Sanctuary News

WHAT IF YOU COULD HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD?
God is taking Sanctuary deeper into our knowledge of Him. He longs to speak to us, but what kind of ears do we need to hear? Join us Sunday night as explore ONE VOICE: HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD.

BAPTISM PICNIC SUNDAY AFTERNOON
This Sunday afternoon, CrossRoads will gather as one big family of God to celebrate the baptisms of new members of our family.  We have space reserved all day at Bayport Lakeside Park on the St. Croix River.  You may show up anytime to enjoy the park and beach.  Lunch is at 1:00 PM and will be done in time for everyone to attend the Believers' Baptism at 2:30 PM.  PLEASE BRING 2 dishes to pass per family, beverages and lawn chairs or a picnic blanket.  Some picnic tables are available.  Plate s and utensils will be provided. DIRECTIONS: East on I-94; North on MN 95 into Bayport; Turn right on  Center Avenue, 1 block to the park

True Heroes Needed
True heroes are those who work with our kids in our Crosswalk Ministry!  The YES they say to volunteering changes them and changes the life of a child.  Here's my bold ask:  Will you say YES to volunteering for the rest of the summer?  Our regular crew needs a break between now and fall.  There are dozens of opportunities, something for everyone.

Will you be a true hero?  Email us at kidscrosswalk@qwest.net and we'll find a place for you to make a difference in a child's life. 

Comments

[Linda]

Hey,
Are there grills out there? I'm thinking of bringing some charcoal and a bunch of hamburgers, hotdogs, and rolls in a cooler.

[passionate]

I think I've received some insight recently on the subject of how God speaks to us.

I believe, as Brad taught, that God is always speaking and we need to know how to pick up his broadcast; "my words are spirit and they are life", "my sheep know my voice"…etc.

I think God talks in the first person. That is, it's an intuition more than a 'thus says the Lord' kind of approach he has towards us. As we know him, we know how he thinks and begin to think like him. Thinking like him is being self-less. In other words when we put others first and begin to concern ourselves with the specific concerns of another, we will hear a word from God for them. Doing this is an exercise and discipline. The more we apply ourselves to it the more natural it becomes.

This sounds very basic and it is. Practicing it is a whole other story, I've found.

[Linda]

Hmmm. I was wondering what Pastor Brad meant when he said we had to know Jesus to hear God's voice. It does seem similar to what you are saying - if we know God then we'll know how He thinks and start to think like Him.

I always get confused when people start talking about knowing Jesus because I don't think that I know Jesus in a personal way. I heard that Jesus is in heaven and that He mediates for us - and I do believe this. But this is different than actually knowing Him as a person.

For me, the Holy Spirit is someone I can know in a personal way because He lives inside us. I think this intuition that you mentioned is from the Holy Spirit.

I don't know how God can communicate to us except through the Holy Spirit. So to me, a person must have the Holy Spirit in order to hear God.

[Humble Pie]

I think that's spot on Linda. Jesus tells his disciples in John 14 and again in John 16 that He is leaving them. But that he will leave them a Counselor in the Spirit and that the Spirit would guide them (intuition?)

I think the key is using the examples and teachings of Jesus as a filter to identify the Spirit's intuition.

Passionate - that was beautifully said.

[passionate]

good stuff, Linda & Humble! also good to 'fellowship' with y'all again through this blog. wasn't sure if it's visited much anymore.

The one thing i might add to Linda's thought is; since the Father, Son & Holy Spirit are inseperable, if you know one, you know the other. however as Brad pointed out, it's through excepting God's revelation of Jesus as the Christ that we can know Him in the first place.

btw- good piece in the paper yesterday regarding CR!

[Linda]

Pastor Brad also said something like the Son only does what He sees the Father doing. Do you think seeing God at work is a bit different than hearing God's voice? They seem a bit different to me.

Also, why does God's voice have to be "missional?" I was wondering about that. I think God sometimes speaks to us about personal things that have little to do with missions.

So I'm still trying to sort out what we talked about last Sunday. I wanted to find out more this Sunday but I'm going to miss this Sunday's service because I have to drop Michael off at camp - and its about three hours away.

[Brad Kindall]

Good to hear these familiar voices. Linda, I have been doing some study on the Holy Spirit lately and was reminded Paul often speaks of the Holy Spirit as the "Spirit of Christ" (see Phil. 1.19, Romans 8.9). I would argue your encounters with the Spirit are encounters with Jesus and thus, the Father. Jesus told Phillip that anyone who has seen Jesus has seen the Father. Therefore, if you have encountered the Spirit of Christ, you have also encountered the Father.