Advertise on podcast: Crossroads Church

There is no shortage of people telling you what to do to become healthier, stronger, more successful, how to parent better, how to be better, how to accomplish whatever you want. This steady stream of information that comes directly into our phones and into our minds can be overwhelming. The Good Shepherd provides clarity in the midst of chaos, restoration in the midst of rushing, and He leads us in paths of life where we can flourish.

In a culture centered on productivity, hurry, and hustle, we often forget to stop and rest. Our Good Shepherd provides a different pace and leads us into rest, into quiet, and calms the chaotic waters of our hearts.

Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known, if not the most well-known, psalms and passages in all of Scripture. But sometimes we can become so familiar with something that it can lose its wildness and the intended impact on us. Psalm 23 reminds us of our Good Shepherd who walks with us, guides us, protects us, leads us, and prepares a place for us. As we begin this week, we will look at just who this Good Shepherd is and how He meets our needs.

This morning, we will take time to talk about the vision, mission, and values of Crossroads Church, looking specifically at our value, “We Are Intentional.” We’ll walk through what it means to have a life aimed towards Jesus and how we can make much of Him every day.

In a world of shifting landscapes, ideas, and cultural conversations, we can stand firm with a rightly placed faith in Jesus. Paul has been encouraging the Corinthian church to remain centered on Jesus, and in his final instructions, he shows us what it means to stand firm on the foundation of Jesus.

Generosity is to be the mark of the church in all things. As Paul writes to the Corinthians, he asks them to be generous in all they have. Whether in giving gifts or receiving brothers and sisters into their community.

What happens when we die? Paul reminds the Church of Corinth of what awaits all who have placed their faith in Jesus. Death no longer wins; Jesus does. Therefore, we can stand secure and steadfast in Him.

Age comes for us all, and we feel it in our bones; our bodies have an expiration date. But what happens to our bodies when we die? Paul points us to the glorious truth of resurrection and how what was once perishable can be raised imperishable.

It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” But what happens when death dies? Paul reminds us that we can be certain of more than death, because the resurrection of Jesus changes everything.

As we near the conclusion of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he ends with where all who call on the name of Jesus will end: resurrection. Sharing the truest truth and the moment that changes everything, Paul gives us words to live by as we follow after Jesus.

As we conclude this section of 1 Corinthians on Spiritual gifts and how we gather, we will summarize where we go from here. As people sent on mission, gifted by the Spirit and united in Jesus, we will ask, “What is our part in our community and beyond?”

On any given Sunday, churches across the globe are gathering with the people of God to worship. And while the style of music, clothes we wear, languages we speak, and order of service may look different, there are often more similarities than we give credit to. In this final passage in the “How we gather” section, Paul reminds us of what matters when we come together and how we are to do so.

When it comes to conversations in church about prophecy and speaking in tongues, it can get weird fast. But Paul, in writing to the Corinthian church, reminds us of the beauty and importance of these gifts as well as the proper use of them. This Sunday, we will seek to better pursue the gifts of prophecy and tongues, and remember that the aim of all gifts is God’s glory.

Love is a word that is overused, abused, misunderstood, underutilized, and thrown around casually in our day. Paul, in writing to the Corinthian church, seeks to show them the most excellent way. The way of love. So what does this most excellent way look like, and how do we begin to live in such a way? Join us this Sunday as we seek to live the most excellent way.

Paul reminds us that it is good to desire spiritual gifts and it is good to use the gifts we have been given. This Sunday, we will ask ourselves how we best discover our spiritual gifts and what it looks like to eagerly desire them.