Shows
Crossbridge Community ChurchWho was the First Christian Martyr? // The Real Sunday School #1Thanks for joining us this summer! Jordan is kicking off a series for the month of June called: The Real Sunday School. Today, Jordan walks us through Acts 6-8 and the life of Stephen, the first Christian Martyr.2024-06-0923 min
Crossbridge Community Church of Ocean County“Appearances Can Be Deceiving!” Romans 2:17-3:8 4/21/24[audio mp3="https://www.crossbridgeofocean.org/wp-content/uploads/sermons/2024/04/2024_04_21.mp3"][/audio]
Our culture, which places a premium on appearances, has fostered an environment where deception is rife. A case in point is a film I once screened at a church movie night, 'Super Christian.' The protagonist, a young man, wakes up on a Sunday morning, meticulously preparing for Sunday school and church. He dons a bright shirt and tie and proudly carries his Bible, conforming to the societal expectations of a 'good Christian.'
Initially, he is in the church service, sitting in the front row with his Bible...2024-04-2159 minCrossbridge Community ChurchWho is the Christian God? // What do we Believe #1Thanks for joining us today! The worship team has a great set planned to prepare our hearts for Jordan's message: Who is the Christian God? Join us these next eight weeks as we walk through the most important theological claims in scripture.2024-04-0732 min
DCC Leadership PodcastOur Calling: Episode 12 (DCC Alum Dr. Brad Pembleton '99)In this episode of the "Our Calling" series, we hear from 1999 DCC alum Brad Pembleton. Brad graduated from DCC with a Bachelor of Arts in Bible, earned his Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and recently completed his DMin in Leadership and Spiritual Formation from Portland Seminary at George Fox University. Brad shares his call into ministry at the age of 17 and walks us through how God brought him to his current role at Crossbridge Christian Church in Houston, Texas. Brad explains that one's calling is more than a position—it is an invitation to partner wi...2023-08-0719 min
CrossbridgeCC SermonsEmbracing TraditionOne Size Fits None | Week 7
Discover the Traditionalist Pathway – loving God through rituals and symbols. Embrace the beauty of traditions, find peace and hope in the Christian Calendar, and build habits that ground your faith. Let symbols serve as reminders of God’s presence on your journey.
2023-07-2300 min
Crossbridge Church PodcastChristian Formation 2023-07-1651 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesWho Is Jesus? Acquainted with GriefGrief is the feeling that accompanies all loss in life, whether big or small. We may think that as the Son of God, Jesus somehow floats above grief or is immune to grief. Wes explains that because Jesus has gone through and experienced grief, he can give us a game plan for how to handle it and the strength needed to make it through.2022-11-1650 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesWho Is Jesus? Friend of SinnersMost of us think that Jesus is offended by sinners. The Scriptures portray a God who actually went out of his way to befriend them. James Bryant explains how Jesus shows us he is a friend to sinners... and why it matters.
Discussion Questions:
1. Is there an office of Jesus (king, prophet, priest) that means something to you right now? Why?
2. Is there an office you would like to know more about? What one? Why?
3. How does understanding these offices affect your d...2022-11-0733 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesWho Is Jesus: Holier Than ThouMany of us are familiar with the idea that Jesus is holy. But what does that actually mean and why does it even matter for our lives?
Discussion Questions:
1. When you hear the word "holy," what comes to mind? Why?
2. Are there some ways in which Jesus is holy that you had never thought of before?
3. Why is it important to you, personally, that Jesus is holy?2022-11-0141 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesWho Is Jesus? Opposed to Oppression and InjusticeIt can feel at times like Christians are purposely creating barriers to God. Jesus stands steadfastly in opposition to anything that prevents people from finding God.
Discussion Questions:
1. Are you creating barriers or building bridges?
2. When you see others creating barriers, what do you typically do?
3. Who was the best "bridge builder" or "barrier remover" you have ever personally known? What made them so effective? 2022-10-2344 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesWho Is Jesus? God In a BodOur view of God shapes not just our approach to life; it shapes us. Jesus being God means that when we look at him, we can have a clearer view of what life looks like with the Father.
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think of when you think of God?
2. Do you think that our view of God influences how we live our lives? Why or why not? If yes, how?
3. What part of God do you think Jesus might be trying t...2022-10-1645 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesEver Wonder Why: Why Can I Believe the Bible Is Anything More Than a Fairy Tale?"I don't believe the Bible" is a pretty common objection to Christianity. But is that statement actually a well-founded belief or just a smokescreen that gets thrown up to avoid giving consideration to the Bible's demands on my life? CB leadership team member Jason Fudge shares some reasons why we can believe the Bible is more than a fairy tale, but a historical reality that demands attention in my life.
Discussion Questions:
1. What did you think of the Bible as you grew up? What role does it play in your life now? What would you do i...2022-10-0931 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesEver Wonder Why: Why Believe in a Good God When Pain, Suffering, and Hardship Abound?Suffering and hardship have been a part of life since, well... life. Why can we continue to believe in a good God in the midst of suffering? And what good can come about from suffering and hardship in our lives?
Discussion Questions:
1. Talk about some times in your life where you experienced hurt, pain, or suffering, only to eventually see it play a redemptive purpose. What happened?
2. Wes said that our protest at suffering reveals, in part, our sense of entitlement to a suffering-free life. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
3. Does i...2022-10-0248 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesEver Wonder Why: Why Can I Really Believe That Jesus Has Risen from the Dead?The value of Christianity as a belief system hinges on a simple question: Did Jesus really rise from the dead? John King explains his three reasons for why we can believe that Jesus has truly resurrected.
Discussion Questions:
1. Which of the eyewitness accounts is your favorite? Why?
2. How has your life been impacted by the resurrection of Jesus?
3. If a good friend asked why you believe in the resurrection, what would be your response?2022-09-2535 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesEver Wonder Why: Why Should I Go to Church When Jesus' Followers Suck?Sadly, when we experience hurt at the hands of God's community today, we are in a long line of people experiencing the same. Wes walks through three things that he believes Jesus would say to us when we experience pain at the hands of those who carry Jesus' name.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is one of your favorite memories about church? What is your least favorite?
2. Jesus has compassion on those who are "harassed" and "helpless" (Matthew 9:36). How does the knowledge that Jesus has compassion for you help you to process hurt?
3. Where...2022-09-1838 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesEver Wonder Why: It's OK to Wonder WhyWe often see doubt as the enemy of faith. But faith isn't a resolute feeling, it's a confidence that is just enough to take action.
Discussion Questions:
1. If you grew up in church or going to a youth group, do you feel like it was a place that was safe for doubts? Why or why not?
2. Wes said that faith is confidence enough to rely on God. What do you think is different about this definition of faith versus how we typically think about faith?
3. Do you feel like you struggle with...2022-09-1240 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: It All Comes Down to ThisIt's impossible to know everything there is to know about discipleship. But if we will live with a simple posture toward Jesus, we will never lack the ability to see the areas in our lives that need to be discipled to Jesus.
Discussion Questions:
1. We've spent a whole summer talking about discipleship. What do you think is your greatest takeaway from this summer?
2. Why do you think we struggle so much to see Jesus as the source of life, despite him giving and doing so much for us?
3...2022-09-0441 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: The Good NewsThe Good News about Jesus has the power to change lives, but only if we actually know how to share it. Wes shares the gospel message and how God worked to reconnect us to him.
Discussion Questions:
1. Think about a time in your life you received some great news. What happened? How did you feel?
2. How confident do you feel in being able to share with someone the good news about Jesus?
3. Why do you think we have such difficulty in believing t...2022-08-2846 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: Start Where You AreWhen it comes to caring about people disconnected from God, we don't need a lot of knowledge or unique talent. We just need a willingness to share our story and let God do the heavy lifting.
Discussion Questions:
1. What barriers do you think get in the way of you more actively caring about people disconnected from God?
2. Read John 1:35-51. What are simple ways that we can bring people to Jesus, sort of like the people did in the story?
3. Wes talked...2022-08-2138 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: It MattersIt's easy to think discipleship is only inward. Jesus models for us that disciples who are fully formed by him will move outward.
Discussion Questions:
1. If you've made a commitment to follow Jesus, talk about the people who helped to lead you to that commitment. How did you experience them caring for you?
2. Think about the 3 T's Wes shared about your "care temperature." How did you do on your assessment?
3. What do you feel like your attitude is toward people who are di...2022-08-1445 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: What Only You Can DoYou have a unique, one-of-a-kind superpower that God has given you to make a difference in the world. Finding out what that is and putting it to use is one of the greatest avenues we have for communicating the love of Jesus and learning to love like Jesus.
Take the five-fold gift assessment at crossbridgechristian.com/gifts.
Discussion Questions:
1. Describe a time in your life when you felt or sensed that God was using you to do something. What was that like?
2...2022-08-0747 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: The Thing We All Can DoThere is one thing that all of us, no matter our race, life stage, occupation, or education level can do to love each other well. It is something Jesus modeled for us frequently throughout his time on earth and something we can join him in practicing today.
Discussion Questions:
1. Describe a time in your life when you were impacted by someone just noticing you. What happened?
2. What do you think it says about God that Jesus was so good at noticing? Why is that important to you?2022-07-3145 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: The Greatest EnemyEveryone loves the idea of service, but actually living it out in practice is hard. Jesus tells us that if we will dismiss our allegiance to "what's in it for me?" we can walk into the freedom to love and serve others generously.
Discussion Questions:
1. When is a time in your life where you felt like someone truly loved you like Jesus? What happened?
2. Do you struggle with the whole "what's in it for me?" question getting in the way of being a servant toward others?
3. Read Matthew 16:20-27. Is there...2022-07-2446 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: Father and FriendMany of us feel like we stand far off from God. But he actually invites us into more intimate relationships with him than we can imagine. 2022-07-1739 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: Can I Trust You?At the heart of cultivating a close relationship with Jesus is our decision to trust him. Listen at three different Crossbridge attenders share about their experiences of learning to trust God.
Discussion Questions:
1. How do you define trust? Who is someone in your life that you trust a lot? Why do you trust them?
2. Read Jeremiah 17:5-8. What do you think it means to have trust in God?
3. What is a practical way this week that you can try placing more trust in God? After everyone's shared, have the person to their l...2022-07-1031 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: The Best Way to Connect with GodOur world has a lot of different ideas about how to connect with God, all with varying amounts of success. Jesus and the earliest Christians understood Scripture to be one of the ways we can most intimately know God. When we open Scripture, we open a rich pathway to know God at a deeper level.
Discussion Questions:
-Where do you go or what do you do normally to connect with God?
-What do you feel like are your greatest barriers in approaching Scripture?
-How can our group support you or help...2022-07-0339 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: Here's the House KeyThe practice of showing hospitality to others is a powerful way to demonstrate God's love. When we open up our homes and lives to others, we get a chance to share about Jesus with our actions, not just our words.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think you are gifted in demonstrating hospitality toward others and do you regularly practice hospitality toward others? Why or why not?
2. Who are the people in your life right now that you can do a better job of demonstrating hospitality toward? IN what w...2022-06-2641 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: Make RoomIn our world, people unlike us very quickly become unliked by us. Jesus modeled a way of living that made room for all... especially the unlike and unliked. If we wish to be his disciples, we need to pattern our lives in a similar way.
Discussion Questions:
1. Talk about a time when you were around people different from you? What happened? How’d you feel?
2. When you are around people unlike you, do you tend to focus on your similarities or differences?
3. What is a way you can purposefully make room for th...2022-06-1945 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: The Scariest Thing in the WorldWe all want to feel connected, but connection takes risk.
Discussion Questions:
1. If you had to put yourself on 1 to 10 on a vulnerability scale, how would you rate yourself?
2. What makes you feel vulnerable?2022-06-1251 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSummer of Discipleship: It MattersNot many of us wake up thinking critically about discipleship. But it's more important than we think. The future of our lives and the church is at stake - and it hinges on our willingness to apprentice ourselves to Jesus.
Discussion Questions:
1. How would you define the word “disciple?” Have you gotten to know some great disciples of Jesus? How did they impact you?
2. Wes talked about how God uses the Holy Spirit, hardships, and spiritual disciplines to grow us. Have you seen one of those at work i...2022-06-0545 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesCelebration SundayWe have a lot to thank God for!2022-05-2922 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesLet's Talk About: AddictionAddiction = enslavement. But thankfully, God is an experienced Savior who packs the power we need to find victory over whatever addictions that we face.
Discussion Questions:
1. What has your experience with addiction been? How has that affected you?
2. Do you think there’s truth in what Wes said about being addicted to more “mundane” things? How have you seen this at work in your life?
3. Which of the suggestions for finding freedom is most difficult for you? How can our group help?2022-05-2236 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesLet's Talk About: AngerWe are all bound to feel angry. But if we can find ways to lengthen the fuse on our anger, our anger doesn't need to own us.
Discussion Questions:
1. What was the most recent thing you got angry about? Why was that such a big deal to you?
2. When you think of God, do you think of him as loving or angry? Why?
3. What technique(s) do you feel like you need to employ to lengthen the fuse and more effectively deal w...2022-05-1543 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesLet's Talk About: AnxietyAnxiety can cripple us and leave us feeling helpless, but a few simple practices can serve as part of our spiritual treatment plan to get us back on track.
