2021 Year in Review | Jonathan Pokluda

About this sermon

SUMMARY Have you ever crossed the finish line in a race before? Or, what about crossing a starting line to begin a race? As 2021 comes to a close, JP looks back as we cross one finish line and looks ahead to what God has in store as we start a new race in the days ahead. KEY TAKEAWAYS -We refuse to make “the deal” with you: show up, pay up, and sit quietly as we entertain you and don’t ask too much of you. -We are committed to complete transparency with you. We will err on the side of telling you too much too soon. -We try every week to tear down the proverbial curtain between church members and church staff. We are a kingdom of priests, each and every one of us (not just the church staff). -At the end of 2018, we refinanced the loan on our property. It was a $6.1 million loan. We had a goal of raising $7 million in 7-years. -On average, we take in 25% of our annual budget in the month of December. -As of Wednesday, December 1, 2021, we are debt free! -We are committed to putting to death perception management. It’s one of the great evils within the church, and especially in America. -In 2021, 43% of covenant members gave to the mission of Harris Creek. -Your spiritual growth and your generosity will be aligned. -In 2021, 1 in 10 undergraduate students at Baylor were in a Harris Creek Life Group. -The Becoming Something podcast was listened to over 1.5 million times in 2021. -161 people were baptized in 2021. -As we finish our journey of paying off our debt, we are ready to begin a new journey. Debt is not sinful, but it is limiting. -There are 1,181 kids in the foster system in McLennan county. This is symptomatic of the church not being the church. -We are going to build a house to help house foster children who are sleeping in CPS offices. -In the days ahead we want to plant churches, reach the nations, and continue helping everyone follow Jesus by engaging the lost, equipping the saints, and empowering members for service. -We simply want to make disciples. That’s it. -Let’s not make the mistake by forsaking our first love like Ephesus did. Let’s finish well. Lets pray God would increase our faith and that we’d love Him more at the end of today than we did when we woke up. MENTIONED OR RECOMMENDED RESOURCES -Suggested Scripture study: Romans 14:23; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Acts 5:1-11; Ephesians 3:14-21; Matthew 6:33; Revelation 2:1-5