Archive for the 'Resources' Category
Pastor, Searching for Your Christmas Series?
Two years ago, I wanted to do a serious series of messages during the Christmas season, and I wanted it to be text-driven and expositional. The Lord directed my heart to Luke 1-2. From study and work with our team, we designed a six-week series. We believe God directed us the entire way.
Series: Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him!
An Expositional Series on Luke 1-2
This six-week series was built upon the Bible. God used it at Cross Church, and we believe He can continue to use it for His glory. That is why we feel that this series does not need to be sitting in the archives. We want to share it.
If we help one pastor have a direction and can serve him and his church by sharing this series and its resources, it would be a continued blessing. The sermon outlines and resources represent a large volume of study time, multiple meetings, and hours of work from our communications team.
If God wants to use these resources again in some way through you and your church, help yourself. There is no cost.
Here is a list of the titles with the text during the six weeks of the series. We began on the first Sunday of November, which helped us build a strong culture for Christmas:
Week 1: Breaking The Silence (Luke 1:1-25)
Week 2: Mary’s Christmas (Luke 1:26-45)
Week 3: The Other Christmas Baby (Luke 1:57-80)
Week 4: The First Thanksgiving (Luke 1:46-57)
Week 5: Unto Us a Child is Born (Luke 2:1-20)
Week 6: Christmas: The Promise Fulfilled (Luke 2:21-52)
The entire series outlines, graphics, sermon bumpers and video promotion can all be found at the buttons below. If you have trouble downloading any of these resources, please contact us at pastor@crosschurch.com.
May the Lord bless you as you consider your Christmas series. If we come alongside of you in this way, you will bring us joy!
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Why Every Church Should Have a Special Focus on Evangelism
We are living in an unprecedented time in America and our world today. ISIS and Boko Haram are running rampant. Unborn children are slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs. We are told a person’s gender is fluid, not something created by a holy God. Religious freedom is being challenged daily. What is the answer, and what do we do about it?
In our world of 7.28 billion people, an estimated 3 billion people are regarded as unreached and unengaged with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This means that to our knowledge, the gospel has never been known to these people. Here at home, of the 322 million Americans, it is believed that three of four do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.[1]
America and the world are acting just like they are supposed to: spiritually lost and in deep need of Jesus Christ.
God is Working
We know that regardless of the situation of our world today, God is working. We also know that God is committed to redeeming the world. It is incumbent upon us to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, beginning in our own town or city, region, state, and nation.
Many Christians and churches believe we are in great need of the next Great Spiritual Awakening in our nation and world. However, many churches do not make evangelism a priority. Or they focus so heavily on special mission trips both foreign and domestic, the local mission field of their own town or city, region, and state is neglected. Jesus challenged and commanded us to share the Gospel with everyone, not only in foreign countries, but as we go about our daily lives. Sadly, this is not a priority for many Christians.
Consider What Could Happen
What would happen if our churches spent an entire month or more focused on evangelism? Take a moment to consider what could happen not only in your church, but in your town or city, region, state, and even the world, if our churches and people spent a month focused on evangelism. Not just hearing from our pastors in the pulpit, but also in our small groups, learning to put feet to their faith.
This is not something that can be done by just the pastors in our churches. Certainly, our pastors must lead from the pulpit but also with their daily actions. Our people must be engaged in learning how to share their faith, equipped, and be challenged to do so not only on special mission trips, but as they go about their daily lives right in our own town or city, region, and state.
One way to engage in a church-wide emphasis is to build on resources already in place. Bible Studies for Life has an evangelism focus for small groups ready for us to utilize this fall. We can take these thirteen weeks of material for small groups and expand it to the entire church with the sermon outlines also available. We do not have to do it alone.
Whatever you do, do not neglect the lost and dying world we live in. Make it a priority of your church and your people to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
[1] https://blog.ronniefloyd.com/9951/southern-baptist-convention/why-we-are-where-we-are-in-america-and-the-world/
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.