Listen to the sermons preached at CrossLife Fort Smith. CrossLife exists to be a Biblically functioning church that seeks to multiply as a Gospel-centered, Christ-exalting, Disciple-making community.
From Sunday, 5/18, guest speaker, Jim Campbell, takes us through a message from Ecclesiastes chapter 7.
From Sunday, 5/11, CrossLife elder, Andy DeBoer, continues our sermon series in Ecclesiastes. Listen as he delivers a message from chapter 6.
Lead pastor Ricky Massengale leads us this week in a service devoted to prayer. We take a break from our study in Ecclesiastes, recapping the last couple of weeks, but then devoting the sermon time to prompted prayer. This recording includes some moments of silence meant to allow the listener to participate in times of prayer with the congregation.
This week CrossLife member Beau Barrera delivers a message from Ecclesiastes chapter 5. In this passage, Beau looks at what Solomon has to say about men who love money and wealth.
From Sunday, 4/13, Ricky Massengale delivers the message from chapter 5 in Ecclesiastes. In this passage, Solomon reminds us of how man should respond to God after seeing the full scope of vanity in everything under the sun.
CrossLife elder and lead paster, Ricky Massengale, preaches from Ecclesiastes 4 on Sunday, 4/6. In this part 2 of 2, Ricky focuses on the remaining 3 observations from the text: that greed is an unsatisfying, self-fulfilling desire; that companionship is a good thing for us to have; and that fame and prestige fade because people are fickle.
Listen as CrossLife elder and lead pastor, Ricky Massengale, teaches from Ecclesiastes 4 on Sunday, 3/30. In this part 1 of a 2 part message, Ricky focuses on the first two observations on life that we read in today's passage: that evil and oppression are present and very often left unchecked, and that we are very often motivated by the wrong things.
CrossLife elder, Andy DeBoer, brings our next message today from Ecclesiastes 3. Solomon points out in this passage that he finds wickedness in the place of justice, wickedness in the place of righteousness, leading him to lament again the meaninglessness of life. But the world shouldn't be like this. Listen as Andy examines Solomon's lament through the lens of the Gospel.
From Sunday, 3/16, Ricky Massengale delivers the next message from our study in Ecclesiastes. Last week we looked at how everything has its time under heaven. And now we see that God has made everything beautiful in its time. So Solomon tells us to be joyful and do good and take pleasure in all we do because God is in control. We should trust Him and enjoy the life he has given us.
CrossLife elder and lead pastor, Ricky Massengale, preaches a message from Ecclesiastes 3. The scripture is a beautiful and comforting poem by Solomon encompassing the whole scope of life - a time for every matter under heaven. Listen as Ricky preaches a lesson about what we do with this time.
This Sunday we hear a message given by CrossLife member Beau Barrera. Beau continues our series in Ecclesiastes by looking at the next teaching of Solomon, examining the theme of work and labor in our daily lives. Once again we see Solomon bemoaning the vanity of his toils. But Beau reminds us there is hope.
From Sunday, 2/16, Ricky Massengale delivers the next message from the teachings of Solomon in Ecclesiastes. In his quest to find meaning, Solomon now focuses on the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Is it a worthy pursuit?
Listen as CrossLife elder, Andy DeBoer, brings a message today from Ecclesiastes 2. His message focuses on Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, examining life from many different angles. Solomon draws from his vast wealth of resources to pursue all possible experiences in life...and comes to a conclusion about the material world.
CrossLife elder and lead pastor, Ricky Massengale, begins a series in Ecclesiastes - from Sunday, 2/2. Listen as Ricky preaches an introduction to the book - a book that examines the purpose of life. His introductory message focuses on how Ecclesiastes directs us to live a God-centric life.
From Sunday, 1/26, Ricky Massengale finishes up a mini-series on CrossLife Church. First we heard from the elders, then Ricky gave us a review of CrossLife's DNA, and now he finishes by examining what the Bible has to say about Elders, Deacons, and the Congregation.
Listen as Ricky Massengale, lead elder and pastor at CrossLife Fort Smith, delivers a message about the DNA of CrossLife church. Ricky delves into who we are as a church, how we do church and why we do it the way we do.
As we begin the new year at CrossLife, the elders deliver a message together titled "From the Heart of the Elders." Listen as the three elders each share passages that God has laid on their hearts. Mike Brown gives a message about hospitality in the Gospel and creating a culture of hospitality at CrossLife. Andy DeBoer preaches about the expulsive power of a new affection, turning our hearts desire toward Christ so that our lives may be transformed by the Spirit. And Ricky Massengale teaches a renewed vision of Christ, the redeemed life in community.
CrossLife elder Andy DeBoer delivers the message today. Listen in as he reflects on what we studied all through Matthew and how we look back on it in view of God's mercy. What do we do now going forward? This passage in Romans 12 guides our reflection.
CrossLife elder and lead pastor, Ricky Massengale, delivers a Christmas message from the book of Galatians. Listen as Ricky preaches from Galatians 4:4-7.
Today Ricky Massengale, lead pastor and elder at CrossLife Fort Smith, preaches on the names given to Jesus in Isaiah while we reflect on the meaning of each one.
Joining us this week are Jim and Laura Campbell, missionaries to Indonesia and England. Listen as Jim Campbell preaches on missions and sharing the gospel throughout the world.
Listen as Ricky Massengale, lead elder and pastor at CrossLife Fort Smith, finishes our series in Matthew and looks at the Great Commission, how we are to make disciples in our going as Jesus commanded.
Listen as Ricky Massengale, lead elder and pastor at CrossLife Fort Smith, reads through and walks through the resurrection of Jesus, the evidence for it, and what it means to the world.
This week's message is a straight reading of God's Word as CrossLife Fort Smith walks through the Passion of Jesus Christ and sings in response. Join lead elder and pastor, Ricky Massengale, as he reads through the passion in "A Walk with Christ to the Cross."
CrossLife elder and lead pastor, Ricky Massengale, preaches on Judas Iscariot, on of he twelve disciples who were closest to Jesus, and his betrayal of Jesus as fulfilling God's plan to ultimately trigger the events which include Jesus's passion.
In this sermon we cover the account of what is known as "The Lord's Supper." This ordinance, also known as "Communion" or the "Eucharist," is one of two ordinances given to us by Jesus. In this sermon CrossLife elder, Andy DeBoer, leads us through the original Passover meal and explains how Jesus comes to reveal himself as the true Passover, the fulfillment of the Passover celebration, which is God's salvation of his people from slavery and death.
In this passage CrossLife member Josh Meeh preaches on the plot to kill Jesus during Passover, and also the anointing of Jesus as King and for his death.
As we finish up on our series of the end times in Matthew, Jesus begins to explain how he wants us to live in light of what he has told his disciples about the end times. Jesus explains in the parables again that no one knows the exact time, that it will be a long time before he comes again, and that he cares very much how we live in the in-between time. We prepare the way for his certain coming by living in anticipation of it through a life walking in good works. We prepare by living in faith, in trust, of what he has said, what he has promised, and how he has told us to live. By loving God, becoming like Christ, living in the Spirit, loving others, proclaiming Christ, and living as a child of the Kingdom of Heaven, which has already begun in us.
In this passage Jesus is making it clear that no one will know when the final coming of Christ will be. Only God the Father knows when the End will be. Jesus then provides three lessons and one warning in the passage. All of these lesson reinforce this one very clear teaching: No one knows when Christ will return except God the Father Himself. Because of this, Jesus's disciples should glean as much wisdom from these examples as they can. Listen to Ricky Massengale, lead elder and pastor at CrossLife Fort Smith, lead us through part 4 in our series on the end times in the gospel of Matthew.
In this week's passage, lead elder and pastor, Ricky Massengale, teaches about Christ's return. Christ will gather His own people, and his return will be a very public, undeniable event that the whole world will experience.
This week Ricky Massengale, lead elder and pastor at CrossLife Fort Smith, continues to explore Matthew chapter 24 by examining Jesus's warning to his disciples about a coming intense time of persecution and tribulation, explaining the term "abomination of desolation" as the Antichrist. In the end Jesus also affirms that God is still sovereign in all of this.
In this week's passage Ricky Massengale, lead elder and pastor of CrossLife Fort Smith, continues in Matthew chapter 24. This week we look at what Jesus explains will happen when the End comes.
In this week's passage Ricky Massengale, lead elder and pastor of CrossLife Fort Smith, takes time to introduce the various eschatological views (various beliefs about the end times) taken by scholars from the Scriptures in order to give a background in our coming weeks on Matthew chapter 24 where Jesus speaks about the end of the age.
Prior to this passage Jesus has just asked the Pharisees a question, which they could, or would, not answer. Now, Jesus turns to the crowds and begins to correct any errant understanding they have because of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Listen as lead pastor and teaching elder of CrossLife Fort Smith, Ricky Massengale, preaches on Jesus's judgement in Matthew chapter 23.
In Matthew chapter 22 Jesus has been fielding questions from the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees. Now He asks them a question that they are not able to answer. As Jesus is further declaring his messiahship in this question, his question challenges their perceptions and understandings about who the Messiah might be. Listen to Ricky Massengale, lead pastor and teaching elder at CrossLife Fort Smith, as he preaches on Jesus's question to the Pharisees.
In this passage we continue with the last of the questions asked by the Pharisees of Jesus trying to trap him. In this passage Jesus responds with the two great commandments on which the Law and the Prophets hang. Listen to Andy DeBoer, teaching elder at CrossLife Fort Smith, as he preaches on what Jesus means by "love" and what he continues to command us to do: love.
This week we pause again in the passage on Jesus's response to the Sadducees to listen to reflect on what Scripture has to say about angels preached by Ricky Massengale, lead pastor and teaching elder at CrossLife Fort Smith.
We take a pause in the passage from the previous week to dwell on what Jesus says in passing about marriage beyond this life. Listen to lead pastor and teaching elder, Ricky Massengale, preach on marriage.
Listen to Bret Ellis, a member of CrossLife, preach on Jesus's response to the Sadducee's question on the resurrection and marriage.
At the heart of this passage is Jesus's clarification that our allegiance is to God, but that does not mean that we are not subject to the government also. Listen as lead elder and pastor of CrossLife Fort Smith, Ricky Massengale, preaches through what we render to Caesar and what we render to God.
In this passage Jesus is speaking to those in the Temple about his authority through the use of a third parable, the parable of the wedding banquet. This parable speaks not only to the judgement of Israel and the extension of the gospel to the nations, but it also shows the perfect, beautiful, and infinitely valuable worth of Christ through the consequences of rejecting Him. Listen as teaching elder at CrossLife Fort Smith, Andy DeBoer, leads us through this passage.
Ricky Massengale, lead pastor of CrossLife Fort Smith, preaches on the parable of the tenants from Matthew's Gospel. In this passage Jesus is establishing Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God, and clarifying that He is the Cornerstone on Whom God will build His Kingdom, which will be for all nations and not the Jewish nation alone.
CrossLife member, Beau Barrera, preaches through Matthew's account of the chief priests and elders challenging Jesus's authority. Through this passage and the rest of the account of Matthew and the Gospel of John we read that Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth as the second Person of the Trinity. If this is true, will you accept His authority over everything in your life?
The purpose of the inclusion of this account in Matthew's Gospel at first glance seems a little mysterious, but it is rich with meaning and instruction. There are actually two things going on in this passage, one spurred by the other. First, Jesus curses a fig tree because it is not bearing any fruit, and this is actually a symbolic action against Israel; the second thing that occurs is that Jesus uses this as an opportunity to remind the disciples that they (and all those who abide in Christ) have an incredible power in their own faith and prayer life. Listen as lead teaching elder at CrossLife Fort Smith, Ricky Massengale, leads us through this passage.
Ricky Massengale, lead teaching elder of CrossLife Fort Smith, preaches through Matthew 21:12-17, showing how Jesus, and therefore all of the Trinitarian God, cared about what was happening in the Temple. What God desired of His Temple had been corrupted and was no longer fulfilling its purpose. By extension, we today also need to acknowledge that God cares about His Church and need to ensure we are doing those things for His honor and His glory.
Andy DeBoer, teaching elder at CrossLife Fort Smith, teaches on the path that Jesus took as he moves purposefully toward his Passion, including the journeys leading up to the Triumphal Entry and the full meaning of the Triumphal Entry itself.
Ricky Massengale, lead teaching elder of CrossLife Fort Smith, preaches through Matthew 20:20-28, and illustrates that "greatness" in the Kingdom of God is not oriented in the same was as "greatness" in this world. What the world calls Greatness/Prestigious/Leadership is not in alignment with the Call of, or the Person of, Jesus Christ. And the danger for the disciples -- and for us -- is not that we seek leadership but that we so greatly misunderstand what Christ-honoring leadership actually looks like.
Ricky Massengale, lead pastor at CrossLife Fort Smith, preaches through Matthew 20:17-19, and leads us to dwell on the truth that Jesus knows everything that is about to occur to Him...and yet He continues to Jerusalem. In this text, Jesus is prophesying about His own coming suffering, death, and resurrection.
Teaching through one of Jesus's parables, Andy DeBoer, teaching elder at CrossLife Fort Smith, discusses Jesus's response to Peter's question, "What then shall we have?" in Matthew chapter 19. Through the parable, Jesus wants to get to the heart of why Peter asked the question: are you following Christ because you love him, or are you following him for what he can give you?
Ricky Massengale, lead teaching elder, preaches on Matthew 19:16-30 on May 12, 2024 at CrossLife Fort Smith.
Ricky Massengale, lead teaching elder, preaches from Matthew 19:1-12 on May 3, 2024 at CrossLife Fort Smith.