CrossLife Church

We have had an incredible week of investing in our CrossLife Kids and families during VBS. Our teaching flowed out of our theme verse:

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).

So how can we raise children with a Biblical Worldview?

A person's worldview is mostly formed in the developmental years of one’s life. If Christian parents intend that their children grow into young adults who think and act Christianly, then they must consider who bears the weight and responsibility for this endeavor.

The Bible is not silent, nor ambiguous, about where the locus of responsibility is to be placed for children's spiritual and biblical development. Scripture is authoritatively clear regarding the vital role of parents in the formation of their children’s worldview.

We live in uncertain times. Prolonged times of uncertainty and stress are a recipe for anxiety. As bad as the current state of the world may seem, uncertain times are not unusual. 

In Luke 21:5-19, Jesus warns his disciples that difficult times are on the horizon. Jesus says, "And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once." Jesus wasn't teaching His disciples how to avoid tribulation or that they would be spared suffering. Jesus was preparing His disciples for how to stay on mission during tribulation. 

The future may seem uncertain but God's providential hand is working and His Kingdom will not be defeated. Are you prepared for the future?

Have you ever met someone who always has an answer regardless of the subject? You could ask about finance, parenting, landscaping, politics, religion, or sports and they will have something to say. We all can have a little bit of “that guy” in us. There are subjects in which we are pretty confident we know the answer, whether we choose to share it or not. In reality, we may think we have the answers but what we have is mostly opinions.     

In Luke 20, we find Jesus being challenged with questions from several groups attempting to reduce Jesus' popularity and reduce His influence. “Every possible group has taken a shot at Jesus and failed: Pharisees, nationalists, scribes, Sadducees, leaders of the people. On the topics of ministry, politics, and theology, Jesus has prevailed” (Darrell, Bock, 1626). The leaders would ask Jesus questions they thought they knew the answers to only to discover what they had was wrong or ill-informed opinions. 

This Sunday, we will see (Luke 20:41-47) Jesus ask the question and expose the ignorance and hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Jesus rebukes the spiritual abuse of the scribes while praising the authentic faith of a poor widow. Have you ever considered how much of your life is built on truth (answers) rather than opinions?   

If you could ask Jesus any question what would it be? One would think a person would have some deep question about life, death, eternity, or the problem of evil. Would you ever ask about taxes?

In Luke 20:19-26, Jesus was approached by a couple of men, appearing to be sincere about following Jesus, with a question for Jesus. Of all the things one could ask Jesus, they chose to ask him about his thoughts on Caesar's authority to tax God's people.

Their real intention was to trick Jesus into saying something bad about the Roman Empire or the Jewish people. They hoped they could trick him into offending the Jewish people or offending the Roman officials. Either way, they sought trap Jesus with his answer.

Jesus's answer gives us a master class on discernment and some wisdom on the appropriate authority of governments to tax. Should Christian's have to pay taxes they do not agree with or to a government that is unrighteous?

Imagine you were given the opportunity of a lifetime. Someone gave you the resources to do something great in your personal life or career. Would you find this opportunity thrilling or paralyzing? Would you have a sense of fear or be invigorated with excitement? 

In Luke 19:11-27, Jesus tells a parable of a nobleman who goes away to be appointed as a king. Before departing, he gives 10 of his servants 4 months' salary to use to operate and expand their business. Some embrace the opportunity, some are fearful of failing, and some are in opposition to the thought of this nobleman being their king at all. 

Jesus presented to His followers the reality that will soon await them. Additionally, He promised that He would return and expect His followers to have expanded and multiplied what they have been given.

How prepared are you to give an account of what you have been entrusted with?

Independence and self-sufficiency play a defining role in many people today. If a person is not independent and self-sufficient they will be forced to rely on others. Few people today are willing to admit they have needs. Our culture has traded the concept of "needs" for "rights" to which people are entitled. 

In Luke 18:35-43, Jesus encounters a blind man who cries out for mercy from Jesus. Those around demand that he be quiet, yet his desperation compelled him to cry out for Jesus even more loudly. Jesus was moved with compassion and healed the man's sight saying, "Your faith has saved you."  

We can imagine this scene playing out today. The blind man would have demanded that Jesus help him, believing he was entitled to be healed. 

There is much to learn from this passage as we consider the extent of our spiritual needs and spiritual blindness. Where else can one put their faith to gain the ability to truly see? What is this faith, shown by the blind man, that is able to save?

There is an ever-growing list of popular DIY projects on the internet and social media platforms. Among the most favored Do-It-Yourself options are home improvements, cooking, gardening, auto repairs, and even upcycling (also known as repurposing). Whatever your interest, skills, or resources, there is a DIY project for you.

Another field of DIY is self-improvement. There is no shortage of tutorials available to help you learn to journal, improve your health, practice mindfulness, set goals, engage in self-care, or learn the art of positive affirmation.   

There are even DIY tips for those who desire spiritual growth. However, for those discontent with a vague sense of spirituality, there are some limitations. Is there a DIY solution for those who want assurance they will have eternal life?

In Luke 18:15-25, Jesus meets a young wealthy man who asks Him this very question. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" In other words, how can I DIY my salvation? When Jesus answered, the man walked away sad when confronted with the true cost.

Are all prayers equal or effective? It was once said that there will always be prayer in schools as long as there are tests. Another saying is that "there are no atheists in foxholes." Prayer may not be an important part of a person's life, but when bullets start flying, they suddenly learn how to pray. 

One dictionary defines prayer as "a solemn request for help or success to God or an object of worship; an earnest hope, or wish." Based upon this definition, prayer can be a request, earnest hope, or wish. The object of one's prayers can be any god or object of worship (including themselves). People can pray to anything, for any reason, and in any way they choose. They can have a memorized prayer, a long prayer, or a short prayer.

If the options for how to pray or who to pray to are endless, are they equally effective? 

In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells a story of two men who went up to the Temple to pray. The men could not be more different. One was a respected Pharisee (religious teacher) and the other a despised tax collector. They had different prayers with different results. 

In these verses, we discover the content of one’s prayers reveals a lot about the character of one’s heart. We can learn a lot about a person and their God by how they pray. How we pray, indicates what we really think about ourselves and God. In this message, we discover that not all prayers are equal.

How crucial is prayer? While most believers acknowledge its significance, many allocate minimal time to prayer, often limiting it to meal or bedtime rituals. Yet, the God of the Bible is relational, personal, and accessible, extending an invitation to commune through prayer. Without an active prayer life, one cannot confidently assert a relationship with God.

Andrew Murray captures the necessity of prayer stating, "Prayer is the pulse of life; by it the doctor can tell what is the condition of the heart. The sin of prayerlessness is a proof for the ordinary Christian or minister, that the life of God in the soul is in deadly sickness and weakness.”

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus underscores the imperative of persistent prayer, urging his disciples to remain steadfast in their supplications. Through the parable of the persistent widow, he illustrates the efficacy of perseverance in seeking help when wrongly suffering.

Jesus imparts a vital lesson on prayer, emphasizing its indispensable role in the life of faith. Jesus was calling His followers to an unwavering commitment and resilience in prayer. 

In this message, we explore the necessity of prayer as a vital and irreplaceable aspect of the believer's journey.

What kind of worker are you? There are a lot of different styles and outlooks on work ethic. There are overachievers and there are those who do just enough. Some people are highly efficient and able to accomplish a lot in half the time while others seem to always be busy with low production. 

We live in a time of participation trophies and weighted standards. Many struggle to strive to reach their potential if the reward would be no different than the person who gives the bare minimum. Most people can see this is a problem for society but how does this translate to our spiritual lives?

In Luke 17:5-10, the disciples of Jesus seemed overwhelmed by Jesus's description of what His disciples are to live like. They even asked if Jesus would "increase their faith" (v.5). Jesus answered with a parable in which He gave them the minimum, though radical, standard for God's servants. 

Are their different standards for some Christians, requiring modified levels of commitment? Or is there a radical minimum?