WELCOME Dear Crossing Friends and Family, We are so glad you are with us today. We are diving into a controversial and difficult portion of our current teaching series, “Epic Journey: Minor Prophets.” The subject matter is difficult because there are so many opinions about abortion, pro-life, and pro-choice. My job today is to open God’s word and interpret what it says. I would ask you to have an open heart as we deal with these issues. My objective is not to offend and attack anyone at The Crossing. This is my home church and family and I love each and every person dearly. If this is your first time with us I pray that God would speak to you and encourage you today! I hope you leave here with a better understanding of God’s heart for his people. Pastor Greg & Tamara Dumas Lead Pastor
Your Pastor, Greg and Tamara Dumas, Lead Pastor
UPCOMING EVENTS KP3 Enroll now for fall 2010 – 2011 school year. Application deadline Sept. 15. For more info Checkout www.crossingonline.org/kp3.
Breakaway In the month of August Breakaway will be looking at each principle in our KP3 Vision; Kingdom, Prayer, People & Presence.
Submit a God story on “MyStory” Go to www.crossingonline.org/mystory and be encouraged by reading how our Lord has been touching the lives of fellow believers, or you may anonymously share your personal testimony ...You never know how your story may change the life of someone else!
Care Classes Care Ministries Classes provide support to those seeking healing from hurts, habits, and hang-ups through Jesus Christ. The goal of Care Ministries is to provide critical care in areas of need, then encourage class members to move back into the LifeGroup setting. Check out care classes online at www.crossingonline.org/care-ministries.
Deeper Life Join us for the Deeper Life Orientation on Monday, August 30th at 7 PM in Room 229 to hear for yourself how your transformed life can be used to transform the life of others. For more information visit www.crossingonline.org/news.
Women’s Bible Study Classes begin Thurs, Sept 2nd at 9:15am & 7pm in the Life Center. Childcare is available w/ pre-registration. Register at www.crossingonline.org/news.
Baby Dedication Our upcoming opportunities to dedicate your child are September 18th and 19th. For questions or for more information, please contact Tiffany Ogborn at (813) 626-0783 ext. 151 or togborn@crossingonline.org.
The 26.2 Discipleship Process is an 18-week process that will help you discover and apply Biblical truths in your everyday life and learn how God has designed you to connect, serve, grow, give, and reach. We encourage everyone to join in the race. Register for the 26.2 Discipleship Process at: www.crossingonline.org/262DP. • Warm Up: September 19, registration closes September 12 • 26.2 Discipleship Process: Beginning August 21 and 22
For more announcement details: www.crossingonline.org/announcements
Saturday, August 21 Sunday, August 22
WELCOME TO THE
CROSSING CHURCH
THE MINOR PROPHETS
Habakkuk 2:8; John 8:31-32
Lead Pastor: Greg Dumas
SCRIPTURE Habakkuk 2:8 (NIV) Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed man’s blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them. 8
John 8:31-32 (NIV) 31 …”If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
OBSERVATION • • • • • •
The Major and Minor Prophets were written to underscore God’s standards and served to warn Judah and Israel of God’s immanent judgment. Throughout the words of the prophets, idolatry, infanticide, greed, oppression, immorality and moral decay were rampant. Once a nation, or a people, or an individual loses moral and objective standards of truth, they proceed to do what is right in their own eyes. Doing life apart from God’s life-giving standard brings forth judgment, loss of freedom and ultimately total destruction. The church in America has largely capitulated to the culture. The church MUST regain its FAITH in God and His Word if we are to preserve our future.
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APPLICATION I. Infanticide (Amos 2:7; Habakkuk 2; Jeremiah 32:35; Psalm 106:37-3; Psalm 72:12-14; Psalm 139:13-16; John 4:4-26) •
Minor (Major) Prophets
•
America Today
II. The Big Question(s) 1. Is it alive? “Life begins at conception,” “It is not a potential person – it is a person.” 2. Is it human? Its DNA is that of a human. “Left to grow, it will become a full human person.” 3. Is it a person? Each new fertilized zygote is already a new person because its DNA is uniquely different than anyone else’s. In other words, if you’re human, you must be a person. 4. Is it independent? Even after birth, and for years to come, a child is still dependent on its mother, its father, and those around it. 5. Does it have human rights? “The only difference between a fetus and a baby is a trip down the birth canal.” 6. Is abortion wrong? Abortion is clearly prohibited by the Word of the God.
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PRAYER Lord, thank you for life! Thank you that you are the originator and sustainer of all life. I am beginning to understand your commandments and your ways. I am learning to depend on you and your Word for all of my needs. I still don’t understand everything, and from time to time I even doubt, but every time I do I sense you comforting me and urging me on toward faith. You are surprising me with your grace and power. I know now that you really do love me, and that you have the very best in mind for me and for the ones I love. Help me to continue to understand what I am learning and help me to communicate it to others. I want them to know how good you are. I am so glad that my life is changing for the better!
LIFEGROUPS Use the following as a resource for your LifeGroup to go deeper with this week’s message. We hope this helps you as you “do life together”.
Opener: This may be one of the most intense LifeGroups you have ever had. Instead of just barreling in, please take extra time as a LifeGroup, praying for God to reveal Himself and for the truth to come forth. What do you make of this statement from Pastor Greg’s notes? “ The church in America has largely capitulated to the culture ...” True? Untrue? Does it matter? Can you give some examples? Digging Deeper: As a LifeGroup - share some of your thoughts from reading through Jeremiah this past week, following along in the Life Journal. What patterns did you see? As an example, check out the wording found in Jeremiah 25:3,7 and 8. How many times were the Israelites warned? Why does God give them so many chances? Next, read the sad ending of this story - see Jeremiah 52, particularly vs. 27. It may be obvious, but what happened?
Application: The Word of God is alive and active. As Pastor Greg noted, it is the truth that sets us free (John 8:31-32). As it was for the Israelites, so will it be in our time -- God is holy and just. We must decide whether or not it is important to obey God’s Word. So here comes the really hard/great part. Where has your life mixed with culture so much that it is apparent you are not listening to God and His Word any longer? Without a doubt, this may be the most pivotal question you ever answer in LifeGroup. We can close our eyes and pretend it does not matter to God and His Kingdom work, or we can repent and find God’s mercy empowering our lives. That’s next-level discipleship.