April 2, 2017 Weekend Announcements

April 2, 2017

CROSSROADS BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Our Good Friday service is geared to be an intimate experience where you and your family can remember and reflect on the death of Jesus on the Cross. This year, we will hold one Good Friday service at College of the Canyons Stadium on April 14th at 6:30 p.m. This is a family-friendly service, and no childcare will be available. The service will last an hour and will consist of worship, reflection, and communion with our church family.

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 3:8-17. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 3:18-22.

We are getting closer! Come and hear our building update at all services on April 9. Better yet, come and see our new building first-hand with our building tours on April 9 after the 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11 a.m. services!

Amazon Smile: Did you know that you can give to Crossroads with each purchase you make at Amazon? When purchasing from Amazon, use this link https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-5253110 you can also look up and Crossroads will receive a donation for each eligible purchase you make! 

24 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR EASTER

We believe that prayer is the catalyst for our Easter service. So for 24 days, you can join us in prayer by texting ‘Easter’ to 661-771-3065. You’ll receive daily prayer topics along with Scripture to prepare your heart as you look toward celebrating Easter Sunday.

EASTER AT COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS, 2017

Visit our Easter table in the lobby after each service to sign up for a team to serve with, receive free Easter apparel, and have any questions answered.

Before we can celebrate Easter Sunday, we must remember the price paid on Good Friday. Our Good Friday service is geared to be an intimate experience where you and your family can remember and reflect on the death of Jesus on the Cross. This year, we will hold one Good Friday service at College of the Canyons Stadium on April 14th at 6:30 p.m. This is a family-friendly service, and no childcare will be available. The service will last an hour and consist of worship, reflection, and communion with our church family.

PrEaster is an opportunity for your family to come together at the College of the Canyons field the day before Easter. We’ll have bounce houses and face painting for small children. We’ll also host a variety of pick-up games for adults and kids. Bring your family, a blanket, and a ball or two on April 15th from 5:00-9:00 p.m. for a PrEaster celebration together.

Easter Sunday on April 16th starts promptly at 8:00 a.m., with breakfast for you and your family, and our service starts at 9:00 a.m. Within our service, we will sing, celebrate, worship with our church family, and hear an encouraging message from our Senior Pastor.

Easter lilies are available at the Easter table. If you would like to honor a loved one at our Easter service, you can reserve an Easter lily for $20. You can take your lily home with you after service on April 16th.

GO MINISTRY

Ricardo and Vonna Morales shepherd Iglesia Biblica Esperanza, a Spanish speaking church plant meeting on the campus of The Master’s University, and they are our Global Partner Spotlight for the month of April. They have been excited to see their church grow from only 3 people to 50! Their hearts is to see the Spanish speaking community in the Santa Clarita Valley come to know Christ through the Spanish-English services, Bible studies, and outreach through teaching English as a Second Language to those in the community.

GROW MINISTRY

Join us on Saturday, April 29, for the Blended and Blessed Conference. This Livestream conference is for stepfamily couples, single parents, dating couples with kids, and all who desire to learn more about blended families. The one-day event is free, and will run from                     8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign-ups are through FamilyLife and you can register online at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/blended. Please email grow@lifeatcrossroads.org with any questions!

ELEVATE MINISTRY

Elevate Brodeo Retreat: Join us on Saturday April 29th for a day full of manly man stuff. Our guest speaker, Jeff Tritt, will be talking to us about remaining pure in a tainted world. Manly things will be on the agenda, including eating plate after plate of Korean BBQ! Sign up today on Eventbrite. Cost: $45

NEXGEN MINISTRY

We are looking for helpers and leaders in all our services in both West Campus and Main Campus. If you are interested in serving, or would like more information please contact nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org.   

Leaders: Nursery - 6th Grade (All Services)

Check-In Hosts (Before 9:30 a.m and 11 a.m. Service)

Worship Leader (All Services)

Bible Story Teacher - K - 2nd Grade (9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Service)

Small Group Leaders - 3rd - 6th Grade (9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Service) 

Craft Leader - PreK - K (9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Service)

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Tuesday: 

• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Wednesday: 

• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Road, 91321
• College Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 22238 Oxford Lane, 91350
• ReEngage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

March 26, 2017 Announcements

March 26, 2017

CROSSROADS BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Men our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31-April 1! Our Friday night steak dinner will feature our special speaker T.C. Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in the movie The War Room. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby. Please do not let finances stop you from attending this amazing event. For scholarship information, please see the Man Up representatives at the registration cart.  

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 3:1-7. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 3:8-17.

We are getting closer! Come and hear our building update at all services on April 9. Better yet, come and see our new building first-hand with our building tours on April 9 after the 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services!

24 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR EASTER

We believe prayer is the catalyst for our Easter service. So for 24 days, you can join us in prayer by texting ‘Easter’ to 661-771-3065. You’ll receive daily prayer topics along with Scripture to prepare your heart as you look toward celebrating Easter Sunday.

EASTER AT COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS 2017

Visit our Easter table in the lobby after each service to sign up for a team to serve with, receive free Easter apparel, and have any questions answered.

Before we can celebrate Easter Sunday, we must remember the price paid on Good Friday. Our Good Friday service is geared to be an intimate experience where you and your family can remember and reflect on the death of Jesus on the Cross. This year, we will hold one Good Friday service at College of the Canyons Stadium on April 14th at 6:30 p.m. This is a family-friendly service, and no childcare will be available. The service will last an hour and consist of worship, reflection, and communion with our church family.

PrEaster is an opportunity for your family to come together at the College of the Canyons field the day before Easter. We’ll have bounce houses and face painting for small children. We’ll also host a variety of pick-up games for adults and kids. Bring your family, a blanket, and a ball or two on April 15th from 5:00-9:00 p.m. for a PrEaster celebration together.

Easter Sunday on April 16th starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast for you and your family and our service starts at 9:00 a.m. Within our service, we will sing, celebrate, and worship with our church family and hear an encouraging message from our Senior Pastor.

Easter lilies are available at the Easter table. If you would like to honor a loved one at our Easter service, you can reserve an Easter lily for $20. You can take your lily home with you after service on April 16th.

GO MINISTRY

Our March Global Partner Spotlight is Tim and Julie Palamootil, who serve in Southeast Asia. Tim and Julie’s main ministry comes in the form of an orphanage to help underprivileged children. Their goal is not only to provide physical nourishment but spiritual nourishment as well. Tim also spends time teaching the Bible at the local Christian high school. Please pray for their safety, as they seek to raise the children to know God.

GROW MINISTRY

Join us on Saturday, April 29, for the Blended and Blessed Conference. This Livestream conference is for stepfamily couples, single parents, dating couples with kids, and all who desire to learn more about blended families. The one-day event is free, and the it runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign-ups are through FamilyLife and you can register online at ww.lifeatcrossroads.org/blended. Please email grow@lifeatcrossroads.org with any questions!

