Holding Salvation in His Arms

Jesus warned us not to rest on a shaky foundation. There are many shaky foundations that people build their religion on that utterly fail when most needed. That's why it's important to remember that Salvation is a Person. And He will never fail!!

Luke 2:21-38
Philippians 1:21,1:23,1:1,1:18,2:21,4:13
1 John 2:1-2
Hebrews 4:14-16
Acts 7:56,7:59
Matthew 25:34

The belief of the testimony, or record, concerning the Son of God, our Saviour, is the porch of the building, through which we pass into the audience-chamber and meet the Living Inhabitant, full of light, and life, and love. Andrew Bonar The Gospel Pointing to the Person of Christ

Faith is not so much a disposition of the mind toward the truth, as a disposition of the heart toward Christ, produced by means of the truth. Sievewright

The faith which is most blessed is faith which deals most fully with the Person of Jesus Christ. The truest repentance is that which weeps at the sight of His wounds and the love which is most sweet is love to the adorable Person of the Well-Beloved. I look upon the Doctrines of Grace as my Lord's garments and they smell of myrrh, aloes and cassia. I look upon His precepts as His scepter and it is a rod tipped with silver. And I delight to touch it and find comfort in its power. I look upon the Gospel ordinances as the Throne upon which He sits and I delight in that Throne of ivory overlaid with pure gold. But oh, His Person is sweeter than His garments, dearer than His scepter, more glorious than His Throne! He, Himself, is altogether lovely, and to love HIM is the very heart's core of true religion! Charles Spurgeon Number 1281

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What are some of the shaky foundations people build their religion on?
• What does it mean that Salvation is a Person?
• In what ways is having a faith in the person of Christ important in terms of sin, trials, death, and the final Day?
• How can we nurture a love for Christ?
• How does He divide?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The King and Hope

Jesus is King, the rightful King, the forever King and the King who restores. He will have no rivals... who is your King? Are you your King?

Matthew 2:1-19
Isaiah 9:6-7
Micah 5:2
Zechariah 9:9
Genesis 49:9-10
Daniel 7:13-14
1 John 5:19,3:8,
John 12:31
Revelation 11:15,19:11-16
Philippians 2:9-10,3:20-21
Titus 2:11-14
Romans 8:18-19,8:23
Psalm 2

They all were looking for a king
To slay their foes, and lift them high:
Thou cam'st a little baby thing
That made a woman cry.

O son of man, to right my lot
Nought but thy presence can avail;
Yet on the road thy wheels are not,
Nor on the sea thy sail!

My fancied ways why shouldst thou heed?
Thou com'st down thine own secret stair:
Com'st down to answer all my need,
Yea, every bygone prayer!
George MacDonald That Holy Thing

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What does it mean that the Baby is a King?
• What does it mean to be a King?
• What did He come to do?
• Why is He the rightful King?
• What did He restore?
• What is the proper (the Wise Men) and the improper (Herod) response to the King?
• What is your response to Him?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Reconciled to God...or... How to Experience Angel Joy!

God reconciled His enemies through the death of His Son. This amazing response to His enemies, at such an amazing cost is seen in the Angel's joy as they announced it. Do you have Angel joy?

Luke 1:26-38,2:8-20
2 Corinthians 5:18-21,4:18
Romans 5:5-11,8:7,1:30,8:31-32,5:1,8:1,10:17
Colossians 1:21-22
Isaiah 59:2

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How do your enemies treat you?
• How do you treat them?
• Who are God's enemies?
• How does God treat His enemies?
• What is reconciliation?
• Why would God go to such great lengths to be reconciled to His enemies?
• What effect should all of this have on us?
• Do you have angel joy?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
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

Irrepressible Wonder and Praise (Part II)

As we continue to look at the irrepressible wonder and praise caused by the incarnate Christ, we see that God's Son is special to Him... He is called the Son of His love. That being so, the rescue mission He sent Him on is amazing!

Colossians 1:9-23,2:9
Deuteronomy 21:15-17
Psalm 89:27
Romans 14:5-6

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why does God the Father love His Son?
• How does He honor His Son?
• What does it mean that Jesus is the firstborn over creation and the new creation?
• Why can Jesus coming to earth be referred to as a rescue mission?
• What significance does this have for you and me personally?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Irrepressible Wonder and Praise (Part I)

When you look upon the incarnate Christ it should cause irrepressible wonder and praise. This series during Advent is a study of the greatness of Jesus before He came to earth as we focus on passages that speak of the glory and majesty of Christ in His preexistent state. Its goal is to cause us to adore Him for becoming flesh!

John 1:1-18,3:31-32,14:6
Genesis 1
Psalm 33:6
Proverbs 8:27-31
1 John 1:1-3
Revelation 19:12-13

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What is behind the concept of the Word?
• What is the significance of in the beginning... was with... was God?
• What was the Word's role in creation?
• What is the significance of the phrase the Word became flesh?
• What are the implications of this for the whole world?
• For us?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Love Gives

True love gives to its beloved. Jesus gave everything for us and the impact of this on us, when we grasp it, will be immense.

Luke 2:1-21
2 Corinthians 8:9
John 1:1-2,15:12-14
Galatians 2:20

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How was Jesus rich?
• In what way did He become poor?
• How are we poor?
• How has Jesus made us rich?
• What does it mean that love gives?
• How does all of this impact how we view Christmas?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Hypostatic Union or the One Christmas Gift Everyone in the World Needs

What does Hypostatic Union mean and why do I and all the people of the world need this reality in their lives??

Luke 1:26-38
Hebrews 2:14-18,4:14-16
John 1:1,1:14,6:62
Philippians 2:5-6,3:9
Acts 2:22,20:28
Romans 9:5,3:21-22
Galatians 4:4-5

The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God, the brightness of the Father's glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon him man's nature, with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the Most High overshadowing her; and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham and David according to the scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only mediator between God and man. The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689 (emphasis added)

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is the hypostatic union?
• How are the two natures of Christ illustrated by the relationship of body to soul?
• Why was it necessary for Jesus to take on humanity: in terms of forgiveness of sins, the gift of righteousness, His role as great high priest?
• Why could a mere man not do all of this?
• Why do you need this gift?

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.

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

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.

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

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.

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

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

Revolutionary Love

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

Luke 1:30-33
Philippians 2:1-11
John 4:31-34,5:30,6:38-40,7:15,8:45-50,9:4,10:37,12:49-50,14:31,15:10,17:4,3:16
Matthew 20:28
1 Timothy 1:15

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Baby is King: Imagine the Implications

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

Luke 1:32-33,35,43,2:11,19:14,27
Matthew 2:2
Revelation 19:16
Acts 2:32-27,3:13-15,10:36,39-43,17:30-21
Philippians 2:9-11

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

They Came to Worship

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

Daniel 1:1-7,5:11-12
Matthew 2:1-12

Ron Beil
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Luke: Approachable Greatness

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

Luke 2:1-20
Matthew 11:28-30

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Felt Need vs. Real Need

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

Matthew 1:18-25
Revelation 21:6-8,22:12-17

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Luke: One Exuberant Angel

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

Luke 1:26-56
Ephesians 1:6
Acts 2:32-38,17:29-31

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA