Luke 2:8-20

Their society considered them outsiders, but it was these outcasts to whom God chose to send a host of angels proclaiming Christ’s birth. When the shepherds heard the news about Jesus, they acted on it right away. They went to see the baby and praised God for what they had seen. We can learn several things from the shepherds’ story:

• There are no “outsiders” to God
• God is inviting “outsiders” to become insiders
• God’s hope is that the “outsiders” who have become insiders will invite other “outsiders”

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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Matthew 2:1-12

The magi journeyed by faith. The knew there was something important in the west: the Jewish messiah, but they didn’t know exactly what their journey would be like. And their journey may have taken some time. For us, just like for the magi, faith is a journey…

• that often takes time.
• sometimes filled with wrong turns
• sometimes suffers pause
• that requires persistence
• where God is always waiting

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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How do you turn your bad days into good stories?

• Choose perspective
  • Colossians 3:1-3
  • James 1:2-4
• Seek after God
  • Psalm 9:9-11
• Testify continually
  • 1 John 4:15
• Jesus made a way
  • Romans 5:8

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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Numbers 16:1-7

Christ went to the cross to bring us the chance for intimacy and closeness with God. So there are three things for us to think about as we take communion.

• What are you doing to protect the “near?”
• What are you doing to preserve the “near?”
• What are you doing to improve the “near?”

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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Matthew 16:13-20

Ekklēsia: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

Ekklēsia: The “called out ones.”

Ways we use the word “Church:”

• a building
• a service

Ways Jesus uses the word “Church:”

• the people who acknowledge his deity
• the people on his mission
• the people of Christ at war against evil

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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eirēnē: in Greek, probably from a primary verb meaning “to join.” Peace; by implication, prosperity, - one, quietness, rest, + set at one again

Shalom: in Hebrew, complete or wholeness

John 14:23-27

Christian “peace” does not mean:

Peace of circumstances

The “peace” Christ offers is:

Peace with God

Peace with God offers inner peace

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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ts 11:25-26

A Christian is not:

• Just someone who believes in God
• Just someone who practices a religion
• Just someone who calls themselves one

A Christian is:

• Someone who has given their life to Christ.
• Mark 8:35
• Someone who loves in Jesus’ name
• John 13:34-35
• Someone who’s on THE way
• Romans 7:15,18-19

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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Isaiah 29:13

John 4:21-24

respectful devotion: loving, honoring, and obeying someone who deserves our highest regard

Worship (In a nutshell): Acknowledging God as God

That means: ANYTHING can be worship

"Worship" should demonstrate itself:

• In the way we interact with the world
• In our marriages
• In our parenting
• In our private time

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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Holy: “Set apart.” Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred.

Deuteronomy 7:6

Leviticus 11:42

How should our lives be set apart? How do we live out being holy?

• Holy Input
• Holy output
• Holy time

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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Matthew 26:17-19, 26-30

We believe that communion is one of the two sacraments that we partake of in the church (the other being baptism). When we take communion often, it’s possible that we can lose sight of what it really means as we numbly follow our traditions. But if we take the time to understand the magnitude of what we’re doing when we take communion, it can change our perspective entirely.

Communion is about:

• Intimacy
• Intent
• Inertia

Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between.

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