Crossing Community Church

"Only God" -- that is the theme of the story of how God has intervened in the life of Linda Brescia. Time after time, Linda shares how circumstances looked impossible in her life only to watch God open doors that she didn't know existed and present solutions no one imagined. Her story is the story of God's faithfulness in her life.

This Sunday, as John Ashton leads us in the Word, we are privileged to have over 100 CEF student workers in our service as they prepare for a week of ministry in the greater Philadelphia area. John teaches us on the ministry of reconciliation and how it is at the heart of the Gospel message as man is reconciled to God. But reconciliation goes further as God expects us to be reconciled to one another as well.

This week one of our student ministry teams did a cardboard testimony sketch before the sermon -- which was a perfect lead-in to Genesis 17. In chapter 17 God restates the nature of his covenant with Abram and even states when the child will be born and that Isaac will be his name. But there's more! God institutes circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Abraham demonstrates how changed lives are shaped by our obedience.

This is the second of a two-part series on the Judgement Seat of Christ. Scott Brubaker highlights how the Apostle Paul's greatest concern was pleasing the Lord Jesus and gaining a "crown that lasts forever." His sermon does a great job of helping Christians understand the eternal value of living an intentional life here on Earth. He breaks it down into three elements: What we do. Why we do it. How we do it. He also touches on the way we view our money and how we do and don't use it in ways that reaps eternal rewards.

Many Christians might appear before the judgement seat of Christ and wonder why they didn't know that the things they did on Earth as a Christian mattered when they arrived in Heaven. In a two-part series, Scott Brubaker unpacks the truths around this significant event that every Christian will experience when they arrive in Heaven. He does a great job at distinguishing between eternal rewards and eternal life and explaining why it matters so much about how we live our earthly lives.

This week our sermon time followed our baby dedication, which is appropriate as we study chapter 16 and Abram and Sarai's ongoing unmet desire for a baby for themselves. But instead of waiting in faith for God to provide, Abram and Sarai took a 'shortcut' to having a child. Shortcuts never work out. They are always our effort to fulfill something that was God's job to begin with. Waiting is never easy, but it's always best!

This week we were blessed to hear the story of God's work in the life of Melissa Ciatto. Melissa is the third in our new series of "Transformed Lives" -- where a member of our church family shares how God has changed their lives. For Melissa, God has been at work through broken relationships and divine friendships to bring her to the place she's at today. Enjoy Melissa's story of God's grace in her life.

Doubting God's promises is an experience every Christian has had. Abram was doing just that in Genesis 15 as he asked God, "How will I know?" The answer God gave Abram is the same answer He gives us today -- "I keep my promises, BELIEVE me."

As we study the life of Abraham, we see how God tested him on multiple occasions. This week Pastor Tim looked at seven of those tests and taught how God uses tests to reveal the areas of our lives we need to grow in and how each test is an invitation to know God at a deeper and more trusting way.

Genesis 14 records the story of Abram rescuing his nephew Lot after being taken captive by invading forces. As Abram brings Lot home along with all the others who were taken captive as well as the possessions take, he is met by the King of Sodom who wishes to reward him. Abram's response has a few teachable moments in it! When we look close enough at how Abram replied we learn how to too can make decisions that will please God.

The story of Lot is nestled into the story of Abraham. He provides drama and intrigue to this portion of Genesis. He is so dramatically different than his Uncle Abraham. And yet, even with all of his bad choices and apparent character flaws, Scripture states that Lot was righteous. And actually, this mixed bag of faith and flaws is exactly what I'm like. What about you?

Abram arrives in Canaan and journeys through the land. Along the way he calls upon God and worships Him until . . . a famine strikes the land! This man of faith now has his faith tested and fails. Instead of relying on the God who brought to this new land he decides to "go down to Egypt" to seek refuge from the famine. This episode of Abram's life is God testing and building the faith he will need when God makes the ultimate request of him -- the sacrifice of Isaac.

How did God Intend to bless "all the families of the earth"? (Genesis 12:3) In Christ! The good news of His death and resurrection was to be spread to all the nations of the earth by His followers. His last words were to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. The ancient promise of Genesis 12 was given hands and feet in Matthew 28!

We were grateful to have Ellin Jones share the story of God's grace in her life on Easter Sunday. She shared an inspiring story of how through life's difficulty a fervent desire to follow Christ and seek His character in her life carried her through each season of life.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ gained more for mankind than can be understood this side of Heaven. But there are three things we can understand and benefit from -- the forgiveness of sins, hope in the midst of trouble and a certainty about the future.

Good Friday was only good for the guilty. The Justice of God demanded payment for sin. So a just and loving God sent His innocent Son to pay the penalty for rebellious mankind. Good Friday was not good for our heavenly Father or for His only Son. But it was good for you and I.

Missionaries & martyrs, simple housewives & students, presidents & pastors -- all of these and thousands more have taken courage from knowing God keeps His promises. This week Pastor Tim teaches through the covenant of Genesis 12:3 and how it impacts our daily life.

From Genesis 12 to Genesis 25 at the time Abraham dies, God is progressively revealing himself to Abraham -- and to us. This week, Pastor Tim looks at each name God uses for Himself to further reveal His character. How is God revealing Himself to you? Where is He leading you as He does so?

Genesis 12:1-5 is one of the most important passages of Genesis, perhaps of the Bible. We see the plan of God unfold through one man -- Abram. God promises blessings to him, his descendants and ultimately to all families of the world. He also promises blessings and curses -- Pastor explains how they are still in place today.

The first entry in our Transformed Lives series is the story of how a good Jewish boy from North Philly came to place his faith in Christ. Larry Newman shared how the events of his children's birth, 9/11 and his wife's unswerving faith brought him to finally trust Christ.