Text of the Day: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess 5:16-18) Reflection Questions: 1 — What are you grateful for today? 2 — How can this give you joy? 3 —How can you express joy for what God has given you right now? Make this tangible in your life. Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalkvillage.com (Mike Rhynus) Crosswalk Chattanooga: cwchattanooga@crosswalkvillage.co...
May 05, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (1 Thess 5:14-15) Reflection Questions: 1 — How do you minister to those who see the world in a different way than you do? 2 —When someone is negative, does it frustrate you? 3 —Taking Paul’s counsel into account, what can you do to encourage these people in yo...
May 04, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thess 5:12-13) Reflection Questions: 1 — What is a good moral teaching (Paraenetic) that you live by and have for a while? 2 —Where did it come from? Was it something you found in scripture? Share it on social media today with the hashtag #lovewell. 3 —How can you encourage your...
May 03, 2020•4 min
As we look at these texts in the sermon today, ask yourself these questions: 1 — Do you have a true belief that you are saved and that no one can take that away? 2 — Are you okay with God being your judge? 3 — How often do you find yourself questioning your salvation? 4 — What is the most important thing to you? Purity or compassion? 5 — Are they mutually exclusive? Why or why not? 6 — How dirty is your robe today, this week, this month, this year? 7 — In what ways have you been taught about the...
May 01, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out His anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.. (1 Thess 5:9-11) Reflection Questions: 1 — Where do you feel the most encouragement? 2 —How can you help make your community a community that seeks to lift one another up? 3 —If Christ does not allow his an...
May 01, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clear headed, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. (1 Thess 5:7-8) Reflection Questions: 1 — Has anyone ever tried to take away the confidence you have in the Cross of Jesus? 2 —How can we remain confident in these situations? 3 —What scripture do you look toward to keep yourself clear on what Jesus has done for you? Wa...
Apr 30, 2020•4 min
Apr 30, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. (1 Thess 5:4) Reflection Questions: 1 — How can you make sure you are walking in the light? 2 —How does the light prepare you for the second coming of Jesus? 3 —What can you do today to bring others into the light with you? Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalkvillage.com (Mike Rhynus) Crosswalk Chattan...
Apr 28, 2020•3 min
Text of the Day: When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. (1 Thess 5:3) Reflection Questions: 1 — How are you preparing for the Day of the Lord? 2 —What plans do you have that can change and you will still be okay? 3 —How often have you said that everything is safe and secure and even prosperous? Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswa...
Apr 27, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write to you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. (1 Thess 5:1-2) Reflection Questions: 1 — Have you ever wondered when Jesus is coming back? 2 — Have you ever been frustrated that you didn’t know? 3 —Do you remember thinking about this when you were younger? How did it make you feel? Is it different now tha...
Apr 27, 2020•5 min
Here are some questions to get you thinking: 1— When did you first hear about the end of time? 2— Were you young, old, or in between? 3— How did it make you feel? 4— Has your perspective on things eschatological changed? 5— What do you want to see happen? 6— How can you know what is going to happen? 7— Are you ready for it? 8— What does being “ready for it” even mean? 9— How can you prepare yourself for the end? 10— Who wins? Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalk...
Apr 24, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: So encourage each other with these words. (1 Thess 4:18) Reflection Questions: 1 — Who can you encourage today? Be specific. 2 —What do they need to hear to become closer to Christ? 3 —How can you give them more than encouraging words, but encouraging actions as well? Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalkvillage.com (Mike Rhynus) Crosswalk Chattanooga: cwchattanooga@crosswalkvillage.com
Apr 24, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thess 4:17) Reflection Questions: 1 — What stories have you heard about what heaven is like? Do they all make sense? 2 —Who are you most excited to see again when Jesus comes? 3 —How do you get your head around the concept of “forever”? Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalk...
Apr 23, 2020•5 min
Text of the Day: For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. (1 Thess 4:16) Reflection Questions: 1 — What are some of the weird things you have heard about the end of time? 2 —How do we guard ourselves from becoming confused? 3 —Do you think that Paul was having to work hard to keep people from being confused even back then? Crosswalk Re...
Apr 22, 2020•5 min
Text of the Day: We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. (1 Thess 4:15) Reflection Questions: 1 — Does the idea of the second coming of Christ give you comfort or fear? 2 —How does knowing that the dead in Christ rising first give you a better understanding of the process? 3 —Why would this be important in your life? Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalkvillage.com (Mik...
Apr 21, 2020•6 min
Text of the Day: For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. (1 Thess 4:14) Reflection Questions: 1 — Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead? 2 — Do you believe he has the power to resurrect those who have chosen to be part of those he resurrects again? 3 — Is this something you want in your life? Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalkvil...
Apr 20, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.. (1 Thess 4:13) Reflection Questions: 1 — Is Jesus “Your Lord and Your Savior?” 2 — What was it like when you first assented to follow Jesus? Did you have a sense of intimacy that you hadn’t had before? 3 — Is it hard for you to believe in something that you cannot see? Is proof important to you? Is a life change enough proo...
Apr 20, 2020•5 min
It often feels like the ground is falling apart beneath our feet. This series is meant to regain the grounding of Christ beneath our feet. We will be doing six weeks in the books of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. These books deal with the end of time, the second coming of Jesus, and how to live as apocalyptic people. However, rather than being a proponent of creating fear in people so they might believe in God, Paul takes a different tack. Paul wants people to understand so they DON’T have to live i...
Apr 19, 2020•2 min
Creating the Series // Tim Gillespie Host: Bryant Rodriguez Guest: Tim Gillespie In this episode Bryant Rodriguez interviews Tim Gillespie on the making of the series guides, the intention, and what he hopes you walk away with. It is a blessing to continue this journey toward Jesus together. Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalkvillage.com (Mike Rhynus) Crosswalk Chattanooga: cwchattanooga@crosswalkvillage.com www.crosswalkvillage.com/ Instagram: @crosswalk_villa...
Apr 17, 2020•1 hr 5 min
It is a blessing to continue this journey toward Jesus together. Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mike@crosswalkvillage.com (Mike Rhynus) Crosswalk Chattanooga: cwchattanooga@crosswalkvillage.com
Apr 10, 2020•3 min
Text of the Day: The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. (John 20:11-18) Reflection Questions: 1 — Take ten minutes today to simply pray in gratitude for what Jesus has done for you. 2 — Pray specifically for someone who might need a word of grace from Jesus. ...
Apr 10, 2020•3 min
Text of the Day: Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe witho...
Apr 09, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” (John 20:24-25) Reflection Questions: 1 — What proof do you need to believe? 2 — Have you ever felt that following Jesus was an inevitability in your life, but you still wanted to wait for a b...
Apr 08, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sin...
Apr 07, 2020•5 min
Text of the Day: Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman,...
Apr 07, 2020•5 min
Text of the Day: Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stoope...
Apr 05, 2020•5 min
Here are some questions to go along with this week’s sermon: 1 — What can you do, as a person of faith, to give this sense of urgency for the resurrection to those you are studying with? 2 — Are you preparing those you are studying with for baptism, or for simply a great understanding of Jesus, both of which are amazing! 3 — What can the church do to help you prepare your people for baptism? 4 — What did the words of Jesus on the cross mean to them and to you today? 5 — The seven phrases that Je...
Apr 04, 2020•5 min
Text of the Day: Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law. (Luke 23:56) Reflection Questions: 1 — Do you believe you have been called to still engage in the culture where you have been placed? What does that look like? 2 — How can you become more relevant to your community in order to impact it for Christ? 3 — What are the traditions that you seek to keep in your follo...
Apr 03, 2020•4 min
Text of the Day: As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. (Luke 23:55) Reflection Questions: 1 — How can you affirm the women in your life today for their faith journey that has impacted your Faith so importantly? 2 — What can we do as a congregation to affirm women in ministry and faith? 3 — What can we do as a world church to engage this affirmation in a more palpable way? Want to get in touch with a pastor? Crosswalk Redlands: mik...
Apr 03, 2020•2 min
Text of the Day: Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. (Luke 23:53) Reflection Questions: 1 — What does Sabbath mean to you? Were they silly in the way they worked hard to get the body of Jesus down before the Sabbath came? 2 — Was it a surprise to you that Nicodemus showed up again in the story? We haven’t seen him since John 3! 3 — How does the Sabbath play into your idea of being a Bi...
Apr 02, 2020•3 min
