CrossWinds Launches Extension Sites
October/04/2019 12:02 PM Filed in: CrossWinds
In 2019, CrossWinds began Extension Sites. What is an Extension Site? How is it different from another campus? Continue reading to find out.
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If You Have Sinned Like Peter, You Can Be Forgiven Like Peter
October/02/2019 09:31 AM Filed in: CrossWinds
At CrossWinds, it is good for us to return to our study of the Gospel of Mark after a busy summer. As we studied Mark 8 and 9, we learned more about the apostle Peter. While he had the honor of being the first person in this gospel to recognize the identity of Jesus, he also miserably failed Jesus. He had the audacity to disagree with Jesus and try to steer Him away from his plan to die for us on the cross. Jesus strongly rebuked him for trying to turn him away from the reason he came. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter was rebuked by God the Father for doing too much talking to Jesus instead of listening to Him. Later, as Jesus was betrayed, Peter vocally denied knowing Him three times even though he lived with Jesus for three years.
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Can We Sin Beyond Forgiveness And A Future?
September/20/2019 03:24 PM Filed in: CrossWinds
Have you blown it? Have you sinned greatly and made a mess of your life? Have you found yourself looking in the mirror wondering if your life is beyond God’s ability to repair? Many of us have faced that moment of despair. If you are at that point as you read this article, let me offer you hope.
Have you heard the true story of a man named Manasseh? His often-forgotten story is found in the Bible in 2 Chronicles 33 and 2 Kings 21. He was king over Judah from 696-642 BC.
He came from a good family. His father had done good for God’s people and ruled well. But Manasseh was the ultimate problem child. When his father died, Manasseh assumed the kingship at age 12. With Manasseh’s youth and unbridled power came unrestrained wickedness. As a young king, he set out to undo all the good his father had done. The Bible describes Manasseh as the most evil king to ever reign over God’s people. He was an absolute terror while in power. The Bible also tells us he has the distinction of being the longest reigning king in Jerusalem, 55 years. His reign was a long and dark period of terror in the history of God’s people.
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Have you heard the true story of a man named Manasseh? His often-forgotten story is found in the Bible in 2 Chronicles 33 and 2 Kings 21. He was king over Judah from 696-642 BC.
He came from a good family. His father had done good for God’s people and ruled well. But Manasseh was the ultimate problem child. When his father died, Manasseh assumed the kingship at age 12. With Manasseh’s youth and unbridled power came unrestrained wickedness. As a young king, he set out to undo all the good his father had done. The Bible describes Manasseh as the most evil king to ever reign over God’s people. He was an absolute terror while in power. The Bible also tells us he has the distinction of being the longest reigning king in Jerusalem, 55 years. His reign was a long and dark period of terror in the history of God’s people.
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CrossWinds Celebrates 5 Years As a Multisite Church
April/27/2019 11:47 AM Filed in: CrossWinds
What Are The Dangers of Smartphone Distraction?
January/04/2019 10:05 AM Filed in: CrossWinds
Statistics claim we check our smartphone 81,500 times a year, about every 4.3 minutes of our waking lives. In many ways, this is easy to understand. Our lives are consolidated on our phone; Weather, calendar, shopping, workouts, email and a camera all in the palm of our hand.
One of the most frequently used apps is Facebook. In 2014, 70 percent of Facebook users used the app on a daily basis. That is more than 1 billion people with the same compulsive routine. The average Facebook user spends fifty minutes a day using the app. This world-wide addiction to distraction is not without consequence. Behavioral scientists tell us the more addicted you are to your phone, the more prone you are to depression and anxiety. You also have less ability to concentrate at work and sleep at night. The danger of digital distraction is real.
Why is the distraction of our phone so popular? What are digital distractions doing to us? What can we do to stop them? Let’s find out. Read More...
One of the most frequently used apps is Facebook. In 2014, 70 percent of Facebook users used the app on a daily basis. That is more than 1 billion people with the same compulsive routine. The average Facebook user spends fifty minutes a day using the app. This world-wide addiction to distraction is not without consequence. Behavioral scientists tell us the more addicted you are to your phone, the more prone you are to depression and anxiety. You also have less ability to concentrate at work and sleep at night. The danger of digital distraction is real.
Why is the distraction of our phone so popular? What are digital distractions doing to us? What can we do to stop them? Let’s find out. Read More...
Why Do We Celebrate The Birth Of A Baby?
November/18/2017 12:28 PM Filed in: CrossWinds
As Christmas approaches, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. He lived 2,000 years ago. He spent the first 30 years of his life working in obscurity as a carpenter for his father. He never traveled far from home. He never married or fathered children. He didn’t make a lot of money or write a book.
Why is the timeline of history divided in half based upon his birth? Why are more books written about him, more paintings painted of him and more songs sung to him than anyone else in the history? What makes the birth of Jesus special?
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Why is the timeline of history divided in half based upon his birth? Why are more books written about him, more paintings painted of him and more songs sung to him than anyone else in the history? What makes the birth of Jesus special?
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How Should A Christian Handle Wealth?
July/20/2017 09:39 AM Filed in: CrossWinds
America is one of the wealthiest nations. As Christians, how should we handle our wealth? Should we give all of it away to the cause of the gospel? Should we feel guilty spending some of it on things we enjoy? In the closing verses of 1 Timothy, the apostle Paul writes to the Christians in the ancient city of Ephesus giving them wisdom on how to handling wealth. Paul gives many lessons on wealth in these verses. I want to focus on just one.
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Don't Just Attend Church. BE The Church
June/08/2017 10:20 AM Filed in: CrossWinds
What Should We Do About Trump?
March/03/2017 11:48 AM Filed in: CrossWinds
Every time we turn on the news, there is criticism of our president. There is a war between President Trump, the media and Hollywood. I don’t know what side of the battle you fall. I don’t know your opinion of our president. I do know what God calls those who love Jesus to do.
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What Is An Iron Man Group?
“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” Proverbs 27:17
Purpose
To promote Christian growth and maturity by being accountable to other like-minded men in being faithful to daily Bible study, Scripture memorization and prayer.
Structure
Purpose
To promote Christian growth and maturity by being accountable to other like-minded men in being faithful to daily Bible study, Scripture memorization and prayer.
Structure
- 3-5 men agreeing to meet on a weekly basis.
- The textbook is the Bible; the Holy Spirit is the instructor.
- Simple Leadership - one man taking responsibility for the health of the group, assuring commitment to the “Iron Man Covenant.”
- Iron Man Groups (IMG) are composed of men at different levels of spiritual growth. Yet all men are accountable for the same purpose - continued spiritual growth.
- Each commits to memorize a portion of Scripture of the Holy Spirit’s leading; the portion of Scripture to be memorized is up to each man.
- The Scripture should be identified within 2 days after meeting so there is time to memorize and apply that Scripture.
- When meeting, men take turns quoting their Scripture word for word, then share insights that the memorization and meditation process has revealed.
- Accountability means:
- If no Scripture is memorized, men will attend regardless.
- You will inform your group if you cannot attend a meeting (no one should wonder where you are)
- Iron Men meet to share failure and victory, not criticize, condemn, or lecture.
- Confidentiality must be maintained; this is a closed group of men who will build tremendous trust with each other.
- All men will commit to the Iron Man Covenant
- Better fulfill our roles as Christian men
- Better fulfill our roles as godly husbands and fathers
- Understand the meaning and the need for responsible church membership
- Establish deep, effective relationships with other Christian men
- Grow the desire to make a lifelong commitment to small group accountability
- Start with as few as 2 men but target 3-5. Over 5 becomes difficult to limit the meeting to 1 hour and men can become “anonymous.”
- Seek to build the group with men demonstrating a range of spiritual growth; be about “disciple-making.”
- Understand and commit to the Iron Man Covenant
- Foundational Scripture - there is no right or wrong way to select Scripture since Iron Men are encouraged to allow the Holy Spirit to direct them. However there is high value to use “Foundational Scripture” as a starter.
- Psalm 1:1-6
- Proverbs - read one chapter in Proverbs daily. You will read through the Proverbs in one month.
- Psalms - 5 Psalms per day will cover the Psalms in one month. A guide sheet will show how to rotate through a cross-section of the Psalms (example: Psalm 1, 31, 61, 91, 121. Then Psalm 2, 32, 62, 92, 122, etc)
- Gospel of John, I John