TMG
Hello, Crossroads Family!
I’ve been reviewing this week Bible verses from 1 John that I know by heart. Here’s one:
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.”
1 John 2:1-5
Here are some things I like about that passage:
1. John says he’s writing in order to help us not to sin. Yet, he turns right around in the next sentence and tells us there is help for us if we do sin. I’m glad help is available! I need it!
2. I like the word “Advocate.” I’m thankful I have an advocate (an attorney of sorts) who intercedes for me with the argument that the price for my sins has been paid! We have a righteous Advocate who actually paid for us!
3. I like the old-fashioned word “propitiation” that’s used in my Bible. Many newer translations use the words “atoning sacrifice,” but I like “propitiation” which, as I understand it, carries with it the sense of “satisfaction.” In other words, God’s wraths, God’s righteous requirements for sin, were satisfied by the death of Jesus on the cross. He is the propitiation for our sins, and also for those of the whole world, if only the whole world will believe it and accept it!
4. The keeping of God’s commandments identifies us as His children. While I know I still fall short in keeping His commandments, I recognize there is an ever-growing desire within me to keep His commandments, and some growth in learning to keep them. When we keep His word, we live more and more in His perfect love.
I hope you are growing in God’s love and in His ways. It’s the way of peace and assurance that so much of the world is missing out on and desperately seeks in wrong ways. 1 John 2:1-5 is good news and packed with powerful ideas: Advocate, Propitiation, and Perfect Love.
Going On at Crossroads:
Worship this Sunday morning, 10:00, at the Community Center.
Last Sunday was a good day.
- We experienced some powerful worship and a challenge about partnering with missionaries serving in other cultures and countries.
- Several in our church family continued to express and pursue a desire to reach out with the love of God to people near and far away.
- There was some much-needed fellowship and growing in relationships.
- At Home Group we had a good discussion on the reliability of the Bible. We learned how the books of the New Testament were collected, and the fact that the leaders of the early Church insisted that the books read in churches be clearly traced back to an eyewitness of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I’m very excited about this Sunday’s sermon from Acts 4-5. Our worship team has prepared some good music; it’s a privilege to sing to God with other people! I hope you won’t miss out, but rather will take advantage of the opportunity we have this Sunday!
I will try to have the sermon up on Facebook some time Friday or Saturday in case you want to view it before or after Sunday.
Youth Group This Sunday
All young people ages 16 and over are invited, following worship, to Jessica’s home for lunch, study, and fellowship. 402 S. Washington Street.
Elders Meeting This Sunday
The elders will meet after the worship service to begin preparing a church budget proposal for 2023. Thank you for praying for our church elders. Please reach out to one of them if you have a need or request.
Congregational Meeting Next Sunday, October 30
We will have a short congregational meeting Sunday, October 30th, following the worship service in order to approve a Nominating Committee. The meeting should last only a few minutes. All are welcome, but if you are a voting member at Crossroads we would especially appreciate your participation. Thank you.
Your Help Needed
Michaela is putting together care packages for our eight young people who have recently left for college or new job assignments. She is collecting items for the care packages. If you need ideas or have questions, please reach out to her. Michelle is collecting cotton shirts you know longer need for a mission outreach to girls around the world. Please contact Michelle or bring your gently used cotton shirts to her. Thank you!
Home Group Next Sunday, October 30
All are welcome at the next Home Group, Sunday, October 30, 6-7:30 pm, at my house, 628 W. Arch Street. You can never be fully sure what will happen — or be discussed — at Home Group, so you don’t want to miss it!
Personal Prayer Requests
Thanks for your prayers for your old pastor! It’s a busy time of the year for me, as I know it is for you. I’m thankful for the many answers to prayer God has given in my life and in yours. Here are some things you could pray about for me, as God brings it to your mind:
I am swamped with music to learn and to practice for Cottey College and for our NHS show choirs. I counted that I have about 50 pieces of music to learn for Cottey, some of which are quite hard. Some I’ve learned, some I’m learning, and just a few I haven’t even taken a look at! I want to do well for these students, and I enjoy getting to know them very much. Please pray that I can do well and be a blessing. Thank you.
I’m excited about the people I get to meet with each week for discipleship. It’s fun and always an encouragement to me. Pray for focus and an ability to lead well. Pray that our growth would not be “head knowledge” only, but also growth in faith and obedience. Pray that others at Crossroads would engage in personal or small-group discipleship. In addition, a couple of us continue to pray every other week, a carry-over from last summer’s Monday Night Prayer group.
Please pray for our congregation as we enter into the season of needing to choose an elder again, and need to wisely plan a church budget. Thanks for praying for God’s leading and for unity in mind and heart.
I’m excited about the many good things happening in my children’s lives, and for God’s faithfulness to them. I enjoy the communication I have with them and the opportunities to see some of them occasionally. As you may know, I’ve been asked to speak at Emma and Jason’s church in Tampa in January on the subject of parenting! Oh boy! First of all, can I remember how Diana and I did parenting? Second, did we do it right? I’m certain we missed the mark in many ways, and certain much of the missing of the mark was my fault. Pray for me as I prepare and that I would speak from God’s Word, not my own words.
Yesterday would have been my dad’s 90th birthday. Perhaps his strongest characteristic was his commitment; he followed through on his commitments to people and to things. He was kind; he was funny; he worked hard; and, in many instances throughout my life, he showed true courage. I was blessed to have such a good dad.
— Tom
Leave a Reply