MEN’S MINISTRY

Men our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31-April 1! Our Friday night steak dinner will feature our special speaker T.C. Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in the movie The War Room. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign-up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby. Please do not let finances stop you from attending this amazing event. For scholarship information, please see the Man Up representatives at the registration cart.  

ELEVATE MINISTRY

Elevate Guy's Retreat: Join us on Saturday April 29th for a day full of manly man stuff. Our guest speaker, Jeff Tritt, will be talking to us about remaining pure in a tainted world. Manly things will be on the agenda, including eating plate after plate of Korean BBQ! Sign up today on Eventbrite. Cost: $45

NEXGEN MINISTRY

We are looking for helpers and leaders in all our services in both West Campus and Main Campus. If you are interested in serving, or would like more information please contact nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org.   

Leaders: Nursery - 6th Grade (All Services)

Check-In Hosts (Before 9:30 a.m and 11 a.m. Service)

Worship Leader (All Services)

Bible Story Teacher - K - 2nd Grade (9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Service)

Small Group Leaders - 3rd - 6th Grade (9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Service) 

Craft Leader - PreK - K (9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Service)

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• College Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 22238 Oxford Lane, Saugus, CA91350
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

March 19, 2017 Weekend Announcements

March 19, 2017

CROSSROADS BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Men our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31-April 1! Our Friday night steak dinner, will feature our special speaker, T.C. Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in the move The War Room. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign-up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby. Please do not let finances stop you from attending this amazing event. For scholarship information, please see the Man Up representatives at the registration cart.  

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Ken Kistler will continue the Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 2:13-25. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 3:1-7.

We are getting closer! Come and hear our building update at all services on April 9. Better yet, come and see our new building first hand with our building tours on April 9 after the 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services!

24 DAYS FOR PRAYER FOR EASTER

We believe prayer is the catalyst for our Easter service. So for 24 days, you can join us in prayer by texting ‘easter’ to 661-771-3065. You’ll receive daily prayer topics along with scripture to prepare your heart as you look toward celebrating Easter Sunday.

EASTER AT COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS 2017

Visit our Easter table in the lobby after each service to sign up for a team to serve on, get free Easter apparel, and get any questions answered.

Before we can celebrate Easter Sunday, we must remember the price paid on Good Friday. Our Good Friday service is geared to be an intimate experience where you and your family can remember and reflect on the death of Jesus on the Cross. This year, we will hold one Good Friday service at College of the Canyons Stadium on April 14th at 6:30 p.m. This is a family friendly service, and no childcare will be available. The service will last an hour and consist of worship, reflection, and communion with our church family.

PrEaster is an opportunity for your family to come together at the College of the Canyons field the day before Easter. We’ll have bounce houses and face painting for small children. We’ll also host a variety of pick-up games for adults and kids. Bring your family, a blanket, and a ball or two on April 15th from 5:00-9:00 p.m. for a PrEaster celebration together.

Easter Sunday on April 16th starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast for you and your family and our service starts at 9:00 a.m. Within our service, we will sing, celebrate, and worship with our church family and hear an encouraging message from our Senior Pastor.

Easter lilies are available at the Easter table. If you would like to honor a loved one at our Easter service, you can reserve an Easter lily for $20.  You can take your lily home with you after service on April 16th.

GO MINISTRY

Our March Global Partner Spotlight is Tim and Julie Palamootil, who serve in Southeast Asia. Tim and Julie’s main ministry comes in the form of an orphanage to help underprivileged children. Their goal is not only to provide physical nourishment but spiritual nourishment as well. Tim also spends time teaching the Bible at the local Christian high school. Please pray for their safety, as they seek to raise the children to know God.

Interested in going on a missions trip this summer? We still have openings on the GO team to Alaska! The team will spend the week sharing the gospel, praying, and building relationships with a local church,  neighborhood children and their parents through Bible stories, games, and crafts. The trip is from July 16-23. Please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org if you are interested, or visit the Registration Cart for more info on Sunday, today after the service.

GROW MINISTRY

Join us Saturday, April 29, for the Blended and Blessed Conference. This Livestream conference is for stepfamily couples, single parents, dating couples with kids, and all who desire to learn more about blended families. The one-day event is free, and the it runs from 8:30 a.m.    to 4 p.m. Sign ups are through FamilyLife and you can register online at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/blended. Please email grow@lifeatcrossroads.org with any questions!

MEN’S MINISTRY

Men our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31-April 1! Our Friday night steak dinner, will feature our special speaker,  T.C. Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in the move The War Room. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign-up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby. Please do not let finances stop you from attending this amazing event. For scholarship information, please see the Man Up representatives at the registration cart.  

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Sundays: 

• Life at Crossroads 201 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | North Campus

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• College Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 22238 Oxford Lane, Saugus, CA91350
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

• Good Friday - April 14, 2017, 6:30 p.m. - At College of the Canyons!
• PrEaster - Saturday, April 15, 2017 - At College of the Canyons!
• Easter - Sunday, April 16, 2017 - At College of the Canyons!

March 12, 2017 Weekend Announcements

March 12, 2017

CROSSROADS BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Have you formally joined our church family as a member? If not, we encourage you to join us for Life at Crossroads 301, on Sunday, March 19, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. This class will give you more details about our beliefs and will allow you to ask any questions you might have. It will also explain the responsibilities and expectations for those who want to be a part of our family. Dinner will be provided. We apologize that there will not be any childcare provided during the class. Sign up at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central today!

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 2:1-12. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 2:13-25.

Have you formally joined our church family as a member? If not, we encourage you to join us for Life at Crossroads 301, on Sunday, March 19, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. This class will give you more details about our beliefs and will allow you to ask any questions you might have. It will also explain the responsibilities and expectations for those who want to be a part of our family. Dinner will be provided. We apologize that there will not be any childcare provided during the class. Sign up at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central today!

EASTER AT COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS 2017

Visit our Easter table in the lobby after each service to sign up for a team to serve on, get free Easter apparel, and get any questions answered.

Before we can celebrate Easter Sunday, we must remember the price paid on Good Friday. Our Good Friday service is geared to be an intimate experience where you and your family can remember and reflect on the death of Jesus on the Cross. This year, we will hold one Good Friday service at College of the Canyons Stadium on April 14th at 6:30 p.m. This is a family friendly service, and no childcare will be available. The service will last an hour and consist of worship, reflection, and communion with our church family.

PrEaster is an opportunity for your family to come together at the College of the Canyons field the day before Easter. We’ll have bounce houses and face painting for small children. We’ll also host a variety of pick-up games for adults and kids. Bring your family, a blanket, and a ball or two on April 15th from 5:00-9:00 p.m. for a PrEaster celebration together.

Easter Sunday on April 16th starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast for you and your family and our service starts at 9:00 a.m. Within our service, we will sing, celebrate, and worship with our church family and hear an encouraging message from our Senior Pastor.

