ONE COMMUNITY: OF JUSTICE

August 1, 2010 |

Why is it important to establish memorials? Because we’re easy to forget and because it’s easy to forget about us. To remember in the Bible means more than just recollection of thought. It means to be able to control your consciousness by having something so central to you that everything just becomes second nature. The Bible over and over bids us not to forget the Gospel and Psalm 103 is a great example of that.

Understanding The Gospel By Looking Into The Life Of Jacob

This series (as every series this year) falls under the FOCUS ONE vision for 2010, which goal is that God would make Crossbridge a huge blessing others here in our city. However, we will never be a blessing unless we ourselves experience what it truly means to “be blessed.” For this reason, we’re gonna focus on one life that the bible gives us a narrative of — the life of Jacob.

We will use Jacob’s life as a template and we believe, the perfect template for us modern people because no one screws up more, doubts more and deceives more than Jacob. If we are able to see the Gospel working in Jacob’s life we will inevitably see the possibility of this same power working in and through our own lives.

This is a great opportunity for you to invite those whom you’ve been committed to pray for and share the gospel with this whole year! Invite friends, family, neighbors and co-workers.., this series is bound to bless (no pun intended)

CROSSBRIDGE: A CHURCH DISTRIBUTED
Pinecrest @ 11:00 a.m. | Brickell @ 6:00 p.m.

Crossbridge will be starting its second location in Brickell at (Immanuel Lutheran Church) 1770 Brickell Avenue – Miami, FL 33129 @  6:00 p.m, this Sunday, April 4, 2010. We are seeking to duplicate the DNA of Crossbridge as best we can to see God do in other locations what we have seen Him do in our main Pinecrest location already in our short 18 month of existence. For this reason, on resurrection Sunday we are taking a big step towards Brickell’s spiritual resurrection as well, so come be a part of it! Invite friends, co-workers, family and neighbors to celebrate with us this “historic” day, for us and Miami

If you can’t attend for one reason or another there are a few things you can do to help this be a successful launch.

1. You can still invite and get the word out by forwarding this email, by using your facebook and twitter accounts and, by picking-up the phone and calling to invite your friends, co-workers, family and neighbors.

2. You can pray for it. Take one minute to pray for our staff, volunteers and those who live on Brickell that are in need of Jesus. Pray that our staff would have spiritual and physical strength to work week after week and pray that lives in Brickell will be transformed by the power of the Gospel.

Read pastor Felipe’s blog to understand the rational behind this faith-step.

Marriage has the power to challenge our virtues at the same time that it magnifies our weaknesses. Once married we learn that for the first time in our lives we can’t hide nor avoid being who we are. For once, our true self comes to the surface — we are finally exposed. If we allow it to serve its purpose, marriage can be a journey to move our true self towards our radiant self. Moreover, marriage is an opportunity that God gives us to minister in an unique way to ourselves as we care and nurture our spouse. All of this of course is grounded in the relationship that Jesus has with his bride. This is at the core of Paul’s teaching to the Ephesian Christians and therefore, the foundation for this first sermon on the important issue of marriage.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 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 Corinthians 6:18-20)

:: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

PLAY the video on top. People often say that porn is a harmless thing. Do you agree with that?

1 :: The Greek word porneo in the text is translated as “sexual immorality”. What is the true meaning of this    word? And how does it differ from the biblical understanding of sexuality?

2 :: Porneo was also an economical greek term meaning “to pass through”, as in the way a ship passes through a port. Over time, the word came to be associated with prostitution. What’s the connection?

3 :: Why does Paul tell us to “rocket” from sexual immorality? In what ways have you fled from it?

4 :: In v.19b-20 Paul reminds us that “we are not our own” and that “we were bought with a price” how can that help us to find freedom from our sexual brokenness?

5 :: Pornography dismantles the very fabric of what it means to be human. Can you share an experience where you have witnessed someone dehumanize themselves, their family or on a broader scale their community through and addiction to porn?

6 :: Like an alcoholic needs increasingly larger amounts of alcohol as his tolerance builds up, so will a porn addict need more extreme unusual deviant forms of pornography as his addiction develops. Some experts believe that viewing his material can lead to enacting unhealthy fantasies in real life such as “Ted Bundy”.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What are some ways we can help these individuals find sobriety in their day to day lives?

7 :: Pornography communicates it’s own truth about men and women; unfortunately their all lies. Can you name at least five myths about women that pornography teaches men? about men that pornography teaches women?

8 :: There are different stages of addiction moving from an early stage of early exposure all the way to acting out the sexual part from plastic images to the real world. What are some ways parents can prevent early stages of porn addiction in their children? or family in their family members? or peers with their peers?

Additional resources:

- False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction by Harry Schaumburg
- A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God’s Gift of Sexual Intimacy by Douglas Rosenau

Click here to view the embedded video.

:: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1 :: Argument of design

“Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body.” (1 Cor. 6:13)

God has made our sexual parts as well as our whole bodies. What happens when we eat things that we are not suppose to eat?

*Food for stomach; stomach for food
- Consequences if you ignore the design —   + Rewards if you the follow design

Our bodies were not designed for immorality. What happens when we conduct ourselves outside of what God has designed our bodies to be?

*Body for Lord;Lord for body
- Consequences if you ignore the design — + Rewards if you follow the design

2 :: A Higher Purpose: Made for Eternity

“Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” (1 Cor. 6:14)

The Christian knows that one day God will raise us up just as He did Christ. The corruptible will put on incorruptible. What are some practical ways we can set our minds on Immortality and not Immorality?

3 :: Belong to Christ

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 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. 6:15-20)

There is a special grieving that goes on when we take our bodies, the temple of God, and make them a place to serve our own fleshly needs; it is like inviting hell into our personal lives. Other sins are not a direct compromise with our bodies and I suppose for this reason there is an extra guilt and reaction that comes about from Christians who fall into sexual sins. What are some practical ways we can flee immorality whether in thought or in deed?

4 :: How does the gospel help bring healing to our broken sexuality?

Click here to view the embedded video.

This Valentines Day we are launching a new sermon series on sex, porn, singleness and marriage and even though it doesn’t seem like it, God has everything to do with all of the above. So, for the next five weeks we want to help you to gain Gospel perspective on each of these topics so that you will thrive in your relationship with God,  your spouse, your community and yourself. Don’t miss the opportunity to bring a friend.

:: 2.14 :: “Sex”

:: 2.21 :: “Pornography”

:: 2.28 :: “Singleness”

:: 3.07 :: “Marriage” (p.1)

:: 3.14 :: “Marriage” (p.2)

*In addition to the series there will be an on-line resources for you to interact during the week with each of the four topics.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This Sunday we kick off the FOCUS ONE campaign. FOCUS ONE is an attempt to boldly live out the implications of the Gospel as a church. It’s about one life, focused for one year, on one message, to make a difference in one city through one person. Show up on Sunday to find out more and know how you can be engaged.

ONE focus . ONE message . ONE year . ONE city . ONE person

MESSAGES

“ONE body” (Eph 4:1-16)
Crossbridge is a church committed to community life rather than programs because we believe that there’s no possibility of spiritual growth apart from body life. Without community life the truth of the Gospel cannot be massaged in, in terms of knowledge, relationships and service to the world. Not only that but, one cannot grow closer to God without being close to others. That’s why commitment to a local church and a community group is so important. You cannot participate in the mission of the universal church of Jesus unless you’re plugged into a local body.

“ONE movement” (Acts 19:20 + Luke 10: 1-20)
The difference between a movement and an organization is that in an organization a few create and take initiative while in a movement everybody creates and takes initiative. Because of this a movement is far more exciting.  If you read the New Testament you will see that all Christians are called by God to lead. In the Bible, we are all called “kings and priests of God.” This Sunday’s sermon will be a call to send everybody out. We desire that everybody would own The Focus One vision and take initiative to see the Kingdom of Jesus unleashed in our city.

“Getting Down to Business” (Acts 10:24-48)
This Sunday we’ll continue on with our FOCUS ONE series looking at some very practical instructions on how to effectively communicate the Gospel to people around us, family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc… Here’s the heart of what we’ve been going through, talking, learning, and applying these last few weeks: You won’t wanna miss this one!