CrossWalk - Cross Culture Church RDU

Alone (Week 10): Mary – Alone in Faith (Luke 1:26-38)

Have you ever had an event or circumstance that completely turned your world upside down or been in a situation where you felt that you were completely alone in your faith in God’s ability to work everything out? Most of us probably have to some degree, but trust me, none of us have ever experienced a world changing event like a young girl from Nazareth, named Mary. For a number of weeks, we’ve been in a series entitled, "Alone," looking at biblical characters who faced a circumstance or situation in life alone and learning how their stories can apply to our lives today. So on Christmas Eve, it’s only appropriate that we spend a few moments with one of the main characters in the Christmas story, Mary. As Pastor Clay is going to explain, Mary must have felt all alone in her faith based on what the angel had told her about God’s plan to redeem the world.

Alone (Week 9): Esther – Alone in God’s Plan-Part 2 (Esther)

Some people plan out almost everything in their day while others tend to fly by the seat of their pants and just see what happens. Of course sometimes, the plans we make don’t necessarily turn out the way we thought they might or hoped they would, right? But what about God? Does He have plans? And do they always turn out the way He planned for them to?  We’re continuing a story that we started last week from the book of Esther. As Pastor Clay began to explain, although we may not always see or understand exactly what is going on, we can be confident that God does have plans and that we’re included in those plans. As we’ll hear this week, God always accomplishes His plans. The question is, are we going to join Him in His plans?

Alone (Week 8): Esther – Alone in God’s Plan (Esther)

Have you ever found yourself asking the question, "Does God have a plan for my life?" Sometimes it’s hard to clearly see God’s plan and our part in that plan.  We may not always understand what God is up to but we can be assured that God is accomplishing His purposes and plans.  This week and next, we’re going to look at the life of Esther, a young Jewish girl who went from being just another pretty face in the crowd to being the queen of the entire Persian Empire. And as Pastor Clay is going to explain, God was working to accomplish something far more important than just helping a young lady become queen. This is a great story with a great truth; there are no accidents with God.

Alone (Week 7): Elijah – Alone with Fear (1 Kings 19)

Few emotions are as paralyzing, as debilitating, as the emotion of fear. All of us know what it feels like to be scared by someone jumping out suddenly, or a movie designed to frighten us. But, fear can come from a lot of different directions in our life; fear of our marriage failing, fear from financial problems, fear of failure. Question, what do you do when fear knocks at your door? This week in our series entitled, "Alone," we’re looking at the story of Elijah and his battle with fear. Elijah had experienced great victories in his service to God and God had demonstrated His power to Elijah many times. But in a moment of weakness, Elijah allowed fear to take over his life, causing him to want to quit.

Alone (Week 6): Widow of Zarephath – Alone in Financial Crisis (continued) (1 Kings 17)

Suppose you were in a situation where you were down to your last $20, about to go out to buy the last food you can for your family to eat, and a total stranger comes up to you and asks you to give the $20 dollars to him instead, promising that if you do, then God will make sure you continue to have enough money every day to buy food for your family. That little scenario may seem a little far fetched, but it’s actually a true story from the Bible. In 1 Kings chapter 17, the prophet Elijah meets a woman in desperate financial shape, on the brink of starvation. What happens next will stretch the woman’s faith in a way she had never seen before. This week. Pastor Clay is going to show us how believing God with our finances, opens the door for God to bless us in amazing ways. Everyone struggles in financial crisis at times, but the word of God promises that if we will have faith in God, and take action with that faith, we will never have to worry about a financial crisis again.

Alone (Week 5): Widow of Zarephath – Alone in Financial Crisis (1 Kings 17)

Have you ever faced a financial crisis in your life? Maybe a job loss and things got tight or an unexpected expense that showed up suddenly? Do you remember that feeling of uncertainty and feeling alone in this financial or material crisis? The truth is, you’re not alone with those feelings. Most of us have probably been through the stress, worry, doubt, and fear that accompany financial struggles. The question is, does God intend for us to live like that? What can be done about it? This week, Pastor Clay is taking us to an Old Testament story about an encounter between one of God’s prophets, Elijah, and a poor widow to see what we can learn about facing the financial and material needs in our lives, as well as the role that faith plays in seeing our needs met and that feelings like fear and worry and loneliness become a distant memory.

 

Alone (Week 4): David – Alone Against the Giant (2 Samuel 12)

Temptation comes in all shapes and sizes, but probably no temptation is bigger or more destructive than sexual temptation. In our culture today sex has become a recreational sport, but God designed our sexuality for something better. Last week in our series, we looked at David’s famous battle against a giant by the name of Goliath. David was a just a young teenage boy when he defeated the giant Goliath, but many years later, he faced another giant that defeated David. 2 Samuel 11 is where we find the story of David’s great sin with Bathsheba. You and I face sexual temptation today as well. Pastor Clay is going to show us from God’s word today what we can learn from David that can help us have victory over the giant of sexual temptation. 

Alone (Week 3): David – Alone Against the Giant (1 Samuel 17)

We all go through things at times where it feels we are all alone. How do we handle those times?  What seems to stand in the way of your peace, your joy, your contentment?  Would it be safe to call it a “giant" in your life?  Today, we’re looking at one of the most famous stories in all the Bible, the story of David and Goliath.   From a human standpoint you probably wouldn’t put very good odds on a shepherd boy being able to defeat a warrior giant. But then again, God has never cared much about odds. In this week's message, Pastor Clay is going to point out the action steps that David took to defeat his giant and how you and I can take those same steps and defeat the giants that come into our lives.

Alone (Week 2): Noah – Alone Against the Culture (Genesis 37 & 39 - 41)

Do you ever feel like the deck is stacked against you? Ever feel like adversity is pounding at your door and won’t let up? All of us face adversity in life. Sometimes it’s something huge. Sometimes it’s not as serious, but it is still adversity. The question is, what can we do about it?  The truth is, there really isn’t anything we can do about adversity. As Pastor Clay is going to explain today, there really isn’t anything we can do about adversity, but we can prepare for adversity. As you’ll hear this week, we can even have victory throughout adversity. Thanks for joining us for this message in our series, "Alone." 

Cross Culture Church - Nate Jones (Mark Chapter 10)

Pastor Clay is away this week.  Elder Nate Jones speaks today from Mark chapter 10.

Alone (Week 1): Noah – Alone Against the Culture (Genesis 6)

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were the only one that felt the way you did? Or, the only one that believed what you did? How did that make you feel? Were you tempted to just keep quiet, or to stand up and be heard?  This week, Crosswalk begins a new series entitled "Alone."  Pastor Clay is going to show us ten different characters from the Bible and situations where they faced something alone. Probably all of us at times have known what it feels like to be alone and it’s usually not very comfortable. In this week's message, we’re taking a look at a man named Noah, a man who stood alone against the culture of his day and who God used in a mighty way.

Building on the Basics, Week 53: Judgment – Prepare For It (Part 4)

Did you ever wish you could see into the future? For thousands of years people have sought through various means to find out what was coming, but all they really have to do is look into God's word.  Today we come to the end of a journey we began well over a year ago, as Pastor Clay has walked us through most of the New Testament books known as the "General Letters," in a series entitled "Building on the Basics." In this series, we've looked at the basic of faith from the book of James, basic of hope from 1 and 2 Peter, the basic of love in 1, 2, and 3 John. And for the last few weeks, we've been looking at the basic of judgment in the book of Jude.  As Pastor Clay explained when we started in the book of Jude, judgment may not sound like it goes well with the basics, faith and hope and love. But as we've seen over the last three weeks, a right understanding of God's judgments should be a basic part of our understanding of God.

Building on the Basics, Week 52: Judgment – Prepare For It (Part 3)

You’ve probably heard someone say, “You can’t judge.” We know that's what Jesus said and people often use that verse as a way of justifying their right to live however they want. But, is that really what Jesus meant? Is it possible that followers of Jesus are actually supposed to make some judgments?  A basic understanding of God’s judgment, when and how and why, is crucial for a proper understanding of God and our relationship with Him. We’ve spent the last two sessions in Jude looking at three examples of God’s judgment from the Old Testament.  Learning from those judgments in the past, as we’re going to see today, is important for our present lives and the need for us to judge what others are teaching us.

Building on the Basics, Week 51: Judgment – Prepare For It (Part 2)

Judgment, it’s a word that has fallen out of favor in our culture today. Most people believe that each person has the right to live the way they want. Each person can set their own standards, and no one has the right to judge them for it. But, is that really true?  As we continue with our last "Building on the Basics" subject,  judgment, we find three examples from the book of Jude where God brought judgment. Two weeks ago, Pastor Clay showed us why God’s judgment came on the nation of Israel.  This week, we'll see two other examples that Jude gives to us and learn a lesson from all three examples that we can apply today.

Speaker - New Youth Pastor Cale Little

Pastor Clay is away this weekend.  Our new Youth Pastor, Cale Little, brings this week's message from 3 John

Building on the Basics, Week 50: Judgment – Prepare For It (Part 1)

Faith, hope, and love.  When talking about God, those three basics sound good together, but there is another basic that may not sound as if to goes with those other three and it's the basic of judgment.  We're coming to the end of our series "Building on the Basics," and today we in the book of Jude. A biblical understanding of judgment is a basic of a healthy relationship with our God and ss Pastor Clay is going to explain this week, Jude lists three examples from the Old Testament where God brought judgment. The actions that brought God’s judgment may have been different, but they were all a result of the same problem.

Building on the Basics, Week 49: Love - Walk In It (Part 17)

Most of us have obligations regarding our work. We have obligations financially. We have family obligations. So, when it comes to spreading the message of Jesus, is that an obligation?   Today, Pastor Clay is in the book of 3 John as we continue our series "Building on the Basics," and is going to show us how John challenges the church to take up the obligation of participating in the spread of God’s truth and love to the world. It’s important for those of us who claim to follow Christ to know that the congregation has an obligation of participation in the dissemination and propagation of the Gospel. 

Building on the Basics, Week 48: Love - Walk In It (Part 16)

What do you believe about God? Many people claim belief in the God revealed in the Bible, but is there a difference between intellectual belief and practical belief?  For over a year now Pastor Clay has been taking us through what are known as the General Epistles of the New Testament in our "Building On The Basics" series. Last week we finished up the book of 1 John where we’ve been discussing the basic of love and how to walk in it. Today we’re in 2 John and Pastor Clay is going to challenge us to ask a very important question; does what I believe about God cause me to live in His love? This is an important message for all of us who perhaps struggle at times with fear, anxiety, and worry. Join us for this week's message concerning truth or consequences.

Building on the Basics, Week 47: Love - Walk In It (Part 15)

Have you ever heard someone say something like, “I don’t know why God doesn't strike them dead for that?” Are there instances where God would actually strike a person dead for something they did? The answer may surprise you.  Today as we finish up 1 John chapter 5, we’re looking at two more areas where victory is ours. Pastor Clay is going to explain that one of the ways we should experience victory is in the area of disobedience.  It is in that context that the Apostle John begins to talk about praying for those in sin, as long as they haven’t committed a “sin unto death.” Just what is a sin unto death? That’s another one of the questions we’re going to take on in today’s message. 

Building on the Basics, Week 46: Love - Walk In It (Part 14)

It’s almost football season and pretty much everyone has high hopes of a great season. Teams have put in their hard work over the summer and come week one of the season, they'll onto the field with one goal in mind, victory!  This week we’re continuing to make our way through the New Testament book of 1 John.  We’ve looked at how our theology shapes our reality and reveals our priority, and this week Pastor Clay is going to show us how our theology should result in victory.  Like football teams stepping onto the field this fall, you and I, as part of the body of Christ, should step onto the field of life with every anticipation of victory.

Building on the Basics, Week 45: Love - Walk In It (Part 13)

Your theology, what you believe about God, shapes how you look at everything else. That’s a truth that Pastor Clay established in last week’s message from 1 John chapter 5. But, does what you believe about God reveal itself in the priority of your life?  Today we’re going to be exploring how what we believe about God impacts our daily lives.  The Apostle John gives us two specific ways that what we believe about God should affect our priorities. Living for God as the priority not only honors God, it also is best for all of us , makes the Church stronger and shows the world around us that our theology really does impact our lives in a positive way.

Building on the Basics, Week 44: Love - Walk In It (Part 12)

What do you believe about God? Some people come to the conclusion that they believe in God while others do not, but have you ever asked yourself why you believe what you believe?  This week in our series "Building on the Basics," we dive into the final chapter of 1 John where the Apostle John reemphasizes some of the most important aspects of walking in love, including understanding the correlation between truth and love. In today’s message Pastor Clay challenges us to take time to think about what we believe about Jesus Christ, why we believe what we believe, and how what we believe effects our daily lives, our reality.

Where Do You Belong? Citizen of Earth? Or Citizen of Heaven? - Speaker: Ivey Rhodes

Pastor Clay is on vacation this week.  Student Pastor Ivey Rhodes brings today's message from Philippians 3:17 with the challenge to examine our lives and ask whether we are living as citizens of Earth, embracing the temporal of this world, or living in such a way that we believe that will live forever and that this world is just our temporary home?   

Building on the Basics, Week 43: Love - Walk In It (Part 11)

What is love? That’s a question we began to explore last week and nowhere in the Bible is the Apostle John more detailed on the subject of love than in 1 John 4. Pastor Clay continues last week's discussion on love, this week, exploring the idea of what happens to us when God’s love is in us and what should come out of us as a result. The world defines love based on what we know about a person, how we feel about them and what they do for us. God delivered a radically different love at the cross. If we’ve come to experience that love in our hearts and lives, then we are to love the way God loves, not the way the world loves, and that is impossible without the Spirit of God working in us.

Building on the Basics, Week 42: Love - Walk In It (Part 10)

Love is a word used a lot in our culture today and people define "love" in many different ways. The church talks about the love of God and the love we should have for those without a relationship with Jesus Christ, but what about our love for each other as part of the body of Christ? Do we really understand what that should look like?  Today we continue our study in 1 John chapter 4 where John puts a major emphasis on love as it pertains to the body of Christ.  If you attend a church regularly, you probably have close friends in the church and you might even say you love those friends.  Do we really understand what that "love" means and who it should apply to? Pastor Clay is going to explain today the radical nature of this love we should have for one another and the results that will be evident when we really love each other.