Numbers 16:1-7 Christ went to the cross to bring us the chance for intimacy and closeness with God. So there are three things for us to think about as we take communion. What are you doing to protect the “near?” What are you doing to preserve the “near?” What are you doing to improve the “near?” Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.c...
Dec 05, 2024•56 min
Matthew 16:13-20 Ekklēsia: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly Ekklēsia: The “called out ones.” Ways we use the word “Church:” a building a service Ways Jesus uses the word “Church:” the people who acknowledge his deity the people on his mission the people of Christ at war against evil Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxa...
Dec 03, 2024•56 min
eirēnē: in Greek, probably from a primary verb meaning “to join.” Peace; by implication, prosperity, - one, quietness, rest, + set at one again Shalom: in Hebrew, complete or wholeness John 14:23-27 Christian “peace” does not mean: Peace of circumstances The “peace” Christ offers is: Peace with God Peace with God offers inner peace Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK...
Oct 08, 2024•45 min
ts 11:25-26 A Christian is not: Just someone who believes in God Just someone who practices a religion Just someone who calls themselves one A Christian is: Someone who has given their life to Christ. Mark 8:35 Someone who loves in Jesus’ name John 13:34-35 Someone who’s on THE way Romans 7:15,18-19 Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebo...
Oct 02, 2024•42 min
Isaiah 29:13 John 4:21-24 respectful devotion: loving, honoring, and obeying someone who deserves our highest regard Worship (In a nutshell): Acknowledging God as God That means: ANYTHING can be worship "Worship" should demonstrate itself: In the way we interact with the world In our marriages In our parenting In our private time Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2D...
Sep 27, 2024•55 min
Holy: “Set apart.” Dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred. Deuteronomy 7:6 Leviticus 11:42 How should our lives be set apart? How do we live out being holy? Holy Input Holy output Holy time Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney...
Sep 08, 2024•52 min
Matthew 26:17-19, 26-30 We believe that communion is one of the two sacraments that we partake of in the church (the other being baptism). When we take communion often, it’s possible that we can lose sight of what it really means as we numbly follow our traditions. But if we take the time to understand the magnitude of what we’re doing when we take communion, it can change our perspective entirely. Communion is about: Intimacy Intent Inertia Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in b...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr
Proverbs 22:6 Proverbs 1:1-7 tells us that all the proverbs make up a collection of wise sayings, not promises from God. Proverbs 22 doesn’t guarantee that our children won’t depart from God when they grow older. So what’s the point of training them up in the Lord? Promises? Discipleship Worship Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.c...
Aug 26, 2024•40 min
Jeremiah 29:1-14 The Bible is a revelation of God. It’s not just a retelling of history, it’s a way for us to know who God is. When we read a passage like this, it brings up several questions. Question #1: Can we quote it? Question #2: Does God want me to be rich? Question #3: When does it happen? Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook...
Aug 23, 2024•47 min
1 Timothy 6:2-10 Money represents “congealed life.” We use it to get the things that we want. We don’t want to give it away, because it means we don’t get the thing we were saving up for… that little bit of extra that we were looking forward to. God wants to protect us from our money because he knows how it can ruin us when we love it so much we can’t let it go. If you’re going to quote a verse, know the actual verse. Know its context Know its love Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journ...
Aug 20, 2024•47 min
Philippians 4:13 When we look at the context of the verse, we start to see exactly what “all things” really refers to. What is this oft misquoted verse really about: It’s about contentment, not accomplishment. It’s as much for God as for you It teaches us humility, not hubris. Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourne...
Aug 18, 2024•43 min
Proverbs 16:3 When we give everything over to the Lord, he will direct the way we can glorify him and serve him. His plans might lead you to the destination you want, but oftentimes his plans lead us in a completely different direction than we think we should go. So why do we read this wrong?: We read what we want it to say. We suffer from “main character syndrome.” Christianity is way more appealing with God is a genie. We say to Jesus, “Follow me.” But Jesus says, “No, follow me.” Crossroads –...
Aug 17, 2024•42 min
Matthew 18:12-35 We like to read this passage and think that if we gather with some friends and all want the same thing, God will grant it. That’s not necessarily untrue, but that’s not what this passage is saying. God is not a genie. Neither does this passage mean that God will only join us when we gather with others. He’s always with those who seek him. So what is this passage about? Reconciliation Authority Protection Forgiveness...
Aug 14, 2024•43 min
1 Corinthians 10:13 People like to say this as an encouragement when we’re going through a rough time. This matters because: It isn’t true It can undermine faith The Bible doesn’t say that This passage is encouraging. We CAN resist any temptation. Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney...
Aug 11, 2024•16 min
Luke 6:37-42 We often think we can get away with doing whatever we want because the Bible says we're not supposed to judge one another. But we're abusing that idea when we use it that way. So what does this really mean? Don’t condemn others Judge yourself fIrst Hold each other accountable Accountability 101: Check your heart Seek wise counsel Have clear vision
Aug 05, 2024•42 min
The currently charged political climate in which we live can make it difficult to live out lives focused on Jesus. But the reality is, if we are citizens of the kingdom of heaven, then we can't allow conservative or progressive issues hijack our allegience. As Christians, we're called to navigate and engage politics and people in a completely different way from the world around us. Where is your allegiance? Who can you love? How do you live it out? Apologize Give forgiveness Engage face to face ...
Jun 09, 2024•51 min
Acts 4:23-31 Do you only pray when you’re in trouble or going through difficult challenges? Or do you pray like the disciples for boldness to continue living for God despite their circumstances. What set these disciples apart from many Christian’s today? They prayed They prayed for what God wanted. They prayed themselves into positions they’d have to pray to get out of. Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https...
Jun 01, 2024•43 min
Acts 6:1-4 Even the most menial task requires people to be fully devoted to Christ. That’s what undergirded the entire movement. So how did the early church operate:: They served They served (according to gifting, calling, & need) Devotion to God was part of the requirement Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourn...
May 29, 2024•41 min
Acts 2:42-47 Fellowship wasn’t just an extra thing for the early church, it was foundational to living a Christ-like life equal to the apostles teaching. Fellowship was was something they were devoted to. So what did this look like for them? They got together Fellowship was part of their religion Their faith community was their primary community Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channe...
May 26, 2024•39 min
If giving doesn’t hurt a little, you’re not really giving, you’re just getting rid of your junk. Deuteronomy 15:7-11 Psalm 112:5,9 1 John 3:16-18 Matthew 25:34-40 Acts 2:42-45 Acts 4:33-35 Acts 3:1-8 There are a few lessons we can learn from the numerous passages about giving we seen in scripture. Generosity is a state of the heart Generosity is also worship Generosity is faith Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTub...
May 22, 2024•41 min
Acts 2:42-45 Whether it was the sick, the dying, the poor, widows and orphans, the early church was one of the few institutions that cared for those who couldn’t care for themselves. How do we reflect that tradition today? What made the first disciples in the early church unique from the world around them? They cared. Do you care? They put action to their cares. Do we do anything significant for the people we’re supposed to care about? They sacrificed. What are we willing to sacrifice to put act...
Apr 16, 2024•52 min
Acts 2:1-41 Our testimony can have the same impact and the same power if we share it. Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney...
Apr 09, 2024•35 min
Mark 16:1-8 The women at the tomb represent each one of us in a different way. They were afraid when they were met by an angel upon their arrival to the empty tomb. It’s okay to be afraid (even when it’s about Jesus). Luke 24:13-16 Jesus is there (even when you can’t see him). Luke 24:17-18 Jesus knows (even when you don’t think he does). Luke 24:19-31 One day your eyes will be open (even if you can’t imagine it). Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Webs...
Apr 02, 2024•53 min
Mark 11:1-11 The story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem occurs in all four gospels. But there’s no clear villain in the story itself… unless you zoom out and look at the implications of this moment. And then the villain of the triumphal entry could be you if: You keep quiet You don’t let yourself be moved You don’t trust Jesus to be Jesus Your expectations get in the way You will not lay it down Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjo...
Mar 26, 2024•40 min
Matthew 27:11-26 Mark 15:15 Luke 23:4 John 19:12 Pilate is perhaps the most tragic villain of Easter. He could see Jesus was innocent and didn’t want to go along with the religious leaders’ calls to put him to death. Yet, ultimately he gave in. So how did Pilate end up sentencing the messiah to be crucified? He ignored his convictions. He didn’t listen to good advice. He gave up on doing what was right. He let his fear make the decision. He preferred his own peace. He thought he could justify hi...
Mar 18, 2024•47 min
Where are the chinks in Peter’s armor? What weaknesses does Peter have that turn him, in a way, into a villain in the Easter story? And how can we learn from his errors? Mark 8:27-33 God’s concerns vs. human concerns - What’s more important to us? Mark 14:27-31 Thinking you’re better than you are. Mark 14:32-38 Unfaithful in the little things. Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/...
Mar 11, 2024•50 min
Mark 3:1-6 Jesus disagreed with them Jesus humiliated them Jesus threatened their status quo Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney...
Mar 08, 2024•45 min
Mark 3:1-6 It exists It exists in you The enemy wants to use it You can either fight it or feed it Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney...
Feb 27, 2024•42 min
Genesis 27:41-45 Genesis 29:14-30 Love commits Love costs Love proves “Love” teaches Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17oxaQ1yWK2DgN0xnlMO_g Facebook: www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney...
Feb 19, 2024•55 min
What is love? Love… is patient Love is kind It does not envy It does not boast It is not proud It does not dishonor others It is not self-seeking It is not easily angered It keeps no record of wrongs Love does not delight in evil… …but rejoices with the truth It always protects always trusts always hopes always perseveres Love never fails Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. Connect with us Website: www.crossroadsjourney.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC17o...
Feb 13, 2024•22 min
