The Gospel in the Old Testament: Loving God

In the Old Testament, God gave the first tablet of the Ten Commandments outlining our duties to Him. Jesus summarized this as loving God with everything we have!! What does it mean to love God supremely and how do we do that?

Exodus 20:1-17
Mark 12:28-34
Matthew 5:17-20
Ephesians 5:5

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

What a privilege to have God as our God! What a happy condition when nothing can hurt you! If one loses his name, it is written in the Lamb’s book of Life. If he loses his liberty, his conscience is free. If he loses his estate, he owns the pearl of great price. If he meets a storm, he has a harbor; God is his God, and heaven is his heaven. If God is our God, our soul is safe. It is hidden in the promises, in the wounds of Christ, and in the decrees of God. If God is our God, then all that is in God is ours. How happy is who not only inherits the gifts of God, but inherits God Himself! If God is our God, then all that is in God is ours. How happy is he who does not only inherits the gifts of God, but inherits God himself! In his wisdom, he is ours to teach us, his power shall support us, and his mercy shall save us. God is an infinite ocean of blessedness, and there is enough in him to fill us. He gives us peace in trouble, and when there is a storm without, he will make music within. The world gives trouble in peace, but God gives peace in trouble. He loves us, and we are the 'beloved of his soul' (Jeremiah 12:7). Thomas Watson Voices from the Past – Puritan Devotional Readings/Banner of Truth

Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship. And an outstanding reason for choosing some sort of God or spiritual-type thing to worship… is that pretty much anything else you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things — if they are where you tap real meaning in life — then you will never have enough. Never feel you have enough... Worship your own body and beauty and sexual allure and you will always feel ugly, and when time and age start showing, you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you... Worship power — you will feel weak and afraid, and you will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being seen as smart — you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always on the verge of being found out... Look, the insidious thing about these forms of worship is... they are unconscious. They are default-settings. David Foster Wallace This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How did Jesus summarize the Law?
• What is an idol?
• What are the idols we have to resist?
• What will an idol do to you?
• What does it mean to love God with all we have?
• What should we do when we fail?
• How can we get to where Jesus calls us to be in all this?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

What Child is This: The King

What child is this? Do we really grasp the significance that this baby was called a King... the King of the world? A few people at the time of Jesus birth did (some for good and some for bad). Their response is a helpful study of the real implications for all people that Jesus is the King.

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Luke 1:26-38,2:1-20
Genesis 49:8-10
Psalm 2:7-12
Isaiah 9:6-7,11:1-2,11:10
2 Samuel 7:11-16
Acts 2:36
Matthew 1:1,2:1-18
Revelation 11:15

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is the difference between a King and a President?
• Why does it seem that people today just don't get the significance of the fact that Jesus is King?
• Why do we need a King and a Kingdom?
• What are the implications that Jesus is King and Lord?
• What are the implications for people who say they are not interested... or not into religion... or not into Jesus?
• What do the manger and the cross say about Jesus as King?
• What happens when the King comes back a second and last time?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

But Who Do You Say That I Am?

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Mark 8:27-29
Colossians 1:15,1:19-22
Luke 10:38-42

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Hosea: Listening and Learning from Hosea

Thousands of years ago God had dealings with a rebellious nation called Israel (the northern tribes). He loved them, warned them, spoke to them, and eventually judged them. He ordained that His message to them was written down and preserved for all ages in His Bible. Today we read that message. Why did God want us to read and ponder this book? What is the point God wants us to get? How does this speak to us today? These are the questions we will seek to answer in our study of the Old Testament prophet Hosea.

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Hosea 7-9

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Translatable Gospel

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Acts 2:1-10,2:22,2:36,5:42,8:1,8:5,8:13-17,9:19-22,10:1-17,10:44-45,11:19-26,15:1-9

Pastor Lon Snyder
Riverwood Chapel
Kent, OH

They Came to Worship

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Daniel 1:1-7,5:11-12
Matthew 2:1-12

Ron Beil
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Luke: Watching One Who Loves God With All His Heart

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Luke 19:45-48
Ephesians 2:19-22
John 2:17
1 Corinthians 3:16-17,14:25

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Worship God in Spirit and Glory in Christ Jesus

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Philippians 3

Bill Haller
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Worship: Where to Find God

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1 Kings 8:1-11,27
Matthew 12:6,18:20
1 Peter 2:4-5
Ephesians 2:19-22,4:30-32
Exodus 40:33-35
Acts 7:47-50,17:24
2 Corinthians 6:16
1 Corinthians 3:16-17,5:4,14:24-25

And now we will just turn over this sweet thought. A church built of living souls is God's own house. What is meant by this? I reply, a house is a place where a man solaces and comforts himself. Abroad we do battle with the world: there we strain every nerve and sinew that we may stem a sea of troubles, and may not be carried away by the stream. Abroad, among men, we meet those of strange language to us, who often cut us to the heart and wound us to the quick. We feel that there we must be upon our guard. We could often say, "My soul is among lions. I lie even among those that are set on fire of hell." Going abroad in the world we find but little rest but the day's work done, we go home, and there we solace ourselves. Our weary bodies are refreshed. We throw away the armor that we have been wearing, and we fight no more. We see no longer the strange face, but loving eyes beam upon us. We hear no language now which is discordant in our ears. Love speaks, and we reply. Our home is the place of our solace, our comfort, and our rest. Now, God calls the church his habitation—his home. See him abroad; he is hurling the thunderbolt and lifting up his voice upon the waters. Hearken to him; his voice breaks the cedars of Lebanon and makes the hinds to calve. See him when he makes war, riding the chariot of his might, he drives the rebellious angels over the battlements of heaven down to the depth of hell. Behold him as he lifteth himself in the majesty of his strength! Who is this that is glorious? It is God, most high and terrible. But see he lays aside his glittering sword; his spear he bears no longer. He cometh back to his home. His children are about him. He taketh his solace and his rest. Yes, think not I venture too far—he shall rest in his lover and he doth do it. He resteth in his church. He is no longer a consuming fire, a terror, and a flame. Now, is he love and kindness and sweetness, ready to hear the prattle of his children's prayer, and the disjointed notes of his children's song. Oh how beautiful is the picture of the church as God's house, the place in which he takes his solace! "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." Charles Spurgeon

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Worship: The Priesthood of Believers

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Malachi 1
1 Peter 2:4-10
Hebrews 4:14,13:15-16
Revelation 1:4-6,5:9-10
Romans 12:1
Philippians 4:18

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Worship: God Centered Worship

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Exodus 19:10-20:19
Isaiah 48:11
Leviticus 10:1-3
Judges 6:22-23,13:21-22
Acts 5:11
1 Corinthians 11:27-32
Matthew 15:7-8
John 2:13-17
Revelation 4:1-5:14

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Worship: What Is Worship?

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1 Chronicles 15:25-6:36
1 Peter 2:9-10
Revelation 15:3-4

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA