2 Corinthians 5:11-18 (NLT): “Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”

New Life, New Lives

Vision: Changing Life and Changing Lives, Because a Changed Life, Changes Lives. At Crossroads We Work Hard To Change Lives. Proverbs 14:23 (NIV): “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” 

Work Hard To Persuade Others To Believe! 2 Corinthians 5:11 (NLT): “Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.” Persuade (Peitho) = Urge to Believe. The Ministerial Call—>Want to Be a Minister? Understand the responsibilities, Work hard to win souls, Do it with a sincere heart.

Work Hard To Bring Glory To God! 2 Corinthians 5:13 (NLT): “If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.”  Glory = Magnificence or High Honor, Bring Praise! We Are to Bring Glory To God!

Psalm 103:15 (NKJV): “Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” 

We Also Share In That Glory! Romans 8:17 (NKJV): “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” 

John 17:20-22 (NKJV): “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:” 

Work Hard To Live For Him and Not For Yourself! 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT): “He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” Galatians 2:20 (NLT): “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who love me and gave himself for me.”

*

Rev. Bryan A. Tomes 

Crossroads Community Church 

www.crossroadsconnects.com