Crossroads Bible Fellowship

As we are wrestling with who we are as a body, we will be trying to put some of our thoughts in writing. Periodically I will post some thoughts here, giving you the opportunity to interact with them. Here is the first opportunity.

WHO WE ARE
We are a group of people who recognize that we are all needy.  Our common need stems from the belief that we are sinful and disobedient to God.  This means we don’t deserve anything good from God.  In fact, we deserve only punishment.  However, we believe that God has been so good and loving that He was willing to receive our punishment for us in Jesus’ death.  Because Jesus is God he overpowered death.  Through these beliefs, God changes us for the better, but does not take away our neediness.  We remain a people who are happily needy.

So, what do you think?

This is a great post by Ligon Duncan on how to pray for your leaders. I appreciate it because it gives a good focus that I would love for people to pray for me. If you do not attend Crossroads, consider praying these things for those pastoring you.

Here is the introduction to whet your appetite.

Because I have a congregation that loves me more than I deserve, I am often asked by them: “how can I pray for you?” I’ve tried to put some thought into how I answer that question. So, maybe these ideas will help you pray for your pastor, or tell others how they can pray for you.

Pray -

1. That [your pastor] would know and love the living God, would have a saving interest in Christ, being purchased by His blood, and thus would be bound to the Lord by the indissoluble bond of the Holy Spirit.

2. That [your pastor] would know, embrace and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.

Hey all!

I just posted my plan for reading Scripture this year on the Discerning Mind site. Check it out here.

If you want to join me, pick up Ephesians and post a comment here saying you want to. Kirk and I have already started but would love company.

Michael

I posted this on the Discerning Mind site, but not all of you check that site so I thought I would post it here too.

Are you thinking about what you can do differently this next year? I know I am. It almost seems hard wired in me to evaluate my last year and to make plans to do better this next year. That can be both good and bad.

I have to constantly remind myself that according to the gospel, I am accepted even with the failures of this last year. Jesus covers it all! How comforting and yet humbling that is. I can start over knowing that it is not my performance that will get me closer to God. Jesus keeps me close. This makes me want to start over.

Having said that, it is a good time to evaluate and plan. If you are also in that mindset and want to systematically read through the Bible this next year, let me recommend a few plans by pointing to Justin Taylor’s blog Between Two Worlds. He has listed many different plans that might suit you. In fact, I would recommend his blog for regular reading. I check there often.

Another plan I have heard about that seems really helpful is this flexible one from Tim Chester on his blog. Check it out.

In the next few days I will lay out the plan I am going to try this year. Please pray for me to follow through and if you let me know what your plan is for this next year, I will pray for you.

Thanks and have a great New Year’s day! I know I will.