Crossroads

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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8

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 The touch point The Service Symbolic Focused worship The exercise of the saints An exploration of faith An agent of change 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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8

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: Obedience Mary: Faith Magi: Perseverance Shepherds: Pursuit   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8

 …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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&

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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8

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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8

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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8

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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8  

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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8

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. Connect with us Crossroads Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CrossroadsFairOaks?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=29f93fab-45f2-4463-9a37-f4ad802326f8      

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 C

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

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.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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

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

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 insecurity; Your desires; Your pain You’re a runner Genesis 3:8   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 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. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney