WELCOME

Pastor Greg & Tamara Dumas Lead Pastor

Welcome to The Crossing Church,

Thank you for joining us today at The Crossing Church. We are in the midst of a series of messages which we base our values on as a church body. Today we are learning what the Bible says about maturity. For many of us it has different meanings. For God it boils down to something pretty simple: faith and trust. Do we trust God in every situation in our lives? Do we have the faith to react in a godly manner when we face trials? I pray that today you would learn something special from God’s word!

Your Pastor,Greg and Tamara Dumas, Lead Pastor

For more announcement details: www.crossingonline.org/announcements

UPCOMING EVENTS

The 26.2 Discipleship Process is an 18-week process that will help you discover and apply biblical truths in your everyday life and learn how God has designed you to connect, serve, grow, give, and reach. We encourage everyone to join in the race. Register for the 26.2 Discipleship Process at: www.crossingonline.org/262DP.

• Warm up: November 7th – registration closes October 31st

Women’s Christmas Coffee Benevolence Event Interested in hosting a table? The event will be on Thursday, Dec. 9. For more information on hostess responsibilities, please contact ashleysmith96@verizon.net.

Encourager Training Have you ever felt called to encourage and pray with others? This two-day class will help you develop a heart of compassion, learn to listen more than talk, and become a trusted friend. Classes will take place on Friday, Nov. 5 from 7-9pm and Saturday, Nov. 6 from 9am-2pm. The cost to participate is $25 per person. Childcare is unfortunately NOT available for this class. Please register online at www.crossingonline.org/news.

Before You Say Your Vows … Whether you’re engaged or dating, we want to help you establish a foundation for an enduring union. This two-day, pre-marriage class will provide practical tools to maintain a strong, successful marriage. Each class consists of a Friday night session, 7-9pm and a Saturday session, 9am-2pm. The fall session begins on Friday, Nov. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 13. The cost to participate is $60 per couple. Childcare is NOT available for this class. Please register online at www.crossingonline.org/news.

Baptism ClassOur next baptism class for elementary-aged children (1st through 5th grade) is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 13 at 3pm in Room 229. All children are required to attend a baptism class before they can be baptized. Forms are available at the check-in desks upstairs and must be turned in one week prior to attending the class. For more information, please contact Kim Gore at kgore@crossingonline.org or 813.626.0783, ext. 123.

Missions WeekendMissions Weekend is Nov. 6--7 and you will have a unique opportunity to connect in person with some of our missionary partners, learn more about our 2011 world trips and local missions outreach.

Saturday, October 30Sunday, October 31

IS IT IN YOU?

The Crossing Core Values:Maturity

Ephesians 4:10 -14 Lead Pastor: Greg Dumas

WELCOME TO THE CROSSING CHURCH

SCRIPTUREEphesians 4:10-14 (NIV) 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

1 John 2:12-14 (NASB77) 12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

• Abiding in Christ determines whether or not we will produce fruitful lives for Christ.

• Maturity in Christ determines how much fruit one will produce in Christ.

• Biblical maturity implies knowledge of the basics: Salvation through faith in Christ and relational view of God as Heavenly Father.

• Biblical maturity implies proficiency in training: Use of the Word of God to develop strength in the practice of life and use of the Word of God against the adversary.

• Biblical maturity implies surrendered strength and reproduction: Once a level of proficiency is gained in identity and strength it all has to be surrendered to the power of Christ. The more surrendered the life, the more fruit is produced. Reproduction takes place as godly men and women replicate in others what Christ has formed in them.

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OBSERVATION

1. First Level - Infancy - “I am writing to you little children [Gk, teknia, infants] because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake

2. Second Level - Childhood - “I am writing to you children [Gk. paideia, children of tutoring age] because you know the Father.”

3. Third Level - Young Adult - “I am writing to you young men [Gk., neaniskoi, young men and (women) of responsible age] because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the Evil One.”

4. Fourth Level - Parent - “I am writing to you fathers [Gk., pater, one who surrenders himself], because you know him who is from the beginning”

• Jeremiah 9:23-24 - Thus says the Lord, “… let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, …”

• John 17:3-0 -“This is eternal life, that they may know You,…”

• 2 Peter 1:5-8 - Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Col. 1:10 - …that you will walk … bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

• 2 Peter 3:17-18 - You therefore, beloved, … be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Lord, thank you for encouraging all of us in your supernatural grace. I pray for those who are new to the faith, that they understand that their sins are forgiven and forever under the blood of Christ. I pray for those who have begun to relate to you as Father, and I pray that they draw near to you and learn to trust you. I pray they begin to understand what it means to be loved and accepted in your family of faith and that they take their place to serve in the body at The Crossing. I pray that they continue to grow in the grace of the Word of God and in prayer and in unity. I pray for those who have been training themselves diligently in the Word and in prayer; I pray you make them strong in might as they face the lies of the enemy. Grant them victory against our adversary and allow them to see their ability to win over the forces of darkness. I also pray for the mature believers among us – that they would remain steadfast, abiding in you and in your love and grace. Most of all, I pray that they would surrender all of their prior victories to you, knowing that in order to win greater victories, they have to relinquish their self-sufficiency, pride, and former victories in order for you, mighty God, to step in and fight for them. It’s not by strength and not by might, but by your spirit, oh Lord, that we accomplish great things.

APPLICATION

PRAYER

LIFEGROUPS

Use the following as a resource for your LifeGroup to go deeper with this week’s message. We hope this

helps you as you “do life together”.

Opener:

When you were a child, didn’t it seem to take a long time to grow up? Share with your group of a certain

event that you couldn’t wait for, but it seemed like it was never going to get here. Why are so many

believers seemingly content to remain at their present level of Christian maturity? Perhaps, so few people

have considered all the advantages available to being mature in Christ.

Digging Deeper :

When it comes to Maturity we learned this weekend that there are three different stages found in 1 John

2:12-14. Let’s look at them together in more detail.

Infancy: When a little baby is born into the world it becomes aware of a new existence. Think about eating.

You’ve got to eat properly as physical babies and spiritual babies alike. And that’s where the Bible comes in.

Did you know the Bible talks about believers who are in the infancy stage and they’ve never grown beyond

it? Let look at I Corinthians 3.

Childhood: The second stage is revealed in verse 13 and 14. They are beginning to make some progress

now in their lives as Christians. Share with your group one of the first steps you took in your journey with

Christ after Salvation. How did that step feel? What was or is your secret to growth? How does a believer

who is now making progress in his life develop that kind of spiritual growth? Well let’s look at what he

says. “The Word of God abides in you.” The word abides there really means “to settle down and make its

home in you.” What area of your live is God saying I don’t want to be a visit any longer I’m waiting for you

to allow me to be a permanent resident?

Young Adult: Do you know what the characteristics of spiritual maturity are? Do you know when you’ve

really hit that stage of spiritual maturity in the Lord? You know that you’re in that stage of spiritual maturity

when the serving the Lord is the most important thing in your life. Share with your group one or two areas

where you are serving the Lord. It can in the church or outside the church as well.

Application:

When you get to the place in your life that you are more interested in the giver than you are in His gifts,

when you are more interested in the Father than in what the Father can do for you, then you’re on your way

to spiritual maturity. What stage of spiritual growth are you in? Whatever stage of life you find yourself at,

whatever generation of believer you are, be encouraged, by the Lord and continue to ask for the strength

to grow up in your salvation.