Making Sense of a Senseless Act

When a senseless crime takes place as we saw in Los Vegas, we try to make sense out of it. Modern man, tragically, does not have the worldview that can help in times of crisis. But God has not left us without hope, and His word does give us a worldview that can inform our quest for sense.

Luke 8:26-39
Ephesians 2:1-3,6:12
Matthew 8:29,12:28-29
James 2:19
Mark 5:5-6
1 John 3:8,4:4
Colossians 2:14-15
Romans 16:20

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is modern man particularly unprepared to handle what happened in Las Vegas?
• What about their worldview has made them this way?
• Why is the problem much deeper than they can imagine?
• How does the Bible's worldview address more accurately what is going on?
• How does God offer us hope and real answers in Jesus Christ?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Gospel in the Old Testament: Loving Others

As we continue to explore evidence of the gospel in the Old Testament, we find the second tablet of the Ten Commandments gives our duty to our fellow humans. Jesus deepens our understanding and summarizes it by loving your neighbor as yourself. This is hard to do and it shows us our need for Christ and He helps us make real progress!!

Deuteronomy 5:1-21
Romans 13:8-10,12:17-21
Matthew 5:17-22,5:27-28,5:38-45

The Purpose of the Law:
1. To reveal God’s holiness: special, pure, supreme
2. To reveal what it means to have a relationship with the holy God:
   1. What a holy life looks like
   2. As a pathway to life: human flourishing and blessing
3. To reveal how sinful we are
4. To reveal our need for Christ:
1. For the forgiveness of sins
2. For a new heart to overcome sins

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What are the commandments on the second tablet?
• How did Jesus summarize these laws?
• How did He help us to understand their true meaning?
• What does it mean to love our neighbor?
• What are some practical ways we can do this better?
• How do these commandments show us our need for Christ?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
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

Mark: The Heavy Ones

People today demand that their preacher be funny, cool, and very uplifting. Not too heavy... or negative... and certainly not to warn or condemn. Would Jesus have fit in that mold? How about John the Baptist or the Apostles? Why were they so heavy all the time? Here are some heavy words from Mark.

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why would Jesus, the apostles, and John the Baptist seem too heavy to people today?
• Why would they be under pressure to lighten up?
• Why would they refuse to... what are the truths behind their attitude?
• How are we dealing with those truths in our lives?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA