Archive for April, 2017
This Week at Cross Church | Looking Toward Easter
Back-to-Back Full Weeks
After spending Sunday with our Cross Church Family, I was privileged to speak four times to 40 pastors who are part of the Southern Baptists of Virginia. I spent some time in Washington, DC, attending a Board of Directors meeting with the Family Research Council and will complete my time today on the radio program, “The Washington Watch” with Tony Perkins. I am thankful for the privilege and blessing to represent Cross Church and our Lord in these ways.
Preparation Never Ceases
Even while traveling, preparation never ceases, and I am getting ready for April 9-16 here at Cross Church. Passion Week kicks off on Sunday morning, and it will be special through the preaching of God’s Word and Communion with God’s people. We have services each day of the week during Passion Week, and 15 services on Easter Weekend. Prayer is needed in this season, not just for me, but for Pastor Nick and our other pastors who lead and speak at our services.
Inviting Others is Critical for These Upcoming Days
We’ve spent weeks praying for our neighbors in Northwest Arkansas. Now is the time to begin inviting others to join us at Cross Church for Easter. Invite co-workers, friends, and family to join you for our Passion Week lunches, Good Friday evening service, and one of our Easter Weekend services. You can pick up invite cards at one of our campuses, place one of our yard signs in your yard, and even use social media or e-vites to invite others to join you. You will find shareable social media graphics and e-vites here.
Passion Week Lunches Monday – Thursday
Monday, April 10 through Thursday, April 13, we will continue teaching the series we begin on Palm Sunday, 6 Leadership Lessons We Learn from Jesus in the Last 6 Days of His Life. Our Passion Week Lunches will be held at the Pinnacle Hills campus at 11:50 a.m. You can find out more information and buy tickets here.
Friday Evening Service
On Friday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m., we will gather at our Springdale campus for Reflections on the Death of Jesus Christ. Our Good Friday service is always special. I will be speaking on Jesus’ sacrificial leadership, and we will experience worship with our combined choirs and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA). We are praying it will be a powerful worship experience. You can find more information here.
Easter Weekend
We have 15 services to choose from on Easter Weekend. Find the service that works best for you and your family. You will not want to miss what we pray God will do at Cross Church during Easter Weekend.
Saturday, April 15
- Springdale– 4:00 p.m.
- Pinnacle Hills– 5:30 p.m.
- Fayetteville– 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 16
- Springdale– 9:15 & 10:55 a.m.
- Pinnacle Hills– 9:15 & 10:55 a.m.
- Fayetteville– 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.
- Fayetteville East– 10:30 a.m.
- Neosho– 9:00, 10:45 a.m.
- Español (Springdale)– 10:55 a.m.
Share, invite, and come to Passion Week and Easter Weekend!
Now is the Time to Lead
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Finding Your Future as a Pastor: 4 Resolutions Every Pastor Should Make
When a pastor compares himself to another pastor, it usually leads to discontentment. When a pastor has unrealistic expectations about his future, it may lead to extreme disappointment.
Finding your future as a pastor can be difficult. When you talk about it with others, it can place you in a vulnerable place. This is one reason we are reluctant to talk about the future, but it can also be because we fear others will misunderstand us.
Sooner or later, a pastor has to come to these four resolutions in order to find his way to the future.
Resolution #1: God will take care of your future.
We need to do all we can to be available to God and always do what is necessary to improve ourselves. But above all, through it all and after it all, we have to know God will take care of our future.
He has the power to put us down and He has the power to lift us up. He has the power to place us where He desires us to serve.
The bottom line pastor, is this: God will take care of your future.
Resolution #2: Be aware of who you really are.
A lack of self-awareness will lead you to major problems. Many pastors do not have an accurate picture of who they really are as a person and a leader.
Be aware of your strengths. What are they? Not simply how you see them, but the way others see them. Be aware of your weaknesses, not only from your own perspective, but also from the way others see you.
A geographical change that a job or calling may bring does not change what your strengths and weaknesses may be in your life and leadership.
Resolution #3: Know your God-given gifts.
God has given you gifts to use and develop to help you build up the body of Christ. These God-given gifts do not need to be ignored, but embraced fully. However, just because we love God and want to serve Him passionately does not mean we are gifted to do everything.
What are your spiritual gifts? Are you developing these gifts? Are you using these gifts to build up the body of Christ?
Your future is about how you can best be used by God with the gifts you have in order to make the greatest impact for the Lord.
Resolution #4: Go where God can use you in the greatest way.
Wherever you are and wherever you may go, make sure you find the place in your future where God can use you in the greatest way. Is He doing it where you are? Can He do it where you are? In order to be used of God in the greatest manner, you must embrace each of these questions.
Here is what I know: If God is not using you in the highest manner where you are, He may not entrust you with another place of ministry. This is why we must learn to be comfortable in our own skin. We must also realize that God may not raise us to do anything different or give us an opportunity for ministry in the way we desire.
Pastor, I know God wants to use you. Pursue Him personally. Place your “yes” on the table to God. Leave to do whatever He may call you to do. Stay if His will is for you to minister where you are long-term.
Pastor, leave it all in the hands of God. He has you covered.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.