Jesus in Gethsemane, Is There No Other Way?

If God is the great and all-powerful God of the universe then why did He make His only Son suffer and die? That wasn't very nice! Couldn't there have been an easier and better way to save us?

Matthew 26:36-46,1:27
Hebrews 4:15-16,2:17,1:3,10:4
Romans 8:7,1:18,3:24-26
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Acts 4:12
Isaiah 64:6
Colossians 2:23
1 John 4:10
John 13:31-32,6:40

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Describe Jesus' circumstances in the text.
• Explain why He would ask, Is there no other way?
• The Father said no to the Son for several reasons. What is the Bible's teaching in Hebrews 2:14-18,4:14-16 about why the Father said no?
• In His garden brokenness, what does Jesus reveal to us about the Father?
• What parties were at war in the garden of Gethsemane?
• Who brought an end to the war, and how did He accomplish it?
• Why couldn't we drink the cup of God's wrath for ourselves?
• Why could only Jesus drink it, and what did His drinking it accomplish?
• What was the cosmic contradiction that needed to be set right?
• How did God set it right?
• What is the ultimate reason the Father said no?

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Enthusiastic Angels Scaring Folk

Who would have thought the birth of the incarnate Son of God would include: a barn, a teenage Mom, questionable characters called shepherds peaking into barns and sheds at night, a hay trough... why all the nobodies.. and a special Somebody!

Luke 1:26-38,2:1-20
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
James 2:5
2 Corinthians 8:9

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How many nobodies do you know?
• What is God's intentional strategy concerning nobodies?
• In what ways did Gabriel explain her future Son to Mary?
• Why did this event include shepherds?
• Why is this all so important for you personally?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Why Does This Have to Be So Hard?

Why does our life and Jesus' life have to be so hard? What does this tell us of who He is and of how glorious His salvation is?

Matthew 1:18-2:23,4:1
Hebrews 2:17-18,4:14-16
John 3:16
Romans 6:23

Observe how the Lord Jesus was "a man of sorrows" even from His infancy. Trouble awaits Him as soon as He enters into the world. His life is in danger from Herod's hatred. His mother and Joseph are obliged to take Him away by night, and "flee into Egypt." It was only a type and figure of all His experience upon earth. The waves of humiliation began to beat over Him, even when He was a nursing child.

The Lord Jesus is just the Savior that the suffering and sorrowful need. He knows well what we mean, when we tell Him in prayer of our troubles. He can sympathize with us, when we cry to Him under cruel persecution. Let us keep nothing back from Him. Let us make Him our bosom friend. Let us pour out our hearts before Him. He has had great experience of affliction. J.C. Ryle Expository Thoughts on Matthew

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why did the announcement to Joseph have to be so hard?
• Why did Jesus' life have to be so hard?
• What impact did His trials have on our relationship with Him in our daily trials?
• Why is the mission of Jesus so accompanied by brutality?
• What does this tell us about the ultimate questions in life?
• Why does this make what He does for us glorious beyond description?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Willing to Be Greatly Inconvenienced

Jesus was sent on a mission which would involve an amazingly deep level of sacrifice, loss of status, and pre‑incarnate glory. All for you?

John 10:1-30,1:1-4
Philippians 2:5-11
Colossians 1:16-17
Galatians 2:20

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why do we not like to be inconvenienced or lose status?
• What was Jesus' situation like before He came to earth?
• What was the proposed mission?
• What did He answer and why?
• Can you personalize this?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hope

Do you have hope? A hope that can carry you joyfully through the challenges and disappointments of life? Jesus came to give us such powerful hope.

Romans 8:18-25,5:2,15:13
Acts 23:6
Mark 7:34
1 Corinthians 15:42-43
Philippians 3:20-21
Titus 2:13
Colossians 1:3-5
Ephesians 1:18,2:12

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is it hard to get modern folks to look at eternal realities?
• What is Redemptive Hope, and why is its definition different than the one people usually use?
• What are our deepest longings (groaning)?
• Why does the gospel give us hope?
• What effect does hope have on people?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: A Life of Supernatural Transformation

So now that we're trying to live for the Lord, what kind of changes are about to happen in our lives? You can expect real transformation and change by the Holy Spirit working in your life... You just need to keep in step with the Spirit!

Galatians 5,2:20
Romans 6:11,8:12-14,6:19

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What is the Flesh?
• What is the war within; who are the combatants?
• What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?
• How does walking in the Spirit work?
• Can we expect real change in our lives?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Avoiding Melt Downs

Sometimes great trials and setbacks actually pave the way for greater works of God. This was evident in Acts. As we watch Paul and Silas suffer and then bear lots of fruit, we will be taught how to not melt down in the rough times so we can see through and finally see how God used those times for much good in our lives and in others.

Acts 16

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: Through Another

In looking at how we should live as Christians we quickly see that Christianity is fundamentally different than all other religions and world views. God offers grace and a transformation that comes from within. The vital connection is the life-giving link with Christ.

Galatians 3:24-25,4:1-7,4:28,4:31-5:6,5:13-14,5:24,6:14-15
Romans 6:1-2,6:6-7,6:11
Colossians 3:1-3

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How is Christianity different than all other religions?
• What is mankind's twofold problem?
• How does God, through grace, meet our greatest need?
• What are the two errors of the use of Christian liberty?
• How are Christians described?
• How can we know this is true?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Why a Church?

Why did God allow a church to be attacked? What has God revealed in His Word to help us process this tragedy?

Romans 8:28-39
Isaiah 46:9-10
Daniel 4:34-35
Ephesians 1:11
Matthew 10:29
Acts 4:27-28
1 Timothy 1:17
Genesis 50:20
1 John 4:9-10
Philippians 1:21,1:23

God hath decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree. 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What are the three truths or attributes about God that should guide us as we seek to answer the question Why a Church?
• Explain how each one is important.
• Why does the unbeliever have no answers?
• Why should we pray for the victims?
• What should we pray for the victims?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Why Would Anyone...??

Why would anyone get baptized? There are many great reasons!!!

Acts 8:26-40,2:37-38,2:41,8:12,9:18,10:47-48,22:16
Matthew 28:18-20
1 John 1:7
Romans 10:13,6:1-6,6:11
Colossians 3:1-3
Galatians 2:20,3:26-29
1 Peter 2:9-10

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How are baptism and a wedding ring similar?
• Did Jesus command His followers to be baptized?
• Where in the Bible?
• What three things does baptism symbolize: clues (bathtub drain, grave and empty tomb, joining a gang)?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Entry Denied

In Acts we will see the Holy Spirit deny access to Paul and Company, a vision from the Lord, and the first conversion in Europe. We will also address the questions: What is the takeaway for us today? What should we learn from these passages? And, how should we apply the principles to our lives?

Acts 16

Chris Bowser
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: As a Son Not a Slave

How should I live? When people were trying to move the Galatians back to legalism... Paul says "Live like sons not slaves".

Galatians 3:1-4:11,4:28,5:1-6,5:13-14,5:16,5:18,5:22-23
Matthew 23:23-28

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What is legalism?
• What is wrong with it?
• What did Paul say to the Galatians when people wanted to put them back under the Law?
• What was the purpose of the Law?
• When were sons and slaves treated the same, and when were they treated differently?
• What did Paul conclude was the status of the Christian and how the Christian should live?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: The Ordinary Doing the Extraordinary

The world has been changed by ordinary people doing extraordinary things through the grace and power of God. In our study of Acts we will be inspired by some normal folks with their various strengths and weaknesses: Paul, Barnabas, Mark, Silas and Timothy. We will look at how God used each of them, and them together, to change the world. This is still His strategy today... this study will be a great encouragement to us ordinary folks and how God can use us!

Acts 15-16

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: Keeping One Thing Crystal Clear

As we study How Should I Live it is absolutely important that we are clear that salvation is not merited, but a gift! And our response is not a works righteousness but faith working through love and gratitude.

Romans 3:9-31
Matthew 21:28-32,7:22-23
Luke 12:21,18:19
Isaiah 64:6
Proverbs 4:19,11:5,12:26
Psalms 146:9,134:3,143:2
Jonah 2:9
Ephesians 2:8-9
Titus 2:14

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Who goes to heaven?
• Who goes to hell?
• How did Jesus turn the usual answer to these questions upside down?
• What are the realizations a person must come to in order to be saved?
• Salvation is a gift, a great gift, and expensive gift, a gift given by grace, a gift received by faith... explain how these were described in the sermon.
• What is the objective and subjective response to this gift?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: But What About the Old Way?

As Christians today what do we do with the Old Testament laws? Are we supposed to keep the dietary laws and eat kosher? Are we responsible to keep the Passover, Jewish Sabbath, New Moon, Feast of Tabernacles, Circumcision? What does it mean that these were supposed to be perpetual or everlasting... then, how can they be ended? Are Gentiles supposed to become Jewish? These are big questions facing the apostles, especially as the gospel was reaching Gentiles, and they were coming into the churches. In Acts 15 the council in Jerusalem meets and these issues are worked out. These issues challenge many even today.

Acts 15

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: Love in an Unloving Atmosphere

Today people are angry, short tempered, and hostile to those who disagree with them... As we ponder how we should live as Christians, how can we be loving in this atmosphere and not be just like the world?

1 Corinthians 13
Philippians 2:14-15
Romans 1:21-22,1:24,1:26

Having shown the nature and tendency of charity or Christian love, in respect to our receiving injury, and doing good to others — that it "suffers long and is kind;" and also with respect to the good possessed by others as compared with that possessed by ourselves — that charity "envieth not;" the apostle now proceeds to show, that in reference to what we ourselves may be or have, charity is not proud — that "it vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly." As, on the one hand, it prevents us from envying others what they possess, so, on the other, it keeps us from glorying in what we possess ourselves. Paul had just declared that charity was contrary to a spirit of envy, and now he declares that it is equally contrary to that spirit which specially provokes men to envy others, and which they often make a pretense or apology for envying them, viz. that they are puffed up with their honors and prosperity, and vaunt themselves on their possession of these things. When men have obtained prosperity, or are advanced, and others observe that they are puffed up and vaunt themselves in it, this tends to provoke envy, and make others uneasy at the sight of their prosperity. But if a man has prosperity or advancement, and yet does not vaunt himself or behave in an unseemly manner on account of it, this tends to reconcile others to his high circumstances, and make them satisfied that he should enjoy his elevation. As already observed, when men envy another, they are prone to excuse and justify themselves in so doing, by the pretense that he does not make a good improvement of his prosperity, but is proud of it, and puffed up on account of it. But the apostle shows how Christian love, or charity, tends to make all behave suitably to their condition, whatever it may be: if below others, not to envy them, and if above others, not to be proud or puffed up with the prosperity. Jonathan Edwards The Spirit Of Charity Is An Humble Spirit

But so soon as he had transgressed against God, these noble principles were immediately lost, and all this excellent enlargedness of man's soul was gone; and thenceforward, he himself shrank, as it were, into a little space, circumscribed and closely shut up within itself to the exclusion of all things else. Sin, like some powerful astringent, contracted his soul to the very small dimensions of selfishness: and God was forsaken, and fellow creatures forsaken, and man retired within himself, and became totally governed by narrow and selfish principles and feelings. Self-love became absolute master of his soul, and the more noble and spiritual principles of his being, took wings and flew away. Jonathan Edwards The Spirit Of Charity Is An Humble Spirit

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What in our culture causes us to be angry, irritated, short fused?
• What are some of the ways love is described in the passage?
• How can we be like this to everyone?
• Why is love so important?
• How does this teaching cause us to seek God more fervently?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Holy Boldness in a Hostile Environment

As our culture gets more resistant and hostile to the gospel, we are tempted to retreat in silence. We can lose a holy boldness and be intimidated into going under the radar with our faith. It's tempting. How to get that boldness back and keep it? One way is to see it in others. We will be examining in Acts the courageous efforts of Paul (stoned, left for dead, and then walking back into the city... seriously!!!) and Barnabas to bring the gospel to their generation. They will inspire us to boldness and to a stick-to-it-ness that won't easily be intimidated. These things are increasingly the need of the hour.

Acts 14

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Making Sense of a Senseless Act

When a senseless crime takes place as we saw in Los Vegas, we try to make sense out of it. Modern man, tragically, does not have the worldview that can help in times of crisis. But God has not left us without hope, and His word does give us a worldview that can inform our quest for sense.

Luke 8:26-39
Ephesians 2:1-3,6:12
Matthew 8:29,12:28-29
James 2:19
Mark 5:5-6
1 John 3:8,4:4
Colossians 2:14-15
Romans 16:20

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is modern man particularly unprepared to handle what happened in Las Vegas?
• What about their worldview has made them this way?
• Why is the problem much deeper than they can imagine?
• How does the Bible's worldview address more accurately what is going on?
• How does God offer us hope and real answers in Jesus Christ?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: Loving Enemies

We are examining how we should live for God yet why does it feel so unnatural and why is it so hard... to love our enemies? How do we do this?

Matthew 5:38-48
Romans 12:10,12:17-21,13:4,5:10
Acts 14:16-17

The Voice of the Martyrs

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: The First Missionaries

In God's great love for all the world, He sent the gospel to all nations. In Acts we see the humble beginning of this great redemption of the world in Paul and Barnabas taking the first missionary journey. But we see much more — we learn how to share the gospel; we learn how to apply Biblical principles to even the strategy of evangelism; and we see men passionate about Christ, the gospel and the lost... and they inspire us to be better.

Acts 13

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: Loving Neighbor

When asked how one should live Jesus said the two biggest duties in life are: love God with all you got, and love your neighbor with the same concern you have for yourself. Ever realize how radical that actually is?

Luke 10:25-37
Matthew 22:34-40,5:43,7:12
Galatians 5:14
Romans 13:8-10
John 4:9,8:48
James 2:15-16

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What does it mean to love your neighbor as yourself?
• Why is this so radical?
• Why did the priest and the Levite not do this?
• Why is the Good Samaritan such a good role model?
• Why does this require a deeper sanctification than normal?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Shifting Directions

After concentrating on spreading the gospel to mainly Jewish audiences Acts takes a sudden shift to focus on evangelizing to the Gentiles. We can be very thankful that Jesus' grace extends to all the world.

Acts 13

Chris Bowser
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Put to Death Your Flesh

Are you feeling like you want to love God, but can't seem to make Him the top priority in your life? This is your call for action: to walk in the Spirit you must put to death the sinful desires of the flesh. Are you ready to suffer in order to accomplish this?

Romans 8:1-17,11:20-23,6:11-12
Genesis 19:12-29
Mark 7:20-23
Galatians 5:16-23,2:20
Hebrews 7:25,12:1-2,11:1
2 Peter 2:6-10
Philippians 1:6
Ephesians 5:8,2:4-6
2 Corinthians 5:10-12
1 Peter 4:1-4
Luke 9:23-24

Sean Byham
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Power and Authority of God

As we witness real storms in the world we see the awesome power of God. God the power to destroy, yet He also has the poor to create and restore life. And He still loves and cares about little us.

Revelation 22:17,4:11
2 Peter 3:6
Isaiah 23:11
Psalm 37:38
1 John 3:8
Matthew 6:19,7:13,10:20,28:5
Philippians 3:19
Genesis 1:1
John 1:3,3:16
Exodus 7:1-7

Henry Russo
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: Loving God

As Christians how should we live? We are to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. That's the number one thing. Everything we have is a gift from God. We are so blessed, even when we're not thinking about Him! To know God is to love God.

Isaiah 40
Matthew 22:34-40

She was always best when she was most with God in a corner. She has many a whole day been pouring out her soul before God for the nation, for Zion, and the great concerns of her own soul, when them about her did judge it more expedient that she had been in her bed, by reason of some bodily infirmity that did hang upon her; but the divine pleasures that she took in her closet did drown the sense of pain. Thomas Brooks Strength in Weakness

But the most obvious fact about praise — whether of God or anything — strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless... shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it. The world rings with praise — lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game — praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians or scholars... I had not noticed either that just as men spontaneously praise whatever they value, so they spontaneously urge us to join them in praising it: "Isn't she lovely? Wasn't it glorious? Don’t you think that magnificent?" The Psalmists in telling everyone to praise God are doing what all men do when they speak of what they care about. My whole, more general, difficulty about the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can't help doing, about everything else we value. I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. C.S. Lewis Reflections on the Psalms

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why do we not love God as we ought (or Why do we need fixed)?
• Why do people and angels who know God well love Him?
• What are some of the multifaceted ways God is beloved?
• What are the results from loving God?
• How should loving God impact:
  1. our personal devotions?
  2. our praise of God?
• What practical suggestions were given concerning How to love God?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: A Shining Example

A confused and hurting world is increasingly today a divided and broken world. People get along less and less. Unity in the country, city, or even home seems almost impossible. It leaves people lonely and unconnected vitally in a community. Here is where the church is to shine like a city on a hill... by its unity and closeness. All people should know we are His disciples because of the love we have for one another. In our study of Acts we will explore the very first time the disciples were called Christians. And we will see the implications of that name for us today.

Acts 11

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

How Should I Live: Jesus' Priority

How should I live out my Christian faith.. so many opinions, issues... what does Jesus say?

1 Corinthians 13
Matthew 22:34-40
John 13:34-35
Galatians 5:14
Romans 13:8-10,2:10
James 2:8
1 Peter 4:8,3:8
1 John 3:11,3:10,3:23
2 John 5
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
John 15:12-13
Matthew 7:12,5:43-44
1 John 4:7-11

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is it challenging to know how to live out our faith?
• Why do folks tend toward legalism or lawlessness?
• What did Jesus say was the most important thing?
• Do I ask constantly, Am I loving this person?
• Why does it help that God does this?
• What role does the Holy Spirit have in helping us love?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: The Power of Prayer

In studying Acts 12 we see the power of prayer which leads to being active in God's will.

Acts 12

Henry Russo
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: The Suffering Servant

In this conclusion to discovering The Gospel in the Old Testament we see that Jesus is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. Why would such a glorious person to come for me? What wonder is this gospel!"

1 Peter 2:18-25
Acts 8:26-35
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
John 5:39,12:37-38,12:41
Romans 4:25
2 Corinthians 4:16

You have as much of God as you desire. If you have no more, it is because you do not desire any more. The Christian people of today, many of whom are so empty of God, are in a very tragic sense, 'full,' because they have as much as they can take in. If you bring a tiny cup, and do not much care whether anything pours into it or not, you will get it filled, but you might have had a gallon vessel filled if you had chosen to bring it. Of course there are other conditions too. We have to use the life that is given us. We have to see that we do not quench it by sin, which drives the dove of God from a man’s heart. But the great truth is that if I open the door of my heart by faith, Christ will come in, in His Spirit. If I take away the blinds the light will shine into the chamber. If I lift the sluice the water will pour in to drive my mill. If I deepen the channels, more of the water of life can flow into them, and the deeper I make them the fuller they will be.

And let us remember that, if we are full of faith, we shall be full of the Holy Spirit, and therefore full of wisdom, full of grace and power, full of goodness, full of joy, whatever our circumstances. And when death comes, though it may be in some cruel form, we shall be able to look up and see the opened heavens and the welcoming Christ. Alexander MacLaren Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Who is the Suffering Servant?
• What stands out for you from the poetic Isaiah 53, about Jesus, His sufferings, and what He has done for us?
• Why is it a wonder that:
  1. Such a glorious person was needed to fix the problem?
  2. We would need such a substitute?
  3. Our sin would fall on such a glorious person?
  4. That He would do this for you?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: The Role of the Holy Spirit

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian? Should we expect a second experience? What are the differences between the baptism of the Spirit and the filling of the Spirit? Is speaking in tongues the sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Questions like these have challenged Christians for a long time. Most tend to rely heavily on the book of Acts to prove their position. In our study of Acts, we are going to look at what the Word of God teaches about these vital questions.

Acts 1-11

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Melchizedek???

The mysterious figure Melchizedek appears suddenly in the Old Testament and just as suddenly is gone... yet through him marvelous things about Jesus are revealed!

Genesis 14:18-20
Psalm 110
Mark 11:27-28
1 John 2:1-2
Romans 8:33-34
Hebrews 5:1-6,5:9-11,6:20-8:3,9:11-15,9:27,4:14-16

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Who is Melchizedek, and why is he important?
• Why is it important for us that Jesus is the Great High Priest?
• Why is He superior to the Old Testament priests?
• How will He help us:
  1. When we face the challenges of life?
  2. When we face God in person?
• Why are unbelievers alone?
• What does Jesus say to them?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: David's Son and Lord

Jesus quoted the Old Testament and then pointed out that David's distant relative will also be his Lord... what are the practical implications for everyone (literally everyone and everything)?

Psalm 110
Matthew 22:41-46
Acts 2:32-36,7:55-56
Romans 8:34
Ephesians 1:20-23,2:5-6
Colossians 3:1
Hebrews 1:3,1:13,8:1,10:12-13,12:2
1 Peter 3:22
Hebrews 2:8-9
Ephesians 1:10
1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What did Jesus ask about Psalm 110?
• What are the practical implications of the fact that Jesus has been exalted to head of all things?
• What is the plan that God is currently working out?
• What are the two ways this should personally impact us as outlined in the sermon?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Photograph of the Cross

The Old Testament's Psalm 22 is quoted by Jesus on the cross, and is a powerful photograph of the sufferings Jesus willingly underwent for us. This should produce a dramatic effect upon us.

Matthew 27:15-54
Psalm 22:1-19

"Thou:" I can understand why traitorous Judas and timid Peter should be gone, but thou, my God, my faithful friend, how canst thou leave me? This is worst of all, yea, worse than all put together. Hell itself has for its fiercest flame the separation of the soul from God.

...he could only utter moanings and groanings as men do in severe sicknesses, like the roarings of a wounded animal. To what extremity of grief was our Master driven? What strong crying and tears were those which made him too hoarse for speech! What must have been his anguish to find his own beloved and trusted Father standing afar off, and neither granting help nor apparently hearing prayer! This was good cause to make him "roar."

But I am a worm, and no man. This verse is a miracle in language. How could the Lord of glory be brought to such abasement as to be not only lower than the angels, but even lower than men. What a contrast between "I AM" and "I am a worm"! yet such a double nature was found in the person of our Lord Jesus when bleeding upon the tree. He felt himself to be comparable to a helpless, powerless, down trodden worm, passive while crushed, and unnoticed and despised by those who trod upon him. He selects the weakest of creatures, which is all flesh; and becomes, when trodden upon, writhing, quivering flesh, utterly devoid of any might except strength to suffer. This was a true likeness of himself when his body and soul had become a mass of misery - the very essence of agony - in the dying pangs of crucifixion.

Turning from his enemies, our Lord describes his own personal condition in language which should bring the tears into every loving eye. I am poured out like water. He was utterly spent, like water poured upon the earth; his heart failed him, and had no more firmness in it than running water, and his whole being was made a sacrifice, like a libation poured out before the Lord. He had long been a fountain of tears; in Gethsemane his heart welled over in sweat, and on the cross he gushed forth with blood; he poured out his strength and spirit, so that he was reduced to the most feeble and exhausted state.

Thou hast brought me into the dust of death; so tormented in every single part as to feel dissolved into separate atoms, and each atom full of misery; the full price of our redemption was paid, and no part of the Surety's body or soul escaped its share of agony. The words may set forth Jesus as having wrestled with Death until he rolled into the dust with his antagonist. Behold the humiliation of the Son of God! The Lord of Glory stoops to the dust of death.

Charles Spurgeon The Treasury of David, Psalm 22

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why can Psalm 22 be called a photograph of the cross?
• What hit you as you listened to Jesus' sufferings described?
• How did the illustration of the man who went to prison for what his dog did fit into the sermon?
• Why should this all have a dramatic impact upon us that is
  1. Pervasive?
  2. Always?
  3. Forever?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: The Bigger Picture

We'll take a step back in Acts and look at the big picture surrounding the situation with Peter and Cornelius. A lot of things are happening simultaneously. Peter's vision of the unclean animals is an important turning point in the breaking of established traditions for the early church.

Acts 10-11

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Two Most Influential Men of the Gospel

According to the Apostle Paul the two most influential men of all time are Jesus Christ and Adam. In Romans 5 Paul argues for how the influence of each affects our eternal destiny.

Romans 5:12-21
2 Corinthians 1:20
John 5:39
Luke 24:25-27
1 Corinthians 15:45
Psalm 139:18

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• In What ways are Adam and Christ similar?
• In what ways are we related to Adam?
• In what ways are Adam and Christ different?

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Shattering Traditions

In Acts the gospel has been shared and growing in Jerusalem and Judea. Now it makes that big move into the Gentile world. This is breaking down walls that have been in place for hundreds of years.

Acts 9-10

David Ruhl
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Free to Love

Does any medical procedure or ritually performing any works bring anyone closer to God? Or are these just stumbling blocks on our journey? Can the Holy Spirit's presence be earned? Paul says these efforts avail us nothing! Only the grace of God grants us the freedom to love through faith.

Galatians 5:1-6,3:1-5,3:13-14,4:6-7,6:2
1 Corinthians 15:10
Romans 14:7,8:14
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
1 John 3:18

Sean Byham
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: God's Anointed

We tend to think of the gospel as being a New Testament thing, but it is throughout the Old Testament, even from the very beginning. A thousand years before Christ we find that God has appointed a world wide, forever King! That is both marvelous, glorious, and can be scary!

Psalm 2,89:20,89:27,110:1
Acts 4:23-31,13:22-36
Romans 9:5,1:3-4
Ephesians 1:20-23
Philippians 2:9-11
Matthew 28:18-20
1 Corinthians 15:24-26

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why do modern people struggle with the concept of authority?
• What is God's response in Psalm 2 to the nations' rage?
• What are the blessings of having Jesus as God's anointed King?
• Why should this be scary to some?
• What is the glorious plan?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Justice Will Prevail

Christians often have a deep set fear of being persecuted for their faith. However the level of that perceived persecution varies greatly. Jesus told us persecution is definitely coming but not to fear it! We've read the end of the book and already know who wins!

Matthew 10:24-33

Pastor Bob Zoba
Second Union Church
Guaynabo, PR

Acts: Quite a Transformation!

One of the most significant events in the life of the early church is when its most notorious persecutor is converted and becomes its most zealous follower. It is a thrilling story of suspense, escape, and daring. But the disciples in this account challenge us to be more zealous and bold. Do you struggle at times to be alive, energetic, and zealous for Christ? Do you struggle at times to be bold in living out your faith? Hear from Acts in God's Word how we can grow in these vital areas!

Acts 9

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: The Forever King and Kingdom

If the news depresses you, and the world seems to be in a spiral of decay... there is good news — and it's found in the Old Testament — a forever Kingdom is here, is coming, and will finally win!

2 Samuel 7
Acts 13:27
Isaiah 9:6-7,11:1-6,11:10
Daniel 2:44
Matthew 1:1,12:22-30
Luke 1:31-33
Romans 8:23-25
Revelation 11:15

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is David and his kingdom such a good forerunner for the Messiah?
• Why is Jesus' Kingdom is superior to the present world kingdoms?
• When was Jesus' Kingdom inaugurated?
• How does one get into the Kingdom?
• When will it be consummated?
• Why should I be concerned to get myself in?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in a Nutshell

John 3:16 is probably the most famous verse in the Bible. It's known by just its numbers. It's everywhere. Even the secular world acknowledges it. And it's not just a recognizable verse; it's the whole gospel message in a nutshell.

John 3,17:2-3,6:38,15:12-14
Romans 10:9
Matthew 28:18,7:21
Philippians 2:11

Henry Russo
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Personal Evangelism

In chapter 8 of Acts one thing we will be looking at is personal evangelism. 1 Peter 24:32 should challenge every Christian with at least two questions:

1. Is it my prayer and earnest desire to share my hope and faith with the lost and dying of this world?
   
   
2. Does my life display this hope and faith that might make someone ask about it?

Allow the Spirit of God to challenge you to be better prepared to share your hope and faith.

Acts 8

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: The Bronze Serpent

Jesus pointed to a bronze serpent on a pole — that Moses was instructed by God to make in the Old Testament — as a teaching tool to help us understand what an wonderful thing He did to save us!

Numbers 20:1-21:9
John 3:13-18
2 Kings 18:4
Revelation 2:1-5
1 Peter 2:7

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is complaining against God so bad?
• Why was the serpent both a chastisement and a gracious thing?
• How does this point to Jesus?
• Why are people still in danger of perishing?
• Why did the bronze serpent need to be destroyed?
• What does this teach us?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: As Far as the East Is from the West

We learn from the Old Testament that sin is erased through sacrifice and atonement. But the ritual must be repeated. Guilt is painful and crippling.... and in Christ alone can guilt be truly and completely taken away... literally taken away... permanently... and that is Good News!!!

Leviticus 16:1-28
John 1:29
Hebrews 9:22,9:28,13:11-12
Matthew 20:28,26:28
1 Peter 1:18-19
Psalm 103:11-12
Isaiah 43:25
Jeremiah 31:34

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why did the people of the Old Testament place their hands on their sacrifices?
• What was the scapegoat, and what was its purpose?
• How does all of the Old Testament teaching on sacrifices help us better understand Jesus and what He did for us?
• How does He help us deal properly with guilt?
• What should be said to a person who says, "I know God has forgiven me, but I cannot forgive myself."?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: The High Priest

In the Old Testament we clearly find the warning to never attempt to approach God alone... that is deadly. But when the ultimate High Priest is present you are called to approach boldly and full of assurance!!!

Exodus 29:1-28,28:1-38
Hebrews 9:23-24,5:1,9:22,9:11-12,8:1-2,2:17-18,4:15-16,7:22-28,10:19-22
John 5:39
Luke 24:44-45

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How was Aaron prepared to be the High Priest in terms of his clothes and sacrifices?
• Why was this significant, and how did it point to Christ?
• How is Jesus the ultimate and great High Priest in terms of: His person as God and Man, His sinlessness, His eternality, His sympathy, and the fact that He is both Priest and Sacrifice?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Dying Grace

In Acts we will be studying the amazing account of Stephen... his life, his ministry, death, and his triumph. There is so much to learn from this man about living for Christ in a hostile environment, about being brave, about being loving to ones enemies, about dying grace.

Acts 7

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Law and Spirit (Old Covenant and New Covenant)

The Old Testament law is hard to keep, actually impossible... but the New Covenant blessing of the Holy Spirit working a new heart enables us to fulfill the requirements of the law.

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Galatians 5:13-26
John 1:17
Hebrews 8:13
Romans 7:12,7:14,8:3-4,6:14
Ezekiel 26:25-27
2 Corinthians 3:3,3:5

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What is the difference between the Old and New Covenants?
• What place does the Holy Spirit have in our lives, in light of the law of God?
• What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?
• What practically does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
• Why should we be all in?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Loving Others

As we continue to explore evidence of the gospel in the Old Testament, we find the second tablet of the Ten Commandments gives our duty to our fellow humans. Jesus deepens our understanding and summarizes it by loving your neighbor as yourself. This is hard to do and it shows us our need for Christ and He helps us make real progress!!

Deuteronomy 5:1-21
Romans 13:8-10,12:17-21
Matthew 5:17-22,5:27-28,5:38-45

The Purpose of the Law:
1. To reveal God’s holiness: special, pure, supreme
2. To reveal what it means to have a relationship with the holy God:
   1. What a holy life looks like
   2. As a pathway to life: human flourishing and blessing
3. To reveal how sinful we are
4. To reveal our need for Christ:
1. For the forgiveness of sins
2. For a new heart to overcome sins

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What are the commandments on the second tablet?
• How did Jesus summarize these laws?
• How did He help us to understand their true meaning?
• What does it mean to love our neighbor?
• What are some practical ways we can do this better?
• How do these commandments show us our need for Christ?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Loving God

In the Old Testament, God gave the first tablet of the Ten Commandments outlining our duties to Him. Jesus summarized this as loving God with everything we have!! What does it mean to love God supremely and how do we do that?

Exodus 20:1-17
Mark 12:28-34
Matthew 5:17-20
Ephesians 5:5

The Purpose of the Law:
1. To reveal God’s holiness: special, pure, supreme
2. To reveal what it means to have a relationship with the holy God:
   1. What a holy life looks like
   2. As a pathway to life: human flourishing and blessing
3. To reveal how sinful we are
4. To reveal our need for Christ:
1. For the forgiveness of sins
2. For a new heart to overcome sins

What a privilege to have God as our God! What a happy condition when nothing can hurt you! If one loses his name, it is written in the Lamb’s book of Life. If he loses his liberty, his conscience is free. If he loses his estate, he owns the pearl of great price. If he meets a storm, he has a harbor; God is his God, and heaven is his heaven. If God is our God, our soul is safe. It is hidden in the promises, in the wounds of Christ, and in the decrees of God. If God is our God, then all that is in God is ours. How happy is who not only inherits the gifts of God, but inherits God Himself! If God is our God, then all that is in God is ours. How happy is he who does not only inherits the gifts of God, but inherits God himself! In his wisdom, he is ours to teach us, his power shall support us, and his mercy shall save us. God is an infinite ocean of blessedness, and there is enough in him to fill us. He gives us peace in trouble, and when there is a storm without, he will make music within. The world gives trouble in peace, but God gives peace in trouble. He loves us, and we are the 'beloved of his soul' (Jeremiah 12:7). Thomas Watson Voices from the Past – Puritan Devotional Readings/Banner of Truth

Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And an outstanding reason for choosing some sort of God or spiritual-type thing to worship… is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things — if they are where you tap real meaning in life — then you will never have enough. Never feel you have enough... Worship your own body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you... Worship power — you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart — you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out... Look, the insidious thing about these forms of worship is... they are unconscious. They are default-settings. David Foster Wallace This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How did Jesus summarize the Law?
• What is an idol?
• What are the idols we have to resist?
• What will an idol do to you?
• What does it mean to love God with all we have?
• What should we do when we fail?
• How can we get to where Jesus calls us to be in all this?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Dealing With Church Tensions

The church always must deal with the occasional tensions and stresses, misunderstandings and hurts that emerge because, although saved, we have remaining sin. That's a given. What is not a given is whether or not such matters will be handled in a wise and godly fashion that brings even deeper unity and God's blessing, or whether people will fight and divide and bring dishonor to Christ's name. We have a wonderful example and very important teaching in this passage of Acts. This class will be of great importance to all who aspire to be godly church members.

Acts 6

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Being Related to the God Who Saves

If you are the infinite, holy, great, immense, loving God... how do you reveal this to mere mortals. The answer is progressively, over time, and dramatically at times. In the Old Testament, Mount Sinai is one of those pivotal, powerful revelations of who God is. And it is important for us to grasp His message.

Exodus 19:1-20:21,14:11-12,16:2-3,17:3
1 Thessalonians 4:16
1 Corinthians 15:52
Proverbs 9:10
Job 28:28

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How does God answer the question: What are You like? In this text?
• Why did God reveal Himself in such scary ways on Mount Sinai?
• What were some of the reasons God gave the Ten Commandments?
• Why is the fear of God the beginning of wisdom?
• What are the advantages to those who understand how great God is?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Cowards No More

How brave are you? How bold are you when it comes to sharing your faith? How willing are you to suffer for the gospel if it comes to that? These are hard and searching questions. We often feel like cowards. In Acts, we will watch normal ordinary men, who clearly proved that in the past they struggled with being cowards and thinking only about their own skin or reputations, act with amazing boldness. We will be shocked at their response to persecution. But more importantly, we will explore why and how they were able to do these things... and how we can!!

Acts 5

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Redemption from Egypt

Redemption is a key word in the Gospel of Christ, but the concept was first fixed in the mind's of God's people in the Old Testament by the powerful work of God in freeing the captives from Egypt. Their response was profound worship... as ours should also be!!

Exodus 14:1-15:18
Matthew 20:28
1 Corinthians 10:1-4,10:11
John 8:34,14:30,8:36
Ephesians 2:2
Galatians 3:13

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What would it have been like to flee from Egypt?
• What did they feel when the Red Sea closed back in?
• What was the response to this great redemption?
• What are the three things holding us in captivity?
• How has Jesus redeemed us from all three?
• What should our response be?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

A Confident Hope

Do you have Hope? Do you live in the daily joy and boldness of a confident Hope? Where can one get a sure Hope? How the world today needs the good news of the sure Hope God gives!

Matthew 27:57-28:20,12:38-40
1 Corinthians 15:1-24,15:54-59
Acts 4:10,4:19-25

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is a hope that is built on evidence and how is that different than a vague hope?
• What are the alternatives today for a hope for the future?
• Why do they offer no hope and no evidence?
• How is Christianity so gloriously different?
• What is, or rather Who is our hope?
• What is the evidence that makes this hope so sure?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: A Healthy Church

When a church is spiritually healthy, lots of things begin to take place. Deep love for one another, unity of hearts and minds, outreach to the lost world, and loving service to others are just some of the results. But Satan does not just silently watch his influence being eroded. He attacks the church in overt and subtle ways. We will see all of this taking place in the early church of Acts. It is exciting and sobering. But we will also seek to apply these lessons to ourselves and explore whether we are a spiritually healthy church.

Acts 4-5

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Passover

As we continue to look at the gospel through the words of the Old Testament we arrive at Passover. How scary, yet how safe, to be indoors and behind the blood during that first Passover. How wonderfully God points to the true passing over we experience through the blood of Jesus... the Lamb of God... who is also Son of God!

Exodus 11:4-12:30,3:13-15,5:1-2,9:13-17,9:27-35,10:27-29
Genesis 49:8-12
Revelation 5:5
John 1:29,19:35-36
1 Thessalonians 1:10
Galatians 2:20
1 Corinthians 5:6-8

I AM THAT I AM. — It is generally assumed that this is given to Moses as the full name of God. But perhaps it is rather a deep and mysterious statement of His nature. "I am that which I am." My nature, cannot be declared in words, cannot be conceived of by human thought. I exist in such a way that my whole inscrutable nature is implied in my existence. I exist, as nothing else does — necessarily, eternally, really. If I am to give myself a name expressive of my nature, so far as language can be, let me be called "I AM." Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Who hardened Pharaoh's heart and why?
• What would it be like to experience that first Passover night?
• What purpose did the blood have that night?
• How did this prepare the people for the coming of Jesus?
• Why is it important that God sees the blood and also that we know we are behind the blood?
• How can this make us bold for the future?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

A Prayer of God's Peace, God's Work

This simple prayer reveals a lot about God and our relationship with Him.

Hebrews 13,2:3,3:12,4:7,6:1,12:24
Philippians 4:7,3:12
Acts 11:36,4:28
Romans 5:1
John 10:11
Titus 2:13
Jeremiah 13:31
Ephesians 2:10

Yes, blood is always a ghastly and a terrible thing. It is so, I suppose, because we recognize in it the destruction of life. Is it not so, also, - though we may not be able to define the emotion, - because we are compelled, in our consciences, to admit the effect of sin, and we are staggered as we see what our sin has done. All through the great school of the Jewish law, blood was constantly used to instruct the Israelite in the guilt of sin, and in the greatness of the atonement necessary for putting it away. Charles Spurgeon The Blood of the Testament

This is an "everlasting one"; it commenced from everlasting, as appears from the everlasting love of God, which is the rise and foundation of it; from the counsels of God of old, which issued in it; from Christ's being set up from everlasting, as the Mediator of it; from the promises of it which were made before the world began; and from the spiritual blessings of grace in it, which were given to God's elect in Christ before the foundation of it: moreover, it will endure for ever; nor will it be succeeded by any other covenant: and the blood of Christ may be called the blood of it, because the shedding of it is a principal article in it; by it the covenant is ratified and confirmed; and all the blessings of it come through it, as redemption, peace, pardon, justification, and even admission into heaven itself; and Christ, through it, was brought again from the dead, because by it he fulfilled his covenant engagements, satisfied divine justice, and abolished sin, yea, death itself. John Gill John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why does the author offer this prayer?
• How do we obtain God's peace?
• How powerful is God?
• Why was it necessary for the shedding of blood?
• Why is God considered a covenantal God?
• What heart aches have you experienced that drew you closer to God?
• How may God be working in you through your difficulties to fit you perfectly together to do His will?

Matt Courtney
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Be Bold

We live in an increasingly hostile environment to the Gospel, and yet, it is a time in which people need desperately to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. How do we not be intimidated but rather be bold in sharing our faith? Well, we have a thrilling account of the early church and how they handled, by God's grace and power, a similar situation. In Acts we will look at how they found grace and power!

Acts 4

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Learning to Lean

God sometimes takes dramatic action to get us to have face time with Him and to learn to lean on Him and not on our own strength. But it doesn't have to be this way as his lesson from the Old Testament reveals.

Genesis 25:21-23,25:27-28,27:27-29,29:20,31:49,32,33:14
Hebrews 12:16
Matthew 6:6

First, 'Pray to thy Father which is in secret.' God is a God who hides Himself to the carnal eye. As long as in our worship of God we are chiefly occupied with our own thoughts and exercises, we shall not meet Him who is a Spirit, the unseen One. But to the man who withdraws himself from all that is of the world and man, and prepares to wait upon God alone, the Father will reveal Himself. As he forsakes and gives up and shuts out the world, and the life of the world, and surrenders himself to be led of Christ into the secret of God's presence, the light of the Father’s love will rise upon him. The secrecy of the inner chamber and the closed door, the entire separation from all around us, is an image of, and so a help to that inner spiritual sanctuary, the secret of God's tabernacle, within the veil, where our spirit truly comes into contact with the Invisible One. And so we are taught, at the very outset of our search after the secret of effectual prayer, to remember that it is in the inner chamber, where we are alone with the Father, that we shall learn to pray aright. Andrew Murray With Christ in the School of Prayer

Child of God! listen to your Teacher. He tells you that when you go to private prayer your first thought must be: The Father is in secret, the Father waits me there. Just because your heart is cold and prayerless, get you into the presence of the loving Father. As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth you. Do not be thinking of how little you have to bring God, but of how much He wants to give you. Just place yourself before, and look up into, His face; think of His love, His wonderful, tender, pitying love. Just tell Him how sinful and cold and dark all is: it is the Father's loving heart will give light and warmth to yours. O do what Jesus says: Just shut the door, and pray to thy Father which is in secret. Is it not wonderful? to be able to go alone with God, the infinite God. And then to look up and say: My Father! Andrew Murray With Christ in the School of Prayer

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How would you describe Jacob as a person?
• How did his approach to life work for him?
• Why did God not answer his prayer initially?
• Why did He make him wrestle?
• Why did He dislocate his hip?
• How was Jacob changed?
• Why is it important to get alone with God often?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Reactions

This passage in Acts is a wonderful account of a lame man who, when healed, goes leaping and shouting through the temple. When a crowd gathers, Peter gives us a clear understanding of how the Gospel is to be presented to others. We also see the opposite reactions among those who heard. We will learn a lot about what we believe and what we should share with others about the faith.

Acts 3

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Not Sparing a Beloved Son

Sometimes God's ways are confusing or even appear cruel, especially if we only look at the Old Testament. But then the cross gloriously clears up the confusion and reveals who He really is with such clarity and power.

Genesis 22:1-19
Hebrews 11:17-19
Romans 8:31-32,8:35
John 1:1,12:27-28,8:56

Later writers, reflecting on the incident, make much of the turmoil in Abraham’s heart, although the biblical narrative has little enough to say on this score. Indeed, the impression we get from the biblical narrative is that Abraham treated it as God’s problem: it was for God, and not for Abraham, to reconcile His promise and His command. So, when the command was given, Abraham promptly set about obeying it; his own duty was clear, and God could safely be trusted to discharge His responsibility in this matter. F.F. Bruce Epistle to the Hebrews

Earlier, Abraham had been tested as to whether he would believe that God could do the seemingly impossible task of giving Abraham and Sarah a son. That was a test, but it was not as hard as this one. This test involved a conflict apparently within the words of God Himself. God has promised posterity through Isaac. But God had now also commanded Abraham to kill him.
How could this problem be resolved? There were only two ways. Abraham could have concluded that God was erratic, wavering from one plan to another because He did not know His own mind. This had not been Abraham’s experience of God. The long wait for the son had taught him better than that. Or Abraham could have concluded that, although he – being finite and sinful - was unable to see the resolution of the difficulty, God could nevertheless be trusted to have a resolution, which He Himself would certainly disclose in due time. This was the harder of the two options to accept, but Abraham’s experience of God led in this direction.
Abraham acted in a manner consistent with his knowledge of God. That is, he trusted Him, concluding that whatever God’s purposes may or may not have been in this situation, God had at least shown that He could not be his enemy. God was his friend. When the command to sacrifice Isaac was first given, Abraham did not understand how, if the command were carried out the promise could be fulfilled. But that was alright. Abraham left the difficulty with God, which is the essence of true faith. What is faith? Faith is believing God and acting upon it. That is what Abraham did. God had shown He could be trusted, so Abraham believed God and acted, even though he could not understand the solution to the difficulty. James Boice Genesis 12-36

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why did God's command to Abraham both trouble and confuse him?
• Why was Isaac so central in God's plan of redemption?
• What did Abraham conclude was going to happen?
• Why is Abraham's faith and obedience commended?
• Why is God not considered cruel in this request and all suffering?
• Why is the cross central in understanding God and His heart?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Real Zeal

The early church had a zeal and love for each other that is so inspiring! As we read the early chapters of Acts, they provide a great role model of how to respond to the gospel. But, there is also a question of how do we interpret their actions? What of these early histories are for us to hear what God did then, and was unique? And what is to be practiced for God's people in each generation?

Acts 2

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Lots of Isaacs... But Who Are They?

In the Old Testament Isaac certainly was a miracle baby... and so are all true children of Abraham (also known as Christians!!). Are you one? What distinguishes a true child of Abraham from a slave child as Paul refers to them?

Galatians 3:26-5:2
Genesis 16:15-17:6,17:15-22,18:9-15,21:1-7
Acts 11:23

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why did Abraham and Sarah laugh?
• Why did Abraham want God to use Ishmael?
• Why did God wait so long to give them a baby?
• What does it mean that Isaac is a child of promise?
• Who are Abraham's children of promise today?
• Why are they still called children of promise?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA