Crossroads Church of God, Lima OH

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 (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). We are parts of one body as we follow Christ on the journey of personal transformation. We cannot make the journey apart from spiritual companions and community. Are we paying attention? 1.) A guiding assumption: God is already up to something good in your life, in your community, and in the world… A simple definition... Mentoring is a companionship in which two or more persons intentionally come together to pay attention to God’s activity in their lives. Who noticed you? 2.) We have a tremendous need to be seen and recognized. Jesus’ relational way with others 3.) Jesus is “a first-class noticer” of others. (Mark 5: 24-34, Luke 19: 1-19; 24:13-35) Who are you walking with? 4.) There is no shortcut or substitute for life-upon-life when it comes to learning to follow Jesus… Quote by Keri Wyatt Kent: If we are led by the Spirit, we will increasingly imitate God and become people who are filled with “coming-alongside-ness.” That is, we listen to God and people and then come into their story, get involved with them enough that we can point out where God is in their story and allow them to do that for us as well. When we are full of coming-alongside-ness, we will be willing to walk with people through their pain; we will listen before we try to fix. We will be with people. How to become a mentor?: amentoringway.org

Genesis 6:5 NIVPsalm 51:10 NIV1 John 1:9 NIVAn OverviewWhy did the flood happen?Avalanche of sinWhat happened in the flood?Removal of protective barrierWhat are we to make of this?Trust in the Covenant of GodConsider the trajectory of your lifePray with confidence

Genesis 3:8 NIVRomans 4:7 NIVGenesis 4:4b-7 NIVMark 10:43-45 NIVGrace Outruns the Avalanche of SinRelationship with GodAdam/Eve hide from GodRelationship with One AnotherPower replaces servanthoodGlimpses of GraceGod covers shameGod contends for our soulInvitation to respondCome out of hiding (confession)Offer hospitality

Genesis 3:1-10 NIVStrategy of the enemyIsolationOperate in DisguiseTwist God’s WordsTrue Agenda: distrust the goodness of GodInvitation to RespondMake Community a HabitMake Praise a Habit

Genesis 2:8-17 NIVHarmony in life hinges on one command…Not unfair or unreasonableGod determines the rulesCommand is for our goodReveals human dignityProhibition is not knowledgeThe 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 independent of him and able enjoy a fulfilled life by taking matters into their own hands and making their own decisions for their future welfare. - Daniel Fuller Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,My memory, my understandingAnd my entire will,All I have and call my own.You have given all to me.To you, Lord, I return it.Everything is yours; do with it what you will.Give me only your love and your grace.That is enough for me.Amen.(St. Ignatius of Loyola)

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

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

1 John 4:8b-12 NIVRomans 5:8 NIVLove of God … … sees clearly… intervenes… is complete… honors freedom… becomes alive in us 

Luke 2:8-20 NIVGalatians 5:22-23a NIVPsalm 16:11 NIVPsalm 51:12 NIVNehemiah 8:10 NIV1 Chronicles 16:27 NIVPsalm 23:4 NIVEcclesiastes 7:16 NIVZechariah 8:5 NIVJoy is a pervasive sense of well-beingJoy is connected to the Presence of GodWe are to pursue JoyDon’t take yourself too seriouslyPlayCreateA trusting relationship with God

John 1:4-5 NIVJohn 8:12 NIVIsaiah 9:2, 6-7 NIVWay of HOPEWonderful CounselorMighty GodEverlasting FatherPrince of Peace

John 1:4-5 NIVHebrews 10:23 NIVHebrews 10:18-24 NIVPhilippians 1:6 NIVThe Way of HopeWe are cleansedGod is faithfulHope is contagious

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIVProverbs 11:25 NIVImportance of Generosity     Time      Abilities      ResourcesChoose gratitude before difficult situations

1Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIVPhilippians 1:3-8 NIVPhilippians 1:12-14 NIVPhilippians 3:13-14, 20-21 NIVIt is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful…Grateful for peopleGrateful for circumstancesCaptivated by the love of God

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIVPhilippians 4:11-13 NIVRomans 12:10 NIVColossians 3:2-4 NIVGratitude BlockersEnvyGreedEntitlement"To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.  Every breath we draw is a gift of his love.  Every moment of our existence is a gift of his grace.  Gratitude takes nothing for granted.  It is never unresponsive.  The grateful person knows that God is good not by hearsay, but by personal experience.”  - Thomas MertonDiscipline of ContentmentBegin with praiseBe with othersLive with eternity in mind

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIVPsalm 103:1-22 NIVPraise rightly honors GodPraise holds onto hopePraise reminds us of God’s work

Zechariah 1:2-3 NIVMatthew 5:16 NIVZechariah 4:6 NIVGalatians 5:6 NIVInvitation to…A trusting relationshipDo good worksBe empowered by the Holy SpiritHow have you loved yourself, others or God that requires you to trust God more?

Genesis 12:2 NIVHaggai 1:13 NIVJohn 20:21 NIVMatthew 10:16 NIV Why: To restore and reconcile a broken and lost creation to the creatorHow: Wise and InnocentWhat: Depends on your context

Deuteronomy 7:7-8 NIVJohn 15:16 NIVRomans 8:38-39 NIVHaggai 2:9 NIVChosenBelovedTo live from not for

Patriarchs -> Slavery -> Exodus -> Judges & Kings -> Temple -> Divide -> Exile -> Temple Destroyed ->Re-build the Temple Haggai 1: 2-7 NIVMatthew 6:31-33 NIV 4 Main Motivators      Fame      Wealth      Pleasure      Control 3 Intentional Reminders     Identity     Mission     Calling

Scripture:Matthew 6:9-13 NLTMatthew 7:0-11 NIVMatthew 21:22 NIVJames 5:15 NIVMatthew 7:7-8 NIVPhilippians 4:6 NIV Quotes:Petitionary prayer should always remain the primary mode of prayer because we never can outgrow our dependence on God. Just as we long for our own children to share with us the petty details of their day at school, so God longs to hear from us the smallest matters of our lives. It delights him when we share. - Richard Foster, PrayerLove loves to be told what it knows already. It wants to be asked what it longs to give. - PT Forsyth, Soul of PrayerThen there are times when our prayers are simply self-contradictory, a “grant me patience” quickly kind of prayer. And finally sometimes our prayers if answered would do us in. We simply are not yet prepared for what we have asked. It is God’s grace that prevent our prayers from being answered. God withholds his gifts from us for our good. Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack, improving cholesterol levels and sleep, and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress, and research points to an increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age. “There is an enormous physical burden to being hurt and disappointed,” Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health. - HopkinsMedicine.orgPoints:Give us what we need todayForgive us our sins as we forgive othersDeliver us