Unashamed March 6, 2026

ain't back. But I realized we got some new people. If this is your first time, can I can you all raise our hands? I just want to say make some noise if this is your first on the stream. >> All right. Thank y'all for coming out. We went >> Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. HEY, CAN WE CLAP IT UP FOR THE NEW PEOPLE? CAN YOU CLAP IT UP FOR NEW PEOPLE? >> YEAH. >> Thank y'all. We are so excited to have all of you guys. It is so great to see all y'all again. But before we get into our service, Naomi, how do we start our services, man?

You know, we always start with scripture and prayer. Our old OG's know that. >> Of course. So, can you give us our scripture? What's our scripture? >> Of course. Our scripture is Romans 1:16, which read >> Okay. Okay. Wait, hold on, y'all. But before we continue, we need y'all to be quiet because it is a little loud yet.

We got to get everything. You know what I'm saying? Y got to hear everything about the service. So, all right. Naomi, can you give us a scripture? >> Okay. Okay. Our scripture is Romans 1:16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. For it is in the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, first for the Jews and also for the Greeks.

Amen. >> Yeah, that's a good scripture. All right. Now, it is time for prayer. Please bow your head and close your eyes. Heavenly Father, as we come before you today, God, we just want to say thank you. We thank you for the chance and opportunity, God, to come into your house, God, and just be able to have fun in a godly manner, God, and to learn more about you.

We ask that you protect everybody in this place. allow us to learn something new and take it home with us in Jesus name. And the people of God say amen. >> Amen. >> Yeah. Wow. >> All right. >> You know what time it is. >> Of course I know what time.

Do y'all know what's going on in this church? Do you guys know what's happening? >> Oh, y'all say yes. Y'all really don't know. But it's time for our announcements. >> We'll inform you. So, first up, we have our night of elegance, aka our globe party for the special needs ministry.

Okay. Make some noise for that. Yeah. So, it will be held on March 20th at 6 PM right here at the ministry center. So, if you can, please show up and show your love and support. >> Make sure y'all be there. For our next assignment, our next announcement, say happy early birthday to DJ Princess.

Oh my. >> It is going to it is going to be her 15th birthday on March 14th. So, make sure y'all just support her and show up. But, can we sing? Can we get a Can we get a quick a little happy birthday? All right. >> All right, y'all ready? 3 2 1 Happy birthday. >> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

WHY ARE WE SINGING THIS VERSION? Why are we singing this version? Happy birthday. >> You don't like this version? >> Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. >> Happy birthday. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. >> Happy birthday. >> Okay. >> All right. Yes. One last round of applause for DJ Princess. >> Okay.

Y'all sounded nice. I'm not going to join the choir. Y'all sounded nice. >> All right, but now that is our announcements for today's amazing service. So, Naomi, what's next? >> It's time for my favorite part of service. It's time for praise and worship. >> It's praise and worship.

YES, GUYS. >> MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE FRONT. Come on, get up. >> I want you all to come down to the front. Come down to the front. Everybody, everybody, everybody stand up. >> Come on. If you could stand, you need >> and please make some NOISE FOR JESUS. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Praise the Lord everybody.

Come on. PRAISE THE LORD EVERYBODY. >> Praise the Lord. >> COME ON. PRAISE THE LORD EVERYBODY. IS ANYBODY EXCITED TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ON TODAY? HALLELUJAH. ((music playing)) >> Thank you, Jesus. Come on, let's get right into it. All right, y'all. We got a real simple song for you.

It just says, "FATHER, WE PRAISE YOU. JESUS, WE LOVE YOU. HOLY SPIRIT, YES, WE ADORE YOU." >> IT'S VERY EASY. WE JUST WANT Y'ALL TO SING WITH US. ALL RIGHT. ((music playing)) [screaming] >> Come on. Let me see you move. We're going to BE A PARTY TODAY. HERE WE GO. COME ON.

SAY, "FATHER, SAY ((music playing)) >> FATHER." FATHER, FATHER, we praise you, Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, ((music playing)) we love you, Holy Spirit. Yes, we adore ((music playing)) you. Yes, we do. Father, Father, Father, we praise you, Jesus. ((music playing)) Jesus, Jesus, we love you, Holy Spirit. Yes, we ((music playing)) adore you. Yes, father and creation on earth and universe is in your hands.

It's in your ((music playing)) hands. For the king of every nation, we love to sing ((music playing)) your word throughout the land. to open the land. ((music playing)) Come on. Father, father, father, we praise you, Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, we love you. Holy Spirit, yes, we adore ((music playing)) you. >> Yes, we do. >> Father, Father, Father, we Jesus, ((music playing)) Jesus, Jesus, we love you, Holy Spirit.

Yes, ((music playing)) we adore you. Father, ((music playing)) Holy Ghost, >> I live my voice. >> I live my ((music playing)) voice. You know, let ((music playing)) Father, Father, Father, we praise you, Jesus. ((music playing)) Jesus, Jesus, we love you. Holy Spirit. Yes, we ((music playing)) adore you. Yes, we do. Come on, sing. ((music playing)) ((music playing)) for you. >> EVERYBODY SAY, "FATHER, >> FATHER, FATHER, FATHER, ((music playing)) we praise you, Jesus.

Jesus, Jesus, we love you, Holy ((music playing)) Spirit. We adore you." Yes, we do. >> EVERYBODY CLAP YOUR HANDS. COME ON. CLAP CLAP CLAP. >> YOU'RE SO AMAZING, GOD. HALLELUJAH. ((music playing)) >> Able to do just what we said he would do. ((music playing)) He's going to fulfill every promise to you. ((music playing)) Don't give up on God cuz he won't ((music playing)) give up on you.

He's able. ((music playing)) >> Come on, say. Say, "He's able." >> He's able. >> All right, y'all. We going ((music playing)) to do it together. I NEED EVERYBODY SINGING. COME ON. SAY, "GOD is able." >> God is able ((music playing)) to do just what he said he would do. >> He's going to fulfill. >> He's going to fulfill ((music playing)) every promise to you.

Don't give up on God. >> Don't give up on ((music playing)) God >> because he won't. >> He won't give up on >> Say He's able. >> He's able. >> Oh, ((music playing)) he's able. Come on, say. >> One more time. Let's do it. Say, "Oh, [screaming] he's able." You say, >> "Oh, ((music playing)) he's aable." >> Say, "He's able. >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> He's aable.

((music playing)) >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> He's able. >> He's aable. [music and singing] >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> He's aable. He's able >> exceedingly. ((music playing)) >> He's able. >> He's able >> above all. You could ask one thing. >> He's able. >> He's able. >> He's able. >> He's able. >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> He's able.

((music playing)) >> He's aable. >> He's aable. >> God is able to do just what he said he would do. He's going to fulfill every promise to you. Don't give up on God cuz he won't give up ((music playing)) on you. He hallelujah. Hallelujah. Glory to your name, Jesus. Hallelujah. Come on.

With every hand lifted into this place, can we just begin to speak good of thy father? Hallelujah. Lord, we thank you. We love you, Lord. You're so great. You're so mighty. We invite you into this place. Hallelujah. Lord, we ask you that you would send your spirit to dwell in this place, Lord.

Dwell in our hearts. Hallelujah. Yes, God. Thank you, Jesus. You are our heart's one. Thirsty [singing] for you. Thirsty for you. You are our heart's one desire. Only you can satisfy. [music and singing] Only you can satisfy. Say you are. ((music playing)) >> You are our [singing] heart. ((music playing)) >> We're thirsty for you, Jesus. >> Thirsty for you. >> Oh, thirsty [singing] for you, >> Lord.

You are [singing] >> my desire. [music and singing] >> Only you can satisfy. You're satisfied. >> Oh Lord. ((music playing)) Come on. Say dwell here. >> Dwell here. >> Dwell here. >> Dwell here. >> Move. Whatever. >> Move. Whatever [singing and music] in your >> Whatever took your place. >> Whatever took your >> dwell. >> We need you, Jesus. >> Hey.

Yeah. ((music playing)) >> Yeah. We're going to go to this next part right here. It says, "Our hearts ((music playing)) are raised to you. We wait on you. Will you come in the room? Will you come in the room?" ((music playing)) Our hearts are raised to you. We wait on you. >> Wait ((music playing)) on you. >> We need you to come, Lord. >> Will you come in? >> Will you come in?

((music playing)) >> And our hearts are wait for you. >> We wait on you, Jesus. >> Wait on you. >> Will you come in the room? >> Will you come in? >> Will you come in the room? >> Will you come in? heart. >> We wait on you, Jesus. >> Wait ((music playing)) on you. >> Will you come in?

((music playing)) >> Will you come in? >> Will you come in? >> Will you come in ((music playing)) the room? >> We invite you into this place. Oh God, ((music playing)) >> will you come in the room? >> Come in. >> Will you come in the room? >> ((music playing)) >> Send down your glory. >> Send down your spirit, Jesus. >> Will you come in?

((music playing)) >> Will you come in the room? >> Will you come in? >> Will you come in the room? >> Hallelujah. Yes, Lord. Will you come in the room, oh Lord? Can we say that together? Right here. Will you come in the room? We >> invite you Jesus. Will you come and say hallelujah?

Last time together, will you [singing] come in? >> Hallelujah. Come on, put your hands together for Jesus as you take your seats. Hallelujah. Hey, production. We can actually cue the video now. But before we start, hey y'all. How y'all doing? >> Period. >> All right. So, before we get started, there is a video.

I'm Asia, by the way. Hey, >> I'mma come down here. >> Hello. Period. Thank you. I'm Asia. I am the youth director here. Um I would like to here. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Hallelujah. Aaron. So, thank you to our two student hosts, Noah um and Naomi.

I love them so much. Before we start, um, we're gonna have a very uh Oh, y'all yapping while I'm talking. Period. Thank y'all. So, we're going to have a short video that I want to show before we get started. But the reason that I'm telling y'all it's going to be a video is because I want you to pay attention to it because it connects to what we're talking about.

Okay? Um, if you're Here's the thing. Some of you while you're doing other things like on your phone. I'm not pressed about that. Just turn the volume down. Don't be all on TikTok loud. Then I'm going have attitude a little bit. But if you need to look at something like while you listen, I'm I I I understand.

I was a teacher before this, so I understand some of you have different modes of listening. But just know I'm going to ask you to respond at the end of the message. Capich? All right. So, there's a video that's going to play. That production is going to queue up and then we're just going to talk for a little bit.

Okay. All right. Production, you guys can cue the video. We see the story of Jesus going to the cross and everything seems to kind of be handinand. And then there's this one character that seems to interrupt the narrative. His name's Barabus. We don't even know much about him except that he's a murderer, leader of an insurrection, a rebel.

And why he's even mentioned sometimes I'm not so sure. It's like what? Let's This is about Jesus going to the cross. So in this moment, Pilate thinks I hold the destinies of these two men in my hand. I know the Jews have a tradition that on a holy day, I will release one of the prisoners on death row.

Pilate stands on this audacious stage who now presents Jesus, SON OF THE LIVING GOD, VERSUS BARABUS THE THUG AND REBEL. He says, "ALL RIGHT, WHO DO YOU WANT? THIS IS BLASPHEMY. THIS IS THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR. THERE'S NO COMPARISON. THIS IS A rightful prisoner. A MAN WHO SHOULD BE ON DEATH ROW.

HE'S A REBEL AGAINST ROME. He leads A REBELLION. HE MURDERS PEOPLE. HE'S A BAD MAN. HE'S A THUG AND HE'S A CROOK. HE DESERVES the chains. And he deserves the crucifixion. Jesus, what has he done but heal, restore, deliver, set free, open blind eyes, OPEN DEAF EARS, heal the lame and the leper?

WHAT WHAT HAS JESUS DONE? Who do you want? We We want Barabus. >> Yeah. Give us Barabus. People say, "Give us Barabus." The Roman soldiers come up and they put the key in and they unlock Barabus from his chains and shackles. And he walks down the platform welcomed by all of his thug friends.

Yeah. that people love me. Yeah, that's right. I only know who this Jesus guy is, but all I know is my people love me. There seems to be no conscience in Barabus. There's no record of him turning to Jesus and saying, "I owe you everything now, for you have set me free."

No, I don't see any of that in Barabus. And God knew that. Jesus stood there silent for he knew the will of the father. He said, "That's fine, Father. Let him have Barabus." For Jesus knew that the father would have to treat Jesus like Barabbus so he could treat Barabus like Jesus.

Barabus thought it was the people that set him free. No, no, no, no. It was the love of the heavenly father. >> Okay. So before we get started, I want us to just pray. So when I say pray, we're just going to close our eyes and we're just going to be quiet for a little bit while I speak a word of prayer.

Okay? Heavenly Father, we thank you for each and every child in this room, every adult. Lord Jesus, may a seed be planted, Lord Jesus. A seed of understanding. We know that some people did not even want to come, but we thank you that they made it here safely. allow for them to have understanding and comprehension because we were created to respond and to understand everything that you said in your word.

We love you. Even if we do not know you right now, we acknowledge that you love us. In Jesus's name we pray. Amen. Amen. So, um, I had that video come up because, uh, how many of you guys have ever heard of Barabus as like a Bible character before?

It's okay if you haven't. Just raise your hand. Okay. How many of you guys have been, this is your first time in a church setting in general, either to church, children's church, a church setting like this? Okay. Very cool. Now, the reason that I ask that is because I wasn't raised in church at all.

Um, a couple fun facts. My father is Muslim and I didn't actually understand the gospel. When I say the gospel, I mean everything about Jesus until I was 20 years old. And I'm giving you that information because I also was not the most well- behaved when I was in school.

I went to Bishop Mcamera. However, hold on. Careful. careful there because I needed to be accepted back in because I almost got kicked out my first year. Whoops. Uh oh. The reason that I almost got kicked out, I was on academic and behavioral probation. I wasn't fighting nobody.

I wasn't fighting nobody. I not, you know, I'm not even gonna act like I'm one of them. But the reason that I was in such trouble is because I had a smart mouth. I wasn't trying to go to mass. I didn't like the blazers. I just wasn't that just wasn't what I was what I was feeling at the time.

And again, I was not raised in church. So, I did not know that there were rules to behavior. I did not know that there were actual reasons to the problems that I was having. Now, the reason that I am uh bringing this up is because I want to know if some of y'all if when y'all teachers see y'all or y'all parents always got something to say to y'all, how many of y'all parents or guardians or teachers always like, "You always got something to say.

You don't never be quiet. You always got an attitude. Okay. Period. Very good. Welcome. Hi. Glad you're here. And how many of you guys know, whether they say it or not, you're considered like the problem student? I got kicked out of social studies every day in middle school.

Like, I actually could not go in the classroom. None of y'all be getting kicked out of class. All right. Exactly. Thank you. That's right. Solidarity. Okay. Uhhuh. Some of y'all got kicked out the day, didn't you? Yeah, whatever. It's all right. I be knowing. I be seeing. So now, the reason the reason that I'm asking you guys this is because uh oh, the reason that I'm asking this is because we're in the church, which means that we refer to ourselves as Christians.

And what I want you to understand and what we're going to understand is all of those problems that you're having or that you constantly have is something that we Christians refer to as sin. I need everyone to say sin. >> Now I want us to understand what that is before we start just talking about it.

Okay. So um my first slide, can we have that up please? So when I talk about sin or when you hear Christians talk about sin that means we are choosing our own way instead of God's way. Now that's important for us to understand because a lot of the times we think that it means doing something egregious like oh you walling out you doing something illegal.

No it doesn't always look like that. It might look like your teacher told you to go to class and you got something to say, so now you're walking slow because you're trying to get on their nerves and you're not trying to go to class. Or it looks like you facetiming somebody from your iPad when you got your phone taken.

Oh, or now, let me put this in a context for some of our older students. Some of you are in relationships right now. some of uh oh uh >> oh now listen that's okay let me come through here it's fine if you're in relationships here's what I'm saying some of you don't have some of you are deceptive even now in your relationships you're deceptive even Now, how's how that work?

What that mean? So, why do you think I'm telling you this? I'm telling you this because all of this all of this stuff, it appears harmless. You being young, you doing certain stuff, you catching an attitude, you like, "Oh, that's my little Yeah, it's all right. It's all right."

Yeah, that's sin. That's sin. You're choosing your own way to live instead of God's way. God has an opinion about faithfulness in relationships, even friendships. He has an opinion about that. Now, the reason though that many of us don't know this is because we are inherently sinful. But here's what we are going to understand today. that we need to believe in Jesus to be made well.

Again, we all of us need to believe in Jesus to be made well. And we're going to walk through that today because you're probably looking at me like, "Girl, no, we don't need to be made well. I ain't got no problem with Jesus. He ain't got no problem with me."

But he does. So our first point, everyone say problem. >> Problem. >> Now it is called a problem because all of us have it. Romans 3:23, for everyone has sinned. Sinned means we're going whose way? Our way instead of God's way. Everyone has sinned. We all fall short of God's glorious standard.

What does all mean? All. All means all. Why is that important? Some of you think that because you have good grades, because you on whatever team, because the teacher don't ever say nothing to you, that you're above reproach. Like, can't nobody say nothing to you. Oh, I don't get kicked out of class.

I go to M. I go to WCAC school. Oh, my mom do this. My dad do this. My parents work at the church. Don't care. You are born into sin. Everyone has fallen short of that standard. What is that standard? Uh well, always being kind, always being humble, always being generous to your friends.

Little stuff. You don't call your friends back when they when they upset. You always got something to say because oh, she always need prayer. So, oh, you see her hair? Oh, you see what he said? Everybody look a mess a little bit. >> Why am I saying this?

I'm saying this because we have to understand that everybody starts off at the same level. Everyone has fallen short of God's glorious standard. We are not always kind. We are not always generous. We get a little bit of money in that cash app account and all of a sudden and it's not even your money. >> I'mma keep going.

Whatever. It's all right. It's all right. And don't be trying to call me baldhead either because I cut my hair on purpose. Do not be trying to call me boyhead. Okay. Now, what did I say? My first point. My first point was what was the first P? >> Problem.

Everyone has sinned. Now, why has everyone sinned? What is this problem that we're all talking about? And why does everyone have it? My second P is penalty. Everyone say penalty. Penalty is basically you're getting. Now, if y'all watch sports, y'all should know what a penalty is. Flag on a play.

There's a consequence here. You cannot move forward. Scripture says when Adam sinned, when Adam did his own thing, did the opposite of what God said, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death. So, death spread to everyone for everyone sinned. Now, for those who might not be familiar with some of these Bible names, can you go to the next slide for me?

Adam was the first person that was created in God's image. Okay? Adam had perfect access to God. Perfect access meaning there was no sin. There was no wrongdoing. He could ask God for whatever he wanted and he did whatever he wanted and it turned everything wrong. One mistake and now everybody is screwed up.

Now, everyone after Adam, me, you, the pastor, the most straight A student at your school, the smartest teacher at their school, the most irritating teacher at your school, the best teacher at your school, the best player, LeBron, everybody. OH, NOT LEBRON. NO. [screaming] OH, MAN. Not your king. Yes, your king.

He is balding. >> Live, laugh, love, LeBron. >> Okay. Now, notice what it says here. Adam's sin brought what? >> It brought death. Now, understand that death doesn't always mean literal you're not alive anymore. This means a spiritual and a physical separation from God. When I say God, I mean the one who created this whole universe.

The one who created you and me, we are now separated from him because of one person's decision. One person's decision is all it took. And so, while some of you, and it's okay, some of you might have been forced to come here. Your parents said, "You need to get out the house.

I'm tired of you. You get on my nerves." Your parents were also born into sin. So the way that they interact with you and the way that you interact with your parents is marred is damaged by sin by wrongdoing. Do you always listen to your parents? No. Y'all not even listening to me all the way. >> I know you are.

Thanks, brother. So what I'm saying is everyone is affected by this. Now, here's other proof that um people are born into sin. How many of y'all got little siblings or nieces or nephew? They bad, aren't they? >> Yeah. Yeah. Some of you Yeah. Some of you are the bad little sibling.

Yes. >> Yeah. Now, the reason why I'm telling you that is because you don't have to teach babies how to lie, do you? >> No. You don't have to teach toddlers how to while out in public. You don't have to teach people how to act like they didn't lost their mind.

We are born into this world separated from God because of one man's decision. Adam's sin brought what? It brought death. It brought separation from God. Now, here's the thing. While we know that some of our nieces and nephews, they bad. They don't listen. We do to some degree still love them.

