Crossing Community Church

There is no shortage on books and blogs about how to have a good marriage. But much of what is out there is bad advice based on one person's opinion. This week John Ashton, one of our Elders, pointed us toward one book that has had the same advice on marriage for over 2000 years. John took us to the New Testament instructions to husbands and wives and how both have important roles to play in...

How we interact with each other says a lot to a watching world. One area of note is our relationships. Do they reflect Jesus? Are we different in the way we resolve conflict? Is forgiveness a hallmark of how we treat each other. While the saving message of the Gospel is the core of our message, we don't want our relationships to distract from it. Instead, we want them to attract people to ask...

So often those sins that are so difficult to overcome are ones that remain secret and hidden. God knows that about sin and knows we need His provision to deal with our sin. One of those provisions He made are our fellow Christians. Paul instructs us to bear one another's burdens and James tells us to confess our sins to one another. This week Pastor Tim discusses why these passages are so pow...

This week we had the pleasure of hearing Ruth Hartliep share how God has worked in your life. From multiple moves around the world to different job situations and a growing family Ruth shares how God has met her in every circumstance and each time provided perfect peace. 

No one looks forward to having to talk to someone else about sin in their life. We find all kinds of reasons to not do it. But what if someone was drowning? We would do everything in our power to rescue them. Well a friend in sin is a friend that is drowning. Why are we willing to look away as they 'drown' in their sin? These difficult conversations are one of the many ways God transform...

God places a high value on relationships, on you and I being involved with other people. This week Pastor Tim looked at what we can learn about relationships -- with God and with others -- from the Great Commandment and the Second Commandment in Matthew 22. 

God's Word is useful to us in many ways. Paul sums up perhaps the most important ways in his second letter to Timothy when he says that all Scripture is useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness and then he goes on further to say, "so the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." For those who are serious about being equipped we must rea...

This week Pastor Tim shared a few comments to set the tone of our ministry fair that took place in our morning service. He challenged us to consider two reasons for serving as we toured the different ministry opportunities: Service helps me know and love Jesus better & Service helps the onlooking world see Jesus in us. 

John Ortberg does a great job of highlighting the influence Jesus and His church has had on the world in the last 2,000 years. This week, Pastor Tim challenge us to consider how each of us can continue to carry out the movement to influence the world right were we live, in our local community. 

When Jesus stepped away from the table and began to wash the disciples feet he redefined what it meant to be "God in flesh" --- Because Jesus was God He served! As His disciples, we too must be servants and our service must follow His example. It will be costly and inconveniet to us. It should build up the church and it should exemplify the gospel. 

In the closing session of our 2019 Equipping Conference, Matt Rogers speaks from 1 Peter to demonstrate our great responsibility to diligently pursue God in His Word. He reminds us that God's wisdom cannot be found apart from God's Word and that we will spend the rest of our life mining the glories of the Bible and never hit bottom. God longs to give His people truth as long as they purs...

The emphasis of the 2019 Equipping Conference was equipping ourselves through study of God's Word. To help us focus on that our guest speaker was Matt Rogers, author of "Seven Arrows: Aiming Bible Readers In The Right Direction." Session 1 set the stage for the 7 Arrows study method by reviewing the necessity & benefits of diligent Bible study. 

In session 2 of the 2019 Equipping Conference, Matt Rogers walked us through the first two arrows of the 7 Arrows bible study methodology -- "What does the passage say?" and "What did the passage mean to its original audience?" Matt did a great job of explaining each arrow and provided working examples to help us grasp each step better. 

In session 3 of the 2019 Equipping Conference, Matt Rogers introduced Arrows 3 & 4 -- "What does the passage tell us about God?" and "What does the passage tell us about man?" by walking us through passages using those steps. 

The fourth session of the 2019 Equipping Conference, Matt Rogers introduced us Arrows 5, 6 & 7 -- "What does the passage demand of me?"; How does the passage change the way I relate to people?" and "What does the passage prompt me to pray?" As he had done in the earlier sessions, Matt used practical examples of how to apply each arrow to different passages.

Matt Rogers entertains questions alongside of Pastor Tim & Pastor Steve about how knowing God's Word fits into the life of each disciple of Jesus. 

Being equipped as a Christian means that we become like Jesus, that we grow into the full measure of Him. Many Christians would have you believe they don't struggle in this process, but the Apostle Paul was very real about his struggle. Just read Romans 7! But in the midst of the struggle God gives us grace in overwhelming measure!!

Pay attention to Doug Wright's story as he tells of unique events and times when God intervened and moved in his life. It's especially clear to see how 2 Corinthians 1:4 has been proven true in his life where God uses the circumstances of the Wright family to equip them to help other people go through similar situations. 

Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to represent Him in every arena of our life. What does it look like for us to live our life strategically? This week Pastor Tim shares some examples of strategic living highlighting one story of a strategic ministry that has resulted in three generations of Christians that call Crossing home. 

"Failure to launch" is the phenomenon of adult children that remain living in their parents' basement and don't progress in their natural development -- and it's happening in our churches! Too many Christians are satisfied to remain the basement of our Heavenly Father's house instead of following Him in a life of sacrificial service.  This week Pastor Tim began a new...

How can you and I have peace amidst turmoil? By coming to a deeper understanding that the One who fulfills ancient promises is the one that stands with us when life's circumstances are worrisome and threatening. Michael Breece does a great job of showing the relevance of ancient prophecy to our lives today. 

Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Magi -- all of them had to travel from somewhere to be in Bethlehem for the event we know as The Nativity. The Magi had to travel a great distance. The shepherds not so far. But on this Christmas Eve Pastor Tim challenges us to consider how far we are from Jesus. He is always near. We only have to answer his call to ask Him for the forgivenss of our sins and be...

In Luke 2 the angels announce to the shepherds that they "bring good news of great joy" as they tell them of the birth of Christ. That's great news! But when is good news not good? When it's not delivered. This week Pastor Tim challenges us to consider if we are faith in proclaiming the Good News. 

Imagine there's a gift under the tree with your name on it. Would you leave it there unopened? No, everyone wants to open a gift with their name on it! Unless the gift is Jesus. People throughout the ages have rejected the gift of God in the form of Jesus His Son. Today Pastor Tim discusses the reasons why people reject the gift off God. 

From Genesis 3 to Isaiah 7 to Micah 5 the ancient prophets spoke of one that would come to save the people. When arrived he was rejected. Today, by faith, we look back on Christ's first appearance with saving faith that causes us to look forward ourselves at his second coming when we shall see him face to face.