Current Series

EVERY PERSON MATTERS

Our vision/mission has and always will, line up directly with the word of God.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We are a local church with a global mission - to know Jesus and make Him known.

Matthew 22:73-39 (NLT)

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

How do reconnect people to the vision God is calling all believers to?

Culture - n. the attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group.

Why is that important?

Culture can define you or you define your culture.

What are the key elements needed to create a culture? Where we are a community of people who exist to know Jesus and make Him known.

Every person matters to God, therefore every person matters to us.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

How do we live as every person matters?

Treat people as people, not objects. 

1 John 4:7-8 (NLT)

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

PRAY FOR OTHERS

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 6:18 (MSG)

18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

EXTEND GRACE TO OTHERS

Ephesians 4:7 (NIV)

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 

Matthew 7:1-3 (NLT)

1 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?

INVEST IN AND CARE FOR OTHERS

Galatians 6:2-3 (NLT)

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

People don’t care what you know, till they know that you care.

CELEBRATE OTHERS

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

LOVE OTHERS

1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NLT)

12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

John 3:16 (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Every person that walks through our doors should feel like they belong, and that The Crossing is a safe place to explore faith and seek Jesus. 

Every person matters, YOU MATTER.

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

How do I live this out to where it becomes the culture of our church and in my life?

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EVERYTHING BEGINS AND ENDS WITH FAMILY

What is Family?

Everyone desires to be connected, loved, and accepted.

When we make the statement that at the Crossing we are family, what does that mean:

We are all connected as family whether through blood, or Christ.

Romans 8:16-18 (NLT)

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

1 John 3:10 (NLT)

10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

Ephesians 2:19-22  (ESV)

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

#1 We believe that life change happens best through relationships. 

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT) 

9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

#2 God’s love is best expressed when we care for each other. 

Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

We want to do life together. We want you to find community here and a sense of belonging. 

#3 Our goal is to help all kinds of families, in all kinds of situations, discover God’s design and connect them to the family of God.

Ephesians 3:16-17 (NLT)

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

How do I live this out to where it becomes the culture of our church and in my life?

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GENEROSITY IS OUR NORM

Key words used in the Bible:

Believe - 272 times

Pray - 371 times

Love - 714 times

Give - 2162 times

Ingrained in us, is a feeling like we never have enough? Our desire for more, has left us constantly wanting more.

If you trust in more, than you never have enough, if you trust in God, He is always MORE than enough.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NLT)

6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

How is "Generosity is our Norm" lived out within The Crossing?

#1 We choose to be contributors, not consumers.

Matthew 25:40 (NLT)

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!

#2 We see generosity as a privilege and a way of life that Jesus has called us to live. 

Malachi 3:10 (NLT)

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

#3 We understand that Generosity starts in our hearts. It isn’t just about finances; it’s about giving our time, our talents, and our treasures. 

Luke 6:38 (NLT)

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back

Where do I begin?

Step 1 First Time Giver

Generosity for the first time- step of trust- scary Testing God (uncertainty) 

Malachi 3:10b(NLT)

….Try it! Put me to the test! 

Step 2 Occasional Giver 

Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Step 3 Intentional Giver

Decide what portion will I give back to the Lord may be a percentage or fixed amount (out of your comfort zone).

Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Step 4 Tither

Matthew 22:19-21 (NLT)

19 Here, show me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed him a Roman coin, 20 he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

Step 5 Extravagant Giver

2 Corinthians 8:1-3 (NLT)

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.

How do I live this out so it will change the culture of our church and my life?

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