New Member Course: The Foundations of the Church

This four-part course is presented to new member candidates for the purpose of demonstrating the importance and aspects of membership in a local church. The first session covers the foundations of the church.

Matthew 16:18
Revelation 2-3
Romans 16:5
Ephesians 5:22-32

Dave Ruhl
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: First Over Many, First of Many

Paul emphasizes in Colossians and several other of his epistles that Christ is the firstborn from the dead and the beginning of an astounding renovation of people, the world, and the universe!

1 Corinthians 15:35-58,15:20-23
Colossians 1:12-20,2:10,2:19
Ephesians 4:15-16,1:20-23,5:22-32
Romans 8:18-23,8:29

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• In what ways is Christ Head of the body?
• Just how significant and important is the Church?
• In what way is Christ first-born from the dead?
• How big, important, and gracious is all of this?
• How dangerous to reject?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Here's Why!

In the book of Acts, the Church was being established. We here at Crossroads believe that the present day church should follow the pattern of the church originally established by Christ and His appointed apostles. We will watch these Apostles in action, and we will see answers to such questions as: Why does the church meet on Sunday? Why the Lord's Table? Who are to be the church's leaders? How is the church supposed to work? These are important questions, especially in a day when there seems to be a free-for-all approach to how we are to do church! God has not left us to flounder... He has given us lots of direction. And, if we follow that direction, we will be blessed!! Isn't it always that way!!

Acts 20

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Why a Church?

Why did God allow a church to be attacked? What has God revealed in His Word to help us process this tragedy?

Romans 8:28-39
Isaiah 46:9-10
Daniel 4:34-35
Ephesians 1:11
Matthew 10:29
Acts 4:27-28
1 Timothy 1:17
Genesis 50:20
1 John 4:9-10
Philippians 1:21,1:23

God hath decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree. 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What are the three truths or attributes about God that should guide us as we seek to answer the question Why a Church?
• Explain how each one is important.
• Why does the unbeliever have no answers?
• Why should we pray for the victims?
• What should we pray for the victims?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Presence of the Lord Jesus in His Church

Christ shows John a vision of seven golden lampstands which represent seven churches. He then tells John that He walks among the lampstands. He is serious about His Church. He knows everything about the Church and specifically about each one of us.

Revelation 2-3,1:20,1:17
2 Peter 1:12
Matthew 16:18,18:20,28:18
Colossians 1:18
Acts 20:28-30
Psalm 139:1-4,139:23-24
1 Thessalonians 4:3
Hebrews 12:14
2 Corinthians 11:3,5:17,5:15
James 1:16,1:26

David Ruhl
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Who Is Responsible for This Crime?

Who killed Jesus? There have been many answers through out history... but one makes all the difference to individuals today. Listen as Mark describes this pivotal scene from Jesus' final earthly week.

Isaiah 5:1-7
Mark 11:27-12:12
Proverbs 26:4
Matthew 21:41,21:43
Philippians 3:3
1 Peter 2:7-10

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What are some of the answers given to the question: "Who killed Jesus?"
• Why did Jesus not answer directly the leaders question about authority?
• Why did Jesus tell that parable, and what was its meaning?
• Why would someone today say, "I killed Jesus"?
• How should a person respond to Jesus' death, and how will a proper response bear the fruit that God is looking for?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Corinthians: Security in Christ

We will continue our study of 2 Corinthians. Paul is in a very tense situation with people trying to undermine his relationship with the church. He deals with this matter with grace and with reminding us of some wonderful realities of how secure we are in Christ. Do you know how secure you are in Christ? Listen and gain hope and courage!!

2 Corinthians 1

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Discipleship

The church has one main task... make disciples. What does that mean? Who are the Paul's and the Timothy's in your life?

Romans 15:14
Hebrews 10:24-25
Matthew 28:18-20,10:24-25,23:8-10
Luke 9:23-26,14:25-27
Acts 6:1-2,6:7,9:1,9:19,9:25-26,11:25-26,11:29,16:1,16:3
1 Timothy 1:18,4:14-16,5:22-23,6:11-13
2 Timothy 1:4,1:6-8,1:13,2:15,2:22,3:10-11,2:1-2
Titus 2:3-5

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is the church supposed to be doing... according to Jesus?
• What is a disciple?
• How are disciples made?
• Who have been the Paul's in your life?
• Who are your Timothy's"?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

1 Peter: An Active Kingdom Community

God's plan is to redeem the world through Jesus, and His way of doing it is through these amazing communities called churches. Peter outlines what we are supposed to be like and why we should be like this. A powerful passage which helps us examine how we are doing.

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1 Peter 4:7-11,4:3
Ephesians 3:21
Romans 12:13
Titus 1:8
Hebrews 13:2
1 Corinthians 12:7
James 3:1
2 Timothy 2:15

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why does God want churches to be like He describes in this passage?
• How can we be clearheaded?
• What is the Number One Thing?
• How good are we at covering over sins?
• Do we practice hospitality like God says?
• What are your gifts?
• How are you using them?
• Why should we do all of this?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Assembling of Ourselves Together: The Primacy of Preaching

The Bible calls preaching foolishness and powerful...why? Why has God ordained this thing called preaching as one of the primary ways he saves and makes disciples? Does God actually speak to people through the preaching of a mere fallible human? How does all of this work?

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Acts 6:1-7
Luke 4:18-19
Titus 1:1-3
1 Corinthians 1:18-25,2:1-5
Romans 10:13-17
1 Peter 4:11
Ephesians 2:17
James 3:1,1:22
2 Corinthians 2:12-17,4:1-7
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
1 Peter 4:11

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why does the Bible call preaching both foolish and powerful?
• Why should we value the preaching of God's Word?
• How does God speak through His Word being preached?
• How can we be good hearers?
• How can we be good doers?
• Why is our pulpit in the middle of the stage?
• What message did God have for you today?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Assembling of Ourselves Together: Unleashing Disciples

What is the church for? Why do we assemble ourselves together regularly? Why do churches spend so much money and time on advertising and programs until everyone is exhausted? Is this what Jesus envisioned and commanded? Is this what the apostles did? What He commanded and what they did was make disciples and then unleashed these disciples upon the the world. Are you an unleashed disciple?...a very dangerous person indeed!!!

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Acts 8:1-4,17:6
Matthew 5:13-16
Proverbs 31:28
1 Corinthians 7:14
Ephesians 6:5-9
Colossians 3:22-4:1

To these protracted and cruel persecutions the church opposed no revolutionary violence, no carnal resistance, but the moral heroism of suffering and dying for the truth. But this very heroism was her fairest ornament and staunchest weapon. In this very heroism she proved herself worthy of her divine founder, who submitted to the death of the cross for the salvation of the world, and even prayed that his murderers might be forgiven. The patriotic virtues of Greek and Roman antiquity reproduced themselves here in exalted form, in self-denial for the sake of a heavenly country, and for a crown that fadeth not away. Even boys and girls became heroes, and rushed with a holy enthusiasm to death. In those hard times men had to make earnest of the words of the Lord: "Whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple." "He, that loveth father and mother more than me, is not worthy of me." But then also the promise daily proved itself true: "Blessed are they, who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." "He, that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it." And it applied not only to the martyrs themselves, who exchanged the troubled life of earth for the blessedness of heaven, but also to the church as a whole, which came forth purer and stronger from every persecution, and thus attested her indestructible vitality.

These suffering virtues are among the sweetest and noblest fruits of the Christian religion. It is not so much the amount of suffering which challenges our admiration, although it was terrible enough, as the spirit with which the early Christians bore it. Men and women of all classes, noble senators and learned bishops, illiterate artisans and poor slaves, loving mothers and delicate virgins, hoary-headed pastors and innocent children approached their tortures in no temper of unfeeling indifference and obstinate defiance, but, like their divine Master, with calm self-possession, humble resignation, gentle meekness, cheerful faith, triumphant hope, and forgiving charity. Such spectacles must have often overcome even the inhuman murderer. "Go on," says Tertullian tauntingly to the heathen governors, "rack, torture, grind us to powder: our numbers increase in proportion as ye mow us down. The blood of Christians is their harvest seed. Your very obstinacy is a teacher. For who is not incited by the contemplation of it to inquire what there is in the core of the matter? And who, after having joined us, does not long to suffer?" Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Volume II

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Assembling of Ourselves Together: Making Disciples

What is the real purpose of the church? Is it to pack the pews? Is it to put on the best show possible? Or has Jesus defined our true purpose? We'll examine the Great Commission and what it means for Christ's church as we continue to explore The Assembling of Ourselves Together.

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Matthew 28:18-20
Luke 9:18-26,14:25-35
Acts 11:26,5:13-14
Ephesians 4:11-16,4:20-24
Colossians 3:16

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Assembling of Ourselves Together: The Importance of the Church to Christ

We hear some pretty disparaging remarks about the church these days. Folks like to say how they love Jesus but have nothing to do with His church. Besides it's full of hypocrites and is a man-made institution so they say. What does Jesus Himself think about these sentiments? Can these views stand after a careful study of the Word of God...hardly...listen and hear for yourself as we experience The Assembling of Ourselves Together.

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Hebrews 10:19-25
Matthew 16:13-19,18:15-20,28:16-20
Acts 2:40-42,13:1-3,14:21-23,20:17,20:27-30
Ephesians 1:20-23,2:16,2:19-22,3:8-10,3:20-21,4:11-16,5:22-33
1 Timothy 3:14-15

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

1 Corinthians: The Role of Women in the Church (Part II)

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Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

1 Corinthians: The Role of Women in the Church (Part I)

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1 Corinthians 11,14,15

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Luke: The Chief Cornerstone

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Luke 20:1-19
Romans 11:19-23
Matthew 21:41-43
Galatians 3:26-29
Philippians 3:3

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Revelations: The Church as Witness

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Revelation 10-11

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Revelations: Seven Letters for Seven Churches

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Revelation 2-3

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Revelations: Jesus' Letter to Crossroads Church

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Revelation 1-3

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Luke: Ordinary, Yet Extraordinary

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Luke 10:1-24
1 Peter 4:11
2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA