Sermon Reflections from Sin and Righteousness | Alex Hardt | October 15, 2023
What do you know about righteousness? Biblically, it is right standing with God that comes through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The contrast between the righteousness we have through Christ and living a life where we are stuck in the rut of habitual sinning is the topic of 1 John 3. Pastor Alex began is sermon this Sunday with a look at our own counterfeit behaviors. It is important to know a counterfeit when you see one. Are we willing to acknowledge them and turn them over to God? In 1 John 3, John says that continual sinning on our part is not how true believers will act. Those who are pretending to be believers or who are just going through the motions of being ‘Christian’ are not of God. These are sobering thoughts that cause us to evaluate our own walk with Jesus. How do others see me? As a sincere believing Christian who tries to follow Jesus in word and deed or as a phony, a pretender, who says they are Christian but does not speak or act as one who follows Jesus? John wants us to know that by belonging, or following Jesus, we are children of God. We bear His name, His Spirit and are created in His image. As God’s children we are loved equally, cared for, protected, and taught how to be more like His Son, Jesus. He has truly adopted us fully into His family and we are HIS! I love 1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” God proclaims that we are His children. The reason He gives for us not ‘fitting in’ to the world is that the world does not know Him and we belong to Him. However, we fit perfectly into His kingdom because we do know Him as our heavenly Father. What a great assurance for each of us that our value and worth comes from the Father’s love and belonging to Him. How does one recognize a counterfeit? With money, the bills can looks so perfect that they are not recognizable except by an expert. God is the expert and knows our hearts so no one can ‘get past’ God, so to speak. Our job is not to waste time trying to root out the counterfeit Christians but to live our lives proclaiming Jesus. We are to put on His righteousness daily and seek to show Him to those around us. What does that look like? It is different for each of us but evidence of our faith and the working out of our salvation will be evident in the fruits of the Spirit that are found in our lives. Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Are you seeing more of these fruits in your life? Do you see a decrease in your passion for worldly things and an increase in your desire to please and serve God? It does not happen overnight but is a lifelong process as we put on His Righteousness daily and seek to Put Off worldly standards and actions. Pastor Alex also wanted us to realize that pursuing God in our lives is a destiny making proposition. If we pursue God fully with a heart committed to Jesus and we will be mightily used by God in His kingdom. If we are ‘stuck’ in the world, driven by earthly desires, pleasures and goals, it will lead us to make poor decisions and not be kingdom effective. We have to choose- follow the world and with its goals and rewards or follow God and receive His purpose for our lives and His eternal rewards. The choices we make today affect our tomorrow. Choose wisely. Choose life in Jesus or death. I pray you will join me in saying, I choose life in Jesus. Joshua put it this way when presenting this same question to the Israelites in Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Love and Hatred | Alex Hardt | October 8, 2023
Pastor Alex spoke candidly about the world’s pressures upon us to choose its ways over God’s. Our sin nature predisposes us towards that, but our Spiritual nature from God moves us towards Him in spite of our propensity to sin. We are reminded of Jesus’ words of promise in 1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” We are comforted by this truth for we know that we will be victorious in Him. Our text for today was 1 John 2 and begins with obedience in the face of sin. John acknowledges that we all sin and comforts us with the truth of Jesus’ forgiveness. “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” John hopes that by leaning into Jesus we can avoid sin, but he assures us that we bear Jesus’ righteousness though faith. This truth can and does comfort us. John then tells us how to focus on being obedient to God in the face of all the adversity in which we live daily. *If we have come to know Jesus, we’ll work to keep his commandments (3) *Obedience to God’s word brings God’s love to completion in us (5) *Knowing Jesus gives us the desire to live and be more like Him(6) *Living in Jesus’ light means setting aside hatred for others, exchanging darkness for light (9) *Hatred for others, or yourself, creates a darkness which will surround you and cause you to be blind to Jesus and what He desires for your life. (11) By being Obedient to God’s Ways and Word, we show our love for God. The proof of our love is in how we act and speak. How does this challenge you to better align your actions to God’s Word? Do you see a need to know more about His ways so you can better show Jesus to those around you? Join a home group- a bible study and dive into His Word with fellow believers. See the Church Website for groups and when they meet. In 1 John 2:15-17, John specifically talks about avoiding the world’s influence in our lives. “ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” John warns us not to put our love efforts into loving the world. Because if we do, we are committing ourselves to many undesirable things that are opposed to God and His ways. He names pride, lust, fleshly pursuits which would include craving physical pleasures, power, greed, advancement, achievements for self-gain, etc. Many of these can start out harmless enough but when fueled with pride, greed, lust and envy they become perverted. We do need to work hard and take pride in our work and achievements, but not be filled with boasting, self-love and entitlement. John also reminds us that the worldly things are just that, worldly and will only endure for the here and now. They are temporal and NOT eternal. Only things done for God will stand for all time. Lastly, John warns us of opposition we will face from without. Before the opposition has been within our own character. This opposition in the form of antichrists which are very real and powerful. Verse 22-23 “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” Each one of us faces antichrists in our lives. John classifies anyone who denies Jesus is an anti-(against) Christ. We need to be watchful and aware of those in our lives that oppose us because we love Jesus and desire to live like Him. Jesus prayed for us as He knew we would face opposition. John 17:20-21 “ My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Paul warned of spiritual opposition in Ephesian 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” James encourages us in James 4:7-8 “ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.” Pastor Alex concluded with the fact that Satan with all his worldly enticements opposes Jesus with His love assurance, protection, eternal life, hope and guidance and are competing for our love. The choice is up to us. God created us with free will and we have to choose. Not choosing is denial. There is no fence sitting. Why wait? Walk with Jesus and taste of His eternal love, commitment, guidance, protection through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Be assured that those God who answer God’s call He will equip and empower to follow His Son! Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Divine Connections | Joselin Hernandez | September 10, 2023
Have you visited the grocery store, coffee shop, or gas station this week? Chances are, you've stepped out of your room or bed at some point during your week. And what happens when you do? You encounter people. What if we viewed every interaction as an opportunity to share the Gospel? Millions of people haven't yet come to know Jesus, our Lord and Savior, but we can make a difference one person at a time. Maybe striking up a conversation with the barista at your favorite local café could eventually lead to a chance to share the Gospel with them. Or perhaps taking your dog on your usual route each day could provide an opening to impact someone's life. The truth is, we can't predict the impact we might have on someone's life with just one encounter. Often, it feels easier to remain silent about our faith to avoid offending anyone. But what if the person you encounter is the one whom God has placed in your path to lead to Christ? Would you feel regretful if you missed the opportunity to bring them into God's kingdom? Perhaps the initial conversation won't immediately lead to their conversion, but you could plant a seed, offer them a starting point, and help them experience Christ's love. Throughout the scriptures, we see ordinary individuals called by God to share His message of goodness. When they obeyed, something extraordinary often occurred: those they shared God's message with came to know Him. Reflect on your own faith journey—did someone introduce you to Jesus? Was it a friend, family member, or perhaps a stranger who handed you a pamphlet or offered a prayer? Maybe it happened while you were on a sports team, at work, or at camp, and someone had the courage to discuss Jesus with you. The pivotal point wasn't necessarily your immediate decision to follow Jesus; it was that someone recognized your worth and importance and decided to share the most significant news in human history with you—that Jesus was a manifestation of God's love, and His love was meant for you. What could be more crucial than that? It's easy to talk about our favorite sports teams, jobs, or coffee orders, but imagine if we focused our conversations on Jesus instead. What if we shared something that could genuinely shape, mold, and transform lives? In one Bible story, this is precisely what happened. Philip, prompted by God, approached a eunuch who was already a believer but didn't fully comprehend his faith. Philip didn't hesitate to engage in conversation, and as a result, the eunuch gained a clear understanding of his beliefs. Not every experience will mirror Philip's, but in all our interactions, we have the opportunity to make God known. So, what will you choose to do—conceal your faith or share the greatest news ever? MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Warning to Oppressors | Alex Hardt | July 30, 2023
In this week's sermon reflection, I would like to it be your response to the message. So, I have provided little bits and pieces from the message along with a few interactive components. My hope is that it gives you, the listener, a chance to reflect on the message. POINT 1 YOUR WEEPING AND GROANING… REVEALS TO THE WORLD WHAT YOUR SOWING. James 5:3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. In Verse 3 James states that the corrosion of Gold and Silver affects the WEALTHY and POWERFUL in two ways. First, it testifies AGAINST them, producing evidence of their greed and lack of concern. Take time to reflect on these questions. What is God Saying to You and What are you going to do about it.
POINT 2 YOUR PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE… REVEALS YOUR TRUST IN GOD’S PERSEVERANCE. In James 6:7-12, James redirects his focus to PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE in the Midst of Suffering. While all of us need Patience and Endurance, there are particular times when we need a bit more patience. WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNCONTROLLABLE James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. How do you respond when circumstances are uncontrollable? WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNCHANGEABLE James 5:10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. What's the most difficult thing about dealing with stubborn people? WHEN PROBLEMS ARE UNEXPLAINABLE James 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. What is your initial response when problems frustrate you or are unexplainable? POINT 3 THE POWER OF PRAYER… LEADS BELIEVERS, IN BOTH DARKNESS AND SUNSHINE, TO A CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD. How do you respond in times of Darkness/Trouble and in Times of Sunshine/Joy? What would it look like to glorify God in those situations? How would glorifying God look different in times of darkness than in times of sunshine? SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Addiction | Stevan Cox and Alex Hardt | June 25, 2023
Pastor Alex reminded us that addiction is a powerful tool that Satan uses to capture and ensnare our thoughts and lives. His good friend, Steve Cox, shared this truth from his own life and how he saw the consequences of sin play out in what happened to him. To begin, Pastor Alex shared the movie example from Stay Awake where the lives of those surrounding the addict mother were affected by her addiction. Even though the addict thinks they are only hurting themselves the repercussions of their actions reverberate around them as others seek to ‘make things better’ and enable them to continue with their addictive behaviors. Steve continued with his own story of redemption from addiction and evil life choices though the power of Christ in his life. His transformation was complete, whole and filled with restoration and hope. God is good and showed himself in Steve’s life in extraordinary ways. Praise God! As I reflected upon the power of God’s great love for Steve, I was drawn anew to the scripture passages each chose to rely upon. Steve choose 1 Corinthians 15:32-44. This passage speaks about the truth and reality of Christ’s resurrection. Without the power of the resurrection all would be lost. Without the healing power of Christ and what he did on the cross when He died and rose again, Steve, you and I would be desolate and lost without hope. Without the reality of Christ in our lives, it would simply be as verse 32b states, “If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” All our world would be temporal and of and for itself. With Christ in our lives, we gain hope, purpose, salvation, an eternal home and a relationship with God Almighty. Pastor Alex chose Matthew 5:12-12. In this portion of scripture Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount and gives a listing of the attitudes that Christ desires us to have in our lives. We will receive God’s blessings if we are sorry for our sins and mourn over what we have done. With a humble attitude we will be uplifted and filled with His purpose, righteousness, purity, peace and the power to sustain us during persecution. Once one turns to Christ, a life filled with blessings awaits. Repentance will begin the process towards all that Christ has for each of us. The power of God’s love and forgiveness is greater than any addiction and is strong enough to break the chains of sin that can bind us. Steve reminded us that addiction does not have to be about drugs and alcohol alone but can be anything that takes the place of the love in Christ in our lives. This is a sobering reminder to constantly examine our priorities and pray, pray, pray. I loved his main point saying, ‘Your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than you talk talks.’ Taking this apart, I see how you live your life- your daily actions speaks to others about who you are. Your words of course speak to who you are. The loudest witness to others is when our words and actions match and thereby speak in unity of Christ in all ways. God uses us to show Himself to those around us as others see and hear us. God desires that our lives are committed and aligned to Him. Micah 6:8 puts it this way, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Take some time this week to examine your walk, your words and ask yourself, how they are matching up? Do your words and actions align with God’s Word? If not, take time to pray and seek God’s help. Let Him direct you and point you in the way you should go! Linda SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Are You There God | Alex Hardt | May 4, 2023
The topic of Pastor Alex’s sermon poses one of the most critical questions each of us faces in life- Who Am I? Then the follow-up question: why am I here? Once we know who we are then we can go about seeing why God created us at this time and in this place. Who am I is the question that has been asked by every generation. Since we believe that the answers to life’s questions are found in the Bible which is our guide, Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path,” we can look to God’s Word for our answers. Pastor Alex said that it is not about what we have done or are doing in life but about what God has done that will help us see who we are. Here are a few things we know from scripture that tell us who we are that could not be accomplished by anything we can or will do. I am reconciled to God. Romans 5:10-11 “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” No way could we reconcile ourselves to perfect and holy God without His help. I am justified or declared not guilty. Romans 3:23-24 and Romans 5:1 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” and “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is no way we could declare ourselves not guilty of sin without God’s intervention through Christ Jesus. I am forgiven. Colossians 1:13-14 and Isaiah 38:17 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. and “Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.” Never could we become forgiven by anything we said or did, only God can make us new and forgive our sins! Pastor Alex pointed out an important point about our identity in Christ that we are loved by God. We are his children and He is our heavenly Father. Here are a few things about God’s loving us that will warm your heart and cause you to be thankful. I am a child of God. John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” Through our faith in Jesus we are ushered into God’s forever family and are adopted as His sons and daughters. I am loved by God. Jeremiah 31:3 and Ephesians 2:4-5 ““I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’ and “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” We can love God but cannot make Him love us. He initiates the loving and loves us eternally. His love makes us alive in Him. Lastly, Pastor Alex reminded us that we are a gift because God created each of us for His purpose. Our memory verse for this week speaks to this fact in Ephesians 2:10. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. We were not made at random but created by God as his handiwork. Other translations use the word masterpiece. He did not make a mistake when he made you! You can also take heart as you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 and Genesis 1:27 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” and “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” God took time and care creating each of us and we reflect or bear Him image. We are His masterpieces! This week take some time to reflect upon what you have in Christ and how it makes you, you! Each believer is unique in Christ and yet is to reflect the things given to us by and through Christ. As you meditate on Christ and what He has given you, God will give you clarity on who you are in Him and then will reveal what He has for you to do. In all things we are to glorify Him. Seek Him and He will show you how you are His masterpiece and what purposes He has for you! Linda Romans 15:5-6 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from The Bible is A Love Letter | Alex Hardt | May 7, 2023
Pastor Alex started this series on the Bible with a passage in Ephesians that is jam packed with lessons and truths for all of us. As I read the portion with my name inserted as Pastor Alex asked us to do, it brings warmth, love and hope to my very being. Alex’s sermon points of God’s story being personal, a love letter directly for me and one that connects us to His love is fully explained as we go through the handout questions he provided. We can see what God has done for each of us that know Jesus as our Savior. What has God done for me and you?
Thanks Pastor Alex for leading us through these soul seeking questions. We can know God and know His answers for our life through His Word. His love letter to us in complete and gives us all we need for life and godliness. Linda SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from A Risen Lord | Alex Hardt | April 9, 2023
Our service always includes the reading of God's Word over the passage Pastor Alex has chosen. This Sunday Sue read from Luke 23:44-24:11 and before she started she said, "There is bad news that is thankfully followed by good or great news!" We began with the cross and Jesus' crucifixion followed by his glorious resurrection. The bad news of Jesus' death and suffering is turned into glorious hope for us as we are now able to receive Jesus' sacrifice bringing restoration, redemption and hope to all who believe! Pastor Alex began his sermon by focusing on the breath, width and depth of God's love for us. Without God's supreme love for us, He would not have sent his only Son to die in our place to redeem us. John 3:16 and Romans 5:8 remind us of God's motives, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This kind of love is incomprehensible and undeniable when we consider God's actions. God is God and when we say that God is incomprehensible we are saying that God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. God is infinite and eternal and knows all things. God made us in His image but we are finite and flawed by sin. In heaven, Praise God!, we will be perfect, but we will still not know all that God knows. God tells us all we need to know about Him through His Word and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. God wants us to be in fellowship with Him. For that to become a reality, Jesus had to go to the cross and be resurrected. For us to be in fellowship with Him, we need to accept Jesus as our Savior, admit our sinfulness in repentance and invite Jesus to be Lord and Savior of our lives. In that acceptance prayer, we are transformed by His Holy Spirit that comes to indwell us. The transformation is a growing process as we let go of the world and its values and turn to God and seek to glorify and serve Him with our lives. It calls for surrender on our part- will, soul and mind. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Our surrender brings about reconciliation and restoration to our bodies. We can then profess 2 Corinthians 5:17 " Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" I love the Easter Story as it is filled with hope and newness of life. It is indeed Good News to all who hear and believe. Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people." Make sure in the wake of Easter that you are reconciled to God through your faith in Jesus. Reconciliation brings hope and joy. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 " that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." As brothers and sisters in Christ, we at Crossroads desire that you too be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus so that you can experience the joy and fullness of life that Jesus brings. SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. |
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