Archive for October, 2016
This Week at Cross Church | A Day of Influence and More
October 23: A Day of Influence at Cross Church
I love the theme for our big day on October 23. It will be a DAY OF INFLUENCE! Just think of the influence God has entrusted you with one person or many. Focus the rest of this week on how you can engage them at Cross Church this Sunday. Think about how you could influence all the members of your Small Group or other ministry to join you on this day as we stand tall for the Lord, using our influence for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s make October 23 a huge day for the glory of God on each campus.
God is at Work at our Fayetteville East Campus
Our Fayetteville East campus is demonstrating strength in these days under Dave Kinney’s leadership. In the past several months, some of our Cross Church Fayetteville campus members have moved to our Fayetteville East campus to help ease overcrowding at our campus on Wedington. Last Sunday Fayetteville East had 170 people present, baptizing 3 people to the glory of God. What began with a few has grown and continues to do so. This is a video venue preaching site, where Nick Floyd’s sermons are streamed weekly. God is at work! We are grateful for all who attend this campus and to Dave and Emily Kinney for leading and loving the people there.
This week, bulldozers began moving dirt and we are preparing for our new Fayetteville campus on the southeast corner of I-49 and Wedington in Fayetteville. We look forward to utilizing this campus to further impact the city of Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas.
Great News and Great Leadership for Cross Church Neosho
Just over eighteen months ago, Dr. Ed Upton and his wife Eleanor were called to lead our Neosho, Missouri campus. Quite honestly, we were not sure where this was going, but with a deep conviction, Ed Upton believed God was calling them to live in Neosho in this season and lead this campus as Campus Pastor. We were thrilled with his convictional calling. What God has done in this small town in the past eighteen months is amazing. Since the last of August, we have been averaging over 160 people weekly. And since this time, we have baptized 15 people to God’s glory. The people are also beginning to give and support the ministry financially. Thank you, Ed and Eleanor Upton, for your outstanding leadership in Neosho. We are grateful to God for all who attend this thriving, growing work.
Cross Church Has Been Blessed Because of the Long-Term Faithfulness of So Many of Our People
This past Sunday, our message was about long-term faithfulness to God. Oh, how my heart was moved all week as I thought of so many of our people who have been faithful to God all of these years. This is why God has blessed Cross Church for so many years. Beginning in 1870 and now standing strong in its 146th year to the glory of God, I believe Cross Church has one of the most promising futures of any church in America. God is bringing the world to Northwest Arkansas and there has never been a greater time in our history than now for engagement, ministry, growth, and future. May the legacy extended to us all of these years now become the launching pad for the God-sized future the Lord has for us.
Will You Let Today Become Your Spiritual Birthday?
This past Sunday, I made a statement that I hope will motivate some of you to join me in God’s forever family of faith. It is witnessed in the graphic below, so be blessed and if you have not already, consider joining me in declaring Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
4 Vital Words That Build a Worship Service
I have been thinking a lot about what it takes to build a worship service and even a worship ministry. What should we desire in the worship services and for the worship ministries in a local church? Let me suggest we should build our worship services upon four vital words.
Theology
We need to sing worship songs that are built upon a proper theology. Our view of God is obtained from Scripture. God’s sovereignty, holiness, justice, and love must always receive our highest understanding of who God is. Throughout history, songs have entered into the repertoire of the church that are not the best theological representation. Every now and then this even happens in our church. Lyrics must always be filtered through the Word of God and the theological truths of Scripture. Music theory and rhythm are not the test. Theology is the test.
Regardless of style or preference, worship songs must be biblically faithful and theologically sound. When they are not, they are not worship songs, but just songs.
Authenticity
Authenticity is often mentioned when relating to worship today. In reality, this is not a new word or conviction about worship. The Pastor as the Worship Leader of the church and the leaders who assist his direction in worship must be people of truth, conviction, and authenticity. They do not need to portray what they are not. Authenticity is never a strain; it is who we really are.
When people enter our churches and we request their involvement in songs of worship, the pastor and leaders are not performing, but worshiping. They are not coercing, but cooperating with God and what He wants to do with His people. They are not cheerleading, but are both leading and joining in experiencing the presence of God with the people of God.
There is nothing like being in the presence of the Lord with the people of God.
Quality
The quality of worship cannot be underestimated. I believe it is not a matter of band-driven worship versus orchestra-driven worship; it is a matter of the quality of worship that we witness and experience. If the quality is poor, the door is usually closed. If the quality is good, the door is usually opened. Regardless of the style, people expect and should expect our highest quality expressed in worship.
Practically, why would we want to not give God our very best? The quality of the worship experience is done to the glory of God, not the exaltation of a talent or human personality. You may have a style of worship music you prefer, but if that style is done poorly, your heart is quenched. Therefore, I submit that the quality of our worship is much more important than the style of our worship. People know we take worship seriously when our worship is offered in the highest quality.
Spirituality
I am not a mystic, but worship is a spiritual experience. When worship songs are truthful in theology, led by authentic pastors and leaders in the highest quality offered to God, the presence of God grants us a deeply spiritual experience with God. We experience the manifest presence of Jesus Christ.
When Isaiah looked up to God highly exalted and worshiped Him in spirit and truth, he was driven to look within himself, becoming humbled by his own sinfulness. God became attracted to the transparency and humility of Isaiah and He touched him, removing all of his sinfulness. It was only then, after Isaiah looked upward and then inward, that God directed him to look outward. Therefore, Isaiah submitted to God’s calling and said, “Here am I, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)
This dynamic experience in the highest way is spirituality. When God meets with us, worship is experienced profoundly and personally. It ultimately leads us to impact others, especially those who need a relationship with Jesus Christ.
It is not as much about the style of songs we sing or the clothes the worship leader wears; it is all about the presence of Jesus among His people.
In all humility, I submit to you these four words should build a worship service: Theology, Authenticity, Quality, and Spirituality. A reduction of even one of these four may lead you into error or emptiness.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.