Take the Field

I T ' S T I M E T O A C T · W E E K 6 · F R E E D O M W E E K E N D TAKE THE FIELD Acts 6:1–8 (ESV) · Galatians 5:13 Imagine Church USA — Pembroke Pines, FL · Sunday, July 5, 2026 · 10AM · USA 250 + World Cup BIG IDEA (Repeat 3–4 times throughout) "Freedom was never meant to be watched from the stands — it was meant to be carried onto the field." Supporting line: "You're not an attender. You're an assignment." OPENING HOOK (High energy. The room is coming off July 4th and a World Cup weekend. Ride it.)

What a weekend, church. Yesterday — America turned 250 years old. Right now — the whole world is here. The World Cup is on our soil. Round of 32. Nations pouring into this country — Miami on the map, the flags, the noise, the whole planet watching.

Brazil in the room — I see you. America in the room — I see you. Isn't it something? Every four years, billions of people stop everything — to watch 22 players on a field. Sixty thousand in the stadium. Millions more on the couch.

And here's what hit me this week. Most people will only ever watch the World Cup. Imagine Church USA · IT'S TIME TO ACT · Week 6 — Take the Field 1 Very few will ever step on the field. And that — is exactly how most people do their faith. They come to the stadium. They wear the jersey.

They cheer at the big moments. But they never step on the field. Hear me, Imagine Church — You were not saved to sit in the stands. You were saved to take the field. And this morning, in Acts 6, God is calling His people off the bench. THE TEXT (Read it steady.

Let it land.) Acts 6:1–7 (ESV) "Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, 'It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.' And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith." (Pause. Look up.) The church is winning. Growing.

Multiplying. On a run like a team headed to the final. And right in the middle of the run — a problem. People getting overlooked. The mission bigger than the few could carry. Imagine Church USA · IT'S TIME TO ACT · Week 6 — Take the Field 2 And what they did next is the difference between a team that advances — and a team that goes home.

POINT 1 — CHAMPIONS DON'T QUIT WHEN THE PRESSURE COMES (Foundation point. Sports energy here.) Look at verse 1. The complaint came while the disciples were increasing. The pressure came because they were winning. Church, catch this.

Every team that goes deep in a tournament faces adversity. The tougher the opponent, the further you've advanced. Nobody plays a Round of 32 match against nobody. Pressure is proof you made it out of the group stage. And in your life — Problems are not always proof God left. Sometimes they're proof something's growing.

A team that's losing 6–0 has no pressure. A team in the knockout round? Every second matters. So when the tension comes — when the friction shows up — when it gets hard in the growing — Don't quit in the knockout round of your life. (Preaching moment — lift it.) Somebody needs to hear this — Don't walk off the field in the 89th minute.

Don't quit right before the breakthrough. The pressure isn't the end of your run. It's the sign you're still in it. Repeatable line: "Pressure is proof you're still in the game. Don't quit in the knockout round." Imagine Church USA · IT'S TIME TO ACT · Week 6 — Take the Field 3 POINT 2 — FREEDOM WAS GIVEN TO YOU TO SERVE, NOT TO SIT (Conviction point.

This is where July 4 + Acts 6 marry. This is the heart.) Now watch what the apostles do. They don't carry it all themselves. They raise up seven — everyday people, full of the Spirit — and hand them the assignment. They pushed the ministry into the hands of the people.

Because the few can't carry what the many were called to hold. And church — here's where this weekend preaches. Yesterday we celebrated freedom. 250 years of it. But let me show you what the Bible says freedom is actually for. Galatians 5:13 (ESV) "For you were called to freedom, brothers.

Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Don't miss that. You were called to freedom — so that you could serve one another. America wasn't built by spectators. It was built by people who pledged their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor — people who carried something they wouldn't fully see. And the Kingdom is the same.

Freedom is not a couch. Freedom is a field. The founders didn't sit. The apostles didn't sit. The seven didn't sit. (Slow down.

Get personal.) Some of you have been free but seated. Saved — but sitting. Blessed — but on the bench. You have a gift this church needs, and you keep saying, let somebody else do it. Imagine Church USA · IT'S TIME TO ACT · Week 6 — Take the Field 4 But hear me — What you refuse to carry, someone else has to drop.

The pastor is not the team. The staff is not the team. You are the team. Nobody in this house is just a fan. Everybody has a position. Repeatable line: "You're not an attender.

You're an assignment." POINT 3 — WHEN EVERYBODY TAKES THEIR POSITION, THE MISSION MULTIPLIES (Breakthrough point. Let it climb.) Watch what happens after everybody takes their place. Verse 7. "And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly… and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith."

Look at the order. They filled the positions — then the mission multiplied. That's not a coincidence. That's a formation. You don't win with eleven strikers. You win when the keeper keeps, the defender defends, and everybody plays their spot.

1 Corinthians 12 says it plain — one body, many members. The eye can't say to the hand, I don't need you. The team wins when nobody plays out of position and nobody sits out. Multiplication follows participation. And don't miss the first name on the roster of the seven — Stephen. A man picked to serve tables.

Imagine Church USA · IT'S TIME TO ACT · Week 6 — Take the Field 5 The very next verse — verse 8 — "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people." The role-player. The one on table duty. Ends up doing wonders. Because in the Kingdom, there is no such thing as a small position. The nursery.

The parking lot. The prayer team. The setup crew. That's not beneath your calling. That's your on-ramp to it. Stephen didn't despise the towel — and God trusted him with the wonders.

(Preaching moment — full voice.) Somebody needs to hear this today — Your assignment is not small. It's your on-ramp. Be faithful with the tables — and watch God trust you with the miracles. Repeatable line: "Multiplication follows participation." A MOMENT OVER THE NATION (Take 60 seconds.

Have the room stand. Honoring, unifying — not political.) Before we go further — this church is a house of many nations. Brazilian. American. Latino.

Caribbean. Haitian. And this weekend the whole world is at our doorstep. Let's do what the Word tells us to do for our nation. 1 Timothy 2:1–2 — "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions…" (Pray briefly:) Father — we thank You for 250 years.

We pray for this nation — for healing, for unity, for Your hand over every leader and every home. Let this land, and every nation represented in this room, be marked by Your presence. In Jesus' name — amen. Imagine Church USA · IT'S TIME TO ACT · Week 6 — Take the Field 6 BRINGING IT HOME So let me ask you. Are you here to watch — or to take the field? Because the greatest team in the world doesn't need more fans.

It needs players who take their position. You were called to freedom — not to sit — but to serve. Freedom was never meant to be watched from the stands. It was meant to be carried onto the field. You're not an attender. You're an assignment.

And there's a spot on this team — that only moves forward — when you finally take the field. WHAT DO I DO THIS WEEK? Action steps from the message: 1. 2. 3. 4.

5. Get off the bench. Name the ONE assignment you've been leaving to "somebody else" — and claim it this week. Take a position. Serve one time this week — setup, prayer, kids, parking, greeting, follow-up. Pick a spot and play it.

Use your freedom to serve. (Galatians 5:13) Do one act of service for someone in this church who can't pay you back. Be faithful with the "tables." Do the small assignment like it's the World Cup final. It's your on- ramp. Bring a teammate.

Invite one person to serve WITH you next Sunday — carried mission, together. Imagine Church USA · IT'S TIME TO ACT · Week 6 — Take the Field 7 LIVE THE ACT CHALLENGE — Filled. Sent. Together. (Acts 17:6) A — ASK: Pray for one person by name every morning. C — COMMIT: Fast one meal every week for South Florida.

T — TELL: Invite one person to church every Sunday. Download the FREE 12-Week Acts Reading Guide and live the challenge daily: www.imaginechurch.us/ act Join an Imagine Group: Tuesday — Miami 7:30 PM · Wednesday — Cooper City 7:30 PM · Friday — Deerfield Beach 7:30 PM Come back for Week 7. ALTAR CALL (Warm. Invitational. Calls people off the sidelines.) Every head bowed.

Two kinds of people in this room. 1. THE ONE WHO'S ONLY EVER WATCHED — You've watched other people have the peace, the joy, the freedom you've always wanted. Today — stop watching. Step onto the field. Pray this with me: "Jesus — I don't want to watch from the outside anymore.

I give You my life. I believe You died and rose for me. Forgive me. Fill me with Your Spirit. I'm Yours. Amen."

2. THE BELIEVER WHO'S BEEN FREE BUT SEATED — You love God. You're here. But you've been a fan, not a player. There's an assignment you've been avoiding.

Right now — take the field. "God, I take my position. I won't just attend — I'll carry. Show me my assignment, and I'll say yes. Use my hands.

Use my gift. Here I am." THE WHOLE HOUSE — lift your hands. Father — thank You for freedom. Thank You for 250 years.

Now make us a church where everybody plays and nobody sits — where freedom is carried, not wasted. Raise up the Stephens in this room. Take the ones who've only watched — and send them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

This is what IT'S TIME TO ACT looks like. Imagine Church USA · IT'S TIME TO ACT · Week 6 — Take the Field 8 Not a stadium full of fans. A team that takes the field. Take your position. Your comeback — and your assignment — start now.