The Crossing Church Sermon Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Crossing Church
Each week on the The Crossing Church Sermon Podcast, you’ll hear relevant teachings from a biblical perspective led by our Lead Pastor, Tim Chicola. To learn more visit us at www.tccnj.church.
Do you know what your passion is, and how God has designed you to share it? What are you willing to live and die for? Part of figuring out how God made us to personally share our passion, is by finding our place in the family of God. When that happens, we become the hands and feet of Jesus to a world desperately in need of His love.
Sermon: "Serve The World. Part 2" | The Mission, Part 6
Scripture: Romans 12:3-11
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: April 10, 2022
Loving words and sentiments without loving acts to back it up are hollow. When you begin to love God, you automatically begin to love what he loves. . . people. And when you begin to love people, then you want to you serve them.
Sermon: "Serve The World. Part 1" | The Mission, Part 5
Scripture: Ephesians 2:4-10
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: April 3, 2022
It's one thing to say you believe something. It's another to actually follow through on what you believe. The heroes of faith in the Bible weren't known for their profession of faith, but the deeds that came as a result of their faith. To truly love people, we must go beyond saying we love them...and actually act on it.
Sermon: "Love People. Part 2" | The Mission, Part 4
Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: March 27, 2022
Have you ever walked around in the dark? It's not easy. You can't see where you're going or what obstacles might lie ahead. According to John, this is what it's like for us spiritually when we fail to love others. So, how do we turn on the lights?
Sermon: "Love People. Part 1" | The Mission, Part 3
Scripture: 1 John 2:1-11
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: March 20, 2022
Worship is a natural part of the human experience. We will worship; either God, or other things. If we truly understand how much God loves us, we can't help but worship him.
Sermon: "Love God. Part 2" | The Mission, Part 2
Scripture: Mark 12:28-34
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: March 13, 2022
As humans beings, we need to be loved. It is a basic, yet essential, part of our existence. Not a superficial, sentimental, or mushy type of love. But a love that truly knows us and accepts us contrary to all logic. A God love. Until we come to embrace and experience the love of God, we cannot have a true, satisfying, life-giving walk with God.
Sermon: "Love God." | The Mission, Part 1
Scripture: Ephesians 3:17-19
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: March 6, 2022
We all have hopes and dreams. But sometimes our dreams don't turn out as planned. And when our dreams don't work out...it can be hard to swallow. So what do you do when the legacy you thought you'd leave will never be realized? How do we deal with broken dreams?
Sermon: "Broken Dreams & The Promises Of God" | DAVID, Part 14
Scripture: 1 Chronicles 28:1-12
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: February 20, 2022
Even when we're at our worst, God is for us. As we see towards the end of David’s prime, God was not done working in His life. And as long as there's breath in your lungs, He's not done with you either.
Sermon: "A Mighty Stumble" | DAVID, Part 13
Scripture: 1 Chronicles 21:1-16
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: February 13, 2022
What good is it if you win all the prizes offered to you by the world and in the process lose your children? In "The Sins Of The Father," Pastor Tim portrays a first person narrative from the perspective of David during the most devastating time in his life...the loss of his son.
Sermon: "The Sins Of The Father" | DAVID, Part 12
Scripture: 2 Samuel 13-19
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: February 6, 2022
The cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness is a normal part of the faith journey. We're broken people that are prone to messing up and making bad decisions. But what if we messed up really bad? What if we’ve made choices that still haunt us to this day? Is there hope for repair?
Sermon: "The Repentant Heart" | DAVID, Part 11
Scripture: 2 Samuel 12:1-14
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: January 30, 2022
Disastrous decisions often never just "happen." More often than not, the most destructive decisions we make in our lives are built on a series of smaller, less damaging choices. How do we pursue better choices that lead to a life well spent instead of just...spent?
Sermon: "How The Mighty Have Fallen" | DAVID, Part 10
Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-6
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: January 23, 2022
There are times when it is necessary to speak out against injustice. To stand up and make our voices and protests heard. But there are also times when we're called to take a different course of action where we must trust that with God there is no such thing as injustice.
Sermon: "The Sound Of Silence"
Scripture: Leviticus 10:1-3
Speaker: Rabbi Irving Salzman
Date: January 16, 2021
There is a simple spiritual act that maybe more than any other can change the direction of a person's life. It is a gift that God has given to everyone, and calls us to spread to others. By it cold hearts become soft and enemies become friends.
Sermon: "Extending A Blessing" | DAVID, Part 9
Scripture: 2 Samuel 9
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: January 9, 2022
When it’s all over how do you think you will remember 2022? We can suspect what the coming year will bring, but if we've learned anything over the past few years, none of us really know what’s going to happen. In many ways, we have no control over what will happen in 2022. Yet, there are a few things we can take comfort in to ensure that 2022 will be a year to remember.
