THE CROSSING BLOG
Sunday Gathering 06.10.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
Our Great God
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The Lord is Your Shelter
The Valley May Be Dark
Grace That is Greater Than All Our Sin
Worship through the Word:
Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.
Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 06.03.2018
This Sunday we will be skipping a section in Colossians since it was preached on 12.31.2017. You can listen to or watch that sermon online based on Colossians 3:1-17.
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
Be Thou My Vision
O Praise The Name
How Can I Keep From Singing
Give Me Jesus
Man Of Sorrows
Worship through the Word:
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 05.27.2018
This Sunday we will be skipping a section in Colossians since it was preached on 12.31.2017. You can listen to or watch that sermon online based on Colossians 3:1-17.
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
How Firm a Foundation
Not What My Hands Have Done
O Fount of Love
10,000 Reasons
I Stand Amazed
Worship through the Word:
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 05.20.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
Cornerstone
Stronger
Be Thou My Vision
All Creatures
Kingdom of Heaven
Rejoice
Worship through the Word:
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 05.13.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
In Christ Alone
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
And Can It Be
God Alone
He Will Hold Me Fast
Worship through the Word:
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 05.06.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
O Praise The Name
Jesus Paid It All
And Can It Be
The Solid Rock
Come Thou Fount
Worship through the Word:
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 04.29.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
Holy, Holy, Holy
I Have a Shelter
O Great God
Rock of Ages (Ascend the Hill)
I Will Glory in My Redeemer
Worship through the Word:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 04.22.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
O For a Thousand Tongues
From the Rising of the Sun
Psalm 62
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
All I Have is Christ
Worship through the Word:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 04.08.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
10,000 Reasons
Tis So Sweet
How Can I Keep From Singing
Before the Throne of God Above
Grace That is Greater
Worship through the Word:
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 04.01.2018 Resurrection Sunday!
Christ has risen from the dead; this triumphant resurrection changed everything and we hope it changes you. Join us on Sunday morning at 10am as The Crossing church gathers together to celebrate Jesus' resurrection.
“O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night”
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing Church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
Stronger
All Things New (Andrew Peterson)
Oh My Soul Arise
O Praise The Name
In Christ Alone
Worship through the Word:
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 03.25.2018 Palm Sunday
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during this week's Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
Glorious and Mighty
Abide With Me
I Stand Amazed
Oh the Deep Deep Love of Jesus
Behold Our God
Worship through the Word:
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey's colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”
20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”
When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sermon Discussion - John 16:16-33
Here’s a few sermon discussion questions to help our church love God by applying his word to our lives. Feel free to use these questions for personal reflection, alongside your family, within a smaller discipleship/journey group, or even within the context of your Life Group. If you missed Sunday’s sermon from John 16:16-33 you can view it online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tG0ocWgmMc
TPQ - Thought Provoking Question: l shared about the triumphant story of Eric Liddell (and Chariots of Fire) where he stood firm to his biblical convictions amidst pressure from those around him. Can you think of other stories of someone overcoming adversity for a triumphant victory?
A Difficult Departure - v. 16-22
What kind of thoughts and emotions do you think the disciples are experiencing as Jesus is concluding this upper room discourse? How does Jesus use this as a teachable moment?
For those who have experienced child birth - please share your journey of the emotions before and after the child was born. (Follow up question after people share, what made the biggest difference in the change of emotion?) Drill home the point that when the resurrection occurs, Jesus' disciples will see that he's overcome the world and they will have fullness of joy.
What is joy - how would you define it? (gladness, cheerfulness - calm delight) Here is a link to the bible project video on joy.
I mentioned in the sermon that joy is an attitude - not based on subjective circumstances but on objective truth of what God has done for us in Christ. Psalm 118:24 is an example. Can you think of other bible verses/passages that highlight this idea of our emotions follow the truth of God? (Psalm 42:5; 64:9-10; John 16:33; Phil. 4:4-7)
Often times as Christians, we don't feel joy. What in your life tends to rob you of your joy? (Circumstances, relationships, material things) I mentioned that next time you notice your feelings are in the driver seat of your life and decisions, ask yourself a simple question - do you remember that question? (What is true right now? And more specifically what is true about the gospel that speaks to this situation?)
What truths of the gospel do we need to know AND believe to prevent our joy from being robbed? How can we practically apply gospel truth to situations in order to have our feelings in the right order? How can our Life Group help this process?
Direct Access to the Father - v. 23-27
Why do we pray in Jesus name? (Who's merit?)
I shared a story of God showing his love for me way before I ever loved him. (Truth preceded emotions!) - Who can you share the love of Christ with in your circle of influence? What are some steps you'd like to take in that process? (pray, introduce to community, scatter night, Easter Sunday invite)
Take Heart - Christ has overcome the world v28-33
Where right now is the world bringing tribulation in your life? Spend some time in passages like 2 Corinthians 4:5-18 and Romans 8:31-39 - How does the truth of Christ conquering on our behalf encourage you to take heart, have peace, rejoice in the face of tribulation?
Next Sunday's passage will be on John 17. Take some time to read, mediate and pray over this text. You can pray for yourself, our pastors and our church body.
Sunday Gathering 01.28.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during our Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
Grace That Is Greater
Oh My Soul Arise
Near the Cross
Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery
Jesus I My Cross Have Taken
Worship through the Word:
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 01.21.2017
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during our Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
- Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
- Listen to, sing or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together.
- Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through song:
Oh for a Thousand Tongues
He Will Hold Me Fast
And Can It Be
Holy, Holy, Holy
Be Thou My Vision
Worship through the Word:
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
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Feel free to preview these songs on YouTube or any other streaming service. We pray our Sunday Gathering is life giving to you and honoring to King Jesus. John 5:24
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Sunday Gathering 01.07.2018
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during our Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
1) Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
2) Sing, listen or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together and ask God to grow and strengthen our faith and understanding of Him through them.
3) Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through the Word:
Worship through Singing:
Sunday Gathering 12.31.2017
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during our Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
1) Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
2) Sing, listen or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together and ask God to grow and strengthen our faith and understanding of Him through them.
3) Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through the Word:
Worship through Singing:
Sunday Gathering - Christmas Eve at 4:30pm
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during our Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
1) Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
2) Sing, listen or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together and ask God to grow and strengthen our faith and understanding of Him through them.
3) Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through the Word:
Worship through Singing:
Sunday Gathering - Advent 3 - 12.17.2017
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during our Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
1) Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
2) Sing, listen or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together and ask God to grow and strengthen our faith and understanding of Him through them.
3) Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through the Word:
Worship through Singing:
O Day of Peace
Angels We Have Heard on High
What Glory Now Our Eyes Have Seen
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Sunday Gathering - Advent 2 - 12.10.2017
The purpose of this blog post is to help The Crossing church engage and prepare our hearts to worship King Jesus. We will highlight the Scripture that will be preached as well as the songs we will sing during our Sunday Gathering.
Here are a three simple ways you can prepare your heart:
1) Read through and meditate on the text that will be preached that Sunday with your family and/or friends.
2) Sing, listen or read through some of the song lyrics that we will sing together and ask God to grow and strengthen our faith and understanding of Him through them.
3) Pray for God to reveal Himself to you and the The Crossing church in powerful ways!
Worship through the Word:
Worship through Singing:
O Day of Peace
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
All Glory Be To Christ