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