THE INTERSECTION

Our church, The Crossing, is helping with the FIRE VICTIMS in Bastrop, Texas. We are collecting money and as you may or may not know over 1500 homes were destroyed by fire this past summer and these people have lost everything. The greatest needs currently are for prepaid Visa/WalMart/Gas cards. This will help the victims while waiting for their insurance companies to step up. We will be collecting the cards and money during the month of October and you can bring them or mail them to THE DFW CROSSING at PO Box 540368 GP, Tx 75054. If you want to send a check make it out to THE CROSSING and mark it FIRE VICTIMS. All funds will be used for the victims. We will then hand deliver what we’ve collected to Austin on Sat Oct 22, and help with clean up. If you can be an intersection for that day and go with us, contact us at info@thecrossingdfw.com. During our annual Trunk R Treat event on October 30th, we will have places set up for our community members to donate as well. So look for the signs and be generous.

I hope you will consider donating to this worthy cause and be an intersection for someone to meet Jesus and experience His grace and mercy.

One of the areas in which the church must STEP UP and become, is an intersection for those far from God to encounter Jesus Christ.

In Luke 15 there are two parables Jesus gives us as examples of how He cares for those far from Him, and what it takes to bring them home.

Since we live in such a selfish society it’s hard for us to break out of ourselves and leave our comfort zone to share the love of Jesus with those far from God. But this is exactly what Jesus was asking us to do… leave the ninety-nine and go find the one who is lost and hurting.

This past Sunday I outlined what it will take for us to become that intersection for those who need the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

STEP-UP COMPASSION. Jesus welcomed the sinners and was considered by them to be their friend. He didn’t condemn them for their sin or ignore them. He loved them. He didn’t compromise His message or diminish their sin. He had compassion for them and loved them just the way they were. But most importantly, He loved them too much to leave them that way.

STEP-UP EFFORT. It takes effort and time on our part to reach those who are hurting or in need. Just like the shepherd who LEFT his ninety-nine sheep to GO search for the one, we also must leave our recliners and remotes and GO. (Matt. 28:19-20)

STEP-UP PERSISTENCE. While going, sometimes we come against a little resistance when talking to someone about Christ or inviting them to church, and so we quit. We hate rejection. Satan loves that. He tells us “I told ya they wouldn’t come. Now they’re laughing at ya and calling you a holy roller. You better not talk to them again.” Don’t let him win. Remember, they are rejecting Jesus not you. Our roll is to be His mouthpiece on this earth.

We must STEP-UP COMPASSION, EFFORT and PERSISTENCE if we are to be that intersection for those far from God to encounter Jesus Christ.

Who are you praying for that is far from God? Are you asking God for the opportunity to share Jesus with them? Who are you inviting to The Crossing this week? This could be the life-changing week they come home to Him.

This past Sunday we started a mini series called STEP UP. The series focuses on the fact that there is no room in the Christian’s life and the church for selfishness. We are by nature a selfish people.

I love toddlers because they are so honest and they don’t hide the fact that it’s all about them. “It’s mine. If I held it, it’s mine. If I looked at it, it’s mine. If you have it it’s mine. Mine! Mine! Mine! Me! Me! Me! And on and on it goes.

Adults are a little subtler, but if we were honest with each other and ourselves we would come to the same conclusion. “It’s mine!” My time. My money. My house. My career. My car. My boat. On and on it goes.

In the book of Acts chapter four we see how God expects us to live and to create a culture of sacrificial generosity. There was no room for selfishness in the early church. And there should be no room for it today in the modern church. Christ followers should and must be the most generous people on earth.

So, God has given us a vision that will help us resist being selfish by getting out of ourselves and helping those who are in need and becoming an intersection for those for from God to encounter Jesus Christ. It’s called a GREEN INITIATIVE.

Here it is…

1. Step Up and volunteer to be a part of a CTeam each week in house @thecrossing. Find your sweet spot and go to work.
2. Step Up and volunteer to reach those far from God at our annual Trunk R Treat event and our weekly Drive thru Breakfast. Easy to do and very rewarding.
3. Step Up and give an offering over and above the tithe to help the fire victims in Bastrop Texas. They need gift cards for HEB/GAS/VISA to help in the interim period waiting for insurance to kick in. Plus volunteer to help with Operation Christmas Child. Our annual outreach to help children all over the world.
4. Step Up and begin tithing. Giving 10% of your income to the church to advance the Kingdom. If currently tithing, step up and increase your giving. The church must be strong financially to continue the vision God has entrusted us with.

I pray you will consider being a part of The Green Initiative and do your part to advance the Kingdom of God through The Crossing. God is moving. God is changing lives. Allow Him to use you to impact someone that is far from God. In doing so, it will revolutionize your life.