Cross Podcast

Ryan Fullerton encourages the audience to cultivate a consistent prayer life by seeking a quiet, private space, shutting out distractions, and following the Lord’s Prayer as a model. He stresses that the goal is not to empty the mind, but to focus on meditating on God's Word, while recognizing that God delights in our imperfect efforts. Fullerton also emphasizes the value of spontaneous prayer throughout the day and encourages using resources like Paul’s prayers to be discipled in praying according to God's will.

Marshall Segal addresses four common lies that can hinder Bible reading: that the Bible is irrelevant, hard to understand, unhelpful in times of pain, or won't bring happiness. He refutes these misconceptions by emphasizing the Bible's power to provide wisdom, comfort, understanding, and joy. Segal encourages reading Scripture in community, persevering through tough passages, and engaging with the Word prayerfully, recognizing the spiritual battle against distractions and discouragement.

Ryan Fullerton emphasizes the importance of embracing silence and solitude in a world filled with noise and distraction. He discusses how the modern tendency to avoid silence stems from our inability to confront our guilty consciences, which the world tries to distract us from. Fullerton encourages the audience to listen to their consciences, which can lead them to the gospel and the righteousness of Christ. He also suggests that spending time alone with God, without external stimuli, can strengthen one's faith and provide refuge from the difficulties of the world.

Nina Buser shares her journey as a woman in missions, emphasizing the critical roles women play in reaching unreached people groups. Through her story of serving among tribes in Papua New Guinea, she highlights the necessity of women learning language and culture to disciple and teach other women, who men often cannot access due to cultural barriers. Ultimately, she encourages women to embrace the challenges of missions as a “chance to die” to self and gain eternal treasures in serving Christ.

Church planting among unreached language groups is a biblical model requiring sacrifice, commitment, and a deep understanding of language and culture. Missionaries must endure physical hardship, maintain spiritual health, and be prepared for challenges while establishing local churches that outlast their service. Senders support this work through prayer, practical assistance, and discerning God's call, trusting that the ultimate work is the Lord’s.

Brooks Buser presents a condensed yet powerful session on the vital task of Bible translation for unreached language groups. Drawing from his experience as a lead translator, he outlines the essential prerequisites for translation, including a deep knowledge of both the Bible and the local language, as well as the importance of accuracy and meaning in translation. He emphasizes the philosophical foundations of Bible translation, urging participants to focus on guiding church plants through the translation process and to be open to revisions, as well as the incredible privilege of translating God’s Word into a new language.

Andrea Green’s breakout session focuses on the vital role of language learning in reaching unreached people groups. While languages and cultures are fascinating in themselves, Andrea’s passion lies in how mastering a language with excellence brings clarity to the gospel message. She explores how learning another language can open doors for deeper relationships, effective communication, and impactful ministry among those who have yet to hear the good news of Christ.

Tom Schreiner discusses what Christ accomplished on the cross, including justification, sanctification, redemption, salvation, reconciliation, and adoption. Tom emphasizes that these blessings are not based on our own merit, but on Christ's work - we are "justified by faith" and Christ's righteousness is "imputed" to us. Schreiner also addresses the tension between being simultaneously justified yet still struggling with sin as believers.

Dr. Hamilton highlights the importance of understanding the biblical authors' interpretive perspective when studying Scripture. He demonstrates how New Testament writers, like John, rightly interpreted passages such as Isaiah 53 as prophecies of the Messiah’s suffering and death. He also examines Isaiah 52 and 53 in detail, presenting the Messiah as the new Adam and the servant of the Lord who would die and rise again for salvation while addressing topics like the Trinity, biblical illiteracy, and Mosaic authorship.

Gloria Furman shares her insights on focused disciple-making, drawing from her personal journey in cross-cultural ministry. With deep conviction, she emphasizes the importance of confidence in the sovereign goodness of God, especially in the face of trials. Furman highlights how God uses suffering to build His church and advance the gospel, offering profound lessons on the role of the local church and the word of God in missions. Her message encourages believers to embrace their identity in Christ and faithfully make disciples, whether at home or abroad.

John Folmar paints a vivid picture of Dubai’s transformation from a modest fishing village to a global metropolis fueled by oil wealth. Beneath its glitz and towering skyscrapers lies a unique opportunity for gospel ministry amidst cultural shifts and an influx of foreigners seeking prosperity. In this talk, Folmar explores how believers can navigate this modern context and faithfully proclaim Christ in one of the most dynamic cities in the Middle East.

Churches are messy, but Jonathan Leeman reminds us to see God's grace at work, even amid flaws. Thriving requires faith to love patiently, reflect the gospel, set wise boundaries, and address issues with care. In seasons of decline, we must discern whether to stay and serve or seek a healthier community, always pursuing Christ’s vision for His church.

Garrett Kell emphasizes the importance of the local church in helping believers persevere in their faith and avoid apostasy. He cites the book of Hebrews, which warns against falling away from God and exhorts believers to protect, provoke, and submit to one another through pastoral relationships. He stresses that the church is God's antidote to apostasy, calling believers to lock arms, exhort one another daily, stir up love and good works, and obey their leaders who keep watch over their souls.

Mike McKinley discusses the importance of being committed to a local church. He explains that church membership is the biblical way for Christians to express their commitment to a particular congregation, where they can use their spiritual gifts for the common good. McKinley provides three reasons why one should be committed to a local church: 1) Jesus is committed to the church, which is his bride; 2) it is good for one's spiritual well-being, as the church provides pastoral oversight and assurance of salvation; and 3) it is God's plan for one's eternal destiny, as the church is central to His wider plan.

A local church is a people who are created by the Word, who gather around the Word, and who are governed by the Word. The church is founded on the gospel, gathers to hear and obey God's Word, and is to display Christ's wisdom to the world through its life together under Scripture. Ben Lacey encourages believers to find a church that faithfully preaches the gospel, is centered on God's Word, and submits to Christ's lordship, as this is the kind of church Jesus has saved us to be a part of.

Rachel Ware explains that missions agencies are not found in the Bible, but can serve a valuable purpose in supporting local churches as they send missionaries. She encourages listeners to work closely with their local church leadership when discerning a call to missions, and for missions agencies to see their role as "bridesmaids" - coming alongside the church to make the Bride of Christ more beautiful, rather than replacing the church's authority. She also provides guidance on evaluating missions organizations and their relationship to the local church.

Josh Manley addresses the challenging question, "Why reach the nations when there are lost people on my street?" Drawing from Scripture, he highlights the glory of God as the ultimate motivation for missions, emphasizing that God's glory is not being treasured among the nations. Through examples like Adoniram Judson and the Apostle Paul, he challenges listeners to consider the global need for gospel witnesses and the privilege of making Christ known where His glory is not yet seen.

Jenny Manley shared her journey of discerning whether to stay or go overseas for ministry, offering five key questions to guide the decision: 1) What does your theology say about missions? 2) Is there a need, and can you meet it? 3) What guidance are you receiving from others? 4) Do you feel a desire to go? 5) Are you willing to make the necessary sacrifices? Through prayer and wise counsel, Jenny encouraged the audience to thoughtfully consider these questions as they seek God's calling, whether to remain or serve Him abroad.

Jesus models true humanity through his sonship, holiness, and servanthood, showing that our identity is rooted in being children of a loving Father, pursuing Christlike character, and serving God and others. Growing in this identity requires immersion in the body of Christ, where we are shaped and disciplined within a faithful community. The gospel offers a compelling vision of full humanity, calling us to be transformed into the image of Christ through both knowledge and the practice of godly living.

Rosaria Butterfield discusses the importance of modesty for Christian women, emphasizing that it is not an outdated burden but a virtuous and authentic expression of their God-given femininity. She explains that modesty glorifies God, reflects a woman's belief that God's covering is better than her own desire for attention, and demonstrates love for her Christian brothers by not causing them to stumble. Rosaria addresses the influence of worldviews like feminism and transgenderism that reject biblical gender distinctions, and she encourages the audience to pursue modesty through repentance, growth in their relationship with God, and developing friendships with wise, older women.