Advertise on podcast: The Crossing Church Podcast

Trials are not obstacles to spiritual growth—they are often the pathway to it. In the opening message of the book of James, we learn that God uses suffering, challenges, and discomfort to shape our character, strengthen our faith, and make us more like Jesus. Rather than quitting, doubting, or comparing ourselves to others, we can trust that God is at work even in our hardest seasons. What you will learn: • Why God uses trials and suffering to grow our faith and develop perseverance • How to seek God’s wisdom and trust His purpose when life doesn’t make sense • Why comparison steals joy and how to stay focused on what God is doing in your own life

When we look at a broken world, our response shouldn’t be judgment, indifference, or despair—it should be mercy. Through Abraham’s prayer for Sodom, we see what it means to stand in the gap for others, pray with compassion, and ultimately point people to Jesus, the One who intercedes for us and offers mercy to all who come to Him. What you will learn: • How to see people and the world through God’s eyes—with both truth and compassion • Why followers of Jesus are called to stand in the gap and pray for mercy on behalf of others • How Abraham’s story points to Jesus, our perfect intercessor who saves us through His mercy and grace