Archive for May, 2013
This Week at Cross Church: The Arrival of Summertime at Cross Church
Cross Church family,
This past weekend we joyfully welcomed the arrival of summertime! Now lets prepare for the many events and activities that Cross Church has to offer our church family and community in the coming weeks.
Summer Camp
In the coming days and weeks Cross Church will be sending hundreds of elementary, middle school, and high school students off to summer camp. I believe that attending a Bible teaching, Christ-centered summer camp is an important part of childhood. Every summer our children’s and student ministry teams prepare unforgettable summer camp experiences, each geared toward sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for our church’s young people. Parents and grandparents, it is not too late to register the children and students in your family for camp. Click here for camp information and registration.
Additionally, many of our students will need some level of financial assistance to attend summer camp. If you feel led to grant a camp scholarship, please click here. Thank you to the many who have already contributed to our camp scholarship fund above their tithe.
Vacation Bible Xtreme
Our summer 2013 Vacation Bible Xtreme theme is “Turn It Up!” Our weeklong VBX will take your children and grandchildren on a journey through the Bible, ultimately giving these kids a context for God’s “big story.” VBX kids will discover how they can be a part of the story when they turn up the power of God’s love in their life. Register for VBX today!
The success of our annual vacation bible school is due largely in part to the army of volunteers that assist our children’s ministry teams. If you feel led to volunteer your time to this year’s VBX, click here. Your service is greatly appreciated.
Save the Date for our Summer Freedom Celebration
On Sunday, June 30, each of our campuses will host a Summer Freedom Celebration called, “Fear Not, America — There is Hope!” Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to Sunday morning services as we honor our heroes, celebrate our freedoms, and renew our dependence on our Heavenly Father.
Additionally, on the evening of June 30, our Pinnacle Hills campus will host “Fireworks at the Crosses,” a phenomenal time of fun, praise and worship, and the best fireworks display in Northwest Arkansas. This event is the perfect opportunity to invite guests to join you for an uplifting evening of Gospel-centered fellowship — I encourage you to invite, invite, invite!
Summer Program of Giving
The ministries of Cross Church continue even while many of our people are away on summer vacation; therefore, I ask that you prayerfully consider how you can remain consistent and faithful in your giving during the summertime. Our Summer Program of Giving goal is $4,665,000 — a thoughtfully considered figure that will fund daily church operations, Great Commission ministries, special events like VBX and summer camps, and additional ministries for our people and community. Be assured that your faithful summertime giving results in lives being changed and influenced for Jesus Christ.
Cross Church offers you five giving options: during Sunday worship, online, at our Giving Kiosks located at each of our campuses, through the mail, and through automated online giving. Please consider which giving method is best suited for your family and make a personal commitment to remain consistent in the giving of your tithes and offerings this summer.
Our Walk Through Acts
I hope you are enjoying and growing in your walk with the Lord through our church-wide study of the Book of Acts. There are so many powerful lessons to learn from this great book of the Bible.
Last Sunday we continued our walk through Acts with the launch of a new mini-series, “iNFLUENCE.” We studied the life and influence of Stephen, a great man of God that suffered well for his faith in Jesus Christ. This week make it a point to join us as we study the iNFLUENCE of Philip.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Stephen: A Man of Godly Influence
Today ronniefloyd.com welcomes guest writer Dr. Nick Floyd. Dr. Floyd is a Teaching Pastor of Cross Church Northwest Arkansas.
Stephen: A Man of Godly Influence
We are all stewards – but most of the time we think about and preach about stewardship in relation to the management of our finances or elements of time. But consider this: One of the greatest areas of stewardship within our life is our influence.
Every member of our congregation has an influence, whether that is in the business world, in a classroom setting, within their home, etc. Whatever the setting may be everyone has an element of influence.
This past Sunday I posed a question to our congregation: How will you use the influence that God has gifted you with?
Then I issued this challenge: Use the influence God has given you for His purposes and His glory.
The Story of Stephen
Let’s be honest, most individuals use their influence in the same way — all for themselves and for their own advantage. The book of Acts, specifically chapters 6 and 7, calls our attention to a man of God, Stephen, who used his influence for God’s purposes and His glory. I encourage you to thoughtfully reread Acts 6 and 7 to reinforce how important the story of Stephen is to understanding using personal influence for God’s purposes and His glory.
In your reading you will find that Stephen remains a prime example of a man that stewarded his influence to advance the Kingdom of Christ. The text reveals to us that Stephen was not a pastor or an apostle, but rather “just” a Godly man in the church of Jerusalem. We can confidently assume that Stephen was living in such a way that he was viewed as a man of good reputation who was full of the Holy Spirit and Godly wisdom. Stephen’s faith flowed out of the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life —having great faith is a result of being full of the Spirit.
Stephen stood for Jesus Christ, and his stance for Christ cost him his life. Few of our church members will ever be called on to be martyrs but each and every one of them has been called to die unto themselves and follow Christ no matter what the cost. Standing for Christ will always involve a cost. If your people are ready to stand for Christ, then they need to be ready to suffer for Christ. Satan will wage a war against you and your people, thus it is important to reflect on how Stephen suffered well for Christ and influenced the people of Jerusalem.
Questions for Personal Reflection
Where do I have influence?
How can I use that influence to stand for Jesus?
Will I commit to use my influence for God’s purposes and His glory?
Am I being who I need to be so that when God gives me an opportunity to use my influence, there’s nothing standing in the way?
Pastor, I encourage you to ask yourself the questions above and answer them honestly and often, as I will do the same.
May your influence stand for Christ,
Nick Floyd
Teaching Pastor, Cross Church Northwest Arkansas
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.