Enriching Your Devotions: Prayer Time

One of the most significant things that can impact our life for good is the practice of Daily Personal Devotions. It cannot be overstated how this can benefit a life over the years and how God has used it to mature and strengthen one's faith and walk with Him. It can be a source of struggle and frustration for many... finding time; what to do if you do find time; wandering thoughts; reading the Bible but feeling like you are not getting anything out of it. This continues a brief series called Enriching Your Devotions. The goal behind this series is to give you the practical helps needed to have a very blessed devotional life that will bear fruit and yield years of enjoyment in fellowship with God.

Matthew 6

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: First Over Many, First of Many

Paul emphasizes in Colossians and several other of his epistles that Christ is the firstborn from the dead and the beginning of an astounding renovation of people, the world, and the universe!

1 Corinthians 15:35-58,15:20-23
Colossians 1:12-20,2:10,2:19
Ephesians 4:15-16,1:20-23,5:22-32
Romans 8:18-23,8:29

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• In what ways is Christ Head of the body?
• Just how significant and important is the Church?
• In what way is Christ first-born from the dead?
• How big, important, and gracious is all of this?
• How dangerous to reject?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Enriching Your Devotions: Daily Personal Devotions

One of the most significant things that can impact our life for good is the practice of Daily Personal Devotions. It cannot be overstated how this can benefit a life over the years and how God has used it to mature and strengthen one's faith and walk with Him. It can be a source of struggle and frustration for many... finding time; what to do if you do find time; wandering thoughts; reading the Bible but feeling like you are not getting anything out of it. This is the start a brief series called Enriching Your Devotions. The goal behind this series is to give you the practical helps needed to have a very blessed devotional life that will bear fruit and yield years of enjoyment in fellowship with God.

Psalm 1

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: All Things Through Him and For Him

Far from being the product of chaos, this world, the universe, and even the future and time all have their meaning and purpose in Jesus! This is Paul's powerful message to the Colossians.

Ephesians 1:1-2:7,6:11-12,3:8-12
Colossians 1:16-18
John 1:1-3
Hebrews 1:1-3

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why are we uncomfortable with Grace?
• How was Creation a group project?
• What was God's master plan?
• How does Jesus factor so centrally in that plan?
• What does this amazing plan reveal about God?
• What does it offer me?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Feelings and Emotions are Real

How much in my reading and study of God's Word, whether at home or listening to a sermon at church, is really grabbing hold of my life and changing it forever? God has given us many tools and how to use them to address our need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We continue in Acts 20 with picking up one such tool and making sure we use it in our lives. Are you using this tool? Listen to see what it is!!

Acts 20

Dave Ruhl
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: Jesus, The Firstborn

In Colossians Paul calls Jesus God's Firstborn. What does that mean? Why could that be a threat to folks? Why is that actually a great blessing, especially to modern humankind today?

Genesis 48:8-22
Psalm 89:19-37
Colossians 1:13-19,2:9
John 1:1-3
Deuteronomy 21:15-17
Acts 2:36,5:30-31,7:56,17:30-31

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What does it mean that Jesus is the Firstborn of God?
• What does it not mean?
• Why is the fact that Jesus is firstborn a threat to people?
• Why is this fact a blessing to people... especially to modern man today?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Gain or Loss

Paul gave an account for all the reasons why his own righteousness should have saved him, and then boasted they were all a loss compared to the righteousness of Christ!

Philippians 3,1:21
Acts 27:10
2 Peter 1:3
2 Corinthians 11:22-28

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What reasons can you give to rejoice in Christ?
• Have you had a vision of the Lord in your life?
• Have you been found in Christ; that is by Christ?
• What thing or things have you counted as loss for Christ?
• What have you counted as gain for Christ?
• Is there rubbish in your life that you should lose to gain Christ?
• Have you come to a point in your life that you want to know Christ more and more?
• Have you thought about what it might mean to fellowship in His suffering?

Matt Courtney
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Here's Why!

In the book of Acts, the Church was being established. We here at Crossroads believe that the present day church should follow the pattern of the church originally established by Christ and His appointed apostles. We will watch these Apostles in action, and we will see answers to such questions as: Why does the church meet on Sunday? Why the Lord's Table? Who are to be the church's leaders? How is the church supposed to work? These are important questions, especially in a day when there seems to be a free-for-all approach to how we are to do church! God has not left us to flounder... He has given us lots of direction. And, if we follow that direction, we will be blessed!! Isn't it always that way!!

Acts 20

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: Jesus, Image of the Invisible God

If you asked Paul to summarize his whole life in one word it would be Jesus. He would summarize his life by naming another person. This message from Colossians will explain why.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Hebrews 1:1-4
Colossians 1:12-18
Philippians 3:8,2:6
1 John 1:18
Romans 1:19-20,8:31-32
Psalm 19:1-4
John 1:1,8:57-58,10:30,5:18,12:45,14:9,1:14,1:18

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What one word would Paul use to summarize his life and more?
• How has humankind attempted to know the invisible God?
• Why have those attempts failed?
• What are the various ways God has revealed Himself to us?
• Why is Jesus the ultimate way?
• What does it mean that He is the image of God?
• Why does this make His rescue mission so amazing?
• What one word can summarize your life?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: Idolatry Economics 101

What do Demetrius the silversmith from the first century, the NCAA, and some large corporations all have in common? What do Paul the apostle, the state of North Carolina, and the legislature of the Island of Bermuda all have in common? The answer to both questions is - a lot. And, understanding that answer tells us how relevant the Bible's message and teaching from Acts is for today. Well, what do they have in common, and why is all of this important for today's Christian?

Acts 19

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: Joy Inexpressible

A deep, substantial, ocean current of joy and thankfulness should predominate in every believers life... How to get there is not hard! Paul tells us how in Colossians.

1 Peter 1:3-9
Colossians 1:9-14
Romans 1:20-21
Philippians 3:1,4:4,4:6,4:10
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Ephesians 2:1-3
Nehemiah 8:10

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How is Joy as the Bible describes it more substantial than how the world speaks of it?
• Where does a Christian's joy come from?
• What is the dominion of darkness?
• How were we qualified and transferred out of it?
• Why was the rescue mission deadly?
• How does knowing these realities impact people?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: What is Demon Possession?

In Acts 19 severe spiritual battle breaks out, to the point that Jewish exorcists are physically attacked by a demon possessed man. What are we to make of all this? Was demon possession only in the past? Why was it so prevalent then but doesn't seem to be today? Can people be demon possessed today? Can Christians be? How can a person be delivered? Is this stuff still going on today? We will seek to tackle these issues through our study of the Bible.

Acts 19

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: Strange Bedfellows

Suffering and joy make for strange bedfellows... how does this relationship work? Paul put them together in his prayer for the Colossians.

2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10
Colossians 1:9-12
Matthew 5:11-12
James 1:12-13
Romans 5:3-4
Hebrews 12:2
1 Peter 4:13-14
2 Corinthians 6:10
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
Romans 8:18
Acts 5:40-41,16:25,13:50-52
Hebrews 10:32-34
Habakkuk 3:17-19

But Paul lays a harder duty on us even in promising a great gift to us, when he puts before us an ideal of joy mingling with patience and longsuffering. The command would be an impossible one if there were not the assurance that we should be 'strengthened with all might.' We plainly need an infusion of diviner strength than our own, if that strange marriage of joy and sorrow should take place, and they should at once occupy our hearts. Yet if His strength be ours we shall be strong to submit and acquiesce, strong to look deep enough to see His will as the foundation of all and as ever busy for our good, strong to hope, strong to discern the love at work, strong to trust the Father even when He chastens. And all this will make it possible to have the paradox practically realized in our own experience, 'As sorrowful yet always rejoicing.' One has seen potassium burning underwater. Our joy may burn under waves of sorrow. Let us bring our weakness to Jesus Christ and grasp Him as did the sinking Peter. He will breathe His own grace into us, and speak to our feeble and perchance sorrowful hearts, as He had done long before Paul's words to the Colossians, 'My grace is sufficient for thee, and my strength is made perfect in weakness.' Alexander Maclaren Expositions of Holy Scripture

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Who are the strange bedfellows?
• Why do they seem so strange?
• What future realities should our joy be based on?
• What present realities?
• What practical impact should this have on our lives both now and in the future?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: Endurance and Patience

These are two traits every Christian desperately needs and Paul prayed for himself and others in Colossians. They are the very traits our culture seems unable to produce... in fact it produces the opposite.

Colossians 1:1-12

1. Endurance and Patience, in the context of persecution, trials, the spiritual battle and the second coming:
   • Matthew 10:22
   • Luke 21:19
   • Romans 2:7
   • 2 Timothy 2:12
   • Hebrews 10:36
   • James 5:7-11
   • Revelation 14:11-13
2. These are qualities we are to desire and get:
   • 1 Timothy 6:11
   • Titus 2:2
   • Romans 12:12
   • 1 Corinthians 13:4,7
3. Why we need these:
   • 2 Timothy 2:10
   • 1 Thessalonians 5:14
   • Luke 8:13-15
4. How to get them:
   1. Pray: Colossians 1:11
   2. Know your Hope:
      • Colossians 1:4-5
      • Romans 8:25
      • 1 Thessalonians 1:3
   3. Trials:
      • Romans 5:3-4
      • James 1:3-4
   4. The Bible: Romans 15:4-5
   5. Jesus’ example: Hebrews 12:1-4

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How were endurance and patience described in the sermon?
• Why is our culture so bad at helping us develop these traits?
• Why does the Bible say these are so important?
• How can we get them?
• Why are trials so important in all of this?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Acts: The Much Traveled Apostle

So much goes on in each section of Acts we study that it is exciting to see God at work and to meet amazing people. This time we will meet a zealous and gifted man named Apollos and see his humility as well as the humility of the early church leaders... it's refreshing and instructive. Then, we will be challenged with lots of questions when some disciples of John the Baptist don't know about the Holy Spirit, then experience Him. What does this teach us about the Holy Spirit today and the gift of tongues, etc.? We will seek to unravel some of these issues and answer questions folks may have.

Acts 18-19

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

Acts: The Gospel Divides and Unites

The gospel divides and unites. It divides believers from unbelievers, and at times this can be awkward and even painful. But, it also unites. It unites people from different backgrounds, ages, races, educational levels, sexes, even former enemies... and brings them into closeness like family. Life in the midst of all of this has its tensions. Living in that tension and being used of God in the midst of it will be much of our discussion in Acts.

Acts 18

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

Acts: Explaining Our Faith

It is becoming very difficult to share the gospel with this present generation. There is less common ground to begin with than was true in the past. How do we get started? If you have struggled in sharing and explaining your faith with modern folks, you will this section of Acts to be very helpful. We will be studying how Paul addresses the people of Athens who were very much like our culture today. As we hear him reason with them, we will be better equipped to share our faith today.

Acts 17

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA

Colossians: The Dynamic Gospel

There is a powerful, living, transforming dynamic when the gospel comes to people with power. The Colossians experienced it and Paul thanks God for it and them.

Colossians 1:1-18,4:12,1:23,1:27
1 Corinthians 13:13
1 Thessalonians 1:3,5:8
Hebrews 11:1
1 John 2:9-11,3:10,3:14-15,4:20

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is the gospel characterized as dynamic?
• What are the three effects the gospel had on the Colossians?
• Why does faith in Christ make all the pieces fall into place?
• Why is love for the saints such an important effect of the gospel?
• What is the Christian's hope, and how does it impact his/her faith and love?

Pastor Todd Jaussen
Crossroads Christian Fellowship Church
Greenville, PA