CrossTrail Community Church: Sermon Podcast

The opening chapters of the Book of Revelation make it clear that its primary purpose is a call to faithful allegiance to Jesus Christ under the pressures of an unbelieving world.

The Book of Revelation resists being treated like a puzzle that satisfies our curiosity about the future, and instead reveals the spiritual, cosmic realities behind the events of this life. King Jesus is on the throne and present with his faithful people.

God graciously blesses us in the ways that we need. Yet God‘s blessings are not meant to stop with us. God‘s intention is that as we receive blessing we also give blessing to others. This message explains the value and importance of being a blessing, along with practical ways to do that.

While our plans often fall through no matter how hard we try, God can’t fail to accomplish anything he has set out to do. And that’s true not just with his world, but with your life.

In a world where promises are easily broken and hard to trust, it is so encouraging to know that it is against God's very nature to break a promise. And that makes our hope steadfast and sure.

While God may test us, he is never behind any pull to do something he has forbidden. Rather, he wants to bring us victory over temptation.

Deception is Satan’s main tactic and the biggest threat to our wellbeing. Because God can’t lie, we can build our lives on everything he says.

The kind of love that usually gets people to the altar will not necessarily sustain the relationship over a lifetime. The Bible describes love at the highest level--the kind that has staying power--and how to access it. This is the most important element of building a marriage that goes the distance.

Partnership means sharing a worthwhile cause. Learn about how we can be partners in the gospel with Jesus and his church, and also how our church partners with Campus Christian Fellowship on the UNC campus.

Some things may happen in a marriage that forgiveness alone cannot fix. Trust is broken. While this is very traumatic, if both partners are willing, trust can be rebuilt with God‘s help.

Conflict is inevitable in any close relationship. When we know Jesus, we are equipped to minimize conflict and resolve hurt feelings in healthy ways, instead of letting it drive a wedge between us. #conflict#conflict resolution

Your ability to communicate effectively will make or break your marriage. The secret isn’t just better techniques but a right heart posture. #communication#communicating#maritalcommunication

Rarely do marriages fall apart suddenly. It’s a slow drift. Learn how to build a lasting marriage through intentional, daily investment in the relationship.

The struggle of the wilderness drains you of energy, making it hard to go on. But God offers himself to you as the unlimited source of strength that will enable you to rise above.

The problems of the world and our nation are big. They often feel insurmountable. But they are nothing compared to our God. When it all feels overwhelming, God sits high above the chaos working out his plan.

Perhaps the hardest thing about barren seasons in life is the confusion they cause us. While we may not see any purpose to our pain or understand why it is happening, we can learn to trust God‘s wisdom and find joy to sustain us.

When you find that little is going right and life is a constant struggle, you may feel like giving up. But there are several truths from God that, as you speak them to yourself, will give you hope to make it through to better days.

We worry a lot about the future. We attach our security to many things that we have no assurances about. But Jesus has made very firm promises about the future of his Church to all who are part of it.

While you may be tempted to think that you’re fine on your own, you are never more vulnerable than when you are alone. One of the reasons God gave us the church was to provide us with the added strength and wisdom and help that is available in community.

People sometimes minimize church, or get down on the church because of bad experiences. Yet the surprising fact is that the church is the community God has formed to house his holy presence and reveal his glory.

One reason to gather with the church is that the message of Christ proclaimed through the church is God’s chosen primary method of calling and shaping his people. Listen to this message to learn more about the value of preaching and of studying the Bible in community.

What does an obscure Old Testament story have to do with our lives and our place in the Church today? More than you might think. From David’s treatment of Jonathan’s lame son we get a touching picture of what it means to be invited to the King’s table.

Is the church optional? Supplemental? Expendable? Not if Jesus actually rose from the dead. The Resurrection tells us that building the church was a crucial part of Jesus’ mission—and that it is unstoppable.

If you’re in a battle of some sort, Palm Sunday is the celebration before the victory. From this historical event we learn the power of faith to believe for what has not yet happened. It also reminds us to celebrate the greater victory that has already been won.

When Life is difficult and problems are persisting, how do you pray? In addition to asking God to bring resolution, this next-level way to pray is catalytic to the development of your faith and capacity for great things.

When we sincerely ask God to stop us before sin takes hold, or when we’ve lost control, this message shows how God lovingly intervenes to keep us from destructive paths.

We will never take our sin seriously until we take God seriously. Rather than justifying ourselves or beating up on ourselves, seeking forgiveness brings cleansing and healing. Learn more about how to talk to God about your failures.

Few qualities will take you further in life than a teachable spirit, while disaster looms for those without one. This next-level prayer will open your heart to receive wisdom from God that will guide your steps through the maze of choices you must make.

Personal growth starts with the hardest step—self-awareness. Instead of keeping God at a safe distance, what if you felt safe enough to invite him in for a close look? Learn how this courageous, vulnerable prayer can help you leave broken patterns behind.

The kind of prayers we pray go a long way towards shaping the kind of person we are becoming and the kind of relationship with God we’re building. While it is tempting to hide as a believer when we feel the pressure of an unbelieving world, praying for boldness will open the way for God to do a powerful work in and through us.

In our quieter moments, we intuitively know that there must be something more and better than what we experience of life in this world. That longing is pointing us to the fact that we were made for eternity. And that means how we order our days is extremely important.

While AI is fast and efficient, human creativity is driven by meaning and the richness of human experience. But how we use our creativity is of immense importance to fulfilling our purpose.

One thing that sets humans apart from both animals and machines is our capacity to make choices between good and evil. And those choices have tremendous weight. The development of AI technology raises many real ethical concerns that we must navigate very carefully.

Nothing is more human than our need to connect in meaningful relationships with other people. Yet technologies of late, and especially the age of AI, present the real danger of leaving us more disconnected than ever.

The future of AI is advancing rapidly, but will it really be the savior its developers envision? What the world needs is for us to be whole human beings in communion with the Life-Giver.

In a world that idolizes optimization through AI, what makes humans unique and infinitely valuable is not intelligence or productivity, but that we are created in the image and likeness of God.

We should pay close attention to our internal response to God’s word, particularly on the topic of generosity. Jesus urges us to consider that his promised rewards are for those whose hearts are receptive.

Far from a burden or obligation, the biblical precedent of tithing builds our generosity muscles and positions us for an abundance of blessing.

As the Magi opened their treasures to Jesus, we have the opportunity to bring ours—and in so doing to store up treasure in Heaven in the form of rewards we will get to enjoy eternally.

The commercialized version of Christmas calls for an attitude check regarding money and possessions. Jesus challenges us to adopt his attitude of generosity and delight in being rich towards God.

Numerous misconceptions may be keeping you from sharing your faith. Learn the truth, as well as multiple practical tips to get you started.

Everyone longs for a better world. This is a great place to start in talking to someone about the Good News of Jesus. This message will guide you through how to share the gospel from a global perspective.

Good news is meant to be shared, and the gospel truly is good news! In this practical message you’ll learn two simple methods of sharing the core message of the gospel with someone you care about. You can do this!

If you know Jesus, you have a story to share. And it may help someone else come to know him. In this super practical message, you’ll learn how to think through and tell someone how God has blessed your life.

When you encounter the cross of Jesus in a deep and personal way, it changes everything. In Galatians, Paul lifts up the cross as the catalyst that makes people new and is ushering in a whole new world.

There’s a fierce battle being fought within every believer every day. The winner of that battle will shape your life and your future. Good character matters, but it develops differently than you think.

While Christ has set us free, we struggle to live free. Paul helps us understand the incredible implications of being adopted as God‘s child—no longer slaves to religious legalism or to our impulses—in his timeless letter of Galatians.

What does it mean to be a Christian? Is the gospel just another religion, or is there a significant difference? This powerful message from Galatians gives us clear answers we need to navigate this current spiritual climate.

No matter how good life with God can be, many threats remain that can spoil it. The conclusion of Joshua provides needed cautions to help us stay vigilant and protect the blessings we’ve been given.

What are you hoping for? Waiting is hard, but God’s promises are rock solid. Gain some encouragement from the story of Caleb in Josh. 14.