Sunday Highlights

paralyzed

Today we wrapped up the Paralyzed Series at Cross Point Nashville with Pete‘s message “Surrendering Fear”.

In a word…

POWERFUL!

We rearranged the service order a little bit to allow for a time of worship and surrending our fears at the cross.  Each of us wrote our fears on a card and then at the end of the service Jarrod led us in worship as many chose to bring those cards to a cross at the front of the stage.  Literally hundreds of Cross Pointers walked forward to lay their cards there… to surrender their fear.  I was so moved!

Here are a few notes from the day, but you really need to go listen online.  (Message should be posted Monday.)

Matthew 6:31-34 “So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

We claim that we have trusted Christ with our eternity and yet the reality is we don’t trust him with our tomorrow!

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Unless you surrender it you will continue to fear it.

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

So let’s share.

What fear did you surrender today?

I’ll go first: I surrendered my fear of not being good enough… of not measuring up to others’ expectations.

How about you?

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10 comments

  • Ron Edmondson February 15, 2009  

    We talked about fear today too! I think it’s epidemic these days.

  • anna February 15, 2009  

    I surrendered the fear that i will never truly happy at my job and right now I’m not. I always said I never wanted to be one of those people who hated work everyday…and I have become that person. One of the hard parts is that to the world, I have a wonderful job that pays me well. I always knew God had some wonderful ways to use me and I just don’t think I am in that avenue. I am not sure where to go from here besides prayer.

  • Lindsey Nobles February 15, 2009  

    It was an amazing service. I surrendered a long list of fears – being alone, being unliked, losing my job — just to name a few.

    I have been reading this passage (Matthew 6:25-34) in The Voice (a new translation published by Thomas Nelson) and it is so powerful. Matthew 6:34 is my favorite though – “Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.” How true!

  • Jenni Catron February 15, 2009  

    @Anna – praying for you!

    @Lindsey – thanks for sharing your fears. Cross off “being unliked” – I think you are amazing and am so anxious to get to know you better!

  • Chelsea/PB&J In A Bowl February 15, 2009  

    I surrendered the fear that I will not measure up and be the mother my daughter needs me to be.

    I’ve been attending Crosspoint for over a month and this was the most powerful one I think I’ve ever been involved in.

  • jan owen February 15, 2009  

    Well, obviously I was not at Cross Point but God is still dealing with me on this…..I’m in the midst of surrendering my fear of the future (ministry in particular), fear that I will be misunderstood or that I am simply not good enough to step forward with what He has called me to do.

    I learned tonight that this YOUNG woman in my life group who is new to our church started this AIDS initiative in Africa called “Stop the Spread” and she has vols all over, one staff member, regular trips, etc. I gained courage as I heard her share how she has said “yes” to God’s dreams for her life. I’m 43!!!!! It’s time to quit worrying and start living, to stop dwelling on the despair and even disaster, and to start proclaiming the hope and healing God has done in my life……

  • Melissa February 16, 2009  

    I feel like I need to share my fears with my husband before I post them on your blog, but I will be back.

    Yesterday was a great day at Cross Point. I am constantly reminded how blessed I am to call Cross Point home. I love that I am left feeling challenged to be the person God has designed me to be. The most impacting statement from the entire series for me came last night. “We claim that we have trusted Christ with our eternity and yet the reality is we don’t trust him with our tomorrow.” How true is that? Isn’t tomorrow so small compared to eternity? Wow is all I can say.

  • Jenni Catron February 16, 2009  

    @Chelsea – I’m so glad that you are a part of Cross Point! So proud of you for surrendering that fear yesterday.

    @Jan – keep pressing forward… you are pushing through those fears!

    @Melissa – I agree.. that statement hit me really hard too!

  • arauch February 16, 2009  

    “Unless you surrender it you will continue to fear it” so so true! The service Sunday moved me to tears…wonderful!!

    I surrendered my fear of not having enough money. My hours at work have recently been cut to part time, and we have been living primarily off my income. Long story short, we are now having to really put to practice trusting that God will provide. It’s hard but it’s been a good learning experience for me. I’m so used to wanting to try and control our money, and now it’s out of my hands.

    Surrendering our fears at the cross was a great way to wrap up the series!

  • Brooke February 16, 2009  

    I surrendered the fear that the damage that has been done to my relationship with my mother is irreversible, and that I won’t be a good enough mother to my girls. I know that all I can do is be the best that I can be and trust in God to keep me in the present. No undoing the past and no worrying about tomorrow…just allowing His light to shine through me today.

    I was very moved yesterday by all the openness everyone shared. What an amazing community!