2 Corinthians: Why Does God Let Trials Happen to Us?

We all face trials, difficulties, painful experiences in life. God is in control... but why does He let these things happen? We will look at two very important reasons: first, God is using these events to let you experience Him in new and closer ways, and secondly, He is going to use you to comfort and encourage others. We will begin our study of the amazing book of 2 Corinthians. If that phrase doesn't mean anything to you, then join us to experience this book in a fresh way and see why it is truly amazing!!

2 Corinthians 1

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: True Motivation - What's Ahead!

Mark describes that Jesus was transfigured before some of His disciples. The implications are vastly far reaching and immensely encouraging to those who have chosen the pathway of discipleship.

2 Peter 1:16-21
Revelation 1:9-18
Mark 8:27-9:8
John 14:6,6:68
Acts 4:12
Romans 8:17-18

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What does the word transfiguration mean?
• Why is the transfiguration so important?
• What does it teach us about Jesus?
• Why is it such an encouragement after what Jesus just called His disciples to in the context?
• Where are we heading?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Why Shouldn't I Sin?

If grace abounds then shouldn't I keep sinning so I can receive more grace? Paul might disagree.

Romans 6:1-14,5:6-10,5:20-21,6:15,6:19-23
Jude 1:4

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Mindset of a Super Conqueror: The Battle for the Mind

Do you ever wish you could turn off your mind? How about: do you ever struggle to get control of your thoughts and start thinking godly about something? We are all in a battle for the mind, with powerful forces at work from without and within that try to direct our thoughts (some for good and some for bad). In our The Mindset of a Super Conqueror series we are going to explore how to win the battle for the mind!

Handout

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Ashamed? Of What?

Jesus is calling His disciples to follow Him down an unpopular road. In this pivotal passage from Mark He gives them reasons to NOT be ashamed of Him and His gospel. Powerful reasons.

Philippians 2:5-11
2 Thessalonians 1:3-12
Mark 8:27-38
2 Timothy 1:6-8,1:16-18,1:12
1 Peter 4:3-5
Romans 6:21,1:16
Hebrews 2:11,11:16

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• When do you feel the pressure to be ashamed of Christ or the gospel?
• What reasons does Jesus give to help us overcome this pressure?
• What if you have failed in this area in the past... is this a one and done?
• How did Paul try to encourage Timothy in all of this?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Life is Short - Do NOT Have an Affair

What good does it do to gain the whole world and yet to lose your soul? What can compare with the soul and what will you sell it for? Jesus has a way of quickly getting us to ponder the most important matters of life and beyond in this passage from Mark.

Luke 16:19-31
Mark 8:27-38
Romans 8:17-18
Philippians 3:8

The whole world cannot make up to a man the loss of his soul. The possession of all the treasures that the world contains, would not compensate for eternal ruin. They would not satisfy us, and make us happy while we had them. They could only be enjoyed for a few years, at best, and must then be left for evermore. Of all unprofitable and foolish bargains that man can make, the worst is that of giving up his soul's salvation for the sake of this present world. It is a bargain of which thousands, like Esau, who sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage, have repented--but many, unhappily, like Esau, have repented too late.

Any man may lose his own soul. He cannot save it. Christ alone can do that. But he can lose it, and that in many different ways. He may murder it, by loving gin and cleaving to the world. He may poison it by choosing a religion of lies, and believing man-made superstitions. He may starve it, by neglecting all means of grace, and refusing to receive into his heart the Gospel. Many are the ways that lead to the pit. Whatever way a man takes, he, and he alone, is accountable for it. Weak, corrupt, fallen, impotent as human nature is, man has a mighty power of destroying, ruining, and losing his own soul.

Let these sayings of our Lord sink deep into our hearts. Words are inadequate to express their importance. May we remember them in the hour of temptation, when the soul seems a small and unimportant thing, and the world seems very bright and great. May we remember them in the hour of persecution, when we are tried by the fear of man, and half inclined to forsake Christ. In hours like these, let us call to mind this mighty question of our Lord, and repeat it to ourselves, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

These words were meant to stir us up to exertion and self-denial. They ought to ring in our ears like a trumpet, every morning when we rise from our beds, and every night when we lie down. May they be deeply engraved in our memories, and never effaced by the devil and the world! J.C. Ryle The Gospel of Mark

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What are the two roads laid out ahead of everyone?
• Which one does Jesus call us to take?
• What are the reasons He gives to encourage us onto the right one?
• What meaning does the title of this sermon have and why is that so opposite of how people think today?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA