Crossing Community Church

James leaves no room for doubt or discussion -- conflict happens when we want things and don't get them. This happens between nations, tribes, political parties, spouses, parents & children, neighbors and in our churches. The answer doesn't lie in getting what we want but in loving others more than ourselves -- in being concerned for their needs more than mine. 

Why would understanding the marriage customs of ancient Israel be important to you and I today? Because those customs are an exact pattern for the manner that Jesus will return for His bride, the Church. He promised that he was going to prepare a place and that he would one day return to take his bride with Him. That is how the ancient Jewish groom was with his wife as well. Enjoy this great time in the Word with Dr. Jerry Schmoyer. 

The tongue is small but mighty and uncontrollable unless, that is, we draw on the "wisdom from above" and walk in the Spirit and allow God to form our words and our actions. This week, Pastor Tim taught from James 3 that it's only God's Spirit that can overcome the power of our words and transform our behavior to be more like Jesus. 

How much does God care for us? How close are we to Him? Bette Jo uses 1 Samuel 25 and the example of Abigail to illustrate the great love God has for His own. "You are safe in the care of the Lord your God, just as though you were safe inside his purse!"

1 Corinthians 18-2:5 is a fascinating passage about the power of the Gospel. And in those few verses Paul says something about his own presentation of the Gospel -- that he presented it "in weakness and in fear and in much trembling." What an astonishing statement for the Apostle Paul to make! When we consider this passage as a whole, we must reconsider all the slick and clever ways we try to share the Gospel and realize that perhaps all our clumsy ways of sharing Christ is the EXACT way God wants us to do it! In our fear and trembling, God is strong and the message is proclaimed!

This Sunday we were priviledged to have Rich Timmons share with us about the mandate and the ease of sharing Christ with others. Through the story of his own testimony, the instruction of the Word and the encouragement of his own example as well as many others, Rich sought to motivate us to be active in sharing the Gospel with others.

Pastor Tim continued our study of James 2. This week we explored the relationship between works and faith. Pastor Tim closed our time together by using the examples of Abraham and Rahab as examples of how our faith is demonstrated by our works. How Abraham's faith compelled him to give up what was most important to him and how Rahab's faith caused her to risk her life. 

Our passage this week brings us to one of the more controversial NT passages. Is James teaching that works are necessary to be saved? Is he teaching that works are necessary to stay saved? People have interpreted this passage in a variety of ways. Sometimes people will conclude that works confirm our salvation, a conclusion that can leave some Christians doubting their salvation. This week, Pastor Tim speaks on why we can be sure of our salvation apart from our works. 

James opens chapter two by immediately confronting those who would play favorites in the church -- honoring some over others. The illustration he used was of favoring the rich over the poor. But playing favorites goes further, much deeper than that. Don't you find that you favor those who look like you, think like you, act like you, agree with you -- and the list goes on and on. But the heart of the matter is this, we usually favor those that we feel we will gain something from. Ask God to help you search your heart and reveal this to you as He needs to!

This week we had the opportunity to hear Lenny Pickar share his salvation story and talk about how he has growth in Christ. It was really encouraging to hear him speak about how "I never experienced any miracles or stuff like that. It's just always been Jesus in my life." Enjoy Lenny's story and share it with someone that might need to hear it!