Recounting God's Deeds: Our First "Night of Worship"

Kate Stevens • March 8, 2023

Being on staff at a growing church is exciting. My husband helps lead worship, and he says having so many new musicians for Pastor Nick to utilize is exciting. Having classrooms full of babies on Sunday mornings and school-aged children on Wednesday nights is exciting. Seeing so many youth give up a weeknight and even bring their friends along for this adventure we call “Midweek” is exciting. Planning, praying over, considering, and seeking wisdom with our very own building plans is exciting. 


One lovely Bride of Christ split into three services isn’t quite as exciting—it’s hard, actually. It’s evident in how long it takes the first and second service to clear the room and hallways so the next wave can find a seat. . . Our people miss one another.


But—it’s overwhelmingly commendable how this church body longs for fellowship and community. The culture of God’s economy is intensely shaping, and we are seeing the fruit from that very clearly. It is no wonder then that a few weeks ago our first Night of Worship felt like a glimpse of glory. Seven baptisms spanning multiple stages of life, intentional and specific prayer time, some families sitting together, some kids and youth all grouped up with their own people, and so much singing. It’s hard to describe. 


Don’t just take my word for it—here are three brief testimonies:



"Hebrews 10:24–25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”


God’s design is that we (the church) put a high priority on gathering together in worship. For some believers throughout the ages, neglecting to meet together was a problem… or as Hebrews puts it, a bad “habit.” For Crosspoint, the good “habit” of regularly gathering together is further challenged by our space issues which currently require us to worship in 3 separate services.


In short, we are not allowed to use 3 services as an excuse to neglect to meet ALL together. And behold, our quarterly Night of Worship was born! And what a night it was! 344 voices, all in one accord, singing the praises of our GREAT GOD, being led by our absolutely remarkable worship team. Fervent prayer offered to God as we seek His glory by helping one another (and others) to KNOW GOD, BE KNOWN, and MAKE HIM KNOWN. 7 Baptisms celebrated as we watch younger and older brothers and sisters confess their need for a Savior and their faith in Jesus. 


The joy in that room was a potent reminder of the importance of gathering. 7 smiling faces buried with Christ in baptism, and raised to a new life. Our hope is that you are stirred to more love and more good works, done in faith, that others might hear the voice of their Heavenly Father. The DAY is drawing near where the Father will once and for all draw us near. We anticipate that day rightly as we continue in the habit of gathering, worshipping, and stirring each other to love and good works."


—Scott Sutton, elder at Crosspoint Community



"Martin Luther once said of corporate worship “at home, in my own house, there is no warmth or vigor in me, but in the church when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my heart, and it breaks its way through.” 


His words express my own reality after Crosspoint’s evening of worship.Gathering with our entire church body rekindled the fire of my faith. I couldn’t help but think as we raised our voices singing “holy, holy, holy” that our voices joined the multitudes in heaven singing the same praises. 


What about that night rekindled my faith? I think just seeing everyone was part of it. It was encouraging and life giving to get a glimpse of our entire church body and to be led to His throne in worship together. The worship music reminded us of truths about God and ushered us into His presence; it prepared our hearts for prayer.


We had the opportunity to pray on our knees with some members of our community group and it was so powerful and encouraging. Seeing children as well as adults taking the step of baptism in obedience and sharing their testimonies was like water for a thirsty soul. It is good to be reminded that God is at work and to hear stories about what He is doing because those stories grow my faith in God. 


One last beautiful and sweet thing that God did that night was connect my husband and I with a couple that we rarely see at church. It was a divine appointment. God not only used us to encourage one another as we shared our struggles, but He established a new friendship. Sunday rekindled my fire of faith as God reminded me He is at work in our midst. He inhabits the praise of His people. He will establish the work of our hands. He is worthy of worship!"


—Carla Frank, wife and mother of 2 grown children



"I loved Crosspoint’s Night of Worship. My husband had just flown out of town that morning, so I brought our four kids by myself. Needless to say, I was expecting there to be much chaos in the midst of our worship time. 


But God. I am in awe of our Savior Jesus... how sweet He was to me that evening.


My two littles were exhausted, yet they prayed and sang…sometimes while lying down across the chairs. My son Gideon, who is deaf-blind, kept pulling my mouth to his ear so he could better hear and feel the songs we sang. As for my teenager… I can hardly describe the joy it brings me to watch her lift her hands as she praised God through song. I’m humbled and overwhelmed with gratitude for how sweetly the Lord draws her to Himself.


At times, I’ve questioned and felt uncertain about the choices I’ve made as a parent; but one thing I have never questioned is this—having my children in worship service. Growing up, we called it going to Big Church. So my children have always been with us in Big Church, even before we moved our membership to Crosspoint. 


I’ve seen the value of my children participating in corporate worship and sitting under the teaching of God’s word. Truly, it never returns void.


I’m thankful our church decided to do a night of worship. It drew me and my children to the throne of His glory and majesty. It prepared my heart for what I knew would be a rough week since my husband would be out of town. Thank you Crosspoint for providing a time for our body to come together as one, to seek and praise God. And thanks for encouraging us to have our children beside us."


—Samantha Jolicoeur, wife and mom of 4 children



Our next Night of Worship is Sunday, May 7. We hope you will be able to join us as we continue to worship together, recounting God’s deeds all along the way.




Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
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?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
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?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
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?
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