{"id":32044,"date":"2022-09-10T15:54:03","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:54:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/how-a-hurricane-revealed-one-churchs-difference-making-culture\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:54:03","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:54:03","slug":"how-a-hurricane-revealed-one-churchs-difference-making-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/how-a-hurricane-revealed-one-churchs-difference-making-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"How a Hurricane Revealed One Church’s Difference Making Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pixabay photo – Pexels<\/div>\n

By Aaron Wilson<\/em><\/p>\n

Pastor Gregg Matte of First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, jokes that for at least a month, the church\u2019s worship team didn\u2019t sing a single song.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they were leading in worship,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Matte is referring to the month following the landfall of Hurricane Harvey\u2014a Category 4 storm that devastated the Texas coast in August 2017. During this time, First Baptist Church transformed its campus into a disaster relief command center of sorts.<\/p>\n

While the congregation did worship through song during this time, one of the church\u2019s primary aims was to be a difference maker in its local community\u2014a population reeling from the effects of the storm.<\/p>\n

Now, almost two years after Harvey, Matte is releasing a book and Bible study from B&H Publishing and Lifeway Christian Resources called Difference Makers<\/em> about what it means to courageously live with impact and purpose for Christ. In addition to the book and Bible study, First Baptist\u2019s worship team will release a worship album of the same name through Lifeway Worship.<\/p>\n

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While the hurricane is mentioned in the book, the theme of being a difference maker didn\u2019t originate in the throes of disaster relief. It was an identity God had been weaving into the culture of the church months before Harvey began stirring in the Atlantic.<\/p>\n

Made for More than \u2018Sitting and Soaking\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Matte, author of the book Difference Makers<\/em> and one of the writers of the album\u2019s title track by the same name, said the idea came from mobilizing Christians to be more than pew-sitters.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of just sitting and soaking, we want our people to go out and make a difference in the world\u2014whether that\u2019s as a stay-at-home mom or somebody in corporate America,\u201d Matte said. \u201cI wanted to create something the church could rally around and declare together.\u201d<\/p>\n

In August of 2015, Matte wrote the \u201cDifference Maker\u2019s Declaration,\u201d five lines the church would say together corporately as he began each week\u2019s sermon. The declaration begins with the reminder, \u201cI was made for more than watching. I have a history-changing, difference-making, life-giving, Spirit-empowered legacy to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the congregation at Houston\u2019s First Baptist did more than recite the declaration; they lived it out\u2014as little league coaches, Bible study leaders, law enforcement officers and in numerous other positions where God has called His people to serve Him as difference makers in the community.<\/p>\n

The church had \u201cDifference Makers\u201d T-shirts printed that church members would wear as they put their declaration into action. When Harvey hit, the church was ready to serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur church had been the classroom; Harvey was the lab,\u201d Matte recounts. \u201cWe joke about the saying, \u2018Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.\u2019 Our saying was, \u2018We\u2019re here, we\u2019ve got the T-shirt, now let\u2019s go do that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

As church members sought to serve and provide relief to their neighbors who lost nearly everything in the storm, Matte guided the church to understand they were called to rise to the occasion. Everyone could make a little difference somewhere, which would compound to make a bigger difference in providing relief to their city.<\/p>\n

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Music as a Means of Teaching<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As members of First Baptist served their community, they hummed songs they had been singing as a congregation about what it means to be a difference maker for Christ.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s on purpose that we accompany the book and Bible study with songs about these truths,\u201d said First Baptist\u2019s worship leader, John Bolin. \u201cMany classic hymns began as a way of teaching theological principles. The same is true of this project.\u201d<\/p>\n

The release of Difference Makers<\/em> marks the first time the church has produced a book and music project that complement one another\u2014something Matte and Bolin describe as a dream they had discussed for years.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past, I\u2019ve said something in a sermon that\u2019s inspired the worship team to write a song, and they\u2019ve sung songs that have inspired me in my preaching,\u201d Matte said. \u201cBut all of that was preparatory for this\u2014a project that\u2019s woven together with numerous chapters, messages and songs that act as companion pieces to one another.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 10 songs on the CD were birthed out of a retreat songwriters took with Matte.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went through the book chapter by chapter as our creative song writing team started taking notes and asking questions,\u201d Matte said. \u201cIt was a very enjoyable creative moment for us to be together and to watch these resources come to life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of the songs on the Difference Makers<\/em> CD will be new to members of Houston\u2019s First Baptist as not all were written for corporate worship.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did that on purpose,\u201d Bolin said. \u201cSome of the songs will work great for a corporate setting, and some of these are just for you and your heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been strategic about the songs and how they will be used,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it will provide great variety for the church, for readers of the book and Bible study and for listeners of the music.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Difference Makers<\/em> sets to release in June, Matte and Bolin hope the project inspires other churches to find their identity, not in what they create and steward, but in their Creator and Savior.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d like to see a real movement of people realizing God has called them to make a difference,\u201d Matte said. \u201cAn army of the general population ready to step forward in the love of the Lord in everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difference Makers<\/em> the book, Bible study and CD are available June 1 at Lifeway.com\/DifferenceMakers.<\/p>\n

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Aaron Wilson<\/h2>\n

@AaronBWilson26<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Aaron is associate editor of LifewayResearch.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n