Preparing for a New Year

As we look upon a new year we will no doubt face both joy and challenges, peace and trials. How can we prepare to face it with faith in God and in a way that honors Him? David gives us a good example of how to overcome difficulty by strengthening oneself in the Lord.

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1 Samuel 30,27:8-12
Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Psalm 18:1-3

"Then David strengthened himself in the Lord his God". Alexander Maclaren has rightly underscored this point. There was ever a danger in Israel of holding to the official covenant faith without having a vital personal faith. It could be all too easy to speak of the "Shepherd of Israel" (Psalm 80:1) but not be able to say "The Lord is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1), just as church folks might affirm Jesus is the Son of God but would not dream of calling Him "the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). As Maclaren has said, David could no longer say, "My house", "my city", or "my possessions", but he could say, "My God". That is where the strengthening must begin. Dale Ralph Davis 1 Samuel

The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and withal most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty. (1 Corinthians 8:4,6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Jeremiah 10:10; Isaiah 48:12; Exodus 3:14; John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 4:15-16; Malachi 3:6; 1 Kings 8:27; Jeremiah 23:23; Psalm 90:2; Genesis 17:1; Isaiah 6:3; Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:10; Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36; Exodus 34:6-7; Hebrews 11:6; Nehemiah 9:32-33; Psalm 5:5-6; Exodus 34:7; Nahum 1:2-3) 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How did God get David out of his spiritual decline and sinful self-reliance?
• Why was it important for David to turn to God at the worst moment?
• What might he have done otherwise, and what would have been the consequences?
• How did David strengthen himself in the Lord His God?
• What was the application of this passage to us as we look to this new year?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

What Child is This: His Essence

The incarnation of the Child reveals amazing aspects of the nature of who God is. What type of being would so willingly lower Himself so far to save such people as us? What depths of love and what a willingness to sacrifice for our well being! We will try to explore some of these depths in this sermon.

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Matthew 1:18-25,20:28
Philippians 2:5-11

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How do we grasp for privileges and recognition?
• What does it mean when the Bible says Jesus did not grasp after equality with God?
• How was this illustrated in the sermon using a President as an example?
• In what ways did Jesus lower Himself when He became human and lived on earth?
• How did He further lower Himself with His death?
• What does all of this teach us about the very nature of God?
• What should our response be to such an amazing God?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

What Child is This: The King

What child is this? Do we really grasp the significance that this baby was called a King... the King of the world? A few people at the time of Jesus birth did (some for good and some for bad). Their response is a helpful study of the real implications for all people that Jesus is the King.

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Luke 1:26-38,2:1-20
Genesis 49:8-10
Psalm 2:7-12
Isaiah 9:6-7,11:1-2,11:10
2 Samuel 7:11-16
Acts 2:36
Matthew 1:1,2:1-18
Revelation 11:15

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is the difference between a King and a President?
• Why does it seem that people today just don't get the significance of the fact that Jesus is King?
• Why do we need a King and a Kingdom?
• What are the implications that Jesus is King and Lord?
• What are the implications for people who say they are not interested... or not into religion... or not into Jesus?
• What do the manger and the cross say about Jesus as King?
• What happens when the King comes back a second and last time?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

What Child is This: Pre-existence... or... Where Did He Travel From?

What child is this...? is the question the hymn writer asks. The answer begins in eternity past and in great glory. To appreciate what Jesus has sacrificed in just coming to earth we must look at the glory He had before His incarnation.

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John 1:1-18,6:38,14:9,17:5
Hebrews 1:1-3
Colossians 1:15-17
Revelation 4:1-6
Genesis 1
2 Corinthians 8:9

Love is in God, as light is in the sun, which does not shine by a reflected light, as the moon and planets do, but by its own light, and as the great fountain of light. And from God, love flows out toward all the inhabitants of heaven. It flows out, in the first place, necessarily and infinitely, toward his only-begotten Son; being poured forth, without mixture, as to an object that is infinite, and so fully adequate to all the fullness of a love that is infinite. And this infinite love is infinitely exercised toward Him. Not only does the fountain send forth streams to this object, but the very fountain itself wholly and altogether goes out toward Him. And the Son of God is not only the infinite object of love, but He is also an infinite subject of it. He is not only the Beloved of the Father, but He infinitely love Him. The infinite essential love of God, is, as it were, an infinite and eternal, mutual, holy, energy between the Father and the Son: a pure and holy act, whereby the Deity becomes, as it were, one infinite and unchangeable emotion of love proceeding from both the Father and the Son. This divine love has its seat in the Deity, as it is exercised within the Deity, or in God toward Himself. Jonathon Edwards Heaven, A World of Charity, or Love

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What was Jesus' life like in heaven before He came to earth?
• What does the Bible mean when it says Jesus was with God and He was God?
• From what you heard in this sermon, what would it be like to see God in heaven... what would you see, hear and feel?
• What are some of the contrasts between what Jesus experienced in heaven and what He experienced on earth?
• Why did He even come here... what motivated Him?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: Reconciliation

Reconciliation is the restoring of a broken relationship. When the Bible teaches that God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ it is saying something which has many truly amazing dimensions to it. As we study this doctrine out we come to a deeper appreciation of our rich salvation.

Romans 5:6-11
2 Corinthians 5:18-21,4:3-6
Isaiah 59:2
Colossians 1:19-22
John 6:44

This is most wonderful scene that the universe will witness -- a beseeching God, an imploring Saviour, standing at the door of the sinner's heart with eternal salvation in his hand, knocking for entrance and begging to be let in; the Omnipotent Creator of the universe, beseeching worm, whom a volition of his will could sink in moment to perdition, and whose justice would be glorified in the act, to accept his pardoning mercy, and waiting year after year, in all long suffering for the sinner's reconsideration of his obstinate refusals. Be astonished, O heavens! at God's unutterable mercy, and be horribly afraid, O earth! at man's indescribable wickedness! Here is the climax of God's divine love and man's desperate depravity. John Angell James An Earnest Ministry

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What does reconciliation mean?
• Who is the person who is supposed to seek reconciliation in a broken relationship?
• What is amazing about God's reconciling with humanity:
1. Why is it amazing that God even wanted to reconcile with us?
2. What is so amazing about how God reconciled with us?
3. What is so amazing about the fact that God then pleads with us to be reconciled to Him?
4. Why is it amazing that God has to help us to respond to His pleadings?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hebrews: Concluding Exhortations

The book of Hebrews concludes with several closing encouragements to Christians. It would be well for present day Christians to hear these words!! It is amazing how we face today so much of the same challenges that the first century Christians faced. And the answer is the same for all of us: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever!!!

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Hebrews 13:7-25

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: Co-Crucifixion and Co-Resurrection

We really appreciate our salvation when we know just what a great deliverance it is. A deliverance from the reign, power, and enslavement of sin. Just how does Christ free us from this is the focus of this message. We will look at the wonderful truths of co-crucifixion and co-resurrection with Christ!

Romans 5:12-6:23,3:9-18,8:7
John 6:44,6:64-65
2 Corinthians 4:3-4,5:17
Colossians 3:1-3,3:9-10,1:13
Ephesians 2:4-9,1:3-6

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What are some examples of the fact that sin is a power?
• How did Christ break this power over us?
• When did He do it?
• When did this victory enter into our lives?
• What are the practical implications of this doctrine that we are to work out in our lives daily?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: The Effects of Grace

We have been saved by Grace!!! As we appreciate our salvation, what effect should our experience of God's grace have on our relationship with God, with others, with ourselves, and as we look to the future? Answer: the effect should be deep and profound!!

Matthew 18:21-35
Ephesians 2:1-9
Nehemiah 9:17
1 John 4:10-11,4:7-8,3:10,4:20

... 'the marvelous grace of our loving Lord', who drew us from destruction's pit and raised us to heights of heavenly bliss, and did it all this at such a cost to Himself that He spared not His own Son, and in such a manner that not a single one of His attributes, not even His justice, was eclipsed. William Hendriksen New Testament Commentary: Exposition of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why does God expect Grace to affect us?
• What are the effects it should have on our:
1. Relationship with God...
2. With others...
3. With ourselves...
4. As we look to the future?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hebrews: Grace to Serve God with Reverence and Godly Fear

Christians have a great God and a full and rich salvation. The author of Hebrews opens these themes up in the passage we will study. The personal applications are given to strengthen us and encourage us on our pilgrimage to heaven!

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Hebrews 12:12-29

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: Grace

We will never appreciate salvation until we grasp what Grace is. And grace is actually hard for us to grasp. In this message we will seek to open up just how marvelous this amazing grace is!

Ephesians 2:1-10,1:3-7
Nehemiah 9:17
2 Corinthians 12:9
Romans 3:19-25,4:4-5,5:5-11,5:1-2

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is Grace?
• How can it best be explained?
• How is it that God has so much grace?
• How has God extended His grace to us?
• Why is it impossible to earn salvation?
• What if God treated us as we deserve, what would happen to us?
• Why is Grace so essential if we are to be saved?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: Redemption

We cannot fully appreciate salvation until we grasp the deep significance of the concept of Redemption. The rescue mission Jesus accomplished has profound implications on how we view God, ourselves, and life itself. What an amazing thing it is to be redeemed!!

