Christian Education Classes – Summer 2013

Our Christian Education Summer Classes (June 2- August 25)

Every Sunday from 11:00am – 12:00 noon

Preschool (Ages 2–4) Preschoolers learn that God keeps his promises. Taught by Mike & Melissa McClendon

Younger Elementary (Grades K–3) Children encounter Jesus through his powerful signs and wonders. Taught by Robert Mourad

Older Elementary (Grades 4–6) Pre-teens see the Bible as one story – God’s story of salvation through Christ. Taught by Rose Dunn

Middle and High School (Grades 7-12). Knowing the God Who Is – a journey through Scripture to discover the truth about who our God is and how to relate with him. Taught by Kevin McMullen and Chuck Assadourian.

Friendship Class (Special Needs Education)

Help your friends understand that God cares about how they feel. This life-application course helps friends talk to God about their feelings and work through them in a positive way. Includes tips for using the material with lower-functioning adults. We will also cover other topics about our relationship to God. Taught by Peggy Van Lowe and one adult/teen mentor for each student.

  

Adult Education

Exploring the New Testament II – Join us for the last quarter of our year-long exploration of the Scriptures. The goal is to enable us to better grasp each book and its relationship to the larger whole of the Bible. We will focus on many of the Apostle Paul’s letters, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude and Revelation. Taught by Tim Carroll

The Acts of the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:8

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 3:1-4:31

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesushas given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001

The House and Family of God – Acts 2:36-47

…36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

 

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
 

Pentecost: King Jesus’ Pouring – Acts 2:14-36

Last week we learned that the book of Acts plays a key part in the unfolding drama of God’s work to restore his creation through Jesus Christ. As the church today we must, like the disciples in Acts, live faithfully, creatively and glocally. That is to say we must know where we are at in the drama (after Pentecost and before the second coming), creatively speak and act in keeping with where we are, and be mindful that the stage upon which the drama is playing out is global even as we improvise locally.

I was reminded through an email from a congregant that although we are part of what God is up to we also have to remember that we are not at the center of it all; we are not the main characters on stage. This week we engaged Acts 2 and the crucial event of Pentecost. Peter made that congregants point beautifully. Pentecost, as some might suspect, is not about us and our experience of the Spirit as much as it is about Jesus’ exaltation to the right hand of God and expansion of His kingdom. Jesus is at the center of it all.

Scottish Theologian Sinclair Ferguson put it well in his book The Holy Spirit,

[quote name=”Sinclair Ferguson”]”Pentecost, like the visible manifestations of every coronation, is by its very nature sui generis [of its own kind]. It is no more repeatable as an event than is the crucifixion or the resurrection or the ascension of our Lord. It is an event in redemptive history (historia salutis [history of salvation]), and should not be squeezed into the grid of the application of redemption (ordo salutis [order of salvation])….That is not to say that Pentecost has no existential dimension or contemporary relevance. But it does mean that we should no more anticipate a ‘personal Pentecost’ than that we will experience a personal Jordan, wilderness, Gethsemane, or Golgotha. While such language has been popularly employed it is theologically misleading. Pentecost itself is no more repeatable than is the crucifixion, the empty tomb or the ascension.”[/quote]

It is important to remember that Pentecost is about Jesus expanding his kingdom because it helps us to remember that:

1. Jesus is center stage
2. We are not center stage
3. Our experience of the Spirit is secondary to the main event
4. The Spirit is poured out by Jesus so that we might make Christ known
5. Jesus will always remain at the right hand of the Father as King of his expanding Kingdom

The flow of the relationship (covenant) between God and his people is from heaven to earth. Pentecost therefore exemplifies the Biblical priority of God’s grace and descent to us.

As I studied the passage I think that the best way to see Peter’s point in how he ultimately answers the question “What does all this mean?” (2:12). “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36).

[button url=”http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:14-36&version=ESV” newwindow=”true” color=”red”]Acts 2:14-36[/button]

Questions for Conversation

[box icon=”info”] Peter quotes many Old Testament passages? What about his audience made that a wise choice?[/box]

[box icon=”info”] Much that could have been said about this passage was left out due to time. What did you most want to hear about also? Are there still questions lingering on your fingertips about this passage? Type them out and send them to us.[/box]

[box icon=”info”] Where does it matter in our life as a congregation, your family’s life or yours that Jesus’ being King is what Acts 2 is about? What needs to change as a result? What can you be encouraged about?[/box]

14th Day Ladies – Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Ladies of Crossroads will meet at Nancy’s house 13531 Pleasant Colony Dr. on Tuesday, May 14th from 10:00am – 12:00 noon.

The topic is: “Taking Root in Your Pot”

Information: During this month’s ‘Fellowship-with-a-Focus’ we will discuss both plant & spiritual growth as we create a beautiful potted plant to take home with us! All flowers and dirt will be provided. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn gardening from our own Master-gardener (Nancy)!
Please bring along a 8-10 inch pot of your choice – green thumbs are not required.

Bible verse: “..And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. (Ephesians 3:17b-18)

Congregational Meeting – Sunday, May 5, 2013

Dear Crossroads,

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, May 5th for a meeting after Sunday
School at 12 p.m. to elect new church officers.

After the nomination process, six months of training, and some very
thorough examinations, the Crossroads Session is pleased
to recommend the following men:

– Randy Kee for ruling elder

– Kevin McMullen for deacon

– Leonard “Van” Van Lowe for deacon

Please review the biblical qualifications in 1 Timothy 3: 1-13 and Titus 1: 6-9
and make an extra effort during these next five weeks to spend some time with
these men in order to make an informed decision when we vote on May 5th.