Crosspoint Small Groups

FALL SMALL GROUP SIGN-UP’S

Brad Klausman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:07:01 +0000

SMALL GROUP SIGN-UP’S HAVE BEGUN!

And you’re special…you get to sign up for the group of your choice before anyone else!

Sign ups for our Fall 2009 Small Groups are on-line TODAY! I’m letting you know first because you have shown interest in our past small groups.

I wanted to invite you to take a few minutes today to visit our website and get signed up for your Fall Small Group.

www.crosspointlive.com

There will be close to 22 groups available – but many of them will fill up quickly. So, it’s important that you do not delay, as groups will fill up quickly.

You will notice that in the Fall we have a variety of topics to choose from. You can choose a group based on the location, day, and time that fits your schedule… and learn something new about a topic that interests you.

Small Groups kick-off the week of September 7th and last through November 27th. I don’t have to tell you that signing up for this short-term investment could change your life. Continue the spiritual growth you experienced this Spring by signing up for a Fall Small Group.

It’s easy to get connected to a great Small Group today:

(1) Visit Crosspoint Church online at www.crosspointchurch.com and click on the table labeled Small Groups. Then click the link on that page to see the small groups.

(2) Sign up for the Small Group that fits your schedule, covers a topic that interests you, and is the type of group you are looking for (general, men’s, women’s, couples, etc.).

(3) Have a blast attending your Small Group this Fall!

*You can also sign up for a Small Group at any Crosspoint Sunday service.

Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or if I can serve you in any way. I hope you decide to get connected in a Small Group this Fall!

See you on Sunday!

Pastor Brad

Brad Klausman

Small Groups Pastor

Crosspoint Church

brad@crosspointlive.com

The Broken Halo

Brad Klausman — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:26:27 +0000

The Broken Halo

The other night Sabrena and I were sitting in our house watching T.V. It was a calm and peaceful night. Our kids were in their rooms for bedtime and were actually quiet, so we were savoring the moment. Then ripping into the quiet, my son bolts from his room holding his Halo action figure. The legs had been viciously ripped off of the Halo figure. He places the action figure in my hands, informing me that it was broken. He then asks if I can fix it. I informed him in a sad voice that I could not fix the figure. Quickly, he runs into his room and brings me another broken piece of the figure. Handing it to me, he looks at me with those believing eyes and says, “Now”?
Noticing the teaching moment I ask him the looming question.
“Son, were you playing too hard with this toy?”
Sheepishly, his eyes downcast, he replies, “Yes”.
Immediately, His eyes light up and he presents what he believes is the perfect solution.
“You can just buy a new one!”
As I proceed to tell him that he needs to take care of his toys, and that we do not have the money to buy him a new toy. With this new information, he starts to cry. Not the cry that says, “How dare you not get me a toy?” but the cry that says, “I hurt not having this toy.”
He crawls up in my arms and asks me, “Why don’t you have money”?
I gently explain that we are rich. God has blessed us with a wonderful family, house to rent, and food on our table. We then talk about him doing chores around the house to earn the money to buy another figure.
Why do I tell you this story? I have felt like my son before. As a matter of fact, there have been many times I have felt this way about my relationship with God. God has blessed me with things before that I have broken or ruined. I ask Him to “fix” it only to have the delayed response, “You must work for it,” instead of the immediate fix. Truth be told, there are some things in life that seem to take an eternity to heal. Knowing my halo is broken and crushed and that I have disappointed my Dad, I crawl up into His lap looking for grace and the reassurance that He loves me. I sit there longing for Him to give me some direction. It is then, at my humble state, that he hugs me and gives me His direction. He reassures me that His love is never ending. He hugs me, kisses my head, and reminds me that I am His child. Finally, he puts me back down with a gentle hand and encourages me to learn from my mistake, to gain wisdom from the experience. All of us need that reminder. Come to Him today, crawl up into His lap, ask for forgiveness, and leave your cares with Him. It is then that you will gain clarity and direction in your life.

-Brad

Trans⋅for⋅ma⋅tion

Brad Klausman — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:01:05 +0000

Trans⋅for⋅ma⋅tion

• A complete change, usually into something with an improved appearance or usefulness.

The beginning of the year always brings about a time of reflection. We think about our past; high school & college graduation, marriage, the birth of a child, death, moving through decades (30, 40, 50,…). Many of us have gone through one or more of the following thoughts:

* This is the year I will lose that weight and exercise
* I am going to love more
* I am going to read my Bible more
* I will spend more time with my family
* I will study more

Wanting your life to mean more and desiring change is a good thing. God has created us to experience life change with him. He desires us to be more than what we are. This kind of life transformation can be difficult. We see so many people breaking their resolutions before the month of January is done. Breaking a resolution before the end of January can lead to discouragement and, ultimately, cause the person to give up. The reason so many people give up on their resolutions is because they try to accomplish it by themselves. God never intended for us to walk this journey called Life alone. He provided the Holy Spirit to walk with us (John 14:15-26; Ephesians 1:13-14).
The next step to fulfilling our transformation is to band together with others. We are part of a larger family known as the “Church”. Other followers of Jesus can help strengthen, encourage, support, sharpen us, and teach us more about Jesus. This group of people was so important that the early church modeled it in Acts 2. We have a Father who does not want us nor expect us to accomplish life transformation alone. The simple fact is that it cannot be done. Will you start this year differently by walking with God and others?
This year I want to challenge you to go about things differently. This year “commit” to join a small group. Being a part of a small group allows us the opportunity to grow. The fact is it is the best place for us to change and grow. This past Sunday we had over 150 people sign up for a small group!!! People are realizing that we need each other. Will you join a small group and see life transformation in your life? Take the opportunity to have your life transformed. Join today!

Fully Engaged

Brad Klausman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:40:04 +0000

Friends

What an exciting time to be a part of our Small Group Ministry! This semester we had over 200 people sign up for a small group and launched 17 different small groups! That is the most ever. Throughout this fall we have seen lives changed and have even experienced the power of prayer. God is truly reaching down and meeting us on this journey called “life.” I have had the pleasure of hearing testimonies about how God is moving through our small groups. Take a moment and read some of the things people are saying about our small groups:

“I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to listen and offer words of wisdom and encouragement. I appreciate the guidance you provided. Thank you for helping me stay centered upon our amazing God! I am so grateful that you invited John and I to join this small group. It has been a blessing to us and has helped us connect with others in the church (isn’t that the great thing about small groups!!).”

“I must say…tonight’s meeting was my first “study” & it wasn’t at all what I expected. It was much better than I anticipated! I look forward to next week’s meeting already. Thank you again for picking me up & giving me a ride. I hope you have a relaxing evening & I look forward to Thursday night’s meeting.”

“Hi! This could not wait until our next small group meeting! We prayed for a lady named Ellen who was given just a few weeks to live because her cancer had returned and it was deemed inoperable…this afternoon, around 4pm, I received a call…there was no evidence of cancer! She knew our group was praying for her last evening and she woke up last night at 1am thinking she was in heaven for the first time for she was not in pain. She has had pancreatitis for some time as well and her pain could not be managed. This morning she remarked that she felt terrific! Thank you all for praying! Wow! Go-God! Makes me want to pray some more!”

As you can see God is moving in and through our small groups. This past week we started a series entitled Fully Engaged, within our small groups. Pastor Paul is also preaching through this series on Sunday mornings. Already people are accepting Jesus as Savior and sharing their need to have a closer walk with Jesus. Attached to this email is a 4-part devotional that goes along with our Fully Engaged curriculum/video series for our weekly small groups. This is how you can use these devotions:

1. Take time to go onto our website (www.crosspointlive.com) and click on the Small Group tab. Here you will find a link that will take you to the Small Groups blog where you will find videos that go with each of these devotions and questions. To listen to the sermons that go along with the Fully Engaged series just go to www.crosspointlive.com and click on the podcast link.
2. Read just one devotion a week (example: watch the video; read the questions that go with the video; then read devotion 1 each day throughout the week)
3. Take time to pray and ask God what He is trying to show you.

I believe that God will show you some great and amazing things in your life through the Fully Engaged series. Please give all of yourself to Him and allow Him to show you His love. I am honored to be a part of this journey with you. Please feel free to contact me if you need anything. May God bless you with His peace and grace.

Pastor Brad

Video Resources for “Fully Engaged”

Brad Klausman — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:23:46 +0000

Check out these videos from our “Fully Engaged” lesson series.

Fully Engaged Week One from Crosspoint Church on Vimeo.

Fully Engaged Week Two from Crosspoint Church on Vimeo.

Fully Engaged Week Three from Crosspoint Church on Vimeo.

Fully Engaged Week Four from Crosspoint Church on Vimeo.

Come To The Table

Brad Klausman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:38:42 +0000

Being invited over to dinner at the Klausman household is serious business. First and foremost, life is so busy and schedules always seem to be packed with church and children activities. Balance is often difficult to find or maintain. However, when the invite for dinner goes out it becomes more than just a casual get together. There is an underlining meaning and purpose to the invite. An invite for dinner to the Klausman house holds this meaning: “I would like to enter into friendship with you”. In American culture today, dinner seems to have lost its purpose. During the time of Jesus, and still practiced by many Jews today, dinner was intimate and open friendship. Some of the most controversial actions Jesus performed during His time on earth revolved around meals (John 21:13; Luke 14:15-24 Parable; Matthew 26:17-30; Luke 19:1-10). Notice with whom Jesus ate: prostitutes, tax collectors, and beggars. Why was having a meal with this group of people taboo? In His society, meal sharing was a show of trust and forgiveness, among other things. The table was seen as a miniature sanctuary emphasizing friendship. I believe that we are to model this type of trust, forgiveness, and friendship with each other. Who is crying out for dinner? Maybe it is time for you to invite someone to dinner that needs trust and forgiveness. Most importantly, perhaps it is time for us to invite someone into our miniature sanctuary. Someone who may not only value our friendship but also experience the friendship of Jesus. Who will you invite to your table?

Brad

In The Game

Brad Klausman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:18:01 +0000

Friends,

I am overjoyed to announce that we have over 200 people signed up to be in a small group this semester! Praise God! I believe the Lord is moving greatly in the hearts of our small group facilitators, members, and community. Just one and a half years ago we had approximately 70 people signed up for a small group. As the church has grown, so has the desire and hunger of our members to see the goodness of God. If you are interested in joining a small group, please contact me. Joining a small group and living life with Jesus will transform your life forever.

Brad

Jump In!!!

Brad Klausman — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:49:03 +0000

About a year ago I was in my son’s bedroom getting him ready for bed. As he got up onto his bed he stood up. Taking an opportunity to build some courage into his fearful heart, I asked him to jump to me. I was surprised when he asked me to move further away from the bed. He took two fast, small steps on his bed and launched out into my arms. He had such a good time making that first jump that he continued to jump to me over and over again until I was worn out. Now I cannot stop him from jumping. He climbs onto our furniture and tables—whatever he can find—and then he jumps. He has also decided to do tricks in the air as he jumps.
He started out jumping, despite being fearful, trusting that Daddy would catch him. Now he embraces the fun and gift of jumping. These past 2 weeks we have seen 140 people leave their fear behind and jump into a small group! Needless to say, it is exciting to see our adults desire to grow in their faith by joining a small group. I cannot wait to see what the next two weeks of sign-ups hold. As an adult I have learned much about my faith in God from my children. The lesson my son taught me that night: Jump into something new and watch God bring you greater joy and freedom. Is there someone else you know who needs to take this much-needed step? Do not let fear cripple you any longer. Ask them to join a small group with you today.

Pastor Brad

Doing Life Together

Brad Klausman — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:48:40 +0000

Welcome,

It has been a year and a half since Crosspoint Church launched its Small Group Ministry! Throughout that time we have seen and continue to see Jesus cause life-transformation, heal the wounded, encourage the tired, create friendships, and bring people to baptism. Crosspoint’s Small Group Ministry has grown from 80 people to over 160 people during this time. Our small groups are a community of loving and caring people. Crosspoint’s heartbeat for the community is strong and our small groups are reaching out together. I am honored to be on this journey with you as we seek to do life together and grow in our understanding of the depth of Jesus’ love for all humanity. I look forward to seeing more lives transformed and renewed through His love. Let’s press on to knowing Him in a more intimate and personal way. Our Small Groups are designed to create depth in your spiritual walk with Jesus, to empower you to reach out to our community, and to provide an opportunity to meet other people who will walk on this journey with you.

If you have not signed up for a small group and would like to, please contact me at brad@crosspointlive.com or 352.592.7188. Thank you for allowing me to serve you and walk with you through life.

Brad

Being Real In Plastic World

Brad Klausman — Thu, 29 May 2008 23:23:51 +0000

I have been reading a lot of Brennan Manning lately and have been challenged greatly with the humility of Christ and how that relates in my life as his follower. Being a pastor and being challenged to lead people has only made this exert, from his book, become more real with how I should relate to everyone.

“To be alive is to be broken. And to be broken is to stand in need of grace. Honesty keeps us in touch with our neediness and the truth that we are saved sinners. There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they are.
When a man or woman is truly honest (not just working at it) it is virtually impossible to insult them personally. There is nothing there to insult. Those who were truly ready for the kingdom were just such people (The prostitute, the Good Thief, and the Good Samaritan who chose to model Christianity instead of wearing his halo to tight). Their inner poverty of spirit and rigorous honesty had set them free. They were people who had nothing to be proud of.”

Joining a small group provides everyone with the opportunity to experience the love of Jesus. A small group provides a safe, encouraging, and honest environment, in which people can learn and grow in their personal walk with Jesus. Each person who joins a small group is loved and has a group of people who will walk through life with him/her. I hope you will consider being a part of our Small Group Ministry. We look forward to walking through life with you.

Brad