Shows
Faith Community FellowshipReady For A MiracleMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
READY FOR THE MIRACLE
1. Who’s To Blame?
In this era of abject irresponsibility, it’s just easier to assign blame to others than to be honest with ourselves. It seems that responsibility is only acceptable for what goes right.
Examples of Blame-shifting:
Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:12-13
Genesis 2:16-17
Genesis 3:6
David
Psalm 19:12
2 Samuel 12:13
The Disciples (with the blind man)
Life is an endless series of choices.
First, we make our choices; then, our choices make us.
John 9:1-11, 34
2. "Here’s mud in your eye.”
Sometimes it is difficult to understand, let alone explain, God’s un...2025-05-0400 min
Faith Community FellowshipCheers, Jeers, Fears and TearsMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Zechariah 9:9
Luke 19:34
Isaiah 53:4-9
Jesus did not come as a king; instead He came as a suffering servant.
John 1:12-13
A time of CHEERS
John 12:19
Luke 23:13-25
CHEERS have turned to JEERS
Acts 26:28
Matthew 27:19
The JEERS became FEARS
John 19:21
TEARS abound
Luke 23:34
Jesus spoke 7 times on the cross;
3 times before the darkness:
Luke 23:24
Luke 23:43
John 19:26-27
Four times after the darkness:
Matthew 27:46
Luke 23:46
Let us reflect on what it cost Jesus to go to the cross for our sakes.
Look and See.
Listen and make your Palm Sunday decision.2025-04-1300 min
Faith Community FellowshipGrowing Christlike CharacterMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
*Somewhere along the way we’ve normalized the abnormal.
“Work-life balance” VS. “Life-work clarity”.
Sow a thought, reap an action;
sow an action, reap a habit;
sow a habit, reap a character;
sow a character, reap a destiny. (R.W. Emerson)
Christian Character is formed through a lifelong process that begins at the “new birth” experience.
Character transformation takes time.
Pressure situations have a way of bringing out the best (or the worst) in every human being.
Deuteronomy 8:2
God is more concerned with our “character transformation” than our “success rate”.
Romans 5:3-4
When we glorify God in our ear...2025-01-1900 min
Faith Community FellowshipHope in the WaitingMessage by
Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor
Advent...
Christmas is a time of hope…and it’s a time of waiting.
Most of us view waiting as wasting.
**God is not in a hurry.
Some things that happen while you’re waiting that can only happen while you’re waiting.
Matthew 1:1-16
Genesis 18:11-12
Christmas is for the hopeless because grace comes at the perfect time.
1, Find strength in the source of our hope.
When you lose control, you hold tightest to your source of hope.
Our hope is in the person of Jesus!
2, Find comfort in who wait...2024-12-2200 min
Faith Community Fellowship??? Christmas ???Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Luke 1 & 2
How do you think you would respond to a Christmas sermon composed entirely of questions?
If intriguing questions are raised in a familiar text… and answers are not forthcoming, does that leave you puzzled?
If so, is the preacher not doing his job properly if you are left kind of mystified?
What would you say if YOU were delivering a sermon for Christmas?
Would you focus on the mangy stable?
What about the Prince of Peace?
Would you take a look at the wisemen?
How does God speak to you?
What is the st...2024-12-1500 min
Faith Community FellowshipA Tale of 3 SonsMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Luke 15:11-32
vs 12-13
The grass in the next pasture always looks greener.
vs 15-16
- the worst part of the picture
vs 17
- reasoning/intelligence
John 14:2
vs 22-24
If you really want to have a blast, you can’t do it in the “far country”!
1 John 1:9
A son is a son forever!
__________________
1, The younger son
2, The elder son
3, The One who uttered the parable: the Son of God.
YOU can become a son, or daughter, of the Heavenly Father TODAY!2024-11-1700 min
Faith Community FellowshipQuitter or Overcomer?Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle about which you know nothing.
