Crossroads Church of God, Lima OH

John 1:1-4, 14 NIV Philippians 2:9-11 NIV   Christ: anointed one His Son: eternal Our Lord: final authority   Implications        Kingdom of God is not in danger        We adjust our lives to Jesus

John 3:16 NIV 1 John 4:8b-13 NIV John 4:34 NIV John 5:30 NIV John 6:38 NIV Genesis 1:1 NIV Genesis 1:26-27 NIV Quote by Brennan Manning “The Furious Longing of God” “The foundation of the furious longing of God is the Father who is the originating Lover, the Son who is the full self-expression of that Love, and the Spirit who is the original and inexhaustible activity of that Love, drawing the cre...

I believe in God the Father Almighty --- creator of heaven and earth… Genesis 1:1 He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty… Mark 16:19 From there He will come to judge the living and the dead… 2 Timothy 4:1a Creed: a short, carefully worded statement about a core belief Deeply Scriptural Trinitarian Tells a redemptive story Becomes an anchor and guide

Matthew 7:3-5 NIV Matthew 18:15-17 NIV Matthew 5:23-24 NIV Known by love: a reconciling people Pray for the good in others Examine yourself Discern the need to confront Confront directly Initiate reconciliation

Quotes: Everyone needs someone to walk around in their soul . - Randy Reese The myth of a solitary Christian making his/her own way alone to paradise flies in the face of everything the Bible teaches about the Church as the body of Christ. - David Benner The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of you being a growing person in Christ . - Henri Nouwen Scripture: Proverbs 27:17 NIV Deutero...

John 1:14 NIV Philippians 2:6-8 NIV Luke 19:1-10 NIV Colossians 1:15-17 NIV God himself crosses boundary lines Jesus sees people over positions Jesus embraces discomfort Jesus is prepared Trust in the one who holds all things together

2 Corinthians 5:14-16 NIV 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 NIV 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NIV 1 Peter 3:15 NIV Spiritual Conversations Love of God compels us Love of God makes us new God makes His appeal through us The Practice of Invitation Set apart Christ as Lord Pray with eyes open Make the invite

John 13:35 NIV   We often sin alone, but we heal together.  – John Ortberg   Acts 2:42-47 NIV   Practice of Christian Fellowship Word and Spirit Corporate and Personal Holiness and Hospitality Communal and Missional   Ways to begin being  Known by Love Come early for coffee Pay attention to the Spirit’s lead Join a Dinner Round   When God gives a gift, he often wraps it in a person.  – Bill Lane

Transmit Hope: proclaiming and demonstrating the reality of Gods’ Kingdom Acts 1:8 NRSV Mark 10:42-45 NIV John 13:1-5 NIV  John 13:34-35 NIV Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. - Thomas Merton   Not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with great love … - Mother Theresa Serving to demonstrate the Kingdom    Kingdom serving...

You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving. – Amy Carmichael (1867-1951) Matthew 6:19-34 NIV Practice of Generosity Giving is a heart issue Recognizes the provision of God An act of resistance ACTS 20:35 NIV Beginning Steps Start where you are Be consistent Grow in sacrificial giving

Psalm 119:11 NIV 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV Psalm 1:1-3 NIV Quote by Brian Zahnd: God is like Jesus. God has always been like Jesus. There has never been a time when God was not like Jesus. We have not always known what God is like but now we do. Role of Scripture in a life of faith Guides us Reveals the heart of God Offers correction   How Scripture can be formative Regular saturation Me...

2 Peter 1:3-8 NIV Revelation 4:11 NIV Gathering Supports Spiritual Growth: Grounds us in the family of God Shaped by the story of God Priorities are reshaped   How we Gather Matters… Come expectantly Primarily as participant Cumulative not instantaneous

John 10:10 NIV  Galatians 5:19-21 NIV The story of the human race is not just one of universal disappointment but one of inextinguishable hope. (John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted ). Galatians 5:22-23a NIV Matthew 11:28-30 NIV John 14:12 NIV Dangers That Inhibit Growth: Assume it is impossible Spiritual ‘trying’ Life as an Apprentice: Presumes transformation is needed Jesus believes in us...

1 Corinthians 15:14 NIV John 20:19-23 NIV Jesus is present He speaks peace He shows His wounds He calls us to His mission Empowers us through the Holy Spirit Authorizes us to do His work

Special Guest from Chosen People Ministries: Efraim Goldstein

John 6:14-21 NIV John 18:36 NIV Psalm 139:1-6 NIV Romans 5:8 NIV Escapes from becoming king Divine knowledge Approaches by walking “It is I" Greater Realities         God above all         Desire for influential relationship Invited to...         Surrender        Give attention         Transformation

John 6:1-13 NIV John 20:30-31 NIV John 6:35 NIV Philippians 4:19 NIV John 10:10 NIV Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV Psalm 23:1 NIV Passover Feast was near Gave thanks and distributed 12 baskets of bread leftover Greater Realities          God’s Provision           God’s abundance Invited to...         Open-handed Preparation         Sustainable life in his presence

John 2:1-11 NIV John 1:14 NIV Revealed His Glory         Glory seeks relationship         Glory is the hope for renewal Our involvement         Jesus was invited         Courageous obedience

Quote by David Benner: The Christian spiritual journey is a journey we take with others.  Each of us must take our own journey, and for each of us that journey will be unique. But none of us is intended to make that journey alone. The myth of the solitary Christian making his or her own way alone to paradise flies in the face of everything the Bible teaches about the church as the body of Christ (...

Genesis 6:5 NIV Psalm 51:10 NIV 1 John 1:9 NIV An Overview Why did the flood happen? Avalanche of sin What happened in the flood? Removal of protective barrier What are we to make of this? Trust in the Covenant of God Consider the trajectory of your life Pray with confidence

Genesis 3:8 NIV Romans 4:7 NIV Genesis 4:4b-7 NIV Mark 10:43-45 NIV Grace Outruns the Avalanche of Sin Relationship with God Adam/Eve  hide  from God Relationship with One Another Power replaces servanthood Glimpses of Grace God covers shame God contends for our soul Invitation to respond Come out of hiding (confession) Offer hospitality

Genesis 3:1-10 NIV Strategy of the enemy Isolation Operate in Disguise Twist God’s Words True Agenda: distrust the goodness of God Invitation to Respond Make Community a Habit Make Praise a Habit

Genesis 2:8-17 NIV Harmony in life hinges on one command… Not unfair or unreasonable God determines the rules Command is for our good Reveals human dignity Prohibition is not knowledge The command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would then mean that Adam and Eve were not to aspire to that maturity possessed only by God, whereby they might consider themselves to be independ...

Genesis 1:26-31 NIV Image-Bearer of the Creator        Represent the Creator to the world        Reflect the Creator’s nature        Relational beings Suggestions of Response         Receive the dignity of being an image-bearer         Marvel at the dignity of others         Step into community

Genesis 1 NIV Creator Creates Creation         Out of nothing          By speaking          In a Divine way          Creation is good What are we to do?          Pay attention to beauty          Pray expecting God’s ability to create out of nothing