david norman blog dot com

Ed Stetzer on Missional

2010-02-02T09:25:00.000-06:00

"What does it meant to be missional?" Sure, it's become a buzzword in the Christian sub-culture, but what does it actually mean? Dr. Ed Stetzer gives a very brief breakdown here. It's worth your 40 seconds.

What Does It Mean to Be Missional? from The Resurgence on Vimeo.

Sunday Rewind

2010-02-01T09:28:00.000-06:00

What an incredible day in the life of Crossroads!

How cool is it that Crossroads actually GREW during our stewardship series?!
This was the largest crowd we've had since I became the Lead Pastor in November. That gets me pumped up!
If you're a regular at Crossroads, be encouraged at what God is doing here! This doesn't happen at your average church.
If you're a regular and consider Crossroads to be your church home, are you serving? If not, now's the time to get in the game!
This is a great time to jump in and serve. We're renovating our children's ministry area, and have some great opportunities coming very soon!
Did you hear that we're starting a new Community Group at the end of the month? If you live in the Bel Aire area, join us on the 24th. Email me for more information.
Be on the lookout for an awesome start to our new series on the 14th, when we kick off "Within Arm's Reach" with a wedding DURING THE SERVICE! Don't miss it!
Be sure to check out Crossroads new webspace on facebook, and give us a follow on twitter. We'll do anything to keep up with you guys, so be sure and let us into your life by connecting with us.
I love the team I get to serve with at Crossroads, and I am absolutely pumped at what God's doing in our midst.
We had two families and two college students over at our house last night getting to know the leadership of Crossroads and exploring the possibility of Crossroads being the church for them. I am repeatedly blown away by the people God is bringing to Crossroads!
I can't believe I get to do this for a living! I am honored to be a part of this church.

Two new ways to connect with Crossroads

2010-01-28T16:57:00.004-06:00

You've been waiting patiently for the new website to launch (and we're working hard to get it ready) but, while it's under construction, you can still connect with us in two new ways:

Facebook - become a fan of Crossroads. Seriously. You already spend hours on facebook working on your farmville, why not keep tabs on what's happening at Crossroads at the same time?
Twitter - sign up to follow @_crossroads on your mobile phone to always have the latest news as it relates to Crossroads Friends Church.

Two new ways to connect with Crossroads? Come on. What are you waiting for?

Do we speak truth with conviction?

2010-01-26T09:36:00.000-06:00

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

What do you think? Really?

Sunday Rewind

2010-01-25T19:37:00.002-06:00

A day late...again. I'm going to try not to make a habit of that.

Each week, I'm continually blown away by the heart of service at Crossroads. Thank you so much for doing all that you do!
That heart has taken root even in my own son, who now begs me to come early to church to help set up the nursery area.
The worship team led by @kevinjohnson3 did a phenomenal job. His growth and maturity over the past 3 months leading worship has been staggering.
Something is happening in the NE Wichita area that can only be described as a move of God.
That's the only reason for the number of second-time guests during a stewardship series. More times than not, people get funny when you start to talk about money. But God's truth always makes an impact.
There was one fundamental idea that dominated the STUFFED series: It's all about Jesus...even our finances.
And ultimately, our generosity has nothing to do with our sacrifice. It has everything to do with what Jesus can do with it.
I loved meeting more students from Friends University that have started coming to Crossroads. I can't wait to get a community group started on campus and seeing the Gospel take root.
We had a chance to eat lunch Sunday with some great friends from Crossroads.
My prayer is that we would learn to experience the kind of community regularly that we experienced at Jason's Deli Sunday.
Thank you Crossroads for allowing my family to become part of your family.

"a great burning fire that could not be restrained"

2010-01-25T09:58:00.000-06:00

Charles Haddon Spurgeon on Martin Luther:

There was a monk named Luther, who, while he was reading his Bible, suddenly stumbled on the doctrine of justification by faith; he was the man: yet when he went to a dear brother in the Lord, and told him how he felt, his friend said to him, "Go back to thy cell, and pray and commune with God, and hold thy tongue." But then, you see, he had a tongue that he could not hold, and that nobody else could hold, and he began to speak with it the truth that had made a new man of him. The God that made Luther, knew what he was at when he made him; he put within him a great burning fire that could not be restrained, and it burst forth, and set the nations on a blaze.

May we all live true to the passions that God has placed in us.

From The Lad's Loaves in the Lord's Hands

The Hope of the World...Even Haiti

2010-01-24T11:44:00.001-06:00

This Sunday, we'll be finishing our STUFFED series where we explore what God expects of our stuff. One of the major points this weekend is that what we often view as a minor and insignificant contribution makes a difference even in the greatest needs. This is true of the loaves and fishes in John 6, and it is true of Haiti as well.

It seems that every organization has jumped on the relief effort in Haiti. It would appear that everyone is asking you, begging you, calling you, jumping on television in an effort to persuade you to give towards relief in Haiti.

With that in mind, I wanted to bring to your attention Churches Helping Churches, which is an organization that has been created specifically to help rebuild destroyed churches, and the Church in Haiti. Because it is the Church that is the hope of the world. It is the Church that shares the hope of Christ in the darkest of circumstances. And the goal of Churches Helping Churches is do just that.

So as you consider giving (or even giving again), make an informed decision about where to give. I've already posted 14 different organizations to consider giving towards. To be clear, I'm not posting these recommending them as the place you give, but to give you solid organizations that will ensure that your generosity not be wasted in bureaucracy or red-tape.

Regardless of where you give, the important thing is that we respond as the Church - the Hope of the world...even Haiti.

Check out this video by Churches Helping Churches

Developing Leaders - It's all about relationships

2010-01-21T13:30:00.001-06:00

Crossroads Friends Church is a church that is led by a Biblical-functioning board of elders. One of the Biblical functions and roles of an elder is developing other leaders and teachers. (2 Tim. 2:1-2) In fact, this role acts as one of the largest distinctions between elder and deacon.

A deacon is a helper that does a lot of work for and in the church.

An elder is a leader of leaders who not only develops new (or non) believers into mature believers, but also leads other mature believers to train, develop, and lead other believers.

I believe that the best way for elders to do this is through intentional, naturally-occurring relationships, instead of a standardized system or program.

That may not seem like a statement that is shocking or revolutionary in any way, but for most of us, (especially if we grew up in traditional church) the acting out of this is a lot harder than the excepting of it as a new idea. In our noble goal to equip the church we can easily finding ourselves prioritizing filling the gaps in the volunteer roster over patiently helping people grow in Christ.

But in an effort to remain Biblical and intentional in all we do, we at Crossroads are looking beyond efficiency for several reasons, including (but not limited to):

The goal for developing leaders is for their spiritual growth and development - not simply filling a necessary role in the church. Our call as elders is to "equip the saints for the work of ministry," it is not to fill up every space in the flowchart of church responsibility in order to see the church grow. (Eph. 4:12) This is hard because it means that from time to time there will be slots that go unfilled and things that are left undone. However, this distinction is vital to the health of each individual Christian in the church, and therefore to the health of the church as well.
Relationships allow for deep, serious conversation rather than just a one-time request. Spiritual development and discipleship requires ongoing conversations involving studying the Scriptures, praying for one another, and seeking God's Will on certain matters. This only occurs relationally and over time. Service in the church cannot be relegated to making a phone call or starting an awkward conversation with someone with the sole intent of persuading them to help in the nursery, etc. Again, while this seems like the easiest way to get someone involved or to keep the nursery staffed, it prioritizes the perceived needs of the church over those it is trying to minister to.
Leadership development is an ongoing process rather than a one-time decision, and we need others to pray for us and hold us accountable in that process. We do not function best in isolation. In relationship, there is a continued conversation in regards to the transition into leadership and encouragement to do so. Outside of relationships, it is more than likely that we will seek to put people in leadership positions that become a hindrance to both the believer and the church. The first background check on someone volunteering in the church occurs through the person who knows them, loves them, and has seen their life over time. Tragically, churches are blind to the new believer whose walk with Christ doesn't match the level of responsibility they've been given or asked for. This often hurts both the new believer and whatever area they took responsibility over.