Revelation 12:7-12
Isaiah 14:12-15
Luke 4:29
2 Corinthians 2:11
I Peter 5:8
Revelation 12:7-9
The first “Casting Down” of Satan:
Deprived of his PLACE
Isaiah 14
Ezekiel 28
Ephesians 6:12
Ephesians 2:2
Revelation 12: 10-11
The second “Casting Down” of Satan:
Deprived of his POWER
Romans 8:33-34
John 12:31
Revelation 12:12
The third “Casting Down” of Satan:
Banned from the HEAVENLIES
Revelation 20:11
***3 Keys to Overcoming the Enemy:
By the power of...
the Cross
our Confession
Romans 10:10
Psalm 119:1
our Commitment
1 Peter 5:6-9
...Quitter or Overcomer??2024-10-2000 min
Faith Community FellowshipTwice OwnedMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
** REDEEM **
Ephesians 1:7
Redeem:
to buy or win back
to repurchase
to free from distress
to recover by payment
to pay a debt, or keep a promise
Jesus is the Savior we ALL desperately need.
Matthew 1:21
Luke 19:10
Sin traps us, and holds us.
John 8:34
Ephesians 1:7
“redemption through His blood…”
Hebrews 9:22
John 8:36
We ALL need the deliverance He offers.
1 John 1:9
Ephesians 1:7-8
“the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us."
John 1:162024-09-2200 min
Faith Community FellowshipWhen God SpeaksMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
A BIG world of disappointment, regret, and HURT.
Genesis 1:3 (NIV)
Genesis 1:3 (The Message)
** A Scripture Feast:
Genesis 1:2 – shows literal blackness and chaos
Genesis 1:4 & Matthew 27:45 – the absence of light; physical darkness
Exodus 10:21 & Isaiah 13:9-10 – judgment
Job 34:22 – where evildoers try to hide
Job 17:13 – a land of darkness
Romans 2:19 – intellectual darkness
Acts 13:11 – Paul undergoes blindness
Matthew 8:12 – place of outer darkness
Luke 22:53 – the world’s dominant evil powers
Ephesians 5:8 – a state of being (unsaved)
Romans 13:12 – evil works
Often portrayed in a moral sense.
** Isaiah 45:7; 1 John 1:5; Isaiah 29:16
** John1:5 = the Best News!
** 1 Peter 5:8 – a roaring lion
1 Corinthians 15:14
John 8:12
Revelation 22:5
Ephesians 5:13
1 Thessalonians 5:5
2 Corint...2024-08-2500 min
Faith Community FellowshipEnjoying The Ride, Pt 3Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
PART 3: A Display Piece, A CD Rack, and An Exotic Gift
God has given each of us a purpose.
Work for God’s glory and grow other disciples
-- OR --
Be a decoration in a church building.
“I must discover God’s purpose for my life,
and I must fulfill that purpose.”
Ever feel like a ship without a rudder??
“More people fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent.” (Billy Sunday)
Genesis 1:26-28
The very first thing God wanted us to know about:
HE is at the beginning of it all.
Genesis 1:1...2024-07-1400 min
Faith Community FellowshipEnjoying The Ride, Pt 2Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
PART 2: Looking for Jesus
Romans 8:1-11
Freedom has been a compelling issue since the beginning of time.
3 Things the Law cannot do to a Christian:
1. It cannot claim you (Romans 8:2)
2. It cannot condemn you (Romans 8:3)
3. It cannot control you (Romans 8:4)
In Romans 8, the author writes about Real Freedom, Genuine Freedom, God-Initiated Freedom.
In verses 5-11, a contrast between 2 kinds of life:
- dominated by a sinful human nature
- dominated by the Spirit of God
“What would Jesus want me to do?”
Never seek REVENGE.
Rotten fruit will fall by itself.
We are not only...2024-06-2300 min
Faith Community FellowshipEnjoying The Ride, Pt 1Message by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
PART 1: That's A Funny Name
Ecclesiastes 3:4
Psalm 126:2
Proverbs 17:22
Genesis 17:19
Genesis, chapters 15 -21
Some Benefits of Laughter:
1, Helps us not to take ourselves too seriously.
2, Helps the healing process: physically, psychologically, and spiritually.
3, Helps us maintain balance in a crazy world.
4, Helps us (and our surroundings) stay sane.
5, Empowers us to live more into the image of God.
“If you have never seen God smile, nor heard Him laugh, you don’t know Him very well.”
Great News: The Power of Jesus’ Blood
Leviticus 17:11
Matthew 26:28
Luke 22:20
Acts 20:28
Romans 3:25
Romans 5:9
Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:20
Hebrews 9:14
Hebrews 9:11
Hebrews 10:19
Hebrews 13:12
1 Peter 1...2024-06-0200 min
Faith Community FellowshipDangerous Extremes, Pt 2: Goose Bumps & Mood SwingsMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
**Face Everything And Rise!**
Matthew 14:22-27
Fear is a very normal response to an impending situation, either real or imagined.
Matthew 6:25-34
Anxiety, in medical terms = a mood state.
A normal human emotion that everyone experiences at one time or another.
John 14:1, 27
Toxic worriers: paralysis by analysis.
Anxiety is “our” keeping, or maintaining, control of the situation.
“Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it arrives.”
See Luke 12:22-34
Philippians 4:6-72024-05-0500 min
Faith Community FellowshipNo Ordinary ParadeMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Matthew 21:1-11
A paradox: a true statement that at first appears contradictory.
Palm Sunday is sort of like a re-enactment.
Zechariah 9
Jesus’ words will never send you on a “fool’s errand”.
John 11:25-26
The 1st paradox:
The Almighty King rode into Jerusalem to die!
Palm trees represent success and triumph.
Luke 19:40
The 2nd paradox:
Jesus showed Himself to be a humble king who came to serve us by dying on the cross.
There is a part of each of us that needs the calm, and peace, and comfort that only Jesus can bring.
Many par...2024-04-0700 min
Faith Community FellowshipDangerous Extremes, Pt 1: A Worried MessMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
What are you worried about today?
Proverbs 12:25
WORRY (from Old English word):
to choke, or to strangle
WORRY:
1, It’s not good for you.
Proverbs 12:25
mentally
emotionally
spiritually (2 Timothy 1:7)
physically
2, It never helps you.
Matthew 6:25-34
very distracting
too consuming
paralyzing/halts progress
3, God’s grace is available.
Psalm 55:22
Matthew 11:28-30
Philippians 4:6-7
Our King is SEATED!
He is not frantically pacing.
Seated … Steady … Secure2024-02-2500 min
Faith Community FellowshipWhining, Waiting and WinningMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Impatience versus Patience
1, Whining
1 Samuel 13:5-14
The art of waiting is not learned at once.
Isaiah 40:31
Hebrews 1:1
2 Peter 1:6-8
Galatians 5:22-23
James 1:3-4
2, Waiting
There is a time to DO;
and a time to WAIT…
and the ability to tell the difference is a sign of maturity.
Examples of Waiting:
when we desire wisdom
when we experience hurt/loss
when we want to grow
Right way: receive power & direction
Wrong way: remain stagnant & powerless
3, Winning
Can impatience and love really exist together in the same heart?
1 Corinthians 13:4
The “Waiting Room” is part of daily life.
...2023-09-1000 min
Faith Community FellowshipCarried Away - Easter 2023Pastor Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Pastor Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor
Worship: to recognize someone or something’s worth
Human beings are worshippers.
Sacrifice
“What do we need to do?”
ancient Jewish worship
a covenant
Deuteronomy 28
“To obey is better than sacrifice.
”1 Kings 8
Atonement... reconciliation
– a temporary fix
John the Baptizer: God is up to something new!
Hebrews 10:1…forgiven once for all
1 John 2:2
Worship changed forever!
Romans 12:1… a living sacrifice
We gather & we go… reflecting the Light.2023-04-0900 min
Total Christmas PodcastEpisode 76 - Santa Origins: SinterklaasHooray for Christmas.We start off with the Christmas Quiz and we have an extra question so I can shoehorn in a great joke.Then our Self-Appointed Podcast Barman Bob Baker discusses the word Trolley.This episode's version of A Christmas Carol is 'A Christmas Carol: Scrooge's Ghostly Tale' a naff computer animated version from 2006. They stay reasonably close to the story and if you want to put yourself through it, here's a link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqSGpnpoc9o&t=2381sThen Bob returns with Christmas E...2023-02-2648 min
Faith Community FellowshipThis Changes Everything!Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor
__________________________
Genesis 3:8-10
~ what God is like
God desires relationship with us!
Exodus 25:8-9
“So I can live among them.”
1 Kings 8:10-12
“...the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple.”
John 1:1-5
John 1:14
The Scriptures are about God's search for human beings.
Our universal response to our brokenness is to hide.
God's response to our brokenness is to seek.
John 14:16-17
Revelation 21:1-52022-12-1800 min
Faith Community FellowshipAll Those VoicesMessage by Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
John 10:1-10
What voices are you listening to?
Do we recognize the voice of Jesus when there are so many others?!
Each one of us matters so very much.
Isaiah 49:16
What voices are familiar or unfamiliar to us?
Where He leads us, may we follow!
All the way... to the cross of Jesus, and to God's heaven, our eternal home.
**Listen to the Voice2022-11-0600 min
Faith Community FellowshipCelebrating 25 Years!Bob Crosthwaite, Pastor Emeritus
Joshua 4:1-8
We forget.
THINK BACK: When have you personally experienced the faithfulness of God?
God's faithfulness in the past gives us confidence in His faithfulness in the future.
________________________________
Todd Crosthwaite, Lead Pastor
Acts 15:19
The church is a means to an end.
>>> Avoiding the DRIFT...
toward insiders and away from outsiders.
toward preserving rather than advancing
What do we do with this opportunity?
Acts 4:29-30
We have been given the stewardship of the message of a rich and satisfying and eternal life.
Influence is a stewardship.
Be bold in your INVITING.
Be bold in your VOLUNTEERING.
...2022-06-2600 min
Faith Community Fellowship...With UsPastor Bob Crosthwaite
Pastor Todd Crosthwaite
Matthew 1:23
GOD WITH US
I see you.
God-at-a-distance
God with me
- expands your capacity to love
I know, I’m sorry, I’m ready.2021-12-1900 min
Faith Community FellowshipEaster @ Faith CommunityPastor Bob Crosthwaite
Pastor Todd Crosthwaite
The mystery of Easter
The foundation of our faith is what we celebrate at Easter.
Nero | Caesar Augustus | no Bible
Jesus' message was all about Jesus!
When Jesus died, the hopes of his follower's died with him.
John 20:1-10
Their message:
#1, you killed him; #2, God raised him; #3, We've seen him; #4, Repent!
Our hope is not in vain2021-04-0432 min
Faith Community FellowshipEaster 2020... believePastor Todd Crosthwaite
Pastor Bob Crosthwaite
1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Three groups:
1) Believe but wonder
2) How could anyone believe…?
3) Believe again
We can have extraordinary confidence
in the resurrection of Jesus.
"Christ died for our sins and was buried.
He rose from the dead and was seen.”
1 Corinthians:
- proves the resurrection was not a product of decades of oral transmission
- documented while eyewitnesses were still alive
- the Bible did not launch Christianity - the resurrection did!
Acts 4:12
Believe but sometimes wonder: Your hope is not in vain.
How could anybody believe? Here’s the proof.
Believe again: there’s more to...2020-04-1233 min
Faith Community FellowshipEaster MattersPastor Bob Crosthwaite
Pastor Todd Crosthwaite
Mark 16:1-4
John 20:2
Luke 24:11-12
John 20:19
Luke 24:37-38, 44, 46-48
The resurrection of Jesus created Christianity... and it launched the church!
The foundation of the Christian faith is an event with profound implications.
1 Peter 1:3-4, 6, 18-19
We know that God is for us because Jesus died for us, not because things always work out for us.
Why does Easter matter?
1, God is personal.
2, Suffering is not evidence of God's absence.
3, Heaven is real.
4, Forgiveness is available.
5, You are loved by God.2019-04-2141 min
Faith Community FellowshipMidnight RevivalPastor Bob Crosthwaite
Acts 16:22-34
Your faith: real or theoretical??
- Fundamental philosophy of the Christian life
- What about praising God?
- Demonstrating priorities
God's desire is for us to be
bold in the way we pray, and
courageous in the way we share the love of Jesus.2019-03-2448 min
Faith Community FellowshipQuestions at GethsemanePastor Bob Crosthwaite
Matthew 26:33-46
Luke 22:39
John 18:1, 4-12
Mark 14:32-42
1) Jesus agonized.
2) He recoiled.
3) He found peace by surrendering to God.2018-03-2552 min