TMG
Dear Crossroads Family,
Just a quick note to remind you that we’ll worship together this Sunday morning at 10:00 at the Community Center. I look forward to being with you all! Come for good worship, teaching from God’s Word, and good fellowship! I hope to have the sermon posted on Facebook by the weekend in case you’re not able to be with us in person Sunday morning.
I had a great time last weekend in Tampa, Florida, with my kids and grandkids, including speaking at the Parenting Conference Emma and Jason organized for their church. I spoke three times on Saturday to a group of about 25 parents and just a few grandparents. There were some special times during our meetings. I was grateful for the sincere desire on the part of those parents to raise up their children in grace and truth during these challenging times.
I hope to share some of my teaching for parents and grandparents on a couple of Sunday mornings, maybe in February. I wonder if anyone has ideas on how we could make those Sundays special and reach out to parents in our circles of friendships who could be encouraged in this area? Let me know if you do! Thanks!
As far as sermons coming up this winter and spring, here are some ideas that seem to be on my mind and heart:
- This Sunday we’ll talk about the most important thing we can do in 2023. Come Sunday and be challenged!
- Next Sunday, January 22, is “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday,” and should also be the start of our Baby Bottle Boomerang project to support Nevada Birthright. I’d like to preach a sermon on what it means to be a human being. With the introduction of alternative sexual identities, and a coming movement called “transhumanism,” what does it really mean to be a human being created, we believe, in the image of God?
- I’d like to preach one Sunday (probably January 29) on a vision for the local church and, specifically, for Crossroads Church. I believe it’s important, at the beginning of the year, to renew our vision for who and what we are as members of the Body of Christ.
- We’ll spend some time, between now and Easter, studying some of Jesus’ parables. It has been a while since we’ve been in the gospels on Sunday morning. By touching on a handful of the parables, I believe we can grow in our call to follow Him, and also prepare ourselves for Easter.
- On February 12, we’ll have a visit from Lawson Albey, Family Pastor at The Springs, our sister E-Free Church in Springfield. Lawson and his wife, Shay, are building a support team in order to serve the Lord with ReachGlobal in Turkey. (ReachGlobal is the missions arm of the Evangelical Free Church of America.) Our Nevada High School show choirs will be in Troy, Missouri, that weekend, so Lawson will preach in my place.
That’s a lot to look forward to! Please join me in asking God to guide us gently and wisely through the course of teaching, discipleship, and ministry He wants for us in the first part of this new year! Thank you!
I’m grateful for Dale Losch’s message last Sunday and his special emphasis on being good stewards of our finances. Just today I read Psalm 62:10 which says, “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” Someone has written, along those lines, “If rich, be not too joyful in having; too solicitous in keeping; too anxious in increasing; nor too sorrowful in losing.” God has much to teach us through the ways He entrusts finances and material things to us. I hope you’re still pondering, and putting into action, some of the things you learned last Sunday morning!
Elders Meeting This Sunday
I’m looking forward to this first meeting of our new Elder Board, following worship on Sunday. As I’ve mentioned, we’re trying, at the beginning of the year, to connect with all ministry team leaders at Crossroads. This Sunday, we’ll meet with Michaela (nursery), Mark & Michelle (greeters), and Michelle (MAMS). Thanks to everyone for your help and for your support of our elders!
Home Group This Sunday Evening
We’re nearing the end of our Home Group video series on Church History Made Easy: Discovering Your Spiritual Family Tree, but it’s not too late to join in! This Sunday evening’s session will be especially interesting. We’ll take a look at people like the Pilgrims and others who began the Church in America. How did we come to be who we are as American Christians? Come at 6 pm to my house, 628 W. Arch Street. We’ll finish around 7:30. You’ll be encouraged and strengthened for the week.
I hope to see you Sunday!
— Tom
Leave a Reply