Welcome to Gateway Church's podcast. Wherever you're tuning in from, we hope you're encouraged by today's

message. I wouldn't normally do this, but since the series is called From Death to Life,

I was thinking about a death that happened this past week. And I'm sure every one of you have heard about

this, and it is the death of

Pope Francis. And again, I wouldn't typically do this, but just because of this week in the name of the

series, can I just tell you for a moment the time that the Pope invited me to the Vatican? I got invited

in 2017. And he wanted to have a little bit of a conversation with a few pastors and so I went

and as I was preparing to go I didn't know what I should bring as I should I bring him a Bible

then I thought he probably has enough Bibles should I bring him a candle um he probably has enough

candles and then I decided you know what I'm going to do I'm going to bring him a candle? He probably has enough candles.

And then I decided, you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to bring him a Chicago Cubs jersey.

And so this is me handing the Pope.

And then he looks at me, and this is no joke what he says.

I have it recorded on my phone.

He says, he looks at me and goes,

preach. Don't ever stop preaching. The world needs better preaching. Treats Jesus. Preach good news.

And then he walks away with my Cubs jersey. And I find myself going, have you ever brought a gift to someone?

And then what they give you back is wildly more.

And that's honestly how I feel every time I come to Gateway.

I get to preach, but man, what you all put into me,

such an honor.

...