Crossroads Church - North Campus

On any given Sunday, churches across the globe are gathering with the people of God to worship. And while the style of music, clothes we wear, languages we speak, and order of service may look different, there are often more similarities than we give credit to. In this final passage in the “How we gather” section, Paul reminds us of what matters when we come together and how we are to do so.

When it comes to conversations in church about prophecy and speaking in tongues, it can get weird fast. But Paul, in writing to the Corinthian church, reminds us of the beauty and importance of these gifts as well as the proper use of them. This Sunday, we will seek to better pursue the gifts of prophecy and tongues, and remember that the aim of all gifts is God's glory.

Love is a word that is overused, abused, misunderstood, underutilized, and thrown around casually in our day. Paul, in writing to the Corinthian church, seeks to show them the most excellent way. The way of love. So what does this most excellent way look like, and how do we begin to live in such a way? Join us this Sunday as we seek to live the most excellent way.

Paul reminds us that it is good to desire spiritual gifts and it is good to use the gifts we have been given. This Sunday, we will ask ourselves how we best discover our spiritual gifts and what it looks like to eagerly desire them.

Have you ever been given a gift that was best shared with others? Paul continues to talk about Spiritual gifts and, in particular, the gifts we have been given are not meant to glorify the gifted, but the giver. And the gifts we have been given are meant to be used for the glory of God and the good of others. The question before us is what gifts have we been given, and what is our part in the body of believers?

We are often quick to see the giftedness of others, while missing the gifts we have been given. In Paul's letter to the Corinthian church in chapter 12, he reminds them that all who follow Jesus are empowered by the same Spirit. And that means if you are a follower of Jesus, you are empowered by the Spirit. On Sunday, we looked at what that means and what that can look like.

A meal meant to unify was causing division. Symbols of humility and sacrifice were being used to separate. As Paul walks us through the beauty of the why we take communion, he invites us to examine our own posture, heart, and humility.

As we move into the fourth major section of 1 Corinthians, Paul will address how we gather as the church. This conversation begins with a commendation, followed by a conversation on the cultural implications of head coverings that has much more to do with the posture of our hearts than the state of our heads.

G.K. Beale states, “What people revere they resemble either to their ruin or restoration.” What we love shapes our lives, our priorities, and patterns. So what happens when we are chasing the wrong things? This morning, we will look together to recognize and remove the idols of our lives, replacing them with the One we were made to revere.

We have heard the phrase “imitation is the highest form of flattery,” but when it comes to following Jesus, it is also the best practice. When learning something new, it is always helpful to have someone who can show you how to do it. The same is true of our faith. Following Jesus means a lifetime of seeking to live, love, and act as He did while pointing others to do the same. So where do we begin? Join us this morning as we look at 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1

We've been given many blessings from God, but we often turn them into the source of our identity and joy rather than from the God who gave them. In 1 Corinthians 10:1-22, Paul gives believers a stark warning to worship the giver, not the gifts, and that our complete devotion is meant for the one true God.

We are continuing in our study of 1 Corinthians, picking up in chapter 9. In a conversation about the things that have a hold on our hearts and how we can live free from them, Paul uses his own life as an example. Laying down his own life for others, Paul helps us to better understand the right use of our rights as we follow in the way of Jesus.

We live in a world where self-sufficiency and freedom to live as we please are sought-after commodities. Our drive for autonomy can become an unforeseen enemy and an idol. As we step back into Paul's letter to the Corinthians in chapter 8, he reminds us that our actions speak loudly and can help or hinder those around us.

We all have had moments in life we wish we could have back. We have said words to someone we wish we hadn't, we have treated someone unkindly, and at times, we sense there is something more to life than what we are experiencing. So, what do you do with this? We look to the one who has come to save. We recognize that the reality of the resurrection changes everything. All of us have fallen short, missed the mark, and need rescue, and Easter Sunday reminds us that Jesus saves.

Why did Jesus die? Our sins demand death. On Good Friday, we remember that Jesus, in His great love, died the death we deserved (1 Pet. 2:24), sacrificing Himself once and for all so that all who believe in Him may have life in Him.

Stepping into Palm Sunday, we will look at a moment in Jesus' life where those around Him are disappointed and disoriented.  Events have not met expectations, and hope has been broken by present pain.  A place we all will experience at some point.  But Jesus speaks to the pain with a promise of resurrection and a promise of life.

We are often told not to judge a book by its cover, and yet we do it all the time. We judge people based off external actions and impressions, and at times allow this to motivate our own actions as well. But here Paul reminds us, we have been bought with a price, we have been set free, and there is nothing we can do, no image we can create, no action that can earn us what we have already been given.

What are the Biblical grounds for divorce? How are we to heal from divorce? What does the Bible say about divorce? In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul gives instructions on how we are to walk through such moments as we follow in the way of Jesus.

Where is your refuge? Is it in your successes, accomplishments, or your ability to overcome an obstacle? Psalm 16 reminds us that our refuge is only found in the Lord, and in Him we can delight.

Those who are single can often feel as though the church has much to say about families, but not much to offer those who are not married or raising kids. As the number of people who are single is on the rise in our country, Paul has much to say to those who are single and the gift that it can be. Whether you are single or not, Paul has something here for all of us to pay attention to.

Sex in the context of marriage is a good thing. But like most good things, we can distort them and turn them into a bad thing. We can make sex about our own satisfaction and selfishness, a means to an end. Paul has much to say about how we are to approach sex within marriage.

"Sex and what we do with our bodies is no big deal, right?" At least that is what we are often told. The problem with this is that it isn't true. Sex, and what we do with our bodies, is a big deal. Our bodies and our choices are designed and created to bring glory to God. So, why does this matter, and what can it look like in our lives?

We are jumping into 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Have you ever had this thought: “Well, at least I am not as bad as that person!” If you have, you are not alone. As Paul continues his letter to the Corinthians, he lists characteristics we are to avoid. The problem with this list is that we are all on there somewhere; the good news is, we don't have to stay there.

In a day and age where everyone is quick to disagree and divide, how are we to live as followers of Jesus? Disagreements are inevitable within the church, but how we handle them speaks volumes about what we believe and who we believe in. We'll look at 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 this morning to gain wisdom on how to navigate these challenges.

Today, we are looking at 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 and how it is easy to look at the world around us and feel discouraged. We see people taking advantage of others, harming themselves, and chasing after things that can never fully satisfy. So what happens when this isn't just in the world around us, but this way of life enters the church? How are we to respond, and how are we to live in the world but not of the world?

Studying through 1 Corinthians, we are entering a section of the letter that addresses sex and our bodies, looking at how God has designed each of us with a purpose that the world, or our flesh, often distorts. But in everything, the Lord extends His mercy, grace, and love to all who come to Him, creating a way of restoration and redemption.

What would it look like to prioritize prayer in your life?  In todays sermons, we look at a moment where Jesus expresses deep frustration and disappointment with people's approach to God.  Behind His frustration is an invitation to transformation and relationship, rather than transaction and regulations.  We will look to discover what it means that God's house is a house of prayer and what it looks like to cultivate a life of prayer.

Today's sermon is a little different as we take time to share with one another ways we can praise the Lord for what He has done in 2025!

Jesus has come that we may find light and life in Him, where there is darkness; the light of Jesus overcomes. Where there is despair, the hope of Jesus overcomes. Where do you need to let His light shine? Where do you need to invite Jesus into your life? What could the next year look like if you allow His light to shine?

Jesus moved into the neighborhood and dwelt among humanity. In Jesus, we see the way forward, we see the embodiment of both Grace and Truth, and we see an invitation to know God, be known by Him, and live as He lived in the light of Jesus.

God, in His great love, sent Jesus to shine light on everyone. But not all find life in the Light; some seek the shadows, some seek their own way, but to all who believe, they become children of the light. We were made to shine in the Light, even in the midst of darkness.

John the Baptizer was rough, grizzled, unkept, and uncouth. His message was straight and to the point. Things are broken, we are broken, but one is coming who would fix all things, change all things. John was not the light, but he was a witness to the light, and reflected the light who had come. We, too, are called into the Light and invited to bear witness to the Light, which shines in the darkness.

Each Christmas, whether we call it nostalgia, or simple an ache for more, we long for meaning, for home, for peace, for light and life. Christmas reminds us that Jesus, Immanuel, God with us has come and in Him we find light and life, to cast away darkness and despair in which we find hope.

In a world that is so often divided over everything, how do we stand for truth with courage and conviction? How do we disagree with kindness without out Compromise? Our study of the first section of Corinthians culminates in learning how to disagree well.

The company you keep can pull you up or pull you down. In the same way you can pull others up, or pull them down. So who are you surrounding yourself with, and who are you chasing after Jesus alongside? The company you keep matters.

Power and influence have a way of turning in on themselves. Paul is reminding the Church in Corinth and us, that whatever power or influence we have been given we are to use it to serve others for the good of the Kingdom.

Many people travel the world to visit sacred places. Paul is reminding the church in Corinth, that God no longer dwells in a house of stone but in the very flesh and bone of His church, us. This is a radical truth that changes everything

We live in a culture that fosters division. Even in the church we see countless denominations and churches that refuse to cooperate with one another. What causes this division, and why are we so quick to divide and when should we divide? Paul invites to build on the only foundation that will last?

If you hold up a blue lens, you will see all of the world with a shade of blue. Paul reminds us that the ultimate lens through which we are to look at all of life is Jesus. This is not only the way of wisdom, but the way of life.