Crossing Community Church

Doubt. Fear. Anger. Confusion. Just a few of the emotions Americans experienced as they saw the events of January 6th on the steps of the United States Capitol. For Christians, what are we to make of all this? What is there to learn from this about ourselves and our faith? Today Pastor Tim taught from Psalm 146 to help us find a godly perspective in the midst of the chaos and confusion of the week. 

This week, Nate Garrison taught from 2 Samuel 9 about how God's covenant love for his people is demonstrated in King David's treatment of Mephibosheth, King Saul's grandson. It was typical of the day and time to eliminate all possible threats to a new king, but David kept the covenant he had made with Jonathan, breaking with the tradition of man, but demonstrating the covenant love of God. 

Michael Breece took the pulpit this week and led us in a study of how truly amazing Jesus really was. He takes us through several instances where the Bible records the reaction of those around Jesus as being "amazed" and what that might have meant to them -- and what it should mean to you and I. 

In 1883 the Krakatoa volcano emitted the loudest sound known to man since that day. The facts surrounding that event are truly amazing, so much so that it is hard to imagine it's true. But as hard to believe as that natural event might be, the fact that God, in the person of Jesus His Son, set aside His glory to take on mortal flesh. Pastor Tim teaches from John 1 to remind us of how astonishing the truth of Christ's birth really is! 

"Do not be afraid" is a frequent encouragement found in the Bible. It occurs four times in the Nativity story! This week, Pastor Tim lead us through a study of those passages and how those same words, "Do not be afraid" speak to us and how God's truth and promises are the antidote to our fear. (PS: Daniel was never in the fiery furnace!! It was his three friends!)

This morning we were blessed to have True Light Recovery ministry with us in our service. One of the ladies, Crystal, from True Light shared her story. It's was powerful!! She openly shares her journey from addiction to sobriety and how God has used biblical community to support & guide her along the way.

Genealogies are largely ignored by most readers of the Bible. But we know from 2 Timothy 3:16 that all of scripture is useful for instruction. So what can we learn from this list of names? Plenty! This week Pastor Tim leads us as we dig into that long list of names and helps us to find the eternal value of them!

Just like observing communion is an important reminder for followers of Christ, Christmas can also remind us of some important things about Jesus. This week, Pastor Tim spoke on how Christmas reminds us of the great humility of Christ and how God rarely takes us on the path we think he will lead us down or the one we want to travel. 

The reliability, faithfulness and goodness of God is what sustains us and keeps us in His family. The story here in 1 Samuel 12 is challenging and encouraging one. It reminds us to serve, thank God for His goodness and to not forsake the King for empty stuff that can't deliver. 

The wisdom of God confounds mankind. Even His foolishness is wiser than man's best wisdom! A proper understanding of the wisdom of God will help His disciples find rest and satisfaction in the most difficult circumstances!

It's always great to hear how God has shaped the life of someone. This week we had the great pleasure to hear from Joel Van Sant. Joel was raised in a Christian home and trusted Christ as a young boy.  But it took awhile for him to find direction in his life. His story is one of how family influences our life choices and how God guides us to places where we can be uniquely used by God. (Hint: Joel is a chaplain in a federal prison!)

You can't talk about 2020 without talking about COVID 19. But when we look at this year we have to admit that it was God's provision for our church that stands out! God used the virus to demonstrate His ability to provide in every situation! The highlight of 2020 is not the virus or elections or civil unrest, it's the way God provided -- above and beyond -- before we really understood the needs we had! 

The topic of God's love is vast! Where do you begin to give justice to a topic that is often misunderstood and taken out of context? This morning, our guest speaker, Joel Van Sant, helps us to consider some of the most basic elements of God's love and even at a "basic" overview, we are left in wonder of the depth and breadth of the love God has bestowed on us.  

This summer the streets of our cities have been filled with protestors marching and demanding justice. That desire for justice is something that is found in the heart of every man, woman and child. Why? Because we are formed in the image of God we share his character for wanting to see justice applied to the issues of our world. No where is God's sense of justice seen more clearly than the death of Jesus. God's demand for justice was satisfied in the substitutionary death of Jesus!

Another attribute that only God has, is that He is spirit. No body, Just spirit. It totally aligns with His eternal nature and the fact that He is present everywhere, all the time. Our point of application for this attribute is this -- since God is spirit and with us at all times, what does mean to how and when we relate to Him?

To say that God is sovereign means he has total control over everything. . Psalm 103:19-22 teaches us that He has control over angels, over all creation, over all spiritual principalities, over mankind. So that means He causes all things to happen or He allows things to happen. Today, Pastor Tim helps us understand how God allows things to happen and yet is still in control. He also explains how God uses you and I to fulfil his plans. 

God is near. He is ever present. He is not one to create and step apart from his creation. He knows the names of every star and knows all the birds and creatures of the field. He even knows us in the womb. He is all powerful, yet ever near us. How is that possible? What a great God! Even more, God knows us for who we really are. He knows the darkness of our heart. Knowing that, even before we were born, He still made provision for our salvation at His own expense -- the death of Jesus. 

To say that God is everywhere all the time is an understatement. But to think of Him as being equally and fully present at the farthest reaches of the universe -- billions of light years away -- and with you right now at the same time is mind boggling. What does that mean to us in our day-to-day life?

Throughout the Bible you'll find God referenced as "God Almighty" and every time you read that it's telling us that God is all powerful. Paul writes that God's power is "Immeasurable" and the Psalmist tells us to be in awe of his power. What is truly incredible is that the very power God used to speak the universe into creation, is the power He makes available to us!

"God is good all the time" is more than an often quoted phrase to Carl Payne. It's been the guiding principle of his life. This week, Carl shared how the truth of that phrase served him through his tenure in the military during the Vietnam War, throughout his professional career and later in life in the passing of his wife and more recently when he was diagnosed with malignant cancer.