What's your biggest dream? If you sat down to draw out your most elaborate, well-thought plans, what would they look like?

During college, I spent a lot of time dreaming and planning. My dreams all had to do with the future, and they all had to do with me. Eventually, one of those dreams began to come true. I got accepted into grad school, was making connections in my field and taking some great opportunities. All of the doors I'd knocked on were opening up. There was just one thing I'd forgotten, something you may have heard Dean say at City Church before: Jesus interferes with your life.

While I was navigating this path I'd meticulously laid out, I was also becoming more invested in City Church. I didn't know it yet, but God was changing the way I viewed the local church. Before coming to City Church, I had mostly thought of church as an accessory to my life. I believed it was essential to growing in faith, but my view of church was very small, and mostly centered around what church could do for me (which often mirrored my view of God).

When I came to City Church, I saw people getting excited about not just coming to church, but serving here. When I joined the staff, I watched multiple people change their entire life plans, even quitting their jobs, to invest more time in growing this church to further God's kingdom. What did all of these people have in common? Their lives had been changed by the gospel, and as a result, they were following Jesus by serving his church. And following Jesus interferes with your life.

My story has become the same as many others. Six months into grad school, I quit-not because I didn't like it, but because my dreams had changed. I've become passionate about seeing people meet Jesus by coming to church, and seeing those already here taking next steps by serving others. I keep coming back to Jesus' words to Peter in Matthew 16:18: "...you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." I think one of the biggest testaments of God's grace is that he sent his son to die for our sins, gave us the way to salvation through Christ, and then, as members of his church, allows us to join in his work. Which will not fail or be overcome, even by Satan.

For you, following Jesus might not mean quitting your job, or your dreams. Maybe for you it's giving up sleep to help set up at Leon at 4:30am. Maybe it's reorganizing your finances to be able to give to the vision here. Maybe it's taking an hour to serve in City Church Kids on Sundays. Maybe it's putting your faith in Jesus, and not in things that ultimately leave you unfulfilled. Whatever it looks like, I can guarantee that following Jesus will interfere with your life, your plans, and your time. It requires sacrifice, maybe even of things you've loved or worked hard for. But I would point you back to Matthew 16, when Jesus says, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (v. 25)

When God lovingly broke down the pride in me that held onto selfish plans, he redirected my heart towards what would glorify Him. Now my biggest dream is to see the gospel radically change Tallahassee, and grow outward from there. I believe that is going to happen through the local church, and I've seen it already happening here at City Church. My challenge to you is to examine how, by following Jesus, you can serve his mission of building his church, and then go do that. Whatever you lose will pale in comparison to seeing lives changed and God glorified.