The Mystery of Jesus

Mystery of Jesus FinalThe Mystery of Jesus is a two week sermon covering Palm Sunday and Easter.

See below to listen or watch the sermons and to look at the sermon notes….

Week 1 – March 29, 2015
The Mystery of Jesus Part 1

  • Dependence equals faith.
  • Jesus wants to save you from something in order to save you to something.
  • He has a purpose for your life

Week 2 – April 5, 2015
Easter Sunday

  • If you are not careful, expectations can destroy your faith.
  • You are not defined by what you do, you are defined by what Jesus does for you!
  • Failure is never final if you believe in the resurrection.

Mission Trips

unnamed

CAMBODIA OUTREACH

Every Christmas a team from CPC has the opportunity to partner with our long-term missionaries Roland & Carolyn Ashby and their ministry Strategic Alliance for an outreach in Reynosa, Mexico building homes. This year our team of 22 had the opportunity to build a home and love on the local community. It was a life changing opportunity for all.

IMG_9745 IMG_9766 IMG_9775

France Outreach (1)

Our team of 7 arrived in Ethiopia, under the watchful eyes of our own CPC members, Dereje and Hirut, who are Ethiopian natives. Though they now call the United States home, their combined love for their homeland is clear to see. As we arrived, our excitement was tangible, but also was  the feeling of the unknown entering a new country and culture. Soon our insecurities were relieved by the helpful, kind nature of Ethiopians. Ministry from day to day looked different, but the impact of one particular day stands out.

Day one of ministry, we were invited into a prison, an 11 hour drive outside the capital city of Addis Ababa. The impact from our visit will not soon leave our memory. Entering into the prison through wooden gates, we were greeted by a church gathering, complete with a full robbed choir. For the first time ever, the women’s ward of the prison was invited into the service to have the opportunity to hear the visiting missionaries (our CPC team). That is a big deal!

After the service concluded, the female team members were invited to visit with the female prisoners and their children that reside with them. The children living inside the gates of the prison had unending joy, despite their circumstances. Our team was granted permission to pass out toys to them, and their smiles were contagious. Not only were the children blessed with gifts, the females received hygiene packs and clothing donated by our very own CPC members! The reaction from the ladies and children was priceless, and it was as though, for even a second, they forgot they were in-prisoned. 

NEPAL OUTREACH

In May of 2016, a team of 10 was sent to build relationships with Nepali people and share Jesus’ love by working with YWAM Nepal. The team had the opportunity to teach English, lead a sports camp for villagers, rebuild at an earthquake site, and trek to unreached villages. In Nepal, a country where Christianity has only been legal for 10 years, just to have an opportunity to share the gospel over tea was a blessing. Below is a recap video of the trip.

CAMBODIA OUTREACH

Pastor Mark Traver, took a team of 3 to Cambodia to visit one of our missionaries, Joni Wise. The team got to encourage and pray for the church plants she is organizing within the country. Below is a recap video of the trip.

 

Mexico: Every December

Every year after Christmas, Cross Points sends a team to Reynosa, Mexico to work with missionaries Roland and Carolyn Ashby. In 2015, our team of 21 people ranging in ages of 8-79 years old, had an opportunity to build a home, minister to children, and be a part of the Ashby’s ¡Esculea Viva! ministry. Below is a recap video of the trip.

Africa: October 2-12, 2015

In 2015, Mark Traver, missions pastor, took a team of 5 to Kenya and North Africa to visit Cross Points Church missionaries. During these 10 days, the team got to encourage and speak life to those who have dedicated their lives to serve and win nations for Christ. The team worked with a college ministry in Kenya, and traveled to North Africa to encourage missionaries preparing to open an English school. Below is a recap video of the trip.

Taiwan: June 23-July 8, 2015

Nick Adams, youth pastor, led a team of 38 youth and adult leaders on a 16 day mission trip across the world. The team traveled to Toufen, Taiwan to work with Cross Points’ missionaries, Greg and Eva Dennington. This team led an English camp, hosted open airs, and partnered with a Taiwan youth group. They also worked with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) Taoyuan where the team participated in street evangelism, service projects, and different skits or dramas. Below is a recap video of the trip.

Taiwan

Mexico
Nepal1

At Cross Points Church, we believe in serving locally and globally. We believe in sending people out into the world to advance the Kingdom of God by sharing the gospel to all. Salvation is for everyone. We are committed to reaching the lost through God’s grace. As a church body, we live out Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We believe we have a great commission as followers of Christ to “Go.” Below is a summary of recent outreaches and information for any upcoming trips.

March Kindness Challenge

Reach Out FinalWe are challenging the church to participate in two specific acts of kindness each week.

  • The first act of kindness will be a corporate challenge to the whole church.
  • The second allows you to choose from a list of 81 various acts of kindness.

Finally, we want to hear your stories!  Tell us your interactions with people in the community.  You may tell us your story below or comment on our facebook page!

Week 1 – March 1-8, 2015

  • Corporate Challenge – Pay it forward. Buy a strangers meal at a restaurant or their coffee at a coffee shop. Then leave them with a kindness card.
  • Personal Challenge – Pick an act of kindness from the list below.

After doing your act of kindness, give them a kindness card. We will be handing out kindness cards at Cross Points each Sunday. These kindness cards will have something encouraging on them.

List of 81 Random Acts of Kindness:

  1. Tweet or Facebook message a genuine compliment to three people right now.
  2. Bring doughnuts (or a healthy treat, like cut-up fruit) to work.
  3. Bring canned goods to the Cross Points Food Pantry one Sunday.
  4. While you’re out, compliment a parent on how well-behaved their child is.
  5. When everyone around you is gossiping about someone, be the one to butt in with something nice.
  6. Cook a meal or do a load of laundry for a friend who just had a baby or is going through a difficult time.
  7. Hang out with the person who just moved to town.
  8. Offer a homeless person your leftovers bag from the restaurant.
  9. Each time you get a new piece of clothing, donate an old one.
  10. Donate used furniture or help volunteer one day at Shawnee Community Services.
  11. Email or write an old teacher who made a difference in your life.
  12. Compliment someone to their boss.
  13. Leave a nice server the biggest tip you can afford.
  14. Smile at someone on the street, just because.
  15. Let someone into your lane. They’re probably in a rush just like you
  16. Help a mother with her baby stroller.
  17. Become a reader at one of the public schools.
  18. Let the person behind you at the supermarket checkout ahead of you.
  19. Write someone a letter. Like a real letter, on paper. And mail it!
  20. Give away stuff for free on Craigslist.
  21. Give someone a book you think they’d like.
  22. Be the person who puts a tip in the tip jar at the coffeeshop. (Fewer people tip than you’d think!)
  23. Bring in fun office supplies to liven up the workday for everyone.
  24. When you go somewhere to get or do something, ask the people around you if you can pick up anything they need.
  25. Give someone a hug.
  26. Call your grandparents. Call them!
  27. Donate your old eyeglasses so someone else can use them.
  28. When you’re throwing something away on the street, pick up any litter around you and put that in the trash too.
  29. Write something nice on that person’s updates who posts on Facebook constantly. They’re probably lonely.
  30. Sincerely compliment your boss.
  31. Put sticky notes with positive slogans on the mirrors in restrooms.
  32. Let them have the parking space.
  33. Relay an overheard compliment.
  34. Bring your spouse coffee in bed tomorrow.
  35. Try to make sure every person in a group conversation feels included.
  36. Stop to talk to a homeless person.
  37. Answer that email you’ve been avoiding.
  38. Send anonymous flowers to the receptionist at work.
  39. Donate or recycle your old laptop and electronics.
  40. Play board games with senior citizens at a nursing home. Sixty percent of them will never have a visitor during their stay.
  41. Give someone a tissue who’s crying in the public, and offer to talk about it, but only if they want to.
  42. Listen intently.
  43. Babysit for a single mom for free.
  44. Adopt a rescue pet.
  45. Compliment someone in front of others.
  46. Hold the elevator.
  47. Leave some extra quarters in the laundry room.
  48. Write your partner a list of things you love about them.
  49. Put together a small herb garden for someone.
  50. Say thank you to a janitor.
  51. Talk to someone at work whom you haven’t talked to before.
  52. Frame your friend’s favorite lyric or quote and give it to them with a nice note.
  53. Send dessert to another table.
  54. Text someone just to say good morning or good night.
  55. Help your elderly neighbor take out the trash or mow their lawn.
  56. Tell your siblings how much you appreciate them.
  57. Bring a security guard a hot cup of coffee.
  58. Plant a tree.
  59. Purchase some extra dog or cat food and drop it off at an animal shelter.
  60. If you’re a good photographer, take photos of your friends and make them into a digital album.
  61. Send mail to Danny Nickerson, a 5-year-old with an inoperable brain tumor.
  62. Smile when you feel like scowling.
  63. Wash someone’s car.
  64. Dog or cat sit for free.
  65. Keep an extra umbrella at work and let someone borrow it on their way home if there’s a sudden downpour.
  66. Make two lunches and give one away.
  67. Reduce air pollution by carpooling.
  68. Say yes at the store when the cashier asks if you want to donate $1 to whichever cause.
  69. Be encouraging!
  70. Help someone struggling with heavy bags.
  71. Give your friend a hug, touch their arm, or pat them on the back. So many of us are starved for human touch!
  72. Give your partner the benefit of the doubt.
  73. Be kind to the customer service rep on the phone. It’s not their fault.
  74. Do the dishes even if it’s your roommate’s turn.
  75. Give someone the rest of your pack of gum.
  76. Clean someone’s windshield.
  77. Make plans with that person you’ve been putting off seeing.
  78. Call your mom.
  79. Offer to return a shopping cart to the store for someone loading groceries in their car.
  80. Have a clean-up party at a park.
  81. Take all your change to Coinstar and donate your collection to one of our teens traveling to Taiwan for this years youth missions trip.