Easter lilies are available at the Easter table. If you would like to honor a loved one at our Easter service, you can reserve an Easter lily for $20.  You can take your lily home with you after service on April 16th.

GO MINISTRY

Our March Global Partner Spotlight is Tim and Julie Palamootil, who serve in Southeast Asia. Tim and Julie’s main ministry comes in the form of an orphanage to help underprivileged children. Their goal is not only to provide physical nourishment but spiritual nourishment as well. Tim also spends time teaching the Bible at the local Christian high school. Please pray for their safety, as they seek to raise the children to know God.

Interested in going on a missions trip this summer? We still have openings on the GO team to Alaska! The team will spend the week sharing the gospel, praying, and building relationships with a local church,  neighborhood children and their parents through Bible stories, games, and crafts. The trip is from July 16-23. Please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org if you are interested, or visit the Registration Cart for more info on Sunday, March 19, after the service.

GROW MINISTRY

Premarital Class: If you are engaged or looking toward engagement, consider joining our Premarital Class, led by Paul and Dani Collins. The class focuses on understanding God’s design for marriage and includes time of teaching and small group interaction. This eight-week class begins on Sunday, March 12, and meets at our North Campus. Sign up today at www.lifeatcrossroads.org!

Join us Saturday, April 29, for the Blended and Blessed Conference. This Livestream conference is for stepfamily couples, single parents, dating couples with kids, and all who desire to learn more about blended families. The one-day event is free, and the it runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign ups are through FamilyLife and you can register online at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/blended. Please email grow@lifeatcrossroads.org with any questions!

MEN’S MINISTRY

Men our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31-April 1! Our Friday night steak dinner, will feature our special speaker,  T.C. Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in the move The War Room. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign-up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby. Please do not let finances stop you from attending this amazing event. For scholarship information, please see the Man Up representatives at the registration cart.  

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Sundays: 

• Life at Crossroads 201 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | North Campus

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• College Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 22238 Oxford Lane, Saugus, CA91350
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

• Good Friday - April 14, 2017, 6:30 p.m. - At College of the Canyons!
• PrEaster - Saturday, April 15, 2017 - At College of the Canyons!
• Easter - Sunday, April 16, 2017 - At College of the Canyons!

March 5, 2017 Weekend Announcements

March 5, 2017

CROSSROADS' BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Men our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31 - April 1! Our Friday night steak dinner, will feature our special speaker,   

TC Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in The War Room movie. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign-up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby.

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 2:4-10. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 2:11-12.

Have you formally joined our church family as a member? If not, we encourage you to join us for Life at Crossroads 301, on Sunday, March 19, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. This class will give you more details about our beliefs and will allow you to ask any questions you might have. It will also explain the responsibilities and expectations for those who want to be a part of our family.  We apologize that there will not be any childcare provided during the class. Dinner will be provided. Sign up at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central today!

EASTER AT COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS 2017

Visit our Easter table in the lobby after each service to sign up for a team to serve on, get free Easter apparel, and get any questions answered.

PrEaster is an opportunity for your family to come together at the College of the Canyons field the day before Easter. We’ll have bounce houses and face painting for small children. We’ll also host a variety of pick-up games for adults and kids. Bring your family, a blanket, and a ball or two on March 26th from 5:00-9:00 p.m. for a PrEaster celebration together.

Easter Sunday starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast for you and your family and our service starts at 9:00 a.m. Within our service, we will sing, celebrate, and worship with our church family and hear an encouraging message from our Senior Pastor.

Easter lilies are available at the Easter table. If you would like to honor a loved one at our Easter service, we will have Easter lilies available for $20 starting on March 5th. You can take your lily home with you after service on April 16th.

GO MINISTRY

Our March Global Partner Spotlight is Tim and Julie Palamootil, who serve in Southeast Asia. Tim and Julie’s main ministry comes in the form of an orphanage to help underprivileged children. Their goal is not only to provide physical nourishment but spiritual nourishment as well. Tim also spends time teaching the Bible at the local Christian high school. Please pray for their safety and as they seek to raise the children to know God.

GROW MINISTRY

Premarital Class: If you are engaged or looking toward engagement, consider joining our Premarital Class, led by Paul and Dani Collins. The class focuses on understanding God’s design for marriage and includes time of teaching and small group interaction. This eight-week class begins on Sunday, March 12, and meets at our North Campus. Sign up today at www.lifeatcrossroads.org!

MEN’S MINISTRY

Men our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31 - April 1! Our Friday night steak dinner, will feature our special speaker,   

TC Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in The War Room movie. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign-up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby.

NEXGEN MINISTRY

NexGen Winter Camp is March 10th-12th for all current 4th-6th graders, so get your registration forms in ASAP! Contact nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org if you have not picked up a registration form yet.

Musicians: NexGen is looking for an individual or a team with a passion for worship and love for kids to lead the elementary students in musical worship on Sundays. This position is open to guitarists, pianists, vocalists, banjo players, hand-motioners, etc. Let's praise the Lord together! Contact Nichole Greer, at nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org if you'd like to join the Sunday worship team!

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Sundays: 

• Life at Crossroads 201 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | North Campus

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• College Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 22238 Oxford Lane, Saugus, CA91350
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

• Good Friday - April 14, 2017
• PrEaster - Saturday, April 15, 2017
• Easter - Sunday, April 16, 2017 - At College of the Canyons!
• Blended and Blessed - “Keys to Stepfamily Success,” April 29, 2017

Our High Priest

In the book of Leviticus, God gave the generation leaving Egypt clear direction in how to deal with sin. The high priest was the mediator between a holy God and his sinful people. The role of this high priest was critical in the nation of Israel. The problem though with the high priest was that he too struggled with sin just like the people he represented. Notice what it says in Lev. 4:3,

“If the high priest sins, bringing guilt upon the entire community, he must give a sin offering for the sin he has committed.”

As a result of the Fall, no one is immune from sin. Even the high priest sinned!  His sin required that he offer a sacrifice for his imperfection before he could represent the people and fulfill his role.

The only exception to universal sinfulness is Jesus. Read the following verses to see the difference between Jesus as High Priest,

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15)

“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” (1 Pet. 2:22)

“You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.” (1 Jn. 3:5)

Jesus, as our High Priest, is sinless. He could, therefore, shed his blood for our sins so that he could offer forgiveness to all who believe in him, once and for all. Notice what it says in Heb. 1:3,

“After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

The statement that Jesus “sat down” is startling.  The high priest’s work in the Old Testament was never finished. He never sat down on the job! But we see that Jesus, through his one sacrifice for you and me sat down at the right hand of the Father as evidence that he completed the work required in addressing our sin!

Father, thank you for giving us a perfect and sinless High Priest. His sacrifice on our behalf is finished. His death was a once and for all sacrifice. Living today as a follower of Jesus truly is a blessing and privilege.

Following Jesus with you,

Weekend Announcement February 26, 2017

February 26, 2017

CROSSROADS' BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Have you formally joined our church family as a member? If not, we encourage you to join us for Life at Crossroads 301, on Sunday, March 19, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. This class will give you more details about our beliefs and will allow you to ask any questions you might have. It will also explain the responsibilities and expectations for those who want to be a part of our family.  We apologize that there will not be any childcare provided during the class. Dinner will be provided. Sign up at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central today!

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 1:1:22-23. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 2:4-10.

Have you formally joined our church family as a member? If not, we encourage you to join us for Life at Crossroads 301, on Sunday, March 19, from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. This class will give you more details about our beliefs and will allow you to ask any questions you might have. It will also explain the responsibilities and expectations for those who want to be a part of our family.  We apologize that there will not be any childcare provided during the class. Dinner will be provided. Sign up at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central today!

Post Abortion Bible Study: SCV Pregnancy Center will be starting a new session on Monday, February 27. If you are interested, please contact Jen at SCV Pregnancy Center at 661-255-0084. 

GO MINISTRY

Our February Go Partner spotlight is Fingers of God. Daniele Kosanke, from Crossroads, began this ministry because she has the heart for those who suffer from various forms of dementia. Volunteers go weekly to Summerhill Villa, where they visit the elderly, read the Bible, share stories, sing songs, play games and love them. They have expanded by going to two other assisted living homes. They are hoping more people will join so if you are interested in serving in this ministry, please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org.

MEN’S MINISTRY

Men our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31 - April 1! Our Friday night steak dinner, will feature our special speaker,   

TC Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in The War Room movie. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign-up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby.

NEXGEN MINISTRY

NexGen Winter Camp is March 10th-12th for all current 4th-6th graders, so get your registration forms in ASAP! Contact nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org if you have not picked up a registration form yet.

Musicians: NexGen is looking for an individual or a team with a passion for worship and love for kids to lead the elementary students in musical worship on Sundays. This position is open to guitarists, pianists, vocalists, banjo players, hand-motioners, etc. Let's praise the Lord together! Contact Nichole Greer, at nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org if you'd like to join the Sunday worship team!

WORSHIP MINISTRY

You: Talented musician with a servant’s heart and a love of the arts.  

Opportunity: Serve in a community of musicians who love Jesus. 

Contact: Greg at gclark@lifeatcrossroads.org

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Sundays: 

• Life at Crossroads 201 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | North Campus
• Creation Unfolding: Has Science Resurrected God? | 11:00 a.m. | North Campus

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• College Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 22238 Oxford Lane, Saugus, CA91350
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

Blended and Blessed - “Keys to Stepfamily Success,” April 29, 2017 

“Among” vs. “In”

As I concluded my reading of Exodus a couple of days ago, I was impressed with how the book ends. Notice how Moses concludes this book,

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle…For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.” (Ex. 40:34, 38)

If you remember back through the whole book of Exodus, there was a lot that happened! It begins with the Jews slavery in Egypt, God’s deliverance of his people through the plagues, crossing the Red Sea as the Egyptian army chased them, and God’s miraculous provisions throughout the book. Then, the last few chapters describe the intricate detail of the construction of the tabernacle and all the items that went with it. When all was prepared, then the glory of God, representing His presence, filled the tabernacle and the nation was ready to proceed to the Promised Land. Wow! What an ending to a book! God has taken up residence AMONG his people! This dramatic summary gives the readers high hopes for what will come next in the history of the nation.

Can you think of anything more exciting than God taking up residence AMONG a unique people on the earth! The God of the universe was visible through the fire and cloud as he inhabited the tabernacle. God was now AMONG His people, and the nation could experience the blessing of his reign over them.

As fantastic as the filling of the tabernacle was, this event is dwarfed by a new truth Paul describes in 1 Cor. 3:16,

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

Did you see it? God is no longer AMONG his people he is now IN them! That is amazing! Unfortunately, we often take this stunning truth for granted. It was only after all preparations were met that God could take up residence IN us just as he did in the tabernacle. Our sin needed to be paid for, and we needed to embrace Jesus as our Savior and God before that could happen. Only as a result of the finished work of Christ, could the Holy Spirit reside IN his people through faith.

Just as the Jews in the Old Testament were to yield to the leadership of God as they took the Promised Land, so must we yield to his direction so that he can make us more like His Son.

Paul tells us of the role of the Holy Spirit in conforming us into the image of Jesus is 2 Cor. 3:18,

“And we all… are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Father, thank you for being a God of order. A God who has a plan for our salvation and a means for us to become more like your Son through the enabling of the Holy Spirit as we yield to His authority. Thank you that you now reside IN me! Help me to walk worthy of that honor.

Following Jesus with you,

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

Getting All In

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power.

The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.

The decision has been made – I’m a disciple of His.

I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till he stops me.

And, when he comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me…. I SHALL BE ALIVE!

Author Unknown

Weekend Announcements February 19, 2017

February 19, 2017

CROSSROADS' BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Our February Go Partner spotlight is Fingers of God. Daniele Kosanke, from Crossroads, began this ministry because she has the heart for those who suffer from various forms of dementia. Volunteers go weekly to Summerhill Villa, where they visit the elderly, read the Bible, share stories, sing songs, play games and love them. They have expanded by going to two other assisted living homes. They are hoping more people will join, so if you are interested in serving in this ministry, please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org.

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 1:13-21. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 1:22-23.

GO MINISTRY

Our February Go Partner spotlight is Fingers of God. Daniele Kosanke, from Crossroads, began this ministry because she has the heart for those who suffer from various forms of dementia. Volunteers go weekly to Summerhill Villa, where they visit the elderly, read the Bible, share stories, sing songs, play games and love them. They have expanded by going to two other assisted living homes. They are hoping more people will join, so if you are interested in serving in this ministry, please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org.

MEN’S MINISTRY

MEN, our second annual Man UP Conference is March 31 - April 1! At our Friday night steak dinner, we will host our special speaker,   TC Stallings. A former football player and energetic speaker, he is best known for his acting and was the lead male in The War Room movie. Saturday will include our guest teacher, Chris Mueller. He is a great teacher and will be expanding our teaching of biblical manhood! The cost is $69. Sign-up now at lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central in our outdoor lobby.

NEXGEN MINISTRY

Plus (+) Ministry Interest Meeting and Training: Join us today during the 11:00 a.m. service in our North Campus to learn about the launch of Crossroads special needs ministry. We will be discussing Plus (+) Ministry goals as well as hearing from our Plus (+) families. We will provide training to volunteers.

NexGen Serving Opportunities: We are actively looking for singles or couples with a heart to invest in the kids at Crossroads. Positions available on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. If you'd like to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of the kids at Crossroads, contact nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org.

Musicians: NexGen is looking for an individual or a team with a passion for worship and love for kids to lead the elementary students in musical worship on Sundays. This position is open to guitarists, pianists, vocalists, banjo players, hand-motioners, etc. Let's praise the Lord together! Contact Nichole Greer at nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org if you'd like to join the Sunday worship team!