Sermon: "A 2022 To Remember"
Scripture: James 4:13-17
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: January 2, 2022
In "If I Were A Wise Man..." Doug Nearpass explores the story of the 3 wise men and what we can learn from them in our approach to worshipping Jesus.
Sermon: "If I Were A Wise Man..."
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
Speaker: Doug Nearpass
Date: December 26, 2021
Have you ever experienced times in your life where your plans just didn't work out the way you expected? You're not quite the person you’d hoped to be by now. Your career didn't excel in the way you wanted. You had dreams of being or doing more and yet God said, “No.” How do we navigate these instances when God shuts a door on the plans we've made?
Sermon: "When God Says No" | DAVID, Part 8
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-17; 27-29
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: December 19, 2021
How often do you connect fear and amazement with experiencing the presence of God? We're comfortable with a God who is always with us and is all loving. Which are true, but the Bible also tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. As loving, gracious, and faithful as God is, He is also holy, different, other worldly. Those who know Him best, will reverently fear Him.
Sermon: "The Great Divide" | DAVID, Part 7
Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:1-16
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: December 12, 2021
Sometimes there are people in our lives that make our lives simply unbearable. People that genuinely cause us suffering, hurt, and frustration. For David, this was Saul. If it's true that God hates our suffering, why does he allow people like this to remain in our lives?
Sermon: "Trusting The Sovereign God" | DAVID, Part 6
Scripture: 1 Samuel 24
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: December 5, 2021
Have you ever had the things you lean on for support in life kicked out from under you? It happened to David. One by one David lost his support systems, and the courageous shepherd who defeated Goliath was suddenly overwhelmed with fear. How do we overcome seasons of fear like this? How did David?
Sermon: "Losing Faith" | DAVID, Part 5
Scripture: 1 Samuel 21:10-14
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: November 28, 2021
In "The Power Of Friendship," Pastor Peter Seide shifts our focus from David, to his beloved friend, Jonathan. We all need at least one good friend in our lives, and we need to be a good friend to others. Someone to walk with through the twists and turns of life. What does it mean to be a good friend? How can we learn from Jonathan's example of friendship?
Sermon: "The Power Of Friendship" | DAVID, Part 4
Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1, 3-4; 20:12-17, 40-42
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: November 14, 2021
Everything in David’s life seemed to be coming together. He was instantly a national hero after defeating Goliath; his career was about to skyrocket as he's chosen by God to be the next king of Israel. He was an overnight sensation. Yet, not everyone was excited about all of David's success. Sound familiar? We live in a society fueled by envy, but like in David's life, nothing can derail God's plan for our lives when we pursue His heart.
Sermon: "Attacked By The Envious" | DAVID, Part 3
Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:6-16
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: November 7, 2021
The story of David and Goliath is a familiar one, and it's an important lesson on how to face life’s most difficult challenges with courage. But what really is courage? Where does it come from? And why is courage still as relevant to us as it was for David when he battled Goliath?
Sermon: "Stepping Up" | DAVID, Part 2
Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:32-54
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: October 31, 2021
The Bible calls David, "a man after God's own heart." And yet, at times he was brutal, faithless, and a lousy father. He was an adulterer. He was a murderer. And still, "a man after God's own heart." Sometimes God chooses the most unsuspecting people to do His work in the world. So what is it that God is looking for in the people he chooses?
Sermon: "Chosen By God" | DAVID, Part 1
Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: October 24, 2021
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There are two ways to live with hurt. The way of revenge and the way of forgiveness. In "The Power Of Forgiveness," Gerard DeMatteo, Lead Pastor of Rutherford Bible Chapel, breaks down Jesus' teaching on how we should response to being wronged by others. One way leads to death and the other leads to life.
Sermon: "The Power Of Forgiveness" | Gerard DeMatteo
Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35
Speaker: Reverend Gerard DeMatteo
Date: October 17, 2021
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A man desperate for answers, approached Jesus seeking an answer to the question, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus' response..."Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor..." Why did Jesus respond this way? What does selling everything you own have to do with receiving eternal life?
Sermon: "Give Away Everything You Own?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 9
Scripture: Mark 19:17-31
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: October 10, 2021
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Matthew 5 begins with a teaching from Jesus in which he makes a startling statement: "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you..Rejoice and be glad..." Why would Jesus say that the persecuted are blessed?
Sermon: "Rejoice When Suffering?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 8
Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: October 3, 2021
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Vision Sunday. It’s the time of year when we lay out the vision for the upcoming year. To give a grand picture of what will be, of what could, or maybe even should be. But we are living in strange times. Maybe our Church needs, more than anything else, a personal vision of the change that God wants to bring in our personal lives. A vision of change in us.
Sermon: Vision Sunday 2021
Scripture: Genesis 32:22-32
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: September 19, 2021
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Prayer is hard. Like anything else, it’s something you learn with time and guidance. It doesn’t come natural to us. Often times, we don’t have from God because we don’t ask or we doubt that He really cares. In Luke 11, Jesus offers 3 ingredients to pray effectively.
Sermon: "God Answers Rude, Impatient Prayers?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 7
Scripture: Luke 11:1-13
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: September 5, 2021
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Have you ever wanted something so desperately that you'd do anything to get it? Once you are captured by a vision of what could be, you will do whatever you have to do to make it all come about. According to the words of Jesus in Matthew 11, we should have the same desperation about the kingdom of heaven. But, what exactly does that look like?
Sermon: "Violent Men Receive The Kingdom?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 6
Scripture: Matthew 11:1-15
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: August 29, 2021
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Everyone at some point in their lives is searching for purpose. We want to know why we’re here. We want to belong and know that our lives have meaning. Jesus' response in John 6 to this longing, at first glance, is bizarre to say the least. He essentially says, "eat my flesh and drink my blood." Is Jesus speaking literally here? What does this have to do with finding life's purpose?
Sermon: "Eat My Flesh, Drink My Blood?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 5
Scripture: John 6:25-40; 53-59
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: August 22, 2021
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In Mark 3, Jesus mentions that there is a sin, so severe that once a person has committed it, they can never be forgiven. Never be forgiven?! Doesn't Jesus forgive all sin? What is this unforgivable sin? And what do we do if we're guilty of it?
Sermon: "One Sin Will Never Be Forgiven?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 4
Scripture: Mark 3:20-35
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: August 15, 2021
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Sermon: "Facing The Fire" | Bishop Doug Adams
Scripture: Daniel 3:8-15
Speaker: Bishop Doug Adams
Date: August 8, 2021
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Sermon: "Finders, Keepers" | Otis Buckley
Scripture: Luke 4:1-4
Speaker: Pastor Otis Buckley
Date: August 1, 2021
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Sermon: "Many Who Think They're Saved...Aren't?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 3
Scripture: Matthew 7:15-23
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: July 25, 2021
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Sermon: "My Disciples Will Hate Their Family?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 1
Scripture: Luke 14:25-35
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: July 18, 2021
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Sermon: "Only The Most Holy Are Saved?!" | Jesus Said That? | Part 1
Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20; Luke 18:9-14
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: July 11, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Foundation" | The Knew Normal, Part 10
Scripture: Matthew 7:24-28
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: July 4, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Path" | The Knew Normal, Part 9
Scripture: Matthew 7:13-23
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: June 27, 2021
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Sermon: "The Father Heart Of God"
Scripture: Psalm 103:8-18
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: June 20, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Treasure" | The Knew Normal, Part 8
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: June 6, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Religion" | The Knew Normal, Part 7
Scripture: Matthew 6:1-8; 16-18
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: May 30, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Love" | The Knew Normal, Part 6
Scripture: Matthew 5:43-48
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: May 23, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Rights" | The Knew Normal, Part 5
Scripture: Matthew 5:38-42
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: May 16, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Truth" | The Knew Normal, Part 4
Scripture: Matthew 5:33-37
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: May 9, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Divorce" | The Knew Normal, Part 3
Scripture: Deuteronomy 24:1-4; Matthew 5:31-32
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: May 2, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Purity" | The Knew Normal, Part 2
Scripture: Matthew 5:27-30
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: April 25, 2021
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Sermon: "Knew Anger" | The Knew Normal, Part 1
Scripture: Matthew 5:21-26
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: April 18, 2021
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Sermon: "It's Time To Rebuild" | Pressing On, Part 2
Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-3, 10-14
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: April 11, 2021
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Sermon: "The Resurrection" | Easter | The Journey To Resurrection, Part 6
Scripture: John 20:10-31
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: April 4, 2021
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Sermon: "Purpose" | Good Friday | The Journey To Resurrection, Part 5
Scripture: Mark 14:32-42
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: April 2, 2021
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Sermon: "The Injustices" | The Journey To Resurrection, Part 4
Scripture: Luke 23:13-25
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: March 21, 2021
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Sermon: "The Losses" | The Journey To Resurrection, Part 3
Scripture: Luke 22:54-62
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: March 14, 2021
• Every battle we lose is a chance to run back to God, but we have to acknowledge we’re not as strong as we think we are.
• Satan wants to find out what you’re made of because it’s easy to follow Jesus when things are going well. But what happens when you turn up the heat? Everyone has a boiling point.
• Standing with Jesus isn’t fighting back, but willingly, submissively laying down your life.
• “When we read the fall of Peter, we only read what might possibly befall any of ourselves. Let us never presume. Let us never indulge in high thoughts about our own strength.” - J.C. Ryle
• Satan is in the shadows trying to pull the strings in our lives. He’s not only trying to make us doubt God, but who we are in Christ.
• Outside of God’s grace we’re weak, but thank God, that knowing our weaknesses, Jesus is praying for you.
• The truth is, Jesus prays for you more than you could ever pray for yourself.
• “Jesus Christ is the infinite intercessor; he lives to pray for us...” - Philip Ryken
• Even as we may be losing spiritual battles right now, Jesus is looking at us in love and calling us back to him.
• Before we even ask, God is waiting to forgive us.
• True repentance is more than feeling sorry for what we’ve done; it’s being shattered by it, that we cry out for the grace to turn away from it so that we can live for Christ again.
• God holds on to us, even when we let go of Him. Every battle that we lose is a chance to run back to Him.
Sermon: "The Blessing" | The Journey To Resurrection, Part 2
Scripture: Luke 22:39-46
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: March 7, 2021
• If we’re going to endure times of testing, we need to pray honestly.
• Unaddressed pain makes us weary. And weariness eventually turns into bitterness.
• Being honest with God is more than telling him what we want. It’s being vulnerable with him.
• If we’re going to endure times of testing, we need to pray persistently.
• Prayer is not something we do simply in response to trials, rather how we respond to trials is birthed from a life of prayer.
• When we keep praying we’re saying that we know our Heavenly Father will answer us.
• If we’re going to endure times of testing, we need to pray submissively.
• “The basic purpose of prayer is not to bend God’s will to mine, but to mold my will into His.” - Tim Keller
• When we pray like Jesus, “you’re will be done,” it’s not meant to be formulaic, rather it’s acknowledging as we bring our requests to Him that we don’t know what His will is in that given situation.
• “God is not only the one in charge. God is also good. Everything He does is good.” - Dr. James Boice
• The blessing comes when in our fiercest trials, we rest in our Father’s loving arms.
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Sermon: "The Preparation" | The Journey To Resurrection, Part 1
Scripture: Luke 22:14-30
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: February 28, 2021
• No journey is more painful and more lonely than what Jesus endured for us.
• The empty tomb reminds us that though life is filled with many trials, God’s purpose for his children always ends in glory.
• As we prepare to take a difficult journey, we have to chart the course ahead.
• There’s a part of us that naturally resists God’s place in our lives.
• Like any healthy relationship, what God really wants is our hearts.
• Sin is not just what we do, it’s our attitude towards God.
• The only way for us to be gathered to God’s kingdom, is through Jesus’ body being broken and his blood being poured out for us.
• If we’re going to deal with the traumas of life, we have to look forward, trusting in the goodness of God.
• As we prepare to take a difficult journey, we have to lookout for the people traveling with us.
• We can get so consumed with soothing our pain through vices, that we close our hearts off from being there for the people that need us the most.
• True leadership is a commitment to serve. It’s not about being great in people’s eyes, but secure enough with who you are in Jesus that nothing is beneath you.
• Our relationship with God is tied to one another, and we’re never more truly like Jesus than when we’re serving each other.
• Serving is the bonding agent of a community.
• Either we’re serving the people in our lives, or allowing our trials to make us more inward.
• When the path in front of us seems too dreadful to bear, the one who walked through the deepest valley, is traveling with us.
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Sermon: "Standing In Awe Of God"
Scripture: John 3:1-7
Speaker: Pastor Otis Buckley
Date: February 21, 2021
• Both time and familiarity are the agents of complacence.
• If we’re not careful, our faith can become religious and routine.
• An underwhelmed Christian, is a religious Christian.
• “Religion begins with man, and ends with man. Whereas, Revelation, or the revealed Word of God begins with God and it ends with God.” - Dr. Willem Van Gemeren
• When we, as Christians, lose our awe of God we begin to hope in our own works and in our own efforts. And all of life at that point, will become overwhelming because we can't do it.
• To leave Jesus at, or relegate him to, a wise teacher with a peculiar authority is to reduce him to a sage of old with tips for everyday living instead of the risen Christ and shepherd of our souls that He is.
• Those of authentic faith come to Christ, for Christ.
• One who is to be born of supernatural faith seeks Christ and then keeps seeking Christ.
• Jesus quenches thirst and then invites us to drink more. We’re no longer drinking for satisfaction, we’re drinking because of satisfaction.
• Whenever we come to Jesus from a religious posture, we pray manipulative prayers and we preach manipulative sermons because it begins with us and ends with us. Everything is about us.
• Coming to Jesus cannot be done in a way we want, in order to achieve something we want, especially if what we want is not ultimately Him.
• It’s not works as the root of our salvation. It’s good works as the fruit of our salvation.
• One can be quite religious, and yet spiritually dead.
• Christ did not come to fix our lives, but to give us a new one.
• Being religious reduces the revelation of the mystery of Christ. It makes our salvation nothing more than an oxidized fact of our faith.
• “Christ was sent, not to mend wounded people or awake sleepy people or advise confused people or inspire bored people or spur on lazy people, nor educate ignorant people, but to raise dead people.” - Dave Ortlund
• Let us recover our awe of Christ.
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Sermon: "His Love Never Fails Us"
Scripture: Lamentations 3:1-33
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: February 14, 2021
• How does a person who’s filled with guilt, anger, and shame remember the tender mercies of God?
• We have to confess our bitterness.
• There are some choices that have and are ruining people’s lives and they stem from doubting that God truly does want what’s best for us.
• We can’t expect God’s blessing if we’re living in a way that ignores His will.
• We have to preach God’s truths to ourselves.
• Pain can be so consuming, that it starts to be the way we look at life in general, even God.
• Love isn’t simply what God does, it’s who God is.
• Being saved from the eternal consequences of our sin doesn’t exempt us from experiencing the momentary consequences of persistent sin.
• We have to receive correction.
• Sometimes our physical infirmities reveal sin that not only has a part in bringing about the illness, but has been keeping us from the heart of God.
• Exile is not the purpose of discipline, redemption is.
• Discipline is a chance to consider what God is trying to show us.
• Even in our darkest times, God’s love never fails but welcomes us back.
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Sermon: "Pray Right."
Scripture: James 5:13-18
Speaker: Pastor Tim Chicola
Date: February 7, 2021
• To offer effective prayers for the sick, you must follow the right procedures.
• Procedure #1: You have to have the right kind of prayer.
• It is untrue that God heals, or doesn’t heal, according to the strength, or lack thereof, of our faith.
• What is the right kind of prayer? It is a prayer of faith.
• Procedure #2: You have the right kind of partnership.
• God’s grace is not only displayed in miraculous healings. It is displayed in the knowledge he has given to us.
• We must stop simply going to church and learn to become the church among our communities.
• Procedure #3: You have the right kind of position.
• In times of illness, we often go deeper; we draw closer to God.
• Sometimes our physical infirmities reveal sin that not only has a part in bringing about the illness, but has been keeping us from the heart of God.
• Sometimes when a spiritual healing takes place, a physical healing takes place. And sometimes physical sickness is the trigger that brings about the spiritual healing we need.
• To offer effective prayers for the sick, you must be the right kind of person.
• What kind of over-the-top gracious God would take notice of me? One who is literally more attracted to me because of the greatness of my sin, not less attracted.
• “Prayer before it is a petition, is a stance of the heart.” - Tim Keller
• People who have entered into a true relationship with God, have a relationship that is continually progressing, not perfectly, but progressively.
• God’s healing often comes when the right people pray in the right way.
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Sermon: "Honor God With Your Money."
Scripture: James 5:1-6
Speaker: Pastor Peter Seide
Date: January 31, 2021
Highlights:
• To use money in a way that leaves God out can be spiritually fatal.
• We should hold onto money loosely.
• Everything on this earth has an expiration date; including you and your wealth.
• “We esteem a man for his wealth and not for his soul.” - Lucius Seneca
• Until a person has an encounter with grace, they’ll live this life like this is all there is.
• We can’t hold onto something we’re bound to lose…any security that money gives us is short lived.
• There’s a difference between the lifestyle I’m capable of living and the one I need to live.
• We should use money to bless rather than exploit others.
• The injustice towards his helpless people is so offensive to God, that his heart burns with compassion for the oppressed and yet is like a raging fire toward their oppressors.
• When God blesses us with money, he’s positioning us to help meet the needs of those who can’t fend for themselves.
• Giving always requires sacrifice and risk.
• When the church is truly living up to its potential as his body that’s where God does his most radical work, both in us and through us.
• God has positioned us to be radical givers.
• “He is the richest man in the esteem of the world who has gotten the most. He is the richest man in the esteem of Heaven who have given the most.” - F.B. Meyer
• We cannot find security in material things, but we can use them to make an eternal difference.
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Who is holding you up in your faith, and who are you encouraging in theirs? We believe that God never intended life to be lived alone. We were created for community. Jesus invites us to a changed life and to seek truth. This happens best when we're in relationship with others where we grow closer to Jesus, by growing closer to each other.
People prioritize their choices with different criteria in mind. Some prioritize needs. Other prioritize desires. And others prioritize according to what is expected of them by others. It seems that the thing that would make our prioritizing work a whole lot better, would be a bit of balance.
In the final part of our series, two sisters, Mary and Martha, learn the importance of balancing priorities and the blessing we miss out on when our priorities are misplaced.
Love. It's a basic human desire. We want to love, and we need to be loved. Yet, at some point in most of our lives, we have struggled loving someone who would not love us back.
