Crossing Community Church

In session 3 of the 2019 Equipping Conference, Matt Rogers introduced Arrows 3 & 4 -- "What does the passage tell us about God?" and "What does the passage tell us about man?" by walking us through passages using those steps. 

The fourth session of the 2019 Equipping Conference, Matt Rogers introduced us Arrows 5, 6 & 7 -- "What does the passage demand of me?"; How does the passage change the way I relate to people?" and "What does the passage prompt me to pray?" As he had done in the earlier sessions, Matt used practical examples of how to apply each arrow to different passages.

Matt Rogers entertains questions alongside of Pastor Tim & Pastor Steve about how knowing God's Word fits into the life of each disciple of Jesus. 

Being equipped as a Christian means that we become like Jesus, that we grow into the full measure of Him. Many Christians would have you believe they don't struggle in this process, but the Apostle Paul was very real about his struggle. Just read Romans 7! But in the midst of the struggle God gives us grace in overwhelming measure!!

Pay attention to Doug Wright's story as he tells of unique events and times when God intervened and moved in his life. It's especially clear to see how 2 Corinthians 1:4 has been proven true in his life where God uses the circumstances of the Wright family to equip them to help other people go through similar situations. 

Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to represent Him in every arena of our life. What does it look like for us to live our life strategically? This week Pastor Tim shares some examples of strategic living highlighting one story of a strategic ministry that has resulted in three generations of Christians that call Crossing home. 

"Failure to launch" is the phenomenon of adult children that remain living in their parents' basement and don't progress in their natural development -- and it's happening in our churches! Too many Christians are satisfied to remain the basement of our Heavenly Father's house instead of following Him in a life of sacrificial service. This week Pastor Tim began a new series on Crossing's mission statement, "To Be and To Make Committed Followers of Christ." He challenged us to 'move out of the basement' and begin to live lifes with an urgency to follow Christ. 

How can you and I have peace amidst turmoil? By coming to a deeper understanding that the One who fulfills ancient promises is the one that stands with us when life's circumstances are worrisome and threatening. Michael Breece does a great job of showing the relevance of ancient prophecy to our lives today. 

Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Magi -- all of them had to travel from somewhere to be in Bethlehem for the event we know as The Nativity. The Magi had to travel a great distance. The shepherds not so far. But on this Christmas Eve Pastor Tim challenges us to consider how far we are from Jesus. He is always near. We only have to answer his call to ask Him for the forgivenss of our sins and be reconciled to God. 

In Luke 2 the angels announce to the shepherds that they "bring good news of great joy" as they tell them of the birth of Christ. That's great news! But when is good news not good? When it's not delivered. This week Pastor Tim challenges us to consider if we are faith in proclaiming the Good News. 

Imagine there's a gift under the tree with your name on it. Would you leave it there unopened? No, everyone wants to open a gift with their name on it! Unless the gift is Jesus. People throughout the ages have rejected the gift of God in the form of Jesus His Son. Today Pastor Tim discusses the reasons why people reject the gift off God. 

From Genesis 3 to Isaiah 7 to Micah 5 the ancient prophets spoke of one that would come to save the people. When arrived he was rejected. Today, by faith, we look back on Christ's first appearance with saving faith that causes us to look forward ourselves at his second coming when we shall see him face to face. 

The Gospel of Luke tells us that the angel tells Mary twice that she is "highly favored." We typically translate favor as meaning preferential treatment. But in God's economy, His favor often equates the world's disfavor. How do we reconcile this truth? 

Chapters 35-36 wrap up the story lines of Jacob & Esau as God sends Jacob to Bethel. These chapters name the children of each of the brothers and set the stage for the story of Joseph. Throughout these two chapters we find God's patience with Jacob -- over 30 years to bring him to the place of actually becoming the father of the nation of Israel. We see God's forgiveness of Jacob's deception and manipulation as He fulfills ancient promises originally given to Abraham, We see God give Jacob a new beginning with a new name, Israel. But we also see consequences for our actions. 

Luke 7 records the story of the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume that cleans Jesus's feet with her tears and hair while a pharisee looks on with disdain. The woman felt the full burden of her sin. The pharisee was well aware of her sin also, but not his own. So Jesus shares a parable that dramatically compares the woman's gratitude to the pharisee's and reveals she is the one that is truly more righteous. In his sermon, Pastor Tim asked us to look inside and see how much like the pharisee we might be. 

From the brink of divorce and a shipwrecked life, Greg shares how God patiently waited and worked with him to renew his life. Greg says it best when he shares, "The best part of my story is that God has delivered me from my addictions." Greg's story is a great example of how God not only cleans us up from our addictions and destructive behaviors but actually transforms our life. 

Chapter 34 is a transitional chapter in Genesis, moving from the story of Jacob to the story of his children, in particular, the story of the rape of his daughter Dinah. It's in this tragic event that we learn just how much Jacob's flaws have been passed down to his children as Dinah's brothers take revenge on her assailant. In their reaction we have our point of application from this chapter -- exactly what does our circumstances reveal about how much we need to grow in Christ or how much we have grown in Him. FYI: At the 30 minute mark there are comments about something the listener can't hear on the podcast as a phone went off in the service and the owner couldn't turn it off. 

This week we were pleased to welcome an old friend and co-laborer in the Gospel to Crossing as Val A. provided an update on her ministry and how God is at work not only in the city where she lives but also around the world. 

Jacob had several memorable life events, but perhaps the most notable of them is the sleepless night he had on his way home just before meeting his brother Esau. God interrupts his sleep and wrestles with him through the night. It's not until Jacob is helpless that God blesses him. This week Pastor Tim challenged us to take our hands off our life circumstances and trust God with them and allow Him to prove Himself faithful. What life circumstance are you wrestling with that you need to let God take care of?

Genesis 31 reveals Jacob's spiritual growth as God calls on him to return home after serving Laban for 20 years. Our text reveals two things about God -- His constant grace and forgiveness as he calls wayward Followers back to Himself and the manner that He does that by using circumstances to awaken our hearts to listen to him through His Holy Spirit and His Word.