WEEK 5 OF 5       End Statement #5: Crosswalk will be a community that exemplifies servant leadership.INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add or subtract or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENThink about and share a time when your true self (authentic self) was revealed. What happened and what was...  Read More

Romans 12:1515 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.Did you know that research has shown us that the most important leadership skill is actually Empathy?Empathy really contributes to positive outcomes in the workplace and in places where servant leadership is required. Here are some interesting ways in which empathy helped create positive outcomes.Innovation. When people...  Read More

1 Peter 4:1010 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.This text reminds us that we have all been given gifts to steward for God. As servant leaders we are given these gifts in order to be able to serve those who we find ourselves in proximity to. That means, we have to steward these gifts for the good of the kingdom of God. St...  Read More

Hebrews 12:1-212 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.Because of the joy awaiting him, he endu...  Read More

Philippians 4:12-1312 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.I love these texts, and I quote them often. I think one of the reasons why I like them so much is that they are showing a characterist...  Read More

Colossians 3:1212 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.Humility is the second characteristic of a servant leader. A leader with humility is” not someone who thinks less of himself/herself, rather it is someone who thinks of themselves less”–C.S. Lewis. I love this quote because it makes...  Read More

Proverbs 21:3The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.End Statement #5: Crosswalk will be a community that exemplifies servantLeadership.This week, I want to do something a little different. Since servant leadership is the key to this End Statement, I want to talk about 6 qualities of a servant leader. So we will begin by talking about one qualit...  Read More

Week 4 of 8      James 1:27; Matthew 19:21; Matthew 25:40; Mark 12:40; Luke 12:33; Romans 12:20INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add or subtract or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENHave you ever spent time in a different country or done any missionary work? Share a story from that time/experie...  Read More

Romans 12:2020 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.This last text of the week actually goes further than the previous texts. Rather than just taking care of the less fortunate than us, it is actually telling us that we need to take care of our enemies. If they are in ne...  Read More

Luke 12:3333 “Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.I love the book of Luke. If you haven’t read it in a while, you need to again soon. This text comes after Jesus has been teaching on money and possessions a...  Read More

Mark 12:4040 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”Well, this has taken a darker turn! I included this text in the week because I want to make sure we understand the importance of never allowing ourselves to forget what our job as a faith community and as a people ...  Read More

Matthew 2540 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’Oh man! I want you to go back and read this whole chapter. If you only have time to do this today and not read what I have written, then DO IT! Nothing I can say will be more important than what Jesus has said in these verses, so read those firs...  Read More