Video: "Connecting" Trust

“Connecting: Trust” is a weekend message I preached at Crossroads Church, a growing multi-site church in Pittsburgh, PA. In this message we look at the importance of trust in connecting and how God has entrusted each of us with so much.

What am I now?

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5

One of the most difficult steps in spiritual growth is making the time to examine one’s own heart.  We live in a time and place that constantly distracts us from looking within.  However, spiritual growth always starts when we ask the question:  “What am I now?” 

Today I am reading a collection of prayers by John Wesley.  In today’s reading Wesley asks:  Is the Sprit of adoption now in your heart?  Make the appeal to your own heart:  Are you not the temple of the Holy Spirit?  Does He now dwell in you? 

As we end this year it is customary to look ahead to what is next.  To set goals for what we want to happen and who we want to be in the next twelve months.    Before doing this I encourage you to a make some space to ask the question: What am I now?  Take some time to pray and carefully examine your heart and life to see what is there. 

If you are honest you will no doubly see both the good and bad of your heart.  Take some time to examine this.  Sit in it and don’t rush past.  In many ways this is the human condition.  However, it does not have to be the end.  Take this time to ask for forgiveness from God and move forward.  A New Year awaits and His mercy is new.  A fresh start is only a day away!

Happy New Year.

Raising the Bar

Many of us typically live as it comes but real faith requires us to constantly challenge how we approach life and not just accept it as it is offered.

In Hebrews 11, we see that it is impossible to please God without faith. Faith requires us to continually evaluate and step out into the unknown, into that space just beyond what we can accomplish on our own.

In the beginning of a new year many of us typically evaluate life and set goals for what is next. Audacious faith in God challenges us to live, work, and love as Christ intended us as we strive to please Him more.

Join us Sunday at Crossroads Church on the first day of the new year as we look ahead to what could be next and learn how to trust to follow Jesus with an audacious faith.

Connecting: Trust

One of the most important things in any relationship is trust.  If trust is broken it takes time to rebuild as some have said trust is earned, not given.  This is true in our relationships with each other and our relationship with God.  

 

This weekend at Crossroads Church in Cranberry we are to going to look at Luke 19:11-27 and how God has chosen to trust us.  We will see how He has entrusted us to use our lives as a gift to this world.  Join us Sunday as we finish our series entitled, Connecting by learning how to be trustworthy servants of Jesus.

Connecting: Response

There comes a point in every relationship when a response is required.   Moments when you move pass pleasantries and truly begin to connect with another person.  It is in these beginning stages of intimacy that each person must choose to respond to the advances of the other.  

This is also true in our relationship with God.  Many of us spend our whole lives holding God at arm’s length.  But there comes a time when you must choose whether or not you will let Him in. 

This weekend at Crossroads Church in Cranberry we will be studying Luke 19:1-10 and how one person chose to respond to the invitation of Jesus.  Join us Sunday as see how this response changes this man forever.

Thoughts on Luke 19:1-10

·      Jesus is not sedentary.  He is in motion.  He is a movement maker you need to catch Him as He passes by and keep up.  It is your job to follow not set the course. (1)

·      There is a need that wealth cannot fulfill.  (2)

·      What is the obstacle in your life that is keeping you from seeing Jesus?  Have you given up or will you find another way? (3)

·      You may have to change your vantage point in life to see Jesus. This may be difficult or require change.  It is worth it.  Get ahead of the busyness of life and wait for him. (4)

·      Jesus will notice your effort.  He will stop and meet you there.  He will invite Himself over if you let Him.  He wants to know you. (5)

·      Let him in. (6)

·      Jesus does not care about what others think.  It is not about prestige or what you have done.  It is all about the heart. That is what He cares about.  Others may mumble, don’t listen focus on what Jesus is changing in you. (7)

·      Getting close to Jesus will expose your faults. It's OK He won't leave you. He will change you. (8)

·      When He moves your heart listen to it.  Follow those promptings and allow your heart to change your life. (8)

·      He is the way to life. The only way to life. (9)

·      Jesus is for the broken.  The imperfect. He loves to make them whole and to give them hope.  (10)

Connecting: Motivated

No one likes weakness. We live in a culture that teaches us to pursue strength at all cost. We exercise to become physically stronger, seek counsel for emotional strength, develop friendships for relational strength and pursue education to develop intellectual strength. If we are honest, it is often only when we have exhausted all other possibilities that we come to God with our weaknesses.

 

This weekend at Crossroads Church in Cranberry we are continuing our series entitled Connecting by looking at how God can use our weaknesses to motivate us to draw closer to Him. In Luke 18:35-43, it is the weakness of the blind man that caused him to reach out to Jesus. This one connection with God changed the life of this man and many others forever.

Join us Sunday as we look at how God can use our weaknesses to further motivate us to connect with Him and change our world.

Insights on Luke 18:35-43

·      We all are blind to something and need help to see but we can still hear.  Listen and change. (35)

·      We all are weak but some of us are good at hiding it.  In what way are you weak today? (35)

·      When you realize your weakness ask for help. This will take humility and faith. (36)

·      Jesus still causes a commotion when he passes by.  He rattles our hearts and lives let Him do this, it is for your own good. (37)

·      When you know that God is near and you realize your weakness, call out.  Ask for help and draw close to Him. (38)

·      Many people feel that only the strong and beautiful can come to Jesus but He likes the messes.  Yell to him when you are weak, He will listen. (39)

·      He has time.  He will stop. He will listen. He cares.  (40)

·      Trust Jesus with your mess.  Let Him know your weaknesses.  Lay it out to Him.  Ask Him to fix it.  Let your pain and weakness be the very thing that draws you closer to Him. (41)

·      When Jesus changes you thank Him.  He did it not you.  Give Him the credit and beware of pride.  If you do this others will see Jesus too. (43)