Marriage has the power to challenge our virtues at the same time that it magnifies our weaknesses. Once married we learn that for the first time in our lives we can’t hide nor avoid being who we are. For once, our true self comes to the surface — we are finally exposed. If we allow it to serve its purpose, marriage can be a journey to move our true self towards our radiant self. Moreover, marriage is an opportunity that God gives us to minister in an unique way to ourselves as we care and nurture our spouse. All of this of course is grounded in the relationship that Jesus has with his bride. This is at the core of Paul’s teaching to the Ephesian Christians and therefore, the foundation for this first sermon on the important issue of marriage.

March 23-35, Tim Keller together with the Redeemer City to City staff will be at Crossbridge Church, leading a discussion with 100+ church planters and leaders about the formation of a North American network of urban gospel-centered churches. To ensure a smooth event, we are in need of 20-30 volunteers to help set things up during the mornings and afternoons of those dates. If you’re available and interested in serving on this specific event, contact Sam Miranda.

We are proud to announce the launch of a new Crossbridge location. Crossbridge Brickell has become a reality after much prayer and determination to bring the gospel to a much needed area of Miami. If you’re interested in being a part of this new venture in any way here are some suggestions:

1. Pray – Commit yourself to pray daily for our launch and ministry there.
2. Connect – Help us to connect to your friends, co-workers and neighbors that live in the nearby area. Moreover, help us to spread the invite through your social networks (twitter, facebook etc)
3. Volunteer – We will need about a dozen volunteers weekly to make things happen smoothly. If you worship at our main campus in Pinecrest, you might want to consider volunteering in the evening.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

(1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

:: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

PLAY the video on top. People often say that porn is a harmless thing. Do you agree with that?

1 :: The Greek word porneo in the text is translated as “sexual immorality”. What is the true meaning of this    word? And how does it differ from the biblical understanding of sexuality?

2 :: Porneo was also an economical greek term meaning “to pass through”, as in the way a ship passes through a port. Over time, the word came to be associated with prostitution. What’s the connection?

3 :: Why does Paul tell us to “rocket” from sexual immorality? In what ways have you fled from it?

4 :: In v.19b-20 Paul reminds us that “we are not our own” and that “we were bought with a price” how can that help us to find freedom from our sexual brokenness?

5 :: Pornography dismantles the very fabric of what it means to be human. Can you share an experience where you have witnessed someone dehumanize themselves, their family or on a broader scale their community through and addiction to porn?

6 :: Like an alcoholic needs increasingly larger amounts of alcohol as his tolerance builds up, so will a porn addict need more extreme unusual deviant forms of pornography as his addiction develops. Some experts believe that viewing his material can lead to enacting unhealthy fantasies in real life such as “Ted Bundy”. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAHgJFPcOvY ) What are some ways we can help these individuals find sobriety in their day to day lives?

7 :: Pornography communicates it’s own truth about men and women; unfortunately their all lies. Can you name at least five myths about women that pornography teaches men? about men that pornography teaches women?

8 :: There are different stages of addiction moving from an early stage of early exposure all the way to acting out the sexual part from plastic images to the real world. What are some ways parents can prevent early stages of porn addiction in their children? or family in their family members? or peers with their peers?

Additional resources:

- False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction by Harry Schaumburg
- A Celebration of Sex: A Guide to Enjoying God’s Gift of Sexual Intimacy by Douglas Rosenau

Crossbridge is partnering with GCA (Great Commission Alliance – www.gcanet.org) to send monetary gifts, non-perishable items and bottled water to Haiti next week. This is the time to really come along and make a huge diference! We need everyone in on this! Sothis Sunday please bring all the items in great quantity, call on neighbors, friends, family and coworkers to join us on this crucial mission-call. For further information and detail please contact Jamie Everett at junglejamie@gmail.com or 305. 519.0151. All hands on deck now!

Click here to view the embedded video.

:: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1 :: Argument of design

“Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body.” (1 Cor. 6:13)

God has made our sexual parts as well as our whole bodies. What happens when we eat things that we are not suppose to eat?

*Food for stomach; stomach for food
- Consequences if you ignore the design —   + Rewards if you the follow design

Our bodies were not designed for immorality. What happens when we conduct ourselves outside of what God has designed our bodies to be?

*Body for Lord;Lord for body
- Consequences if you ignore the design — + Rewards if you follow the design

2 :: A Higher Purpose: Made for Eternity

“Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” (1 Cor. 6:14)

The Christian knows that one day God will raise us up just as He did Christ. The corruptible will put on incorruptible. What are some practical ways we can set our minds on Immortality and not Immorality?

3 :: Belong to Christ

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Cor. 6:15-20)

There is a special grieving that goes on when we take our bodies, the temple of God, and make them a place to serve our own fleshly needs; it is like inviting hell into our personal lives. Other sins are not a direct compromise with our bodies and I suppose for this reason there is an extra guilt and reaction that comes about from Christians who fall into sexual sins. What are some practical ways we can flee immorality whether in thought or in deed?

4 :: How does the gospel help bring healing to our broken sexuality?

Click here to view the embedded video.

This Valentines Day we are launching a new sermon series on sex, porn, singleness and marriage and even though it doesn’t seem like it, God has everything to do with all of the above. So, for the next five weeks we want to help you to gain Gospel perspective on each of these topics so that you will thrive in your relationship with God,  your spouse, your community and yourself. Don’t miss the opportunity to bring a friend.

:: 2.14 :: “Sex”

:: 2.21 :: “Pornography”

:: 2.28 :: “Singleness”

:: 3.07 :: “Marriage” (p.1)

:: 3.14 :: “Marriage” (p.2)

*In addition to the series there will be an on-line resources for you to interact during the week with each of the four topics.

Feb 17 marks the begging of the Lent season. Lent is observed by Christians of various traditions in preparation for easter. It is a season of repentance, reflection and renewal. Worship starts at 7:00 P.M. Come and bring a friend.

GENEROSITY

“…the place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be.” — Jesus

Due the awesome growth we’ve experienced this year, we have been propelled to care even more for some very specific needs in our church such as Children and Youth ministries, the launch of a downtown worship service, and our ever-growing worship & arts ministry. These needs will require an additional budget increase of 140 thousand dollars (something we were not able to predict last year). For this reason, on Saturday night Feb 20th we will be holding a fundraiser dinner for 2010 at the Reynardus’ home. If you’re interested in participating because you feel like God is calling you to be part of such an exciting challenge this year and you would like to attend Click Here to RSVP. To simply give generously above and beyond just write “Budget 2010/ Fundraiser Campaign” on the memo line of your check. We covet your prayers, we firmly believe that with God’s blessings will reach this goal for this fiscal year!