Crossing Community Church

There is no shortage on books and blogs about how to have a good marriage. But much of what is out there is bad advice based on one person's opinion. This week John Ashton, one of our Elders, pointed us toward one book that has had the same advice on marriage for over 2000 years. John took us to the New Testament instructions to husbands and wives and how both have important roles to play in a successful and godly marriage. 

How we interact with each other says a lot to a watching world. One area of note is our relationships. Do they reflect Jesus? Are we different in the way we resolve conflict? Is forgiveness a hallmark of how we treat each other. While the saving message of the Gospel is the core of our message, we don't want our relationships to distract from it. Instead, we want them to attract people to ask about the Gospel. 

So often those sins that are so difficult to overcome are ones that remain secret and hidden. God knows that about sin and knows we need His provision to deal with our sin. One of those provisions He made are our fellow Christians. Paul instructs us to bear one another's burdens and James tells us to confess our sins to one another. This week Pastor Tim discusses why these passages are so powerful in dealing with the sin in our lives. 

This week we had the pleasure of hearing Ruth Hartliep share how God has worked in your life. From multiple moves around the world to different job situations and a growing family Ruth shares how God has met her in every circumstance and each time provided perfect peace. 

No one looks forward to having to talk to someone else about sin in their life. We find all kinds of reasons to not do it. But what if someone was drowning? We would do everything in our power to rescue them. Well a friend in sin is a friend that is drowning. Why are we willing to look away as they 'drown' in their sin? These difficult conversations are one of the many ways God transforms us. 

God places a high value on relationships, on you and I being involved with other people. This week Pastor Tim looked at what we can learn about relationships -- with God and with others -- from the Great Commandment and the Second Commandment in Matthew 22. 

God's Word is useful to us in many ways. Paul sums up perhaps the most important ways in his second letter to Timothy when he says that all Scripture is useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness and then he goes on further to say, "so the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." For those who are serious about being equipped we must realize we can't do that apart from God's Word! 

This week Pastor Tim shared a few comments to set the tone of our ministry fair that took place in our morning service. He challenged us to consider two reasons for serving as we toured the different ministry opportunities: Service helps me know and love Jesus better & Service helps the onlooking world see Jesus in us. 

John Ortberg does a great job of highlighting the influence Jesus and His church has had on the world in the last 2,000 years. This week, Pastor Tim challenge us to consider how each of us can continue to carry out the movement to influence the world right were we live, in our local community. 

When Jesus stepped away from the table and began to wash the disciples feet he redefined what it meant to be "God in flesh" --- Because Jesus was God He served! As His disciples, we too must be servants and our service must follow His example. It will be costly and inconveniet to us. It should build up the church and it should exemplify the gospel.