Kevin Hardy

Expansion - Stretching Out of Your Comfort Zone

Is it time for you to EXPAND?  Stretching beyond your comfort zone is never easy.  So often people get stuck in a rut, bored with the same old, feel the “itch” to do more, have an opportunity to try something new, but fear of change keeps you from EXPANDING!  

God is an ever EXPANDING GOD!  He is always expanding His Kingdom.  He is seeking to increase the size of your faith, your vision, your influence, and your life.  In order for you to expand, you must be willing to stretch yourself beyond your current level of comfort.  

 Starting April 7, 2013 Crossroads will be expanding from two worship services to three.  Our new worship times will be 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 AM.  This will provide more space for more people to worship.  It will provide more oppurtunities for you to use your gifts, talents, and love in ministry at Crossroads.  

One reason we need another service?  - When a church service is 80 percent filled, most experts say there is a need to start another service. This is one of the reasons many churches plateau. They don’t believe they need to add another service because they have a few open seats available. When you run out of space, you experience what Pete Wagner calls “sociological strangulation!”

As we move towards the launch of our third worship service, we will be re assigning volunteer ministry assignments, streamlining our worship services down to a maximum of 75 minutes, adding new volunteer positions to serve in our Sunday Morning Ministries.   In order for the church to expand its influence, God is calling each person in our church to stretch beyond there comfort level.  

You might ask the question, "How will God stretch me in this expansion?"

1)  Worship at the 8:30 or 11:30 hours instead of the 10:00 am time slot.  Our recent surveys indicate that most of our congregation wants to worship at 10:00 AM.  This puts a tremendous strain on our children's ministry and fills up the seats in the sanctuary that could be used for visitors.

2) Be flexible in serving at the time you are most needed. In order to staff all the important ministries on Sunday Morning, the pastoral staff will be asking you to shift your serving time slot from either our current 9 or 11 am slots, to 8:30, 10:00, or 11:30 slots.  

3) Step up and starting serving in ministry.  This expansion will provide approximately 30 volunteer slots on Sunday morning.  We do not want to ask those who are volunteering already to do more.  If you are not currently serving at Crossroads, will you step out of your comfort zone and serve in ministry.  Most of these 30 slots are in children's ministry.  Don't be afraid, we will train you and support you, if you will be willing to serve.

4) Start Inviting your Friends, Family, and Neighbors to Church. -  Let's get serious about reaching people who do not have a church home.  God wants to expand His Kingdom through His Church.  Start praying, start inviting and watch God do amazing things in your life.

Over the next five weeks I am going to challenge you to EXPAND!  God is EXPANDING Crossroads and He needs you to expand! 

A Simple Christmas

 
SIMPLE - easily understood, plain, basic, or uncomplicated in nature.

Don't you love SIMPLE!  Christmas has become synonymous with shopping, over indulging, competition, and stress.  But according to the original Christmas story that was never God's intention.  Going back to the Nativity, Christmas is suppose to be about simple things:  faith, love, family, and hope.  The hard part, in today's crazy world, is  remembering that those  simple things are the most precious of all. 

Join us at Crossroads as we celebrate and rediscover the Simplicity of Christmas!

Worship Service at 9 am or 11 am

Spiritual Receptivity

What does the divine immanence mean in direct Christian experience? It means simply that God is here. Wherever we are, God is here. There is no place, there can be no place, where he is not. ... 

If God is present at every point in space, if we cannot go where he is not, ... why then has not that Presence become the one universally celebrated fact of the world? The patriarch Jacob, "in the waste howling wilderness," gave the answer to that question. He saw a vision of God and cried out in wonder, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not." 

The Presence and the manifestation of the Presence are not the same. There can be the one without the other. God is here when we are wholly unaware of it. He is manifest only when and as we are aware of His Presence.... 

Pick at random a score of great saints whose lives and testimonies are widely known. Let them be Bible characters or well known Christians of post-Biblical times. You will be struck instantly with the fact that the saints were not alike… The differences are as wide as human life itself. Yet they all walked, each in his day, upon a high road of spiritual living far above the common way.  

Their differences must have been incidental and in the eyes of God of no significance. In some vital quality they must have been alike. What was it? 

 

I venture to suggest that the one vital quality which they had in common was spiritual receptivity. Something in them was open to heaven, something urged them Godward.... 

 

Receptivity is not a single thing; it is a compound rather, a blending of several elements within the soul. It is an affinity for, a bent toward, a sympathetic response to, a desire to have.... It may be increased by exercise or destroyed by neglect. It is not a sovereign and irresistible force which comes upon us as a seizure from above. It is a gift of God, indeed, but one which must be recognized and cultivated as any other gift if it is to realize the purpose for which it was given....  

The idea of cultivation and exercise, so dear to the saint of old, has now no place in our total religious picture. It is too slow, too common. We now demand glamour and fast flowing dramatic action.... To put it differently, we have accepted one another's notions, copied one another's lives and made one another's experiences the model of our own.... 

It will require a determined heart and more than a little courage to wrench ourselves loose from the grip of our times and return to Biblical ways. But it can be done.... 

Let any man turn to God in earnest, let him begin to exercise himself unto godliness, let him seek to develop his powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything he may have hoped in his leaner and weaker days.

By A W Tozer from The Pursuit of God

New Research: Obedience Not Easy Decision for Believers

Throughout 2012, we have been releasing groundbreaking new research from LifeWay Research’s Transformational Discipleship study. In the study, we were able to identify eight attributes which consistently show up in the lives of believers who are progressing in spiritual maturity.

The latest data released focuses on the need to make personal, sacrificial decisions in order to better obey Christ, or as we have titled it “Obeying God and Denying Self”. The study found that less than one-third of churchgoers strongly agree they are following through in specific aspects of obedience. Actions that can positively impact the scores of individuals on the Obeying God and Denying Self attribute were identified as:

• Attending a worship service;
• Making a decision to obey or follow God with an awareness that choosing His way may in some way be costly; 
• Being discipled or mentored one-on-one by a more spiritually mature Christian; 
• Reading the Bible or a book about what is in the Bible; 
• Praying for the spiritual status of unbelieving acquaintances; 
• Setting aside time for prayer of any kind. 

 Obeying God and Denying Self is also the only one of the eight attributes of discipleship that was predicted by more frequent worship attendance.

 

Source: Ed Stiezer

Ministry Matters™ | Articles | Fielding the Mormon Question

Ministry Matters™ | Articles | Fielding the Mormon Question.

7 Reasons to Join a Small Group

 

Starting September 16th, Crossroads will begin our Fall Small Group Semester.  This is a great opportunity for you to grow deeper in your relationship with Christ and your church family!  Let me give you seven reasons why you should join a small group!

1.  Relationships: A small group gives you the opportunity to get to know people at a more intimate level.  Sunday mornings are an awesome time to worship with the whole family of God, hear a sermon, engage in corporate vision, but a small group gives you a chance to build deeper friendships.

2.  Learning the Word of God: Sunday’s sermon is a great time to get a broad teaching of the Word of God. However, small groups provide time for one on one discussion. One of the best ways for you to grow in Christ is through conversations about the Bible and life. 

3.  Opportunity to Serve Others: One of the greatest joys of being in a small group is the chance to bear others burdens, serve their needs, and step out beyond your own issues.

4.  Place to invite friends: A small group is a natural place to invite friends and family. Sometimes people are more comfortable going to a small group then attending a Sunday morning service.

5.  Place to Pray and Share your needs: A gathering of a few people is a natural environment for prayer. A big part of prayer is conservation with God and small groups provide the perfect environment for communing with God.

6.  Engage in worship: Gathering in a small group allows you to experience worship at a very intimate level. Some groups like to sing and some do not!  But worship can be as simple as a few believers gathered together in the name of Christ.  God’s presence is magnified when we come together!

7.  Follow the New Testament pattern: Acts 2:42-47 gives us a blueprint of what the early church was passionately committed to. The early Christ Followers gathered in homes, shared meals, read the Word, prayed, and worshipped. When you participate in a small group you are following the New Testament pattern.

 

For a list of all the Fall small groups and register online. Click Here

Homosexuality - a Compassionate Biblical Approach

Recently I preach a message on Homosexuality at Crossroads Church in the summer series Hot Topics.  One of my sources was the recent position paper for pastors in the Church of the Nazarene.  I found this paper to be biblical, balanced, and compassionate. 

 

You can listen to the message at www.crossroadsnaz.org

Download Perspectives_Homosexuality

Thoughts on the Book of Revelation

Revelation is a book about the future and about the present. It offers hope to all believers, especially those who have suffered for their faith, by proclaiming Christ’s final victory over evil and the reality of eternal life with Him. It also gives present guidance as it teaches us about Jesus Christ and how we should live for Him now. Through graphic pictures we learn that: 1) Jesus Christ is coming again; 2) evil will be judged; and 3) the dead will be raised to judgment, resulting in eternal life or eternal destruction.

 

• According to tradition, John, the author, was the only one of Jesus’ original twelve disciples who was not killed for the faith. He also wrote the Gospel of John and the letters of 1, 2, and 3 John. When he wrote Revelation, John was in exile on the island of Patmos in the Agean Sea, sent there by the Romans for his witness about Jesus Christ.

 

• John wrote Revelation est. A.D. 95, during the reign of the Roman emperor Titus Flavius Domitian. The emperor had demanded that he be worshiped as “Lord and God”, and the refusal of the Christians to obey his edict led to severe persecution. Tradition says that it was Domitian who sent John to the Isle of Patmos, a Roman penal colony off the coast of Asia Minor.

 

• The word translated “revelation” simply means “unveiling” and this verb means “to uncover, to reveal, to make manifest.” In this book, the Holy Spirit pulls back the curtain and gives us the privilege of seeing the glorified Christ in heaven and the fulfillment of His sovereign purposes in the world.

 

• Revelation is an open book in which God reveals His plans and purposes to His church. When Daniel finished writing his prophecy, he was instructed to “shut up the words, and seal the book” (Dan.12:4); but John was given opposite instructions: “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:10). Why? Since Calvary, the Resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, God has ushered in the “last days” (Heb.1:1-2) and is fulfilling His hidden purposes in this world. “The time is at hand” (Rev.1:3; 22:10).

 

• This book is the revelation of, concerning, and from Jesus Christ. God gave the revelation of His  plan to Jesus Christ, who, in turn, revealed it to John. The book of Revelation unveils Christ’s full  identity and God’s plan for the end of the world, and it focuses on Jesus Christ, His second coming, His victory over evil, and the establishment of His Kingdom. As you read and study Revelation, don’t focus so much on the timetable of the events or the details of John’s imagery that you miss the main message- the infinite love, power, and justice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

• The book of Revelation reveals future events, but there is not the gloomy pessimism we might expect. The drama of these unfolding events is spectacular, but there is nothing to fear if you are on the winning side. When you think about the future, walk with confidence because Christ, the victor, walks with you.

 

What does the Bible say about tattoos/body piercings?

This is a question that was submitted to me during the Puzzled by the Bible sermon series at Crossroads Church.

The Old Testament law commanded the Israelites, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.” Lev. 19:28  So even though believers today are not under the OT law (Rom. 10:4; Gal 3:23-25; Eph. 2:15), the fact remains that there was a command against tattoos should raise some questions.  The NT does not say anything about whether or not a believer should get a tattoo or piercing.

Most Bible commentaries indicate that the prohibition against tattoos and piecing in the OT had to do with idolatry.  The Israelites were called to be a Holy people in a covenant relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Tattoos were used as a way to identify the one being marked as belonging to a false “god”.  God did not want His people to adopt any religious practices from other false religions.   The marking for His people would be circumcision of all males.  This would identify his people externally.  By the way, the NT goes deeper than the flesh, by encouraging the circumcision of the heart. Paul says, “In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,”  Col. 2:11

Although the NT does not condemn tattoos or body piercing like the OT, it is clear from other scriptures that the issue has more to do with the heart than the tattoo.  The NT clearly states, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Cor. 6:19-20  This principle teaches us that we should constantly evaluate what we are doing to our bodies physically, as well as mentally and emotionally.  Does the tattoo or piercing honor God?  If our bodies belong to God, we should make sure we have His clear “permission” before we “mark them up” with tattoos or body piercing.

I would caution anyone not to judge someone based upon a tattoo or piercing.  It is possible to love God and serve Him with tattoos/piercing.  If a person has a tattoo/piercing it does not mean they are an idolater or “sinner”.  We should love all people and never treat anyone with contempt or disrespect because of an outward marking.  Some fully committed Christian have tattoos as an expression of their faith and devotion to God.  Some have a tattoo as an expression of art which is not immoral or satanic.  

On a practical note, many people who have tattoos regret them later.  One of the businesses booming (along with the medical profession and pharmaceuticals thanks to the "hepatitis C-tattoo" alliance) as a consequence of the tattoo-craze is the dermatology industry. According to the American Society of Dermatological surgery, over 50% of everyone receiving a tattoo wants it removed.  Tattoo removal via laser surgery is among the fastest growing areas of the dermatology industry.

I would caution people from getting tattoos on the spur of the moment.  Make sure you have prayed about it, talk to people who love God about it, and think about the long term effects.  The human body will age and wrinkle.  What is fashionable today, maybe out of fashion tomorrow.  What was once beautiful can become ugly.  I guess if I had to give one word of advice it would be CAUTION!

 

Puzzled By The Bible

The Bible can be like a puzzle. We may be familiar with some of the pieces – stories, verses, characters – but many of us haven’t seen “the big picture.” We don’t know how it all fits together, so we’re confused about what to do with all of the little pieces. In this series we’ll be looking at The Big Picture of God’s story, as revealed through the Bible.

Each week, you will discover another piece of the entire story.  Just imagine getting to the place where you can see the whole picture, not just an individual piece of the puzzle.  Don’t miss the next seven weeks!

 

First Message - Sunday April 15, 2012: Discover Who Wrote the Bible and Why?  Discover what the Bible says about itself? Discover how the Bible will illuminate your life?