Sunday, May 17, 2026
Living in the Exit Row
“Becoming a Generational Church”
Scripture: Matthew 28:16-20, Acts 2:16-21
Introduction:
On every passenger plane, there is a row next to the emergency doors or hatches. This is called the “Exit Row”.
If a person chooses to sit in the exit row they will be asked to help open the exit and assist others in the event of an emergency evacuation.
To sit in the exit row you have to answer a questionnaire. Three of the questions are:
- Do you understand that you are seated in the exit row?
- Are you capable of helping others evacuate?
- Are you willing to perform the duties required of an exit row passenger?
800 years prior to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit a prophet by the name of Joel, gave a prophetic word regarding the promise of the Holy Ghost in the last days.
In Acts chapter 2, we see the fulfillment of the prophecy. However, 10 days before the Holy Ghost would descend, Jesus commissions the disciples. He tells them in Matthew 28 to “Go”.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.
After Jesus gives this commission he ascends, and 10 days later a spiritual clock begins. Time begins ticking and soon time as we know it will eventually come to an end. 10 days after the commission, the Holy Spirit descended and empowered those who received him.
But when accused of being drunk, Peter stood up with the 11 and told the crowd that what they were witnessing was not an effect of an alcoholic beverage, but it was the fulfillment of an 800 year old prophecy.
“That in the last days saith God, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants and handmaidens, I will pour out in those days my spirit; and they shall prophesy.”
In that one moment of time, the spiritual clock would begin counting down until the day of the returning of the Lord Jesus Christ. You say preacher, times are getting bad down here, because time is coming to an end.
You say preacher, I have heard that all of my life, because since Acts chapter 2 we have been living in the last days, which means that you and I could very well be the generation that sees the coming of the Lord. I do not know when he is coming, but i can tell you this, every prophecy has been fulfilled and the only reason that he hasn’t returned already is because of grace and mercy for every lost soul.
Listen to me ladies and gentlemen, we don't have time to waste. People are dying and going to hell. We don’t have time to argue about the small things. There is an urgency in the atmosphere. There is a need for a church who is filled with the Holy Ghost and who understands the commission.
The world doesn't need another church who values the internal, but neglects the external. That’s the reason that we have a gap in generations right now is because during the years when the church should have been preaching and reaching, they got silent and stuck to themselves. Anytime that the church goes silent, Hell will grab a mic.
Acts chapter two was the beginning of the end but it was also the beginning of a church that will not die and will not suffer at the hands of hell. The same church that was founded in acts chapter 2, is still alive and well in 2026.
Why? Because the church is not an Intragenerational movement meaning within the same generation. It’s not a Coeval movement meaning of the same age or time. But it is a Generational Movement, meaning what started in acts, is still standing strong today.
Peter said “Your sons and your daughters…” which signifies GENERATIONS. Call this vision Sunday or whatever you want to but listen to me…we are a continuation of a generational outpouring that is still taking place today.
I refuse to sit back and watch the clock tick and watch people die lost and go to a devils hell. I don’t know how in the world that any Christian person can lay their head on their pillow at night and not be troubled at the thought of “I didn't tell someone about Jesus today..”
How can we not be troubled at the thought that someone we walked by in public today, might be laying down at the funeral home tomorrow and yet we were to embarrassed and ashamed to take 2 minutes of their time and tell them about a Jesus that loves them and a God who gave his best to redeem them.
- Are You Aware?
This world, is much like a plane that is going down, but seated in the exit row of that plane is the church of Jesus Christ.
The true tragedy is not that time is ending, the true tragedy is that some will die lost or will be caught with no oil in their lamps.
As a pastor, I am seated in the exit row. As an associate pastor, youth pastor, children’s pastor, singer, build team member…can we just ditch the titles for a minute…as a BORN AGAIN NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER, YOU ARE IN THE EXIT ROW.
We know that the end is coming. We know that time is going to eventually run out, but you were destined for this generation. Your were destined for this age.
The question is, Do you realize that you are in the exit row?
The exit row has some extra leg room, its a little more comfortable than others seats, but the responsibility is what is uncomfortable. The responsibility of sharing the gospel should shake us to our core.
We have a responsibility. Jesus commissioned us in Matthew 28 and he told us to go. He did not tell us to sit in a chair and let someone else volunteer or do what needs to be done, he told us to GO. Preach the gospel and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You may never stand behind a pulpit, you may never hold a microphone, but that does not change the fact that you are commissioned to go! You are commissioned to reach the lost.
Pastor, why are you so fixated on the vision of the church? Because i don’t want to see anyone die and go to Hell. I don't want mommas to be separated from daughters and daddy’s be separated from sons. I don’t want to see house holds wrecked by sin.
I don’t want to know that there are children engulfed in the flames of hell — Pastor, don’t paint that picture in my mind…if you don’t like the thought of it, then don’t allow it to become reality. PREACH THE WHOLE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST!
2. Are you Capable?
We are not only living in the last days, but we are living in the final seconds. This world is looking for answers and it is trying to answer every prophetic event with a logical explanations and reasonings only to have no answers.
But there is a generation of people called the remnant, who has remained faithful to god, faithful to his promise, and faithful to his word. While the world has gone crazy and losing their ever loving minds, the people of God has the answer.
In the last few moments that we are living in, the world is looking to the church for the answer. Church attendance is up more now than it has been in recent years. The media will tell you that church attendance is declining, don’t listen to that hog wash. There’s a generation who has found it’s identity in the fire of God.
There are people who are looking for answers and they are dependent upon you and I to point them to the truth. Someone somewhere is dependent upon you fulfilling the call of God on your life.
I know the road gets long and our bodies get tired, but I refuse to let someone go to Hell without first hearing the gospel.
Peter said “This promise is unto you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call.
You know what that means? It means it is a continual promise. A GENERATIONAL promise.
This is why everything we do here at Renovation is centered around ensuring that every generation is reached, restored, and actively engaged in the Kingdom of God. We do this because we don't want to see a Generation of Left Behind.
I wish I had some people who would say “Yes, I know i am seated int he exit row.” “Yes, I am capable of helping others escape.” “Yes, I am willing to Take on the responsibilities of an exit row passenger.
3. Are You Willing?
We, as a church, are seated in the exit row, helping generations escape Hell’s flames, pointing them to the door who is Jesus.
In 2026, Jesus Christ is still the only way that every man, woman, boy, and girl can go to heaven; but they do not hear the gospel unless there is a church who makes the commission their mission.
There should be an urgency in the church house in the last days to reach as many people as we can, but it is as if the plane is going down and the church has lost it’s desire to help.
Think about this…where would you be if the preacher who preached the day you got saved said “No, I don't feel like it today..”
Where would you be if that dear saint of God who prayed you through said “No, let someone else do it..”
Now with that thought in mind, think about where others will be if you do not do what God has called you to do.
Some of you are sitting on talents and gifts. Sitting on callings and burdens, meanwhile, people are depending upon you to operate in what God has blessed you with.
And listen to me…YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HOW YOU USED THEM.
We no longer have time to sit and let someone else do it. We don’t have time to burn out. We don't have time to waste our talents and abilities. There’s a generation who needs Jesus and they are depending upon you and I to fulfill the call that God has placed on our life.
Your calling may not be to preach or to sing, but you can live out your purpose by picking someone up on a golf cart in the parking lot on Sundays,. You can live out your purpose by making breakfast, cleaning the facilities, teaching children, helping with the youth.
You can live out your purpose by being a prayer warrior, a greeter, a van driver…and a witness outside of the four walls.
You don't have to have a title, you just need to be aware, be capable, and be willing! Do not grow weary in good doing for in dew season, you shall reap if you faint not. There is a generation that needs Jesus, There are mommas and daddy’s who need Jesus. Children who need Jesus. All they need is someone to value their soul enough to tell them how to receive him and to witness to them about the good news that Jesus can save them and pluck them out of a devils hell.
Conclusion:
In 2009, shortly after take off from New York City, a flock of geese struck both engines of a plane. The air craft had lost power and it only had minutes before it would crash to the ground.
The pilot, Chelsey Sullenberger, and the crew managed to land the plane in the Hudson River.
They said the cabin filled with fear, freezing water, confusion, and urgency. But people who were seated in the exit rows helped open the doors, guide passengers, and move people onto the wings before the plane sank deeper into the water.
Many survivors said they didn’t know what to do until someone near them acted calmly and showed them the way out.
Since Acts chapter 2 time has been dwindling down. The world seems like it has lost it’s mind. people are afraid, confused, and spiritually drowning.
But you and I as believers have been entrusted with the knowledge of the door whose name is Jesus Christ — and we are called and commissioned to help others exit safely through the door.
That day in 2009, ordinary people became helpers in crisis. That day in acts chapter 2, the church, ordinary people…became a help in crisis.
I am not someone special, just ordinary. You are not someone special, just ordinary. But God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
