Crossing Community Church

Genesis 30 records the controversy between Jacob's wives as well as the controversy between Jacob and his father-in-law, Laban. While living life for over 14 years far away from home, under the dominance of a deceptive father-in-law and jealous wives, God is at work, changing Jacob and shaping him for the role he will have a father of a new nation. God is at work in your life as well in the mundane days of your life. Take encouragement!

"Ok Lord, I'm yours." With those words Bud Ciotti trusted Christ with his life. But when you listen to Bud's story you can trace God's hand throughout his life. From being an "average everyday punk" through his years in the Navy into beginning a family and suffering the loss of infant twins -- God was instilling a "drumbeat" in his heart that still shapes and influences his life to this day. 

Tim Keller, in his book "Conterfeit Gods", writes that Leah is the 'greatest casualty' in Genesis 29. This week Pastor Tim Shared some of Keller's insights and related them to our everday life -- always wanting Rachel, but waking up with Leah. 

In one of many fascinating stories in Genesis, Jacob is deceived into marrying the wrong woman. He confronts Laban by asking, "Why have you deceived me?" Seven years earlier Jacob had been the deceiver as he stole his father's blessing from Esau. Now Jacob's father-in-law has dealt falsely with him and denied Jacob what he wanted. The seeds of deception Jacob had sown finally produced fruit as Laban deceives him!

David Nelson, Founder and President of Crossing Cultures International (CCI), was with us again but this time he brought friends! David had five men that serve as ministry coordinators and church planters from Southeast Asia with him in our service. We had the great opportunity to hear how each of them came to Christ and how God was working in their ministry and their homeland.

Genesis 28 closes with a statement by Jacob that begins with the word "If" (verse 20). Some interpret this statement as Jacob laying down conditions on God in order for Jacob to serve Him. Others understand the passage as Jacob declaring his loyalty because of God's promises to him. Which "IF" are you? Will you only serve God if He meets your conditions. Or do you serve God because of His promises and goodness to you?

Greg Shipley has a way of speaking that is equal parts winsome and raw honesty. He's the latest Crossing person to share how God has been at work in their life. He boiled down the main points of his testimony to: I'm still a sinner; Life is not a bed of roses; this world is not my home. Enjoy hearing the story of God's work in Greg's life!

One of the most heartbreaking stories from Genesis is the treachery of Jacob to steal Esau's blessing from Isaac. Esau's emotion jumps off the page at you. But many, if not most of us, have experienced similar agony. Some people seem to live a life of lingering agony as they seek to fill the heartache and pain of their life with things of the world -- things that only cause more pain. Psalm 46 instructs us to "Be still" and let God be God in our live. Let Him deal with our loss and sorrow as only He can.

Genesis 25 records the birth of Isaac's sons Jacob and Esau. Their relationship is 'unique' from the beginning! It's easy to find the fault in both of them. But is it as easy to see how we can be like them as well?

Genesis 24 is the story of Abraham sending his servant on a mission to find a wife for his son, Isaac. But built into the story of a servant on a mission are two things: #1 - Abraham's servant is a great model for us as we serve Christ. We can learn alot from him. #2. Even though the servant had a job to do, God was at work every step along the way with him -- as He is with us!

Raised in a Buddhist home in South Korea, MinSoo Bossard was never taught about Jesus -- except for one time! She happened upon a man teaching children about Jesus and giving away pamphlets about Him on the street one day. Looking back MinSoo believes that is the day she first heard about the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus. It wasn't until she moved to the United States and enrolled at Penn State University that she encountered Jesus again. It was there during her studies at the university that she came to faith in Christ. Enjoy her story of transformation!

Recent news headlines have carried the headlines of church leaders who have failed in their duties to shepherd their flocks. Christians look at these leaders and are bewildered by how such moral failures could come about. As you read the stories there is one factor that continues to surface -- the lack of accountability. The lack of people that these leaders had to answer to on a regular basis for the way they lived their lives. But it's not just our leaders that need this type of accountability. ALL of us do. Who are you accountable to?

While the obvious sins of Abraham's life was only a few and not terribly obvious, the sins of his sons and grandsons where. Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Ishmael, Judah, not to mention Rebekah, Leah and Rachel. They all committed terrible sins. But for many of us, that is just real life -- that is our life. Today's message vividly points out the way our sins trickle down to our children but there is hope -- "But God!"

We are true worshipers only because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Nestled in the story of God's call to Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac, is the statement in Genesis 22:5 where Abraham says that he & Isaac are going up on the mountain "to worship" and "we will return." Today in our sermon we explore how the essence of worship is sacrifice and the deep faith Abraham had learned in all the years since God's original call on his life in Genesis 12.

Do you ever wonder why God made Abraham & Sarah wait so long for Him to fulfill his promise? Do you ever wonder why you are waiting so long for something you have been praying for? It's not that God has forgotten you. It's not that he is ignoring you. It's just the opposite. Every minute, every second that Abraham and Sarah waited on God to fulfill His promise of a son was packed with eternal purpose and intent. And the same thing is true for you. Take heart, God is at work in your life even when you can't see it!

Jeremy Bossard was raised by godly parents and attended church growing up. But that is no guarantee about what to expect as one becomes their own person as they begin to leave home and learn life lessons for themselves. While Jeremy had a firm foundation, it was his years in college when his personal discipleship really took off and he learned to make the faith of his family his own. We're thankful for Jeremy and his story of how God has and is transforming his life!

The right way to understand Scripture is not to look at every passage as a stand-alone story but to seek to understand the story in the context of the bigger story of the Bible. That was the goal of our sermon this week as we read of Abraham's deceit about Sarah being his wife. Why is it important for us to know this story? What is there that we can learn from this story that we can apply to our lives today?

In Genesis 18 God pays a visit to Abraham and Sarah and once again confirms the promise of a son to them. But as Sarah hears that she is to give birth, she laughs to herself in disbelief. God addresses her doubt by asking if anything is too difficult for Him to do. It's a great question! One that applies to your life today!

What is freedom? Most identify it as no limitations or the ability to do what you want. But the greatest freedom comes in the context of a relationship with Christ and in Christ, we are not free to do as we please. We are free to serve others, which means a great deal of self denial. What does it mean to be free in Christ then? Todd Domke walks us through an understanding of the freedom we have in Christ.