11/21/08

There Is Freedom at Crossfire

This week I’ve been talking about Jesus-centered leadership. Giving of yourself is part of Jesus-centered leadership. Jesus told his twelve closest leaders, the apostles, very clearly in Matt. 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give.”

If you’re looking for a church where leadership gives freely, try Crossfire in Centennial. Our pastors and leaders experience freedom in grace and freely give of ourselves. Freely we have received, so freely we pass that on to you. We have prophetic teaching, worship, and dance. We offer a strong message of grace with a prophetic edge. We do our best to live from a position of freedom.

Pictured: Worship service at Crossfire, where prophecy was taking place.

11/20/08

Giving: A Subtle Condition of the Heart

This week I’m talking about Jesus-centered leadership. Giving of yourself is part of Jesus-centered leadership. Jesus told his twelve closest leaders, the apostles, very clearly in Matt. 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” I’m sure you’ve given many gifts to people in your life but did you give them freely? Did you give them without conditions for repayment? When you give of yourself in leadership in your place of employment or in church do you do so without a condition of repaying you?

You are only truly free when you can give of your heart of leadership without the condition of loyalty or compensation from those you lead. This is a subtle condition of the heart. When you lead from this position of freedom then you truly are free as a leader. There is no formula for it except trusting in Jesus as the one who is loyal and compensates you. You won’t really know it until you’ve done it.

11/12/08

Walk In Grace As a Leader

This week I’m talking about Jesus-centered leadership. Giving of yourself is part of Jesus-centered leadership. Jesus told his twelve closest leaders, the apostles, very clearly in Matt. 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” You can only freely give of yourself IF you have truly received God’s gift of freedom: His son Jesus and all that it means to be ‘free in Christ’. It is the gift of grace. A Jesus-centered leader has received freely the grace of Jesus as redemption from sin, freedom from sin, and entrance into eternal life.

You can’t be a Jesus-centered leader unless you have not only accepted Jesus, but also received His freedom in your life-- freely received deliverance from slavery to the junk in your life. A Jesus-centered leader is centered on the freedom Jesus gave you. You must be centered on walking out that freedom as an incredible gift of grace. Then you truly walk in grace, you walk in Jesus-centered freedom and leadership.

11/11/08

Give Freely Beyond What You Are Compensated For

This week I’m talking about Jesus-centered leadership. Giving of yourself is part of Jesus-centered leadership. Anyone who has ever been in a leadership position in family, business, government, or ministry knows that you must give of yourself. We often rationalize that giving through the financial compensation for our job; that is, we justify giving of ourselves through the money we are paid.

Jesus told his twelve closest leaders, the apostles, very clearly in Matt. 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give.” It’s when you give beyond your salary that you are truly giving. It’s when you’re leading beyond your financial compensation that you are leading freely. It’s great to be fairly compensated for our leadership; however, it’s when we are giving freely beyond that compensation that our leadership is a gift.

11/10/08

The Father Gave of Himself

This week I’ll be talking about Jesus-centered leadership. During this time of the year we do our season of celebrating Jesus birth and giving gifts at Christmas. A major element of Jesus centered leadership is giving. “Freely you have received, freely give.” Our Father God first gave Jesus to live as a man on earth. This was a huge commitment on God’s part to give his son, not only to live, but to die sacrificially for all of us.

The Father had to give of Himself, thus Jesus was born. Jesus then followed the Father’s example and gave of Himself, first by pouring himself out in teaching and ministry, then by going to the cross to die on behalf of all of us. What a gift of giving! Jesus-centered leadership always gives away. A Jesus-centered leader gives, not only at Christmas, but all year long. This Christmas, purpose in yourself to be a Jesus-centered leader.

11/7/08

Come to Crossfire And Get Refueled!


This week I’ve been talking about doing good. As Christians, we know we are supposed to do good things that reflect God’s nature. Doing good can burn emotional and even physical calories. It takes energy to do the good things we are called to do. In the process we may get weary and tired.

If you're looking for a church where you can get refueled and energized, try our church in Centennial. We have a prophetic edge, vibrant worship, challenging teaching, and we advocate Jesus-centered leadership. We would love to be a part of your life. Come and visit us this weekend near South University Blvd. and Arapahoe Road in Centennial. We meet at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. We are excited to see you! You can get the details on our website at http://www.crossfirechurch.us/

11/6/08

When The Calories Are Spent

This week we're talking about doing good. As Christians, we know we are supposed to do good things that reflect God’s nature. However, doing good burns emotional and even physical calories. It takes energy to do the good things we are called to do. Over time we often grow weary and tired of doing it. Then its time to do what Heb. 12:3 says: “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

When you’re tired of doing, get your eyes on Jesus; get your eyes on what He did for you. When we focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we tap into the power he placed on the inside of us. We tap into His grace and goodness. Focus on Him today and you won’t lose heart.

11/5/08

Don't Lose Heart in Doing Good

Remember, this week we're talking about doing good. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advanced for us to do.” We are designed by God to good stuff. As we grow in Christ we do good-- and even great works-- in our families, our workplace, our churches.

But sometimes we grow tired. We want to back off or even give up. Then it's time to do what Paul told the first Jewish believers: “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Don’t lose heart! Keep on keeping on. Consider what Jesus endured so that you can now do good works in his name. He gave you this opportunity. Don’t stop now!

11/4/08

Confidence As God's Workmanship

This week we're talking about doing good. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advanced for us to do.” We are designed by God to good stuff. When we come to believe in Jesus, we begin to do good things that reflect the Father’s heart. We begin to show off God’s workmanship by doing what He planned for us to do.

It’s an awesome thing to see believers in the workplace, on the streets, in the schools revealing what God has done on the inside of them. When we know God is working in us, we become confident by doing visible, tangible good works that reflect the Father’s heart. Be confident this week as you do all that He has called you to do.

11/3/08

Get Started Doing the Good Stuff

This week I’ll be talking about doing good. Ephesians 2:10 says: “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advanced for us to do.” We are designed by God to good stuff. From the moment we believe in Jesus Christ, our spirit desires to reflect God’s goodness in all we do. Our mind, will and emotions slowly get on board with that and begin to agree with our spirit. We begin to do all that He called us to do. But it starts in our spirit, that core part of each one of us that is a brand new creation by faith in Jesus.

Get on board with God’s design for your life. Believe in Jesus His son and you’ll start doing all the good stuff he's prepared for you.