Crossroads Community Church – Audio Sermons – Page 35

2019-01-06 – A Better Story – A Tax Collector

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2019-01-06 - A Better Story - A Tax Collector

00:00 / 43:23

Grace is an unexpected and unsettling generosity. Why do we struggle with this? Pastor Chris brings us this message about Jesus who was all grace and all truth all the time.

Sermon: A Better Story – A Tax Collector
Date: January 5 & 6
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

John 1:14 (NIV)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Luke 19:1-5 (NLT)
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich.
He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down!

Luke 19:6-9 (NLT)
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.

Matthew 20:1-9 (NLT)
“For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work. “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing. “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’ “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’ “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’ “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage.

Matthew 20:10-11 (NLT)
When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

Matthew 20:13-15 (NLT)
“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

Matthew 20:16 (NLT)
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

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2018-12-30 – Pursuing a Better Story in 2019

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-12-30 - Pursuing a Better Story in 2019

00:00 / 43:43

Pastor Chris gives us three questions to ask in the new year for a better story in 2019.

Sermon: Pursuing a Better Story in 2019
Date: December 29 & 30
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

James 1:23-25
For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Philippians 4:8-9
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Haggai 1:5-6
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!

2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

2 Corinthians 12:9
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

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2018-12-24 – Christmas Eve

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-12-24 - Christmas Eve

00:00 / 13:35

It’s in the darkest places that a little bit of light can change everything. Pastor Chris reminds us that with Jesus, light wins every time.

Sermon: Christmas Eve
Date: December 23 & 24
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

John 1:4-5
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:9-12
The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

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2018-12-16 – Be Christmas: Go and Tell

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-12-16 - Be Christmas: Go and Tell

00:00 / 43:20

When you have big news, who do you tell first? God shared the news of His son’s birth with the most unlikely. Pastor Chris encourages us to tell others about Christ.

Sermon: Be Christmas: Go and Tell
Date: December 15 & 16
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

Luke 2:8-12
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13-14
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Luke 2:15-16
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

Luke 2:17
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

Luke 2:18
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished …

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2018-12-09 – Be Christmas: To Have Not To Hold

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-12-09 - Be Christmas: To Have Not To Hold

00:00 / 44:22

If you have it, you received it. Pastor Kevin asks us, what do I have that God wants you to give away?

Sermon: Be Christmas: To Have Not To Hold
Date: December 8 & 9
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

Matthew 1:18-21 NLT
This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

James 1
Every good and perfect gift comes down from above.

I Chronicles 29:14
All things come from you and we give you only what you first give us.

Isaiah 46:10-11 NIV
I make known the end from the beginning,
   from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
   and I will do all that I please.’
From the east I summon a bird of prey;
   from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;

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2018-12-02 – Be Christmas: Presents and Presence

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-12-02 - Be Christmas: Presents and Presence

00:00 / 39:26

To be Christmas is to be in God’s presence. Pastor Brent gives us the right focus this Christmas season.

Sermon: Be Christmas: Presents and Presence
Date: December 1 & 2
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

Matthew 1:23
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

Galatians 5:22
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:19-21
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

John 15:4-5
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

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2018-11-25 – Embracing Change – Crossroads Leadership

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-11-25 - Embracing Change - Crossroads Leadership

00:00 / 38:15

Who is in charge here at Crossroads? Pastor Chris explains and lets us know what we can do.

Sermon: Embracing Change – Crossroads Leadership
Date: November 24 & 25
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

Ephesians 1:22-23
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Matthew 16:18
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Acts 2:41
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Acts 6:1-4
But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.

1 Timothy 3:1-13
This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Romans 16:1
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.

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2018-11-11 – Embracing Change

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-11-11 - Embracing Change

00:00 / 37:22

We have to be willing to change. Pastor Luke bring us this message about letting go of the “couches” in our lives. (He’ll explain)

Sermon: Embracing Change
Date: November 18
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

James 1:17
He never changes

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Isaiah 64:8
We are the clay and You are the potter.

Matthew 19:16-22
– Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?
– I’ve obeyed all these commands. What else must I do?
– go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then, come, follow me. But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Acts 3:19
Now Repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.

Romans 12:2
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, people cast off restraint.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 MSG
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous, moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized – whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ – but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

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Find more at ecrossroads.org

2018-11-11 – Rest for a Weary Soul

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-11-11 - Rest for a Weary Soul

00:00 / 35:59

More and more of us are worn out. Why? Pastor Chris gives us the equation that humility + repentant heart = revival and restoration.

Sermon: Heartbeat – Celebration
Date: November 10 & 11
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

Isaiah 57:15
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Psalms 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God!”

Luke 5:16
But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Psalms 16:11
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

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Find more at ecrossroads.org

2018-11-04 – Heartbeat – Celebration

Crossroads Community Church - Audio Sermons

2018-11-04 - Heartbeat - Celebration

00:00 / 35:42

Where is your heart at? Pastor Chris gives us ways to take our next step with Christ daily.

Sermon: Heartbeat – Celebration
Date: November 3 & 4
Digital bulletin

Scriptures:

Matthew 6:21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

John 4:23 … true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Hebrews 10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Psalms 51:17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Psalms 127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.

Matthew 10:8 …Give as freely as you have received!

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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