Crossroads

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   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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?   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

Philippians 4:13   When we look at the context of the verse, we start to see exactly what “all things” really refers to. What is this oft misquoted verse really about: It’s about contentment, not accomplishment. It’s as much for God as for you It teaches us humility, not hubris.   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney    

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.”   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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.   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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.   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

Acts 2:1-41   Our testimony can have the same impact and the same power if we share it.    Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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).   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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.   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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.   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

Mark 3:1-6   Jesus disagreed with them Jesus humiliated them Jesus threatened their status quo   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney