This Sunday:

CrossPointe,

Before we look forward to this Sunday, I want to take a moment to say how encouraged I was by Will Hawk's message last Sunday. He preached on "Knowing and Doing the Will of God" from Daniel 1 and 2. It was I think the most helpful and practical sermon I have heard on the topic. If you missed it, I highly encourage you to listen to it here. It really is a must listen.

This week we begin a trek through 1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14 as we study spiritual gifts. These are some of the most theologically dense chapters in the New Testament and will require deep thinking and humility from us. Sunday we will cover 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and look at a few guiding truths about the empowering work of the Spirit that will help set the table for the coming weeks. Here are a few Scriptures to read as you prepare:

• 1 Corinthians 12-14 (Become familiar with these chapters as a unit. Read them slowly and often the next few weeks).
• John 14:15-31
• John 16:1-15

One final encouragement. In sermons like the next few that will require more thorough doctrinal and technical explanation, it is often easy to not see the forest because of the trees. So, although these chapters deal with the gifts of the Spirit and the mess the Corinthian church was making of them, ultimately, the point as always is the Gospel. Let's be sure not to miss that!

Grace & Peace,
Brad