Archive for the 'This Week at Cross Church' Category
What Is Before Our Immediate Future At Cross Church?
I do hope you will take a couple of minutes to read as I share some upcoming events:
Our Financial Opportunities
The Lord gave us a great first quarter in our budget, and now we are in the final month of our second quarter. While God is faithful to take care of His church, He always uses His people to give.
Therefore, I appeal to you: Be faithful to honor God with the first-tenth of all He has given to you and do so through our Ministry Budget. This is the financial PRIORITY of our lives personally and is the bread and butter of all we do here at Cross Church. Be faithful to complete your pledge to GREATER THINGS and if you are new to Cross Church, join us in giving above the Ministry Budget, to GREATER THINGS. GREATER THINGS is a three-year program (March finishes year two) that provides resources for great missional opportunities like church planting, church ministry expansion like we have done in Fayetteville, the Compassion Center, greater missionary support, the Cross Church School of Ministry kick-off, strengthening our financial posture as a church, and so much more. This has been one of the greatest programs ever done here in our church. If you were one of the hundreds of families that made commitments, we are now entering month 24 of a 36-month commitment . . . Let’s finish well. If you want to join us, give a gift weekly or monthly to GREATER THINGS in our final 13 months of this campaign.
BE FAITHFUL to these areas of giving when you are here and even when you are away. You can do so by sending in gifts prior to your departure or you can give online by clicking here
Thanks for all you are doing through our church. We are grateful for your giving.
Our Cross Church School Of Ministry
As you know, Dr. Jeff Crawford is our first President of the Cross Church School of Ministry. Students will report on August 15, we are now accepting students. It is amazing what the Lord has done and is going to do. Please go here and look at what has happened already.
As well, our #1 need is for students! Please pray God sends us students from all over the world! They can enroll here
This past Sunday, I was talking to a prospective student. He is about to graduate from one of our Baptist universities and knows God has called him to ministry. He plans to attend seminary, but is also considering coming to us first. Why? He can earn at least 18 Masters-level hours by coming to the Cross Church School of Ministry. So this one-year ministry residency experience can set him apart for the rest of his ministry. Pray . . . pray . . . pray for God to send us men and women who have been called to ministry!
Highlights of the Passion Week: The Final Week in the Life of Jesus Christ
I want to assure you that these eight days will be extremely powerful and unique, like NOTHING we have ever done in the last 26-years. It will all begin on Sunday morning, March 24, and closeout on Sunday, March 31, which is Easter Sunday.
In the coming days you will begin to see more information, but know that during Passion Week you can go on a walk through the final days of Jesus’ life. You can go through His death, His burial, and His resurrection with us.
I am releasing the dates, the titles, and the experiences today, so read below.
Sunday, March 24: Worship services at each campus, “The Lord’s Supper: Remembering the Gospel of Jesus Christ” from Matthew 26:17-30
Monday, March 25 – Friday, March 29: Passion Week Luncheons at our Pinnacle Hills campus. Join us from noon – 1 p.m. for lunch, worship, and a message that will highlight a key moment in the final week of Christ. Each day will hold a new message, so please attend as many luncheons as you can.
Monday, March 25: “The Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus Christ Preparing to Die” from Matthew 26:36-46
Tuesday, March 26: “The Betrayal of Judas and the Kiss of Death” from Matthew 26:17-25, 46-56; 27:3-10
Wednesday, March 27: “The Denials of Peter and his Deep Regret” from Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75
Thursday, March 28: “The Scourging of Jesus Christ and the Final Hours Before His Death” from Matthew 26:57-68; 27:1-2, 11-32
Friday, March 29: “The Crucifixion and The Death of Jesus Christ” from Matthew 27:33-56
Friday Night, March 29: “The Death and Burial of Jesus Christ.” This will be a powerful evening of music, worship, and reflection at Cross Church Pinnacle Hills with special guest music from the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Admission is free.
Saturday Night, March 30, and Sunday Morning, March 31: “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ From The Dead” from Matthew 27:62-65; 28:1-15.
Blessings and prayers as we look to a fabulous March together, beginning with Sunday, March 3!
Ronnie Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
An Open Letter To All Men In Northwest Arkansas And Areas Close To Us
I cannot recall a time when I have written an open letter to all men in Northwest Arkansas and areas close to us. Therefore, after being here 26 years, I have something urgent on my heart to share with you. Please take the time to read this letter thoroughly and be open to its content.
The Urgency Is Upon Men To Lead and To Lead Now
I realize that you are continually pressed to lead. I wonder why? It is because men are expected and should be expected to lead. We should lead ourselves properly, lead our families, lead our businesses, lead our communities, and yes, even lead our churches. America is suffering horribly from a lack of leadership today in each of these areas and more. Now is the time, we begin to change it.
I Want You To Join Me On Friday Night, March 1, and Saturday Morning, March 2
What is happening that is so important? For these hours together, we are rallying as many men as possible to join us for our Northwest Arkansas Men’s Conference, ‘Vertical.’ Why is this event so special that I would take the time to make this appeal to you? Simply put, the personalities we have scheduled to assist us at the conference are outstanding men who communicate to men across the nation on a regular basis.
James MacDonald Is A Prolific Author and Phenomenal Pastor
I have had the privilege to dialogue over the past three years with James on many occasions. He is a nationally known speaker and serves as the Senior Pastor of the Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago, Illinois. He has spoken to thousands of men in all kinds of settings over the years. He teaches the Bible over a daily radio program that reaches across this nation and beyond. Pastor James MacDonald will be one of the all-time favorite speakers ever to come to Cross Church.
Vance Pitman Is A Gifted Leader and Strong Pastor
Vance Pitman was our World Missions Speaker four years ago and spent a Sunday with us. Our people loved him. Pastor Vance Pitman serves the Hope Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. This gifted communicator of God’s Word will challenge and inspire you. He is a leader of leaders!
Complimenting These Gifted Men Will Be Nick Floyd, Jeff Crawford, and Myself
While our times in the pulpit will be very brief, we will be speaking to you as well. We want you to leave encouraged and inspired to become a Vertical Man!
Setting The Entire Tone For The Word, Will Be Julio Arriola and Gifted Men of God To Assist Him In Leading Worship
While this will not be excessive, it will be sufficient to help us gather together in the Spirit of the Lord. We will remember our audience and make it a very special time for each of us. I promise you that you will enjoy it.
Bring Your Teenage Son Or Other Men . . . Sign Up Today
I want you to do all you can to sign up personally and bring other men as well, including teenage boys. Never has there been a greater need for young boys, younger men, middle-age men, and even men in their senior years to be under the Word of God together. Sign up here today.
Let’s Get Real Guys . . . Face the Facts!
Men and families are in trouble. Let’s do not kid ourselves! Many men have time for all kinds of things, but their spiritual growth. Why can 75,000 men fill a football stadium regardless of the weather and these same men not even fill a church building to grow spiritually? That is a serious question that not one of us should mock! Hundreds of our men pour thousands of dollars into teaching their boys how to shoot basketballs, play baseball, or throw a football, but do we spend time and money to have our boys join us for a spiritual encounter with God? Men, we need to face the facts and change the present reality in 2013. Let’s lead! Let’s grow! Let’s empower! Let’s go!
I Pray I Will See You Here With Us!
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.