So how does a person continue in a relationship where meaningful love is either absent, or in short supply? The story of Leah teaches us that joy can be found in a love-lacking relationship by changing our focus from what we do not have, to what we do have.
When we order our loves and our lives correctly, he has promised us a life of glory and significance.
If we don’t concern ourselves with how we build, the time will come when what we’ve built, will come crashing down.
As we progress to solid spiritual food, we become strong to face all of life’s challenges.
You can tell people who are perishing from those being saved by their reaction to the cross.
When dealing with trials we need a joyous attitude, wider understanding, and believing heart.
When we serve each other, we make good on the promises of God and are drawn together as one.
Sometimes I need to rest. Sometimes I need to act more from what I know and less from my instincts. Sometimes I need to marvel at Him.
Listen for God with your Bible open, with Him in the spotlight, with an open heart and open hands, with your language, and with your community.
If all that we give is a body, we are not true worshippers. If all we offer is a voice we are just going through the motions.
Major Kevin Stoops from The Salvation Army joins us here at The Crossing. See more of his story in the video below.
Real prayer will change us from the inside out, and help give us the life we always wanted.
The Spiritual Discipline of fasting, is done in order to draw near to God, see him work in our lives, and the lives of others.
Meditation is the intro and the preface to the kind of prayer that will turn you into a rooted, growing, changed person.
Spiritual Disciplines are specific practices we do sometimes, that cultivate generally being like Jesus all the time.
As a child, honor your parents by obeying and respecting them. As a young person, honor your parents by accepting and appreciating them. As an adult, honor your parents by affirming and not abandoning them.
Many Christians struggle with great dissatisfaction in their daily lives. Contentment eludes them no matter what they do, or how hard they run after it. Why? What causes dissatisfaction? Or better yet, who?
It's easy to get stuck in the "palace" and live a life of comfort within the walls of all the ways in which we've been blessed. Is there a greater purpose for our blessing?
Esther decided to embrace a huge challenge which for her, ended up being a defining moment in her young life. But she did not approach it unprepared. How do we confront our defining moments? What do we need to know going in? What tools do we need to...
We all have defining moments. We all have times when we are faced with difficult situations that will involve discomfort, even conflict, where a decision has to be made and once the decision is made, things are never quite the same again.
There is a popular maxim that goes "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Sound, inspiring words indeed, but ones that if heeded, can easily get you into deep, serious trouble, as you find yourself...
We often hear that a sovereign God has good plans for us. But what happens when we walk away from his embrace, and flee into the waiting arms of a world opposed to him and all that he desires for us? What happens to God's plans then?
How often have you personally felt a kind of tension between the reality of God's seeming absence from your life, and the belief (the hope) that he is there even though we may not see him operating clearly? Is the world simply a senseless...
We hear an Inaugural Address at the outset of a political term of office. But politicians are not the only ones who speak about what they intend to do, and how they will go about it. Jesus at the beginning of his earthly, active ministry, gave an...
The only way back from the abyss of spiritual destruction is when we hear the truth about the world, ourselves, and those whose situations have heightened our disappointment and grief. Only God has those words of truth. We can decide to listen to...
When things don’t go as planned we are often thrown to the mat as we begin to question our entire belief system that once served us well. Why do we doubt? What is the anatomy of doubt? It may be that our real problem is dealing with the goodness and...
When others proper and we don’t, we often look at them with envy, especially if we don’t believe that they deserve to prosper. What is the root of our envy? Why are we so angry when things don’t seem to go as they should?
When good things happen to bad people the question becomes, “Is it worth serving God?” Why do the sinners seem happy and the saints so sad?
A first person narrative from our Christmas Eve services from the viewpoint of a shepherd that was visited by angels on the night of Christ's birth.
In the rhythm of life, there is always a choice. There is a choice to follow Christ and a choice to not. Sometimes it's easy, but other times culture and faith don't seem to line up.
“Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried."
Sometimes we experience spiritual draught and famine in our lives, but God always sends rain to revive and replenish us.
In a culture of consumerism it's easy to feel discontent about what we don't have. How do we refocus our discontentment in order to be more generous and content?
Have you ever been lost? All of us have on some occasion been lost in our life, whether you were camping, hiking, or driving in a strange city. If you have, then you know that it is a very unsettling feeling. When we are lost, the chances are pretty...
We all have people who have played second fiddle for us. They are substantial in and of themselves, but they invest in us with no desire for reward or recognition. We need to honor, thank and be like them.
Often when we think of an eternity in heaven, it can sound boring. What are we going to do for an eternity? Is it possible that we will be bored in heaven?
Our lives are filled with difficult decisions; moral decisions, political decisions, the list goes on. It's enough to make your head spin. Where do you stand? Is there a moral compass that points the way for us in making decisions about important...
Paul circles back to thank this wonderful church for their continued support of his ministry, and to let them know that although they did not give to get something in return, in God's economy, that is just what happens. When we give of our time...
Peace is a rare commodity in our fractured world. There is so much unrest everywhere you look, but the apostle Paul, who had every reason to be filled with angst and anger, was a man who could rejoice because of God's peace that guarded his...
Whether it is the tension inducing demands of finals week that so many of our students have just come through, worry over children, complicated relationships, or fear of the future, it seems that many of us find it difficult to experience peace in a...
Have you ever felt bored with your life as a Christian? Almost as if you're going through the motions but not experiencing much joy, growth, or excitement in the process?
Most people desire the acceptance and approval of others. We try desperately to build up our personal resume in order to win the approval of others and, hopefully, find joy. But, how does God view our resume? What really counts?
Just because you buy a jogging suit, a diet book, or a treadmill, it does not mean you're going to get healthy and lose weight. You have to actually put in the time and effort to see the results of a healthier lifestyle. The same is true in our...
Conflicts. We all experience them. At home, at work, in school and yes, at church, conflicts abound. Whenever you put a few people together in a confined space long enough, you are sure to have them. In diagnosing the origin of conflicts, their...
Sometimes it is hard to tell if someone is a Christ-follower. What sort of conduct does will be part of the life of a believer whose life has begun to change? What sort of conduct will make others sit up and take notice?
The apostle Paul was faced, in his mind, with a win-win situation. Both options were so good, that he couldn't decide between the two. One entailed his freedom from prison, the other his death. How could he, a man of sound mind, hold such a view...
We all make plans for our lives, but a lot of times our plans don't go our way. Is it possible that God could be working through our failed plans?
What would it take to give you the confidence that God is working in you? What tangible, objective thing could you point to that would give you absolute confidence that God is part of your life?
The candidates for the 2016 Presidential Election are some of the most polarizing in U.S. history. While some passionately support a candidate, others are entirely confused on who to support. What does God say about the type of person our leaders...
Life is hard, but God gives new life to everyone who wants it; here and now and in the future. How do we get new life? What can we expect from new life?
Have you ever faced difficult circumstances in your life that left you asking "why, God?" What does Jesus' death on the cross have to do with our asking "why"?
Is it possible that the trials and difficult circumstances we face in this life are the means by which God uses to discipline His children and shape us?
God's first purpose for us is to receive his love and love him back. God's second purpose for us is to live a new life of love for all people. What is God's third purpose for our lives?
According to God, what is our second purpose in life? What were we created to do in this world?
Our first purpose in life is to be loved by and love God. What does it really mean to love God?
What can we learn about fear and joy from the song of the angels as they announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds?
Humanity is created in the image of God, yet sometimes we forget where we come from and what we're called to. How do we remember our true identity and what we were created as?
How is the story of Mary similar to our own story? How is it possible to move from a place of fear to a heart of joy in the midst of the unknown?
An old man named Simeon was promised by God that he would see the Messiah before his death. Upon seeing the baby Jesus, Simeon sang. What can we learn from his song? How can Simeon's song make a difference in our lives this Christmas season?
Whether we realize it or not, the reality is we've been blessed with, given, and entrusted with a lot; talent, possessions, money, passions. What are we called to do with all that we've been given?
How can you be sure that God is for you and not against you? How can you be sure that God won't abandon you?
Why do we suffer? Is there a reason, or a purpose to our present suffering? What's the difference?
As Christians, we're adopted as children of God...which is great, but why do we still suffer in this life? Where is this all heading and how do we deal with the inevitable pain and suffering of this life?
As Christians, who are we? What does it mean to be adopted as a child of God and how does that affect the life we live?
What does it mean to live according to the flesh and what does it mean to live according to the Spirit? Is it possible that we can find peace when we abandon our desire to live by the flesh and save ourselves?
In Christ, we have been freed. But, what does it mean to experience true freedom? How do we do so?
One of the most difficult questions in life is, "why does God allow suffering?" It's a hard question to answer, especially when you're in the midst of an incredibly painful and trying circumstance.
If God's Word is true...then grace is shocking! Grace is personal and specific to you and where you're at in life.
Persecution is inevitable in this life. Yet, as Christians we're called to react in a new way to the trails, suffering, and persecution of life.
We are all being called by God to step up in some fashion. Whether it be to take on more responsibility as a leader, become a better father or mother, in our careers. Rarely does God call you to stay where you are.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Jesus tells a story about ten virgins waiting to greet the bridegroom at a wedding with burning lamps. While they were waiting, all of the virgins fell asleep. Five virgins came prepared with enough oil in their lamps...
The Parable of The Master and the Servant: Jesus tells a short story to the disciples about a master and his servant. After working a long and tiring day, instead of receiving thanks from the master, the servant is told to prepare dinner for the master.
