Formerly called
Where Words & Art come together to
Create Beauty & Nourish Souls
The Gathering Podcast
The Gathering is a live mini-retreat that takes place monthly at Crosspoint Wesleyan Church Lynchburg. Each year we gather with sisters in Christ to hear encouraging, edifying, inspiring, practical and fresh teaching from the women in our community to the women in our community.
For more information about Crosspoint Church or the Gathering, please visit the church website at crosspointonline.com.
​
2023-2024
In 2023, the women in the community of Crosspoint Church Lynchburg began a monthly series focused on the Kingdom of God. We asked these questions:
​
1. Is it possible to experience and enjoy some of the realities of the Kingdom of Heaven, now?
2. When Jesus was preaching about the Kingdom of Heaven, what was He talking about?
​
Here are the summary notes from the last day.
Episode 1 -
Kingdom. Foundation and Miracles
In this introductory episode of The Gathering, listen in as we summarize six foundations to Kingdom living and six miracles Jesus did on people bodies, and the spiritual counterpart He is doing in us.
Episode 2 -
Lazarus and Life
Jesus spent a few years teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven and healing people from various diseases and disabilities. Then in John 11, Jesus taught about the Kingdom reality of life, and demonstrated it by raising Lazarus from the dead. Just like Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead physically, He wants to bring all people from spiritual death to spiritual life! He did it for Lazarus, and He can do it for you today!
2024-2025
In 2024, we are studying the Armor of God from Ephesians 6. As we go through each piece of our armor in Jesus, we are asking the questions, "How can we use our Armor to fight for unity in the body of Christ?"
Fighting for Unity with the Armor of God
Episode 3 -4
Exchanging Fear for Fellowship
In this two-part introduction to this year's series on Fighting for Unity with the Armor of God, Melissa teaches about fear and its effects on our lives and relationships. She gives an overview of the book of Ephesians as Paul demonstrates the mystery of unity between Jews and Gentiles made possible by the "Manifold wisdom of God". She brings Satans method of fear into light so that we can begin to fight its dictatorship in our lives and replace it with excellent leadership of the manifold wisdom of God.
Episode 5
Belt of Truth
Ashley invites us to learn about the Belt of Truth from Ephesians 5:14 and delves into the importance of being equipped with this tool of spiritual warfare for God’s glory in the church. Sometimes it's easier to know how to use a tool like this when we know what we are fighting against.
By digging into the warning in Ephesians 4:14 against winds of doctrine, human cunning, and craftiness in deceitful schemes we can better understand that there are layers to false teaching and unveil the subtle places that experiences have impacted our lives. When we know the roots of the lies that what we are fighting against, we can better engage one another with the layers of truth in our story. The Belt of Truth provides stability and freedom and compels us through discernment to take back ground from the enemy and restore the church to the communal kingdom living that it was created for.
Episodes 6-7
Breastplate of Righteousness
In this two part teaching, we are looking at the Breastplate of Righteousness. Still seeking to answer the question, "How can I use this part of the Armor of God to fight for unity in the body of Christ?" To help us do that Melissa sought to answer the following questions.
What does righteousness protect me from?
What is righteousness?
How do I get righteousness?
What do I do with Righteousness?
How does the Breastplate of Righteousness protect me?
Using various Scriptures from the book of Ephesians as well as the parable of the marriage feast from Matthew 22, Melissa teaches about the gift of righteousness in relationship with God, and the choice to live rightly in other relationships. Drawing from her experiences overseas, Melissa brings clarity to the parable, and helps us understand how to be fitted in the beautiful garments that not only fit us for the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, but protect us from the accusations of the devil until we get there.
Episode 8
Shield of Faith
In episode eight, Melissa teaches about the Shield of Faith. She looks briefly at some of the common "flaming arrows" that Satan throws at women today, and how the Shield of Faith protects us both personally and in community.
Then she goes on to teach about what the shield is actually made of. She helps us work through the true meaning of faithfulness, faith and fullness of The Faith, as it relates to the body of truth that we trust in.
In the notes, you will receive the note-taking guide for the teaching, and two pages with the image of a shield that contain a list of some of the names of God and an updated translation of the Nicene Creed. Keep these on display as a reminder of the unchangeable strength of your shield of faith.
Episode 8
Helmet of Salvation
In this episode Ashley teaches about the Helmet of Salvation.
She begins by looking deeply at what Paul means when he describes a futile mind so that we can then understand the contrast of what it means to have a renewed mind in Christ.
​
She then takes a look at the actual shape of the typical Roman soldiers helmet of that time. Looking at the design helps us understand what it means to trust in the Helmet of Salvation. With it we can take our thoughts captive in order to renew them according to the truth. She also points out the identifying pieces of the plume, the protective neck-piece and the open face, drawing spiritual lessons for each.