In his first official sermon, Jesus addresses the downtrodden. To remind us that we are not unseen or unheard. We should take comfort in knowing that God loves us, but moreso, he will change our plight. It's also a reminder that we need to remain humble, meek and hungry for righteousness - it is these kinds of disciples that God is looking to bless.
We love doing an "all worship and prayer" service at the end of each sermon series. Here's the one we did on August 30, 2020. Worship and pray along with us as you listen!
Fasting is a very important aspect of our faith but it’s a lost art for many. However, it’s a proven practice and means of petition, especially if we want to see God move in our lives. Pray with a purpose.Don’t make it a show.Pray with a plan.Watch your face.Fasting is as much about your attitude as the act.Fasting is a declaration that the only thing that you need to sustain you is God himself.
The book of Ezra at one point chronicles the people's confession of sin. It is an example of how we too should confess of our sins as well. This week, we're looking at how we should confess our sins to God. Plan your progress.How are we going to prevent ourselves from repeating our sin?Take realistic steps when combatting your sin.Prepare for the long haul - realize your sin isn't disappearing in an instant.
The Israelites' intermarriage with pagans is a huge theme in the book of Ezra. However, one would be mistaken to think that the message is to stay within our race or culture when it comes to marriage. Rather it is the purity of our faith that is important. Our lives are an encouragement to fellow Christians.Keep good company.Stay strong in your convictions.
Ezra shows us how to overcome the repeated sin and the shame that comes along with our sin battle. It starts with naming our sin (being specific), then mourning our sin, surrendering, praying and expressing our shame. And God will take away both sin and shame for everyone who confesses to Him.
Just because something is torn down and damaged, doesn’t mean that it is completely destroyed, especially when God is working in the endeavor. Friendships, Marriages, Occupations, and Attitudes can all be rebuilt with God. Bold endeavors cannot be successful without unity.We should celebrate the successes.Don’t be discouraged by the imperfections in the process.
This was our "all worship and prayer" service on July 19, 2020 - the kind of service that we like to do at the end of a sermon series at CrossPoint. Worship and pray along with us as you watch this video!
What does the Bible say about what worship should look like? We worship to remove the barrier between ourselves and God. We worship to give God his due. And, when we worship, we should do so with exuberance.
Jesus has healed us and His words are commands. If He says it will be, it will be. He is unshakable and unmovable. His healing is swift and solidified and every word that comes out of His mouth can be trusted as the truth. We have therefore no reason to fear the uncertain times in this world. Even when things seem to be out of control, God is in control.
It doesn’t matter how we define ourselves - we would get it wrong if we tried. But God calls us his children. Jesus has prepared a place for us in his Father's house. We worship because nothing can stand against us. We worship because we are adopted. We are free.We are opposition proof.We are chosen by God.
God will leave everything behind to chase after you. The God who brought order from chaos isn’t opposed to being reckless if it means bringing one of his lost sheep home. And, better than anything, the condition of the sheep has no bearing on His seeking to find it. "Reckless Love" does a fantastic job of capturing God’s heart for people. God loved you before your beginning.He loves you with reckless abandon.God is here for the pursuit.
"One Thing" by Charlie Hall is an honest heartfelt cry, the same that David made in Psalm 27:4. Despite anything that may happen in life, may we all desire to dwell with our Lord and gaze on His beauty. We experience this revelation by knowing Jesus and making him known.
"Jesus I Come" is such a powerful song with powerful truths. First and foremost, we need the grace of God more than we could ever hope to express. Our confidence is found in him alone. We find this by coming to the feet of Jesus because Jesus changes everything. If you need assistance due to COVID-19, we want to hear from you! Please fill out the form at this link: shorturl.at/bvLU3 If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Give’ to 417-815-3602.
Being a Christian isn’t an individual pursuit. We have new familial ties when we have Jesus. We have a duty to love, serve, and teach one another through our walk with Christ. If you want to follow Jesus correctly, then you must do the will of the father.Surround yourselves with a strong supporting cast. If you need assistance due to COVID-19, we want to hear from you! Please fill out the form at this link: shorturl.at/bvLU3 If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Give’ t...
To follow Christ is to to sacrifice our own wants for the greater good of the kingdom. In light of the fact that Christ gave his all for us, we should give our all for him. If we want to save our life, we must lose it.We can gain the world, but lose our souls.Jesus is either first or He isn’t.We either chose second or we don’t.Jesus wants to be very clear: You can’t purchase this. If you need assistance due to COVID-19, we want to hear from you! Please fill out the form at this link: shorturl.at...
Followers of Christ are supposed to be markedly different. And, more than that, we must be difference makers. Everything we do we must do for the Lord. The Core 5 traits of a believer: Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Meekness, Patience. As Christians, we should always be bearing with one another and forgiving others when they’ve wronged us. If you need assistance due to COVID-19, we want to hear from you! Please fill out the form at this link: shorturl.at/bvLU3 If you'd like to give a tithe this...
When following Jesus, we receive more than salvation - we receive a renewed purpose. Christ called Simon Peter and His brother Andrew to a life of action by becoming “fishers of men.” And he's calling us to do the same. Fish for people.How might you serve in order to fulfill this purpose?Take the initiative. If you need assistance due to COVID-19, we want to hear from you! Please fill out the form at this link: shorturl.at/bvLU3 If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Giv...
Jesus is the ultimate invitation. Do you want to follow Christ? If so, he will welcome you with open arms. But make no doubt about it - there is a cost, a cross of your very own. You must choose Christ.Take up YOUR cross.There is no middle ground. If you need assistance due to COVID-19, we want to hear from you! Please fill out the form at this link: shorturl.at/bvLU3 If you'd like to give a tithe this morning (or any time), text ‘Give’ to 417-815-3602.
Rest and restoration are both gifts from God. What many of us need now is rest - we simply need a break from all that is weighing us down. And when all of the madness passes, much of our world will need a rebuild. The good news is that He is good for that too. Talk about it to God and others.Have a quiet time.Take a Sabbath.
Where we place our hope in times of trouble is of utmost importance. God is the source of a brighter future and He is where we must place our hope. When we do this, we can be a source of hope for others. Rely on past hopes fulfilled.Put some respect on his name.Hope doesn’t have an expiration date.
Time after time, God delivers his people from their disaster. It may not always be in our ideal time period, or through ideal means, but in the end the victory is His. What Jesus can do is beyond comprehension.God’s deliverance doesn’t always come in the way we hope it will.We have a guaranteed deliverance with Christ.
Fear must never stop us from moving forward - we can carry through the darkest of times because of our faith in God. However, having faith doesn’t mean we don't have fears along the way - it just means that our faith rules over our fears. Faith is knowing that God will work in situations that you can’t handle on your own, He will use all seasons for your good, and that nothing will separate us from the love of God.
Song lyrics available here: shorturl.at/abqtx Sing along with us! The pandemic is a lot to deal with. Right now, we all feel out of control and are unsure about so many things. But peace is ours for the taking, won by our God and provided freely to those who seek it. The question for today is this: is the God of the Old Testament and New Testament the same God who exists today? If so, He is still in control - just as He was then. Accept that God is in control.Know that God truly cares for you.Fi...
If you are married, the chances you have or will have children are high. Our children aren’t our own, but God’s, and we must raise them in the way they should go. So, teach your children to follow God's wisdom, seek the wisdom of others and be willing to discuss your relationship with your adult children.
It’s okay to be single. In fact, Paul the Apostle wrote in the Bible that he thought some should choose to stay that way if they could. Marriage isn't easy and we shouldn't dive into it without considering the implications of it. Being single is a gift. It clears the way for our most relationship - our relationship with God. Married people should not necessarily stress that singles get married and instead realize that there are some who may never get married.
God has made men and women differently. We are equals, but that doesn't mean we are the same. One of the major differences is that women feel a strong desire to be loved and men feel a strong desire to be respected. Our job is to understand the perspective of our spouse and respect those differences. Otherwise, the The Crazy Cycle occurs - men withhold love from their wives because they feel disrespected and women withhold respect from their husbands because they feel unloved.
A healthy sex life is an important piece of a healthy marriage. We have to have a healthy view of sex and its place in marriage, so that we use sex as a uniting force. If we don’t, we will be divided by it. Pornography has no place since sex doesn't belong outside the confines of marriage. Sex is not a bargaining chip - it is the doorway to intimacy.
Conflict happens, but it has to be a positive tool used for growth in our marriages. When conflict arises, we cannot shutdown. Anger will happen but, when it does, refuse to sin in your anger. We must understand the fundamental differences between us and our spouses and love our spouses the way they need to be loved.
Conflict happens. If you are married you will fight. If you aren’t fighting, you are hiding from one another. We must speak to our spouses and use conflict as a positive tool. If we unite against the issues and fight fair, we will grow together. This means having the right attitude, going to your spouse first (before others) and listening.
