All scripture is from God and carries all the weight of His authority. It is not just old writings that are obsolete. The Bible is alive, powerful, and full of promise.
Chris Bowser
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
Showing posts with label promise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label promise. Show all posts
July 15, 2018
The Authority and Sufficiency of Scripture
July 16, 2017
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.
Sean Byham
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
March 19, 2017
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
March 12, 2017
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?
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
March 5, 2017
The Gospel in the Old Testament: A Justified Patriarch
Christians are justified through faith in Jesus... in the Old Testament so was Abraham... in fact he is our role model for exercising audacious faith.
Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:
- Why is Abraham so important?
- Why will only true children of Abraham be saved?
- What was so audacious about Abraham's faith?
- Why do we need to exercise such faith?
- Why is it hard to follow his example?
Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
February 26, 2017
The Gospel in the Old Testament: The First Promise of a Deliverer
In the Old Testament Adam and Eve experienced terrible results from their sin... and grace, love, mercy, and a wonderful promise.
Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:
- What were some of the horrible results of Adam's sin?
- How was God's love and grace also experienced at the same time?
- How has the enmity between the woman's and the serpent's seed worked out in history?
- Today?
- Who was the great deliverer promised, and how will He crush the serpent's head?
- What does this mean for you?
Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
September 11, 2016
Disobedience, Repentance, Promise, and Hope
The Ancient Jews had a physical temple that was the center of their hope and worship. That building was destroyed and rebuilt several times and now only a remnant of the ruins remains. Our hope is in the permanent temple living in the body of Jesus Christ.
Acts 7:44-50
John 2:16-22
Haggai 1-2
Amos 4:12-13
Hebrews 12:25-28
Revelation 21:22-27
Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:
- Why was it important for the Jews to rebuild the temple?
- Where is the temple now?
- Will there be a temple when we get to Heaven?
Paul Sereda
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
May 29, 2016
Trusting God When You Don't Understand What He is Doing
It is hard to trust God when we do not know what He is doing or why. But we are called to trust Him and in this message we explore how that is done.
Job 1:1-2:10
Proverbs 3:5-6
Romans 8:31-32,8:28
- God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
William Cowper God Moves in a Mysterious Way
- One of the most difficult things to do when the road is rough or when the billows are passing over us is to feel that God still loves us. It is the last thing we can accept. But we are not called to feel; we are called to believe. In his book In Their Afflictions, Murdock Campbell tells of a minister in the north of Scotland who suddenly list his spiritually-minded wife. As he prayed that night in the presence of friends he said, "if an angel from heaven told me that this would work for my good I would not believe him but because of thy Word says it I must believe it." We are to measure God's love not by His providence but by His promise. "When we cannot trace God's hand we can trust God's heart', says C.H. Spurgeon. When providences are dark it is difficult to read them. It is the Word that tells us how to view them. John J. Murray Behind a Frowning Providence
- There is much that remains a mystery and for which there is no immediate answer. This lies at the very crux of the matter. It may seem a strange paradox but it was when Job was willing not to understand that he began to understand. And why should this not be so? God is God and man is man. It is in keeping with the greatness of God. In a sermon entitled Dark Providences Made Clear in Due Time, Ralph Erskine explains God's purpose in dark providences thus: "It is to discover Himself in a way suitable to Himself and His glorious perfections and to show that His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways. If He should work according to our thoughts and imaginations how would it appear that He is Jehovah, a sovereign God that acts like Himself. God owes us no explanations. We owe Him implicit trust and obedience. It is not easy to trust God when He appears to be silent, as He was with Job, but trust we must." John J. Murray Behind a Frowning Providence
- Dr. Ronald Dunn has these wise words to say on the problem of the silence of God in suffering: "I think this is the hardest part of all. You can take just about anything, if you know why. Everywhere I go, every meeting, I'm asked... 'Why?'... I'm going to tell you something: God will very seldom answer your question of Why. It is not that there are no answers, it's just that you and I probably wouldn't be able to comprehend the answer if God were to tell us, and besides that, we have to learn to trust Him without knowing why. We ask Him questions. What we're usually doing is saying, 'Lord explain yourself', calling God into account."John J. Murray Behind a Frowning Providence
- People are usually more anxious to get rid of the problem than they are to find the purpose of God in it. "Afflictions" says Matthew Henry "are continued no longer than till they have done their work." It is also our responsibility to pray that our afflictions will be sanctified to us. In his book Why Us Warren Wiersbe speaks of a friend who found herself in a sea of troubles. Attempting to encourage her one day he said "I want you to know that we are praying for you." "I appreciate that", she replied, "What are you praying to God to do?" Wiersbe found himself struggling for an answer and mentioned some things. "Thank you", she said, "but please pray for one more request. Pray that I won't waste all this suffering." John J. Murray Behind a Frowning Providence
- I had a million questions to ask God; but when I met Him they all fled my mind and it didn't seem to matter. Christopher Morley
Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:
- Why is it hard to trust another?
- Why is it hard to trust God?
- How do people prove themselves trustworthy?
- How has God?
- Why should we not lean on our own understanding?
- What should we lean on?
- What are the implications of the phrase We are not called to feel; we are called to believe?
- Why is it easy to trust God?
Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
August 3, 2014
2 Peter: The Profound Impact of Knowing God
Following the exposition of 1 Peter we are moving right into 2 Peter. What would motivate a man like Peter to introduce himself as a slave of Jesus Christ. How could a person so deeply give up all rights and privileges to offer himself and all he is to Jesus? This illustrates the profound impact knowing God has upon a person... the theme explored in this message.
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2 Peter 1:1-4
1 Corinthians 7:22
1 Peter 2:16
Ephesians 4:20-24
Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:
- What type of knowing did Peter refer to when he talked about knowing God?
- How does a river boat captain and a family relationship illustrate this?
- How did Peter illustrate the profound impact knowing God should have in the first few words of this letter?
- What are some of the great and precious promises of God?
- How have these promises impacted you?
- How can we live out a desire to know God practically in our life?
Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
June 22, 2014
Hebrews: An Anchor in the Storm
Everyone will face many storms in life. Storms toss us, scare us, and shake up our faith. Hebrews talks of an anchor. An amazing solid anchor that has kept the saints in the past solid and immovable in their storms. The writers of Hebrews encourages us immensely in the passage that we will study tonight by showing us how this amazing anchor for the soul is ours as well.
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Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
June 1, 2014
March 10, 2013
February 24, 2013
Promises...Real Promises from God
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Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA
January 17, 2010
January 10, 2010
September 6, 2009
April 26, 2009
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