WORSHIP & MISSION LITURGY

Hear O Church,

  There is only One True & Living God,

      may His Holy Spirit abide with us still!

  Father, as we engage the Word

      won't you shape our identity in Christ, we pray. 

Today, would you...

     open my spiritual eyes and ears,

     awaken in me an attentive & receptive

     heart of understanding, 

     and expand my soul and mind

     as I submit my will to obey yours?

A Psalm, Wisdom Song, or Prophet

We read together and then respond verbally in faith-filled prayers of response or declaration!

We sing 1-3 songs from a variety of styles:

Gospel, (& Spoken Word)

Contemporary Psalms & Worship Choruses 

Classic and Modern Hymns

Spiritual Songs for the Journey...

....and at times in the Spanish Language. 

Every Translation of the Bible has its limits. The original languages that the Bible was written in are Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek are used very differently than modern and post-modern English. So we utilize a variety of translations and paraphrases to get to the heart of what was said in the original language and cultural context of the Christian Scriptures. Even so, we are dependent on the Holy Spirit to faithfully communicate the Word of God. 

Some translations we have utilized are NASB, RSV, ESV, NIV, NLT, The Message, TPT, ERV, CSB, and even NKJV at times. You get the idea, there isn't one right full translation, but there is a best translation for each word and concept and so at times, there are better translations than others.

Each of these groups of translators has tried to faithfully translate the Scriptures into English either by a word-by-word translation, a concept-by-concept translation, or some mixture in between. Each of these extremes falls short and is subject to the theological framework of the translator or translators (and sometimes the lack thereof). We are simply trying to faithfully engage the Scriptures as best as we can based on what we have learned over the decades of learning and walking by Faith. 

We are all dependent on the Holy Spirit to reveal, illuminate, and apply God's Word found in the Christian Scriptures, it is the whole body of Christ over centuries that helps us to faithfully hear for ourselves and obediently live in relationship with the God of those Scriptures. 

Kids and Youth matter to Jesus, and they do to us too. We set aside this time to engage our Kids and Youth on the journey and to connect all participants in the community with the Word for this week. 

LeeAnn or another leader provides an interactive opportunity for the whole family that prepares Youth for the Disciple Talk and the Kids for their Disciple-making Environment (regardless of if that is in the room with the adults or in their own space). 

As a Missional Church, we engage the Mission when we come together. We pray for the mission and see how we can participate in partnering with God where He is working in our Neighborhoods and City. 

Pastor Drew gives us a glimpse of the vision and how we will move towards it in the next four months and month-to-month updates on our progress on the path.  

Financial Giving is only one part of stewarding (managing) the spiritual, relational, psychological, physical, and material gifts and resources God has entrusted to us. This includes things like our spiritual formation, calling, giftedness and spiritual gifts, sustaining healthy relationships, managing our time and physical health, and financial portfolios. We are reminded of our stewardship responsibility and prayer for the wise management of our resources and donations to the mission through Crosspointe Alliance Church. 

Most Pastors and Preachers around the world prepare a sermon each week. Often these talks are geared towards providing biblical information, or at best motivation or even inspiration, but all too often the purpose of casting vision for a life with Christ, and the revelation and transformation only He can provide is lost on both the speakers and the hearers. We need to approach the Word of God, whether in our personal time or as a community with open spiritual ears and eyes and receptive & attentive hearts where we are prepared to receive from God and effectively obey what He is saying to us. 

A Disciple Talk is more than an exegetical sermon, it's a deep dive into the Word that gives the opportunity to Encounter Jesus and be transformed by Him, not just in the moment but for years to come. 

We encourage you to write in a journal or at least on a piece of paper during the Disciple Talk. 

1. It helps you remain engaged. 
2. You aren't taking notes for information, you are listening to the Spirit of God and His revelation of what God is speaking to you during each talk so that you can take the life-changing truth with you when you go. 

At the end of each Disciple Talk, we ask...

So What? 

This is the practical skillset we need with the mindset that the Talk is addressing.

Now What?

This addresses the Heart-set to make the mindset and skillset a transformative Encounter with God as He speaks to us. 

1. 1. What is He revealing about Himself?
   2. What is He revealing about Humanity?
   3. What is He revealing to you about your story? 

Fully dependent on Holy Spirit...

1. 1. Seek: What do you want God to do in you in response to His revelation?
   2. Surrender: What will be your next step to abide and obey?
   3. Sustain: How will I continue to rehearse this revelation from God for the days, weeks, and years to come?

The sacraments are outward visible signs and seals of an inward invisible grace given by God and instituted by Christ Jesus to bestow upon His disciples. They bind us together as a community of faith & hope through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. By our practicing of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares to us and seals in us the promises of the Gospel.  Sacraments not only look back to Jesus but ground us in the present and symbolically look ahead to the return of Christ and the life to come. 

These two primary sacred Christian rites (often called ordinances) are practiced by the whole of Christ's Church.

1.       Believer Baptism – Matthew 3:13-17; Romans 6:3-5

2.       The Lord’s Meal – (a.k.a. Lord’s Supper, Lord's Table, Communion, or Eucharist)                                    1 Corinthians 10:16-17  

In addition, these 5 sacred practices in which God’s Presence is uniquely active are:

3.       Anointing the Sick with Oil – James 5:14-16 (for Healing & Protection; Signs of the                                 Holy Spirit, Redemption & Restoration)

4.       Laying on of Hands – 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; 1 Timothy 5:22, Hebrews 6:2                               (Blessing, Impartation, and Consecration of Leaders)

5.       Confession (Repentance, Forgiveness, Reconciliation) - John 20:23; 2 Corinthians 2:10,                           James 5:16, 1 John 1:3-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20.

6.     Confirmation of the Holy Spirit* – (Sealed with the Holy Spirit, Sanctification) Acts 8:14-17;               19:3-7;  2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30. Romans 8:5-17; Galatians 5:16-25;                         Titus 3:1-7.

7.     Rites of Passage – in Transitions & Special Moments including                                                                Marriage (Matt. 19:4-6) or Celibacy/Adulthood (Matt 19:10-12),                                                                Births, Naming, Dedications & Blessings (Matt. 19:13-15),                                                                          Last Rites & Funerals (Philippians 3:20-21; John 10:28, 14:1-3; Romans 8:38-39;                                       Psalm 23:4-6; Psalm 16:9-11; Psalm 49:15; 1 Corinthians 15:54-56;                                                             Revelation 22:1-5; (Psalm 70 & 143)).   

†Sacraments are practiced as needed. Unlike the others, The Lord's Table is practiced as part of our Presence & Encounter Gathering and at other times, as often as possible. 

*The process of Confirmation particularly speaks to the Work of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the willingly receiving of the Holy Spirit's Baptism (often received during water baptism) and the fruit of the Spirit as observed during the season of disciple-making commonly referred to as “Christian Initiation” completed during the first 2-3 years in the life of a new believer (convert to Christ), after we receive New Life and either before or after Believer Baptism.

We are told to cast our cares on Jesus. This is our opportunity when we gather to bring our requests before the throne of Father God together to receive mercy and grace. Prayers for healing and needs are prayed for weekly.

As a Missional Church, we engage the Mission by praying together. for our neighbors, city, region, nation & peoples, and places beyond. We pray for people who need to encounter Jesus and the grace & peace He alone can provide. 

It is a spoken statement, a Blessing of Sending to those who are gathered. We are a church who believes in blessing others. The blessing of God meets all our core needs―presence, provision, protection & purpose; joy, delight, hope & favor; love, acceptance, health, well-being & peace. We need these blessings, so we practice receiving from God and each other and giving The Blessing to others.