Faith Community Fellowship

Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor Genesis 1 & 2 Adam - POTENTIAL ...one rule Genesis 3:1-12 Paradise > deception > distrust > disobedience > death Romans 5:12 What do we do now? Vs 9: God wanted Adam to know where Adam was. God wanted Adam to know that He was looking for Him. Genesis 3:21 The only thing keeping me from God’s grace is my hiding and my blaming. Are you hiding? Are you blaming?

Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus Matthew 21:1-11 A paradox: a true statement that at first appears contradictory. Palm Sunday is sort of like a re-enactment. Zechariah 9 Jesus’ words will never send you on a “fool’s errand”. John 11:25-26 The 1st paradox: The Almighty King rode into Jerusalem to die! Palm trees represent success and triumph. Luke 19:40 The 2nd paradox: Jesus showed Himself to be a humble king who came to serve us by dying on the cross. There is a part of each of us that needs the calm, and peace, and comfort that only Jesus can bring. Many paradoxes center on the person of Jesus. He is: both Lamb AND Shepherd both King AND Servant both Gift AND Cost both our death AND our life. Blessed (spiritually happy) is he who comes to the Father in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor Tension... between the life and teachings of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:14-20 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 This changes everything!

Message by Megan Young “Prayer is not a button to be pushed, but a relationship to be pursued.” connection with our Creator friendship with Jesus the Holy Spirit working in us Matthew 18:1-4 Matthew 19:13-15 Results: - comfortable and confident in prayer - culture of prayer 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - first line of defense Psalm 27:8 John 16:33 - heart of empathy and compassion 1 Timothy 2:1 - praise and gratitude 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Psalm 34:1-3 - relationship with God Psalm 91:1-2, 14-16 Ways to pray: spoken word written word posture of prayer Deuteronomy 67-9 Scripture

Message by Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor insider-focus Acts 15:1-5 Acts 15:10-11 Acts 15:19 Acts 16:5 Drifting… …from a focus on outsiders to a focus on insiders …our church backgrounds …not connected with unchurched people The gravitational pull in the local church is toward keeping people, instead of reaching people. #1, stay focused on reaching people #2, prioritize relevance over tradition #3, celebrate life change #4, Invest-and-Invite Building a bridge relationally, turning on a light spiritually.

Message by Erin Francis Prayer matters…Why? Does it really make a difference? “Prayer is not a button to be pushed, but a relationship to be pursued.” Family prayer = a whole family unit pursuing God together Prayer matters because it leads to: connection with our Creator > identity friendship with Jesus > a companionship the Holy Spirit working in us > guidance Jeremiah 29:12-13 Ways to pray: spoken words written words posture of prayer words of Scripture “Pray the promise not the problem.” - Carlos Whittaker James 2:19 Galatians 5 - fruit of the Spirit Ephesians 6 - armor of God Praying WITH your kids... You are seen. You are loved. You matter. Keep praying. Praying for this next generation – an awesome opportunity and a great responsibility.

Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus What are you worried about today? Proverbs 12:25 WORRY (from Old English word): to choke, or to strangle WORRY: 1, It’s not good for you. Proverbs 12:25 mentally emotionally spiritually (2 Timothy 1:7) physically 2, It never helps you. Matthew 6:25-34 very distracting too consuming paralyzing/halts progress 3, God’s grace is available. Psalm 55:22 Matthew 11:28-30 Philippians 4:6-7 Our King is SEATED! He is not frantically pacing. Seated … Steady … Secure

sola scriptura The Bible is a collection of writings One story: Redemption. Chapter 1: CREATION Genesis 1-2 Chapter 2: BROKENNESS Genesis 3 Chapter 3: PROMISE Genesis 12:1-3 Chapter 4: LAW Chapter 5: REBELLION Chapter 6: GRACE John 1:6-9 John 1:14 Chapter 7: SPIRIT Acts 2 Chapter 8: ETERNITY Revelation 21:1-5

lament: “a passionate expression of grief or sorrow” Lamentations 3:21-23 Scary honesty with God Lamentations 3:17-23 a challenge in scary honesty: write your own lament Scary honesty with ourselves Luke 15:17-19 Lamentations 3:40-42 Repentance: returning home Luke 15:20-24 Scary honesty with yourself — Ask: what isn't working? Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Proverbs 27:17 Scary honesty with others Inciting Incident: — the event that ignites the story's plot and starts the protagonists' transformative journey." Inciting Incident: — challenge: write an inciting incident into your story Turning over a new leaf scary honesty with God scary honesty with ourselves scary honesty with others

We do for other people because of what God has done for us through Christ. John 5:1-21 John 5:24 John 5:39-40 God through Christ has done something for you that you cannot do for yourself. That's the gospel.

“Actions speaker louder than words.” Love is easy to see. 1 John 3:16-18 The most appropriate response to the love of God on display on the cross where Jesus died is to love others extravagantly. We make our love easy to see when we live with compassion. Luke 6:36 BE compassionate… not feel compassionate. Luke 7:12-15 Compassion requires reaction. 1, See a need 2, Feel something 3, walk towards the need Be open to interruptions. Jesus addressed the need that was right in front of him at the moment. Ecclesiastes 4:1 LOVE is EASY to SEE.

Guatemala Mission Debrief (Nov 2023)

"What is God is nudging you to do?" Every once in a while, as followers of Christ, God will nudge us out of our comfort zones Matthew 14:15-33 When God calls you to do something, you will be provided with the resources of God. When God calls you to do something, He waits for us to do what we know how to do, and then God does what only God can do. Mark 6:51-52 God’s call is always accompanied by God’s resources. And God’s will is accomplished by God’s power. God has called each of us to position ourselves in the lives of people who aren’t yet following Him that we might lead them into a relationship with Jesus.

Traditions ...the shepherds Luke 2:10… good news of great joy for everyone! We all need a savior. 2 Corinthians 5:14, We are sure that Christ died for everyone. John 10:10, “...I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” Also John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” (We have an enemy of our souls.) The coming of Jesus, God in human flesh… Christmas changes everything!

CHRISTMAS is all about... 1) The PREDICTION ** 4,000 B.C. ** Genesis 3:14-15 ** A BIG problem ** THE Seed 2) The PROMISE ** Galatians 3:16 ** Genesis 4; 6; 8; 9 3) The PASSWORD ** “Say John 3, verse 16” ** John 3:16 What CHRISTMAS is all about: God’s unconditional love God's unspeakable gift God's unselective deliverance God's uncommon blessing!

SHADOW #1, offense Your calling is too great to live offended. Proverbs 19:11, to overlook an offense Forgiveness: choosing to live with the consequences of someone else’s sin. With God's help, I'm getting over being easily offended. Ephesians 4:2 We tend to judge others by their actions, but we judge ourselves by our intentions. With God's help, I'm getting over the big offenses. When we’ve been hurt: A) rehearse, or B) release Colossians 3:13 SHADOW #2, shame Guilt: I did something bad. Shame: I am bad. vulnerable to perfectionism critical of ourselves and others self-defeating thoughts Isaiah 54:4 1 John 1:9 Move the focus from what I'm not to who Christ is I am not _________________; because of Christ, I am ________________. SHADOW #3, words Proverbs 18:21 We struggle in the present because of labels that we have picked up in the past. What's true about you now doesn't have to be true about you later. Name it something different! You matter to the heart of God.

Psalm 118:24 Philippians 4:4 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Romans 5:3-4 James 1:2-3 1 Peter 4:12-13 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 Joy is not the result of what is going on around us but rather what is going on inside us. Isaiah 26:3 John 14:27 John 16:33 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Psalm 34:14 Matthew 5:9 Romans 12:18 2 Corinthians 13:11 Philippians 4:6-7 Luke 2:14 Good will is the attitude that leads to the action of kindness. Challenge #1: Maintain awareness of those in need January - November. Challenge #2: Maintain awareness of the manger January - November. Psalm 62:5 Psalm 147:11 Lamentations 3:21-23 Romans 15:13 1 Timothy 4:10 The baby in the manger was hope personified.

Acts 16:20-34 1, The Spirit Psalm 150:6 2, The Sympathy Acts 12:18-19 3, The Salvation God is still in the business of “rocking” places. The power of LOVE is a very strong thing. The fact of transformation is that a man, woman or child cannot remain the same once Jesus comes into his or her life. Whatever your calamity... God is on the scene. Mark 4:35-41 If Jesus is sleeping in the storm -- RELAX! Jesus broke in, and broke up the storm. Allow HIM to break IN, break UP, and rock your jailhouse and set you FREE!

FRIENDSHIP - major decisions - something that we’re looking for, but we can’t manufacture - influence and sometimes determine the direction and the quality of our lives Definition: a relationship… characterized by: enjoyment acceptance genuine concern We are drawn toward acceptance. Genuine concern: I am more interested in what’s best for you than I am interested in what’s best for the friendship. John 15:12-15 Proverbs 27:6 Your enemies can set you back, but a counterfeit friend can ruin your life. Counterfeit: - reduces your incentive for seeking out the real thing. - appears to add value - hard to leave behind Evaluate the direction of the relationship… Where’s it going? Your circle of influence Your circle of concern Our inner circle will influence, and even determine, the direction and the quality of our lives.