The reason that this is so is because while sin affected us and affected how we think, it affected how we talk to other people, how we treat other people. You always want to cut somebody else. Oh, do you need that? Do you need that? >> No. Everyone just calm down.

The reason that's how we act is because of sin. But do you think and remember that video that we watched at the beginning? Based on what you might hear about God, based on what the worship was talking about, do you think that God based on the fact that you're here today, whether you know know him or not, whether you worship him or not, whether or not you even identify as a Christian, whether or not you're still figuring out you like boys or girls.

Yep. Whether or not you feel like that, you think God is not going to love you. Do you think God still cares about you? Yes or no? >> Yes. Because that's the reality. Yes, you are born into sin. Yes, we're all born with some type of attitude problem.

We have relationship problems. God is not about to leave us there. And so that brings me to my third point. The plan of God. Everyone say plan of God. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ who? >> Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Now remember I said sin was going whose way? >> Our own way. So that tells us that while we were going our own way, while we were doing whatever we wanted to do, texting whoever we're texting while I'm talking, >> God still loves you. Yes or no? >> Does that make sense? >> It doesn't make sense, does it?

Because if your parent was talking to you, what would they do if you weren't listening? They would they would catch your attitude. They might pop you. They might snatch that phone. But what did Christ do? Does Christ take out his anger on us? >> No. What did he do?

He sent who? >> He sent somebody else to take your place. Why is this so important? A lot of us at this age, I I I was a teacher. I've worked with kids my whole life. I was a middle school teacher in DC. Thank you. Now, the reason I'm telling you this is because I don't believe you guys can't understand what I'm talking about.

I think some of you will choose to ignore what I'm saying, and I think some of you will choose to respond or be curious about what I'm saying. I think that's the reality because you make choices all the time. A lot of you can quote a lot of these lyrics like NBA Young Boy, but we have Romans 1:16 on the uh oh period.

You're so real for that. Here's the thing. I didn't say that was a bad thing. But why did you feel like it was a bad thing? because you don't know the Lord. >> So what I'm saying is if you want to respond to the fact that wait a second, even though I don't really listen to him, I'm not really I'm not really checking for the Lord right now.

Like I'm young, you know, it's warm out. It's about to get warm. Yes. Period. >> You know, it's about to get warm outside and I'm not really I'm not really checking for the Lord right now. And yet, even still, the Lord is not going to treat you how your parents treat you.

The Lord is not about to start snatching away life. He gave a life so that you could have yours back. >> And so, Praise God. And my next point, promise of God. Everyone say, "Promise of God." >> Now, I have two words highlighted, and I want you guys to read what Romans 10:13 says.

Everybody read all together. Please don't play. Okay? One, two, three. I give that a three out of 10 breeding. All right. Now, for everyone, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That word saved means to make well. So if the Bible is telling us that you need to be made well, that just reemphasizes my point that there's something wrong.

Whether you believe it or not, that does not make it true. So here's what I want you guys to be thinking about. Have I had experiences where I have all negative relationships? My teachers getting on my nerves, my parents getting on my nerves, my little y getting on my nerves.

My nails didn't come out right. I cannot figure out what lash clusters I want. >> Like, these are real issues. And I'm not going to diminish them. But I guarantee you, your life will be easier if you just responded to the fact that Jesus is wanting a relationship with you.

And that relationship might come in people being generous to you. That generosity that people show you, that kindness that people show you, when these volunteers greet you, they're not greeting you off their own strength. They're not greeting you because they can do that naturally. You know what we did before y'all came in here?

We prayed for the power of Jesus to help us love you. Any kindness you experience, any gift you receive, any type of help you get, that is Jesus. That is no one else but Jesus. And the last thing that I want to make or the last point rather is why do you need to be saved or why do I need to be made well?

I'm not sick. Ain't nothing wrong with me. I'm all right. Like I'm really good. That's fine to you. But you're not good. There is an enemy after you. Call me spooky if you want to. That's the reality. What? I'll be on TikTok. What? There is an That was right.

There is an enemy, a spiritual enemy that desires you. And I'm not trying to scare you. I want to just get that That's a reality of the situation. So if someone is after you, that tells me and that should communicate to you that you are special. That there is something inside of you.

There is God's fingerprint still on you. Despite the fact that we were all born in sin, doing our own thing, going our own way, there would not be something always happening in your life if there were not something special about you. I don't care that you're only in the sixth grade.

I don't care that you're in 11th grade. I don't care that, oh, they need to I I need to dress more like a girl or I need to dress more like a boy. I don't really care what no one's saying. The Lord loves you and wants you. That's the reality of the situation.

I don't care about anything anyone is saying. I don't care what some random Tik Tocker is saying. Don't let them fearonger you. You are loved by the Lord. I don't care what you dress like today. I don't even care what you think you about to do when you go home or what you just last did or who you just texted or who you was just out with or who you about to be out with or what you blah blah blah.

Don't care. Doesn't matter to me. You're loved by the Lord. That's in the Bible. That's period. The only person perfect enough to bring you back into God's presence is who? >> Is Jesus. that Christ character that we just put up there, the name of the Lord, his name is Jesus.

And he had a choice. He had a choice. And he said, "Yes, they are special enough for me to take that death instead of theirs." And so what I'm going to do is we're going to watch now the end last like minute of that video that we just played with a renewed sense of what the gospel is.

That we were born separated from God but that the love of who? Jesus desires us so much that he is yanking us back. That uncomfortable feeling, that's not fear. That's not the devil. That's something stirring up in you. Watch this video. Think about now how the love of Jesus might look in your life.

Knowing now that you need to identify with that character called Barabus, that thief. We are Barabus. Go ahead and play that video production. When I look at the story, I realize who Barabus really is. That's me. That's you. That's us. And I felt I was reading this the other day and I felt God speak to me.

I love Barack. I love him, but God, he's a bad man. I love him. And I wanted him to go free. But didn't you know that they probably would have never acknowledged the freak it get? Yeah. But I love perhaps while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God sent his son for Barabus. Even the one he knew would walk away from Jesus in his free gift and never come back. He loves And amen. And so I'm going to ask I know typically we do like a alter call situation where y'all come up. Instead of that tonight, um I'm going to give us in these last couple of moments time to reflect on where you stand with Jesus.

That's all I'm asking you to do. Now, I'm not going to force you to do that because I'm not I know the Lord, but some of you do not. But you can like that's an option for you. And so, I'm going to ask my altar counselor certified leaders to come on these the men here and the women here.

And if you would like prayer to strengthen your faith in Jesus, I'm not even telling you you have to know everything you want to believe right now. And I'm not telling you when you walk out the door you going to die. I don't know what's going to happen.

What I am telling you is I'm giving you an opportunity to invite at least the idea of Jesus into your heart. These are leaders up here. They're prepared to pray for you. I'm not forcing anyone to make a decision. We're gonna have soft, reflective music. And if you feel led, you come up and someone is going to pray for you.

You don't have to applaud it. The angels are rejoicing even from your seat at you thinking about making that decision. But people have prayed for you. We have prayed for you. Your curiosity is not something that you should ignore. It's okay. We all have to make the decision eventually.

I am encouraging you to be curious enough to ask for prayer. So, take some time. We put that phone away. You can close your eyes. You can look up. You can do whatever you need to do. But I want everyone to take this time to be reflective. Go up at any moment.

I [music and singing] am in your hands. There's nohere [singing] I can hide. I don't even want to try. I just want to say [singing] ((music playing)) again. I know ((music playing)) you're faithful, God. It's [singing] your loving kindness that ((music playing)) leads us to the thoughts [singing and music] and ways to separate us. Here I [singing and music] am. Here I am. At your feet again.

My heart is [singing and music] open wide. Jesus calling. All I [singing] am. ((music playing)) I [singing] can hide. I don't even want to try. [singing] >> ((music playing)) >> I just want to say that I trust you again. ((music playing)) I know you're [singing] faithful, God. ((music playing)) It's your love [singing] that leads us to the thoughts and ((music playing)) ways to separate [singing] us.

I just want to say that I trust you again. Cuz I know you're [music and singing] faithful, God. It's your loving kindness [singing] that leads ((music playing)) us to the thoughts [music and singing] and ways. Let's ((music playing)) start over. [singing] [music and singing] >> If you're not receiving prayer, you can still sit, but do not start yip yapping. Honor the space.

((music playing)) >> Don't be all loud. >> All [music and singing] down. Let's start over. Come take [music and singing] over. I'll lay it all down. I'll ((music playing)) lay it all [singing] down. Let's start over. Come take ((music playing)) over. [singing] I'll lay it all down. I [singing and music] lay it all down. Let's start over. God, ((music playing)) come take over, God. [singing] ((music playing)) I lay it all down.

I lay it [singing] all down. ((music playing)) I just want to say that I trust trust you [music and singing] again. I know you're faithful, God. ((music playing)) It's your loving kindness [singing] that leads us to [crying] the thoughts and ways. ((music playing)) Let's start over. Come take over. I lay it [singing and music] all down. I ((music playing)) [singing] >> take. So, as we close, I'm going to pray over all of you just in case fear got to you a little bit today.

I'm not I'm not tripping. I'm not mad at you, but I will ask you guys to be quiet so that we can pray out. Everyone lift your hands. When I ask you guys to lift your hands, that is typically me asking you to receive a word of prayer for safety.

That's not me asking you to do anything that you don't want to do. It's me saying, "Please receive this blessing that I'm going to speak over you. If you don't trust it right now, I'm not mad at you. Lift your hands if you are able, either high or low.

And let's bow our heads and we're going to pray to that same Jesus that I just told you about." Okay. Heavenly Father, we thank you right now for this place. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for those students who have said yes to you tonight and those students who are still on the fence.

Lord Jesus, release them in the name of Jesus. We thank you, Lord God, that the devil did not win and will never win. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for the gifts. We thank you for the NFL players, the NBA players, the singers, the dancers, the cyber security specialists, the artists, the models.

We thank you for the nail techs, the eyelash techs. We thank you for the hair stylists. We thank you for the influencers for Christ. We thank you for the straight A students, the the engineers. Thank go thank thank you God for the professors and the teachers and the nurses.

Lord Jesus, I thank you so much for each and every career in the arts. Thank you Lord Jesus that they will take over Lord Jesus and they will be fruitful. I thank you Lord Jesus that even when they are far away that they will remember this word that was planted inside of them Lord Jesus I plead the blood over each and every one of them and even if they do not understand right now Lord God even if they are fearful Lord Jesus and anxiety is trying to creep in I ask that you bind it in the name of Jesus I pray against the spirit of depression against the spirit of suicide and I pray against the spirit of doubt Lord God I thank you so much for their lives I pray God that they leave here reflective that they get in the car and start asking questions about Jesus.

Lord God, stir up their curiosity about you, Lord Jesus. Allow for them to go to school. Allow for them to start seeing signs on license plates and on uh windows and on doors and on cars. Lord Jesus, give them signs that you are loving them, that you are walking with them.

Lord God, remind them that no matter what they do right now, no matter who they like, no matter what their inclinations are, that you love them and you have died on the cross for them. remind them in the name of Jesus that you love them, Lord Jesus. That you say, "Come as you are," Lord Jesus.

We thank you that your yoke is easy, Lord God. We thank you that you have made it so easy to follow you in the name of Jesus. And I thank you, God, that there are doctors in this house. I thank you, God, that there are people who are going to change the world in this house.

That there are Oscar winners and there are Emmy winners and there are writers, Lord God. And I thank you that they are going to be a light in whatever environment that they have and that they are placed in. I pray that you protect them on the way home.

I bind any spirit of violence. I bind any spirit of altercation, any disturbance, Lord Jesus. And I thank you for a fruitful night in advance. And I thank you that next week when we return that we will continue to learn about your son, Jesus. And we will continue to be curious and we will continue to show up in whatever form that we come in.

Lord God, we will not allow ourselves to be held back by anything, but we will love you. We will learn about you. We will ask questions about you. And we will tell our friends that Jesus cares about me. If they remember anything from tonight, I ask in the name of Jesus that they remember that there is a God in heaven, the one that created the universe, the stars, the grass, and the birds that cares about them and that loves them.

And so as we dismiss tonight, Lord God, we thank you, protect them, keep them safe, and have them rest peacefully tonight in the name of Jesus. We thank you and we praise you. Amen. And amen. All right. Love you. Bye.