CrossPoint Fellowship Messages: Recent Episodes
CrossPoint Fellowship
A weekly updated podcast for messages given at CrossPoint Fellowship in Republic, MO. Our church meets on Sunday mornings at 10am at 1660 Hwy 60 E (in the Town East Center next to El Charro and Bair's) so grab a friend and come visit us sometime! Check us out on the web -- cpf.me -- for more information on coming to one of our services, small groups or events!
In Christ Jesus, you have become a new creation and a son of God.
- We compare ourselves now in Christ to ourselves before without Christ.
- The second comparison is ourselves now in Christ to the fullness of Christ.
- The first appreciates how far I have come. The second recognizes how far I’ve left to go.
- We are new.
- Newness is from God, who graciously, through Christ, doesn’t hold sin against those who are in Christ.
- We are new creations because we move from enemies of God to children of God.
- Your old garments are gone, clothed in Christ, you have a new identity that comes with the full rights of the citizenry of heaven.
- You were hostile to God.
- You could not please Him.
- But Christ could and did.
- In Christ alone, you have been chosen, loved, redeemed, justified, and made new, by the grace of God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Titus 3:5, John 3:6-8, Revelation 21:4-5, Galatians 3:26-29, Romans 8:1-2,5-7,8,10,13,17,37-39
In Christ Jesus, you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins.
- We can become the righteousness of God because of Christ's work on the cross.
- We can become righteous because Christ was sinless.
- We can be righteous because Christ took on our sin.
- We can be righteous because God willed Christ to be our sin.
- We can be righteous because Christ's righteousness is attributed to us.
- We can be righteous through faith in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5, John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7 & 12, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 2:2, Isaiah 53:4-6 & 10, Romans 5:17, Ephesians 2:8, Philippians 3:8-9, Titus 1:6-9
In Christ Jesus, you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins.
- Redemption - The forgiveness of sins is a gift of the grace of God.
- Christ not only frees you from slavery but he also removes what causes the affliction to begin with.
- Your worth is measured in the blood of Christ.
- Your rescue is not provided with the perishable but the priceless, irreplaceable blood of Christ.
- It’s always been about his unmatchable ability to bring about the redemption and restoration of the sinner.
- Only Jesus is capable of redemption.
- Christ left Glory and took on human form to be your substitute.
- Jesus' authority to forgive sins exists because of his deity.
Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 1:6, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Philippians 2:6-8, Colossians 2:8-9, Mark 2:6-10, Isaiah 53:4-5
In Christ Jesus, you are loved by God with an inseparable love.
- In Christ, we have the greatest possible love.
- It’s because of Christ’s sacrifice that we know what love is to begin with.
- Christ loved us to show us what love is and to inspire us to love others.
- Christ loved us despite ourselves.
- Christ loved us as a reflection of the Father’s love.
- Christ died for us to save us and to bring us into the fold.
- Pretty straight forward.
John 15:13, John 10:14-17, 1 John 3:16, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:2, 1 John 4:19, Romans 5:8, Romans 3:9-12, 1 John 4:10, John 15:9-13, John 3:16, 1 John 4:7-8, John 13:34-35
In Christ Jesus, you were chosen by God before creation.
- In Christ alone, you are chosen.
- In Christ, each of us has everything we need for spiritual well-being.
- Our purpose is to be set apart and blameless sacrifices dedicated to God’s purpose.
- We have been chosen to be coheirs with Christ.
- In Christ, all have been chosen. But not all respond in faith.
- This choosing, saving, and adoption accomplished through Jesus should result in our praise of God.
- Our faith is sealed with the Spirit.
Ephesians 1:3-14
In Christ Jesus, you were given grace before the world was created.
- Salvation is a completed act, born from grace. Grace is not a merit-based system.
- It’s only through the grace of Christ that anyone can be saved.
- Sin entered the world and death became possible.
- Jesus came to Earth for one purpose: to destroy death.
- Through Christ and Christ only, we receive grace, which is undeserved life in the face of deserved death.
- We need grace to ensure that we aren’t defined by our worst moments.
- God’s power shines through our weaknesses.
- God may not change your circumstances. But through grace, he can change your perspective on your circumstances.
- Christ is grace.
- The law magnifies your sin. The Master moves you past it.
2 Timothy 1:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 8:28, Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, 1 Peter 1:3-4, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23a, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Exodus 33:18-19, John 1:16-17, John 8:53-54, John 4:12-14, Titus 2:11, John 14:6-7, James 4:6, John 6:14
The Day of the Lord is coming. We don’t know when. But Jesus is returning and so we must commit to living with purpose and pursue truth in all things as we wait for His arrival.
- If Jesus were coming back tomorrow, how would your today be different?
- Know the Scriptures and know the God you serve. Know his desires for your life. To love God with all your heart and to love others the same way.
- Before Jesus comes again, many will come in his name but will only be serving themselves.
- God’s word is final. What he says will be - and it is. Scoffers disregard God’s Word and what has been, and claim that God is inactive.
- What is immediacy for an eternal God? One who is slow to anger, quick to forgive, and patient with his creation, desiring that they not perish?
- Knowing that God is coming back should inspire all of us to live lives of holiness and godliness.
2 Peter 3, Matthew 24:3-5, 2 Timothy 3:1-5
False teachers beware. God didn’t spare angels and He won’t spare us either. We must be sure to follow and teach the truth in order to avoid the wrath of God.
- False teachers are Satan's biggest weapon and the Christian's worst enemy.
- False teachers dress up their message as the word of God but are really pulling people away from the true Christ and his teachings.
- A false teacher's message sounds good but lacks substance.
- Masses will follow these messages, which support our desire to sin and experience salvation.
- False teachers exploit followers for their own personal gain.
- Judgment is coming, but the righteous will be saved, and you are personally responsible for your outcome.
- The Lord knows how to rescue the faithful from the midst of a trial and is equally capable of punishing the unrighteous.
- Better to be reviled in this life than destroyed in the next.
- A false teacher can’t quench your thirst because they promise freedom they don’t have.
2 Peter 2
Everything we need, we have in Jesus. The perfecter of our faith can help us progress in our own faith, and we must follow trustworthy sources to get there.
- The first step to mature faith is understanding that equality exists between all believers.
- We can't just know of God; we must know God.
- We supplement this grace with tremendous effort.
- These qualities show our growth in the Lord, and we should be growing at all times.
- Goodness - Morality and righteousness.
- Knowledge - Of the Lord. Spiritual understanding, which comes from the Spirit and the Word.
- Self-Control - Preventing one's passions from becoming overwhelming.
- Perseverance - Withstanding those who scoff at and persecute us.
- Godliness - Reverence for the Lord.
- Brotherly Affection - A genuine care for others.
- Love - Desiring the highest good for others.
- As Christians, we have to be growing constantly, or we risk being unfruitful.
- Our task isn’t easy, so encourage one another every chance you get.
2 Peter 1, 1 Peter 2:24
Those in leadership must be led by God and lead with love. Our responsibility is great, and others depend on us. But we must depend on God to avoid failure.
- Mature Christians must step up to guide those who are less so.
- Each of us has a ministry serving those newer to faith than us.
- Humility is the pathway we must travel on our walk of faith.
- Faith In God’s providence is no excuse for blind carelessness.
- Your suffering is temporary, Your reward is forever.
1 Peter 5, John 21:16, 2 Tim 4:7-8
Beware, the end is nigh. And Christ already showed us how to handle it. With grace, faith, and commitment to God. We must follow his example.
- We are in for a fight, and we need to prepare to have unswerving resolve in order to experience victory.
- We share in his victory, but we must also share in his suffering.
- Being dead to sin, requires us to live in the present.
- Whether it’s Jesus’ return or the end of our lives, our short time remaining should motivate us to live like Christ.
- They way we love others should hurt a little bit. It should require us to stretch beyond what we think is capable.
- Suffering as a Christian is not “if” but “when”.
- The one thing we can’t do is respond to persecution with retaliation.
1 Peter 4, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, Phil 3:10, Romans 8:17, 2 Timothy 2:12
Living for Christ isn’t circumstantial. We represent him at all times. We should avoid evil, accept suffering, and lead by example.
- First, we must be of one mind; the church should be a united entity.
- As believers, we must do more than just abstain from answering evil in kind - we must bless those who persecute us.
- We bless others in the face of persecution, knowing that the Lord sees and loves good while hating evil.
- Because our reward is not of this world, hope rather than fear is what defines us during hardship.
- In the end, our motivation is what it always should be: Christ dying for our sins and freeing us from the chains our sins created.
1 Peter 3:8-22, Romans 12:17, Matthew 5:43-44, 1 Cor 4:12
How do we live as a Christian under various forms of authority - from government to family? Our submission to these authorities is an act of trust in God's sovereignty. Our conduct, even in the face of injustice, should reflect Christ's example and serve as a powerful witness to others.
- Christians are responsible to the laws of the land and the governments and rulers who have instituted them.
- Good, bad or ugly, we are exhibiting our trust in God’s sovereignty by submitting to the authority that is in place.
- We are to submit to authority until authority demands we stand against Christ. And then we must choose to stand with Christ.
- False accusations fail to convict when the accused lives in a way that silences the accuser.
- Your righteous service to an unrighteous authority is a service to the Lord and will bring blessing on your life.
- If Christ can endure the process of persecution without sinning, you can face the injustices of this world with the same resolve.
1 Peter 2:13-3:7, Daniel 2:21, Psalm 75:6-7, Acts 4:17-20, Romans 12:18
Following God’s example leads us to good works. Those works shouldn’t cease based on circumstances. Even in less-than-desirable moments, we must look to do good.
- No more malice, which is harboring ill will for others.
- No more deceit, which is deliberate dishonesty.
- No more hypocrisy, which is pretend love.
- No more envy, which is resentful discontent.
- No more slander, which is backbiting.
- All of these things characterize people who don’t know Christ. Therefore, they cannot characterize you.
- Everything that we need for growth is in the Word of God.
- A characteristic of living things is the ability to reproduce. And as living stones, we must produce Christ-centered life.
1 Peter 2
We have hope in Christ that is constant and unfailing. Therefore, we must respond accordingly and live a holy life committed to Christ.
- Peter was a remarkably unremarkable person.
- Rejoice in your salvation.
- In the face of trials, we have to learn to look to the promised future and not at the flawed presence.
- Faith requires action. Without action, our faith is dead.
1 Peter 1
To be forgiven you must forgive others. It really is that simple. You can’t ask for something you aren’t willing to give to someone else.
- Why do I need to be a person who forgives?
- Christ instructs us to be forgiving.
- Doing the will of the Father is a sign that salvation has taken place in your life, which is the key to accessing heaven.
- It’s a wise instruction, which leads to stability.
- It allows God to work through us for kingdom purposes.
- We forgive others because we have been forgiven.
- One might argue that if no one is worthy of forgiveness, everyone is equally deserving of forgiveness.
Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 18:21-22, Matthew 7:24-27, John 6:38, Philippians 2:13-15, Ephesians 4:32, Luke 17:3-4, Matthew 5:44-45, Colossians 3:12-13, 1 Peter 2:19, Romans 12:20
Temptation is a problem. It leads to sin and it separates us from God. The one who cannot be overcome should be petitioned for his protection.
- Repentance requires action.
- Sin has no place in our lives. We can’t claim to be buried with Christ, made alive in Christ - and remain shackled to our sins.
- Matthew 6:13 is a call for protection against our own humanity.
- God tests us. Satan tempts us.
- Every situation that tests us has an opportunity to tempt us.
- Embrace the testing. Pray through the temptation.
Matthew 6:13, Romans 5:20-21, Romans 6:1-14, James 1:13-14, Romans 7:15-20, Galatians 2:20, Psalm 19:13, Matthew 4:1, James 1:3-4
Purposeful prayer includes repentance. Forgive us our sins, help us to forgive others, because while we are at odds with creation we can’t hope for petitions to be heard or granted.
- If we want God to hear and provide, we can’t make requests with sin-filled hearts.
- Asking God to help you forgive others is a recognition of our spiritual weakness.
- Refusing forgiveness is a spiritual weakness.
- Our sin accrued a debt. Christ paid that debt. And so God is faithful to forgive.
- Matthew 6:12 is about your relationship with God.
- You have a debt. Christ paid the debt. God erased and continues to erase the debt while the Spirit tries to keep you out of debt.
- Forgiveness is free. Fellowship comes at a cross.
- Proof of your relationship with God is a merciful disposition.
Matthew 6, Mark 11:24-25, James 1:13-14, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 4:32, Romans 5:8, Romans 12:19-20
In heaven, God’s will is perfectly completed. Requesting that it be fulfilled here on earth is a recognition that His will for our lives is indeed perfect. Aligning ourselves with that will begin with prayer.
- Praying for God’s Kingdom to come is asking for the presence of Christ.
- When you pray for God’s kingdom to come, you are asking for the global swelling of the Church.
- In praying these words, we are asking for Him, before we are seeking for us.
- Praying for God’s will to be done, is a prayer of submission.
Matthew 6:10, Matthew 3:1-2, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 6:33 , Matthew 20:28, Luke 22:42, John 4:34, John 5:30, John 6:38, Colossians 1:17, 2 Corinthians 12:9
These words are a prayer in and of themselves. They are asking God to make his name revered, admired, loved. When we pray, we are praying to the supreme being of the universe, the creator of heaven and earth. He can grant all of our requests. The power in prayer is found in who we are praying to.
- Prayer begins with worship and reverence.
- We pray because of who we are praying to.
- We should pray expectantly because we are asking our Father who loves us.
- Yes to worship, yes to reverence. But pray expectantly because of relationship.
Successful prayer is grounded in sincerity. Prayer isn’t performative, it's personal. If we want our requests to be granted, and Scripture tells us that the Lord will provide, a real connection must be made.
- Prayer is personal, not performative.
- Prayer doesn’t need to be long.
- Prayer doesn’t need to turn a phrase. Prayer needs only to be sincere.
- If you are worried about a wandering heart, pray in private.
- Pray with a purpose.
Matthew 6:5-15
Whoever said “words could never hurt me” was a liar. The tongue can give life or it can take it away. Inside of the church, just because we can say something doesn’t mean we should, and how we say it matters.
- Know when to speak.
- Think about what you say.
- You can be right and wrong at the same time.
- Seek forgiveness.
James 3:1-8, Proverbs 17:28, Psalm 19:14, Matthew 15:16-20, Colossians 4:5-6, Proverbs 16:24
Successful churches are characterized by servitude. They not only serve the Lord wholeheartedly, but they also serve their communities. Importantly, they also serve each other. We have to be able to put others first, otherwise we foster a community of consumerism.
- We are all slaves to sin. But through Christ, we can choose to be subject to him, making us slaves to righteousness.
- This is calling us to snuff out the fire of self-centeredness.
- To serve Christ is to serve others.
- Greatness in the world is to be served. Greatness in the kingdom of God is to serve others.
- What we do for others we ultimately do for the Lord.
- You won’t serve those you despise.
The greatest danger to churches today is an unwillingness to have tough conversations with each other. The Devil's greatest tool is division. If he can cause churches to fight amongst themselves, they will fail.
- Communication’s greatest gift is its ability to resolve conflict and build connections that aren’t easily destroyed.
- “Excellent communication doesn’t just happen naturally. It is a product of process, skill, climate, relationship, and hard work.” - Pat McMillan
- If you have a problem with a brother or sister in Christ, the only person you should discuss that problem with, to begin with, is them.
- If you haven’t given your brother or sister a chance to correct their ills, don’t expect your pastor to do it for you.
- Communication is a matter of correction, not a seed of animosity.
- Our communication must be grounded in love.
- We must remember that the goal of our communication is restoration.
Matthew 18:15-16, Ephesians 4:26-27, Proverbs 10:12
Churches that pray are powerful churches. Prayer changes things. It strengthens relationships and builds a connection with the Almighty. If we want to be successful as a church by any of the metrics that actually matter, we must be characterized by prayer.
- Prayer is the means by which God fulfills his will among his people.
- Suffering that leads to prayer, that leads to grace, leads to the glory of God.
- Prayer encourages confession and brings healing.
- We can’t experience healing, or expect our offering to be received while harboring ill will for our brothers and sisters.
- Our lives should have clear evidence of a pattern of prayer
2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 4:15, James 5:16, Matthew 5:23-26, Romans 12:12, Acts 1:14, Acts 2:12, Acts 6:4
When it comes to our interactions with others, we must approach one another with a spirit of grace. This means we assume the best in one another, we are quick to forgive, and we don’t hold grudges.
- Approaching each other with a spirit of grace starts with assuming the best in one another.
- When we assume the worst in others, we break the bonds of fellowship, destroy trust and crush our own confidence.
- It’s easy to have a spirit of grace with others when you view yourself in the correct light.
Matthew 22:36-40, Luke 6:36-37, Matthew 7:1-5
What takes place at the end of Judges is horrible. But debauchery is all that exists when we leave God out of the equation.
- The greatest defense of the existence of God is the propensity to create idols for ourselves.
- We reach peace once - that god is the one true God.
- When we unplug from God, we turn to idol worship.
- When your gods are taken from you, all you have is nothing.
- But there is nothing that can take God from you.
- I’m not a fan of "hellfire and brimstone" but I believe strongly in truth and immovable moral standards.
Judges 17:1-5, Judges 18:22-26, Judges 21:25
Throughout Judges we have looked at temporary judge after temporary judge. These were imperfect saviors but Jesus was the perfect Savior. Today, on Easter, we look at what makes him so.
- Jesus is the perfect Savior because He was both human and divine.
- A real sacrifice exchanges something of equal value. Human life for human life. A divine sacrifice allows for the Son of God to reconcile all human life.
- Jesus is the perfect Savior because He was the perfect sacrifice.
- Jesus is Savior because He completes the process of salvation.
- It’s not just that Christ has allowed you to be forgiven, but that God sees you as blameless and whole because of what He's done.
Samson was physically strong but spiritually weak. He was a personification of the nation of Israel and his failures led to his demise.
- We can’t let our lust override the law.
- As parents, we can raise our children, try to lead them, and still watch them fail.
- God uses our mistakes for His mission.
- We can’t lead others down a sinful path despite our struggles.
- A lack of wise decision-making leads to a troublesome life.
- Poor decision-making is aided by an unchecked anger and the consequences can be earth-shattering.
- If we don’t learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them.
Samson is the most famous of all the Judges but he started out like we all do, a baby full of promise.
- God’s faithfulness persists beyond our foolishness.
- God uses the ordinary to bring about the extraordinary.
- We must do what we can to prevent corrupting what has been gifted from and ordained to the Lord.
- As parents, we must seek guidance from the Lord, control what’s in our control, and trust God with the rest.
- We all need people to bring us back to the ground, who speak wisdom and knowledge, people who we will listen to.
After yet another rebellion, the people found themselves in need of a leader. Jephthah stood up to fight for his brothers even after they had rejected him.
- Repentance requires actions and humility. And words alone mean very little.
- When you repent, you need to act and be humble. You are at the other party's mercy. What they need from you, you do. If you aren’t willing to repent, you are sorry about your circumstances, not that you caused them.
- Your past does not disqualify you from serving God, even if you find yourself rejected by man.
- It’s a blessing from God to be able to overlook how you’ve been hurt to serve others who need you.
Abimelech was the son of Gideon. The problem was he had 70 brothers standing in the way of what he wanted, so he killed them. This section of Judges shows us that we can’t escape the consequences of our actions.
- Be wary of those who want to lead you and be careful what you wish for.
- We must weigh advice based on its merit and not on its deliverer.
- Our God is a God of justice and there is no escaping consequences for your actions.
Midian was a mighty enemy, but Gideon served a mighty God. Gideon’s mighty God was greater than the enemy. It’s not about what we face that seems impossible - it’s about who faces the impossible with us.
- Your odds might not be great but they are never zero with God.
- God knows what you need when you need it.
- We must remember our place in the big picture of life.
- We can give God glory and still lead others astray.
God calls Gideon a mighty warrior, not because of anything he had done but because of what God planned to do through him. Gideon only needed to accept his calling and approach it with courage.
- Sometimes, God makes us deal with uncomfortable circumstances to call our attention to how we caused them.
- To pretend that God would work through self-inflicted wounds throughout Scripture - but not do so today - is dishonest.
- God isn’t above helping correct what we corrupted.
- There is a striking contrast between how we see ourselves vs. how God sees us - and His opinion is the one that matters.
- Knowing that God is capable means that it isn’t sinful to feel like you need reassurance that you are His chosen vessel.
The story of Deborah and Barak shows us that being a leader is dependent on one’s willingness to lead. Deborah stole Barak’s glory, because he lacked faith he could do it alone.
- Our voice should be one of encouragement and accountability.
- Deborah and Barak teach us that the greatest and best among us aren’t self-sufficient but recognize their need for others.
- Sometimes, people must be reminded that God is on their side and their success is a matter of faith.
- If you aren’t willing to accept God’s blessing, he will bestow it on someone else.
The people failed God and found themselves in hot water. But after crying out to God, He sent help. Then, the people repaid him by repeating their mistakes.
- A successful Christian walk requires us to identify strong leadership and heed its wisdom.
- Not adhering to Biblical leadership has consequences.
- Deliverance follows repentance.
- Deliverance is temporary without perseverance.
- God calls specific people to specific tasks because of their specific giftings.
- Sometimes when God calls you to something, you gotta deal with some dung.
Judges 1-2 tells the story of Israel’s failure to keep God’s commands and His continued providence despite their failures. It shows us that God is just and gives us many chances to get it right.
- God doesn't take away without providing a way forward.
- There is no aimlessness inside the will of God. Even wandering in the desert has a purpose.
- There is strength in numbers but that relationship should be mutually beneficial.
- Fear isn't an excuse to ignore the will of God.
- God isn't afraid to let us experience the natural consequences of our actions.
- God's promises to you will come to fruition.
Money is a touchy subject, but money is needed for the existence of the Church. We need goods. We need to give. We must. When we give everything to God, everything is God’s. And that includes our bank accounts.
- Serving God with our money starts in the same place that serving God in any capacity does.
- Our Priorities
- Wealth is not evil. The love of wealth is evil.
- Signs that you have a healthy relationship with money:
- 1) Your decision-making process when it comes to spending starts with prayer and thoughtful consideration.
- 2) You are a good steward of what’s been entrusted to you.
- You can’t give to God what you have to give to a debtor.
- 3) You give from a place of love not a compulsion.
- 4) You have found contentment in the right things.
Each of us has been given a spiritual gift to use in elevating and supporting other saints. I’m not even sure it has to be known to be used, but it’s a mistake to think you don’t have one. This week we discuss how we use those things to improve the family of God.
- God in his abundant grace, has gifted you with the ability to serve your brothers and sisters in Christ.
- As we use our gifts, it must always be in the service of others, viewing people in the same light as we do our gifts, equals.
- John Doe came to know Jesus because Jane Doe was willing to take out the trash.
- The aim of our spiritual gifts is to love others.
All of us have been blessed with abilities that not everyone has. How can we use those talents to serve God? By using them to serve others.
- You were uniquely created and gifted to serve others.
- As important as having talent is the willingness to use it in the service of God and the education of others.
- Our service bears witness to gifts instilled in us by the Father and it brings Him glory.
We are called to be good stewards of all God has given us. It starts with 168 hours a week. Take away 56 hours for sleep. That’s 112 hours remaining. How we steward our time is extremely important.
- Seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness is about viewing all choices through his character and trusting the outcome of the decision that is made.
- Being mission minded with our time leads us to be kingdom focused with our priorities.
- Recognizing that our time is precious and understanding its value should give us a desire to spend it wisely.
- Using our time wisely is ensuring that we are prepared when the opportunity to be missional arrives so that we never miss the chance to show others the love of Christ.
- Service, Witness, Encouragement, Life Change.
- A pitcher does not refill itself but must be topped off to find itself useful again.
Before we can give anything to God, we must give everything to God. A cheerful giver doesn’t give out of compulsion, but out of their love for Christ. He must have all of us.
- Before we can give anything to God, we must give everything to God.
- Discipleship comes at a cost.
- The cost of our discipleship is whatever belongs to our earthly nature.
- What is anything compared to the gift that is Christ Jesus?
- All good things outside of Christ aren't good.
- Why Missions? To be an expression of God's love to the world around us.
- Being missional comes down to giving the totality of ourselves.
Jesus epitomizes Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. All of these things have been realized through him by his birth, life, death, and resurrection.
- Jesus is the fulfillment of promises made to Abraham.
- Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob’s final words to his son Judah.
- Jesus fulfills the promise from God, through Nathan that Messiah would come from David’s line.
- Not only is Christ the fulfillment of old testament promise, but he is the introduction of a new promise.
- Jesus was the greatest sign God had to offer and the needed proof for those who struggle with faith.
On Christmas Eve, we’re focusing on how God’s love is unique. It’s unlike any other kind of love in the world.
- God's love is not deserved.
- God's love came at a high price.
- God's commands give us joy through life, peace with God, hope for a future, won by the love which we don’t deserve.
- God's love is the greatest love that has ever been shown.
- God's love is willingly given.
Joy is a God-given gift. It’s something that extends far beyond choice. Ultimately, joy is what God wants for us.
- Christ being a part of our world is the greatest reason for joy.
- God’s ability to supply us with abounding grace directly relates to Christ's work on the cross and correlates to our willingness to abound in good works.
- We have security in Christ.
- In the Commandments, the sinner sees restriction but the saved see freedom.
We are called to be people of peace. After all, Christ is the Prince of Peace. It’s our job to pursue peace and perpetrate peace in the world. This isn’t always easy but it is necessary. Realizing the hope we have in Jesus allows us to find peace that is beyond the understanding of others.
- The only way to experience true peace is by accepting the free gift of grace from the shedding of Christ's blood.
- Each of us is searching for that missing peace.
- It turns out that Jesus is the missing piece, in our search for missing peace.
- This is why Christ came. If we are his people, we must be characterized by peace.
We hope for a lot of things. I hope the Chiefs win. I hope that shirt goes on sale. I hope I get a raise. Hope used in this way is fleeting and frail. The hope of the Bible is foundational and life-altering. This is the hope we have in Jesus. This is the hope secured for us by Jesus.
- Biblical God-inspired hope, which is what we have in Christ, is an expectation, not a wish.
- Jesus was born to die, and his destruction is the security of hope.
- You've sinned, Jesus saves, Your faith guarantees it.
As Christians, gratitude should permeate our lives.
- Christians should be characterized by their expressions of gratitude.
- Our goal is to be distinct from non-Christians.
- Joy and happiness are not equal.
- Happiness is a measure of outer contentment. Joy is a measure of inner peace.
- Christians avoid needless conflict with this world.
- Joy is the pathway to peace.
Learning to be grateful when things don’t go our way.
- Few things make those without faith more angry than seeing those with faith remain faithful in the midst of trials.
- Choosing gratitude over grumbling is a matter of perspective.
- Pure gratitude doesn’t just say “thank you for the strength during my trial”, but “thank you for the strength from my trial.”
- It allows us to look for the lesson rather than just desiring for the pain to lessen.
- Good doesn’t exist outside of the blessing of God.
This week kicks off a new series on giving thanks. What are some of the basics of gratefulness?
- Our reason for gratefulness can be firmly found in the sacrifice of Christ.
- We all have something to be thankful for.
- God’s love endures where human love ends.
- Gratitude is a choice solidified by habit.
- Christians should be characterized by their expressions of gratitude.
We claim to be "one nation under God" and yet our nation doesn't reflect the fruits of the Spirit. How do we influence our nation to be a beacon for the Gospel and not continue down the road of pride and sin?
- As Christians, we need to be praying for our Nation!
- We are called to be change in the world.
- We have a responsibility to represent Jesus in the political arena.
- I will not excuse myself from the truth that my greatest responsibility isn’t to help win an election but to help win souls.
Just as Paul used his Roman citizenship to further the Gospel, how can we use our American citizenship to further the Gospel?
- Find common ground with the people you are speaking to.
- Be an upstanding citizen.
- Let the Gospel be the offense.
We are called to be citizens of Heaven, to transcend our Earthly citizenship. What does that mean for us today, especially with how politically charged our nation has become? How do we live in a way that puts our Heavenly citizenship above our status as Americans?
Chapter 9 and 10 show the natural response to the Goodness of God - celebration. We must celebrate the goodness of God and praise him for all he has done.
- You need not worry about what the enemy has planned for you. Just have faith that the reverse is going to occur.
- God influences others through your trials and impending victories.
- Motivation matters. Success is rooted in the Why.
- It’s important to remember all that has been accomplished on our behalf.
- If God doesn’t get praise for the good things in your life, then he doesn’t deserve your anger either.
Esther continues to lay herself at the king’s feet, this time for the rescue of the Jews. In Chapter 8 we see that God not only hears his people, and spares his people, but blesses his people.
- This is God at work to bring about the redemption of his people.
- that God’s redemption isn’t simply about removing bad but replacing it with better.
- In this moment, we see that faith builds.
- Occasionally, we must participate in our own deliverance.
- The proper response to witnessing the work of God is to rejoice.
Haman’s evil deeds are brought to light. God’s people will not be wiped out by the evil plans of others. Haman brought his destruction on himself, and again we see God’s work from the beginning.
- Esther shows us the way in which we should approach the Lord - with humility and hope.
- God sees, he hears, and he moves.
- A lack of appreciation for our blessings leads to our destruction.
- Someone out there is praying for the family you take for granted. The home you wish was bigger. The job that pays your bills. We cannot let our sinful nature outweigh our blessings.
- What the enemy means for evil, God uses for good.
Mordecai saved the king and Haman wanted to kill Mordecai. This chapter shows us the difference between those that seek to bring glory to themselves versus those who seek to serve the greater good.
- The invisible providence of God is at work when the rest of the world is sleeping.
- I don’t believe in coincidence, luck, or happy accidents. I do subscribe to a powerful God of purpose.
- Hello Big Head, welcome hot coals.
Esther risks her life to save others. But throughout the entirety of this book, we see God preparing her for this moment. And so it shouldn’t be any surprise that it works in her favor.
- This moment shows both the continued providence of God as well as the power of prayer and fasting.
- While we may be fearful of approaching earthly kings, we never have to be afraid of approaching God.
- While earthly kings often withhold good fortune in favor of self-preservation and glorification, we serve a God who delights in answering prayers.
- What man so often plans to show his own might, God uses instead to glorify himself.
- Men can scheme and plan and prepare all day long, but the Lord has the final say in all.
Mordecai becomes the villain but, because of God’s providence, he has an opportunity to rescue his people. He just Needs Esther to speak to the king, which could cost her her life.
- It’s okay to grieve for what’s been lost, even if it was given away for the right reasons.
- Grief without a plan leads to aimless wandering instead of purposeful progression.
- Sometimes fear gets in the way of you taking necessary risks.
- It’s important to surround yourself with people who will tell you hard truths.
- Hard truths without unwavering support are cruelties.
They say if you live long enough, you either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Mordecai manages to experience both happenings in very quick succession. This passage shows us that you can do the right thing and have very different outcomes for your actions.
- Time reveals that God has Mordecai in this position as part of his larger providence for the remnant.
- It is naive to think that standing firm in our faith won’t at some point cost us.
- Haman’s inability to be satisfied is ultimately his downfall.
Esther, in a series of fortunate events, finds herself in the favor of Hegai, leader of the harem. She shows through these events her God-given ability to listen to wisdom which leads to her being chosen as the new queen, ultimately saving her people.
- When our tempers control us, regret can’t take away the damage we cause.
- Good men raise good children.
- Blessing comes from inner beauty.
- Real wisdom and our ability to listen to the experience of others are related.
- Stop telling God that He can’t use you because of your past decisions and stop letting others tell you the same.
The king is a jerk and Vashti wasn’t willing to play his game. While she is punished, the Bible doesn’t speak against her actions. Still, this moment is used by God to rescue his people.
- Riches, wealth, and status don’t make a man.
- God’s purpose was being fulfilled through earthly failure.
- Sometimes justified actions are met with unjust consequences.
- Godly male authority in the home is based on servant leadership, not brash decrees.
Noble women focus on eternal things, seek to serve the eternal king, and live with the goal of pleasing him.
- Noble women seek to serve others as a service to the Lord.
- Noble women are Christ-Centered, not self-centered.
- Noble women do not concern themselves with earthly outcomes in favor of heavenly outcomes.
- Noble women let the true Gospel rule their lives and will let it be the offense.
- Noble women serve others out of reverence for Jesus.
Noble women are constantly aware of pride and selfishness and strive to think of others more.
- Noble women understand that humility only adds to their strengths and is in no way a weakness.
- Noble women understand that God is in control so they don’t need the credit.
- Noble women understand that God values their humility more than their accomplishments.
- Noble women have the same mindset as Jesus, which elevates others above themselves.
- The biggest struggle women tend to have when it comes to selfishness is not being selfish enough.
- In order to look after others, you need to look after yourself.
Bodies deteriorate, persons develop. Invest in that which lasts. Women must understand that their worth is not tied in any way, shape or form to their bodies.
- Beauty and physical charm aren’t bad, but they fade. Noble women are judged by that which is eternal, not that which is temporary.
- Noble women don’t let the world set beauty standards on their behalf.
- Bodies deteriorate, persons develop. Noble women invest in that which lasts and understand that their worth is not tied in any way, shape or form to their bodies.
- Years can steal the physical but not the internal.
- The Lord is looking at your heart.
- It’s not the right aesthetic that God is after but the right Spirit.
The noble woman speaks faithfully, loving others with Godly wisdom, boldness, and kindness as a faithful “completer” of others.
- Noble women deliver wisdom for the betterment of others.
- A faithful speaker understands that the truth ultimately causes less harm than appeasing others.
- One of the greatest things that a wife can do for her husband is tell him the truth.
- Your words are powerful and important, but be careful of the fruit they bear.
A woman of noble character rejects the lies that satisfaction comes from anything or anyone other than God.
- A Noble Woman’s worth is solidified by her character.
- Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive of an individual.
- Noble woman of high character have one main thing in common, they are God seekers.
- Your identity should flow through God the Father and Christ the Son.
- When we seek God first, the significance of the anxiety inducing questions fades in light of his glory and everything finds a way of taking care of itself.
- A woman of noble character, wherever she is found to be, has immeasurable worth.
Men of God live differently than the rest of the world. Live open-handed. Do for one what you cannot do for all. Be kind and put yourself in someone else’s shoes before casting judgment. Pass the praise around. Seek opportunities to share admiration for others.
- Charity, mercy, and kindness make a man far more than self-reliance and cold-heartedness.
- Men of God live open-handed.
- Men of God treasure people more than treasure.
- Men of God will trade being uncomfortable in this world for the comforts of eternity.
Know and grow yourself, attend to weaknesses that are present and learn from mistakes. Also, count your blessings. Expect nothing and be thankful for everything.
- A man who continually repeats the same errors does a truly disgusting thing.
- When it comes to matters of faith, men of God avoid returning to a life before Christ.
- When we recognize what God has done for us, it encourages us to maintain our progress.
- There is no reason for a regenerated believer to yield to temptation.
Men respect their leaders and consider advice from the experienced. They face anxiety purposefully fearing only a future of regret.
- A lack of seeking counsel isn't about self-reliance but a lack of respect for what others have to offer.
- Seeking counsel gives us a different perspective.
- Seeking counsel instills confidence in us.
- Seeking counsel helps us avoid failure.
- Pride is evil because it prevents us from hearing the wisdom of others.
- It takes courage to step out and ask for help and to listen to others.
- Anxiety however can become an idol when we worship at its feet and let it dictate and determine our approach to life.
Men shoulder blame and carry the burdens of those who are weak. Men also create paths rather than follow them. Don’t allow yourself to be dismayed by critics - know who you are.
- We have a duty to protect and serve those who are weaker than us.
- In order to share in another’s burdens, we must have a heart for their healing.
- It’s not just the ability to bear someone else’s burdens - it’s about having the strength to share ours as well.
- Our strength is fortified by our confidence in who we are.
- For a man of God, confidence stems from following Christ.
- For the man of God, confidence stems from being a man who chases after God.
Boys live, men sacrifice. Deliver on your commitments even if it isn’t fun for you. It’s important that as men we are measured in action and control our emotions and question our instincts.
- Men sacrifice and deliver on their commitments even if it isn’t self-serving.
- Ensuring that we take care of our responsibilities is motivated by a love that puts others first and by the love we desire.
- Hampton Keathley says, “This type of love is a ministry and not a manipulation.”
- Men of God deliver on their commitments because of their love for God.
- You will hate every job you ever do until your attitude derives from your purpose and your purpose is to serve the Lord.
- A disciplined man of God is the ruler of his emotions. He is not controlled by the moment, nor does he act out because of his frustration. He measures each and every action in light of the consequences.
- Discipline ensures that we receive the most out of every blessing.
Your word should be fact. Tell the truth even if it hurts and live your values whether no one knows or everyone is watching.
- Honesty is the idea that we tell the truth even when it hurts.
- Part of being truthful is being truthful when you could hide the truth.
- Confession is built in truth and results in the mercy of God.
- Integrity is present when we live out our values outside of the presence of others.
- A person with integrity is a person literally without blame.
- Better for a man to be the person that tells you no, their wife no, their children no - than to be a person of empty promises.
- Men who are honest and have integrity don't have to bargain in order to be believed.
Matthew 6:33 says that when we diligently seek God, His Spirit will be with us and take care of our physical needs. This is what we as believers need to live everyday, seeking the Kingdom first and foremost, and allowing the Spirit to act, to perform miracles in our lives to show that Jesus, though ascended, is very much still active in our world today. The early Church depended on each other and on the Spirit in our Acts passage - we need to model that in the Church today.
- The Holy Spirit connects us to the attributes and abilities of a living God while working on our behalf to complete the total work of salvation in us through the process of sanctification.
- The value of pursuing the Spirit comes in finding contentment in the ever-changing circumstances of our lives which might otherwise cause debilitating anxiety.
- Rather than spending time worrying about these things, we should first turn our attention to seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
- Growth comes from devotion and community.
- It is easier to do these things, and we find more success in having these things make an impact in our lives, while in fellowship with other believers.
- Being in the body has an impact that has an impact.
Just as Jesus spoke with authority towards demons, casting them out and commanding them, that authority is given to believers by the Spirit. This authority is unique to believers and the demons know it, people can try to imitate it, but will not have any luck, the best they can do is try and trick people, just like Satan. The glory of God is shown when imitators are exposed and the truth is shown.
- We have a responsibility to invoke the name of Jesus when evil attempts to appropriate Christianity.
- There is no cross-pollination in Christianity.
- Melding the Godly with that which is ungodly is cross-contamination. Nothing good blooms from evil.
- We have authority over sin.
In the face of intense persecution, the Church devoted itself to prayer. Not only does God hear our prayers but He acts on them. God’s actions in freeing Peter show His power over man, that despite Herod’s best efforts to keep Peter from working for the Gospel, those chains were powerless before God. When in the face of persecution, whether by man, Satan, or ourselves, bringing the Church together to pray is our best option, because “if God is for us, who can be against us?”
- Sometimes we find ourselves in need of prayer for a situation that is unfair and undeserved.
- Peter, like so many of us often do, needs God to move if there is to be any hope in this situation.
- Our confidence in God’s ability to bring about a needed outcome affects our serenity in the midst of stress.
- The goal is to be servants of Jesus and not consumers of Jesus.
- It’s important to take a moment to appreciate what God has done when you come to the realization of what he has done.
- Recognizing the work of God when it happens gives us strength when we don’t see him moving.
- Somebody testify!
Most of us have heard the story of Paul. The Apostle to the Gentiles, arguably the greatest missionary in history, and author of 13 books in our New Testament. He didn’t start this way though, he was one of the primary instruments of persecution against the early Church before Jesus decided enough was enough. This process took the faithful actions of multiple believers to accomplish, starting with a man named Ananias, who was called by Jesus to share the Gospel and baptize Paul, the very man who had been going around sentencing believers to death. Without the faithful act of Ananias, where would Paul have gone? What would’ve been the ministry to the Gentiles? Ananias, though a single action of faith that Christ would protect him, set in motion a man who would make an eternal mark on history.
- Sometimes the Light of the World cripples us to ensure we lose sight of our past.
- Ananias shows us that faith and courage go hand in hand.
- Faith in the place of fear makes room for those who are blinded to their sin to receive sight of the truth.
- Having faith in the place of fear leads to powerful life-altering testimonies.
The Spirit leads and equips us to impact in ways we could not imagine. Philip is led to a seemingly random individual to explain the Scripture to him. Through Philip’s faithful actions, the man believes, and carries that belief back to Ethiopia. That single act by Philip led to a great spread of Christianity in Ethiopia, leading them to officially adopt Christianity in 330 AD, making them one of the first nations to declare themselves “Christian.” We often don’t know why we’re being led somewhere or to someone by the Spirit, but in following we have the opportunity to potentially be a part of history.
- A single act of faithful servitude to the Lord can create change beyond what we can even comprehend.
- When our relationship with Christ is where it should be, He is the why.
- Following the Spirit is exciting.
- First, the Eunuch accepts Christ as his Savior.
- Secondly, the Eunuch continues his journey back home, rejoicing on his way.
- Third, there is now a joy-filled Gospel spreader of great means going back to the queen of Ethiopa's household.
The Spirit equipped the early Church to do both great miracles and also to speak beyond their natural ability. Through the Spirit we have the ability to completely change people’s lives for the better. It doesn’t take a formally educated or trained individual to share the Gospel in powerful ways. It takes someone willing to step out in the boldness of the Spirit and rely on Him as their Helper.
- The only reason we get to witness the extraordinary in this moment is because of the obedience of the disciples.
- The disciples were worried about the restoration of a nation while Jesus was focused on the restoration of humanity.
- This week I have wondered how many times I have missed the opportunity to change world, because I was focused on my will and not his.
- The Holy Spirit is capable of equipping us for the extraordinary.
- The Spirit moves with purpose
- God can and will use you, where you are at, with what you have available, the Spirit will make up for any weakness that exists.
The Apostles, having lived with Jesus for 3 years, only to see him be killed and rise again, are left having to say goodbye again as Jesus ascends to Heaven. Knowing how we are, Jesus didn’t leave His followers to fend for themselves, and promised to send them a helper, the Holy Spirit.
- The gifting of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise that God will not leave us nor forsake us.
- Keeping his commandments comes with the promise of the Helper.
- We are promised an eternal presence who receives his power from God the Father.
- The Spirit leads us to the truth in study and helps us discern the truth in the presence of confusion.
- The Spirit testifies to us about Jesus.
- The Spirit convicts us of sin.
- The Spirit teaches us.
- The Spirit delivers specific instruction.
- The Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
- The Spirit gives us strength.
- The Spirit, having the very same authority as Jesus, gives confidence that Christ’s promise of peace is not wanting.
Jesus died on the cross to take our place, to take on the sin that we committed. Let’s face it - our sin put him there, we are the reason he was condemned to die. But that’s not where the story ended - he miraculously rose from the grave and he lives for us today.
- The introduction of Sin necessitated the coming of Christ.
- Everyone has sinned, and everyone falls short.
- Sin separates from God.
- To be justified means to be declared righteous.
- God made the free gift of salvation available to all people through the sacrifice of his son Jesus on the Cross.
- Christ died for each and every one of us while we were still in love with sin.
- So Christ died in your place, for sins you committed, before you have ever thought about not committing them.
- Christ chose to die for you, but he chose to live for you as well.
How can we be real with evangelism and discipleship? What’s our motivation, power source, audience?
- God’s motivation for evangelism begins and ends with His love for people.
- Loving others like God does causes us to have compassion for them.
- Our perspective on evangelism would change if we truly viewed others as lost sheep and not lost causes.
- A Christ-like perspective comes from a Christ-centered life.
How are we empowered to stand against a world that is ready to reject us?
- The world is sick.
- The Gospel is the cure.
- We are called to be ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.
- We are all called to go and take the cure for sin to the world.
- God cares.
- We aren’t the authors of the message, we’re simply delivering it.
- We have a responsibility to the world around us.
We can walk the walk but do we talk the talk? Those who don’t know Jesus will only learn about him if we tell them. Are we verbalizing our faith?
- If your faith isn’t important enough for you to discuss, do you truly value your faith?
- We have a Gospel message and it is worth delivering that message to others.
- People can't believe in a message that hasn't been delivered to them.
- We must walk the walk, so that people don’t automatically disregard what we have to say when we try to talk the talk.
What about our lives gives those around us a curiosity for the Hope living in us?
- Our lives will either will either support or undermine our claims for Christ.
- We must always be prepared to share the hope we have in Christ.
- Theologian Alexander McClaren states, “Only he who can say 'the Lord is the strength of my life' can go on to say, 'of whom shall I be afraid?'".
- Holding Christ in the proper regard removes the fear of promoting our faith.
- Any chance that we have to point others to Christ that is not taken pushes them closer to the entryway of hell.
- Part of Christian life is facing persecution. Being above reproach is a necessity if we want our lives to testify to Christ.
- Jesus washing feet ain’t about feet. It’s about setting a precedent of humility and servitude.
- If you are about you, you aren’t about Jesus and people won’t see him in you.
- Living a life of love and servitude, is living a life that is an offering to God.
The Church is the human representation of the Kingdom of God. The Church is a vital piece of any believer’s walk. This week we look at what the Church should be.
- The Church is the human representation of the kingdom of God. We talk about two different “churches” in Christianity, the global Church and the local church. The global Church is the body of Christ and encompassing all believers around the world. Together, we do the work of God’s Kingdom. The local church exists to provide a family of believers with fellowship, encouragement, accountability, strength, teaching for biblical instruction, and corporate worship. The local church is also called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in its local community, fulfilling the Great Commission. At CrossPoint, we seek to be a family that loves each other as Jesus loves us, living our lives as brothers and sisters, building each other up at every opportunity and growing in our relationship with God. Together we strive to serve our local community, both by supporting our mission partners and directly helping where we can.
- Church isn't a place, it's a people.
- Church is better when you are here.
- God has put the body together.
- Church is where the "one anothers" take place.
The Lord’s Supper is the representation of Jesus’ final meal with his closest followers. We take the Lord’s Supper to remember the sacrifice that was made on our behalf.
- The Lord’s Supper is the representation of Jesus’ final meal with His closest followers. As believers, we partake in the Lord’s Supper of bread and fruit of the vine, as Jesus did, which symbolize His broken body and blood spilt at the cross. When we do this, we do so in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. As Christians, this is also a time of reflection and self-examination of our relationship and standing with God. At CrossPoint, we invite all followers of Jesus to participate in the Lord’s Supper with us.
- The Lord's Supper isn't for everyone.
- The Lord’s Supper isn’t just some cracker and juice. This is sustainment, which comes through Christ taking our place in crucifixion.
- We partake in the Lord's Supper to remember Jesus.
- The Lord's Supper is a call to repentance.
We submit to baptism because Christ submitted to baptism. It is a chance to publicly proclaim that we are a new creation in him.
- Jesus submitted to baptism, signifying the beginning of His ministry. Likewise, He asks us to be baptized as a public profession of faith, as the next right step following Salvation. Believers are baptized by water in order to reflect the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. If you choose to be baptized at CrossPoint Fellowship, it occurs through full immersion.
- Baptism represents the rebirth that Jesus says is required in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
- By submitting to Baptism, we are following Jesus’ example.
- Baptism is a testimony to the power of God.
- Baptism is a testimony that we can be cleansed.
- Baptism is a testimony that we are in right relationship with God.
- Every person that takes the step of faith into baptism tells the world the God is able, willing, and faithful to save.
- Baptism also testifies to Christ's work on the cross and in the grave.
- Every time someone submits to baptism, they tell the story of what Christ did on the cross.
- Baptism is the start of something, not the end.
The Scripture is God’s revelation to man. It’s the Christian guidebook. We need it, we need to know it, we need to follow it.
- The Bible is the Word of God. The 66 books encompassed by the Old and New Testaments were all inspired by God to instruct and lead people to Him and to righteous living. Though multiple translations are available in multiple languages, God’s truth is made apparent to all people by guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer and study. Therefore, the Bible is faultless and the highest physical authority to any believer and church. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
- Paul was referring to the Scriptures before the revelation of Christ without forsaking the writings that we would consider Scripture today.
- If not explicitly stated in the New Testament, the Old Testament is as authoritative as any word uttered by Christ.
- If all Scripture is God-breathed, then it is without error and therefore cannot be ignored or cast aside.
- Scriptures, I would argue, were written by man but divinely inspired by God.
Who needs salvation? Everyone. What is Salvation? Forgiveness. Why do we need salvation? Sin. When should we accept salvation? Immediately.
- All people have sinned and will sin. The due punishment for this rebellion against God is eternal death, which is separation from God. The only way to restore our relationship with God is by accepting the gift of grace, through faith, that Christ provided through His death and resurrection. Therefore, anyone who accepts this free gift by submitting their life to Christ, His teachings, and repenting from their sins, shall inherit eternal life.
- The Jews clung to their distinction from the rest of the world like Christians today cling to their distinction from the rest of the world.
- We all sin. We can’t avoid sin. The wages of sin is death. Therefore we need salvation.
- Salvation is a free gift of grace won for us on the cross by Jesus Christ, the son of God.
The Holy Spirit was a gift from Jesus to his disciples and all future believers. A promise of his presence is what comes with the Spirit. The Spirit emboldens us and encourages us to follow Christ.
- The Holy Spirit is the final person of the Trinity, God with us. The Spirit calls all people to repent of their sin and is gifted to everyone who has repented and surrendered their life to Jesus. Through the Spirit, God equips His believers and guides them to truth so they can fulfill the plan God has for them. As Christians, it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that gives us power, boldness, comfort, security, and resistance to sin.
- Those who submit themselves to Jesus receive the Spirit.
- One of the Spirit’s main roles is to convict believers and unbelievers of sin.
- The Spirit testifies to the true, real existence of Christ.
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- The Spirit reveals the Truth.
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- The Spirit sustains us.
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- The Spirit instills confidence in us.
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- The Spirit gives us the Courage to fight the good fight.
Jesus is God the Son. He received his authority from YHWH his father. He is the perfecter of our faith and our salvation. He lovingly went to the cross to die for our sins and the perfect life he lived meant that his gift of sacrifice was sufficient to bring about the forgiveness of our sins.
- Jesus Christ, the Son, is God born as a man. He is the second person of the Trinity and the only way to salvation. Born of a virgin, He lived a perfect life. Through this perfect life and His willingness to take our punishment on the cross, He provided the only way for our sins to be forgiven. Through His resurrection, He conquered death, paving the way for eternal life with God. He now sits at the right hand of the Father where He mediates on our behalf until His promised return.
- Necessity dictates that Jesus be born of the Spirit by a virgin if he was to be the Son of God.
- God declares Christ the Son, but the gifting of his Spirit solidifies him as his equal.
- Christ's perfection in the face of imperfection makes him the perfect and necessary sacrifice to allow him to be the atonement for sins.
God gave Moses his name as YHWH translated the “I Am.” God simply is whatever he needs to be - all powerful, all knowing, all everything - to his people. On this day, we discuss the Father.
- God the Father is the head of the Trinity and the creator of the universe. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving and all wise. God is the foundation of love and truth. As His creation we are subject to His teaching, guidance and correction revealed through His Son, the Holy Spirit and His Scriptures.
- Genesis establishes God as the beginning of all things.
- Who better to lay out the guidelines for a creation than its creator.
- God’s reply to Moses speaks to His self-existence and all sufficiency.
- God is what you need Him to be when you need Him to be it.
In the end, it’s all about love. It’s why his Father sent him to Earth and it’s why he died for us.
- The original Greek for the words translated into "gave" and "loved", are both written in the Aorist Active Indicative. Which indicates actions undefined by time that are present and future occurring.
- The love of Christ focuses on sacrifice and servitude.
- You are loved by God.
- One of the reasons people fail to believe that they are loved by God is that they haven’t been loved by God’s people.
- We genuinely desire others to experience and be changed by the love of God.
Joy is what we experience when hope is realized. For many, Jesus brought about joy that they didn’t know existed.
- Jesus is an eternal giver of joy.
- Jesus promises those who experience sorrow that it won't be a permanent condition.
- We experience joy because Jesus went to the cross to solidify our faith, and did so for our joy.
- Joy is a sign that salvation has taken place.
- The cure for discouragement is to find joy that can be had.
- “Happiness is an emotion, whereas joy is more of a state of being. When you are joyful it doesn’t mean you are always giddy or happy, but it means you can appreciate moments of happiness within the bigger context of life.” - Dr. Rebekkah Frunzac
Peace is the gift brought by Jesus for all mankind. We can find peace in Jesus regardless of our circumstances!
- The first way that Jesus' peace is made present in our lives is through the restoration of relationships.
- Our propensity to sin leads us to hurting each other.
- When we realize that what’s most important is the connection we have to one another through our commonality of being loved by Christ, that which separates us disappears and is replaced with peace.
- The second thing that comes with Jesus' gift of peace is order and balance.
- When the world is in Chaos, we are in Christ.
- Jesus inspires peace in us by assuring our eternal destiny.
- Any peace obtained from worldly sources is temporary.
Hope - that’s what people were looking for with the coming Messiah. It may not have gone down exactly as they had wanted it to. But, hope is what he came to bring and that’s what we have with him today.
- The first great thing about receiving gifts is the anticipation.
- Jesus is our reason to hope in what otherwise feels like a hopeless situation.
- The second great thing about gifts is realizing what you have received.
- This is the hope we have in Jesus - that we can approach Jesus while crippled by sin.
- We can experience grace and forgiveness. And leave his presence forever changed.
- A good present is one that lasts.
- Hope in Christ is hope unwasted.
God is so good to us. But do we want him to be good to others? Jonah was glad that God had been merciful to him but was angry that he had been merciful to the Ninevites. God sends an object lesson to Jonah to show him there’s a real irony in that.
- We have no right to be angry with God for being God.
- Too many of us get upset because others experience the goodness of God which we so willingly accept ourselves.
- God, slow to anger, seeks to reason with Jonah rather than punish him.
- Too often our anger stems from our affection being directed in the wrong places.
- We get upset about others receiving blessings that we don’t think they deserve while ignoring the blessings we have received that we didn’t deserve either.
When we run and we repent the next right step is obedience. Jonah does what he should have done in the first place, which was to step outside of his comfort zone in faith.
- There is no running from God's command on your life.
- We have no control over how people respond to the message God calls us to deliver, but that doesn’t lessen our responsibility to deliver it.
- We see that repentance is marked by response and reaction.
- Leaders lead in word and deed.
- God's heart is that all repent and none be punished.
Jonah sank to the bottom of the sea until God sent a giant fish to swallow him up and therefore save his life. God sometimes gives second chances and Jonah was certainly a recipient of that. What should be our response to God in those moments? Is it possible we are drawn closer to God during valleys rather than mountaintops?
- The natural reaction to finding ourselves in the belly of the whale would be to ask for deliverance, but Jonah’s prayer was one of thanksgiving.
- Circumstances often lead us to repentance and renewal.
- God often uses less than ideal circumstances to solidify our deliverance.
- Lay your trials at the feet of the Father, follow the feet of the Son, and trust the feat of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus mentioned Jonah while he walked on earth, but who was this man? Over the next 4 weeks, we’ll be diving deep into one chapter at a time from the book of Jonah, learning what we can from his story. This week, we’re looking at how God called Jonah to run to Nineveh to preach to them … but instead he ran in the opposite direction. And away from God himself.
- Pray
- Listen to God
- Don’t run from God
- Care for others
It’s tempting and, some days, easier to “fly solo” and say we can do this life on our own. But all of us can point to times where we’ve not only needed God but also others to stoop down and pick us up. The 11 disciples knew they needed a 12th man to help them build the church Jesus started. The fact is that they needed each other - and his disciples are the same today.
- Major discussions should be approached in accord with other believers through prayer and petition.
- Sometimes there's no wrong choice.
- Both fame and failure are from the Lord.
- We find success in one another.
You’d think that after 3 years of following Jesus, seeing the things He did, hearing the message and prophecies He spoke, the Apostles would be without doubt. Yet, there was still doubt among them. Thomas, like so many of us, asks for proof before he will believe, his skepticism (potentially pessimism) doesn’t let his faith thrive. Our faith must thrive without seeing and hearing Jesus “physically.” As Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
- No matter what barriers or obstacles we place in Jesus’ way, he can still find his way into the center of our lives.
- In the midst of chaos, he is here to bring peace.
- It's easy to believe when the results are tangible.
- But real faith expresses belief in that which the Spirit leads us to know is true.
Peter was chosen by Jesus to be the rock on which He will build His church, yet Peter wasn’t a perfect man. Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times during the moments leading up to Jesus’ death. Despite this, Jesus forgave Peter and called him to “feed my sheep,” reaffirming Jesus’ call on Peter’s life.
- Each of us must know the true identity of Jesus if we seek to follow him faithfully.
- To truly know Christ is to be blessed.
- It would seem that it is possible to be both foundational and faltering.
The evening before his death on the cross, Jesus had one last supper with his followers. Through this meal, Jesus institutes a lasting tradition of Christianity to partake in the Lord’s Supper to help us remember what Jesus did. But it’s also about servanthood, loyalty and love.
Jesus didn’t just send out the disciples after His ascension, He sent them out multiple times during His ministry, including just after appointing the 12. We don’t have to be fully trained, theological masters, with a master’s of divinity to evangelize the Gospel, we just have to be followers of Jesus and go out in His power, not our own.
- They certainly didn't have all the answers. But they had hope, they were willing, and they were faithful.
- We can’t let the fear of rejection prohibit our message from being delivered. Nor can we let rejection change our message in any way.
- We can't let what might happen influence what can happen.
Jesus calls Levi (Matthew), a tax collector, who would’ve been despised by everyone at that time. Despite being looked down on and despised by society, Jesus still calls all those who are “sick from sin” that they may be healed and follow Him.
- From the lowest of blue-collar workers to the white-collar criminals, Jesus is truly for everyone.
- We show more about our connection to Christ in the way we accept a new brother or sister into the family of God than by years of religious deeds.
- No, we must only be concerned that people find the forgiveness which may be offered to them once repentance is made.
Jesus, being God Himself, went out of His way not just to evangelize to people, but to build a group of individuals that He could both pour into and rely on. The first that Jesus calls to His side is Peter, James and John (and presumably Andrew based on the other Gospel accounts). The story in Luke shows Peter’s initial faith, as well as an instant realization of who Jesus is (or at least who He represents). Jesus calls Peter and co to a greater life as fishers of men.
- Sometimes we fail not because we are doing the wrong thing, but because we are doing it without Jesus.
- Listening to Jesus is a path to success in the face of data that success will not be had.
- When people finally realize that Jesus is the real deal, they have a hard time believing it and they feel unworthy.
You would think people would learn from their recent history, but humans have a way of selective memory when things are going well. King Darius fell for the trap and was too proud to go back on his word, so Daniel went into the Lion’s Den. But our God shuts the mouths of lions, and will not be outdone.
- There will always be people who will seek to find fault in the faultless.
- Let's give them nothing to talk about.
- What if all they could come up with are false claims and frail arguments?
- No matter what is before us, our relationship with God is off limits.
- The Truth will out.
- Character wins over misrepresentation every time.
Who gets the glory? God, end of story. We can’t forget where our help comes from, we can’t forget who props us up in the position that we are in. Nebuchadnezzar did just that, and he paid for it.
- We must provide others with the confidence that their honesty will not be met with hostility.
- We can deliver hard truths in a way that lends itself to compassion.
- God's judgment can be averted by repentance.
- Change doesn't happen overnight and God doesn't expect it to.
- Even when we fail, restoration is never off of the table.
It doesn’t matter what the fire consists of, we must know we are not in it alone. Faith and perseverance brings reward. What are we really fighting for?
What do we do when we as believers have been ordered to do something that goes against our beliefs? Lead by example and hold true to what we know is right.
- Oftentimes doing things that are right by God means doing things we are ordered not to do.
- We must be willing to lose all that we have gained for what is right.
- We must be willing to go from being praised to pariah.
The reward of acting in faith in times of struggle is provision. God will give us what we need and nothing less.
- Nebuchadnezzar was attempting to prepare these men for positions of responsibility but their success came because they were being prepared by God.
- God doesn’t just give you what you need to survive, he gives you what you need to thrive.
- In the face of certain death, Daniel sought like-minded believers and the intervention of God.
Despite being given a command by the King who had just captured and dragged them off from their home, they refused to stray from their convictions of what was right. It’s easy to change the way we do things in the midst of a struggle, but faith perseveres.
- You are who your actions say you are.
- It’s easy to seek God when our provision is pint-sized and far more difficult when our provision is plentiful.
- Faith and logic aren't always at odds.
- Honoring God never results in having egg on your face.
You’re a loser. It’s ok - we’re all losers next to God’s goodness. We all are in need of righteousness, given to us by God, and to be equipped by Him. Once we’ve been equipped, we’re ready to be used by him to accomplish his great purpose - to bring other losers like us into his family.
- When we realize and accept that when we are left alone to our own devices, we are on the losing side of righteousness, then God can use us.
- The preparation for your calling is on you - God will take care of it.
- God’s calling is for you to purposefully use your story to help influence how others write theirs.
- Knowing God is all we need for success.
- Faith says I don’t need to know the exact outcome to know that God will make it a successful one.
- Knowing God is accomplished by knowing his Scripture.
Elijah is one of the great prophets of the Bible and was, at one point, the only prophet of Israel. He accomplished some astounding supernatural things with God’s power… and yet could not overcome his depression. If you feel that way, you are not alone. But we have to find our identity in God’s declaration of who we are, not who we see ourselves as.
- You can have immense faith, which leads you into the wilderness, and be willing to go wherever God calls you. You can give others hope in the face of certain destruction and perform miracles in God’s name. You can defend the faith against all outside forces who seek to destroy it… And still be touched by depression.
- 4 factors present in depression: Fear, Failure, Fatigue, Futility
- You are not your feelings. You are who God says you are.
- Isolation is desolation and desolation leads to destruction.
Paul persecuted Christians for years. And then he met Jesus. For possibly the rest of his life, though, we had a personal struggle, what he called a “thorn in the flesh”. We too have our struggles like Paul, but we know that Jesus is there for the losers in the midst of their deepest valleys.
- Outside of Jesus, God has never called anyone to do anything who hadn’t experienced a giant L.
- Understand that God will often use you not only in spite of your shortcomings, but because of them.
- It’s not about who you were on your journey before Christ stopped you in your tracks. It’s who you become after that point that matters.
- Your past isn’t a weapon wielded against you. It has been turned into a gift to help you reach others who have the same struggles.
This week we’re looking at the life of David. He had many failures but was still described as a man after God’s own heart. Why was this?
- We set ourselves up for failure when we value the opinion of others more than we value the opinion of God.
- God cares more about substance than style, and we should do the same.
- God equips the called. He doesn’t necessarily call the equipped.
- We are who God says we are.
- We are only defined by sin if we remain in sin and allow it to be our identity.
- David was afraid of losing God’s presence, while Saul was afraid of losing God’s favor.
We are all sinners. There is nothing special that we can do to earn salvation. We have to look at ourselves in a healthy way to have a right relationship with God.
- We need Jesus.
- We are losers.
- God loves us.
- To be Christ-like requires daily effort.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the blessing to all nations through the line of Abraham. But He also revolutionizes what the Family of God is, breaking down the belief that one must be of certain descendants to be chosen by God.
- All of humanity was intended to be the Family of God.
- Due to our sin, God required a new plan - God elected Abraham.
- The Family of God, through Abraham, was to outnumber the stars in the sky and be a blessing to all nations and families of Earth. Israel could not accomplish this. A messiah was needed.
- Christ is the redeemer.
- No longer is the Family of God restricted to just Israel.
- Through the blood of Christ, spilled at the cross, we are brought back into the Family of God. That means ALL people.
Election is not about Good vs. Evil. It’s about chosen vs. not chosen. God’s intention is always to bring all those who accept him in faith into the covenant relationship. But sibling rivalry always seems to get in the way. For every son or daughter chosen, there is one that isn’t. Yet, they all point towards the coming Jesus.
- The family of God is often divided between those who were chosen and those who were not chosen.
- Just because you are non-elect does not mean you are outside of God's mercy.
God’s design for us is to thrive and find salvation through relationships, not independence. Throughout the Bible, he has used election to deliver his people through connection. Adam and Eve were first, then came Abraham, and finally Jesus.
- Election is not absent of faith or action.
- Throughout Scripture we see that salvation always comes through our connection with others.
- We follow God's will through faith and participation in a community rooted deeply in forgiveness and surrender.
- When things start to go wrong, it's typically because we have failed to trust in God and work outside the family.
When we find unity under God and through His design, it’s a beautiful thing. But when we try to unify outside of what God has designed for us, it leads to self-elevation, whose only outcome can be destruction.
- When we fail to adhere to the design God intends for us, it leads to destruction.
- It's not just about abstaining from violence, it's about respecting God's word and sovereignty.
- Instead of honoring God, this was an act of rebellion.
- God’s command for unity isn’t a command for a lack of diversity, but to supersede our differences in favor of togetherness.
From the Garden to the destruction of Babel, God’s purpose was to unify us, although not how we might think. God’s desire for a diverse family is evident. We discuss how God’s desire for a big family doesn’t take away our individuality but expands upon it.
- God’s original intention wasn’t that His creation just survive - it was that they thrive.
- When this relationship exists as it should, society prospers because it is in the design of God.
- Gen 2:24
- Naturally, humans as creation will come together.
- We have a responsibility to lead others into life and not death.
The family of God unites us across all nationalistic ties. In order to experience the fullness of what God has for us, we must learn to appreciate, respect, and connect to cultures around the world.
- Jesus's movement knows no bounds. It was and is the most culturally diverse and ethnically inclusive religious movement ever.
- The diversity of the Church is a reason to hope.
- Diversity does not weaken the family of God - it only makes us stronger.
- Christians have more in common with someone who is “inconceivably poor” on the other side of the world and believes in Jesus than with someone from their own location, economic status, and political party who do not believe in Jesus. -Wise Man or Woman in the Era of Twitter
- In order to recognize the fullness of the family of God, we must learn about, appreciate, and take from Christianity as it exists in other cultures.
We are called to be a living sacrifice in our service to God, and to use our God-provided gifts in service of others. In doing so, we find unity as we all become one.
- The giving of our bodies is an act of worship in which we give back to God what he has paid for with the blood of Christ.
- The general measuring stick for life success is others. But as renewed beings, our success is measured against how well we conform to God’s plan for our life.
- Sober-minded persons are able to view themselves as part of God’s plan and not the author of it.
- The beauty of the body of Christ is that it celebrates diversity.
We have a responsibility to others. We must leave judgment to God and ensure that we are not the cause of someone being susceptible to his judgment.
- We will never change lives if our focus is on how we differ from others rather than how we all differ from Scripture.
- If you are making a choice in an earnest attempt to honor the Lord, and the choice you are making isn’t prohibited by Scripture, what matters isn’t what I feel about your choice. You are accountable to the Lord only.
- We take time away from winning souls to win arguments - and that's gross.
- Mindfulness and weakness do not equate.
- When you are with a fellow believer who holds a strong belief, to disregard their feelings in favor of your liberty because you don’t have the same convictions is sinful.
God has fulfilled his promises to the Gentiles and he will for the Jew, too. God calls us into salvation with His mercy. Gentiles, who were not God’s chosen people and did not seek right standing with God, now enjoy that right standing by faith. What does it take to be saved?
- We must be anguished at the rejection of the Gospel in order to be bold enough to share it with the world.
- The reason we often don’t feel as if we experience this isn’t the value of the promise - it’s guaranteed. It’s because of our failure to place our faith in the promiser.
- Mercy is God’s to give, not ours to receive.
- Judgment falling on those who turn a blind eye to God’s call for obedience is righteous.
We have been reconciled with God through the death of Christ. We are dead to sin and alive to Christ. What does it look like to be alive in Christ using principles in this section of Scripture?
- We have justification through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- Baptism is a naming ceremony.
- A life empowered by the reality of the new covenant with Christ and a life that reflects the values of Christ.
- Sanctification is becoming like Christ through our union with Him.
- Sin has lost its dominion over you.
- Through Christ we gain wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
Since no one can be righteous before God (see last week’s message), we see that right standing with God comes through faith in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. But He didn’t stay dead. He rose again, defeating it all!
- Faith and righteousness are synonymous in that one cannot be obtained without the other.
- Regardless of how hard we try, we continuously fall short of the mark set for us by God.
- The ransom payment was the literal blood of Christ, and it paid for our sins.
- Not only did Christ die for you, he rose for you too.
- Christ didn’t come just to forgive your sins. He came so that you might conquer them.
God is righteous in his wrath against sinners. To understand the depth of his salvation, we have to understand the depth of our depravity. People usually do not sin in naivety but actually try to push approval of their sin.
- God's condemnation is the natural consequence of ignoring his existence and righteousness.
- The lie we believe is that humans can be self-fulfilled, self-reliant and have no need for God.
- Anytime we live outside of God’s design for us, we sin.
- There are no excuses for sin.
- God's judgment is based on three things: truth, impartiality and the example of Christ.
- We face God's judgment based on what we do more than what we know or proclaim.
Are we the same as this world? What sets us apart? We should strive for a renewed mind. We use the gifts God has blessed us with to benefit the Church and God’s kingdom. We submit to earthly authority. We don't judge each other. We don't cause each other to stumble. We are model citizens.
- Genuine love reflects the Father's love and it is the fruit that Christians must bear.
- We have to be brave enough to call a sin a sin. Not to do so is the opposite of loving and it destroys the purpose of God's love, which is to bring us into right relationship with him.
- When we love one another with brotherly affection, we follow Christ’s example of loving sacrificially.
- Too many of us serve a God whose love is based in accepting our will. That’s a false God.
- When we are persecuted for our principles, we return their curse with a blessing.
- Without empathy, harmony is non-existent.
- The Bible's literal advice is to kill them with kindness.
This is the greatest commandment given to us - to love God with literally all of who we are. What does that look like and how do we accomplish that?
- The entirety of Christian living can be summed up in two things - loving God and loving others.
- We can’t love God wholly and completely if we have placed something before him.
- Obedience is the only thing we have to offer in return for all he has done for us.
- Real love stands the test of time.
The way we love our family shows how God loves His Church. There are various passages throughout both the Old and New Testaments teaching us how to love our spouse, children, and parents. These are important relationships both selfishly for our own wellbeing, but also to show the world the type of life God desires for us all to have and what God’s relationship with His Church looks like, one abundant with love and respect.
- A hardened heart closes reasonable ears.
- Serve the Lord by supporting your husband's God-given place of authority.
- Husbands are called to sacrifice for their wives in the same way that Christ did for the church.
- The goal, husbands, is to live, love, and lead in such a way, that our wives don’t have to plug their noses as they serve the Lord by submitting to our leadership.
- God hates abuse.
- We teach our children how to treat us based on how we treat our parents. And we teach our children how to raise their children by how we raise them.
This is how people will know we are of God. Jesus calls His followers to love each other at a higher standard, the way He loves us. This encompasses everything that Jesus did and does for us, even going to the cross on our behalf.
- Christ's love begins at the cross.
- Our ability to love one another is a sign of our salvation.
- Christ lived in a way that refused exaltation. This allowed him to love in a way that made exaltation possible for others.
- He lived a life that was not his own, so that we might reap what we could not sew - the righteousness of God.
This is the first way people will know God’s love. This is also considered the second greatest commandment by Christ Himself, so it should be important to us. This is the foundation, the baseline for how we love everyone, and everything else is built upon it.
- A single question has the power to change the world.
- Our neighbor is the one who loves us when others would leave us.
- Too many of us are concerned with others receiving what they deserve, when Christ ensured that we would never have to be in that situation.
A humble believer sees God’s provision in all things and can find contentment regardless.
- Humility allows us to show appreciation for the love of others.
- Paul had needs. What he had lost was his anxieties.
- Anxiety says "What am I going to do about this situation"? Faith says "I know God is working in this situation."
- It’s one thing to say that God is in control. To live that way is an accomplishment.
- Humility allows Christians to find equilibrium in the imbalance of life.
A humble Christian never sees him or herself as a completed work. They continue to push forward towards the Lord.
- The pinnacle of spiritual maturity can only be obtained when humility is perfected.
- Humility allows us to find joy in the pursuit of Christ while refusing to rest on past accomplishments or be discouraged by past failures.
- To rest on what we have done well is to rely on our own merit. To allow past failures to consume us and slow our progress is to ignore God's grace.
A humble believer's affection for Christ doesn’t waiver due to their circumstances.
- Circumstances should never influence our influence on others.
- An attitude of humility allows a believer to experience a faith of longevity.
- In our humility, we know that no human accomplishment is worthy of boasting.
- All of us can find something to boast about. But humility will not allow us to misjudge our own righteousness.
- Humility recognizes that Christ is greater than anything we ourselves can provide.
Lights shine, and our job as Christians is to shine light on what is right and good.
- We live in a world shrouded with darkness.
- We are to be lights in this world of darkness.
- What is light for the believer? Jesus.
- We follow and obey Jesus because that’s the only way to reflect the light of Christ.
- We are to stand strong and unyielding in our faith and devotion to Christ so that the world might not be swallowed by darkness.
Humble Christians seek to imitate Christ in the way they live their life. Christ himself was the perfect example of humility, even denying his own Godliness.
- Humble Christians seek unity with the body of Christ.
- By definition, a Bible believing, God-fearing, Christ-loving Christian is humble.
- A spirit of pride in human relationships indicates a lack of humility before God.
- Christ wasn’t held to the cross by the nails in his hand and feet. It was his humility that kept him there in your place.
A humble believer seeks to exalt Christ rather than themselves regardless of their own circumstances.
- Humble Christians are more concerned with spiritual deliverance than physical deliverance.
- It seems that humility exists in us because we are faithful. And that because we are faithful, we are able to approach life with humility.
- A humble Christian’s purpose for living isn’t to glorify themselves, but to ensure that Christ be glorified in and through them.
- Humble Christians put others' needs before their own desires.
- As Christians, living for Christ and one another only succeeds if we see the other as more significant than ourselves.
A humble believer's only concern is the advancement of the Gospel. There is no room for self-adoration.
- Humility allows us to see life's tragedies as learning opportunities.
- Humble Christians will share those stories in an attempt to help others.
- Humiliated Christians will hide their hurts in hopes that the shame will remain hidden.
- Humble Christians put the advancement of the Gospel before anything else.
Humility begins with seeing ourselves as a servant. And as servants we should seek the betterment of others even at our own expense.
- Humility begins with seeing ourselves as servants of Jesus Christ.
- Humility continues with an earnest desire to see others flourish.
- A humble Christian also gives thanks and shows appreciation for others.
- A humble Christian is made better and not bitter by their circumstances.
- Humble Christians don't let their circumstances affect the way they value others.
- Humble Christians don't worry about the perception of others because they aren't living for their approval.
What good is keeping the gospel to ourselves? How can we share good news if we are at war with the world around us? We should seek peace with the world.
- If we are not people of peace, Christ will not be seen in us.
- Our goal should be to live in such a way that the only way we offend others is by sharing the good news and great joy that Christ has come.
Grace is the free, God-determined gift born out of Christmas and God alone. It’s a gift to the response of faith. A Reward, for work we didn’t do.
- Light may cast a shadow, but its purpose is to illuminate.
- Faith is a prerequisite for the gift of grace.
- We rest spiritually with Christ where he rests physically, in Heaven.
- We can have confidence that our salvation is finalized at the point of faith, because of what Christ accomplished on the cross.
The response to God’s love is faith. Faith and love are intertwined. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus will love others and they will recognize Jesus as their king.
- Faith is the proper response to experiencing the love which justifies our hope.
- In Bethlehem, there is a place referred to as Migdal Eder, which literally means “Tower of the Flock”.
- Nothing says "I believe" more than a willingness to share.
- You have a story of how you were introduced to Jesus and how he changed your life. This is the season to share.
- You may not think you have anything to offer others but, for someone, your story is the one that’s going change their whole world.
Love is the Fruit of Hope. God loved us enough to provide justification for our hope. He gave us his son, and his son loved us so much that he gave us his life.
- Everything that we place our hope in fails to love us, but the Lord in whom we place our hope loves us perfectly.
- Christ came so that you might realize hope and experience love.
We all hope for better, we hope for rescue. God provided a reason and sincerity for our hope - Jesus. Jesus was the hope of the world and the light in the darkness.
- Jesus is our reason to hope.
- The Gospel thrives because hope was born in a manger.
- My hope cannot be extinguished.
- My hope is not reliant on circumstance.
- My hope is in the Lord.
How can you be a member of a church? By serving the body and its community. Church members take ownership of its ministry.
- Our best ability is our availability.
- Church members love one another as family.
- Church members put each other first even if it comes at their own expense.
- Church members serve the Lord above all else and do so diligently and enthusiastically.
- Church members push through times of struggle and frustration to make the church into something better than it is.
Why become a member of a church? Because we need one another. We aren’t meant to journey this life alone. The success of our faith depends on the support of the body.
- Being a church member is not just about being inside the building. It’s about what’s taking place in the building.
- Encouragement is worth the price of admission.
- The more you miss church, the less you miss church, and the more you feel amiss in church.
- The Great Commission is an instruction that the individual is responsible for, but that is nearly impossible to fulfill without the church.
- We need the fellowship of believers.
When should you become a member of a church? When you have faith in God, confidence in its leadership and direction, and you build familial ties with its members, it’s time to commit.
- When should you become a member of a church?
- When you are a believer.
- When you feel led.
- When you have a connection.
- When you feel you can serve.
What should members of a church do? Support its ministry financially. Healthy churches only exist when they collaboratively cover the cost of existing. Few things show greater faith in God or a body of believers than giving.
- Church members support the ministry financially.
- This tithe, like our tithe, is an act of obedience to God and Scripture.
- Giving should be proportional to each one's earnings.
- When you aren't contributing what you are able to in church, you're allowing someone else to fund your experience and to pay your way.
- You should not give out of compulsion or guilt, but out of a love for the Lord.
- God's math always works out.
This is part 1 of our new 5-week series focusing on the Who, What, When, Why, and How of Church membership. This week - who should make up the members of a Church? The answer is simple: everyone who considers them a believer. You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian but you do if you want to live according to the Bible. YOU are needed as a member of the Church if you are following after Christ.
Jesus weeps, Jesus feels, Jesus works on behalf of those who place their trust in him.
- The strength of our relationship with God can be seen in our ability to express faith in a state of heartbrokenness.
- Only through Christ can death unlock new life.
- Jesus wept.
- Christ isn't bound by human constraints.
- Jesus is calling you out of your grave.
Jesus is the sustainer of life and he is all we need. Not only does he feed the five thousand, but he will sustain us as well.
- Why do we work so hard for perishable gain?
- Christ makes it abundantly clear. If we look at the character of God and the character of Christ it should be no surprise: God’s gift (his providence) is just that, a gift.
- So often we beg God for signs as if our current state of blessing isn’t enough.
- Part of the reason our blessing isn’t proof enough is because we don’t credit God with what’s been given.
- Will you believe?
In John 4, we see that Jesus went where the Jews refused to go (Samaria) in order to find a woman who needed the Savior. The world is looking to quench a thirst they don’t know how to satisfy but we have what they are looking for. It’s important that we help them realize this and help them find it.
- Christ isn’t concerned with that which would separate you from him. He instead focuses on how he might bring you into the fold.
- We seek fulfillment from a broken world. We should be seeking for fulfillment from a perfect Savior.
- Jesus knows everything about her.
- You don't have to be rid of your mess to be loved by the Messiah.
We must be born again. The good news is that Jesus came to make that possibility a reality. In John 3, we see a member of the Sanhedrin approach Jesus and ask about eternal life. It was offered to him and it is offered to us today.
- The rebirth isn't reincarnation. The rebirth is regeneration.
- Repentance is the prerequisite for regeneration by the Spirit.
- Being born into sin is not a reason to continue to live in sin.
- This gift is not to be earned, but to be given. All we need to do is receive it.
- Just because he didn't come to condemn man, doesn't mean that he won't.
Jesus was angry because they turned the temple into a marketplace. Sometimes we act as if we have to sell people on coming to church, when really the only thing we need to market is God.
- Traditions aren't a bad thing.
- Church isn't about what we have to offer but what God has to offer.
- It's better to die because of the truth than live for the fanfare.
John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus carried weight with those that trusted him. Our testimony is our strongest evangelism tool. Will you vouch for Jesus?
- John knows exactly who he is and he can explain it to those questioning him.
- John’s testimony tells who Jesus is.
- God gave us our story / testimony to be shared.
- God paid for our whole story because it gives him glory. Don’t rob him of his glory.
- His grace has already defeated that which we are ______ to share. Our past has no power over us anymore.
The Word became flesh. Christ was the personification of scripture, the walking embodiment of everything God was trying to teach his people. This is why we can trust the word of God, and those that wrote it.
- The Word is eternal.
- The Word gives life.
- The Word dispels darkness.
- It’s through his light that our sin is revealed to us and if we chose to receive him, it is through his light that darkness is stamped out of us.
- That which can’t be seen but only heard took human form.
- Existing out of the Father, He is the epitome of grace and truth.
- Christ is the Word of God personified.
- John viewed Jesus as the epitome of Godliness.
- This signifies that Scripture as it is written can be trusted as reliable.
Sometimes we need someone to serve as our de facto guidance counselor/conscience/encourager. That’s what Mordecai was for Esther. Mordecai had the conviction while Esther had the means.
- In order for guidance to be effective, we have to have the trust of those we are advising.
- Great teammates aren't in it for them. They're in it for the success of others and they offer guidance with that in mind.
- Guidance from a trusted source inspires others to take chances.
- Guidance in strong team relationships is reciprocal.
In Nehemiah 4:15-23, we see the Israelites hard at work at building the wall of Jerusalem. There was a long list of things to do. The completion of many tasks takes teamwork. We need to encourage each other along the way so that the work can get done, sharing the responsibility as much as possible.
- Large undertakings require an “all hands on deck” approach.
- Don't forget the encouragement along the way.
- Sometimes an "all hands on deck" approach requires you to have your hands in multiple areas.
On Jake’s last Sunday with us, he’s teaching the things that CrossPoint has taught him over the past 6 years. It’s what the Church should look like and how a follower of Jesus can grow in their relationship with him.
CrossPoint has taught me:
- All about sin
- All about Scripture
- All about time
- All about serving
- All about prayer
Successful teams require good communication. Sometimes good communication comes in the form of making others aware of what is taking place around them. Talking things out is the best way to quell conflict or even prevent it altogether.
- As teammates we must have each others' backs.
- Good teammates have delicate conversations about unknown conflict.
- Good teammates are willing to have tough conversations they don't want to have.
- Good teammates have conversations on behalf of their teammates.
Good teamwork is facilitated by team members being self aware. What are your weaknesses and what are your strengths? Where can God and others fill in those gaps? God is calling us to move, regardless of our vulnerabilities that we think will hold us back.
- The start of good teamwork begins with the self-realization of weaknesses.
- A weakness only remains a weakness if we refuse to acknowledge its existence.
- Lack of confidence or ability is not an excuse for inaction when God is calling you to move.
- Accept others' strengths, especially in your area of weakness.
Habakkuk’s final response to God was one of faith and recognition of sovereignty. We can ask God questions, but we must also be able to recognize him for who he is.
- The only way to ignore the power of God is to willfully claim ignorance.
- Just as God once worked on behalf of his people, he continues in power and might to work on behalf of his people.
- We can question. We can wonder why. We can desire and ask for change. But in the end, we can express faith in the face of fear.
Though God is going to use the Babylonians to bring the Israelites back to Him, he’s not letting the Babylonians off the hook. In our passage today, we learn about the sin they engaged in but also their destruction. Ultimately, God sees the Babylonians and the Israelites as similar people, when they should be different and separate. What does a Godly life look like?
- Just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should.
- Godly people aren't intentionally intimidating.
- Godly people don't intentionally harm others for their own security.
- Godly people don't build empires off the blood, sweat, and tears of others.
- Godly people don't objectify people for their pleasure.
- Godly people don't worship their self-made idols.
Patience is a virtue. Wanting what we want when we want it isn’t a new concept. Maybe it has gotten worse, in a culture that thrives on instant gratification, but all things will happen in due time. When God doesn’t seem to answer, the answer may just be to wait for his timing.
God’s response to Habakkuk’s complaint wasn’t exactly what he expected to hear. So, he comes back with a 2nd question - how could God let His chosen people, Israel, get wiped out? And why would he allow a wicked nation to exact punishment? Habakkuk exhibits both fear and faith at the same time in his 2nd complaint.
- We can ask God to act on our behalf, but we don't always get to choose how the action takes place.
- When the walls are closing in, are you faithful or fearful?
- We can not see the whole picture, but still have faith that God will paint it beautifully.
Continuing from last week’s passage, Habakkuk gets a response from God, though it may not have been the one he expected. The Lord shows Habakkuk the bigger picture that he is unable to see. But one thing is certain - God is not ignoring sim, but rather getting ready to punish it.
- Often, we can’t see what God is doing because we aren’t looking beyond our current circumstances to see what is actually taking place.
- Instead, we tend to become hyper focused on the trial.
- Which leads us down the path of anxiety, depression, and exasperation at our circumstances.
- This is the ideal, not standard practice.
- Justice prevails.
- Sometimes we are too close to a situation to see beyond it in the now.
- Be careful what you wish for.
In Habakkuk 1:1-4, Habakkuk’s world appears to be in shambles. Violence, injustice, wrongdoing, with no justice. Maybe you’ve had a similar experience - you cry out to God but there is no answer.
- It’s okay to question God (with the right attitude) when he seems to be silent.
- Genuine concern is different than reverent accusation.
God is the source of wisdom and knowledge; everything we know about this life just comes from him. Putting our ego where it belongs in relationship with God starts with accepting his wisdom and living according to it. Such a concession of course requires humility but, when we bow to his wisdom, we are granted the benefits afforded to those who pursue God.
- One way that we can accomplish overcoming our ego is by leaning on God for wisdom.
- Pursuing God with our ego admits that God's way is better than our own.
- The wise see wisdom as a gift from God.
- Choosing the wisdom of God is the right choice.
- Wisdom doesn't exist in you if it isn't accompanied by humility.
- The pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of Christ.
We are saved by God’s grace through faith but it is our works that show what God has done. Everything ultimately comes from God and we are really only giving him only that which he has given us. Pursuing God means doing good works and there are lots of ways to do that. We must make the most of our days on this earth and give of our time, talents and wealth in a way that pleases God.
- We are saved by faith, but our works testify to our faith. This follows Christ's example, and shows the world our connection to God, and brings glory to him.
- You give of your time, talents, and wealth
- My money is not my own, my house is not my own, my family is not my own, my occupation is not my own, my abilities aren’t my own.
- These are gifts that I have been blessed with through which I can pursue and serve God.
- How we give is as important as what we give. Everyone can give at different levels. And that changes throughout life. The attitude with which you give doesn’t have to change.
- In the end pursuing God with our works is about answering the call when he dials our number.
Prayer is the pursuit of Jesus' input and presence. You can’t have a personal relationship with someone you aren’t willing to communicate with. There are many reasons to pray and various ways to do it. But the most important thing is to do it - open that line of communication with your God and see how he responds.
Why should we pray?
- It follows Christ's example.
- Forgiveness.
- For strength and perseverance.
How should we Pray?
- With confidence.
- With purpose.
When should we pray? Always.
How many days on this Earth do you have left? How many hours do you have in a day? Whatever the numbers are, they are finite and cannot be added to. Given the time that is available to us, what should we do with that time?
- Time is the only finite resource we have
- How do we prioritize our time? How does God’s work being eternal affect what we do?
- God is the only one who can take what we do and give it lasting purpose
- There is not a priority list of “how much time do we spend with God or doing Christian things” - rather everything we spend our time on, both the required and voluntary, we should do in the pursuit of Christ.
- Our time is not only limited by our mortality
- Christ will return again, suddenly and without warning, so the time to pursue God is now, because we truly are not guaranteed later
The Word has always existed since the beginning of time. Today, we have God’s word in the form of the Bible. All Scripture is God-breathed and has incredible purpose in all kinds of ways. It is an incredible weapon for the believer, able fend off the lies of the Deceiver. It also reveals truth, even the truth we are actively avoiding as we pursue Christ.
- If we want to pursue Christ, we must pursue the Word of God.
- If we want to know Christ, if we want to be like Christ, if we want answers, Scripture is here for the job.
- Scripture allows us to fight against the assault of the enemy by counteracting his lies with God's truth.
- The Word is a revealer of truth.
What does it look like to pursue Christ? Today, we see that getting your priorities in line, putting Jesus at the top of the list, is one of the major facets of it. God’s promise of healing and deliverance is yours if you chase him. Because all along, God has been chasing you - we just have to turn around and touch him.
- Pursuing Christ requires courage and conviction.
- Pursuing Christ means making Him your number one priority.
- The results of an earnest pursuit of Christ are guaranteed.
The Bible records in great detail the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ final hours, his crucifixion and his resurrection. Today’s message is the Gospel - the good news and the story of Jesus’ ultimate gift of salvation from death for us, paid for by his blood on the cross. But it didn’t stop with the cross - when he rose from the dead, he gave us the gift of life in the here and now.
- The cross paid our debts for wrongdoing, but his resurrection allows us to live and to thrive.
- Christ died for those that betrayed him. He died for those that denied him. And he died for you and for me.
The final chapter of 1 John says that if we love God, then we will keep his commands. We don’t do so to earn salvation, but rather to keep harmony with others and God. It’s not a burden to keep his commands - it’s our pleasure because of our love for him. But salvation comes be grace through faith - this is the basis for our victory.
- God's commands are centered around creating harmony between believers and himself.
- Following God's commands are sacrificial, but when you love someone, a sacrifice is a pleasure and not a problem.
- If you struggle with being certain of your faith, look no further than your victory.
- It's not wrong to question your faith. It's wrong to not answer your questions.
You cannot fully understand what love is all about unless you know God. In fact, we only know what love can truly be because God has shown us. Everyone wants to be loved. God’s love lives in the heart of every follower of Christ. It is therefore our mission to love others and show them what God’s love looks like.
- Love is a product of the indwelling of the Spirit.
- One cannot know the fullness of God outside of the parameters of Love.
- Everything we innately want from love can be realized in Jesus.
- No one has ever seen God. But if we love others, like he has loved us, then they will see God in you.
- God never leaves us. Us staying in him is a direct sign that the Spirit is in us.
Just because someone claims to speak on behalf of God, doesn’t mean that they are. We have to test what he or she is saying to see whether it is from God. How do we do that? Knowing the Word of God is a key part of the answer.
- We must ensure that before we commit something to our hearts that it is in line with God's truth.
- True confession is accompanied by fruit.
- For a person's spirit to be of God, their life must testify to the sincerity of their words.
- Christians who become familiar with the source have an easier time avoiding what the world speaks to them.
- Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is peace, which occurs in the form of freedom.
The root of Cain’s sin was jealousy - he coveted what his brother had and killed him over it. We cannot play the comparison game - nothing good comes from that. The harshest critic of a believer is a fellow believer. We have to be better than that, to let forgiveness reign. Why? Because those who are outside the church will know what God’s love is like by looking at Christians’ love for each other.
- In our sin we cannot be jealous of others' righteousness.
- Being hated shouldn't surprise us. Being hated by a believer should.
- To hate is to murder, to murder is to sin, to sin is to die.
- A believer cannot live in excess while their fellow Christian struggles to survive.
- Christians can calm their natural (sinful) hearts by participating in real acts of love. By doing so, they can find rest in God.
When a person becomes a Christian, he or she is essentially “reborn” - a new life has begun and the person has been created anew. This morning, we’re doing a “Christological test” - compare yourself to Christ to see where your relationship with him is at. Are you different than how you used to be? Do you recognize Christ in your life? Do others? When we find ourselves feeling guilty and wrestling over our sin, that is a sign that Christ is alive within us.
- Have you changed for the better? Have others seen change in you?
- People shouldn't recognize the new you.
- No one who is a Child of God sins freely.
- Those who pass the Christological test are influencers. They aren't influenced.
- If God's Seed is in you, righteousness will bloom and thrive in your life.
Anything or anyone that opposes Jesus or his relationship with people is an antichrist. We live in the world but that doesn’t mean we have to love the world. We have to be careful to not let our desires and aspirations take the place of or get in the way of God. What’s done for Christ will last. Is that thing you spend your money, energy and time on actually important?
- Love for the world breeds corruption of the heart.
- It's not sinful to want, it’s not sinful to have, it’s not sinful to achieve, but if we do so at the expense of our relationship with God, then we have loved the world and that is sinful.
- Like the game of telephone, the farther you get away from the original message, the more corrupted it becomes.
- To deny Christ, while using Christ as the justification for your denial, makes you an antichrist.
There is an old command in the Old Testament that is really the same as the new command: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Walking in the light means walking in love. But what is love? Jesus defined the greatest love as laying down one’s life for his friends. It is taking our love for God himself and applying it to the people God has placed around us. If we can do that, we live a blameless life and walk in the light.
Like it or not, we are all sinful beings. In fact, claiming that we are not essentially makes God a liar. But the good news is that there is forgiveness that comes with confession! Confessing our sins shows God that we know our wrongdoing is serious; not confessing reveals that we think we don’t need His forgiveness. We need to show “godly sorrow” - a grief that comes with knowing that we’ve hurt God’s heart, not a grief that reveals we’re sorry we messed up.
- If we truly want to lead others to confession, and therefore lead them to Christ, seeing ourselves in their story increases the probability of it being important to us.
- A Christian who never asks his Heavenly Father for forgiveness of his sins cannot claim to be sensitive to the ways in which they grieve the Father.
- Forgiveness comes when confession is accompanied by true remorse.
- Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death
In 1 John, we learn that God is light. Throughout the Bible, goodness is seen as light and evil is seen as darkness. We cannot claim Jesus as Lord and live a life of fulfilled temptation. We are encouraged to walk in the light as he is in the light. It is the only way to have fellowship with Jesus, and in the end fellowship with one another.
- God is identical to light.
- Our natural state is darkness.
- Thinking that perfection is what God demands of you alone demeans the gift of Christ.
Finishing up our series in Haggai, we wrap up chapter 2 as God warns his people to think before they act and remember when things weren’t good between them and God. Remembering the history of your walk with God will help you make decisions that direct your path away from the fruitless and toward the overflowing life. When things don’t seem right between you and God, seek the presence of the Lord.
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When things are good or when things are bad, it’s important that we use our memories to keep us where we should be or return us to where we should go.
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Once you’ve been in the presence of the brightest light, everything seems dim by comparison.
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The potential for God's blessing is always present.
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What is and what isn't largely rest on decision making.
In Haggai 2, some of the remnant of Israel remembered what the temple looked like before the exile and they were not pleased with how it looked during exile. But God had a different opinion - God told them that he was still with them. When things in our lives don’t seem as pleasing as the “good ol’ days”, we need to remember that God is still pleased with us and brings us peace.
- It's not the temple, but what's inside the temple that matters.
- We can't focus so much on material wealth that we miss out on lasting riches.
- Peace isn't about a life free from conflict or pain. Peace is found when the pieces of our life form together to create the beautiful masterpiece God is trying to paint from our lives.
- Where the Glory of the Lord is, there is peace. Peace is the freedom from worldly expectations or standards.
In Haggai, God is calling his people to choose empowerment over entitlement. Entitlement is rooted in selfishness and given to people who haven’t earned it but empowerment is given to those who are faithful to God. We are being called to give up our comfort and step out in faith, get to work and receive an empowerment that can only come from God.
- Empowerment is given to us when obedience is given to him.
- When God calls, we must respect his word, and do the work.
- Sometimes obedience requires us to give up what we feel entitled to.
- Recognize where you have made an error and correct, because it's not too late.
In our first week of “The Workers” series, we saw that God is unhappy with his people for building up their houses instead of the Temple. This week, we’re looking at the punishment God enacted on them, ruining their crops, livestock and more because they refused to put Him first. God reiterates what He is calling his people to and promises to strip away everything until there is only him if he has to. What has God called us to that we’re ignoring?
Every successful organization needs leaders in order for the group to move forward. In Haggai chapter 1, the leaders were not organizing the people to build the temple when it was time to do so. Paul explains some traits of a good leader and a people who is responsive to God. Will we continue to focus on ourselves and not make time for God or will we get our priorities straight?
- A Leader is anyone with the willingness to hold others accountable and inspire action when complacency is present.
- Leaders lead in word and in deed.
- Leaders deliver uncomfortable truths.
- Leaders point out areas where corrections are necessary.
- The best leaders don't lead in a bubble.
- God's people are those who make time for him.
- Make sure God receives more than excuses from you.
It’s sometimes odd to think of it this way, but Jesus was born to die. That was his main purpose in coming from heaven to earth and, though he could have refused to go through with it, he went to the cross and paid the debt of all of our sins. On Christmas Eve, we’re remembering the true purpose of Jesus’ birth - that he would be a sacrifice for all.
- Christ came so that we might obtain life through him. That can only happen through his death.
- Christ was born to die.
- The world has seen no greater act of love than what Christ did on the cross.
Jesus’ lineage before him is filled with some of the great Jewish historical figures. Also included are 4 women with questionable backgrounds. So, Jesus is both royalty and an outcast. What does this say about him? Jesus is for everyone. Jesus had encouraging words for the outcasts at the beginning of his Sermon on the Mount. He is the reason for hope in this life and the next and his hope encourages us to live contrary to the world.
Faith in Jesus started even on the day he was born. In Luke 2, we learn that the shepherds near Bethlehem left their sheep to go find the baby in the manger. Simeon’s faith was shown when he believed the baby in his arms was the savior of the world. Story after story throughout the gospels show us that it was nearly impossible to not have faith in Jesus after an encounter with him. It’s up to us to share the good news of Jesus with people around us so that they can have their own encounter with him.
- The first step in anyone's faith journey is being given the opportunity to explore Christ.
- Christ is the realization of faith.
- Christ is the reward for faith.
Christ is returning, but the time and date isn’t known. We must therefore be watchful, ready and waiting for him to come. That means putting away the worries of this world and focusing on the eternal. Though we don’t know when the end will come, we need to live our life with the end in mind. In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul gives us instructions on what that kind of life looks like.
- When we focus on things outside of our control, we take time away from things that we could actually influence.
- Faith protects what’s inside, the self, and one’s soul. Love fights to protect that which is outside, others.
- Don’t get so distracted in what you are doing, that you lose sight of what others are accomplishing as well.
- When peace is possible, it should be chosen.
- Give thanks out of faith not feelings.
When we became Christians, we moved from the desire to please ourselves to the desire to please others and God. In 1 Thessalonians 4, we learn that perfection is not given at conversion and, in fact, cannot be attained this side of heaven. We are being sanctified (being made holy) day by day. The Christian’s walk is about sinning less, doing good more and becoming more like Jesus daily.
- Sanctification is the process by which an entity is brought into relationship with or attains that which is holy.
- Holiness is the state of being in which you find yourself separated from sin.
- The Christian experiences sin just like everyone else but we have a loving obligation to our God, which requires us not to act on it like everyone else.
- Unmeasured passion has no place in the Christian walk.
- Our words, actions, decisions, and thought processes must all be bridled by our desire to ensure that what we say, do, and think is pleasing to God.
If you are a Christian, then you are a co-worker in Christ. What does that mean? It means encouraging other followers in Christ: through prayer, reading and sharing Scripture, and standing with them during times of temptation/persecution. God is with us at every moment and he uses believers to extend his grace. When we are empathetic with others, we let them know that they are not alone and that others have gone through the same trials.
As co-workers of Christ, we are called to strengthen and encourage others’ faith.
Prayer is a powerful way to show other in your life that you value them.
Trials are not necessarily signs of God's disfavor - they could be a part of your Christian legacy.
Together we can fill in the gaps that each other is missing.
1 Thessalonians 2 is often called “The Minister’s Manual”. But aren’t we all ministers of the gospel if we are walking with Christ daily? We are not just sharing the message of Jesus but also our very lives as we go about our schedule during the week. We need to make sure we get the message right - that we are sinners, sin separates us from God and we are only made holy and brought into relationship with Him because of His grace.
Identify our message and its source.
Don't corrupt the message.
Identify the motives.
The Thessalonians were new Christians but were already doing a lot of things right. They had faith and that faith produced action. What can we learn from the early Church in Thessalonica in order to apply it to the Church today? This week we look at how faith, love, and hope inspire us, and how we inspire others.
Are you a source of gratitude or a source of grief?
Does you life testify to the Triad?
Faith is not produced by works but works are certainly a byproduct of faith.
True Love persists through hardship.
At the end of Joseph’s story, we see a man who went from punished by his brothers to justified by God and in a position of power. But he didn’t use that power to get back at his brothers. The struggles he went through taught him things and he became more loving, more grateful, more benevolent. It’s up to us to learn from the battles we face and come out a more Christlike person.
Don't make an offer you aren't ready to fulfill.
Battles can only be considered lost when you learn nothing from them.
With God's grace, suffering, partnered with perseverance of faith, will benefit us more than it can harm us.
Our actions show others that we have changed.
The story of Joseph changes drastically once he is freed from prison and made second only to the pharaoh. Next to his blessing, we see his brothers in the middle of trouble. In this passage we learn that, in the midst of the battle, we need to be looking beyond the “now”, learn from our circumstances and work with others to receive the blessing on the other side.
Don’t let the battle leave you brainless.
If we only have integrity when people haven't caused us offense, then we have favoritism. Treat those who have offended you with the same favor as those who have not.
The midst of a battle is no time for an “I told you so.”
See past the now, so you can get to the wow.
Joseph wanted to be remembered by those that he interpreted dreams for. He could have lied to Pharaoh's baker in hopes that they would have mentioned him to the pharaoh quickly, or to spare the baker's feelings. But in the end we see that it was his integrity, his desire to be truthful and the events playing out as he said they would that broke him out of his prison.
Don't lie to protect people’s feelings.
Doing what's right is always better than doing whatever it takes.
Faith allows for integrity in the face of trials.
In Genesis 39, we read the story about Joseph, Potiphar and his wife. Potiphar’s wife tried to sleep with Joseph but he never spoke ill of her or of Potiphar, his master. In fact, Joseph was given additional responsibilities because of how faithful he was to him. We can learn a lesson from how Joseph treated others - trash talking and coarse language should never be a part of a Christian’s demeanor. We should be content with whatever the circumstances - if we have a good boss or a bad one, likable co-workers or unlikable, if we’ve been treated fairly or unfairly.
Genesis 37 starts the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob. Joseph was clearly Joseph’s favorite son but there’s a problem with favoritism - it sets up its object for failure. Joseph was given unrealistic expectations and it caused his brothers to resent him and stop caring. In our relationships, it’s important to not show favorites (or revel in it) and so much of that comes from our words. Holding our tongue and being humble is the best way to fight favoritism.
How do we deal with differences in opinion in our team environments?
1) We all need to be in agreement that disagreements are okay.
2) Everyone on a team has the right to express their opinion.
3) Team Members must give each other the benefit of the doubt.
We have to see, know, understand, and have faith that our teammates are seeking to make us better - we can’t take disagreements as an attack. Encouraging differences in opinion brings success to the team - and when the team finds success, we all succeed.
The Book of Proverbs teaches us that humans can make goals, but God has the final say. Successful goal construction and completion takes God's Sovereignty into account. The goal must be flexible because God’s purpose will sometimes be different than our plans. That said, here are some goals that we’ve set for Crosspoint Fellowship:
- Always have someone to minister to Children and Youth, to make them a priority.
- Second to have a strong presence in our small group settings.
- To regularly lead people into relationships with Christ.
Romans 14 instructs believers everywhere to encourage one another and keep each other accountable. Successful teams buy into the idea that they are responsible for each other’s success and rely on one another to stay on course. In order to succeed at mutual accountability, we need self-introspection, selflessness, and the desire for mutual edification.
God gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. A team has a hierarchy - there is a leader (Christ) and those who fill certain defined roles. But a hierarchy does not mean monarchy. Good leaders listen to those they supervise and therefore keep the momentum of the team going. Clearly defined roles provide purpose, pave the way for successful outcomes, and help set and maintain expectations.
When we don’t receive a blessing from God, we assume that it’s because God didn’t want to give it but oftentimes it’s because we didn’t take the risk. When Jesus called Peter out of the boat and to walk on the water, it took a risk from Peter and a miracle from Jesus - and Peter reaped the blessing. Too often in our lives, inside the church, and out, we let fear petrify us into inaction. God calls us to do the extraordinary but if we don’t take a leap of faith, we just end up being ordinary.
Communication is the key in any and every relationship. We have to be Open, Honest, and Free with our communication if we hope to become and remain a strong team. And that starts with being honest with God. David in the book of Psalms was honest in his complaints to God just as he was in his praises. It’s so important to hear others’ opinions and to be heard so that changes can happen as they are needed. Successful teams work with one another and for one another.
When a bunch of “I”s become a “we”, everyone brings their talents and gifts for the common goal of the team. What is the clear direction of the Church? God is CrossPoint’s team leader - He is the shepherd and His sheep listen to His voice. We must follow the path that He is leading us down and the way we get that direction is by getting into the Word of God. His direction will always look like us choosing second so that He can first and others won’t be last.
On July 4th, Americans celebrate the freedoms that we enjoy in our nation but Christians have a reason to celebrate beyond that - freedom from sin and death. "Who the Son sets free is free indeed" means that we have the freedom to live our lives the way God designed us to live and we can only do that with His help. It also means not living according to the way others live their lives around us. We must be set apart from the world and stand with Christ in order to live in freedom.
In Joshua 23, we read Joshua’s final words to the Israelites. In his speech, he warns his people against complacency and encourages them to remain faithful to God even during times of peace (times when we think we’re good on our own). When we are on the mountain, we can’t forget who helped us out of the valley. Remaining faithful isn’t just about our mindset, but the actions that accompany our thoughts.
In Joshua 7, we find the Israelites after the battle of Jericho. God’s people were told not to touch the sacred things but Achan disobeyed and stole some of them. There is never a more dangerous time for a Christian than on the backside of a victory. We have to change our view of success from doing and getting what we want to getting and doing what God wants for us.
Joshua 6 tells us the story of the Battle of Jericho. Joshua led his troops into Jericho not (at first) with swords and shields but with trumpets. But this whole thing could have possible been avoided if the people of Jericho had repented before the attack. If you are aware that something is not right in your circle of influence, speak up! Not taking action when God is clearly opposed to the situation you are in causes collateral damage. Don’t wait to take action if the spirit is telling you to act - do something!
In Joshua 2, we see that Joshua’s men made a promise and then in Joshua 6, they kept that promise. If you say you will do something, then do it. Our words hold power in that they represent who we are, which represents who God is. If we want people to trust us when it comes to the big things, then they need to be able to trust us with the little things. That means being specific with our language and following through on our promises.
In Joshua chapter 1, Joshua tells the Israelites to prepare for battle. Does that mean they weren’t trusting in God to fight in battle for them? No. Preparedness isn’t a sign of lack of trust in God. Too often Christians take the approach that God will provide as an excuse to skirt responsibility and then we end up in battle without the things necessary to win the fight. Faith is not an excuse for foolishness. We must prepare while we can so that we can be ready when we have to be.
In our new series, we’re going to be taking a look at Joshua from the Old Testament. Staying true to our faith requires us to be strong and courageous. They are important if we are to finish our race and remain true to God, a continual theme of Joshua. God will stand by you while you work towards completing it and he won’t leave you a hostage to the outcome. But in order to have this experience we must exhibit strength and courage.
Even a moment with Jesus can change a person. In Acts 9:1-20, Saul was fundamentally changed from a man who persecuted by the Church to one of its greatest leaders. This teaches us that it doesn’t matter how far you’ve fallen, Jesus can always raise you back up. No matter what your past is, you can still be forgiven and you can still be changed. If you’ve already been changed by Jesus, it’s your job to be the vessel by which Jesus brings change to others - even if you’re a new believer.
In Matthew 28, we get the “Great Commission” from Jesus. What is he commissioning us to do? To spread the good news - that God loves them at died for them. And failure doesn’t look like the world not believing - failure comes when they don’t hear the gospel at all. This isn’t an optional or “when you fee like it” command. It’s something we are to be doing all the time, as we go. But we don’t have to feel alone when we share our faith with others - Christ gives us the assurance that he is always with us.
When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, he proved that powerful and victorious miracles happen and God is in control. But he wasn’t just proving a point - Christ resurrected himself in order to resurrect us and showed power over death in order to empower us. If you know Jesus, you are loved by the Father, you are sent by the Son and you are empowered by the Spirit.
The Old Testament taught God’s people about the coming Messiah and Jesus himself told his followers in person how he would die and rise again... but still they were surprised by the events of the cross and resurrection. Sometimes we are waiting for God to speak to us but often He already has - we just aren’t listening. We don’t need Jesus to do the things Scripture has already deemed appropriate. And not listening is not an excuse for not knowing or inaction.
Mary Magdalene was one of the first to see Jesus after his resurrection. When the disciples felt as though Jesus had abandoned them, Mary held out hope and looked for him. When we lose sight of Jesus, he is still present, calling your name and waiting for you to return to him. And when you do, he wants you to go and find others who have lost sight just like you did and lead them back to him.
The resurrection of Jesus is the most significant supernatural event in human history. On Easter, we celebrate the forgiveness of sins by Jesus’ death on the cross but also the power of God to defeat death and offer life. Life is given to followers of Christ here and now but also after physical death - we know that a new life begins. We have to move from nonsense to knowledge, believing that Jesus rose from the dead and we now have life in Him.
The world is starting to turn around on the human trafficking issue and the Church needs to be at the forefront of that battle. It’s a 150.2 billion dollar industry and it’s not going away on its own. Worth isn’t something that’s wrapped up in an occupation - it is innate, cannot be taken from us and is given to us by God. Our goal should be to restore dignity and give life. That starts with seeing the women trapped in the sex industry not as objects or as dirty sinners but as valued daughters of God who need rescue.
In Matthew 25:33-40, Jesus made it clear - we have an obligation to feed the hungry and help the needy. In fact, he really is saying that feeding people is akin to feeding Jesus. 11% of Americans are “food insecure” and in Missouri, that number is higher: 15%. The church needs to be unselfish for personal gain and be like Jesus: meeting people’s spiritual needs and physical needs. Get to know the Community Kitchen in Republic that is doing just that, and is one of our beloved mission partners.
Jeremiah 1:5 teaches us that life begins before conception ever takes place and that God sets the preconceived apart. Being pro-life is more than being anti-abortion. We need to provide mothers the resources they need to make abortion not seem like their only option and the RPRC does just that. Hear from Mary Jackson, director of the local Pregnancy Resource Center, about how they care for babies, mothers and fathers in our community.
Each week in this series, we’re going to be highlighting a different missions partner that CrossPoint has. The first week, we’re learning about the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, a ministry that started in 1886! Giving care to children and adults in many different ways, we invite you to pray for them as we give them monthly support to see their work continue.
Prayer is not a spiritual luxury, it is essential to spiritual growth. And yet, Christian find themselves only going to God in prayer during the hardest of times. The truth is, though, is that we need prayer more than even God does - it connects us to Him like nothing else. Our private life with Christ is as important as our public life with Christ. Spend some time in prayer this week!
The world today seems to be absent of love, trading it for viciousness and one-upmanship. We’re more prone to prove each other wrong than we are to love each other the way Jesus us taught us to do. The cycle has to be broken at some point and Christ’s people are the ones to do it. Love is what keeps us together and the absence of love is nothing. Watch what you say and how you say it and allow Jesus’ love to be seen through his Church.
Colossians 3:18-4:1 make it very clear how we are to interact with each other within our homes, but also in our workplace. It has instructions for wives, husbands, parents, children, business owners and employees. Though they are challenging, they are Biblical commands and they are God’s design for our lives.
As Christians peace must be the arbitrator of our hearts. While anxiety views life as a test with every decision as another chance to fail, peace views life as a journey with every decision as another adventure and as an opportunity to trust God. Anxiety can be a sign of arrogance, since it can come from a place of self-reliance rather than leaning on God for help. We should instead be peaceful and, therefore, grateful people. Being a person of gratitude is biblical, and it’s the will on God.
Galatians 3:1-14 shows a very clear distinction between what we were, and what we are to be. We were once ruled by our flesh (our earthly desires and sin) but we are now ruled by Christ. So, when we let the flesh win, we are praising the “God of want”, rather than the God we have. Paul’s charge here is to switch our thinking from things that are temporarily important to eternally important. Christ makes us new, it’s time to act like it.
It is way more important as Christ-followers to be known as people of substance rather than people of style. The struggle towards legalism (treating ceremony as morality) is real amongst Christians. But we need to treat the practices that we involve ourselves in as what they are - just a shadow of the real holiness that comes from Jesus. And, most importantly, we have to beware of false teachings as it can end up leading some to worship a false God.
To be dead isn’t a matter of brain activity or blood pumping. True death is to be separated from God. But that death has been interrupted by Christ, the fullness of God in man. Jesus has replaced death with life. And He didn't just conquer death - he made a public spectacle of it and mocked it. Because of this, we are the recipients of a powerful work of God in all of our lives - our record of debt has been cancelled and we are alive!
Christ is the creator of everything we see and everything we can’t see and he is the foremost of all creation. The goal for us is to keep Him at the forefront - ignore idols that would take his place and put Him ahead of all things in life. Christ is our reconciliation - the reason that we have right standing with God. Therefore, we need to stand firm on his teachings.
Jesus had two beginnings and two endings. He was originally the creator of the world and at Christmas He is the light of the world, coming down to earth to dispel the darkness. Why would a Prince leave his Kingdom and be a peasant in a World he helped create and be rejected, despised, spit upon, and crucified? The answer is simple: Love.
This is our traditional Christmas Eve candlelight service - please grab some candles in your home and join us in lighting the way for Jesus at Christmas this year.
In a year filled with despair like we’ve had, it’s easy to lose hope. But we can’t live our lives living in the hurt and the pain, we can’t fail like others have failed. We can’t let what’s happening in the outside world affect what’s going on in our heart. It’s ultimately not about following the rules but following God that leads us to have a healthy relationship with Him. Pursue and encounter Jesus with joy and He will give you hope!
As believers, we must understand that the gospel reaches all people from shepherds to kings. The Wise Men's desire to find and worship the King should cause each of us to consider our own personal worship of the King. Not only does Scripture make it clear that it doesn’t matter what you have to offer God, it also says that it doesn’t matter where you are in your relationship with Him. Ultimately Jesus came for you and he deserves our worship.
Joseph had an immense amount of pressure on him when he found out that his betrothed was pregnant and not by him. He was a man of honor and wanted to divorce her quietly out of his love for Mary. Ultimately, he decided to stay as her husband at great personal cost and sacrifice because the truth of what's really going on is more important than the opinions of others. And, in your life, remember that obeying God is always going to be more important than following your traditions.
When God chose Mary to the mother of God’s Son, her reaction could have been one of fear and trepidation. Instead, she stepped up to the plate and accepted God’s charge for her with boldness and confidence. Sometimes the favor of the Lord shines on us in a way that it feels like it’s storming on us. But God’s word is always true and, when God’s will is made clear in life and we obey, nothing is impossible.
God wants to do the miraculous in your life. He certainly did so in Zechariah’s life. Though he and Elizabeth were past the years for childbearing, they had a son - John the Baptist. The Bible says that God granted this miracle to them because of their righteous living. But, because of Zechariah’s doubt, he was made to be mute until he was born. We must believe, not doubt, and get out of God’s way to see Him move mountains in our lives.
Here is our November "all worship and prayer" service before going into our next series. Worship and pray along with us as you listen!
Jesus said that, as we go, we should be making disciples of the people around us. Though the Church can definitely help, parents are therefore to be the main disciplers of their own children. What is is like to live your life on mission to tell others about Jesus. At CrossPoint, we want to equip your family, equip your students, and equip the church to do just that.
Your political beliefs should never get in the way of someone’s relationship - current or future - with Jesus Christ. Yet, Christians are sometimes known for praising their side of the political debate while insulting the other side. Yet, time changes minds and the things we believe politically today are possibly not what we believed years ago. Politics and nations are temporary but there is an eternal God who wants everyone to know Him. Christians need to think about what is important and eternal instead of focusing on the fleeting.
The original Old Testament law stated “and eye for an eye” so that punishments could not exceed the crime. But Jesus said that just because we can punish sin doesn’t mean that we always should. We deserve death for how we’ve offended God but instead He hands us forgiveness. We should therefore treat others in the same way we have been treated by God. Don’t give of yourself. Give of God.
Our character is not what we think about ourselves but rather how others perceive us. Are you someone that is known for being trustworthy, someone who can be taken at their word? Jesus encourages us to not make oaths and let our yes be yes and our no be no. Understanding the lesson and the purpose of this is imperative to being like Christ and set apart from the world.
What are the grounds for divorce according to the Bible? Biblical scholars agree in some ways and disagree in others, but Paul lays out his understanding of Scripture on the subject. We’re looking at several passages from both the Old Testament and the New Testament to learn what God has to say about when it is okay and not okay to divorce a spouse.
When we state our vows on our wedding day, we are entering a binding Godly contract to provide these things for one another.It’s important to note that just because divorce is an option, it doesn’t mean that it has to be the option. Divorce is the nuclear option.
As seekers of peace, we can’t afford to hate anyone. We aren’t allowed to hold grudges. We can’t afford as followers of Christ to let the wickedness in our hearts, endanger people's view of God. Today we discuss how to be vessels of forgiveness.
We are to settle matters quickly.It’s never too late.We have a responsibility to keep and promote peace.
Jesus came to fulfill the law. The world has this view of loving Jesus who would never tell them no. But he’s not here to make friends, he’s here to create disciples.
Christ is the fulfillment of the law.The law has never wavered.We have to practice what we preach.
We all season the world around us: the only question is will we leave behind a bitter taste with those who cross our path or will people be pleased with our effect on them?Christians have been charged by God to season and shine in positive ways and we need to make an impact. Shining light into the world and being salt is a lot more about our disposition and less about our condition - what will we do about who we are?
Today, we look at why we should be merciful, pure in heart, desire peace, and not be discouraged by persecution. Also, how God makes these traits possible in us, starting with being the one who showed us these blessings to begin with. It may be difficult at times but, if we do these things, we are blessed!
In his first official sermon, Jesus addresses the downtrodden. To remind us that we are not unseen or unheard. We should take comfort in knowing that God loves us, but moreso, he will change our plight. It's also a reminder that we need to remain humble, meek and hungry for righteousness - it is these kinds of disciples that God is looking to bless.
We love doing an "all worship and prayer" service at the end of each sermon series. Here's the one we did on August 30, 2020. Worship and pray along with us as you listen!
Fasting is a very important aspect of our faith but it’s a lost art for many. However, it’s a proven practice and means of petition, especially if we want to see God move in our lives.
Pray with a purpose.Don’t make it a show.Pray with a plan.Watch your face.Fasting is as much about your attitude as the act.Fasting is a declaration that the only thing that you need to sustain you is God himself.
The book of Ezra at one point chronicles the people's confession of sin. It is an example of how we too should confess of our sins as well. This week, we're looking at how we should confess our sins to God.
Plan your progress.How are we going to prevent ourselves from repeating our sin?Take realistic steps when combatting your sin.Prepare for the long haul - realize your sin isn't disappearing in an instant.
The Israelites' intermarriage with pagans is a huge theme in the book of Ezra. However, one would be mistaken to think that the message is to stay within our race or culture when it comes to marriage. Rather it is the purity of our faith that is important.
Our lives are an encouragement to fellow Christians.Keep good company.Stay strong in your convictions.
Ezra shows us how to overcome the repeated sin and the shame that comes along with our sin battle. It starts with naming our sin (being specific), then mourning our sin, surrendering, praying and expressing our shame. And God will take away both sin and shame for everyone who confesses to Him.
Just because something is torn down and damaged, doesn’t mean that it is completely destroyed, especially when God is working in the endeavor. Friendships, Marriages, Occupations, and Attitudes can all be rebuilt with God.
Bold endeavors cannot be successful without unity.We should celebrate the successes.Don’t be discouraged by the imperfections in the process.
This was our "all worship and prayer" service on July 19, 2020 - the kind of service that we like to do at the end of a sermon series at CrossPoint. Worship and pray along with us as you watch this video!
What does the Bible say about what worship should look like? We worship to remove the barrier between ourselves and God. We worship to give God his due. And, when we worship, we should do so with exuberance.
Jesus has healed us and His words are commands. If He says it will be, it will be. He is unshakable and unmovable. His healing is swift and solidified and every word that comes out of His mouth can be trusted as the truth. We have therefore no reason to fear the uncertain times in this world. Even when things seem to be out of control, God is in control.
It doesn’t matter how we define ourselves - we would get it wrong if we tried. But God calls us his children. Jesus has prepared a place for us in his Father's house. We worship because nothing can stand against us. We worship because we are adopted.
We are free.We are opposition proof.We are chosen by God.
God will leave everything behind to chase after you. The God who brought order from chaos isn’t opposed to being reckless if it means bringing one of his lost sheep home. And, better than anything, the condition of the sheep has no bearing on His seeking to find it. "Reckless Love" does a fantastic job of capturing God’s heart for people.
God loved you before your beginning.He loves you with reckless abandon.God is here for the pursuit.
"One Thing" by Charlie Hall is an honest heartfelt cry, the same that David made in Psalm 27:4. Despite anything that may happen in life, may we all desire to dwell with our Lord and gaze on His beauty. We experience this revelation by knowing Jesus and making him known.
"Jesus I Come" is such a powerful song with powerful truths. First and foremost, we need the grace of God more than we could ever hope to express. Our confidence is found in him alone. We find this by coming to the feet of Jesus because Jesus changes everything.
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Being a Christian isn’t an individual pursuit. We have new familial ties when we have Jesus. We have a duty to love, serve, and teach one another through our walk with Christ.
If you want to follow Jesus correctly, then you must do the will of the father.Surround yourselves with a strong supporting cast.
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If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Give’ to 417-815-3602.
To follow Christ is to to sacrifice our own wants for the greater good of the kingdom. In light of the fact that Christ gave his all for us, we should give our all for him.
If we want to save our life, we must lose it.We can gain the world, but lose our souls.Jesus is either first or He isn’t.We either chose second or we don’t.Jesus wants to be very clear: You can’t purchase this.
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If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Give’ to 417-815-3602.
Followers of Christ are supposed to be markedly different. And, more than that, we must be difference makers. Everything we do we must do for the Lord.
The Core 5 traits of a believer: Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Meekness, Patience. As Christians, we should always be bearing with one another and forgiving others when they’ve wronged us.
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If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Give’ to 417-815-3602.
When following Jesus, we receive more than salvation - we receive a renewed purpose. Christ called Simon Peter and His brother Andrew to a life of action by becoming “fishers of men.” And he's calling us to do the same.
Fish for people.How might you serve in order to fulfill this purpose?Take the initiative.
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If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Give’ to 417-815-3602.
Jesus is the ultimate invitation. Do you want to follow Christ? If so, he will welcome you with open arms. But make no doubt about it - there is a cost, a cross of your very own.
You must choose Christ.Take up YOUR cross.There is no middle ground.
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If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Give’ to 417-815-3602.
Rest and restoration are both gifts from God. What many of us need now is rest - we simply need a break from all that is weighing us down. And when all of the madness passes, much of our world will need a rebuild. The good news is that He is good for that too.
Talk about it to God and others.Have a quiet time.Take a Sabbath.
Where we place our hope in times of trouble is of utmost importance. God is the source of a brighter future and He is where we must place our hope. When we do this, we can be a source of hope for others.
Rely on past hopes fulfilled.Put some respect on his name.Hope doesn’t have an expiration date.
Time after time, God delivers his people from their disaster. It may not always be in our ideal time period, or through ideal means, but in the end the victory is His.
What Jesus can do is beyond comprehension.God’s deliverance doesn’t always come in the way we hope it will.We have a guaranteed deliverance with Christ.
Fear must never stop us from moving forward - we can carry through the darkest of times because of our faith in God. However, having faith doesn’t mean we don't have fears along the way - it just means that our faith rules over our fears. Faith is knowing that God will work in situations that you can’t handle on your own, He will use all seasons for your good, and that nothing will separate us from the love of God.
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The pandemic is a lot to deal with. Right now, we all feel out of control and are unsure about so many things. But peace is ours for the taking, won by our God and provided freely to those who seek it. The question for today is this: is the God of the Old Testament and New Testament the same God who exists today? If so, He is still in control - just as He was then.
Accept that God is in control.Know that God truly cares for you.Find things to be thankful for.
If you are married, the chances you have or will have children are high. Our children aren’t our own, but God’s, and we must raise them in the way they should go. So, teach your children to follow God's wisdom, seek the wisdom of others and be willing to discuss your relationship with your adult children.
It’s okay to be single. In fact, Paul the Apostle wrote in the Bible that he thought some should choose to stay that way if they could. Marriage isn't easy and we shouldn't dive into it without considering the implications of it. Being single is a gift. It clears the way for our most relationship - our relationship with God. Married people should not necessarily stress that singles get married and instead realize that there are some who may never get married.
God has made men and women differently. We are equals, but that doesn't mean we are the same. One of the major differences is that women feel a strong desire to be loved and men feel a strong desire to be respected. Our job is to understand the perspective of our spouse and respect those differences. Otherwise, the The Crazy Cycle occurs - men withhold love from their wives because they feel disrespected and women withhold respect from their husbands because they feel unloved.
A healthy sex life is an important piece of a healthy marriage. We have to have a healthy view of sex and its place in marriage, so that we use sex as a uniting force. If we don’t, we will be divided by it. Pornography has no place since sex doesn't belong outside the confines of marriage. Sex is not a bargaining chip - it is the doorway to intimacy.
Conflict happens, but it has to be a positive tool used for growth in our marriages. When conflict arises, we cannot shutdown. Anger will happen but, when it does, refuse to sin in your anger. We must understand the fundamental differences between us and our spouses and love our spouses the way they need to be loved.
Conflict happens. If you are married you will fight. If you aren’t fighting, you are hiding from one another. We must speak to our spouses and use conflict as a positive tool. If we unite against the issues and fight fair, we will grow together. This means having the right attitude, going to your spouse first (before others) and listening.
There is a portion of our population, both Christian and Non-Christian, who are too flippant about marriage. This group sets their spouse up for failure, because it was never about unity, partnership, or intimacy. Others are too dependent on their marriage for the wrong reasons - they rely on their spouse to deliver joy, happiness and purpose. We are designed to be in healthy relationship with one another, and this is especially true of marriage. God gave us 3 gifts that we enjoy in marriage - intimacy, passion and commitment.
We want CrossPoint Fellowship to be a church that prays. To accomplish this goal, we must be intentional about prayer and have purpose behind our words. We should pray for specific things - for healing, protection, good outcomes for our enemies, with thanksgiving, for forgiveness, with confession, supplication and for guidance.
We need to be more intentional about growing spiritually. We have small groups during the week and, of course, Sunday morning worship. Regular attendance is important not so we can check something off our list but because we love to grow in our relationship with Christ and those things help us do that. Reading God's Word every day is another important contributor to spiritual growth. And spiritual growth, ultimately, is a sign of a healthy connection to God and a healthy church.
The next step for our church is to be on mission. Not just a few of us - all of us. We can be missional both inside and outside our church. The only thing we can’t do is nothing. What will you do for others to show the love of Christ this week?
At CrossPoint, we have seen great improvements over the last year, but it’s time that we take the next step forward in forming our identity. We have talked a lot about love recently - specifically, how it’s the most important command that Christ has given us. It only makes sense that love be our most important focus and goal of our ministry. Everything we do must be born from a loving heart.
In the end, it’s all about love. It’s why his Father sent Jesus to Earth - to show His love for humanity. And now God is calling us to love sacrificially in the same way He did - our love to others is our greatest witness. But will we choose to love the most unlovable around us?
Joy is what we experience when hope is realized. For many, Jesus brought about joy from a realization that they didn’t know was needed.
This is a short message given at CrossPoint following a children's Christmas program. We'll be back next week with a full-length message!
Peace is the gift brought by Jesus for all mankind. We can find peace and Jesus regardless of the circumstance.
Fear is one of the biggest roadblocks to being Christ to our neighbors. We must be bold and take bold steps to be the neighbors that we want to be. Fear causes us to close doors on the world around us, but we have to be willing to tear down walls.
Quality is more important than quantity. While Mary worshipped at Jesus' feet, Martha was hard at work around the house. While Martha was mad about what Mary was doing, Jesus actually said that what Mary was doing was a better use of time. Even doing something necessary can be a misappropriation of your time. Sometimes we can get so busy with our checklist that we end up missing the people around us. In the end, it’s about one thing - being like Jesus.
Today, we look at one of Jesus' most well-known stories - The Good Samaritan. God has placed you at a certain place, in a certain time, to serve certain people that are around you. Christians must take the great commandment seriously. But how well do we really know the people around us - our neighbors, coworkers and other acquaintances?
Paul had a thorn in his side and he said that God decided not to remove it. We can identify with that - sometimes we have burdens in our lives that, for whatever reason, God will not take away from us. But be proud of how Christ has made you! Accept your thorn, boast in your weaknesses. Your humility because of your thorn is a gift - own it. Because we know that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Paul and Silas were in Rome, preaching the Gospel, even though it was against the law for them to do so. Like them, we must do what's right - even if we will be punished for it. Paul could have avoided jail at any time by staying quiet but he didn't. We need to defend the gospel at all times no matter what the consequences. To be like Paul is to be selfless, putting the needs of others above our own desires.
Is our acceptance of new Christ followers conditional? When Saul became a follower of Christ, God asked Ananias to come and pray over him so that he could regain his sight. Understandably, he was more than a little nervous to even be in the same room as this well-known serial killer of Christians. Is there a limit to the kind of person you would disciple? God calls us all to welcome everyone into the inheritance of Christ's family, no matter what they've done.
When Paul came face to face with Jesus, his life was radically changed. Afterwards, he needed other Christians to gather around him and encourage him. After we become Christians, we need Christian friends. We can’t afford to isolate new Christians from the body of Christ. And we definitely have no right to doubt what God has done in the hearts of others.
Having "a past" is inevitable - everybody has one. But you don't have to let your past define your future. The Apostle Paul didn't - he was party to the murder of Christians before he became one and called himself the "chief of sinners". No matter how rough your past is, you're not beyond grace, forgiveness and freedom. Paul showed us that we, ultimately, are the author of our story.
Don’t let your measuring stick get in the way of grace. The Jews back during the early days of the Church had a measuring stick centered around circumcision. They believed you had to do this step in order to receive grace. But God says there’s nothing we have to do to be under grace - it’s all about what he has done on the cross. It’s not about works, it’s about the heart. And now that we are under grace, we have been made new creations - the old has gone, the new has come!
Continuing from last week, grace requires that we not just share one another’s burdens but also share the good we have to offer. It’s our job as Christian to put good out into the world - this is the kind of sacrifice that pleases God. Each of us will reap what we sow - if we sow grace into others’ lives, we will reap the same. Choose good!
Grace ultimately is an action. It’s our job as believers to restore those caught in sin - gently. With grace, not judgment. But if we hold our tongues, we can’t extend grace. If we aren’t willing to share one another’s burdens, we can’t extend grace. We have to act.
Pursuing pleasure will leave you empty and separate from the King. In Galatians 5:19-26, the apostle Paul breaks down some sin categories and what the results of those sins are. But the good news is this: coming in contact with grace changes our pursuit and our behavior changes.
God has given us the gift of grace but it's not to be kept to ourselves - we've been shown grace to share grace. Just like grace gave the apostle Paul a purpose in life, so it does for us as well. We ought to give grace to people around us to the same degree that we would like to receive it, knowing that the absence of grace is destruction.
Because of God’s grace, we have freedom! God calls us to freedom, not slavery to the law. Therefore, legalism has no place in Christianity and we don’t have to prove ourselves to God every day. Some Christians unnecessarily cut themselves (metaphorically speaking - like circumcision in Galatians), thinking that will purify their sins more than God already has. But we all need to grasp grace and realize that it has set us free from works.
We have to ask God to get involved if we want to see Him move. That means regular prayer. Pray for the people who are building the Kingdom. Pray for those for whom we are building the Kingdom. We have to be devoted to prayer if we want to see the Kingdom grow.
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If we want to build the Kingdom, we need to teach others about the King. When we get excited about our story (what God has done for us) we can’t help but share it. When people hear about Jesus, they may want to come and see him with their own eyes. But we have to be bold or they may never get the opportunity to hear about him.
God owns everything in the world and we need to treat every blessing that we have as something he ultimately has possession of. That mindset leads to the idea of giving the King what he's due, which helps the Kingdom grow. Yes, there is a monetary aspect to this, but it is much deeper than that. We have a responsibility to give God all that he deserves - that includes our time, our talents, our thoughts and more.
God has transformed us and that includes our minds. Now we must change how we think - from the things we desire to what God desires. That starts with brining more of God’s Word into our lives and this think on Him more. Because when we focus on what God wants, the Kingdom grows.
Real kingdom growth comes only from a faith built in truth. That faith comes from repentance. Repentance is mandatory and is God’s ultimate purpose for us. We must call on people to repent of their sins.
We can’t hope to build the kingdom on our own, we must follow the will of God in order to see growth. It’s not enough to know Jesus - we must follow his will as well. Submitting to the will of God shows the world that we are different. The will of God will put us on the right path.
Life is best lived when there is a goal in mind. There is no need to impress or achieve in order to gain the favor of God the Father or Christ the Son. Our standing is perfected, secured, and solidified. If we live out our purpose, run the race and fix our eyes on Jesus we will achieve the goal.
Always having to fight is so tiring. Being anxious and depressed is draining and leads lots to seek a way out. But we can rest in the God, who works on our behalf and wants good things for us.
Christ is with us. The biggest fear of a Christian being separated from God. In the midst of my struggles I felt like I was separated from everyone and everything, but mainly God, and knowing God, but feeling like he isn’t with you is devastating, but we are not alone.
One of my biggest struggles is feeling like I needed to earn God’s love. My being depressed and anxious somehow meant that God was unhappy with me or that I wasn’t in his favor. But we are made new creations in Christ and accepted by God.
There is a misconception that Christians shouldn’t struggle with depression or anxiety. Yet, we see main characters all throughout the bible who felt such despair that they thirsted for death.
Reading our Bible on a regular basis isn't just something to check off our list. It helps us build a foundation in our lives built on purpose. We can be confident that Scripture is the very Word of God. And we won't become everything God wants us to be without listening to his Word - in fact, we need Scripture to become mature believers.
The Gospel isn’t just the Good news, it’s the best news. The Church should never be ashamed of what we have been gifted. Rather we should take every opportunity to share and celebrate the gift we have graciously been given.
This is a specific instruction to Timothy himself. But it applies to all of us, we all have a gift, we all experience the moving of the Spirit. It is sinful to sit and let Church pass you by. The abled bodied do the work that those who aren’t physically able can’t. We should all lead in the area we can.
A successful church prays. We must pray and do so purposely. Our success is determined by our connection to God. Prayer is that means of connection.
As Christians we have the power of the truth. As the old superhero adage goes, with great power comes great responsibility. How we yield the truth is of ultimate importance. Our actions, and discourse must always come from love.
Christ is coming back again, this time with a purpose. He will heal creation and claim his own - will we be ready?
Christ died for us so that we would not feel the sting of sin. He rose himself from the dead so we may experience life. We cannot underestimate the power of his rising.
The Old Testament told us that the Messiah’s side would be pierced, and that he would suffer for the sins of the world. Christ death encompassed those prophecies. He died a heinous death because he loved us greatly.
Expectations minus reality equals disappointment. We get frustrated when things don't go the way we planned them to. When Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, many people expected Jesus to be a very specific kind of Messiah - one that would free the Jews from their Roman oppressors. When he ended up being very different than their expectations, they were extremely disappointed, even to the point of crying out for his crucifixion. What do we do and how do we react when our false expectations of God lead us to disappointment?
When God makes promises, those promises are kept. One of the biggest promises made in the Old Testament is that when the Messiah would come, he would be born of a virgin. When Jesus came, he had to come in the promised way - and he did. But further than that, the promise of the virgin birth means that we can born again too. God's promises always come true!
Mary, Martha's sister had such devotion and desire to put Jesus first, she was willing to sacrifice a year's worth of wages to anoint Jesus' head and feet with an extremely expensive bottle of perfume. From this amazing story, Mary shows us that nothing should distract us from Jesus and that we can't let ourselves be discouraged by the negative attitude of others around us. Where does your relationship with Jesus fall in order of importance in your life?
Hannah in the Old Testament wasn't able to have children while Ephraim's other wife was able to. But when she was in her darkest hour, she leaned on God and refused to be discouraged. She proved that devoted prayer can be powerful. What's more, she was a woman of her word - when she finally did have a child, she gave him away because that was what she promised to God. Integrity isn't optional for those who follow Christ.
Ruth is a fantastic example of loyalty in the Bible; in several ways, she shows us what loyalty is. We are a people who leave. We have let loyalty in our lives slip and when things get tough, we separate from others. But in Ruth, we see an example of someone who stuck through circumstances no matter what. And she was rewarded for her loyalty! We can expect that the same may happen for us as well.
In this 5-week series, we're looking at the stories of 5 prominent women in the Bible to see what we all can learn from them and we're starting out looking at Esther! Esther did what is right at the risk of being wronged and shows us exactly what it looks like to make righteous and courageous decisions. God honors the actions of his chosen people (when they are following Him) but he can't honor actions you never had the courage to take!
God had a great plan for Abraham that involved having a son with his wife Sarah. But instead, Abraham took matters into his own hands and tried to execute it a different way. When we do evangelism our way instead of God's way, we cheapen God's value and may even be introducing people to a false god. We need to introduce them to a God who judges but who also extends grace. And it starts with being honest about sin (and God's saving grace) in our own lives.
There's an amazing story in Genesis where Abraham fights for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and essentially negotiates with God to spare their lives. We need to likewise fight for the people in our lives who don't yet know God, whether they aware of it or not. Most of the time, this means foregoing the masses and focusing on the few, seeing them the way that God saw us. Lost, alone and in need of rescue.
Sometimes it's hard to talk to people about serious topics and we all have days where we'd rather just be left alone. But God never promised we'd always be comfortable and, indeed, calls us to leave our comfort zone from time to time. But God does promise to bless those who accept the call and speak to others about Him.
The ideas of Evangelism and Multiplication are closely linked. In the same way that God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply (physically), he wants us to multiply others by bringing them to Christ. But, in order to do that, we have to be connected to Christ ourselves - that is the only way we can fulfill this command from God. And we are expected to fulfill it - our life on the vine is determined by how much fruit we produce.
All human beings have intrinsic value - we know that because the Bible says that God created us in the likeness and image of God. This means that, in some ways, we can be like God. But what does that mean? What is God like? He wants to be in relationship with his creation and is willing to go to great lengths to see that accomplished. Therefore, we need to be doing the same thing - bringing people back to God.
At this time of year, many of us think about the promise of Christmas: hope, peace, joy and love. But where do these ideas come from in Scripture? We're looking at the first 2 chapters in Luke this week to see these themes in the Christmas story.
Christianity is for everyone. There is no division amongst believers whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. We all serve the same Lord and everyone is included in God's invitation. In the same way, ministry is for everyone. It isn't reserved for pastors and evangelists - everyone is included in the call to share the gospel message with those who have not yet heard.
Do you love unconditionally or are there certain conditions that must be present before you can love certain people. Genuine love shows itself in the way we treat others, not in the words that we say. If we want to truly love others - genuinely - we need to focus on what is good and let the future hope that we have dictate our present actions.
We have suffering in the present, but that doesn't mean that destruction awaits in the future. We can still praise God in the middle of suffering because we know it pales in comparison to the glory of heaven we'll receive later. God chose us for this purpose. And he will see us through the suffering by his love.
In Romans 8, we learn that the Spirit gives us life and sets us free. After becoming a Christian, a person has two choices - to be led by the Spirit or to be led by the flesh. If we live in the Spirit, we can enjoy life and please God, but if we live in the flesh, we cannot do those things. We must learn to choose the Spirit.
The Law was supposed to bring life but, because of our sin, instead brings condemnation. But the Law is ultimately good because it points out our need for grace. We know the good we want to do but we don't do it. Instead, we do the evil we don't want to do. But thank God for sending his son Jesus to rescue and deliver us! He is our only hope.
When we become a Christian, we don't become perfect overnight but we are still dead to sin in that moment. In Romans 6, Paul says that we don't intentionally sin to experience God's grace but rather we feel God's grace when we feel our previously sinful lives changing. When we died (to sin) with Christ, it means we also live with Christ, and He gives us the power to go and sin no more.
In order to be righteous, do we need to follow all the rules or live by faith? Today, we're looking to define what faith is, why faith is actually a gift to us from God and how to find a healthy balance between faith and the rules.
We're on a journey, following Jesus. The destination is known - we know exactly where we're going as long as we tether close to the one navigating the way. But we will get off course if we spend our time comparing our sin / righteousness to others around us. We need to see others as equals, leave the judgment to God and focus on our own path to righteousness.
Two weeks ago I was called to be the pastor of CrossPoint Fellowship. As I have stated previously it is one of the greatest honors ever bestowed upon me. I believe in this church, I believe in these people, but most importantly I believe wholeheartedly in the God I serve. It is my belief that to be the church God desires us to be we must do three things: Love, Serve, and Pray.
After Jesus rose from the dead, it would have been easy to come down hard on his disciples who ran and fled. Instead, we seeing Jesus being extremely compassionate, forgiving and reassuring after his return from death. In this final sermon in the "Who's He?" Series, we're looking at Jesus, the conqueror of death and the bringer of peace.
If you asked Jesus what his mission to Earth was all about, likely he would say that it was to be the world's Savior. We'll look at a couple stories from the book of John today that show Jesus doing the Savior role even before he went to the cross. He loved to find people whom the world had rejected and save them from themselves, save them from others and, ultimately, save them from their sin.
Jesus wasn't shy about telling people that He was the promised Messiah - in fact, he told everyone that he was the only way to God and the rest of the New Testament confirms that. This week, we're looking at Scriptures that tell us how wonderful heaven is, what Jesus sacrificed to offer it to us and that Jesus is indeed the only Way to achieve this perfect treasure promised to us.
Last week, we talked about how Jesus was 100% man when he was here on Earth, and this week we talk about the mystery that Jesus is also 100% God. How do we know that he is God? It wasn't just Jesus claiming that he is God - Scripture and God himself confirm it. What does it mean that Jesus was and is and will forever be God himself?
Because he was human, Jesus can empathize with us. Because he was human, Jesus knows what it's like to not have all the answers, but still submit to the will of God. Because Jesus was human, he knows what it's like to deny himself. All because he chose to become 100% man.
Members of a team have to give of themselves in order for that team to be successful. It's important that we willing to sacrifice our time, our talents and our treasure for the good of the group.
It's proven that employees that are recognized are more like to stick with a company and give their all to support it. It's no different in teams within the church. Recognizing the efforts of others is a great way to pay our debt to them, build the team's spirit and let them know exactly where they stand.
Communication is key in any relationship and is definitely important in a team. We're looking at 3 roadblocks to communication that any team needs to steer clear of. We must avoid presumption (assuming that everyone already knows the goal at hand), being impatient, and pride in order for communication within our teams to be successful.
Affirmation can be a powerful way to confirm someone's position in your team, encourage them to be dedicated to the task and breed a culture of "pay-it-forwardness" where people are affirming one another. Who can you encourage this week?
When we find ourselves on teams in life, we have to be loyal, consistent and show the people on our team that we can trust them if we want them to trust us. Any successful team establishes trust amongst the individual members. How can you inspire trust on the teams that you're on?
Successful teams are diverse but also inclusive. For our team (Christ's body) to be successful, we must accept our varied roles to serve the other parts. We need each other and we are in this together - we are many parts of the body, but we are altogether one. How can you make your team better?
Every team is made up of individuals who fill certain positions so that the team as a whole can find success. What spiritual gift has God given you and how can you use it to strengthen the team God has placed you in? How can you serve others to help achieve the collective goal?
Whether we are the ones doing the gossiping or the ones listening to the gossip or the ones being gossiped about, it's bad for everybody involved. How wonderful this world would be if we judged people by their own character and not what others have to say about them. We are better together when we refuse to tear others down with gossip.
A true friend will not ignore the weaknesses in your character but will rather point them out in love so that we can be better people. How can you be a loving friend who is both open to rebuke and also willing to give it to sharpen another?
We as Christians should be slow to anger because anger leads to foolishness, is divisive, and gives way to sin. We are better together, so how can we be like Christ and learn to keep from having a quick temper and instead forgive one another and not hold a grudge?
A dependable person is all to rare in our world today. A true friend doesn't falter or fail - they are a constant for their friends. Are you there when your friends need you as often as you expect them to be there for you? We are better together when we are unwavering in our love for each other.
We can spread ourselves too thin, trying to gather up so many friends that we aren't truly close to any of them. Friendship requires us to be genuine and go deep with another. However, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother - what a friend we have in Jesus!
This Christian life was never meant to be lived on our own. We need to seek out the righteous around us so that they can lift us up when we fall. The key to staying on the right path is building a firm foundation and then living like we are all in this together.
The Bible says that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. We have to get rid of our "they're wrong" complex about others and instead look to sharpen them (as they sharpen others). Who or what is sharpening you in your life? Are you a sharpener?
God will sometimes ask us to jump out in faith. Hebrews 11 records a list of people from days of old who have done just that. Faith isn't an easy choice, but it's one that God asks us to make even though it's uncomfortable. And God promises that our steps of faith will be rewarded.
In the Old Testament, God was separated from his people, even, to an extent, the high priest. But with Jesus, the separation has been removed and we - all of us - can come to him in confidence. But we shouldn't do it as individuals; we need to walk together.
In the Old Testament, the law was perfect but got perverted over time by religious leaders. In the New Testament, we see Jesus bringing love back to the law and changing the co-existence partnership with Israel into a love relationship with the world.
Relationship growth needs to happen even in a relationship with Jesus. Salvation is more than a "get of our jail free" card - we need to be growing in our knowledge and in our love of Him every day.
God rested on the 7th day after creation, but not because he had to. It was to make an example for us to follow because he knew we would need it. And it's not a suggestion - taking a regular rest from your labor is a command.
God took on flesh and became human in the form of Jesus Christ. Because of that, He knows what it's like to go through temptation. He gets it because he's been there, done that.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he restores us.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he gives us new life.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he gives us Light in the darkness.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he gives us a Good Shepherd.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he gives us Resurrection.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he gives us Resurrection.
Rivers of Life show up from the first pages of the Bible to the last. So what Jesus told the woman at the well isn't anything new.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he gives us Living Water.
The Spirit searches the depths of God's wisdom and then gives freely to those who believe.
Jesus's expected Nicodemus to understand what he was saying because it was in the Scriptures that Nicodemus knew so well. What breadcrumbs are in the Old Testament to show us the New Life Jesus gives?
Jesus is Giver of Eternal Life. This is "Episode 0" in this new series seeing how Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life, what is Eternal Life and what it does in our life right now.
Ever wonder how to pray? Psalms are everyday prayers that teach us how to go through the ups and downs of life, be real and still have faith. This Psalm teaches us how to pursue the surrendering our spirit into God's hands.
Ever wonder how to pray? Psalms are everyday prayers that teach us how to go through the ups and downs of life, be real and still have faith. This Psalm teaches us how to pursue the grace God gives.
Ever wonder how to pray? Psalms are everyday prayers that teach us how to go through the ups and downs of life, be real and still have faith. This Psalm teaches us how to seek dominion over the sin in our lives.
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Ever wonder how to pray? Psalms are everyday prayers that teach us how to go through the ups and downs of life, be real and still have faith. This Psalm teaches us how to pray for Light to come in the darkness.
Ever wonder how to pray? Psalms are everyday prayers that teach us how to go through the ups and downs of life, be real and still have faith. This Psalm teaches us how to pray for refuge.
Ever wonder how to pray? Psalms are everyday prayers that teach us how to go through the ups and downs of life, be real and still have faith.
Christmas is about the Baby God. Why is this Baby God? What should we do about this Baby God? And why does this Baby God matter? This week we see how the Baby God was confirmed after his birth and how that should impact our lives.
Christmas is about the Baby God. Why is this Baby God? What should we do about this Baby God? And why does this Baby God matter? This week we see how others confirmed the Baby inside Mary is the Baby God and how we must serve him without fear and with joy.
Christmas is about the Baby God. Why is this Baby God? What should we do about this Baby God? And why does this Baby God matter? This week is taking a look at how conception means Jesus is the Baby God.
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Christmas is about the Baby God. Why is this Baby God? What should we do about this Baby God? And why does this Baby God matter? First week is taking a look at the prophecies about this Baby God.
God showed himself to be the King of kings. And he used Daniel & his 3 friends to prove it to the kings of the world superpowers. Today, God shows himself as the King who loves us.
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God showed himself to be the King of kings. And he used Daniel & his 3 friends to prove it to the kings of the world superpowers. Today, God shows himself as the King who saves us.
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God showed himself to be the King of kings. And he used Daniel & his 3 friends to prove it to the kings of the world superpowers. Today, God shows himself as the King who is jealous over us.
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God showed himself to be the King of kings. And he used Daniel & his 3 friends to prove it to the kings of the world superpowers. Today, God shows himself as the King who is the greatest.
God showed himself to be the King of kings. And he used Daniel & his 3 friends to prove it to the kings of the world superpowers. Today, God shows himself as the King who does the impossible.
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God showed himself to be the King of kings. And he used Daniel & his 3 friends to prove it to the kings of the world superpowers. Today, God shows himself as the eternal King over all kingdoms.
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God showed himself to be the King of kings. And he used Daniel & his 3 friends to prove it to the kings of the world superpowers. Today, God shows himself as the strength of his people.
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God is our Good, Good Father. He does this by moving Heaven & Earth to accomplish his promises & Kingdom purposes.
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God is our Good, Good Father. He does this by disciplining us to sacrifice now for a greater gain later.
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God is our Good, Good Father. He does this by using his power to fight for his children and adopt new children into his family.
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God is our Good, Good Father. He does this by being our Leader.
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God is our Good, Good Father. He does this by being reliable.
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God is our Good, Good Father. He does this by securing us in the times of our insecurity.
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God gave us two outward signs of the inward grace given to us. One is baptism. This is us commemorating our death for Jesus' Life.
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God gave us two outward signs of the inward grace given to us. One is communion. This is the remembering of Jesus' death for our Life.
Who are the leaders of the church?
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What is the role of leadership in the church?
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We're to serve. But there is a way to make the most impact while serving.
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The second function of the church is to be here to serve. Who exactly are we to serve? Yeah, easy to say everyone. But really, who?
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The first function of the church is to find lost things.
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Jesus gives us how to solve conflict the Un-Civil War way.
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The strong are to strengthen the weak instead of using their strength to suppress the weak.
Forgive when offended. Simple statement. Difficult application. Why should we forgive and how does forgiveness contribute to the "Un-Civil War"?
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Community is built when we bear each others' burdens. But burdens aren't just difficulties. Burdens are our sins. What are you doing to bear someone else's burdens...and having someone else bear yours?
Un-Civil War means that we have relationships that challenge us. What will happen if we have this type of relationship?
God is the God of all comfort. But he doesn't comfort us for our own good. How do we use comfort in an Un-Civil War?
We live in a free society. But we use our freedoms to look out for ourselves and cause "Civil War." How do we use our freedom to cause an "Un-Civil War?"
Our culture thinks significance is a limited resource. Thus, we fight for significance. What if significance is an unlimited resource and we can produce it?
Inside the church, there are different types of people, but we're all on the same mission. How does a diverse group accomplish what it needs to?
Jesus is Supreme Leader over death. Death is the culmination of sin, secrets and religion. How did Jesus defeat death...and why does it matter today?
Jesus is Supreme Leader over sin because he defeated sin. So how does he treat sinners? Of whom, we all are.
Jesus is Supreme Leader over religion. Religion is us trying to fix our sin problem. But Jesus gives us something immeasurably more.
There is always a mountain in the way of immeasurably more. But the Creator is Leader over the mountains as well.
Paul said Jesus is the Leader over creation. That's a nice thought. But did he prove it while he was on the earth? And what is the immeasurably more for our life because of this?
Great fictional epics have a supreme leader who has to be defeated. Our lives are no different.
Who is that Supreme Leader? How has Jesus made himself the real Supreme Leader?
