Men of Faith

Men of Faith

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house – Hebrews 11:7

We all have a lesson to learn from Noah, whether we are fathers, husbands, brothers, or sons. Noah trusted God, believed his warnings, and obeyed his commands… as a result, he was able to save his entire family from the destruction of the worldwide flood that came as promised.

Notice that Noah was warned by God, but he was warned about things that he, himself, had not yet witnessed — he was warned “of things not seen as yet.” This is where faith comes in. When we are able to trust what God has told us in his Word—even when it contradicts what everyone around us is proclaiming or what our own experience has been thus far — it is then that we are able to truly walk by faith.

What about you? When you look at the many instructions and warnings in God’s Word, do you believe him and act accordingly or do you ignore his Word and keep on walking in your own way? Husbands, are you loving your wives sacrificially? Fathers, are you nurturing your children in the Lord? Children (of any age), are you honoring your parents?

Those who listen to God’s Word and obey it by faith prepare for the destruction and judgment that are coming upon this world. As a result, those around them are positively affected, being influenced by the faith that they see.

May you, like Noah, be moved by a healthy fear of God to a determined, faithful preparation of your own life and your own house, in obedience to his Word.

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Cross Pointe Baptist Church

We encourage you to find a point of ministry at Cross Pointe; to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.  There’s a place for you.  Come and join with us in the work of reaching a lost world for Jesus. Together we can make a difference in the lives of others.  Opportunities for ministry include:

Embers

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Like a warm ember that leads to a flame, our infant and baby ministry is open to women of God who want to nurture our youngest family members into a loving knowledge of Christ Jesus through salvation.   This is the threshold ministry of the church.   Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”  From nursery services to toddler  and pre-school education, this ministry needs workers just like you.

Children learn through play.  They’re naturals.  It’s us adults that sometimes need help!  We’ve forgotten how.  Plus it’s difficult to know how much babies and toddlers understand anyway.

Next time you serve with Embers at Cross Pointe, play with your own little tikes, or take care of children this age, use these developmental ages and stages as a guide to know how to play with them.

0-6 months:  Sensory Learners

Infants absorb the world around them.  Their visual and auditory skills are developing quickly.  They love black and white contrasts, their parents’ voices, and reaching and grasping items.  Tummy time is beneficial, as is flashlight or mirror play, and singing favorite nursery and church songs.

6-10 months:  Little Explorers

Babies this age learn to impact their environment.  They develop an understanding of cause and effect.  “If I shake this rattle, it will make noise.”  They also begin to understand object permanence:  the realization that just because the ball is under the blanket doesn’t mean that it ceases to exist.  Peek-a-boo games, texture exploration, ball play, and singing are some of their favorite activities.

10-16 months:  Budding Communicators

Children this age are mobile.  They crawl, stand, cruise, and walk.  They learn to communicate with hand movements, sounds, and words.  Baby signs are helpful at this age to reduce frustration levels.  You can also support growing language development with songs. Favorite toys may include jack-in-the boxes, instruments, and push and pull toys.

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Great Lessons

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee – Psalm 81:16

There are great lessons to be learned even from the failures of God’s people recorded in the Scriptures. God says if his people had obeyed his voice he would have subdued their enemies and fed them with honey out of the rock. But they rebelled and walked in their own counsels.

How sad that a people who that could have enjoyed the richest of blessings from their gracious God were instead given up to their own desires and suffered the consequences of their disobedience.

How often have you neglected the place of blessing? There is counsel and comfort in God’s Word but you have spent little time reading it. There are rich mercies to be found at the throne of grace but you have neglected prayer. There are joys and blessings to be found in God’s house but you have been attracted by the empty promises of the world.

Churches sometimes mourn the loss of spiritual fervor enjoyed in former days. But instead of being brought to repentance for sin and neglect, the excuse is made that we live in difficult times. The lack of power in preaching is a concern but still messages to make people feel good take precedence over sound biblical exposition.

The next time you are facing temptation to sin or to squander God’s blessings, remember this: God is willing and able to bless his people. Today, heed his call to return. Call upon him, knowing he is willing to hear and ready to bless.

http://www.cpbchurch.com/

Great Lessons

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee – Psalm 81:16

There are great lessons to be learned even from the failures of God’s people recorded in the Scriptures. God says if his people had obeyed his voice he would have subdued their enemies and fed them with honey out of the rock. But they rebelled and walked in their own counsels.

How sad that a people who that could have enjoyed the richest of blessings from their gracious God were instead given up to their own desires and suffered the consequences of their disobedience.

How often have you neglected the place of blessing? There is counsel and comfort in God’s Word but you have spent little time reading it. There are rich mercies to be found at the throne of grace but you have neglected prayer. There are joys and blessings to be found in God’s house but you have been attracted by the empty promises of the world.

Churches sometimes mourn the loss of spiritual fervor enjoyed in former days. But instead of being brought to repentance for sin and neglect, the excuse is made that we live in difficult times. The lack of power in preaching is a concern but still messages to make people feel good take precedence over sound biblical exposition.

The next time you are facing temptation to sin or to squander God’s blessings, remember this: God is willing and able to bless his people. Today, heed his call to return. Call upon him, knowing he is willing to hear and ready to bless.

http://www.cpbchurch.com/

Give Thanks

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – Ephesians 5:20

We are here admonished to give thanks for all things. We know we should give thanks for our daily provisions and for the mercy of God in saving us; but sometimes we don’t take the time or make the effort to truly thank him, or to consider all the things for which we should be grateful.

The apostle Paul frequently expressed his thanks to God for the faith, love and work seen in the churches where he had labored. He acknowledged that these godly fruits were because of God’s blessings on them and therefore gave thanks to God. He constantly expressed thankfulness for his godly fellow laborers, but consistently expressed thankfulness to God for even their faithfulness (Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:3).

Astonishingly, Paul also expressed appreciation for tribulations (Romans 5:3), and even acknowledged that he took pleasure in “infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake” because God’s strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10). If God’s sufficiency is displayed in my insufficiency, Paul said, then I am thankful for each opportunity for his strength to be shown in my weakness.

And above all, the apostle gave thanks for the Savior. He wrote, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Words are inadequate to describe the glory of our Savior Jesus Christ, but we should continually give thanks for him and his love for us.

http://www.cpbchurch.com/

PRAY LIKE IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much – James 5:16

After pondering the perfect sovereignty of God, many have asked the question “Why should I even bother praying then? If God is always going to do his will, and his will is always perfect, then why should we ever pray?”

The answer, it is important to recognize, comes from the same God who tells us that he “works all things after the counsel of his own will.” This very same God informs us that effectual, fervent prayer on the part of his people avails — not just a little bit, or for a little while, but much!

How can this be? How can an immutable, all-knowing, eternal God listen to our prayers and allow them to influence the outcome of events great and small? Frankly, we may never know or understand. But this we do know: God tells us that our prayers make a tremendous impact.

So then, how should you respond to temptation or trial? Pray. What should you do on behalf of sick, or wayward, or feeble loved ones? Pray. What is your responsibility toward those that have authority over you? Pray for them. How can you make a difference in the world around you? Pray.

The hard work of sincere and fervent prayer gains much ground, does great good, God says. Do you believe him? Do you pray like it makes a difference?

http://www.cpbchurch.com/

Death and Dying

Whether…the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours – 1 Corinthians 3:22

What a strange thing to say. How can Paul claim with a straight face that everything—even death—has been given to God’s people and belongs to them?

It certainly does not feel as though the world belongs to us, that our present life is completely under our control, or that the future is ours for the taking. Least of all, death does not ever feel to be mastered or owned or tamed; more than anything else, death reminds us of just how frail we are and what little power we have over our surroundings.

And yet Paul claims that they are all yours, if you are Christ’s (3:23). Even death has been made a servant to the people of God. How can this be?

The truth is that we, in ourselves, do not have autonomous control over our life or our death; but the truth is also that Christ has—through his death and resurrection—brought even our greatest enemies into subjection and made them to serve us for our good.

Death, for instance, has been subdued; instead of acting as the jaws of fate to consume us, it has now become the door of salvation to renew us. Whereas death was once to be greatly feared, as the result of sin entering into the world, it is now made an occasion for rejoicing, as the vehicle that brings us into the presence and likeness of Christ.

Life, through Christ, is yours, dear believer. And, yes, even death is yours, to serve you for your good and for God’s glory. Rejoice today, then, in the possessions that are yours in Christ.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

http://www.cpbchurch.com/

Vessels Of Honor

There are many ways you can serve at Cross Pointe and we encourage you to find a point of ministry at Cross Pointe; to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.   There’s a place for you.  Come and join with us in the work of reaching a lost world for Jesus.  Together we can make a difference in the lives of others

Vessels of Honor is an extension of our church ministry both within the church and in the community.   We recognize the distinguished position held by the Seniors of the faith in our church family.   Many may not be able to attend church services due to age-related health or transportation issues.  Through this ministry we want to engage our most Senior members, and to assist them in their daily lives as needed.   This ministry is not exclusive to Senior members, but serves as a central point of outreach to those Seniors in our community.   Outreach includes but is not limited to:  providing food, transportation, hospital visitation, hospice, and assisted living ministry.

http://www.cpbchurch.com/