>> DAVID NASSER: Man, every time I sing that
song I think about just the Chronicles of Narnia and how in that moment when the question
comes, right, “Is the Lion dangerous?” The answer is yes. Yes, but he’s also good. Praise the Lord that our God is a lion and
a lamb, Amen? [CHEERS] Man, all right let’s have a seat real quick. I’m super excited about our guest today,
not just because he’s honestly one of the preeminent worship pastors that God has given
us in this moment as the church. Phil will be tonight with his band in concert. There are just a handful of tickets, by the
way, just a handful left for tonight’s concert. You can get them at the box office. But he is such a deep well when it comes to
just the life that he lives. The songs that Phil sings really I think God
had blessed because he lives a life that doesn’t contradict them but is complimented with his
own personal convictions. Yeah, and I wanted to sit down today, and
we’ll certainly have him sing in just a little bit and lead us. But I wanted to sit down and talk to him a
little bit about life and marriage and fatherhood and just conviction, and just as a brother
in Christ ask him if there’s any words that he would have for us. And so I’m really thrilled that we get to
sit down and have a bit of an all-access pass, a bit of a behind-the-stages scene that a
lot of people don’t get with Phil Wickham, and to invite him into a conversation with
us. Can we welcome, come on, to Liberty’s home
Phil Wickham? Brother, we love you, welcome. [CHEERS & APPLAUSE] Man- >> PHIL WICKHAM: Oh, I’m over here. >> NASSER: Yeah, you’re right here. >> WICKHAM: Okay. >> NASSER: You can have this one. Would you rather have this one? >> WICKHAM: I’m just taking the lowest seat,
just being humble, you know. >> NASSER: I’m short, so you’re always
going to be the high seat. >> WICKHAM: I think we’re about the same
size. Hey guys! It’s amazing. [CHEERS] >> NASSER: So man, your ninth album just came
out. Congratulations on that. >> WICKHAM: I can't believe that. Has it been the ninth? That’s crazy. Thank you so much. >> NASSER: That’s what it says on my piece
of paper right here, nine. >> WICKHAM: Someone researched that. That’s awesome. >> NASSER: The one thing I noticed when I
was listening to it the other day is this is by far the most congregational album you’ve
ever done. I mean, God’s always given you songs for
the church but not as much songs with the church. I mean, so this is very much a vertical record. >> WICKHAM: Yeah. >> NASSER: A lot of horizontal songs that
are singing and ministering to a particular person, you’ve got a lot of hits that were
like that and albums that are full, like, Christian songs. This is much more of a worship record. Why is that? Why is this record different? >> WICKHAM: Well, I grew up in the church,
my parents are worship leaders and so I grew up singing and knowing Jesus my whole life. And so, my roots are in worship-leading, that’s
what I started doing. But not since I graduated from high school
have I been involved at, like, one church, leading worship, being in- like my roots dug
in, being a part of the leadership, being a part of what new songs we bring to the congregation. Not until about two years ago I started leading
worship about twice a month at a church called Harvest Christian Fellowship. Pastor Greg Laurie, I didn't know of any of
you have ever heard of Greg Laurie. He’s an evangelist that over a million people
have come to know Jesus through his ministry over the years. He’s an amazing guy. But they just asked me. I was there doing stuff at the church anyway. They said, “Hey, do you want to be a part
of our culture here and start directing us in fresh ways and bringing new songs?” And we prayed about it and I thought, man
that’d be cool. I just- honestly I just thought it was going
to- I mean, it sounds unholy, but I just felt like this is going to be a cool gig, you know. I love these guys, it’s going to be great. But as the months went on I realized, man
I love these people, I love this community, I love this church. And for the first time in about 10 years-
12 years when I sat down to write songs, so many times that question to write a song was
like, “Okay, what is God doing in my heart that I could kind of relay to people? You know, what should I write for my next
record?” But being on staff at this church it kind
of changed. It kind of changed my point of view in writing
songs from me as an artists to almost say, not that I’m some super servant-hearted
guy, but it’s like instead of me expressing my own heart like an artist would, I was trying
to express the church’s heart and give like a soundtrack behind what the church was going
through. So, if we needed an upbeat song it’s like,
man, what would my church sing and what are we talking about at church? And let’s write a song about that. And so every song was kind of dictated through
this idea of like, would we sing this at Harvest? And is this something that would connect to
what we’re talking about in the Word? And so then I would have this amazing kind
of place to try these songs out. And so honestly I think we started playing
six or seven or eight of the songs. And I bet four of them were completely rewritten
after a Sunday morning, we played and we thought this song is going to be amazing, you know. And no one sang, and it kind of fell flat
on the room. Were like, okay we’ve got to rewrite this. So we really penned a lot of them thinking
about church. >> NASSER: It’s interesting that God’s
doing that in this season in your life because if you think about it, in this particular
moment, who God has really brought to the forefront more than anyone else in Christian
music is our people that are anchored in a local body. So whether it’s Jesus Culture or our friends
at Hillsong, or it’s even like a Casting Crowns, where people don’t know Mark Hall
is a youth pastor at Eagle’s Landing Baptist Church in his little town in a suburb of Georgia-
I mean Atlanta. And so you’ve got all these people that
are- Chris Tomlin anchored at his church in Nashville- you have all these people like
yourself that are anchored in a local body, so you’re not out here servicing the church,
you’re a part of the bride. Why is that important to you outside of just
leading from a stage with Pastor Greg Laurie? Why is that important to you as a family man
even? >> WICKHAM: Man, I believe- and I think there’s
like- there’s even signs to prove this. It’s like we are worked together and knit
together to be a part of community, you know? Like, we’re made to relate to each other. And so in context of a spiritual way it’s
the same thing. We’re created to relay and to grow and to-
and to develop with each other in a spiritual way, you know? And so God has- God has set up this amazing
way, this amazing system for us in an incredible way called church, you know. It’s the church. It’s not just even one building but it’s
all of us who call Jesus, you know, Lord and Savior. We’re a part of this incredible family where
we can relate on the spiritual level of saying, “Hey, you believe that you need to be saved
by grace. I believe I need to be saved by grace. We believe that’s all et in the cross in
the person of Jesus.” And so there’s this like common ground. And I think so much of humanity, I mean, aren’t
we just searching for like common ground, a place for us to just to like stand on and
say, “You are here with me, I am here with you”? And to do that in a way that like at the deepest
spiritual level, like many of this room- I mean, I just was thinking just then what an-
first of all, what an amazing worship team you guys have, right? Isn’t it awesome? Yeah. [CHEERS] >> NASSER: The Worship Collective, so anointed. >> WICKHAM: It’s so sweet, but man like
there’s just sitting there singing about this God who has broken through chains of-
I mean, we use that metaphor a lot. Like tearing down walls and broken through
chains, but literally like freed us, not just after we die. He doesn’t just free us to be like, “Sweet,
I’m going to go to heaven after I die”, but he’s freed us today to start becoming
like really human, you know? He’s freed us today to not have to live
in the shame of the past. But like, if we really believe and accept
his grace, like he’s freed us to really be human, to be lovers and to be servants,
and to be free and to be full of joy and peace and hope, today. It’s not just a future thing in Jesus, you
know. And it’s amazing how we all kind of can
come in here and be free together, and there’ s like nothing like worship music that brings
people into community. If you think about it, like we’re all on
the same rhythm, and we’re singing the same melody, we’re singing out the same truth. And how beautiful it is that- I know there’s
a lot of people with a lot of different beliefs in here even in this room, but a great majority
of these people in here, I would hope to say that you believe in Jesus, you know, and that
might be why you came to this building. And so we’re all on this common ground so
that we all sing and say together, “My God is a lion, the lion of Judah. He’s roaring with power,” I mean there
is just some much unity and beauty in the church. And I don’t even remember your original
question. Oh, anchored in the church. [LAUGHTER] And so all that being said, man, there is
so much power and beauty to be had, life to be had in the community. And I think- I grew up in the church, and
so I think I had it my whole life. And so through my early 20s I kind of like
thought, I think I’m cool. Like, not that I did not want to go to church,
but it just wasn’t a priority. >> NASSER: Right. >> WICKHAM: And I found out really quickly,
in the years that followed, like I found out really quickly how much power and life and
refreshment and restoration and focused-eyes, being a part of community, putting myself
under leadership I respect, like how much more power that brings to my ministry, how
much more life it brings to my soul, how much more peace it brings to my whole existence
you know, when I’m anchored in a community. And that’s soothing I had to kind of realize
out of being out of it for a little bit and just kind of traveling all the time that,
wow, this is important to life. >> NASSER: I just hope that you’re hearing
that, and not just the obvious words but reading between the lines here and- you okay? >> WICKHAM: I almost died, I think, just then. >> NASSER: Well you know where you’d go
if you died. That’s cool. [LAUGHTER] I hope you’re listening to the words, because
it’s such vital wisdom from a dad and from a husband and a worship pastor who’s always
waking up in a different zip code, that he’s anchored in the local community and he’s
submitting to a pastor that God has brought into his life, and submitting to men that
are holding him accountable in how he lives on and off stage, and the beauty of that. And yes, we are not a local church here at
Liberty. We cannot replace it. God has one plan, one plan A to reach the
world, and that’s his bride. There is no plan B.
It’s not like if the church doesn’t do it, I’ll just use Liberty University. We are just a university at the end of the
day, but we are also the church in that we come into this room from the big “C”,
the big church. And as the church, God brings us into this
room- nice. >> WICKHAM: Heaven. >> NASSER: There it is. [LAUGHTER] Maybe that just came on so you could look
around and see the diversity here, right. >> WICKHAM: Here you are. >> NASSER: There it is. >> WICKHAM: Right there. >> NASSER: And God brings us- that was fun. [LAUGHTER] God brings us into this place so that we could
be- listen to me- we could be a united body in Christ. And I do think music does that. >> WICKHAM: Yeah. >> NASSER: It brings people from all over
the world, all different denominations, and we sing and say we agree on these essentials. We might not be eye-to-eye on some secondary
things, but on the essentials, we’re truly bonded and united. Talk to us about fatherhood. You got four kids? >> WICKHAM: Yeah guys, I have four kids. I’m only 21 everybody- just kidding. [SHOCK AND LAUGHTER] I’m 34, my wife Mallory and I are about
to celebrate our ten year anniversary next month. Yeah. [CHEERS] And yeah, so good man. And we have four kids, 7-year-old Penelope,
5-year old Mabel, 3-year-old Laudie, and 1-year old Henry. So three girls and a boy. And man we are in the trenches right now. I mean, they’re beautiful, amazing- it’s
like with every kid brings an exponential amount of responsibility and work and effort,
and job and blessing and just life. So it’s a- >> NASSER: What has fatherhood taught you
lately? What’s something new? >> WICKHAM: Man, I’m just- I think even
now as my kids are kind of getting out of the baby season now, you know. I feel like for so long we were in like the
vomit on the floor poop season, you know. [LAUGHTER] And really like I don’t think- people say
like you learn- man you really learn you’re selfish when you get married. I mean I think marriage- the first couple
years of marriage for us- I mean we were best friends, it’s kind of made an easier life. And we love being together, hanging out and
traveling. It’s not until we had kids it’s like,
wow, like it’s either- I’m either full on or I’m just a bad dad, you know. And so you’re just- I mean there’s moments
you’re on the floor at Chick-fil-a and cleaning up some puke, and you’re like, “This is
who I am. This is me.” And I’m loving it. [LAUGHTER] And, you know, you got the hose on the car
seat. It’s like yes, there’s this explosion
that happened from the backside of this baby, I’m just going to take care of it, you know? [LAUGHTER] And so it’s like there’s like- it’s
kind of like you have to really throw yourself out the window or really you’re just not
a good parent, you know what I mean? Like, you have to just go full in. And so with the baby, I found like that was
like- that was- obviously, you’re keeping this little thing alive, you know? And it’s getting up in the middle of the
night, and it’s very physical. But now that I have like a 7-year-old and
a 5-year-old, them two now the conversations have started happening about, you know, stuff
like homosexual neighbors down the street. Like, how do we tackle that? And where are we standing with that as a family? And stuff like, “Okay tell me about God.” And you’re trying to relate God to them,
and also realizing way more than my effort and my work. My 7-year-old girl and my 5-year-old they
just- they need me to get on their level, I’m finding. >> NASSER: Yeah. >> WICKHAM: And just instead of, hey, I’m
getting back to e-mail, I’m keeping our family going, I’m- you know, I’m taking
out the trash, I’m being a good dad, I’m working. It’s like I’m realizing the importance
way more than ever of just stopping and like leaving the- and I think this could be in
any kind of season of life, not just as a dad. But I think I see the direct result of if
I leave my phone up on the bed stand and I just go downstairs and they’re playing with
Legos, and I get down and I just get in their world. Like what a crazy amount of investment that
is when it’s just time, you know? Just getting like eye to eye time, listening
to their silly stories, understanding what they’re doing, like what kind of- what princess
they’re making a castle for, you know, out of Legos, and getting in it with them. Which ultimately, I think, makes me relate
to the Father’s heart a little bit, or a lot a bit, you know. A lot a bit? Makes me relate to the Father’s heart more. This God who is so far beyond me, way farther
beyond me than I am my kids, you know, and yet wants to meet me where I am? Like so much so that he sent- like, he wrapped
himself- he sent his Son to walk on my ground, walk on our ground and breathe our air, and
meet us right where we’re at, and wasn’t disgusted by the things that others were disgusted
by, you know? We see this God coming it Earth, like reaching
out to people that- people would scream when the lepers would walk down the streets and
say, “There’s a leper coming,” you know? And so no one wanted to even be in the vicinity
because they were nervous about getting sick. But Jesus, man, he was the only one that would
touch them. And these sinners that everybody had excommunicated
from the church and thought, man they’re on the outskirts of society, Jesus went right
and sat with them. Man, people that everybody thought were lost
and dead. I mean, even this adulterous women, that’s
probably my favorite story in the Bible because you see such a massive piece of the heart
of the Father. Where these religious people- which I can
fall into that sometimes. I definitely grew up in situations and been
in a lot of situations where I feel like, man religion is winning over relationship
and faith right now. These very religious people were ready to
condemn this woman who was caught in the act of adultery, you know? And they- it says they did it to catch Jesus
kind of in a- to kind of trip him up to catch him in his words, or trying to- they’re
trying to finds a way to accuse him. And so they threw this adulterous woman down. By the way, where was the guy? Who knows? There was a guy involved right? But they threw this adulterous woman down
on the ground and said, “Hey, the law of Moses says we should kill this woman. We should stone her. What do you say we should do?” And his wisdom and knowledge- and we don’t
know what he writes in the sand, we’re not supposed to know what he writes or what we
does down in the sand. But it says one by one these accusers walk
away, from the oldest to the youngest. So it seemed like maybe something very specific
was maybe written in the sand to make that happen. But my favorite moment is, in my mind I kind
of visualize like just this woman thinking, “I’m going to die,” you know? “I’m about to die a horrible death,”
head held in shame. Jesus kneels to her and says, “Woman, where
have your accusers gone?” And she lifts her head and she says, “They’re
not here anymore.” Like, they’ve left. And the crazy thing is the only one that able
to meet the criteria of stoning that Jesus set forth, because he said, “He who has
no sin cast the first stone,” you know? And the only one who had the ability to meet
that criteria was Jesus, you know, the only one worthy to throw a stone. He could have passed judgment on her in a
completely righteous way. And what does he do? He kneels and gets on a face-to-face level
