Meal Groups at Crossroads Church

BOOMARK READINGS: GOING DEEP (PSALM 1; PROVERBS 1)

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 1.2-3:  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.

OBSERVATION
Every thing in life points toward death.  But so much of our energies in this life are given to lengthening or increasing our quality of life...health and exercise clubs...cosmetic surgeries...seat belts...diet pills...dentists...etc.

The truth is that there is only one thing that can give us a longer, more quality existence...the Word of God...the Scriptures!

From a practical perspective, we plug into the wisdom of the ancients.  As we draw from their experience - both good and bad - we learn what it means to truly live...the flow/source of life continually funnels into our existence (from the ancients) fueling our desire and decisions for the things of God.

APPLICATION
What do I plug my life into?  Often times I fish for popular theories and the perspectives of others in determining, not only personal decisions, but also interpretations surrounding the Scripture.  Maybe in order for me to derive their meaning, they must mean something to me!

PRAYER
Father, I long to wade in the deep waters of your wisdom.  Spirit, speak to my heart concerning areas in my life that are killing me...help me to drink deeply from your river of life.  Amen!

The Art of Skillful Living

S:  Proverbs 3:13-15 "Happy is the person who finds wisdom and gains understanding.  For the profit of wisdom is better than silver, and her wages are better than gold.  Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her."

O:  These verses are so counter-cultural.  Our culture would say:  Happy is the person who gets filthy rich.  We prefer the "profit of profit" over the "profit of wisdom" any day.  Maybe that's why our society is so miserable.  We have a glut of stuff and a shortage of wisdom.  And we wonder why our finances and families are a mess.  Where's the wisdom?  When will we learn?  The author of Proverbs is trying to show us that wisdom is supreme.  Drop everything and pursue it.  When you get it--when you learn to live skillfully from God's perspective--you have something worth more than all the silver, gold, and rubies in the world. 

A:  These verses are a great motivation to keep at this practice of doing daily devotions in the Word of God.  Every time we open the Bible and let it sink into our minds/souls, we become wiser.  I want to pursue this wisdom more than I pursue anything else.  I want to be a "person of the Book".  I want to be wise.  I want to live Biblically.  I want to tap into God's mind and God's heart.  So I commit myself to this discipline of daily time sitting at the feet of the One who is all-wise.  I invite you to do the same. 

P:  Father, teach us to live well.  Give us your perspective as we raise kids, manage money, make decisions, do our jobs, plan for the future, deal with conflict, and relate to others.  We commit ourselves to the practice of learning from the Scriptures for the long haul.  Amen.

 

Terry Foss- It's All About The Heart (Psalm 51:16-17)

SCRIPTURE
Ps. 52:16-17 NLT " You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart.

OBSERVATION
This Psalm was written shortly after King David was confronted by the prophet Nathan for committing adultery with Bathsheba. YOu can see David's heart is truly broken before God as he begs God's forgiveness. He's asking God not to look at his sin any longer. He wants a pure heart before God and loyal spirit towards Him. Normally the Hebrew custom would be to offer a sacrifice for the atonement of that sin. But David knew God desired more than going through the motions. He knew God desired a broken and repentant heart. And David knew that God would not reject his heart.

APPLICATION
I admit that in my life I have gone through the motions of "apologizing" to someone after I have wronged them. Who hasn't right? But sadly I have also done the same thing to God. I'll sin, ask for forgiveness and then go and do it again. I want David's attitude and wisdom in those times so I can grow in my faith and better understand God's grace towards me.

PRAYER
Lord, help me to forgive others as you have forgiven me.

JAMES BROWN: I'M NOT DEAD YET! (PSALM 23; PROVERBS 3)

SCRIPTURE
PSALM 23:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

OBSERVATION
Why is it that the only time Psalm 23 gets read…is at a funeral?  I was talking with Phil this week about Psalm 23 and he said that of the hundreds of funerals he has performed, Psalm 23 has been read at every single one!  I know I’ve heard it at every funeral I have attended.

Of all the passages in the Bible, Psalm 23 is probably the most famous and the most recognizable (IT IS THE JOHN 3.16 OF THE OLD TESTAMENT)…but my question is…Is it only useful when we are dead?  Or, dying?  I used to read it to an old lady I used to visit every week in the nursing home.

Don’t get me wrong, Psalm 23 is the perfect thing to read at a funeral, but is this chapter of the Bible only good for us when we are dead?  Is the LORD only our shepherd when we are preparing to take our last breath?  Would God put a chapter in the Bible that only applies to our lives when we can no longer use it? 

I don’t think so…I think that Psalm 23 is as relevant to OUR daily lives TODAY as it was the day that it was written! 

So, why don’t we hear it more…or see the football sign guy (instead of holding up a John 3.16 sign) hold up a Psalm 23 sign…or, where are all   Psalm 23 bumper stickers!

APPLICATION
I HAVE A THEORY…I have a theory why the ONLY time we really want to hear Psalm 23 is at funerals.

I DON’T WANT TO BE A SHEEP!!!  I don’t want to come to terms with the fact that I am not really as smart as I like to think I am…

I DON’T WANT TO BE A SHEEP!!!    I don’t want to admit that I am not really that good at doing this thing called life on my own…

I DON’T WANT TO BE A SHEEP!!!   I want to call the shots…I don’t want to give up control and allow myself to be lead/directed by someone else…

THAT IS…UNTIL I TOTALLY HAVE TO…UNTIL I COME FACE TO FACE WITH SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY OUT OF MY HANDS…SOMETHING I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT CONTROL…LIKE DEATH!

AND THEN I WANT A SHEPHERD…BUT I AM STILL NOT SURE I WANT TO THINK OF MYSELF AS A SHEEP…

PRAYER
Father, I know that you are the Good Shepherd.  I know that you know...I know that you call me by name and lead me...help me to follow you closely by listening to your voice!  Amen!

JAMES BROWN: THE HILLS HAVE EYES (PSALM 8; PROVERBS 2)

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 8.22-23, 25:  The LORD brought me [Wisdom/Truth] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began...Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth.

OBSERVATION
As I write this, I am flying over the mountains of Washington state.  I have spent the last four days in Seattle, Washington, looking at the greenest grass I have seen in the last three months...and all that I saw (especially Mt. Ranier) was absolutely breathtaking.

But these sites pale in comparison to the beauty of Truth.  Proverbs says that the one thing that God put into motion long before any of his other aesthetically pleasing sites, was Truth.

The rhythm of what is true is the fabric of all that we perceive as reality.  In spite of the attempts at hiding absolute truth, ultimate reality will always find ways to reveal itself...love will always be better than hate...generosity will always trump greed...forgiveness will always win over bitterness.

APPLICATION
It is hard for me not to bow down when I enter into discussions surrounding truth as relative.  It is hard to argue against the support of perceived reality...with the endless need to define terms, it is very difficult (emotionally) to say anything with certainty.

But God calls us to pull up our cultural roots and plunge them deeply into God's divine reservoir called...TRUTH.

PRAYER
Father...You are the Way...the Truth...and the Life.  Give me eyes to see your road and the courage to choose your way to experience life!  Amen.

JAKE KERSCHER: BEFORE SHE STARTS SCREAMING (PSALM 1; PROVERBS 1)

SCRIPTURE
Proverbs 1:20 NIV "Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;"

OBSERVATION
King Solomon was once known as the wisest man on the earth.  People from all over the world knew of Solomon for two reasons-his riches and his wisdom.  The book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon and is the second book included in what is often referred to as the "Wisdom Literature" or the "Books of Wisdom."  Solomon is also accredited with having written Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs-two other books included in the wisdom literature.  In the 31 chapters of Proverbs, Solomon, with some help from friends, writes a series of proverbs aimed at imparting wisdom to those who read them.  In 1:20  wisdom is personified as a woman who calls out to those in the street.  She raises her voice in public.  Wisdom is calling out in the hopes that someone will listen up and take note of her.  Wisdom is not content to play nice or beat around the bush.  She wants our attention.  She demands it.  She hollers out at us, 'I am here, pay attention to me!" 

APPLICATION
Why do we avoid wisdom so much?  You would think we would appreciate wisdom.  But why does wisdom have to raise her voice for us to wake up and take notice?  Why can't we just listen to her before she starts screaming?  What obstacles could we have avoided if we had only listened when she was speaking softly?  It seems so many of life's lessons are learned the hard way.  We learn lessons, but not until something tragic happens and finally we take notice.  We too often wait for a sledgehammer to the gut before we pay attention and change our ways.  The check bounces,  the creditors start calling, the spouse leaves, the lab results are back...  We have 66 books full of God's wisdom available at our fingertips each and every day.  Hundreds of characters; hundreds of divine mentors waiting to counsel us and if necessary raise their voice.  I hope we listen to the wisdom recorded for us.  I hope we can take notice before she has to start screaming.

PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for your word.  Please give me wisdom.  Help me to daily rely on your words, your truth, and your wisdom.  Help me to take the time to sit at your feet and learn wisdom's lessons.  Help me to learn and grow so she doesn't have to raise her voice too often.  I love you.  Amen.

BRAD KINDALL: NO TITLE (EXODUS 7; JAMES 5)

SCRIPTURE:
13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. James 5

OBSERVATION:
Here we see two very different types of biblical literature. Exodus is telling a grand, epic narrative; a story to be told from generation to generation about God's saving of the Jews. James has written a letter not to tell a story, but to give specific counsel to fellow believers (Exodus will sound more like James in the giving of the Law after Exodus 19). In Exodus, days and years pass in a couple sentences. In James, time is not as present for the words are counsel not story. Each, though, carry a theme of faith/faithfulness to the God who alone can save. This faith is not a simple belief that God will save. It is a TRUST God will save. Pharaoh and the people of Egypt trusted in many gods, idols made by human hands. Exodus chapter 6 tells us even the Jews were refusing to trust in God. James begins his chapter counseling us not to put our trust in money or our possessions. And then in his counsel to pray, he urges us to stop trying to solve our problems on our own, but rather to turn them over to God who alone can heal and save.

From Genesis to Revelation, the scriptures call us to live by the power and resources of God rather than our own. Our sin is always summed up in a turning away from God and not trusting in Him.

APPLICATION:
I typically have one prayer I pray for my family: "Lord, give us the gift of faith." Of course, there are prayers about sickness and wisdom, etc., but this request for faith is the most frequent. I know all we most desire springs from God. The scriptures do not promise easy journeys for anyone in life, but if we have faith our journey through the twists and turns of life's path will be lead by God. Faith keeps us from making wrong turns, from being enticed away from the path of life and joy. How is that faith most obviously expressed? In what I/we are doing right now--trusting in God's word and praying for His counsel. When we allow God's word to guide our lives, and when we seek His guidance through prayer, we allow God to be God and us to be His children. This is God's design for the proper order of things. It is the way the scriptures begin, and it is the way we will live forever.

PRAYER:
Abba, I praise you for being the one true God. You rescued the people of Israel from Pharaoh. You have rescued us from the oppressors and gods of today. Forgive me for the times I trust in my power and strength. Forgive me for seeking wisdom, counsel, and pleasure from anything that is not of You. I lift up Anna, Jayna, Jennifer, Kevin, Jeannie, Marv, Amanda, Mike, and any others among us who need physical healing. I pray for those among us suffering from depression. I lift up those who are out of work and struggling to provide for their families. Care for your people, Abba. Protect and heal us. But most of all give us faith. Rain the gift of faith upon CrossRoads Church so we will not trust in anything but You. With this gift, Lord, we have all we need. Amen.

LISA ADAMS: TIME TO CHANGE THE LIGHT BULB (EXODUS 6; JAMES 4)

S~James 4:17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

O~ James is laying out some pretty big pieces of advice in the last verses of this chapter. Not only does he address the shortness of our lives, but he also writes about how we are to be careful about boasting and our plans. God is in charge and we have to remember that we are to live for Him.

