While Surrounded by Meanness and Ugliness, How Not to Become Mean and Ugly

In a world of such political, personal, and many other animosities, we can be surrounded by meanness and ugliness... the Bible speaks powerfully into this so that we do not become mean and ugly ourselves. But rather we are powerful agents of change and redemption.

Titus 2:11-3:11
1 Timothy 2:2
2 Thessalonians 3:11-13
1 Thessalonians 4:10-12
Matthew 5:16,6:3
2 Corinthians 10:1
Galatians 5:23
Ephesians 4:2
1 Timothy 6:11
2 Timothy 2:25
1 Peter 3:5
Matthew 5:5,11:29,21:5

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How are we surrounded by meanness and ugliness?
• How do we tend to be affected by this?
• How are we supposed to respond?
• What are the reasons the Bible gives as to why we should respond this way?
• This is really hard... what help and hope does God give?
• What were the practical suggestions made in the sermon?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

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: Why Me, Lord?

Why would anyone seek to reconcile with an enemy who hates them and wishes them harm? Why me, Lord? Paul is explaining to the Colossians God's amazing offer.

Colossians 1:19-22
Romans 5:9-10,8:7,8:31-32
2 Corinthians 5:18-21

This is the most wonderful scene that the universe will ever witness; a beseeching God, an imploring Savior, 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 insulted Omnipotent Creator of the universe, beseeching a worm, whom an exercise of His will could sink in a moment to hell, and His justice be glorified in the act, to accept His pardoning mercy, and waiting year after year, in all longsuffering, for the sinner’s reconsideration of his obstinate refusals. Be astonished, O heaven, 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 topics for parents to use with their children:

• How are people enemies of God?
• Why is it amazing that God even wants to be reconciled to us?
• What is so amazing about How God reconciled us to Himself?
• Why is it amazing that God pleads with us to be reconciled to Him?
• How beloved and safe are those who are reconciled?

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

How Should I Live: Loving Enemies

We are examining how we should live for God yet why does it feel so unnatural and why is it so hard... to love our enemies? How do we do this?

Matthew 5:38-48
Romans 12:10,12:17-21,13:4,5:10
Acts 14:16-17

The Voice of the Martyrs

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: David's Son and Lord

Jesus quoted the Old Testament and then pointed out that David's distant relative will also be his Lord... what are the practical implications for everyone (literally everyone and everything)?

Psalm 110
Matthew 22:41-46
Acts 2:32-36,7:55-56
Romans 8:34
Ephesians 1:20-23,2:5-6
Colossians 3:1
Hebrews 1:3,1:13,8:1,10:12-13,12:2
1 Peter 3:22
Hebrews 2:8-9
Ephesians 1:10
1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What did Jesus ask about Psalm 110?
• What are the practical implications of the fact that Jesus has been exalted to head of all things?
• What is the plan that God is currently working out?
• What are the two ways this should personally impact us as outlined in the sermon?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA