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

Our Final Victory

There is no denying that Jesus died. But His death was not final! It isn't the end of the story. Ultimately He has power over death. Death is dead! And we can share in celebrating this victory.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58,15:26
Genesis 2:8-9,2:15-17,3:17-19,5:1-32
Revelation 20:11-15,21:8,1:18,2:11,20:6
2 Timothy 1:10
Hebrews 2:14-15,9:27
Romans 8:38-39,6:23,6:3-10,4:25,5:10
John 11:25,19:30,5:24,8:51
Matthew 27:50
Mark 15:37
Luke 25:46,16:23-24
Jeremiah 9:21
Ecclesiastes 7:2
Ephesians 2:1-2,2:5
Acts 2:24
Psalm 116:15
Galatians 3:13

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. Why does the apostle Paul say in this passage that God gives us victory over death when we all will still die, just as Jesus died?
• What does Genesis 3:17-19 teach us about death?
• What are the two types of death? Describe what each one means.
• What is the second death described in Revelation 20:11-15? Who will experience it?
• What good news do 2 Timothy 1:10, Hebrews 2:14-15, and Romans 8:38-39 give us about death?
• Read John 11:25. How can it be that we may die, yet live?

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

None Left Behind

Much can be learned about the relationship between the Father and the Son with Jesus' final words on the cross. God turned away as His Son willingly suffered for us. He was separated from Jesus. But He did not leave His Son behind; God reclaimed Jesus' body as a resurrected and living Lord!

Matthew 27:27-46,27:55-56
Psalm 22:1-21,27:8-9
Luke 23:45
Exodus 10:21
Amos 8:9-10
John 1:1-2
Numbers 6:24-26
2 Corinthians 5:21
1 Peter 2:24
Galatians 3:13
Habakkuk 1:13

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Read Matthew 27:27-46 which describes the greatest abandonment ever to occur.
• Who was being abandoned - and by whom?
• Why was this the only abandonment with any honor and redemption?
• How do we know that judgment occurred at Calvary?
• Who was being judged?
• What different individuals and groups contributed to Jesus' social abandonment while He was on the cross?
• Read Psalm 22:1-21. From this passage, describe the emotional desertion the Son experienced on the cross.
• What was the deepest part of Jesus' suffering on the cross?
• Why was it the source of His greatest suffering?
• How do we know that Jesus ultimately was not abandoned?

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Put to Death Your Flesh

Are you feeling like you want to love God, but can't seem to make Him the top priority in your life? This is your call for action: to walk in the Spirit you must put to death the sinful desires of the flesh. Are you ready to suffer in order to accomplish this?

Romans 8:1-17,11:20-23,6:11-12
Genesis 19:12-29
Mark 7:20-23
Galatians 5:16-23,2:20
Hebrews 7:25,12:1-2,11:1
2 Peter 2:6-10
Philippians 1:6
Ephesians 5:8,2:4-6
2 Corinthians 5:10-12
1 Peter 4:1-4
Luke 9:23-24

Sean Byham
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: The First Promise of a Deliverer

In the Old Testament Adam and Eve experienced terrible results from their sin... and grace, love, mercy, and a wonderful promise.

Revelation 12,20:10
Genesis 3:1-4:8,4:23-26
John 8:44
Romans 8:19-22,16:17-20
1 John 3:10-13,3:8
Colossians 2:14-15

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What were some of the horrible results of Adam's sin?
• How was God's love and grace also experienced at the same time?
• How has the enmity between the woman's and the serpent's seed worked out in history?
• Today?
• Who was the great deliverer promised, and how will He crush the serpent's head?
• What does this mean for you?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Suffering, Yet Concerned for Others

Mark tells us that Jesus revealed so much about the character of God by His concern for others during the very hours of His suffering and death.

Mark 15:20-32
Luke 23:26-43,23:47
Philippians 2:6-8
Matthew 26:53,27:44
John 19:25-27
Revelation 2:17

His own racking agony of body did not make Him forget others. The first of His seven sayings on the cross was a prayer for the souls of His murderers. J.C. Ryle

Let us see in our Lord's intersession for those who crucified Him, one more proof of Christ's infinite love to sinners. The Lord Jesus is indeed most pitiful, most compassionate, most gracious. None are too wicked for Him to care for. None are too far gone in sin for His almighty heart to take interest about their souls. He wept over unbelieving Jerusalem. He heard the prayer of the dying thief. He stopped under the tree to call the tax-collector Zaccheus. He came down from heaven to turn the heart of the persecutor Saul. He found time to pray for His murderers even on the cross. Love like this is a love that passes knowledge. The vilest of sinners have no cause to be afraid of applying to a Savior like this. If we want warrant and encouragement to repent and believe, the passage before us surely supplies enough. J.C. Ryle

One thief was saved that no sinner might despair, but only one, that no sinner might presume. J.C. Ryle

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What examples does the Bible give of Jesus' concern for others while He was dying?
• Do we tend to be like this?
• Why not?
• hat do His actions tell us about the character of God?
• Why should this encourage us to come to Him?
• Why should we not delay even though the dying thief came at His final hours of life?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Appreciating God's Gift

God gave His Son... some do not grasp the magnitude of this gift.

Luke 12:13-31
John 3:16
Mark 8:36
Hebrews 9:27
Romans 3:19,3:23,8:31-32

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why was Marigold not happy with her incredible gift?
• What lessons do we draw from this in terms of God's gift?
• What are some of the reasons why we so need God's gift?
• What is God's gift?
• How does He meet our most important needs?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Corinthians: What Does Works Have to Do with It?

How can the Bible say we will be judged by our works... when it also says we are saved by grace through faith and not of works? This is an important question for many reasons, but most importantly because we are all going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ. In our study of 2 Corinthians, we will take up this topic.

2 Corinthians 5

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Who Do You Serve?

Who do you serve? What is Greatness? These are important questions that Jesus answers in surprising ways in the book of Mark.

Mark 10:32-45
1 Corinthians 1:18-24
Luke 18:34

Let us mark this well. There was nothing involuntary and unforeseen in our Lord's death. It was the result of his own free, determinate, and deliberate choice. From the beginning of His earthly ministry He saw the cross before Him, and went to it a willing sufferer. He knew that His death was the needful payment that must be made to reconcile God and man. That payment He had covenanted and engaged to make at the price of His own blood. And so when the appointed time came, like a faithful substitute, He kept His word, and died for our sins on Calvary.

Let us ever bless God that the Gospel sets before us such a Savior, so faithful to the terms of the covenant--so ready to suffer--so willing to be reckoned sin and a curse in our stead. Let us not doubt that He who fulfilled his engagement to suffer, will also fulfill His engagement to save all who come to Him. Let us not only accept Him gladly as our Redeemer and Advocate, but gladly give ourselves, and all we have, to His service. Surely, if Jesus cheerfully died for us, it is a small thing to require Christians to live for Him. J.C. Ryle The Gospel of Mark

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why did Jesus have to force Himself to go to Jerusalem?
• Have you ever had to force yourself to do something like this?
• Why was the disciples' attitude so wrong?
• How can we be like them today?
• What is greatness in Jesus kingdom?
• What is one of the questions God will ask you on the Final Day?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Ashamed? Of What?

Jesus is calling His disciples to follow Him down an unpopular road. In this pivotal passage from Mark He gives them reasons to NOT be ashamed of Him and His gospel. Powerful reasons.

Philippians 2:5-11
2 Thessalonians 1:3-12
Mark 8:27-38
2 Timothy 1:6-8,1:16-18,1:12
1 Peter 4:3-5
Romans 6:21,1:16
Hebrews 2:11,11:16

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• When do you feel the pressure to be ashamed of Christ or the gospel?
• What reasons does Jesus give to help us overcome this pressure?
• What if you have failed in this area in the past... is this a one and done?
• How did Paul try to encourage Timothy in all of this?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Resurrection, Really!

We Christians make a huge counter cultural claim: a man who was dead three days rose again and is still alive and that man was the Son of God. And we have proof!!

Luke 23:50-24:12,24:33-47
Matthew 28:4,12:38-40
1 Corinthians 15:6,15:20-26
Romans 1:3-4,4:24-25
Hebrews 9:27
2 Peter 1:16
Acts 1:8,1:21-23,2:30-33,3:13-16,3:19-21,4:1-3,4:9-10,4:13,4:19-21,4:33,5:17-18,5:28-32,5:41,17:31

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is the historical evidence for the resurrection?
• Why were the actions of Christ's enemies actually helpful in proving His resurrection?
• What is the significance of the actions and convictions of the apostles after the resurrection?
• What is the significance of the resurrection for us today and in the future?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Peter: Keeping Safe

Peter is so concerned about the influence of false teachers upon the people of God. They are still about today as in every generation. How can we discern them and guard against their slick and deceptive ways?

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2 Peter 2

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why are false teachers so dangerous?
• What are some of the things that seem to mark them out in every generation?
• How can we good at discerning them so that we are not deceived?
• What do they appeal to in us?
• What does this passage teach us about God and His activity and attitude in all of this?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Pride, Fear, and Humility

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1 Corinthians 4:7
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
2 Chronicles 26:16,32:26
Job 40:11-12
Romans 3:18
Matthew 10:28,5:1-12,11:28
Isaiah 66:2
James 4:5-10
Psalm 51:1-17

Pride:

Psalm 10:4,94:2-4,101:5
Proverbs 6:16-17,15:25,16:5,21:4,29:23
Isaiah 2:12,13:11
Amos 6:8
Mark 7:22-23
1 John 2:16

Humility:

Psalm 10:17,18:27,25:9,138:6
Proverbs 16:19,29:23
2 Chronicles 7:14
Isaiah 29:19,57:15
Matthew 11:29
Romans 12:16

Ron Beil
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

Beware of the Normalization of Sin...or...The Danger of Misinterpreting God

In our culture as in all others sin is being normalized. What once shocked us now is normal and we hardly notice. Now people are shocked that God is angry at such behavior. How can Christians keep their head in a culture that works overtime to normalize sin? How do we live as godly people today?

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Psalm 50
Luke 12:15
Titus 3:2
Ephesians 5:3-7
Matthew 24:12-13

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

1 Corinthians: Don't be Paralyzed by the Judgment of Others

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1 Corinthians 4

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Luke: Which One Am I?

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Luke 18:9-14

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

Luke: Seeing Clearly...Way Too Late

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Luke 16:19-31
2 Corinthians 5:10
Revelation 20:12
Ephesians 2:8-9
2 Timothy 3:16-17

We learn, fourthly, from this parable, the reality and eternity of hell. The Lord Jesus tells us plainly, that after death the rich man was "in hell--tormented with fire." He gives us a fearful picture of his longing for a drop of "water to cool his tongue," and of "the gulf" between him and Abraham, which could not be passed. There are few more dreadful passages perhaps in the whole Bible than this. And He from whose lips it came, be it remembered, was one who delighted in mercy! The certainty and endlessness of the future punishment of the wicked, are truths which we must hold fast and never let go. From the day when Satan said to Eve, "You shall not surely die," there never have been lacking men who have denied them. Let us not be deceived. There is a hell for the impenitent, as well as a heaven for believers. There is a wrath to come for all who "obey not the Gospel of Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:8) From that wrath let us flee betimes to the great hiding-place, Jesus Christ the Lord. If men find themselves "in torment" at last, it will not be because there was no way to escape. J.C. Ryle

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Luke: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Remedy

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Luke 11:14-36
1 Corinthians 1:22-23,6:1-3
Matthew 12:38-41,5:16
2 Corinthians 4:6

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA