The Power and Authority of God

As we witness real storms in the world we see the awesome power of God. God the power to destroy, yet He also has the poor to create and restore life. And He still loves and cares about little us.

Revelation 22:17,4:11
2 Peter 3:6
Isaiah 23:11
Psalm 37:38
1 John 3:8
Matthew 6:19,7:13,10:20,28:5
Philippians 3:19
Genesis 1:1
John 1:3,3:16
Exodus 7:1-7

Henry Russo
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Achieving Heaven: A Bright and Glorious Future

In the world of competing worldviews... the vision for the future of Christianity is breathtaking... for the others, theirs is pathetic. A New Heavens and a New Earth speaks to our deepest longings and is true!!

2 Peter 3:10-13
Romans 8:18-23,5:9-10
Revelation 21:1-8,22:3-5
Acts 3:19-21
Matthew 19:28,5:5,26:29
John 5:28-29
Isaiah 6:17,11:6-9

Are we to spend eternity somewhere off in space, wearing white robes, plucking harps, singing songs, and flitting from cloud to cloud while doing so? On the contrary, the Bible assures us that God will create a new earth on which we shall live to God's praise in glorified, resurrected bodies. On that new earth, therefore, we hope to spend eternity, enjoying its beauties, exploring its resources, and using its treasures to the glory of God. Since God will make the new earth his dwelling place, and since where God dwells there heaven is, we shall then continue to be in heaven while we are on the new earth. For heaven and earth will then no longer be separated, as they are now, but will be one (see Revelation 21:1-3). But to leave the new earth out of consideration when we think of the final state of believers is greatly to impoverish biblical teaching about the life to come. Anthony A. Hoekema The Bible and the Future

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why is the vision of the unbelievers worldview so sad and pathetic?
• What is the Bible's vision of the future?
• Why is the New Heavens and New Earth so exciting to us as humans?
• What are some of the things you look forward to?
• Why did the Pastor so emphasize to all of us to Get There?
• What is your hope that you will get there?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: I Love You... So Please Listen

In this section of Mark, Jesus gets very intense about a subject we refuse to consider in this secular culture. He loves us enough to speak important truths we all need to consider.

Matthew 25:31-46
Mark 9:38-50

Let us beware of the slightest inclination to stop and check others, merely because they do not choose to adopt our plans, or work by our side. We may think our fellow Christians mistaken in some points. We may fancy that more would be done for Christ, if they would join us, and if all worked in the same way. We may see many evils arising from religious dissensions and divisions. But all this must not prevent us rejoicing if the works of the devil are destroyed and souls are saved.
Is our neighbor warring against Satan? Is he really trying to labor for Christ? This is the grand question. Better a thousand times that the work should be done by other hands than not done at all. Happy is he who knows something of the spirit of Moses, when he said, "I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!" and of Paul, when he says, "If Christ is preached, I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice." (Numbers 11:29; Philippians 1:18.) J.C. Ryle The Gospel of Mark

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why did Jesus get so intense in this passage?
• What did He teach us about: excluding others, giving cups of water, causing someone to sin, cutting off things?
• How do we do this?
• Why is it not mean, but in fact, very loving when Jesus talks about the scary subject of hell?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Peter: The Day is Coming

Scoffers in Peter's day and today ridicule the gospel. Where is this so called second coming... you really believe this? Peter, led by the Holy Spirit, provides us a masterful, full and rich answer!

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Psalm 50,90:4
2 Peter 3,1:13
Hebrews 10:24,1:3
2 Timothy 1:6
Colossians 1:17
1 Thessalonians 5:4
Romans 8:18-25

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How does Peter answer the scoffers who ridicule the fact that Jesus has not returned yet?
• How does God experience time differently than us?
• Why is God delaying?
• What are the implications for us that this Day is coming; for our unbelieving family and friends?
• What should we do about it?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

1 Peter: Father -- Judge???

Peter tells us we are to love God as our Father and fear Him as our Judge. How does that work? Why does the Bible say we will be judged by our deeds and yet salvation is by grace and not of works? How does that work? What is the nature of Judgment Day especially how are Christians supposed to view it? Are we ready?

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1 Peter 1:17-19,1:2-5
Matthew 25:14-46,16:27,7:21-23
2 Peter 2:9
Jude 1:6
Revelation 6:17
Romans 2:16-17,14:12,2:2-6
Hebrews 12:23
John 5:22-30
Acts 17:31
2 Corinthians 5:10
1 Corinthians 3:13-15
James 3:1

The consideration of God as Judge is not improper for those who can truly call Him Father. Holy confidence in God as a Father, and an awful fear of Him as a Judge, are very consistent; to regard God as a Judge is a singular means to endear Him to us as a Father. Matthew Henry

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How are we supposed to relate to God when He is both our Father and our Judge?
• What does it mean to me that He is my Father?
• What does it mean that He is my Judge?
• What will take place on Judgement Day?
• How can I best be prepared?
• Should I warn others?
• How without not sounding like a fool?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Death is Gain: New Heavens and New Earth

Why did Jesus, the Son of God, come to earth? To save sinners...yes...but more! To take us to heaven...yes...but more! How about this?...Jesus came to fully restore the earth and universe to the original paradise intended by God!!! Yes, a New Heaven and a New Earth is the ultimate reason Jesus came and what a wonder and glory that will be!!

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Revelation 21:1-5,5:9-10
1 Timothy 1:15
2 Peter 3:10-13
Romans 8:18-23
Acts 3:19-21
Matthew 19:28,5:5,26:29
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Isaiah 66:22-24,11:6-9,65:17

Are we to spend eternity somewhere off in space, wearing white robes, plucking harps, singing songs, and flitting from cloud to cloud while doing so? On the contrary, the Bible assures us that God will create a new earth on which we shall live to God’s praise in glorified, resurrected bodies. On that new earth, therefore, we hope to spend eternity, enjoying its beauties, exploring its resources, and using its treasures to the glory of God. Since God will make the new earth His dwelling place, and since where God dwells there heaven is, we shall then continue to be in heaven while we are on the new earth. For heaven and earth will then no longer be separated, as they are now, but will be one (see Revelation 21:1-3). But to leave the new earth out of consideration when we think of the final state of believers is greatly to impoverish biblical teaching about the life to come. Anthony A. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Luke: Remembering Lot's Wife

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Luke 17:20-37
Romans 14:17
Revelation 18:9-24
1 John 2:15-17

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA