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.




Arm Yourselves

June 11, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?

I Believe That We Will Win

June 3, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?

Who Can Be Against Us?

May 27, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
Show More