crossroads

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, eart...

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...

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 pur...

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 T...

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? How will you join him? Five tools for change Zechariah and Elizabeth: Prayer Joseph: O...

  …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...

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. S...

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 sav...

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 c...

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...

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?       Cross...

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...

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...

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 thing...

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. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsj...

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, a...

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. Connect...

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 Three lenses you see though: Your...

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...

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. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney...

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. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: ht...

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,...

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. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouT...

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.