crossroads

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Paul wants the Corinthian church to understand that they have been newly created when they give their lives to God. The same is true for us… but sometimes we still live like the old is not gone. So if we want to live like the new new creation we've become, we should think about making these goals for 2025:

• Strengthen my connection.
• Embrace the traditional.
• Engage the personal.
• Eliminate the disconnectors.

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

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Matthew 2:1-12; 16

Like Herod, it can be hard for us to give up our power, our authority, our possessions… our lives. But Jesus came to do just that.

We might be able to relate to this quote:

"I know God is working in me, but right now I'm so uncomfortable with myself, and the changes God is making in my heart feel like an attack."

• Every work of God in us requires us to lay down our crowns
• Sometimes the thing God is doing feels like an attack.
• Every work of God is good; even when it costs.

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

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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.

Connect with us

Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g

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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.

Connect with us

Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g

Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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.

Connect with us

Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g

Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

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.

Connect with us

Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com

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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.

Connect with us

Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g

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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.

Connect with us

Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g

Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney