Posts with the category “learning-to-lovewell-2026”

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENING QUESTIONHave you ever had the opportunity to serve on a mission trip, or some kind of mission experience? If so, what did you do, ...  Read More

The Jesus Way Luke 15:1-2, NLT 1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!Jesus includes those that society and religion often excluded, he saw the people we have often forgotten about, and he is always moved to compassion so ...  Read More

Oppressed, Powerless, and Abandoned - Wells or Fences? John 4:7-19, NLT 7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8 He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan wom...  Read More

Advocating:  Giving Voice  Mark 12:41-44, NLT 41 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 4...  Read More

Caring: What breaks your heart? Luke 7:11-15, NLT 11 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. 12 A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t c...  Read More

Crosswalk will be a community that lives beyond herself by caring and advocating for the oppressed, powerless, and abandoned.Lives beyond herself Acts 2:42-47, NLT 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miracu...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENING QUESTIONShare with the group a phrase someone younger than you uses that you don’t understand, or a song you don’t get, or a fashi...  Read More

Followers of the Way Acts 9;1-6, 19-20  1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.3 As h...  Read More

Our Metrics for Success Galatians 5:22-23, NLT 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!Recently, I was at a conference with high school Bible teachers, chaplains, youth pastors and summer camp directors. Though the focus of the conference was ...  Read More

What is Truth? John 18:33-38, NLT 33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”36 Jesus answered, “M...  Read More

Being Relevant John 14:1-7, NLT 1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”5 “No, we...  Read More

Crosswalk will be relevant in living out the ways of Jesus in our time and place.WIth and Then Mark 3:13-15, ESV 13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.I fully admit, I’m a doe...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENING QUESTIONShare with the group a practice or two that you particularly enjoy when it comes to spending time with God.  What is that ...  Read More

Friendship, Not Force Revelation 3:20 (NLT) “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”I remember being young and hearing the doorbell ring when my mum suddenly grabbed my arm and whispered, "Shh, be quiet." I was confused—why were we hiding in our own house? When I asked, she peeked through the curtai...  Read More

The Joy of a Good Life John 10:10 (NLT) “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”I was once in Rome's Termini station, overwhelmed and trying to figure out which platform I needed, when a man in an official-looking vest approached with a warm smile and offered to help with my luggage. Something felt off—maybe the way his eyes kep...  Read More

The Door is Open Revelation 3:20 (NLT) “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”Here’s one of the most tender images in all of Scripture: God standing at the door, knocking. Not breaking it down. Not demanding entry. Not threatening consequences if you don’t answer quickly enough. Just knocking. Wait...  Read More

Connected to the Source John 15:4-5 (NLT) “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”Jesus uses the image of a vine and branches to describe...  Read More

A community where people learn and grow in an authentic relationship with God.The Friendship God Wants John 15:15 (NLT) “I no longer call you slaves, who don’t understand what their master is doing. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”Jesus doesn't want servants. He doesn't want religious robots going through the motions. He doesn't want people who show up ...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENING QUESTIONWhere is somewhere you have truly felt the spirit of belonging recently? What was it about that place or experience that h...  Read More

A God to Befriend Genesis 3:8-21 (NLT) Looking at the whole story: From hiding in fear to being covered in love.When we read Genesis 3 as one complete story, we see the most beautiful picture of God's heart toward humanity. This isn't a story about an angry God looking to punish. This is a story about a heartbroken God looking to restore.Adam and Eve expect judgment, they're hiding in terror, wait...  Read More

Love that Covers Genesis 3:21 (NLT) "And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins to clothe them."This might be the most tender verse in all of Genesis. Adam and Eve have just brought sin and death into God's perfect world. They've broken trust, shifted blame, and damaged their relationship with God and each other. And God's response? God makes them clothes.Think about this. The Creator of the...  Read More

Love that Seeks (And the Sound of Love) Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT) "When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'"They heard God walking. This suggests that God's footsteps in the garden were a familiar sound. A sound they associated with ...  Read More

The Fear that Shame Creates Genesis 3:8-10 (NLT) "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.""I was afraid." These might be the saddest words in the Bible. Adam, who was created for fearless intimacy with God, is now afraid of the One who loves him most. Shame has twisted his perception so completely that love feels like a threat.This is what shame does to relat...  Read More

As you enter Week 2, remember Crosswalk’s End Statements: we’re becoming people of belonging, becoming, generosity, restoration, and presence. This week especially invites us into restoration and presence, learning how God meets us when shame enters the story and how we can Lovewell in the middle of failure, fear, and hiding.When Shame Enters Genesis 3:8-10 (NLT) "When the cool evening breezes wer...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENING QUESTIONWhat does loving well mean to you and why do you think it’s so important to our call as followers of Jesus, and our call a...  Read More

Male and Female Genesis 1:27 (NLT) "So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."The image of God is so rich, so multifaceted, that it takes both male and female to fully reflect it. This isn't about one being superior to the other, it's about both being necessary to display the fullness of God's character.Think about this: God...  Read More

Very Good Genesis 1:31 (NLT) "Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!"After creating humans, God doesn't just say it's "good" like He did with everything else. He says it's "very good." The Hebrew here suggests something that is exceedingly, abundantly, supremely good. Humanity is the crescendo of creation.This isn't about human superiority, it's about human signifi...  Read More

Made for Dominion – Together Genesis 1:26-28 (NLT) "They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground... Then God blessed them and said, 'Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.'"God doesn't just create humans and leave them to figure out their purpose. God immediately...  Read More

Blessed Before PerformingGenesis 1:26-31 (NLT) "Then God blessed them and said, 'Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.' Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!""Then God blessed them." This happens before Adam and Eve do anything. Before they acc...  Read More

Created for Love Genesis 1:26-31 (NLT) "Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.' So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then Go...  Read More

At Crosswalk, we talk often about our End Statements, five descriptions of the kind of people we are becoming together. They remind us that weare growing into a community where everyone belongs, where people learn to walk with God in honest and authentic ways, where the ways of Jesus matter in our everyday world, where we live beyond ourselves by caring for the vulnerable, and where leadership alw...  Read More