Crossroads Church: Recent Episodes

Crossroads Church

Crossroads is a welcoming and diverse church, serving the people of northern Colorado with inspiring weekend services and life-changing ministries for all ages. We seek to help people experience God's guidance, encouragement and presence every day.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by you, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by you, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by you, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by you, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

In our last service at the Taft Avenue campus, we celebrate the past and look forward to a bright future together.

Through Hellbent, you are invited to explore how fear-based faith can distort the heart of the Gospel. Grounded in Jesus’ call to “love your enemies,” this teaching series invites us to rediscover a God shaped not by vengeance, but by compassion, restoration, and radical love. Together, we’ll wrestle with judgment, grace, and what it means to participate in God’s healing work in the world.

Through Hellbent, you are invited to explore how fear-based faith can distort the heart of the Gospel. Grounded in Jesus’ call to “love your enemies,” this teaching series invites us to rediscover a God shaped not by vengeance, but by compassion, restoration, and radical love. Together, we’ll wrestle with judgment, grace, and what it means to participate in God’s healing work in the world.

Through Hellbent, you are invited to explore how fear-based faith can distort the heart of the Gospel. Grounded in Jesus’ call to “love your enemies,” this teaching series invites us to rediscover a God shaped not by vengeance, but by compassion, restoration, and radical love. Together, we’ll wrestle with judgment, grace, and what it means to participate in God’s healing work in the world.

Through Hellbent, you are invited to explore how fear-based faith can distort the heart of the Gospel. Grounded in Jesus’ call to “love your enemies,” this teaching series invites us to rediscover a God shaped not by vengeance, but by compassion, restoration, and radical love. Together, we’ll wrestle with judgment, grace, and what it means to participate in God’s healing work in the world.

Rewriting the Five Unacceptable Truths of our world

Relationships shape everything — our joy, our growth, and sometimes our deepest struggles. I Promise Me steps into the promises we make to ourselves so we can show up with honesty, compassion, and courage in every relationship. Inspired by the wisdom of the Five Agreements and grounded in the resurrection stories of Jesus, this series explores how small, intentional shifts can transform the way we speak, listen, and love.

Relationships shape everything — our joy, our growth, and sometimes our deepest struggles. I Promise Me steps into the promises we make to ourselves so we can show up with honesty, compassion, and courage in every relationship. Inspired by the wisdom of the Five Agreements and grounded in the resurrection stories of Jesus, this series explores how small, intentional shifts can transform the way we speak, listen, and love.

Relationships shape everything — our joy, our growth, and sometimes our deepest struggles. I Promise Me steps into the promises we make to ourselves so we can show up with honesty, compassion, and courage in every relationship. Inspired by the wisdom of the Five Agreements and grounded in the resurrection stories of Jesus, this series explores how small, intentional shifts can transform the way we speak, listen, and love.

Relationships shape everything — our joy, our growth, and sometimes our deepest struggles. I Promise Me steps into the promises we make to ourselves so we can show up with honesty, compassion, and courage in every relationship. Inspired by the wisdom of the Five Agreements and grounded in the resurrection stories of Jesus, this series explores how small, intentional shifts can transform the way we speak, listen, and love.

Relationships shape everything — our joy, our growth, and sometimes our deepest struggles. I Promise Me steps into the promises we make to ourselves so we can show up with honesty, compassion, and courage in every relationship. Inspired by the wisdom of the Five Agreements and grounded in the resurrection stories of Jesus, this series explores how small, intentional shifts can transform the way we speak, listen, and love.

In The Shape of Hope: What Happened When People Met Jesus, explore how hope takes shape through real encounters with Jesus. Grounded in Gospel stories while being honest about life’s struggles, this series invites you to discover hope not as something you have to feel, but something that can grow—gradually and personally—through being seen, accompanied, and invited into new possibilities.

In The Shape of Hope: What Happened When People Met Jesus, explore how hope takes shape through real encounters with Jesus. Grounded in Gospel stories while being honest about life’s struggles, this series invites you to discover hope not as something you have to feel, but something that can grow—gradually and personally—through being seen, accompanied, and invited into new possibilities.

In The Shape of Hope: What Happened When People Met Jesus, explore how hope takes shape through real encounters with Jesus. Grounded in Gospel stories while being honest about life’s struggles, this series invites you to discover hope not as something you have to feel, but something that can grow—gradually and personally—through being seen, accompanied, and invited into new possibilities.

In The Shape of Hope: What Happened When People Met Jesus, explore how hope takes shape through real encounters with Jesus. Grounded in Gospel stories while being honest about life’s struggles, this series invites you to discover hope not as something you have to feel, but something that can grow—gradually and personally—through being seen, accompanied, and invited into new possibilities.

In The Shape of Hope: What Happened When People Met Jesus, explore how hope takes shape through real encounters with Jesus. Grounded in Gospel stories while being honest about life’s struggles, this series invites you to discover hope not as something you have to feel, but something that can grow—gradually and personally—through being seen, accompanied, and invited into new possibilities.

In The Shape of Hope: What Happened When People Met Jesus, explore how hope takes shape through real encounters with Jesus. Grounded in Gospel stories while being honest about life’s struggles, this series invites you to discover hope not as something you have to feel, but something that can grow—gradually and personally—through being seen, accompanied, and invited into new possibilities.

In The Space Between, we will explore what it means to live faithfully in the midst of change, honoring what has shaped us, telling the truth about what we are experiencing now, and opening ourselves to what can be. Together, we will learn how to move forward without losing ourselves—or one another.

Friend of Crossroads Rickey Bolden shares about the beauty of a new thing.

In The Space Between, we will explore what it means to live faithfully in the midst of change, honoring what has shaped us, telling the truth about what we are experiencing now, and opening ourselves to what can be. Together, we will learn how to move forward without losing ourselves—or one another.

In The Space Between, we will explore what it means to live faithfully in the midst of change, honoring what has shaped us, telling the truth about what we are experiencing now, and opening ourselves to what can be. Together, we will learn how to move forward without losing ourselves—or one another.

In The Space Between, we will explore what it means to live faithfully in the midst of change, honoring what has shaped us, telling the truth about what we are experiencing now, and opening ourselves to what can be. Together, we will learn how to move forward without losing ourselves—or one another.

In The Space Between, we will explore what it means to live faithfully in the midst of change, honoring what has shaped us, telling the truth about what we are experiencing now, and opening ourselves to what can be. Together, we will learn how to move forward without losing ourselves—or one another.

In The Promise of Christmas, journey through the hope, light, peace, wonder, and growth that shape the story of Christ. We’ll remember together that Divine Love keeps every promise—and that no night, no fear, no season of waiting can overcome the light that is coming into the world.

In The Promise of Christmas, journey through the hope, light, peace, wonder, and growth that shape the story of Christ. We’ll remember together that Divine Love keeps every promise—and that no night, no fear, no season of waiting can overcome the light that is coming into the world.

In The Promise of Christmas, journey through the hope, light, peace, wonder, and growth that shape the story of Christ. We’ll remember together that Divine Love keeps every promise—and that no night, no fear, no season of waiting can overcome the light that is coming into the world.

In The Promise of Christmas, journey through the hope, light, peace, wonder, and growth that shape the story of Christ. We’ll remember together that Divine Love keeps every promise—and that no night, no fear, no season of waiting can overcome the light that is coming into the world.

Look forward to the future with gratitude.

Look back and celebrate the past year while we look ahead to a bright future.

re\THINK blends the wisdom of psychology with the depth of Scripture to help us face the thoughts that hold us back. Each week, we’ll explore a powerful biblical story, reframe harmful inner narratives, and take steps toward healing, wholeness, and spiritual strength. Be reminded: You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone.

re\THINK blends the wisdom of psychology with the depth of Scripture to help us face the thoughts that hold us back. Each week, we’ll explore a powerful biblical story, reframe harmful inner narratives, and take steps toward healing, wholeness, and spiritual strength. Be reminded: You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone.

re\THINK blends the wisdom of psychology with the depth of Scripture to help us face the thoughts that hold us back. Each week, we’ll explore a powerful biblical story, reframe harmful inner narratives, and take steps toward healing, wholeness, and spiritual strength. Be reminded: You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone.

re\THINK blends the wisdom of psychology with the depth of Scripture to help us face the thoughts that hold us back. Each week, we’ll explore a powerful biblical story, reframe harmful inner narratives, and take steps toward healing, wholeness, and spiritual strength. Be reminded: You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone.

re\THINK blends the wisdom of psychology with the depth of Scripture to help us face the thoughts that hold us back. Each week, we’ll explore a powerful biblical story, reframe harmful inner narratives, and take steps toward healing, wholeness, and spiritual strength. Be reminded: You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone.

re\THINK blends the wisdom of psychology with the depth of Scripture to help us face the thoughts that hold us back. Each week, we’ll explore a powerful biblical story, reframe harmful inner narratives, and take steps toward healing, wholeness, and spiritual strength. Be reminded: You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone.

re\THINK blends the wisdom of psychology with the depth of Scripture to help us face the thoughts that hold us back. Each week, we’ll explore a powerful biblical story, reframe harmful inner narratives, and take steps toward healing, wholeness, and spiritual strength. Be reminded: You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone.

re\THINK blends the wisdom of psychology with the depth of Scripture to help us face the thoughts that hold us back. Each week, we’ll explore a powerful biblical story, reframe harmful inner narratives, and take steps toward healing, wholeness, and spiritual strength. Be reminded: You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

Ever had a burning question about faith, life, or the Bible that you were too afraid to ask? Well, You Asked For It—literally! The summer teaching series is built around the real, honest questions submitted by YOU, the Crossroads community. Each week, we’ll explore what Wisdom has to say about the things that matter most to you.

In a fast-paced world that often pulls us in every direction, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms of life that nourish our souls. In The Healing Circle: Indigenous Wisdom and Peacemaking Spirituality, explore vital aspects of holistic health, guided by scriptural wisdom and Indigenous principles. Together, we'll discover practical, spiritually-enriching ways to integrate these ancient insights into modern life, fostering personal and communal transformation.

In a fast-paced world that often pulls us in every direction, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms of life that nourish our souls. In The Healing Circle: Indigenous Wisdom and Peacemaking Spirituality, explore vital aspects of holistic health, guided by scriptural wisdom and Indigenous principles. Together, we'll discover practical, spiritually-enriching ways to integrate these ancient insights into modern life, fostering personal and communal transformation.

In a fast-paced world that often pulls us in every direction, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms of life that nourish our souls. In The Healing Circle: Indigenous Wisdom and Peacemaking Spirituality, explore vital aspects of holistic health, guided by scriptural wisdom and Indigenous principles. Together, we'll discover practical, spiritually-enriching ways to integrate these ancient insights into modern life, fostering personal and communal transformation.

Carlos Rodriguez from The Happy Givers shares on the 4th annual Partners in Hope weekend.

This Pride Month, learn from Rahab how to include someone the world excludes.

In a fast-paced world that often pulls us in every direction, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms of life that nourish our souls. In The Healing Circle: Indigenous Wisdom and Peacemaking Spirituality, explore vital aspects of holistic health, guided by scriptural wisdom and Indigenous principles. Together, we'll discover practical, spiritually-enriching ways to integrate these ancient insights into modern life, fostering personal and communal transformation.

In a fast-paced world that often pulls us in every direction, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms of life that nourish our souls. In The Healing Circle: Indigenous Wisdom and Peacemaking Spirituality, explore vital aspects of holistic health, guided by scriptural wisdom and Indigenous principles. Together, we'll discover practical, spiritually-enriching ways to integrate these ancient insights into modern life, fostering personal and communal transformation.

In a fast-paced world that often pulls us in every direction, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms of life that nourish our souls. In The Healing Circle: Indigenous Wisdom and Peacemaking Spirituality, explore vital aspects of holistic health, guided by scriptural wisdom and Indigenous principles. Together, we'll discover practical, spiritually-enriching ways to integrate these ancient insights into modern life, fostering personal and communal transformation.

In a fast-paced world that often pulls us in every direction, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms of life that nourish our souls. In The Healing Circle: Indigenous Wisdom and Peacemaking Spirituality, explore vital aspects of holistic health, guided by scriptural wisdom and Indigenous principles. Together, we'll discover practical, spiritually-enriching ways to integrate these ancient insights into modern life, fostering personal and communal transformation.

In a fast-paced world that often pulls us in every direction, it's easy to lose touch with the deeper rhythms of life that nourish our souls. In The Healing Circle: Indigenous Wisdom and Peacemaking Spirituality, explore vital aspects of holistic health, guided by scriptural wisdom and Indigenous principles. Together, we'll discover practical, spiritually-enriching ways to integrate these ancient insights into modern life, fostering personal and communal transformation.

Fear shouts. Injustice echoes. Division grows loud. But love is louder. This Lent, step into a journey of courageous, embodied love—the kind of love that Jesus lived, the kind of love that calls us out of silence and into action. In Love Is Louder: Love Your Neighbor Out Loud, explore what it means to move beyond silent belief into bold love—confronting injustice, embracing the outsider, and transforming hearts.

Fear shouts. Injustice echoes. Division grows loud. But love is louder. This Lent, step into a journey of courageous, embodied love—the kind of love that Jesus lived, the kind of love that calls us out of silence and into action. In Love Is Louder: Love Your Neighbor Out Loud, explore what it means to move beyond silent belief into bold love—confronting injustice, embracing the outsider, and transforming hearts.

Fear shouts. Injustice echoes. Division grows loud. But love is louder. This Lent, step into a journey of courageous, embodied love—the kind of love that Jesus lived, the kind of love that calls us out of silence and into action. In Love Is Louder: Love Your Neighbor Out Loud, explore what it means to move beyond silent belief into bold love—confronting injustice, embracing the outsider, and transforming hearts.

Fear shouts. Injustice echoes. Division grows loud. But love is louder. This Lent, step into a journey of courageous, embodied love—the kind of love that Jesus lived, the kind of love that calls us out of silence and into action. In Love Is Louder: Love Your Neighbor Out Loud, explore what it means to move beyond silent belief into bold love—confronting injustice, embracing the outsider, and transforming hearts.

Fear shouts. Injustice echoes. Division grows loud. But love is louder. This Lent, step into a journey of courageous, embodied love—the kind of love that Jesus lived, the kind of love that calls us out of silence and into action. In Love Is Louder: Love Your Neighbor Out Loud, explore what it means to move beyond silent belief into bold love—confronting injustice, embracing the outsider, and transforming hearts.

Fear shouts. Injustice echoes. Division grows loud. But love is louder. This Lent, step into a journey of courageous, embodied love—the kind of love that Jesus lived, the kind of love that calls us out of silence and into action. In Love Is Louder: Love Your Neighbor Out Loud, explore what it means to move beyond silent belief into bold love—confronting injustice, embracing the outsider, and transforming hearts.

Fear shouts. Injustice echoes. Division grows loud. But love is louder. This Lent, step into a journey of courageous, embodied love—the kind of love that Jesus lived, the kind of love that calls us out of silence and into action. In Love Is Louder: Love Your Neighbor Out Loud, explore what it means to move beyond silent belief into bold love—confronting injustice, embracing the outsider, and transforming hearts.

Explore how financial decisions can be guided by wisdom, values, and the pursuit of peace. Through themes like inclusion, creativity, and generosity, we’ll learn how to build healthy financial habits, budget with purpose, and approach money in a way that aligns with our spiritual lives. Whether you’re facing financial challenges or seeking a deeper connection between faith and finances, cultivate peace of mind and a plan for lasting financial well-being.

Explore how financial decisions can be guided by wisdom, values, and the pursuit of peace. Through themes like inclusion, creativity, and generosity, we’ll learn how to build healthy financial habits, budget with purpose, and approach money in a way that aligns with our spiritual lives. Whether you’re facing financial challenges or seeking a deeper connection between faith and finances, cultivate peace of mind and a plan for lasting financial well-being.

We welcome guest speaker and former NFL player Rickey Bolden.

Explore how financial decisions can be guided by wisdom, values, and the pursuit of peace. Through themes like inclusion, creativity, and generosity, we’ll learn how to build healthy financial habits, budget with purpose, and approach money in a way that aligns with our spiritual lives. Whether you’re facing financial challenges or seeking a deeper connection between faith and finances, cultivate peace of mind and a plan for lasting financial well-being.

Explore how financial decisions can be guided by wisdom, values, and the pursuit of peace. Through themes like inclusion, creativity, and generosity, we’ll learn how to build healthy financial habits, budget with purpose, and approach money in a way that aligns with our spiritual lives. Whether you’re facing financial challenges or seeking a deeper connection between faith and finances, cultivate peace of mind and a plan for lasting financial well-being.

Explore how financial decisions can be guided by wisdom, values, and the pursuit of peace. Through themes like inclusion, creativity, and generosity, we’ll learn how to build healthy financial habits, budget with purpose, and approach money in a way that aligns with our spiritual lives. Whether you’re facing financial challenges or seeking a deeper connection between faith and finances, cultivate peace of mind and a plan for lasting financial well-being.

Explore how financial decisions can be guided by wisdom, values, and the pursuit of peace. Through themes like inclusion, creativity, and generosity, we’ll learn how to build healthy financial habits, budget with purpose, and approach money in a way that aligns with our spiritual lives. Whether you’re facing financial challenges or seeking a deeper connection between faith and finances, cultivate peace of mind and a plan for lasting financial well-being.

Happy new year 2025!

Of Messes and Mangers explores how the Christmas story speaks to the messiness of real life, bringing hope, peace, joy, love, and healing into our brokenness. Rather than glossing over life’s imperfections, this Advent season invites us to embrace them, discovering a God who meets us in the mess, honoring our pain and vulnerability and offering us a manger of new beginnings and grace.

Of Messes and Mangers explores how the Christmas story speaks to the messiness of real life, bringing hope, peace, joy, love, and healing into our brokenness. Rather than glossing over life’s imperfections, this Advent season invites us to embrace them, discovering a God who meets us in the mess, honoring our pain and vulnerability and offering us a manger of new beginnings and grace.

Of Messes and Mangers explores how the Christmas story speaks to the messiness of real life, bringing hope, peace, joy, love, and healing into our brokenness. Rather than glossing over life’s imperfections, this Advent season invites us to embrace them, discovering a God who meets us in the mess, honoring our pain and vulnerability and offering us a manger of new beginnings and grace.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

In Hope Is Here, explore what it means to connect with a faith-filled, hope-driven community in a world longing for healing. From embracing a Jesus-centered, action-oriented faith to cultivating spaces of laughter, creativity, and radical inclusion, this series equips and inspires everyday peacemakers to participate with others and model for our world a faith that is compassionate, resilient, and transformative.

Pastor Dennis Anderson shares his wisdom on the eve of his retirement.

Volunteering is great and all, but sometimes it's a wise volunteer who knows when to NOT volunteer. Dive into the characteristics of a wise volunteer and explore how and when you might need to make a change.

No other book in the New Testament has attracted as much debate and attention as the book of Revelation. In The Peacemaker's Guide to the Revelation, walk away with tools – a road map – to read the Revelation in a spiritually healthy, Jesus-centered way. So buckle up and don’t panic.

No other book in the New Testament has attracted as much debate and attention as the book of Revelation. In The Peacemaker's Guide to the Revelation, walk away with tools – a road map – to read the Revelation in a spiritually healthy, Jesus-centered way. So buckle up and don’t panic.

No other book in the New Testament has attracted as much debate and attention as the book of Revelation. In The Peacemaker's Guide to the Revelation, walk away with tools – a road map – to read the Revelation in a spiritually healthy, Jesus-centered way. So buckle up and don’t panic.

No other book in the New Testament has attracted as much debate and attention as the book of Revelation. In The Peacemaker's Guide to the Revelation, walk away with tools – a road map – to read the Revelation in a spiritually healthy, Jesus-centered way. So buckle up and don’t panic.

No other book in the New Testament has attracted as much debate and attention as the book of Revelation. In The Peacemaker's Guide to the Revelation, walk away with tools – a road map – to read the Revelation in a spiritually healthy, Jesus-centered way. So buckle up and don’t panic.

Listen to a brief talk on fun given by Ryan before our Summer Bash 2024.

In Unacceptable Truth, dig into the five unacceptable truths of our day that create a barrier for wholeness and are destroying peace on earth. Gain a high level understanding of each unacceptable truth, hear from experts working to rewrite these truths, and commit to living with a faith-full vision aligned with Jesus’ vision of peace on earth.

In Unacceptable Truth, dig into the five unacceptable truths of our day that create a barrier for wholeness and are destroying peace on earth. Gain a high level understanding of each unacceptable truth, hear from experts working to rewrite these truths, and commit to living with a faith-full vision aligned with Jesus’ vision of peace on earth.

In Unacceptable Truth, dig into the five unacceptable truths of our day that create a barrier for wholeness and are destroying peace on earth. Gain a high level understanding of each unacceptable truth, hear from experts working to rewrite these truths, and commit to living with a faith-full vision aligned with Jesus’ vision of peace on earth.

In Unacceptable Truth, dig into the five unacceptable truths of our day that create a barrier for wholeness and are destroying peace on earth. Gain a high level understanding of each unacceptable truth, hear from experts working to rewrite these truths, and commit to living with a faith-full vision aligned with Jesus’ vision of peace on earth.

In Unacceptable Truth, dig into the five unacceptable truths of our day that create a barrier for wholeness and are destroying peace on earth. Gain a high level understanding of each unacceptable truth, hear from experts working to rewrite these truths, and commit to living with a faith-full vision aligned with Jesus’ vision of peace on earth.

In Unacceptable Truth, dig into the five unacceptable truths of our day that create a barrier for wholeness and are destroying peace on earth. Gain a high level understanding of each unacceptable truth, hear from experts working to rewrite these truths, and commit to living with a faith-full vision aligned with Jesus’ vision of peace on earth.

In Unacceptable Truth, dig into the five unacceptable truths of our day that create a barrier for wholeness and are destroying peace on earth. Gain a high level understanding of each unacceptable truth, hear from experts working to rewrite these truths, and commit to living with a faith-full vision aligned with Jesus’ vision of peace on earth.

Life's journey, like a ship's voyage, does not always offer smooth sailing. Whether big or small, adversity is an inevitable part of life. Discover your Mainsail–that which helps you move forward in life– and learn the tools that build resilience, helping you navigate the storms.

Life's journey, like a ship's voyage, does not always offer smooth sailing. Whether big or small, adversity is an inevitable part of life. Discover your Mainsail–that which helps you move forward in life– and learn the tools that build resilience, helping you navigate the storms.

Life's journey, like a ship's voyage, does not always offer smooth sailing. Whether big or small, adversity is an inevitable part of life. Discover your Mainsail–that which helps you move forward in life– and learn the tools that build resilience, helping you navigate the storms.

Life's journey, like a ship's voyage, does not always offer smooth sailing. Whether big or small, adversity is an inevitable part of life. Discover your Mainsail–that which helps you move forward in life– and learn the tools that build resilience, helping you navigate the storms.

Life's journey, like a ship's voyage, does not always offer smooth sailing. Whether big or small, adversity is an inevitable part of life. Discover your Mainsail–that which helps you move forward in life– and learn the tools that build resilience, helping you navigate the storms.

Life's journey, like a ship's voyage, does not always offer smooth sailing. Whether big or small, adversity is an inevitable part of life. Discover your Mainsail–that which helps you move forward in life– and learn the tools that build resilience, helping you navigate the storms.

Life's journey, like a ship's voyage, does not always offer smooth sailing. Whether big or small, adversity is an inevitable part of life. Discover your Mainsail–that which helps you move forward in life– and learn the tools that build resilience, helping you navigate the storms.

Life's journey, like a ship's voyage, does not always offer smooth sailing. Whether big or small, adversity is an inevitable part of life. Discover your Mainsail–that which helps you move forward in life– and learn the tools that build resilience, helping you navigate the storms.

Join Crossroads this 2024 Lenten season as we explore six single-sentence prayers that will soften our hearts and keep them bending rather than breaking.

Join Crossroads this 2024 Lenten season as we explore six single-sentence prayers that will soften our hearts and keep them bending rather than breaking.

Join Crossroads this 2024 Lenten season as we explore six single-sentence prayers that will soften our hearts and keep them bending rather than breaking.

Join Crossroads this 2024 Lenten season as we explore six single-sentence prayers that will soften our hearts and keep them bending rather than breaking.

Join Crossroads this 2024 Lenten season as we explore six single-sentence prayers that will soften our hearts and keep them bending rather than breaking.

Join Crossroads this 2024 Lenten season as we explore six single-sentence prayers that will soften our hearts and keep them bending rather than breaking.

For Crossroads Tailgate 2024, we welcome guest speaker, former NFL player and friend of Crossroads Rickey Bolden.

Join Crossroads Church this winter as we find inspiration in understanding how Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied Jesus’ vital and vibrant love by choosing action over apathy, inclusion over exclusion, forgiveness over bitterness and non-violence over violence.

Join Crossroads Church this winter as we find inspiration in understanding how Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied Jesus’ vital and vibrant love by choosing action over apathy, inclusion over exclusion, forgiveness over bitterness and non-violence over violence.

Join Crossroads Church this winter as we find inspiration in understanding how Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied Jesus’ vital and vibrant love by choosing action over apathy, inclusion over exclusion, forgiveness over bitterness and non-violence over violence.

Join Crossroads Church this winter as we find inspiration in understanding how Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied Jesus’ vital and vibrant love by choosing action over apathy, inclusion over exclusion, forgiveness over bitterness and non-violence over violence.

Join Crossroads Church this winter as we find inspiration in understanding how Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied Jesus’ vital and vibrant love by choosing action over apathy, inclusion over exclusion, forgiveness over bitterness and non-violence over violence.

Join Crossroads Church this winter as we find inspiration in understanding how Martin Luther King, Jr. embodied Jesus’ vital and vibrant love by choosing action over apathy, inclusion over exclusion, forgiveness over bitterness and non-violence over violence.

This Christmas season, join Crossroads Church for Hope with Us. The teaching series celebrates Immanuel, God with us, in the Christmas story of Jesus and invites us to a deeper, more powerful experience of hope in our everyday, normal peacemaking lives.

This Christmas season, join Crossroads Church for Hope with Us. The teaching series celebrates Immanuel, God with us, in the Christmas story of Jesus and invites us to a deeper, more powerful experience of hope in our everyday, normal peacemaking lives.

This Christmas season, join Crossroads Church for Hope with Us. The teaching series celebrates Immanuel, God with us, in the Christmas story of Jesus and invites us to a deeper, more powerful experience of hope in our everyday, normal peacemaking lives.

This Christmas season, join Crossroads Church for Hope with Us. The teaching series celebrates Immanuel, God with us, in the Christmas story of Jesus and invites us to a deeper, more powerful experience of hope in our everyday, normal peacemaking lives.

This Christmas season, join Crossroads Church for Hope with Us. The teaching series celebrates Immanuel, God with us, in the Christmas story of Jesus and invites us to a deeper, more powerful experience of hope in our everyday, normal peacemaking lives.

This Christmas season, join Crossroads Church for Hope with Us. The teaching series celebrates Immanuel, God with us, in the Christmas story of Jesus and invites us to a deeper, more powerful experience of hope in our everyday, normal peacemaking lives.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

Join Crossroads Church as we explore the deep and complex characters of Ted Lasso and how they intersect with some of the most beautiful passages and themes in the Christian tradition.

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We call powerful spiritual moments ________________ ________ experiences.

Spiritual experiences often become the ____________ rather than the ____________.

When the means become the ends, we become ________________ seekers not _____________ makers.

What Wisdom does Mark 9:2-11 offer us?

________________ were a place of divine revelation in Ancient Israelite Religion. (2) __________________ __________________ was evidence of divine revelation in Ancient Israelite Religion. (3)

____________ and ________________ were common responses to divine revelation in Ancient Israelite Religion. (4-6)

Peter wanted to ____________ in the moment. (4-6)

A ____________ of ____________ was a common symbol for God’s presence in Ancient Israelite Religion. (7a)

In the Gospel of Mark, the divine revelation is that Jesus is the _________ _____ _________ but no one gets it. (7b)

Son of God in Ancient Israelite Religion referred to divinely exalted ______________ that represented God.

Son of God in Ancient Rome referred to the ______________ ______________ of the emperors.

For Mark, the journey ____________ the mountain is the journey of belief and unbelief. (Mark 9:12-29)

The idea of a ________________ messiah or a ________________ son of God was difficult to understand and accept.

Don’t Miss This!

The Transfiguration revealed the ________________ of Jesus despite the __________________ of people.

________________ was the Mount of Transfiguration for the Roman Soldier. (Mark 15:39)

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Embrace your _________ mount of transfiguration experiences.

Embrace your journey ___________ the mountain and through the valleys.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

When Jesus is transfigured in our lives we are transformed into ______________ of ______________.

What is God inviting you into today?

Download the Crossroads app and participate in the Summer Journey: The Way of Peace.
Read the Gospel of Mark this week.

Thought provoking question:

Can you think of a time where you had a “mountain top” experience? What was that like?
What do you think Jesus, Elijah and Moses would have been talking about up there on that mountain?
Mark tells us that Peter, James and John were confused by the whole situation. Have you ever been confused by a spiritual experience? How did you work through your confusion?
What comes to mind when you think of making space for spiritual experiences in your life? How can you create space in your life for spiritual experience?
What does it look like for you to be a person of peace in your every day, normal life?

This summer, we’re exploring stories together that can shape our spirituality and reveal the truth of God. After all, you never know who you will meet and what you will hear while sitting around the campfire.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway? (Matthew 8:18-22)

The call to ________________ ______________ just might be an ___________________ to embrace ___________________.

Following Jesus is more ___________________ than our ________________ ________________ and our ________________ _____________ in this life.

We only get ___________ ___________; nobody gets ___________. What are you going to do with your ___________?

What Wisdom Does Scripture Offer Us?

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been CALLED according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Every person has a ________________.
God, by grace through Christ, has CALLED you to become God’s people. Gal. 1:6 (NCV)
The Greek word translated CALLED is ______________. It is about your ___________________ in
life, your ________________, your ________________ in life.
Before you saw the light of day, I (God) had holy plans for you. Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG)
Your CALLING is ___________________ to ______________ ______________.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
God is good. Psalm 73:1
“We are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.” –Mother Theresa
...comfort those who are frightened, take tender care of those who are weak. 1 Thess. 5:14 (LV) When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. Romans 12:13 (NLT)

Don’t Miss This!

Your CALLING will ___________ the ______________ of your ______________ and ___________________.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph. 6:12
Although Jesus was ________________, he had this ________________ to ___________.
“Jesus promised those who would follow him only three things: that they would be absurdly happy,
entirely fearless and always in trouble.” –Greg Levoy
Your CALLING will ________________ the greatest ___________________ and ________________ in your life.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Get _______________ about your CALLING for your ________________.

What is God inviting you into today?

Thought Provoking Questions:

If following Jesus may be an invitation to poverty, hardship and distress, why doesn’t the church teach it more?
How clear are you about God’s calling or challenge for your life right now; not what it may have been 5 or 10 years ago, but now?
When you hear Jesus says you are salt and light is it hard for you to imagine it being true? Why or why not?
How has following Jesus tested the limits of your faith? Give specific examples.
Do you resonate with Greg Levoy’s words about what followers of Jesus will experience in life? Why
or why not?

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

East of Eden communities __________________ and _____________ out of fear.

When we think ___________ story is ___________ story, we will fear _____________ story. Fearing “them” is the seed of __________________ and __________________ behavior.

A Fresh Perspective on salvation understands that “Group Fear” combined with power leads to

_______________ injustice, the opposite of peace on earth.

A Fresh Perspective on Salvation: The Present Kingdom of God

The central story line of Jesus is the _______________ of ___________. (Mark 1:14-15)

The Kingdom of God was a religious and _______________ metaphor.

A Fresh Perspective affirms Jesus is ____________. (Philippians 2:9-11)

A Fresh Perspective emphasizes salvation ___________ something not ____________ something. (Mat 5:13-16, James 2:14-18)

Don’t Miss This!

A Fresh Perspective on Salvation begins with personal transformation and moves towards God’s vision of _____________ on _____________.

The God revealed in Jesus cares about justice because that God cares about _______________.

What does a Fresh Perspective on Salvation ask of us in our everyday, normal life?

Salvation raises our __________________ of what is universally causing human suffering.

Salvation asks us to use our ______________ and _______________ to bring about change.

Salvation asks us to live under the politics of __________________.

Ultimately, a Fresh Perspective on salvation is a __________________ engaged __________________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

When we say “Jesus is Lord” and when we see and live the Kingdom of God, we aren’t trying to go to ______________, but trying to bring heaven to _____________.

When ___________ story is about peace on earth, it constrains ___________ story and frees me into ___________ story.

What is God inviting you into today?

Explore more of what this Fresh Perspective means by coming next week and listening in on the panel discussion.
Explore baptism as a way of acknowledging my commitment to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus.
Explore some of the leading contributors to poverty, racism, sexism or homophobia in our world and how the choices I make can positively affect change.

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Remember: A Fresh Perspective embraces Jesus’ politic of ____________________ not holiness.

A Fresh Perspective sees salvation as ____________________ in two dimensions.

A Fresh Perspective on salvation embraces the metaphor of life ____________ of ____________.

Life East of Eden is marked by four spiritual powers: ___________, ______________, ______________

and the ___________ of __________________.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

A Fresh Perspective embraces and redeems the metaphors revealing a need for ___________ ____________: Born Again and The Way of Death and Resurrection. Jn 3:1-5, Mk 8:34, Lk 9:23-24)

A Fresh Perspective sees Jesus as ___________ ____________ and ___________ ___________ of God in the flesh. (Jn 14:6)

Don’t Miss This!

Salvation is a metaphor for the __________________ transformation that puts us on the path of _____________ dying to an old way and rising to a new way of seeing ourselves, our neighbor and our God.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Stop running from the one who heals the _______________ _______________. Choose to ______________ in Jesus’ way of dying and rising.

The way of dying and rising is the path of making ______________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

New Life in the Christian traditions replaces the power of sin, guilt, shame and the lie of separation with the power of _________________, ___________, ______________ and ____________.

The fear of death is replaced with __________________ ____________ in the goodness of God for this life and the next.

What is God inviting you into today?

(Re)Start an intentional relationship with God.
There is a person I need to make amends with as part of my dying to an old self and rising to a new self.
I would like to talk with someone about baptism as a symbol of my entering this new way of life revealed in Jesus.

Thought provoking questions:

Do you have any physical symptoms associated with the feeling of guilt and shame? What are they?
How does guilt turn to shame in your life? Is there anything that you have found helpful in short- circuiting that process?
What ways of talking about or thinking about salvation were given to you as a child or in your spiritual journey? How have these ways of seeing salvation been helpful? Have they been harmful?
As we explore the first dimension of salvation, have you had any personal experiences that produced a new way of seeing or living in your life?
What are some habits that can help cultivate a new life centered on Jesus’ way of dying to an old self and daily rising to a new self?

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Faced with tragedy and trauma, we struggle with the “_________” question.

Our __________________ affects how we answer the “why?” questions.

Our worldviews determine what we are ________________ to believe about the world.

In Antiquity, their worldview determined what they were ________________ of believing aboutthe world.

The earliest followers were ________________ _______________ limited by the matrix of culture and their worldview.

A Fresh Perspective takes diverse atonement theories from antiquity __________________ without needing to take them ________________.

We have at least five atonement theories with _____________ in the writings of the earliest followers.

We have become people who _____________ Jesus instead of people who ________________ Jesus.

How about A Fresh Perspective on the Cross and Sin for my everyday, normal life?

A Fresh Perspective sees _________ as the persistent spiritual reality manifested in the continual escalation of human ________________ and ________________. (Genesis 4:6-7, 15, 23-24)

________________ is the power of darkness and its time had come. (Luke 22:50-53)

A Fresh Perspective understands that the cross ____________________ the darkness of violence. (Jn 12:31ff)

The Metaphor: Until we _________ ________________ what is destroying us we can’t heal. (Num 21:8-9)

Don’t Miss This!

A Fresh Perspective asks us to _________ at:

(1) the cross of _____________ until we see the _________ of human violence and injustice that is destroying (our) humanity.

(2) the cross of _____________ until we see that only compassion and forgiveness have the _____________ ______ _________ us from the evil of violence and injustice.

A Fresh Perspective honors the language of ________________ without needing ___________________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

A Fresh Perspective on the cross and sin invites us to ___________________ in the restoration and healing of the world through a __________________ life.

What is God inviting you into today?

Attend the Thursday night conversation group to talk with others about a Fresh Perspective on the Cross and Sin.
Take some time to literally look at a cross this week, seeing it as an instrument of violence, evil and injustice. Then, look at it, seeing it as an invitation to a way of peace that conquers violence and injustice through compassion and non-violence.
Re-read passages in the New Testament that speak of sin in the singular with an understanding of sin as escalatory violence found in Genesis 4.

Thought provoking questions:

What comes to mind when you see or think about a cross?
Have you gone through experiences in life that left you asking “Why?” Did you find any redemptive meaning or purpose in those experiences?
If you were raised with any form of Christian faith, what did it mean to you when you heard or what does it mean to you now when you hear, “Jesus died for your sins.”
Are you surprised that explanations for the meaning or significance of the cross are called “theories?” If you hold to a certain theory today, is it unsettling to you or freeing to you that this is only a theory and not a doctrine?
What are some ways that we can live a “cruciform” life at work? At home? At church?

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

For millions of people the modern, literal, exclusivist interpretation of Jesus is no longer _________________, has become a _______________ to faith and is _________________ with the idea that “God is love.”

What Wisdom does A Fresh Perspective on Jesus Offer Us?

A Fresh Perspective affirms that Jesus is _______________ to Christian faith. (Jn. 14:7)

A Fresh Perspective on Jesus takes his _______________ seriously. (Matt. 7:13-14)

A Fresh Perspective on Jesus understands he was killed because of his passionate vision for the _______________ of God which included a radical critique of the conventional wisdom of Religion and Rome. (Mk. 15:25-27)

The death of Jesus _________________ his followers and needed contextualized _________________. A Fresh Perspective on Jesus treasures experiencing the _____________ _____________. (Gal. 2:20)

Don’t Miss This!

Jesus is ________ metaphor of God who invites us to follow him on the _____________ way of justice, mercy, inclusion and sacrifice every day.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Daily _____________ Jesus: walk the narrow path of justice, mercy, inclusion and sacrifice.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

A Fresh Perspective on Jesus grows faith in our _______________ as _____________.

What is God inviting you into today?

Come back next week to explore a Fresh Perspective on sin, the cross and the death of Jesus.
Join a conversation group and talk about the images and understandings of Jesus you were given, you gave up and you are growing in.
Listen or watch the series “Explaining Jesus, Experiencing Christ” at crossroadscolorado.com or the Crossroads app.

Thought provoking questions:

What was your idea or understanding of Jesus growing up? Did you experience any moments where your understanding of the person or purpose of Jesus changed or evolved?
Do you find the idea of the humanity or the divinity of Jesus more meaningful in your life right now?
What are some of the metaphors that you have heard used to describe Jesus? One example would be “Light of the World.” Do any of these metaphors speak more profoundly to you?
Think of where you will be on Monday morning at 10am. What does it mean for you to follow Jesus then and there? How can you choose mercy, grace, inclusion and sacrifice?
What is your personal experience of encountering the living Christ, and how has this experience impacted your faith journey?
Have you ever thought about what Jesus thought the purpose of his life was? Do you think that Jesus thought the purpose of his life was to die or something else?

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

_____________________ _____________ is a concept of God that many of us grew up with.

This “Thin” concept of God has produced many ________________ and ________________ images of God.

What Wisdom can a Fresh Perspective on God bring us?

A Fresh Perspective embraces our understanding of God as ________________ and ________________. (Isaiah 55:8-9; Acts 10:17; Acts 22:4-5)

A Fresh Perspective embraces a “____________” rather than “thin” concept of God.

God is best understood as a _____________ presence that permeates everything in the universe.

This _____________________ view is present and emerging in scripture.

(Psalm 139:7-10; Romans 8:38-39; Acts 17:28)

A Fresh Perspective embraces love as the ________________ nature within God. (1 John 4:8)

A Fresh Perspective embraces ________________ __________________ with God. (Psalm 34:8; James 4:8)

A Fresh Perspective embraces a ____________-_________ God. (John 14:9-10; Colossians 1:15-17)

Don’t Miss This!

A Fresh Perspective embraces God as the life-giving, unchanging and loving _____________ revealed in Jesus that we can _________ ourselves in through personal experience. (Ephesians 3:17b-19)

How can this fresh Perspective on God make me a better person and the world a better place?

A Fresh Perspective on God sets the prisoner _________.

A Fresh Perspective on God inspires us to love mercy, do justice and walk _____________.

What is God inviting you into today?

Consider whether I have been rejecting an understanding of God as Zeus-like being but not considering God as a loving presence that is the ground of all being
Jump into a Conversation Group to discuss more about a Fresh Perspective on God
Listen to S3 E15 (Reconstruction: An Interview with Brad Jersak) from the podcast “A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar”

Thought provoking questions:

How can I live out the values and principles that I believe are central to God's nature, such as love, compassion, justice, and peace, in my relationships, actions, and choices?
What personal experiences (if any) have you had that made you question or reevaluate your understanding of supernatural theism, and how did those experiences shape your current beliefs about God?
How can I deepen my personal relationship with God and experience God's presence in my everyday life?
How do you think a "thick" concept of God can inspire a more compassionate and just approach to social issues such as poverty, racism and climate change? In what ways can this understanding of God motivate you to take action and make a positive impact in the world?
What aspects of a "thin" concept of God do you find limiting or unsatisfying? Conversely, what aspects of a "thick" concept of God do you find liberating or fulfilling?

For Further Reading

The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg
A More Christ-Like God by Brad Jersak
The Divine Dance: The Trinity and your Transformation by Richard Rohr

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

The word ___________ has become synonymous with the word ______________.

“Faith” as a synonym for “belief” leads to _________________.

Dogmatism leads to certainty which hardens the ___________.

Faith as a beautiful ___________ _________ of living with God always dies on the altar of certainty.

Exploring a Fresh Perspective on Faith

A Fresh Perspective honors that faith has always been ______________ to the Christian tradition.

___________ spoke about and responded to faith. (Matt 8:10, 9:2, 9:22)

___________ wrote about faith’s power to transform the world. (Gal 3:8, I Thess 1:2-3)

Faith is especially important in the __________________ tradition.

A Fresh Perspective on faith _______________ the rich meanings of the word “faith.” Faith as ______________: to give one’s mental assent to a proposition.

Three foundational affirmations of __________________ Faith: The Reality of ___________

The Centrality of ___________

The Centrality of the ___________

Faith as assent is rather __________________. (James 2:19)

Faith as ___________: A radical trust in God. (Psalm 59:17)

Faith as ______________: Faithfulness to our relationship with God. (Exo 20:3, Lk 10:27) Faith as ___________: A way of seeing the essence of reality. (Matt 6:26)

Don’t Miss This!

A Fresh Perspective understands faith as __________________ a matter of the ___________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

A Fresh Perspective on faith reclaims a way of being Christian focused on __________________.

A Fresh Perspective on faith grows ___________-__________________.

What is God inviting you into today?

Take some time to consider whether my understanding of faith is more about statements I must believe in or living a life of loving what God loves.
Jump into one of the Conversation Groups.
Embrace a Fresh Perspective on faith that is about more about trust, fidelity, and vision and less about assenting to the right doctrines.

Thought provoking questions:

Would you say that your primary way of understanding faith has been believing in a set of statements or doctrines about God? What were some statements that you had to believe to be a Christian?
Do you think Jesus was talking about belief in a set of statements when he recognized the faith of the centurion, the blind man or woman with the blood disorder? If not, what do you think he might have meant by the word ‘faith’?
What freedom does understanding faith as primarily a matter of the heart (and not the head) bring to you?
Which do you think is a more challenging way to live by faith: loving what God loves or believing the right things about God?

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

The Bible has been a significant source of ___________.

The Bible has been a significant source of _____________.

Christians are leaving the church because of the ___________ more than any other single reason.

A Fresh Perspective on the Bible starts with knowing a little secret about _____________-_____________ interpretation methods.

What Is the Fresh Perspective on the bible?

A Fresh Perspective affirms an ________________-___________________ interpretation of the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 4:7 and Luke 24:13-35

Stories can be ___________, even if they are not factual reports.

A Fresh Perspective affirms the Bible as _____________.

By affirming its sacredness, we are saying that the Bible is our ___________________ document, _______________ document and _____________ tradition. A Fresh Perspective affirms Jesus as the ___________ of the Bible.

A Fresh Perspective affirms the ___________________ nature of the Bible.

Don’t Miss This!

A Fresh Perspective is important because sometimes the Bible is ___________.

A Fresh Perspective free us from the tyranny of those who ________________ the Bible.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Embrace the Bible _______ ___________, not the one modernity wanted.

Let _____________ be your travel companion as you wander through the Bible. Remember that taking the Bible ________________ does not mean taking it ________________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

A Fresh Perspective can help us (re)discover a Bible that we can ___________ to read.

What is God inviting you into today?

Sign me up for the Thursday Evening Conversation Group at the Crossroads building.
I would like to get the digital weekly conversation guide.
Sign me up for the Digital Conversation Group.
Read one Psalm each day this week, looking for the metaphorical meaning.

Thought provoking questions:

When you think of the Bible, what word comes to mind? Why that word?
Have you ever felt like the Bible was being used as a weapon against you? How so?
Does it make you nervous, bring you a sense of freedom, or something else to think of the Bible as written by humans?
Why are stories such a powerful way to convey truths?
Is the idea that the Bible is wrong at times but also sacred easy or difficult for you to hold? Why?

For Further Reading

Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality by Richard Rohr
The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read It by
Peter Enns
How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns
Convictions by Marcus Borg
The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith by Marcus Borg
Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg
A More Christlike Word by Bradley Jersak
What is the Bible by Rob Bell
How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian by John Dominic Crossan

In A Fresh Perspective, dig into topics central to the Christian experience in fresh ways, and (re)discover a faith you can love.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

When was your last ____________ experience?

Spiritual disconnection, dissatisfaction and deconstruction are the fruit of a Christianity that no longer:

o Exists in the ____________ middle

o Holds the ____________ tensions of both/and that make up reality

o Invites people to ____________ instead of leading people to certainty

o Balances the ____________ of God and Jesus

o Forms an alternative set of loyalties to ____________, ____________ and ____________

o Gives people a sense of belonging to a sacred world of ____________

o ____________ hearts with radical grace and union with the Divine

o ____________ the Gospel in a manner that provides a cosmic and positive vision, where the soul can live safely.

o Allows the individual to ____________ the corporate body to a deeper faithfulness to Jesus We are in a painful ____________ shift within Christianity.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

Jesus knew the ____________ of a paradigm shift. (Mt 9:17, Lk 5:33-35, Mt 5:17)

Don’t Miss This!

Paradigm shifts are necessary for a faith tradition to ____________ history.

Spiritual dissatisfaction, disconnection and deconstruction can become a __________ __________.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

A ____________ ____________ has been emerging over the past 100 years in Christianity.

This fresh perspective is a way of seeing the Bible (and the Christian tradition as a whole) as ____________, ____________, and ____________

This fresh perspective is a way of seeing the Christian life as a life of ____________ and ____________.

Neither paradigm is ____________ Christian Tradition.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

A fresh perspective offers us the opportunity to (re)discover a faith we can ____________ and ____________ with confident hope.

What is God inviting you into today?

Sign me up for the 6:30pm Thursday Night Fresh Perspective Conversation Group with Ryan beginning April 27th.
Send me information about the online group and other Fresh Perspective Conversation Groups available.
I would like to invite a few friends and facilitate my own Fresh Perspective Conversation Group.
Send me the link for Marcus Borg’s book “The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith”

Thought provoking questions:

Think of a time in your life when you came to a realization you knew would reshape your life. What emotions were you feeling in those moments? Was it a sudden realization or did it come over time?
Have you ever had a realization that a belief you were taught and believed was no longer serving you well in your relationship with God and in loving your neighbor? What did you do?
When you think of Jesus, do you think of a man who had to learn and grow and change his mind about what it meant to be a faithful Jew or do you think of a superhuman who just knew everything about God? Why? Is it hard for you to imagine Jesus having to go through a paradigm shift? Why or why not?
Do you resonate with the need for a fresh perspective or does your current faith paradigm sustain your encounter with God? If you don’t feel the need for a fresh perspective, do you think it’s worth understanding why some might need one? What will be difficult about creating space for others to “be Christian” differently than you?
What would be the marks of a faith that you could love? What current value or interpretation within your Christian paradigm most hinders your encounter with the sacred?

For Further Reading

The Wisdom Pattern by Richard Rohr
The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith by Marcus Borg

Easter with Crossroads is Where Love Includes Everyone

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

“Isolation is being by yourself. ________________ is not liking it.” Loneliness is an ______________.

Loneliness is a __________.

Loneliness leads to feelings of ________________.

What Wisdom does the Resurrection story of John offer our loneliness?

The Living Christ found and included Mary in the loneliness of her ____________. (John 20:13-16)

The Living Christ found and included the disciples in the loneliness of their ____________. (John 20:19)

The Living Christ found and included Thomas in the loneliness of his ____________. (John 20:26-27)

The Living Christ found and included Peter in the loneliness of his ____________. (John 21:19)

Don’t Miss This!

The Living Christ finds and includes everyone: ______ ____________ __________.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

If you are lonely and feeling lost, open your heart to the ____________ ____________ that sees you and includes you.

If you are feeling spiritually disconnected, dissatisfied or deconstructing explore faith with a ____________ ________________.

If you are following the ________________ path of Jesus, live a life of grace and inclusion.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

____________ flourishes when love includes everyone.

________________ heals our wounds when love includes everyone.

What is God inviting you into today?

Explore faith from a fresh perspective by participating in the series starting next week.
Send me information about joining a Fresh Perspective Conversation group.
I would like to meet with a care minister about my loneliness and how participating in the Crossroads community might help.

Thought provoking questions:

Think of a time in your life when you felt the sting of loneliness or lostness. What were some contributing factors to those feelings? If you found your way through them, what helped?
John 20-21 tells stories of the Living Christ finding people in their loneliness. Do one of those people and their feelings (grief, doubt, fear or defeat) resonate with you more than another?
Have you ever had a spiritual experience where you felt divine love wash over you and remind you that you are included? If so, describe that experience and what it has meant to you.
The vison of the historical Jesus and the encounters with the Living Christ are ultimately about a vision of God that loves everyone and includes everyone in the mission to love radically. Who is someone you could intentionally love and include this week? What will you do to love and include them? When will you do it?
How can you include someone with the goal of understanding them better?
Is there a context in your life (school, work, home, etc.) that you feel a lack of peace? How might finding and including people bring peace to that context?

In Explaining Jesus | Experiencing Christ, we will together explore how understanding the historical Jesus can shape our own faith, actions and experience with him today.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

If we never experience _______________, we will never experience _____________.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

The Historical Jesus saw _______________ __________ as the perfect time to challenge the conventional wisdom of his day. (Luke 9:51)

That week, Jesus staged two _______________ demonstrations:

The way Jesus entered ______________ was a demonstration against __________ path to peace. (Zachariah 9:9-10 and Mark 11:1-11)

The way Jesus entered the _____________ was a demonstration against _____________ path to God. (Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:4-11 and Mark 11:15-17)

That week, Jesus _____________ the danger that comes when these two paths collide. (Mark 12-13)

That week, Jesus and his challenge became __________________ to Roman and Jewish leadership.

Don’t Miss This!

Explaining the Historical Jesus as a challenge to his people invites us to experience the living Christ as a source of _____________ to challenge the structures _______________ to Jesus’ way of peace.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Challenge policies and systems that result in ______________, _______________ and _______________. Challenge structures with _______________ and compassion.

Expect _______________ from those who benefit from the conventional wisdom.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

When we challenge the violent and exclusionary structures of our day we live in __________ with the spirit of Jesus.

What is God inviting you into today?

Attend the Good Friday Experience
Get baptized as a demonstration of following the peacemaking path of Jesus (April 16)
Look for a place of exclusion or violence and actively challenge it

Thought provoking questions:

How do you typically respond to having your way of thinking or behaving challenged?
Have you ever had someone that challenged you in ways that helped you grow?
Does the idea of Jesus planning these events as intentional demonstrations make sense to you? Why or why not?
Do you think the historical Jesus thought he would be arrested and crucified that week? Why or why not?
Where in your life do you see exclusion or lack of compassion? How do you see it at work, in your neighborhood, at school or even society at large? What could you do to show compassion and inclusion in those settings?

In Explaining Jesus | Experiencing Christ, we will together explore how understanding the historical Jesus can shape our own faith, actions and experience with him today.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

Failing to change often leads to ____________.

Organizations and individuals can decide what ____________ ____________.

The Tension

There are _________ voices. There are ____________ voices. It’s hard to know _________ voice to listen to.

Not all wise voices of change are ____________.

It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for a bird to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad. –C.S. Lewis

What did Jesus say about change?

Our Anchor Verse: Mark 8:29 “But who do you say that I am?”

The historical Jesus was put into the category of leaders called ______________. A prophet is a person ____________ by God to ____________ for God.

Only about ____% of what the biblical prophets spoke about predicted the future and about ____% was messianic.

The purpose of a prophet was not to ____________ the future but to ____________ it.

If Jesus was a prophetic voice of change...what did he come to change?

Their _______________ and _______________ of the love of God. (Mark 12:29-34)

You cannot separate loving God from loving ____________.

If we love God we will love those whom _______ _________. It’s impossible to love God and not love our neighbor because we become _________ _________ what we most love. We are what _______ _________.

The Change: To see that our love for God is not primarily expressed in a ____________ ____________ but rather in service to our _______________.

Bring all people _______________ not leave them in their ____________________.

Jesus violated existing ____________ categories and _______________ rules. In any kind of us/them, insider/outsider comparison comes the temptation of _______________ _______________.

It’s _______________ instead of __________________ thinking.

The Change: Become collaborators instead of competitors. See those who we disagree with as _________________ and not ____________—as neighbors not “others.”

If we __________ those who ____________ exclusion, then we’re not loving our neighbors that God loves.

3.The way they _______________ their Bible.

Jesus’ nature is ____________ like God. God’s nature is ____________ like Jesus. (John 14:9, Col 1:15, 19, Heb 1:3)

The Change: We need to interpret this book through _________ and _________ of Jesus, not the other way around.

4.Increase the level of _______ in the world. (John 15:11, 17:13)

The Change: _________ more. ____________ more. Try not to take _______________ so seriously.

What is Jesus inviting us into today?

Learn to interpret the Bible through the lens of Jesus.
Read A More Christlike God, A More Beautiful Gospel by Bradley Jersak.
Initiate a conversation with someone who appears excluded.
Play and laugh with a kid this week.

Questions for Further discussion:

On a scale of 1-10 (1 = resistant, 10 = fully welcoming) how do you handle change? Tell about a time in your life when you ignored a wise voice in your life (and the result of that) or a time when you followed a wise voice in your life (and the result of that)?
If you grew up in or around a church, what were you taught about prophets or prophecy?
The historical Jesus came to bring change. Besides the 4 changes from the talk, what else did Jesus come to change and why did he want to change those things?
Which one of the 4 changes from the talk do you find the most challenging and why?
What is one change that you need to make in your life? What is difficult about making that change? What is compelling about making that change?
What is something you’ve been taught about the nature of God that you find difficult to reconcile with the character and nature of Jesus?
What have you done (in the past week or two) that has increased the level of joy in your life? If you wanted to laugh more, what would you do to accomplish that?

In Explaining Jesus | Experiencing Christ, we will together explore how understanding the historical Jesus can shape our own faith, actions and experience with him today.

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What was the Cultural Matrix of the historical Jesus?

Sometimes the decision to get INVOLVED brings joy and sometimes it brings pain.

The social world or cultural matrix of Jesus was in CRISIS.

The Roman tax policy created a system of DOUBLE TAXATION for the Jews.

The politics of HOLINESS dominated the Jewish world as a response to Roman occupation.

Three active renewal movements INTENSIFIED the politics of holiness.

These cultural dynamics created a social group called SINNERS and OUTCASTS.

Roman INJUSTICES and LOYALTY to the Jewish politics of holiness were leading to war.

What was the Historical Jesus then amid this Social Crisis?

Jesus was a SAGE who challenged conventional wisdom by teaching an alternative WAY.

Jesus taught an image of reality: ULTIMATELY Spirit that is gracious and understanding.

Jesus ate with SINNERS to demonstrate his image of reality. (Mark 2:16)

To describe this quality of God, Jesus most often used the word COMPASSIONATE.

Jesus used three primary images for his alternative way of TRANSFORMATION.

A new HEART (Mark 7)
CENTERING on God/Spirit (Lk 16:13; Mat 6:19-21)
The way of DEATH (Lk 9:23)

Jesus was the founder of a JEWISH revitalization movement grounded in COMPASSION. Mat 10:5-6; Lk 6:6

Don’t Miss This

Explaining the historical Jesus invites us to experience the living Christ as a compassionate GUIDE on the narrow peacemaking PATH.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

QUESTION conventional wisdom and modern holiness politics.

CENTER your life on the compassionate, caring loving nature of Spirit.

Consider BAPTISM as a ritualized way of choosing the path Jesus invites you to follow.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Compassion makes suffering UNACCEPTABLE in a community.

What is God inviting you into today?

Consider where in my normal, everyday life I need to give a more compassionate response to others.
Read the gospel of Luke through the lens of the clash of a politic of holiness and a politic of compassion.
Sign up for Baptism April 16.

Thought provoking questions:

What would you describe as the conventional wisdom of American life?
Have you ever felt the weight or exclusion of the politics of Holiness in your own life? When and how?
Why do you think Jesus felt so strongly regarding his vision for compassion over holiness?
What are the implications for those outside of Judaism if the historical Jesus’s message and movement were meant to revitalize and even rescue Jewish life from war with Rome in the first century?
How have you experienced the compassion of God that Jesus taught? If you had any kind of upbringing in faith, was it grounded in compassion or holiness?
If compassion makes suffering unacceptable, where are we as a culture and even a church not seeing or acting with compassion?

In Explaining Jesus | Experiencing Christ, we will together explore how understanding the historical Jesus can shape our own faith, actions and experience with him today.

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Mark 1: Jesus’ Baptism

In Mark 1:8, John declares to the crowd, “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It’s a clear declaration of two things happening at once:

One, a _________________ of our earthly form

Two, a _________________ to a spiritual realm

Mark 1:10 says, “As soon as Jesus came up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

Jesus realized his mission with his vision at the time of his _______________.

He declared he was anointed to ____________ the good news, give ____________ to the blind, and to _______________ the oppressed.

The two realms were not seen as separate but as _________________

Jesus was so clear in his __________ _____________ that he didn’t hesitate to act on the __________ he was given.

Jesus, as a man, was aware of the _______________ ____________ flowing through him.

When he would __________ or cast out ____________, he did so verbally “by the spirit of God.” Jesus was a confirmed wonder-worker.

The World of Spirit

Spiritual mindfulness comes in the form of five things: _________________, _________________, __________, __________ and _________________.

Stillness is the first _________________ to manifest your deep connection to God.

Acceptance is embracing the _____________ _____________ as is.

Flow happens when your inner self is still and you are _________________ of the moment.

Meditation is simply the practice of _____________ and ________-_______________, even against yourself.

Bring awareness to your heart and mentally ask yourself:

Who am I?

What do I want?

What am I grateful for? What is my purpose? How can I help others?

The Challenge

What is God calling you to see and hear about another reality?

In Explaining Jesus | Experiencing Christ, we will together explore how understanding the historical Jesus can shape our own faith, actions and experience with him today.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

We can be _____________ by faith or reason.

A christianity unwelcoming of reason is a tool to gain ___________, maintain _____________ and impose _________.

What Wisdom does an exercise on the question “Who is Jesus?” offer us today?

Mark 8:27-30, Matthew 16:13-20, Luke 9:18-20

Explaining the Historical Jesus: “How _______________ is it that the Historical Jesus asked the disciples a question about his identity?”

Experiencing Christ: “Who do you say that Jesus is amidst _________ fears, persecutions, ideas of God, and hopes for the future?”

Jesus left behind him _____________ not memorizers, _____________ not reciters, _____________ not parrots.” –Dominic Crossan, The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant

Explaining Jesus and Experiencing Christ is about answering the question, “Who do you say that I am?” while embracing _________ reason and faith.

What will we explore in the weeks leading up to Easter?

Week 02: Explaining that the historical Jesus was a man of the ___________ invites us to experience the living Christ as a spiritual reality today.

Week 03: Explaining that the historical Jesus challenged the politics of _____________ with the politics of ________________ invites us to experience the living Christ as a compassionate guide on the narrow peacemaking path.

Week 04: Explaining that the historical Jesus was a _____________ voice to his people invites us to experience the living Christ as a call to change personally and corporately.

Palm Sunday (Week 05): Explaining that the historical Jesus ________________ his people invites us to experience the living Christ as empowerment to challenge structures that oppose peace on earth.

Experiencing the living Christ while always searching for the historical Jesus:

Empowers us to resist _______________ ________________.

Frees us to boldly ask tough questions of our ________________, our ________________ and ________________.

Gives us permission to live a radical and _____________ faith grounded in compassion and inclusion.

What is God inviting you into today?

Attend the next four weeks with an open mind to understand the historical Jesus and an open heart to experience the living Christ.
Be mindful of anyone in my network who might benefit from this topic and make them aware of this series.
Read the gospels of Mark and John this week, being mindful of the differences and similarities in their stories of Jesus.

Thought-provoking questions:

Do you feel you lean more towards faith or reason in your spiritual life? How could you benefit from balancing the two?
Do you have any fears in thinking about following Jesus as a combination of understanding the historical Jesus and experiencing the living Christ?
Why do you think so many forms of christianity are afraid of reason or difficult questions around the texts of scripture and the life of Jesus?
What is the difference between truth and fact? Which do you think is more valuable in our spiritual lives?
Have you ever been silenced by someone when you asked a question that you believed was a legitimate, rational question of God, the Bible, or faith?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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Rule #01 Choose love, forgiveness and inclusion:Daily choose to follow Jesus: walk the narrow path of loving mercy, doing justice, and living sacrificially.

Rule #02 Listen to Wisdom:Daily listen to wisdom from Scripture, sacred writings and other sources to understand where peace is broken, and oppression is flourishing

Rule #03 Practice Mindfulness: Be attentive of the Divine Presence through unceasing prayer

Rule #04 Gather Together: Weekly join others to learn, celebrate and experienceDivine Love

Rule #05 Create Hope: Share faith while unselfishly giving and serving

Rule #06 Intentionally Rest: Receive divine grace and restoration through self-care

What’s the Issue Anyway?To be in someone’s struggle is to be PROXIMATE.

Proximity requires HUMILITY.

Does my PRIVILEGE keep me from being PROXIMATE?

“True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar, it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.

What Wisdom does Jesus offer us about Proximity and Humility?Jesus reiterates that we are to love GOD and love our NEIGHBOR! (John 10:27-28)

Peter realized that God saw no BOUNDARIES. (Acts 10:28)

We bring to the conversation some MISGUIDED beliefs. (John 10:29)

The criteria for OUR LOVE is not race or religion—it is NEED. (John 10:30-35)

The Way of Peace Rule #7Humbly Go: CROSS boundaries, LISTEN deeply and LOVE mercy

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?ACKNOWLEDGE your privilege.

Go where you are UNCOMFORTABLE.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?I can choose to walk HUMBLY and be PROXIMATE.

This will help bring PEACE and JUSTICE to the world.

What is God inviting you into today?1. Read the article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh.

Make an invitation to coffee or a meal.
Get involved with Partners in Hope through your time, talent and treasure.

Thought provoking questions:1. Think about your race, gender, ethnicity, religion, primary language, ability, socioeconomic status, education level and sexual orientation. How do these specific aspects of your identity influence how you interact with others?

What are the stereotypes you hold of the “other?” Why do you think you have those stereotypes? Is there room for a different narrative and perspective?
Can you think of some other stories of Jesus modeling proximity and humility? With whom did he “break bread?”
What are examples in which you have experienced people authentically sharing pain with you? What is your natural tendency when someone comes to you in pain? Are you inclined to a) offer solutions; b) say, “God is good, it will be ok;” or c) simply listen and create space for suffering?
When you think about living a proximate life (whatever that might look like for you), what are the sacrifices that you would have to make? How do you feel about making those sacrifices?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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Rule #01 Choose love, forgiveness and inclusion: Daily choose to follow Jesus: walk the narrow path of loving mercy, doing justice, and living sacrificially.

Rule #02 Listen to Wisdom: Daily listen to wisdom from Scripture, sacred writings and other sources to understand where peace is broken, and oppression is flourishing

Rule #03 Practice Mindfulness: Be attentive of the Divine Presence through unceasing prayer Rule #04 Gather Together: Weekly join others to learn, celebrate and experience Divine Love Rule #05 Create Hope: Share faith while unselfishly giving and serving

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Weariness is ______________ exhaustion.

Sleep and __________ are not the same thing.

Burnout burns up our relationship with ________________ and with ______________.

What Wisdom does Jesus offer us regarding rest and burnout?

Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus understood that __________ can be exhausting.

Mark 12:30 Jesus understood we were not ________-________________ beings.

Mark 2:23-28 Jesus understood the beauty of the principle of ______________ __________.

“Labor without dignity is the cause of misery; rest without spirit, the source of depravity.” Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath

The Way of Peace Rule #6

__________________ Rest: Receive Divine grace and restoration through self-care

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Understand where you are rest-______________ and practice the ____________ types of rest. Honor the sabbath principle and keep it __________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

True rest leads to the ________________ of our whole selves.

What is God inviting you into today?

Watch Dr. Saundra Daulton-Smith’s TEDx Talk “The real reason we are tired...”
Try and take one day a week and honor the Sabbath Principle.
Read “The Sabbath” by Abraham Joshua Heschel’s and/or “Sacred Rest” by Dr. Daulton- Smith

Thought provoking questions:

On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being completely exhausted and 10 being completely energized, where are you?
What do you think exhausted Jesus? What do you think Jesus would have done to rest?
Do you think of resting as a way of receiving divine grace? Why or why not?
Which of the 7 types of rest do you think you do well at maintaining? Which do you feel like you need to be more intentional about?
Can you think of a time when you felt it very easy to give love away? Do you think you were well rested? Why do you think being well-rested is so important to being able to love others well?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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Week 01: A Jesus-centered life is a peace-centered life.

Rule #1 Daily choose to follow Jesus: walk the narrow path of loving mercy, doing justice and living sacrificially Rule #2 Daily listen to wisdom: work hard for knowledge then use it to rewrite the Five Unacceptable Truths Rule #3 Practice mindfulness: be fully present with God in every moment

What’s the Issue Anyway?

When built on human love and not ___________ love, the church gathering becomes self- centered and will inflict every ___________ it is meant to heal.

What Wisdom does I Thessalonians 4:14-21 offer us regarding Divine Love in Community?

Divine Love ___________ ___________ our weakness and wounds. (14)

Divine Love creates a __________ space. (15)

Divine Love offers __________ in all circumstances. (16-18)

Divine Love ______________ our unjust actions and our distortions of God. (19-21)

Divine Love shapes us for __________ works. (22)

The Way of Peace Commitment Four

___________ Together: Weekly join with others to learn, celebrate and experience divine love.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Prioritize a weekly gathering with others to _____________ ______________ as a peacemaker.

Join the peacemaking movement and become a _____________ of Crossroads Church.

Participate in Church-Wide Spiritual Journeys: Advent, __________, Special Focuses.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Christian community that is centered on divine love reminds us we are not ___________.

What is God inviting you into today?

Sign me up for the Lenten Journey
I would like more information about Baptism with Crossroads
I would like information about Membership with Crossroads
Send me the link for the “Find Your Fit” information

Thought provoking questions:

Have you ever personally had a difficult experience with church and decided to stop attending? Do you know anyone who has decided to stop attending church? What circumstances played a role in these decisions?
Which of the five marks of divine love in a Christian community mean the most to you in your journey right now?
If you are gathering weekly with other people following the peacemaking path of Jesus, why? What is important to you about that gathering? If not, what, if anything, would you want to see in a weekly gathering that would make it worth your while?
What would make a weekly gathering relevant and impactful to you in this season of your life?
Why is it important to not feel alone?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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A Quick Review of the Peacemaking Rule of Life

Week 01: A Jesus-centered life is a peace-centered life.

Rule #1 Daily choose to follow Jesus: walk the narrow path of loving mercy, doing justice and living sacrificially

Rule #2 Daily listen to Wisdom: work hard for knowledge then use it to rewrite the Five Unacceptable Truths

What’s the Issue Anyway?

What do you ________ when you hear the word ‘prayer’? Some of us feel _________________.

Some of us feel _________________.

Some of us feel _________________.

I feel _________________.

Our understanding of the _________________ of prayer can shape our understanding of the purpose of ________ in our lives.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

Jesus prayed that we would be ________ with God. (John 17:21)

Jesus was the perfect example of ____________. (John 14:10)

Prayer is _________________ my mind to my life in Christ (oneness). (1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Colossians 3:3)

Prayer is _________________ mindfulness of our oneness with God and all that is in God.

The Way of Peace Rule #3

Practice _________________: be fully present with God in every moment.

How can I Practice Mindfulness in my every day, normal life?

Treat no moment ________ _________________ than any other moment. Mindfulness sees the moment without _________________.

Carry a mindfulness ____________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Mindfulness brings awareness to our oneness which grows _________________ in us.

What is God inviting you into today?

Grow in my daily practice of mindfulness.
Spend a few minutes each day dedicated to quiet reflection and attentiveness to what I am thinking and feeling.
Create a reminder that is with me and helps me to be mindful of God’s presence throughout the day.

Thought provoking questions:

What positive experiences have you had with prayer? Have you had any negative experiences with prayer?
Why do you think oneness was such an important reality for Jesus to teach his disciples?
What beliefs do you think Jesus was trying to correct by teaching oneness?
Where/when do you feel oneness with God most strongly? Where do you have the hardest time feeling oneness with God?
One way we can begin to practice mindfulness is to bring the same focus to every moment. What are a few “mindless” activities that you could be more attentive to while performing?
Have you ever experienced the power of someone acting with compassion towards you?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

__

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We focus on ______________________ interests.

We focus on ______________________ interests.

We focus on ______________________ interests.

Peace is broken when our vision _______________ on one interest area over the other.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us in Balancing multiple interests?

The story of Solomon established wisdom as God’s highest _______________ for Israel’s leadership. (1 Kgs 3:11-12)

_____________ was the fullness of Isaiah’s vision for Israel’s leadership. (Isaiah 11:1-5)

The Spirit of Wisdom is a divine __________ and _____________ for anyone willing to listen. (John 14:15-17, 26)

Way of Peace Commitment Number Two

Listen to _______________: Daily work hard for knowledge then ________ _______ to rewrite the Five Unacceptable Truths

How can I Listen to wisdom in my everyday, normal life?

Be _______________

Develop a love of _______________

Get _______________

Exercise good _______________

Maintain a healthy ___________________

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Wisdom produces a balanced vision for _______ story, ________ story and ________ story.

What is God inviting you into today?

Consider if my actions reveal a vision too focused on my own interests, the interest of others or organizational interests.
Choose one Unacceptable Truth and intentionally become more knowledgeable.
Stay spiritually full by daily engaging with spiritual topics through scripture reading, podcasts or spiritual writings focused on following Jesus.

Thought-provoking questions:

What are some common ways people experience the tension between interpersonal, intrapersonal and extrapersonal interests?
Read 2 Kings 3:1-15. What do you find interesting and insightful about this passage as it relates to wisdom? Why do you think this passage became so important to the people of Israel?
What knowledge do you have that you could use for the common good?
Which of the five character strengths that grow wisdom do you feel are your strongest? Which do you feel might be your weakest?
Which of the 5 Unacceptable Truths do you feel you have the greatest perspective on? Which do you feel you need to grow the most in? Which one are you most curious about?
Why is balance so important as it relates to wisdom and our conflicting interests?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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Week 01:

A Jesus-centered life is a peace-centered life

The Way of Peace Prayer:

Jesus, I choose to follow your Way of Peace. Lead me to one person that I can love, give hope and bring your peace to today.

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Our daily CHOICES ripple out further than we can imagine, creating life and death in this world.

What Wisdom does Jesus in Matthew‘s Gospel offer us?

Following Jesus is a daily choice to live SACRIFICIALLY. (Matthew 16:24) Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus is talking about choices that either PROMOTE or DESTROY the common good. Jesus believed life to the fullest was found in taking up his CAUSE. (Matthew 16:25)

Way of Peace Commitment One

Daily choose to follow Jesus: walk the narrow path of loving MERCY, doing JUSTICE and living SACRIFICIALLY.

Two Questions to help me live this in my everyday, normal life

Who needs mercy? Where can I sow seeds of GRACE and FORGIVENESS today? What SACRIFICE can I make today to create a more JUST world?

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." –MLK

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

The COMMON GOOD flourishes when we daily choose to love mercy, do justice and live sacrificially.

What is God inviting you into today?

Extend grace and forgiveness to someone I have been unmerciful towards.
Make a sacrifice that will create a more just world.
Memorize The Way of Peace prayer.

Thought provoking questions for Reflection and Discussion:

Think of a choice you made that came with a consequence (good or bad). Is there something you wish you would have known then that you know now that would have affected your decision?
When Jesus uses the words life and death, these are metaphors that go beyond physical life and physical death. What words would you use to describe a way of life that is truly living?
Have you ever been the recipient of mercy? Describe the circumstances and emotions you felt during that time.
Are you a person who finds it difficult to forgive? Do you find it difficult to set boundaries with people? In either case, what could you do to grow in being more forgiving or setting boundaries in forgiveness?
What does the common good mean to you? What do you think happens in a work environment when the common good is flourishing? How about in a home?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

What is your life CENTERED on?

Some of us center our life on MONEY.

Some of us center our life on FAMILY.

Some of us center our life on RELIGION.

The center point has a GRAVITATIONAL PULL to everything in its orbit.

What Wisdom does Jesus offer us on the Gravitational Center of our lives?

Matthew 6:31-34

Jesus believed the center should be a desire for GOD’S VISION for the world. (31-32) Jesus knew anything else in the center leads to WORRY and ANXIETY. (33-34)

Jesus knew that God’s vision was PEACE on earth. (Matthew 5:9)

Don’t Miss This!

A Jesus-centered life is a PEACE-centered life. (John 14:1, John 14:27, John 16:33)

How can I live an everyday, normal Peace-Centered life?

Follow a RULE of LIFE called the Way of Peace CHOOSE Love, Forgiveness and Inclusion LEARN from Wisdom

PRACTICE Mindfulness

GATHER Together GIVE Hope

GO Humbly

REST Intentionally

MEMORIZE the Way of Peace Prayer

Jesus, I choose to follow your way of peace. Lead me to ONE person that I can love, give hope and bring your peace to TODAY.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

ANXIETY, FEAR and INJUSTICE decrease when we live a peace-centered life.

What is God inviting you into today?

Commit to participating in the next 7 weeks online or in person.
Memorize the Way of Peace Prayer and start each day with it during the next 7 weeks.
Participate in the Peace is Worth It Giving Season

Thought-provoking questions:

What are some things that you have seen people center their lives on?
When you think about the “reign of God” or “kingdom of God” that Jesus talks about, what comes to mind? How would you describe it?
What does faith in Jesus mean to you right now? Has it meant something different in the past? What do you think Jesus meant in John 14:1 when he asked his disciples to have faith in him?
If we put the work of peace in the center of our lives, what would be some questions that we could ask ourselves when making everyday decisions around money, friendships, physical health, voting, etc?
What emotions does the idea of a “rule of life” bring to your body? Do you get anxious or overwhelmed? Do you feel excited?
Why is it important to say that fear, anxiety and injustice decrease and not disappear in a peace-centered life?

This Christmas season, Crossroads Church will reflect on the opening line of the famous Christmas Carol in the teaching series What Child Is This. Explore how the birth of a Jewish peasant over 2000 years ago lights our darkness and guides our feet on the path to peace.

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Anchor Verse: In the heartfelt Mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those sitting in darkness, in the shadow of death, to guide our feet to the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79

Week 01: This Child Lights the Path to Peace in three key relationships: God, Others and Ourselves.

Week 02: Jesus lights a path to peace with God by ending sin’s power over our minds.

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Currently in our world there are more than ______ armed conflicts.

We live in a world that believes the path to peace is ______________, __________, and ______________.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

Luke 1:26-36

Jesus was the ________________ of Isaiah’s deepest longing.

Isaiah 9:5-6 and Isaiah 11:1-9

Isaiah longed for a king whose heart ________________ ______________ with God’s heart.

John 18:33-37

The Kingdom of Jesus is not built on the lies of empire: __________ and ______________.

Don’t Miss This!

This child lights a path to peace with others by revealing the truth of the Kingdom of _____________ and the lies of the kingdoms of this ___________.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Choose between ________ paths of peace in your everyday, normal life.

God is One and for ________.

God is sovereign to any group _______________ or personal _________________.

God is available as __________ __________ and not through sacrificing another.

God __________ no victims and _____________ no victims.

Promote policies, leaders and actions that align with __________’ path to Peace on Earth.

Keep reminding yourself that Jesus’ path to peace never leads to ______________and ________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Imagine the _______________ available for ending disease, eliminating poverty, exploring the universe, rehabilitating the prisoner, and healing the sick in a world where violence and killing are unacceptable under any circumstances.

What is God inviting you into today?

Choose the peacemaking path of Jesus over the peacemaking path of this world.
Invite a friend to Christmas Eve Service.
Gather some friends to read and discuss “Jesus’ Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount” by Richard Rohr.

Thought-provoking questions:

How has your life intersected with war? Do you have families serving in the military? Have you served? Do you know people who have experienced the pain of war firsthand?
What are some of the ways that Isaiah describes the ideal king in chapters 9 and 11?
Can you think of any political leaders that reflect the longings of Isaiah?
Think of and discuss a few ways that the values of the kingdom of heaven (reign of God) clash with the current values of the kingdoms of this world. What is the role of the follower of Jesus and the church in this clash of values?
What does it mean to believe that God is one and for all?
What does it mean to believe that God is sovereign to all group ownership or personal manipulation?
The United States spends 801 billion dollars on the defense budget, which is more than China, India, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea combined. If you woke up tomorrow in a world without war, what would you like to see those funds applied to?

This Christmas season, Crossroads Church will reflect on the opening line of the famous Christmas Carol in the teaching series What Child Is This. Explore how the birth of a Jewish peasant over 2000 years ago lights our darkness and guides our feet on the path to peace.

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In the heartfelt Mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those sitting in darkness, in the shadow of death, to guide our feet to the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79

Week 01: This Child Lights the Path to PEACE

What’s the Issue Anyway?

What do you think of when you hear the word SIN?

Some of us have been told that sin SEPARATES us from God.

Some of us have been told that we DESERVE eternal fire because of sin.

Some of us have been manipulated, shamed, and TRAUMATIZED by the word sin.

The Tension

Our understanding of sin SHAPES our understanding of God, others and ourselves.

What Wisdom does Matthew 1:18-21 offer us about Jesus, Sin and God?

For Matthew, Jesus is both Son of God and Son of David at BIRTH. Who are his PEOPLE?

What is SIN?

Sin is a DESTRUCTIVE and DECEIVING force.

Sin is an INHERITED and UNIVERSAL experience. Sin results in WOUNDEDNESS.

Sin is a bigger problem for us than GOD.

How will he SAVE them?

Jesus saved his people from their sin by teaching and modeling RADICAL love

and forgiveness.

Don’t Miss This!

Jesus lights a path to peace with God by ending sin’s power over our MINDS.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Acknowledge your participation in the WOUNDING.

Don’t let your wounds separate you from the HEALER.

Participation in the BODY of CHRIST reminds us that sin cannot separate us from God.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Freedom from sin’s power and deception produces a BOLDNESS to love God and others.

What is God inviting you into today?

Live a life of confession and honesty about my wounds and the wounds I cause, knowing that I am perfectly loved by God.
Invite friends and family to one of the Candlelight services and share on my social media networks.
Jump into the Honest Advent journey.

Thought-provoking questions:

How does your understanding of sin shape your view of God? Do you think that sin separates us from God? Do you think that sin separates us from others?
Matthew believes the ultimate purpose of Jesus was to save his people from their sins. How has this been explained to you in the past? Does anything in those explanations no longer resonate with you?
What metaphors for salvation resonate with you and your spiritual journey?
Liberation from bondage - Exodus
Return from Exile – Babylonian
Light in the Darkness and Sight to the Blind
Life to the Dead
Food and Drink
Saved from Sin
In your own words describe the lie that disrupts our peace with God and way that Jesus’ life shines a light on the path that creates peace with God.
What does confession look like in your normal life? How do you reflect on your wounds and wounding?
Who do you talk with about the pain you carry and are tempted to transmit back into the world rather than have it transformed by grace?
Can you think of a person in your life who lives with a boldness to love God and love others, free from the power of sin’s lie of separation? What stands out to you about them?

This Christmas season, Crossroads Church will reflect on the opening line of the famous Christmas Carol in the teaching series What Child is This? Explore how the birth of a Jewish peasant over 2000 years ago lights our darkness and guides our feet on the path to peace.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

For some, Jesus is a path to wealth and health NOW and/or LATER.

For some, Jesus is an icon of FREEDOM.

For some, Jesus is an icon of OPPRESSION.

Jesus’ birth has brought HEALING and PEACE to some but PAIN and VIOLENCE to others.

What Wisdom does Zachariah’s Song in Luke 1:67-74 and 78-79 offer us?

The earliest followers believed that Jesus was the VISITATION of God. The earliest followers believed that Jesus was the MERCY of God.

The earliest followers believed that Jesus was the RESCUE of God.

Don’t Miss This!

The earliest followers of Jesus believed that he was the PATH to PEACE.

Three big questions to unpack this Advent Season

How does Jesus light the path to peace with GOD? How does Jesus light the path to peace with OTHERS? How does Jesus light the path to peace with MYSELF?

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

The more we walk the path of peace, the more we participate in our own HEALING.

The more we participate in our own healing, the more we participate in the healing of OTHERS.

What is God inviting you into today?

Participate in the Honest Advent Journey
Invite family and friends to a Christmas Eve Service
Read Luke 1-2 this week
Participate in the Peace Is Worth It 2023 Vision Acceleration

Thought-provoking questions:

Think of different people in your life (family, friends, coworkers). What are some of the different ways these people view Jesus?
Zachariah’s song speaks to the pain of the people, particularly their fear in worshipping their God amidst the hatred they experience from Rome. What are some fears that we experience today? How would you rewrite this poem for the 21st century?
Zachariah’s song culminates with a light that shines on those sitting in the shadow of death and darkness. This light illuminates a path out of death and into peace. If you are following Jesus, how have you experienced this in your own life?
Of the three paths to peace that we will be talking about this advent season, which one strikes you as the most relevant for your life right now? Why is that?
Why do you think participation is so important as it relates to peace on Earth? Why not just sit back and let God take care of everything?

In The Winners Circle, explore the power of ambition and modeling, turn freedom on its head and ultimately discover Jesus’ path to greatness.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

We are told the path to greatness comes through what we OWN.

We are told the path to greatness comes through the TITLES we earn.

Greatness built on credentials and ownership perpetuates DIVISION and ends with DEATH.

What Wisdom does Paul offer us in Philippians 2:1-11?

Paul believed his suffering and sacrifice was worth it under ONE CONDITION.

Paul believed that SELFISH ambition would destroy the work of God.

God completely changed Paul’s definition of SUCCESS.

The MIND of CHRIST is a radical commitment to humbly serve and obey the demands of love. Jesus became the center of the winner’s circle by LOSING everything.

Jesus taught his followers this kenosis and exaltation process as “LOSING” and “FINDING” life.

Don’t Miss This!

In Christ, the winners circle is filled with TOTAL LOSERS.

If we are only living for that which ends with death, are we not DEAD already?

Jesus’s path to true greatness, true freedom, true influence is KENOSIS, the mind of Christ.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Empty yourself of your OWNERSHIP rights. Empty yourself of your CREDENTIAL rights.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

The more we lay down our lives for sake of loving others, the more God will lift us up for the sake of PEACE on Earth.

What is God inviting you into today?

I will take a simple step of serving my community by volunteering to ring the bell for the Salvation Army this holiday season.
Start each day with an intentional prayer of self-emptying.
Surrender all that I am to God’s love for me and this world.

Thought-provoking questions:

How does culture define greatness in terms of ownership? What things might someone our culture defines as a winner own? How about titles?
What things do you own or titles do you hold that people would look at and associate with success, winning or greatness?
Have you ever seen someone use those titles and things to serve others? Have you ever seen someone use those titles and things to take advantage of others?
Paul uses this very interesting word that is translated as “Empty Conceit” or “Vain Glory” in Philippians 2:3. The idea behind this unique word is that we can live in a façade of greatness. What do you think is Paul’s answer to combatting this temptation to live in empty conceit?
Paul uses a word for the “self-emptying” action of Christ that is linguistically related to the word used for “empty conceit.” Do you think Paul is using a word play here? To what end?
Jesus offers an unlikely path by our world’s standards to greatness: Kenosis or self- emptying. How would you describe that in your own words?
What ownership rights could you empty yourself of to be more available to serve the demands of love in this world? Has anyone ever loved you by using their stuff in a positive way in your life? What about credentialing rights? What title(s) do you hold that the world might say frees you from the demands of love and serving?
To where would you like to see God elevate you so that you might be an agent of greater peace on earth?

In The Winners Circle, explore the power of ambition and modeling, turn freedom on its head and ultimately discover Jesus’ path to greatness.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

Freedom is a BIG DEAL in our COUNTRY.

The fantasy of freedom is that if I could just have more of THAT, I could be truly free. Freedom is a BIG DEAL in our RELIGION.

Definitions of Freedom:

Freedom is doing WHATEVER I want to do, WHENEVER I want to do it, WITH WHOMEVER I want to do it.

Freedom is doing what I was CREATED to do and doing that with EVERYTHING I have.

What Wisdom does the Bible offer us regarding freedom?

Freedom is a BIG DEAL in the OLD TESTAMENT story. Freedom Charter = 10 COMMANDMENTS

Freedom is a BIG DEAL to JESUS.

Freedom Charter = THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (Matthew 5-7)

Freedom is a BIG DEAL to PAUL.

Paul uses freedom 28X. The rest of the New Testament, 8X.

Three Necessary Qualities of Freedom (GALATIANS 5:1-18)

Freedom is an INHERENT GIFT that naturally flows from the nature of God as Father, Son and Spirit. (Gal 5:1)
Freedom is a SKILL to be developed. (Gal 5:1-2)
What’s wrong with a rule-keeping system as the basis for our lives?
Rules set up systems of COMPARISON which lead to insider/outsider VALUE JUDGMENTS.
Rule enforcement seldom leads to deeper RELATIONSHIPS.
Rule keeping systems leave no room for GRACE.
Rule keeping systems will eventually CRUSH US.
Freedom is always RISKY and cannot be DOMESTICATED. (Gal 5:13)

Don’t Miss This!

The purest expression of freedom is SERVING OTHERS in love.

“Freedom is not so much liberty of choice, but rather the disciplining of desire so as to make the achievement of the good first possible and then effortless.” –Bishop Robert Barron

What is God inviting us into today?

The freedom to get lost in the moment by...

Serving our families—again and again, higher and higher

Serving our friends—again and again, higher and higher

Serving our work colleagues—again and again, higher and higher Serving our church—again and again, higher and higher

Serving our enemies—again and again, higher and higher

Thought-provoking questions:

Tell about a time when you got lost in the moment.
What are some of the most popular definitions of freedom circulating in our community and country? What is the best definition of freedom that you know of?
Why is the concept of freedom so important to us?
What is one of your best freedoms? How is it both a gift and a skill to be developed?
Paul uses the word freedom 28 times in his New Testament writings, usually in contrast to religious rule keeping systems. Why is Paul so hard on rule keeping and so high on freedom?
Why is serving one another in love the purest act of freedom a human being can do?
Tell about an experience you’ve had serving someone in love where you got lost in the moment (and wanted to do it again and again, higher and higher).

In The Winners Circle, explore the power of ambition and modeling, turn freedom on its head and ultimately discover Jesus’ path to greatness.

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The Anchor Verse

...but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. –Luke 22:26

John 13:1-20

1Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him.

Having the right PERSPECTIVE on serving.

And during supper 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." 9Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" 10Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." 11For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."

12After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you?

Matthew 26:6-10

Luke 22:23-27

Luke 7:36-50

It is a movement to where serving is seen as not something we HAVE TO DO, but something we GET TO DO.

Looking to the PERSON who embodies serving.

13You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.

Philippians 2:3-11

It is movement to where serving is not just SOMETHING YOU DO but an expression of WHO YOU ARE.

17If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Understanding the PROMISE to those who are serving.

It is movement toward understanding that it is more BLESSED TO GIVE than to RECEIVE.

Acts 20:35

...you are blessed if you do them.

Living into the PRACTICE of serving.

It is movement to where SERVING becomes a WAY OF LIFE.

Places to serve:

STRUCTURED Places: keeps us in the HABIT of serving

SPONTANEOUS Places: keeps us open to NEW OPPORTUNITIES to serve

SECRET Places: keeps us HUMBLE in our serving

SHARED Places: keeps us GROWING in our serving

What is God inviting you into today?

I want to renew/become a member for the 2022/23 Ministry Year!
My family would like to attend the Annual Ministry Celebration Lunch for Members and Regular Attenders on November 20th.

In The Winners Circle, explore the power of ambition and modeling, turn freedom on its head and ultimately discover Jesus’ path to greatness.

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The Winners Circle: Paving your (unlikely) Path to the Top | Week #01

The Ambush of Ambition | October 30th

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We want to be WINNERS.

We want SUCCESS and GREATNESS. We call this desire AMBITION. Ambition tends to AMBUSH us.

"Sometimes, our highest goal becomes our big enemy when we move towards our goal blindly without focusing on the path we follow." –Durgesh Satpathy

What Wisdom does Jesus offer us in Luke 22:24-27 regarding our ambitions?

The disciples desired greatness in the eyes of their PEERS. (24)

Jesus does not CONDEMN them for their ambition. (25)

Jesus REDIRECTS their ambition. (26)

Jesus redefines GREATNESS as serving when you deserve to be served. (27)

Don’t Miss This!

Jesus offers an UNLIKELY path to greatness: The Ambition to Serve.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Acknowledge that our ambition is easily directed inward rather than OUTWARD. Develop an ambition to serve as a member of the SCATTERED church.

SHARE your power

Put the needs of others FIRST

Help others develop and perform as HIGHLY as possible

Develop an ambition to serve as a member of the GATHERED church.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

An ambition to serve paves a path for DIVINE LOVE in this world.

An ambition to serve leads to the WELL-BEING of the people and communities to which we belong.

What is God inviting you into today?

I want to renew/become a member for the 2022/23 Ministry Year!
I will attend the next three weeks and grow in my ambition to love.
My family would like to attend the Annual Ministry Celebration Lunch for Members and Regular Attenders on November 20th.

Thought-provoking questions:

Do you think of yourself as ambitious, too ambitious, or not ambitious enough? Why do you think that?
Can you think of a person in your life that models ambition in a healthy way?
Do you tend to think of ambition as a negative, positive or neutral emotion?
Why do you think the disciples got so caught up in who was the greatest among them?
Jesus offers a path to greatness by teaching his disciples to serve when they deserve to be served. Do you have any places in your life in which you deserve to be served because of your position or title? How have you been able to serve in those spaces?
What is one practical thing you could do this week to develop an ambition to serve at home, work and your neighborhood?
Tell us about a person that modeled servant leadership to you and was crucial in your own personal growth and success.
Do you think membership in the local church is important? Strange? What might draw a person into membership or keep a person from becoming a member?

In this series, we will expose the lie of living to the edge of our limits. We will look together at how to build margin into our emotions, moral choices, time and finances—and finally discover the key to all margin.

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Mental exhaustion is a response to THINKING overload.

Emotional exhaustion is a response to FEELING overload.

Mental and Emotional exhaustion are RELATED.

Our spiritual traditions often unintentionally SHAME us in our fatigue. Continual emotional and mental exhaustion leads to BURNOUT. SUCCESS is often the sacred object.

What Wisdom does Jesus offer us?

Matthew 11:28

Jesus HONORED people’s exhaustion.

Jesus offered a GENTLE and HUMBLE space to unpack the pain. Jesus knew that REST was the starting point for healing.

Jesus knew we needed an ALTERNATIVE viewpoint.

Don’t Miss This!

Jesus offers a NON-JUDGMENTAL space to acknowledge, rest and recover.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

If you’re feeling emotional/mental fatigue don’t ISOLATE. LOOK for causes and try to reduce or remove them.

Practice emotional and mental SELF-CARE.

Take advantage of a mental/emotional health PROFESSIONAL.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

GRACE for others grows in our emotional and mental margin.

What is God inviting you into today?

To simply pause and reflect on the amount of exhaustion I am currently feeling 2. To take a break, schedule time to rest and recover
To reach out to a mental/health professional because I am in burnout

Thought-provoking questions:

Are there seasons in your life where you feel a sense of emotional and mental exhaustion? What are the contributing factors?
Can you think of a time where you began to feel emotional and mental exhaustion but you were able to rest and recover before it became overwhelming?
Who in your life is a non-judgmental presence that will listen and offer rest?
How do you “come to Jesus” when you are weary or burdened? What spiritual practices help you find rest?
What are some of your current self-care practices?
Do you agree that there is a relationship between how we love ourselves and how we love other people? Why or why not?

Quick Review

Anchor Verse: The Devil, the ultimate ____________, has always hated the truth because the truth brings freedom from his control. So, deception and destruction just come naturally, it’s his character. All lies flow from him like water from a fountain. John 8:44 (Ryan’s Paraphrase)

Week 01: Margin ____________ the con and reduces the _________ of overload.

Week 02: Creating and maintaining margin is only possible when we go through the loss and death of the ____________ ____________.

Week 03: Debt as a substitute sacred object enslaves us, limiting our freedom to _________.

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We too often don’t have the ____________ energy to match our ____________ drive. _________ activity and __________ activity both destroy our physical margin.

The Con: _______ _________ gives you wings.

When we ignore our physical limits we eventually __________ and _________.

What Wisdom does Proverbs offer us?

____________ is not the solution. (Proverbs 10:4-5)

Emotional/Spiritual health is a contributing factor to ____________ health. (Proverbs 14:30)

A lack of Physical Margin is a _________-____________ problem. (Proverbs 25:28)

Don’t Miss This!

Physical Margin is found in ____________ the right energy source not the substitute sacred object of “youth and beauty.” (Isaiah 40:31)

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Monitor your ____________ Heart.

Monitor your ____________ Heart.

Don’t underestimate the power of ____________ ___________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

The ______________ to _________ flourishes in the margins of our physical life.

What is God inviting me into today?

To build more physical margin by being more intentional about my work, sleep and eating habits
To let go of the sacred object of beauty and youth as a path to wholeness
To build more physical margin by intentionally getting active with a friend

Thought-provoking questions:

How rested do you feel when you wake up in the morning? Are you ready for the day or longing for more sleep?
Have you ever felt the desire that comes from the sacred object of beauty and youth? How have you tried to get through the “prohibition of age”?
Do you feel more energy for life when you are in a healthy place spiritually? Why or why not?
Think about an area of your life that you have lots of self-discipline and an area where you would like to have more. What is the difference in those two areas? Why do you think self-discipline is harder in some areas of our lives?
What are two practical ways you can add physical margin into your life?

Quick Review

Anchor Verse: The Devil, the ultimate CON-MAN, has always hated the truth because the truth brings freedom from his control. So, deception and destruction just come naturally; it’s the Devil’s character. All lies flow from the Devil like water from a fountain. John 8:44 (Ryan’s Paraphrase)

Week 01: Margin EXPOSES the con and reduces the RISK of overload.

Week 02: Creating and maintaining margin is only possible when we go through the loss and death of the SACRED OBJECT.

What’s the Issue Anyway?

What is the sacred object that MONEY prohibits you from having?

Our MIMETIC desires take us down dangerous paths of debt.

When we think debt can make our DREAMS come true, we often find ourselves having financial NIGHTMARES.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us on Financial Margin and Debt?

Debt has ENSLAVING qualities. (Proverbs 22:7)

Our spiritual ancestors perceived debt as a PAINFUL CONSEQUENCE for unwise behavior. (Deuteronomy 28:15; 43-44)

The only appropriate debt is the debt to LOVE. (Romans 13:8)

Don’t Miss This!

Debt as a sacred object enslaves us, limiting our FREEDOM to love.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Embrace a NON-DUALIST mindset regarding debt.

Embrace that nothing on the other side of the financial prohibition can fulfill the desire the PROHIBITION creates.

Engage in healthy FINANCIAL practices.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Financial margin affords us the opportunity to live the BLESSED LIFE.

Financial Margin is where GENEROSITY flourishes.

What is God inviting you into today?

Realize I have been using debt as a substitute object and begin to work hard to break free from it.
Create financial margin this week so I can live the blessed life of loving others through financial generosity. (i.e. Give away some money to a person or cause you love.)
Learn more about the 7-week Financial Health Workshop on Tuesday evenings beginning October 11th

Thought-provoking questions:

When have you felt the least amount of stress around your personal finances? When have you felt the most stress?
Have you ever experienced the desire for something that your finances prohibited you from attaining? What did that desire feel like emotionally and physically?
How have you experienced “mimetic” desire in your life?
Do you think there is debt that does not make the borrower slave to the lender? What could that be?
How could you as a peacemaker be a lender that doesn’t enslave a borrower?
If you could give $1,000,000 dollars away as an act of love, who are the people or organizations you would give it to? What good would you hope to come you’re your generosity? What about $20? How could you give $20 away as an act of love?

7.When have you ever experienced someone living the “blessed life” of generosity?

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Have you ever felt the discomfort of DISCONTENTMENT?

We believe that something out THERE can make me whole in HERE.

This longing for wholeness or completeness is the experience of LACK.

The thing we think will deliver us from lack becomes a type of SACRED OBJECT.

Something often stands in the way of the sacred object: PROHIBITION.

How can I be FREE from the excessive drive for the sacred object to enjoy a life not weighed down by the negative power of lack: A Life Hidden in Christ.

What Wisdom do Paul, Christ Crucified and Christ Resurrected offer us?

Paul removed all PROHIBITIONS. (1 Corinthians 10:23)

Paul knew that LACK was built into existence. (Philippians 4:10-14)

Christ Crucified is the TRAUMA of the loss of the sacred object. (Mark 15:34) Christ Crucified is the DEATH of the Sacred Object. (Mark 15:38)

Don’t Miss This:

Creating and maintaining MARGIN is only possible when we go through the loss and death of the sacred object.

The Good News is that Death is NEVER the end. The Christ Resurrected is the PRESTIGE.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

By embracing the radical meaning of the Crucified Christ, the true enemies of margin (prohibitions and the desires they fuel) lose their power, freeing us to to LIVE BY FAITH.

Thought-provoking questions:

Think of a time when you felt a deep sense of contentment. Can you describe the circumstances surrounding that moment?
What do you think the Gospel writers are trying to teach us with Jesus crying out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Have you ever felt forsaken by God? What were the circumstances surrounding that moment in your life?
How could freedom from the obsessive desire for an object that we only think can bring wholeness allow you to create margin in your life?

What’s the Issue Anyway?

FOMO is a real thing!

Progress is the great ILLUSIONIST of our day.

Most of progress has dealt with the PHYSICAL or COGNITIVE world.

Most of our pain is in the SPIRITUAL (Social/Emotional) world.

The greatest con on earth is that with progress our limits DISAPPEAR.

When we live without limits, we experience the pain of STRESS and OVERLOAD. Something inside us BREAKS.

RELATIONSHIPS will disappear right before your very eyes.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

One of the PRIMORDIAL lies: We can have NO LIMITS. (John 8:44; Genesis 3:4-5) On the seventh day God created MARGIN. (Genesis 2:1-3)

Don’t Miss This!

Margin EXPOSES the CON of progress.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Redefine progress in terms of VIRTUE not wealth.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Relationships FLOURISH in the margins. Margin brings a holistic sense of PEACE.

What is God inviting you into today?

Attend each week in this series with an open heart.
Read (reread) the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 this week.
I am at my limit and would like to talk with a care minister.

Thought-provoking questions:

Where have you experienced the proverbial “brick wall” or complete “burnout?” How did that experience effect your relationships?
As you think about the Jewish creation myth, what are some of the big, primordial human shortcomings represented in this story?
Where might you be at risk of overload in your life?
Where could a bit of margin bring health to your relationships? How would your friends, partner, coworkers, children answer that question for you?
What are some success indicators in our world? Which of these are consistent with Jesus’ definition of success found in the Sermon on the Mount? Are any of these antithetical to the peacemaking path of Jesus?
What relationship would you like to see strengthened over the next 6 weeks as you try to add margin into your life?

It's time to going groups & today's podcast begins with the audio from a video we have explaining groups. Think about joining a group. Online or in person.

Below are this week's talk notes filled in so that you can access it late. Ryan teaches on Crossroads 2023 - week 2. If you missed last week's check out the previous podcast, week 1!

Have a great week!

_____________________________________

Crossroads 2023: Focused | Week #02

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing | September 11th

What’s the Issue Anyway

Distractions eventually DERAIL us.

What Wisdom does John 4:31-38 offer us

The Judeans and Samarians had a VIOLENT history.

Jesus knew the power of VISION and TIMING.

John knew the power of PARTICIPATION.

John is writing the story of Jesus for his community that has welcomed the “OTHER.”

Don’t Miss This!

In 2023 we will stay focused on offering Jesus’ countercultural, radically inclusive, path of peace that heals our WOUNDS, transforms our MINDS, and redeems our PAIN.

Living this as the Gathered Church in 2023

In 2023 we will experiment with new and innovative weekend WORSHIP practices. In 2023 we will implement The Path of Peace curriculum for KIDS and STUDENTS. In 2023 we will develop and launch “THE PEACEMAKERS PATH” series.

A Fresh Perspective: Learning a New Way of Seeing

101 The Peacemaker’s Path: Where the way of Jesus leads

201 The Peacemaker’s Faith: Believing Like Jesus

301 The Peacemaker’s Love: Living in Christ

401 The Peacemaker’s Hope: Resurrection and the Mystical Body of Christ

Participate in the Peacemaking vision through MEMBERSHIP.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place

Participation is a tangible way to be a part of something BIGGER than ME. Participation brings HOPE and HEALING to the hurting in our world.

What is God inviting you into today

Sign up for a Crossroads group (Enter Group Code from Catalog on Connect Card)
Explore the different groups available to support my peacemaking journey.
Learn about how I can participate in the vision by becoming a member of Crossroads Church.

Thought-provoking questions:

Can you think of a season in your work or a significant relationship that was marked by a major distraction? How did that distraction affect the health of your work or relationship?
What do you think of the idea that this story in John is more than a story of an individual, but a story that speaks to a bigger reality of the work of Jesus in healing animosity between groups? Does it make the story more or less powerful?
Have you ever experienced healing of a wound, transformation of your mind or redemption of your pain by following the peacemaking path of Jesus? Share about that experience.
Why do you think people are hesitant to commit to something like membership?
Jesus talked about some sowing and some reaping, but everyone playing a part in the work of God. How could you participate in the work through the ministries of Crossroads?
Do you think being a part of something bigger than ourselves is important? Why or why not?

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Moralistic religion creates an unhealthy _____________ in our lives.

What Wisdom does Matthew 9:35-38 offer us as it relates to our work?

Illness and Disease made you an ________________ to the synagogue. (35)

Jesus’ heart was marked by ___________________ for the outsider. (36)

Jesus knew the _____________ would always outweigh the _____________. (37-38)

Don’t Miss This!

Jesus modeled the way of divine work: ______________________ ________________.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Where is your _____________ filled with sheep in need of a good shepherd? Will you be an _____________ ________ of hope in that field in 2023?

Have you counted the ________ of laboring in this field?

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

A commitment to compassionate inclusion builds ________ _____________ _________.

“The more we strive to secure a common good corresponding to the real needs of our neighbors, the more effectively we love them. Every Christian is called to practice this charity, in a manner corresponding to their vocation and according to the degree of influence they wield in the polis.”. —Pope Benedict

What is God inviting you into today?

Look for ways to live out compassionate inclusion at work this year.
Commit to living the peacemaking values of wisdom, inclusion, generosity, fun and creativity in the fields of my everyday, normal life.
Pray for eyes to see other peacemakers at work and labor together.

Thought-provoking questions:

What is the most frustrating or worst job you have ever had?
How do you suppose people in the synagogue received Jesus’ message regarding the Kingdom (reign) of God compared to those in the crowd looking for healing?
What about Jesus’ life experiences (do you think) made him so tender and compassionate to the outsider?
Do you think the Holy Spirit is more concerned with where we work or how we do the work? Why or why not?
What are the “fields” in your life in which you feel called to labor with compassionate inclusion? When is inclusion the most difficult for you? Who do you struggle to invite into your life?
Where is your local community succeeding or failing in building The Common Good? Are there any local issues that you would like to understand better so you can more effectively build The Common Good?

Hello and welcome to the Crossroads podcast! I encourage you to go watch this past week's service, because it was a whole church, family experience. You'll find the link HERE. We loved having the kids and students helping lead and then we wrapped up our time together with communion. In today's podcast we're including a recap of our friend Steve talking through our different campfire stories and then Ryan will lead us in communion. Feel free to pause and come back to share in communion with us, wherever you are.

Thank you for being here! We look forward to connecting with you next week!

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Do we have a history with DUPLICITOUS actions?

Do we act in a way opposite of the CULTURAL EXPECTATION? We can easily feel DEFLATED when our intentions are questioned. Questioning our intentions exposes our RESILIENCY.

What Wisdom does David and Goliath in I Samuel 17 offer us?

Legend has it David was not a stranger to the CONTEMPT of his brothers. Jesse sends David to check on the SAFETY of his brothers. (17-19)

David HONORED his father by following through. (20-22)

David was AMBITIOUS and saw an opportunity to advance. (23-26)

The Philistines came to the land with the invasions of the SEA PEOPLES. Eliab questioned David’s INTENTIONS from a place of woundedness. (28-29) David KEPT MOVING towards his opportunity for influence. (30)

Don’t Miss This!

David did not get DISTRACTED by the accusation.

What happens when my intentions are questioned in my everyday, normal life?

Take a moment for REFLECTION.

Assume that you might have unintentionally reopened an unhealed WOUND. Shake the dust off your sandals and walk BRAVELY down your path.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Resiliency will get you noticed and give you opportunities for INFLUENCE.

What is God inviting you into today?

Turn to prayer when I feel misunderstood or my intentions are questioned.
Stop assuming I know people’s intentions.
Move forward bravely on my path.

Thought-provoking questions:

Can you think of a duplicitous person in your life? What have they done to make you question their motives?
Why do you think David was so intent on facing Goliath?
Read all of 1 Samuel chapter 17. What do you find disturbing and not reflective of Jesus in this story? What might be the projection of human values on God? Where do you see the values of Jesus in this story?
Has something ever become a distraction in your life? Talk a little bit about that experience.
When someone questions your intentions, what could you do to take a moment of reflection before responding?
Have you ever unintentionally reopened a wound in another person through your words or actions? How did you respond to them?
On a scale of 1-10 (1 being no resiliency and 10 being completely resilient) what is your overall resiliency to opposition at work, home, hobbies and friendships?

Welcome to the Crossroads Church podcast!

You can find more information and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our e-newsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week!

What’s the Issue Anyway?

“Three things cannot be hidden: the sun, the moon and the TRUTH.” –Buddha

“Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the TRUTH” –Mahatma Gandhi

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth,

and the TRUTH will set you free.” –Jesus

We love the truth until it contradicts our SELF-DECEPTIONS.

What Wisdom do Esther and Mordecai offer us (Esther 4)?

Mordecai and the Jews responded APPROPRIATELY to the truth of their plight. (4:1-3) PRIVILEGE insulated the palace from reality. (4:4-5)

Esther ASKED for the truth. (4:6-8)

Mordecai spoke a DIFFICULT but HOPE-filled truth to Esther’s self-deception. (4:9-14) Esther TRUSTED the wound of a friend over kisses of an enemy. (4:15-16)

Mordecai didn’t ABANDON Esther in her moment of truth. (4:17)

Don’t Miss This!

Truth tellers bring us to the CROSSROADS of self-deception and SELF-EXAMINATION.

What happens tomorrow when the truth doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy?

Does the truth teller have a track record of LOVE?

Is the truth teller acting selfishly or SELFLESSLY?

Will the truth teller WALK with me through self-examination and change? If you think you have truth for someone you love, WAIT for the question. Be a partner not a PROBLEM for the Spirit of God.

As a peacemaker, am I listening for truth from the SPIRIT of GOD?

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Truth offers us a path to becoming the best version of OURSELVES.

What is God inviting you into today?

Give permission to someone in my life to be my truth teller.
Thank someone for loving me and speaking truth into my life.
Open my heart to hear truth from people who love me.

Thought-provoking questions:

Have you ever had someone speak truth to you that was hard to hear? Did you ever speak truth to someone?
Why do you think Mordecai went to the public square causing such a scene?
Esther allowed privilege to close her eyes and ears to the truth of what was happening around her. Has this ever happened to you? Do you see this at play in our world today?
Why do you think self-examination is so difficult?
Who have you or could you give permission to be a truth teller in your life? Why this person?
Over the next 90 days, what peacemaking adventure do you think the best version of yourself could be set apart for? What truth would you have to embrace to make this happen?

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We have moments of disillusionment that challenge our WILLINGNESS. Without willingness we won’t see our WOUNDS move from stupid to sacred.

What Wisdom does Isaiah 6 offer us today?

Isaiah was in a moment of religious DISILLUSIONMENT. (1)

The six wings symbolize HUMILITY, REVERENCE and READINESS before God. (2)

Isaiah experienced God in a way that made sense to him in his CULTURAL MATRIX. (3-4) Grace is the healing of the wound we all experience from the foundational lie of DIVINE

unworthiness and unforgiveness. (5-7) Isaiah is WILLING to live as a sent person. (8) The Message doesn’t feel too POPULAR. (9-12) Isaiah’s faithfulness was his SUCCESS STORY.

Don’t Miss This!

Sent people are WILLING and FAITHFUL people.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Am I a peacemaker with a spirit of HUMILITY, REVERENCE and READINESS? Am I experiencing religious DISILLUSIONMENT as a beginning or an ending? Do I see myself as a SENT person?

How does living as a sent person make me and the world a better place?

Sent people baptize every circumstance with the hope of MEANING and PURPOSE.

What is God inviting you into today?

Begin to see the places of my everyday normal life as places God has sent me.
I would like to explore where God is sending me to volunteer in Crossroads Church.
I would like to learn about our Partner Organizations and see where God might be sending me.

Thought-provoking questions:

When have you been given an opportunity but a wound from your past got in the way of saying yes to the opportunity?
Why do you think this vision story has been so enduring and encouraging to millions of people throughout time and history?
What is the significance of the forgiveness of sin in this story?
What is the relationship between willingness and faithfulness for Isaiah? Why do you think he never gave up when he experienced defeat?
Do you have enough space in your schedule to be ready when you sense God giving you an opportunity to participate in a divine moment?
What is the difference between these two statements:

a. “Everything happens for a purpose.”

b. “I have a purpose in everything that happens.”

Campfire Stories | Week #05 || Origin Stories | July 31st

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We all love a good ORIGIN story.

Our origin stories tend to fall into one of THREE categories.

Origin stories form personal and cultural IDENTITY.

Cultural origin stories easily become THE story instead of OUR story.

What Wisdom does the Exodus Origin story offer us?

The Jewish origin story begins with Imperial OPPRESSION. (Exodus 1)

A HERO is born with a destiny to lead. (Exodus 2-4)

The ANCESTRAL God of the Hebrews decides to act. (Exodus 5-6)

The TIMELESS battle between good and evil begins with the ten plagues. (Exodus 7-12) The Passover Feast is established as LAW. (Exodus 12)

The RED SEA would be the final battle between good and evil. (14:5-31)

Don’t Miss This!

Israel’s origin story encouraged Israel to TRUST and REMEMBER the power and faithfulness of their God.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Jesus offers a CORRECTIVE and COUNTER origin story. What is the origin story of your SPIRITUAL JOURNEY? Write out your spiritual AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Remember the UNIVERSAL themes of the Exodus.

Look for the HINTS of the universal Christ in Israel’s origin story.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Origin stories bring HOPE and LIGHT into our darkness and discouragement.

What is God inviting you into today?

This week I will read the book of Exodus.
This week I will journal my own spiritual origin story, thinking about how God has been present with me throughout my life.
I think I might be in the beginning of my spiritual origin story and would love to talk with a pastor about it.

Thought-provoking questions:

What is the origin story of your vocation, family or current place that you live?
The Exodus story is a beautiful story that Jewish people still hold with great value and is central to many practicing their faith. What do you think of the depiction of God?
Where do you see the values of Jesus in the Exodus story?
Where do you see values that are in opposition to Jesus in the Exodus story?
What experiences from your life produce trust in your heart towards the divine?
Share one or two moments in your life that you felt like you encountered and recognized the divine.
What stories from your past bring hope to you?

Welcome to the Crossroads Church podcast!

You can find more information and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our e-newsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week!

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Every life is filled with DISAPPOINTMENTS.

We are handed an image of God that doesn’t seem to fit our REALITY. When this tension hits hard, we either ABANDON reality or God.

What Wisdom does Lazarus’ story in John 11:17-45 offer us?

Mary’s pain and disappointment kept her from JESUS. (17-20)

Martha held the TENSION between hope and hurt. (21-22)

Martha’s hope for healing was in the NEXT LIFE. (23-24)

Martha didn’t UNDERSTAND Jesus but believed God was present in Jesus. (25-27)

Don’t Miss This!

We can have HOPE in life without denying the TRAUMAS of life.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

In a sense, we are all like LAZARUS.

At some point, we all feel like MARY and MARTHA. At all times, we should strive to be like JESUS.

When you can’t put your faith in God, put it in LOVE.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

FAITH SHAMING ends when we honor the reality of life’s trauma. LOVE will find us in the pain of letting go of ZEUS.

What is God inviting you into today?

Give myself permission to feel the trauma of life and believe in the God revealed in Jesus.
Talk to God about being angry at what has happened in my life.
Stop avoiding the pain in a friend’s life and give myself permission to weep with them.

Thought-provoking questions:

Talk about a season or experience where you felt like God had disappointed you.
What do you think about the idea that God is “all powerful” given the realities of evil in this world?
Why do you think John thought it was important to include the details of Jesus waiting two days before traveling to Lazarus?
Does the idea of Jesus weeping encourage you or bother you?
What were some of the responses to Jesus’ arrival at Mary and Martha’s home? Which of these responses can you relate to?
What if God is not an all-powerful being that loves or forgives or shows mercy, but an all-powerful love that has its being in us when we love, forgive or show mercy?
How can the community of faith be a safer space to express our doubts, anger and frustrations with God?
Are there parts of your understanding of God that are more like Zeus than Jesus? Where do those come from? How do you think you could let those go?

Campire Stories 2022 | Week #03

A storm, a fish and a tree walk into a bar... | July 17th

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We often define ourselves through group DIFFERENCES.

Ignorance, Fear and Anger over our differences leads to OTHERING.

Othering dehumanizes, rationalizes inequality, justifies hatred and tramples the

IMAGO DEI.

What Wisdom does the story of Jonah offer us?

Jonah refuses the assignment and tries to get AWAY from God. (1:3) Jonah didn’t see the COLLATERAL DAMAGE to his rebellion. (1:5-6) Even the GENTILES knew the folly of disobeying the gods. (1:10) The gentile sailors are QUICK to recognize Yahweh’s power. (1:14-16) The great fish was LIMINAL time and space for Jonah. (2:1-11)

The Gentiles again were QUICK to change their actions. (3:6-10)

Jonah wanted the OTHERS to pay. (4:1-4)

Jonah was still hoping for the WORST. (4:5)

God uses an OBJECT LESSON to teach Jonah about divine love. (4:6-8)

Don’t Miss This!

DIVINE LOVE understands and therefore never OTHERS.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Am I on a path of SELF-DESTRUCTION?

Am I a FISH or a storm?

Do I need to REPENT of hoping for the worst?

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

When we understand divine love, BELONGING and INCLUSION will mark our society.

What is God inviting you into today?

I am headed down that path of self-destruction and would like to start fresh today by following Jesus.
I want to continually be a person who creates space for others to belong.
I need to repent of my othering and allow God to overcome my fear of someone or some group of people.

Thought provoking questions:

How has our American culture done a good job of inclusion and belonging? How has Christianity done the same?
Can you think of a group of people that have been dehumanized and othered by our American culture? Can you think of a group of people that have been dehumanized and othered by Christian culture?
Have you ever found yourself running away from God? What were those circumstances? Did you have a fish moment?
Why is it easy for us to secretly want the worst for someone or some group?
What are some ways you can work toward understanding groups that have been marginalized or othered by Christianity or the broader society?
Think of a time you have experienced inclusion and belonging. What were the circumstances surrounding that experience? What fears were dismissed as you felt included and the right to belong?

You can find more information and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our e-newsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week! Jessica

Welcome to the Crossroads Church podcast! I hope you had a great 4th of July!

You can find more information and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our e-newsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week! Jessica

Welcome to the Crossroads Church podcast! You can find more informations and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our enewsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week!

Courageous Generosity | Week #02

Whose prayer have you answered lately? | June 26th

Last Week: The Blessed life is the GENEROUS Life.

Getting the Conversation started...

Has someone ever been an answer to YOUR prayers?

Have you ever been an answer to SOMEONE’S prayer?

A maturing relationship moves towards GIVING and away from getting.

What Wisdom does 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 offer us?

We all live UNDER the law of sowing and reaping. (9:6)

Courageous generosity is not MANIPULATED giving. (9:7)

Personal ABUNDANCE is divine INVESTMENT. (9:8)

Having more than what we need is an opportunity to do GOOD works. (9:8) Divine Love gives generously and faithfully to the POOR and OPPRESSED. (9:9) Paul knew there was no season of HARVEST without a season of sowing. (9:10) GENEROSITY is the hand of Love in this world. (9:11-12)

The Corinthians could be an answer to PRAYER. (9:13-14)

Through their generosity, the Corinthians were the GIFT from God. (9:15)

Don’t Miss This!

Courageous generosity makes YOU an indescribable gift from God.

What are people praying for?

People are praying for a church like CROSSROADS.

People are praying for a PATH out of poverty, slavery, illiteracy, bigotry and spiritual emptiness. People are praying for a place for their children to experience a faith that MATURES with them.

Your Everyday Normal Life

Commit to intentionally and cheerfully giving to NOW, NEED and NEXT.

“God, show me how to use my financial ABUNDANCE to answer someone’s prayer and produce thanksgiving to YOU.”

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Courageous generosity CREATES a healthy church that is an answer to prayer. Courageous generosity creates a THANKFUL world.

What is God inviting you into today?

Join me for a summer of courageous generosity.

Thought provoking question:

Can you think of a time when someone was an answer to your prayer? Talk about that. How about a time you were able to be an answer to someone’s prayer?
Maturing faith moves from getting to giving. How have you seen this happen in your own life? Are you struggling to move towards giving?
Do you believe that you can be an answer to someone’s prayer? What do you think would happen if you prayed every day to be an answer to someone’s prayer?
Which do you have the easiest time giving towards: now, need or next? Which do you struggle the most with?
Why do you think our world needs Crossroads Church?

Courageous Generosity | Week #01

Was Jesus #Blessed? | June 19th

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We often think of the __________ in our lives.

We rarely think of the __________ in our lives.

Jesus didn’t seem to equate __________ blessing with getting good things.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

Jesus and his people suffered under the weight of __________.

Jesus knew possessions can too easily become __________. (Matthew 6:24)

Ancient Israel believed __________ produced a __________ on the land. (Malachi 3:6-12) Jesus knew that giving brought __________ into our lives. (Acts 20:35)

Don’t Miss This!

The Blessed Life is the __________ life.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

1: The Universe is grounded in spiritual and physical __________.

2 things happen to stingy people and things happen to generous people.

3 All spiritual habits are for __________ spiritual good.

4 __________ can transform and ruin your life.

5 Courageous Generosity is about in giving.

Take a __________ step in giving this summer. Be an __________ Giver

Be an __________ Giver Be a __________ Giver Be a __________ Giver

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

God uses financial generosity to break the power of __________ and __________. God uses financial generosity to power __________ church.

Financial generosity is the fast track to living a __________ -__________ blessed life.

What is God inviting you into today?

Take a courageous step in your financial generosity this summer.

Thought provoking question:

Do you like to give? Would your closest friends describe you as generous, greedy, or somewhere in between? Why?
Have you ever felt manipulated into giving to a church or Christian ministry?
Do you think your life is blessed? Why or why not? How do you define a blessing?
What about Jesus’ life was blessed by the material standards of the #blessed movement?
Why do you think Jesus saw possessions as a potential possessor?
How hard is it for you to see the blessed life as a life of giving rather than receiving?
What would be a courageous step in financial generosity for you? What is holding you back from taking that step?
If our church had unlimited financial resources, what would you love to see us do together that would bring hope to our world?

Guest speaker Carlos Rodriguez from the Happy Givers NPO (Puerto Rico) closes out the teaching series Keeping Hope Alive.

Welcome! For more information, the connect card and ways to give, visit our Gather page.

Talk Notes:

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We neglect the care of our souls because we are too DISTRACTED. We neglect the care of our souls because we are too BUSY.

We neglect the care of our souls because we lack DISCIPLINE.

If we neglect the care of our souls we neglect our CAPACITY to love.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

The soul can PROSPER. (3 John 1:2)

A prospering soul is not without seasons of SUFFERING. (Psalm 42:1-6)

The soul needs to be CONDITIONED for times of suffering. (1 Timothy 4:8-10)

Don’t Miss This!

Hope demands SOUL CARE.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Soul care and spiritual training is a TEAM sport.

Gather for community WORSHIP, PRAYER, and LEARNING.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Effective soul care produces a RENEWED mind and TRANSFORMED perspective.

What is God inviting you into today?

Commit to gathering regularly as a part of Crossroads Church.
I would like to learn more about volunteering with kids and students.

Thought-provoking questions:

How intentional would you say you are right now in the care of your soul? Why is not soul care a priority in your life? Have you had seasons where you have been more intentional? What did those look like?
Psalm 42 is the cry of a weary soul. What do you think could have made the author’s soul so weary?
Our own personal level of hope correlates with our ability to bring hope. The author of 1 Timothy 4:10 claims to suffer/struggle and toil because of hope. What are ways in which we toil as individuals and as a church from “setting our hope on the living God?”
How has regularly gathering to learn from scripture contributed to your soul care? What elements of a “worship experience” do you find particularly meaningful and helpful in encouraging your soul?
How can a renewed mind help us discern the will of God? How particular do you think Paul meant by “will of God?” Have you ever felt like you got it wrong?

Welcome to Crossroads! We are so excited to spend some time with you on the podcast today. Just because you are joining in here, doesn't mean you aren't family! Let us know if you need anything at all! You can find resources at crossroadscolorado.com/gather.

Have a great week!

Jessica

Welcome to the podcast!

Visit our Gather page for links to many digital resources. Here's the link.

Have a great week!

Jessica

______________________

Here are the message notes filled in for future reference!

Keeping Hope Alive | Week #04

Keep Your Distance | May 8th

What’s the Issue Anyway?

When someone is HURTING, we tend to keep a safe distance.

When we can’t understand WHY or HOW, we tend to keep a safe distance. When we are AFRAID, we tend to keep a safe distance.

We cannot give HOPE from a safe distance.

Trying to bring hope from a safe distance creates a MESS.

What Wisdom does Ruth 1:1-17 offer us?

Naomi did not want to be a BURDEN. (Ruth 1:7-9a) Orpah and Ruth felt Naomi’s PAIN. (Ruth 1:9b-10) Naomi had lost all HOPE. (Ruth 1:11-13)

Don’t Miss This!

Ruth knew the power of PROXIMITY. (Ruth 1:14-17)

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Bring your pain into proximity with IMMANUEL, God with us. Get proximate by asking MEANINGFUL questions.

Proximity will always take us beyond our COMFORT ZONE. Proximity HONORS the experience of others.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Proximity unlocks EMPATHY.

Three components of empathy: Cognitive, Emotional and COMPASSIONATE. Empathy creates CONNECTION in a divided world.

What is God inviting you into today?

Intentionally try to get proximate with God.
Watch the YouTube video “The Power of Proximity” by Bryan Stevenson
Move beyond cognitive and emotional empathy to compassionate empathy with someone you know who is hurting.

Thought-provoking questions:

Have you ever kept your distance from someone? What was it that kept you distant?
Why do you think Naomi was so adamant about Ruth and Orpah leaving her? Have you ever pushed someone away who was trying to help? Why?
Ruth demonstrates the power of proximity by committing to be present in Naomi’s painful journey. Has anyone ever made a commitment like that in your life? What affect did it have on you?
What are some ways that you get proximate to presence of God? Share about a time when you felt the closeness of God’s love in the midst of a difficult experience.
When it comes to empathy, all of us struggle empathizing with one person or group of people. With whom or what do you have trouble empathizing? Who do you think Jesus had trouble empathizing with?

Welcome to the podcast!

Visit our Gather page for links to many digital resources. Here's the link.

Have a great week!

Jessica

______________________

Here are the message notes filled in for future reference!

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We all can get ___________________.

Certainty is the friend of _______________ and the enemy of ____________.

What Wisdom does Peter’s Story offer us?

Peter’s life is a portrait of _______________ growth.

Peter needed to learn about two ways of ____________. (Mark 8:33)

Acts 10:13-47 Peter’s Epiphanic Moment

The Spirit of God was causing Peter to ____________ what he knew about God. (17) When traditions become exclusions, we need a _______________ vision.

Peter’s _______________ is the start of his spiritual growth. (23)

Peter had to accept that his idea of God was ____________. (29)

Don’t Miss This!

Hope for the Gentiles _______________ Peter to grow spiritually.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Your Spiritual growth is not your _______________ _______________. Your Spiritual growth follows ____________ and ___________________.

“You do not think yourself into new ways of acting, you act yourself into new ways of thinking.”

Regularly go out on a _________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Spiritual Growth produces wisdom with ____________.

What is God inviting you into today?

Take a few minutes this week and explore the differing Contemplative practices.
Read Acts 10 this week.
Take a few moments this week and engage with this writing prompt, “I used to believe that....”

Thought-provoking questions:

Can you think of a time when you were so certain you were right, then found out that you were wrong? Describe your physical response to being wrong?
Do you think it was easy for Peter to set aside his beliefs about God showing partiality or creating things unclean? Why or why not?
What was your religious environment growing up? How was spiritual growth talked about? What were the signs of a spiritually mature person?
Take a few minutes and explore the Tree of Contemplative Practices. What limbs do you think you would enjoy climbing out on? How would you apply the tree to your Christian faith?
Think of a person who exemplified wisdom and humility in your life. How did they make you feel when you were with them?

Welcome to the podcast!

Visit our Gather page for links to many digital resources. Here's the link.

Have a great week!

Jessica

Welcome to the podcast!

Visit our Gather page for links to many digital resources. Here's the link.

Have a great week!

Jessica

Living in christ | Week #06

You’re so Judgy | April 10th

Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11

Be sure to visit the gather page for links to thinks like the message notes, the Feed e-newsletter, ways to give and the connect card!

We also hope you'll join us in person or online for Good Friday and Easter.

Have a great week!

Jessica

Welcome to the podcast!!!

Living In Christ | Week #04 I Feel So Used! | March 20th

Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. —Romans 6:11

Welcome! I'm so glad that you're here for this important message. How many of us can relate! Well Ryan is here to explain some of these scriptures and experiences many of us have had.

Visit the gather page for links to message notes, ways to give and participate in supporting our friends helping Ukrainian refugees. You might also want to read up on our weekly e-newsletter called The Feed.

Enjoy your week!

Jessica

Hello! Thanks for stopping by the show notes and tuning into today's message. Founding pastor John Smith is here teaching on Crazy Love.

Head over to our gather page to find message notes, ways to get more involved, connect and give. Let's grow the $11,000 already given to support our friends on the fronts lines serving the Ukrainian refugees.

crossroadscolorado.com/gather

Have a great week!

Jessica

Welcome to the podcast!

Everything you need can be found on the gather page & the links below. Today we launch a new series called "Living in Christ" and I'm SO glad you're here!

Connect with us:

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*designate Adventure is Worth It to give to Ukrainian relief

THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

Hello and welcome!

Everything you're looking for can be found at our Gather page. You'll find a link to the connect card, the Feed e-newsletter and ways to get involved as well as give to the mission of Crossroads.

Have a great week!

Jessica

Welcome to the podcast!

Everything you need can be found on the gather page. Today we conclude the series, LUV U with Rickey Bolden teaching - Taking Love to the Next Level.

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the podcast!

Everything you need can be found on the gather page. Today we conclude the series, LUV U with Ryan teaching - Is Your Love Maturing or Mutating?

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

Hello and welcome to the podcast!

Everything I mention today can be found at crossroadscolorado.com/gather.

Have a great week!

Hello and welcome to the podcast!

Everything I mention today can me found at crossroadscolorado.com/gather.

Have a great week!

Welcome! So glad that you're here!

Everything you might be looking for can be found on our Gather Page.

Check it out at crossroadscolorado.com/gather

Have a great week!

Welcome! So glad that you're here!

Everything you might be looking for can be found on our Gather Page.

Check it out at crossroadscolorado.com/gather

Have a great week!

Merry Christmas! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and we thank you for being a part of the Crossroads network of peacemakers and for staying connected and up to date through the podcast. It's one of our many tools and we're so glad to connect with you here!

Link to watch the whole service: https://vimeo.com/660316996

Welcome to the podcast!

Everything you need can be found on thegather page.

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

The Closing song this week is King of Kings by Hillsong Music

Week 05 BlessingAs you leave this place, log off your computer or turn off your podcast,

May you hear the invitation of God to be a person of encounter and worship.

May you experience your own epiphany in the spaces where fear has settled.

May that divine encounter bring you to a place of worshiping Jesus and finding another way home.

And may 2022 be filled with the power of God’s love at work in you and through you.

May you take a cup of kindness to those thirsty from the disappointments and hurts of life.

And in those moments may you be the epiphany of Jesus so desperately needed.

Now we, Crossroads Church, offer our everyday, normal lives in worship,

Longing to encounter the one who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more

Than we could ever ask or imagine.

Amen

Welcome to the podcast and Christmas! It's the day after Christmas and we hope you had a great one!

The Weekly Blessing:May God bless you and keep you in the light of love this week.

As you drive around may your eyes see the lights of Christmas with new appreciation.

May you see the power in those lights to turn darkness into something beautiful.

And as you see the lights and consider their power,

May you find the strength and courage to be the light of love in someone’s darkness this week.

And for those of us who feel as though we are sitting in a deep darkness right now,

May you see a great light this Christmas season.

And for those of us right now dwelling in a land overshadowed by death,

May a light rise on us like the dawn breaking through.

And may we all have the faith to believe that the light of life has come,

And that this light lives in us and shines through us every day of our lives.

Amen.

Welcome to the podcast!

Everything you need can be found on thegather page.

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

This week's closing song isEverlasting Light

The Blessing:

As you enter into the final week before the Christmas celebration,

May God bless you with a quiet moment or two where you can ponder in your heart,

“What does it mean to claim that Jesus was born of a virgin?”

May God bless us with eyes to see where Jesus still needs to be exalted as king of kings and lord of lords

Not only in our individual lives but also in our churches, our neighborhoods, and our world at large.

May we all understand that the story of divine conception is not one of the mother’s biology but a story of the child’s destiny:

His name will be called Jesus for he will save his people from their sins.

And when you come to understand the destiny of Jesus, may you find the courage to commit your life to him and his path of peace on earth.

Hi everyone!

Today we had Jingle Jam light show! It was a fun, interactive, experience for the WHOLE FAMILY! We had a unique service on Thursday night and a message from Ryan that I will share early this week.

I'll get that out as soon as we can! Have a great Sunday night!

Jessica

Welcome to the podcast!

Everything you need can be found on thegather page. Today we start a new series...

The Meaning Behind the Magic | Week #01

Finding What Matters Most | December 2nd and 5th

Anchor Verse: Everyone who listened was astonished at what the shepherds told

them. But Mary took all this in and reflected on it. Luke 2:18-19

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

This week's closing song is When Hope Came Down.

The Weekly Blessing:

May the Hope of Christmas give you joy this week.

May that joy give your hands and feet strength

Should they grow cold or tired while ringing the bell outside of Walmart.

May your eyes be filled with wonder and your heart full of contentment

As you enjoy the magic of this season.

This week, may your heart be filled with gratitude for the dreams, angels and stars

That God has used to bring the message of hope into your life.

These are the miracles of love that point us to Jesus.

May you find overwhelming joy in worshiping and giving generously at the manger this Christmas season.

And this week, in your everyday normal life, may you become a dream, an angel or a star

To someone searching for the hope and joy that is found only in Jesus.

Amen

Welcome to the podcast!

This week is week 3 of our series, "A Feast of Gratitude" - Mindfulness and Mantras

Anchor Verse: In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

This week's closing song is Shephard.. by,

Welcome to the podcast!

Anchor Verse: In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. –1 Thessalonians 5:18

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

This week's closing song isGoodness of God.

Welcome to the podcast!

This week we start a new series called, "The Feast of Gratitude." I've attached helpful info and resources below!

Anchor Verse: In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Everything you need can be found on thegather page.

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

This week's closing song is "I'll Give Thanks" by Housefires

The Weekly Blessing:

This week, may you live with open arms, open hearts and open hands,

And may the Spirit of Jesus also open your mouth.

May your words this week find new focus and new intent.

May your words fall on ears and penetrate hearts that need to hear the healing song of gratitude.

May you find the humility to connect with others in appreciation for their willingness to be the love of God in your life.

And may your gratitude take you deeper into the transforming presence of God available to you in your everyday, normal life.

Welcome! Today we wrap up our Believing Like Jesus series with a guest panel and discussion with pastor Ryan. Our anchor verse for this series is: “...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith...” Hebrews 12:1-2

Here are some links mentioned in todays episode.

DIGITAL CONNECT CARD

ONLINE GIVING TOOL

THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

CLOSING SONG: Christ Is Enough by Hillsong

Welcome to the podcast!

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

Family Octoberfest

This week's closing song is Everlasting Light by Mosaic

The Blessing this week:

This week may God fill your heart with a deep desire to pray.

May you experience a longing in your soul to encounter God through this great mystery.

For those of you facing a difficult decision, may you pray with great patience,

Waiting on the peace that is beyond your understanding and comes from the Holy Spirit.

For those of you in the middle of anxiety and fear as you think about the future,

May you pray fiercely, believing that your prayers can produce strength for the pain ahead.

For those of you finding yourselves at the end of your hope, at the height of loneliness or disappointment,

May you find the courage to pray honestly, to be vulnerable before God,

Having confidence that your prayers are not met with indifference but with compassion.

And may all of us believe like Jesus:

That even when our expectations of prayer go unmet,

We can choose to trust that the experience of prayer will always makes a difference

in us, in others and in our circumstances.

As you continue, begin or restart down the path of prayer this week,

May God fill you with authentic hope and divine wisdom for the journey.

Amen

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Welcome! Our anchor verse for this series is: “...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith...” Hebrews 12:1-2

Here are all of the links mentioned in todays episode.

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

CLOSING SONG: Reckless Love by Cory Asbury

The Blessing:

Today as you leave this room, log off your computer or end this podcast,

May you find yourself consumed by the love of God.

May you have the confidence in Christ to acknowledge your need for forgiveness.

May you understand the healing power of repentance.

For those of you consumed by resentment and the desire for revenge,

May you accept that the person who created the wound is incapable of healing that wound.

May you trust that only God can heal and make your wounds sacred.

May we all come to believe like Jesus:

That divine forgiveness is the foundation for holistic health and healing.

As you find the faith to forgive others,

May God grow in you compassion, empathy and grace for those who have wounded you.

And now, God, our Father, the heavenly householder of the world,

May your reputation be honored through our actions this week.

May our actions bring your will, your vision of this world, from heaven to earth this week.

Meet our daily needs.

Open our hearts and hands so that we might meet the daily needs of others.

Forgive us of our wounding as we forgive those who wound us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from our selfish desires.

Amen.

Welcome to the podcast!

Everything you need can be found on the gather page.

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

Family Octoberfest

This week's closing song is Goodness of God.

The Blessing:

I pray that, according to the riches of God’s glory, God would strengthen you

in your inner being with power through the Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.

I pray that you may have the power to understand, along with all creation, what is the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s Perfecting Love.

And may you KNOW this love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to the God of our Lives who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to this God be glory in the lives of ordinary Peacemakers everywhere and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Welcome! All of the resources you need for the weekend message, connect card and giving can be found at the gather page. https://crossroadscolorado.com/gather

Let us know you're here!

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The Feed (e-newsletter)

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Participate in Octoberfest! More info HERE.

Welcome to Crossroads podcast! Here you'll find the links mentioned in today's episode.

Many links to the weekend service resources can be found at crossroadscolorado.com/gather

Octoberfest 2021: there's something for everyone!

Talk Notes:

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Closing Song:

Apple Music: Bigger than I Thought by Sean Curran

Crossroads Team Video: https://vimeo.com/468215263

The Blessing:

May God Bless you and keep you this week in the wholeness of truth.

May your mind be elevated beyond personal and group identities

And become established firmly in the unfractured oneness of God.

May you see the beauty of your personal identity and your group identities,

But may you also see their insufficiencies.

May the Spirit of Jesus propel you into THE story

The story of oneness and unity and truth.

And as the mind of Christ is formed in you,

May the fear of other religions, cultures, sexualities, ethnicities, economic classes and groups distinct from you fade away.

May your fear of the other be transformed into love and curiosity for the other.

And, may you find yourself overflowing with living water, fully satisfied,

as your I Am becomes more and more rooted in The Great I Am.

Amen.

Here are the links mentioned in the show today! Fill out the connect card, access the Feed newsletter, give and be the kindest peacemakers in your world this week!

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ONLINE GIVING TOOL

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THE FEED: WEEKLY E-NEWSLETTER

Want to watch the whole service on demand: WATCH ON DEMAND

Welcome to the Crossroads podcast. Here are the links to things mentioned in the show today.

All resources can be found HERE at the crossroadscolorado.com/gather page.

Digital Connect Card

Downloadable Talk Notes

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Online Giving

Other ways to Give

The Weekly Blessing:

May God bless you and keep you in love and grace this week.

As you begin this journey into believing like Jesus,

May God open your heart to a clearer and more beautiful picture of the divine.

May any confusion and frustration in your life about God begin to give way to a perfect peace.

As we journey together, may your spirit resonate with God’s spirit,

Confirming for you the truth of what Jesus believed.

And may Jesus’ beliefs become our beliefs,

So that Jesus’ behavior can become our behavior.

Amen.

Welcome the resources and links mentioned in this podcast can be found below.

The Gather page

Connect Card

Digital talk notes

PDF talk notes

Ways to Give Online

The Weekly Blessing:

May God bless you and keep you in the center of love and truth this week.

To those who are feeling a heavy burden, like you are carrying the weight of God’s vision alone,

May God bless you with your own version of the 72 elders,

People filled with God’s spirit sent to carry the burden with you.

May all of us discover a meaningful way to give our talents to the peacemaking ventures of our church.

May God bless Crossroads with people committed to sharing the peacemaking burden through volunteering.

May we find freedom from pursuing the counterfeit Jesus of unhealthy religion

And may we discover the real Jesus by bringing peace to the “least of these” in our world.

And, for the next ten years, may God give us the strength to carry this peacemaking burden together,

And by doing so, may we see what we once thought impossible become possible.

Amen.

Welcome! Here are the links mentioned in today's show.

Let us know you're here: DIGITAL CONNECT CARD

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Closing song: Everlasting Light by Mosaic MSC

The Blessing:

May God Bless you and keep you this week as you navigate the complexities of your everyday normal life.

May you live the life of a peacemaker in your work, whatever that might be.

For those whose professional lives feel shrouded in darkness: may you find the strength to hope that the dawn will soon appear.

For those facing ethical dilemmas, perhaps a path of promotion is in front of you, but it will lead you away from the path of Jesus,

May you find the courage to rebel as Shiphrah and Puah did, acting in wise and cunning ways that promote life and not death.

For those who are responsible for creating and maintaining the ethics of their professional environment, to those who have been entrusted with leadership and influence:

May you find the courage to model the way of Jesus, to create an environment that promotes life, an environment that values people over corporate profits or personal gain.

And may all of you find renewed strength for this week’s work by trusting in faith that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.

Amen

Welcome! Here are links we're referring to in the podcast. You can access it all at https://www.crossroadscolorado.com/gather or here are some shortcuts.

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Closing Song: At the Table by Josh Garrels

Week #8 Blessing:

May God bless you and keep you

May Wisdom open your minds and hearts

that you might become a person of divine influence.

For those facing confusion in their faith, caught in the middle of what you once believed and what you might believe:

I pray that, like Lydia, God would open your mind to this good news:

You are loved

You are forgiven

You are chosen

You are designed with a destiny.

For those, who like Paul, have seen doors shut and opportunities lost:

May God open your eyes to the “Macedonians” in your life crying out for help.

And may you have the vision to go and give generously of yourself.

And now, to our God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine in Christ Jesus our Lord,

We give our time, talents and treasure.

We trust you with all our confusion and our questions,

Believing that you have prepared a place for all of us at your table.

Amen.

Access all of your digital resources at crossroadscolorado.com/gather

Including your digital talk notes or a link to a pdf.

Let us know who you are and where you're tuning in from by filling out the digital connect card.

The closing song this week is "Child of Love" By We the Kingdom. Download & be inspired this week!

Trigger Warning: Transgender, gender variance, gender violence. If these topics trigger emotional trauma, please practice the self-care that is best for you.

Specifically 23 - 28 minutes into this podcast. (18-23 min into the message)

The Blessing:

May God Bless you and keep you

May love shine her light of truth on the lies you have been told about God and yourself.

For those who have been made to feel like an outsider, unwelcomed by God,

May the Spirit change your internal status from variant to valuable.

May you know that your desire to experience God in community

is the only prerequisite for your inclusion at Crossroads,

A family of faith centered on the radical love of Jesus, who was the ultimate variant.

And no matter what has led to your feeling excluded from the love of God or led to your exclusion from other faith communities,

Whether it was your gender identity, sexuality, financial position, intellectual abilities, your immigration status, marital status, political values or any other number of labels that can divide and separate us,

Today, may you leave here knowing that: You are fully understood by God,

You are fully welcomed, affirmed, and included here, that nothing can ever separate you from the perfect love of God.

In Christ, you are not a variant; You are, always were and always will be a valuable, child of love.

Connect CardTalk Notes PDF Talk Notes - You Version

Closing song: "Speak to the Mountains" by Chris McClarney BLESSING

For those who hunger and thirst for righteousness this morning,

Who feel trapped, silenced, traumatized and powerless:

May you experience the blessing of God’s assurance that

Your hunger for righteousness will be satisfied and your thirst for justice will be quenched.

May you like Tamar discern the right moment, the right path and take action even at great personal risk.

May you find those faithful friends to stand beside you and take action with you.

And to those who have allowed fear and self-interest to take root in your leadership, may you find the courage to repent and restore what you have taken.

To those unwilling to repent, who are intoxicated with power and greed, who continue to fight regulations and laws meant to protect the vulnerable, elevate the poor and vindicate the oppressed:

May God bless you with a Tamar!

A courageous survivor of your injustices,

A brave soul, filled with the spirit of Jesus to lay a trap that will end your oppression, not to bring you to a place of ruin but to a place of repentance.

Finally, for all the in-between ones, the ones in between oppressor and oppressed, righteous and unrighteous, just and unjust

To the ones humbly struggling to live the peacemaking way of Jesus:

May the story of Judah and Tamar inspire you to humbly repent when repentance is needed and to courageously take action when action is needed.

Amen

Online resources: crossroadscolorado.com/gatherDigital talk notes: https://crossroadscolorado.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/notes.campfire.05.080821.pdfOnline Giving: https://crossroadscolorado.com/giveClosing Song: Called Me Higher by All Sons and Daughters

LINKS for today's message: Digital Talk Notes: https://crossroadscolorado.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/notes.campfire.04.080121.pdfDigital Connect Card: https://crossroadschurch.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/346/responses/newOnline Giving: crossroadscolorado.com/give

Those People! :: Ryan Howell :: July 25, 2021

Suffering: The Path to Intimacy :: Ryan Howell :: July 18, 2021

Let Me Tell You a Story :: Ryan Howell :: July 11, 2021

The Friend Request :: Ryan Howell :: July 4, 2021

Healthy Souls :: Dennis Anderson :: June 27, 2021

Growing Your Kindness Capacity :: Ryan Howell :: June 20, 2021

Signature of God :: Ryan Howell :: June 13, 2021

The Trinity of Physical Well-Being :: Ryan Howell :: June 6, 2021

Remembering Rocks :: Ryan Howell :: May 30, 2021

Happiness: My Way or the High-Way? :: Katie Martinez :: May 23, 2021

Science, Scripture and the Spirituality of Happiness :: Ryan Howell :: May 16, 2021

The God Who Gives Birth :: Ryan Howell :: May 9, 2021

Will You Marry Me? :: Ryan Howell :: May 2, 2021

The Active or Passive Voice :: Ryan Howell :: April 25, 2021

A Tale of Two Paintings :: Ryan Howell :: April 18, 2021

Pizza Delivery God :: Ryan Howell :: April 11, 2021

When Facts Get In The Way Of The Truth :: Ryan Howell :: April 4, 2021

Courage to Confront :: Ryan Howell :: March 28, 2021

Dumpster Fires, Blueberries and Supernovas :: Ryan Howell :: March 21, 2021

Stop....Start Acting Like A Baby :: Ryan Howell :: March 14, 2021

Wine and Whips :: Dennis Anderson :: March 7, 2021

Screaming Bloody Murder :: Ryan Howell :: February 28, 2021

The Meeting Invite :: Ryan Howell and Katie Martinez :: February 21, 2021

Love That Honors :: Ryan Howell :: February 14, 2021

Ryan Howell :: February 7, 2021

Finding Your Empathy :: Ryan Howell :: January 31, 2021

Torn To Pieces By Swine :: Ryan Howell :: January 24, 2021

Funny You Should Ask That :: Ryan Howell :: January 17, 2021

Leaving the Echo Chamber :: Ryan Howell :: January 10, 2021

The 12 Days of Christmas :: Ryan Howell :: January 3, 2021

Do You See What I See?::Dennis Anderson::December 27, 2020

Over Before It Even Begins::Ryan Howell:: December 20, 2020

Celebrating the New Abundance:: Katie Martinez:: December 13, 2020

Find Your Favor::Ryan Howell::December 6, 2020

Is It Really Worth It?:: Ryan Howell:: November 29, 2020

Start Your Engines::Ryan Howell:: November 22, 2020

Unacceptable Truths:: Ryan Howell:: November 15, 2020

The Work in Tandem:: Ryan Howell:: November 8, 2020

Finding the Path to Peace:: Ryan Howell:: October 18, 2020

The Jet Is Upside Down:: Ryan Howell:: November 1, 2020

Follow the Trail :: Ryan Howell :: October 25, 2020

How did we get here? :: Ryan Howell :: October 11, 2020

God's Vision for this World :: Ryan Howell :: October 4, 2020

The One Thing about Grief and Loss :: Katie Martinez :: September 20, 2020

The One Thing about Money :: Ryan Howell :: September 13, 2020

The Bridge of Anxiety :: Ryan Howell :: September 6, 2020

Stop Being So Reasonable :: Ryan Howell :: August 30, 2020

Just the Tailor's Son :: Ryan Howell :: August 23, 2020

Mirror or Beautician? :: Ryan Howell :: August 16, 2020

The Siren Song of Religion :: Ryan Howell :: August 9, 2020

The Lie of Brokenness :: Ryan Howell :: August 2, 2020

"I Know What I Saw!" :: Ryan Howell :: July 26, 2020

Living Belovedness

The Divine Flow :: Ryan Howell :: July 12, 2020

Ryan Howell :: July 5, 2020

Founding Pastor John Smith :: June 28, 2020

"Anti-Venom Needs Venom" :: Ryan Howell :: June 7, 2020

"The Pain Jar" :: Ryan Howell :: May 24, 2020

Conclusion / Discussion Panel :: Ryan Howell :: May 17, 2020

"The Motherhood of God" :: Ryan Howell :: May 10, 2020

"Maybe We Don't Need Wisdom!" :: Ryan Howell :: May 3, 2020

"Exorcising Your Demons!" :: Ryan Howell :: April 26, 2020

"The Godfather Problem" :: Ryan Howell :: April 19, 2020

"A Worldview Other Than This World's Views" :: Ryan Howell :: April 12, 2020

"The Extinction of Honor" :: Ryan Howell :: April 5, 2020

"For not With" :: Ryan Howell :: March 29, 2020

"The Scattered Heartbeat" :: Ryan Howell :: March 22, 2020

"Synergy in Peacemaking" :: Ryan Howell :: March 15, 2020

The Orange Dot Phenom :: Ryan Howell :: March 8, 2020

Journey into Lent :: Isaac Bartholomew :: March 1, 2020

"Raising Courageous Kids" :: Katie Martinez :: February 23, 2020

"Can You Keep a Secret?" :: Ryan Howell :: February 16, 2020

"The Jealousy Pit" :: Ryan Howell :: February 9, 2020

Rickey Bolden :: February 2, 2020 (Serve Wars :: Part 4)

"Welcome to the Family Business" :: Ryan Howell :: January 26, 2020

"I'm Right Even When I'm Wrong!" :: Ryan Howell :: January 19, 2020

"Go Ahead & Serve Yourself" :: Ryan Howell :: January 12, 2020

Ryan Howell :: January 5, 2020

Ryan Howell :: December 29, 2019

"You Shouldn't Be Here" :: Ryan Howell :: December 22, 2019

"The Surprise of Favor" :: Ryan Howell :: December 8, 2019

Ryan Howell :: December 1, 2019

"When Chance Strikes" :: Ryan Howell :: November 24, 2019

"Peacemaking 101" :: Ryan Howell :: November 17, 2019

"Conclusion" :: Ryan Howell & Panel :: November 10, 2019

"Prayer With Friends" :: Ryan Howell :: November 3, 2019

"Out of The Ashes of Addiction" :: Ryan Howell :: October 27, 2019

"Out of The Ashes of Depression" :: Ryan Howell :: October 20, 2019

"Out of The Ashes of Doubt" :: Ryan Howell :: October 13, 2019

"Out of The Ashes of Loneliness" :: Ryan Howell :: October 6, 2019

"Under Control vs. In Control" :: Ryan Howell :: September 29, 2019

"Pray At Your Own Risk" :: John Smith :: September 22, 2019

"My Analog (Rule Of) Life" :: Katie Martinez :: September 15, 2019

"Sweatin' To The Oldies" :: Dennis Anderson :: September 8, 2019

"We Are Family!" :: John Smith :: September 1, 2019

"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" :: Dennis Anderson :: August 26, 2019

"Finishing Well" :: Dennis Anderson :: August 18, 2019

"Invest" :: Isaac Bartholomew :: August 11, 2019

"Psalm 27" :: John Smith :: August 4, 2019

"Fervent Prayers But Defective Faith" :: David Williams :: July 28, 2019

"Hearing God" :: Dennis Anderson :: July 21, 2019

"Off Ramps" :: Isaac Bartholomew :: July 7, 2019

"GO" :: Dennis Anderson :: June 30, 2019

"The Church At Its Best" :: John Smith :: June 23, 2019

"Get Ready For New" :: Dennis Anderson :: June 16, 2019

"The Principles of Multiplication" :: Dennis Anderson :: June 9, 2019

"Am I Generous?" :: Dennis Anderson :: June 2, 2019

"Breaking the Spirit of Mammon" :: Katie Martinez :: May 26, 2019

"The Principle of Firsts" :: John Smith :: May 19, 2019

"What Test?" :: Dennis Anderson :: May 12, 2019

"It's All About The Heart" :: Katie Martinez :: May 5, 2019

"Training vs. Trying" :: Dennis Anderson :: April 28, 2019

"The Power of New" :: Katie Martinez :: April 21, 2019

"Adventures In Missing The Point" :: Dennis Anderson :: April 14, 2019

"Children Are The Greatest" :: Katie Martinez :: April 7, 2019

"Water Walkers" :: Dennis Anderson :: March 31, 2019

"Compassion" :: John Smith :: March 24, 2019

"The Easy Way" :: Dennis Anderson :: March 17, 2019

"Salt & Light" :: Katie Martinez :: March 10, 2019

"The Good Life" :: Dennis Anderson :: March 2-3, 2019

Dennis Anderson :: February 24, 2019

Katie Martinez :: February 17, 2019

John Smith :: February 10, 2019

Dennis Anderson :: February 3, 2019

Katie Martinez :: January 27, 2019

Dennis Anderson :: January 20, 2019

John Smith :: January 13, 2019

John Smith :: January 6, 2019

Dennis Anderson :: December 30, 2018

John Smith :: December 24, 2018

Rod Kaya

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