CROSS Conference Podcast

Shai Linne explores the nature and purpose of the local church. This session addresses the vision to unite passion for both foreign missions and the church, noting that those emphasizing one often neglect the other. The teaching centers on how the church represents Jesus' bride and God's promise to build His church. Understanding the church's nature helps believers align their passion for missions with their commitment to the local body of Christ. Apply this by evaluating your own church involvement and how it connects to your evangelistic and missional calling. Scripture: Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 19 Topics: Church, Local Body, Missions, God's Bride, Purpose

Afshin Ziafat reveals how to discover and follow God's revealed will through biblical wisdom rather than uncertainty and guesswork. After years fielding questions from college students and young adults desperate to know God's direction about college choices, career paths, and life partners Ziafat dismantles the anxiety-driven approach to discerning God's will. Using relatable cultural references and the foundational truth that God's will is knowable and trustworthy, he provides biblical pathways to confident decision-making. Replace the guessing game with God's proven wisdom for navigating life's major decisions. Scripture: 1 Peter 4; 1 John 3; 2 Peter 3; 1 Timothy 2 Topics: God's will and calling, Decision-making, Biblical guidance, Discernment, Career and life direction

Matthew Bennett identifies and addresses the four major barriers that prevent believers from entering long-term missionary service. Bennett brings urgency and directness to a crucial conversation, drawing from his roles as church elder, theology professor, and missions director to expose real obstacles that derail missionary candidates. With compassion tempered by honesty, he explains how personal sin and poor decision-making can disqualify believers from missionary work, while offering practical guidance for those seeking to avoid these pitfalls. If God is calling you to missions, understand what barriers to prepare for spiritually. Topics: Missions mobilization, Barriers to service, Personal holiness, Obedience and calling, Long-term ministry preparation

Matt Schmucker unpacks the character qualities essential for effective missionary work and strategic kingdom advancement. Drawing from 34 years of experience revitalizing Capitol Hill Baptist Church and founding 9Marks Ministry, Schmucker reveals the economic and strategic realities of modern missions. He challenges the assumption that Western missionaries are always the solution, highlighting how indigenous pastor training often yields greater kingdom impact for significantly lower investment. Reconsider your approach to global gospel advancement through this cost-benefit and cultural-sensitivity lens. Topics: Missionary character, Indigenous leadership development, Strategic missions, Cost-effectiveness, Cross-cultural evangelism

Sam Emadi explores friendship with God as a profound spiritual reality and pathway to deeper intimacy with the Divine. Despite sounding casual, biblical friendship with God represents a revolutionary truth: that believers can move from enmity with God to intimate fellowship through Christ's redemptive work. Emadi guides listeners through cultivating this transformative relationship, balancing God's transcendence with His invitation to know Him personally. Experience how understanding God's character deepens your connection to Him. Scripture: John 15:13; James 2:23; Galatians 4

Topics: Intimacy with God, Christian fellowship, Prayer life, Spiritual growth, God's transcendence

Seth Troutt examines what authentic masculinity looks like and exposes the cultural myth of "toxic masculinity." Through a practical pyramid model, Troutt unpacks the character traits that define genuine manhood, starting with the foundational truth that men are not God. He challenges the prevailing cultural narrative, arguing that what society calls "toxic masculinity" is actually anemic masculinity an absence of true virtue rather than an excess. Learn the biblical framework for male strength, humility, and leadership. Scripture: 1 Peter 3:7; Proverbs 28:7 Topics: Biblical masculinity, Male leadership, Character development, Cultural issues, Discipleship of men

Rosaria Butterfield discusses the biblical design and purpose of women through the lens of her personal transformation journey. In this compelling session, Butterfield shares her remarkable journey from lesbian activist and tenured professor to Christian believer, sparked by patient, loving conversations with a pastor neighbor. She explores how understanding God's design for women—created in His image with inherent dignity and purpose within the biblical pattern of male and female—transformed her worldview.

Discover how God's truth about gender and sexuality speaks to deep human longings. Scripture: Genesis 1:27

Topics: Biblical gender roles, Women's purpose, Same-sex attraction, Christian hospitality, Worldview transformation

Ben Lacey interviews Carl Trueman in Q&A format about resolving identity crisis in a technology-saturated world. Trueman provides practical wisdom: think critically about technology dependence—smartphones can dominate entire lives—and while we cannot escape technology, we can reduce screen time and humanize our interactions. The path out of identity chaos involves practical steps to regain human connection and reduce technological mediation of life. Humanizing interactions—even simple conversations—is both an act of kindness and a recovery of authentic personhood. Intentionally reduce your screen time and humanize your daily interactions by engaging in real conversation with those around you. Topics: Identity, Technology, Community, Human connection, Church

Ben Lacey interviews John Piper in conversation about the essential connection between doctrine and devotion. Having covered sin, man, Christ, and God's meticulous sovereignty, they affirm that sound doctrine is not merely intellectual theology but fuel for the heart. Doctrine without devotion produces coldness and pride, while devotion without doctrine leads to drift and deception; believers need both sound doctrine and passionate affection for God. What you think about God determines what you believe, love, pray for, long for, and live for.

Let biblical truth about God transform not just your thinking but your affections, prayers, longings, and entire way of life. Topics: Doctrine, Theology, Heart affection, Truth, Spiritual formation

Tilly Dillehay and Jeremy Pierre engage in conversation about self-control and modern struggles with discipline. Survey data reveals alarming statistics: 83% of students struggle with self-discipline, 50% of males struggle with pornography, 55% of females struggle with body image issues, and the vast majority cite social media as a constant hindrance.

Self-control is not about deprivation but about refusing lesser pleasures to experience immeasurable eternal joy in God; it's a pathway to greater freedom and deeper satisfaction. The culture's inversion of this truth is one of Satan's most effective deceptions.

Say no to lesser digital and bodily pleasures so you can say yes to the incomparable joy of knowing God and living for His purposes.

Topics: Self-control, Discipline, Temptation, Social media, Sexual purity