Trusting God When You Don't Understand What He is Doing

It is hard to trust God when we do not know what He is doing or why. But we are called to trust Him and in this message we explore how that is done.

Job 1:1-2:10
Proverbs 3:5-6
Romans 8:31-32,8:28

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sov’reign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flow’r.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
William Cowper God Moves in a Mysterious Way

One of the most difficult things to do when the road is rough or when the billows are passing over us is to feel that God still loves us. It is the last thing we can accept. But we are not called to feel; we are called to believe. In his book In Their Afflictions, Murdock Campbell tells of a minister in the north of Scotland who suddenly list his spiritually-minded wife. As he prayed that night in the presence of friends he said, "if an angel from heaven told me that this would work for my good I would not believe him but because of thy Word says it I must believe it." We are to measure God's love not by His providence but by His promise. "When we cannot trace God's hand we can trust God's heart', says C.H. Spurgeon. When providences are dark it is difficult to read them. It is the Word that tells us how to view them. John J. Murray Behind a Frowning Providence

There is much that remains a mystery and for which there is no immediate answer. This lies at the very crux of the matter. It may seem a strange paradox but it was when Job was willing not to understand that he began to understand. And why should this not be so? God is God and man is man. It is in keeping with the greatness of God. In a sermon entitled Dark Providences Made Clear in Due Time, Ralph Erskine explains God's purpose in dark providences thus: "It is to discover Himself in a way suitable to Himself and His glorious perfections and to show that His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways. If He should work according to our thoughts and imaginations how would it appear that He is Jehovah, a sovereign God that acts like Himself. God owes us no explanations. We owe Him implicit trust and obedience. It is not easy to trust God when He appears to be silent, as He was with Job, but trust we must." John J. Murray Behind a Frowning Providence

Dr. Ronald Dunn has these wise words to say on the problem of the silence of God in suffering: "I think this is the hardest part of all. You can take just about anything, if you know why. Everywhere I go, every meeting, I'm asked... 'Why?'... I'm going to tell you something: God will very seldom answer your question of Why. It is not that there are no answers, it's just that you and I probably wouldn't be able to comprehend the answer if God were to tell us, and besides that, we have to learn to trust Him without knowing why. We ask Him questions. What we're usually doing is saying, 'Lord explain yourself', calling God into account."John J. Murray Behind a Frowning Providence

People are usually more anxious to get rid of the problem than they are to find the purpose of God in it. "Afflictions" says Matthew Henry "are continued no longer than till they have done their work." It is also our responsibility to pray that our afflictions will be sanctified to us. In his book Why Us Warren Wiersbe speaks of a friend who found herself in a sea of troubles. Attempting to encourage her one day he said "I want you to know that we are praying for you." "I appreciate that", she replied, "What are you praying to God to do?" Wiersbe found himself struggling for an answer and mentioned some things. "Thank you", she said, "but please pray for one more request. Pray that I won't waste all this suffering." John J. Murray Behind a Frowning Providence

I had a million questions to ask God; but when I met Him they all fled my mind and it didn't seem to matter. Christopher Morley

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is it hard to trust another?
• Why is it hard to trust God?
• How do people prove themselves trustworthy?
• How has God?
• Why should we not lean on our own understanding?
• What should we lean on?
• What are the implications of the phrase We are not called to feel; we are called to believe?
• Why is it easy to trust God?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Living with Joy and Peace in a Frustrating and Dangerous World: How Should a Christian Do Life?

Each day we are faced multiple times with frustrations, difficulties, and even scary situations and circumstances... and each time we must choose how we are going to respond. We will look at how one godly man in Scripture provided us a role model of how we should choose in a God honoring way.

Philippians
2 Corinthians 11:24-28,12:7
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
1 Peter 5:7

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How can life be frustrating, difficult and dangerous today?
• How was Paul's life that and more?
• Why is it important to realize that we choose many times each day how we will respond to almost any circumstance we face?
• Let's talk about the eight ways Paul chose to do life.

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

Living with Joy and Peace in a Frustrating and Dangerous World: When Things Don't Go As Planned

How can we have joy and peace in such a frustrating, difficult, and dangerous world? We begin by realizing how little control we have and yet how much the Sovereign God who controls all things loves us!

2 Corinthians 11:16-33,1:3-4
Acts 16:25
Psalm 115:3
Ephesians 1:11
Romans 8:28-39
1 Peter 1:6-7

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What are some of the issues we deal with when life doesn't go as we plan?
• How can we think wrongly about others... about ourselves and our abilities to control the situation... about God?
• Who is in control... what does the world say... what does the Bible proclaim?
• What are the reasons the Bible gives that should make us glad God is in control?
• How does the cross prove God's love for us?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Embrace and Excel

There are cultural givens (presuppositions the culture holds) that have damaged our views of children, family, and the exalted calling of motherhood. But the Bible can restore us to its givens and restore the family as God has purposed it to be.

Psalm 127-128
Matthew 20:25-28
1 Chronicles 25:5

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Describe these cultural givens: Live is primarily about me; children are to help me fulfill myself; children are a liability.
• Describe these Biblical givens: Life is primarily about serving others; children are a blessing from the Lord; motherhood is an exalted calling.
• How do the Biblical givens help us understand the role of mothers?
• What should you do with this Biblical perspective?
• How should it impact or change your life?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Loving Neighbor

We live in what many historians call The Age of Anger. We have become so divided on every issue that both sides are angry with the other. We are very envious of others for what they have compared to us. In Mark, Jesus tells and shows us the importance and the way to love our neighbor.

Luke 10:25-37
1 Corinthians 13:1-8
Mark 12:28-34
Galatians 5:14
Philippians 2:4-7,3:18-19
Nehemiah 9:17
James 1:19-20
Proverbs 16:32

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What are the two most important things we are to do in life?
• What is envy?
• What is malice?
• Why do we have so little pity and mercy toward others?
• How was the Good Samaritan's attitude different that the other travelers?
• Is it easy for God to love us day by day?
• Where would we be if God was not full of mercy, slow to anger, and ready to forgive?
• Why did God give His Son?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Corinthians: God's Down Payment

What happens to Christians after they die? Where do they go, and how do they go there? When does the resurrection body come in? How can we have confidence that this will be our experience? These are the subjects Paul takes up in 2 Corinthians to encourage the believers. He also speaks of the guarantee or down payment that God has given us ahead of time to fill us with confidence!!

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: The Second Greatest!

When asked in Mark to name the greatest commandment, Jesus answered with the first and second greatest commandments. The second great commandment is to Love our neighbor as ourselves. Why is this so hard and sometimes seems impossible? How does God enable us to live a life of love?

Leviticus 19:1-18
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Mark 12:28-34
Matthew 7:12
Galatians 5:14
Romans 13:8-9,2:4
Exodus 34:6

I would show the nature of the duty of meekly bearing the injuries we suffer from others. And,

First, it implies that injuries offered should be borne without doing anything to revenge them. — There are many ways in which men do that which is revengeful; not merely by actually bringing some immediate suffering on the one that may have injured them, but by anything, either in speech or behavior, which shows a bitterness of spirit against him for what he has done. Thus, if after we are offended or injured, we speak reproachfully to our neighbor, or of him to others, with a design to lower or injure him, and that we may gratify the bitter spirit we feel in our hearts for the injury that neighbor has done us, this is revenge. He, therefore, that exercises a Christian long-suffering toward his neighbor, will bear the injuries received from him without revenging or retaliating, either by injurious deeds or bitter words. He will bear it without doing anything against his neighbor that shall manifest the spirit of resentment, without speaking to him, or of him, with revengeful words, and without allowing a revengeful spirit in his heart, or manifesting it in his behavior. He will receive all with a calm, undisturbed countenance, and with a soul full of meekness, quietness, and goodness; and this he will manifest in all his behavior to the one that has injured him, whether to his face or behind his back. Hence it is, that this virtue is recommended in the Scriptures under the name of gentleness, or as always connected with it, as may be seen in James 3:17, and Galatians 5:22. In him that exercises the Christian spirit as be ought, there will not be a passionate, rash, or hasty expression, or a bitter, exasperated countenance, or an air of violence in the talk or behavior; but, on the contrary, the countenance and words and demeanor will all manifest the savor of peaceableness and calmness and gentleness. He may perhaps reprove his neighbor. This may clearly be his duty. But if he does, it will be without impoliteness, and without that severity that can tend only to exasperate; and though it may be with strength of reason and argument, and with plain and decided expostulation, it will still be without angry reflections or contemptuous language. He may show a disapprobation of what has been done; but it will be not with an appearance of high resentment, but as reproving the offender for a sin against God, rather than as for the offense against himself; as lamenting his calamity, more than resenting his injury; as seeking his good, not his hurt; and as one that more desires to deliver the offender out of the error into which he has fallen, than to be even with him for the injury done to himself. The duty enjoined also implies,

Secondly, that injuries be borne with the continuance of love in the heart, and without those inward emotions and passions that tend to interrupt and destroy it. — Injuries should be borne, where we are called to suffer them, not only without manifesting an evil and revengeful spirit in our words and actions, but also without such a spirit in the heart. We should not only control our passions when we are injured, and refrain from giving vent to outward revenge, but the injury should be borne without the spirit of revenge in the heart. Not only a smooth external behavior should be continued, but also a sincere love with it. We should not cease to love our neighbor because he has injured us. We may pity, but not hate him for it. The duty enjoined also implies,

Thirdly, that injuries be borne without our losing the quietness and repose of our own minds and hearts. — They should not only be borne without a rough behavior, but with a continuance of inward calmness and repose of spirit. When the injuries we suffer are allowed to disturb our calmness of mind, and put us into an excitement and tumult, then we cease to bear them in the true spirit of long-suffering. If the injury is permitted to discompose and disquiet us, and to break up our inward rest, we cannot enjoy ourselves, and are not in a state to engage properly in our various duties; and especially we are not in a state for religious duties — for prayer and meditation. And such a state of mind is the contrary of the spirit of long-suffering and meekly bearing of injuries that is spoken of in the text. Christians ought still to keep the calmness and serenity of their minds undisturbed, whatever injuries they may suffer. Their souls should be serene, and not like the unstable surface of the water, disturbed by every wind that blows. No matter what evils they may suffer, or what injuries may be inflicted on them, they should still act on the principle of the words of the Savior to his disciples (Luke 21:19) — "In your patience possess ye your souls." The duty we are speaking of also implies, once more,

Fourthly, that in many cases, when we are injured, we should be willing to suffer much in our interests and feelings for the sake of peace, rather than do what we have opportunity, and perhaps the right, to do in defending ourselves. — When we suffer injuries from others, the case is often such that a Christian spirit, if we did but exercise it as we ought, would dispose us to forbear taking the advantage we may have to vindicate and right ourselves. For by doing otherwise, we may be the means of bringing very great calamity on him that has injured us; and tenderness toward him may and ought to dispose us to a great deal of forbearance, and to suffer somewhat ourselves, rather than bring so much suffering on him. And besides, such a course would probably lead to a violation of peace, and to an established hostility, whereas in this way there may be hope of gaining our neighbor, and from an enemy making him a friend. Jonathon Edwards Charity and its Fruits

The long-suffering of God is very wonderfully manifest in his bearing innumerable injuries from men, and injuries that are very great and long-continued. If we consider the wickedness that there is in the world, and then consider how God continues the world in existence, and does not destroy it, but showers upon it innumerable mercies, the bounties of his daily providence and grace, causing his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sending rain alike on the just and on the unjust, and offering his spiritual blessings ceaselessly and to all, we shall perceive how abundant is his long-suffering toward us. And if we consider his long-suffering to some of the great and populous cities of the world, and think how constantly the gifts of his goodness are bestowed on and consumed by them, and then consider how great the wickedness of these very cities is, it will show us how amazingly great is his long-suffering. Jonathon Edwards Charity and its Fruits

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why is loving your neighbor the way to fulfill the law?
• Why is this important?
• What does it mean to love your neighbor as you love yourself?
• How do we love ourselves?
• What are some of the examples given in the sermon of how this can impact all of our lives?
• Why is it so hard to love those who hurt us?
• How can we be enabled to do something that seems so hard?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Corinthians: Start Renewing

Despite all the trials and persecutions Paul faced he still had a bubbling joy. He didn't lose heart because he knew his inner man was being renewed daily. In this short passage from 2 Corinthians Paul explains this recreating process.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: The Top Thing I'm to Be About

What is the most important thing in all of life that God wants us to do? When Jesus was asked a question in Mark, His answer should motivate us to do that most important thing.

Deuteronomy 6
Mark 12:28-34
Numbers 25:1-8
Romans 1:21,8:7,1:30
Nehemiah 9:17

To love God in the way defined by the great commandment is to seek God for His own sake, to have pleasure in Him and to strive impulsively after Him. William Lane The Gospel of Mark

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• What is the most important thing we are to do in life?
• What does it mean to love God?
• Give some specific examples of how this would work out in life.
• How can I get to this point in my life
• What needs fixed?
• How can I grow more to love God?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Corinthians: Go Beyond

Paul is an amazing person and the more you get to know him the more you admire his God and how God worked in his life. He tends to inspire us to go beyond where we are presently at. This passage we will study in 2 Corinthians is one of those passages. Come be around Paul and be changed by his words.

2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: Reductio ad Absurdum

Mark tells us that Jesus was faced with a pressing theological, and ultimate life, question. We will see the not only what He answers but how He based His answer... all of which is vitally important to us in many ways.

Mark 12:18-27
Acts 23:8
2 Timothy 3:16-17
John 5:39-40
Hebrews 11:13-16
1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why were the Sadducees sad?
• Why did they think their question was a good one to stump Jesus?
• What was Jesus' short answer?
• What did He say their mistake was?
• What can we learn for how Jesus used the Bible?
• Why do we have a hard time grasping what the age to come will be like?
• Why should we have hope as we look to the future?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Mark: The Question

In this passage from Mark, Jesus is asked a dangerous question and He gives an answer that amazes and challenges us all.

Romans 13:1-10
Mark 12:13-17,11:28-30,12:23,12:28,12:35-37,13:4,14:4
Luke 20:20,12:15
Acts 5:37
James 5:1-6

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why was the question asked Jesus so dangerous for Him to answer?
• What did He answer?
• What does His answer teach about:
  1) The importance of money?
  2) The place of government?
  3) The place God should have in our lives?
• Do we render to God the things that are God's?
• What are some examples in your life?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

It Changes Everything

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead changes literally everything. It is the most significant event for humankind and its implications are more far reaching than many can even imagine!

1 Corinthians 15
Romans 1:3-4,5:12,5:19-6:10
John 17:6
Acts 2:32,2:36
Ephesians 1:19-20

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How does the Bible prove the fact of the resurrection?
• How does the resurrection change everything with respect to: secularism, other world religions, human helplessness in the face of death?
• How does the resurrection of Jesus have implications for salvation today and sanctification?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

The Presence of the Lord Jesus in His Church

Christ shows John a vision of seven golden lampstands which represent seven churches. He then tells John that He walks among the lampstands. He is serious about His Church. He knows everything about the Church and specifically about each one of us.

Revelation 2-3,1:20,1:17
2 Peter 1:12
Matthew 16:18,18:20,28:18
Colossians 1:18
Acts 20:28-30
Psalm 139:1-4,139:23-24
1 Thessalonians 4:3
Hebrews 12:14
2 Corinthians 11:3,5:17,5:15
James 1:16,1:26

David Ruhl
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

2 Corinthians: Unknown Blessings

Have you ever heard of someone who is going through life incredibly blessed, and yet, they don't know it? Maybe their farm is sitting over billions of dollars of oil, but they are struggling to make ends meet. Well, Christians can be like this, and you may be one of them. Do you know how blessed you are? Do you know how superior the New Covenant is than the Old Covenant and the reality that means for you? Do you know how excited Moses, David, Daniel or Isaiah would be if they had your privileges... but they did not have the New Covenant blessings as you have known them! They would rush to study 2 Corinthians!!!

2 Corinthians 3

Pastor Todd Jaussen
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

The Gospel of the Meantime - From Suffering to Glory

How should we spend the meantime -- the time between the present age and the age to come; between the resurrection of Christ and His second coming; between the suffering and the glory? Paul describes this as a time of eagerly waiting, patiently hoping, and praying.

Romans 8:15-27,5:1-2,8:1,8:11
Matthew 5:11
Psalm 130:5
Titus 2:13
2 Corinthians 4:17

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• Why does creation groan?
• Why are many Christian's concept of salvation too small?
• Why do Christians groan? (3 reasons)
• How do we explain the Spirit groaning?
• How are we to wait?
• How are we to live in this present age, as we wait for salvation to be completed?
• What is the source of our hope in this age of suffering?

Scott Graubard
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

2 Corinthians: Going from Too Lightly to Awe and Wonder

We have a tendency to take things so lightly at times. Then someone comes along and reminds us of how significant the gospel is, how crucial it is that we live it out for those around us, and how we can get power to do that. We will listen to the Apostle Paul remind us of these things from 2 Corinthians and cause us to feel an awe and wonder at what we sometimes treat too lightly.

2 Corinthians 2

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA