10/27/19 - Why exactly did Jesus come? It's question everyone who follows Jesus should know. Yet many of us come to Jesus for one thing that is not the thing we need. What do we really need? Listen in to hear...

MESSAGE NOTES:

Mark 2:1-17 ESV

1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he said to the paralytic-- 11 "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"

13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

Why did Jesus come?

“It is finished.” What was finished? What had Jesus completed? How did he know?

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” - Jesus, Mark 2:17

“[Jesus] came into the world to save sinners.” - Paul, 1 Timothy 1:15

“I came to seek and save the lost.” - Jesus, Luke 19:10

“Jesus says, “You see, if you have me, I will actually fulfill you, and if you fail me, I will always forgive you. I’m the only savior who can do that.” But is is hard to figure that out. Many of us first start going to God, going to church, because we have problems, and we’re asking God to give us a little boost over the hump so that we can get back to saving ourselves, back to pursing our deepest wish. The problem is that we’re looking to something besides Jesus as savior. Almost always when we first go to Jesus saying, “This is my deepest wish,” his response is that we need to go a lot deeper than that.” - Tim Keller

How are you responding to life?

“If someone says to you, ‘The main problem in your life is not what’s happened to you, not what people have done to you; your main problem is the way you’ve responded to that’ -- ironically, that’s empowering. Why? Because you can’t do very much about what’s happened to you or about what other people are doing -- but you can do something about yourself. When the Bible talks about sin it is not just referring to the bad things we do. It’s not just lying or lust of whatever the case may be -- ...

10/20/19 - Each fall millions of Americans celebrate Halloween but how many of us really understand what we're celebrating? Halloween is really a celebration of death and evil. Many are oblivious to what is going on in the spiritual realm around us - both good and evil. Jesus not only shows us how to view the spiritual forces of evil, but how to have authority over them. In fact, Jesus says that we will do the things he did and even greater things!

MESSAGE NOTES:

I love and hate this time of year

Halloween: What are you celebrating?

Jesus’ kingdom of light versus Satan’s kingdom of darkness

Mark 1:21-28 ESV

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Here’s some things we need to wrestle with in this passage:

Jesus is not a good moral teacher - he teaches with God-given authority & power

Unclean spirit/demon talks to Jesus

Demons know who Jesus is: “the Holy One of God” and that Jesus can destroy them

Jesus casts a demon out of a person 

We live in a city where people chant, “Go demons!” at high school sports events

What is a demon? 

Fallen angel working with Satan to destroy, deceive (Isaiah 14:12-20; Ezekiel 28:12-15;  John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

Demons can oppress people yet Jesus has authority to cast demons out (Mark 1:21-28; Mark 1:32-34; Mark 5:1-20 for example)

Jesus triumphed over Satan/demons on the cross (Colossians 2:15)

Jesus gives his followers authority/power over demons (Mark 3:14-15; Luke 10:17-19; Ephesians 6:10-18; Acts 16:16-18; 19:11-12)

Jesus will ultimately defeat Satan/demons and eternally punish them (Revelation 12:10-12, Revelation 20:10)

Kings have authority/power they exercise in their kingdoms

authority - absolute power and freedom of God to act

Romans 13:1 - “All authority comes from God…”

GOD THE FATHER

reveals his authority in JESUS (Matthew 28:17-20)

demonstrates his authority in HOLY SPIRIT 

gives authority through Jesus to his DISCIPLES - we have power to heal sick, raise dead, cast demons

Mark 3:14-15 ESV - And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. 

Matthew 9:35-10:1 ESV - And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

    “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.”

10/13/19 - In elementary school I chose to be the referee for playground kickball games. Rather than play, I was on the sidelines. That's how many are with their faith. We watch others follow Jesus but we don't jump in and experience walking with him our selves. Jesus is calling. Will you get in the game?

MESSAGE NOTES:

Mark 1:16-20 ESV

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

• Jesus sees you

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

• Jesus is calling you to follow him

“You can’t have a relationship with Jesus unless he calls you.” - Tim Keller

• Jesus is calling you to purpose

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

What’s my response? 

• Hear his call

Isaiah 55:3 - Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live

John 10:4 - When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Revelation 3:20 - Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

• Leave/sacrifice

Luke 14:26 - "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” - Jesus

Mark 8:34-38 - "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?"

• Walk like Jesus

1 John 2:6 - whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

How do you follow someone? - do what they do: 

Jesus knew Scriptures

prayed regularly

gathered followers

healed sick

cast demons

taught others truth

loved people supernaturally

sacrificed himself for others

Jesus calls us to follow him by dying to live

Don’t watch others follow Jesus - get in the game!

Sunday Expectations: “So here’s what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 MSG

 

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Where are you on the kickball field of faith: refereeing, sidelines watching, on the bench, in the game? Why?

2. What does/did Jesus' call to you look like?

3. What's keeping you from getting more in the game?

4. Which thing that Jesus did do you want to do more of this week?

SUNDAY'S WORSHIP MUSIC PLAYLIST:

For more about Crossroads Church Glenwood visit www.ccglenwood.com.

10/6/19 - Everyone loves the idea of a storybook kingdom: kings on royal thrones, beautiful majestic castles, brave knights defeating dragons and rescuing princesses. The idea of kingdom comes from God himself who rules and reigns not an earthly kingdom but a supernatural one. Are you living in God's Kingdom or ushering in your own kingdom by trying to be king?

MESSAGE NOTES:

Last week: Jesus is King - he became King through his sacrifice/death

This week: Jesus is ushering in his Kingdom, are you?

Read Mark 1:8-15 ESV

“The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” - Jesus, Mark 1:15

God’s Kingdom = God’s kingly rule or sovereignty

Jesus says the Kingdom is like: a farmer (Matt. 13:24), a seed (Matt. 13:31), a yeast (Matt. 13:33), a treasure (Matt. 13:44), a pearl merchant (Matt. 13:45), a fishnet (Matt. 13:47), an employer (Matt. 20:1), a king inviting people to a marriage feast (Matt. 22:2), and ten young women (Matt. 25:11)

3 Views of God’s Kingdom:

Kingdom “Whatever” (ignorant, apathetic, indifferent to Jesus’ Kingdom, essentially: “I am king”)

Kingdom Coming (Future hope - Jesus will be King when he returns) poor understanding of “Your Kingdom come…”

Kingdom Now & Not Yet (current reality (Jesus is King now) and future hope (Jesus’ Kingdom will be fully realized when he comes back) WORD + SPIRIT

Kingdom Now: Jesus provides way for supernatural ministry, overcoming evil, & spreading of Gospel through Spirit-empowered church

Kingdom Not Yet: When Jesus returns, God’s Kingdom is fully realized and sin, sickness, suffering and Satan are defeated. We are to live and minister within healthy tension of the Kingdom “now” and the Kingdom “not yet.”

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 NLT - After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, "God has put all things under his authority."

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 NLT - We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV - Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How are you ushering in God’s Kingdom?

Grace - Have you repented & are you believing in the true Gospel: Following King Jesus, who is victorious over sin, death & Satan, is the only way to God? 

Gospel = “news that brings joy... history-making, life-shaping news, as opposed to just daily news”

Growth - How are you making Jesus Lord of your life (in all areas) & how are you becoming more like Jesus?

Greater Things - How are you ushering in Jesus’ Kingdom with his presence and Holy Spirit power?

We pray: “Your Kingdom come…” (Matt 6:10) Let’s usher in your Kingdom now (through church) and when you return (returning King)

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How has the Gospel changed your life?

2.

9/29/19 - How do you know someone is really who they say they are? In an age of relativism, you could make up your answer or you could look to a reliable source. To know who Jesus is, we have to look at the Bible, the source of information on who he is. So just what does the Bible say?

MESSAGE NOTES:

We have an identity crisis today: Who am I? Who is God?

relativism - the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute. In other words, I can make up whatever truth I want.

Who is Jesus? Jesus claims to be the Word of God (John 1), then shouldn’t we look to the Bible for what the Bible says about who Jesus is?

Read Mark 1:1-15 ESV

Call of the King: 

Jesus = God Saves

Christos (Greek) = anointed royal figure / Messiah

Son of God = Messiah + God himself

Lord (kyrios)

Jesus Christ → Jesus, the Anointed King & Messiah

Jesus is Savior & LORD - what does lordship mean?

Here's some of what the Bible says about who Jesus is:

Genesis 12:1-3

2 Samuel 7:12-16

Micah 5:2

Isaiah 9:6, 11:1

Jeremiah 23:5-6

Matthew 2:1-2

Luke 1:32–33

Mark 8:29, 9:2-8, 11:8-10, 15:39

John 19:19-22

1 Timothy 6:13-16

Revelation 19:16

Liar, Lunatic, or Lord?

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

So who is Jesus? If Jesus is Lord, what does that mean for you?

Jesus calls us to follow him by dying to live

Calling - How are you responding to Jesus’ calling initially to come to a saving faith & on-going obeying him as Lord?

Sacrifice - How are you laying your life down to love Jesus and others?

Triumph - How are you triumphing with Jesus now and in the future? (kingdom now & not yet)

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How do you know who you are? What provides evidence of the real you? Explain.

2. Who do you say Jesus is? What evidence do you have that backs up your explanation?

3. If Jesus is really Lord, what does that mean for your life? How you live?

4. What do or think differently this week as a result of knowing that Jesus is Lord?

SUNDAY'S WORSHIP MUSIC PLAYLIST:

For more about Crossroads Church Glenwood visit www.ccglenwood.com.

9/22/19 - Tag teaming this week, Neil Bishop and Dan Kail share personal stories of how the Good News of Jesus has touched their lives. How has the Good News of Jesus changed your life?

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In your own words, how would you explain the Gospel to someone?

2. What fear(s) has God saved you from? What fear(s) do you still need freedom from?

SUNDAY'S WORSHIP MUSIC PLAYLIST:

For more about Crossroads Church Glenwood visit www.ccglenwood.com.

9/15/19 - American Idol is one of the most popular TV shows ever. Ever wonder why? Perhaps it's because we all long to be associated with a superstar of royal status. All of us, in fact, have made something in our lives king. Who is king of your life?

MESSAGE NOTES:

American Idol - the most popular TV show ever; revolutionized audience participation (text voting) - why? People want to be part of choosing their next king!

American Idols - “Is it that a 12-inch tall piece of wood or bronze can do something bad to us? Or is it that we do something awful to ourselves when we place adoration and attention that should go to God in other things? When it comes to idolatry, the danger is not in an item… it is in us.” - Ed Seltzer

Who is king of your life?

How does someone identify their idols? “Look at your daydreams. When you don't have to think about something, like when you are waiting for the bus, where does your mind love to rest? Or, look at where you spend your money most effortlessly. Also, if you take your most uncontrolled emotions or the guilt that you can't get rid of, you'll find your idols at the bottom. Whenever I hear someone say, "I know God forgives me, but I can't forgive myself," it means that person has something that is more important than God, because God forgives them. If you look at your greatest nightmare—if something were to happen that would make you feel you had no reason to live—that's a god.” Tim Keller

Idolatry is anything that either disproportionately consumes your thoughts, actions or resources, or that take your focus off of God.

Does the world revolve around me or God?

Trinity = Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit loving, serving and glorifying each other

“You shall have no other gods before me.” - God, Deuteronomy 5:7

We’re sinners who need a savior

Gospel of Mark

Author: John Mark (co-worker of Peter & Paul)

Source: Peter’s eyewitness account

Date: 65-70 A.D.

Theme: Son of God, King Jesus was called to sacrifice himself and triumph over sin, death and Satan

Know As: “The Action Gospel”

Mark 8:34-38 ESV - And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Life With King Jesus

Calling: How are you responding to King Jesus’ call to be your Savior & to obey him as Lord?

Sacrifice: How are you laying your life down to love King Jesus and others?

Triumph: How are you winning the battle with King Jesus now and in the future?

Jesus is saying to reign with him, you need to lay down your life and allow him to pick it up

Jesus calls us to follow him by dying to live

Challenge: 

Who is king of your life? Really?

Read the Book of Mark - see where it says Jesus is King

Video: Gospel of Mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVRixfameGY&feature=youtu.be

LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What do you daydream about or what consumes your thoughts when you have a few moments to think?

2. Who or what would you say is really king of your life? Why?

3. When Jesus called you to follow him did you count the cost of Jesus being your Savior and your Lord? Why or why not?

4. What does sacrifice or dying to yourself look like?

11/20/16 - Oftentimes a single event in our lives causes us to compromise our freedom and sets us on a course of bondage. Brent Phillips challenges us to walk in the total freedom that comes only from Jesus Christ. Jesus came to set the captives free. He wants us to live the abundant life we were meant to live.

Here are some verses and questions from Brent's message:

Freedom starts with honesty. "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." - James 5:16

What event have you allowed in your life to set the ceiling on who you can be and what God can accomplish through you?

"A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." - John 8:35-36

MESSAGE: Are you following the real Jesus  | Brent Phillips | November 20, 2016 | Crossroads Church Glenwood

http://crossroadsglenwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/20161120CCGMessageQ.m4a

MUSIC: Sunday 11/20/16

Forever – Chris Tomlin

10,000 Reasons – Matt Redman

You Will Remain - All Sons & Daughters

Lion & the Lamb – Bethel Music

Deliver Me - David Crowder

For more on Crossroads Church Glenwood visit: www.ccglenwood.com.

10/30/16 - What do you do when tempted? Do you give in or fight? At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, the devil tempted him three times with lies about who he is and who God is. Jesus shows us how to fight these temptations and conquer lies with the truth.

MESSAGE: Gaining Victory in Jesus Over Temptation & Lies  | Tim O’Keefe | October 30, 2016 | Crossroads Church Glenwood

http://crossroadsglenwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/20161030CCGMessage.m4a

MUSIC: Sunday 10/31/16

Cornerstone – Hillsong

Hello My Name Is – Matthew West

Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle

Break Every Chain – Jesus Culture

For more on Crossroads Church Glenwood visit: www.ccglenwood.com.

10/23/16 - Some people liken unforgiveness to drinking poison and hoping the other person dies. Grudges, curses, revenge, gossip, and hard-heartedness are ways we try to "get back" at someone who hurt us. But could there be bondage in unforgiveness?

MESSAGE: Freedom in Forgiveness | Tim O’Keefe | October 23, 2016 | Crossroads Church Glenwood

http://crossroadsglenwood.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/20161023CCGMessageT.m4a

MUSIC: Sunday 10/23/16

All My Fountains – Chris Tomlin

Lion and the Lamb – Big Daddy Weave

Invitation Song - 10,000 Fathers

Good Good Father – Housefires

For more on Crossroads Church Glenwood visit: www.ccglenwood.com.