Balancing the art of getting things done with meeting the needs of people is never an easy task. And it is something we struggle with at work, at home, and at church. While it is all-too natural for elders and pastors to jump into the "church growth" mentality and trust God to develop his people spiritually, it's is completely unbiblical.

The Biblical mandate for elders and pastors is clear. In 1 Peter 5:2, we're told to "shepherd the flock of God that is among us," while in Matthew 16:18 it is Jesus who declares "I will build my church."

This Sunday: STUFFED

2010-01-21T09:24:00.000-06:00

Don't miss this Sunday as we wrap up our STUFFED series.

Crossroads.

Sunday, at 10:30AM

Stucky Middle School

Where to give - Haiti

2010-01-20T14:34:00.004-06:00

Originally posted January 14: New posts are happening under this one, but I am choosing to keep this post at the top of my blog for a week as I pray that the Church will step into her right role during the aftermath of this tragedy and be the hope of the world. God has called us to this moment in order that we would meet the need in Haiti. Will you give?

That's a 7.3 on the Richter Scale

Originally posted January 13: If you're wondering what you can do - how you can give - to the needs of the people in Haiti, here are some options for you. (via www.desiringgod.org)

1.) Compassion International
2.) Feed My Starving Children
3.) Food for the Hungry
4.) World Vision
5.) World Relief
6.) Samaritan's Purse
7.) Love a Child
8.) Northwest Haiti Christian Mission
9.) Compassion Weavers
10.) Mennonite Central Committee
11.) Water Missions International

12.) Another option from my good friend Chris Marlow of HELP is to give HERE.
13.) Churches Helping Churches
14.) The Evangelical Friends Church - Eastern Region

Sunday Rewind

2010-01-20T09:51:00.002-06:00

Late is better than never...most of the time.

I'm so grateful for the people at Crossroads that are committed enough to show up at 8AM to help setup our "church in a box."
The worship music was incredible Sunday. Both of our worship teams are improving week-to-week in leading us corporately to the throne of God.
I noticed something this week about the guests that returned a second time... they brought someone else! That gets me all sorts of excited about what God is doing in NE Wichita!
And what keeps blowing me away is that this is happening during a stewardship series! But God's Word remains more powerful than any marketing or buzz. If we share his Truth boldly and without fear, it simply cannot cause neutral responses (Isaiah 55:11).
This week we looked at a difficult passage in Matthew 25:14-30 known as the Parable of the Talents.
The simplest and easiest point to draw from this passage is that all the stuff we've been given belongs to God...not us. (Matt. 25:14)
God determines how much stuff to bless us with. We're entrusted with it, not entitled to it. (Matt. 25:15)
God gives stuff to each of us according to our ability. (Matt. 25:15)
Everything we've been given is for the purpose of extending his Kingdom...not ours. (Matt. 25:16-19)
We will be held responsible for how we've used or spent God's stuff. (Matt. 25:20-23)
And how we choose to spend or handle the stuff that God has blessed us with reveals what we truly believe about God. (Matt. 25:24-30)
Get ready for some awesome changes coming to Crossroads! I can't wait!

STUFFED Sermon Audio Available

2010-01-19T20:45:00.004-06:00

Click here to download the message from week 1 - Whose Stuff is it?

Click here to download the message from week 2 - Entitled to it, or Entrusted with it?

Click here to download the message from week 3 - For my Use or His Purpose?

The Haiti Video from this week

2010-01-18T16:52:00.002-06:00

For anyone asking about the video we showed at the end of the service, we downloaded it from The Work of the People.

This Sunday: STUFFED

2010-01-15T09:30:00.000-06:00

Don't miss this Sunday as we talk about Stuffed - How we handle our stuff reveals what we believe about God.

Crossroads.

Sunday, at 10:30AM

Stucky Middle School

Tithing Objection #4: I want to give where it's needed

2010-01-14T14:30:00.001-06:00

I've heard this statement from many well-meaning churchgoers. "I have no problem giving my money, I just want to make sure that I give it where it's needed." Thank you. Before I say anything else, thank you for having a generous and discerning heart. But we need to ensure that you truly understand what you're saying.

You see, first, it's not your money. God gives you the ability to earn wealth (Deut. 8:18). Every good thing is from the Father above (John 1:17).

Second, you're stating that you have either a.) no faith in God to direct HIS money where it needs to go, and/or b.) no faith in the leadership of the church where you would tithe to seek God in order to create and utilize funds.

If your issue is with God, I would encourage a heart-check and a thorough meditation upon who you think more of: you or God. If your issue is with your church's leadership, the answer is very easy. Go to another church. Go where you trust and can support the church-leadership.

But do not refuse to return the tithe to it's rightful owner - God - because you can't trust anyone else with the blessings that God has entrusted you with.

Thursday Thoughts

2010-01-14T09:32:00.001-06:00

In the STUFFED series, we're exploring what the Bible has to say about this all of this stuff we've been given. I have spent considerable time exploring and researching this topic considering the reality that it's not something I've taught regularly in student ministry. In this research, I came across a great blog by Casey Graham at www.beancreator.com

In this blog, Casey does a great job coaching pastors to think about the "how" of talking about money and giving in the church. Some notable posts are:

Thursday Thoughts is a series of posts where I post a link or a quote that deals specifically with the topic that I will be tackling that week. Can you think of any other links that might enlighten me in regards to this week's topic? Please share links in the comments.

Tithing Objection #3: There's Nothing Left

2010-01-13T14:30:00.002-06:00

You says you want to tithe, but you can't because at the end of the month, there's simply nothing left?!

Awesome!

The solution to your problem is SIMPLE! Write your tithe check FIRST! As soon as you receive your paycheck, take out your checkbook and tithe. You'll do more with 90% and God's blessing, than you'll ever do with 100% apart from God.

Is the Christian life simpler than we make it out to be?

2010-01-13T11:37:00.003-06:00

Zac Levi (Chuck from NBC's CHUCK), is quoted in Relevant Magazine this month as saying,

To me, it’s not rocket science. Go about your day putting your faith in God and standing on truth.

Could it really be that simple?

Tithing Objection #2: We're Strapped

2010-01-12T14:30:00.001-06:00

The second objection to tithing that I've heard goes something like, "I would love to tithe, but after looking at my budget, there's no place to cut enough to return 10%."

Is this really an objection? Or is this just a statement of the situation that a lot of us find ourselves in?

There are some that due to current market and economic factors find themselves in a situation where they simply can't make ends meet. These are not necessarily the types who make this argument most often. And to them, I would encourage them to find someone to help them work through a debt-reduction program in order to balance the ship again.

But for those who don't give because they've overspent due to ignorance or a lack of discipline, I would laugh at the thought that this is a good excuse. Try that with your credit card collectors. "I can't play my balance, because I have too many bills." See how that works for you.

Stop spending money you don't have. Invest a little money in taking a money management course in order to get your finances in order. But don't continue to use your overspending as an excuse to continue to rob God.

Must See TV

2010-01-12T09:13:00.005-06:00

With the new year comes a few television shows that many of us have been waiting far too long to return. These aren't even necessarily my three favorite shows on television (though they certainly rank), but are by far the three that I'm the most excited to see coming back.

Jack Bauer is the man. How many times does he have to save the world?

No More Mr. Nice Spy.

And of course I can't wait for LOST to get started again.

What shows are you excited to get to watch again?

Tithing Objection #1: Grace

2010-01-11T14:30:00.000-06:00

We explored the topic of returning the tithe at Crossroads Friends Church this week, and any time you open up God's Word and show them that God expects us to return 10% of our income to him, obections arise. Over the course of this week, I'd like to refute the most common objections that I've heard (or even sometimes wrongly argued in the past).

Today's objection typically comes from those who have spent a large amount of time in church, understand the language, but in the process of searching for an argument have missed the big point.

Why tithe? We live by grace, not under the law. Right?

The short answer is, "You're absolutely right in this statement, but it has nothing to do with the tithe." In fact, if the age of grace (which I affirm) makes a difference in regards to the tithe, it opens up the ability and opportunity to give above the tithe.

In the sermon on the mount (Matt. 5), Jesus delivered the greatest sermon ever preached, and one of the most notable observations of this sermon is that Jesus always stepped up the law. Though the law says "Do not kill," Jesus says that those who harbor anger in their heart toward their brother have already killed him in their heart. Though the law says, "Do not commit adultery," Jesus states that all who lust have already committed adultery in their heart.

Is it somehow responsible to believe that while the expectations were raised in every other area, Jesus lowered the expectation on what God expected of our income?

Or, is it more likely that the Spirit of God desires the hearts of his children to be generous, rather than seeking justification for their own selfishness?

Whose Message are you preaching?

2010-01-11T09:43:00.000-06:00

There's nothing wrong with The Purpose Driven Life (I've actually read it twice!), but I'm convinced this is the proper response to a pastor (or in this case, a priest) preaching someone else's canned sermon or message instead of speaking God's Word and truth into the specific situation.

From Mercy on NBC

Sunday Rewind

2010-01-10T16:23:00.005-06:00

Okay, it's been awhile since I've written one of these. Let's see if I remember how to do it.

The last week in Kansas has been crazy-cold!
I've been out of the saddle for two weeks. I couldn't wait to get back to Crossroads this morning.
We started our new STUFFED series this week and explored the first thing God expects us to do with our stuff - return the tithe. (Lev. 27:30)
This was the first time I've EVER preached on returning the tithe. You don't get a lot of experience in that in student ministry.
I'm going to continue the conversation here on the blog this week and look at a few objections people tend to have with returning the tithe.
The tithe teaches us how we are to relate to our stuff (Matt. 6:24)
The tithe helps God's people to grasp that he alone can provide all of our needs (Deut. 8:10-18)
The tithe provides for the work of God's Kingdom by supporting the church (Mal. 3:8-10)
We learned this morning that one of the systems we've been wanting to put in place is more crucial than we thought. We also learned how much some volunteers do on any given Sunday.
I cannot thank everyone who is serving at Crossroads enough. You are making a difference in NE Wichita.
Notice anything different about the worship band this morning? Two of our guys were blessed to attend Passion 2010 this week and came back burning red hot!
God is doing something incredible here. I'm so glad that I get to be a part of it.
Don't miss next week when we look at Matthew 25:14-30 and explore what that has to do with our stuff

John MacArthur on The American Dream

2010-01-09T09:53:00.000-06:00

Mankind wants glory. We want health. We want wealth. We want happiness. We want all our felt needs met, all our little human itches scratched. We want a painless life. We want the crown without the cross. We want the gain without the pain. We want the words of Christ's salvation to be easy.

John MacArthur

Colt McCoy, Jesus, and a Leadership Lesson

2010-01-08T08:41:00.005-06:00

Last night during the National Championship, I was struck by a few thoughts, but none, perhaps, as soul-stirring as this one:

The Longhorns played well, but couldn't overcome the loss of the player that the team is built around - Colt McCoy. The offense centers around him, and the defense gains confidence in knowing that he can put points on the board.

That should cause us to ask the question, "Who is our church built around?"

There's a growing trend in churches of making the lead pastor the star-player that the church is built around. His charisma and contacts are considered to be the things that carry the church. His preaching or leadership gift move the church forward.

This is wrong.

Our churches must be built upon Jesus. There's no one else worthy of that role.

Are we structured so that Jesus is the "Senior Pastor?" Are we structured so that his Word and Will direct the church's direction? Are we structured in a way that makes every other staff position replaceable except his?

The beauty of it is that he'll never be injured and taken out of the game. He is the only one who will never fall, never fail, and never leave.

Why would we build the church on anything else?