Church At The Cross

This Sunday, Pastor JR talks through how the gospel practically impacts our everyday lives as Christians. Sermon Text: Romans 3:27-31 Sermon Points: Justification is a pardon and a pronouncement.  The Gospel answers our insecurities and our pride. The Gospel frees us from legalism and lawlessness.

As we continue our series through Romans, Pastor JR unpacks how we are justified through faith. Without Christ clothing us in righteousness, we cannot approach God. Through Jesus’s sacrifice, we can now enjoy full communion with God.   Sermon Text: Romans 3:19-26 Notes: Pardon Pronouncement Propitiation Imputation

After a short break, Pastor JR jumps back into our Romans Sermon Series as he unpacks Romans 3 - every person's natural condition in regards to their sinful nature and how Jesus saves us from ourselves. Sermon Text: Romans 3:9-24 Every person w/o exception in their natural condition is under sin (3:9). Every person w/o exception in their natural condition is under the control of sin. Every person w/o exception in their natural condition is condemned because of sin Every person w/o exception in their natural condition is incapable of saving themselves Every person w/o exception can be saved by faith in Jesus

This Sunday we continue our Grace-Driven Family series by talking about Marriage. Pastor JR unpacks what a Grace-Driven Marriage can look like in the reality of a broken world - two broken people being sanctified and finding joy in their marriage as they move towards Jesus. Text: Genesis 3:1-22  Frustration “…(the) ideal of marriage as a permanent contractual union designed for the sake of mutual love, procreation, and protection is slowly giving way to a new reality of marriage as a ‘terminal sexual contract’ designed for the gratification of the individual parties.” – John Witte, Jr. quoted in The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller When the glamour wears off, or merely works a bit thin, they think they have made a mistake, and that the real soul-mate is still to find. The real soul-mate too often proves to be the next sexually attractive person that comes along. Someone whom they might indeed very profitably have married, if only—. Hence divorce, to provide the “if only.” And of course they are as a rule qui

Guest Speaker, Kurt Bruner, gives parents practical advice on how to raise their children in a grace-driven, Jesus-centered environment.

This Sunday, we celebrate Easter as Pastor JR walks through Jesus' resurrection from the perspective of Mary Magdalene. Scripture: John 20:1-18. Sermon Points: Linger and Look Listen and Turn Worship and Rejoice Go and Tell

On Palm Sunday 2023, Pastor JR Vassar began our short sermon series, Jesus is Enough. We learned through Luke about how we as Christ-followers can choose to live a resolved life just as Jesus did on earth. Passage: Luke 9:51 Sermon Notes:Love for the Father Love for YOU

Notes: True Spirituality is an inside-out reality. True Spirituality is evidenced by a life centered on Jesus. True Spirituality lives for the right praise.

This Sunday, JR Vassar continued our series in Romans. Pastor JR describes how our faith is not about our actions, but true spirituality is an inside-out reality. It’s not a worldview, set of morals, or list of rules. Christianity is about the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart. Sermon Text: Romans 2:17-29 Sermon Notes: True Spirituality is an inside-out reality He brings conviction He gives revelation He gives confidence in Jesus He indwells you He assures you

Scripture: Romans 2:1-16 This Sunday, JR Vassar continued our series in Romans. This sermon closely examines how God's righteous judgment and loving kindness work together to lead us to repentance and into the fullness of life. Notes:Jesus will carry out God’s Judgment God’s Judgment will be Just God’s judgment will be irreversible Our only Hope in judgment is Grace

Scripture: Romans 2:1-11   This Sunday, Casey Schutza continued our series in Romans. This sermon closely examines how the religious person still needs grace and Gospel. Notes: Religious people can be falsely assured Religious people can be deeply hypocritical Religious people can be the most resistant to grace + Do I seek the higher future? + Do you seek immediate selfish gain?  

Scripture: Romans 1:18-32 This Sunday, Pastor JR Vassar continued our series in Romans. This sermon takes a closer look at idolatry and sexual sin and the different approaches of the traditionalist, revisionist, and the ways of Jesus. Notes: Revisionists: Paul was not addressing monogamous, consensual, committed same-sex relationships as we have today Revisionists: Paul is speaking about heterosexuals who commit homosexual acts contrary to their own personal nature. The WORDS of Jesus - Matthew 19:3–6 The WAYS of Jesus - 1 Corinthians 6:9–1 + We are all guilty of sexual sin and are offered the grace of God in Jesus. + We all must submit all our desires to the Lordship of Christ. + We must love those who reject God’s design and decree, but we must not affirm them in that rejection.

Scripture: Romans 1:18-25  Notes: The Universal Condition of all People  + Humanity has REJECTED GOD.  + Humanity has REPLACED GOD  The Universal Consequence for all People  The Universal Cure for all People + Be saved + Be sane + Be sent

Scripture: Acts 4:13-31 When was the last time you got into “good” trouble? Join us as we take a break from Romans and look to the book of Acts. Casey Schutza asks the question why is it so hard to be a vocal witness for the gospel?   Notes: + Spiritual formation is preparation for witness + Witnesses will attract good trouble + The trouble we face cannot silence the gospel + Way to respond to trouble

Scripture: Romans 1:16-17 The book of Romans answers the deepest questions we have as humans -- who do we belong to and why are we here? If we truly grasp and believe the message of Romans we will personally know God, have an assurance of heaven, and understand the gospel. This fourth sermon covers what the righteousness of God is and why it’s good news to us.   Notes: + Righteousness of God: Something He is + Righteousness of God: Something He gives The righteousness of God is “God’s righteous way to declare unrighteous people ‘righteous,’ by faith.” + Justification by Faith is the heart of the Gospel. + God declares us righteous without compromising his righteousness “I had conceived a burning desire to understand what Paul meant in his letter to the Romans, but thus far there had stood in my way that one phrase in chapter one: ‘the righteousness of God.’ I did not love, no I hated this righteous God who punishes sinners. Martin Luther

Scripture: Romans 1:7-17 The book of Romans answers the deepest questions we have as humans -- who do we belong to and why are we here? If we truly grasp and believe the message of Romans we will personally know God, have an assurance of heaven, and understand the gospel. This third sermon looks at the cultural shift away from Christianity and how we need a deeper faith, not a new one.   Notes: The Gospel is God’s truth and power to save Christians still need the Gospel+ The Gospel not only saves us, but it also changes us I Care More About My Obligation Than My Reputation

The book of Romans answers the deepest questions we have as humans -- who do we belong to and why are we here? If we truly grasp and believe the message of Romans we will personally know God, have an assurance of heaven, and understand the gospel. This second sermon looks at what the gospel is.    SERMON TEXT: Romans 1:1-6 SERMON NOTES:  +The Gospel has always been the plan of God + The Gospel is Jesus + The Gospel demands a response of faith fueled obedience + The Gospel is destined for all nations + You can belong to Jesus  + You can trust and obey Jesus + You can invest your life in the mission of Jesus

This Sunday, Pastor JR Vassar began our new series in Romans. The book of Romans answers the deepest questions we have as humans -- who do we belong to and why are we here? If we truly grasp and believe the message of Romans we will personally know God, have an assurance of heaven, and understand the gospel. This first sermon looks at the life and testimony of Paul, the writer of Romans. SERMON TEXT: Romans 1:1 SERMON NOTES:  The most critical realities you and I need to deal with are “whose we are and why we are. + Servant of Christ Jesus + Called to Be An Apostle + Set Apart for the Gospel of God 

Sermon Text: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-10, 18 + Intentionally create margin for generosity + Establish a sustained response to the poor  • Sustained • Strategic • Personal