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As Christmas approaches, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. He lived 2,000 years ago. He spent the first 30 years of his life working in obscurity as a carpenter for his father. He never traveled far from home. He never married or fathered children. He didn’t make a lot of money or write a book. Why is the timeline of history divided in half based upon his ...

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Today is catchup day. When my computer generated our Bible reading plan, most of the Bible readings were one chapter in length. There were a few readings of two chapters to enable our to finish our plan by Labor Day. I overlooked the last three double reading days as I prepared my emails. This morning I set about to catch up. Join me in these extra long notes to get us ba...

Many of the proverbs in this chapter teach us about God's sovereign control of all things. God is more in charge of our lives than many of us realize. Pray about your plans. God must be behind them if they are to succeed (v. 3). It is easy to think we determine our plans for the future. The truth is that unless God lines things up, our plans will not succeed. Talk to Go...

God detests dishonest business (v.1). God detests dishonest business, such as when a merchant has two weights in his bag, one heavy and one light. Old Testament prophets frequently talked about God's anger when a business wasn't delivering what people paid for (Amos 8:5; Hosea 12:7). Dishonest business brings chaos to society. This also applies to dishonesty in manufactu...

One of the hardest parts about gaining knowledge is it involves discipline and a willingness to be corrected (v. 1). If we rebel against correction and don't have an attitude that is willing to learn and an openness to change our minds, we are stupid. Don't be stupid! Work hard to listen and learn from what others say. A wife is either your greatest blessing or your gre...

Don't say the first thing that comes to mind when you get angry (v.3). When we get angry it is easy to let off steam and tell people what we feel. We feel justified in tearing somebody up in our anger. The problem is we usually destroy our reputation when we get "ticked off" and say what comes to mind. Keep your mouth shut. Walk away. Take a deep breath. Pray. Calm down ...

Here are a few comments on my favorite proverbs in this chapter. A wife will either make or break her family (v. 1). The word "house" in the Bible usually stands for household or family. A wise woman builds her family up. She does this through her commitment to her husband and children, her enthusiasm and attitude around her home, her calmness in challenging circumstanc...

f you love your parents, be wise and don't grieve them (v. 1). It is essential to learn wisdom if you don't want to break your parents' hearts. How can you be wise and avoid grieving your parents? The proverbs in this chapter are terse sayings designed to develop wise living. Here are a few of my favorite proverbs in this chapter: Make an honest living (vv.2-3). Dishon...

When was the last time you had an invitation to dinner? Proverbs 9 is about two dinner invitations. One by Lady Wisdom (Proverbs 9:1-6) and another by Lady Folly (Proverbs 9:13-18). In the middle are a few words of self-diagnosis to help you discover which dinner invitation you are taking based on how you take correction from others. Choose wisely where you will eat your d...

Don't ignore warnings about sexual sin (vv.1-4). When was the last time you found yourself NOT struggling with sexual temptation? This chapter is a father pleading with his son (and us) to listen to his words of advice and avoid sexual sin. He begs us to listen closely, to treasure these words in our hearts, to protect them like we were protecting our own eyes, to memo...

Be careful of unwise alliances or commitments (vv.1-5). Do you remember asking your parents to co-sign one of your first car loans or school loans? I suspect you found they were hesitant. They were afraid to make a commitment that if you backed out on your word, they might be unable to keep. Life is full of commitments that are easy to make but hard to fulfill. Buying on...

Proverbs 7 warned against the dangers of the seductress. Proverbs 8 tells us about another woman that calls our name. Her name is Lady Wisdom. Instead of having a commitment to ruin our lives, she is committed to the success of our lives. From the earliest Christian centuries, scholars recognized that lady wisdom is not an abstract idea but is Jesus Christ. Paul also reco...

Proverbs 3:1-12 gives us five great promises on which we can build our lives. Proverbs 3:13-20 gives us two principles to remember about the way God works. Five Great Promises The promise of life and prosperity (vv. 1-2). God promises long life, prosperity and peace to those who do not forget God's Word as they remember what it teaches and store it up in their hearts. ...

Wisdom is a family tradition worth maintaining (vv.1-9). Here a father appeals to his son to get wisdom because it is the same appeal his own father made to him. This means the father was also once a young man. He understands the hard work of getting God's wisdom. He understands the temptation to be distracted. He also understands the benefits of a life spent pursuing an...

While Proverbs 1-4 talked about wisdom in the positive sense, beginning with Proverbs 5, we learn about the dangers of not listening to the wisdom of God. The first danger of ignoring God's wisdom is sexual sin. Sex education begins at home (vv.1-6). It is a parent's job to carefully teach his or her children the truth about their sexuality. Parents are not to leave it ...

Warren Buffett is considered one of the most successful men in business. Many people turn to him to learn business success. While Warren has helpful advice, what does the Bible say is behind a successful business. Join us as we learn the answer. ...

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Welcome to the CrossWinds Spirit Lake campus summer Bible reading plan. Each weekday we study a chapter or two in the Bible plus I will provide a few paragraphs of notes to help you get more from your reading....

Proverbs 2:1-4 tells us how to pursue God’s wisdom. Proverbs 2:5-22 shows us the benefits of having God’s wisdom....

After the Supreme Court's ruling to legalize gay marriage, Nathan Collier of Montana applied for a marriage license for his second wife. He noted Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting vote on the legalization of gay marriage which pointed out polygamous relationships can make the same argument for their legalization as homosexual relationships. Are polygamous marriages a...

General Hospital is the longest running American soap opera. It first aired in 1963. Its remained incredibly popular because it kept viewers on the edge of their seats with risqué dating relationships,marital infidelities and love triangles. Women looking for intrigue or relational mystery tuned in to follow the over-the-top relationships of the Quartermaines and the S...

In 1971 Led Zeppelin released the song Stairway to Heaven. It rocked to success and is still ranked as one of the 500 greatest songs of all-time. VH1 considers it the third greatest song of all-time. Stairway to Heaven is a song about a constant search for meaning in a world of ambiguity. It is a message of no universal truth. Ironically, the Bible tells us there is a...

When a mom in Murray, Utah found her 4th-grade daughter bullying another girl about her clothes she came up with a particularly apt form of punishment. She decided to send her daughter to school in ugly outfits. After experiencing two days of her friends picking on her nerdy clothes, the mother knew she made her point. Sin has consequences. As we study Isaac's dysfunct...

In 1771 the king of Sweden died of digestion problems after consuming a meal of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, smoked herring, champagne and 14 servings of his favorite dessert. He is the king remembered for a bad ending as he literally ate himself to death. In Genesis 25, we look at the final days of Abraham and how the memory of his death reminds us we can trust in Godâ€...

In 1970, 36 percent of Americans were single. Today 50.2 percent are single. People aren't getting married. it is easier to live together, sleep together and break up when things get difficult. Sex used to be reserved for marriage. Soon it became for those who were dating. Eventually it was for friends...

It was a closed solid bronze casket plated with 14-karat gold that was lined with blue velvet. The memorial service was so large it was organized by a concert promoter who gave away 17,500 free ticket to 1.2 million applicants. There were 3,000 police officers on duty to keep order at a cost of $1.4 million dollars. It was the largest security effort in Los Angeles sinc...

NT Wright—a prominent Anglican theologian, talks about his friend, Marcus Borg. NT believes Marcus is a Christian even though he doesn't believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Is it possible to be a Christian without believing in the literal resurrection? In this study we learn how a Christ that didn't rise destroys our faith. A Jesus that did rise changes our ...

Only hours after receiving the prestigious Crufts Rosette award for good behavior at a dog show, Eddie, an Akita, lunged at a nearby woman sinking his teeth into her knee cap and hand leaving her with serious injuries. His disobedience led to a costly lawsuit for his owners. While obedience can lead to honor, disobedience leads to disaster. As we continue our study of G...

The Lunch 4 Kids concert raised money to help pay for the school lunches of needy families in the Spirit Lake, IA community. Special thanks to CTI Music Ministries for making this concert possible....

One of the worst parts of school are the tests. The hardest test to pass is the final exam. In Genesis 22 Abraham faces his final exam in the school of faith. Just like Abraham, God is growing our faith and testing us to bring us to maturity. In this chapter we learn how to prepare for the tests and trials of faith we will have in our life and how to pass with flying color...

The election season is in full swing. The candidates for president are making promises of what they will do for us if elected to office. Unfortunately, most of us don't believe them. Politicians have become synonymous with dishonesty. Bill Clinton promised to lower taxes for the middle class, he didn't. Franklin Roosevelt ran for president on the pledge he would balan...

After seven months of sobriety, while dealing with a stressful time in the office, she rinsed her mouth with Scope after brushing her teeth. Instead of spitting it out, the sudden rush of alcohol was so exhilarating that she swallowed it. That began Vicki's relapse into alcoholism that continued for months, not with traditional booze but by swallowing her mouthwash after...

Jessa Duggar, the 22 year old reality star of the TLC series 19 Kids & Counting, took to social media with an unpopular post. She warned her fans about God’s judgment. She warned that many justify their lifestyle by believing in a loving God who doesn’t judge. She cautioned that God will not hold back judgment forever. The hours of our time on earth are ticking away. S...

John and Francis Canning had an unexpected guest at their wedding in England at Manchester Town Hall. As they stood in disbelief, Queen Elizabeth appeared, shook their hands and congratulated them on their marriage. You never know who will show up for dinner. In Genesis 18, Jesus...

Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner. The Super Bowl has become an unofficial national holiday with 114.4 million people tuning in for the game. The Super Bowl is not just famous for football. It is also famous for its witty commercials. In previous years, the game featured 71 commercials with a cost $4.5 million per 30 second slot. The Super Bowl is also the sec...

On June 16, 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage making it the law of the land. Many Christians are not supportive of this decision. When asked to explain why it is wrong, most Christians are frustrated. They don't have good biblical answers. If they point to the prohibition against homosexuality in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, they are told the obscure la...

In the last 20 years, the life of young single adults has changed dramatically. At one time it was a virtuous to keep your sexual purity. Now it is considered an oddity. We live in a hook-up and break-up world where casual sex is the norm. Under so much cultural pressure even the most devout Christian singles find themselves dabbling in sexual expression. What does th...

Productivity strategies are part of the business world. David Allen 's book Getting Things Done is the way many organize their life Stephen Covey and Peter Drucker write popular books on business productivity. What does the Bible teach about productivity? Join us as we learn what the Bible says about whats best next....

43% of American enter summer with no vacation plans. An additional 33% will only take a 7-day vacation with two of those days being the weekend, which is really a 5-day vacation. Even when we take vacation, we bring our cell phone and laptop with us. We call it a working vacation, which is a contradiction in terms. Is all this work making us more productive? Discover ...

Some speakers at Bible conferences will challenge you to give your life to full time ministry. While that challenge is good, occasionally the motivation used for it isn't. Is it true that leaving the business world moves you from a life of success to a life of significance? Is it true that a business career isn't as pleasing to God as one in ministry? In this message w...

Is the earth going to burn? Will all our work one day be destroyed when Jesus returns? In this message we discover the surprising enduring value of our daily work....

Sermon Handout - PDF Editable Sermon Notes - DOCX Sermon Insert - PDF ...

It wasn't long ago some were predicting the main challenge for our generation would be too much spare time. For example, in 1967, testimony before a Senate subcommittee claimed that by 1985 the average work week would be just twenty-two hours. Instead we went the opposite direction. Today Americans lead the industrialized world in annual work hours. In 1967, the average em...

God created work to be a blessing but something went wrong. Work is painful. While our jobs are a source of joy, they are also frustrating. Discover what went wrong with work and how it affects us....

Is work just a way to make money? Is work a necessary evil that we hope to avoid in retirement? As we begin this series, we discover why we work and the role God created it to play in our life....

What is a disciple? Is a disciple and a Christian the same thing? At CrossWinds we believe discipleship of Christ is foundational to the Christian life and the church. We believe God called us to be disciples and make disciples. Join us as we discover why living as a disciple is part of CrossWinds Church....

The love of Jesus compels us to do some crazy things. It compels us to speak about Jesus to our acquaintances, family, friends, coworkers and neighbors. When we speak of Jesus, thankfully we do not need to prove him. We just need to recommend him and let Jesus prove himself....

The love of Jesus compels us to do some crazy things. The love of Christ compels us to build friendships with people everyone else avoids. In this message we learn Jesus' love for the despised IRS agents that audit our taxes....

As Peter closes his letter he is aware of how difficult it will be to stand firm and live for our eternal hope in Christ. In his closing words, he give us four things we need to know to hold on to our hope in Christ when everything else is pulling us away....

When churches split, what goes wrong? How can we prevent a church from crumbling when differences of opinion rear their head? In this message Peter show church leaders and the congregation what they need to make it through the hard times without blowing apart....

As Peter wraps up his teaching on suffering, he tells us how suffering for the name of Christ is unique. God promises great blessing to those who suffer as a witness for Jesus. Join us as we discover the privilege of suffering for Christ....

Billboards proclaimed May 21, 2011 as Judgment Day. Harold Camping wanted the world to prepare for the return of Christ. May 21, 2011 came and went. Nothing happened. While Harold Camping falsely predicted the date of Christ's return, the Bible tells us Christ will return. We should prepare for it, but not with billboards. How should we live our life to prepare for t...

How much should Christians try to fit with modern culture? Where is the line between living as part of our community and living a holy life? In this message we learn six truths we must remember if we want the courage to suffer for holiness instead of following the crowd and choosing sin....

When facing times of unexplainable suffering, we often wonder what possible good can come from all of the pain. In this message Peter provides us with the confidence we need to know God will use our undeserved suffering for good....

People can be downright evil. Either for reasons unknown to us, or because of our faith in Christ, some people enjoy doing evil toward us. They posture themselves as our enemy. How should we treat them? How do we try and stop their hate-filled words and actions? How do we cope with the pressure when the suffering doesn't stop? These are some of the important questions we a...

A popular line from the movie Rambo was, "They drew first blood." It was a justification of revenge. Is that the way Christians live? Are we justified in getting even with our enemies? Join us as we learn how to handle difficult people....

What does a husband need to know to turn his marriage into a raging success? In this study, husband's learn how to live with their wife for God's glory and their joy....

When the wheels fall off of life, what went wrong? Has God lost control? Is God punishing us for our sin? In this message we learn what is wrong with the prosperity gospel and why suffering is evidence of God's love....

Everything is going on the Internet. We bank on the Internet, take classes on the Internet, shop on the Internet and stay in contact with our friends through social networking. Why not attend church on the Internet? In this Christmas message we learn the pitfalls of Internet church....

What should we do when life takes an unexpected turn for the worse? How should we think about God when life falls apart? Join us as we learn how to handle unexpected life-changing circumstances....

Have I become spiritually stiff? Many of us have followed Christ for years but we haven’t seen any extraordinary answers to our prayers. Zechariah teaches us the danger of developing a heart of unbelief. ...

Women’s cosmetics and clothing is a multi-billion dollar business. Every woman wants to look sharp and be noticed. Unfortunately, many women ignore essential parts of their beauty. What are they? Join us to discover the Bible’s beauty secrets....

What should we do when we suffer for no apparent reason? Do you take someone to court? Do you take matters into your hands? Do you have a right to give people a piece of your mind? Unfair suffering can create deep seat anger. Join us to learn what God wants us to do....

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