Crossroads Church

Hello and welcome to the Crossroads podcast! I encourage you to go watch this past week's service, because it was a whole church, family experience. You'll find the link HERE. We loved having the kids and students helping lead and then we wrapped up our time together with communion. In today's podcast we're including a recap of our friend Steve talking through our different campfire stories and then Ryan will lead us in communion. Feel free to pause and come back to share in communion with us, wherever you are.

Thank you for being here! We look forward to connecting with you next week!

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Do we have a history with DUPLICITOUS actions?

Do we act in a way opposite of the CULTURAL EXPECTATION? We can easily feel DEFLATED when our intentions are questioned. Questioning our intentions exposes our RESILIENCY.

What Wisdom does David and Goliath in I Samuel 17 offer us?

Legend has it David was not a stranger to the CONTEMPT of his brothers. Jesse sends David to check on the SAFETY of his brothers. (17-19)

David HONORED his father by following through. (20-22)

David was AMBITIOUS and saw an opportunity to advance. (23-26)

The Philistines came to the land with the invasions of the SEA PEOPLES. Eliab questioned David’s INTENTIONS from a place of woundedness. (28-29) David KEPT MOVING towards his opportunity for influence. (30)

Don’t Miss This!

David did not get DISTRACTED by the accusation.

What happens when my intentions are questioned in my everyday, normal life?

Take a moment for REFLECTION.

Assume that you might have unintentionally reopened an unhealed WOUND. Shake the dust off your sandals and walk BRAVELY down your path.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Resiliency will get you noticed and give you opportunities for INFLUENCE.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Turn to prayer when I feel misunderstood or my intentions are questioned.
2. Stop assuming I know people’s intentions.
3. Move forward bravely on my path.

Thought-provoking questions:

1. Can you think of a duplicitous person in your life? What have they done to make you question their motives?
2. Why do you think David was so intent on facing Goliath?
3. Read all of 1 Samuel chapter 17. What do you find disturbing and not reflective of Jesus in this story? What might be the projection of human values on God? Where do you see the values of Jesus in this story?
4. Has something ever become a distraction in your life? Talk a little bit about that experience.
5. When someone questions your intentions, what could you do to take a moment of reflection before responding?
6. Have you ever unintentionally reopened a wound in another person through your words or actions? How did you respond to them?
7. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being no resiliency and 10 being completely resilient) what is your overall resiliency to opposition at work, home, hobbies and friendships?

Welcome to the Crossroads Church podcast!

You can find more information and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our e-newsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week!

What’s the Issue Anyway?

“Three things cannot be hidden: the sun, the moon and the TRUTH.” –Buddha

“Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the TRUTH” –Mahatma Gandhi

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth,

and the TRUTH will set you free.” –Jesus

We love the truth until it contradicts our SELF-DECEPTIONS.

What Wisdom do Esther and Mordecai offer us (Esther 4)?

Mordecai and the Jews responded APPROPRIATELY to the truth of their plight. (4:1-3) PRIVILEGE insulated the palace from reality. (4:4-5)

Esther ASKED for the truth. (4:6-8)

Mordecai spoke a DIFFICULT but HOPE-filled truth to Esther’s self-deception. (4:9-14) Esther TRUSTED the wound of a friend over kisses of an enemy. (4:15-16)

Mordecai didn’t ABANDON Esther in her moment of truth. (4:17)

Don’t Miss This!

Truth tellers bring us to the CROSSROADS of self-deception and SELF-EXAMINATION.

What happens tomorrow when the truth doesn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy?

Does the truth teller have a track record of LOVE?

Is the truth teller acting selfishly or SELFLESSLY?

Will the truth teller WALK with me through self-examination and change? If you think you have truth for someone you love, WAIT for the question. Be a partner not a PROBLEM for the Spirit of God.

As a peacemaker, am I listening for truth from the SPIRIT of GOD?

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Truth offers us a path to becoming the best version of OURSELVES.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Give permission to someone in my life to be my truth teller.
2. Thank someone for loving me and speaking truth into my life.
3. Open my heart to hear truth from people who love me.

Thought-provoking questions:

1. Have you ever had someone speak truth to you that was hard to hear? Did you ever speak truth to someone?
2. Why do you think Mordecai went to the public square causing such a scene?
3. Esther allowed privilege to close her eyes and ears to the truth of what was happening around her. Has this ever happened to you? Do you see this at play in our world today?
4. Why do you think self-examination is so difficult?
5. Who have you or could you give permission to be a truth teller in your life? Why this person?
6. Over the next 90 days, what peacemaking adventure do you think the best version of yourself could be set apart for? What truth would you have to embrace to make this happen?

Campfire Stories | Week #05 || Origin Stories | July 31st

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We all love a good ORIGIN story.

Our origin stories tend to fall into one of THREE categories.

Origin stories form personal and cultural IDENTITY.

Cultural origin stories easily become THE story instead of OUR story.

What Wisdom does the Exodus Origin story offer us?

The Jewish origin story begins with Imperial OPPRESSION. (Exodus 1)

A HERO is born with a destiny to lead. (Exodus 2-4)

The ANCESTRAL God of the Hebrews decides to act. (Exodus 5-6)

The TIMELESS battle between good and evil begins with the ten plagues. (Exodus 7-12) The Passover Feast is established as LAW. (Exodus 12)

The RED SEA would be the final battle between good and evil. (14:5-31)

Don’t Miss This!

Israel’s origin story encouraged Israel to TRUST and REMEMBER the power and faithfulness of their God.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Jesus offers a CORRECTIVE and COUNTER origin story. What is the origin story of your SPIRITUAL JOURNEY? Write out your spiritual AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Remember the UNIVERSAL themes of the Exodus.

Look for the HINTS of the universal Christ in Israel’s origin story.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Origin stories bring HOPE and LIGHT into our darkness and discouragement.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. This week I will read the book of Exodus.
2. This week I will journal my own spiritual origin story, thinking about how God has been present with me throughout my life.
3. I think I might be in the beginning of my spiritual origin story and would love to talk with a pastor about it. 



Thought-provoking questions:

1. What is the origin story of your vocation, family or current place that you live?
2. The Exodus story is a beautiful story that Jewish people still hold with great value and is central to many practicing their faith. What do you think of the depiction of God?
3. Where do you see the values of Jesus in the Exodus story?
4. Where do you see values that are in opposition to Jesus in the Exodus story?
5. What experiences from your life produce trust in your heart towards the divine?
6. Share one or two moments in your life that you felt like you encountered and recognized the divine.
7. What stories from your past bring hope to you?

Welcome to the Crossroads Church podcast!

You can find more information and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our e-newsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week!

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Every life is filled with DISAPPOINTMENTS.

We are handed an image of God that doesn’t seem to fit our REALITY. When this tension hits hard, we either ABANDON reality or God.

What Wisdom does Lazarus’ story in John 11:17-45 offer us?

Mary’s pain and disappointment kept her from JESUS. (17-20)

Martha held the TENSION between hope and hurt. (21-22)

Martha’s hope for healing was in the NEXT LIFE. (23-24)

Martha didn’t UNDERSTAND Jesus but believed God was present in Jesus. (25-27)

Don’t Miss This!

We can have HOPE in life without denying the TRAUMAS of life.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

In a sense, we are all like LAZARUS.

At some point, we all feel like MARY and MARTHA. At all times, we should strive to be like JESUS.

When you can’t put your faith in God, put it in LOVE.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

FAITH SHAMING ends when we honor the reality of life’s trauma. LOVE will find us in the pain of letting go of ZEUS.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Give myself permission to feel the trauma of life and believe in the God revealed in Jesus.
2. Talk to God about being angry at what has happened in my life.
3. Stop avoiding the pain in a friend’s life and give myself permission to weep with them.

Thought-provoking questions:

1. Talk about a season or experience where you felt like God had disappointed you.
2. What do you think about the idea that God is “all powerful” given the realities of evil in this world?
3. Why do you think John thought it was important to include the details of Jesus waiting two days before traveling to Lazarus?
4. Does the idea of Jesus weeping encourage you or bother you?
5. What were some of the responses to Jesus’ arrival at Mary and Martha’s home? Which of these responses can you relate to?
6. What if God is not an all-powerful being that loves or forgives or shows mercy, but an all-powerful love that has its being in us when we love, forgive or show mercy?
7. How can the community of faith be a safer space to express our doubts, anger and frustrations with God?
8. Are there parts of your understanding of God that are more like Zeus than Jesus? Where do those come from? How do you think you could let those go?

Campire Stories 2022 | Week #03

A storm, a fish and a tree walk into a bar... | July 17th

What’s the Issue Anyway?

We often define ourselves through group DIFFERENCES.

Ignorance, Fear and Anger over our differences leads to OTHERING.

Othering dehumanizes, rationalizes inequality, justifies hatred and tramples the

IMAGO DEI.

What Wisdom does the story of Jonah offer us?

Jonah refuses the assignment and tries to get AWAY from God. (1:3) Jonah didn’t see the COLLATERAL DAMAGE to his rebellion. (1:5-6) Even the GENTILES knew the folly of disobeying the gods. (1:10) The gentile sailors are QUICK to recognize Yahweh’s power. (1:14-16) The great fish was LIMINAL time and space for Jonah. (2:1-11)

The Gentiles again were QUICK to change their actions. (3:6-10)

Jonah wanted the OTHERS to pay. (4:1-4)

Jonah was still hoping for the WORST. (4:5)

God uses an OBJECT LESSON to teach Jonah about divine love. (4:6-8)

Don’t Miss This!

DIVINE LOVE understands and therefore never OTHERS.

How can I live this out in my everyday, normal life?

Am I on a path of SELF-DESTRUCTION?

Am I a FISH or a storm?

Do I need to REPENT of hoping for the worst?

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

When we understand divine love, BELONGING and INCLUSION will mark our society.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. I am headed down that path of self-destruction and would like to start fresh today by following Jesus.
2. I want to continually be a person who creates space for others to belong.
3. I need to repent of my othering and allow God to overcome my fear of someone or some group of people.

Thought provoking questions:

1. How has our American culture done a good job of inclusion and belonging? How has Christianity done the same?
2. Can you think of a group of people that have been dehumanized and othered by our American culture? Can you think of a group of people that have been dehumanized and othered by Christian culture?
3. Have you ever found yourself running away from God? What were those circumstances? Did you have a fish moment?
4. Why is it easy for us to secretly want the worst for someone or some group?
5. What are some ways you can work toward understanding groups that have been marginalized or othered by Christianity or the broader society?
6. Think of a time you have experienced inclusion and belonging. What were the circumstances surrounding that experience? What fears were dismissed as you felt included and the right to belong?

You can find more information and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our e-newsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week! Jessica

Welcome to the Crossroads Church podcast! I hope you had a great 4th of July!

You can find more information and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our e-newsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week! Jessica

Welcome to the Crossroads Church podcast! You can find more informations and many resources at our Gather page. We encourage you to connect! Head over there when you're ready to fill out the connect card, find more information on how to be involved, ways to give and to see what's going on in the Feed, our enewsletter.

You also will find the message notes below.....Have a great week!

Courageous Generosity | Week #02

Whose prayer have you answered lately? | June 26th

Last Week: The Blessed life is the GENEROUS Life.

Getting the Conversation started...

Has someone ever been an answer to YOUR prayers?

Have you ever been an answer to SOMEONE’S prayer?

A maturing relationship moves towards GIVING and away from getting.

What Wisdom does 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 offer us?

We all live UNDER the law of sowing and reaping. (9:6)

Courageous generosity is not MANIPULATED giving. (9:7)

Personal ABUNDANCE is divine INVESTMENT. (9:8)

Having more than what we need is an opportunity to do GOOD works. (9:8) Divine Love gives generously and faithfully to the POOR and OPPRESSED. (9:9) Paul knew there was no season of HARVEST without a season of sowing. (9:10) GENEROSITY is the hand of Love in this world. (9:11-12)

The Corinthians could be an answer to PRAYER. (9:13-14)

Through their generosity, the Corinthians were the GIFT from God. (9:15)

Don’t Miss This!

Courageous generosity makes YOU an indescribable gift from God.

What are people praying for?

People are praying for a church like CROSSROADS.

People are praying for a PATH out of poverty, slavery, illiteracy, bigotry and spiritual emptiness. People are praying for a place for their children to experience a faith that MATURES with them.

Your Everyday Normal Life

Commit to intentionally and cheerfully giving to NOW, NEED and NEXT.

“God, show me how to use my financial ABUNDANCE to answer someone’s prayer and produce thanksgiving to YOU.”

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Courageous generosity CREATES a healthy church that is an answer to prayer. Courageous generosity creates a THANKFUL world.     

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Join me for a summer of courageous generosity.

Thought provoking question:

1. Can you think of a time when someone was an answer to your prayer? Talk about that. How about a time you were able to be an answer to someone’s prayer?
2. Maturing faith moves from getting to giving. How have you seen this happen in your own life? Are you struggling to move towards giving?
3. Do you believe that you can be an answer to someone’s prayer? What do you think would happen if you prayed every day to be an answer to someone’s prayer?
4. Which do you have the easiest time giving towards: now, need or next? Which do you struggle the most with?
5. Why do you think our world needs Crossroads Church?