Archive for November, 2017
America Needs Jesus More Now than Ever Before
Religion is not the way to God. Morality is not the way to God. Goodness is not the way to God. Money is not the way to God. There are not multiple ways to God. There is only one way, and it is through Jesus Christ alone. Jesus Christ is the only way to know God personally.
Look Around and See the Lostness
America is lost without Jesus Christ. We are a nation of people who are lacking meaning and purpose.
How much longer will people keep killing other people? How much longer will people keep abusing others? How much longer will people keep filling their bodies with drugs and alcohol? How much longer will people keep devaluing others? How much longer will all of this and more continue?
People who are spiritually lost without Jesus Christ will continue to live like they are spiritually lost without Jesus Christ. That is why America needs Jesus more now than ever before.
People Need Jesus
I believe in the exclusivity of the gospel. That means that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. Jesus was asked by his friend, Thomas, how we can know the way to heaven.
John 14:6: Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus is the only Savior. Jesus is the only Lord.
When Christianity really began to advance in the first century, a collision of worldviews began to occur. Faith and culture began to collide. With boldness and clarity, the Apostle Peter declared,
“There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
This was true then, and it is still true today.
Each of us is separated from God. We are all sinners. We are destined to a life of purposeless and an eternal destiny that is separated from God in a place called hell.
The good news is that we can be saved when we repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone. We can be delivered from the way we are living and the choices we have been making. When we believe Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead on the third day, we can be saved from our sin. Faith is believing in and trusting Jesus Christ and Him alone for our salvation.
When this happens, Christ forgives us of our sins, comes into our lives, and promises us eternal life in heaven when we die.
That is why I strongly believe that Jesus Christ is still the answer for every person in America and the entire world.
Praying into This Spiritual Lostness
Evangelism cannot be separated from prayer. When we realize the lostness in America and the world, we will begin to pray into this spiritual lostness. If we want to be used of God to penetrate this lostness, we need to lean into it with prayer.
The prayer movement in America cannot be separated from evangelism. If prayer and the desire for evangelism are genuine, they happen simultaneously.
More about this next week. Why is this important? Because America needs Jesus now more than ever before.
Now is the Time to Lead and to Pray,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, National Day of Prayer
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, President of the National Day of Prayer, founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry, and host of the Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today podcast.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
This Week at Cross Church | Thank You Veterans!
Thank You Veterans!
On November 11, we observe Veterans Day. On this day, we honor and thank all of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Veterans Day celebrates all veterans and their past service. Therefore, on Saturday, November 11, celebrate and thank all of our veterans. On Sunday, we will honor all military veterans in each of our worship services. Bring a veteran to church with you on Sunday.
“Home for the Holidays” Series Continues
This past Sunday, we taught our first message in our new series on the family, Home for the Holidays. You can view the first message, A Strong Foundation, here. This week, we move to another room in the house where families experience things together… The Kitchen. Do not miss our message this week. God will use this series to build your life and family.
Give to and Serve in Our Blessing Baskets Ministry
Blessing Baskets has helped families in Northwest Arkansas for 25 years. We need you. This ministry cannot reach people without you. You can participate in this essential ministry by giving to sponsor one or more families, and by serving at our assembly and distribution days. Find out more, sponsor a family, and sign up to serve here.
Pray for America: Unity
On Thursday evening, November 2, I spoke to the National Leadership Summit of the National Day of Prayer. Approximately 250 leaders gathered from across America to be equipped and inspired so they could go back and mobilize thousands of volunteers to hold observances on the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Last year, according to their website, over 30,000 gatherings occurred. If you have an interest in America, I want you to watch as I unpack the 2018 theme for every National Day of Prayer observance in 2018. Please join me in praying for this ministry in our nation.
Supporting the Pastor and Fellowship of First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas
Since Sunday, our hearts have become overwhelmed with concern, love, prayers, and grief with our brothers and sisters in Christ at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas. On Tuesday morning, I called their pastor, Frank Pomeroy, and we conversed for ten minutes. He wept, I wept, and I prayed with him. Pastor Pomeroy has lost more than one-half of his church, including his own daughter.
Cross Church will come alongside this pastor and church by supporting them in prayer and making a financial gift to them. This situation is beyond sad and has us all concerned, but also reminds us of the hope of heaven. Pray for Pastor and Mrs. Frank Pomeroy as well as the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
Please know, we are regularly evaluating the challenges in today’s world relating to security matters for our own church. Simultaneously, we also resolve to be people of the Book, filled with hope, and refuse to be intimidated by the evil one, Satan.
Advancing Toward 2020 Goals
This past week, Cross Church reached 11,100 people. Praise God! In our BIG DAY this past weekend, we saw the church stretch in major ways, engaging more people across all of our campuses. Remember, when I shared our VISION 2020 goals on the last Sunday in August, I said that our goal was to reach 10,000 people weekly. Of course, this was our BIG DAY, but reminds us of what our church can do together each week. When we work hard and contact people, inviting them to church, and then engaging them personally, we can see this become a reality. Please pray with us and work with us in reaching all of these goals by the end of 2020 to the glory of God.
See You Sunday,
Dr. Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.