WELCOME Thank you for being here today! We pray your new year is off on the right track. As we are beginning to plan and look forward to this coming year, one of the most important things we want to remember is this: Make God, and being in His presence, the main thing. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, so now more than ever, let’s remind each other of God’s love and amazing grace. If this is your first time with us today, my prayer is that God would let you know you are home! We are big enough to serve you and small enough to know you. 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.
Care Classes Beginning This Week! A new season of Care Classes is beginning this week, and you don’t want to miss it! If you are looking to grow in your marriage, your family, your finances, or to grow deeper in your walk with the Lord - then come and discover all that God has for you. Find more information at the table in the lobby and register at www.crossingonline.org/care-ministries.
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.
Be a Part of Your Community Year Around The holidays are over, but the season of giving never ends. Don’t wait for the next project or event for the church to organize. Make serving a lifestyle, and an everyday occurrence with your family, friends, and LifeGroup. Go to www.crossingonline.org/serve, click SEARCH FAMILY NEEDS or SEARCH COMMUNITY NEEDS and get starting serving today!
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.
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 22 Sunday, January 23
WELCOME TO THE
CROSSING CHURCH
AWAKENING Faith, Fasting and Spiritual Freedom James 5:13-16
Lead Pastor: Greg Dumas
SCRIPTURE James 5:13-16 (NKJV) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 13
OBSERVATION • •
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Prayers that “avail much” are prayers that are centered in the righteousness of Christ. We have been given “right standing” with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, so I can approach the throne of grace with confidence knowing that I will receive mercy and find help in my time of need. Effective prayer occurs as we learn to align our lives and our prayers with the Word of God. A righteous person praying an effective prayer is a believer in Jesus praying a Word-based prayer. Prayer isn’t about getting from God; it’s about aligning one’s self with what God already wants to do. The key to fervent prayer is seeking the glory of God beyond our desires and wants to be happy and find relief. The motive for our prayers should be to glorify God, regardless of our personal comforts and preferences.
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APPLICATION 1. Righteousness Prayer (Romans 3:24, 8:33; Hebrews 4:16; John 15:16; 16:23-24)
2. Effective Prayer (John 15:7; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians chapter 7; Matthew 5:32; Psalm 32:1-2)
3. Fervent Prayer (Psalm 84:11; Matthew 6:33; Col 3:17)
PRAYER Lord Jesus, you are my righteousness and you are my life. In you I have been fully accepted, forgiven and sanctified to come before God. I can approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find help in my times of need, and I can be confident that I am not rejected or scorned in heaven because you made my way perfect with your life, death and resurrection. I am learning to align my life with your life-giving word, and every time I do, I receive more revelation of your truth and comfort from your presence. It’s easy for my prayers to be answered when all I want is what you want, and I finally settle in my spirit that you love me and that you are really looking out for me. I’ve been learning your word, and I find myself praying the words and concepts of the scriptures more and more often. I am coming to realize that a word-based prayer, joined with a Godward life, is more than powerful and effective, and I am seeing amazing answers to my prayers. I am learning that prayer isn’t so much about me, as it simple agreement with you!