WELCOME Dear Friends and Family, Welcome to The Crossing Church! Can you beleive that August is here and school is just around the corner? One thing you will find at The Crossing is that as God moves, we are moving along with Him. Something is always happening here and there ministry oportunities for everyone. As we ramp up into the fall season you will find many great care classes, discipleship experiences, opportunities for kids and youth, and much more. Visit our web site at www.crossingonline.org for further information. We hope you have enjoyed your visit with us today and we look forward getting to know you more.
Pastor Greg & Tamara Dumas Lead Pastor
In Him, 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.
Baptism Class Our next baptism class for elementary aged children (1st through 5th grade) is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 14 at 3pm in Room 229. For more information please contact Kim Gore at kgore@crossingonline.org or 626-0783, ext. 123.
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 Spiritual Race is intricately designed with you in mind! Through the different 26.2 Experiences, you can learn more about The Crossing and its leadership, become involved in a LifeGroup, and understand more about your spiritual gifts. We encourage everyone to join in the race. Register for all the 26.2 Experiences at: www.crossingonline.org. The next experience dates are: • Warm Up: August 15, registration closes August 8
For more announcement details: www.crossingonline.org/announcements
Saturday, August 7 Sunday, August 8
WELCOME TO THE
CROSSING CHURCH
THE MINOR PROPHETS Leaving our other Lovers
Lead Pastor: Greg Dumas
SCRIPTURE Ephesians 4:17-24 (MSG)
And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. 18 They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. 19 They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. 20 But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! 21 My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. 22 Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, 23 a life renewed from the inside 24 and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. 17
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, and moral decay were rampant. Once a nation, or a people, or an individual loses their moral and objective standard 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. IDOLATRY (Amos 2:4; Hosea 1-3, Joel 1; Exodus 20:4-6) Money (Matthew 6:19-34, 13:1-20, 44, 22:37-40) • Power (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) • Pleasure (James 4:1-10 MSG ) • Passions (1 Corinthians10:1-22) • Praise of Man (Galatians 1:10) II. Time to Leave your other Lovers (Ephesians 4:17-24 MSG)
You just slip out the back, Jack Make a new plan, Stan You don’t need to be coy, Roy Just get yourself free Hop on the bus, Gus You don’t need to discuss much Just drop off the key, Lee And get yourself free “50 Ways To Leave Your Lover Lyrics” Artist(Band):Paul Simon ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER Lord, thank you that you give me the power and the will to leave the other lovers in my life. I have entertained them long enough. I now realize that they have stolen so much from me and lead me far away from your grace and lavish love. I am turning my eyes back to you and I know that you will receive me back into your arms of mercy. I know that you have been waiting for me to return to you with all of my heart and that you have longed to be with me. I want to hear your voice and know your great love once again. Thank you for demonstrating your great love for me by sending Jesus to the cross, once again, I give you all of me because you gave me all of you.