Cross Podcast

Matt Bennett offers practical advice for those aspiring to serve in missions. He emphasizes the need for humility by submitting your aspirations to church elders, seeking mentorship, and serving locally. Rather than rushing into the field unprepared, he encourages aspiring missionaries to pursue discernment through the local church, develop a strong theological foundation, and gain strategic ministry experience.

The Nicene Creed, formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, is a foundational statement of Christian faith, affirming the Trinity and the full divinity of Christ. It was written to refute the Arian heresy, declaring that the Son is "of the same substance" as the Father. For over 1,700 years, it has united believers across traditions, safeguarded orthodox theology, and provided a clear confession of faith. Today, the creed remains essential for defending biblical doctrine, fostering church unity, and grounding Christians in the unchanging truth of the gospel.

The panelists share how their church, Immanuel Baptist, actively reaches out to refugees and immigrants in their community, driven by a heart for the Great Commission. They describe the challenges of this ministry, such as cultural differences, lack of responsiveness to the gospel, and balancing family life. However, they also share encouraging stories of refugees coming to faith, church members stepping up to serve, and the joy of seeing God work. The panelists advise the audience to find their unique gifts and callings, build relationships, and persevere even when the work is difficult, remembering that the ultimate goal is to see people come to know Christ.

Ayman Ibrahim, born and raised in Egypt, shares his experiences of witnessing Muslims coming to Christ in Egypt, Dubai, and Lebanon. He emphasizes that the time is ripe for Muslim evangelism, as Muslims are questioning their faith more than ever before. He provides practical tips for engaging with Muslims, such as praying for them, being prepared to answer their questions, and building relationships with them. Ibrahim encourages the audience to seize this opportunity and be ambassadors of Christ to the Muslim community.

Horizons International is dedicated to reaching international students and refugees in the U.S., engaging Muslims worldwide, and equipping churches and student groups for ministry among these communities. Jim Rairick urges the audience to take action—get involved, connect with Horizons, and share the gospel with the 830,000 international students from the 10/40 window currently studying in the U.S. He highlights the need to cultivate a culture of evangelism in churches, break down racial and ethnic barriers, and develop sustainable support for international student ministry.

David Platt emphasizes the importance of God's Word over physical needs like oxygen, and encourages the audience to reorient their lives around receiving, remembering, and obeying the Word. He highlights the dangers of the "information age" and how easily we can become distracted by worldly information instead of immersing ourselves in Scripture. Platt provides three practical steps: receiving God's Word humbly and wholeheartedly, remembering it intentionally and continually (through meditation, memorization, and sharing), and obeying it immediately and gladly, as this leads to true blessing and life.

Keri Folmar addresses the issue of anxiety, particularly among college students. She shares practical tips to fight anxiety: 1) Know your God by spending time in His Word; 2) Take your troubles to the Lord in prayer; 3) Give thanks, even in the midst of difficulties; and 4) Surround yourself with people who can remind you to trust God. She emphasizes the importance of rooting oneself in God's sovereignty, love, and the truth of Scripture to overcome anxious thoughts.

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.