STUDENT MINISTRY

High School: Elevate Winter Camp is coming up on February 24–26, 2017. Sign-up at any Elevate event. Cost: $275. A deposit of $140 is required to hold your spot. Spaces are limited. For more information, please email us at students@lifeatcrossroads.org.

WORSHIP MINISTRY

You: Talented musician with a servant’s heart and a love of the arts.  

Opportunity: Serve in a community of musicians who love Jesus. 

Contact: Greg at gclark@lifeatcrossroads.org

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Sundays: 

• Life at Crossroads 201 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | North Campus
• Creation Unfolding: Has Science Resurrected God? | 11:00 a.m. | North Campus

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• College Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 22238 Oxford Lane, Saugus, CA91350
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

Life at Crossroads 301, March 19, 2017

Blended and Blessed - “Keys to Stepfamily Success,” April 29, 2017 

Man Up Men's Conference 2017

Men,

Crossroads Community church’s third annual Man-Up Conference is coming! This conference is designed to help men live out their faith by God’s design as men in all of life. 

This year we will have a special guest speaker Friday night for our steak dinner. His name is TC Stallings. He is a former football player and dynamic speaker. He is Christian who is best known for his acting. He was the lead actor in The War Room movie. In specific, he will be sharing how a relationship with God changed his life. 

Saturday will follow with our guest teacher who is Chris Mueller. Chris is a pastor who loves to be an encouragement to men by helping them grasp what the Bible teaches about various topics. This year, Chris will be helping to expand our teaching of biblical manhood specifically about marriage. 

If you want to be encouraged, challenged and meet others men who have a similar interest is growing as a Christian man, then come to Crossroads’ Man Up Conference!

The conference is Friday night, and Saturday morning, March 31st - April 1st. The cost is $69. For more information and to purchase your tickets, please click the link below

On Eagles Wings

Sometimes life can be hard. As a follower of Jesus, challenges will come, and we are not immune to tragedy or difficulty. When I think of Israel and their journey to the Promised Land, that time certainly was more demanding and harder than anything I have had to endure as a follower of Christ. They suffered captivity, hard labor, beatings, a lack of food and water and harsh living conditions.

When the Jews were going through their captivity in Egypt and then entering the wilderness, they must have thought that God had forgotten them. They must have thought that God was not very aware of all that was going on in their lives. Such thinking resulted in the scriptural examples we have of their complaining, murmuring and then challenging the leadership of Moses.

God’s perspective of these circumstances was very different than the Hebrews. Notice what it says in Deut. 32:10-12,

“He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the LORD alone guided him, no foreign god was with him.”

This passage is describing Israel in Egypt (“a desert land”), and their journey to the Promised Land as one where God actually led them and carried them! In fact, the level of God’s loving leadership is the picture of an eagle stirring up its nest to push the little birds out so that they can grow and learn to fly. All the while, the eagle is constantly watching, protecting and able to intervene at any moment if the little eagles needed it. Even though the eagle was ready to catch its young, being forced out of the nest was necessary for the young eagle’s growth.  The experience was terrifying but needed for them to learn to soar like eagles.

Jack Deere describes the scene as follows,

“The metaphor of the eagle speaks of God’s wise and loving parental care. As an eagle must force its young out of the nest if they are to learn to fly and fend for themselves so the LORD … led His people into the harsh life of Egyptian bondage and afterward through wilderness wanderings that they might become strong. And like an eagle, the Lord remained ready to ‘catch them’ when necessary.”

This is a great reminder of how God works in our lives as we follow Jesus. He is intimately aware of our lives, needs, and circumstances. He knows that some of the journeys we are each on will be very challenging. He allows those challenges for our growth. When I encounter difficult times, I must not assume that He does not care and then start complaining as the Jews did in the Wilderness. Instead, I must trust Him, pray to him, yield to His leadership and then walk faithfully in obedience. God can use all things to work together for good when they are considered as a whole (Rom. 8:28-29).

Father, thank you for your loving care. Thank you that you know all that is going on in my life. You are leading and guiding me and able to intervene at any time if you think it is necessary. Help me to walk faithfully in dependence upon you especially when circumstances would tell me to do otherwise. Thank you that you care enough about me that you want to help me become more like Jesus over time.

Following Jesus with you,

Weekend Announcements for February 12, 2017

February 12, 2017

CROSSROADS' BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Town Hall Meetings: Join us on tonight in our Main Campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will share in detail the plans and needs for TEN in this coming year. For all our family members and those who call Crossroads their home, this meeting is a priority. Childcare will be provided for children 0-5 years old.

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 1:10-12. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 1:13-21.

Town Hall Meetings: Join us tonight, February 12, in our Main Campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will share in detail the plans and needs for TEN in this coming year. For all our family members and those who call Crossroads their home, this meeting is a priority. Childcare will be provided for children 0-5 years old.

We are moving! Tonight, we will launch our 5:00 p.m. service in our Main Campus (no NexGen). 

Join The Master's University on February 25 from 2-8 p.m. for the 23rd annual Creation Summit Conference! This year's conference will present biblical evidence affirming the creation of a single Adam, and explore paleontological and genetic evidence which supports the idea that all humans found in the fossil records and alive today are descendants of a single individual - God’s first man. Visit masters.edu/science-summit to register and for more information! All sales end February 17th.

GO MINISTRY

Our February Go Partner spotlight is Fingers of God. This ministry was begun by Crossroads Daniele Kosanke, who has a heart for those who suffer from various forms of dementia. Volunteers go weekly to Summerhill Villa, where they visit the elderly, read the Bible, share stories, sing songs, play games and love them. They have expanded by going to two other assisted living homes. They are hoping more people will join, so if you are interested in serving in this ministry, please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org.

NEXGEN MINISTRY

Plus (+) Ministry Interest Meeting and Training: Join us on February 19 during the 11:00 a.m. service in our North Campus to learn about the launch of Crossroads special needs ministry. We will be discussing Plus (+) Ministry goals as well as hearing from our Plus (+) families. We will provide training to volunteers.

NexGen Serving Opportunities: We are actively looking for singles or couples with a heart to invest in the kids at Crossroads. Positions available on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. If you'd like to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of the kids at Crossroads, contact nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org.

Musicians: NexGen is looking for an individual or a team with a passion for worship and love for kids to lead the elementary students in musical worship on Sundays. This position is open to guitarists, pianists, vocalists, banjo players, hand-motioners, etc. Let's praise the Lord together! Contact Nichole Greer at nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org if you'd like to join the Sunday worship team!

STUDENT MINISTRY

High School: Elevate Winter Camp is coming up on February 24–26, 2017. Sign-up at any Elevate event. Cost: $275. A deposit of $140 is required to hold your spot. Spaces are limited. For more information, please email us at students@lifeatcrossroads.org.

WORSHIP MINISTRY

You: Talented musician with a servant’s heart and a love of the arts.  

Opportunity: Serve in a community of musicians who love Jesus. 

Contact: Greg at gclark@lifeatcrossroads.org

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Sundays: 

• Life at Crossroads 201 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | North Campus
• Creation Unfolding: Has Science Resurrected God? | 11:00 a.m. | North Campus
• Leveraging Your Vocation For The Kingdom | 11:00 a.m. | Begins February 26

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• College Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | 22238 Oxford Lane, Saugus, CA91350
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

Life at Crossroads 301, March 19, 2017

Man Up Men’s Conference, March 31 - April 1

Blended and Blessed - “Keys to Stepfamily Success,” April 29, 2017

“Wrestle!”​

As I was reading Ephesians 6 today, I was struck by the word Paul uses to describe our spiritual struggle as we follow Jesus. Notice what it says in verse 13,

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

The word “wrestle” is describing close hand to hand combat. I think it is easy to read this verse and miss the significance of this description. Paul is figuratively describing an intense struggle and wrestling on the ground with our enemy.

Is that how you have been thinking of the Christian life?  I think this concept of “wrestling” stood out to me today because last night I experienced my first Jujitsu class. Jujitso is a form of grappling or wrestling. After we each had learned a couple of moves, we were told to start wrestling with a partner until we could get our opponent in submission! I hadn’t wrestled since High School, but I gave it a try. It was an intense struggle to avoid being put in submission by my opponent while trying to get him to tap out.

Surprisingly, I did well against the other beginner students.  BUT, when the teacher asked to wrestle me I knew I was in trouble.   Because of his skill, speed, and experience, he was able to overcome my strength advantage.  Whatever I tried to do, he had a way to counter or get out of it.  Eventually, he got me to a point where I had to give up.  He forced me into submission!

We as followers of Jesus are fighting a very experienced foe, who has organized this world in a way to bring us into submission. The problem is that we often do not see life in this way.

As I studied this word “wrestle” a little more, I was challenged by the insight of Kenneth West when he said,

“In the word ‘wrestle,’ (palē (παλη)), Paul uses a Greek athletic term. Thayer defines as follows: ‘a contest between two in which each endeavors to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to press and hold down his prostrate antagonist, namely, hold him down with his hand upon his neck.’ When we consider that the loser in a Greek wrestling contest had his eyes gouged out with resulting blindness for the rest of his days, we can form some conception of the Ephesian Greek’s reaction to Paul’s illustration. The Christian’s wrestling against the powers of darkness is no less desperate and fateful.”

We are in a desperate fight for our obedience to Jesus, but most of us in America live as though we have no enemies. We live an unguarded life against the schemes of the evil one. He knows our weaknesses and is ceaslessly trying to pin us before we even know we were in a fight!

Paul shows us that our only hope  in this battle is with God’s armor. Verse 13 says,

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Wuest continues his valuable insight into verse 13 when he says,

“The verb is aorist imperative, which construction issues a command given with military snap and curtness, a command to be obeyed at once and once for all.Thus, the Christian is to take up and put on all the armor of God as a once-for-all act and keep that armor on during the entire course of his life, not relaxing the discipline necessary for the constant use of such protection.”

Wow, what a description of our struggle to be faithful as a follower of Jesus in this world! Our only hope is to withstand our experienced foe is by putting on the whole armor of God and fighting. This armor is describing what a soldier would put on as he went into battle. Each piece had a particular purpose.

Father, I thank you for the reminder that following you in this world will be hard even though the victory is assured. I will be wrestling with a global system designed to lead me astray from simple obedience to you. Help me to remember this life will be a daily struggle and that I need your armor to be able to resist its influence. By your enabling, give me a life of victorious faithfulness.

Following Jesus with you,

Weekend Announcements for February 5, 2017

CROSSROADS' BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

New at Crossroads! We would like to introduce our College Ministry - Cultivating a love for Jesus Christ amongst college students through purposeful friendships, discipleship, prayer, and the study of Scripture. We will begin meeting on February 9, 7 - 9 p.m. For details and location, contact Graham Kelley at Kelleygsk@gmail.com.

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 1:6-9. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 1:10-12

Town Hall Meetings: Join us on Sunday, February 12, in our Main Campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will share in detail the plans and needs for TEN in this coming year. For all our family members and those who call Crossroads their home, this meeting is a priority. Childcare will be provided for children 0-5 years old.

We are moving! Today we will have our video venue available for all three services in our North Campus.  On February 12, we will launch our 5:00 p.m. service in our Main Campus (no NexGen). 

GO MINISTRY

Our February Go Partner spotlight is Fingers of God. This ministry was begun by Crossroads member Daniele Kosanke, who has a heart for those who suffer from various forms of dementia. They go weekly to Summerhill Villa, where they visit the elderly, read the Bible, share stories, sing songs, play games and love them. They have expanded by going to two other assisted living homes. They are hoping more people will join, so if you are interested in serving in this ministry, please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org.

NEXGEN MINISTRY

NexGen Serving Opportunities: We are actively looking for singles or couples with a heart to invest in the kids at Crossroads. Positions available on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. If you'd like to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of the kids at Crossroads, contact nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org.

Musicians: NexGen is looking for an individual or team with a passion for worship and love for kids to lead the elementary students in musical worship on Sundays. This position is open to guitarists, pianists, vocalists, banjo players, hand-motioners, etc. Let's praise the Lord together! Contact Nichole Greer at nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org if you'd like to join the Sunday worship team!

STUDENT MINISTRY

High School: Elevate Winter Camp is coming up on February 24–26, 2017. Sign-up at any Elevate event. Cost: $275. A deposit of $140 is required to hold your spot. Spaces are limited. For more information, please email us at students@lifeatcrossroads.org.

COLLEGE MINISTRY

New at Crossroads! We would like to introduce our College Ministry - Cultivating a love for Jesus Christ amongst college students through purposeful friendships, discipleship, prayer, and the study of Scripture. We will begin meeting on February 9, 7 - 9 p.m. For details and location, contact Graham Kelley at Kelleygsk@gmail.com.

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Sundays: 

• Life at Crossroads 201 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | North Campus
• Creation Unfolding: Has Science Resurrected God? | 11:00 a.m. | North Campus
• Leveraging Your Vocation For The Kingdom | 11:00 a.m. | Begins February 26

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Momsense | 9:00 a.m. | Main Campus | Every Other Thursday
• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

Life at Crossroads 301, March 19, 2017

Blended and Blessed - “Keys to Stepfamily Success,” April 29, 2017 

The Great Energizer

Many of us can remember the commercial with the Energizer bunny. The battery it used allowed that rabbit to keep running and running and running. As I was studying today, I was impressed with the description of God in Phil. 2:13 which says,

“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

The story of God working in us is fascinating. The word translated “at work” is the source for our English word “energy.” As G. F. Hawthorne points out,

This word “carries within it the idea of working mightily, of working effectively (cf. Matt 15:2; Gal 2:8; 3:5; 5:6; Eph 2:2). The form this new verb takes is a participle used as a noun; thus it becomes another name for God. The Great Energizer, the one who is effectively at work, is God.”

The previous verse (Phil. 2:12) tells us we are responsible to “work out” our salvation, and this verse shows us that God is the one who will energize us as we put forth that effort. God, as the Energizer, makes our efforts fruitful. This truth is a profound blessing for the disciple of Jesus.

This privileged reality for the disciple of Jesus is in stark contrast to something else that Paul teaches us in Eph. 2:1-2, which says,

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.”

If you notice in these verses, Satan is described as the one “at work” in unbelievers. It is the same word used by Paul in Philippians 2. Here, Satan is the energizer of those who live contrary to God’s will.  Satan’s influence leads to a life of fleshy indulgence in disobedience to God, but God’s power leads to life in conformity to the image of His Son.  When we become a Christian, we are transferred into the Kingdom of Light and God becomes our Energizer as we put forth the effort to follow Him.

Father, thank you for the reminder that through your work and influence in my life to energize me, I can become who you want me to be! Your design of salvation allows for this incredible possibility.  Thank you for setting me free from the one who used to enslave me to pursue his will through my selfish interests before I was a disciple of Jesus.

Following Jesus with you,

Weekend Announcements for January 29, 2017

January 29, 2017

CROSSROADS' BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Town Hall Meetings: Join us tonight, or Sunday, February 12, in our Main Campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will share in detail the plans and needs for TEN in this coming year. For all our family members and those who call Crossroads their home, this meeting is a priority. Childcare will be provided for children 0-5 years old.

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will continue his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 1:3-5. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 1:6-9.

Town Hall Meetings: Join us on tonight, or Sunday, February 12, in our Main Campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will share in detail the plans and needs for TEN in this coming year. For all our family members and those who call Crossroads their home, this meeting is a priority. Childcare will be provided for children 0-5 years old.

We are moving! We are closing our South Campus after the 11:00 a.m. services today. We will have our video venue available in the Elevate Warehouse at all three services, beginning February 5th. On February 12th, we will launch our 5:00 p.m. service in our Main Campus (no NexGen). 

GO MINISTRY

Interested in being part of a missions trip this year? Join us today at either 9:30 or 11:00 a.m. for our Short-Term Missions Meeting. We will be meeting at our North Campus to talk about our GO Trips to Haiti, Mexico, and Alaska. Please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org with any questions.

Nathan and Naomi Gapper are our GO Partners spotlight for January. They serve in East Asia, reaching out to the locals and the largely Muslim population. Their main goal is to build relationships with individuals in the hopes of sharing the gospel. Nathan will often board the local train and/or bus to go to outlying villages to support underground house churches and help equip these pastors to better share the gospel. For security reasons, more information cannot be given, but we ask you to continue to pray for Nathan, Naomi, and their two children. Pray for God’s will and divine appointments.

NEXGEN MINISTRY

NexGen Serving Opportunities: We are actively looking for singles or couples with a heart to invest in the kids at Crossroads. Positions available on Sunday mornings and Tuesday evenings. If you'd like to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of the kids at Crossroads, contact nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org.

Beginning Sunday, February 5, we will be adding full NexGen Ministries (0-6th grade) to our 8:00 a.m. morning services, in addition to our 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. 

UP jr & UP are beginning January 31 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 1st-3rd graders meet upstairs at the Main Campus and 4th-6th graders meet in the West Campus. No need to sign up, just show up!  

Musicians: NexGen is looking for an individual or team with a passion for worship and love for kids to lead the elementary students in musical worship on Sundays. This position is open to guitarists, pianists, vocalists, banjo players, hand-motioners, etc. Let's praise the Lord together! Contact Nichole Greer at nexgen@lifeatcrossroads.org if you'd like to join the Sunday worship team!

STUDENT MINISTRY

High School: Elevate Winter Camp is coming up on February 24–26, 2017. Sign-up at any Elevate event. Cost: $275. A deposit of $140 is required to hold your spot. Spaces are limited. For more information, please email us at students@lifeatcrossroads.org.

COLLEGE MINISTRY

New at Crossroads! We would like to introduce our College Ministry - Cultivating a love for Jesus Christ amongst college students through purposeful friendships, discipleship, prayer, and the study of Scripture. We will begin meeting on February 9th, 7 - 9 p.m. For details and location, contact Graham Kelley at Kelleygsk@gmail.com.

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Sundays: 

• Life at Crossroads 201 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. | North Campus
• Leveraging Your Vocation For The Kingdom | 11:00 a.m. | Begins February 26

Monday: 

• Authentic Manhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus

Tuesday: 

• Biblical Womanhood | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Up Jr | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus Upstairs
• Up | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus

Wednesday: 

• Woman of the Word | 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Main Campus
• Woman of the Word | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Main Campus
• Ironman | 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | West Campus
• Following Jesus | 7:00 p.m. | Off-Campus Location
• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• re | engage | 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

Life at Crossroads 301, March 19, 2017

Blended and Blessed - “Keys to Stepfamily Success,” April 29, 2017 

Weekend Announcements for January 22, 2017

January 22, 2017

CROSSROADS' BULLETIN

SPOTLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT

Life at Crossroads 101: Our 101 event allows you to meet the staff and elders, as well as gain an appreciation of our history and our hope for the future. Join us tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can register yourself and your family by visiting www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup.

ALL CHURCH

This Sunday at Crossroads, Pastor Todd Smith will start his Exiles series and teach from 1 Peter 1:1-2. Next week, Pastor Todd will teach from 1 Peter 1:3-5.

Town Hall Meetings: Join us on Sunday, January 29 or February 12 in our Main Campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will share in detail the plans and needs for TEN in this coming year. For all our family members and those who call Crossroads their home, this meeting is a priority. Childcare will be provided for children 0-5 years old.

Life at Crossroads 101: Our 101 event allows you to meet the staff and elders, as well as gain an appreciation of our history and our hope for the future. Join us tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can register yourself and your family by visiting www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup.

Life at Crossroads 201: Our 201 introduces key concepts and our church values in order to help each of us follow Jesus. This class also begins the small group experience for all. Crossroads 201 consists of four Sunday mornings, beginning on January 29th. Register today at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central.

We are moving! We are closing our South Campus after the 11:00 a.m. services on January 29th. We will have our video venue available in the Elevate Warehouse at all three services beginning February 5th. On February 12th, we will launch our 5:00 p.m. service in our Main Campus (no NexGen). 

GO MINISTRY

Regretfully, due to the predicted bad weather, we decided to postpone GO Sunday. We will reschedule it and let you know the new date. We will still be having our Short Term Missions meeting next Sunday, January 29.

Interested in being part of a missions trip this year? Join us Sunday, January 29, at either 9:30 or 11:00 a.m. for our Short-Term Missions Meeting. We will be meeting at our North Campus to talk about our GO Trips to Haiti, Mexico, and Alaska. Please email go@lifeatcrossroads.org with any questions.

