Crossing Family, There is a worship song that has a line that says, “Redemption is here and it lives in me.” What does that mean to us as Christians in 2010? This weekend we will be talking about the redemption of the Lord and how His redeeming grace has transformative power for all mankind, the nation of Israel, the Christian Church and us, the individual. Praying for you, Greg & Tamara Dumas
MARCH’S KP3 FOCUS: PEOPLE Week 4 Big Idea: We can only give to others what God has given to us. Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Mom & Dad… God has done so many great things in our lives that the bible tells us we help others in the same way God has helped us. Write down some of the cool things God has done in your child’s life so they can share those stories with others. DO YOU LOVE KIDS? We need volunteers to help with our 1st Wednesday services each month with our elementary aged children (kindergarten through 5th grade). If you love kids and want to be a part of Crossing Kids’ exciting 1st Wednesday service, please contact Kim Gore at kgore@crossingonline.org. INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE AT CLAIR MEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Volunteers who have some expertise in playing band instruments are needed to work with beginning band students at Clair Mel Elementary School on Thursdays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. High School students can get service hour credit for this activity. Donations of musical instruments are also greatly appreciated. Please contact Donna Ready at: 863-688-1243 or dready_18@hotmail.com
Good Friday at 7pm
Saturday at 5pm & 7pm
Sunday at 9:30am, 11:30am & 1:30pm
THE LAUNCH OF MYSTORY! Go online at to www.crossingonline.org/mystory and be encouraged by reading how our Lord has been touching the lives of fellow believers! You can also share your personal testimony (anonymously). You never know how your story may change the life of someone else. GHANA MISSION TEAM MEETING The first Ghana, Africa missions team meeting will be Sunday, April 25th. For trip details please visit www.crossingonline.org/missions. For meeting information or questions please contact trip leader Scott Phipps at: missionsworld@crossingonline.org. U.S. MISSIONS COORDINATOR The Crossing Church Missions Department is looking for a U.S. Coordinator for our National Partnerships and future missions project planning. If you have a heart for missions in the U.S. please contact either Norris Brown: nbrown@crossingonline.org or Scott Phipps: missionsworld@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: April 25, registration closes April 18 • Starting Line: May 22 and 23, registration closes May 16 • Mile One: June 26, registration closes June 20 • Momentum: April 24, registration closes April 18 • Pass it On: May 1, registration closes April 25 WWW.TWITTER.COM/CROSSINGONLINE
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.CROSSINGONLINE.ORG/ANNOUNCEMENTS
EASTER WEEKEND IS COMING Do you have a friend you have wanted to invite to The Crossing for some time? There is no better time than Easter weekend; people are more likely to join you on Christmas and Easter than any other weekend of the year. Remember we have six Easter Weekend services and childcare will be provided for children (birth through 5th grade). See you and your family this Easter! Easter weekend (April 2,3 & 4) services:
Saturday, March 27 WELCOME TO THE Sunday, March 28 CROSSING CHURCH Epic Journey: Through the Bible The Books of Jeremiah and Lamentations Jeremiah 29:5-6, 10-14, 31:21-22
Lamentations 3:21-25, 32-33, 4:12
Lead Pastor: Greg Dumas
SCRIPTURE Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NIV) This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
OBSERVATION The Nation of Israel (Judah) was unrelenting in their apostasy and arrogance toward the Lord Jeremiah was sent to warn the nation but they were insistent in their rebellion Jeremiah “The Weeping Prophet” was broken hearted and wept bitterly over the abstinence of his people Jeremiah was unsuccessful by worldly standards but he was greatly esteemed by God for his faithfulness and diligence Jeremiah spoke the Word of the Lord to a people who refused to listen and ultimately suffered total loss
APPLICATION America’s Warning Lamentations 4:12 God’s Plan and Your Path Jeremiah 29:5-6, 10-14; 31:21-22 Our Hope Lamentations 3:21-25, 32-33, 55-58
PRAYER Lord, forgive us; forgive me, for breaking Your heart. Your love is all consuming and Your desire is that we might live. I want to be a person who understands when You speak, who obeys when You direct and who trusts when You correct. You are my standard and my shield; in You I place my trust. You are able to raise me up, even from disaster and suffering. You know the way you have set for me and I trust You to lead me in paths of righteousness.
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: A few brave people take turns telling of a time when someone gave you a clear warning in an attempt to have you avoid bad choices and their consequences only to see you ignore the warning and suffer the consequences of the choices. Maybe it was you who gave the warning to someone else, perhaps your children or a close friend. Let’s dive in deep. Digging Deeper: God sends warnings through Jeremiah only to see them go unheeded. Just like an earthly father, God is motivated to forgive and restore by His desire to see His children live in the purpose He has for them. Read the following verses from this week’s sermon and the study notes that correspond. Discuss the plans that God has for us, the new beginning with a new purpose when we obey Him. Jeremiah 29:5-6, 10-14, 31:21-22 Lamentations 3:21-25, 32-33, 4:12 Application: Jeremiah 29:11-12 Application Challenge: Read these verses and have a few moments of quiet time in your group for everyone to write down an area(s) of your life in which you want to live fully in God’s promise of a prosperous and hope-filled future. Maybe this is a time to ask for God’s forgiveness in an area before moving forward. Daily Challenge: Write down an area in the blank and pray about it every day this week as you read Jeremiah 29:11-12. I want a new beginning with a new purpose, according to God’s plan, in this area of my life. “For I know the plans I have for you, “ declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-12