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Played: 15 | Download | Duration: 00:00:00

True Christian Discipleship

Our message today is delivered by CrossPointe's Youth Pastor, Tim Sharp.  Tim, his wife Shellee and their 3 sons moved to Round Rock from Southern California in 2007, and they became members of CrossPointe in January of 2008.  Tim has served as Youth Pastor since early 2009, fearlessly leading our "Tribe 3:16" Jr. & Sr. High Youth!

We are blessed to hear Tim's message today, and we give thanks for the blessing that Tim and his family are to CrossPointe!

Today's Scriptures
 John 6: 26-69

Digging Deeper:

1. What reaons do you think led Jesus to feed the 5,000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves?
2. Jesus was the best teach and evangelist to ever walk the earth.  With this in mind, explain his "hard sayings" in verses John 6:53-58 and 64-65.  Why Jesus would say these things, knowing the response of the crowd?
3. What are some wrong reasons that people follow Jesus?  In contrast, what are the "right" reaons for following Jesus.
4. Peter makes a strong case for Christian discipleship in vs. John 6:68-69.  Think about the ways in which Peter's commitment to Christ is challenged later in his life.  Did you think Peter really meant what he said in vs. 68-69?  Then explain some of his inconsistent behavior as he attempts to follow Christ.  Can you relate?  Consider what Paul says in Acts 21:11-14.  Have you, or would you, make the same statement with Paul that he makes in v.13?

What does it mean to be "called"?  We sometimes hear that ministers have a "higher calling", or missionaries are "called" to foreign lands. But is that right?  Are only full-time, vocational ministers called?  What about the rest of us?  Are we called?  To what are we called?  And how do we live that out - how do we obey the call of God on our lives?

Scripture For Today
Matthew 20:20-28
Ephesians 2:8-10
Matthew 5:14-16
James 1:26-27
Isaiah 58:5-10
2 Thessalonians 1:9-12

Also the contact information for Trustworthy, Known Haitian Ministries

I Am Change - Haiti Support Fund
mail support to:
6001 W. Parmer Lane
Suite 370-136
Austin, TX 78727
www.iamchange.ort/haiti to contribute online

Mission to North America (MNA)
1700 N. Brown Road
Suite 101
Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8143
mail your check to MNA designated for Haiti 2010 Earthquake Relief
www.pca-mna.org to contribute online

Christian World Outreach
earmark for Haiti disaster and mail it to:
Christian World Outreach
PO Box 2716
Centennial, CO 80161
www.cwomissions.org ... << MORE >>

As we begin a new year and a new decade we also begin a new series that is designed to help us bring focus to the year 2010.  Everything in life begins and ends with God, and so we begin with Him as our focus.  The Bible tells us that God called Abraham his friend.  Jesus also declared that His disciples were His friends.  So what does it mean to be God’s friend?  What does that look like? Is it automatic, or something which must be pursued?

(2 Chronicles 20:5-7 NIV)  "5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?”

(Isaiah 41:8-10 NIV)  ""But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, 9 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

(James 2:20-24 NIV)  "You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."

 (John 15:12-17 NIV)  "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other."

(Exodus 33:11 NIV)  The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
(James 4:1-4 NIV)  "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

 (John 15:18-21 NIV)  "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.

 Digging Deeper

1. What does it mean to be a friend?  How would you define it? What do you have to do to have someone as a friend? How does that translate to being a friend of God? What kinds of things must we do to be considered His friend?

2.  Jesus’ teaching in John 15 leads to His statement that He considers His disciples as friends.  Read John 15:1-17 several times, at least once out loud.  What does He mean when He tells us to “remain in me”?  What does verse 7 tell us about remaining in Him? (Note two key phrases:  “my words in you” and “ask what you wish.”  What do those phrases teach us about remaining in Him?

3.  What specific things does Jesus say that His friends do in John 15:1-17 (note especially verses 7-17)?   What would that look like in your life today?  Which of these are you doing as part of your friendship with Him?  Which do you need to start doing?

4.  Are you a “friend of God”?  A friend of Jesus? Why or why not?  

Played: 45 | Download | Duration: 00:33:29

As we begin a new year and a new decade we also begin a new series that is designed to help us bring focus to the year 2010. Everything in life begins and ends with God, and so we begin with Him as our focus. The Bible tells us that God called Abraham his friend. Jesus also declared that His disciples were His friends. So what does it mean to be God’s friend?  What does that look like? Is it automatic, or something which must be pursued?

(2 Chronicles 20:5-7 NIV)  "5 Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard 6 and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7 O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?”

(Isaiah 41:8-10 NIV)  ""But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, 9 I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

(James 2:20-24 NIV)  "You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not ...

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Last week we looked at the healing power of our words – that words well spoken bring joy and life.  This week we examine the opposite reality – that words carelessly or selfishly spoken bring pain and death.  Words themselves are generally neutral – their power is derived from their context, the motives behind them and the parties involved in the conversation. This morning we consider not only the importance of what we say, but also how and why we say it.

Digging Deeper

1.  Jerry talked about the power of our words.  Do you agree with Proverbs 18:21 - that words contain the power of "life and death?"  How do our words bring death?  How do they bring life? Has there ever been a time in your life when someone said something that hurt you deeply?  Why did it hurt? What were the consequences of their words in your life?  Read Proverbs 12:18. What does it compare words to?  In what ways do we (or those we know) use words like weapons? 
2. Read Matthew 12:33-37 and Matthew 23:25-28. What do these verses teach us about our words and what our words reveal about us?  Why would that be true?  Can you change your speech habits without changing your heart?  How would we go about changing our heart? (Hint: Read Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 2 Corinthians 15:7).
3.  What does it mean in Matthew 12:36 when Jesus says we will "give an account" of the things we say?  When will that happen (Hint:  read Revelation 20:11-15; 2 Corinthians 5:9-11; Matthew 12:36).  How might knowing this truth change the things we say and the way we use our words?  Prayerfully consider – is there someone you may have wounded with your words?  Do you need ...<< MORE >>

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As

 

The future is a bit tricky. Don't you know that Cars ware out?

A Rock Badger, something like a prairie dog would be dead meat to a hawk.  Its safety is measured in how close it is to its home in the Rocks.

 

God is our refuge, How Close are we?

Proverbs 30:24-28 (English Standard Version)

 24(A) Four things on earth are small,
   but they are exceedingly wise:
25(

Cross references:
Proverbs 30:24 : Proverbs 30:15
Proverbs 30:25 : Proverbs 6:6-8
Proverbs 30:26 : Lev 11:5; Psalm 104:18
Proverbs 30:27 : Proverbs 6:7
Proverbs 30:27 : Joel 2:7, 8, 25

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As laceName>CrosspointelaceName> laceType>ChurchlaceType> celebrates its 25 Years of serving God's Kingdom, Please enjoy Dr. John Hannah, Professor from Dallas Theological Seminary examine Psalm 23.

Psalm 23 (English Standard Version)

Psalm 23
The LORD Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
 1The LORD is my(A) shepherd; I shall not( want.
 2He makes me lie down in green(C) pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
 3He(D) restores my soul.
He(E) leads me in(F) paths of righteousness[b]
   for his(G) name’s sake.
 4Even though I(H) walk through the valley of(I) the shadow of death,[c]
   I will(J) fear no evil,
for(K) you are with me;
   your(L) rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

 5You(M) prepare a table before me
   in(N) the presence of my enemies;
you(O) anoint my head with oil;
   my(P) cup overflows.
6Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall(Q) dwell[f] in the house of the LORD
   (R) forever.[g]

Footnotes:
Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
Psalm 23:6 Or Only
Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days
Cross references:
Psalm 23:1 : Psalm 78:52; 80:1; Isa 40:11; Jer 31:10; Ezek 34:11, 12, 23; John 10:11; Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:25; 5:4
Psalm 23:1 : Psalm 34:9, 10; Matt 6:33
Psalm 23:2 : Ezek 34:14; John 10:9
Psalm 23:3 : Psalm 19:7
Psalm 23:3 : Psalm 5:8; 31:3; 139:10, 24; 143:10; Isa 40:11; 49:10
Psalm 23:3 : Prov 4:11; 8:20
Psalm 23:3 : Psalm 25:11; 31:3; 79:9; 109:21; Ezek 20:9, 14
Psalm 23:4 : Psalm 138:7
Psalm 23:4 : Job 3:5
Psalm 23:4 : Psalm 3:6; 27:1, 3; 118:6
Psalm 23:4 : Exodus 3:12; Isa 43:2
Psalm 23:4 : Mic 7:14
Psalm 23:5 : Psalm 78:19; Prov 9:2; John 6:51; 2 Sam 17:27-29
Psalm 23:5 : Psalm 31:19
Psalm 23:5 : Psalm 45:7; 133:2; Luke 7:46; Psalm 92:10
Psalm 23:5 : Psalm 16:5
Psalm 23:6 : Psalm 27:4
Psalm 23:6 : Psalm 21:4

Played: 25 | Download | Duration: 00:44:29