The Crossing Fellowship
Christian-ish Part 2
Lots of people identify as Christians—about one-third of the world, in fact. But calling ourselves Christians and actually following Jesus can be two different things. Without even realizing it, we can slip into a faith that’s more about appearances than about a life-changing relationship with Christ. This series challenges people to confront how they may be practicing a compromised version of Christianity: one in which comfort, convenience, or cultural norms overshadow true faith, obedience, and transformation. Each week, we’ll tackle a different way this can show up in our lives and explore what it looks like to move from shallow faith to a deeper, more committed relationship with Jesus.
Locations & Times
The Family Life Center
1610 8th St, Gothenburg, NE 69138, USA
Sunday 11:00 AM
Guest or visitor?
Thanks for joining with us today! We'd love to connect and be a spiritual resource for you! Please take a second to fill out a connect card to help us get started. If you are new, bring it to the guest service desk after service, and we will donate to a local school lunch program of your choice in your honor!
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The Crossing Fellowship is on a mission to see people meet, follow, and love Jesus. If you feel led to help join and support this mission financially, click the link below to give online.
https://thecrossingfellowship.churchcenter.com/giving5 questions to help you grow
We believe that spiritual growth happens when we live a life in rhythm of hearing God's Word and following His instruction. There are five key areas of this that we believe are crucial for spiritual growth in the life of a believer. Those areas are: Know God, Follow christ, Live Connected, Serve Others, Make Disciples.
For each of these rhythms, we developed 5 questions to help us gauge and focus on living in rhythm with God and His Word. Consider asking yourself these questions daily.
▸ Did I spend time today in God's Word? What did I learn?
▸ Did I take a step of faith today - whether big or small?
▸ Who did I strengthen or support today?
▸ What need did I meet today?
▸ Who did I point toward Jesus today?
For each of these rhythms, we developed 5 questions to help us gauge and focus on living in rhythm with God and His Word. Consider asking yourself these questions daily.
▸ Did I spend time today in God's Word? What did I learn?
▸ Did I take a step of faith today - whether big or small?
▸ Who did I strengthen or support today?
▸ What need did I meet today?
▸ Who did I point toward Jesus today?
🎶 Songs from service
▸ I Know That I Know - The Belonging Co
▸ Christ Be Magnified - Cody Carnes
▸ Christ In Me - Life.Church Worship
▸ Christ Be Magnified - Cody Carnes
▸ Christ In Me - Life.Church Worship
❓Discussion Questions / Action Steps 🦶
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
▸ Selective obedience is the dangerous illusion that doing some of what God commands is enough, when it's really disobedience in disguise.
▸ When we choose partial obedience, we slowly build a wall between us and God.
▸ Instead, we can choose full surrender as a demonstration of our love for God, who loved us first.
❓Quick-Talk: (if you only have a few minutes)
▸ What did you think of the message?
▸ Was there anything you disagreed with?
▸ What stood out or resonated with you?
▸ How can you live in light of this truth?
❓Start-Talking:
▸ Share with your group how you saw God work this past week.
▸ What are some areas of your life where it's easy to be obedient to God's will?
❓Verse-Talk:
Read 1 Samuel 15:20-22
▸ What stands out to you in these verses?
▸ How do these verses influence your view or understanding of sin?
Read 1 John 5:3-4
▸ Talk about a time when you chose obedience when it was difficult. How did that choice build your relationship with God?
❓Share-talk:
▸ How have you related to Saul in the story from this week? What are some ways that you have practiced selective obedience?
▸ Where are you letting sin whisper its way into your life? Discuss some ways that you can turn toward God the next time you're tempted to justify sin.
▸ What keeps you from completely surrendering to God?
🦶Action-Steps:
▸ Think about your life this past week. How did sin successfully or attempt to whisper into your life? Take some time and write down some ways.
▸ Write a list of practical ways you can turn toward God. Consider looking up some verses that you can memorize or focus on. Use this list the next time you're tempted to have selective obedience.
▸ Make a plan to spend time this week seeking God's Word.
▸ Connect with one person in your group during the week. Share with them your answer from the first few questions. Pray for one another and encourage each other to choose surrender.
▸ Who is one person in your life that might need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ? Name them, pray for them, and connect with them.
▸ Go through the Bible plan below on your own or with your group this week.
Memory Verse: 📖
As a church, we want to hide the Word of God in our hearts and keep His wisdom on our minds. Consider memorizing this verse to help lead and guide you in your decisions.
1 John 5:3 NIV
"This is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome"
▸ Selective obedience is the dangerous illusion that doing some of what God commands is enough, when it's really disobedience in disguise.
