"Real Purposes"
C.R.O.S.S.C.R.E.E.K.
Part2 of 10 Nov 14, 1999
Col. 3:12-17 & Selected
Col 3:12-17 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Four Purposes of Cross Creek:
| To Exalt our Lord God. |
| To Equip the Saints. |
| To Evangelize the Lost. |
| To Elevate Moral & Spiritual Character of Society. |
I. HOW DO WE FULFILL OUR PURPOSES AT CROSS CREEK?
By growing Spiritually Mature in Christ:
1. Spiritual Maturity starts with FAITH in Christ.
1John 5:11-13 "And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
2. Spiritual Maturity is a GRADUAL process.
Hebrews 5:13-6:1 "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity…."
3. Spiritual Maturity is growing more CHRIST-LIKE.
Eph 4:12-13 "….so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
GROWTH = KNOWLEDGE + OBEDIENCE + TIME
"PBPGINTWMY"
"Please be patient, God is not through with me yet"
BENEFITS TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH -
The Fulfillment of our Purposes:
CONFIDENCE with our Lord. (Equip)
Ephesians 3:12 "In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence."
BURDEN for the lost. (Evangelize)
Rom 9:2-3 "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel."
IMPACTING your world for Christ. (Elevate)
Mt. 5:13-16 "You are the salt of the earth. ….You are the light of the world…. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
GLORIFY our Lord God in everything. (Exalt)
Rom 15:5-6 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
