The Russells

Morgan Russell • Jan 19, 2022

When I met Clint, we were on opposite ends of the spectrum. I was debt free, had no credit cards, and lived using a spending plan. Clint had 12 credit cards and $80,000 in debt.


Growing up, the only time I recall seeing my parents argue or fight was around financial issues. When I was in high school, they took a financial class that followed biblical principles and I saw their lives completely change. Their marriage improved significantly, there were no more fights, they were on the same side, working as a team to plan and save and steward well.


Watching my parents in high school and college, I learned the principles and took the same class as them. I followed the principles and desired to honor God with what he had given me.  After college I was able to pay off my student loans which allowed me to continue to work at the non-profit ministry I loved as well as support friends, tithe, and give to missions.


In contrast, Clint grew up in a home where money was not well managed and often faced not having basic needs met due to his parents mismanagement. He did not have anyone to guide or teach him how to manage money God's way. 


Once we were engaged and started discussing finances in more detail, we struggled to understand the other's way of living.


However, a prerequisite for us getting married (per my parents) was to take a biblical finance class. We agreed, and along with premarital counseling, we completed Financial Peace University.


Through taking the class, we were able to learn about our past experiences and how we were raised. We learned God's way to steward what he has given us. God unified our hearts and helped us get on the same page financially.


Once married, Clint and I spent the next 14 months paying off all debt (not including the house).


Mathematically, with our incomes, it made no sense for us to be able to pay off $80,000 in debt, BUT GOD! He made a way!


And when we walked in obedience and followed His way of stewarding HIS money, mountains were moved and we were able to yell "we're debt free!!"


In April of 2014, after 14 months, God helped us pay off all debt!! We have been living that way every since (...again, minus the house, still working on that). 


We have been able to save and give in ways we could have never imagined! God has been so faithful to provide and we are thankful for all he has done!


In our 8 years of marriage, Clint and I have not had one fight or argument around finances. God has been faithful to keep us united, ultimately knowing that it is not our own, it is His, and that has helped us steward well as well as counsel others throughout the years.


Clint and Morgan will be helping lead our next round of Crown Financial at Crosspoint. Learn more.

No Fear of Judgment

08 May, 2024
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:6-11 God has already done the work needed to save us He took the initiative “God has addressed the cause of the offense… Although he is the offended party, God has removed the offense. God has extended “the olive branch.” -Jay Smith He justified us He reconciled us Reconciliation is an objective event that God accomplished by removing the barrier of sin that separated himself from humanity. This result is independent of humanity’s response although it formed the basis for an individual’s subjective appropriation.” Jay Smith Appropriate: “To set apart for or assign to a particular recipient.” Christians need not fear judgment day 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?

The Joy of Justification

29 Apr, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 5:1-5 We find joy in the blessings brought by justification —peace with God —access to God’s grace Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. —hope of the glory of God “Christian hope is not uncertain, like our ordinary everyday hopes about the weather or our health; it is a joyful and confident expectation which rests on the promises of God, as we saw in the case of Abraham. And the object of our hope is the glory of God (2), namely his radiant splendor which will in the end be fully displayed. —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans We can even find joy in our sufferings “Various kinds of sufferings will come to us, but we can rejoice in them when we recognize that they serve a purpose: to develop our Christian character. In verses 3b–4 Paul shows how a godly response to suffering can initiate a series of virtues, culminating, strikingly, in hope. Note, however, that Paul is not saying that we should rejoice because of suffering. Evil things are still just that—evil—and we never should be happy about them. But by looking beyond the suffering to its divinely intended end, we still can rejoice in the midst of them.” —Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans —suffering produces endurance “ We know this, especially from the experience of God’s people in every generation. Suffering produces perseverance ( hypomonē , endurance). We could not learn endurance without suffering, because without suffering there would be nothing to endure.” —John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans —endurance builds character —character gives us confident hope Discipleship Questions: How does it change your outlook on life to know that you have peace with God? In what ways have you experienced the greatness of access to God’s grace? How does future certainty bring us lasting hope? Describe a time when you experienced joy in the midst of suffering. How has God used suffering to grow your faith and mature you? What are some ways you have experienced God’s love being poured into your heart?

The Faith of Father Abraham

22 Apr, 2024
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Sermon text: Romans 4:13-25 Abraham was not justified by works Abraham was not justified through the law Justification comes through faith alone —by faith we are forgiven of sin —by faith we are credited righteousness —by faith we are Abraham’s offspring Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. The faith of Father Abraham… —is trusting God no matter how things appear “Paul next goes on to remind us of the way Abraham believed the promise of God even when all the tangible evidence seemed to point in the other direction. In brief, as Paul succinctly summarizes the matter in verse 18, Abraham believed “against all hope” yet “in hope.” Specifically, he did not allow all the many reasons to distrust God’s promise to weaken his conviction that God would do just what he had promised.” —Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans —is being convinced of God’s power —is taking God at His word —is unwavering, even when we fail “Abraham did not always live out his faith, his obedience was not perfect, his trust fluctuated; but his faith was never extinguished. He hung on to God’s promises even in his own flaws and failings—and as he did so, he “was strengthened in his faith.” He was able to look at a mistake and say: This has reminded me that my only hope is to trust in God’s promise, and trust in God to fulfill that promise.” —Tim Keller, Romans 1-7 For You Discipleship Questions: Spend some time discussing justification and talk about the effects of it on our lives. What are some ways that you trust God in spite of how things appear or how you feel? How have you experienced your faith being strengthened through God’s Word? What are some examples of times you have taken God at His word and acted on it in your life? What do you think it looks like for us to have unwavering faith based on Abraham’s example? 
Show More
Share by: