Crosspoint Sermon Series
The Meaning of Life
Most people are somewhat familiar with the great stories in the bible. Noah and the ark, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lions, etc.
But do we really know what these stories are teaching us about God? Do we really understand how they point us to Jesus and fit into the grand narrative of the bible?
For the next few months, we are going to dive into the greatest stories ever told from an expositional perspective as we discover what these stories teach us about the God we worship and serve, and how we should respond to Him.
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 1:13-21 Instruction —we should set our hope fully on Jesus "The certainty of our hope has a remarkable effect on our lives. Hoping Christians cannot live carelessly, seeking self-indulgence and pleasure.” —Edmund P. Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter —we should pursue holiness in all our conduct Motivation —the promises of God “Traditionally, we focus on the grace revealed in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and rightly so, since Jesus’ completion of the plan of redemption brings us peace with God. Nonetheless, Peter here says that the grace to come decisively affects the present. Our hope in the grace to be revealed prepares us for self-discipline and action today.” —Daniel M. Doriani, 1 Peter 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. —the holiness of God —the judgment of God “We cannot separate trust in God from the fear of God. We will trust Him only to the extent that we genuinely stand in awe of Him.” ―Jerry Bridges, The Joy of Fearing God “The reality and finality of God’s judgment are often affirmed; we are taught that Christ will be the Judge in that day. At the same time we are told that God’s verdict on us has already been pronounced; in Christ we are justified; we have passed from death to life. The Judge in the last day is our Savior.” —Edmund P. Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter —the love of God Psalm 34:22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. Discipleship Questions: What are some ways we can set our hope fully on Jesus? What are some obstacles to pursuing holiness in all our conduct? How can we resist the temptation to return to the passions of our former ways? Which aspect of this passage motivates you the most? The promises, holiness, judgment, or love of God? How can each of these motivations help us pursue holiness and live with hope in different seasons of life? How can we develop a biblical and healthy fear of God in our lives? How does the price Jesus paid to redeem us impact the way we live our lives?
A testimony by Danya Tikhonov on his time serving with LaunchBox. His name is Habib. He was around 19 or 20 years old and from Afghanistan. Last year, I saw him and his friends standing outside, just hanging out. On the first day, I decided to go up and introduce myself. I greeted them, but quickly realized they didn’t speak much English because they had only been in the U.S. for a month. I smiled, thinking to myself, “This is familiar—I didn’t speak much English either when I came to study.” So, I pulled out my translator app, and we began communicating. They appreciated that I was making an effort to connect, and we started talking about how and when they arrived in the States. I found out they had fled Afghanistan, running from their government, and came here with their families just a month ago. We continued chatting, and over time, they began teaching me Arabic, which Habib loved. It was such a great experience! They even asked for my WhatsApp number, and we kept in touch. They were excited to teach me more, and I was eager to learn. The next day, Habib and I started talking more deeply about religion. I had assumed he was a Muslim, and as we discussed his beliefs, he told me that he followed Islam because he believed Allah had been good to him. Our conversations centered on good deeds and how they could lead to salvation, but I shared Ephesians 2:8-9 with him to show how we are saved by grace, not works. It made him think, and we kept talking about Jesus, or Isa, as he knew him. He acknowledged Jesus as a good person, but he remained firm in his belief that Jesus was just another prophet before Muhammad. Every day, I showed him more Bible verses and tried to demonstrate Christ’s love, hoping that the seed would be planted. I could tell he was curious, but on the last day, he still couldn’t believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. I left that day feeling a bit sad but decided to continue praying for him. About 8 months later, a friend who had visited them in Ft. Worth texted me and said, “Do you remember the guy you were talking to all week? Habib?” I replied, “Yeah, of course.” And she said, “He recently became a Christ follower.” When I returned this year, I was assigned to a different location, so I wasn’t expecting to see him. But, as always, God had a plan. I saw Habib again, and I couldn’t resist running over to him. I asked, “Habib, are you a Christ follower now?” He smiled and said, “Yes, He gave me a new heart.” At that moment, I was in awe of God’s amazing timing and faithfulness. I was so joyful to hear that God had grown that seed I’d planted all those months ago. I told him, “Man, revival will happen here if you stay faithful to Jesus.” Habib shared that he now goes to church and attends a small group that he happily hosts at his parents' apartment. At first, his family didn’t approve, but now they let him gather with other believers. I think that’s incredible. I’m not sure if Habib had heard the Gospel before, but I know that I was just planting a small seed in his heart, trusting that God would do the rest. And He did. God is so good, and this testimony is a reminder of His perfect timing and His power to transform hearts. I will never underestimate the impact of faithfully sharing the Gospel, even if we don’t immediately see the fruit.
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 1:10-12 Jealous Much? Why angels wish they knew what we do The Spirit Magnifies the Son The Son’s work is central Scripture contains a great many things, but in essence it describes our creation in God’s image, our rebellion and its catastrophic consequences, and then God’s plan for restoration, announced by the prophets, and accomplished in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Before him we must repent, and in him we must believe. Every other theme is secondary. -Daniel M. Doriani We are greatly privileged to know the gospel story The prophets longed to know what we know Matt. 13:17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Zech 13:1 On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. Isaiah 53:5-7 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. The angles long to know what we know “Angels do not experience the gospel in the same way as human beings since they are not the recipients of redemption. Again, the privilege of enjoying and anticipating salvation comes to the forefront” - Thomas R. Schreiner Discipleship Questions: How would you explain the Trinity to someone? What would you say the Holy Spirit's main role is in our salvation? How is that different than the Son? How is it similar? Do you agree that the death and resurrection of Jesus is the key focal point of Scripture? Why or why not? How do the Old Testament writings serve us? (1 Peter 1:12) Why are the angels jealous of us?
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, March 23, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 1:6-9 Trials come in various forms Trials can cause real grief The call to exuberant joy does not deny the reality of suffering; ours is a joy that is sustainable, and so sustains us, in the midst of real grief. Nowhere does the Bible deny Christians grief and sadness. Instead, the Bible teaches us how to grieve and how to express sadness with hope. —Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Trials are temporary 2 Corinthians 4:16–17 [16] So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. [17] For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison Trials are sometimes necessary James 1:2–3 [2] Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Trials strengthen and prove our faith Christian suffering, then, is one of the means God uses for our own perseverance and assurance. As we faithfully endure through various trials, we can see that our faith is real. When Christ seems to be all we have, and we cling to him, we come to see that we know that he really is all we need. Such enduring faith will be rewarded when Christ is revealed. Therefore, we can now rejoice whenever we face various kinds of trials. —Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You We love and trust Jesus even though we haven’t seen Him John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We rejoice because we will see Jesus and receive salvation Discipleship Questions: What are some current or recent trials you have experienced? What does it look like for Christians to grieve, but with hope? How can you embrace the truth that all trials are temporary? In what ways have you experienced trials as necessary? How does enduring trials give assurance of your salvation? How can we love and trust Jesus as we rejoice knowing our future is secure?
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 1:3-5 We “bless” God by: Speaking highly of Him Eulogetos Crediting Him for our salvation. The Christian’s New Life Comes With: A Living Hope An Inheritance that is: In the OT the inheritance was the land God promised to Israel… Peter understands the inheritance, however, no longer in terms of a land promised to Israel but in terms of the end-time hope that lies before believers. -Thomas R. Schreiner Imperishable Undefiled Unfading Protection (through faith) “God’s power does not shield believers from trials and sufferings, but it does protect us from that which would cause us to fall away.” Thomas R. Schreiner The symmetry is perfect. God keeps the inheritance for us, and he keeps us for the inheritance. He keeps the treasure for us, and he guards us so that we will properly enjoy it -Daniel M. Doriani Phil. 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Trust In God’s Power to Save Discipleship Questions: 1. What does it mean for us to “bless” God (1 Peter 1:3)? 2. Peter emphasizes God as the one credited for our salvation. How do we keep that emphasis alive and stirring in our own hearts? 3. What is the inheritance of God’s people? 4. Verse 5 says that we are being guarded by God’s power through faith for salvation… What part do we play in our perseverance? What part does God play? What are we guarded (or protected) from?
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 1:1-2 “This letter was written during a time when Christians were being persecuted simply because of their faith, because they were different than everyone else. They did not worship the Roman gods; they rejected the sexual promiscuity of their day; they had strange worship practices; and they even tried to win people over to their God and their way of life.” —Juan Sanchez, 1 Peter For Your The Main Idea — Christians always have hope —hope from the grace of God for all life —hope from the peace of God in all sufferings The Audience —Elect exiles scattered throughout Asia Minor —Elect - God’s chosen people —Exiles - temporary residents —Dispersion - scattered people “These terms give us the key to Peter’s whole letter. Peter is writing a traveller’s guide for Christian pilgrims. He reminds them that their hope is anchored in their homeland. They are called to endure alienation as strangers, but they have a heavenly citizenship and destiny.” —Edmund P. Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter “Peter does not call us as Christians to flee from the world. Neither does he write to isolated pilgrims pursuing a lonely way through the desert. Rather Peter writes to the scattered Christians as a community; they are the people of God in the world.” —Edmund P. Clowney, The Message of 1 Peter The Author — Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ —formerly Simon - AKA Cephas —one of the 12 disciples of Jesus —one of 3 disciples closest to Jesus —writing from Rome around 63 AD - was martyred in Rome around 67 AD John 21:4–8 [4] Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” [6] He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. [7] That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. [8] The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. Matthew 16:16–18 [16] Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Discipleship Questions: In what ways does the grace of God give you hope in all areas of your life? Talk about specific examples. How have you experienced the peace of God in the midst of suffering? What does it look like to live our lives with hope because of Jesus? How can embracing our identity as scattered elect exiles help us in everyday life? How can we live as exiles, but also be agents of change in our world? What do you love about Simon Peter and what can we learn from his life?
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