the Cross Orlando

Continuing the series on God's calling, this message tells the story of Gideon in Judges 7, where God reduces Gideon's army from thousands to just 300 to defeat the Midianites, so that Israel would know the victory came from God, not their own strength.

A conversational message on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20, featuring an interview with Carol and Brian Carlson about their questions on where to "go," what worship looks like amid doubt, and how Jesus commissions the disciples even when some doubted.

Continuing the series on God's calling, this message looks at Exodus 31 and God calling Bezalel by name and filling him with the Spirit and craftsmanship to build the tabernacle, exploring how God entrusts his work to ordinary people and their gifts.

Continuing the series on God's calling, this message begins the story of Joseph in Genesis 37 and following, reflecting on how God chooses to work his purposes through people over time rather than acting alone, even when it seems inefficient.

Part of the series on God's calling, this guest-preached message walks through the story of Noah in Genesis 6-7, examining how God sees the wickedness of humanity, feels regret and compassion, and acts through the flood, and how Noah responds to God's call.

Continuing the series on God's calling, this message looks at Genesis 1:26-28 and humanity being made in the image of God and given dominion, exploring why God entrusts his work to people, as seen in the Great Commission on the hill of Galilee.

Beginning a new multi-week series on being called by God, this message opens with the messy realities of the early church (Paul, Apollos, and the Ephesian disciples in Acts 19) and the Great Commission, exploring what it means to be called by God for his work.

The final message in the core values series, focusing on "peace," draws on Joshua 5 (the commander of the Lord's army before Jericho) and Jesus' words in Matthew 10:34 about not bringing peace but a sword, exploring what biblical peace truly means.

Part of the core values series, this message turns to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, focusing on Jesus calling an ordinary crowd "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world," following the Beatitudes.

Part of the core values series, this guest-preached message on the value of "life" examines Jeremiah 29 and God's letter to the exiles in Babylon to build houses, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of the city, encouraging believers to "bloom where they are planted."

The first of a four-week series on the church's core values (story, peace, lineage, life), this message explores "story" through Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4, framing Scripture as the narrative of what God has done with humanity into which each person's story fits.

The closing message of the Galatians series, covering chapter 6, where Paul summarizes his appeal that believers not submit to the law as the basis of their standing with God, emphasizes mutual support within the community, and makes his final appeal centered on the cross.

Continuing the Galatians series with chapter 5, this message centers on "for freedom Christ has set us free," explaining that believers are no longer bound to keep the law to earn God's favor but are freed by grace to live, building toward the fruit of the Spirit.

Continuing the Galatians series with chapter 4, this message addresses the controversy over whether Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the law, with Paul explaining that in the fullness of time God sent his Son to redeem people from the law so they could receive adoption as sons and heirs.

Continuing the Galatians series with chapter 3, this message addresses Paul's rebuke ("O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?") and his argument that the Spirit and righteousness come by faith, not works of the law, pointing to Abraham who believed God and so all nations are blessed.

Continuing the Galatians series with chapter 2, verses 15 through the end, this message centers on justification by faith in Christ rather than works of the law, and Paul's declaration "I have been crucified with Christ," while considering what Jewish identity meant in Israel's history.

Continuing through Galatians, this message covers Galatians 1:11-24, where Paul insists his gospel came by revelation of Jesus Christ rather than from men, recounting his former zeal in Judaism, his persecution of the church, and his conversion and call to the Gentiles.

Continuing the Galatians series, this message opens Galatians 1, examining Paul's self-identification as an apostle sent not by men but by Jesus Christ, alongside the backdrop of his missionary hardships and his earlier role persecuting the church.

The opening message of a summer series through Paul's letter to the Galatians, setting context from Paul's missionary journey in Acts 13, discussing the dating and recipients of the letter, and how the New Testament books were affirmed at Nicaea.

Guest speaker Demetrius, filling in while Ben is on vacation, preaches from the book of Jonah on God's great compassion and faithfulness, examining Jonah's rebellion and his angry response to mercy shown toward people he felt didn't deserve it.

A guest speaker walks through the book of Hosea, using the prophet's marriage to an unfaithful wife as a picture of Israel's cycles of unfaithfulness, judgment, and salvation broken at the cross, drawing parallels to America's idols and the modern challenge of AI and technology.

A Trinity Sunday message on Paul's doxology in Romans 11:33-36 ("from him and through him and to him are all things"), reflecting on the unsearchable wisdom of God and the conviction that there is a God who is not us and who knows what he is doing.

A Pentecost Sunday message on Acts 2, recounting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire, Peter's sermon, and tracing how the Spirit of God has been at work from creation through Christ to this new release into the world.

Guest pastor Adam Barkod of New City Church preaches on the seventh Sunday of Easter about the disciples waiting between Christ's ascension and Pentecost, drawing on Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit in John alongside Ezekiel 36 and 1 Peter 4.

A guest speaker filling in preaches from James 5 on suffering and patience through trials, sharing his own personal story of a difficult 2012-2013 season including his wife's bed rest pregnancy and job loss, encouraging listeners to look to God rather than their circumstances.