CrossBridge Church Westbury, NY

WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART // 4. Being Part of a Family of Idol Makers

WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART // 3. Why Are People So Hard To Get Along With?

WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART // 2. Is Coffee Really an Idol?

WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART // 1. Your Heart is an Idol Factory

PRAY FIRST // 5. Eternal Perspectives in a Temporal World

Ephesians 3:14-21

This Sunday is our Vision Launch Sunday. As we end our “Pray First” series by looking at Ephesians 3:14-21 – “Eternal Perspective in a Temporal World”, launching our vision for 2017, and receiving the Lord’s Supper, our goal is that each of us would be challenged to continue to be UNASHAMED.

Our step forward this year is to build up and equip each and every one of you for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16). It is our goal as Pastors to help you be UNASHAMED by involving each of you in:

• Reading your Bible at least 4 times a week in the 1st quarter of 2017
• To join a Life Group in the 1st quarter of 2017
• To attend Wednesday Prayer Meeting 4 times in the 1st quarter of 2017
• To pass out at least 4 gospel tracts each week in the 1st quarter of 2017

We want to continue to grow in reaching Our Community and Our World as a church. We hope our Vision Launch leads you to praise God, give thanks for what He’s done over the last year, and pray for all we hope for in 2017.

PRAY FIRST // 4. For the Nations

Acts 13:44-52

In our series "Pray First: A Call to Pray", we have addressed prayer as the most important exercise in the life of a Christian. It is our hope that you are encouraged to have a prayer life marked by consistency and passion.  We are to be passionate about praying daily, regularly, and consistently; praying for racial reconciliation and the sanctity of life.  Today, we want to address the topic "Pray First: for the Nations".

Our text is found in Acts 13.  Here we can see the gospel-driven church at Antioch, a Spirit led church that sent out Saul and Barnabas on a mission to take the gospel to the Gentiles. We too have a mission: to take the Gospel to every creature, to be a light and a gospel witness, to the nations of the world. How do we do this?  Let's look together in Acts 13:44-52.

-Pastor Terry

PRAY FIRST // 3. Sanctity of Human Life

Psalm 139

Forty-four years ago, on January 22, 1973 the United Supreme Court handed down the decision legalizing abortion on demand. Since then more than 58 million unborn children have lost their lives. Each one of those abortions is a tragedy, not only because an innocent child was killed, but because of the lasting impact the abortion itself had on the mothers of those children. All human life–without exception–is sacred because we are created in the image of God. 

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He
created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

As we understand that human dignity is grounded in our being created in God’s image. We then understand that our responsibility to our fellow human beings is grounded entirely in our relationship to our God, the Creator.

As children of God, we must be defenders of human dignity and human life because we know the value of every single human being–born or unborn–are made in the image of God. So, we are to be advocates for life and ambassadors of the gospel. Let's look together in the Word of God and learn what God is teaching us about the sanctity of human life.

-Pastor Terry

PRAY FIRST // 2. Racial Reconciliation

Ephesians 2:11-16

Last week we began our Pray First series that showed us from Scripture how important it is in every situation to go to God in prayer first.  This week, our text is in Ephesians and Paul is speaking to the Jews and Gentiles about racial unity. Without Christ, there was great separation between them. But in Christ they are to be united by being reconciled to God and to each other.

God wants His church to preach the gospel to every tribe, language, people, and nation.  We cannot do this if we are looking down on other races; if we are not in unity with one another. Paul challenged the Ephesians to strive to "preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace". That same challenge is for us today in 2017. Let's look together in the Word of God and learn what Paul is teaching about racial reconciliation and unity in Christ Jesus.

-Pastor Terry

PRAY FIRST // 1. Why Don't I?

TRUTHS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE 2017 TO BE A YEAR OF PRAYER INSTEAD OF A YEAR OF SHAME AND MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT PRAYER. 

As we begin a new year, it is important that we as Christians have our priories straight. Everywhere we look we are encouraged to have New Year’s resolutions, but we must make sure that the goals that we set for 2017 align with what God would have of us.

One of the most important parts of the life a Christian should be their prayer life. An ever growing prayer life should be the goal of every Christian, but all too often our prayer lives are less than active and are marked by extended seasons of drought. At the beginning of this year we hope to encourage you to have a prayer life that is marked by consistency and passion. I pray that this sermon serves as the launching pad for your prayer life this year. 

-Pastor Nate

ADVENT //5. The Inescapable Will of God

Luke 2:1-14

During this crazy and busy time of year it is important for us to stop and be reminded of what really matters.  In this day and age is it so easy to be distracted with everything that is happening around us. But we must not forget to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  

This is so important because it reminds us of how glorious God is and how he has been carrying out His will since the beginning of time. Today my prayer is that you will be renewed in hope and joy as you revel in the majesty that is Jesus Christ. 

-Pastor Nate