Evening Services for Wednesday, January 5, 2011, have been cancelled due to inclement weather.

“New Testament Thinking for a New Year”

II Corinthians 4:8-18

I. (8-9) “Realize the Reality”

II. (10-15) “Remember the Ransom”

III. (16-18) “Reaching for Result’s”

Many people take advantage of the “newness” of a “New Year” by setting out to accomplish positive things that need to be accomplished in their lives. Christians are challenged to do this very thing during the entire year. Yet as so many of the “resolutions” that most all people set out to achieve as the New Year rings in, we find that by the end of February or usually no latter than March, most of our “enthusiasm” has puttered out! I believe that there are two reason’s for this disappointment for Christians and non-Christians alike. One is that our heart is not in the right place, for things of lasting change is a matter of the heart! The second reason however, is that often when we venture into a resolution to bring about a positive change, we have a “wrong kind of thinking”.

Heart and thinking are both critical to success and this is no less important to the New Testament Church in our pursuit of the prosperity of the message of the gospel. Today we are going to consider that if we find ourselves coming up short in our spiritual resolutions, it just might be that we are not thinking like a New Testament Church. This by the way is important to the success of any local fellowship.

“The Greatness of Christmas”

John 3:16

I. “Great Because of the ONE Who Loved”

II. “Great Because of WHOM He Loved”

III. “Great Because of the EXPRESSION of His Love”

IV. “Great Because of the POTENTIAL of His Love”

To many, the Christmas season is a time of year that is special and for good reason. It is the time of year that we are allowed to slow down and reflect upon the things that are important to us. Things such as family, friends, also sharing and being with others are things that we appreciate about Christmas. All these are indeed very special to this time of year! However, the greatness of the Christmas season has an even more profound significance to it than any of the already mentioned reasons. Today we as we celebrate the fourth week of Advent at Crossroads Baptist Church, we are going to survey what I consider to be the most special attribute of this time of year. It came in the form of a “Gift” some two-thousand years ago in a little town known as “The City of David”, Bethlehem. This Gift was God’s expression of His love toward us fallen creatures, and is without any doubt “The Greatness of Christmas”.

All services at Crossroads today have been canceled due to inclement weather. We encourage you to spend time in prayer and in personal study of the Scriptures as we celebrate this Lord’s Day. In our study of Advent, today would have been the lighting of the “Joy” candle, and we would have studied Mary’s Song of Joy from Luke 1:46-55.

“God’s Promised Hope”
John 1:1-14

I. (1-5) “The Strength of Our Hope”
II. (6-9) “The Sureness of Our Hope”
III. (10-13) “The Simplicity of Our Hope”
IV. (14) “The Source of Our Hope”
Throughout our everyday lives one does not have to look far in order to find things that convey a message of “hopelessness”. Yet as we enter into the Sacred and Holy time that we call Christmas, let us remember and never forget that God has not forgotten us. This alone is sufficient evidence that hope is real and valid. For as long as the truth of God’s Word is sure, there is hope available for every aspect of our lives!
Today we are going to survey this hope in light of God’s promises through His Word. My desire is that we prayerfully gain an understanding that no matter how dark a situation may be, we can never truthfully and accurately say, “It’s hopeless”. That is as long as there is a God in Heaven that cares deeply for us!

“The Attitude of Genuine Gratitude”
Psalm 100

I. (1-2) “Recognizes God through Gladness”
II. (3-4) “Realizes that God is the Giver”
III. (5) “Remembers that God is Gracious”
This week most of us will celebrate a special time of the year that we call “Thanksgiving”. It is a time of tradition, turkey, and travail (if we eat too much). However, the true meaning that our forefathers like the Pilgrims’ at Plymouth, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln had in mind is that it is a time to reflect upon our many God given blessings. It is a time of genuine gratitude to God for all that He has done.

In today’s sermon as we reflect upon thanksgiving in light of Psalm 100, let us consider that genuine gratitude is more an attitude than a simple emotion. Furthermore, that if we desire to express any kind of thankfulness toward God for all that He does, it must be of a “genuine” nature! For God only accepts “Genuine Gratitude” that is offered to Him.

The Carolina Crossmen will be at Crossroads tonight at 7pm! Be here and bring a friend!

“Discipleship, the Legacy of Christ Lives On” (Part 7 and Conclusion)

“Fulfilling the Task”

John 17:1-3, 6-8, 20-23, 25-26

I.                  (1-3) “Absolute Authority” (Our Commission)

II.               (6-8) “Basic Belief” (Our Conviction)

III.           (20-23) “Committed Christians” (Our Comfort)

IV.           (25-26) “Determined Difference” (Our Call)

“Discipleship, the Legacy of Christ Lives On” (Part 5)

“Abiding in Christ”
John 15:1-8

I. (1-2) “The Plan”
II. (3-6) “The Process”
III. (7-8) “The Purpose”

This is part five of our continuing focus on discipleship, today is also special in another way. Today at Crossroads, we will be observing the awesome privilege of the Lord’s Supper! As we do so and as we again focus our thoughts upon a life that is following in the steps of Jesus, also known as “discipleship”, I think it is very appropriate for us to consider what it means to abide in Christ! The heartbeat of Christianity since its introduction some 2,000 years ago is discipleship through the power of the Holy Spirit. However, those who desire an effective Christian life, needs an understanding that being a Christian is more than just a life of beliefs, values, and convictions. It is a life that is aware of and very sensitive to the presence of the Great and Wonderful, One and Only God of all creation living within them.
Today we are going to survey some aspects of “Abiding in Christ” and consider their importance to our lives.

“Discipleship, the Legacy of Christ Lives On” (Part 4)

“Our Truest Hope”

John 14:5-7

I. (v5) “The Sinner’s Awareness”

II. (v6) “The Savior’s Answer”

III. (v7) “The Saving Acknowledgement”

As we continue to consider the legacy of Jesus Christ, today’s message is personally one my favorite places in the Bible. Why? Because throughout each of our lives, we each have put hope in things only to sometimes have those hopes shattered. In addition, as most of us know when hopes are shattered pain and misery often follow closely behind.

I am so very thankful that God has offered us a kind of hope that absolutely nothing can extinguish, if only we will look to Him. An effective disciple of Jesus Christ is aware of this even in the bleakest of situations and in addition, is able to convey this “truest of all hopes” to others. Today’s message gives us an important understanding that affects our everyday impact as Disciples of Christ.