Crossway Christian Church

We live in the end of days. While there is much to be said for this, it is clear that we are not alone in thinking so. We often say this, in Scripture, about the fact that the last age is here, that Jesus has come, died, and been resurrected, and will one day come again for his bride. But, many use the term in another way, thinking not just that we are in the last epoch, but in the very last days,...

Justice gets much focus today. Many speak of justice for the oppressed, others for the upholding of order in our streets. But, even in the best of cases, we ought to humbly admit that we do not have all the information that we need to understand the events perfectly; that our justice, even when blind, is still partial and ignorant. Yet, there is a perfect justice, given by one who sees all and kno...

We often speak of the need to read both broadly and deeply in the Bible. Reading widely takes in large portions of Scripture at a time. Doing so gives you a good understanding of the layout and structure of Scripture; it's big patterns and major ideas. But we also need depth. This means looking closely at texts, taking in and thinking through every blessed word saved for us by the Spirit, that we...

We have come to the end of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. It is a tremendously positive letter, filled with love and encouragement. Nevertheless, Paul does have instruction and admonition for the young congregation. Here, Paul rifles through final exhortations, leaving for the Thessalonians a compendium of items that they need to pursue. We would do well to listen to this list, to pursue thes...

This week, even today, we remember the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Perhaps these two events, as well as a smattering of others, have prompted our great desire to think about and ponder the end of the world. Yet, our generations are not the first to be preoccupied by such things. For Christians, these “things” primarily swirl around the return of the Lord – when and how he will return for hi...

Death is hard to reckon with. It is a great unknown, and brings in its wake trepidation and uncertainty. We will face it someday, and probably have already faced it as we have lost others. The Thessalonians have great cause for grief, as several of their own have died. Their grief, however, is somewhat misplaced, and their misunderstanding is causing them harm. Today, Paul seeks to encourage the T...

Love is not an off-shoot of the Christian life; an accidental by-product of Christ’s sacrifice for us. Rather, it stands as the center of our whole purpose and being. Of all the things to be applauded for, the Thessalonians find themselves to have gotten the major parts right: they need no instruction about brotherly love. Yet, Paul is not out of words to say to them, as he will press them to exce...

Our culture is always standing against God. One of the chief ways in which many of us see this today is in its attitude towards sex. All things, they say, are good so long as it is consensual, and no physical harm comes to others. It is, after all, a private matter. As Paul seeks to lead the Thessalonian church in such matters, he confronts just such opinions. Sex is, in Christian understanding, t...

We live in an age when good news seems mighty hard to come by. What's more, we live in an age when good news is hardly waited for. If we want to hear from our loved ones, they are hardly ever more than a button push away. We find the lag time on email difficult to bear, let alone letters that need to be physically delivered. Paul had no such luxuries. He likely waited for months for the news of th...

There are many passages to think through when elders are being considered. Of course, 1 Timothy 3 comes to mind, but others are just as important. 1 Peter 5; Titus 1; even OT passages relating to the failure of Israel's shepherds and the calling of Peter to "feed my sheep" by Christ are worthy of our consideration. Yet, I have always been drawn to the brief yet wisdom filled Hebrews 13:17. This on...

We always have much to learn from Paul’s life and ministry. There is treasure in his theology, his grasp of the Old Testament, and his understanding of the church, to mention only a few. Yet, we have much more to learn from Paul than simply what was stuffed in his head – we ought to also learn about that which filled his heart. Paul lives consistently: his confession matched his practice. But he d...

Sermon Audio from Crossway Christian Church

Paul lived a certain kind of life. No doubt, he knew not everyone was cut out for that kind of life. He had a calling, a gifting placed upon him before he was ever born. Yet, while we might not have the same calling and gifting that Paul had, it is clear that much of the way that he lived his life was shaped and fashioned by the same thing that our lives should be shaped by: the gospel. Today we s...

Sermon Audio from Crossway Christian Church

We are told by our Lord that our mission in the world is to make disciples. Yet, for many of us, this is a task that is done best by the professionals. Pastors, teachers, missionaries: these are the ones who are really expected to make disciples. Yet, in this small overlooked book we find a young church that nevertheless flourishes not only in being disciples, but in making them as well. Their exa...

We at Crossway have rightly used the phrase, "the gospel is Trinitarian, and the Trinity is the gospel." We believe that the gospel is ultimately about God revealing himself and showing his mercy to sinners for his glory. Here, we come to a passage in John that will help us see that the gospel is indeed, rightly understood, standing as the center and foundation of our salvation.

Sermon Audio from Crossway Christian Church

The church is left with a daunting task - to persuade a world that hates God and loves their sin to leave their sin and love God. How are we to persuade the world to give up what they love and embrace that which they despise? What logic, what reasons, what beauty can we portray to the wide world that might lead them to Christ? There is none, really. No mixture of words, no special music, no stirri...

Today, we look at John 13:21-30, as Jesus predicts Judas' betrayal of him, and begin to think about what this might entail for us as we face an unusual global crisis. Jesus is good, friends, and we can trust in him even in the darkest of times!

The Bible often uses everyday language and pictures to help us understand the reality that lies behind not only our lives but also our salvation. Jesus has shown us his power and identity as God-incarnate through the signs of his miracles. These displayed the reality of who Jesus was. As Jesus washes his disciples’ feet, he gives us a sign that is meant to display the reality of what Jesus does. W...

In the two millennia since Christ died and rose again, we see the promise of Jesus to build his church has been largely fulfilled, even if there is much more to go. Yet, at the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus' mission does not seem to have been fulfilled. The leaders hated him and the crowds were not fully swayed by him. Indeed, in a short time, so many would turn against him that he would die...

Our Scripture today deals with two main ideas, the sin of partiality, and, faith without works is a dead faith. What connects both of these topics together, I believe, is our faith in Christ and our response coming from that faith. The relationship of faith and good works is one that may be distinguished but never separated. A right understanding of works is crucial to understanding saving faith.

James, the Lord's half brother, is known as a pillar of the early church who wanted to be known as a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. James' epistle gives a number of insights into the attributes of God: faithfulness, generosity and truth as seen in chapter one.

There is much to admire about Jesus. He is a wonderful teacher, able to take the mundane things of life and demonstrate the beautiful picture that they weave about life with God. He is a powerful healer; not even death is beyond his ability to make right. He is a forceful leader; standing up to those in power for the good of those under their boots. But none of these things is enough. Ultimately,...

Jesus' miracle in raising Lazarus continues to spread, for those who have been witnesses of it cannot help but speak of it. For many, this implies one thing: Jesus is the long-awaited King of Israel, sent to liberate her yoke of the foreign nations, and to rule over them in peace. In fact, Jesus is precisely this! He was indeed the much-anticipated King, filled with glory and spledndor. Yet, even...