Sundays @ 10:30am
This Sunday we conclude our Malachi series with one of the great promises of the Old Testament. It is a promise of the great and awesome day of the Lord when he will come to judge the wicked and heal and save those who fear his name. Clearly, Malachi is pointing God’s people to the coming Messiah who will come first as a Lamb and again as a Lion. This text gives us the opportunity to think about judgment, salvation, and Christ’s return. These are essential truths, and I pray the Lord will use them to help make us all more ready for eternity. Also, on this first Sunday of October, we’ll receive the Lord’s Supper together as a church family. I hope that’s how you view CrossPointe...
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Dear CrossPointe, As we continue our look at various encounters with Jesus found in the Gospels, we'll be in Matthew 15 this week. In this narrative, Jesus is confronted by some cranky Pharisees bent out of shape over his disciples' (lack of) hygiene: "They do not wash their hands when they eat" (15:2). This is clearly intended to discredit Jesus' ministry. How could so...
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CrossPointe, What a great week it's been! With VBS in full-swing, there's been a constant buzz around the church of children singing songs, playing games, making crafts, and hearing biblical truth. We're so thankful for all the volunteers who made it happen, and it's our prayer that seeds have been planted in the hearts of our kids so that they might believe the gospel ...
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CrossPointe, Sunday is a few days away, but I am eager to dive into our text this week: Philippians 1:311. Paul's greeting to the local church in Philippi contains a lot of practical instruction for how God's people should consider one another. Though it concludes with the content of Paul's regular prayers for the church, it also establishes his motive for praying the w...
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Dear CrossPointe,The Lord has blessed our church with missions partners around the worldpastors and missionaries from Haiti to India and many, many places in between. This Sunday will be a perfect glimpse into this privilege we have. While Brad is out of the country connecting with King Jesus Church, Pastor Raphael, and other pastors in Uganda, our very own Logan Copley is...
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Dear CrossPointe, Doug Duncan pointed out at a recent elder meeting how theologically rich so many traditional Christmas hymns are. It's a shame we tend to sing them one month out of the year! While I can think of several that I love to sing, one has stood out to me more and more over the years. "Joy to the World" isn't exactly a "deep track," but somewhere in the third...
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Dear CrossPointe, Last week Tyler did a great job explaining the context of Jesus' "trial" by the Jewish leaders. Be sure to listen to itif you haven't already. Sometimes biblical narratives can be so familiar to us that we fail to notice certain details that give us a better sense of the emotional meaning of a passagehow a story should make usfeel. In particular, when ...
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Dear CrossPointe, A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of preaching through John 14:114 in which Jesus reassures his disciples that even though he's going to his Father's house, they will one day be able to follow because Jesus himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In the following passages of John's Gospel, Jesus continues to offer comfort and assurance to the m...
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Dear CrossPointe, "Let not your hearts be troubled," Jesus says to his disciples in John 14:1. Given everything that has transpired in recent chapters, this is a comforting word from the Lord, but when viewed from the perspective of everything that will follow in John's Gospel, this statementis utterly life-giving. As Jesus prepares for crucifixion and the disciples gro...
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Dear CrossPointe, As we continue our series through the Gospel of John, we'll spend the next two Sundays studying the ultimate miraculous sign from Jesusthe death and resurrection of Lazarus, his friend. John 11 is a lengthy account of a very important story, one that points directly ahead to Jesus' own death and resurrection, so rather than tackle this narrative all at ...
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Dear CrossPointe, Our text this week is John 8:1230, which begins with some of the most well-known words of Christ: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." It's such an incredible statement with far-reaching implications worth parsing out this Sunday, but we, like John, can't stop there! The balance o...
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Dear CrossPointe,In Matthew 11:2830, Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The Christian life is marked by rest from striving and straining for God's approval, but ...
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Dear CrossPointe,Last Sunday we considered the story of Naaman, the great Syrian commander unable to cleanse his leprosy, and the little Israelite girl who pointed him to the prophet in Israel and ultimate wholeness. This week, we'll look at a similar story in Luke's Gospel, this time about a sinful woman whose incredible love for Jesus reveals one Pharisee's fraudulent pi...
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Dear CrossPointe,We've spent the last two weeks in Isaiah 6 as Tyler led us to consider the holiness of God and the calling he gives to his people. I hope you'll listen to those two sermons if you haven't yet.This week, we'll be in 2 Kings 5, the account of a very important (but leprous) military leader...from Syria. Despite his greatness, Naaman is powerless to heal himse...
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Dear CrossPointe,Joshua 1:9 reads, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." It's a powerful reminder from the Lord to his servant that God's faithfulness is our strength-empowering hope. Unfortunately, this passage is easily ripped from its context and used like a spiritual fortune-cookie t...
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Dear CrossPointe,What a blessing to hear from Reuben last Sunday! I'm so thankful for his diligence and joy in sharing God's Word with us. If you haven't listened to his sermon on Jude 14 yet, take the time to do so this weekend.You can find it here.This Sunday, I'll be preaching through Psalm 16. As is typical of biblical poetry, Psalm 16 considers the heights and depths ...
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Dear CrossPointe,In some ways, preaching is like preparing a meal. When Jesus speaks to Peter at the end of John's gospel, he tells him to "Feed my sheep." This is how Peter will love and serve the Lord, and this is how pastors care for the sheep entrusted to them. I've thought about this a lot over the last year. The normal rhythms of interaction have changed, but there i...
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Dear CrossPointe,This Sunday we'll be taking a break from 2 Peter to study a classic Bible story from the Gospel of Luke, "the good Samaritan" (Luke 10:2537). You're probably familiar with the parable Jesus shares even if you've never read the text: a man gets beaten close to death by a band of robbers only to be ignored by two men who should come to his rescue. In the end...
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Dear CrossPointe,We'll take a break from our series on 2 Peter this Sunday and consider a familiar story in 1 Kings 19:118, the story of Elijah's flight from Jezebel. If you recall, just a chapter earlier Elijah is seen boldly defeating (and slaughtering) the prophets of Baal. In a mighty display of God's sheer power, he calls down fire from heaven and incinerates an offer...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,I'm eager to see many of you in-person and online this Sunday as we look to the Lord together once againfor comfort and correction, nourishment and strength. In challenging days like these, the world is quick to offer hope by rallying people around common causes and interests, but as God's people, citizens of his kingdom, we have one Banner and a lasting o...
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Dear CrossPointe,This Sunday we'll be in Mark 5:120, looking at the story of a man possessed by demonic spirits. It's a highly-detailed and lengthy narrative for Mark's Gospel and one that perfectly encapsulates the power of salvation found only in Christ.While the story is remarkable for a lot of reasons, it's particularly notable for its ending. After being freed from de...
Keep ReadingMerry Christmas, CrossPointe! I hope you've had an enjoyable holiday. As we conclude 2019 and look ahead to 2020, I want to turn our attention to Matthew 8:513. It's the story of a man who knows all about authoritya Roman centurion in charge of 100 menapproaching Jesus to request his help. His servant is experiencing incredible suffering, but the centurion knows that only ...
Keep ReadingActs picks up right where the book of Luke ends and shows believers how the Gospel spread following the ascension of Christ. In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells his disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Throughout Acts we see this path unfold,...
Keep ReadingI've always wanted to preach from Judges, and this Sunday I'll get the chance! (If you haven't studied this OT book before, you're missing out.) The book has two introductions essentiallyone that gives the reader a sense of Israel's geopolitical status and another that looks at Israel's spiritual state. We'll be looking at the latter this week in a standalone sermon on Jud...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,The Christian life is filled with highs and lows, joys and disappointments, excitement and regret. The Apostle Paul knew this well. In our text this Sunday, 2 Corinthians 2:1217, Paul shares a recent experience he had in a place called Troas. Despite what he describes as an open door of ministry in the Lord, his heart was restless.In addition to preaching ...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,I'm eager to gather with you all around God's Word this Sunday. It's been a difficult week for many in the region as well as quite a few in our church family, but what a blessing it is to draw near to the Lord together and consider his mercy and grace toward us. Our text this Sunday is Luke 13:15, in which Jesus directs his listeners to repent and turn to ...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,In our short series on the "offices" of Christ, we've seen how Jesus is our prophetand priest. Like the prophets of the Old Testament, Christ warns us of God's judgment and reminds us of his word. And like the priests of the Old Testament, he intercedes on our behalf, atoning for our sin as only he can. But there's a third office which rounds out our under...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,The Old Testament is filled with examples of men who imperfectly served God's people as prophet, priest, or king (sometimes maybe in two of those roles), but Christ perfectly fulfills all three.Last week, we kicked off our series on these "offices" of Christ with a look at how Jesus is the truer and greater Prophet. Do yourself a favor and listen to Tyler'...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,For the next few Sundays leading up to Christmas, Tyler and I will be looking at the three "offices" of Christprophet, priest, and king. You probably recognize those titles as important roles in the Old Testament, and our sermon series will consider the ways Jesus fills each of those roles himself.Our hope is that by seeing how Jesus fulfills these OT offi...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving! With Christmas right around the corner, Tyler and I are planning a series of sermons that will consider the three "offices" of Christprophet, priest, and king. We'll get that started the first Sunday of December.This Sunday, however, we'll be in 2 Samuel 6, a chapter about the gravity of God's presence. On the one hand, a m...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,It was a blessing to hear from Herbie Newell last week. If you missed it, be sure to listen to his sermon, "The God Who Seeks the Outcast,"here.This week we're turning our attention to 2 Peter 1, in which the apostle exhorts his readers to be fruitful in the knowledge of the Lord. What is this knowledge? Where do we find it, and how can we steward it faith...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,We'll be taking a break from Romans this Sunday as we go to the Old Testament, specifically the book of Numbers. There, in chapter 25, is an incredible story of Israel's unfaithfulness and the zeal of a priest named Phinehas who saves God's people from plague. I think it's got quite a few implications for us todayboth as a church and as individuals followi...
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The Fall is a great time to commit to one of CrossPointe's Community Groups! CGs meet weekly or bi-weekly in people's homes to study God's Word, pray for one another, and share fellowship. Our vision for CGs is that they would be a place for people to become more like Jesus together. We have a number of small-groups ready to kick off (or continue) this Fall, so click here...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe, I'm really looking forward to this Sunday! We'll be in Joshua 2 (and a bit of chapter 6 as well) studying a pivotal moment in the history of God's people, when they finally put into motion plans to conquer the Promised Land. "Conquer" is probably a strong term, because the Israelites barely do anything. Rather, the Lord gives them the land by defeating t...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe, While Brad and Will are in Uganda we're taking a break from the book of Daniel to spend some time in the New Testament, specifically 2 Corinthians. As I've been preparing this week, 2 Corinthians 4:1 keeps coming to mind: "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart." This passage makes me ask two questions: 1. Why would Pa...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe, Brad's given me the keys to the pulpit this Sunday, so I'll be taking it for a spin through Ephesians 5:1521. Looking forward to unpacking what I think is a timely text given our cultural climate and the tension we all feel between plotting our course and letting the world plot it for us. Go ahead and read the text once or twice for Sunday. Looking forwa...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe, This Sunday will present the end of an era: Jacob's time in the spotlight of Genesis is drawing to a close, and he still has some unresolved issues. (Don't we all?) Most notably, the vow he made to God in Genesis 28 remains incomplete. Will Jacob go all in and worship the one true God? And after all that took place in Genesis 34, will God even allow it? ...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,I love writing these e-mails, because they help me think and distill the points of a sermon. This Sunday I'll be preaching on Mark 11:1225, and it will definitely require clear thinking! Thankfully, Mark has organized this text quite effectively. Using an account of Jesus' cursing a fruitless fig tree, he sandwiches (and highlights) the glaring faithlessne...
Keep ReadingCrossPointe,I'll be preaching on Sunday through Mark 9:2-13, the Transfiguration of Jesus. With all the pastors preaching more frequently this year, I hoped to get a shot at preaching on this text. I came. I reasoned with Brad. I conquered. Sort of.Mark's account of the Transfiguration is overwhelming, to put it mildly. After ascending a "high mountain," Jesus is gloriousl...
Keep ReadingOn June 2428, CrossPointe is hosting a day-camp for kids entering 1st-6th grades. At Base Camp children study the Bible and worship together as well as participate in camp activities with their counselors. [Click here for a sample schedule.] Camp costs $235/child and scholarships are available. Visit campiscoming.com or contact Robert Ward with questions!Anyone who regis...
Keep ReadingDear CrossPointe,The pastors have been preaching through selected psalms this summer. (If you've missed any of those sermons so far, please take a look/listen at CrossPointe's sermon page. It's good stuff.) What I love most about Psalms is how it is not only descriptive (describing the prayers and circumstances of the psalmists), but also prescriptive (showing us how we ou...
Keep ReadingIn conjunction with CrossPointe's recent missions conference, Brad mentioned three commitments CrossPointe can make to be more "mission-minded," that is, aware of the world's need for Jesus and our role in bringing his gospel to all people. They're listed below. God's Calling on My Life I commit myself to live a life worthy of God's calling. I will participate in the b...
Keep ReadingHere's a great (and short) blog post from Dane Ortlund on 4 kinds of masculinity. The biblical goal? "Soft exterior, hard interior. Rock solid, responsible, risk-taking, calls heresy heresy, calls error error, willing to take shots for the good of the team...all soaked in a gentle demeanor." Read it here: http://dogmadoxa.blogspot.com/2011/08/gospel-men.html....
Keep ReadingCrossPointe Members, Last Sunday, May 1, CrossPointe held a "One Another" member meeting. Since not everyone could make it, here is a brief overview of what was discussed. Robert Ward Pastoral Assistant "One Another" Meeting, May 1, 2011 (68 p.m.) Teaching from Romans 8:2639: Sanctification occurs in messy places and is itself a messy process. We can have abiding...
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