CrossPoint Fellowship Messages

What should members of a church do? Support its ministry financially. Healthy churches only exist when they collaboratively cover the cost of existing. Few things show greater faith in God or a body of believers than giving.

• Church members support the ministry financially. 
• This tithe, like our tithe, is an act of obedience to God and Scripture.
• Giving should be proportional to each one's earnings.
• When you aren't contributing what you are able to in church, you're allowing someone else to fund your experience and to pay your way. 
• You should not give out of compulsion or guilt, but out of a love for the Lord. 
• God's math always works out. 

This is part 1 of our new 5-week series focusing on the Who, What, When, Why, and How of Church membership. This week - who should make up the members of a Church? The answer is simple: everyone who considers them a believer. You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian but you do if you want to live according to the Bible. YOU are needed as a member of the Church if you are following after Christ.

Jesus weeps, Jesus feels, Jesus works on behalf of those who place their trust in him.

• The strength of our relationship with God can be seen in our ability to express faith in a state of heartbrokenness.
• Only through Christ can death unlock new life.
• Jesus wept.
• Christ isn't bound by human constraints.
• Jesus is calling you out of your grave.

Jesus is the sustainer of life and he is all we need. Not only does he feed the five thousand, but he will sustain us as well.

• Why do we work so hard for perishable gain?
• Christ makes it abundantly clear. If we look at the character of God and the character of Christ it should be no surprise: God’s gift (his providence) is just that, a gift.
• So often we beg God for signs as if our current state of blessing isn’t enough.
• Part of the reason our blessing isn’t proof enough is because we don’t credit God with what’s been given.
• Will you believe?

In John 4, we see that Jesus went where the Jews refused to go (Samaria) in order to find a woman who needed the Savior. The world is looking to quench a thirst they don’t know how to satisfy but we have what they are looking for. It’s important that we help them realize this and help them find it.

• Christ isn’t concerned with that which would separate you from him. He instead focuses on how he might bring you into the fold. 
• We seek fulfillment from a broken world. We should be seeking for fulfillment from a perfect Savior.
• Jesus knows everything about her. 
• You don't have to be rid of your mess to be loved by the Messiah. 

We must be born again. The good news is that Jesus came to make that possibility a reality. In John 3, we see a member of the Sanhedrin approach Jesus and ask about eternal life. It was offered to him and it is offered to us today. 

• The rebirth isn't reincarnation. The rebirth is regeneration.
• Repentance is the prerequisite for regeneration by the Spirit.
• Being born into sin is not a reason to continue to live in sin. 
• This gift is not to be earned, but to be given. All we need to do is receive it. 
• Just because he didn't come to condemn man, doesn't mean that he won't.

Jesus was angry because they turned the temple into a marketplace. Sometimes we act as if we have to sell people on coming to church, when really the only thing we need to market is God.

• Traditions aren't a bad thing.
• Church isn't about what we have to offer but what God has to offer. 
• It's better to die because of the truth than live for the fanfare.

John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus carried weight with those that trusted him. Our testimony is our strongest evangelism tool. Will you vouch for Jesus?

• John knows exactly who he is and he can explain it to those questioning him.
• John’s testimony tells who Jesus is.
• God gave us our story / testimony to be shared.
• God paid for our whole story because it gives him glory. Don’t rob him of his glory.
• His grace has already defeated that which we are ______ to share. Our past has no power over us anymore.

The Word became flesh. Christ was the personification of scripture, the walking embodiment of everything God was trying to teach his people. This is why we can trust the word of God, and those that wrote it.

• The Word is eternal.
• The Word gives life.
• The Word dispels darkness.
• It’s through his light that our sin is revealed to us and if we chose to receive him, it is through his light that darkness is stamped out of us. 
• That which can’t be seen but only heard took human form.
• Existing out of the Father, He is the epitome of grace and truth.
• Christ is the Word of God personified. 
• John viewed Jesus as the epitome of Godliness.
• This signifies that Scripture as it is written can be trusted as reliable. 

Sometimes we need someone to serve as our de facto guidance counselor/conscience/encourager. That’s what Mordecai was for Esther. Mordecai had the conviction while Esther had the means.

• In order for guidance to be effective, we have to have the trust of those we are advising.
• Great teammates aren't in it for them. They're in it for the success of others and they offer guidance with that in mind. 
• Guidance from a trusted source inspires others to take chances.
• Guidance in strong team relationships is reciprocal.