Crosstowne Church - Sermons

Pastor Paul wraps up our Own It series with Owning our Walk. Drawing from 2 Timothy 2:20–21, we explore what it means to become a vessel of honor—set apart, useful to God, and prepared for every good work. In a world shaped by shifting values, emotions, and cultural pressures, believers are called to make godly distinctions rooted in the truth of God's Word. And we discover how sanctification isn't just a theological concept but a daily practice of choosing holiness, renewing our mind, walking in obedience, and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape every area of our life. Whether you're navigating relationships, anxiety about the future, finances, marriage, parenting, or personal struggles, we can be encouraged to pursue a Christ-centered life marked by grace, conviction, and readiness for whatever God places before us.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

We continue exploring what it means to own our faith by embracing our God-given agency in the world. Pastor Paul draws from Ephesians 4, and focuses on the power of our words and how they reflect the presence of Christ in our lives. We are reminded that our witness, our words, and our walk must work together in harmony, because even one area out of alignment can weaken our testimony. Paul challenges us to speak truth with love, listen with humility, and use our words to encourage, heal, and build others up. Whether at home, at work, online, or in public, believers are called to represent Christ through speech that is seasoned with grace and aligned with the character of God. Through this we discover how our words can become a powerful expression of God's love and a testimony that points others to Jesus.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul takes us to explore what it means to own our agency as followers of Jesus by embracing the power of our personal testimony. We draw from Revelation 12, the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, and other biblical examples, to see that our challenge as believers is to see ourselves not as attorneys or judges, but as witnesses who simply share what Christ has done in our lives. We don't need all the answers to make an impact, a simple story like "I was blind, now I see" can transform lives, and Scripture says we overcome "by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony." So whether we’re struggling to share your faith, searching for purpose, or looking for hope in difficult circumstances, we can be encouraged to develop, embrace, and share the story God is writing in our life.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul takes us to continue exploring what it means to own our agency as followers of Jesus. We look at Isaiah's vision in Isaiah 6, and discover that God not only saves and cleanses us but also commissions us to represent His love, truth, and reconciliation in the world. As believers we’re challenged to move beyond simply believing in God and embrace our calling as Christ's agents in our homes, workplaces, relationships, and communities. A renewed vision of God's holiness transforms our hearts, changes our message, and empowers us to be the light of the world. If you've ever wondered what your purpose is after salvation, you can be encouraged to see yourself as someone sent by God to bring hope, mercy, and the presence of Christ wherever you are.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul unpacks the biblical concept of “agency” — the idea that every believer is called to represent Christ in the way we love, forgive, serve, and lead others. We’re challenged to move beyond simply fulfilling obligations and instead become active agents of God’s grace in our marriages, families, workplaces, and communities. Just as Jesus perfectly revealed the heart of the Father, we are called to reflect Christ through kindness, humility, sacrifice, patience, and reconciliation. We should be encouraged to rethink your daily interactions and ask: “How is God calling me to use my agency for the good of others?” Whether you’re navigating relationships, leadership, work, or personal struggles, this sermon is a reminder that the Holy Spirit empowers us to live with purpose and bring heaven’s love into everyday life.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Continuing in “Own It” Pastor Paul tackles one of the most challenging areas of faith—our assets—our money and possessions. We look at Jesus’ words in John 10 together, where we’re reminded that He is the Good Shepherd who offers abundant life, and we’re invited to fully trust Him with every part of our lives. Paul unpacks a compelling idea: when we truly understand the man (Jesus), the promise (His provision), and the cause (His mission), generosity becomes a natural response rather than an obligation. So we’re challenged to examine what we value, what we invest in, and whether our lives reflect what we say we believe. Ultimately, it’s a call to loosen our grip on temporary things and live with open hands—fully surrendered to God’s purpose.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul shifts our focus this week to “owning your serve”—living out your faith through intentional, selfless action. This concept we find rooted in Ephesians 2, and Paul emphasizes that while we are saved by grace, the Father also transforms us into His workmanship, created for good works that impact others. Paul reveals the origin story of Mother’s Day, started by Anna Jarvis the true framing of the holiday is a celebration of a life of service rather than just motherhood. We should challenge our natural tendencies toward self-centeredness, because through Christ, we are transformed to serve. Real Christianity isn’t just believed—it’s something we live, and every believer is called to step into practical, everyday opportunities to serve others and meet the needs of those around us.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul centers on the idea of “barriers to entry,” and explores how personal attitudes, insecurities, past experiences, and expectations can make us difficult to approach and hinder meaningful connection with other people. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13, he emphasizes that true, Christlike love is patient, kind, and accessible—modeled perfectly by Jesus, who welcomed all people regardless of their status or past. We should ask ourselves can people approach me or have my relational barriers to entry kept them at a distance. Whether its trust issues, avoidance of effort, value judgements, fear of rejection, pressures of perfection, we’re called to examine our own relational barriers, embrace our identity as loved and valued by God, and intentionally lower those barriers so others can experience His love through us.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Bryan brings us a challenge to move beyond simply attending church to truly owning our church community. He highlights the difference between merely gathering and actively assembling—emphasizing that real spiritual growth happens when individuals invest relationally, serve one another, and engage in the life of a local church. Drawing from the Apostle Paul, Bryan shows that authentic community is marked by mutual encouragement, shared purpose, and a commitment to seeing the gospel lived out together. We are encouraged to take three key steps: to know the church, allow ourselves to be known by the church, and to invite others into the church. Ultimately, we’re pointed to the greater truth that God has already made a place for each person through Jesus, inviting us into a fully restored and thriving community with Him and others.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul continues Own It where the challenge is issued to the idea that faith is just belief and calls us as believers to take true ownership of our spiritual lives. Paul reads from Hebrews on moving from “milk” to “solid food,” and the emphasis of spiritual maturity—shifting from passive receiving to active pursuit and discipline. We are led through the process of understanding what this entails and land at the governance of temperament: recognizing that while our natural dispositions are shaped by both nature and nurture, they are not excuses for behavior or they are not destiny. Instead, we are called to bring our thoughts, emotions, and actions under the authority of Christ through intentional renewal of the mind, self-control, and the work of the Holy Spirit. We are challenged to shift from self-justification (“this is just how I am”) to transformation, reminding us that real faith produces change, and that in Christ, we are invited to move from indulgence to ownership and become new, renewed people.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul brings us a challenge to move beyond simply believing in God to fully living out our faith. He centers on Philippians 2, and highlights the contrast between a life of “grasping” (selfish ambition, pride, and self-interest) and a life of “emptying” modeled by Jesus through humility, service, and sacrifice. This explores how our identities are shaped by cultural influences, personal experiences, and internal “images” of who we want to become—and it calls us to reject conflicting worldly standards in favor of the ultimate image of Christ. Paul emphasizes that many of our struggles, especially in relationships, stem from self-centeredness, and that true transformation comes when we adopt the mindset of Jesus. We can be encouraged to “own” the image of Christ as the defining standard for our lives, and allow His humility and love to guide every decision and relationship.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul leads us to ask a powerful and often overlooked question: not just what Jesus did in the past, but what He is doing right now. We see it emphasized that Jesus is currently seated at the right hand of the Father, actively interceding and working for the good of those who follow Him. Paul shows us that Jesus is not distant or passive, but continually involved in our lives—bringing hope, purpose, and transformation even in the midst of chaos, failure, and uncertainty. So the question comes back to us, “Where are you now?” and inviting each of us to respond to a living Savior who is always working on our behalf.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul takes us into what it truly means to “own” our relationship with God by developing intentional, personal “altar time” with Him. Moving beyond tradition and theory, He highlights how biblical altars were never about physical structures but about meaningful encounters—places of worship, repentance, gratitude, and honest conversation with God. Drawing from Jesus’ example and the disciples’ request to be taught how to pray, emphasizes that real spiritual transformation comes from consistent, authentic interaction with God, not just thinking about Him. With a practical framework coined as the “6 R’s” (Rest, Re-Invite, Review, Reflect, Reaffirm, Renew), we are guided on how to build a daily rhythm of prayer that brings clarity, renewal, and deeper intimacy with the Father. Ultimately, Paul reminds us that making time for God isn’t optional—it’s essential for a thriving, transformed life.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul leads us into exploring what it truly means to “own your altar.” Moving beyond traditional ideas of altars as physical spaces or church moments, we see that the real altar is an intentional, daily interaction with God in our heart and life. Drawing from biblical examples like Noah, Abraham, and David, Paul highlights how altars were always about worship, surrender, repentance, and relationship—not the structure itself. This challenges us to take personal responsibility for meeting with God outside of Sunday services, turning everyday moments—whether in joy, stress, decision-making, or gratitude—into opportunities for connection. Ultimately, it calls us to prioritize God above all else and cultivate a consistent, authentic relationship with Him through ongoing “altar moments” in daily life.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul leads us through Philippians 2 and with the unusual story of “Shibboleth” from Judges 12. He uses the idea of a distinguishing word or “dialect” to illustrate how true faith should be clearly recognizable through our words, actions, and daily decisions. Paul emphasizes that Christian creeds are not just statements to recite on Sundays, but a lived reality that shapes how we treat others, handle challenges, and represent Christ in the world. Rejecting a watered-down, “pick-your-own” version of Christianity, we’re called to a bold, consistent confession that Jesus Christ is Lord—not just once, but as a lifelong way of living. So we’re invited to examine our lives and ask: does my life clearly reflect the “dialect” of God’s kingdom?For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul shares a concept to challenge the way we think about poverty, redefining it not as a lack of money but as any area of life that is not “as it should be.” He highlights how poverty can exist in our relationships, communication, thinking, and even our walk with God—often hidden beneath outward success. The counter to this poverty centers on the biblical concept of shalom, meaning wholeness, completeness, and flourishing as God intended. Rather than trying to fix ourselves through external solutions, we are asked to first acknowledge our own areas of brokenness and then invite the Holy Spirit—the “Spirit of shalom”—to restore and transform us from within. We’re encouraged to stop hiding our struggles, own our need for God, and begin the journey toward true peace and wholeness through Him.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul calls us as believers to move beyond simply believing in God’s promises to actively embracing and living them out. He centers on the Book of Isaiah 61, and challenges us to see ourselves as the redeemed “they” who are called to rebuild ancient ruins—restoring God’s design for marriage, family, identity, and culture. Rather than reinventing truth or living from the broken patterns of past generations, we are invited back to the “ancient paths” revealed in Scripture—truths about God, ourselves, and relationships that lead to real flourishing. Paul calls us to personal ownership through communion: to receive Christ not as ritual, but as a conscious commitment to walk in His ways, rebuild what has been devastated, and live the abundant life He offers.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul unpacks Isaiah 61 and connects it to the Beatitudes we find in the Gospel of Matthew 5, and its challenge to us as believers not to just believe God’s promises—but to own them. Paul reframes what it truly means to be “blessed,” showing how Jesus transforms our expectations in seasons of mourning, anxiety, disappointment, and hardship. Rather than living captive to negative predictions spoken by culture, family, or fear, we’re invited to embrace God’s greater promise found in the Epistle to the Romans 8:28—that He works all things together for good for those called according to His purpose. Centered on the hope secured through Christ’s sacrifice, we’re called to surrender limiting expectations, reject defeat, and “come and see” how God can redeem any situation for His glory and our good.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul unpacks the theme of “Own It” through book of Isaiah chapter 61, calling us to move beyond simply believing the gospel to fully living it. He shares this idea framed around Crosstowne’s 30th anniversary and the declaration of “the favorable year of the Lord,” and highlights God’s promise to exchange ashes for beauty, mourning for joy, and shame for a double portion. Paul references Jesus’ fulfillment of Isaiah 61 (as seen in the Gospel of Luke), and challenges us to stop wearing our past failures, addiction, grief, or condemnation as identity and instead embrace forgiveness, restoration, and purpose. He gives strong warning against counterfeit gospels—especially the false messages we preach to ourselves—the core takeaway is clear: reject internal lies, preach truth to your own soul, and boldly own the abundant life God has already declared over you.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Elder Chris unpacks Jesus’ command in John 13:34–35 that believers are to be known not for achievements, status, or reputation—but for love. Chris reflects on his own life and the traits he once tried to cultivate, and shares how God redirected his focus to the greatest commandment: to love others as Christ has loved us. We explore four key truths—love is directed (commanded by Jesus), defined (modeled sacrificially by Christ), diffuse (extended to everyone, including enemies and opponents), and dominant (the highest and most powerful virtue). We’re challenged to live intentionally, reject casual Christianity, and allow Christ’s costly love to shape how we engage family, strangers, and even those we disagree with.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

In our special winter weather online service, Pastor Paul explores the powerful story of John 6:1–15—Jesus feeding the 5,000—and reveals that the miracle was about far more than bread. Through this familiar passage, Paul unpacks four transformative stages of spiritual growth: Resignation (coming to the end of ourselves), Revelation (seeing who Christ truly is), Response (stepping forward in obedience), and Realization (understanding the abundance and potential God produces through our weakness). Just as Jesus intentionally tested the disciples to reveal their limitations, we are reminded that our “insufficient bag lunches”—our marriages, parenting struggles, finances, and personal failures—are not the end of the story. We’re encouraged that when we surrender what we lack to Christ, He multiplies it beyond what we could accomplish alone. If we’ve felt stuck, overwhelmed, or at the end of our strength, this message encourages us: our resignation may be the very place where God begins something greater.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul weaves together Genesis 28, the story of Jesus healing the man born blind, and the modern idea of quantum entanglement to explore how heaven and earth are deeply connected. Rather than explaining suffering through simple cause-and-effect, we challenge a “Newtonian” way of thinking and are invited to see pain, hardship, and unanswered questions through the lens of meaning and purpose. Paul uses Jacob’s ladder as a central image, that emphasizes how God does not cause all suffering, but He does desire to connect every experience—especially our lowest, messiest moments—to His highest purposes. We’re encouraged that through Christ, suffering can be anchored in hope, transformed from meaningless misery into a pathway toward perseverance, character, and belonging. We’re invited to faith: to stop demanding purely causal answers and instead step into an “entanglement” with God through Jesus, where even life’s hardest moments can be filled with purpose and hope.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul unpacks how quantum entanglement can help us understand our relationship with God, showing that faith is meant to be more than a one-time transaction—it’s a living, ongoing connection. Using Jesus’ words in John 15, He contrasts transactional Christianity with an organic, abiding relationship where believers are spiritually “entangled” with Christ like branches to a vine. We’re challenged to examine what we are truly connected to, break unhealthy entanglements with the world, and delight in God’s ways so our lives can bear lasting fruit. God is glorified when we flourish, our joy is made full through abiding in Christ, and spiritual growth happens through daily practices of prayer, Scripture, obedience, and community.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul explores the powerful idea of entanglement—drawing from quantum physics to illuminate deep spiritual truths. Using quantum entanglement as a metaphor, Paul shows how everything in life is connected and how our choices, relationships, routines, and beliefs shape who we become. Through the story of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), He challenges us to examine what we are truly “entangled” with—whether past wounds, identity, politics, success, or relationships—and contrast those with the life-giving connection Jesus offers as the true “living water.” We are encouraged that Christianity is not primarily about fixing behaviors or untangling every problem, but about rightly entangling oneself with Christ, which brings meaning, healing, freedom, and transformation to every area of life.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul explores with us the scientific concept of quantum entanglement, and its ability to be a powerful metaphor for Christian faith, discipleship, and daily life. Paul explains how entangled particles remain mysteriously connected across varied and some vast distance, and as metaphor this concept can help illuminate how Scripture describes spiritual realities such as the Trinity, union with Christ, prayer, obedience, sin, and blessing. We’re challenged to move beyond intellectual belief and examine what we are truly “entangled” with—God’s Word, God’s kingdom, or the patterns of the world. Paul shows how transformation, peace, and blessing are not magical outcomes but the result of intentional spiritual entanglement through repentance, confession, obedience, love, and communion with Christ. Our encouragement is that our future is shaped by what we choose to be connected to—so we should choose to entangle our life with God.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul reminds us that Christmas is not about dates, traditions, or distractions, but about the unwavering promise of God fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Paul uses a metaphor of kicking a rock down a dirt road, to illustrate God’s relentless faithfulness as He carried His promise from Abraham, through generations of struggle, exile, and failure, all the way to Bethlehem—and ultimately to us today. Despite life’s messiness, doubts, suffering, or detours, God remains fully assured and resolute about His plan and His love for each person. We’re reminded that Jesus is the Rock of salvation, present here and now, inviting every heart—no matter how “dirty” the road—to receive grace, hope, and new life. Believers and seekers alike should be encouraged to refocus on Christ, trust God’s unstoppable purpose, and welcome His promises into their lives this Christmas season.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Brent challenges us to rethink significance through the often-overlooked story of Joseph. While Christmas can easily become distracted by lights, traditions, and gifts, our desire is to refocuses our hearts on Jesus and the quiet faithfulness that helped usher Him into the world. Brent highlights to us that Joseph’s life reminds us that support roles—those lived behind the scenes—are not secondary in God’s kingdom but divinely appointed and deeply meaningful. Through Joseph’s obedience, protection, and perseverance, we learn that living assured and resolute in God’s calling doesn’t require recognition, only faithfulness. We’re encouraged that those of us who may feel unseen or undervalued to remember that every role done for Christ has purpose, significance, and eternal impact.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul explains to us how the Magi were real historical Persian scholars and astrologers who would have studied Jewish prophecy and astronomy. How when they saw the star indicating the birth of the Jewish King, they deliberately set out on a difficult journey — not because of social convention or myth, but because of conviction, purpose, and expectation. Paul encourages us to embrace this concept for our own lives, that faith is not a once-off moment or ritual, but a lifelong journey that demands commitment, sacrifice and willingness to follow God even when the path is hard.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul explores with us how the Christmas season can easily become filled with distractions—consumerism, busyness, and cultural “mind tricks” that distort our expectations—and how we’re presented with an invitation back to the true meaning of Advent and the arrival of Christ. Paul highlights two people as biblical examples, Simeon and Anna, of what it means to be assured and resolute in our faith during a season that often pulls our attention elsewhere. Our reminder is that Christmas isn’t about the noise, the pace, or the pressure—it’s about recognizing God’s fulfillment of hope, light, and salvation, and intentionally centering our hearts on Christ’s coming.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul continues the unpacking of Jesus’ Parable of the Mustard Seed, using the story of the Good Samaritan to uncover how God grows His kingdom in us, among us, and ultimately beyond us. Paul highlights the tale end of the parable this week, examining how what begins as a small “seed” in our lives can become a flourishing tree that offers shelter, hope, and restoration to others—especially those who may feel like “strange birds” looking for a home. We’re challenged and called to extend our branches, embrace those different from us, and trust that God can use even our smallest acts of faith to create profound impact in the lives of others, and ourselves. Paul encourages us to step into the invitation to live as agents of God’s new creation, a re-genesis, restoring the world one encounter at a time.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul continues unpacking how God’s kingdom grows when we intentionally sow it into every part of our lives—just like Jesus’s parable of the mustard seed. Telling us a humorous story about a lizard unexpectedly uniting strangers in a waiting room, Paul highlights how even small shared moments can reveal our deep desire for connection, and how something far greater—God’s presence—is what draws us into true community. Reflecting on the early church, he highlights the unchanging essentials of fellowship, generosity, serving, and staying committed even when relationships get rocky, or church gets difficult. We're called as believers to reject spiritual transience, to embrace covenant community, and to join God in building a kingdom that shelters, strengthens, and grows beyond anything we can imagine.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul unpacks what it truly means to grow in Christ from the inside out. Highlighting the parables of the mustard seed and the sower, he reveals that God’s Kingdom flourishes when we intentionally plant His Word in every area of our lives—our successes, struggles, and daily habits. Paul challenges us with that fact that Growth begins when we let go of what holds us back and take hold of Jesus personally, not through secondhand faith but through real, immersive relationship. The stories like Thomas’ encounter with Christ and Paul’s conversion, shows this message challenges us to live with open hands and desperate hearts, continually seeking to know God more deeply. That true spiritual growth isn’t passive—it’s a daily rhythm of surrender, engagement, and transformation.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Many of us drift through life defined by discouragement, failure, or passivity—but Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of God is already within and among us, waiting to grow. Pastor Paul highlights a parable for us and shows like the mustard seed, God’s Word has the power to bring flourishing and renewal, but it must be both taken and sown into our daily choices, habits, and relationships. We’re challenged not to merely “be around faith,” but to actively step into the process of growth, allowing God to shape us from the inside out so that we become participants in His Kingdom work here and now.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul wraps up The Way discussing the idea of rendering—a call for believers to become the visible expression of Christ in the world. Drawing from the meaning of the word “render” as making something unseen visible, Pastor Paul explains that Jesus was the perfect rendering of the Father, and now we, as His followers, are called to render Jesus through our charity, clarity, calling, and conviction. Paul reminds us that truth without love is harsh and love without truth is hollow—that real Christlikeness blends both perfectly. We are invited to examine our own lives and ask, “How well am I rendering Christ to the world?”For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul brings challenge to us as believers to move beyond passive faith and embrace a life of conviction. Reminding us how God has already given us His charity, clarity, and calling, but it’s up to us to walk them out through daily obedience. Drawing from Genesis and Ephesians, Paul reveals that conviction is what turns belief into structure — the difference between a flourishing life and a fallen garden. When we replace conviction with our own emotion, we lose the order and purpose God designed for us. We are encouraged that every believer is to rebuild their “house” with conviction, living under the governance of Christ as King, and partner with God in the transformation He’s begun.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

We continue in the challenge us to see the Christian life not just as salvation from sin, but as transformation into the image of Christ. Pastor Paul focus further in on God’s Clarity, and explores how God brings light to hidden areas of our lives and invites us to make new choices that reflect His truth. He uses the metaphor of a shopping cart, and urges us to examine what we’re carrying from our old life and let Scripture determine what belongs in our new one. Each one of us are called to decide: will we continue walking in the “then,” or step fully into the “now” of a life changed by Christ?For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

This week Pastor Paul shifts our focus from God’s charity to His clarity—how He “turns on the lights” in our lives so we can see truth, avoid deception, and walk as children of light. Paul leads us in examining Ephesians, and shows how clarity isn’t meant to condemn but to reveal both what hinders us and the potential God has placed within us. He illustrates to us that through Scripture, Christ’s example, the work of the Holy Spirit, community, and typology God brings clarity to every part of our lives—marriage, parenting, work, and even spiritual warfare—so that we can flourish as His workmanship.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

We continue exploring The Way as Pastor Paul reminds us how following Christ is far more than a one-time decision or church membership—it’s a lifelong journey of transformation into His likeness. Walking through Ephesians, Paul shows us that the way begins with Charity. The kindness of God toward us. He highlights for us that this Charity shows itself in that God’s ultimate intention is not just to fix us or get us to heaven, but to bring us fully to Himself. This is a challenge for us to ask: are we living in shame and self-interest, or are we rooted in God’s lavish charity that changes everything? Charity is the start, when we have it right we can move forward in the way. But if we don’t have the Charity of God, we will hurt ourselves with the Conviction of God. Receive the Charity of God today.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul leads us to reflect on recent cultural tensions and reminds us that Christian faith transcends politics and division. Using Charlie as an example, he highlights that following Christ has always been more than avoiding hell—it’s about transformation, becoming who God has called us to be. Paul continues in our look at the teachings from Ephesians, and outlines four essential elements of the Christian life: charity, clarity, calling, and conviction. He shows us how these qualities work together to shape a life that is both compassionate and courageous, through the stories of Jesus’ encounters with the woman caught in adultery, and the woman at the well. This message should challenge us not to settle for passive faith but to live bravely, embrace the cross, and fully walk in “the way” of Christ.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul challenges us as believers about the idea of Christianity as simply a one-time decision or a ticket to heaven, reminding us that our faith is a lifelong journey of transformation. He goes through stories of the Exodus, and the Book of Ephesians, he illustrates that God’s plan is not about arriving at a destination but about becoming more like Christ along the way. Paul highlights that the church is a diverse gathering of people united by Jesus, called to be shaped into His image and to bring flourishing wherever we are. Encouraging us to step into the way, that ultimately, the “Way” is not about staying the same, but about surrendering to God’s work of making us new.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul takes us to view the start of it all. Looking through the portal we examine the story of humankind’s creation and explore how science, sociology, and scripture converge to reveal humanity’s design for community. Drawing from research on health, longevity, and resilience, Paul highlights to us that science indicates living in relationship with others is as vital as diet, sleep, and exercise. And from a biblical perspective, he shows us humans are not “lone wolves” but image-bearers of God, created for unity that reflects the divine oneness of Father, Son, and Spirit. Marriage, church, and authentic community embody this top-down and ground-up design, pointing to God’s intention for us to live with purpose, resilience, and love with each other.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Going through the portal Pastor Paul takes us to the story of Daniel in the lion’s den as we reexamine it—not as a tale of mere survival, but as a lesson in our conviction, rhythms, and our orientation toward God. Paul illuminates how Daniel’s strength wasn’t found in avoiding hardship but in his daily practice of prayer, consistently facing Jerusalem, and turning his soul toward the presence of Yahweh. And he challenges us to consider what we open the “windows” of our lives to—wether it’s culture, distractions, our struggles and hardships, the difficulty of our relationships or is it going to be God’s presence. So we’re reminded that our victories come not from eliminating the “lions”, not from facing them down, but from elevating ourselves, opening our windows, and facing toward the name of Yahweh, looking to the hills from where our help comes, aligning ourselves with the stronger one, Christ, who gives His strength in our weakness.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul and Josh dives through the portal this week to look at the example of the early Church in the Book of Acts, all to see what were they all about. They show us in scripture a Spirit-empowered community marked by radical generosity, unity, and tangible care for one another. Drawing from the passages Paul and Josh read, they challenge us to move beyond maybe our passive faith and into active compassion: opening our hands freely to the poor, measuring efficiency by what we give rather than what we keep, and cultivating a readiness to share time, talents, and treasures. Paul and Josh reveal Crosstowne’s “Kingdom Drops” initiative as a practical outworking of this ethic—mobilizing us, the church, to serve locally through feeding the homeless, supporting teachers, and caring for widows, while also engaging in national and international mission work, and so much more. Their encouragement for us being generosity is not an optional extra but a central truth of God’s kingdom, that brings transformation both to those we serve and to our own hearts.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Staci leads us through the "Portal" this week, bringing fresh insight into the life of Joshua—not as a flat Bible character, but as a real, relatable person navigating fear, loss, and calling. She highlights Joshua 1, where we explore how God's repeated command to “be strong and courageous” isn't a call to self-reliance, but to deep trust in His presence and promises. Staci shares her personal experiences of anxiety, grief, and spiritual struggle, with us to remind us that true strength comes from meditating on God's Word, yielding to the Spirit, and walking forward in faith—EVEN when we feel weak. We’re encouraged as believers to move beyond performance and embrace the sustaining grace of God in every season of our lives.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Going through the “portal”, Pastor Paul leads us in exploring the life of Moses—not through the lens of miracles and dramatic events, but through a powerful internal moment of transformation. Paul shows us how long before Moses parted the Red Sea or confronted Pharaoh, he made a deeply personal and existential decision to part with Egypt and embrace his true identity and purpose. We are invited to make the same personal and existential decision with our lives. Through the book of Hebrews, Paul challenges us to consider what it means to “grow up” spiritually: to take ownership of our beliefs, make intentional choices, and align with God’s calling. This is our call to stop waiting for external change and start engaging the inward journey of faith and purpose.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

As we peer through the “portal” again this week, Pastor Paul takes us to explore the lives of three women named Mary—Mary of Nazareth, Mary of Bethany, and Mary Magdalene and their “three ways to the cross of Christ”. Paul highlights to us that though each came from a different background—a quiet rural town, a well-off suburb, and a broken past marked by spiritual darkness—they all encountered Jesus in transformative ways. It’s through each of their stories, we can see that no matter our origin, status, or shame, the cross of Christ remains open to all of us. Paul encourages us that there is only one way to God the Father—through His son Jesus—but our lives may unfold in many ways as we are drawn to Him. So no matter where we’re from, where we’ve been, or what we’ve done, there's room at the cross for us.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul takes us back through the “Portal” this week to look at “the power of and”. He highlights the biblical example of Priscilla and Aquila to explore the strength of godly partnerships in both marriage and ministry. Paul unpacks the contrast of their faithful “and” with the misguided union of Ananias and Sapphira, urging us to reflect on what and who we join ourselves to in life. Through this Pastor Paul challenges us as believers to align every part of our lives—relationships, resources, and purpose—to be “and” with Christ.Watch now and consider: who or what is your “and”?For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul dives us deep into the story of Jonah—not as a children’s tale about a big fish, but as a profound reflection on repentance, mercy, and God's transformative grace within our lives. Paul unpacks Jonah’s resistance to God's call and his time inside the fish as a metaphor for spiritual confrontation and growth, challenging us to reframe failure and hardship as sacred spaces for maximum potential. He shows us how rather than punishment, the "belly" becomes a moment of clarity, ownership, and redirection. An act of God’s grace. With honesty and depth, Paul explores how God’s first instinct isn’t condemnation, but compassion—and how embracing difficult conversations with God can lead to resurrection for our lives, not ruin.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.

Pastor Paul takes us back through the portal to the story of Samson to reveal how spiritual compromise often begins with small, intentional choices—like aligning the dominoes for our own downfall. Paul draws the parallels between Samson's journey and our own struggles, he challenges us to examine the subtle ways we drift from God's calling. But through moments of failure, blindness, and loss, we can see that God's grace still pursues us. Even when we feel disqualified or far gone, this story reminds us that restoration is possible. Paul invites us to take this story as a message of warning, but also hope, and invitation. Encouraging us that God hasn’t given up on us—and He’s ready to restore our vision and purpose.For more information and resources, visit https://www.crosstownechurch.com/.