Religion isn't what saves you; it's your relationship with God. But religion is a God-ordained means of enriching your relationship with Him.

Christianity has its share of tricky balances. How do we strive for perfection while accepting grace? Fight sin while loving people? Be responsible and step out in faith?

"...run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1b Your faith began with passion, finish it that way!

Even with a sure thing, you have to play the game; there's room for improvement; and there's room for a fall.

What's your "impossible"? What is God whispering in your ear, challenging you to? What is that thing in your walk that you always *dreamed* of doing/being but have always dismissed as impossible? It's not. "For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 Maybe you should start thinking about it differently; a destination rather than a dream, an invitation rather than a frustration?

God's love is bigger than our comfort. Remember that He disciplines those He loves.

Reviewing Live and Growing in God

The Bible is a crucial connection point between us and God. Read it daily for insight into God's character and commands.

It isn't magic. It isn't a means to control God. And it isn't salvation. Our ideas about religion can hinder our relationship with God.

The Back Story: Creation began good. Later its perfect order was broken. Jesus came BECAUSE of that; to fix it; to fix us.

The meaning of Easter goes beyond religion. We can see that in Jesus' short conversation with Mary Magdelene after He rose from the dead.

A life given to God is harder than we want. Even Jesus was tempted not to go to the cross. He calls us to persevere, as He did.

Surrender to God is part of the Christian life. Jesus served people; so should we. Who in your life needs help?

Our bodies are meant to be temples of God, a place for Him to dwell. Is yours? What needs to be removed? What needs to be added?

Have you tried to enter God's kingdom as your own king or queen? As a spectator? As God's student? Or as a true subject of the King?

Love is not just feelings. As emotions fade, love becomes a choice. And the choice must continue over time. That's how God loves us.

The initial emotion of love teaches us sacrifice, forgiveness, and vulnerability.

Know that feeling when you first fall in love? God's love is that intense all the time. His desire is for us and our joy.

We define love in many ways that serve us. God's version is selfless, generous, and forgiving. And God's version is the real one.

We care how others perceive us. We should: God told us we are the light of the world. Our faith should look good to those around us.

Do you want your faith to endure? Prepare for your trials. Get rid of distractions from God. And look at Him rather than your hardships.

To grow in physical strength, you must push your body to the limits; the same is true of our faith. Test the limits of your faith.

Whatever you believe about yourself, God has given you value that can't be taken away. You can see it when you take care of others.

Jesus gave His life to give us a new day. Remember the price He paid for us, and give Him this new year.

Our greatest opportunity to love God is to show love to children. Our duty—parent or not—is to raise them well and show them Him.

You know that look a person gets when you give them the perfect gift? Give that to God.

Peace requires that we forgive others and let go of bitterness toward God; surrender our whole lives; and nurture peace within us.

You can't take it with you, but you can send it forward. Be generous, and when you enjoy your reward in heaven, you won't regret it.

God calls us to give 10% of our money for ministry and the needy. It's tough. It takes planning. But God blesses us when we give.

Most of us have more extra than we think. And our extra isn't always meant for us. Giving is the first step to financial freedom.

Your spiritual checkbook is the same thing as your physical checkbook. Each financial decision you make is a spiritual decision.

It's time to wake up spiritually. That means listening to God's call, stepping out of comfort, and face the day.

Remodeling your house is hard work. So does remodeling your life. It may be messy and it may cost you, but God's plans are worth it.

We shut the bedoom door when company comes over. What areas of your life are off-limits to God? To be close to God, let Him in.

Confession and forgiveness help clean up our lives. When we don't use them, we fill up with things that are toxic to our souls.

What sustains you? God offers us spiritual food; is it sitting uneaten? Do we take in a balance of grace and correction?

We all have places we keep old things. Are you holding on to things left over from your life before you met God?

Imagine your life has a living room. How is it decorated? How do you represent yourself to the world? And is that image true?

God has given us a set of plans to build our lives: the words of Jesus. But plans only work if you follow them.

God calls us not just to Heaven, but to a grand adventure here and now. Jesus is at work now, and He asks each of us to follow Him. 

Why come to Sunday morning church service? Because God told us to. To gain spiritual training. To hear God's leading. And to thank God for all He's done.

Be honest with God. Express your doubts and fears. Give thanks for the good things in your life. We took time to share them today.

Pastor Shep and his wife Jan lived out Psalm 91 during the Yom Kippur War. God protected them, and the words became real.

God is not your enemy. In your rough times, start by trusting Him. Check your perspective. Then worship. (Seriously. Try it.)

What do you need to confess? How will you repent? What will you do with the grace God has given you?

Psalm 112 tells us to fear God and grow in love for Him. To live like Him. To be generous with what we have. To fear no circumstance.

The Psalms remind us not only to find the right path and follow it, but to find the joy of it and remain on it.

If you want a close relationship with God, you must be real with Him. Express yourself honestly, and grow in intimacy.

You have such immense value that God gave His life for yours. You are Jesus' legacy.

A weed is just a plant that grows out of place. Some things that aren't strictly sinful hold us back. What's growing in your soil? 

Gardens must be watered regularly. Nurture your faith. Set spiritual goals. Seek God deliberately, directly. And do it daily.

Plants need good soil to grow. Do you surround yourself with good things spiritually, socially, and within yourself?

Jesus is the light of the world. Like plants, we need exposure to the Light to live. And we need it directly from Him, constantly.

God is a gardener. He wants to see us grow and flourish. We were each planted with a purpose: to blossom into a unique image of God.

Jesus offers us eternal life, and life to the fullest now. Today, we heard from several people whose lives have been changed by His love.

Herod treated Jesus like a genie. Pilate bent to peer pressure from the crowd, which was led astray by the emotion of the moment.

Even the best of us can turn against God by asserting ourselves over Him. Is God an obstacle to your agenda?

Jesus could forgive His murderers from the cross because the path to peace is surrender to God. Are you holding something from Him?

We find peace in God's calling. As we surrender our identity, God reveals our purpose. As we obey, we find peace and blessing.

For true peace, we must give our identity to God. We must give up the image we made up for the one God intended.

People once covered their heads in ashes in repentance. We don't have forever to turn from sin. Ash Wednesday is just one more chance.

"My peace I give to you." -Jesus, John 19:27

Jesus isn't talking about peaceful circumstances. He means wholeness and peace with God.

The greatest love story of all time is of God's love for us. Jesus proved it by laying down His life for us (John 15:13).

Do we keep the greatest expressions of our love for romance? What if we loved everyone recklessly? What would we give of ourselves?

Love may drive us to do crazy things. Guard your heart: love God first. Be careful what you love. Don't nurture every attraction.

Love changes us; it's supposed to. It is meant to bring our character closer to God's. Are you guided by love, or something else?

At Crossroads, we take care of the people here, and we reach out to those who aren't. We follow God as He reaches out to the world.

Crossroads is here to teach who God is and how to live because we want to multiply believers, followers, leaders, and churches.

Crossroads is about connecting. God has given His mission to us: to reconcile the world - to reconnect us - to Himself.

Without vision, we lose focus. We miss out on our God-given purpose. That's why we have sought out our vision at Crossroads.

The new year is a great time to examine your life and make changes. Where is God leading you? What is He telling you to change?

If you're looking for love, you're really looking for God. He loved us before we loved Him. He will never give up on us.

We miss joy when we hold our lives back from God, or only pretend to worship Him. Joy comes from following and worshipping God.

The hope of Christmas is that God knows what we're doing, what we feel, where He's taking us. He wants to do the impossible in us.

Jesus was born so that He could sacrifice Himself for us. God came to earth so you could truly know peace.

In the past, now, and into the future, God is with you. Jesus became human to prove it. Do you see Him in your life?

Who is God to you? To a rejected woman, "the God who sees me." (Gen. 16) He sees you, your life, and everything else.

Jehovah... Jirah, the provider. Nissi, my banner, my identity. Raah, my shepherd. Rapha, who heals. Shammah, who is there.

 

Note: We started the recording late this morning. Pastor Michael had already read Genesis 22, the story of God testing Abraham's faith.

By giving us His name - YHWH, the Great I AM - God invites us into relationship.

God describes Himself as Adonai: Lord and Master. The truth is, He has given us any rights we have, offensive though it may seem.

In one Hebrew word, we see God as the supreme power, the ultimate being, and the Trinity. Is that how you worship Him?

Note: The recording unexpectedly quit in the middle of Pastor Michael's last point.  Our apologies for the abrupt end.

Offering everything she had, the widow (Mk. 12) made a quiet statement. What statement are you making with what you've been given?

Today we celebrate the surest sign of God's love for us: Jesus' death on the cross.

You're writing your autobiography every day. Is it worth reading? What's past is merely prologue. What will the epilogue be?

Our flaws don't keep God from loving us. He made us in His own image. He paid for the brokenness that tarnished it. You're special.

We dedicate kids to God, hoping they'll choose Him. Baptism is a declaration of faith, symbolizing rebirth, purity, and anointing.

Sins are like allergies. Their effects may be subtle or intense, but they all drain our vitality. Avoid your spiritual allergens.

You will never know who you touch until you touch who you know. You are God's investment where you are.

Be where the problems are.  And when you are, be part of the solution.

The church has two missions: go and teach.  Jesus called us to make a difference in our local community.

Ken and Dawn Bishop shared stories from their mission in Albania. God is working through them to spread the Gospel to the world.

Remember who God is, how He works, and what He's done, and you will find hope.  Remind one another with stories from your own lives.  Because of God's goodness, you can have hope in the future, yourself, and those around you.

We are only camping on Earth. Heaven is our home. Engage in the adventure here, but remember: we won't be here forever.

There's an art to growth. Manage it to grow well. Recognize your past and what needs to change. Then, step forward. (1 Cor. 13:11)

God chose us. Out of love, He gives us freedom to choose Him. And He gives us a chance to lead others to Him by our choices.

Christians are meant to be Humanity 2.0. We are called and enabled to have a better connection to God, and display Him more clearly.

God is the idealized father. He's present with us. He protects us. He sacrifices for us - His pride, His life. He truly loves us.

The Gideons do more than pass out Bibles: they introduce people to Jesus. We heard amazing stories of their ministry this morning.

The local church was meant to be an embassy. It is not only to represent Heaven, but be God's base of operations in the community.

If we ignore God's difficult teachings, we deny ourselves God's spiritual healing. Trust Him, and follow His guidance.

As the brain moves the body, so Christ should move us. Is His signal getting through? Strengthen it by following His call.

Are your reflexes like Jesus'? What is your first, reflexive reaction to pain? To hardship? To good things? To God's promises?

Do you have a pulse? God's heart beats for the stranger and the lost. God's heart is driven by love. Is yours?

Breath is a sign of life and a symbol for connection with God. Is your breath shallow? Is your vision dim? Is life suffocating?

David Garrett from Jews for Jesus shares with us the rich history and symbolism of the Jewish feasts and their relevance to Christianity.

Evangelism is a gift for some, but a command for all. We are to display Jesus' love by being involved in people's lives.

This Easter, remember - Jesus is our teacher and our king; He gave us His mission; and He reaches out to those who doubt Him.

Sin has a cost, and God loved us enough to pay it. The Son endured death and separation from the Father in order to save us.

Jesus wasn't content just to love us. He needed to show us. He sent us to do the same: to live out His revolutionary love.

Did the crowds on Palm Sunday praise Jesus because they wanted something out of it? Do we? Our faith calls for surrender to God.

Everyone matters. Do you remember it when you think about others? Act on it in your daily lives? Join the church in showing it?

Everyone matters to God, to the world, and to the church. Do you recognize your own value, and that of others?

Everyone matters. You are made in God's image, gifted for His purposes, and commissioned as the light of the world by Jesus.

Today we celebrate 50 years of faith, hope and love. Praise God, and thank you to everyone who He used to make it possible!

Love speaks louder, clearer, and truer than mere words.

God holds nothing of His love back from us. Do we hold back from Him, from our significant others, or those around us? Go all in.

God loved us first, so we love Him first. We must recognize the value God gives us, and love ourselves. Then, we can love others.

God designed us to rest. We need the Sabbath to refocus, recharge, and let God take control.

Every day is an investment of God in us. What are you doing with what He gave you? Invest in people, in good, in God.

To be healthy, we must exercise and eat right. Put God's word into action (John 13:17) and be fueled by God's work (John 4:34).

Forgiveness means setting down our baggage. By forgiving others, God and ourselves, we can have the freedom that God bought for us.

With Christ's sacrifice, every moment is a new day. Run with it. Live it out. Accept grace, and give it to all who need it from you.

Paul encourages us to strain forward in our faith. (Phil. 3:11-16) This month, pray: where am I? And where should I be?

Jesus is meant to be experienced. He's our source of life. He changes us from inside. Ironic that he was placed in a feeding trough.

John 1 tells us that Jesus came to earth to give us the choice to follow Him. That is the gift we can give Him this Christmas.

The Wisemen followed the star for two years. What guides your life? Can you be the guiding light for someone else?

God loves you as you are. He's not waiting for you to be ready for Him, to become more religious, or to get your life right.

Jesus was born "to preach good news to the poor... to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners."

Christmas is the fulfillment of God's promise, the birth of grace, and the beginning of the end of evil. It is our reason for hope.

Do we, like the angels, bear witness to what we already know? Do we, like the shepherds, embrace the hope of Jesus' coming?

Thank God for all the blessings, big and small, that He sprinkles through our lives, and remember: nothing compares to the Cross.

Baptism symbolizes the death of the old life, our cleansing, and the rebirth to new life. Church membership is a commitment to the Body of Christ. We celebrate these commitments to Jesus.

God entrusts us with children, His treasures. Child dedications are our commitment to raise them in His name.

Communion reminds us of God's commitment to come back and restore everything. And to love us and work in us now.

In zombie movies, the living dead are out of place. Single-minded. Fearless. All but unstoppable. Does that describe we who are also free from death?

What looks good may not be. What looks hopeless may hide beauty. Even those who annoy us are loved by God.

God is like sushi. He's different. He's dangerous. And He's meant to be taken raw - as He is - not dressed up with what He's not.

Christianity is like chess. Our opening move is important, but not everything. Commit to a plan of attack. Set up to finish well.

Jesus died to introduce us to Peace. We think of Peace as being related to Circumstances, but Jesus wants us to have the real thing.

Faith is your friend with the crazy, unsafe ideas. But he knows God, and what He's up to. How well do you know Faith?

"Grace.  It's a name for a girl.  It's also a thought that changed the world." -Nichole Nordemann, Grace.
She's a friend we need to make and a friend we should probably be taking to our parties.

Why doesn't religion do what it's supposed to? Actually, what IS it supposed to do?

Everyone is a work in progress, but what's the goal? 

What does your life say?

In 1962 President Kennedy challenged the nation to enter the "space race"...and to win it!  Though it cost money, time, resources & lives, the nation rose to occasion and accomplished the "impossible".  Are we still capable of that today?  Is the Church capable of that?  Are we even interested?

It's easy to dismiss someone, harder to believe in them

Made any of your own?

The story of a ruthless enemy who seemingly can't be stopped and will stop at nothing until we are dead.  Can this be our story?

Tranformation is key to our story, but what does that mean and what should it look like?

Every summer at least one "superhero" movie comes out.  And we flock to them! Maybe it's time we make our own.

Finding God at the movies

Up.  Fun movie.  Great idea.

What do we have to do to actually make a difference?

What issues are out there that we can deal with?

Kristin Weibe of World Hope International speaks on combating human trafficking in Cambodia

You were meant, created, to change the world!

Who fixes everything when Jesus leaves?

Mary Magdalene had an encounter that might challenge us all with the post-resurrectde Jesus

The "post-resurrection" Jesus had an encounter with some disciples on the road to Emmaus that we may find a tad too familiar

What the resurrection can mean to you

Different than what you might think

Getting what can be "got" from temptation

Uncovering the lies temptation tells

The myths we play with

Defining love

Defining love

What is love to you