1. Do you consider yourself an anxious person? Why or why not? What causes you most anxiety?
2. When you find yourself feeling anxious, is it natural for you to turn your focus onto God?
3. How can this group help you take a step forward in conquering anxiety?2022-05-0842 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesLet's Talk About: IsolationOne of the quickest ways to find ourselves suffering mentally is when we aren't filling our tanks socially and relationally. Taking the initiative to form relationships may be difficult for us at times, but the benefit far outweighs the work we need to put in. 2022-05-0137 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesLet's Talk About It: DepressionYou can love God and be depressed. We generally can't pray depression away, but we can allow depression to be a cue for us to consider some actions for our betterment and well-being.
Discussion Questions:
1. What experiences have you had with depression, either personally or in the lives of people you love? How did that affect you?
2. Read Psalms 42 and 43. Do you see any correlations between the psalmist and Elijah's (1 Kings 19) stories?
3. Which of the cues (the 6 R's) do you think is most important for you to remember when you're battling depression? 2022-04-2446 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSeven Words to Change Your Life: Wow (Easter 2022)If the resurrection really happened, "wow" is the only response. And that "wow" opens the door for some more "wow's" to be experienced in our lives.
Discussion Questions:
1. What’s the greatest “wow” you’ve ever experienced? Why was that so amazing?
2. Why do you believe Jesus rose from the dead? Or if you don’t, what is the barrier to believing that for you?
3. If you believe in the resurrection of Jesus, how does that change things for you?2022-04-1746 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSeven Words to Change Your Life: HelpWe resist asking for help for many reasons, but God has made asking for help foundational to the way of Jesus. When we will opt-in on receiving help, we also opt-in on receiving God's gracious work in our lives.
Discussion Questions:
1. Are you good at asking for help? If not, why not?
2. Read Psalm 86:5. If God so consistently expresses his desire to help us, why do we often refuse to take him up on the offer?
3. Where’s a place you need to...2022-04-1039 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSeven Words to Change Your Life: ThanksGratitude unlocks a key to greater joy and happiness, and it's something God has been encouraging us to try for thousands of years. A healing Jesus did teaches us a few lessons on gratitude and offers us pointers on how we can be more grateful people.
Discussion Questions:
1. Who is the most grateful person you know? What’s your favorite part about being around that person?
2. Would you consider yourself a grateful person? Drawing off of the story from Luke 17:11-19, what are some of the reasons you would give as to why you ar...2022-04-0339 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSeven Words to Change Your Life: Enough"Enough" is not a word common to us in America. But "enough" is key to finding joy and happiness. We think we'll be content when we get more; God says we'll be content when we allow him to adjust our attitude on what we have.
1. Talk about the kind of family you grew up in. Was it a place where there was never enough, more than enough, or somewhere in between? How has that affected you?
2. What things in your life are you always driving for more of?
3. What are some practices in yo...2022-03-2743 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSeven Words to Change Your Life: Sorry"Sorry" isn't a word for image management, it's a word God intends to bring us out of hiding and into healing. When we face our fears, getting honest with ourselves and opening our lives to others, true love and connection can take place.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you have trouble being honest about your “stuff” with others? Why or why not?
2. Is there a time you opened up to someone else in a way that was scary to you? What happened?
3. Which of the three suggestions on being a real community (moral inventory, conf...2022-03-2039 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSeven Words to Change Your Life: YesMost of us develop a belief that God's posture toward us is a "no." The Bible tells us that God's posture toward us is actually an unequivocal "yes," and that he has made 7,547 promises to prove it! Knowing God is a "yes" toward us equips us to be his "yes" toward others.
Discussion Questions:
1. What’s the best “yes” you’ve ever experienced?
2. Do you feel like God’s heart toward you is a “yes” or a “no?” Why?
3. What’s a practical way you want to be a “yes” toward others...2022-03-1339 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesSeven Words to Change Your Life: NoWe begin life easily saying "no," but before long that changes. The problem? When we can't say "no" to what we should say no to, we can't say "yes" to what we need to say yes to. Jesus models for us the perfect example of how we can grow in the grace of "no."
Discussion Questions:
1. How skilled are you at being able to say the word “no”? Would your closest friends and relationships agree with your assessment?
2. If you struggle to say the word “no,” why do you t...2022-03-0639 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesCome Together: The Golden RuleThe willingness to empathize fully with others will open up incredible doors and opportunities to connect with others.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Would you consider yourself a joyful person? Why or why not?
2. What are some barriers that you find getting in the way of being able to empathize with others well?
3. Do you consider yourself a joyful person? What are ways you think you could become more joyful?2022-02-2739 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesCome Together: Lean on MeThe three little words "I need help" can do a great deal of good when it comes to finding connection with others.2022-02-2132 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesCome Together: You or Me?A number of factors cause us to view life and relationships through the filter of "what's in it for me?" God offers a new mindset to bring to our relationships that can produce greater love and connection.
Discussion Questions:
1. On a scale of 1-10, how connected do you feel to others in general? Why?
2. Do you think you’re a selfish person? Why or why not?
3. Which of the three challenges on your card are most difficult for you? Why? Is there another area where you struggle to step away from selfishness?2022-02-1339 min
Generationally SpeakingWhy Is The Church Divided?There are over 200 Christian Denominations in the United States and 4500+ throughout the world. Was this what Jesus had in mind when He planted the Church?For episode S.3 Ep. 9 of the podcast, Brad and Jordan walk through the question: Why is the church divided? Tune in to find out. 2022-02-1036 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesDoin' Too Much: All By MyselfThe reality is that most of us are trying to escape from something that's hard to escape from... ourselves. Solitude is a God-given resource for us to be able to find peace with ourselves and peace with him.
Discussion Questions:
1. Talk about a time when you found yourself being motivated by some force or emotion inside of you that you didn’t even realize at the time. What happened? How did you feel?
2. Do you feel like you struggle to be silent and live in silence? Why?
3. What’s a way you want...2022-01-3037 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesDoin' Too Much: Control FreakControl has the power to exhaust us like nothing else because it assumes upon our shoulders the burden that only God can handle. When we choose to trust God and give up our way of doing things, we find rest, relief, and progress.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think you’re a control freak? Do other people think you’re a control freak? Why or why not?
2. Do you find that particular situations make you more controlling? Do you think there are some ways to proactively counteract that?
3. Share with...2022-01-2338 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesDoin' Too Much: No Mo' FOMOFOMO is a constant force running in the background of our lives, and it causes us to do some ridiculous things. A man named David points us toward the tricks FOMO plays on us and also toward solutions that we can utilize so we aren't driven to doin' too much out of our fear of missing out.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever overextended yourself because you were afraid you were going to miss out on something if you didn’t? What’d you do? What happened?
2. Do you feel like you suffer with FOMO...2022-01-1941 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesDoin' Too Much: Deeper Than You ThinkMany of us are guilty of doin’ too much; too much at work, too much at home, too much for our image, too much at school, and the weight of feeling like we need to do it all is crushing us. Change is possible, but it will only begin when we recognize an observation that Jesus made about our lives two thousand years ago.
Discussion Questions:
-Talk about some stuff you’ve done in the past to try and change yourself, whether big or small. What’d you do? How’d it go?
-What fr...2022-01-1040 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesChristmas Eve 2021: Shine Your LightJesus shows up when our lives feel like they're hitting rock bottom.2021-12-2424 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Unsettling Solution for Just About Everything: Don't Do the MathWe've all been victims of "grace unfairness," the feeling you get when you feel like someone around you gets more grace and generosity than you feel like you do. Jesus' goal with grace isn't to apply it evenly, it's to be generous, giving us all what we need. Our self-righteousness is to blame for why we struggle to be grateful for the grace we receive in all its forms.
Discussion Questions:
1. Talk about a time when you saw someone else receive grace you feel like they didn’t deserve. How did you feel? Why?
...2021-12-2043 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Unsettling Solution to Just About Everything: Undeserve-ableIt's natural for us to feel pressure to qualify for grace, because that's how all of our other relationships function. God has no problem offering us undeserved grace because he was under no illusions we'd ever deserve it anyway.
Discussion Questions:
1. Which of the four categories that Wes shared do you feel like you fall into as it pertains to grace? Why?
2. What kind of words would you use to characterize your relationship with God? Why?
3. To you take Jesus at his word about the grace he’s offered to you?2021-12-1237 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Unsettling Solution to Just About Everything: I Need ItGrace is a beautiful thing, but you'll only receive when you're ready to admit you need it.
Discussion Questions:
1. Talk about a time in your life when you experienced grace. What happened? What did that feel like? How did that change you?
2. Be honest: how badly do you think you need God’s grace? Do you live in absolute need of it like Elizabeth and Mary, or in opposition to it like Wes described in his story? Maybe another way to ask this question is, “Do you agree with Jesus’ statement that ‘apart from me, you...2021-12-0545 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesThessalonians: Living in the Light of the End: Part 6Part 6 of the series Thessalonians: Living in the Light of the End.
Speaker: John King2021-10-1020 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThessalonians: Living in the Light of the End: Part 5Part 4 of the series Thessalonians: Living in the Light of the End.
Speaker: Jason Fudge2021-10-0320 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThessalonians: Living in the Light of the End: Part 4Part 4 of the series Thessalonians: Living in the Light of the End.
Speaker: 2021-09-2642 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThessalonians: Living in the Light of the End: Part 3Part 3 of the series Thessalonians: Living in the Light of the End.
Speaker: Kane Miller2021-09-1933 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThessalonians: Living in the Light of the End: Part 2Part 2 of the series Thessalonians: Living in the Light of the End.
Speaker: Kane Miller2021-09-1241 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThessalonians: Living in the Light of the End: Part 1Part 1 of the series Thessalonians: Living in the Light of the End.
Speaker: Kane Miller2021-09-0533 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesHow We Grow: Respond and RepeatHearing from God is good, but without any application it's largely useless. Jesus' brother, James, offers us a challenge to move from hearing into doing. Wes offers some practical tips and tricks for how we can do so.
Discussion Questions:
1. Share an example from your life where you know what to do, you have the tools to do it, and you just aren’t.
2. Do you think you struggle mistaking knowledge for growth? Why or why not?
3. What are some external systems or relationships that you can rely upon to help you tur...2021-08-2937 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesHow We Grow: HearGrowing close to God comes with a ton of benefits, and the process is simple. But it's not easy. Wes explains barriers to our growth and offers simple questions we can ask ourselves to see if we are positioned in a place where we can easily hear from God.
Discussion Questions:
1. Where would you rate yourself in terms of spiritual growth? Infant? Child? Adolescent? Mature adult? Why?
2. When you think of spiritual growth, how do you define that? More knowledge? Experiences? Something else? Why?
3. Do you think you are postured and...2021-08-2242 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesYou're Not the Boss of Me: GuiltMessing up is endemic to the human condition, but the guilt that often ensues keeps us away from connection and relationships. How do we deal with our feelings of guilt when we fall short?
Discussion Questions:
1. Did you grow up in a religious environment or family environment that played up guilt and shame? How does that affect you today?
2. Do you have a hard time accepting God’s forgiveness of you? Why or why not?
3. Is there a relationship you need to undergo the work of making restitution on? What will you...2021-08-1539 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesYou're Not the Boss of Me: GreedLike a cleverly-conceived special ops attack, greed slithers into our hearts unnoticed and causes a lot of problems. Jesus gives us one word that helps us to be aware of greed's attacks and stop greed from owning us.
Discussion Questions:
1. After listening to this message, do you think greed is something that attacks your heart currently? Why or why not?
2. Do you struggle to know your life is more than what you have? Why or why not?
3. What is a way in which God might be calling you to be generous? 2021-08-0834 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesYou're Not the Boss of Me: JealousyEnvy and jealousy are corrosive heart attitudes that destroy our relationships and steal our joy. James, the brother of Jesus, makes some observations about jealousy (and its cure) that challenge our assumptions and help us find freedom.
Discussion Questions:
When confronted with jealous feelings, do you revel in them or do you stuff them?
What are the selfish ambitions within you that often lead to you feeling jealous?
Where do you need to engage the spiritual discipline of celebration to beat back jealousy’s hold on your life? 2021-08-0237 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesYou're Not the Boss of Me: Fear and AnxietyWe tend to think that the solution to worry is simply a change to our external circumstances. Jesus proposes a harder, but more effective, way to stop worry from being the boss of us.
Discussion questions:
1. On a scale from 1-10, how would you rate your natural “worry factor?” Why do you think that is?
2. What are you currently worried about? Why are you so worried about it?
3. Wes talked about three solutions to handle worry: Gaze on God, give up what we’re worried about, and to get help. Which of tho...2021-07-2633 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesYou're Not the Boss of Me: AngerAnger has the power to seethe within us and completely destroy us. The three simple words of intimacy, reconciliation, and grace can shape how we deal with anger and remove anger's hold on us.
Discussion Questions:
1. Am I an angry person? (It might be best to ask someone who knows you well this question.)
2. In what areas of life does it seem like anger is the boss? (God, others, or self)
3. What remedy is probably one I should start making some big steps toward peacemaking on? (Intimacy, Reconciliation, Grace)2021-07-1845 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesYou're Not the Boss of Me: It All Starts HereReligion tends to offer external practices to build a better filter. Jesus offers us a path to inward transformation that leads to the change we seek.
Discussion Questions:
Which of these following emotions has a way of becoming the boss of you? (Anger • Envy • Guilt • Fear • Greed)
What does it sound like (internally) when you’re listening to the “boss” you mentioned from the previous question? What is an early indicator that you are about to hand over control to that particular emotion?
What regularly happens in your life that triggers that emotion? Inste...2021-07-1137 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: The Best Is Yet to ComeWhen we hit the wall, it's easy to lose heart. We can find hope when we fight back against the devil's schemes with Scripture's truth.
Discussion Questions:
1. Are the things that I am believing about myself or God or others based on truth I can find in scripture, are they contextually backed, and are they expanded upon through other sources of biblical wisdom?
2. Would my behavior and beliefs identify me as a solitary sufferer or as a child of God?
3. How might God be using my suffering to bring about good in...2021-07-0435 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: Goodbye, ShameShame and guilt are detrimental to connection. Finding our way past the wall happens when we say goodbye to the disconnecting power of shame.
Discussion Questions:
Do you feel like you grew up in an environment where guilt and shame were pretty present? Why or why not?
Do you struggle with feelings of guilt and shame frequently? Why do you think that is?
God’s Word promises us that we are God’s children (Galatians 4) and that there is absolutely no condemnation for those of us who place our faith in Jesus (Roma...2021-06-2738 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: Everybody Needs Somebod(ies)Connection to others is important, but in a culture that celebrates personal freedom as the highest value, connection is now falling by the wayside. The Bible's greatest story of friendship shows us some ideas on how we can form relationships that help us up and over the wall.
Discussion Questions:
1. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your friendships? Do you feel close to people or a little more isolated?
2. If your friendships don't feel close, why do you think that is? And if they are close, what...2021-06-2031 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: Core StrengthTime alone with God is critical to move past the wall. Solitude and fasting amp up our ability to hear from God and break through spiritually stuck times. 2021-06-1336 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: Rooted In GodOne of our greatest enemies at the wall is our own mind. A lifestyle that is committed to study will root itself in God and experience the transformation that comes with an inner being renewed by God's truth.
Discussion Questions:
1. What are you currently studying and is it oriented towards God?
2. How has God revealed himself to you in the times when you have studied His Word and will?
3. Are your mind and the things you fill your brain with submitted to the Lord?
4. What sort of transformation do you think could take p...2021-06-0640 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: What Got You Here Won't Get You TherePart of the reason we end up at the wall is because our way of doing life spiritually is imperfect and destined to lead us to walls. Arriving at the wall is nothing to be ashamed of, but we'll continue to stay there unless and until we repent and allow Jesus to change the ways in which we follow him.
Discussion Questions:
1. Have you ever found yourself stepping into a situation where things were pretty messed up and you had a responsibility to help make things better? What was that like?
2. The early years...2021-05-3037 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: The Wait RoomWaiting isn't an isolated experience, it's part of what it means to know God. Waiting is where God does some of his best work.
Discussion Questions:
On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your confidence in God? Why?
Describe a time in your life when you were in the “wait room.” What did you learn there or what habits and practices did you adopt (good or bad) to help you through that season?
David finished this psalm by telling people to be strong, take heart, and wait...2021-05-2336 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: The Way Forward Is to StopWe hate stopping. It feels unproductive and wasteful. The story of one man shows us that sometimes it's only by stopping that God can begin to show us what carried us to the wall in the first place. (It's almost never something that he asked us to carry.)
Discussion questions:
How slow do you go? Do you think you move at a pace that is too fast to often notice what might be happening under the surface?
Describe a time when you found yourself taking responsibility for the output, when all you could actually...2021-05-1635 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Wall: Welcome to the WallAny spiritual person will spend some time at the wall. We often think something's wrong with us, but the wall is a normal part of our growth in faith.
Discussion Questions:
1. What’s a lesson you’ve learned at some point in your life that you hated learning when you were going through it, but are so thankful that you now know?
2. Have you ever had an experience at the wall? What was/is that like for you?
3. In what ways do you think that you need to be perfected in love...2021-05-0935 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesHere We Go!Taking next steps is scary, but following Jesus is exactly the step you are always looking for.2021-05-0240 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesDeath Defeated: Death to SelfOur culture avoids denial like the plague. Jesus says that self-deprivation is the pathway to eventual glorification.2021-04-2632 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesDeath Defeated: Death to Graceless ReligionThe gospel writer John tells us that Jesus was full of grace and truth. When we encounter religion that is not characterized by grace, we've encountered a religious system that is out of alignment with Jesus.2021-04-1841 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesDeath Defeated: Death to DivisionJesus' shed blood on the cross breaks down the barrier of sin. But it also breaks down ethnic divisions we setup between ourselves that destroy unity.2021-04-1135 minCrossbridge Weekend MessagesDeath Defeated: Death to DeathJesus brings death to death. That's not just good news for 2,000 years ago. It's good news for today, too.2021-04-0440 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesLeading Through: Compassion"Compassion" isn't the title of a lot of texts on leadership. But according to Jesus, it was vitally important. Great leadership sees every interaction as an opportunity for compassion.2021-03-2832 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesLeading Through: ClarityWe wish the world was full of certainty, but anyone who promises certainty is selling you a bill of goods that they cannot deliver on. But in a world full of uncertainty, followers of Jesus can access the next best thing: clarity. 2021-03-2130 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesLeading Through: Moral AuthorityIn a world where seemingly no one's talk lines up with their actions, there is a unique leadership power available to those whose life and leadership align.2021-03-1437 minCrossbridge Community ChurchGame On, DisciplesFor the past seven weeks we have been walking through an intense series called: Christian? We've talked about love, judgment, anger, grace & truth, and loopholes. We've had vulnerable conversations with people who have been challenged in uncomfortable ways. The growth we've seen from Crossbridgers has been incredibly encouraging... and yet, we are just getting started. Tune in as we provide practical next steps for anyone interested in becoming Disciples2021-03-1232 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesLeading Through: Heaven RulesEveryone wants to make a difference, but when pride is present we can't get out of our own way. God is opposed to the proud, but exalts and gives grace to the humble.2021-03-0736 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Rule: Crafting Your RuleA rule of life is a great idea, but until we commit it to paper it'll always be just that: an idea. James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that we experience God's blessing in our doing. We hope this series of short messages lead you to craft your own rule of life. (You can access all of our rule of life resources online at crossbridgechristian.com/rule.)2021-03-0135 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Rule: MissionHelping disconnected people connect to God doesn't have to feel like pulling teeth. Paul, the greatest connector of disconnected people in the Bible, shares with us his practical ideas on how to help people know and follow Jesus. 2021-02-2135 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Rule: 9 to 5If we are going to spend one-quarter of our lives at work, it makes sense that we'd give careful thought to how we do it. When we see work as an act of worship to God, it shapes the work and leadership we provide to be honoring to God and great for the world around us. 2021-02-1535 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesEngaging ScriptureGod tells us that Scripture is profitable; it informs, corrects, guides, and encourages. Wes paints a vision for why engaging Scripture is important and outlines some ideas on how to help you engage God's Word in a more consistent way. 2021-02-0836 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Rule: Befriending SilenceMany of us use noise to mask the deeper emptiness or struggle we are feeling inside. Scripture encourages us to befriend silence as a way of being with God.
(Note: This message is in two parts. If you'd like to walk through the silence experience that Wes mentions midway here, check it out online at crossbridgechristian.com/silence.)2021-02-0126 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesPrayerFor something many people speak of as natural or "just talkin' to God," you'd think we would pray a lot more and find a lot more life and joy in it. When asked to teach others to pray, Jesus offered a helpful model for us that builds a truly nourishing relationship with God. 2021-01-2437 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesRestOur world is moving at a more frenetic pace than ever, and it's leaving us overworked, stressed, and exhausted. Jesus, who once promised to provide rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29), points us to himself as the true source of rest and seeks to undo all the fears that prevent us from finding it.2021-01-1737 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Rule: Friendships & RelationshipsIsolation is on the rise, and it's killing us. Jesus purposefully and prayerfully sought out relationships and models for us a life that does the same.2021-01-1036 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Rule: Careful ThoughtTo live a life that experiences the fullness of life from God, careful thought is needed because our lives don't naturally move in that direction. Wes shares about an ancient spiritual practice that is designed to help us experience the fullness of life from God.2021-01-0339 min
Crossbridge Weekend MessagesThe Songs of Christmas: Isaiah's SongIn a time when people were walking through great darkness, Isaiah saw a great light dawning on the horizon. When we turn to Christ, we find a hope that penetrates even the darkest of darkness.2020-12-2518 min
Crossbridge Church PodcastIngredients for Christian Endurance 2019-09-2942 min
Crossbridge Community ChurchExplore God: Is Jesus Really God? (2/3/19)Pastor John Pickens says the question isn't whether Jesus existed. That is verified. The question is whether he is truly God. Because that is something foundational to the Christian faith. 2019-02-0426 min