Listening WELL to the KING

Paul talked about being charitable toward those who believe differently on the non-essentials and to refrain from ridiculing or condemning them for their beliefs or practices. He encouraged the Roman Christians to aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. If I could sum up Paul's thoughts: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity." Pastor Rick s...

The Apostle Paul sensed the believers in Rome didn't understand the urgency or the importance of loving others well. In fact, his final rationale for living a life of love and holiness is an eschatological one: Jesus is coming back… soon, SO BE READY! Pastor Rick believes that if we all would behave differently if we believed Jesus is coming today... or soon. He taught this lesson to the CrossPoin...

Paul shares in Ephesians 5 and 6 that walking with the Spirit changes the way we treat people... because we start treating them like Jesus would. Paul encourages fathers/parents NOT to provoke your children, but to raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Dads are not only able to give a snapshot of what God looks like to their kids, but also have the privilege of setting them...

In the middle of the loving others well section, the Apostle Paul commands every believer in Romans 13:1-7 to submit to governing authorities because all authority comes from God and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So, loving others well means giving respect and honor to those who are in authority.  Pastor Rick gave this message to CrossPoint Church.

Never take revenge but leave vengeance to the righteous anger of God... Why, because God's wrath is always redemptive and ours isn't. Listening to God means we will love others well, including our enemies. People will be drawn to God. There is something undeniably beautiful about the way of life Paul describes here. Its selfless simplicity has a quality that transcends any particular time or cultu...

Paul unpacks from Romans 12:11-13 more of what loving others well looks like. We'll see that this kind of love isn't passive — it's hard work that glorifies God and stretches our faith. It demands patience, humility, and lots of prayer. We can only conclude that serving others, which is sacrificial, Christlike love, is very dear to the heart of God, something to be applauded in our community. The...

After sharing life changing doctrinal truths in Romans 1-11, Paul begins to share with us how living sacrifices live. He said they love others with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. This can only happen if believers walk with God and let the Holy Spirit change them from the inside out. Pastor Rick taught this to the CrossPoint Church.

God has given you an extraordinary ability or abilities by the Holy Spirit that enables you to serve others with ease and effectiveness at CrossPoint Church so serve one another well. How can you help this body win the gold? Pastor Rick also focused on 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4.

Paul begs the Roman believers to give their bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice. The apostle wanted them to stop letting the culture influence them and let God's Word transform them from the inside out. Paul hoped every believer in Rome would enjoy God and walk in His ways. Pastor Rick taught this epic Scripture at CrossPoint Church.

Pastor Rick spoke from Romans 9, 10 and 11 where the Apostle Paul talked about election and man's responsibility. Paul embraced both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, without sacrificing one to tidy up the other, because both are true. He lived with the tension. The old saying “Pray as if everything depends on God; work as if everything depends on you” accurately reflects the way Paul th...

Jesus told His disciples about the cross and His resurrection, but when the time came... some remembered His words, some wondered about His words and others thought it was nonsense. So Jesus appeared to them numerous times so they would know He is alive. Pastor Rick shares why the resurrection is important and encouraged the flock to walk with the Lord.  

Jesus chose to go to the cross so that we could live abundantly and eternally. Pastor Rick spoke this message at CrossPoint Church

Jesus, the King of Kings, humbly rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. This confused the crowds simply because Kings aren't humble and don't act like this. But Jesus obeyed and trusted His good Father's plans and timing. He modeled for us what it looks like to walk with God and inspired us to live humbly. Pastor Rick spoke this message on Palm Sunday at CrossPoint Church.

Here's what we know: God is working everything out for the good of His kids. This isn't random. Before any of us existed, he already knew us and had a plan: to shape us into the likeness of his Son, so that J would be the firstborn of a huge, growing family. God loves us and will always love us. Everything that happens to us is for God’s glory and our good. Pastor Rick spoke this message at CrossP...

The endwelling Spirit transforms us from the inside out. He is not merely a resource we consult when it suits us. Paul acknowledges that suffering is part of the believer's experience, but insists it is incomparable to the glory that awaits. He points to the full experience of God's presence and goodness that lies beyond this life, and to the complete realization of our adoption as God's children...

Romans 8 will change your life. The Spirit’s life-changing power is available to every believer, since every believer is indwelt by the Spirit. Yet the degree to which that power is experienced and expressed depends on how willingly and consistently aperson yields to the Spirit’s guidance and rule. Pastor Rick spoke this message at CrossPoint Church.

The Apostle Paul teaches that while the Old Sin Nature has been put to death in believers, they continue to wrestle with the Flesh and may yield to its temptations. Pastor Rick interprets Paul's words in Romans 7:14-25 as a reflection on a period when Paul was disconnected from God—a frustrating season marked by attempts to live righteously apart from the Holy Spirit's presence and empowerment. Th...

Paul says our old sin nature is dead and that we have a new master. Our flesh is still active, but it has no power over a believer. Believing that our sin is no longer our master and staying connected with God will help us obey and enjoy our new Master. God’s purpose in redeeming men from sin is not to give them freedom to do as they please but freedom to do as He pleases, which is to be holy. Pas...

Our old sin nature is dead which means we do not have to struggle with sin... but so many do. Paul helps us understand that our struggle is with the Flesh and that we can win the battle. Breaking free from sin's lies, means we must by faith acknowledge that sin has no power over us and yield completely to God. Listening to God frees us from the bondage and releases us to live in the freedom of God...

Pastor Rick covers Romans 6:1-4 where the Apostle Paul begins his section on Holiness. Paul clearly states that believers have died to the authority that sin used to have in our lives. We have a new master and do not need to submit to our old master. God's grace frees us from the penalty of sin and from the power of sin.  Holiness is just as much a gift to the believer as Justification. Pastor Ric...

The prophets foretold that Messiah would someday come to restore our world, judge sin and reward the faithful. Jesus told His disciples that he would return and so did a plethora of New Testament authors. The second coming is a sure promise from God that anchors Christian hope and shapes how believers live today… not as date-watchers, but as people committed to faithfulness, service and readiness....

Mary didn't know exactly what being the son of God's mom would look like, but she knew and trusted God for her future. Mary and Joseph's obedience grew their faith in their heavenly Father. God arranged Simeon and Anna to confirm God's perfect plan of having Jesus reared by Mary and Joseph and that Jesus was the savior of the World. Pastor Rick spoke this message to the CrossPoint Church.

Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem where she gives birth to Jesus laying him in a manger. God sent an angel to a group of shepherds with the good news that the Messiah was born. The shepherds found Mary, Joseph and Jesus and left telling everyone about the angels and Jesus. Their lives were changed. God's plans and timing is perfect even when they don't make sense to us. Pastor Rick shared this m...

Mary and Joseph trusted God and responded quickly to His Word... Zechariah didn't. Zechariah was a priest and should have known better, yet these two teenagers showed us what faith and obedience looks like.  We also learned that Mary lived with Elizabeth for 3 months before going back to Nazareth. Elizabeth's encouragement was just what Mary needed. We are learning so much from the wonderful Chris...

It is exciting to hear stories of teenagers who know and love the Lord. Joseph believed and acted on what he had heard from the angel, taking Mary as his wife and resolving to serve as her advocate through the weeks, months, and years ahead of potential ridicule by those who didn’t have the privilege of a heavenly revelation. Pastor Rick spoke this sermon at CrossPoint Church