What Matters at Crosspoint: Children

We value children!  God put Crosspoint in a community full of families who need Jesus. We want to reach every man, woman and child we possibly can.  So we have placed a high value on children.

We want parents to feel good about leaving their children in a safe, fun environment so that they can worship and hear about God without any distractions.  We want to put children in an environment where they can learn about God on their level.

So we do our best to recruit quality volunteers and train them well.  We work hard at creating a fun environment in every children’s room.  We work hard at sharing engaging lessons about God.  Literally hundreds of man hours are spent every week investing in children at Crosspoint.

Because we place such a high value we strongly encourage parents to take advantage of what is offered for their kids.  From just a few weeks old through fifth grade there is a place for your child.

We also believe that what we do during each worship experience is so important we want everyone participating to have as few distractions as possible.

Maybe you are looking for a place to serve at Crosspoint.  Kidpoint could be that place.  Imagine the difference you could make in the lives of children and their parents every week…differences that will last for eternity.

Jesus modeled the importance of valuing children and we are trying to value them too.

What Matters at Crosspoint: Sunday Is the Front Door

For most people their first experience at church is a Sunday morning.  They probably have been invited by some friends, maybe they’ve had some interaction with people from the church and maybe they have had some conversations about Jesus so they decide they will give Sunday a try.

We see Sunday mornings as the front door for most people into the life of the church.  So we put a lot of effort into making their experience a great one.  More than anything we want them to see Jesus.  Nothing else matters if they do not walk away feeling like they were pointed to Him.

Most people walk in with some preconceived ideas that we have to get past so they can get a clear view of Jesus.  That’s why we want to make sure they are greeted warmly.  If Crosspoint is your church…you are on the Guest Services team.  We’re counting on you to be friendly.  Every Sunday is someone’s first Sunday so we have to be welcoming every week.

We’re counting on you to wear a name tag every week.  If someone doesn’t approach you to give you a name tag…go find them.  Everyone wearing a name tag makes everyone feel like they belong and it sure helps with remembering names.

We’re counting on you to be on time.  Being late communicates to our guests that they don’t really matter and we don’t take this very seriously.  So get up 10 minutes earlier and be here on time.  It’s tough to make our guests feel welcome if you’re not even here when they arrive.

We’re counting on you to hang out on the Patio and strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know.  Go out of your way to get to know someone new every week.

The environment we create every week is very intentional.  From our music, to the visuals, to Kidpoint, to Connection Point…it is all created to help someone who is investigating Jesus and His church feel welcome and comfortable.

Lost people matter to God and they matter to us too!

Jeff.

I Have A Friend Who Summary

Sunday we wrapped our series, I Have A Friend Who… by talking about homosexuality.  It is a tough topic that stirs a lot of different emotions in people.  I have to tell you that I learned a great deal as I studied for last week’s message and had to come face to face with some sinful attitudes that I have allowed to be in my heart.

It is always a challenge to communicate effectively in 20-25 minutes about a subject as big as this.  So I thought it might be good to summarize the key points I shared on Sunday and in doing so answer a few questions that I have heard this week.

Homosexual behavior is sin.  The Bible is very clear that God created sex to happen between a man and a woman within marriage.  That’s it.  End of story.  Crosspoint will always stand for the truth of God’s Word and that includes the truth that homosexual behavior is sin.  Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1, I Corinthians 6:9-11.

God’s grace is extended homosexuals.  God loves sinners.  God loves those whose lives are broken by sin and that includes people who struggle with homosexual behavior.  I have not been a very good dispenser of grace to people who struggle with this sin.  I have been quick to condemn but not quick to offer grace.  That is wrong.  Don’t we want to see homosexuals discover God’s forgiveness and a relationship with Jesus Christ?  How likely do you think it is that will happen if all they ever hear from us is condemnation?  We are going to have to show them that they are loved if we hope to be able to have influence in their lives.

In the same way that we would welcome someone who is struggling with any other sin into our church, homes and lives we need to be willing to welcome those who struggle with homosexual behavior.  That does not mean that we should ever compromise the truth or pretend that we think sin is ok.  We need to teach the truth, but it needs to be taught in love.  Our goal is to bring healing to their lives.

We seem to be so quick to judge the sins of others while we continue in our own sins.  The sin of homosexual behavior is no worse in the eyes of God than any other sin.  The Bible indicates that all sexual sin has greater consequences in our lives and the lives of others than other sins, but all sin breaks the heart of God.

So, for me the bottom line is that the church must stand for the truth.  Homosexual behavior is sin.  We must also stand for the grace of God.  His grace is sufficient for all sin!  C. S. Lewis said, “We’re all either helping people toward God or away from him.”  I want to be someone who helps people, including homosexuals, toward God.

Jeff.