Merry Christmas! We are only a few short days away from celebrating Christmas together as a church family. While many of us find joy in the Christmas season, many others are surrounded by loneliness and grief. This year at The Crossing, we must remind ourselves to love and encourage those who are suffering and remember that in the darkest times, God is our refuge and comfort. Don’t forget 1 Corinthians 13, we are here to comfort because we have been comforted. Please join us Christmas Eve at 3pm, 5pm or 7pm as we celebrate together as a family! In Jesus’ Name, Greg & Tamara Dumas
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 experiences will be on the following dates • Warm-Up: January 10, registration closes January 3 • Starting Line: January 30 and 31, registration closes January 23 • Mile One: March 7, registration closes February 27 • Pushing Through: January 30, registration closes January 23 • Momentum: February 20, registration closes February 14
PLEASE JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE “THE PROMISE”
DECEMBER 24TH AT 3PM, 5PM, AND 7PM
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT CROSSINGONLINE.ORG/ANNOUNCEMENTS. LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE KP3 is a dynamic approach to Bible College through innovative classes and hands-on ministry experience. This is a high intensity program to help shape you not just spiritually, but physically and mentally. Our partnership with Logos Educators Network and Logos Christian College allows students to actually earn an accredited Bible degree through KP3. For more information go to www.crossingonline.org/kp3 BABY DEDICATIONS Upcoming opportunities to dedicate your child are January 23rd and 24th 2010. A special Mother’s Brunch will be held to provide fellowship, encouragement and more information on what will happen during Baby Dedication. To register, log onto www.crossingonline.org/bdedication no later than 2 weeks before the dedication service. For questions or for more information, please contact Tiffany Ogborn, Associate Jungle Jam Coordinator, at (813) 626-0783 ext. 151 or by e-mail at togborn@crossingonline.org DEEPER LIFE If you are looking for an opportunity at The Crossing Church to be trained in ministry but are unsure of where to begin, look no further than “Deeper Life.” “Deeper Life” is a miniature version of Seminary that will guide you through both personal and spiritual growth as you study the Bible for the purpose of transforming the lives around you. Register now for January enrollment at : www.crossingonline.org/deeper-life-orientation. HOLIDAY ADOPTIONS If you, your family, co-workers or LifeGroup would like to help someone in need this holiday season, please visit the Local Missions page on the Crossing website and choose from one of the many needs posted with our Missions Partners. Be a blessing to those less fortunate! www.crossingonline.org/local-missions INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE Do you have a gently used musical instrument that you would like to donate? Instruments of Change is partnering with The Crossing Church to bring music into the underprivileged schools of Hillsborough County. If you have an instrument you would like to donate, contact Valerie Templeman at vtempleman@crossingonline.org. COME & SERVE - GET CONNECTED! Visit us online at crossingonline.org/serve. Its our “Connection Process”.
Saturday, December 19 Sunday, December 20 Epic Journey: Through the Bible The Books Job
WELCOME TO THE CROSSING CHURCH
“If my people...”
SCRIPTURE JOB 2:3 & 13:15-16 (NIV)
OBSERVATION The storms of this life are violent and often hit us without warning. When all seems lost we can still trust in God who is our firm foundation. If our foundation isn’t eroded we can begin to rebuild once more in the hope of a better future. All things, even tragic circumstances, work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28) Our redemption and restitution often come after we have weathered the storm. We overcome by two unchangeable things: The blood of the Lamb and word of our testimony.
APPLICATION 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; 1 Peter 5:10; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Job 6:14 James 1:19-25 (NASB77) This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is
a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. 1 Peter 5:6-10 (NASB77) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. Lamentations 3:58 (NIV) O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life.
PRAYER Serenity Prayer “God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things that I cannot change; COURAGE to change the things I can; and WISDOM to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as the pathway to peace; taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it: Trusting that He will make all things right if I will surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life; and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.” Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3, 5-6 Prayer of St. Francis “Lord, make me a channel of thy peace, that where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that where there is despair, I may bring hope; that where there are shadows, I may bring light; that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand, than to be understood; to love, than to be loved. For it is by selfforgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.”
LIFEGROUPS A map is a tool that we use to find our way when we don’t know how to get to where we want to go. The Word of God is a map as well. Discuss how God’s Word maps a path for you. How have you used His Word as a road map? When we think we know better than a map, we often get lost. How have you gotten lost by not using the map God has provided for you? Digging Deeper: James 4:7-10 discusses what we need to do when we become involved with the world and how to get back on the path. Why is submission so difficult? Why does God ask for submission and humility? Do you think your motives matter? Discuss the differences in having God lift you up and trying to lift up yourself. Application: What steps do you need to take to get back on the path and into the Word? What areas of your life do you need to submit to God and allow Him to heal?