Cross Point Church Podcast

Have you ever hoped for something, but something different happened? As Pastor Kevin shows us in week 24 of our series on the book of Acts, following Jesus doesn’t mean we won’t suffer – it means we will never suffer alone. Prayer is the best way the church can respond to disappointment, like we see in Acts 12:1-19 when the church prayed for Peter before he was rescued from jail. They used that initial disappointment to be drawn toward God instead of away from Him. Christ already knows our suffering since He suffered for us. How are you using your disappointment for good?

In Acts 11, we see a picture of what it looks like when our faith becomes visible. The early church didn’t just talk about the Gospel. They shared Jesus, encouraged what God was doing, met the needs of others and invested in people who were still growing.

Barnabas especially shows us the power of believing in someone before everyone else can see their potential. He was willing to take a chance on Saul, and the right word at the right time from the right person changed the trajectory of his life.

As we follow Jesus, our faith should become visible in the way we love, encourage, serve and invest in the people around us. What would it look like for your life to shine the love of Jesus wherever God has placed you?

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Have you ever had a relationship that felt too broken to repair? Sometimes the distance between us and another person grows so slowly that it starts to feel normal. We don’t know how to close the gap, so we leave it alone. But underneath the distance, there can still be a desire for reconciliation.

In Acts 11:1-18, Peter faces criticism after welcoming Gentiles into the family of God. What begins as resistance eventually becomes worship as the believers realize God is doing something bigger than what they expected.

In this message, Pastor Kevin Queen explores what happens when fear becomes criticism, how God confirms His direction through His providence, Spirit, people and Word, and what it looks like to stop resisting what God is doing.

Because sometimes the question isn’t, “What is God doing?” It’s “Who am I to stand in God’s way?” The grace we’ve received from Jesus should make us the quickest to extend that same grace to others. Where might God be asking you to forgive, heal, surrender or extend grace?

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It’s easy to divide people into categories, decide who belongs and keep those who are different from us at a distance. But through Acts 10, God challenges us to see people differently.

Acts 10 tells the story of Cornelius, a Gentile seeking God, and Peter, a Jewish follower of Jesus learning that God’s table is bigger than he imagined. Peter thought he knew who was clean and unclean, who belonged and who didn’t. But God shows him that the gospel is bigger than the categories he had created. What begins with distance ends with fellowship, as the Holy Spirit falls on people Peter never expected to welcome.

Sometimes God isn’t asking us to change what we believe. He’s asking us to change how we love. Nobody is too far gone. Nobody is beyond the reach of redemption. Nobody is disqualified from grace.

Every object has a story. And so does every life. The question is: what is your life pointing people toward? It’s possible to believe in Jesus and still remain spiritually stationary. But Jesus didn’t simply call us to believe in Him. He called us to follow Him. Peter didn’t have a perfect story. He struggled to follow Jesus, made mistakes and had plenty of reasons to believe his past disqualified him. But Jesus wasn’t finished writing his story. In Acts 9:32-43, Peter is used by God to perform miracles and lead people to Jesus. His story had been redeemed, and God was now using it to impact the stories of other people around him. Following Jesus means becoming more like Jesus. You can’t follow Jesus and stand still. You may not know every step ahead, but you can take the next one. Jesus can redeem even the most broken parts of your story and use your life to point others to Him. You just have to let Him write the next chapter… – – – – – – – – – – What stood out to you from this message? Let us know in the comments. If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to know their story isn’t over. Study the book of Acts with us: crosspoint.tv/acts Find a Cross Point campus in Middle Tennessee: crosspoint.tv/locations

Do you ever feel like you’re trying to figure out life by yourself? Our culture celebrates independence. We’re told to self-define, build our own lives and handle things ourselves. But what if the pressure to do everything alone is actually causing us to drift? As Christians, we may have a relationship with Christ, but following Jesus was never meant to be something we do alone. 

In Acts 9:19-31, Saul has a life-changing encounter with Jesus and immediately begins telling others about Him. But even with his new faith and passion for Christ, Saul still needs other people in his life; to support, encourage and assist.

Following Jesus is personal, but it was never meant to be private. You need people who will help you grow. People who will show up when life gets hard. People who believe in what God is doing in you. People who tell you the truth and pray with you. What kind of person do you need most in your life right now?

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Have you ever wondered if someone is simply too far gone to change? Maybe it’s someone you love. Maybe it’s you. Maybe your past is so broken, your choices have caused so much damage or you’ve wandered so far from God that you wonder if there’s any way back.

In Acts 9, we meet Saul, a man who wasn’t just skeptical of Jesus. He was actively persecuting and killing His followers. Then, on the road to Damascus, Saul has a collision with the risen Jesus that changes everything. The man who once wanted to destroy the church becomes one of the most influential instruments in building the church, a man God uses to help change the world.

Acts 9 reminds us that nobody is too far gone for God’s grace. You can’t out-sin the cross. You can’t outrun the grace of God. But Saul’s story also reminds us that transformation isn’t meant to happen alone. What would change in your life if you really believed God’s grace could reach you? And who might God be asking you to move toward with courage and compassion?

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What stood out to you from this message? Share your biggest takeaway in the comments.

If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that nobody is too far gone for God’s grace.

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Do you ever wonder ig God sees you? Do you wonder whether you matter? Maybe you look successful on the outside but still carry the feeling that you’re an outsider, that you lack purpose or that something in your past disqualifies you from being fully known and loved.

In Acts 8:26-40, we read about a traveller who was searching for God. He had wealth, influence and success, but he was still asking a deeper question: “Do I belong?” Then Philip enters the story and unveils something incredible: the man thought he was seeking God, but God was actually seeking him.

Pastor Kevin Queen walks through this powerful story and reminds us that Jesus came for the one. God sees the people others overlook, pursues the people who feel far away and gives us a place in His family. What has happened to you is not the end of your story.

And if you’ve already been found by Jesus, the question becomes: Are you willing to take the next step and join Him in finding the one?

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What stood out to you from this message? Share your thoughts in the comments.=

If this message encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to know they are seen and loved by God.

Join our study through the book of Acts: crosspoint.tv/acts

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In Acts 8:1-8, the early church faces unimaginable hardship. Stephen has been killed, persecution is intensifying and followers of Jesus are being scattered from their homes. Life is hard, and Scripture doesn’t pretend otherwise. But what looks like the end of the story becomes the beginning of something God uses to move the gospel forward.

The believers who were scattered didn’t abandon their mission. Wherever they went, they shared the good news of Jesus. Philip, an ordinary follower of Jesus, went to Samaria and God worked through his obedience in extraordinary ways. That same invitation is available to us today.

It’s easy to look at someone else’s life, compare our calling to theirs and imagine that life would be easier if our circumstances were different. But as Kevin reminds us, as long as we’re fantasizing about somebody else’s life, we’re not living our own. God has placed you where you are for a purpose. He can move around you, but He would rather move through you.

Where might God be calling you to live with greater purpose, courage and urgency today?

You can go to church, pray, serve and do all the right things, but is it possible to still miss the heart of following Jesus?

In Acts 6-7, Stephen shows us what a life fully surrendered to Jesus looks like. Facing rejection, opposition and ultimately death, Stephen remained rooted in God’s Word, connected to God’s heart and trusting in God’s timing.

In this message, Dave Stone reminds us that religious activity is no substitute for a real relationship with Jesus. Following Christ isn’t simply about what we do for Him. It’s about knowing Him, trusting Him and allowing that relationship to shape how we live, especially when life gets difficult.

Stephen’s story challenges us to consider whether our faith has become a routine or whether we’re truly walking with Jesus. Whatever adversity or opposition you’re facing, God isn’t finished. Keep going, trust His timing and finish the race strong.