Sunday, January 22, is Sanctity of Life Sunday and marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on abortion. Beyond counseling, the SCV Pregnancy Center also offers a Bible study to help those affected by abortion. Please call them at 661-255-0084 for more information on the study or on how to get involved with the giving of your time or resources.

Nathan and Naomi Gapper are our GO Partners spotlight for January. They serve in East Asia, reaching out to the locals and the largely Muslim population. Their main goal is to build relationships with individuals in the hopes of sharing the gospel. Nathan will often board the local train and/or bus to go to outlying villages to support underground house churches and help equip these pastors to better share the gospel. For security reasons, more information cannot be given, but we ask you to continue to pray for Nathan, Naomi, and their two children. Pray for God’s will and divine appointments.

GROW MINISTRY

Join our marriage ministry, re | engage, on Thursday nights. Re I engage is for those who need to resurrect or reignite their marriage. This ministry takes place in a small group setting. If you would like to join, space is limited, so please sign up today at www.lifeatcrossroads.org/signup or at Registration Central on Sunday mornings.

NEXGEN MINISTRY

Beginning Sunday, February 5, we will be adding full NexGen Ministries (0-6th grade) to our 8:00 a.m. morning services, in addition to our 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. services. 

STUDENT MINISTRY

High School: Elevate Winter Camp is coming up on February 24–26, 2017. Sign-up at any Elevate event. Cost: $275. A deposit of $140 is required to hold your spot. The spaces are limited. For more information, please email us at students@lifeatcrossroads.org.

COLLEGE MINISTRY

New at Crossroads! We would like to introduce our College Ministry - Cultivating a love for Jesus Christ amongst college students through purposeful friendships, discipleship, prayer, and the study of Scripture. We will begin meeting February 9th, 7 - 9 p.m. For details and location contact Graham Kelley at Kelleygsk@gmail.com.

TEN

TEN is a mission we launched on our ten-year anniversary, when the Crossroads family, by God's grace, commits to giving our lives away in three ways. First, is by planting ten healthy Bible-teaching churches. Second, is to build out and pay off the Valencia Crossroads' main campus within the next ten years. Last, is to identify, select, and financially underwrite the cost to send ten teenage orphans to the Master's University. Join us. Together, we can invest in the future today by making your check out to TEN or donating online at lifeatcrossroads.org/give. All contributions to TEN are tax-deductible under IRS guidelines.

WEEKDAYS AT CROSSROADS

Tuesday: 

• Elevate Jr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Wednesday: 

• Elevate Sr. High Ministry | 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | North Campus

Thursday: 

• Young Adult Ministry | 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. | 22131 Placerita Canyon Rd., 91321
• re | engage | 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. | South Campus 

SAVE THE DATE

Life at Crossroads 301, March 19, 2017

Blended and Blessed - “Keys to Stepfamily Success,” April 29, 2017 

When the Compass is “Off”

Have you ever been lost? I remember a time that I was scouting a new area I wanted to hunt.  It was a beautiful forest. I had planned on only being there a short time so I didn’t bring anything with me except my binoculars.

As I walked through the woods looking for the best place to set up my deer stand, time got away from me. As the sun was setting, I exited the woods, and to my shock, I was completely lost and nowhere near where my car was located.  In fact, I was not sure where I was. I guessed that I was  2-3 miles from my car which I thought now was on the other side of the woods. Darkness was also upon me. I had no flashlight or compass, and I was not certain what direction I needed to go.  I began running back through the woods to try to get through as much of the dense timber as I could before it became completely dark. Once darkness engulfed me, I continued through the thicket slowly fumbling through the woods. When I finally came out of the forest, I was very thankful that I could see my car!

What was my problem? My inner compass was “off.” I thought I knew where I was and the best way to get to my destination, but I was terribly wrong. This memory came to mind as I read Gen. 19. This passage describes the tragic story of Lot and his efforts to protect the two angels who had come to Sodom. He was willing to give the mob (consisting of all the men of the town), his two virgin daughters so that they would not pursue their homosexual desires with the angels. What a corrupt city and foolish dad!

The story is sickening, but how could Lot be willing to give up his two daughters to protect the angels? The only explanation is that his moral compass was “off.” As K. A. Mathews notes,

“That Lot sanctions the rape of his daughters indicates a moral compass gone awry; he places hospitality above the protection of his own children.”

Our society’s moral compass has also gone awry. Sinful behavior is parading before us on the news, in the movies, and in many other ways.  Many who are living life by their inner moral compass pursue a selfish and sinful agenda because they no longer have accurate bearings. They no longer see God and His will as true North. The result is that our culture is on a fast downward moral spiral.

Father, I thank you that you do not change. I thank you that you and your will always functions as our moral compass. From your Word, we can determine how you want us to live. If our personal agendas are in conflict with your clearly communicated will as we find it in scripture, then our compass is “off.” Help us to consistently seek you and your will and guide us by your moral compass.

Following Jesus with you,

Stunning News!

All of us have probably had news that caught us off guard. News that may have changed our lives very unexpectedly. In Genesis 17, Abraham had been living with his son Ishmael for 13 years with the clear thought that Ishmael was going to be the heir of the Promise that God had made. That was not God’s plan, and it is here that God shares some fantastic news with Abraham that changes everything.

God again appears to Abraham in this passage and renews his Promise to make him the father of a multitude of nations, and through his seed, the promised Messiah would come. It is also in this passage that God makes clear that Ishmael is not the son through whom the Promise of God will be fulfilled. The Promise is going to go through the son of Sarah. Hearing the reaffirmation of God’s covenant, Abraham still does not understand and thinks God is talking to Ishmael. Notice what he says in Gen. 17:18-19,

“And Abraham said to God, ‘Oh that Ishmael might live before you!’ God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name hIsaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.’”

God also responds to Abraham, and his desire for the blessing of Ishmael by saying,

“As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.” (Gen. 17:20-21)

Ishmael, as one of the sons of Abraham, would experience blessing. He too would become a great nation, but it will not be through his lineage that the Promise would be fulfilled. It will be through Isaac that the Promise will come. Through Isaac, the Messiah would come, and His rule would be established.

This passage is a good reminder that Ishmael and his descendants also will experience the blessing of God.  This blessing comes through their connection to Abraham by the covenant of circumcision. God graciously is able to extend his blessing to more than the singular line of Issac., but it is only through Isaac that God’s covenant and future reign would be accomplished.

This clarification for Abraham is stunning! He is 99 years old and Sarah is 90 years old at this point! This is news that goes beyond anything that Abraham could have ever imagined. This once again is evidence that we serve a BIG God.

Father, your grace truly is amazing. What a benevolent God you are! I am also so thankful that you are a God with a plan. You have been in control of your plan of salvation from day one. Thank you for loving us enough to control history to ensure the birth of a Savior for all the world.

Following Jesus with you,