Acts: Strange Twists

Life can seem daunting and intimidating with many strange twists. Yet, the Lord is faithful. He keeps His promises. Now in Acts we enter into Paul's life filled with many enemies and strange twists. But, we will see Christ's sovereignty and faithfulness in the midst of it all. This will be an encouragement for all of us!

Acts 22-23

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: The Plan...The Glory...Why Christians Should Be Exuberant about the Future

The world is hopeless and fearful... but God's plan in Christ is to make the Christian: hopeful, confident, and exuberant about the future and the present! This is Paul's message to the Colossians.

Ephesians 1:1-12,3:1-12
Colossians 1:15-27
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
Romans 8:18
Philippians 3:20-21

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why are people so hopeless today?
• What is poverty stricken about the prevailing worldview?
• Why is the Christian worldview so different?
• What is God's plan?
• How is Christ central to that plan?
• How are we included in that plan?
• Why is the future so bright for us?
• What impact should this all have on us?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Big Changes

We are at a place in the book of Acts where life and circumstances are changing big time for the Apostle Paul, but there is one thing that isn't changing in his life and that should be the same for you and me. It matters not if we are male or female, young or old, a pastor, mechanic, clerk, or a student. If we are a Christian, it should never change in our lives either.

Acts 22

Dave Ruhl
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Act Like Men

God created us in His image: male and female. We will explore those distinctions and their importance in society, church, and the home.

Isaiah 3
Genesis 1:26-28
Ecclesiastes 10:16-18
Matthew 11:28-29
2 Corinthians 10:1
1 Corinthians 11:7-9
2 Samuel 10:12
1 Corinthians 16:1-3
2 Samuel 10:12

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What does it mean the God made them in His image: male and female?
• How are they equal, different, and complementary?
• Masculinity: How could this be defined, what is it, and what is it not?
• Why are godly men needed in Society, the Church and the Home?
• How does the gospel help us recover biblical masculinity and femininity?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Led by the Spirit

How can one humble man, who just wants to tell people the Good News, cause a riot? Well, it happens. The man is Paul, the place is Jerusalem, and the riot is real and mostly deadly. Why? What are people so upset about? Well, it has to do with the liberating power of the gospel. Do we know of this power? Let us investigate this important confrontation in Acts.

Acts 21

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: Realistic Expectations... or... How Not to Be Shocked

Rejoicing and suffering seem to not fit together: but Paul experienced both, as he emphatically expressed to the Colossians, as he took on the inevitable but glorious persecution all Christians must face.

John 15:18-25
Colossians 1:24-29,1:19-20,2:9-10
2 Timothy 3:12,2:8-10
Matthew 10:21-22,5:11-12
Acts 9:4-5
2 Corinthians 4:8-11,1:3-7
Philippians 3:10
1 Peter 4:12-14
Romans 8:16-18,12:21
1 Peter 3:13-14
Mark 8:36

As, therefore, Christ has suffered once in his own person, so he suffers daily in His members, and in this way there are filled up those sufferings which the Father hath appointed for his body by his decree. John Calvin John Calvin's Commentaries On St. Paul's Epistles To The Philippians

The oftener we are mowed down by you, the more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed. Tertullian Apology 50.13

God hath called you to Christ's side, and the wind is now in Christ's face in this land; and seeing ye are with him, ye cannot expect the lee-side or the sunny side of the brae. Samuel Rutherford The Letters of Samuel Rutherford 1600-1661

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot The Journals of Jim Elliot

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is it assumed Christians will suffer persecution?
• What is Union with Christ and how does that fit into this topic?
• Why is it important to have realistic expectations about this suffering?
• How does rejoicing fit with suffering in this text?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

You Must Bear Fruit

Jesus probably shocked His listeners by one of His I AM statements when He said He is the True Vine. They would have understood exactly this reference to Messianic prophecy. But comfort comes from abiding in Him, thriving on the nutrients He provides, so we can bear fruit.

John 15:1-17,6:66-69,10:28-29,3:20-21,15:26
Psalm 80:8-18
1 Peter 1:22-25
Romans 16:25-27
Matthew 7:18,5:20
Mark 1:15
Galatians 6:8
2 Peter 1:2-11
James 2:20-24
Hebrews 12:14

Sean Byham
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA