WELCOME Thank you for joining us today! At The Crossing we like to say: “We are large enough to serve you and small enough to know you.” People ask how we are able to accomplish both. The answer is LifeGroups. A LifeGroup consists of a small group of people who either meet at their homes or, for those who attend our on-campus LifeGroups, in the LifeCenter. The purpose of LifeGroup is pretty simple – to do life together. In LifeGroups you will find a place where you can share, grow, and relate with people in your walk of life. If you are new to the church, we encourage you to stop by the LifeGroup Café and learn more about LifeGroups. Your Pastor, Greg and Tamara Dumas Pastor Greg & Tamara Dumas Lead Pastor
UPCOMING EVENTS Women’s Bible Studies True Life: January 27 – May 15 Thurs. 9:15am & 7pm. Based on Bible reading & Life Journal Breaking Free by Beth Moore: January 27 – April 14 Thurs. 9:15am & 7pm. Childcare available with preregistration (birth – 5th grade) for both classes.
Encouragers Encourager Class helps you develop a heart of compassion, learn to listen more than talk, and become a trusted friend, learn to use the Bible and prayer appropriately, and to share the gospel with those in need. See our website for details and registration: www.crossingonline.org/encouragers-class.
Deeper Life Orientation Is God calling you to lead others in their spiritual growth? Orientation class is on February 1 at 6:30-8pm, and the first book starts February 8. For more information, please visit www.crossingonline.org.
Pre-Marital Class The Pre-Marital Class will provide practical tools to help you maintain a strong, successful marriage. Each two-day class consists of a Friday night session, 7-9pm and a Saturday session, 9am-2pm. For details and registration, go to www.crossingonline.org/pre-marital-class.
Baptism Class Our next baptism class for elementary-aged children (1st through 5th grade) is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12 at 3pm in Room 229. All children are required to attend a baptism class before they can be baptized. Forms are available at the check-in desks upstairs, or at the boat downstairs and must be turned in one week prior to attending the class. For more information, please contact Kim Gore at kgore@crossingonline.org or 813-626-0783 ext. 123.
Mass Choir Auditions for Worship Service For more information, contact Morgan Burch at mburch@crossingonline.org, or call 813-626-0783 ext. 124.
Hebrew Classes A new beginners class starts Saturday, Feb 5. Call Bracha for info- 813-413-4776.
On Campus LifeGroups are an 18-week discipleship process that will help you discover and apply biblical truths in your everyday life. Join us January 22 in The Life Center as we learn how God has designed each of us to connect, grow, and go. On - Campus LifeGroups meet every Saturday from 5-6:30pm and 7-8:30pm. Register at: www.crossingonline.org/ news. • Warm Up: February 20 - Registration Closes February 13 or • Warm Up: March 27 - Registration Closes March 20 • Starting Line: February 12 - Registration Closes February 6 • Mile One: March 5 - Registration Closes February 27
For more announcement details: www.crossingonline.org/announcements
Saturday, January 29 Sunday, January 30
WELCOME TO THE
CROSSING CHURCH
AWAKENING Faith, Fasting and Spiritual Freedom Matthew 9:14-17
Lead Pastor: Greg Dumas
SCRIPTURE Matthew 9:14-17 (NIV) Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. 16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” 14
OBSERVATION • • • • •
New school fasting is about going to God to rejoice and celebrate His finished work in Jesus Christ, it’s not for mourning, or repentance, or to get God to change something. You must realize that you are totally forgiven and set free under the New Covenant of grace and that you can approach God will full assurance of his love for you. Fasting isn’t just for serious Christians in times of crisis! Fasting is like pressing the “reset” button for our souls (mind, will and emotions), and it works like a thorough house cleaning. Fasting clears away the debris of being worldly focused and allows us to return to our first love in Christ. Our emotions have time to rest, and reset and we regain the knowledge that the Lord is good and gracious to us at all times.
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APPLICATION 1. New School Fasting /New Covenant Fasting (Matt 9:14-17; Galatians 5:1; Romans 8:9,11; 1 Cor 3:16; Heb 13:5)
2. Pressing the RESET button (2 Cor 4:16; Rom 6:4; 2 Cor 3:18)
3. Power for your Willpower (Rev 2:4-5; Matt 11:29-30; Psalm 46:10; Isa 30:15; Psalm 131:2)
4. The God Experience (1 Cor 10:13; Psalm 34:8; Rom 5:20 KJV) ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
PRAYER Lord, thank you that you took all of my sin and punishment and dealt with them at the cross. I am going to fast in order to draw closer to you. I now know that I don’t have to come asking for your forgiveness and feeling like a failure. You have already given me the power to live victoriously in your finished work. I am excited to fast and I look forward to getting the “gunk” out of my spiritual house. I know that you will freely accept my offering and fast, and my soul is ready to receive some much needed power to help propel my willpower. My spirit is willing and I want to follow you and know you more than ever before. I am willing to taste of this new spiritual food and see that you are indeed good.