A~ It is really easy for me to forget how short life is. Especially in the midst of trying to reason with a toddler, fight off illness, and fix a broken dryer. Some days feel like they will never end. But in the big picture, this is just a blip in time for my family. But no matter how short this life is, I need to keep asking myself this question: “Am I doing what I am supposed to do?” Do my plans and God’s plans jive? I know that I am doing the job that God has called me to do, but what about in other areas of my life? I know that I am supposed to love my neighbors, but I haven’t. I haven’t reached out to the couple across the street and I haven’t welcomed the new neighbors just a few doors down. I need to step up and start letting God’s light shine through me.

P~ Heavenly father, thank you so much for everything that you have given me. Thank you for showing me what I am supposed to do. Please help me understand your word and how to apply it to my life. Forgive me for not doing the things that I know that I am supposed to do. Please give me the courage to approach my neighbors and begin being a light for You in this neighborhood. Amen.

Terrry Foss: Who You Are When Everyone's Looking (Exodus 5; James 3)

Scripture

(James 3:13,17)
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

Observation

Isn't it easy to read something and then talk about it as if we know and understand it. Having grown up in the church it's easy for me to say "I know what it means to be a follower of Christ. And I have a good understanding of God's ways." I can talk about it. I can share the gospel. And I can even quote scripture. But this verse is saying " OK Terry, if you are wise and you understand God's ways, then prove it by the way you live as a result of this wisdom. Not with human wisdom but with "wisdom from above." Verse 17 shows us what that looks like. It is first of all pure, then peace loving, gentle at all times, putting others first, full of mercy and good deeds, shows no favoritism and last but not least, always sincere. OK so maybe I'm not so wise and understanding of God's ways. I can't even live like that while I'm driving around town in my car!

Application

I'm not particularly good at any of those aspects of God's wisdom. I need God to show me the areas of my life that need to be aligned with His kind of wisdom so I can live well and in so doing, share Christ's love.

Prayer

Lord, help me to live the life you want me to live according to your wisdom.

JAMES BROWN: WHAT'S IN YOUR HAND? (EXODUS 4; JAMES 2:14-26)

SCRIPTURE
Exodus 4.2-3a:  Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"  "A staff," he replied.  The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground."

OBSERVATION
We are not exactly sure at what point Moses started carrying a staff, but it was most likely a short time after he fled Egypt and became a shepherd...which would have been about 40 years prior.  So Moses probably had been carrying it a long time.  The staff had, by this time, become an extension of his body.  He had probably saved some of the sheep with it (by pulling them out of pits and caves)...He had probably defended himself and his flock with it...He had probably forgotten that he was even carrying it.

But God asked Moses the question, "What is that in your hand?...Throw it on the ground!"  From the common, God produces the miraculous.  God takes the meaningless and infuses it with meaning.  What had been a standard shepherd tool would soon become the catalyst for a national revolution.

Could it be that we already have everything we need to accomplish the "Mission Impossible" to which God has called us?  Could it be that everything we need to lead ourselves and others to freedom is within our reach?  Maybe, instead of looking at all the reasons we can't, we should begin with the question, "What is that in your hand?"

APPLICATION
When I was in High School I thought I was weird (I was actually much stranger in Jr High...I struggled with the concept of deodorant).  I had a hard time concentrating and would often times chime into conversations with what appeared to be random points of information.  Even though the path of logic seemed seamless in my head.

It was only when I started speaking on a regular basis that it was confirmed that my mind did not function like everyone else.  But instead of it being a social liability, it became my greatest asset...the ability to think uniquely, bridging abstract concepts together in order to develop creative messages.

God did not make a mistake...he equipped me with the right gifts to accomplish the plan he had for my life.  The tools he wanted me to use were in my hand all along.

PRAYER
Father, thank you for your gifts.  You do not give to me out of my wants or perceived needs...you give to me as a loving Father who knows what is best...especially when I don't see what is right in front of my nose...or, in my hand.  Amen.