What do you want me to do for you?

WELCOME
Pastor Chris Paavola:

CELEBRATE A GRAND OPENING
Well, hey everybody. We are celebrating the grand opening of St. Mark’s Interior Renovation and it is an exciting time. A couple years ago, we looked around and God was on the move and it was obvious we needed to make some changes really for two reasons. One, to update our campus and two, to make room to grow. So, with regard to updating our campus, it was hard to convince people that we were a dynamic and relevant ministry when a lot of our campus hadn’t been updated in 30 to 40 years. And then with regards to making room to grow, we just knew that as the church grew, we couldn’t let the size of our building affect the growth of the kingdom of God. And so, we prayed about it. We started talking about it and we came up with this campaign called The Next 50 Years.
Grant Bowdish, Care & Connections Director:
In the fall of 2024, the people of St. Mark pledged nearly 2.1 million toward the project. This incredible amount allowed us to move forward with design and construction.
Mary Huisinga, Director of Our World for Children:
At our grand opening, we’re celebrating so many milestones reached, including this great multipurpose room to be a space for our world for children and our youth and family ministries, complete with a new stage area.

Ashley Paavola, Youth & Family Director:
We renovated our hallway, added an ADA bathroom, a volunteer workroom, a prayer wall, and a parents’ room.

Tara Barroso, Office Administrator:
And I get a new office!

Xylinn Zubalay:
We cut back the step to our altar, making it safe for musicians and kids to lead us in worship. And we added 50 seats to a renovated balcony and updated our tech booth.
Oralia Garcia. Operations Director:
We have a new lobby area, which includes a new hub, a new cafe, and a new seating area. We have also expanded our parking lot, which will be completed in June of 2026.
Pastor Chris Paavola:
My friends, I hope you can feel the joy that is in the air. You have truly been used by God and you have created an environment here at St. Mark where people can experience Jesus.
All:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you
Pastor Chris Paavola:
Thank you for investing in the next 50 years.
Man, is this exciting or what, man? Yeah, it’s just awesome. Awesome to be here and in this moment. And so many 11 o’clock people at this service taking up the seats where the 9:30 people sit. So, I’m looking at you and you’re in the wrong seats. All of you are in the wrong … I don’t even know what to do with myself. So anyway, yeah, really good to be here with you guys. Obviously a very exciting day. And yeah, thank you. There are things in that video that weren’t mentioned that were also added to this project. We added a new garage over in the back corner there that we can store our heavy equipment and all that kind of stuff. And it was just really needed in the back of our parking lot. And then during this project, we also decided to add all new security windows on the windows of the classrooms at Our World for Children’s School.
And it was just like, yeah, right. It just felt like we needed to do these things. And what’s wild is we added more projects to this and we still have come in under budgets, which is amazing. And I’m like, wait, we have more money? Wait, we can. And then they are, no, stop, Chris. You can’t. We’re done. But yeah, so it’s super exciting. And part of that is because of Tom Beechler and his leadership. And so, Tom, we have a little gift for you. Tom is our property chair. Tom, thank you so much.
Thank you, brother. He has like decades of experience at Schweitzer Inc, which is a construction firm. And I think that all of that was for this moment, brother. I’m going to stop looking at you. I think all of that was for this moment though. So, thank you. Thank you so much. God has used you, Tom, and really everybody else. God has used you guys too. Thank you for your generosity. Honestly, you have made this moment possible and it just means the world to us and to … What I said out there is a hundred percent true. I believe this is a confirmation and a validation from God that I’ve got something in store for you for the next 50 years and that he’s not done doing amazing things in Battle Creek. Amen. Amen. Yeah. And our dreams and our visions for the future are stronger and outweigh our memories of the past.
And we’re grateful for the past, but we’re not done. And thank you guys. And your generosity, your hard work, your prayers have made this moment possible, have made it what it is. So, thank you. Thank you so, so, so very much.
And then I started thinking about like, well, what am I going to say today? It’s kind of like whatever I say today, you’re not going to remember. All you’re going to remember is the new space and stuff. And I was like, “What do I want to say on a day like this? ” And I started to think about how I think all of us would have no problem believing that God would use us for his purposes and God would use us and want us to do good things for him. But then I started thinking about it and I started thinking about how also God wants to do good things for you.
And I think that unsettles and challenges us that God wants to do good things in your behalf and for you. And that’s really what we see in this question we’re going to look at today.

QUESTIONS JESUS WANTS TO ASK YOU
So not only is it grand opening, we’re in a series called Questions Jesus Wants to Ask You. The whole idea is that we’re students, disciples. He’s our rabbi and the way he teaches us through questions. And so, we’re taking these questions we find in the biographies of Jesus and we’re taking them off the page where they’re nice and safe and at arm’s length and we’re daring to look at them and ask them of ourselves to see what we discover. And the question we’re going to look at today absolutely throws and lays out there that God wants to do good things for you personally, not just use you to do good things for him, but that God wants to do good things for you.
And maybe I sound like prosperity gospel preacher and the check is in the mail.

BARTIMAEUS
Okay, you tell me what you think when we look at these words together.

46 And they came to Jerico. And as he was leaving Jerico with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.
Mark 10

So, they come to us from the Book of Mark. Mark is a first century follower of Jesus and he notes this account, this moment that happens where in chapter 10 says, “As Jesus and his disciples together with a large crowd, we’re leaving the city of Jericho, a blind man named Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside begging.” All right. So, real-quick, a couple things. First of all, anytime you see in the New Testament, there’s a theory that anytime you see a name mentioned, it’s so that the reader could go interview that person and corroborate. Is it true that this is what happened? So, when it’s like Bartimaeus from Jericho, you would go to Jericho and be like, “Hey, is there a guy named Bartimaeus?” And they’d be like, “Yeah, he’s over there at the well.
Just go ask him.” And then you go up to Bart and be like, “Hey, is it true?” And he’d be like, “Yeah, it’s totally true.” And so that’s why it was written down because we have names like of Simon of Siren or Mary Magdalene or Bartimaeus, from Jericho. All these names are written down so you can go interview these people. I think that’s kind of a neat little neat factoid, but he’s blind. And this is blind in the first century, not blind in the 21st century, right? There’s no braille, there’s no voice to text, there’s no government assistance for this kind of stuff. It is a life sentence to poverty, destitution, and living on the brink of starvation your entire life. That, is what it means to be blind in the first century. Actually, people in that time thought that if you were born blind, your parents must have done some horrible sin and they’re punishing you for the sins of your parents.
And so Bartimaeus is not only in a hard space, but mentally, emotionally, he just feels like he’s being punished by God, which is wild. And then try to think of navigating a city that is not OSHA approved, right? The dangers that must exist around every corner. And then think about how animals use the road and you step on things. I’m going to stop there. But the point is, is he’s probably really dirty. He’s probably really hungry and just living on the compassion, mercy, and maybe even pity of the people around him. It’s wild.
And so, Bartimaeus is begging on the side of the road, and he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was coming by. So, he’s like, “What is this crowd?” And they’re like, “Oh, Jesus of Nazareth is coming by.” And he’s like, “Here it is. ” For the first time in his life, he feels this thing called hope.
There’s a chance he could be healed. A healer is walking by. A miracle worker is walking by. There is a chance that I could be healed. Are you kidding me right now?

47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth he began to cry out and say “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent/ But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Mark 10

And think about the only way he can get Jesus’s attention is by shouting. He can’t walk through the crowd. He can’t see what he’s about to bump into. So, he does the only thing he can do with the utmost decades of despair welling up from his toes and he shouts out to quote the philosopher from Detroit, “You only get one shot. Do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.” And so, he shouts, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. ” And if you’re thinking, “I’m being too loud, you’re just like the people in the crowd because many rebuked him and told him to be quiet.” That’s not proper around Jesus. Quiet down. But he shouted all the more because Bart had to be heard.
And he shouts out, “Son of David, have mercy on me. ”

49 And Jesus stopped and said “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”
Mark 10

And then this is almost like the gospel in two words. Jesus stopped. I love that. Jesus stopped and said, “Call him. He can come to me. ” And so Bartimaeus, they tell him, “Cheer up, stop being so desperate on your feet. He’s calling you. And I love this. ” I mean, in the Old Testament, David dances before the Lord and people tell him he’s dancing too crazy in the temple like it’s not proper. And he says, “I’ll become even more undignified. I’ll become even more undignified than this. ” And I think God rewards those who are desperate for him and don’t think so highly of themselves that they’re afraid of what others will think that he just wants Jesus.

50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.
Mark 10

“And so, throwing off his clock, he sprang up and came to Jesus.” And then we get our question. This is wild. The God of the universe, the king of everything, bends down to look in the eyes of a disheveled beggar. And he says, “What do you want me to do for you? ” And Bartimaeus in this moment says, “Aw shucks, he blessed me enough, Lord. I don’t need anything.” Sounds pious. I’ve heard people say that, but it’s not what he said. And he also doesn’t say, “You already know everything, Lord. Who am I to tell you what to do? ” And I’ve heard people say that, but not Bartimaeus.
Rabbi, I want to see. That’s what I want. I want to see. And then Jesus said, “Go. Your faith has healed you.” And immediately, not eventually, immediately, not, I have other plans in mind for you immediately, not, not yet, immediately. He received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. He didn’t stop to get a mirror and see what he looks like, like, oh, juicy. He didn’t look down at me like, “Man, I need a bath.” He followed Jesus. He could take a bath later. It’s an awesome story, but hounding us and haunting us from the middle of the story is this powerful, powerful question. Jesus asking, “What do you want me to do for you? ” Can you imagine?

JESUS ASKS YOU
Imagine this morning, if it was only once a year that God answered our requests and we had a raffle and everyone in the room was here and you had a raffle and I drew a number and it was your number. Come on down. Right? And then you came up here and you heard from him, “What do you want me to do for you? ”

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?

And we all got to listen in on your answer. What’s your answer? And here’s the thing, you guys, I think there’s people in the room who would do the awe shucks. “You’ve already blessed me enough, Lord. I don’t need anything.
“And I think there’s people in this room who would say,” Who am I to tell you what I need? “You know everything, Lord, you’re wise, but I know there’s people in this room who know exactly what they would say because you talked to him about it this morning before you even got here. You prayed it all week. You’ve prayed it all month, all year, or even for years. You know exactly what it is. It’s that debt, that divorce, that disease, that dysfunction. You would speak it instantly. It’d be your, ” I want to see. “Which brings up something.
It’s painful because Bartimaeus gets it immediately. You get a not yet, or I have something else in mind, but you woke up today hoping that maybe the answer would be different and it might, but you’re starting to wonder why he even asks, which gets to what I think Jesus is doing.

GOD IS FOR YOU
You know how on Easter we looked at the question,” Why are you crying? “It’s kind of obvious that she’s at a graveyard. Why are you crying is so obvious. And last week, the question,” Why do you doubt? “It’s another obvious question. Here we are in this moment and he asks a blind man,” What do you want me to do for you? “It’s so obvious unless, of course, Jesus is trying to teach us something different. And I think by saying this phrase, one of the things Jesus is trying to communicate is that God is for you.

GOD IS FOR YOU

Why else would he ask the question? I was talking to somebody this week about, what do they think people need to hear? And he said they need to hear the message that God is for them. It’s such a great answer. It’s true. God is not against you. God is not disappointed in you. God is not antagonizing you, apathetic to you. God is wildly, desperately and passionately for you, you. Scripture reveals that God is for you again and again and again. Think about it. He makes the world for you. That’s what it says. And then it says that God is so for you. He created you and has plans for you.
And God is so for you that he sends his son to die for you. And then he rises from the grave and ascends into heaven to prepare a place for you. God is for you. And like the psalmist looks back on this and reflects and he goes,” The Lord is for me. I can’t be afraid. “And later on he says,” I know that God is for me. “And the apostle Paul reflects on this reality that God is for us and he concludes if God is for us, who could be against us? My friends, God is for you.
And the reason I think Jesus asks this question is to show you that God is for you. And I think the reason God wants you to know that he is for you, the reason God tells you he is for you is so you don’t forget it when it doesn’t feel like it. When there is debt, disease, divorce, dysfunction, God is still for you. He’s for you. So don’t give up. Don’t stop asking. Maybe you’re not yet. Maybe I have other plans for you this morning. Maybe today is the day it’s immediately and you go seeing for the first time.

THE REASON GOD TELLS YOU
HE IS FOR YOU
IS SO YOU REMEMBER IT
WHEN IT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE IT

So here we are in a grand opening ribbon cutting day. And you guys are thinking about everything that God is doing for his church and everything that God has done through you. And I want to take this moment to remind you it’s not just that you do things for God. And it’s not just that God does things through you. It’s that God is for you. And this morning, he is poised, leaning forward. Elbows on his knees, looking into your beautiful eyes. And he asks you once again,” What do you want me to do for you?
“What do you answer him? “Don’t give me an awe-shucks. Don’t back out and excuse yourself like, oh, you know all things.” No. What do you want him to do for you? Tell him. We’ve told him what we want to do, him to do in this space. You are no different. So how would you answer that question this morning? Bartimaeus. It’s time to get over yourself. Stop being so proud. Stop being so pious and believe that God is for you and answer the question. Let’s pray.

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, first of all, on this day, we thank you for everything that you have done through us and done for your church. And we ask God that you would use this space for your good and your glory.
But we use this morning, God, as also a reminder that you are for us. You’re for me. You’re for every person who can hear the sound of my voice. You are for them, not against them. You are for them. And so, God, I pray right now in the quiet of this moment that they would hear in their souls, you ask them once again, “What do you want me to do for you? ” And Lord, you would hear their answers. So hear now God in the quiet of this moment are requests. Lord, I want you to do this.
And help us, God, however you answer. Not yet. I have other plans or immediately. Help us to trust you. And when we don’t know what to say, God, we at least have the prayer you gave us to pray as we say together:
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven,
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom,
And the power,
And the glory,
Forever and ever,
Amen.