Every once in a while, you meet someone who has wildly unrealistic ambition, and you wish someone would tell them: “No, you probably won’t become a famous singer who goes on world tours.” “No, your son probably isn’t going to be a major league ball player.” “No, that girl isn’t going to date you.”

Most of us aren’t like that. In fact, most of us suffer from the opposite problem. We sell ourselves short, repeating to ourselves every reason why we’ll never experience the kind of life that others enjoy. We believe our marriage can never be exemplary, our kids can never make exceptional achievements, our Christian life can never have a real and lasting impact for the glory of God.

Well, why not? There are all sorts of reasons why you and I will never score as many touchdowns as Tom Brady or earn as many gold medals as Michael Phelps or sell as many records as the Beatles. But those things aren’t ultimately that important anyway.

There are no reasons why we can’t have a joyful, useful, fulfilled life in Christ! There are no reasons why we can’t have a church that makes a difference in our city and our world.

Why not us? Why not you? Why not now?

Think about our church family. Do you ever think about how many thousands of our neighbors languish every day apart from Christ. We have what they need: the message of the gospel! Why can’t we get it to them?

There are really no good reasons. We fall short, quite frankly, because we simply lack any ambition. We believe that we are too ordinary to see extraordinary things happen through our church and through our own lives.

That’s silly. Just a few weeks ago, we had more people attend our church than we’ve ever had since I’ve been the pastor here. It’s true that God brought them here—He gets all the credit. But let’s not be passive or pietistic. God used the efforts of His people to get it done.

Many invited their friends and family. Others shared invitations on social media. Church members came out of the woodwork to greet our guests and welcome one another to church.

I resolved that—regardless of who showed up—I would notice our church family working together with a sense of ownership, excitement, and anticipation and count that cooperative spirit as a win. And win we did!

Here’s my point. There is no reason why every Sunday can’t be like that. I don’t mean that every Sunday can be the “best ever” or that every Sunday can have more people attending than the one before.

But every Sunday we can show up together with a sense of purpose and mission and anticipation for what God is going to do! Every Sunday we can resolve to do our best to care for one another and show hospitality to those who have come for the first time. Every Sunday we can believe that the little part each of us plays has the potential to make a difference in the life of somebody else. Every Sunday we can have confidence that our decision to plant or water will yield the fruit of gospel growth.

Why can’t we see our baptistery full every week? Why can’t we see people come to Christ on a regular basis? Why can’t we see marriages restored and children raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

Today may be the day you open your mouth and share gospel truth with a friend, coworker, or classmate. Why not? This week may be the week your neighbor comes to church. Why not?

Where is our ambition? Where is our impulse to dream about what God might do if we are just obedient? Where is our zeal to embrace and expect excellence in every little thing, knowing that God might use a little thing to make a difference in the lives of those we meet?

Be bold; be brave; step up! Be willing to ask, “Why not me? Why not us? Why not now?” Believe that you’ve been give a spiritual gift to make a difference in our church and in our world. Believe that you’ve been set apart for such a time as this!

And let’s be on the edge of our seat expecting God to do something wonderful through us. Why not?