We concluded our series “Homecoming” at Gateway Church in Austin.
The mission doesn’t stop with us. Jesus commissions His followers to go, make disciples, and leave a lasting mark. Faith is never meant to stay still—it’s meant to multiply across generations. What starts with you should outlive you.
Digging Deeper
Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own or get together with your group, spiritual
running partners, or family to talk through what you are learning.
Message Video:
Message Notes by Justin McCarty:
Awhile back, my wife and I stumbled across a PBS documentary called “How We Got To Now: The Story of Cold” that walked through the historical development of something we take for granted – artificial cold – ice, A/C, refrigerators. It wasn’t an overnight sensation or a “eureka” moment of invention; it was a meandering story of happenstance, perseverance, weird passions, outlandish ideas, and the willingness to risk.
Frederick Tudor dreamt of transporting ice from the northern US to the humid, hot South and spent 10 years on failed endeavors before he finally stumbled onto the icehouse solution.
Dr. John Gorrie – a physician who invented mechanical refrigeration in an effort to better treat patients, but never received any fame or wealth from his invention.
Years later, Frederick McKinley Jones, a Black inventor mounted a refrigeration unit to a truck and opened up the transportation of frozen goods, changing grocery stores everywhere.
Willis Carrier was the first to engineer air conditioning to cool a hot movie theater, with his A/C tech ultimately becoming something that opened up parts of the United States where no wanted to live into thriving cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas.
All of these stories built on one another, adding and developing an idea and expanding it into something none of them realized they were a part of – and collectively, across decades and generations – they changed the world!
So in a real way, you and I, sitting in this air conditioned building in hot Central Texas, owe our presence here to these relatively unknown people. Seriously, how many of us, or our ancestors, would have landed in Central Texas without A/C? Think about it: your whole life in the Austin area may be substantially due to someone’s small part in creating and preserving cold!
That long development and steady progression is what is called “cathedral thinking”. Back in the Middle Ages of Europe, magnificent cathedrals were built to honor God and create a communal space for worship – but the scale & scope of the construction was unprecedented. These were multigenerational projects that required commitment to a long-range goal without immediate payoff. Generations of skilled laborers and tradesman would be born, live, and die, contributing their whole life to a cathedral they never saw finished.
Think about it! The Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain has been under construction for over 140 years, as work began in 1882. The basilica is expected to be completed in 2026, on the 100th anniversary of the designer Gaudí’s death, though decorative details may continue until 2034!
Cathedral thinking is about committing to a vision that is far beyond your capacity to pull off alone or within your lifetime. It requires imagination and dreaming, fortitude and dedication, interdependence and collaboration, grit and determination, especially when things get tough. But when it’s completed – it lasts, it endures, it changes the world. It’s not only how cathedrals and air conditioning systems get made – it’s how true greatness and significance are achieved.
OBSTACLES WE FACE
It sounds beautiful, doesn’t it? Except if you live in Year 8 of a 60-year project! Our culture really loves the idea of changing the world, but very few of us are signing up for things that require heavy cathedral thinking. Why? Because we have been trained to value instant gratification, immediate ROI, and speed. Every click to purchase on a website, every drive-thru coffee or curbside service at a restaurant, every YouTube short or Insta Reel, it’s all training us – down to neurons and dopamine – to value now as the time for satisfaction.
Almost every business is built on the premise of speed. We know that expectations of productivity are exponential at the moment – not only with the relentless demand of “more profit” and “faster development” – but now we’ve thrown in artificial intelligence to help us accelerate beyond what’s humanly possible. “Faster” is what’s driving almost every aspect of modern life.
But you may also suspect that there are diminishing returns when we overlay productivity and significance. More doesn’t always equal better. Faster doesn’t always equal satisfying. A lot of the things ourare culture is intensifying from sprint into warp speed isn’t necessarily looking out for what’s best for you or me.
Interestingly, if you were to spend some time with people who are approaching the end of their lives – whether that be of old age or an untimely bout with disease – you would hear questions that most people in our culture just don’t seem to have time to ask. People near the end of life tend to find themselves asking: “Did I invest in what really mattered?” Not just, “did I do a lot?” They ask, “What was I really living for?” “What will outlast me?” There’s a hunt for lasting significance that no amount of social media popularity, instant gratification, or sheer productivity ever seem to touch. Sometimes the people who seemed to have it all are the ones most haunted by what seems to be missing.
We are being trained away from cathedral thinking and our souls suffer for it.
GOD’S CATHEDRAL-THINKING PROJECT
But God has never been confused on this point. In fact, right now, he is up to something on planet earth that would make your head spin if you could take it in right now. He’s working on multiple different timestreams, transcending cultures, languages, and geographies, racing light years ahead of AI with God-mode Intelligence, all the while bending history to a purpose that makes “changing the world” seem like child’s play. He is “cathedral thinking” like no one ever has – and the door is open to us to get in on it.
Jesus revealed a glimpse of this in Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus announces, “I’m now in charge of everything. In light of that, go – make disciples.” That word disciple means “student” or “apprentice.” Go invite them into what I’m doing and show them how to participate with me. Historically, this is known as “The Great Commission” – it’s marching orders for anyone associated with Jesus. No matter what you do – factory worker, surgeon, barista, software developer, truck driver – this is now the overriding priority of your life.
In our Sessions series we looked at the Jesus’ Great Invitation – “come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” Then in our Voices series we heard from people living out Jesus’ Great Commandment “to love God and to love your neighbor.” Today we are looking at the last instructions Jesus gave his disciples. This is what He started and invites us into – “The Great Commission.”
This is part of what it means to be “saved” – you’re not just being saved from something bad, you’re being actively saved or pulled into something shockingly good! God, through Jesus, is pulling you into the real action happening in the universe; he is involving you in the Story he is the central character in. In the Revelation, he calls this story “The Book of Life.” Knowing who God is, I don’t think this is just some cosmic roll call, like Santa’s “Naughty or Nice” list – it seems far more likely to be an epic adventure story he’s come up with and he would love for you to exchange your small, self-made story and let your name be written into the Book he’s creating.
This invitation is on public record and it is currently racing through the world – just as Jesus said it would. Matthew 24:14 ESV.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
“Gospel” means “good news” – life under God’s rule, life in the Kingdom of God, can start right here and now through trusting Jesus. Step out of the center of your story and give God the main role, let him pull you into the Book of Life.
What Jesus set afoot that day in Galilee with his first disciples was worldwide spiritual revolution. The mysterious plan of God is to overwhelm evil with good under the leadership of King Jesus. He already proved that he could do it – that’s what the cross and resurrection are all about. Humanity threw the worst they could at the best man the world had ever seen, and not only did he not stay dead – he kickstarted a new creation and is supervising the development right up to now. Just as he promised: “I’m with you every step of the way.” The project continues, life by life, across time and space. He is undoing the work of evil and bringing resurrection and life to every person who will let him.
Friends – this is what you have happened upon. We call it Gateway here in this place and time, but we’re not building Gateway! Gateway is one brick in a massive, multigenerational project – a worldwide spiritual revolution that is overwhelming evil with good, spearheaded by the Resurrected Jesus. This is “cathedral thinking” at its finest!
HOW TO JOIN IN
So how do you and I get in on this? First, take a deep breath and slow down. Anything related to cathedral thinking isn’t fast. This will not be instant gratification, it will not be immediate ROI, it will not be overnight. God has been working at this for longer than you can imagine and this specific aspect of the project has been chugging along for over 2 millennia. You’re going to have to adjust your expectations and alter some of your assumptions about what it looks like to change the world. Most of all, you’re going to have to create some new patterns in your life that enable you to plug into this kind of purpose.
Would you like to know the primary ingredient God is using in this worldwide spiritual revolution?
Everyday faithfulness
The goal of a disciple, or apprentice to Jesus, is to come to the point where they easily and routinely do what Jesus said; they put his words and way into practice. Sometimes we want to jump into the deep end of God’s purpose for our life, but we are struggling in the shallow end of simple obedience. Don’t overlook small obedience to Jesus. Jesus himself said, “Whoever is faithful with little will be faithful with much.”
Our primary form of involvement in this vast project God is orchestrating is to simply say the next right Yes on the path of being Jesus’ disciple.
For some of you listening in person or online, that would mean becoming Jesus’ disciple. The first step is always the right step. You can’t give your life over to someone as teacher and master, if you don’t trust them. My challenge to you – your first step of everyday faithfulness – is to figure out what keeps you from truly and deeply trusting Jesus. Do you doubt his reality? Do you think he’s not really God? Do you think he’s out of touch with the modern world and can’t really help you with your problems? What do you need to see and know of Jesus in order to really begin trusting him? It’s why we encourage people to immerse themselves in the scriptures – get to know him. It’s also why we encourage people to try praying – experiment with the reality of God and see what happens. Venturing on the potential reality of Jesus is the only way you’ll ever verify if he’s truly trustworthy.
For those who have become followers of Jesus, mark my words: persistent faithfulness is what God uses to ultimately change the world. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews tries to make this point in Hebrews 11 – often referred to as the “hall of faith”. Lists of famous people who exercised faith in God and experienced remarkable things! Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Samuel, David.. But if you look closely at their stories, the power and influence of their life always comes back to small choices, persistent faithfulness to God – even in the face of difficulty or opposition.
- Abel picked the best sacrifice to offer God when he could have picked 2nd best and no one would have known.
- Abraham persisted in trusting God for a child even when everyone around him thought he was senile because he and his wife were too old.
- Moses didn’t stop challenging Pharoah to release his people after failed attempt 6, 7, or 8, he persisted.
- David, even when he had committed adultery and murder, chose to believe that God’s heart was big enough to truly forgive him and he repented. He said “Yes” to God and changed course.
Another ingredient God is using in his project is a simple pattern you can weave into your life:
Give what you’ve got.
In Acts 4, Jesus’ disciple Peter encounters a man who couldn’t walk and who was begging for a donation. He doesn’t sidestep or avoid him, and he doesn’t give money he doesn’t have either. He says, “Gold or silver I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” Peter discerns a need and gives what he knows from his experience with Jesus.
You may or may not be ready to dole out physical healings like Peter, but I promise you, you’ve got something to give. Every follower of Jesus is the recipient of an incredible treasure – we know and experience God, we’re learning more about him, we’re figuring out how to follow him. That’s too good to keep to yourself. This cathedral building project that Jesus set in motion thrives when we give freely of what we’ve got.
2 Timothy 2:2 ESV
“What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men and women, who will be able to teach others also.”
You have heard at least a few things – who are you entrusting them to? Who in your life are you intentionally investing in? This doesn’t have to be something formal or overtly religious. This could be sharing the love of God with a child, talking with a teenager about their questions about God, taking the time to genuinely listen to the troubles a co-worker is walking through – maybe even offering to pray with them? There may be specific people who are hungry to follow Jesus – share what you have with them. When you see something in the scriptures, share it! When you pray and watch God move, share it! When you work your way through the next simple Yes, share it!
Do you know Step 12 from AA?
“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” – 12th Step
People who are working the Steps know the power of intentionally investing in others – not only does it keep them sober, but it’s part of how the change continues to ripple beyond them! It’s a way of loving everyone, life by life – just like we have said here at Gateway for years.
But there’s one more crucial ingredient to this massive undertaking God is leading and it’s something each of us can choose to do…
Raise up the next generation.
Younger people – be they 2, 12, or 22 (yes, you’re still young to me), are some of the most impressionable, most available people in the world; they have immeasurable potential and, are in fact, the future rulers of the world. We should do everything in our power to help them become who God is calling them to be, to give them opportunities to lead, to help them on their journey of everyday faithfulness, and to intentionally invest ourselves in them. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
This is a responsibility entrusted to everyone who is still breathing. It doesn’t matter if they are genetically related to you or not – we can raise up Kids, to Students, to Young Adults (20s/30s); we don’t just help them get older; we lift them – we raise them up with our words, our actions, our belief in them, our prayers.
Perhaps that means you serve actively with them – awesome (and thank you!).
Perhaps it means you give generously and pray fervently for them – awesome (and thank you!).
Perhaps it means you open your hands when the church around you starts to look and feel different because it’s being shaped more by their generation than yours.
Perhaps it means you just choose to be proactively friendly and kind when you interact with someone younger, even if you don’t get their humor, social media references, or clothes. We get to look at them and believe that God has great things in store for them – and that he is pulling them into the wild Book he is writing!
I know that simple things like everyday faithfulness, giving what you’ve got, raising up the next generation may not seem like the stuff of worldwide spiritual revolution, but they have been potent fuel in the mix for the last 2000 years! Sometimes we think we need to do something great, be something bigger, see some uprising here and now, but the truth is – you may never know what part you play in God’s cathedral-building revolution. Like those guys in the story of cold, you may play a pivotal role, but never see how it all plays out. You wouldn’t be alone either. Hebrews 11:39-40
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
These amazing people didn’t see how their lives would play out – but we reap the benefit of their faithfulness. And now there are people counting on us – people we may never meet, but who are relying on us so they can step into their part.
COMING HOME
Do you see where all this is heading? We’ve been in a series called “Homecoming” that draws to a close today – and that’s precisely what all this is about: coming home. Friends, we aren’t home yet. The Kingdom of God is breaking through here on earth, life by life, but it hasn’t fully arrived yet. Those heroes from Hebrews 11 give us a clue: Hebrews 11:13-14 ESV
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
This world in its present form and condition is not home, but we’re on our way.
The final book of the Bible gives us a glimpse of what lies ahead: Revelation 21:1-5 ESV.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
The home of God is going to be with people. He is making all things new. The resurrection life that came through Jesus on Easter is going to overtake the earth. Our true homecoming is the new heavens and new earth that God is creating – a new, glorious chapter in the Book of Life that will go on and on.
Do you see it? This is the true cathedral building project God is working on – he’s not only creating new heavens and a new earth, he is building people who are at home with God in the new world he’s creating. We are a part of that vast, multigenerational project of worldwide spiritual revolution – so that we can finally come home to the world we were made for.
