If you would like to send your offering through the mail, our mailing address is:
CrossPointe Community Church P O Box 126 Chippewa Lake, OH 44215
SCRIPTURE
I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
But you ask, “How can we return when we have never gone away?”
Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated Me! But you ask, “What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?”
You have cheated Me of the tithes and offerings due to Me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating Me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Malachi 3:6-12
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
If you would like to send your offering through the mail, our mailing address is:
CrossPointe Community Church P O Box 126 Chippewa Lake, OH 44215
SCRIPTURE
Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” [This request, in context, seems hopelessly petty. Jesus has been encouraging the crowd to be fearless and faithful witnesses even in the face of persecution].
[Jesus’ response is terse and to the point] Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” [Jesus clearly rejects the role of judge in such disputes. He has not come to settle matters of inheritances. With this in mind, Jesus issues a warning].
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
[To illustrate, He follows with a parable].
Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
[And then Jesus makes sure they get the point of His parable by explaining it].
Then, turning to His disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
If you would like to send your offering through the mail, our mailing address is:
CrossPointe Community Church P O Box 126 Chippewa Lake, OH 44215
SCRIPTURE
On what we refer to as Paul’s second missionary journey, as detailed in the Book of Acts, the great apostle is traveling south through Greece. He stops first for just a few days in Philippi where the famous Philippian jail episode occurs. From there he spent three weeks preaching in Thessalonica before being run out of town. Next up was a short stint in Berea and then on to Athens, where he spent perhaps a few days to a week before arriving in the cosmopolitan City of Corinth in the year 50AD. At Corinth, Paul finds fertile ground for the gospel and ends up staying there for 18 months to get the fledgling church up and running.
Four years later, while ministering in Ephesus, Paul receives word of various problems occurring in the Church at Corinth. In response, Paul writes what we refer to as First Corinthians. In chapters one through four, Paul addresses the problem of “divisions” in the church. It seems that some in the church prefer to follow Paul, some Apollos, some Peter, and some, and rightly so, Jesus. In chapter five, Paul addresses the problem of sexual immorality. Chapter six focuses on settling disputes, chapter seven misunderstandings about marriage, and chapter eight, eating food offered to idols. In chapter nine, Paul is defending his right to be recognized as an apostle. Chapter ten returns to and finishes his direction on eating food offered to idols. And then we come to chapter eleven where through the end of chapter fourteen, Paul addresses problems associated with Christian worship.