Romans 3:21-26,6:23,7:14,6:16-18,8:23,8:31-35
Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:14
1 Peter 1:18-19
Hebrews 2:14-15
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Titus 2:14
Matthew 20:28

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What did the word redeemed mean to the people in the first century?
• What was the Kinsman-Redeemer?
• How has God redeemed us?
• What were we held captive to?
• What does it mean I was bought with a price?
• How should that affect us??

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hebrews: Encouragements

Looking to Jesus as we press on in our pilgrimage to heaven, overcoming discouragement and the weariness of trials that seem to never end, getting to heaven and the joy of that place; these are some of the practical encouragements that God gives us in the passage we will study in Hebrews. Then we will consider why God allows trials to come into our lives... and we will see that it is the love of the Father that does it!!

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Hebrews 12:1-11

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: Justification

Christians are the most blessed people on earth. We need to appreciate our great salvation. Justification is one of those amazing doctrines that will always thrill our souls!

Romans 3:9-4:8,5:1-2,8:33-34
Deuteronomy 25:1
Proverbs 17:15
Galatians 3:13
2 Corinthians 6:21
Philippians 3:9
Isaiah 61:10

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How do we use the phrase To justify?
• What does it mean when a judge justifies a righteous person?
• How can God justify the ungodly?
• Why is God not lying when He declares the sinner free from the guilt of all sin and perfectly righteous?
• What part does Jesus have in our justification?
• What part does faith have?
• Why should this doctrine not make us loose about sin?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hebrews: Faith Is...

Those who trust God have suffered immensely in the past. Hebrews tells us they suffered in faith. Would we be willing to do this when the true moment arrived? This is a searching question for all of us to answer. Jesus said it is our calling to be willing to suffer and if need be to lay down our lives for Him. But would we have a strong enough faith to do it? How can we grow such a faith? These are matters we will be studying as we conclude the Faith chapter.

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Hebrews 11:30-39

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: Propitiation

We will more deeply appreciate our salvation when we understand why Jesus is called our propitiation. These important words shed a world of light on how good God has been in providing such a rich salvation.

Romans 1:18,1:32,3:9,3:19,3:21-26,5:9
Genesis 9:5-6
Hebrews 2:17,2:14
1 John 2:1-2,4:9-10
1 Thessalonians 1:10

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What does propitiation mean?
• Why can God not just forgive us of our sin... why did Jesus have to die?
• How is Jesus our propitiation?
• What are the implications for us when we sin that Jesus is our propitiation?
• Why is it important that God sent the propitiation and how does this make the God of the Bible so different than the old Greek gods?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hebrews: Are We People of Faith?

Are you a person who is known for your joy, courage, confidence, and peace even in the face of trials, discouragements, challenges, or pain? Are we people of faith? That is what would make us such people. We are studying the Faith chapter in Hebrews and will explore how we can become people of faith.

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Hebrews 11:23-29

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating Salvation: What We Are Saved From

Often we do not appreciate our salvation enough because we do not really understand what we were saved from. This is a momentous salvation and our danger that we were rescued from is almost indescribable in its greatness. So to be delivered from that which Jesus said we should fear more than

Romans 1:18-32,3:9-20
Matthew 1:21
Proverbs 6:16-19
Luke 12:4-5
Hebrews 10:31

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is our biggest problem according to the Bible?
• What does Jesus say we should fear more than anything else?
• What happens if we take the matter of sin lightly?
• What is God’s wrath?
• Is it God losing His temper?
• Why does understanding this make us appreciate salvation all the more?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Special!

Are we really so special and important as we think we are?... the Bible's answer is a resounding NO! But God treats us in a special way because He is special!!!

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Isaiah 40
Genesis 6:5-7
Romans 1:28,1:30,8:7

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Are we special?
• Are you special?
• Why are we not special?
• How does God treat us as special?
• Why is God special... what is special about Him?
• How does He treat us as special?
• Why is this so unusual?
• What is Grace?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Did Not the Christ Have to Suffer?

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Luke 24:13-27,17:24-25
Mark 8:31
John 3:14-15
Zachariah 12:10-11
Isaiah 53:3-6
1 John 3:16
Romans 5:8-10,8:29
Hebrews 9:11-15

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hebrews: Faith Defined

Faith... we all need it but we sure do struggle with having enough of it. Living and walking in strong faith sure has a profound impact on one's life. The person who is strong in it is calm, brave, obedient, and knows God with a closeness which is amazing. The Hebrews were struggling in this area, as we do, so the writer of this letter wrote this amazing chapter 11 which we call the Faith Chapter. In it he defines what faith is and calls us to a deeper faith.

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Hebrews 11:1-22

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA