Keith Battle - God's Benefit Package - Part 5

Y’all enjoyed the series entitled «God’s Benefits Package.» It’s been amazing! Can I get y’all to help me show some love to our senior pastor, Pastor Keith Battle, for the way that he has been delivering the word week after week? We can’t celebrate him without also celebrating his lovely wife, First Lady Vicky Battle. Can we just show them some love? They are such treasures, and we are grateful for them. Today, you are in for a treat because we’re going to continue the series with a conversation featuring all of our lead campus pastors. So, Zion Landover, make some noise for your pastor, PJ! Zion Fort Washington, make some noise for Pastor Shawn Mason! Zion Woodbridge, make some noise for Pastor Shaman! And Zion Greenbelt, can you make some noise for Pastor Paige? Zion Anywhere, put some chat emojis for me! Z Anywhere, you’ve got to make some noise! Now, I did say Z Anywhere; they are going to put in—make some noise for PJ!

Alright, while they’re getting settled in their seats, I want y’all to help me recap for those who may be here for the first time or for those who haven’t been to church in a while. What did we talk about in Week Number One? Just shout it out—Zion Landover, anywhere Fort Washington, Woodbridge—what was Week One? Alright! And Week Two? Oh, I guess not everyone was here because only a handful of y’all shouted; maybe they’re over at Landover. Week Three, what did we talk about? Yes! In Week Four, awesome! So we’re going to talk about all four of those series and dive a little bit deeper into a conversation. Now, some people know who y’all are, and some don’t, so let’s start with introductions.

I’m going to switch it up; we’re going to start with Pastor Shaman since you were up here earlier. Please share your name, your campus, and what benefit you’ve been more intentional about claiming since the series started. I would like to reintroduce myself; my name is—alright, alright, just saying if y’all are awake, that’s it! So, my name is Shaman Smalls. I have the pleasure, honor, and privilege to serve at Zion Woodbridge. My Woodbridge family, shout out to y’all! Miss y’all, love y’all so much—turn up for me! The word that stood out to me is healing. There has been so much that has happened so far this year and in life, but I am so grateful to God that I am still here. I’ll expand on it in a bit, but just to be able to see healing in every aspect of life has been a tremendous blessing to me—from mind, body, spirit, and as my brother already shouted out, financially as well. So, thank God for that! Amen! Amen!

Good morning, everybody. Uh, my name is Jolie, and I am the lead pastor at Zion Church Landover, also known as Zelo. Oh no, we’re getting better! See, you’re a hater right now. The Bible says that you’re a hater, so I listen to the one that stands out for me: Pastor Joy, is forgiveness. It is forgiveness because, you know, the Bible says, «While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.» While we were still in our mess, He didn’t wait for us to get it right, because we can’t. He still died for us in our place. So, that gives us eternal life for those who are believers. It’s something that amazes me every day because I’m reminded of my imperfections and that God loved me anyway. I love it. I love it! Earlier, you said that God gave us His best when we were at our worst, and that’s going to stick with me for a while.

All right, Pastor Sean, hey! Good morning, everybody. My name is Shawn Mason, and I am the lead pastor of Zion Church for Washington, which I have the pleasure of serving and providing pastoral leadership and service to. Zion for us! Didn’t let me hear it, y’all; make some noise down there! But, y’all, the one that resonated with me was actually all of them. However, the intentionality is the one I am claiming to grow in, which is part two: healing. Pastor Paige, I am Larry P., confused right now, and I have the privilege of serving as the lead pastor for the Zion Greenbelt campus. I am grateful, grateful, grateful!

The word that really resonated was provision. For so long, I feel like I’ve kept my faith in a box because it’s safe. So, I would only trust God to the limits of that box. The Bible says that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and Jesus says, «But I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.» I struggle with the full. The question is: safe is good, but abundant is even better. What would it look like to begin trusting God for an abundance? Right? So, I’m going to give you this example and let it go.

When this series started, my mother was challenging me. She said, «Sometimes you take no too easily.» So, I had to start small. I went to Crumble Cookie—come on—and they had some strawberry shortbread cookies. Don’t judge me; everybody has something. The sign said that there were no more cookies, and so, initially, I accepted what the sign said. But I watched them in the back pull one out. My faith grew, and I said, «I saw you pull out a cookie. Is that just… was that my…»