 

 

March Kindness 2015

Reach Out Final

If you want to take the March Kindness Challenge, CLICK HERE! 

Love is kindness in action.

As followers of Jesus we are called to love each other and the world. However the love we are called to is not just theoretical it is backed up by good deeds. Our kindness demonstrates to the world that our love is more than words it is action and truth.

Join us this month as we follow Jesus by engaging in intentional acts of kindness throughout our community.

This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. – 1 John 2:7-8 NLT

See below to listen or watch the sermons and to look at the sermon notes….

Week 1 – March 1, 2015
March Kindness – Little Acts

  • Little acts carry big impact.
  • Jesus calls us to simple acts of love.
  • Acts of kindness are deeply spiritual acts.

Week 2 – March 8, 2015
March Kindness – Part 2 (audio)

  • Open eyes changes lives.
  • Kindness is a start, it’s not the end.
  • People are looking for more!

Week 3 – March 15, 2015
March Kindness Part 3

  • Your roots are essential.
  • The soil is God’s love.
  • God wants you to have a life that is complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God!

Week 4 – March 22, 2015
March Kindness Part 4

  • My neighbor is everyone, but not just anyone.
  • My neighbor is anyone I’m called to.
  • My neighbor is anyone in need.

Reach In

Reach In 5

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” – John 13:34-35

True love is lacking in this world. This allows for our love to shine bright, to be distinctive.

The early church stood out like a sore thumb in the Roman culture. The Romans thought Christians weird for calling each other “brother” and “sister.” The Romans found it weird how truly caring Christians were to each other.

We need to being “Reaching In”, that is, we need to be loving our church family. Jesus commanded it. Also, true love is attractive. People will want to belong to God’s family when they see our love.

Let us take this month to focus on loving each other!

See below to listen or watch the sermons and to look at the sermon notes….

Week 1 – February 1, 2015
Reach In – Part 1 (audio)

  • Kindness is love in action and it’s beautiful.
  • Be kind because you are in Covenant.
  • Be intentional and strategic, reach in to your church family this week.

Week 2 – February 8, 2015
Reach In – Part 2 (audio)

  • Love doesn’t quit, it carries burdens.
  • Love carries burdens by helping.
  • Love carries burdens by encouraging.

Week 3 – February 15, 2015
Reach In – Part 3 (audio)

  • Love is distorted in America.
  • Love is confused in the church.
  • God’s love is powerful.

Week 4 – February 22, 2015
Reach In – Part 4 (audio)

  • I love the church because it is the hope of the world.
  • I love the church because all the powers of Hell will not conquer it.
  • I love the church because Jesus loves the church.