The parable of the Midnight Caller: Immediately following Jesus' teaching on prayer to the disciples, he tells them a parable of a man that knocks his friend's door at midnight and asks for bread. The man inside answers, "Don’t bother...
The Parable of the Great Banquet: Jesus tells a story of a man who prepared a great banquet. He sent his servant to invite many people, but they all made excuses for why they could not attend. The man became angry with all the excuses and sent his...
The Parable of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast: Jesus tells the story of a mustard seed and relates it to the kingdom of heaven. Though a mustard seed is the smallest of seeds, it grows into a large tree. He continues by relating the kingdom of God to...
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree: Jesus tells a story of a man that plants a fig tree in his garden that doesn't bear any fruit. Frustrated the man tells his gardener to cut the fig tree down, but the gardener pleads with the man to give the...
The Parable of The Laborers In The Vineyard: Jesus tells a story of a landowner who agreed to pay all his workers a daily wage. Some workers worked all day and some only worked for one hour but they all received the same pay. What does this story tell...
The Parable of The Two Debtors: Jesus tells a story of two men who owed a third man money, but neither could repay their debt. Out of the kindness of his heart, the third man forgave the two debtors. In the same way, God freely forgives of of our...
Two men approach God in prayer. One, a religious man, seemingly above reproach that believes he deserves the approval of God. The other, a sinful, despised man who believes he is entirely unworthy of God's approval and begs for mercy. Who walks...
At some point we all encounter circumstances that make us feel stuck, hopeless, and discouraged. The question is, are we willing to wait on God and trust him even when He feels like a distant after-thought?
In this final sermon of the "Heaven Is For Real" series we explore three questions regarding our future home on the new earth: What will heaven (the new earth) look like, What will we do there, and How do we get there?
What happens to the Earth as we know it at the end of time? Does God destroy it, or will he renew it? Are we currently living on the ground that will one day become the new heaven? God is a God of renewal and He's already begun the process of...
We travel through life with varying degrees of pain and confusion, but in the end, what becomes of it all? Is there relief? Will there ever be redemption? We believe yes! We can be confident that because of Christ we can know that all creation, will...
As Christians we live with the hope of the final resurrection; the day when all of heaven and all of earth are made new. Yet, what happens to those that die before the final resurrection? Where do they go when they die, and how does it affect the...
The resurrection of Jesus has implications. Implications for how you view the world, death, and eternity. How you live your life is controlled by what you believe about your future.
The invisible God is made visible through love. Not just in his own love toward us, but in the love that we have for each other. The love that makes God visible to the world rejoices with truth, protects, trusts, hopes, and always perseveres.
Love cannot exist without community. What are the attributes of love that build community within the Church and which ones bust community?
In many ways our culture has blurred and skewed the definition of love. What does the Bible say love is? What kind of love does God have for us, and what kind of love should we have for others?
Of all the things that matter, love matters most. What becomes of us if we use our gifts to serve others, but we use them without love?
How do we participate in building and growing the kingdom of God? What is required of us as a church body to build the local church spiritually and personally?
It isn't a select few that are called to be ministers of the gospel of Christ, we are all called and responsible for carrying out His purpose here on earth. Are you willing?
Why isn't the Church shaping and influencing culture more than it is? Why aren't our spiritual gifts more evident to us, and the world around us?
Is God crafting you, a unique work of art, to have a specific purpose within the world? Why is it important that each one of us uses our individual gifts to make a difference in the world around us?
We all have "giants" in our lives; circumstances that seem impossible to overcome. How, in the midst of our greatest fears, do we have the faith to face the giants?
Why does God give us spiritual gifts in the first place? What are their ultimate purpose and how should we be using them?
What does it really mean to possess spiritual gifts in a needs driven culture? How do we use them to change the world around us instead serving ourselves?
The more possessions we accumulate, the more power they have over us. What are you placing your identity in?
What happens when the storms of life come? What do we do, and what roles do both God and other people play in them?
God becoming man manifest in the person of Jesus Christ is a fairly well known aspect of the Christmas story, but what does it really mean for our lives?
We are sinful people. But are we deceived into thinking that we're less sinful than we really are? What is Jesus' role in our sin and deception?
What would happen if we stopped talking love and actually started doing love? What would that look like?
How is it at all possible for those that are suffering to consider their trails, pain, hurt, and suffering as things to bring them joy?
Freedom can mean many different things to different people. But, what does freedom really mean, and what does it bring with it?
Are our efforts worth it? Does our participation in reaching others with the gospel of Jesus really matter?
Suffering in this life is inevitable. How does your faith prepare you for the suffering you're going to face?
Courage is not a character trait people are born with. When life's disasters come, how do we develop the courage to face them?