crossroads: Recent Episodes
Crossroads
As we get ready for going back to school, we can be praying for the students that will be starting a new school year. To aid us, we can think of these prayers in terms of the five "W's" of writing.
Who: God
Genesis 1:1, 27, 31
Psalm 103:8-18
John 3:16
Deuteronomy 6:5-9
What:
- For needs
- For your worries
- For strength in temptation
- For direction and wisdom
Matthew 6:32-33
1 Peter 5:7
1 John 5:14
Matthew 26:41
James 1:5
When:
Ephesians 6:18
Where:
- Privately - Matthew 6:6
- With others - Acts 4:31
Why:
- It's God's will
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Romans 8:32
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Palm 34:1-8
Many of us have already surrendered the easy things, but now God is calling us to surrender everything else… the really hard parts. When we experience God and his goodness, it's hard to to praise him. God works for our righteousness more than we do.
When we come to church, it's like a spiritual buffet:
- Sample everything
Just like when you take leftovers home after a large meal at a restaurant, if you didn't get a chance to absorb everything from a church service:
- Pack it up
Don't let those thing that you take home go unused:
- Finish your leftovers
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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John 15:1-17
We are like branches of a grapevine, and we can only bear fruit if we're connected to the vine, which is Jesus. Bearing this fruit equates to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is summed up by Jesus' command to love, and to do that, we are called to lay down our lives for one another. Here are three ways we can gauge and improve our love:
- Love quicker
- Love broader
- Love deeper
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 26:26-30
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
Jesus instituted the sacrament of Communion at the last supper during the Passover, and the church has carried on the tradition ever since.
Why do we receive Communion?
- It's hopeful
-
For now. For future. Blessing and crying out.
-
It's communal
-
Sons and daughters. All equal.
-
It's hospitable
-
Given. Give.
-
It's covenantal
-
With Jesus. With the body
-
It's confessional
- Reconciliation with God and with people
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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5/31/26
John 1:35-51
Most people are not really interested in just being invited to church because they're not interested in just adopting our morality or our religion. We do a lot of things just based on instinct. We are taught to bring people to church with us, and that becomes our default response, but there's something deeper going on that we should be inviting people to. Instead of inviting people to your church:
- Invite them to experience
-
"Come and see"
-
Invite them to explore
-
Spirituality. Reality. Self.
-
Invite them to engage
- Invite them to be loved
- By God. By the Church. By you.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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1 Corinthians 9:19-23
For some, when we invite people to church, they hear: "believe what we believe, give up the things we gave up, spend time with only the people we spend time with, and even vote the way we vote." That's not what most people want. And yes, we do want to invite people to church, but there's some groundwork we should think about laying before the invitation. So instead of just inviting people to church, we need to:
- Learn to speak their language
- Find our testimony
- Invite them to their answer
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Proverbs 1:8-9
We all have mothers, and there are a number of traits that some of the best mothers have which also reflect the traits of God. Like God the best mothers are masters of:
- Encouragement
- Truth
- Discipline
- Grace
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Living the Gospel, neighbor to neighbor
Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 4:19
Romans 10:14-15
None of this matters if you don't have a burden for the lost. We talk about the things we love. Maybe we need to reconnect with our love for Jesus. We are becoming people who BOLDY GO:
- Be present
- Outside the box
- Love intentionally (Mark 12:30-31)
- Depend on the Spirit (John 15:4-6)
- Listen & learn
- You
Matthew 9:35-38
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Luke 24:1-11
John 14:27
John 16:33
John 20:24-27
The peace Jesus is trying to bring us give us at least three things:
- Peace with God
- Peace with yourself
- Peace in a broken world
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Zechariah 9:9
1 Kings 1:32-33
Mark 11:1-3
Matthew 21:4-5
Luke 19:31-34
Matthew 21:7-8
John 12:13
Matthew 21:9b
Luke 19:39-40
Riding a donkey instead of a war horse short circuits the idea of Jesus coming to Jerusalem as a conquerer and instead leads to the idea of Jesus' kingdom coming to bring peace. By laying down their cloaks and palms, the people were recognizing Jesus' authority and kingship while pledging their fealty to him. The people praised Jesus as the messiah who would bring salvation to the Jews.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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John 18:28-19:16
There are several things we see in this passage that provide a foundation for what we need as we journey forward in our faith. Pilate's story in particular teaches us that when we lack some of these tools, we might fall short of doing what we know is right. Some of the tools we need as we walk with Jesus are:
- Community
- Integrity
- Perseverance
- Courage
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 26:36-56
Jesus' struggle in Gethsemane demonstrates to us some things we should be aware of as we go through our own trials while following God. It teaches us what to do when we experience difficulties we believe God should remove, but he doesn't. We need to be aware of:
- His presence
- His sovereignty
- His love
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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How to Walk
Numbers 26:8-10
Numbers 16:1-3
The Korahites and their heir followers didn't agree with God's way of ordering Israel's hierarchy of leadership, and they paid for their rebellion. It can be hard to walk with God because a lot of times he does things differently than how we would do them. His plans and goals don't always match up to our expectations, which is even harder when we can't see where he's going. That's why we have to walk with God:
- In trust
- Intimately
- Obediently
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 5:38-48
The undergirding principle of Christianity is love. Jesus modeled the idea of turning the other cheek by giving himself up on the cross. If Christ says "I am love," and we are supposed to imitate Christ, then our lives should reflect that same type of love. What dose God's love look like?
- God's love is sacrificial
- God's love is for everyone
- God's love is different
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The story of God's relentless pursuit of us.
Genesis 2:15-22
- He gave us each other so we could experience love that could touch us.
- We are God's "I love you!"
John 1:14
- "I am with you."
Hebrews 12:2b
- Whatever it takes; everything it takes
John 15:26
- "…and I will try… to fix you."
1 Corinthians 2:9
- Heaven
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Revelation 7:9-10
God wants all people to be with him, and he has called all of us to that mission. Who are we trying to reach:
- The unbelievers
- The unchurched
- The world with love
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 7:21-27
Matthew 28:16-20
God loves us, but he doesn't always love everything we do. He disciplines us because he loves us, and by living according to his purpose, we become better for the people around us. Our goal is to fill God's kingdom, not to fill churches. So who are we trying to multiply here?
• Seekers
• Believers
• Followers
• Leaders
• Churches
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 28:16-20
Teaching isn't just something we listen to… it's something every Christian is called to do. We may not all become pastors, or even Bible study leaders, but we can pass on what we've learned and help disciple people in the way we have been discipled. If we know God, we should be able to teach that to other. So what do we teach?
- Who God is
- What the Bible says (and means)
- How to live in light of the first two
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Genesis 3:1-8
God created this world and decided it was very good. But man came along and essentially said, "I think I know better than you God." Now there is a disconnection, and God remedied it by sending his son to reinstate that connection. Now as a church we have a mission to help people with connection in several ways. Our church body is committed to connecting:
- People to God
- People to purpose
- People to people
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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What is one expectation you have for yourself this year?
You are part of a body and you are important to the body around you. You are not your own. You belong to God… you belong to your spouse… and you belong to the church.
Matthew 16:13-20
Church = Ecclesia ("called out one's")
There are a few ways we use the word "church." It can be:
- The Building
- The idea
- A representation of the Temple
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The touch point
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The Service
- Symbolic
- Focused worship
- The exercise of the saints
- An exploration of faith
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An agent of change
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The body
- A touch point between God and humanity
- A support to each other
- A local expression of a universal idea
- An agent of change
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Luke 1:5-13
Matthew 1:24
Luke 1:38
Luke 2:15
Matthew 2:11
Christmas is a time to reflect. As Christians, God is calling us to:
- Change
- John 1:14a
- How will last year change you?
- How will this Christmas change you?
- How will you position yourself, going into next year, to change?
- How is God trying to change you?
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How will you join him?
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Five tools for change
- Zechariah and Elizabeth: Prayer
- Joseph: Obedience
- Mary: Faith
- Magi: Perseverance
- Shepherds: Pursuit
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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…Through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, through the sea of swirly-twirly gun drops, and through the Lincoln Tunnel.
Luke 2:1-20
The journey:
Every one of us is on a journey toward Jesus Christ. We all have different phases and ups and downs along the way. The Characters of the Christmas story each help us understand a different aspect of our journeys. How can we relate and grow from what we see in the experiences of:
- Mary and Joseph
- Angels
- Shepherds
- Wise men
- Simeon
The details:
The details matter, but worrying about the details isn't the answer. God will take care of you regardless of what comes. You just need to go on the journey.
The mindset:
The mindset also matters. When you think you can't see the situation any other way, you can… if you focus on where you see God along the journey.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 2:1-12
Did the magi stop in with Herod because they thought it would be easier to find the baby than following a star?
Regardless of why they spoke with Herod, God didn't give up on them and still warned them in a dream not to go back to him.
King Herod's version of "worship" was to kill this king who had been "born." In contrast, the magi bow down before Jesus and give their gift.
Sometimes we can be like Herod, or like the father in Elf who may look like they're going through the motions of worship, but they're not actually worshipping God. But what do the magi teach us about worship.
- True worship means bowing
- True worship puts actions to thoughts
- True worship requires sacrifice
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Luke 2:8-20
When the supernatural breaks into the natural, it's terrifying because it's not our norm. Even those who think there is no such a thing as the supernatural have to find ways to heal society because there's something beyond our natural understanding which holds us back. We call that brokenness as a result of sin against God. And so God sent his son to us to heal that brokenness… a savior in the form of a baby in a manger. And that's what the angels proclaimed to the shepherds.
This passage encourages us to "spread Christmas cheer" in four ways:
- Hear the story
- Worship the Author
- Experience the miracle
- Share the story
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Isaiah 7:14
"Santa!!!" The exclamation points are the point. Just as Buddy the elf was excited to see Santa, we should have the same excitement with Jesus. Sometimes we miss out because we forget the incredible gift it is to meet Jesus. When we don't get excited to meet with Jesus, he doesn't meet with us.
"I know him." The purpose of Christmas is relationship. God came to be with us so we could be with him. He is Emmanuel: "God with us."
"There's so much to do." Buddy wanted to stay late to get ready for Santa when everyone else was ready to go home. When it comes to Jesus, so often we share more in common with those that want to go home early instead of preparing ourselves and the world around us for Jesus.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Art of Thanksgiving.
Philippians 4:4-9
Oftentimes we read passages like Philippians 4:4-9 and agree, and we use it to build ourselves up… but then we don't dig in and determine how we can actually put these commands into practice. This passage is also hard for us because it asks things that are completely counter to our culture. Gentleness is not a virtue. If we don't "feel" God, we think he's not near. And our anxiety often seems inescapable. But we can cultivate gratitude in our lives by doing a few things that we might not always think about:
- Remember your salvation
- Widen your perspective
- Focus your vision
And when we've done these things, we have to take the next steps to make gratitude a part of our lives:
- Make it a perspective
- Make it a mindset
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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John 6:25-40
This passage points out some of questions we can ask about our own walk of faith.
- Vv. 25-27 - Motive: why do you come to Jesus?
- Vv. 28-31 - Belief: do you believe in Jesus or do you believe in the signs?
- Vv. 32-34 - Desire: is your desire for physical sustenance or for true bread from heaven?
- Vv. 35-40 - ?: What further questions does this passage draw out for us to ask?
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Ephesians 4:17-24
How do you take that next step of faith. Whether you were just baptized and you're ready to live out that new life, or whether you are wondering what it means to give your life to Christ, or whether you've been a Christian for many years, there are certain practices that lead to growth in faith. Here are four things that might be next in your life:
- Connection
- Agreement
- "You are here" moments
- Action
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 28:16-20
This is a mission that we are to accomplish with God. It is our co-mission. So how do we accomplish this?
- GO
- MAKE DISCIPLES
- BAPTIZING THEM
- TEACHING THEM
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
- Catan is a Cooperative Game
- 1 Corinthians 12:21
Catan is a game of wheeling and dealing, but it becomes a cooperative effort, just like our walk of faith. In Catan, if you don't trade with your neighbors, you won't succeed, and in our faith, if we don't do it with our church body, we won't grow. Even if we don't think we need anyone else to work out of faith, the body needs us.
- Catan is a game of chance
- 1 Corinthians 12:11
In Catan, we have to work with the cards we're dealt. Sometimes they aren't the cards we want, in Christianity, sometimes we want the gifts of someone else, but God has already equipped us the way he wants. Are we doing anything with that equipping?
- Catan is a building game.
- Ephesians 4:15
The point of Catan is to grow your roads and settlements, just as the point of Christianity is to qgrow. If you don't grow in the game, you won't win. Our faith is about growth, even if it's a slow or never ending process.
- Catan is a faith game
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
Our walk of faith is similar to the development cards in Catan. Development cards are all helpful, but we never know which one you're going to get. God knows what's in store for us, but it takes faith on our part and trust in God when we don't know what's ahead but we give it to God anyway.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Worry less about what someone else SAYS,
and more about what you DO
Luke 10:25-37
When confronted and tested, Jesus turns back to the questioner. Jesus knew the religious expert had the right answers, but his own prejudices and sinful nature prevented him from coming to them on his own. So Jesus tells a parable that shows us how far and wide our love is supposed to reach. Here are three things we should think about as we read this story:
- You know the answer
- There are no outsiders to love
- True love is shocking
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Acts 1:1-9
Knowing that God is in us and with us is wonderful and can be all we think we need. However, for followers of Christ, God being in us requires us to act on it - to go out and live so that God can work through us. What does it look like, God through us?
- Love
- Example
- Storytellers
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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1 John 4:7-16
Discipline works for us until it doesn’t. When we just try to do something or not do something, we often come to a point where we give up because our desires overcome our willpower.
God doesn’t want to change your habits, he wants to change you.
How does God work in us? What does he want to change? He wants to change our:
- Mind
- Heart
- Actions
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Deuteronomy 30:11-16
In order to grow in our spiritual walk, it will be helpful for us to distill our need down to the one, most important thing that God is speaking to us about. So we have to figure out that most important thing for ourselves. So what is:
- The one thing you’ve heard
- One goal you’ll set
- One action you’ll take
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Hebrews 5:11-14
We all face potholes on our road to Christian maturity. These potholes set us back, and oftentimes we don’t see them in our own lives. Here are some potholes that we often deal with:
- You’re not smart
-
Proverbs 12:15; 26:12
-
It’s not that you’re not smart, it’s that you’re not listening
- Romans 12:2a
-
Matthew 5:21-22
-
Your vision is bad
- Matthew 6:22-23
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Three lenses you see though: Your insecurity; Your desires; Your pain
-
You’re a runner
- Genesis 3:8
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 4:1-11
There are usually two ways the enemy tempts us: he gets us to doubt our identity in God, or he gets us to believe in our identity outside of God. But ultimately, we have to make the decision to believe and do what we want - Satan can only tempt, he can’t force us to do anything. Yet it is all too easy for us to press into the idea that we can, in a sense, be our own gods. In order to combat this temptation, we must recognize:
- Your God complex
- There can be only one
- Only God can rule: rightly, effectively, and justly
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Psalm 78:1-8
What should we do for our kids as they go out into the world for the school year?
- We must tell them
- The praiseworthy deeds
- His power
-
His wonders
-
Generations
- The next generation
- Their children
-
Children’s children
-
Why?
- Their trust in God
- Not forget his deeds
- Keep his commands
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Generosity applies to both God and people. God has called us to be generous toward him, but he has also called us to be generous to our fellow neighbor. There are at least three areas where we can spring forward in our generosity:
- Finances
- Time
- Grace
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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John 9:1-41
#1 WE HAVE SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
· Identify Them:
o cultural
o familial
o trauma
o expectations
· It Undermines:
o your spiritual life
o how you perceive God
o Biblical authority
o your ability to mature and disciple
#2 WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE
· Act On It
o be all in
o testify
o even if
#3 JESUS IS MESSIAH
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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What are the things that get your best effort?
Ecclesiastes 9:10a (NASB)
Paul’s “Race”
Acts 20:24
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Hebrews 12:1-3
2 Timothy 4:7
What areas do we need to turn it up?
- Intimacy (to be close to God)
- Transformation (to be like God)
- Surrender (worship of God)
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 22:34-40
The 10 Commandments
Exodus 20:3-17
The Shema
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Loving God rightly requires using all our different faculties as we show love through various means. Our heart loves with feeling and emotion. Our soul loves with will. Our mind loves with logic.
How do we love god with heart, soul, and mind? Know God with your heart, soul, and mind.
2 Corinthians 11:21-29
How do we make living in uncomfortableness part of our daily lives:
- Live with standards, not heroes
- Live for heaven, not comfort
- Live with present day faith
- Live for the next opportunity
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Mark 8:34-38
It’s pretty clear what God is asking us for. There are a number of gifts we can give to God:
- Deny yourself
-
Live an “others-centered life”
-
Take up your cross
-
You “can’t save yourself.”
-
Follow Him
-
“Go where he went.”
-
Your Life
-
Give God “every part.”
-
Your Boldness
- “Share the Good News.”
To sum it up, what do you give the Father who has everything?
- What is asked
- Your best
- 100%
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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com·mun·ion
/kəˈmyo͞onyən/
Noun
a Christian sacrament in which consecrated
bread and wine are consumed as memorials of
Christ's death.
the sharing or exchanging of intimate
thoughts and feelings, especially when the
exchange is on a mental or spiritual level
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
So what should we do as we take communion:
- Remember
- Embrace
- Examine
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John 15:1-8
We are just branches connected to the vine. We can’t be his disciples if we’re not connected to the vine… that is, God. The purpose of being a branch connected to a vine is to bear fruit, but a branch on its own cannot bear fruit. When thinking about our connection to God, we need to ask ourselves a few questions:
- Are you bearing fruit in your life?
-
Galatians 5:22-23
-
Are you bearing fruit in their lives?
- Are you bearing fruit for his mission?
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Genesis 1:26-27
Judges 6:11-16
We all like to give ourselves different identifiers. Whether we identify with a hobby we enjoy, or something we spend too much time thinking about, or sometimes even our weaknesses that we think define us. That doesn’t necessarily go along with our identity as set by God. So how should we determine our true identity?
- You are who God says you are.
- Often finding our true identity requires shedding a false one.
- Who you really are is only discovered/revealed/achieved in a walk with God.
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Mark 1:35
Matthew 14:22-23
Matthew 26:39
Luke 11:1
John 17:6-26
Prayer was supremely important to Jesus. Multiple times in the gospels he’s recorded to have gone off alone to pray. So how do we spring forward in prayer?:
- Pray
- Prayer is the opportunity:
- to worship God
- to connect with God
-
to affect his will on creation.
-
Pray more. Pray regularly. Pray continuously.
- Stop treating it so lightly
- Seek God’s desire:
- for you.
- for them.
-
for the world.
-
Add WEIGHT to your prayer.
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John 20:1-29
John 21:15-19
Which of the characters in the Easter story best resonates with the identity that defines us?
- “The disciple whom Jesus loved”
- Mary
- “Doubting” Thomas
- Simon/Peter
- The fleeting nature of failure
- The necessity of honesty
- The power of repentance
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Luke 19:28-40
The characters presented in the story of Jesus' Triumphal Entry illustrate several different ways people tend to worship Jesus. Which one do you look like most? How do you worship?
- Do you worship at all?
- Do you worship because of what you get from Jesus?
- Do you worship because you know about Jesus?
- Do you worship because you’re with Jesus?
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2 Corinthians 2:14-15
Hosea 6:6
Ephesians 4:32 - 5:2
Matthew 5:43-45
Jesus has some very tough standards for us to live like him. He calls us to love others not just as we love ourselves, but as he loves us. He even calls us to love our enemies. His grace was demonstrated by his death on the cross so we could share it with others. So what is grace to us:
- Grace isn’t deserved
- Grace is healing
- Grace is worship
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Genesis 1:31; 3:1-5; 6:5;
Deuteronomy 5:33
Matthew 5:21-22
2 Corinthians 5:17
Romans 12:2
Ephesians 4:17-24
When we gave our lives to Christ we didn’t simply join a new religion, we became a new creation. But instead of living like it, we like to do things ourselves. But when we try to fix everything on our own, it can have unintended consequences. Here are some warnings about self-help:
- Self-help is often self-centered
- Self-help can easily become self-worship
God-help, on the other hand, works in a different way:
- God-help is a God-first system
- God-help is the only help that actually works
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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1 Corinthians 13:13
We spend a lot of time in church talking about faith and love, but not much talking about hope. We all need to strengthen our hope.
1 Kings 19:1-18
If you want to build hope in your life, you have to:
- Remember
- Reinforce
-
You can’t live by someone else’s faith, but you can certainly rest in its shadow.
-
Refocus
-
From the natural to the SUPERnatural
-
Look for the glimmers
- Live in the glimmers
- Open your eyes
- Worship
- Denounce the Delusions
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Colossians 2:1-7
What does it look like to “spring forward” in different areas of our lives?
- Grow down
- Spring forward
- Get more light
- Strive for new growth
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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What is an allergy? An allergy is where your body reacts strongly to something that may be harmless to others. We all experience spiritual allergies… things that aren’t sins in and of themselves, but that can lead to bad decisions… Things that overwhelm our spiritual immune system. How do we deal with spiritual allergies?
- Avoid
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22
-
Proverbs 4:14-15
-
Praise
-
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
-
Change your focus
-
Philippians 4:8
-
Support, encouragement, and accountability
- Proverbs 27:17
- Hebrews 10:23-25
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Prayer
Matthew 21:13a
Most Christians don’t pray, or don’t pray very much. We miss out on the power of the one who says to us, “I’m right here listening.” So what does it really take to grow in prayer?
- Pray
- Pray consistently
- Pray continually
- Pray for others first
- Pray first
Maturity
1 Corinthians 13:4-13
How do we grow in maturity?
- Identify the childish
-
Get an outside perspective
-
Identify maturity
- Move
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Daniel 3:7-18
We all have some kind of faith, or we wouldn’t be going to church or listening to sermons. So what does it look like to grow in this faith:
- Life change
- Moving from noun to verb
- Becoming an “even if” Christian
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2 Peter 1:5-8
Colossians 3:12-14
John 15:13
Love Is much more than a feeling. It is a choice. And because of that, it presents us opportunities to grow. To grow in LOVE is to:
- Grow in the ability to give our lives to others.
- Grow in the ability to give our lives to others who don’t like us.
- Grow in the ability to give our lives to others who are against us.
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Luke 11:33-36
Having a dirty windshield is a lot like having sin in your life. Sin makes it hard to follow God in much the same way that a dirty windshield makes it harder to see where you’re driving.
- Sin makes it hard to see
- Clean the Inside
- Deal with the damage
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Matthew 11:28-30
Genesis 2:1-3
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Psalm 46:10a
As we long to be our own god, we wear ourselves out until our souls are weary. Only by taking up Christ’s yoke can we find rest. There are several categories we should consider for rest:
- Find rest from your work
- Find rest from your striving
- Find rest from your battle
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Matthew 5:9
For a lot of us, it’s much easier and much more common for us to be troublemakers rather than peacemakers. But if we want to follow Jesus, we have to go against that temptation. There are four ways we can endeavor to be peacemakers:
- Make peace with people
- Make peace between people
- Make peace with your circumstances
- Make peace with God
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Matthew 25:31-40
The idea of worship is so much more than something that happens for a couple hours on a Sunday morning. It encompasses our whole lives - all that we do for ourselves and for others. The way we treat one another becomes the way we worship God. There are several ways we should think about how to worship outside the church:
- Worship through my relationships
- Worship with my service
- Worship in the giving of grace
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2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Paul wants the Corinthian church to understand that they have been newly created when they give their lives to God. The same is true for us… but sometimes we still live like the old is not gone. So if we want to live like the new new creation we’ve become, we should think about making these goals for 2025:
- Strengthen my connection.
- Embrace the traditional.
- Engage the personal.
- Eliminate the disconnectors.
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Matthew 2:1-12; 16
Like Herod, it can be hard for us to give up our power, our authority, our possessions… our lives. But Jesus came to do just that.
We might be able to relate to this quote:
“I know God is working in me, but right now I’m so uncomfortable with myself, and the changes God is making in my heart feel like an attack.”
- Every work of God in us requires us to lay down our crowns
- Sometimes the thing God is doing feels like an attack.
- Every work of God is good; even when it costs.
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Luke 2:8-20
Their society considered them outsiders, but it was these outcasts to whom God chose to send a host of angels proclaiming Christ’s birth. When the shepherds heard the news about Jesus, they acted on it right away. They went to see the baby and praised God for what they had seen. We can learn several things from the shepherds’ story:
- There are no “outsiders” to God
- God is inviting “outsiders” to become insiders
- God’s hope is that the “outsiders” who have become insiders will invite other “outsiders”
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Matthew 2:1-12
The magi journeyed by faith. The knew there was something important in the west: the Jewish messiah, but they didn’t know exactly what their journey would be like. And their journey may have taken some time. For us, just like for the magi, faith is a journey…
- that often takes time.
- sometimes filled with wrong turns
- sometimes suffers pause
- that requires persistence
- where God is always waiting
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Matthew 2:1-12
The magi journeyed by faith. The knew there was something important in the west: the Jewish messiah, but they didn’t know exactly what their journey would be like. And their journey may have taken some time. For us, just like for the magi, faith is a journey…
- that often takes time.
- sometimes filled with wrong turns
- sometimes suffers pause
- that requires persistence
- where God is always waiting
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How do you turn your bad days into good stories?
- Choose perspective
- Colossians 3:1-3
- James 1:2-4
- Seek after God
- Psalm 9:9-11
- Testify continually
- 1 John 4:15
- Jesus made a way
- Romans 5:8
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Numbers 16:1-7
Christ went to the cross to bring us the chance for intimacy and closeness with God. So there are three things for us to think about as we take communion.
- What are you doing to protect the “near?”
- What are you doing to preserve the “near?”
- What are you doing to improve the “near?”
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Matthew 16:13-20
Ekklēsia: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
Ekklēsia: The “called out ones.”
Ways we use the word “Church:”
- a building
- a service
Ways Jesus uses the word “Church:”
- the people who acknowledge his deity
- the people on his mission
- the people of Christ at war against evil
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eirēnē: in Greek, probably from a primary verb meaning “to join.” Peace; by implication, prosperity, - one, quietness, rest, + set at one again
Shalom: in Hebrew, complete or wholeness
John 14:23-27
Christian “peace” does not mean:
Peace of circumstances
The “peace” Christ offers is:
Peace with God
Peace with God offers inner peace
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ts 11:25-26
A Christian is not:
- Just someone who believes in God
- Just someone who practices a religion
- Just someone who calls themselves one
A Christian is:
- Someone who has given their life to Christ.
-
Mark 8:35
-
Someone who loves in Jesus’ name
-
John 13:34-35
-
Someone who’s on THE way
- Romans 7:15,18-19
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Isaiah 29:13
John 4:21-24
respectful devotion: loving, honoring, and obeying someone who deserves our highest regard
Worship (In a nutshell): Acknowledging God as God
That means: ANYTHING can be worship
"Worship" should demonstrate itself:
- In the way we interact with the world
- In our marriages
- In our parenting
- In our private time
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Holy: “Set apart.” Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.
Deuteronomy 7:6
Leviticus 11:42
How should our lives be set apart? How do we live out being holy?
- Holy Input
- Holy output
- Holy time
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Matthew 26:17-19, 26-30
We believe that communion is one of the two sacraments that we partake of in the church (the other being baptism). When we take communion often, it’s possible that we can lose sight of what it really means as we numbly follow our traditions. But if we take the time to understand the magnitude of what we’re doing when we take communion, it can change our perspective entirely.
Communion is about:
- Intimacy
- Intent
- Inertia
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Proverbs 22:6
Proverbs 1:1-7 tells us that all the proverbs make up a collection of wise sayings, not promises from God. Proverbs 22 doesn’t guarantee that our children won’t depart from God when they grow older. So what’s the point of training them up in the Lord?
- Promises?
- Discipleship
- Worship
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Jeremiah 29:1-14
The Bible is a revelation of God. It’s not just a retelling of history, it’s a way for us to know who God is. When we read a passage like this, it brings up several questions.
- Question #1: Can we quote it?
- Question #2: Does God want me to be rich?
- Question #3: When does it happen?
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1 Timothy 6:2-10
Money represents “congealed life.” We use it to get the things that we want. We don’t want to give it away, because it means we don’t get the thing we were saving up for… that little bit of extra that we were looking forward to. God wants to protect us from our money because he knows how it can ruin us when we love it so much we can’t let it go.
If you’re going to quote a verse,
- know the actual verse.
- Know its context
- Know its love
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Proverbs 16:3
When we give everything over to the Lord, he will direct the way we can glorify him and serve him. His plans might lead you to the destination you want, but oftentimes his plans lead us in a completely different direction than we think we should go.
So why do we read this wrong?:
- We read what we want it to say.
- We suffer from “main character syndrome.”
- Christianity is way more appealing with God is a genie.
- We say to Jesus, “Follow me.” But Jesus says, “No, follow me.”
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Matthew 18:12-35
We like to read this passage and think that if we gather with some friends and all want the same thing, God will grant it. That’s not necessarily untrue, but that’s not what this passage is saying. God is not a genie. Neither does this passage mean that God will only join us when we gather with others. He’s always with those who seek him.
So what is this passage about?
- Reconciliation
- Authority
- Protection
- Forgiveness
1 Corinthians 10:13
People like to say this as an encouragement when we’re going through a rough time. This matters because:
- It isn’t true
- It can undermine faith
- The Bible doesn’t say that
This passage is encouraging. We CAN resist any temptation.
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Luke 6:37-42
We often think we can get away with doing whatever we want because the Bible says we're not supposed to judge one another. But we're abusing that idea when we use it that way. So what does this really mean?
- Don’t condemn others
- Judge yourself fIrst
- Hold each other accountable
Accountability 101:
- Check your heart
- Seek wise counsel
- Have clear vision
The currently charged political climate in which we live can make it difficult to live out lives focused on Jesus. But the reality is, if we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven, then we can't allow conservative or progressive issues hijack our allegience. As Christians, we're called to navigate and engage politics and people in a completely different way from the world around us.
- Where is your allegiance?
- Who can you love?
-
How do you live it out?
- Apologize
- Give forgiveness
- Engage face to face
- Know your emotions
- Listen more than you speak
- Understand the impact
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Acts 4:23-31
Do you only pray when you’re in trouble or going through difficult challenges? Or do you pray like the disciples for boldness to continue living for God despite their circumstances. What set these disciples apart from many Christian’s today?
- They prayed
- They prayed for what God wanted.
- They prayed themselves into positions they’d have to pray to get out of.
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Acts 6:1-4
Even the most menial task requires people to be fully devoted to Christ. That’s what undergirded the entire movement. So how did the early church operate::
- They served
- They served (according to gifting, calling, & need)
- Devotion to God was part of the requirement
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Acts 2:42-47
Fellowship wasn’t just an extra thing for the early church, it was foundational to living a Christ-like life equal to the apostles teaching. Fellowship was was something they were devoted to. So what did this look like for them?
- They got together
- Fellowship was part of their religion
- Their faith community was their primary community
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If giving doesn’t hurt a little, you’re not really giving, you’re just getting rid of your junk.
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
Psalm 112:5,9
1 John 3:16-18
Matthew 25:34-40
Acts 2:42-45
Acts 4:33-35
Acts 3:1-8
There are a few lessons we can learn from the numerous passages about giving we seen in scripture.
- Generosity is a state of the heart
- Generosity is also worship
- Generosity is faith
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Acts 2:42-45
Whether it was the sick, the dying, the poor, widows and orphans, the early church was one of the few institutions that cared for those who couldn’t care for themselves. How do we reflect that tradition today?
What made the first disciples in the early church unique from the world around them?
- They cared. Do you care?
- They put action to their cares. Do we do anything significant for the people we’re supposed to care about?
- They sacrificed. What are we willing to sacrifice to put actions to our cares?
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Acts 2:1-41
Our testimony can have the same impact and the same power if we share it.
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Mark 16:1-8
The women at the tomb represent each one of us in a different way. They were afraid when they were met by an angel upon their arrival to the empty tomb.
- It’s okay to be afraid (even when it’s about Jesus).
Luke 24:13-16
- Jesus is there (even when you can’t see him).
Luke 24:17-18
- Jesus knows (even when you don’t think he does).
Luke 24:19-31
- One day your eyes will be open (even if you can’t imagine it).
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Mark 11:1-11
The story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem occurs in all four gospels. But there’s no clear villain in the story itself… unless you zoom out and look at the implications of this moment. And then the villain of the triumphal entry could be you if:
- You keep quiet
- You don’t let yourself be moved
- You don’t trust Jesus to be Jesus
- Your expectations get in the way
- You will not lay it down
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Matthew 27:11-26
Mark 15:15
Luke 23:4
John 19:12
Pilate is perhaps the most tragic villain of Easter. He could see Jesus was innocent and didn’t want to go along with the religious leaders’ calls to put him to death. Yet, ultimately he gave in. So how did Pilate end up sentencing the messiah to be crucified?
- He ignored his convictions.
- He didn’t listen to good advice.
- He gave up on doing what was right.
- He let his fear make the decision.
- He preferred his own peace.
- He thought he could justify himself.
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Where are the chinks in Peter’s armor? What weaknesses does Peter have that turn him, in a way, into a villain in the Easter story? And how can we learn from his errors?
Mark 8:27-33
- God’s concerns vs. human concerns - What’s more important to us?
Mark 14:27-31
- Thinking you’re better than you are.
Mark 14:32-38
- Unfaithful in the little things.
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Mark 3:1-6
- Jesus disagreed with them
- Jesus humiliated them
- Jesus threatened their status quo
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Mark 3:1-6
- It exists
- It exists in you
- The enemy wants to use it
- You can either fight it or feed it
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Genesis 27:41-45
Genesis 29:14-30
- Love commits
- Love costs
- Love proves
- “Love” teaches
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What is love?
Love… is patient
Love is kind
It does not envy
It does not boast
It is not proud
It does not dishonor others
It is not self-seeking
It is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil…
…but rejoices with the truth
It always protects
always trusts
always hopes
always perseveres
Love never fails
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Genesis 4:1-7
- Master your irritations
- Master your reactions
- Master your words
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Matthew 2:11
What did the Christmas characters give to God
- Their attention
- Their patience
- Their faith
- Their voice
- Repentance
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Matthew 2:1-18
- We need to have the right response to opportunities from God.
- We have to be willing to get uncomfortable.
- We have to completely let go.
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Luke 2:22-38
- They knew the Spirit
- They were dedicated
- They praised God
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Annunciation
The announcement of Jesus’ birth
Luke 1:26-38
Matthew 1:18-25
Luke 2:8-18
- They were chosen
- They were expecting to be used
- They were obedient
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John 3:1-9
- Jesus is working in the spiritual; you're looking at the physical.
- Jesus is working on today; you’re looking at tomorrow (Acts 1:6).
- Jesus is working on his agenda; you’re working on yours.
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1 Timothy 2:11-12
- Not because we’re rebelling
- Not because we think the teaching is outdated
- Not because the culture has changed
- Not because we want people to like us
- Not because we’re ignoring scripture
The way to understand a scripture is in the context of all scripture.
Galatians 3:28
Joel 2:28-29
Matthew 28:19-20
Romans 16:1-4
Does it match the theme of God’s work?
Is it supported by tradition?
Does it make sense?
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James 1:17
- It points us to God
- It changes us (Romans 12:2)
-
It keeps us in the present (Philippians 4:6-7)
-
It points others toward God
Make it a regular practice
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1 Corinthians 2:6-14
- The Spirit reveals spiritual truth
- God speaks, not the “speaker.”
- Spiritual maturity comes from learning to hear god.
How?
- Gotta want it.
- Gotta listen for it.
- Gotta posture for it.
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Luke 10:25-37
- Made in God’s image
- Meant to be set apart
- Do this and live
- Jesus took it further
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John 4:19-24
- Sunday service
- Fellowship
- Call to worship
- Prayer
- Music
- Message
- More music
- Offering
- Benediction
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Exodus 13:17-18
- Because God has a plan
- Because you’re not ready
- Because the journey IS the destination
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Romans 12:1-2
- Because change is worship
- Because you’re not you
- Because it’s key to the life abundant
- Because you’re God’s light
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Matthew 10:28-31
- Hell is for justice
- Hell is separation
- He’ll is ultimately our choice
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- It is connection
- Prayer changes us
- He always hears
- Scripture says so
- Make it effective
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Matthew 28:18-20
- Because Jesus said so
- Because it’s his (your) mission
- Because it’s communion with God
- Because you want to share your joy
- Because it can be the difference between Heaven and Hell
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Colossians 3:1-17
- The cross is only the beginning
- It’s a relationship
- It’s for everyone
- But how?
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- It’s an act of obedience
- It’s part of our worship
- It reminds us that everything belongs to God
- It teaches us that we live in a world of abundance
- We were made to
- God deserves it
- It’s the nature of our connection with God
But why should we worship?
- Worship is what’s best for you
- Worship is what’s best for them
- You will worship something
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When does it begin?
Mark 1:16-20
Why should I?
Psalm 78:1-8
Do I have to?
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 1:7-8
Let’s go!
Ephesians 4:11-13
Colossians 4:5-6
Ephesians 5:21-33
- Sex is sacred
- Sex is the physical expression of love
- Marriage is the symbol of the divine/human relationship.
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Genesis 1:26-27
Jeremiah 31:3
John 3:16-17
Romans 5:8
-
- You believe a lie
- You were raised that way
- You’re not thinking of personal value
- You’ve made peace with your brokenness.
-
You’re living in sun But what can I do about it?
-
Live the life you were made to
- Get right with God
- Work on your wrong
- Believe God instead of your gut
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But why am I not healing?
Jeremiah 30:12-17
- You’re not a Christian
- You’ve made peace with a sin
- You’re the center of your universe
- You’re only doing religion
- You’re only doing the least you have to
- You won’t give up control
- You’re taking the wrong medicine
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But Why do we call God father?
- Because Jesus called him father
- John 5:17-18
- Because a father disciplines out of his love
- Hebrews 12:11
- Proverbs 13:24
- Because a father guides and empowers his children
- John 14:25
- Because a father loves his children despite every reason not to
- Romans 5:8-11
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- There are no good people
-
Romans 3:23
-
We have an enemy
-
1 Peter 5:8-9
-
There’s good news
-
Romans 8:1-4
-
Handle it
-
Joshua 24:15
-
Ponder this
- Examine and repent
- Ask what can I learn from this
- Consider how God can redeem the present suffering for future good
- Trust God’s help
- Believe God is redeeming your suffering for his glory
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Matthew 3:13-17
- To follow Jesus’ example
- To follow Jesus’ command
- As a public testimony
- As a memorial
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Psalm 8:1-9
God wants you to:
- Be reconciled (Colossians 1:19-22)
- Be like him (Mark 8:24-36)
- Be more loving (Matthew 5:43-48)
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Is the Bible literal or metaphorical?
Why do we go to church on Sundays?
How is the church pro life and pro guns?
Where do Adam and Eve fit into evolution?
How should Christians think about LGBTQ issues?
What should I order from Chipotle?
Pastor Michael answers these tough questions and more in this spontaneous Q&A session that sheds light on how we should live as Christians and engage the culture around us.
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But Why Are Christians Hypocrites
- Because we’re human
- Because they’re not Christians
- Because they don’t know (or agree)
- Because the standards are so high
- Because they’re just not good at it
It's a kingdom that's here NOW
It's a kingdom of servants
It's a kingdom that follows the father's will
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- It’s expensive
-
- Matthew 10:39
- Long waits
-
- Psalm 27:14
- Lamentations 3:25
- Psalm 33:20-22
- Lots of ups and downs
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- It helps you see clearly
- It sometimes seems unnecessary
- It has different settings
- Sometimes it doesn’t seem to work
- It requires maintenance
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John 1:9-14
Love requires community
Love makes the move
Love is more than words
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Luke 14:25-27
- It’s the preeminent point
- It’s an acknowledgement of who HE is
- It’s an acknowledgement of the cost
Why is it good for us to put God first
- He’s the best
- He wants the best for you
- He makes YOU the best
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Matthew 4:18-22
Dive in!
- Surround yourself with God
- Dive into your purpose
- Soak in the love
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Numbers 16:1-5
- Be single minded
- Be where he is
- Be where you’ve found him before
- Be unsatisfied
- Be aware of the distance creators.
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“Pet peeves" are the source of much of our angst an un-peace.
- We guard them
- We groom them
- We feed them
How do we deal with our pet peeves:
- Forgive people
-
- Matthew 6:9-15
- Prioritize others first
-
- Philippians 2:3-4
- Don’t judge people
-
- Luke 6:37-38
- Self-awareness
-
- Romans 3:23
Proverbs 29:18
Genesis 16:1-10
Where have you come from and where are you going?
- Who do you want to be?
- What do you need to do?
- What do you need to let go of?
-
- A habit?
- A hurt?
- A mindset?
- Control?
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1 Corinthians 1:18
1 Corinthians 1:22-24
- Experience the fantastic
- Embrace the fantastic
- Share the fantastic
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Luke 2:1-7
John 6:35
Your comfort food
Your nourishing meal
One
Who and what you become
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John 1:1-4
Colossians 1:15-16
- In the tree, you see the cross.
- The decorations remind us of Christ on the cross
- The tree is a symbol of eternal life.
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Colossians 4:5
2 Corinthians 5:20
Matthew 5:14-16
- Get the light
- Practice good deeds
- Give up the glory
- Keep shining
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Daniel 4:24-36
Don’t Forget:
- God is merciful
- You’re wearing a God-given mask
- God: what he said and what you said to him.
- To LIVE humility
- You don’t need a mask
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Matthew 26:36-39
Luke 22:42-44
- Adversity teaches us new ways
- Adversity teaches us to grow stronger
- Adversity teaches us the necessity of community.
- Adversity teaches us to rely on God
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Mark 10:13-16
- Children are lost without their parents
- Children are not authorities
- Children believe what you tell them.
- Children want to be with their parents
- Children want to BE their parents
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Galatians 5:19-25
- All you see is the fruit
- They’d be unseen without the fruit
- They’re born of garbage
- They make the world new
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Acts 2: 42-47
- The are persistent
- They are interconnected
- They change the environment
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1 Corinthians 9:24-27
- Sprinkles are for winners
- Practice makes perfect
- Eyes on the prize
- Teamwork makes the dream work
- Play until the whistle blows
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The Hidden Wisdom of Cookie Dough
Philippians 3:12-14
- It’s Not Done
- It’s Still Useful
- It Can Be Dangerous
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The Hidden Wisdom of Cake
Psalm 34:8
John 8:31-32
- Pick a Recipe
- Follow the recipe
- Apply heat
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Colossians 3:1-4
Consider - Confront - Correct
Instead of being LOST in frustration, be located in JOY.
Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:4
Instead of being LOST in worry, be located in Hope
Matthew 6:31, Romans 15:13
Instead of being LOST in complaining, be located in Worship.
Philippians 2:14, 2 Samuel 22:7
Instead of being LOST in anxiety, be located in
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We can find ourselves Lost in Brokenness, but we can choose to be Located in Reconciliation.
We can get Lost in self, but be can move to be Located in God.
We can get Lost in Culture, but we should be Located in the Bible.
We can get Lost in To-Do’s, but we should be Located in God’s gifts.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 26:26-30
- Communion is Jesus saying, “I’m with you.”
- Communion is Jesus saying, “I love you.”
- Communion is Jesus saying, “I'm with you.”
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Matthew 28:16-20
- We baptize because Jesus said to
- Baptism is a symbol
-
- Of allegiance
- Of repentance
- Of death
- Of cleansing
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Proverbs 26:11
Why we return to our folly:
- We don’t listen
- We live our lives on shaky ground
- We have no memory
- We keep bad company
- We like our folly
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Psalm 119:9-16
- Diagnose the issue
- Prescribe a solution
- Make a move
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Luke 22:24-34
- God never gives up on you, so don’t give up on him.
- Press in
- Hold fast
- Don’t modify to justify
- God already fixed your failure (it doesn’t change his “asks”)
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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John 12:12-15
Matthew 21:1-3
“Jesus sent two disciples…”
- Do you want to be part of Jesus’ story?
Luke 19:32-34
“The owners asked them…”
- Are you willing to let Jesus use your treasure?
Matthew 21:35-36
“Some people spread their cloaks along the road…”
- Are you willing to let Jesus trash your treasure?
Matthew 21:37-40
“If they keep quiet the stones will cry out.
- Jesus doesn’t need you, he wants you.
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The Game of Life
Joshua 24:14-18
- It is all about choices
- It sometimes seems random
- It continues after the game ends
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Risk
Luke 14:25-35
- It’s about risk
- It’s about war
- It’s about global domination
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Sorry
James 5:16
- Sorry, not sorry
-
- Genesis 3:8-13
- Psalm 51:1-6
- Forgive it forward
- Make way for mercy
- Beware of the safety zone
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Monopoly
Luke 12:13-21
- There’s a “Go directly to jail” card.
- There’s a “Get out of jail free” card.
- The point is, “GO.”
- We each pick our tokens to represent us.
- It’s all about the upgrade.
- You wheel-n-deal.
- House rules.
- Avoid that spot.
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Evolution-Love Edition: From Single to Spoken For
Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7
Why fear?
Fear is the beginning
Love is the goal
Experience is the path
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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From Single to Spoken For
1 Corinthians 6:19-30
Spoken for by God
Spoken for by your spouse
Spoken for by the Church
Spoken for by the world
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Evolution: Belief to Apostle
John 13:12-17
From Belief to Faith
From Seed to Fruit
From Disciple to Apostle
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Scrabble
1 Corinthians 6:7-11
- It’s a mixed bag
- Sometimes you get a bad hand
- You need another letter
- Wise play will win the game
- Recognize cause and effect
- There are special spots on the board
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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From Earthly to Eternal
John 15:18-19
John 17:13-19
- From Mine to His
- From Partier to Prepper
- From Hostile to Hopeful
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Evolution: From Sovereign to Servant
1 John 2:6
1 Peter 2:21
1 Corinthians 11:1
- From Sovereign to Servant
-
- Mark 10:35-45
- Romans 12:1
- Philippians 2:3-4
- Romans 5:6
- From Chipotle to Manna
- John 13:3-5
- John 13:15
- From Servant to Serving
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Catan
Philippians 2:1-8
Location, location, location
The dice
The trades
The seven
The robber
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Genesis 1:26-27
Genesis 5:3
John 13:15
Ephesians 4:22-24
Where do YOU need to grow?
Where do THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU need you to grow?
Where is GOD working to grow you?
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Surrender
Matthew 2:1-8, 13-16
- Give up the throne
- Hand over the crown
- Return the kingdom
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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How to Get the Most Out of Christmas
Unto You
Luke 2:1-20
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born TO YOU…
- Christmas is FOR YOU
- Jesus came FOR YOU
- The gifts are FOR YOU
- It’s meant FOR YOU to share
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Thankful: Opportunity
Ephesians 5: 8-16
- The opportunity to grow
- The opportunity of tomorrow
- The opportunity of people
- The opportunity to have a full life
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Thankful: Peace
John 26:31-33
Peace: You have it!
- Be mindful of it
- Practice it
- Don’t sin!
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Costume Christianity
Colossians 3:5-14
- Decide who you want to be
- Take off the old self
- Put on the new self
- Match the look
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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How to Get the Most Out of: The Holy Spirit
John 14:23-27
- Ask (What does God say about it?)
-
- “Just because you’re not wrong, it doesn’t mean you’re right.”
- Listen
- Trust
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How to Get the Most Out of: The Bible
2 Timothy 3:10-17
Use it as it was intended, not as it suits you.
- The Bible was written for:
-
- Teaching
- Rebuking (turning on the light)
- Correcting (change of course)
- Training in righteousness (repetition, purpose)
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Amos 4:6-11
Examine It
Tend to It
Use It
Get Biblical
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Jeremiah 32: 30-33
Seek God daily
Step out in faith
Take time to worship
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The Holy Common
The journey of faith is one in which God is constantly pulling back the curtains of reality and giving us a view behind the veil.
Genesis 28:10-19
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Faith Seeker
How do you move in faith when you feel stuck, paralyzed?
Mark 2:1-12
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Faith Healer
Mark 2:1-12
The Doctor is in! But what do you do if you don't like His prescription? Join us as we explore Jesus' healing of a paralytic.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Slaying Giants: Part 2
Watch the full virtual service on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_WlQk8RbFM
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Being Church means Supporting the community
We'll support one another when we belong to a community
Acts 2:42-47
What did “support” mean to the early church?
Why don’t we support one another?
How can we support one another?
- share resources
- share a meal
- share our labor
- share finances
- share our burdens
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Being Church is About Community
Acts 2:42-47
Why should we be in community?
- Self-sacrifice vs personal freedom
- Accountability vs. privacy.
- Relationship vs isolation
How do we develop and foster community?
- Breaking bread together
- Small Groups
- Church Events
- Life Events
- Serving
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Being Church is a Lifestyle
Acts 2:42-47
Making church a lifestyle takes devotion
Making church a lifestyle means every day
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Action
Love is only a word
1 Corinthians 13:13
What is Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love never fails
1 Corinthians 13:8
Romans 8:35, 37-39
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Showing it to THEM
Matthew 5: 43-48
Loving our enemies can change the world.
Love means humanizing them.
love means praying for them.
love means serving them.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Cleaning Up The Mess
Matthew 5:21-24
It’s up to you to make it right.
- Apologize
- Forgive
- Show Grace
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Seizing Every Day
Ephesians 5:8-
“…making the most of every opportunity…”
- God does
- Don’t wait
-
- For some special time
- For another opportunity
- For tomorrow
- For someone special
- For some special reason
- To say it
- To show it
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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We Sometimes Need Correction
Matthew 5:43-48
In order to have 20/20 vision, sometimes we need our vision corrected.
We need corrective vision for our far sightedness (self image).
- You are forgiven
- You are wonderful
- God loves you
- You have a purpose
- You are part of his plan
We need corrective vision for our near-sightedness (image of others).
- There are no enemies
- Every enemy is an opportunity
- The team is “human beings”
We need corrective vision for our astigmatism (“wonky” image).
- Trust
- Optimism
- Justice
- Reward
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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You Need Some Focus
Mark 8:22-26
Vision is nothing without focus
- You need the light to focus on the destination
- Colossians 3:1-2
- You need to focus on the way
- Hebrews 12:2
- You need to focus on your one area
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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You Need Light
Matthew 6:22-23
In order to have 20/20 vision, you need light.
- You need the light to shine on your path
- You need light to shine into your darkness
-
- Daniel 2:22
- Hebrews 10:22
- You need light to shine through you.
-
- Matthew 5:16
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 13:10-17
In order to have 20/20 vision:
You need open eyes
- What are your eyes closed to?
- Where do you and God disagree?
- Where is your mind already made up?
- What do you avoid discussing?
- What do you hope to keep others’ eyes closed to?
- What do you hope to keep God’s eyes closed to?
Open your eyes to who god is
Open your eyes to what god wants for you and us
Open your eyes to your own Selfishness
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Another One Bites The Dust
Lamentations 3:22-23
“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” - Jim Rohn
The new year is an opportunity for:
- Another Chance
- Another Heart
- Another Life
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Joy To The World
Psalm 98; Luke 2:8-12
"Joy To The World" shows us what Christ can do in us.
We create Heart Space for King Jesus
So he can reign in us as savior
Jesus comes to make his blessings flow
And we experience the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Lyrics of Christmas: Little Drummer Boy
Luke 2:8-20
The lyrics of "LIttle Drummer Boy" teach us about who we are
“I have no gift to bring that’s fit to give a king”
“Shall I play for you”
“Then he smiled at me. Me and my drum.”
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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O Holy Night
Luke 2:1-7
What the song "O Holy Night" tells us about Christmas
- “O holy night”
- “It is the night of our dear savior’s birth”
- “Long lay the world in sin and error pining”
- “‘Til he appeared and the souls felt its worth”
- “For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”
- “O night divine”
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Generosity
2 Corinthians 9:1-11
Our generosity declares our thankfulness
3 Mistakes People Make in Regard to Generosity
- Thinking it’s an option
- Thinking it’s only about money
- Thinking it doesn’t have to include money
3 Ways to Start Being Generous
- Realize you’ve freely received
- Find a place you can start
- Realize how rich Jesus has already made you
BONUS
3 Bonus Areas to Start Being Generous In
- Grace
- Forgiveness
- Praise
3 Areas to Start Being Stingy In
- Opinion
- Gossip
- Judgment/Critique
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Worship
Psalms 96
We thank God through the way we worship him
- Sing a New Song
- Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise
- Rejoice, be glad, resound, be jubilant, sing for joy
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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I’m Going to Change
Ephesians 4:20-32
How to change yourself for God
Romans 2:4
If you want to affect change in your life:
Go on the hunt:
- Find the contradictions
- Find the comforts
- Find the crevices
Ditch the hiding places:
- Lose the epithets
- Leave the entourages
- Forget the excuses
Decide your destination:
- Make the choice
- Endure the challenge
- Begin the charge
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Remember Me
1 Corinthians 11:23-29
The Thanksgiving season reminds us to remember Christ
- Remember that he keeps his word
- Remember how deeply he loves us
- Remember the lengths he was willing to go
- Remember that he wants to be loved back
- Remember that he challenges us to do the same thing
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Ghosts of Halloween Past
1 Samuel 28:3-20
Our ghosts need to be exorcised
“Ghosts” that we deal with today:
- Ghosts of Past Mistakes
- Ghosts of Past Sins
- Ghosts of Past Hurts
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Demon Fodder: It Ain’t Magic
Acts 19:8-16
“You will receive power when you he Holy Spirit comes on you…” (Acts 1:8a)
If the power available to us isn’t just magic; isn’t just something we conjure up, what do we need to access it?
- The blood of Jesus (relationship)
- Eyes of faith
- The heart of a follower
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Missionaries from the Philippines share about their ministry.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Living Dead
What do we have in common with the living dead?
John 11:17-26; 38-44
Are you one of the “living dead?”
The grave no longer had power over the living dead.
The living dead are a bit out of place.
The living dead are singular in purpose.
The living dead are fearless
The living dead are virtually unstoppable.
Football Sunday
What does football say about our spiritual walk?
Colossians 3:12-14
Clothe yourselves
Stick to the Plan
Remember the Goal
One Life
Hebrews 9:24-28
You have one life
They have one life
We have limited opportunity
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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One Encounter
Acts 9:1-19a
- God’s will
- God’s mission
- God's people
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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One Reason - Part 2
Psalm 19:1-4
Science!
Evidences of a finely tuned universe designed for life on Earth:
The Sun
The Moon
The Earth
How many coincidences does it take to be something more?
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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One Reason
1 Peter 3:8-15
- The Bible gives the best explanation of me
- The Bible provides the best explanation of reality
- The Bible is consistent in its explanation and philosophy
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Treasure Hunt
Matthew 13:44-46
- God is a Treasure
- You are a treasure
- “They” are are treasure
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Mexico Mission
Our Missionary Nicky Peña shares about her ministry in Mexico.
Support Nicky and Arnulfo's mission here: https://www.globalpartnersonline.org/missionary/wm04-0220/
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Lion King Speaks Spiritual
Special guest speaker Caitlin Martin
- Galatians 2:20 - “You have forgotten who you are, and so have forgotten me.”
- Colossians 3:1-3 - “You are more than what you have become.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:27 - “You must take your place in the circle of life.” -
- John 14:26 - “You can either run from it or learn from it.”
Romans 8:26
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Fear Of Missing Out
Genesis 39:1-12
Sometimes we have a fear of missing out on things that weren’t actually designed for us to have or experience - temptation!
If you want to overcome temptation:
- Change your definition of “opportunity.”
- Recognize who the giver of the gift is.
- Trust God’s judgment.
What we should fear missing out on:
- Holiness
- His presence
- Heaven
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Be Thankful
Philippians 4:6-8
- Worry about Nothing
-
- Matthew 6:34
- 1 Peter 5:7
- Pray about everything
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Thank God in all things
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Sunscreen
Deuteronomy 5:33 - 6:8
4 Common reasons we don’t wear sunscreen
- It’s not convenient
- We forgot
- Vanity
- It doesn’t feel good
3 Reasons we should wear sunscreen
- Burns scars you
- Ruins other joys
- Invites death
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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A Plan
Matthew 25:14-30
- God resources everyone
- God expects a return
- There will be an accounting.
So what do we do?
- Honor the general
- Nurture the relationship
- Take steps of faith
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Purpose: Part II
John 13:1-7
- Find it - John 13:3
- Pursue it - John 5:19
- Prioritize it - John 12:27-28
- Live it - Luke 22:42
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Purpose
John 13:1-7
Like Peter, sometimes we don’t realize what God is doing:
- In our lives
- With our lives
- Through our lives
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Halfway There
Philippians 3:1
What did you start that’s fallen off?
Psalm 76:11
What should you have started?
Proverbs 22:3
What mid-course correction do you need to make?
Lamentations 3:40
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Pastor Ivan's journey and how to conquer feelings of inadequacy
-
God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called
-
When you think you're unqualified, God comes through for you
Exodus 4:10-12
2nd Corinthians 3:5
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Christianity involves growth:
-
in faith
-
in maturity
-
in Holiness
Colossians 2:6-15
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He is Risen
John 20:1-10
“He saw and believed.”
John 20:11-16
“If you have carried him away…”
John 21:15-17
“Do you love me?”
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Palm Sunday
John 12:12-15
“Jesus found a young donkey an sat on it…”
Matthew 21:1-3
“Jesus sent two of his disciples…”
Do you want to be part of Jesus’ story?
Luke 19:32-34
“The owners asked them…”
Are you willing to let Jesus use your treasure?”
Luke 19:35-36
“Some people spread their cloaks along the road…”
Are you willing to let Jesus trash your treasure?
Luke 19:37-40
“If they keep quiet the stones will cry out.”
Jesus doesn’t need you, he wants you.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Make the Most of the Moment
Ephesians 5:15-17
- Don’t look back
- Look back to see forward
- Keep moving forward
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Matthew 15:1-20
- You are not meant to be a bad tree.
- You are meant to look good.
- You are meant to bear fruit.
- You are meant to be rooted in Christ.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Spring
2 Peter 1:3-7
Allergies
- Different strokes for different folks
- The attractive nuisance.
- Develop some
Dormant Grass
- Dormant, not dead
- Dormant, not dead
Thick grass
- Try again
- Try it a different way
Time to weed
- How did it get this bad?
- Don’t let it get worse
- Don’t be overwhelmed.
Blooming flowers
- You were meant to shine
- Don’t stay a bud
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Joel 2:12-13
Even Now
Return to me
With all your heart
With fasting, mourning, and weeping
Share It
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
People who are loved are free to be generous people.
- We’re free to be generous with our time.
- We’re free to be generous with our blessings.
- We’re free to be generous with our love.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Live Loved: Everyone's Invited
Matthew 22:1-10
His love for us is like a banquet
His love invites everyone.
God’s love is his grace
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Believe It
Luke 18:9-14
- Don’t hide
- Don’t stay
- Don’t ask
Romans 8:37-39
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Live Loved: Accept It
John 3:16
- Accept that God Loves you like HE says he does.
- Stop living a defeated life
- Start taking control of your thoughts.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Work it Out: Keep Going
Hebrews 10:19-25
Let us draw near to God.
Let us hold to hope.
Let us spur one another on
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Lose Weight
Philippians 3:1-14
Target your weight loss
- Forgive: their mistakes
- Confess: your mistakes
- Surrender: control to God
Watch your diet
- You are what you eat
- Everyone can’t eat the same things
- Not everything that tastes good is good for you.
Exercise
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Grow Stronger
John 14:1-12
If you want to grow stronger in your faith, you have to:
- Put yourself in the right environment
- Push yourself (beyond your limits)
- Get a partner
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Work It Out
Philippians 1:27-2:13
- Have a plan
- Work out regularly and consistently
- Go all in
- Work hard
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Examine Yourself
Matthew 2:1-12
Are you in the faith:
- In the way you seek?
- In your surrender?
- In your worship?
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Baby
Luke 1:26-38
- God wants us to love him like a mother loves her baby.
- God wants us like a baby wants it’s mother.
- God wants us to live like we’ve learn d something.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Shepherds
Luke 2:8-20
They had a sense of urgency
They were compelled to share
They glorified and praised God
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Christ Story
Luke 1:5-25
- Identity
- Actions
- Plan
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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What Are You Waiting For…
Isaiah 9:1-7
To be bold?
To make a change?
To extend an invitation?
The Story of Peter
Matthew 16:13-18
Luke 5:1-11
You don’t have to be holy, you just have to be willing.
Matthew 26:31-35
You will never become what Christ wants you to be until you surrender who you want to be.
John 21:1-3
God doesn’t accept resignations
John 21:4-7
Sometimes in order to move forward, you have to look backward.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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The Story of Abraham
Romans 4:16-18
3 things to note about Abraham:
- He wasn’t perfect
- He wasn’t perfect in his faith
- He’s referred to as the “father of faith.”
3 things to note about God because of Abraham:
- God used him anyway.
- God called him “friend”
- God honored Abraham’s faith
3 things to note about faith:
- Your faith doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be used.
- It doesn’t take much
- Faith begets faith
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Characters Welcome: The Wisdom of Solomon
1 Kings 10-11
Embrace Financial Simplicity – Don’t chase after and hoard wealth.
Embrace relational simplicity – Don’t go chasing lust or relationships
Embrace Worship Simplicity – Don’t chase after false idols
God uses broken people to do great things
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Characters Welcome: The Disciples
Luke 22:14-27
3 things to note:
- The disciples didn’t get it.
- They didn’t get Him.
- They didn’t all agree with him.
3 things ANYONE can do:
- Be willing to change.
- Become more humble
- Serve
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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The Story of Gideon
Judges 6:11-16
- Gideon’s arguments
-
- “If the Lord is with us, why…?”
- “How can I…?”
- “I am the least…”
- The angel’s statements
-
- “The Lord is with you…”
- “…mighty warrior”
- “Am I not sending you?”
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Church and Mission
Matthew 16:13-18
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Living Sacrifice
Romans 12:1
Offering ourselves is our response
Offering ourselves takes effort
Offering ourselves is how we worship
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Remember
Exodus 17:8-16
- Write it down!
- Remember
- Moses built an altar
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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God is Like Wifi
John 15:1-8
We’re meant to be connected
Connection equals identity, purpose, fulfillment, joy, peace, life.
The stronger the connection…
… The better the experience will be.
Most of us live at the fringes.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Opportunity of Failure
2 Samuel 12:1-14
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Judges 2:7-13
If you want to grow in faith, you have to move from belief to experience.
- Seek God Out
- Put yourself in his hands
- Do what he says to do
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Genesis 1:9-31
We tend to settle for good.
We try to create our own “very good.”
We pick apart God’s “very good.”
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Mexico Mission
Pastor Michael and Hannah share about their week on mission in Mexico and how God continually showed up in unexpected ways.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Children's Ministry
Luke 18:15-16
It's about:
- Building a Foundation
- Being an Example
- Providing Training
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Weeds
Hebrews 12:1-3
A weed is just unwanted growth
Weeds are resilient
Even weeds can have flowers
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Training
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Everyone who runs sets goals.
Everyone who runs trains.
Everyone who runs has to persevere
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Don’t Stop
Joshua 6:1-20
4 problems with following the Lord
- We struggle to see what God sees
- We struggle to understand his method
- It doesn’t always seem to be working.
- It doesn’t seem possible.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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The 2nd Half
Philippians 3:7-16
Grow up
Own up
Trade up
Level up
Step up
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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The Half
Hebrews 12
What if I never started?
•Find where you’re out of sync •Find where God is working •Find your faith
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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Good stewardship:
- Acknowledges God
- Thanks God
- Worships God
Psalm 112
Generosity is a state of mind, not a bottom line.
Generosity hurts.
If you’re not generous with money, you’re not generous.
How can we know we’re not greedy?
Make sure we’re stewarding what God gives us the way that God asks.
Be willing to part with whatever God asks whenever he asks.
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
www.crossroadsjourney.com
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Be rich toward God
Realizing “life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” frees us to be rich toward God
Realizing our money and resources aren’t really ours frees us to be rich toward God.
Stewardship: Truth & the Gospel
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 1:8
We have to come up with our own philosophy of evangelism based on the Word.
Our philosophy of evangelism should start with a relationship.
Our philosophy of evangelism should include witness.
Our philosophy of evangelism should recognize that it’s God’s work. Not ours.
Be a steward when you Work
Colossians 3:23-24
Be a steward with your Sabbath
Exodus 20:8-10a
Mark 2:27
Be a steward with God Time
Psalm 119:16
Be a steward by your Service
1 Corinthians 12:18-20
Love and Relationships
Luke 6:27-38
Be a humble steward
Be a sincere steward
Be a sacrificial steward
Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.
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James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy…
- Death reminds us that this is not our home.
- Death gives us a healthy hate for this life.
- Death causes us to yearn for the next life.
- Death reminds us how precious life is.
- Death sharpens our focus to what’s really important.
- Death encourages us to love fully.
- Death encourages us to press into God.
- Death reminds us there’s a cost to our sin.
- Death gives us a taste of God’s pain.
- Death reminds us how great God’s love is for us.
An interview with Royal Stage founder Tammy Warta. Hear the purpose and vision behind this non-profit ministry that uses art and dance as a way to love and reach people for Christ.
Kyle and Kristin share their three year journey of sensing and resisting God's call. God was stirring in their hearts a vision that seemed much to risky to give up everything they had. Kristin confesses what it was like holding on to the familiar and the comfortable and how that created its own discomfort, especially when Kyle was ready to go much earlier on.
Matthew 8:23-27
Are our lives putting God to sleep?
What did we sign up for?
What’s keeping you up?
What kind of man is this?
Hear from Jordan and Ashley as they share their story of waking up from their spiritual apathy to embrace the calling that Jesus put on their lives.
Easter Message by guest Dr. Phil Stevenson, District Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest District of the Wesleyan Church.
John 17
Empty cross
Empty tomb
Empty burial clothes
The Life of Jesus: Palm Sunday
Luke 19:28-34
Matthew 21:4-5
Mark 11:7-10
Luke 19:39-40
Palm Sunday is a "Triumphal Sunday"
Palm Sunday is a "Donkey Sunday"
Palm Sunday is a "Lay It Down Sunday"
Matthew 22:15-22
If we want to accurately reflect the image of God, we have to be more concerned with God’s image than our own.
If we want to accurately reflect the image of God, we have to give our lives to God.
Believe It
Matthew 5:13-16
Matthew 16:13-18
Matthew 16:21-23
Jesus believed in his followers
Jesus believed in the church
Jesus believed in a mission that was more important than his life.
Matthew 5:1-12
“Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.”
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
John 8:2-11
The law of Jesus’ life is love
Mercy, grace, and forgiveness are pillars of that love.
People matter more to Jesus than their mistakes
People didn’t have to agree with him to love them.
Jesus made time for people's needs no matter what his other plans were.
Luke 4:38-40
Luke 9:10-11
Luke 9:37-39
Luke 11:37
Luke 17:11-14
Religion isn't what saves you; it's your relationship with God. But religion is a God-ordained means of enriching your relationship with Him.
Christianity has its share of tricky balances. How do we strive for perfection while accepting grace? Fight sin while loving people? Be responsible and step out in faith?
"...run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1b Your faith began with passion, finish it that way!
Even with a sure thing, you have to play the game; there's room for improvement; and there's room for a fall.
What's your "impossible"? What is God whispering in your ear, challenging you to? What is that thing in your walk that you always dreamed of doing/being but have always dismissed as impossible? It's not. "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 Maybe you should start thinking about it differently; a destination rather than a dream, an invitation rather than a frustration?
The Bible is a crucial connection point between us and God. Read it daily for insight into God's character and commands.
It isn't magic. It isn't a means to control God. And it isn't salvation. Our ideas about religion can hinder our relationship with God.
The Back Story: Creation began good. Later its perfect order was broken. Jesus came BECAUSE of that; to fix it; to fix us.
The meaning of Easter goes beyond religion. We can see that in Jesus' short conversation with Mary Magdelene after He rose from the dead.
A life given to God is harder than we want. Even Jesus was tempted not to go to the cross. He calls us to persevere, as He did.
Surrender to God is part of the Christian life. Jesus served people; so should we. Who in your life needs help?
Our bodies are meant to be temples of God, a place for Him to dwell. Is yours? What needs to be removed? What needs to be added?
Have you tried to enter God's kingdom as your own king or queen? As a spectator? As God's student? Or as a true subject of the King?
Love is not just feelings. As emotions fade, love becomes a choice. And the choice must continue over time. That's how God loves us.
Know that feeling when you first fall in love? God's love is that intense all the time. His desire is for us and our joy.
We define love in many ways that serve us. God's version is selfless, generous, and forgiving. And God's version is the real one.
We care how others perceive us. We should: God told us we are the light of the world. Our faith should look good to those around us.
Do you want your faith to endure? Prepare for your trials. Get rid of distractions from God. And look at Him rather than your hardships.
To grow in physical strength, you must push your body to the limits; the same is true of our faith. Test the limits of your faith.
Whatever you believe about yourself, God has given you value that can't be taken away. You can see it when you take care of others.
Jesus gave His life to give us a new day. Remember the price He paid for us, and give Him this new year.
Our greatest opportunity to love God is to show love to children. Our duty—parent or not—is to raise them well and show them Him.
You know that look a person gets when you give them the perfect gift? Give that to God.
Peace requires that we forgive others and let go of bitterness toward God; surrender our whole lives; and nurture peace within us.
You can't take it with you, but you can send it forward. Be generous, and when you enjoy your reward in heaven, you won't regret it.
God calls us to give 10% of our money for ministry and the needy. It's tough. It takes planning. But God blesses us when we give.
Most of us have more extra than we think. And our extra isn't always meant for us. Giving is the first step to financial freedom.
Your spiritual checkbook is the same thing as your physical checkbook. Each financial decision you make is a spiritual decision.
It's time to wake up spiritually. That means listening to God's call, stepping out of comfort, and face the day.
Remodeling your house is hard work. So does remodeling your life. It may be messy and it may cost you, but God's plans are worth it.
We shut the bedoom door when company comes over. What areas of your life are off-limits to God? To be close to God, let Him in.
Confession and forgiveness help clean up our lives. When we don't use them, we fill up with things that are toxic to our souls.
What sustains you? God offers us spiritual food; is it sitting uneaten? Do we take in a balance of grace and correction?
We all have places we keep old things. Are you holding on to things left over from your life before you met God?
Imagine your life has a living room. How is it decorated? How do you represent yourself to the world? And is that image true?
God has given us a set of plans to build our lives: the words of Jesus. But plans only work if you follow them.
God calls us not just to Heaven, but to a grand adventure here and now. Jesus is at work now, and He asks each of us to follow Him.
Why come to Sunday morning church service? Because God told us to. To gain spiritual training. To hear God's leading. And to thank God for all He's done.
Be honest with God. Express your doubts and fears. Give thanks for the good things in your life. We took time to share them today.
Pastor Shep and his wife Jan lived out Psalm 91 during the Yom Kippur War. God protected them, and the words became real.
God is not your enemy. In your rough times, start by trusting Him. Check your perspective. Then worship. (Seriously. Try it.)
What do you need to confess? How will you repent? What will you do with the grace God has given you?
Psalm 112 tells us to fear God and grow in love for Him. To live like Him. To be generous with what we have. To fear no circumstance.
The Psalms remind us not only to find the right path and follow it, but to find the joy of it and remain on it.
If you want a close relationship with God, you must be real with Him. Express yourself honestly, and grow in intimacy.
A weed is just a plant that grows out of place. Some things that aren't strictly sinful hold us back. What's growing in your soil?
Gardens must be watered regularly. Nurture your faith. Set spiritual goals. Seek God deliberately, directly. And do it daily.
Plants need good soil to grow. Do you surround yourself with good things spiritually, socially, and within yourself?
Jesus is the light of the world. Like plants, we need exposure to the Light to live. And we need it directly from Him, constantly.
God is a gardener. He wants to see us grow and flourish. We were each planted with a purpose: to blossom into a unique image of God.
Jesus offers us eternal life, and life to the fullest now. Today, we heard from several people whose lives have been changed by His love.
Herod treated Jesus like a genie. Pilate bent to peer pressure from the crowd, which was led astray by the emotion of the moment.
Even the best of us can turn against God by asserting ourselves over Him. Is God an obstacle to your agenda?
Jesus could forgive His murderers from the cross because the path to peace is surrender to God. Are you holding something from Him?
We find peace in God's calling. As we surrender our identity, God reveals our purpose. As we obey, we find peace and blessing.
For true peace, we must give our identity to God. We must give up the image we made up for the one God intended.
People once covered their heads in ashes in repentance. We don't have forever to turn from sin. Ash Wednesday is just one more chance.
"My peace I give to you." -Jesus, John 19:27
Jesus isn't talking about peaceful circumstances. He means wholeness and peace with God.
The greatest love story of all time is of God's love for us. Jesus proved it by laying down His life for us (John 15:13).
Do we keep the greatest expressions of our love for romance? What if we loved everyone recklessly? What would we give of ourselves?
Love changes us; it's supposed to. It is meant to bring our character closer to God's. Are you guided by love, or something else?
At Crossroads, we take care of the people here, and we reach out to those who aren't. We follow God as He reaches out to the world.
Crossroads is here to teach who God is and how to live because we want to multiply believers, followers, leaders, and churches.
Crossroads is about connecting. God has given His mission to us: to reconcile the world - to reconnect us - to Himself.
Without vision, we lose focus. We miss out on our God-given purpose. That's why we have sought out our vision at Crossroads.
The new year is a great time to examine your life and make changes. Where is God leading you? What is He telling you to change?
If you're looking for love, you're really looking for God. He loved us before we loved Him. He will never give up on us.
We miss joy when we hold our lives back from God, or only pretend to worship Him. Joy comes from following and worshipping God.
The hope of Christmas is that God knows what we're doing, what we feel, where He's taking us. He wants to do the impossible in us.
Jesus was born so that He could sacrifice Himself for us. God came to earth so you could truly know peace.
In the past, now, and into the future, God is with you. Jesus became human to prove it. Do you see Him in your life?
Who is God to you? To a rejected woman, "the God who sees me." (Gen. 16) He sees you, your life, and everything else.
Jehovah... Jirah, the provider. Nissi, my banner, my identity. Raah, my shepherd. Rapha, who heals. Shammah, who is there.
Note: We started the recording late this morning. Pastor Michael had already read Genesis 22, the story of God testing Abraham's faith.
God describes Himself as Adonai: Lord and Master. The truth is, He has given us any rights we have, offensive though it may seem.
In one Hebrew word, we see God as the supreme power, the ultimate being, and the Trinity. Is that how you worship Him?
Note: The recording unexpectedly quit in the middle of Pastor Michael's last point. Our apologies for the abrupt end.
Offering everything she had, the widow (Mk. 12) made a quiet statement. What statement are you making with what you've been given?
You're writing your autobiography every day. Is it worth reading? What's past is merely prologue. What will the epilogue be?
Our flaws don't keep God from loving us. He made us in His own image. He paid for the brokenness that tarnished it. You're special.
We dedicate kids to God, hoping they'll choose Him. Baptism is a declaration of faith, symbolizing rebirth, purity, and anointing.
Sins are like allergies. Their effects may be subtle or intense, but they all drain our vitality. Avoid your spiritual allergens.
You will never know who you touch until you touch who you know. You are God's investment where you are.
The church has two missions: go and teach. Jesus called us to make a difference in our local community.
Ken and Dawn Bishop shared stories from their mission in Albania. God is working through them to spread the Gospel to the world.
Remember who God is, how He works, and what He's done, and you will find hope. Remind one another with stories from your own lives. Because of God's goodness, you can have hope in the future, yourself, and those around you.
We are only camping on Earth. Heaven is our home. Engage in the adventure here, but remember: we won't be here forever.
There's an art to growth. Manage it to grow well. Recognize your past and what needs to change. Then, step forward. (1 Cor. 13:11)
God chose us. Out of love, He gives us freedom to choose Him. And He gives us a chance to lead others to Him by our choices.
Christians are meant to be Humanity 2.0. We are called and enabled to have a better connection to God, and display Him more clearly.
God is the idealized father. He's present with us. He protects us. He sacrifices for us - His pride, His life. He truly loves us.
The Gideons do more than pass out Bibles: they introduce people to Jesus. We heard amazing stories of their ministry this morning.
The local church was meant to be an embassy. It is not only to represent Heaven, but be God's base of operations in the community.
If we ignore God's difficult teachings, we deny ourselves God's spiritual healing. Trust Him, and follow His guidance.
As the brain moves the body, so Christ should move us. Is His signal getting through? Strengthen it by following His call.
Are your reflexes like Jesus'? What is your first, reflexive reaction to pain? To hardship? To good things? To God's promises?
Do you have a pulse? God's heart beats for the stranger and the lost. God's heart is driven by love. Is yours?
Breath is a sign of life and a symbol for connection with God. Is your breath shallow? Is your vision dim? Is life suffocating?
David Garrett from Jews for Jesus shares with us the rich history and symbolism of the Jewish feasts and their relevance to Christianity.
Evangelism is a gift for some, but a command for all. We are to display Jesus' love by being involved in people's lives.
This Easter, remember - Jesus is our teacher and our king; He gave us His mission; and He reaches out to those who doubt Him.
Sin has a cost, and God loved us enough to pay it. The Son endured death and separation from the Father in order to save us.
Jesus wasn't content just to love us. He needed to show us. He sent us to do the same: to live out His revolutionary love.
Did the crowds on Palm Sunday praise Jesus because they wanted something out of it? Do we? Our faith calls for surrender to God.
Everyone matters. Do you remember it when you think about others? Act on it in your daily lives? Join the church in showing it?
Everyone matters to God, to the world, and to the church. Do you recognize your own value, and that of others?
Everyone matters. You are made in God's image, gifted for His purposes, and commissioned as the light of the world by Jesus.
Today we celebrate 50 years of faith, hope and love. Praise God, and thank you to everyone who He used to make it possible!
God holds nothing of His love back from us. Do we hold back from Him, from our significant others, or those around us? Go all in.
God loved us first, so we love Him first. We must recognize the value God gives us, and love ourselves. Then, we can love others.
God designed us to rest. We need the Sabbath to refocus, recharge, and let God take control.
Every day is an investment of God in us. What are you doing with what He gave you? Invest in people, in good, in God.
To be healthy, we must exercise and eat right. Put God's word into action (John 13:17) and be fueled by God's work (John 4:34).
Forgiveness means setting down our baggage. By forgiving others, God and ourselves, we can have the freedom that God bought for us.
With Christ's sacrifice, every moment is a new day. Run with it. Live it out. Accept grace, and give it to all who need it from you.
Paul encourages us to strain forward in our faith. (Phil. 3:11-16) This month, pray: where am I? And where should I be?
Jesus is meant to be experienced. He's our source of life. He changes us from inside. Ironic that he was placed in a feeding trough.
John 1 tells us that Jesus came to earth to give us the choice to follow Him. That is the gift we can give Him this Christmas.
The Wisemen followed the star for two years. What guides your life? Can you be the guiding light for someone else?
God loves you as you are. He's not waiting for you to be ready for Him, to become more religious, or to get your life right.
Jesus was born "to preach good news to the poor... to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners."
Christmas is the fulfillment of God's promise, the birth of grace, and the beginning of the end of evil. It is our reason for hope.
Do we, like the angels, bear witness to what we already know? Do we, like the shepherds, embrace the hope of Jesus' coming?
Thank God for all the blessings, big and small, that He sprinkles through our lives, and remember: nothing compares to the Cross.
Baptism symbolizes the death of the old life, our cleansing, and the rebirth to new life. Church membership is a commitment to the Body of Christ. We celebrate these commitments to Jesus.
God entrusts us with children, His treasures. Child dedications are our commitment to raise them in His name.
Communion reminds us of God's commitment to come back and restore everything. And to love us and work in us now.
In zombie movies, the living dead are out of place. Single-minded. Fearless. All but unstoppable. Does that describe we who are also free from death?
What looks good may not be. What looks hopeless may hide beauty. Even those who annoy us are loved by God.
God is like sushi. He's different. He's dangerous. And He's meant to be taken raw - as He is - not dressed up with what He's not.
Christianity is like chess. Our opening move is important, but not everything. Commit to a plan of attack. Set up to finish well.
Jesus died to introduce us to Peace. We think of Peace as being related to Circumstances, but Jesus wants us to have the real thing.
Faith is your friend with the crazy, unsafe ideas. But he knows God, and what He's up to. How well do you know Faith?
"Grace. It's a name for a girl. It's also a thought that changed the world." -Nichole Nordemann, Grace.
She's a friend we need to make and a friend we should probably be taking to our parties.
In 1962 President Kennedy challenged the nation to enter the "space race"...and to win it! Though it cost money, time, resources & lives, the nation rose to occasion and accomplished the "impossible". Are we still capable of that today? Is the Church capable of that? Are we even interested?
The story of a ruthless enemy who seemingly can't be stopped and will stop at nothing until we are dead. Can this be our story?
Tranformation is key to our story, but what does that mean and what should it look like?
Every summer at least one "superhero" movie comes out. And we flock to them! Maybe it's time we make our own.
Kristin Weibe of World Hope International speaks on combating human trafficking in Cambodia
Mary Magdalene had an encounter that might challenge us all with the post-resurrectde Jesus
The "post-resurrection" Jesus had an encounter with some disciples on the road to Emmaus that we may find a tad too familiar