Gateway Franklin Church

Three good questions to ask in regard to the God of the Bible. “Why does God choose messy people?  “Why does God show us so much of that mess?”  “Why doesn’t people’s mess undermine God’s reputation and derail His purposes?” Three good answers in regard to the God of the Bible. God doesn’t choose messy people, He chooses ordinary people. It just turns out that ordinary people are messy and He alre...

1 Samuel 17:2-51 (NIV) 2  Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines.  3  The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. 4  A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span [ over 9 ft tall] .  5  He had a bronz...

“The devil fears a soul in union with God as he fears God Himself” Saint John of the Cross   Three good questions to ask in regard to the God of the Bible. “Why does God choose messy people?  “Why does God show us so much of that mess?”  “Why doesn’t people’s mess undermine God’s reputation and derail His purposes?” Three good answers in regard to the God of the Bible. God doesn’t choose messy peo...

When God Chooses You  (Point 1) Called from the Common and Unexpected  1 Samuel 9:1-3  The Unexpected  1. He's a Benjamite  2. He's a Farmer  The common  1. Miracle in the Mundane  1 Samuel 9:15-17  (Point 2) The Wrestling Heart  1 Samuel 9:18-21  Why Me?  When we ask Why me:  1. God reveals His Perspective  2. God reveals His Perspective  3. Exposes our need for dependence  4. God revea...

Thank you for listening. Take a look at the sermon notes of this message on the church website: https://www.gatewayfranklin.com/sermons To find out more about Gateway Franklin Church, visit us at gatewayfranklin.com or join us online each week at gatewayfranklin.online . Get the handbook, E-Book and Audiobook at HopeInEmptyPlaces.com

Wins fuel wins!  Everyday Evangelists leverage everyday opportunities to engage in spiritual conversations. Over time, conversational wins lead to conversion wins. Your perception of sin will impact your practice of evangelism.  The Big Why of evangelism is the damning impact of sin. The Powerful Who of evangelism is the Holy Spirit. Everyday Evangelism is critical because the life and death conse...

In week 5 of the Talking Jesus series, Pastor Torry Sheppard brings a timely and tender word for those who’ve been faithfully sharing their faith—but are still waiting to see results. This message encourages believers to persevere when the work of evangelism feels slow, discouraging, or seemingly unfruitful—especially when it involves someone they love.  Pastor Torry opens by acknowledging a commo...

In Week 4 of the Talking Jesus series, Pastor Torry encourages believers to recognize the power of their personal story as a tool for evangelism. Titled “Your Story, God’s Glory,” the message aims to demystify evangelism by reminding us that you don’t need a seminary degree or dramatic backstory to share Jesus—just a willingness to be honest about what He’s done in your life.  The message opens wi...

1Peter 3:15, Colossians 4:4-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 May 18th, 2025 There is a finite number of people who can talk Jesus to a crowd. There is an infinite number of people who can talk Jesus to a person. The key to being an effective Everyday Evangelist is seeing the person apart from their crowd and believing that God is orchestrating the conversation.   Every Day Evangelism is…  Going public wit...

Chapter 1 Focused Nurturer Chapter 2 Reluctant Leader Chapter 3 Exhausted Fighter Chapter 4 Resurrected Hoper Chapter 5 Generation Advancer Motherhood Chapter 1 Focused Nurturer The keys to thriving in this chapter is to understand that…  1) this is a relatively short chapter in the scope of your whole story  2) you will get better at “mothering” as you go  3) live in the moment more than you long...

John 4, Matthew 9, Colossians 4 Society can only exist without God for so long before a critical mass of people longing for identity and purpose intersect with a critical mass of people who have found identity and purpose in a relationship with Christ. These intersections change the course of history. Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV) 35  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synago...

Summary of Sermon: The Everyday Evangelist  Series: Talking Jesus – Week 1 | Pastor Torry Sheppard  Introduction Pastor Torry Sheppard launches a new series at Gateway Church titled Talking Jesus , addressing the call for every believer to step into the role of an everyday evangelist. He begins by acknowledging the cultural uncertainty and spiritual fatigue of our time—pandemics, polarization, and...

John 3, 19 Luke 23 Easter, April 20th, 2025 Christmas celebrates God coming down in the flesh as the baby Jesus. The God of the Bible says you can’t reach me so I will come down to you.  Easter is a 2-part celebration. Part 1 : Jesus died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins and to break the power of sin in our lives. Part 2 : Jesus resurrects from the dead to break the power of death and to...

Christus Victory: Three Scenes of Passion Palm Sunday John 11 & Luke 19 April 13th, 2025 “Passion” comes from the Latin Patior meaning to suffer, bear and endure.  Passion is extreme love not measured by want but by what . What am I willing to suffer, bear or endure to obtain it?  When an answered promise of God has been so far out into the future, it’s easy to miss when He is fulfilling it ri...

April 6th 2025 Sunday 937! “What you believe about God is the most important thing about you.” A.W. Tozer “What you believe about the Church impacts her influence and your life.” C.W. Weir Acts 2:42-47 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.   43  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the a...

Christus Victor   “An element of the atoning work of Christ that emphasizes the triumph of Christ over the evil powers of the world, through which he rescues his people and establishes a new relationship between God and the world.” Christus Victor   The evil powers of this world are real and active but not victorious.  We were once slaves to sin but now we are free from sin.  Sin once separated us...

Malachi 4 & Matthew 9 March 23rd, 2025 Christus Victor . “An element of the atoning work of Christ that emphasizes the triumph of Christ over the evil powers of the world, through which he rescues his people and establishes a new relationship between God and the world.  The evil powers of this world are real and active but not victorious.  We were once slaves to sin but now we are free from si...

Mark 9 March 16th, 2025 Movement is the active ingredient of a victorious faith.  Victorious Faith isn’t optimism or positive thinking.  Victorious Faith is gritty forward movement plowing through doubt and anxiousness.  Q: Is it possible for the follower of Christ to carry both doubt and faith?  A: Not only is it possible, it’s probable. Q: Can doubt and victorious faith coexist long term? A: No,...

Christus Victor: Victory in Jesus Colossians Ephesians March 9th. 2025 Atonement (At-One-Ment) is a theological term used to describe the reconciliation between God and Creation.  The Agent of At-One-Ment was life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  The Motive for the At-One-Ment was love.  John 3:16-17 (NIV) 16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in...

Family of God Ephesians 2:19 “19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household 1. Fresh Starts 1. Homecoming Romans 8:15-17 “5 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba, [g] Fat...

Summary of Sermon: Do You Want to Be Healed?  Introduction Pastor Torry continues the "Family Matters" series, addressing the complexities of family, including divorce, trauma, and abuse. He acknowledges that discussing family is challenging because of the deep emotions attached to it. Some come to this series feeling blessed, while others are reminded of pain. He emphasizes that regardl...

Introduction  Pastor Torry Sheppard delivers a sermon at Gateway Church as part of the "Family Matters" series, emphasizing the importance of legacy in family life. He begins by encouraging families not just to be informed but to be inspired by God’s vision for the family. The ultimate goal is to build a Christ-centered family characterized by unity, grace, and purpose. He shares wisdom...

February 9, 2025 God has a plan for your family. My family can be better than it is right now. The way you define marriage will determine the way you do it. Where does our definition of marriage come from? God designed marriage and gets to define. You have a 100% chance of success in your marriage. You just have to do it God’s way. Definition of Marriage: Marriage is a man and a woman becoming one...

Genesis 1&2, Ephesians 5, Dt 6,  February 2nd, 2025 Family Matters is a series about “making more” of your family! We are not all on our own! We have… Jesus as the change agent; His life transforms our life.  The Bible which majors on foundations and fundamentals.  The Holy Spirit who gives power and wisdom for shaping and application.  The Church from whom to borrow, lend and link faith. Quic...

More People + More Prayer = More Power Ephesians 3:16-21 (NIV) 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep ...