Crossroads Bible Church Podcast

The early church was committed to steadfastly continue in prayer. If we as a church today believe that we should pray, what keeps us from praying? - WE DON'T KNOW HOW. Prayer can be taught & learned. Jesus taught His disciples to pray. - WE CAN BE LAZY. Not wanting to put in the time & effort. - WE WANT TO BE INDEPENDENT. Pride won't pray, it doesn't need God. Humility prays, it's dependent on God. - WE THINK IT DOESN'T MATTER OR MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Active, working & functioning prayer - it gets the job done! Keep praying! It matters! It makes a difference! Our prayers are filling the golden bowls in heaven. The goal in prayer is to align our hearts with God and to know what to pray. "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three y

Prayer came first. Then 3,000 souls were added. Prayer makes a way! It is the plow in the ground that comes before everything that God wants to do in the earth. Jesus instructs us - ASK and KEEP ASKING, SEEK and KEEP SEEKING, KNOCK and KEEP KNOCKING. God is GOOD, and gives good things to those who ask Him. We must not quit. We must keep praying. "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." Acts 1 : 14 NKJV “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Matt 7 : 7 - 11 NKJV SER

Even in the midst of life, the demand of people - we can still have more to pour out, like Jesus, not in our own strength, but our source has got to be Jesus. We must reach out in faith, believing, even when it feels like it's been a long time of waiting. In the wait, we must trust that God is working. Know Your Source. Keep the Faith. & Don't Lose Heart. So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. Luke 8:40 The Roads Church https://theroads.church

What did the first church in Acts 2 think was important? SOULS God doesn't just want people who attend and sit in a church, looking for an outward touch, with no inward change. HE WANTS SOULS! Those that receive and believe. Those are the ones added to the Church. The ones being saved. And the purpose of the Church is to link people together with Jesus, and continue to grow in Him based on the 4 Pillars of the Church: 1) Apostle's Doctrine - didachē - Instruction, teaching 2) Fellowship - kŏinōnia - Close mutual relationships and involvement 3) Breaking of Bread 4) Prayers - prŏsĕuchē - To speak to God "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them." Acts 2:41 SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49377555 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

We need to step up, and step into the Promise-land of what God is calling us to do. We were made for hard things. Things bigger than ourselves. Like the children of Israel who thought it'd be better to go back to Egypt than going after what God had promised them, we can sometimes get overwhelmed and take a step back, but be encouraged - you have a God that created the heavens and the earth that is on your side. He will not leave nor forsake you. When we don't go after everything the Lord has for us - we're actually rebelling against Him. Numbers 13:25-33, 14:1-4, Hebrews 10:39, John 3:1-6, Romans 12:1-2 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

There is a reason God told us to fast. When we consecrate or set apart our normal activity, schedules and eating for God to fast, conquering our flesh from ruling us, to consume more of Him in our life, it opens up freedom in the spirit. We can pray without fasting, but we shouldn't fast without praying. “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49370173 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

We are to continue steadfastly in the Four Joints of Building The Body of Christ. Joint # 3 - THE BREAKING OF BREAD 1) COMMUNION - the body & blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 6 : 48 - 51) 2) EATING TOGETHER - in the temple & house-to-house, the body of Christ must gather & fellowship 3) READING THE WORD - Encountering Jesus in the revelation of The Word "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.: Acts 2:42 NKJV SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49362570 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

God desires to take people higher. There are many accounts in scripture where God invites people to "come up" to Him, to ascend the "mountain." It's at this higher place where He meets with people, where there are encounters, where people receive wisdom and revelation. What we know is that going higher, always requires effort and testing. It's the journey that changes you. Are you ready to prepare for the climb? 1. You must acknowledge your current position. 2. You must prepare for the journey. 3. You must climb. 4. Prepare for hard conversations. 5. Get ready to encounter God. There should be fruit as you journey. God is inviting you higher! He loves you and wants more for you. Are you ready to climb? Matt Scott is the founding pastor of The Gathering Place Church in Moody, Alabama, and is an Overseer of The Roads Church, providing spiritual oversight to the church in a variety of ways in leadership decision making and accountability matters. https://gpchurch.tv/ The Roads Church - https://theroads.c

Fellowship - kŏinōnia - Close mutual relationships and involvement; partnership, participation; sharing in activities or privileges of an intimate association We are to "continue steadfastly" in Fellowship - both horizontally - with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and vertically with the Father and Jesus. And this is that "your joy may be full." Vertical Fellowship - We are not called merely into a relationship ABOUT JESUS; we're called into a kŏinōnia WITH JESUS. We are called to partner with, participate with, involved with Jesus in an intimate relationship. You cannot have faith outside of the revelation that Jesus living in you is greater than he who is in the world, and then you can release faith through Jesus living in you. Horizontal Fellowship - Who you fellowship with MATTERS! We have been called to horizontal kŏinōnia that goes out into the world that is so connected to Jesus that He in us will draw people to Him. When we partner with people who are connected to Jesus who prays for us, who en

All of our theology & doctrine will be based on scripture. We will continue steadfastly in all three biblical teachings of the Apostle's Doctrine: 1) The doctrine of Baptism of Holy Spirit & Fire (Acts 1:4) - Believers need power. 2) The doctrine of Signs & Wonders (Acts 2:43) - They were done through the apostles. God wants to work signs and wonders through YOU, through the power of the Spirit of God to flow through. 3) The doctrine of Authority of the Believer (Mark 1:21-28) - Jesus has given us the authority over ALL the power of the enemy. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16 SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49352302 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

Church growth is about each of us growing in our relationship with Jesus, with the joints of the body in place both collectively and in our lives individually. And then as followers of Jesus, we must be willing to testify about our relationship with Jesus and what He is doing in our life. Our testimony should exhort/urge other people to take action and do something with it. TESTIFY & EXHORT! Let me tell you about Jesus! "A person with an argument is not match for a person with an experience." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Acts 2:40 SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49347598 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

All five gifts found in Ephesians 4 - apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher - were given to the church for equipping the body for the work of ministry. We are not equipped for ourselves. We are equipped to minister for the benefit of others, for the building up and fitting of the body of Christ. You can be attached to a body, and not be attached to a head. It's called a CORPSE. Sometimes people are attached to a body, attending a church, but if we're not attached to the head, we will not be fully alive and functioning. We are all part of the body, with different assignment. We all need one another. We will not be equipped or fit, without all the gifts of the body of Christ operating. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure

In order to move out of religion into revelation, we must "Think Kingdom!" from performance to presence. from entertainment to encounter. from attendance to activation. from consumerism to co-laboring. from production to reproduction. from playing to praying. from America to Antioch. Jesus did not die for us to attend a church and make it a compartment of our life. Church and religion will program you. WE HAVE TO DETOX! We have got to become like the church in Antioch. We need a Kingdom paradigm. We've got to delete what we know and what we've seen and witnessed, and say, "Lord we need a Bible revival." We need to practice scripture and not just quote it. The Roads Church: https://theroads.church Paul T. Johnson Ministries: https://www.paultjohnson.org/

Something bigger than us, not “OF” us, was given to us so that God can do things that are bigger than us through us. God wants us to understand the significance of what He's given us. Church is never just ME & JESUS. The Church is a body, and we need each other. Gifts were not given to promote our independence, but rather to operate together as one body. When every part does it's share, it causes growth and edifies the body of Christ, and builds it up. "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift." Ephesians 4:7 "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." I Peter 4:10 SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49339229 THE ROADS CHURCH: https://theroads.church

"You are the body of Christ, and members individually." Everyone has a calling or invitation to walk into God's direction for their life. We have been bought with a price, and we no longer belong to ourselves, but they are legally God's, and He determines what we do with our lives. Too many times we ask the Lord to bless our life decisions. It's so important as Christians to know the purpose God has for our lives living it in alignment with your calling - everywhere you go. We can jump out of our calling because we lack lowliness, gentleness, longsuffering and bearing with one another. How long do we endure suffering? As long as it takes to become like JESUS! "WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING WITH WHICH YOU WERE CALLED!" Eph 4:1 SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49334497 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

We think our ministry is about us, but our ministry according to God's standard is what you are supposed to do to serve and help and bless others. You and I all have an assignment to serve other people, and God is saying, "Fulfill your ministry!" He's given all of us gifts and talents for one reason - to bless other people! We're going to have to make an account for what we do with all that He's given us. Jesus is coming to settle accounts! II Timothy 4:1-5, Romans 14:12, Matthew 25:14-19, Revelation 3:11-12, Ephesians 4:7-16 SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49331194 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

There's a fighting style for us to learn. Float like a butterfly - SURRENDER. Sting like a bee - FIGHT. We always want the Joshua 6 moment, but not so much the Joshua 5 moment. In order for Joshua to get instruction, he had to get on his face, take off his shoes in surrender. We have to surrender every day, picking up our cross, even when the plan is weird. Joshua 5:13:15, 6:1-5, Daniel 10:5-11, Revelation 22:8-9, Exodus 3:4-5, Matthew 16:24, Luke 22:42 The Roads Church https://theroads.church

The Son of God, the Son of Man will appear in the Eastern sky, right before our eyes. And BAM! In a moment, we will be changed from mortal to immortal, from dying to never dying. There is a day coming that Jesus will appear, and He will sit on His throne, and like a shepherd, He will separate the sheep from the goats. We will give an account to Jesus for our life lived unto Him. We've all been given an assignment from God to PREACH, to DECLARE the WORD! We must be more concerned about someone's eternity than we are about our feelings. We must teach the truth publicly, whether it's convenient and favorable, or it's inconvenient and unfavorable, whether culture says it's good or not. Jesus is coming back! Is Jesus the King of your life? When He separates you, will He separate you as a sheep or a goat? Be READY! PREACH THE WORD! STICK TO THE TRUTH! SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49322364 The Roads Church https://theroads.church

GO FIND SOMEONE & TELL THEM TO COME & SEE JESUS! Roads Church - we must not neglect our assignment that God has given to plant churches. Time is running short, and people need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the power of Holy Spirit. The world needs the truth! God is reminding us - Don't forget what you were called to do! FIND someone who hasn't seen what you've seen, and SHOW them what you've seen! That they may never un-see! We have to find people, and give them the hope of Jesus Christ. This is why God has called us to go out and plant churches and to reach people in other communities. It's not about us! We're building His Kingdom - not ours. Who is the last Nathaniel that you've said, "Come and see what I have seen about Jesus. He has changed my life"? Who is the last Philip, the last Simon, the last Nathaniel that you've brought to see Jesus? The Roads Church https://theroads.church

Church we have taken scripture that was meant for a specific people, with a specific issue, during a specific time, and used it in 2024 as God's law, rather than recognizing it is the law and tradition of man. There are no laws according to God that says that women cannot speak in church. Paul did not contradict himself in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 and chapter 11. Women - you have the same access & right to the promises of Abraham as heirs of Christ, as the men do. We must stop comparing ourselves with one another, pushing one another down. We must be secure in who we are in Christ. Be secure Woman! Be Secure Man! You must be who God called you to be. SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49317241 https://theroads.church