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

Colossians: Real Power, Real Help, Real Change

In someways it is simple: Know God's will and then do it... but once I know it I need power to do it. Paul knows; listen to his answer in this companion prayer to our study in Colossians.

Colossians 1:9-11
Ephesians 1:15-21,2:4-6,6:10
Romans 1:16
1 Corinthians 1:18
Philippians 4:13
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What is the outline of Paul's prayer so far in our study?
• What does he pray for?
• What does each of the requests mean?
• What does he pray about power in the life of the believer?
• Whose prayer is it, and how was it displayed in history?
• How do we get this power?
• Why do we have to make sure we really want it?
• Do we believe all of this to be true for us individually?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: A Full Orbed Life

Paul's prayers in Colossians are so important to study because they show us what God wants us to be like and how to live a full orbed life of fruitfulness.

Colossians 1:1-12,3:12-4:1
Isaiah 6:5
Matthew 5:21-22,5:27-28
James 1:19-20
1 Peter 3:7

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What attitude did Paul assume his hearers had about their salvation?
• What are the things Paul is praying for?
• What does it mean and how does it look in a person's life when they are filled with a knowledge of His will?
• What are the practical ways this was illustrated, and what are ways this should work out in our lives?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Who Am I?

Our culture is so self absorbed that the only answer to the question Who am I? leaves us without much hope. Maybe the question should be Whose am I?.

Galatians 2:14-21

Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell’s confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a Squire from his country house.

Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As thought it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
Equably, smilingly, proudly,
like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectations of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all.

Who am I? This or the Other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptible woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am thine!
Who Am I? Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• In whom do we find our true identity?
• Why do we need to seek righteousness?
• What does it mean to be justified through the faithfulness of Christ?
• What does it mean to be new and loved?

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Lessons from a Fig Tree

Jesus curses a fig tree then uses the event to teach us about... Fruitlessness, Faith, and Forgiveness... in the masterful way only He can teach from this passage in Mark!!

Romans 4
Mark 11:12-26
Luke 13:6-9,3:8-9
1 Corinthians 13:2
James 4:2-3
1 John 5:14-15
Matthew 18:19-20
Acts 10:20

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why did Jesus curse the fig tree?
• What three lessons did He teach from this event?
• What should we learn about fruitlessness?
• What should we learn about Faith?
• What did He mean when He spoke about moving mountains?
• What should we learn about Forgiveness?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Peter: Faith's Add-ons -- Warnings and Encouragements

Peter wants us to add to our faith.. virtue, etc. Why is this so important? And what impact will this have on our assurance and our entrance into heaven. These are the issues we take up in this message.

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

James 2:14-26
2 Peter 1:1-11
John 15:1-2
1 John 2:9-11
1 Peter 1:2
Ephesians 1:3-6
2 Corinthians 4:6
Acts 16:14-15
Romans 8:30
1 Corinthians 3:15

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why is Peter so concerned that we add these virtues to our faith?
• What is the result if we do not add them?
• What is the result if we do?
• How does this make our calling and election sure to us?
• How does this effect our entrance into the Kingdom?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Peter: The God Appointed Add-ons

Some Christians feel that it is enough just to get saved and get one's ticket to heaven. God strongly disagrees and says so through the Apostle Peter. God wants us to add-on to our faith seven qualities according to this passage. These qualities give us a unique picture of what God wants us to become.

Left-click to Listen Now
Right-click to Download

2 Peter 1:1-11
Acts 17:11
Hebrews 5:12-14
Galatians 5:23
James 3:2
Philippians 2:14-15
2 Timothy 4:7
1 Corinthians 13:13

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why does God want to do more than just get us out of foreclosure?
• What are the qualities God wants us to add-on?
• Discuss what each of these mean and how they would work out in our individual lives.
• What has God said in this passage to help us not to become overwhelmed by this list?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA