Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor What do you have to offer? Drape a serving towel over your arm. John 13:12-15 Following Jesus into radical servanthood is the sure pathway to fullness of life. 1 Corinthians 12:7 1 Corinthians 15:58 Your gifts matter. Your faithfulness matters. Acts 2:42-47 Why watch others change the world when you can join them?
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor What are we supposed to DO with what we believe? Our words shape the relationships that we’re in; the words that are said to us really shape our self-esteem. James 3:1-5 The course of our lives is greatly influenced by the words that come out of our mouth. James 3:5-12 We need to live every single day understanding our potential verbally, to own the consequences of our words and our tone of voice, to take responsibility. Where are the smoldering fires in your life? Galatians 5:22-23 fruit of the Spirit… self-control Viktor Frankl: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. // In that space is our power to choose our response. // In our response lies our growth and freedom.” May the Spirit of God give us grace to bear good fruit – fruit like self-control, so that our words would only bring good into the lives of those around us.
Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus A BIG world of disappointment, regret, and HURT. Genesis 1:3 (NIV) Genesis 1:3 (The Message) ** A Scripture Feast: Genesis 1:2 – shows literal blackness and chaos Genesis 1:4 & Matthew 27:45 – the absence of light; physical darkness Exodus 10:21 & Isaiah 13:9-10 – judgment Job 34:22 – where evildoers try to hide Job 17:13 – a land of darkness Romans 2:19 – intellectual darkness Acts 13:11 – Paul undergoes blindness Matthew 8:12 – place of outer darkness Luke 22:53 – the world’s dominant evil powers Ephesians 5:8 – a state of being (unsaved) Romans 13:12 – evil works Often portrayed in a moral sense. ** Isaiah 45:7; 1 John 1:5; Isaiah 29:16 ** John1:5 = the Best News! ** 1 Peter 5:8 – a roaring lion 1 Corinthians 15:14 John 8:12 Revelation 22:5 Ephesians 5:13 1 Thessalonians 5:5 2 Corinthians 5:20 – God’s ambassadors Matthew 5:14 – the light of the world
Message by Megan Young Genesis 1:1-5 [MSG] John 1:1-9 Out of darkness, Jesus brings the light. - Light gives understanding. Psalm 119:130 2 Corinthians 4:6 - Light exposes motives. Proverbs 20:27 Ephesians 5:7-14 John 1:5 Galatians 5:13 Out of darkness, Jesus brings the light... ...of understanding ...to expose motives - Jesus calls us to walk in the Light Psalm 119:105 John 8:12 - Jesus calls us to BE the Light Matthew 5:14-16 Out of darkness, Jesus brings the light!
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor What are we supposed to DO with what we believe? James 2:1-13 Favoritism: choosing to prefer some people over other people based on my personal preference or prejudice **Where do you show favoritism? "I'm going to love as I want to be loved."
What are we supposed to DO with what we believe? James 1:1-8, 12 Why a test of our faith? < TENSION > Spiritual maturity is about how enduring your faith is. Spiritual maturity… to persevere in your faith when there’s nothing to hang your faithfulness on except the character & faithfulness of God. God is most honored when we maintain faithfulness when there is nothing to hang our faithfulness on other than the person of Who He is The Problem with Pain (C.S. Lewis) Adversity is often the tool that God is going to use to develop your faith and perseverance. Ask for wisdom* specific to your situation. *to see life from God’s perspective. Would you be willing to look at your trials through a different lens?
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor Faith must be applied as directed. James 2:14-26 Can faith that has no works preserve you? It is the application of your faith that preserves you. The thing that makes a difference is what we DO with what we believe.
Message by Dr. Laurel Buckingham 1. Caleb had a faith that did not WAIVER. Numbers 14:8 Numbers 14:24 2. Caleb had a strength that did not WEAKEN. Joshua 14:10-12 Romans 11:29 Isaiah 46:4 3. Caleb had a blessing that was not WASTED. Joshua 15:19 Psalm 92:14 Psalm 71:18
Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus PART 3: A Display Piece, A CD Rack, and An Exotic Gift God has given each of us a purpose. Work for God’s glory and grow other disciples -- OR -- Be a decoration in a church building. “I must discover God’s purpose for my life, and I must fulfill that purpose.” Ever feel like a ship without a rudder?? “More people fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent.” (Billy Sunday) Genesis 1:26-28 The very first thing God wanted us to know about: HE is at the beginning of it all. Genesis 1:1... denies Atheism, with its doctrine of “no God”; and sets the foundation for the entire Bible = God The PURPOSE is “the WHY”. Ephesians 2:10 How do we find our unique purpose? 1, It starts with obedience to God Numbers 9:23 2, Continues as we trust God with our lives Proverbs 3:4-6 Matthew 6:33 3, Becomes clearer as we strive to become more like Jesus 2 Thessalonians 1:11 Romans 8:29 1 John 3:2 What is YOUR Purpose? Are YOU fulfilling it?
Message by Ben Crosthwaite Luke 12:15-21 Watch out! Greed is sneaky. Life does not consist in abundance Memento Mori - Remember you will die. Psalm 90 - Teach me to number my days that I may gain a heart of wisdom. We think we're in control! Questions for reflection: What lies about happiness am I believing? What illusions am I chasing? What do you think your pursuits will give you? Luke 11:9-13
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor God: PRESENCE Is what we’ve been asked to wait for really worth waiting for? “If there is an experience that I long for that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probably explanation is I was made for another world.” [C.S. Lewis] God desires an intimate relationship with us. God has laid the groundwork to win us back. Revelation 21:1-8 When we see God in all of His glory, the opportunity to choose will be over. **The vantage point of history… Revelation 22:17
Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus PART 2: Looking for Jesus Romans 8:1-11 Freedom has been a compelling issue since the beginning of time. 3 Things the Law cannot do to a Christian: 1. It cannot claim you (Romans 8:2) 2. It cannot condemn you (Romans 8:3) 3. It cannot control you (Romans 8:4) In Romans 8, the author writes about Real Freedom, Genuine Freedom, God-Initiated Freedom. In verses 5-11, a contrast between 2 kinds of life: - dominated by a sinful human nature - dominated by the Spirit of God “What would Jesus want me to do?” Never seek REVENGE. Rotten fruit will fall by itself. We are not only set free from SIN; but we are also set free from the LAW. Because we have been set free from the Law, we are held to a higher level of accountability -- all due to our relationship with Jesus. Jesus is asking: “Will YOU live in freedom?” Real freedom begins with Jesus. Jesus is waiting for YOU. Are YOU looking for Jesus?
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor Us: PATIENCE Matthew 16:13-18 It's time for the church! What should we be doing? Matthew 28:16-20... "As you fulfill your responsibility in this age, I will be with you." 2 Peter 3:9 3 Relationships: 1) Intimacy with God 2) Community with insiders 3) Influence with outsiders Let's be the church!
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor Jesus: PAYMENT Jeremiah 31:31-32 400 years… silence. …a baby is born: Jesus 30 more years! Jesus... teaching & miracles... kingdom! Death was the wages that sin had earned. Genesis 2:17 Luke 22:19-20 There is no greater good news in the history of humanity than what God has done through His Son, Jesus the Promised One! The wrong message: “Trust in Christ, and…” We are perfectly righteous because of what Jesus has done. Romans 8:1 Ephesians 1:7 Ephesians 2:8-10 1 Corinthians 1:30 Philippians 1:1 Hebrews 10:10 Colossians 1:22 The good news is about payment, not performance. Our obedience is not so we will be accepted, but because we have been accepted. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 The Gospel is about payment.
Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus PART 1: That's A Funny Name Ecclesiastes 3:4 Psalm 126:2 Proverbs 17:22 Genesis 17:19 Genesis, chapters 15 -21 Some Benefits of Laughter: 1, Helps us not to take ourselves too seriously. 2, Helps the healing process: physically, psychologically, and spiritually. 3, Helps us maintain balance in a crazy world. 4, Helps us (and our surroundings) stay sane. 5, Empowers us to live more into the image of God. “If you have never seen God smile, nor heard Him laugh, you don’t know Him very well.” Great News: The Power of Jesus’ Blood Leviticus 17:11 Matthew 26:28 Luke 22:20 Acts 20:28 Romans 3:25 Romans 5:9 Ephesians 1:7 Colossians 1:20 Hebrews 9:14 Hebrews 9:11 Hebrews 10:19 Hebrews 13:12 1 Peter 1:18-19 1 John 1:7 Revelation 1:5 Revelation 7:14 Revelation 12:11 Revelation 5:12 **Turn your eyes upon JESUS!
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor Zedekiah: PRIDE 2 Chronicles 36:11-16 When the creature unplugs from the Creator, we make self-destructive decisions. Jeremiah 52:4-11 **Jeremiah 21:2 2 Chronicles 36:19-23 God disciplines His disobedient children... not to pay them back but to win them back. The only way to avoid the discipline of God is to surrender to the Spirit of God.
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor Life is a series of restarts. Some people stop starting. We stop starting when we stop believing. Ecclesiastes 1:18 Great life stories get written when you believe. The BEST life stories get written when you believe AGAIN! The church should be the best place on earth to believe again, hope again and trust again. With God, what we will see comes from nothing we currently see. Hebrews 11 [NLT] We lose hope when we project past failures onto future situations. WHAT in your life needs a restart? WHO in your life needs a restart?
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor 500 years Moses > Joshua > judges > King Saul > King David David: PASSION God is always allowing us to decide how we want to relate to Him. Passion: emotion // distractions Psalm 36:5-7 a picture of God PIC 1 A.W. Tozer: “The most important thing about a person is what comes to their mind when they think about God.” PIC 2 We are tempted to define what God is like based on our ability to interpret life circumstances. God is loving, faithful, righteous, and just. God is worthy of our sustained passion. What does your God look like?
Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus False Evidence Appearing Real **Face Everything And Rise!** Matthew 14:22-27 Fear is a very normal response to an impending situation, either real or imagined. Matthew 6:25-34 Anxiety, in medical terms = a mood state. A normal human emotion that everyone experiences at one time or another. John 14:1, 27 Toxic worriers: paralysis by analysis. Anxiety is “our” keeping, or maintaining, control of the situation. “Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it arrives.” See Luke 12:22-34 Philippians 4:6-7
Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor Moses: PASSOVER Abraham > Isaac > Jacob > Joseph > Egypt> 400 years > Moses > I AM Exodus 11:9 Exodus 14:17-18 Exodus 12:12-13 Exodus 19:20 God gave the Law to a group of people who were already in a relationship with Him. Exodus 20:1-3 > That’s the pattern of a relationship with God. >>“I am the God who initiates relationship.” Law was never given as a means to get in to relationship with God. There’s something in us that wants to earn our way. Are you trying to earn God’s acceptance?… “God, I accept your acceptance of me.”