A Note from Michael Gossett
The Liberty to Grow
This week has been heavy for our church. It is difficult, if not impossible, to put into words what Pastor David means to all of us. His passing has already left a space in our hearts that only eternity will heal. Praise God we do not have to grieve as the rest of the world without hope. David Dykes was more than a pastor, more than a leader, more than a dad, more than a husband or grandfather. He was a follower of Jesus who continued to grow in the likeness of Jesus. He is a man that we can follow…. As Paul described, “Follow me as I follow Christ,” Pastor David gave us a path to follow. Pastor David is responsible for thousands of souls not only coming to know Jesus personally but growing daily in Christian living.
Personally, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I had the rare privilege of walking closely with him under his leadership. He didn’t just “pass the baton,” instead, he allowed me to run beside him. He cheered for me, supported me, mentored me, and encouraged me at every turn. We mourn, yes, but today, Pastor David is more alive than ever before. And we will see him again. Until then, we must continue to walk in the trail that he blazed, growing and aiming our life toward Christ just like he did. I hope to see you at the celebration of David Dyke’s life in the worship center at Green Acres on July 9th at 1:00pm. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, to give any donations to the Green Acres Foundation. This was Pastor David’s request so that the church would continue to flourish long after his departure.
Today also marks the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The signing of this monumental document is a defining moment in world history. Today, we will celebrate with fireworks, friends, families, and flags to commemorate the courage of our forefathers, who risked everything for political liberty, as well as the countless soldiers who lost their lives protecting it. But hidden beneath the patriotic noise of the holiday lies a more profound truth. A truth that Christians in America should not overlook which is the call to spiritual liberty and maturity that transcends political freedom.
1775 – A Day of Fasting and Prayer
Before the muskets fired at Lexington and Concord, before Thomas Jefferson penned his eloquent lines of self-evident truths, a lesser-known spiritual act helped lay the foundation for liberty. On July 20, 1775, almost a year before independence was declared, the Continental Congress called the colonies to a day of “public humiliation, fasting and prayer.” They urged the citizens to confess their sins and “beseech the mercies of Almighty God… through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ.”
This wasn’t in any way some sort of political theatrics. Our founding fathers like John Adams believed the fate of liberty depended not only on battles, but on moral virtue and spiritual formation. Adams wrote to his wife Abigail after the event, “Millions will be upon their knees at once before their great Creator, imploring His forgiveness and blessing… no people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.”
The founders, for all their flaws and theological inconsistencies, understood that there is no external liberty that can endure where inward virtue is absent. How much more do we need to understand this truth today?
From Political Freedom to Spiritual Formation
Paul, writing in Ephesians 4, gives us a vision not for political liberty, but for spiritual maturity. Ephesians 4:1 says, “I urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received.” The gospel does not simply save us from hell, it saves us into the body of Christ, for a life of growing up into maturity.
True freedom, Paul says in Galatians 5:1, is not freedom from responsibility but freedom to be become like Christ. Paul writes, “For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” This is not autonomy. It is conformity to the image of the Son rather than to the world. The Christian life is not a static experience of liberty but a dynamic journey of growth.
In this way, the church becomes a colony of heaven in the midst of the world, and believers become patriots of a higher kingdom. This kingdom is not one forged by muskets and declarations, but by a cross and an empty tomb.
The Peter Pan Syndrome and the Crisis of Maturity
We live in an age marked by a delayed adolescence. This is not just a cultural issue, but a spiritual one as well. Far too many Christians remain in what psychologists refer to as the “Peter Pan Syndrome.” This is referring to those who never grow up, never accept responsibility, and never move from drinking milk to eating meat.
There are indicators of spiritual growth. Promoting unity, embracing diversity, and pursuing maturity are all good indicators of a maturing faith. This is more than a church growth strategy; this is a command for every believer living under the Lordship of Christ.
Let’s be honest…. This is extremely difficult. Think about this in terms of just watching fireworks, rather than letting the fire of Christ burst within you. It is far easier to watch fireworks in the sky than to let the refining fire of sanctification burn away pride, selfishness, and complacency. It is easier to celebrate national freedom than to surrender to the Spirit’s work of forming Christ in us. But liberty in Christ demands growth in Christ. This is why we always say at our church: We want to CONNECT to Jesus and His church, GROW in the likeness of Jesus, and MULTIPLY for the purpose of Jesus. Growth is a natural trajectory of every follower of Jesus.
True Gospel Revolution
Paul says that Christ “gave gifts to people” in Ephesians 4:8. These gifts are not to entertain or elevate ourselves, but “to build up the body of Christ” according to verse 12. These gifts flourish best in the soil of unity, are nourished by diversity, and bloom in maturity.
Consider the early church. In the first century, the church didn’t topple the Roman Empire with swords, but with sanctified lives. Their unity shocked a divided world. Their diversity modeled reconciliation across ethnic, class, and gender lines. Their maturity displayed the kind of freedom Caesar could never manufacture and one that he really could never comprehend.
The American Revolution may have won us freedom from monarchy, but only the gospel grants freedom from sin. Only the gospel creates a people who live not by their rights, but by Christ’s righteousness. This is a true revolution that is still underway in every faithful church.
A Charge to the Church Today
So, as we wave our flags and celebrate our national freedom, let us also raise our eyes to Christ. The greatest act of freedom was not declared in Philadelphia, but accomplished on a hill outside Jerusalem, called Golgotha. The most consequential constitution was not signed on parchment but written on our hearts by the Spirit.
And so, on this 249th Independence Day, may we as the church declare our dependence on Christ, on grace, and on one another. Because of our national freedom and because of our spiritual freedom in Christ, I pray that we:
- Promote Unity, not as political partisans, but as gospel people who love beyond division.
- Embrace Diversity, not as a nod to cultural fads, but as a witness to God’s manifold wisdom according to Ephesians 3:10.
- Pursue Maturity, not with selfish ambition, but in humble service, “Speaking the truth in love” as we grow in the likeness of Christ.
On July 8, 1776, four days after the Declaration was signed, the Liberty Bell was rung publicly in Philadelphia to summon citizens for the first reading of the document. Inscribed on the bell are these words from Leviticus 25:10, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” But as years passed, the bell cracked. Today, it no longer rings. The rope is severed, and the bell remains silent. Yet the church, which is the body of Christ, must not go silent. We are the new bell, proclaiming liberty to every nation, tribe, and tongue. Let us not crack under pressure. Let us ring out with grace and truth.
Let freedom ring, not just for our nation, but for a Kingdom that will never end.
Flint Campus Update
This Sunday will mark the final day of Jacob Browning’s faithful service as our Campus Pastor to the Flint Campus. As many of you know, Jacob has accepted the call to become the new Lead Pastor of First Celina Baptist Church in Celina, Texas. While this change is undoubtedly bittersweet, it is also profoundly good and deeply biblical.
In Acts 13, the church at Antioch laid hands on Paul and Barnabas and sent them out. It was not because they wanted them to leave, but because the Spirit had called them to go. Gospel goodbyes are never easy, but they are essential for the expansion of God’s Kingdom.
We want to publicly and joyfully celebrate Jacob, Alicia, and their five awesome kids for the incredible way they have served, led, and loved the people of Green Acres, especially at the Flint Campus.
We believe in multiplication! This is not just of disciples, but of leaders, and staff members as well. We are proud to send the Brownings with our full blessing and deepest gratitude. They are not leaving ministry; they are extending it. For that, we praise God!
This Sunday at Green Acres:
At the end of each service at all of our campuses this Sunday, we will hold a brief church-wide vote for our members. We are seeking approval to move forward with the partnership with Injoy, a John Maxwell company, to assist us with stewardship development, campaign consulting, and discipleship strategies as we move into a new and exciting season of ministry growth.
Thanks to the generosity of a church member (or possibly a few members) this entire cost of $140,000 has already been covered through a designated gift. This means there will be no impact on our church’s operating and ministry budget. However, we still need to vote because of the magnitude of this step forward.
We are grateful for God’s provision and for those whose generosity continues to help us expand our reach and ministry effectiveness. Please join us in prayer for wisdom and unity as we move forward.
Come to worship at Tyler or Flint at 9:30am or 11:00am and Español at 11:00. We also have Connect Groups, which are essential for your growth in Christ, that meet at 8:00am, 9:30am, and 11:00am. Come and join us!
You are loved and prayed for!
Michael Gossett