Crossgate Church Podcasts

The Cheerful Giver 6  The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully [ d ]  will also reap bountifully.   7  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.   8  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency [ e ]  in all things at all times, y...

Being spiritually healthy means daily evaluating your heart to see if there is anything hindering growth.   "Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"  Psalm 139:23-24   A heart that is spiritually dead "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.  Or do you not...

THE CORE:  A LETTER TO THE LUKEWARM Revelation 3:14-22   Jesus knows the true condition of your heart. "I know your works:  you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth."  Revelation 3:15-16   "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wre...

Psalm 107 Let the Redeemed of the  Lord  Say So 1   Oh give thanks to the  Lord , for he is good,      for his steadfast love endures forever! 2    Let the redeemed of the  Lord  say so,      whom he has redeemed from trouble [ a ] 3    and gathered in from the lands,      from the east and from the west,      from the north and from the south. 4  Some wandered in desert wastes,      finding no wa...

THE CORE:  WHY WE VALUE COMMUNITY Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18; Acts 2:42-47   WE VALUE COMMUNITY . . .   Because God has created us for community. We are hardwired for relationships with God and with others. To have a relationship with God. "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, after our likeness . . . So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and fem...

THE CORE:  AUTHENTICITY 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 6:3-11; Philippians 3:12-16   AUTHENTICITY'S ENEMY . . . One of the greatest hindrances to authenticity is fear. The fear of being known. The fear of what others might say or think about me. The fear of seeing what I know to be true but don't want to admit. The fear of being rejected.   AT THE CORE OF AUTHENTICITY . . . Authenticity is not...

Psalm 133:1-3 We shall never know the full power of the anointing of God until we are of one heart and one spirit as we learn to forgive. In our lives In our families In His church Ephesians 4:32      Matthew 18:21-35 God calls us to forgive because He has forgiven us and He knows we can never reach our spiritual destiny if we refuse. Forgiveness is not Condoning Reconciling Forgetting A feeling A...

Matthew 28:18-20 1) God's mission is to reach the world.  2) All Christians are called to join God in His mission.  3) Effective Participation in God's mission demands discipline.

PRAYER:  MORE THAN JUST WORDS Joshua 6:1-20   "Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers.  God isn't offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers.  He is offended by anything less.  If your prayers aren't impossible to you, they are insulting to God.  Why?  Because they don't require divine intervention.  But ask God to part the Red Sea or make the sun stand still or float an iron...

THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE . . . There is a daily spiritual battle that you will either engage in or be indifferent "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over...

Matthew 6:5-13   PRAYING GOD'S WORD . . . Powerful and effective prayer is shaped by the abiding word of Christ in you. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."  John 15:7 The desires of your heart will be shaped by the extent of your delight in His word.   God answers prayers that are saturated with the truth of His word. "For all the pr...

Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12b   "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."  Colossians 4:2   " . . . pray without ceasing . . ."  1 Thessalonians 5:17   " . . . be constant in prayer."  Romans 12:12b     GOD'S INVITATION . . . Prayer is God's invitation to enter into His presence.  Everything flows from the presence of God. "You make known to me...

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (ESV) Luke 22:24-26 (ESV) The Gift of Administration leads the church to be a people of order while reminding the church of the God of order. 2 Timothy 2:4 (ESV) 1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV) Psalm 19:1 (ESV) Romans 11:36 (ESV)   Works Cited/Further Reading: ESV Study Bible The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB) "The Spiritual Gift You Don't Notice Until It's Gone" by Trent Hunter "Sc...

SPIRITUAL GIFTS:  PROPHECY 1 Corinthians 14:1-33, 39   YOU MAY HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY IF . . . You have a desire to serve God, empowered by His Spirit, to boldly and fearlessly proclaim God's truth.  You have a sense of discernment and a desire to make people aware of sin in their lives, so they will repent .   You have the ability to easily spot what is wrong and often have to look to find som...

SPIRITUAL GIFTS:  SERVING 1 Peter 4:10- 11; Romans 12:7   "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.  To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. ...

SPIRITUAL GIFTS:  TEACHING Ephesians 4:11; Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:27-31   The spiritual gift of teaching is a gift given and empowered by the Spirit for the purpose of teaching truth with accuracy and in a way that others gain understanding.   YOU MIGHT HAVE THE GIFT OF TEACHING IF . . . You have a strong desire, accompanied by a capable ability, to teach Scripture. " . . . and what you hav...

Romans 12:1-8 (ESV) How the Gift of Mercy edifies the body of Christ:  It reminds the body of God's mercy. Romans 12:1 (ESV) Exodus 34:6 (ESV) "God's mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God." - Charles Spurgeon "There is more mercy in Christ, than sin in us." - Richard Sibbes L...

  YOU MIGHT BE A SHEPHERD IF . . . You are a leader, not a follower. You are people-focused. You are good at creating and cultivating healthy relational You have a strong protective You have a genuine desire to help You are more of a disciple-maker than you realize.   THE GIFT OF SHEPHERDING . . . The one who has a shepherding heart is always leading. Good shepherds consistently point to the green...

SPIRITUAL GIFTS:  EXHORTATION Romans 12:6-8; 1 Timothy 4:13-14a   THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION . . . The gift of exhortation is speaking encouragement or correction, that is intentional and directional, into the lives of others.  It is purposeful, not superficial or empty; it points people to something better and to become better. It is putting handles on the truth so that others know what to do and ho...

SPIRITUAL GIFTS:  EVANGELISM Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13   Categories of Gifts . . . Miraculous gifts Enabling gifts Team gifts   Gifts without Love . . . A deep love for Christ is the source for you to genuinely love others, expressed most visibly and tangibly through how God has gifted you. Your gifts become useless and ineffective if they are devoid of love. "If I speak in the ton...

#DADLIFE Mark 6:30-44   DAD AS A SHEPHERD . . .   "And He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd."  (v. 34) You are like Jesus when you show compassion to those whom God has given you to shepherd.   "And He began to teach them many things." (v. 34b) The greatest need your child has, above all else, is to know the truth about Jesus.   "You give them something to eat...

  WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS? Abilities given by the Spirit of God by grace through which He works for the common good of the body of Christ, for the glory of God.   "A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit to express our faith effectively (in word or deed) for the strengthening of someone else's faith."  John Piper   "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gi...