TMG
Tom’s Midweek Greeting
Crossroads Community Church
Nevada MO
July 18, 2019
www.nevadacrossroadschurch.org
Scrappy Church!
What comes to your mind when you think of a “scrappy” baseball or basketball player? Tenacious? Hard-working? Resourceful?
I’m really looking forward during these final weeks of summer to a series of sermons we’ll be doing on Sunday mornings on the theme of “Scrappy Church.” The idea is based on a book by Thom Rainer which I’ve read recently called Scrappy Church: God’s Not Done Yet. It’s all about the way God uses small churches (or “turnaround” churches like ours) in an age of megachurches.
This Sunday we’ll take our first look at “Scrappy Church” by looking through the microscope at a New Testament church that seemed to be a scrappy church – the church in Thessalonica, Greece. Paul & Silas helped found the church (read about it in Acts 17); then Paul wrote two very personal and interesting letters to the church.
I look forward to your being with us this Sunday morning. I feel like this may be one of the most important, and hopefully edifying, sermons I will have preached at Crossroads in the time I’ve been here. Hope you can join us for worship, study, prayer, fellowship, and encouragement this Sunday starting at 10:00 at the Y.
Over the next six weeks, as part of our “Scrappy Church” series, we’ll emphasize…
- some basics about how the local church is supposed to “work” (Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to fulfill their calling – 2 Thessalonians 1:11. What’s the calling we’re to fulfill as members of Crossroads Church?)
- some thoughts about how we can be a more outwardly-focused church. (Thom Rainer considers a scrappy church to be a welcoming, and outwardly-focused, church. Paul said of the Thessalonians that their faith had been made known in places all around them – 1 Thessalonians 1:8.)
- a thought on how we can support the Lord’s work as generous givers.
Scrappy Church will take us right up to the start of the new school year. I look forward to us starting the school year equipped with a tenacious, hard-working, and resourceful mindset from the Lord!
(Don’t forget that if you miss a Sunday morning, you can access audio of our sermons through the church website,www.nevadacrossroadschurch.org. Thanks to Heather who uploads these audio recordings and maintains our website!)
Calendar
Just a few reminders:
— Thursday Afternoon Prayer today (7/18) at 4 pm on my front porch, **contact us for the address**, if you’re free! Come when you can, and stay as long as you’re able to pray with a few others!
— Our Elder Board will meet this Sunday after worship. Please be praying for our elders and their meeting this Sunday. Thank you!
— If you’re interested in joining some others from Crossroads at the Royals-Cardinals game August 14, please sign up on the back table on Sunday. We need sign-ups and money by July 28. The Cardinals are heating up! Should be a great game!
— The next Men’s Fellowship & Discipleship group will be the third Monday of August, the 19th. 6:30 pm at Precision Coffee. All men are welcome!
— Thanks to our Worship Team and Children’s Church Team which each met recently to plan and evaluate their respective ministries!
What God Gives
One of the key verses from last Sunday’s sermon was James 1:17 which says that every good gift we receive in life comes down from “the Father of lights” who never changes.
As part of my personal reading of the Bible this year, I’ve been jotting down Scripture references that fit into three categories:
- “Do not fear” verses.
- Verses that specifically say what pleases God.
- Verses that mention things God gives.
I thought you might enjoy reading the list I’ve compiled so far of things God gives. I’ve tried to limit it to verses that say specifically God gave, or gives, something. Also, I know that I’ve missed, overlooked, and forgotten so many as I’ve been reading. Nevertheless, I personally find this imperfect, incomplete list to be encouraging and interesting. I hope you’ll take a minute to look it over and that you’ll also be encouraged by what a wonderful, gracious, giving God we have! (The verses are listed in no particular order.)
What God gives:
- perseverance and encouragement Romans 15:4
- wisdom James 1:5
- all things to enjoy 1 Timothy 6:17
- grace to minister Romans 15:15
- the light of the knowledge of the glory of God 2 Corinthians 4:6
- the ministry of reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:9
- peace Psalm 29:11
- favor Psalm 30:5,7
- joy Psalm 30:5
- grace Psalm 30:10
- forgiveness Psalm 32:5
- lovingkindness Psalm 33:5
- every good thing Psalm 34:10
- deliverance Psalm 34:17
- redemption of my soul Psalm 34:22
- straight paths Proverbs 3:6
- reproof, correction Proverbs 3:11-12
- compassion Psalm 40:11
- blessing Proverbs 3:33
- grace Proverbs 3:34
- breath and spirit to the people on the earth Isaiah 42:5
- the supply for all our needs Philippians 4:19
- every spiritual blessing Ephesians 1:3-4
- long life Psalm 91:10
- strength and victory in our circumstances Psalm 92:10-11
- children Deuteronomy 7:13
- victory to Israel over the Canaanites Deuteronomy 7:20
- rest Exodus 33:14
- a prudent wife Proverbs 19:14
- the land (to Joshua and Israel) Joshua 1:3
- victory over Israel’s enemies Joshua 3:10
- quail, bread of heaven, water from a rock Psalm 105:40-41
- gave the Israelites the evil desires they craved for Psalm 106:15
- food to those who fear Him Psalm 111:5
- redemption Psalm 111:9
- increase Psalm 115:14
- favor, like a shield Psalm 5:12
- safety Psalm 4:8
- glory and majesty Psalm 8:5
- His one and only Son John 3:16
- everlasting life John 3:16
God gave Michaela and Ryan Walker a baby this week! Welcome to Adley Jane Walker, born yesterday, July 17, and congratulations to the grandparents, Dave & Kim Reedy!
I hope to see you Sunday as we worship such an amazing God and look to Him for all our needs!
–Tom
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