CrossPoint Fellowship Messages

God calls Gideon a mighty warrior, not because of anything he had done but because of what God planned to do through him. Gideon only needed to accept his calling and approach it with courage.

• Sometimes, God makes us deal with uncomfortable circumstances to call our attention to how we caused them.
• To pretend that God would work through self-inflicted wounds throughout Scripture - but not do so today - is dishonest.
• God isn’t above helping correct what we corrupted. 
• There is a striking contrast between how we see ourselves vs. how God sees us - and His opinion is the one that matters.
• Knowing that God is capable means that it isn’t sinful to feel like you need reassurance that you are His chosen vessel.

The story of Deborah and Barak shows us that being a leader is dependent on one’s willingness to lead. Deborah stole Barak’s glory, because he lacked faith he could do it alone.

• Our voice should be one of encouragement and accountability.
• Deborah and Barak teach us that the greatest and best among us aren’t self-sufficient but recognize their need for others. 
• Sometimes, people must be reminded that God is on their side and their success is a matter of faith.
• If you aren’t willing to accept God’s blessing, he will bestow it on someone else.

The people failed God and found themselves in hot water. But after crying out to God, He sent help. Then, the people repaid him by repeating their mistakes.

• A successful Christian walk requires us to identify strong leadership and heed its wisdom.
• Not adhering to Biblical leadership has consequences.
• Deliverance follows repentance.
• Deliverance is temporary without perseverance.
• God calls specific people to specific tasks because of their specific giftings. 
• Sometimes when God calls you to something, you gotta deal with some dung.

Judges 1-2 tells the story of Israel’s failure to keep God’s commands and His continued providence despite their failures. It shows us that God is just and gives us many chances to get it right.

• God doesn't take away without providing a way forward.
• There is no aimlessness inside the will of God. Even wandering in the desert has a purpose.
• There is strength in numbers but that relationship should be mutually beneficial. 
• Fear isn't an excuse to ignore the will of God. 
• God isn't afraid to let us experience the natural consequences of our actions. 
• God's promises to you will come to fruition.

Money is a touchy subject, but money is needed for the existence of the Church. We need goods. We need to give. We must. When we give everything to God, everything is God’s. And that includes our bank accounts.

• Serving God with our money starts in the same place that serving God in any capacity does.
• Our Priorities
• Wealth is not evil. The love of wealth is evil.
• Signs that you have a healthy relationship with money:
• 1) Your decision-making process when it comes to spending starts with prayer and thoughtful consideration.
• 2) You are a good steward of what’s been entrusted to you. 
• You can’t give to God what you have to give to a debtor.
• 3) You give from a place of love not a compulsion.
• 4) You have found contentment in the right things.

Each of us has been given a spiritual gift to use in elevating and supporting other saints. I’m not even sure it has to be known to be used, but it’s a mistake to think you don’t have one. This week we discuss how we use those things to improve the family of God.

• God in his abundant grace, has gifted you with the ability to serve your brothers and sisters in Christ. 
• As we use our gifts, it must always be in the service of others, viewing people in the same light as we do our gifts, equals.
• John Doe came to know Jesus because Jane Doe was willing to take out the trash.
• The aim of our spiritual gifts is to love others.

All of us have been blessed with abilities that not everyone has. How can we use those talents to serve God? By using them to serve others.

• You were uniquely created and gifted to serve others.
• As important as having talent is the willingness to use it in the service of God and the education of others. 
• Our service bears witness to gifts instilled in us by the Father and it brings Him glory.

We are called to be good stewards of all God has given us. It starts with 168 hours a week. Take away 56 hours for sleep. That’s 112 hours remaining. How we steward our time is extremely important.

• Seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness is about viewing all choices through his character and trusting the outcome of the decision that is made. 
• Being mission minded with our time leads us to be kingdom focused with our priorities. 
• Recognizing that our time is precious and understanding its value should give us a desire to spend it wisely. 
• Using our time wisely is ensuring that we are prepared when the opportunity to be missional arrives so that we never miss the chance to show others the love of Christ. 
• Service, Witness, Encouragement, Life Change.
• A pitcher does not refill itself but must be topped off to find itself useful again.

Before we can give anything to God, we must give everything to God. A cheerful giver doesn’t give out of compulsion, but out of their love for Christ. He must have all of us.

• Before we can give anything to God, we must give everything to God.
• Discipleship comes at a cost.
• The cost of our discipleship is whatever belongs to our earthly nature.
• What is anything compared to the gift that is Christ Jesus?
• All good things outside of Christ aren't good.
• Why Missions? To be an expression of God's love to the world around us. 
• Being missional comes down to giving the totality of ourselves.

Jesus epitomizes Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. All of these things have been realized through him by his birth, life, death, and resurrection.

• Jesus is the fulfillment of promises made to Abraham. 
• Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob’s final words to his son Judah. 
• Jesus fulfills the promise from God, through Nathan that Messiah would come from David’s line.
• Not only is Christ the fulfillment of old testament promise, but he is the introduction of a new promise. 
• Jesus was the greatest sign God had to offer and the needed proof for those who struggle with faith.