Listening Well To The King

Jesus gave His disciples their marching orders right before He ascended into heaven... Make disciples and teach them to obey all the commands I have given you. Jesus even promised to be with them during their mission. The disciples listened and the church was born. We still have the same directive and promise. May God give us the courage to listen and make a Kingdom impact together. Pastor Rick shared this message to CrossPoint Church.

Jesus told us that the greatest commandment was to Love God and love others. In fact He said that every commandment in the Scriptures is based on these two commands. Loving God is listening to God and when we listen to God we can love others well. Pastor Rick taught The Great Commandment at CrossPoint Church.

Jesus saw that the crowds were tired, weary and burdened.  Jesus invited the throngs to a relationship with Him and to be yoked up with Him on their journeys. Jesus is asking us to do life with Him. To do your journey with the smartest, strongest and wisest leader. Truly this is the great invitation!

God's community makes God's Word a priority. The Hebrews just finished rebuilding the temple and restoring the wall. They gathered as Ezra read the Word, as the Levites read and explained the Word and as Ezra studied the Word with the leadership (religious and family). Worship, praise, confession, tears and joy erupted. God's Word changes our lives... but the lack of listening plummets us quickly to a life of pain and misery. Pastor Rick taught this lession to CrossPoint Church.

God stirred both the heart of Nehemiah and a King in order to accomplish His will. God chose Nehemiah to rebuild the broken wall of Jerusalem because he depended upon God for strength, wisdom and protection. Nehemiah rallied the residents in spite of opposition and repaired the walls giving God all the glory. We can learn much about leadership and followership from this cup-bearer.  Pastor Rick spoke this message to CrossPoint Church.

Pastor Rick left the Daniel study and opened up an Ezra/Nehemiah study. He focused on God's faithfulness and how he stirred the hearts of kings, priests, neighbors, Israelis, enemies, teachers, builders and prophets in order to move His agenda forward.  Walking with God is an adventure while walking away from God is hurtful to yourself, others and God himself. Gods gracious hand is on us whether or not we see it. Pastor Rick taught this lesson at CrossPoint Church. 

Daniel saw God clearly resulting in Daniel seeing sin clearly. This affected Daniel's life and his prayer. We examined Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9, where we saw that Daniel adored God, resulting in a consistent practice of confessing sin and repenting.  We are so grateful for Daniel's example of a man whose rich relationship with God changed his life. Pastor Rick ended by challenging the CrossPoint community to pray for 10 minutes during this next week for our church and our nation.

God gives Daniel a vision which helps him understand what the future will look like. Even though Daniel wants more details, God firmly says that Jesus will return while the world is a mess, that He will judge the nations eventually enjoying His Kingdom with His family forever.  Pastor Rick helps the CrossPoint church interpret prophecy well.

80 year old Daniel still trusts God. He is convinced that God's timing and plans are best... both for him and to bring God glory. Daniel feared God, not man or lions in this case. He faithfully did what was right and trusted God for the results. Daniel's salvation resulted in king Darius' world proclaimation of God. Pastor Rick shared this message to CrossPoint Church.

Pastor Blake teaches Daniel 5 and focuses on the king's arrogance and God's judgment. He spoke this message to CrossPoint Church

God opposes the proud. King Nebuchadnezzar was proud. We often are proud. We have a good Father who always acts on our behalf. His timing and plans are perfect. But, there are times we trust in ourselves rather than in God. Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way... which no one likes.  God is faithful and wants us to trust His timing and plans. Pastor Rick spoke this message at CrossPoint Church.

Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego did not bow to Nebuchadnezzars idol. They trusted God for deliverance from the king whether or not they would be delivered from the furnace... but God did deliver them from the flames.  Daniel 3 is about our commitment to knowing and obeying God's Word, about trusting God's timing and plans and about God's presence being enough. Thank you Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego for showing us what is important in life. Pastor Rick shared this message to the CrossPoint Church.

God used Daniel to tell King Nebuchadnezzar his dream and what it meant. Daniel was a hero, but gave God all the credit! We can learn so much from this humble young man who walked with God, prayed and used his gifts to bring God glory. Pastor Rick shared this message with CrossPoint Church

Daniel determined in his heart to obey God and trusted God to take care of the details. Daniel did not compromise which we often have the tendency to do. Partial obedience is really compromise. Faith in a God who reigns changes the way we live. Pastor Rick taught this text at CrossPoint Church.

Pastor Rick helps us understand Daniels world and Daniels God. His life was unfair, yet he will serve as a powerful example of how a faithful person thrives while living in the midst of a hostile culture. He teaches us to live in the way of the exile… which is living with the tension of loyalty and subversion.

Jesus taught about His resurrection but the disciples didn't get it so when it happened they were bewildered and filled with fear. Eventually, they met the risen King and they believed and changed a world. Paul talked about the importance of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians. Pastor Rick ended in John 8 when Jesus told everyone He is the Light of the World. Thank you Lord for loving us and showing us what loving others looks like.

Jesus continues to teach His disciples right up to the cross. In our Scripture, Jesus tells us that loving God changes our giving and our perspective on suffering. He gives examples of sacrificial giving and then warns about staying the course during the tough times disciples will endure before Jesus returns as King. Pastor Rick taught this lesson to CrossPoint Church.

Time is short for Jesus. He reminds the disciples and shares six truths for them to remember. Jesus wanted the disciples to focus on God's mercy, to submit to the government, to know that heaven and our heavenly bodies will be different, that they are to love God and others well and that they should practice what they preach. Jesus didn't tell them anything new... just reminded them of the important. Pastor Rick preached this message at CrossPoint Church.

Pastor Blake looks at Mark 11. It is hard to follow the King because we think we want to be the King. It makes all the difference to follow Jesus the King. Pastor Blake spoke this message at CrossPoint Church during a baptism celebration.

Jesus followers will think and act differently if you walk with the King. Pastor Rick shares in Mark 10 that Jesus taught His disciples that your marriage will look different, the way you treat children and the insignificant will be different, when you receive reward will be different and the way you lead will be different. Pastor Rick spoke this message to CrossPoint Church.