Jesus had a large vision he was pursuing that all of his teaching, healing, and living exemplified. As was the case for him, if we are paying attention and actually trying to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, there will always be a tension between the vision of the Kingdom of God's good news and the prevailing, alternative good news proclaimed by myriad cultural and systemic forces around us. Which "Kingdom" will we honor most? Which good news will be build our lives on and proclaim?

You can read a summary of this teaching (and referenced resources) at CrossWalkNapa.org/Teachings. This post is informed by, and references noted are sourced from (unless otherwise noted) Following the Call: Living the Sermon on the Mount Together, which will provide guidance to CrossWalkNapa teachings throughout 2025.

The context of Jesus' most celebrated teaching is a perfect prologue. Jesus climbed up the hill to teach his most devoted followers how to be like him. Those who desires, ascended. Will you?

Enjoy this brief overview of what’s coming to CrossWalk in the coming weeks and months, as well as a brief teaching on the story of the Wise Men.

What was Mary saying yes to, beyond the obvious? What is the Spirit of God always inviting everyone toward? What does "yes" mean? And what does star dust and dark energy have to do with any of it?

It turns out the first Baptist preacher ever may have sounded like the judgmental, fear-mongering, tent revival caricature, but that would be wrong. His message was actually incredibly inclusive, redemptive, and hopeful, and fully aligned with joyful birth narrative of the one he was preparing his audience for. Joy to the world!

The Christmas story imagining Jesus' birth is one that depicts the very human experience of conflict, tension, angst, hurt, fear, ego, and also bears witness to the ongoing potential for all of us: peace. The stars above may help us in our pursuit...

Perhaps the vision of the Second Coming of Christ in the traditional sense can no longer be taken literally or seriously. There may be a better version hidden in plain sight that squares better with the Jewish Jesus, history, and our collective experience. Caution: heresy ahead!

Gratitude alone is a tremendous force for good. Add faith to the mix, and it's power increases exponentially.

We welcome Brian Henderson to the stage.  He is the Executive Director of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, a global organization supporting churches who are or are becoming welcoming and affirming especially of the LGBTQ+ community.

Enjoy the last segment of this great series offered by Angie Barker-Jackson!