with this woman and says, “Where have you accusers gone?” And she says, “They’re not here anymore. They’ve left.” And he says, “Well I don’t accuse you
either. Go and sin no more,” you know? And that’s what I’ve found God in my life,
as a man who, you know, just like- you were put on platforms and looked up to. And maybe sometimes people think we’ve got
it a little more figured out than the rest. But man, first and foremost, we don’t. We are so in need of the grace of God and
think the fact that we’re even being used like this is a massive testament and monument
to the grace of God. And so that’s just- that’s my life on
a daily level, as a father- I’m answering your questions way too long, I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be talking about a father. Ultimately God the father getting down to
where I’m at and saying, I love you, and I forgive you, and I want to be involved in
what you’re doing today. Not just the church moments, not just the
big moments, not just the moments when you’re starting to talk to people about Jesus on
the airplane, you know. I want to be involved with your life on a
daily level. And it just blows my mind, and I’m thankful
to my kids for really opening my eyes to see that. >> NASSER: Man, I don’t know about. You, but that is so timely in my life to hear
that. And I love that sermon that God just gave
you for all of us. And I needed to hear that, because talk about
a visual, talk about a vivid picture. And as you were talking, you know, “He would
with sin cast the first stone.” And that’s the posture that God would want
us to have. >> WICKHAM: Yeah. >> NASSER: As we come into even seeing someone
who’s maybe made the mistake of taking someone’s life through abortion. But in sight of that, I was also thinking
about the greater vivid picture, the greater graphic image than the picture of an aborted
fetus. The greater one that doesn’t hijack the
conversation is a dad playing with his kids at Chick-fil-a, a father modeling what parenting
looks like rather than pointing a finger at someone who won't have that opportunity anymore
because of a mistake. And so, man I don’t know about you but did
you need to hear that from the Lord today from our brother? That’s such a good sermon man, thank you. [APPLAUSE] Next time you come we don’t even need you
to sing. Tell me about- there’s a lot of seasons
in your life. Like you just recorded a record and came out,
they’re times when you’re touring a lot. Like this weekend, you were just in Louisville
last night. You’re with us and you’re going to go
home for the weekend to San Diego. So you’re not on a tour where you’re 38
cities in a Prevost bus. Different season call for different things,
but what are some of the non-negotiables? Is there something that in every season you’re
committed to? >> WICKHAM: Yeah, well, I think all of our
lives are so busy. But yeah, like, my life I can wake up in a
different city every morning sometimes on these tours. And some- the non-negotiable list has been
pretty small because it’s just some things are impossible. But my non-negotiables are seeing my wife
face-to-face, whether that’s FaceTime or face-to-face in real life, and then talking
to God, you know? I mean, I’ll keep it simple, but asking
God- every morning it’s just like, “Lord, fill me with your character and your humility,
you’re power and your patience, your life, your spirit to be the dad and the worship
leader and the friend and the husband that I need to be.” That’s kind of my prayer every morning. And then seeing my family every day. Those are the two. >> NASSER: That’s so good. Can you take us a little deeper into that? So a lot of times, this weekend, that’ll
be you’re at home. Today, you know, you’re two time zones away,
so she’s probably just now waking up. Or I bet as a mom with four kids she’s been
up probably a long time. >> WICKHAM: Probably. >> NASSER: But so sometimes it doesn’t always
have to be a dramatic “I love you” moment on the phone, it’s just consistency, right? And it’s a commitment to the Lord to be
with him to be in communion and then to this woman that God has given you as a wife. Tell us about that relationship, and what
have you learned as far as marriage is concerned, you know? A lot of students here looking for who God
might have for them as a companion, as a mate. Any pieces of advice? >> WICKHAM: Oh my goodness, probably a lot
and not enough at the same time. How many of y’all are not married in here? [CHEERS] Okay. There’s a lot of people that aren’t married. Man, I have this crazy story where my wife
was also my first girlfriend and my first kiss. >> AUDIENCE: Awww. >> WICKHAM: And so we have a really cool-
that doesn’t really happen that much. [APPLAUSE] So thankful for that. But honestly a lot of that- there was opportunities
in high school, and I knew her in high school and when she graduated she was 17. That’s when we started dating. I was 20 and she was 17. [SHOCK] And then we got mar- oh come on. [LAUGHTER] And then we got married when I was 24 and
she was 21. So we’ve been together a long time. Like I said, 10 years married, almost 15 years
together. I’ve known her since she was in my brother’s-
my brother was a junior high pastor and she was in my brother’s youth group as a 6th
grader and I was a freshman in high school. So I remember her running around. But not until after she was in high school
did we- [CHATTER] Hey come on guys, chill out. Geez. [LAUGHTER] We became friends. Um- man, I think a couple- this is something
you’ve probably heard before, but man it is so massive, I’m realizing, is that- marry
your best friend, I mean someone that you love to laugh with. Someone that like- now that I’ve been married
for 10 years, and I’m sure maybe David- obviously he’s been married much, much longer. Just kidding- no I’m just- [LAUGHTER] >> NASSER: Twenty-four years. >> WICKHAM: Twenty-four years? >> NASSER: Twenty-four years. >> WICKHAM: And David’s been married longer
than me. I mean, you guys are going to go through-
I mean maybe the first year or two it’s kind of like sweet and it’s like we’re
kind of still dating. But them like some stuff comes up that she
didn’t even know she had, and stuff comes up that I didn’t even know I had. And then you’re going to realize like, man
after 7 years it’s like more stuff comes up. And, there’s moments where it’s like,
okay I could see how this could get really challenging if we don’t face this with patience
and love and grace. And you get through it, then it’s bigger
on the other side. But man, if I didn’t- if she wasn’t the
one I wanted to hang out with the most, and wanted to go see movies with the most, and
wanted to go on adventures with the most, like it would make things a lot harder to-
you know, to really work through some of those things. I don’t know if you would agree. >> NASSER: A hundred percent. It’s not just loving a person, you know,
it’s liking the person. It’s wanting to be in companion and in community
and in life, and then you’re looking through the filter of, is this going to be the person
that’s going to raise my children, as an as example- >> WICKHAM: Oh yeah, that actually reminds
me of some of the best advice I’ve ever been given. >> NASSER: Yeah. >> WICKHAM: So I was saying, so we knew each
other for a long time, but the reason why I probably didn’t have like girlfriends
in high school is because I’ve always been super afraid of commitment. Like I just- big decisions, I just don’t
want to mess my life up, you know? And I don’t trust myself to not mess my
life up, you know? I don’t know of anybody else, you fell-
you know? [CHEERS] Which is cool, but I like swung the other
way, just be being like, okay like I- anytime it even got close to like “I think this
girl’s starting to like me,” I would like run because I’m just like- you know? [LAUGHTER] Which made me kind of a lame boyfriend, because
I kept second guessing and not- and waiting for the big moment where God was going to
like shoot some firework up in the sky and it’s going to say “Marry Mallory”, you
know? Because I had this story going on my mind
that my- a pastor at one of the churches I grew up with said like, “Hey, I remember
when I was 22 I walked into a room and I saw God point out a girl at the other side. Had never met her before, but God said I’m
supposed to marry her.” He walked over and told her that and two weeks
later they were married. [SHOCK] And I’m just like, oh sweet, it’s so easy,
you know? That’s going to be amazing. [LAUGHTER] But I just had like that in my mind. Like okay, God is just going to make it so
like, you know, burning bush moment. And I remember I was talking to- I was talking
to a pastor friend who is a very dear friend. And later- and actually he recently passed
away, but he was the pastor that married my wife and I, presided over the ceremony. But he was like, “Okay, what’s going on
with Mallory?” Because we had been dating for like two and
a half years. I’m like, “Yeah, you know, we’re just
dating and it’s sweet.” And he’s like, “Well, you’re going to-” >> NASSER: Two and a half years? >> WICKHAM: Two and a half. Well yeah- well we were young, we were young,
right? But two and a half years we were dating, and
I had gone through ups and downs of like, I love this person, but I don’t know, how
are you supposed to know, you know? And this guy gave me some of the best advice. I mean, he asked me the best questions I’ve
ever been asked in my life. Because I was like, “How did you know? You and Karen are so in love still, you’ve
been married for 30 years.” He’s like, “Phil,” he’s like, “is
she your best friend?” I’m like, “Well, yeah.” He’s like, “Is it hard for you to keep
your hands off her?” I was like, “Yeah,” you know?” And- [LAUGHTER] And he said, “Does she love Jesus?” “Yeah.” “Does she make you want to love Jesus more?” “Yeah.” “Do you see her as being an amazing mother
for your children?” “Yes.” “Do you want to live without her?” “No.” And he looked at me like- [LAUGHTER] And so I was- so I was just, in that moment,
like I literally- it was one of those like, in the movie where that happens and there’s
like this montage of all the past scenes of like, oh I get it, you know? [LAUGHTER] And it’s like God was doing- he was telling
me through so many things, you know? Through hearing her pray before a meal, to
seeing her serve people at the church, through laughing with her all the time. And I was just too afraid. I was looking for the big moment. I think we’re so hungry nowadays for like
the big moment, you know. We want the sunset on Instagram and we want
to like be looking at the fireworks at Disneyland, and then- I don’t know. I don’t know what we want, but you know
what I mean? We want that big thing, and those are beautiful
moments, but that story taught me something very valuable that I’ve carried through
in big decision for the ongoing in my life. It’s that like, don’t look- don’t be
asking for God to speak in some big audible way when he’s already been speaking to you
like the last two or three-four years, you know, and you just haven’t- you’ve had
like fear or ambition or ego in the way to not be able to see the direction of God in
your life, you know? My sheep hear my voice- know my voice and-
and they hear my- what’s that verse? They hear my voice and they will follow me. I’m paraphrasing, but like I’m realizing
more and more that like understanding and knowing God’s voice is not like- like it’s
not necessarily going up to a mountain top and actually hearing it, but it’s those
day-to-day, morning-to-morning like seeing his blessing and seeing his- and being aware
of his presence, being aware of his heart. You know sometimes maybe you guys feel this
way too, it’s like maybe you’re just in a conversation with a stranger or a friend,
and your heart just gets heavy for them, you know, and you just realize, I’m going to
help this person. Or you see someone on the street and it’s
the fourth person you’ve seen but for some reason that guy, that homeless guy it’s
just- I don’t know, like something in my heart aches. And sometimes we act on that, probably more
often we don’t. But man, like, I just like to take that as,
man maybe this is the Spirit speaking to my spirit to be a part of this moment, you know,
to affect this moment with the power that God has given you, that he’s given me. Everything we need inside of us to totally
change the world around us, you don’t have to be on a platform, but he’s given you
everything you need to like shape and change and brighten up your sphere of influence,
you know. And to like to hear God’s voice is to say,
“Okay, I’m going to step into this,” and actually step in faith. >> NASSER: I think there may be students here,
whether you’re visiting with CFAW or you’re a senior who’s about to graduate out of
here, and the Lord’s using that, not just in who might be your future wife or husband,
but you’re looking for this dramatic moment. And Phil’s reminding you that a lot of times
it’s a thousand little paper cuts and not a big stab on the heart, you know. It’s a tiny little moment after moment after
moment that affirms to you that God’s all along been whispering, and he doesn’t need
to shout in all caps to get your attention. And so you become sensitive to the ear of
the shepherd because you’re his sheep. And that’s such good takeaway, and that
might be what God’s been doing all along in your life. He’s been whispering and preparing you. And now you’re like, “God, I’m about
to graduate. What do you want me to do?” And God’s like, “Look at the path. Look at the journey, and I’ve prepared you
for the next step.” And so maybe instead of a writing on the wall,
you just need to look at the history of his faithfulness and what he’s been preparing
in you to do. It would be criminal for us to not have you
this morning, because that room that you’re at tonight seats about a thousand, all right,
and here has about 12 thousand here, and not ask you- >> WICKHAM: Anybody coming tonight at all? [CHEERS] >> NASSER: Yeah. >> WICKHAM: Awesome, cool. >> NASSER: To not have you at least lead us
in a little bit of worship, and so we’ve got a few songs. Will you do that. >> WICKHAM: Yeah. >> NASSER: Come on, can we thank Phil for
just a great job and- >> WICKHAM: I’m going to go help them set
up. >> NASSER: Yeah. [CHEERS & APPLAUSE] It’s really good. Hey, while Phil is grabbing his guitar and
getting ready, the last question that we always ask whenever we have a guest that comes our
way- we ask all kinds of different things of all kinds of different guests obviously,
but the one commonality is how, Phil- can you hear me with the ears in? >> WICKHAM: I can. >> NASSER: Cool- how we can be praying for
you specifically. Is there a particular prayer request before
you lead us in these last two songs that-? >> WICKHAM: Man, it’s really simple, and
we already kind of touched on, you know. I just, I really just want to be a good Dad
and a good husband. And so much of that is being thoughtful and
like, so much of marriage I’ve found, of being a good husband, is like getting to know
your wife enough to kind of figure out what she’s going to want before she feels she
knows she even wants to ask for it, you know? Which is sometimes impossible feeling, but
I think I’m getting better and better at it. But just more thoughtfulness for my wife. >> NASSER: Yeah. >> WICKHAM: More time for my kids. Just more consistency. >> NASSER: Yeah, that’s so good. We want to do that. Katie works on our team in hospitality for
a lot of our guests. And it’s not just making sure that the airline
tickets lined up and those kinds of things, it’s also praying for our guests. And she does that a lot of time off stage,
and she’s been already praying for you man. But we wanted to today ask. Her to pray over you, and pray over your family,
and pray for consistency. I think that’s what I was hearing. >> WICKHAM: Yeah. >> NASSER: But let’s all put our hands toward
our brother and just pray the Lord’s blessing and favor on him. >> KATIE: (Praying) God, I just come before
your thrown and I thank you for moments like today. God, we don’t take it for granted. God, I thank you for Phil and Mallory and
their four beautiful children. And God I just pray that you would bless them,
God, you know exactly what that means. God, I pray that you would keep your hedge
of protection and your hand of favor on Phil’s ministry. God, I pray that you would give him and his
wife an extra measure of wisdom and discernment as they lead their children to understand
how to interact with their neighbors, what it means to be the church. God, I thank you so much for just empowering
with the gift of worship, God, with leading people in worship. Not just worshiping you but leading other
people, and that being a ministry to bring people to the understanding of who you are. And so God I just pray that that passion,
that love for you would not die out. And that in moments where he feels exhausted
and tired, I pray God that your Holy Spirit would pursue him, that he would fall even
more in love with you. And so Jesus, I pray for this moment right
now, that- as we worship you again. Jesus, I pray for the College For A Weekend
students that are here. God, I thank you that during College For A
Weekend you called me to Liberty. And so God I pray that you would speak to
these students, that if you have them to be here at Liberty, that you would prick their
heart this weekend. And if there’s another school in mind God,
that you would give them confidence to walk in obedience. We love you Lord, in Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen. (End) >> WICKHAM: Thank you. [APPLAUSE] >> NASSER: Thank you, Katie. Let’s all stand together, come on. We’re going to worship, and after Phil’s
done leading in two songs I do have two important announcements before we break out of this
huddle, all right? But come on, can we again thank Phil for just
being here and leading us? Brother, we love you. Let’s worship together. [CHEERS] [MUSIC] >> WICKHAM: You’re so beautiful. So Jesus, we worship you, God. Thank you for welcoming us into your family
today. He who brings breaks the power. [MUSIC] (Singing) All you’ve done. Thank you, God. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for the empty grave. Thank you that you’re with us here and now. We worship you. One more time, just our voices. Come on. [MUSIC]
