Crossroads Church
Mistaken Identity :: Part 3
A Tale of Two Paintings :: Ryan Howell
Locations & Times
Crossroads Church Loveland Campus
5420 N Taft Ave, Loveland, CO 80538, USA
Thursday 6:30 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
www.crossroadscolorado.com/live
Thursday 6:30 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Anchor Verse: He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” -Matthew 16:15
What's the Issue Anyway?
Many of us have experienced the trauma of _____ _______________.
The ___________ of the ___________ of FBI God are fear, anxiety, exclusion, hatred, harshness and pride.
A violent vision of God leads to a violent _____________ of God.
What wisdom does scripture offer us?
Plenty of Bible verses paint God as ___________, a violent, moral monster filled with wrath.
(I Samuel 15:3; Numbers 31; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:5-6)
(I Samuel 15:3; Numbers 31; Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:5-6)
Plenty of Bible verses Paint God as _____________, non-violent, merciful and pursuing with love. (Psalm 86:15; Psalm 145:8-9; Luke 15)
Jesus reveals the eternal, ________________ logos of God.
Don't Miss This!
We have to ____________ between the Bible’s radical, non-violent vision of God incarnate in Jesus or the Bible’s normal, violent vision of God incarnate in civilization.
We have to ____________ between the Bible’s radical, non-violent vision of God incarnate in Jesus or the Bible’s normal, violent vision of God incarnate in civilization.
What about my everyday, peacemaking life?
Read the Bible looking for the assertions and ________________ of Jesus’ path to peace.
Interpret the wrath of God as Biblical _______________ for natural consequences of going against the grain of love.
Don’t be afraid of _______________ metaphors that become unhealthy.
The Age of Enlightenment has been replaced by the Age of ____________________.
Create two bins for inputs: Bin of ________________ and the Bin of __________________
How can this bring us closer to God's vision for us and our world?
We might not destroy _______________ in the name of God and Armageddon.
We might save our _____________ from love that keeps a record of wrong.
We might see religion ________________ around something that actually matters: Peacemaking.
What is God inviting you into today?
1. Leave FBI God spirituality and find healing from the fear and anxiety it brings.
2. Read the Bible with eyes to see the two visions: Radicality of God and the Normalcy of Civilization
3. Send me a list of books/resources that might help me overcome my fear of FBI God and the Bible’s violent images.
Thought Provoking Questions for Groups or Personal Reflection
1. Have you had any experience with fear-based and violence-affirming religion? What impact does or did that have on your view of God and your neighbor?
2. Why do you think the Bible gives so many violent images of God? Why do so many of us just accept these as accurate?
3. Have you ever experienced a natural consequence for living against the grain of love?
4. How does a non-violent, non-record keeping God affect the way people parent or love their spouse, partner or friend?