Stay on the train!

Hey everyone,

A couple of weeks ago when Ben preached on "assurance", he used an illustration of staying on the train in relation to our staying in the people of God, even when it's difficult.

I came across this quote from Corrie Ten Boom that next week and want to share it with you...here's a very brief history on Corrie Ten Boom, in case you don't know who she is...

Corrie was a Dutch Christian who helped Jews escape as well as endure the Nazi holocaust during WWII.  Her family was arrested due to an informant in 1944, and her father died 10 days later in prison. A sister, brother and nephew were released, but Corrie ten Boom and her sister were sent to a concentration camp, where her sister died. Corrie wrote many books and spoke frequently in the post-war years about her experiences.

Knowing how CTB had endured so much and remembering the train illustration that Ben used, this quote from article leapt out at me...

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer."

The train illustration is just an illustration.  BUT, I believe it will be a helpful reminder for us in the days ahead.  I also believe that these Advent sermons will be more than a creative way to remember the Christmas Calendar, but are filled with particulars that will keep us "on the train."

Stay on the train!

Brad

Passion of the Manger

Hey everyone,

Annie Wetzel sent me this quote from the Book of Uncommon Prayers by John Donne...It is some really keen insight into the "passion" of the manger as you engage your families and small groups this week.

"The whole of Christ's life was a continual passion; others die martyrs, but Christ was born a martyr. He found Golgotha, where he was crucified, even in Bethlehem, where he was born; for to his tenderness then the straws were almost as sharp as the thorns after, and the manger as uneasy at first as the cross at last. His birth and his death were but one continual act, and his Christmas Day and his Good Friday are but the evening and morning of one and the same day. From the crèche to the cross is an inseparable line. Christmas only points forward to Good Friday and Easter. It can have no meaning apart from that, where the Son of God displayed his glory by his death."

Praying for all of you as you "consume Christmas",

Brad

Advent Readings...

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

First, pray for forgiveness for your pastor for delaying in getting today's Advent reading out... :)

Then, read Exodus 28:12. 

God, through the priesthood, would exercise strength for His people. See in this verse how the names of the people were on the priest's shoulders, as he would bring them to remembrance before God. Discuss how God has been your strength. Confess areas of your life where you are relying on your own strength and not the strength of the Lord.

Spend some time in prayer, confessing your weaknesses, asking God for strength that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for bearing us up daily.

Advent Readings...

Read Galatians 4:4-7.

Consider how God spent centuries slowly and progressively revealing Jesus to the church. God always works in His time and is always faithful to His purposes. Discuss how this affects our approach to sharing the Gospel. Do we trust God's timeline? Do we expect that people should come to a complete understanding of Jesus in a moment?

Pray that God would keep us faithful, never losing hope, always sowing to the Spirit and trusting His timing. Thank God for ALWAYS keeping His promises.

Advent Readings...

Read Exodus 12:1-13.

Consider what it must have been like to be an Israelite, soon to be freed from Egypt. What have you heard from God at this point? As you gather around the Passover meal, what is your hope? Has God proven Himself faithful? What are the similarities between the Passover Lamb and Jesus? What are the differences?

Spend some time in prayer, again, thanking God for His provision. Thank Him for sustaining His people through slavery, and sustaining us through our hardships.

Advent Readings...

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Read Genesis 21:1-7. 

Now Read Genesis 22. 

Discuss the promises that God has made that were to be fulfilled through Isaac. Consider how difficult it must have been for Abraham to obey the Lord. What are some of the thoughts that likely went through Abraham's mind as he climbed the mountain with his son? What was revealed in Abraham's response about his heart? For what does the angel commend Abraham? What are some similarities between Isaac and Jesus? What are the differences?

Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for ALWAYS keeping His promises. Pray that He would help us through our unbelief, that we might trust Him in the manner that Abraham trusted Him. Thank God for providing for us abundantly in Christ.

Advent Readings...

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Read Genesis 9. 

Discuss what it must have been like for Noah and his family after the flood. What goals might they have? What hope might they be holding on to? What would need to be done in the coming weeks and months, once the waters subsided? How was the world different?

