Opportunities create problems, but problems also create opportunities. In Acts 6, the church runs into a problem - the growth that God had given the church had apparently led to some balls being dropped in the ministry of caring for its widows. Naturally, a complaint followed. However, the Holy Spirit led the apostles to use this complaint as an opportunity for Christians to use their gifts to serve others. The same is true for us at Holy Cross. When we face problems, the Holy Spirit is at work in us too, leading us from complaint to service. The Holy Spirit is at work in the people of God (you!) to do the work of God. 

In this episode, Pastor John shares some words of encouragement to Christian college students. He also thinks through the question of why atheism is often so popular on college campuses.

Can you be a Christian outside of the church?  The resounding answer from scripture is "No."  To be a friend of Jesus means that you follow His commands, specifically that you "love one another."  Who should we love?  We should love our brothers and sisters in the church.  We are one body, saved to serve one another in community as we do this we bear eternal fruit for His kingdom.  

In this episode, we welcome our music director, Jolene Berke, to join us in a conversation about worship. Beyond talking about Diet Coke, favorite hymns, and Every Moment His merchandise, we talk about why worship is so important, how worship can become idolatry when we're looking for everything to be just right, and some recent shifts in the American church toward liturgical worship. Fun times!

What does it mean to worship? It may not be what you think! Join us as we grow in what it means to be saved to serve in worship.

John 15:5-6

On this episode, Pastor John and Pastor Tim discuss the issue of changing churches. Are there good reasons? Maybe some not so good reasons we're not even aware of? Also, did people church hop in the early church? Or is this something we're more prone to in 21st century America? As a bonus, they spend some time experimenting with some attractional new church names.

We have seen that we are saved to serve in our families roles, next we look at what it means to be saved to serve in our relationships in the Church.  We who have been saved have been called by Jesus to be a part of a Holy People.  This week we look at the wonderful and unique characteristics of the people of Jesus as described in Acts Chapter 2:42-47 - Devotion, Commitment, Generosity, and Hospitality.

As we enter the second part of our Saved to Serve series, Pastor John and Pastor Tim discuss whether or not Christians need a church community, as well as some of the reasons we might think we don't.

God's Word speaks extensively about the responsibilities of children to their parents.  While our sinful nature gravitates toward rebellion and away from obedience, the Gospel calls us to see our parents as gifts to bless our lives with wisdom and stability.  We obey and honor them because they have a God-given responsibility to guide us according to God's Word.

On this episode, Pastor John and Pastor Tim are joined again by their wives, Kelly and Megan, to discuss the importance of having kids in worship, some of the challenges, as well as some encouragement for parents in the pews. For those without young children, they share some thoughts on how the wider body of Christ can support parents. As a bonus, they share some stories of when taking kids to church was a train wreck, but also still worth it.