Archive for October, 2013
This Week at Cross Church | From Our Campus Pastors: I’ll Be 1
Clint Smith, Springdale Campus
What if…
The whole Cross Church family showed up on… 1 Day… at 1 Place… with 1 Heart?
What if?
These are challenging times as busy lives and busier schedules fracture the family of God on Sundays across America. But what if…for just one day… all of us adjusted our lives and schedules and came together as ONE?
Let’s make November 3 that day…one day we are saying YES to church and NO to everything else!
So what will 1 Day look like for the SPRINGDALE campus of Cross Church?
On this day, November 3, at the SPRINGDALE campus, we are praying…we are begging God to do something extraordinary. This past Sunday was powerful, and I fully believe that it is only a glimpse of what GOD will do on Sunday, November 3. I am asking you to do whatever you need to do to be here on this day. God will be here. The Holy Spirit is moving among His people. Bring all your family and your friends. It will be a historical day in the life of Cross Church. Below are just a few of the highlights that will take place on this 1 DAY.
FOR ALL:
- FREE Krispy Kreme Donuts/Coffee/Juice starting at 8:30am in the bookstore
PRESCHOOL:
- Ventriloquist Mark Thomas
- Bounce houses
- A chance to win a monthly supply of diapers for one year (must be present at both 9:15am & 10:55am to win)
CHILDREN:
- Ventriloquist Mark Thomas
- Giant Angry Birds game
- Bounce houses
- Free Nintendo 2DS for the boy & girl who bring the most guests
STUDENTS:
- Color War @ 10:55am (you wear white and we will provide the paint)
- Ms. Pam’s Cinnamon Rolls
- Huge Grand Prizes given out during the 10:55am hour (get your ticket in worship center foyer prior to the 9:15 service & be present at both 9:15am & 10:55am to win)
I hope to see all of you here on this 1 Day, November 3. Come expecting GOD to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask!
Blessings,
Clint Smith
Campus Pastor, Cross Church
Buster Pray, Pinnacle Campus
What if…
The whole Cross Church family showed up on… 1 Day… at 1 Place… with 1 Heart?
What if?
These are challenging times as busy lives and busier schedules fracture the family of God on Sundays across America. But what if…for just one day… all of us adjusted our lives and schedules and came together as ONE?
Let’s make November 3 that day…one day we are saying YES to church and NO to everything else!
So what will 1 Day look like at Cross Church Pinnacle Hills?
Your children and students do not want to miss this. Here are the highlights.
- Preschool – Bounce houses; every child gets a free t-shirt
- Children – Illusionist Brett Myers; donuts and prizes
- Students – 1 on 1 Tournaments (athletic and non-athletic); World Record Attempt; Huge Grand Prize after the 10:55 a.m. service (must be present at both 9:15am and 10:55am to be eligible)
- We will have a complimentary light breakfast in the Gatheria for everyone before both worship hours.
- Dynamic and engaging worship and preaching
Your Pinnacle Hills staff team is preparing for your arrival on this special day. Our Cross Church family always rises to a biblical challenge. Yes, this is a challenge straight from God’s Word. “At the same time, God’s hand was on the people in the land…giving them one heart to obey.” 2 Chronicles 30:12
The winds of revival are blowing at Cross Church. Could it be that this day we will see another mighty outpouring of the Spirit like never before? Only God knows. Our responsibility is to prepare and pray. You do not want to miss this extra special and historic day at Cross Church.
Buster Pray
Campus Pastor, Cross Church
Nick Floyd, Fayetteville Campus
What if…
The whole Cross Church family showed up on… 1 Day… at 1 Place… with 1 Heart?
What if?
These are challenging times as busy lives and busier schedules fracture the family of God on Sundays across America. But what if…for just one day… all of us adjusted our lives and schedules and came together as ONE?
Let’s make November 3 that day…one day we are saying YES to church and NO to everything else!
So what will 1 Day look like for our campus of Cross Church?
- 1 powerful service at the new Fayetteville High School Gym at 10:30 a.m.
- Full programing for Preschool & CrossKids, including a special CrossKids (K-5th) service with a life-size Angry Birds Competition!
- We will be shuttling from parking lots that day, so arrive early to allow time to park, get to the building, get your family checked in, and get your seats for worship!
We are anticipating, praying towards, and believing God for an incredible, memorable day on November 3. We need your help! We need you to invite your friends and come ready to experience what God will do on this day. Pray with us over the next few weeks that we would see something that only God can do! We hope you’ll join us on November 3.
Dr. Nick Floyd
Teaching Pastor, Cross Church
Andy Goode, College Avenue
What if…
The whole Cross Church family showed up on… 1 Day… at 1 Place… with 1 Heart?
What if?
These are challenging times as busy lives and busier schedules fracture the family of God on Sundays across America. But what if…for just one day… all of us adjusted our lives and schedules and came together as ONE?
Let’s make November 3 that day…one day we are saying YES to church and NO to everything else!
So what will 1 Day look like for our campus of Cross Church?
- We will see God move like no other time.
- The people you invite will hear the gospel.
- Some of the people you invite will be saved.
- We will be united as a church family on this day.
- You will be able to say you were there when God moved at College Avenue in a new way.
I am excited to see how many people it takes to fill our worship room, and I am even more excited for our whole fellowship of believers to be in the same place with the same heart, believing God for the same thing. We want revival and you want to be there.
May God richly bless and prepare you for 1 DAY on November 3.
Andy Goode
Leader, Cross Church College Avenue Campus
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
I Believe in Pastors
As I surf the web, receive emails from ministries, and scan Twitter, I am absolutely amazed at the negativity and insinuations about Pastors today. Many writers and ministries take the view that Pastors are egotists, toxic, immoral, liars, or you name it. Well, I don’t buy it!
I believe in Pastors. To the skeptic, give Pastors a break. To the critic, Pastors are but men. To the cynic, Pastors are not what you think.
I have never met a perfect Pastor.
I have never met a Pastor who claims to be perfect. Yes, Pastors are but men, just like the Apostle Paul claimed before everyone. Therefore, as Pastors, we disappoint others at times and do not live up to their expectations. Pastors do not claim to be, and are not supposed to be perfect. I have had the privilege to preach in all kinds of places around this country, from churches, to conferences, to major conventions where Pastors are the major audience. I say it again: I have never met one Pastor who claims to be perfect. Not one!
WHY DO I BELIEVE IN PASTORS?
There are three reasons I believe in Pastors. Perhaps this will encourage you in some way.
1. Pastors are called by God to serve the church.
A Pastor’s calling begins when a man believes God is calling him into the ministry of the gospel. Then, there is a time where that man believes God is calling him to be a Pastor of a local church. In God’s timing, he is called to serve a particular local church.
When a man is called of God, he is set apart by God to do a specific service to God in a local church. His high calling as Pastor-Teacher of a local fellowship calls him to high scriptural qualifications. But he must always remember he is there to serve God’s people by enlisting, equipping, and empowering them to serve the Lord through His church.
I believe Pastors must give themselves to the three major priorities of:
- Feeding God’s people through the preaching of the Word of God.
- Leading God’s people to advance the gospel globally.
- Interceding for God’s people continually.
Yes, without any doubt at all, Pastors are called by God to serve the church of Jesus Christ. This is one of the reasons I believe in Pastors.
2. The office of the Pastor is a holy office.
The Scripture sets apart the office of the Pastor-Teacher. Specific qualifications are laid out in the Scriptures relating to this office. While men come and go, the office of the Pastor remains. Regardless of the man who serves presently or the men who will follow him, it is the office that deserves our commitment.
God has ordained the office of the Pastor-Teacher to have a spiritual leader who leads God’s people into the likeness of Jesus Christ. From his role as servant and leader, he is to lead with humility, grace, and dignity. He is both responsible and accountable for the spiritual development of the church, the people of God.
Some believe that Pastors should not be honored at all, and when you honor them, it is bad for the church. I have a great Arkansas word for that: Hogwash! It is not about honoring the men, but the office. Yet, at the same time, let’s not forget what the Bible teaches: Honor those where honor is due. One also cannot deny what Hebrews 13:17-18 says,
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
We love and honor Pastors because they are called by God to serve the church, and do so from an office that is set apart by God in the Scripture. This is another reason I believe in Pastors.
3. Pastors are giving their lives to make a difference.
Whether a Pastor is bi-vocational or able to serve a church full-time; whether a Pastor leads a small membership church or a large membership church, I have never, and I mean never, met a Pastor who did not want his life to count greatly for God. Oh yes, a few may have lost their spark due to the trials of life or the torrential waters of local church ministry, but the vast, vast majority are men who want to make a difference with their lives.
Many could do high and great things in the world, but they could not get away from the powerful call of God. In fact, even though they honor the office of the President of the United States, most believe that it would be a step down from their God-ordained calling, serving as a local church Pastor, for them to serve as President.
I love and believe in Pastors because they are giving their lives to make a difference for the gospel of Jesus Christ. The vast majority of these men of God are highly committed to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I believe in Pastors. Will you?
Yes, I have been clear: I believe in Pastors. The question now is: Will you?
If you are a Pastor: Believe in other Pastors. Encourage them. Love them. Accept them. Refuse to criticize them. Humble yourself to learn from them. Learn to rejoice with them. Weep with them. Pastors need other Pastors as friends – personal friends, not just colleagues.
If you are a church member: Love your Pastor. Accept your Pastor. Pray for your Pastor. Encourage your Pastor. Honor your Pastor. Stand with your Pastor.
My prayer is that we will all take a breath. Give each other a break. Refuse to get in the skeptic/critic/cynic lane of traffic relating to leaders today, even Pastors.
A final word of counsel: Always take the high road in your relationships in life: There is never a traffic jam there.
I Believe in Pastors,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.