Cross Church Winnipeg Sermon Podcast

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today...

When we tell the Christmas story, we speak of shepherds, mangers, Wisemen and Angels, but no mentions the Dragon of Christmas. Yes. You heard right. Revelation 12 tells us about the Dragon and his attempt to kill the Baby Jesus. A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pa...

The Magi are interesting men. For many they seem as remote and as enigmatic as Santa Claus. Some see the story of the wisemen as nothing more than mythology that surrounds the Christmas story. But you would be dead wrong if you believe that this is mere fiction. The Magi were a very real class of important men. Magi were called wisemen because they were learned scholars. More than that, they were...

This Week's Message: Word Made Flesh: Part 3 - The Prophet The very last book of the Old Testament, in the last chapter, in the last two verses, we read of the coming of a Prophet like Elijah: “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. After these words are written, there are 400 years of silence from heaven. For 400 years Israel waited t...

Why did Mary have to be a Virgin? Some feel that this is not an important doctrine of the Church. Some believe that in fact Mary got pregnant because of a lack of virtue and holiness. This is the line that many enemies of the church use. Those who would mock Christianity always attack the Virgin Mary as a liar. Matthew 1:23 quotes the prophesy of Isaiah 7:14, which came to us 700 years before the...

John the Evangelist reported that “the Word became flesh”. Matthew the Evangelist begins his Gospel, “This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham.” Mark begins his account with, “This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written…” Finally, Luke begins with the angelic announcement, “Don’t...

Gratitude to God for His provision and mercy and grace is an act of worship that pictures God on His Eternal Throne. It is so easy to forget that you and I are not the centre of the Universe. God is. The Apostle Paul wants Christians to understand the critical importance of seeing God enthroned above the Creation. Self-centredness is to often the lens through which we view God and this life. This...

Paul frames idolatry in ways that most of us have never considered. Paul says, “3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Chris...

Last minute advice is usually brief, authoritative and to the point. How can I live as an authentic Christian? Assuming his audience is actually Born Again with the Spirit of God living in them, the Apostle Paul gives some excellent last minute advice in his letter to the Greek Christians who live in the city of Thessaloniki. He is specifically addressing their personal relationship with God and h...

“Be thankful” (Colossians 3:15) is a recurring exhortation in the letters of the Apostle Paul. 62 times Paul speaks to the theme of thanksgiving. No other New Testament writer gives such a sustained emphasis on Thanksgiving—and yet, major modern studies of Paul fail to grapple with this aspect of Christian worship. Paul’s theology of thanksgiving is deeply embedded in all his letters, and in the g...

Paul tells young Timothy, “God uses scripture to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.” If you are not being prepared and equipped to do God’s work, according to scripture, then you are probably a nominal Christian. Nominal means, “in name only.” Jesus makes a shocking statement in the closing of His Sermon on the Mount: “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the...

Scripture reveals to us God’s will and purpose and is therefore profitable for our transformation. Paul tells Pastor Timothy about the power of the Scriptures to transform us into the image of Christ, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Paul...

Only scripture teaches us—and gives us—the wisdom to embrace salvation through Jesus Christ. Addressing the young Pastor Timothy, Paul reminds him, You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. The Apostle Peter would concur with the Apostle Paul, “For Jesus is the one referred to in the...

Some foolishly wonder if it pays to live the Christian life. Why bother? Wisdom tells us why we ought to pursue the wisdom and fear of God, “Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. 11 Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. 12 Wisdom will sav...

For those who consistently seek God and the Wisdom of Heaven, Solomon declares that God will give great gifts to that person, priceless gifts beyond our comprehension. Wisdom says, “My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek...

Thankfully peace and joy and what we often call “happiness”, is not as elusive as we may think. But if you’re going to be happy, you will have to let go of your pride and be a humble learner. Solomon understands human pride and he continues quoting the words that Wisdom would preach, “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. 29 For they...

Solomon says that Wisdom continues to cry out to us our whole life through. As though wisdom were an actual person, Solomon quotes the words of Wisdom: “I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. 25 You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. 26 So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—...

Solomon makes it very clear that wisdom is not just for the elite and the learned and for people of noble birth. He says, Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. 21 She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: 22 “How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? H...

Solomon continues his warnings against being a fool. He says, “My child, don’t go along with [assassins]! Stay far away from their paths. 16 They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder. 17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. 18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. 19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for m...

Solomon understands too well the temptations that every human experiences. And so he gives warning, “My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! 11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. Think of the great thing...

When we speak of the wise we can’t help but contrast them with the foolish. The foolish stand out like a sore thumb. So often they look foolish and sound foolish and make foolish decisions. But the wise stand out as exceptional. The wise seem to be in another class. Solomon says, “My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. **9** What you learn from the...

Solomon continues with his opening statement about the power of wisdom. He says, “Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. -Proverbs 1:5-...

No one likes to talk about discipline. Discipline is a difficult thing to embrace because it requires personal sacrifice and we by nature are self-centred. We don’t like to be deprived of what we want. Solomon begins the book of Proverbs with these words: “These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand...

Today is the international day of prayer for the persecuted church. Today we are focusing on our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering for their faith and obedience to Christ. There is a saying, “Out of sight; out of mind.” But the scriptures don’t permit us to use this excuse. The author of Hebrews says, “Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those bein...

Pastor Chris Zielke, Discipleship Pastor at Cross Church, shares a special Father's Day message.