Faith For All

Discussion: Worship Music and Rock & Roll

A few Cross of Glory church members discuss using secular music during worship

Pentecost: Journeys of Faith (with a Rock & Roll twist)

The Apostles were filled with the holy spirt on that day, and began a journey from student to teacher. 
 
Acts 2: 1 - 12
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
  Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”  Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Welcoming Part 4: Radical Welcome

Radical Welcoming means we're open to being changed by the one we welcome
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Welcoming Part 3: Welcome as we have been welcomed

The church is not a where or a what, but a who. Church is not a worship service or a set of programs, but the people of God. Church is not where we go, but who we are. Welcoming is not just about welcoming people into the church building, but is also about welcoming people you meet. 
 
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25 31-45 NIV
 
 
 
 

Welcoming Part 2: Welcome like Jesus

Romans 15:5-7 ESV
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
 
When Jesus welcomes he goes to people, he doesn't wait for people to come to him. Jesus welcomes everyone and he truly sees everyone. Jesus welcomes with grace, and he welcomes generously despite any cost.

Welcoming Part 1: Welcoming Everyone, Reconciling In Christ

Cross of Glory's Welcome Statement:
 
We recognize the importance of worshiping with a diverse group of people of any color, age, creed, ethnicity, physical and mental abilities, addictions, legal record, economic status, station in life, life circumstances, marital/family status, heterosexuals, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people, their partners and their families. We welcome all into full participation in the church life, ministry of the congregation, sacraments, and rites of the church. We are all one in God’s eyes, and everyone has a place in the family of God. It is with love and in celebration that we affirm this position.“There is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is no longer slave nor free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”  (Galatians 3:28)

Jonah Part 3: The God who loves our enemies

Things are great when God loves us. How do we feel when God loves those that we dislike? 

Jonah Part 2: The God of Second Chances.

We have a God of second chances. A God who continually uses broken people to fulfill God's redemptive plan. 

Jonah Part 1: More than a fish story.

In this three part sermon series we will be looking at the Old Testament book of Jonah. We will find how this ancient story has meaning for our modern lives. 

Faith for All ”ComingSoon”

Look for our sermon on Jonah in the next couple of weeks.