Message by Ben Crosthwaite, Director of Spiritual Formation

"Comparison is the thief of joy." ~ Teddy Roosevelt

Luke 2:8-10

Comparison leads to...

Consumerism

Matthew 6:25-27

The 10th Commandment - Exodus 20:17

James 1:15

Criticism

John 21:20-22

"What is that to you?"

Antidotes to comparison...

Gratitude and Generosity

Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor

THE DISCIPLES AT THE LAST SUPPER

John 13

“What does the love of God actually look like?”

vs 1-5

Observation #1:

Through Jesus, the love of God becomes visible, personal and tangible to us.

vs 12-15

As we love Jesus, we begin to love like Jesus.

We become what we love, and who we love shapes what we become. (St Claire of Assisi)

Observation #2:

Through us, the love of God becomes visible, personal and tangible to those around us.

The closer you get to Jesus the more you see people

vs 6-10

Resist // Refuse // REST

Message by Josh Young

Exodus 2:11-15

Exodus 3:7-10

Moses:

from murderer and fugitive to human instrument of deliverance for and leader of a nation

2 Samuel 11:2-4

2 Samuel 11:14-17

David:

from adulterer and murderer to a man after God’s own heart

Genesis 25:29-33

Genesis 27:18-19, 24-27

Genesis 32:22-30

Jacob:

from a liar and deceiver to the father of the 12 tribes of Israel

Matthew 14:24-29

John 18:10

Matthew 16:13-18

Simon/Peter:

from a compulsive and violent man to one of the founders of the early church

Luke 18:1-2

"I was one way and now I am completely different, and the thing that happened in between was Him" - Mary Magdalene in The Chosen

Mary Magdelene:

from a demon-possessed woman to one of the first followers of Jesus

Luke 19:1-8

Zacchaeus:

from a lying, thieving tax collector to a generous benefactor

Transformed by the renewing of your mind

Romans 12:2

Transformed into a new creation

2 Corinthians 5:17

Death → Life

Darkness → Light

Rebel → Son/Daughter

Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor

MARY OF BETHANY

John 12

vs 1-2

1, worship is a grateful response

Psalm 103

vs 3

2, worship is an extravagant outpouring

Jesus desires worship that is all-consuming.

vs 3, 7

3, worship is a prophetic revelation

In the NT, prophecy is primarily an unveiling of who Jesus is

Worship is prophetic when we say something is true.

Jesus is always the most extravagant person in the room.

Everything we give to him is what he's given to us.

Heavenly things confuse earthly minds.

John 18 is man at his very worst – and – God at His very best.

Judas sacrificed the eternal for the temporary.

John 18:1-4

Jesus didn’t run from the cross -- He moved TOWARD it!

John 18:5

“I always was; I AM; I always will be.”

John 18:6

Sin begins as a thought (temptation); thought leads to action;

action leads to habit.

John 18:26

The Downward Spiral:

1, presumption

...trying to replace God’s will with our own will

2, pride

“A failure that leaves us humble is better than a victory that leaves us proud.”

Ephesians 6:12

3, prayerlessness

...praying vs. playing

Jesus (in John 21):

“Peter, do you love me?”

Romans 5:20

Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor

MARY, MARTHA & LAZARUS

John 11

Denial, vs 4

Anger, vs 21, 33, 38

Bargaining, vs 21-22, 33

Depression, vs 19, 31, 33, 35

Acceptance, vs 4, 23

HOPE

vs 25-26

We don’t wait without hope.

In our waiting…

Jesus is interceding for us.

vs 41-42...praying for wisdom and discernment.

Delay is not denial.

Isaiah 55:8-11

Waiting is the slow drip of God's presence in our daily lives.

We don't grieve without hope.

vs 25

We live with resurrection hope.

Revelation 21:3-5

vs 41-45

Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus

1, You are never alone.

Courage:

"Strength to do what is right regardless of the consequences” (N.V. Peale)

2 Timothy 1:7

Elijah – 1 Kings 18

Jesus – Mark 14

2, Scary New World

Some seem on the verge of victory, and subsequent success, but they never get off the verge.

The great fear of failure

3, Be Brave

1 Corinthians 10:13

No matter what the situation, there is HOPE!

4, A Powerful Weapon

Prayer

Eventually leads to PRAISE.

COURAGE: over 116 times

Fear not: 365 times

Heart: approx 1,000 times

Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor

THE MAN BORN BLIND

John 9

vs 1-3

SHIFT #1:from why to what

“Where do we go from here?”

SHIFT #2: from familiarity to risk

vs 6-7

SHIFT #3:from normal to new creation.

What does it mean to actually follow Jesus?

TRUTH #1: discipleship begins with an act of faith

Jesus wants our participation.

TRUTH #2: discipleship matures through testing

vs 8-17

SHIFT #4: from presence to absence

vs 24-33

James 1:2-4

vs 35-38

SHIFT #5:from walking in darkness to learning to walk in the light

TRUTH #3: discipleship culminates in worship

Even in the sense of absence, God is not absent.

He's training our eyes to see him.

Message by Ben Crosthwaite, Creative Arts Director

A Rich & Satisfying Life

(World Communion Day)

Jesus does not demand we live a life that we force and tolerate.

Jesus invites us to a life that is rich and satisfying.

Psalm 34:8

John 10:10

Isaiah 55:1 and 2 (NIV)

Morality is an invitation to a rich and satisfying life.

"Morality: a set of values, based on Jesus' life and teachings, that we live our lives by."

"Morality was created for us."

See Mark 2:23-27

Surrender is an invitation to a rich and satisfying life.

See Matthew 13:44

Community is an invitation to a rich and satisfying life.

An equation for deeper relationships:

Intentionality (over) Time (multiplied by) Vulnerability

"Diversity in our relationships is a strength to be pursued, not a problem to be solved."

Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor

THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY

John 8

The TRAP

vs 1-6

Christians care about sexual morality because Christians have a high view of the body.

Sex and sexual standards matter to God because bodies matter to God.

What does Jesus do when he finds us caught in sin??

The PAUSE

vs 6-8

Self-examination

Jesus shows us who we are.

vs 8-9

Jesus knows we’re all guilty.

The RESOLUTION

vs 9-1

Jesus forgives

1 John 1:7-2:2

Jesus bends low to meet us in our shame.

vs 10-11

Jesus gives us the power to be different, and to live differently.