the New Testament. 

Presbyterianism would say baptism or infant baptism is to the New Testament what circumcision was to the Old Testament, and that we baptize infants as a sign of the covenant of which their parents are a part. This doctrine of man is also not found in the Bible. I would appeal to every single one of you to consider, if it is not in the Bible, then we should not build a doctrine on it. 

Another reason people are not baptized comes down to pride. Maybe you’ve gone so long without being baptized and have reached a certain age or place in life that it would be a humiliating admission to a long-term disobedience or ignorance of understanding. Pride can also be of a physical nature. I’ve known people who don’t want others to see them wet. I can tell you that all we’ll be doing is rejoicing and praising God, celebrating with you.

A fourth reason people are not baptized is because, and this may be a little sobering, they thought they were a Christian and they’re not. There’s no moving of the Spirit in their life that would convict them, or compel them to fulfill the commands of Christ. Jesus said if you love me, you will keep my commandments. If you are a believer, then baptism is a command. It is not something you do when you feel ready. It’s something you do after you’ve been saved and as soon as you can. 

So what is baptism? It is a ceremony in which a person is immersed, submerged, into water. The primary word used in the New Testament is the Greek word, “baptizo”.  Used  77 times in the New Testament, it always means to dip completely or to submerge

Maybe you’ve made a decision to make Jesus your personal savior and you were baptized or sprinkled when you were younger as a child. I would encourage you to be baptized by immersion in water. It is the New Testament pattern. “John the Baptist…preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven…And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River ” (Mark 1:4-5 NLT). His ministry was near the river Jordan because he was submerging people into the water. When Philip baptized the eunuch in Acts 8:36, 38, it says they came up out of the water. This is the New Testament version of that baptism. 

You may wonder what the purpose of baptism is. Baptism is important not only because it is a command of Christ, but it is a public declaration of your faith, that you identify with Christ, that you are his follower. Remember WDJD - what did Jesus do? John baptized multitudes, and “one day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River" (Mark 1:9 NLT). “But John tried to talk him out of it. ‘I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,’ he said, ‘so why are you coming to me?’…Jesus said, ‘It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.’ So John agreed to baptize him” (Matthew 3:14-15 NLT).

OK, so what does that mean? How did he fulfill all that God required? He did that by dying on the cross. Baptism is connected to what Jesus did in carrying out all God required. Baptism in water is symbolic of Jesus’ death and his resurrection. It is a physical picture of a spiritual reality.  “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead” (Colossians 2:12 NLT). When you go under the water, it’s like a picture of what happens when you’re buried. The old you has died. When you come up out of the water, you are raised to new life. 

Do you have to be baptized to be saved? Some people will say that baptism is what saves us. Mark 16:16 (NLT) says “Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.“ Pay attention to the operative word in this verse. It is “believe.” If you believe, you're saved and if you don’t believe, you're condemned. The real issue here is belief, not baptism for salvation. The relationship between baptism and salvation is similar to the relationship between obedience and salvation. If you are saved, you will obey Christ. If you are saved, there will be fruit from your life that reflects your relationship with Jesus. 

The early church understood. Peter preached that first sermon according to the book of Acts and 3000 people believed. Then 3000 people were baptized. Baptism was directly linked to salvation. “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5 NLT). If you were saved, you got baptized. We are saved by grace through faith, plus or minus nothing. Baptism does not save you, but it does show your willingness to obey Christ and declares your connection with him.

When should you be baptized according to the Bible? Please know, delayed obedience is disobedience. At any point that you and I knowingly are not obeying Christ, especially at a basic level like baptism, over time there is a diminished experience of God‘s blessing in our life and the enemy loves that. There’s nothing to really think about. It is about your personal obedience. You can read more about baptism in Acts, chapters 2, 16, and 22. People were saved and got baptized.

In 2 Chronicles 16 we see that the eyes of the Lord are going to and fro, looking for those who are totally committed to him. When you make the decision to take this step in your journey, God sees and says that he will put his hand on you in a whole new way. Do you want a fresh touch from God? He will strengthen you, help you, and bless you. This is why I am so passionate about seeing people get baptized because I want to see you experience God‘s favor in every possible way.

When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, the heavens split apart and the Holy Spirit descended on him. I believe in the same way, when you come up out of that water, the heavens will open over your life and the hand of God will come  upon you in a new way.

Mark 1:9-11 (NLT) states that, as Jesus was baptized, God proclaimed from heaven that Jesus was his dearly loved Son and that he brought God great joy. He will do and say the same over you at your baptism. You will sense the pleasure of heaven and the grace of the Lord. You are going to know the Father’s pleasure and it will be a new season of moving into his glory and experiencing his goodness, because of your obedience. To sign up for baptism, register HERE. We will celebrate with you!