Study and practice gets us better at walking the tightrope of money. What practices are we to do in order to get better?
Is the tithing thing just for the Old Testament? What do we see for giving and church finances in the New Testament?
The foundation of being generous was started through the Old Testament principle of tithing. Does this principle still help us today?
Worship is easy on the mountain but we should trust God's promises and continue to worship in the valley.
Worship is a lifestyle. It will include singing.
But what about the "Service" or "Worship Service" or "Going to church"? What do we do with that?
So worship is more than a song, but we make singing a big deal.
Should we?
Find the Bible App Event at http://bible.com/events/149024
God gave Mary & Joseph a message that allowed them to be secure in the community they had with each other.
How can this message be used today to allow us to not fear and find security in community?
Find the Bible App event here: http://bible.com/events/142157
Everyone experience rejection.
Join in on the stories of several people surrounding Jesus' birth who faced rejection.
Jesus was rejected so we can be accepted.
And The Gathering is built upon this acceptance.
Find more at http://bible.com/events/131601
God gives us the commands, not as a burden or a way to kill our joy, but as a clear way to pursue righteousness. The righteousness that God writes on our hearts.
When we disciple the next generation, we cannot forget the Lord.
But going to church isn't enough. What is?
Following the rules isn't enough. If we love God, then following the rules comes natural. As parents, we need to teach a love of God, not just following the rules.
The mission must be Spirit led.
But what exactly does that look like?
Sermon Notes & Scripture from Bible App
The mission is one where everyone has a place. And the more that serve, the more who can come.
A mission must be accomplished together.
How can we build ourselves stronger for the mission?
Mission = Vision with flesh on.
The church started with a bang! How did it get started in a way that made God's vision visible for people?
Even in the Old Testament, God gave a vision for his Church.
And God's vision for his Church isn't all about his Church.
Solomon saw living in righteousness didn't extend your life.
So what's the point? And how are we supposed to live?
Solomon tried to make his life better through justice.
But it all left him feeling like he chased after the wind.
Why?
Solomon tried to make his life better through vows.
But it all left him feeling like he chased after the wind.
Why?
Solomon tried to find satisfaction in money.
But it all left him feeling like he chased after the wind.
Why?
Solomon tried to find satisfaction in work.
But it all left him feeling like he chased after the wind.
Why?
Wisdom leaves us with sorrow & hating life.
Foolishness leaves us without purpose.
So what are we to do?
Renegades are those who buck cultural and religious traditions.
And they do it over there.
Paul was someone who thought he was doing God a favor...but God knocked him off his donkey and showed him a work "over there" that was beyond anyone's imagination.
Renegades are those who buck cultural and religious traditions.
And they do it right here.
Peter was called to those close to him. Yet he was a guy who didn't get it all right. Impacting those right here is vital for the Kingdom...and God uses those who still can't get it all right!
Renegades are those who buck cultural and religious traditions.
So they have to have a vision that leads to action.
Nehemiah was such a Renegade. See how God gave him a vision that led him to action.
Renegades are those who buck cultural and religious traditions.
So they have to engage God's Word so they can be strengthened and grow in faith.
Ezra was someone who used God's Word to give Life.
Renegades are those who buck cultural and religious traditions.
So they have to pray because this is way beyond them.
Daniel & his friend were very normal people who followed God through prayer.
Renegades are those who buck cultural and religious traditions.
So they have to Hear & Follow Jesus.
Ruth & Boaz were very normal people who followed God in the simple, small details.
Renegades are those who buck cultural and religious traditions.
So they have to be courageous.
Gideon was anything but courages. You probably feel the same way. So how can you be courageous...when you're not?
What's God's End Game? Can he be trusted?
His End Game is to Revive us to love him and love people.
God restores the relationship. But how does the relationship stay restored?
God showers righteousness on us.
To be free from sin, we must be restored back to God. The story of Hosea & Gomer shows us God's willingness to restore us back into a relationship.
To find freedom from sin, we must find redemption. God paid the ransom price for our sin so we can be redeemed.
To be free from sin, we must recognize the sin in our life. And don't worry, God knows it is there and wants to do something about it.
How can ladies help bring out the image of God in guys? Hand them a scepter. Pull out the kingly nature God has put in them.
God has shared his image with guys. What parts of his image? And what does that mean for guys?
Conflict is inevitable in life and in marriage. The success of our marriage isn't about not having conflict...it is about taking up our towel in conflict.
The image of airbrushed perfection is all around. How can we as guys help our gals ignore this message and serve her image?
Ingredient #3 to a growing marriage: Make Up.
Image issues, especially for ladies, is nothing new. What does God want you to know in your heart when navigating the airbrushed perfect?
The Song of Solomon warns us to not awaken love before the due time. But how can we actually live that way? Especially if we've already awakened love?
The first ingredient to a growing marriage is a wall of defense. Our bodies are glorious gardens designed to be delightful gifts. How are we protecting our garden?
Jonah placed his bum square in the sand waiting for a laser-light show of judgement to come on the people.
And he was angry & joyful over the way wrong things.
How can we make sure our anger & joy are rightly placed?
Jonah finally went and perhaps the most dramatic revival of all time occurred.
Can we experience the same thing today?
How do you know if you're not living 2nd to God?
Listen to see how God gives us a second chance to put himself back on the throne of our lives.
Advent came to the powerful & rich too. What is the message of advent for the rich & powerful?
The shepherds went from Non-Fans to worshipping Fans. What did it look like for them to worship?
The shepherds that found Jesus weren't the cuddly sort that we depict in Christmas pageants. They're what would be produced if Wolf of Wall Street & Dirty Jobs hooked up.
So what's God doing showing up to them?
Christmas season is about expectation & anticipation. But what really is our anticipation? The 5 pillars of advent show us what we expect out of life.
Being On Display means we are fully engaged. What does it look like to be On Display in our everyday life?
That pesky sin just don't go away. How do we live a life On Display while sin still wants to crawl into our life?
If we want to be On display, we must identify fully with Jesus. But how can that happen?
If we are to be On Display for Jesus, we need to know who Jesus is. He is the fullness of God's power, God's leadership and God's reconciling grace.
Now that our house is rebuilt after we've destroyed it by fire, what are we to do with our rebuilt house?
When our house is rebuilt, we need to now turn & rescue others from their burning house.
How do we do that? Remain in loving others.
Jesus told us to remain in him.
Then he told us that we can produce zero God fruit without him.
Now he tells us how to remain in him.
Jesus makes a bold statement that we are and can do nothing without him. Does he really know what he's talking about?
Kingdom giving is so much more than putting our money in the plate each week.
What does it look like when Kingdom followers realize that God has given everything for them and then want to give everything they have for Him?
What's the difference between leadership & Kingdom leadership?
And what one thing above all else do Kingdom leaders want?
When we get direct access to God, will we like it?
Through the blood of the Lamb, we have a feast with God.
We've viewed "Men of God" of having a more direct access than mere mortals.
But that isn't what God wants.
God's vision is for all to find direct access to him.
God is Present. God Provides.
But there has to be more for 1-2 million people to organize into a nation.
God gave Moses strategic wisdom on how to grow people...and it came from the most unlikely of people.
Immanuel isn't just a Jesus & Christmas concept. God has proven he is Immanuel for all time.
Jesus wants us to lose our religion. But we are gaining the Kingdom. What does that mean?
We have machismo to compensate for something. For religious machismo, we're compensating for our weak faith.
Jesus would rather have us rough around the edges & being transformed on the outside. That's better than looking good, but stinking on the outside.
The religious were good at giving. REAL good. But it isn't about giving. It is about giving up.
Religion can be used to lie. Shocker, right? Well, what does Jesus want our words to be?
The religious leaders found it was hard to make converts. Then they made them worse off! How do we do fruitful evangelism?
Religious pride leaves people far from God still far from God. Jesus demanded his people live in humility so they can give life to others.
Jesus stood outside the church and knocked on the door. The church kept right on feasting. Jesus didn't want them to stop...he just wanted to be a part.
Trials make us question God's love. But when we go through trials with faith, we are strengthened by the Linchpin to be a linchpin.
A church can have all the activity in the world, but be dead. How do we make sure that our Life is real?
We love our sin without consequences. They may not come today, but it all will catch up to us. But God has a reward for those who Hear & Follow.
Old habits die hard. Quite often, provision is the reason behind returning to our sin. The reward of faith is finding the hidden provision that we never thought possible!
It looks like everyone is racing along. But you're limping. Is there something wrong with you? Jesus would say no. Just keep limping!
Ephesus was a church that led with rules & behavior change. But Jesus wanted to change the culture...not behavior.
Churches and Christians are supposed to live differently. But they're supposed to not be legalistic either. How can we be different without being legalistic?
Everyone has a Paradise and our Paradise is where our church is.
Jesus came to rescue us from the Paradise Hell that we create for ourselves!
Jesus tells a story about a guy who walked away from his father. But what happened when he decided to come back to his father?
Jesus asked the tax collector Matthew to Follow him. That means Jesus forgave before Matthew came out from behind his table. Then Jesus showed up to Matthew's sinners party. Showing he's way more interested in belonging than believing and behaving.
Jesus told a story about the Kingdom being like the best party ever. Wait, party? Can we do that at church?
Many in the next generation are crying out "I want a real life!" But who is there showing them what a real life looks like? Imagine what can be done with a next generation pursuing a real life with adults leading them!
Our parental goal has become making our kids happy & getting them out of the house by 25. That's not God's goal for us in parenting. We must produce Hear & Follow adults. And that starts by teaching them to find life & honoring God above all else.
Little foxes can run crazy in gardens. Starting small, but ruining everything. Rivals do the same to marriages and lives. We have to recognize and catch the foxes.
Our culture is built upon the twin monsters of comparison and perfection. For ladies, this results in negativity that poisons self and others. How can you flourish in a culture that demands perfection?
Our culture idolizes perfection. And if we're not perfect, we leave it all up to those who are. The only problem is that no one is perfect. The role of a husband isn't to be perfect. It is to set a culture where others flourish.
To every successful mission comes a turning point. A Moment of Truth where the people involved determine if the reward is worth the risk. And they decide to sacrifice. What does this turning point look like in the Kingdom?
It is a tough world out there. We will face difficulty and Jesus just tells us to "shake it off"! How on earth or why would we ever shake it off?
Jesus has laid out the vision and strategy of advancing the Kingdom. Now he moves to the tactics. Which are the everyday things we do to accomplish the mission.
We can feel the need for action, but that isn't action. All mission is about action. How do we move from feeling to action?
Missions start because we feel the need for the mission.
Jesus trained his disciples on feeling the need and where to go when you're overwhelmed.
Faith is seeing things the way God sees them, then acting on it. Mary had faith. But it was going to bring difficulty. How was the gift of faith seen in Mary's life?
Life gets out of control at times. But that isn't the way God intended.
When the Baby King shows up, he doesn't rescue us from the chaos. He gives calm in the middle of the chaos.
Jesus promised overwhelming joy.
But sometimes it is hard to see joy and church go together.
How does the Baby King bring overflowing joy?
When God feels far away, it is hard to think God loves you.
And it brings fear.
When the Baby King brought the Kingdom, he brought God's love.
Authority is the ability to captivate people's allegiance without demanding or bossing.
Jesus had amazing authority. How can you live in restored authority?
Hope is certainty the future will be better than our past or present.
But disappointment leads to despair...the inability to see the future as better.
Jesus shows us that hope leads us to Hear & Follow him, even when everything looks dead.
Dignity is a respect we have for ourself.
Jesus encountered a women who had lost her dignity due to a disease.
How did he restore her dignity?
Jesus healed on the Sabbath. That was a no-no in religious terms.
But Jesus did it to restore religion.
How does he want to restore religion in your life?
Woship is broken because we think we are unable to ascribe worth to one who is worthy.
But Jesus wants to restore us so we can worship the One who is worthy.
Can I regain credibility now that I've lost it?
What happens when our credibility is broken?
Jesus restores our credibility.
Work is a huge part of our life.
And God intended work to be a huge part of our life.
And he intended it to be a purposeful part of our life.
How does he restore purpose back to our work?
Everyone has a "system of justice" inside of us. And that system points to a God of justice.
But no one wants to be judged by anyone.
Why is judging necessary?
Make a big splash. Overnight success. Internet phenomenon. Go big or go home.
Our culture wants it super sized.
But how does God view Kingdom growth?
It was never God's intention to make life difficult.
But it is.
If he and his Kingdom is so good, why then is life so difficult?
We go "all in" with the Kingdom treasures...but our "all in" does grow.
How do we grow in the Kingdom of God?
We're talking about making disciples. But how really do you do that?
Paul shows us from his ministry among the Ephesians how to make disciples of unreached people groups. No matter if those people are down the street or around the world.
When we think of Christianity, we think of morals. It is more than morals. If I'm good. If I attend church. If I have a good job. Everything is awesome.
But there is way more than that. We are empowered to make disciples.
So how do we Hear & Follow to make disciples?
Philip went to those who were unwelcome inside the established religious system. But he was also unwelcome in their culture.
How did he earn an open forum?
The Holy Spirit immerses us. He wants to use us in power. But what does the power go towards?
The Holy Spirit rebuilds us to move us out to build his Kingdom.
But how exactly does the Spirit move us?
Everyone has strengths given by God.
But when the Spirit comes on us, our strengths are rebuilt from worshiping idols to building the Kingdom.
Everyone groans because of weakness. That groaning is actually us looking forward to a better day.
How does God want to rebuild our weakness into his glory?
Our hearts can get clogged with sin so that we don't even want to carry out the good intentions that we get from the rebuilt mind that the Spirit has given us.
So how does the Spirit transform our passions and desires to be more like His? We want to have the desire to unclog the sin from our hearts and go after good things, but how do we get there from here?
You rebuild the insides of a house so that you can actually have an outside that is nice.
God rebuilds us on the inside so that our outside can be transformed.
How does the Holy Spirit rebuild us?
Our mind is our electrical system. Everything starts with a decision.
But quite often our decisions are left lacking.
God gives us the Spirit so we can have the mind of Christ.
How does God give us the mind of Christ?
Our lives are in need of rebuilding. But is there anyone who cares enough to rebuild our lives?
God is in the rebuilding lives business. How does he do it?
Vision is seeming the unseen.
Faith is making the unseen seen.
We can dream about riding the wave of faith.
Or we can get on the wave.
We measure greatness by how long we talk about celebrities. Or how permanent they are relevant.
Jesus is the most famous person of all time. His greatness is permanent. But why is his fame so permanent?
We love stories of sacrifice...when someone else goes through the sacrifice.
Jesus sacrifice is the greatest.
And it does the greatest.
We will pay great money or do extreme things to be in the likeness of a celebrity.
But that is only outside transformation.
Following the law is the same thing. Doing that only brings outside transformation.
But there is a transformation of likeness that runs deeper. And it still gives us the law.
What is the coolest thing a ticket has allowed you access to?
We're always looking for access to where we don't belong. God's presence is certainly a place we don't belong.
How do we get access?
And why is Jesus the only way to get access to God?
Celebrities who are "down to earth" appeal to us. But, by definition, a Heavenly God isn't "down to earth." What did God do to come "down to earth" and empathize with us?
We all acquire status symbols and hold on to them.
Jesus gave up his status symbols. And the reasons why will shock you!
We rank people by their name. Not their First and Last Name, but by how great they've made their name.
We all go through seasons in which our faith needs to grow. In order to grow, death must occur. Pain must happen.
Why?
Because resurrection can't happen if there isn't a death.
The Blind Man could see. The religious leaders were blind.
What made the paradox work?
The Blind Man knew there was more to seeing than what meets the eye.
Jesus doesn't want us to give up our hunger or desire, he just wants our hunger to be satisfied by him.
The Lame Man had a hopelessness because of spiritual superstition.
The religious leaders had a false hope because of religious superstition.
Jesus brought hope in salvation and mission.
Move from superstition to hope!
The official was used to being in control, but now, with his son being sick, he wasn't in control anymore.
He needed a miracle. He needed Jesus to Come & Do.
But Jesus wants our faith to move beyond Come & Do to Hear & Follow.
Mary tried to use Jesus to make her look good. Either to her relatives. Or just being the mother of the guy who can solve the problem of no wine.
But Jesus wants to do something more than making us look good.
What is Jesus doing behind the scenes to bring people progressive belief in him?
Why should I give authority to Jesus?
Does he even love me?
John the Baptist gave us 7 reasons why Jesus should increase and I should decrease.
And at the top of that list is the unconditional love of God.
Jesus encountered a woman at the well that was Down and Out. How did Jesus impact her life?
Many people stay on the outside of church because they think they'll always be on the outside.
But what did Jesus think about outsiders?
What work did Jesus do?
We give authority to people based on who they are and what work do they do. Last week showed us Jesus is the Branding of God. This week we see what work Jesus did.
What is the big deal about Jesus?
He lived so long ago. Why should we make a big deal about him today?
The Israelites leave, but Pharaoh chases them. They soon get between a rock and a hard place. But God did this to make the triumph final.
Many people get saved, but soon give up. Many give up because they are not prepared for the enemy to come back for them. We can't see a prayer as the end goal. But making disciples who triumph over their sin and slavery.
How do we lead people into their final triumph over sin?
God did battle against Pharaoh. A guy who thought and was worshiped as god. A guy whose job was to balance everything in the kingdom. Moses was the person he used to do battle.
We're not doing battle against people. But we are still doing battle against gods. People have functional saviors they are trying to balance. And God has sent us to do battle against the gods to free people from their crummy saviors.
So what do we need for this battle?
Moses did exactly what God told him to do. And things got worse. Way worse. Pharaoh rejected him. His own people rejected him. The call appeared to die. Confusion reigned and Moses even asked, "Why did you ever send me?"
What do we do when the call dies?
The making of a Super Hero is just a bunch of ingredients. You need a catalyst to
actually produce a Super Hero on a mission. The call is the catalyst. "But wait!" You may object. "That's only for those
paid by a church."
No...a call is for all. What does a calling look like?
God is the One who saves, but he makes people with flesh on to be Super Heroes. How will he make you into a Super Hero?
Watch the music video of Savin' Me by Nickelback. It is a powerful visual of what we are like once we are saved. It'll also be referenced in the sermon; so the sermon will make more sense!
http://youtu.be/_JQiEs32SqQ
In the most vivid description of the One that was foreshadowed, Isaiah shows us a picture of a Servant who was humbled and exalted on our behalf.
Christians say that Jesus is the Messiah. Some people will say that Jesus didn't know his identity. Did Jesus know this? Or are Christians just making stuff up?
While God moved to bring Joseph into a position of power, God hadn't completed the dream yet. We must still wait for him to finish what he started.
God prepared Joseph, but when is enough enough? Joseph was ready to get out of prison. But God wasn't quite ready yet. When God does move, he also makes it real clear.
Joseph wasn't ready for God moving on the dream. He had to go through the plains and valleys before God could move. But at every step, Joseph worked, prepared and sacrificed.
God initiated a dream inside of Joseph. But he horribly mismanaged that dream. What do we do with a dream that is inside of us?
Jacob lived up to his name of deceiver. But when God showed up, he transformed Jacob with the Truth.
When we are at our lowest, where does our courage come from? God is courageous and he wants to form our courage.
Sin causes us to dry up. We need life. Religion won't provide it so where do we find it?
God created and formed Israel into who he wanted her to be. God, as Father, will create and form you into who he wants you to be.
Everyone receives a treasure. Everyone invests their treasure. Where do you invest your treasure?
Jesus told us to be happy when we are persecuted because we are blessed. How do blessed people respond to others when they are mistreated?
Can people take us at our word? In the Kingdom, the heart of a citizen wants to be trusted, no matter the cost.
Our Greater Righteousness has practical implications. It affects our real life. Jesus gives us 6 examples and A Greater Heart looks at the first 2 and how they impact our relationships.
Our good deeds are supposed to make others cheer God. What good deeds? Where do we get these good deeds? Jesus tells us that A Greater Righteousness is required for us to have others cheer God.
Jesus' next platform is about the impact that our character will have on the people and the culture around us.
Jesus' first platform is A Greater Character. If he were stumping for political office, the character he would promote would be completely different than what we promote today, but it is a character everyone wants as a friend or employee.
This life is tough. To live it in Christ makes it even tougher. How do we live this life?
We are more than behaviors, we have responsibilities on our journey. Paul speaks to how we walk the line of our identity in our core roles.
God gives us a new identity and one of the most outward ways that we live it out is through our purity. How do we walk in the purity of our identity?
God gives us a new identity and one of the most outward ways that we live it out is through our purity. How do we walk in the purity of our identity?
We're on a unified, diversified journey. All journeys are better with people than alone. So what is the end goal of this journey?
We're on a unified, diversified journey. All journeys are better with people than alone. So what is the end goal of this journey?
The church is one, but each part is unique. Everyone has been gifted to rescue and rebuild others and train others to do the same.
Our identity doesn't just affect our inside. It shows up in our outside too. The first thing Paul says it'll affect is our unity.
The identity God wants to give is all about what he wants to do inside of us...and he wants to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine!
Witness is now a part of our identity. We are witnesses to a mystery. Paul is a great example of a witness, so what can we learn from him?
Witness is now a part of our identity. We are witnesses to a mystery. Paul is a great example of a witness, so what can we learn from him?
God doesn't just give us a new blessed, powerful, changed identity for our own individual benefit. He gives us a new identity as a part of a whole Team. A Team that used to be our rival, but now we have the ability, peace and access to through Christ.
Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know the greatness of God's power. But how exactly are we supposed to experience the greatness of God's power?
Our identity should leave us desperate. Desperate for God to do what only he can do. So where does that leave us? It should leave us on our knees.
Our identity can be tied up in so many things. Our looks, work, activities, grades. God intended us to have an identity. But what identity are we supposed to have?
The thief on the cross realized he needed salvation.
But Jesus gave him more than he asked for.
Realize we're all Death Row Sons. Let God give you more than you ask.
The Reckless Son thought he had no chance at being a Son again.
The Responsible Son thought his chance was tied to his work.