Noah is, at this point, the patriarch of the earth. But how do his actions reveal that he is not the awaited sinless offspring? What do his actions reveal about his heart? 

Spend time in prayer thanking God for His patience with us. Thank God that our salvation is not dependent on how good we can be, but how good Christ is.

Advent Readings...

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Read Colossians 2:16-17. To rightly appreciate the substance of Christ, it is necessary for us to spend some time in the shadows of Christ. Now Read Hebrew 10:1 and 8:1-5. What are all of the things mentioned that God calls "SHADOW"? Discuss why God might have chosen to reveal realities about Christ in a very slow and progressive manner. 

Spend some time in prayer asking God to keep you patient and steadfast. Thank Him for His wisdom.

Advent Readings...

Monday, December 3, 2012

Read through Genesis 3. Discuss and consider the effects of sin. In what ways does it separate us from God? What would sinless offspring mean for Adam and Eve? 

Spend some time in prayer confessing your sins, repenting, and thanking God for His provision of One who would cleanse us, redeem us, restore us, and make us new...

Advent Readings

CF,

It was a sweet time this morning getting to start our Advent Series together.  As a part of the series, we will be sending out a family reading each day that coincides with the preaching for the week.  We are hoping that an intentional focus on Christ during this time of year will keep our hearts treasuring that which is most important.  Merry Christmas!

Scott

Sunday, December 2, 2012
Read through Genesis 1.  Discuss as a family the parts of God's Creation that you enjoy the most.  Spend some time in prayer thanking God for being a good, involved, sovereign, and compassionate Creator. 

Children's Christmas Choir sign-up

As a part of our church body's celebration of Advent, our children will be learning the song "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus".  Children who are 4 years through 6th grade may participate in leading the church body in worship on Sunday morning, December 16th.  

Practice will be on Wednesday, December 12th from 6:00-7:00pm. 

Please sign up on the Point to register your children at the following link:

https://cfgreenville.ccbchurch.com/w_form_response.php?form_id=18

Advent Family Resources

We look forward to enjoying Him during this season of eager anticipation and celebration!

What is Advent?

We have spent weeks considering the Old Testament as shadow and Christ as substance.  We have looked at Eve who anticipated a God-child, from her own children, that would restore her back to the garden.  We have considered the generations of God's people, who for thousands of years, looked foward, anticipated, and ached to be restored to their Creator.  Imagine the anticipation.

As we celebrate advent, we are doing just that: waiting, anticipating, expecting, aching, and longing.  But we don’t wait as the world waits.  We do not eagerly anticipate and put our hope in presents, family gatherings, or even the day of celebration itself.  Our hope is Jesus.  And during Advent, we celebrate the fulfillment of the promises of old – that God has given us a way to draw near to Him in and through the person of Jesus.

Advent is what we call the season leading up to Christmas. It begins four Sundays before December 25.  Sometimes that falls on the last week of November and sometimes it is the first Sunday in December.  This year it begins December 2.

Advent means “coming”.  Advent is a time to look back and remember the thousands of years that God’s people waited and longed for God’s salvation.  It is even more of a time to look forward to the second coming of God’s Son.  We ache, long, and wait for Christ with the same anticipation Israel had.  We desire to be with Him for eternity.  So we celebrate Christ’s coming during the Christmas season.

So how do we celebrate rightly?

Come, thou long expected Jesus,

Born to set thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth thou art;

Dear desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By thine all sufficient merit,

Raise us to thy glorious throne.

“Let us find our rest in thee.”  Even when you’re doing good things with your family, if you miss that Christ has come and will come again, you miss the most good that this season has to offer.

In a season God intended for us to rest in Christ, we find ourselves in a world that speeds up.  But we must not loose sight that He is our rest in this season of hustle and bustle.  We encourage you to slow down, and enjoy Him.  Sit with your families, and strip the distractions away from the most important thing this season has to offer:  Christ.

Advent 2012

This year our church family will be engaging Advent together each week in December.  The hope in engaging the Advent season in this way is to awaken the angst of waiting, longing, and yearning for Christ; to feel the ancient angst of Israel and allow that to inform our own anticipation.  Each week we will engage the following themes:

Week 1

Prophecy, Promises, and Patience: The Shadow of Creation to Passover

Week 2

Waiting Faithfully for Advent: The Shadow of Priesthood to Prophets

Week 3

Promises Fulfilled.  Incarnation Implications

Week 4

Waiting Faithfully at Peace with God

Week 5

Waiting Faithfully at Peace with Man

As you prepare for Sunday, we encourage you to read through the Luke account of Christ's birth in Luke 1-2.  In the weeks to come, we will be connecting the preached Word with some follow-up Family Devotional Guides that you can use daily.  We plan to do that as a continuing thread of emails from this message.  It is our hope that you will be able to use these guides to equip and engage your families.  As you think about and plan for the coming weeks, prayerfully consider what you want this season of Advent to be marked by for your family.  What do you want your children to value and remember?  How will you be intentional in guarding their time, attention, and affections so that Jesus is the focus?

Considering Jesus and a Calling...

Crosspoint,

Please see a message below from Clint Stevens...

I am very often encouraged by the lyrics of old hymns that we as a body sing now, and those that I may have sung as a boy. I also will, every now and then, sit down and rummage through some old hymn books my father has given me. I sit, read, and listen to the words these amazing writers have written. Tonight though, I came across a hymn that leapt off the page. It was what I needed to see in song form at that moment.
Until tonight, I had never heard, nor read this hymn.  I am so glad I did. It has been an encouragement to me, and I hope it can be an encouragement to us as a body and where we are in the life of our church.   
 
Hymn #380 – The Church’s One Foundation
 
The church's one foundation, is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation, by water and the Word.
From heaven he came and sought her, to be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
 
Elect from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation, one Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, And to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.
 
Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation, of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest,
And the great church victorious, shall be the church at rest.  
Yet she on earth hath union, with God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion, with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with thee.
 
After reading this hymn I wanted to see how the writer arrived at these lyrics. What scripture did he pull from? The writer references a passage of scripture from the book of Revelation 19:6-9. I love how Christ proves himself to us over and over again.
 
It reads:
            [6] Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
            “Hallelujah!
            For the Lord our God
                        the Almighty reigns.
            [7] Let us rejoice and exult
                        and give him the glory,
            for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
                        and his Bride has made herself ready;             [8] it was granted her to clothe herself
                        with fine linen, bright and pure”—
            for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
            [9] And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited, (See below), to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me,“These are the true words of God.”            
(Revelation 19:6-9 ESV)
 
The word “invited” in verse 9 can also be read as “called”!!! God has been calling us from the beginning…and he will continue until he calls His bride to the table, the marriage supper of the Lamb!!
I pray what both the 3rd verse of hymn #380, and verse 7 from Rev 19 says—that we ready ourselves, all the while in toil, trial, and tribulation, we His church…His bride, rest.  Consider Jesus; he is victorious. Then consider this calling.

Clint Stevens

The foolish, weak, low and despised

Crosspoint Family,

Take a look at this passage (ps......I know how easy it is to jump over the passage and get to “the point”.....but please, really read this passage):

1Cor. 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

1Cor. 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

1Cor. 1:30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

A couple of things to note from this passage.....first, as we considered yesterday it’s formulaic to see “calling” (v. 26) and holiness (“sanctification” in v. 30).  Calling without holiness is a farce.  Holiness without calling.....isn’t holiness at all.  Calling and holiness go together!!  Beauty!!  Second, there’s something REALLY encouraging in this passage regarding holiness (sanctification).  Verse 30 says that Christ Jesus became to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.  He called (v. 26) and chose (v. 27) the least likely to succeed....the weak, the foolish, the low and despised and the things that aren’t to bring down the proud and haughty and the supposedly “well” by becoming what we so desperately lack......our holiness.  God called and chose a bunch of sick folk to make well and in so doing to make the supposedly well “sick” with judgment.  He does this so that no one has any room for boasting.....that is of course unless we’re boasting in the Lord. 

This passage is a veritable feast.  These are just a few observations that connect in some ways to our time in the word together yesterday. 

Something I want to ask of you is to consider your various callings.  Do you have your callings in view?  Your Lazarus call from death to life?  Your call to mission work maybe?  Your call to be a husband or wife?  Your call to full time ministry?  Your call to be a parent?  Your call to serve God faithfully and aromatically in your business?  Your call to be an employee that works as unto the Lord?  Your call to teach your kids at home?   Your call to deacon ministry or worship ministry?  Your call to small group shepherding?  Your call to children’s ministry? 

As you consider your various calls.....all of which fuel us to some degree.......consider if ANY of them have become primary above your call into the family of God, your Lazarus call.  This is REALLY easy to do and know that even a noble call to be a husband or parent or deacon or elder can and will languish if it’s placed as your primary call.  These calls, although important, are to be secondary or tertiary or even further behind your call to be a worshipper of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Whatever you are.....however you serve.....whatever you do......the greatest thing you’ll ever be is a child of the Living God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. 

Enjoy that.  Enjoy Him.  Consider Him.


Ben McGraw

Some idols that result in conflict...

Crosspoint family,

Idols are easy to dismiss if you only see golden calves and ceramic figurines.  But if you realize we can (and sometimes do) make idols of anything and everything, then you realize we’re all idolaters at heart.  The wise folk are the ones who are eager to see and learn what they’re worshipping wrongly.  Here’s an excerpt I found helpful from the Peacemaker book (pg 125-126).  Be sure to look at the references with each potential idol......some really good insight. 

Potential idols of the heart:

Improper desires for physical pleasure, also known as lusts of the flesh, may lead to sexual immorality, overeating, gambling, laziness, or other forms of self-indulgence (1 John 2:15-17; Gal 5:16-21; Eph 4:19)

Pride and the desire to always be right can make us defensive, reluctant to admit our wrongs, slow to accept advice, and quick to find fault with others (Prov 8:13; 2 Cor 5:12; James 3:14; 1 John 2:15-17)

Love of money or other material possessions, which can also appear as envy, can lead to a preoccupation with financial security; tempt us to lie, break contracts, mistreat employees, or compulsively pursue unnecessary things; or make it difficult for us to forgive debts or show mercy to others (1 Tim 6:10; Eph 5:5; Matt 6:24; Luke 2:16-21; 27-31; Acts 5:1-3)

Fear of man may involve an actual fear of what others can do to us (Prov 29:25; Luke 12:4-5) or an excessive concern about what others think about us, which can lead to a preoccupation with acceptance, approval, popularity, personal comparisons, or pleasing others (John 9:22; 12:42-43, Gal 1:10; 1 Thess 2:4)  This idol can make us reluctant to address serious sin, tempt us to gossip or do other things we know are not right, and make us reluctant to admit our wrongs or ask for help, which often prolongs conflict.
 
Good things we want too much.  Some of the most difficult idols to deal with are good desires we elevate to demands, such as longing for love, respect, comfort, convenience, or success.  These things, while beneficial in themselves, can become the source of terrible conflict if we let them take control of our hearts. 

I’m thankful things don’t go well for me when I make an idol of one or more of these things.  I’m thankful I experience conflict with others when I’m worshipping something other than God.  And I’m thankful God uses that difficulty to discipline me and grow me into the image of His good and perfect Son. 

Thankful He’s always working and refining and disciplining and refining His children.

Paul Astorben

Obedience and Growth by Imitation

Crosspoint family,

I friend of mine is into watches.  It seems like the bigger it is, the cooler it is.......to him anyway.  He likes names like Breitling, Rolex, Bell & Ross, Omega and others.  Here’s the funny thing though.....while he likes these top end brands, he doesn’t feel like he needs to actually own a real one.  In fact, he LOVES the fakes?!?!  Feiko, Folex, Fomega, etc.  I don’t know why......but it makes me laugh.  He’s probably the wiser for not spending lots of money on something that just marks off time as well as any cheap old Casio.  Maybe what’s funny to me is how different we are in this regard.  I don’t want to have one unless it’s real and genuine.  I don’t want a knock-off of ANYTHING.  Even if, by chance, it’s well made.  I’d rather not have one at all.  I just won’t accept imitations.
 
That’s OK with watches I guess......for people to have different preferences.  Some like imitations......some don’t......who cares?!?  But when it comes to faith, God is clear that imitations are not only acceptable but encouraged.  You may have noted this passage from yesterday:

Philippians 3:17   Brothers, join in imitating me; and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” 

Paul’s encouraging the Philippians to imitate himself!?!?  And to watch those who walk well.  It seems weird to me.  Maybe because I don’t like imitations.  But when I start really considering how we learn and grow, I realize how important imitation is.  Maybe it’s a lad learning to shake someone’s hand by imitating his dad.  Or a girl learning to be a lady by imitating her mom.  Or a little-leager imitating Josh Hamilton at the plate or Dirk Nowitzki on the court.  The little boy or girl doesn’t have a problem with imitating because they’re not old enough to be proud and pompous yet.  It’s us adults that don’t like to humble ourselves by imitating anyone.  Yet that’s how we learn and grow.  Paul’s encouraging the Philippians to imitate his life and he can do that without being proud because he knows full well anything worthy of imitation in him came from the Lord. 

Here’s how I personalize the concept.  Were I satisfied with being a recreational cyclist, I’d likely ride by myself or with people generally in my ability group.  If though, I want to grow, I need to ride with people better, stronger and faster than me.  I need to ride with the imitatable knowing it’s the only way to improve.  What goes along with that is heavy and regular doses of humble pie, but over time I find myself riding better than I would have had I not humbled myself.  Pride would keep me from getting into cycling gear in the first place.......looking like a tootsie roll on wheels.  Pride would keep me from riding with anyone faster or stronger....ever.  Pride would keep me from being around anyone better than me at anything.  Period.  But humility, on the other hand, will escort me into places and relationships of imitation that will result in growth for the glory of God. 

Here are some other passages reinforcing this important principal:

2Th. 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,

2Th. 3:9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

Heb. 13:7  Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

3John 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

So here’s the encouragement.  Imitate those who lead their families well.  Imitate those who love their husbands well.  Imitate those who parent well......or obey and honor their parents well.  Imitate those who share their faith well.  Imitate those who are salty, bright and aromatic in dark and difficult places.  Imitate those who relentlessly go to God in trial and triumph.  Imitate the imitatable in others........for your growth and for His glory. 

Have a golden day.  :)


Ben McGraw

Consider This...

Is. 41:18    I will open rivers on the bare heights,
                  and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
                  I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
                  and the dry land springs of water.
Is. 41:19    I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
                 the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
                 I will set in the desert the cypress,
                 the plane and the pine together,
Is. 41:20   that they may see and know,
                 may consider and understand together,
                 that the hand of the LORD has done this,
                 the Holy One of Israel has created it.

I read this Monday morning and reflected on Sunday’s message.  I love that God takes everyday common things.....and even in this passage worse than common......bare heights, valleys and wilderness and grows rivers, fountains, pools, springs of water.  And He takes wilderness and desert and plane and plants cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress and pine trees.  Sounds pretty wet and pretty lush to me......smack dab in the middle of the unlikely.
  
And He does all this “that they may see and know....and understand together.....that the Lord has done this!!!”
 
That’s encouraging when I look at the all familiar wilderness or valley or desert or bare height or plane and wonder what can be done with this barrenness.  I love this about our God.  I pray that we’ll be faithful in walking and trusting and worshipping and gathering and drawing near and holding fast and stirring one another up to love and good works IN the mess..............because of what He did with our mess.  (Hebrews 10:14-25)

Ben McGraw

Common and Unimpressive

Crosspoint family,

In the preaching of the message yesterday something came into focus for me.  I realized as the common and unimpressive message was being delivered by a common and unimpressive man about a the Day of Atonement and Christ’s work as a faithful High Priest.......that everything He uses is common and unimpressive.  Aaron washed with common water and offered common farm animals to an Invisible God.  He placed two common hands on the head of a common goat and confessed the death-securing sins of a common people.  Then the common goat was led into the wilderness by another common man carrying away the transgressions of the common people.  Fast forward to Jerusalem 1500 years later, a common carpenter makes the lonely trek through common streets to a common cross of wood and bears the sins of some more common people.  In the eyes of the world, it’s all pretty lame......water, farm animals, a tent in the desert, a ritual that looks like it accomplishes nothing other than making a mess.........and 1500 years later.....a man, some rusty nails and a cross.  This is the hope of the world?!?!? 

It’s so liberating for me to see this in focus.  Because sometimes I listen to the lie that our weekly gatherings are common.....our sermons are common.....the songs we sing are common and unimpressive.......and the supper we take is just a wee piece of bread and an unsatisfying shot of juice.  But then days like yesterday remind and stir me to remember that He uses the common for His glory.  It’s the common stuff that’s the furniture of His house!!  He uses common weekly gatherings to stir His people to BE His people.  He uses the wee supper and song and sermon to remind us and refresh us in the colossal news that we now enter the throne room of the Living God boldly because of Christ’s work. 

Don’t listen to the lies, People of God.  Be about the common...........trusting that in God’s hands nothing is common. 

Ben McGraw

Redeem Summer

Crosspoint,
At this point I believe that most, if not all, of the kiddos are out of school. The family dynamic is shifting into summer mode. I was thinking this morning about a handful of conversations that I had last summer, where I found a number of parents explaining how difficult it was to stay spiritually disciplined during the summer. What they meant was that the flow of life had changed and the schedule was much less rigid, and in result, it was more difficult to be disciplined to take the time to sit with the family to pray and study the Word.

So I write to encourage you this morning: DON'T LET YOUR FAMILY LANGUISH SPIRITUALLY THIS SUMMER!!!
Redeem the summer months. 1 Corinthians 15:58 states, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." Whether we are in the middle of a busy school year or the many opportunities provided by summer, there will always be something competing for our time and attention. But we must not be foolish in regards to our call. I am not writing to encourage to simply make sure you have devotionals. I am writing to encourage you to ENJOY GOD THIS SUMMER! There is wonderful flexibility in the summer months where you can go to different places and spend unique time with your family enjoying God in new ways. Devotionals, Bible studies, prayer times and other spiritual disciplines are all things that we do because we treasure our relationship with God in Christ.

One resource that CF has put together to assist you in this is the weekly Family Devotional. It is written in response to the Word preached the previous Sunday, to help the body continue to walk in the Word, being doers and not hearers only. I have copied this week's Family Devotional below. We are praying for you that your summer is filled with sweet times with family and friends as you enjoy our great God!

J. Scott Sutton


FAMILY DEVOTIONAL:
This week our Kidspoint crew read Philippians 2:1-11 and talked about our humility in response to Christ’s humility in becoming like His brothers.  Below is a devotional to help facilitate family discussion of the preached word.   


Read Hebrews 2:14-18

What does verse 17 tell us about Christ becoming like his brothers?  Did he become sort of like his brothers? (No, he became like them in every way)

Read John 1:1-4 and Isaiah 6:1-5 and talk about what Christ was like before he became like his brothers.   Spend some time talking about the details.   Draw a picture on paper or in your minds.    Describe how His train filled the temple, what seraphim look like and how loud their voices were when they cried holy, holy, holy!   Talk about how the foundations of the thresholds shook and what that might have felt like…  

Now read Isaiah 6:5 and Leviticus 10:1-3 and talk about how different his brothers (humankind) are from His holiness. Talk about that because of sin, these guys are nothing compared to the holiness of Christ.  List some other examples of “humanness” that you have read in the bible (David, Jonah, Abraham, Cain, Peter …   EVERYBODY)   List some examples of “humanness” in our own lives…

Read the following verses and talk about just how human Christ became:

Luke 24:36-40  - had flesh and bones
Luke 2: 48 -51 – was submissive to parents
Mark 6:1:1-6 – was a carpenter, day laborer,  and we was astonished
Matthew 4:1-2 – was hungry
Matthew 21:18-19 – was hungry
John 4:7-8  – was thirsty
John 19:28 - was thirsty
John 13:21 – was troubled
Luke 10:21-24 – was happy
Mark 4: 35-38 – he got tired and needed rest
John 19:26-27 – loved his mom

Now read Philippians 2:1-8 

Humility is an accurate view of who He is and an accurate view of who you are relative to Him. If Christ, in all His holiness, humbled himself to take on humanness in every way, we too should humble ourselves in the way that Philippians 2 describes.  Read Philippians 2:1-8 again.   Thank God for what He has done and pray that that we can become more like Him in humility.

Encouragement this Wednesday

"Since then you've been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.". Col 3:1-2

Setting your hearts and minds on things above is something that takes effort.  It's a conscious decision to enjoy Christ MORE than temporal issues trouble you.  It's a disposition that says "I'll claw at this gospel and saturate myself in this gospel till I fear and enjoy God MORE than I'm troubled by the issue."  When you do this, the trouble and difficulty are still there.......BUT the gravity of the trouble is put in perspective.  Even the worst of trials becomes "light and momentary" relative our blessings in Christ.
Set your hearts and minds on these kinds of things.   It's simple......not easy.

Ben McGraw

In light of what He has done...

Crosspoint Family,

When you think about all God did for the Israelites, it’s really almost comical that they would grumble and complain.  Think about it.  They saw the plagues....the Nile turned to blood, frogs everywhere, gnats, flies, livestock dying, boils, VW sized hail, locusts, darkness......and they heard the wind of the “destroyer” passing over their homes and visiting every Egyptian home taking the firstborn.  Then they saw the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire leading them on their way.  They ate food that fell from the sky.  They walked across the dry floor of the Red Sea.  They heard God speak and felt the earth tremble at Sinai. Complaining and grumbling in light of all of this makes Israel look like a bunch of buffoons, doesn’t it?  Their longing for meat pots and a place to be buried in Egypt and the yoke of slavery makes them look ridiculous...........from here.  From here.....they look like they just don’t get it. 

I ask you to consider, Crosspoint family, what we look like when we complain or grumble or moan or belly-ache in light of what He’s done for us?  In light of the victory won on the shores of our dark chaotic hearts, how then could we complain?  It must be because we lose sight of what He’s really done for us in Christ.  Maybe it’s because we forget our imprisonment to sin and death.  Or possibly because we get so caught up in the trauma of the moment we fail to stick our head above it and see what a Good and Gracious God has secured for us in Christ. 

I urge you to discuss the gospel with your family this week.  The way we keep this reality in view is by intentionally engaging it and I think you’ll find Exodus 14 is a family gospel lob!!! Is the gospel in view IN your trials?  How might you keep it in view?  Are you fueled by gratitude and marvel and wonder that God would care for you with His best and only Son, Yeshua?  These matters are worth discussing and thinking on.  The dinner table is a good place to talk about it.  Long car rides are good too.  In the park, in the den, in the cubicle, in the front yard/back yard/side yard.  I’m praying you’ll connect to these great realities this week.

If the gospel came into focus for you this week for the first time and you need to talk with someone about where to go from here.....send me an email and we’ll set something up.  It’ll be time well spent. 

Ben McGraw

Giddy

Crosspoint family,

I’m excited about what God is putting in front of us right now.......some really MASSIVE and scary and awesome opportunities are coming into focus.  I love that we’re entering into some things that if God is not in it, it will fail.  That sort of “all in” mindset (and heart-set) is the character and nature of faith........”the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.    I’m seeing a blurry dot connection between this conviction of things not seen (ie faith) and “at present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him”.  The Hebrews preacher is putting in front of a little seemingly insignificant house church the call to step out in faith and be the instrument God uses to bring the everything in subjection to Christ!!  What marvelous purpose!?!  What meaning?!?!?  What design?!?!  What identity?!?!  It makes being part of His bride so much more than life improvement but purpose providing and identity shaping.  It makes being part of His church a crazy and indescribable privilege.  I hope and pray some of those things are coming into focus for you and your families. 

Here are the breathing out notes from yesterday:

1.  Pray with the elders about our involvement with Bethel AME in their efforts to connect to those north of downtown.  Pray about like-mindedness in the gospel.  Pray about the possibility of a tutoring ministry.  Pray also about the big dream of a Christian school in that area.

2.  Pray about God’s possible plans for a maternity house at Cleek Retreat.  Pray for a possible role of coming alongside Dixon Baptist Church in this work.

3.  Come alongside the ministry of the Raffa Clinic.  Here are the opportunities:
Client Advocate – a year commitment of 3-4 hours/week
Nurse – a year commitment of 3-4 hours/week
Receptionist – a year commitment of 3-4 hours/week
Class facilitator, prenatal and parenting – teach a class that meets for an hour and a half once a week for 6 weeks.  Commit to teaching three six-week classes/year
Hope mentor – a year commitment of 1-2 hours/week
Men counseling – this position is in the works. 

If you’re intimidated and maybe a little frightened with the thought of serving in these types of positions, that’s normal and really kind of good.  When you step out faithfully and willingly in them, you’ll have a front row seat to God using “the foolish things to confound the wise”.  You’ll know how every preacher and teacher and shepherd and worship leader at Crosspoint feels.  You’ll actually sort of enjoy seeing Him work in spite of you.  :)
Praying for the faithfulness of this body to step out and breath out and respond to the martial call of Hebrews. 


Ben McGraw

Light and funny...

Crosspoint family,

While I enjoy light and funny stuff, I don’t want to LIVE in light and funny.  I don’t want to, at the cost of dealing with serious matters, medicate with funny and stupid stuff because it leaves me numb or insensitive to the truly important.  In God’s grace it seems like God gives me occasion to do or attend a funeral just often enough to remember as it says in Deuteronomy “in due time their foot will slip” and that no matter the mark we leave or how well we avoid thinking about or dealing with death.......the bell will toll for thee.

I read this article today  ( http://video.foxnews.com/v/1566473601001/swan-drowns-kayaker-in-chicago-park?intcmp=features ) and thought about a guy in the prime of life in the middle of an activity that screams “life” taken in a blink and standing before his Creator, ready or not.  This guy was drowned by a swan while kayaking?!?!  By a swan?!?!  Yes, a big white bird!?!?!  It immediately made me think a quote from Jonathan Edwards’ sermon Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God, “the manifold and continual experience of the world in all ages, shows this is no evidence, that a man is not on the very brink of eternity, and that the next step will not be into another world.  The unseen, unthought-of ways and means of persons going suddenly out of the world are innumerable and inconceivable.”

Given this reminder of how we’re all perched on an invisible brink..............I’m especially burdened after Sunday’s message for ANYONE who’s oblivious to Pharaohs' advancing army and the eternal destruction awaiting them.  I’m especially burdened for ANYONE who thinks they can build a bridge of good works over the Red Sea before the army arrives.  I’m especially burdened for ANYONE within earshot of the ministry of Crosspoint who’s missed or who’s assuming the surprise work of Yeshua in delivering an unlikely undeserving people for His own glory......from death to life........from darkness to light......from doom to hope, meaning and purpose.

If any of you are wrestling with questions of faith or want to know how to follow Christ or need help sorting through your faith, please talk with another believer in your life about it.  Or talk with a small group shepherd or deacon.  Or send me an email and I’ll connect you to answers.

This matters........don’t tarry.

Ben McGraw

Freedom!!!

Crosspoint,

In the last few weeks we have been in Hebrews 2:14-18. God has used this time to shape our understanding of dominion, the role of the church, deliverance from Satan and the power of death, and joy in our redemptive and compassionate God who took on flesh... If you were not here on Sunday, I want to strongly encourage you to listen to the sermon... Below is a link...

http://www.crosspointfellowship.us/worship/sermons.php

As we considered Israel leaving Egypt in Exodus 14, we saw a mighty God exercising dominion for the good of His people. But in a short matter of time, Israel revealed their desire to return to Egypt, like a dog returning to its vomit. "You can take the people out of slavery, but you can't take the slavery out of the people..." Please take the time to listen to this sermon and see God's design for us to be able to flourish and faithfully exercise dominion in every aspect of our lives.

Personally, this series of sermons has helped me to continue to anticipate the "not yet", while more fully and more rightly walking in the "already". Have a great day!!!

J. Scott Sutton