Crossing Community Church

As Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount he offers one last parable or story about two men who build houses. One builds on sand and the other builds on rock. One house stands and one doesn't when the storms hit. While Jesus is talking about houses he explains that he is really talking about true discipleship and that a true disciple will be able to last the storms of life -- because true disciples, not only hear the teachings of Jesus, they obey them. 

As Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount, he lays down a last series of tests of true discipleship, saying that few will follow, that we can know true prophets/teachers by their fruit and that not all who 'profess' Christ, know Christ. His encouragement to follow the narrow way and to monitor what we listen to and read and finally the truth of our profession boils down to certainty & purity of our calling!

"Ask, seek, knock" sounds like a sure plan to get what ever we want from God. But that would reduce him down to the status of a mere genie and strip him of his sovereignty and compassion. One might get all they want, but they would fall short of becoming more like Christ.In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus highlights what a good father he is and how blessed we are to be adopted into his family. His teaching challenges us to see all that comes from his hand as a blessing and not a curse -- to see hardship as bread and not a stone.  

"Judge not, lest you be judged."  These six words comprise what is widely considered to be the most misused verse in the Bible. Most believe it means that it's wrong to judge others. But that is not the case. Instead, the passage teaches us how to rightly judge others and that begins with judging ourselves first!

As Jesus continues to teach his disciples what it means to be a citizen of his new kingdom, he challenges them about what is of first importance to them and in no uncertain terms, promises that if they make his kingdom first priority, he will meet their needs. 

Behold The Man! Today in our Resurrection Sunday service, Pastor Tim explored what it would mean if Christ had not risen from the grave. 

Behold The Man -- In His Triumphal Entry It seems simple enough. A man rides on a donkey into a city. What is there to celebrate? But if that man is one who does miracles and when that man rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, there is much to consider! Today, Pastor Tim leads us through a study of the Old Testament background of kings and donkeys and prophecy and the understanding that all that points to Jesus as being a king. We also discussed how Jesus came with different expectations than the people had. They wanted their temporal needs met, Jesus had eternal goals and expectations. And when those expectations collided, it revealed the true nature of the people's heart -- it reveals the true nature of our heart. 

Behold The Man!Today we begin a short series focusing on the events of the passion of Christ. For the first week we look at the Messiah foretold in prophecy, specifically Isaiah 53. In this passage, Isaiah points us to the man we would not notice, to the man we would not look at, to the man we cannot look away from!

2022 Bible Conference Session 3 -- Joy in the GospelWe are pleased to welcome Pastor Ron Schmidt to our church for our annual Bible Conference. This year's theme is Joy from the book of Philippians.In Session 3, Pastor Ron explained how the Gospel sets us free to enjoy true joy that we cannot experience apart from Him. 

2022 Bible Conference Session 4 -- Joy in AdversityWe are pleased to welcome Pastor Ron Schmidt to our church for our annual Bible Conference. This year's theme is Joy from the book of Philippians.In Session 4, Pastor Ron shows us from Philippians 4 how joy is an outgrowth of a grateful heart!

2022 Bible Conference Session 1 -- Joy in AdversityWe are pleased to welcome Pastor Ron Schmidt to our church for our annual Bible Conference. This year's theme is Joy from the book of Philippians. In Session 1, Pastor Ron focuses on how Paul experienced joy even in adversity and how we can do likewise. 

2022 Bible Conference Session 2 -- Joy in HumilityWe are pleased to welcome Pastor Ron Schmidt to our church for our annual Bible Conference. This year's theme is Joy from the book of Philippians.In Session 2, Pastor Ron teaches how humility is an essential ingredient for us to experience joy in our lives. 

Colin Earle shared today about his spiritual journey from being an atheist, proud of his accomplishments, devoted to power, materialism and pleasure to becoming a devoted follower of Christ. The journey from atheism to Christianity took many years beginning in Canada, going through Australia and ending in Arizona and all along the way God had strategically placed people who were instrumental in helping him grow in his understanding of the Bible and who Jesus was. 

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus continues his teaching about how to live as citizens of the kingdom of God. This week Pastor Steve looks at three areas that reveal the heart: our values, perspective, and devotion.

This week, Pastor Tim addressed the next two topics in the Sermon on the Mount, seeking the approval of others over God's approval and the absolute importance of forgiving others in our life. 

In a world fractured by divisions, death, sickness, politics and war where do we put our trust and what is that important? Psalm 2 teaches us all where our trust should ultimately lie and that is in King Jesus. 

Today Pastor Tim preached part two of his sermon covering the Lord's Prayer and explains how the prayer that Jesus taught the disciples is a template for how we can pray to Him everyday of our lives. 

Charlene learned about God, the Ten Commandments and sin at any early age. Luckily, she also learned about the grace of God and the forgiveness found in a relationship with Jesus early in life as well. Her faith in Christ took away the insecurity and fear she was experiencing. Jesus gave her security. That lasted until her college years when, as happens to many, she found herself far from the faith of her childhood. But in a new friendship at a new job, that faith was rekindled. When speaking of her marriage, she says, "We loved each other but didn't know how to love each other." But it's been in the community of faith that she and her husband have learned how to do that. Enjoy the story of her faith journey! 

Pastor Tim leads us through Matthew 6:5-13 today. This passage deals with the motives of prayer and the means of prayer -- the why and the how. Spoiler alert! The why of prayer is because we are in relationship with our Heavenly Father, a Father who knows our needs and is able to meet them. When we come to Him rightly, we come to Him in need. But as we study the Lord's Prayer further, we also see  that we come to Him in praise!!

In Matthew 6:1-4 Jesus begins to address the motives for our actions -- why we do what we do and what we hope to gain. He tells the disciples that doing anything for the praise of men is pointless but doing things to please God results in rewards in heaven. Pastor Tim addresses what causes us to want the praise of men more than the praise of God as well as the concerns many have with seeking rewards in heaven.