The Crossing Church Sermons

Continuing our series we consider the question: Why do some denominations obey some biblical laws and traditions, about how to dress and eat, while others don't?

Seeking to understand Scripture and how it answers the questions of life goes beyond theological information. God speaks to all of life. Marriage is his creation and it points us to his goodness and grace. Let us consider what it means to be married before God.

Often there seems to be opposition between science and faith, but upon better consideration we find they overlap. In deed, they support one another. Listen in as we answer this week's proposed question of how Christianity and Science are not mutually exclusive.

There is much to say concerning racism, but it is imperative we center the discussion around gospel truth. In this way we can see how God created us, ways we're broken by sin, and how we have been redeemed. Then we move to action as the people of God on the mission of God. We have hope knowing Christ restores all things.

Question #4 in our series - If God is sovereign, how much freedom do we have as humans? How do we live with the tension of God's Sovereignty and our responsibility to make real choices? How do we not fall into passivity or paralysis but live with prayerful hope?

Does the Bible clearly teach that faith in Jesus alone is how we enter Heaven and avoid God's wrath? Is Christianity alone exclusive? What is so special and significant about Jesus?

The world is full of suffering and evil as a result of sin. God knows all things. Why then did he create us, knowing we'd sin, and knowing he'd have to die to save us?

How can we trust the Bible is God's Word and not just a book written by men? How were the Scriptures written? How were they compiled? Why some books and not others? Who made those decisions? If we don't have the originals, can we trust it's been copied accurately? What level of confidence that the Bibles we read today is what God has intended for us to have to know and love Him?

To begin a series built around questions we've gotten from friends who have questions, we start with answering the question - why even go to the Bible at all for answers? And when we do, how do we understand and apply what we find to all of life?

Every single human is created in the Imago Dei, Image of God, and therefore is sacred, valuable, and worth our engagement in mission from conception to final breath. What does that mission look like in everyday life?

Racial Reconciliation is central to the heart and mission of God.

If we understand prayer is an exercise of our faith then it stands to reason that our faith is lacking when our prayers are. This message serves to encouraging and equip us as we consider the importance of prayer in all of life but especially for the mission.

Starting off a new year by considering the value of God's Word for individual spiritual health, health of the church, and for the sake of the mission. It come down to knowing it, believing it, and surrendering to it.

Finishing up our We consider what makes such and ordinary night so holy, and we take a look at the complicated history of one of the worlds favorite Christmas songs.

As one of the Church's oldest Christmas hymns, "O Come O Come Emmanuel" leads us, both melodically and lyrically, to rejoice in our sure to come savior, Jesus Christ, as he will finally and completely one day restore our broken world as promised and deliver his people to himself for all eternity.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen calls us to rest in the beauty of our salvation. It reminds us of how God saves us from our sin, saves us to proclaim this good news to those around us, and saves us to enjoy him for eternity. In this we find rest.

This Christmas Hymn, written by Charles Wesley, is packed with theological depth, yet it sings as a prayer. A prayer that speaks to the longing of the Old Testament saints awaiting a Savior. We sing it today with the knowledge that he has come, yet we long for his return. This truth fills us with hope and frees us from fear.

O Come all Ye Faithful is a Christmas song written to call God's people to come and see, savor, and adore who Christ is - Truly God, Truly Man. A babe in the manger? Yes. King of the Universe? Yes. To see and adore Him is to love and honor Him with intense devotion. Join us in doing that in all of life.

Paul concludes his letter to the church in Corinthian with a variety of instructions about the work in Corinth and the Lord's word in a variety of places in and through a variety of people. Through it all we see an overall pattern of submitting our plans to God's will and letting everything be flavored by love.

We've considered the necessity and implications of the resurrection. Now Paul presses the point further as he encourages Corinth to have great hope even without all the answers. Listen in as we discover how we too benefit greatly from this hope.

When we consider the resurrection of the dead it is vital we understand the implications if we dare to dismiss it as a reality. Moreover, once we understand the implications it would behove us to consider whether or not we actually believe.

Through the Gospel - Christ crucified, buried and risen - God has created a people who have graciously received, believed, stand in and hold fast to this powerful transforming gospel. Unless, we have believed in vain. The hope for even those is still God's gracious good news.

Paul begins to close out this letter to the church of Corinth by reminding them of something that is of First Importance - the gospel of Jesus Christ. Who Christ is and what Christ has done lays the foundation and flavors every single aspect of who we are (identity) and what we do (mission). Let's spend time focusing on the incredible reality of the death and resurrection of Christ.

There isn't a dogmatic way in which church gatherings must be conducted, but for the sake of edification there is a need for order. At the end of 1 Corinthians 14, Paul gives us an idea of what that order is.

Paul writes of how prophecy and tongues are gifts of the Spirit, but it is prophecy that edifies the whole church. Indeed, all gifts should be used in love for the edification of the church to the glory of God.