▸ When we choose partial obedience, we slowly build a wall between us and God.
▸ Instead, we can choose full surrender as a demonstration of our love for God, who loved us first.
❓Quick-Talk: (if you only have a few minutes)
▸ What did you think of the message?
▸ Was there anything you disagreed with?
▸ What stood out or resonated with you?
▸ How can you live in light of this truth?
❓Start-Talking:
▸ Share with your group how you saw God work this past week.
▸ What are some areas of your life where it's easy to be obedient to God's will?
❓Verse-Talk:
Read 1 Samuel 15:20-22
▸ What stands out to you in these verses?
▸ How do these verses influence your view or understanding of sin?
Read 1 John 5:3-4
▸ Talk about a time when you chose obedience when it was difficult. How did that choice build your relationship with God?
❓Share-talk:
▸ How have you related to Saul in the story from this week? What are some ways that you have practiced selective obedience?
▸ Where are you letting sin whisper its way into your life? Discuss some ways that you can turn toward God the next time you're tempted to justify sin.
▸ What keeps you from completely surrendering to God?
🦶Action-Steps:
▸ Think about your life this past week. How did sin successfully or attempt to whisper into your life? Take some time and write down some ways.
▸ Write a list of practical ways you can turn toward God. Consider looking up some verses that you can memorize or focus on. Use this list the next time you're tempted to have selective obedience.
▸ Make a plan to spend time this week seeking God's Word.
▸ Connect with one person in your group during the week. Share with them your answer from the first few questions. Pray for one another and encourage each other to choose surrender.
▸ Who is one person in your life that might need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ? Name them, pray for them, and connect with them.
▸ Go through the Bible plan below on your own or with your group this week.
Memory Verse: 📖
As a church, we want to hide the Word of God in our hearts and keep His wisdom on our minds. Consider memorizing this verse to help lead and guide you in your decisions.
1 John 5:3 NIV
"This is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome"
⬇️ This week's message ⬇️
Christian-ish (Part 2)
➖ Selective Obedience ➖
Christian-ish (Part 2)
➖ Selective Obedience ➖
Selective Obedience:
▸ Dangerous illusion that doing some of what God commands is enough, when it's really disobedience in disguise
▸ Dangerous illusion that doing some of what God commands is enough, when it's really disobedience in disguise
"Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay."
➖ Ravi Zaccharias
➖ Ravi Zaccharias
Where are you letting sin whisper in your life?
Trusted in Christ? Tap here!
You have decided to dedicate your life to following Jesus! Congratulations! We want to be the first ones to celebrate and welcome you to the family! You may be wondering; what's next? Here's some next steps to take!
◼︎Tell someone!
We would love to provide you with some guidance on this new journey!
For a new believer's guide, please send an email to jphillips@thecrossingfellowship.com
or send a text to: 1-833-241-1997
◼︎Read your Bible
God's Word provides direction and instruction for living the life that He created us to live. Need help finding where to start? Check out this plan on the YouVersion Bible App
(https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/21482)
◼︎Begin talking to God through prayer
Prayer is just a conversation with God. Tell Him your hurts, struggles, good things, bad things, concerns, etc... He want's to hear it ALL!
◼︎Connect with a life group
Life is hard. Why make it harder by trying to navigate it on your own? Connect with others to help you along your way.
Click here to find a group
https://bit.ly/3bb9BTb
◼︎Tell someone!
We would love to provide you with some guidance on this new journey!
For a new believer's guide, please send an email to jphillips@thecrossingfellowship.com
or send a text to: 1-833-241-1997
◼︎Read your Bible
God's Word provides direction and instruction for living the life that He created us to live. Need help finding where to start? Check out this plan on the YouVersion Bible App
(https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/21482)
◼︎Begin talking to God through prayer
Prayer is just a conversation with God. Tell Him your hurts, struggles, good things, bad things, concerns, etc... He want's to hear it ALL!
◼︎Connect with a life group
Life is hard. Why make it harder by trying to navigate it on your own? Connect with others to help you along your way.
Click here to find a group
https://bit.ly/3bb9BTb
Discussion Questions
test
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wts9yfeqJZW1EucUknoolCKYsfVos-5Yh9h_tj5sMLc/edit?usp=sharing
📺 Watch On Demand
You can re-watch this message or any previous messages at any time on our YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrossingFellowshipNeed prayer?
If you would like to ask for prayer or be prayed with, please submit your request here.
https://www.thecrossingfellowship.com/contact