What does it mean when the Bible calls Jesus the ‘Prince of Peace’? If he came to bring peace then why is there so much conflict in our world? The birth of that baby 2,000 years ago calls us to contend again with the claim that God alone is the place of true peace for our hearts and world. Let’s ask these questions together this Sunday.

Forgiveness is the DNA of the church. We have received grace and are called to extend grace to one another. As our Crossroads manual says: “We want to continually demonstrate the gentleness, patience and loving acceptance modeled by Jesus. So that we all, as imperfect people, can find the room we need to grow. “ But how do we do that? How can we accept and understand one another when we are disappointed? How do we forgive, when we have been hurt?

We come from all sorts of different places (in every sense) but we gather around the Truth as God reveals it in the Bible to us.

Jesus taught us to pray, 'Our Father...Hallowed be your name"

What does the holiness of God look like? What does the holiness of His people look like?

How can we make His name holy?

Praying is no easy matter. At times, we question whether our prayers do more than merely hit the ceiling. We wonder: Does God care at all? Does prayer make any difference? Is God even listening? The Bible clearly teaches that God cares for us and hears our prayers. Why pray? Because…God is listening.

The Church is not a building, institution, set of ideas, etc...
It is the family of God, it is each of us taking our part in the story of God and His people.
 

God’s economy runs on different values and rules than the economy of this world. The currency is grace. Jesus has bought our way into the kingdom of God by paying the debt we owe. He frees us from our debt and our past.

God is a fabulous communicator. He has never been silent. He speaks to us through everything in his creation. We only have to open our eyes to see his fingerprints on the heavens and the earth. How could so many things in nature, working together in perfect unity, be anything but the creation of an awesome God? Those who haven’t seen a glimpse of God from his creation simply aren’t looking.

A part of the apocalyptic message of the gospel of Jesus is that God is here right now, infusing our 'everyday' with the message of His love. We are called to celebrate and to feast- so that we both recognize and respond to His goodness.

As followers of Christ, we believe that the Bible is God’s expression of truth to mankind. Yet while we acknowledge its importance, many of us are more apt to read books about the Bible than the Bible itself. Join us this Sunday as we discuss ways to allow God’s Word to do what it does best... unveiling God’s truth to those who seek Him.

The ultimate answer to our suffering, the ultimate hope is not a explanation at all. It is not a why, how, when, or what- but at heart a who.

The longing in the heart of a woman to share life together as a great adventure – that comes straight from the heart of God, who also longs for this. God does not want to be an option in our lives. Neither does any woman. God is essential. He wants us to need Him – desperately. Eve is essential. She fills a place in the world nothing and no one else can fill.

God’s love travels with us, pursuing us down all the twisting roads of our life. That constant love enables and empowers us to live with the same love towards others.

After the passion and drama of Easter, we take a journey back in time, when people made a living from the land, and the sun always shone......OK, so maybe things have never been as simple as that! Join us to look at the story of Ruth, who lost everything but found out what really matters.

The Cross lies at the center of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But what is the message of the cross? Why are we troubled and even offended by the cross? Is the cross some throwback to barbaric religion, is it just a talisman or piece of jewelry? Or is it the ultimate expression of love?

Jesus consistently refused to remain in the box of expectations and limitations that the religious leaders, and His followers, placed upon Him. He was more than could ever be expected. He was God sent out to bring rescue to those far away, and nothing was going to stop Him.

The love of Christ compels us to move towards others. It invites us to be agents of the love and grace of God, in other people’s lives.

Colossians tells us we are loved, forgiven, approved, freed- now Paul says, “Live like you believe that.” Our lives are to be evidence of the grace in which we reside. In particular our relationships are to show this grace- and it starts in the family.

What do we do when the will of God is scary? As Christians we have the choice to be brave or to be safe; to love or to look smart; to be successful or to be significant.

Who is Jesus- is He a moral example, a religious leader, a teacher? The Bible claims He’s something more- that He’s a savior big enough for real life and real people.

The truth of the incarnation is that once God has shown up in a stable, there is no place ‘safe’ from His presence. Even as He did in Bethlehem, God continues to show up in the least likely places and to the least likely people. His coming transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. He changes shepherds into heralds of the King.

Isaiah provides images of the coming of the King- the deliverer of humanity. Light, a Mountain, a lamb, a twig- but do these images and does this King have power? Does He have real power to change lives and break chains? Indeed He does- this baby in the manger has the power to bring life from death.

Again and again we find ourselves pursuing security and meaning in things that can never really give them to us. Isaiah calls us to come instead to the coming King who will be like a mountain of strength and security.

It is easy to get caught up in pursuing our own priorities and goals – both as individuals and as a church. Nehemiah is a shining example of how God intends us to live our lives -- with an openness to God which allows His Spirit to interrupt “our work” so that we are free to minister to the needs of the poor and oppressed. Learning to “live beyond ourselves” for the sake of those less fortunate than ourselves, allows us to experience the joy and delight of playing a significant role in God’s “rescue plan” for this world.

We are each uniquely fashioned by God to play a part in the great story of humanity. Our desires, even when we pursue them in unhealthy ways, help to point us in the direction of God’s calling on our lives.

Following Jesus and Being the Church is all about relationship. First He wants to create one with us individually and then to join us with each other as one People. He then calls that People to be in grace-filled, loving, and redemptive relationships with the world around them. We are now the agents of God’s reconciliation in the world.

We identify ourselves by a lot of things but a relationship with Jesus means that our identity is based on something bigger than us. It is based on the unalterable love, grace, and forgiveness of God.

Psalm 139 says God is thinking about every one of us all the time and that he is intimately acquainted with all of our ways. He knows everything about us yet loves us fully and unconditionally. To be known and loved for who we really are -including the good, bad, and ugly bits - is liberating and life giving. To God, no person, and no circumstance is wasted. All of life matters and has a meaning and purpose. No wonder the psalmist exclaimed "such knowledge is too wonderful for me".

The Psalms give a voice to every human emotion, even difficult ones like fear and anger. In the midst of difficulties and struggles, the psalmists cry out to God, and express their hope that he will hear them and answer. So we who read their writings are encouraged to have hope in the midst of our own trials. And we are challenged to be an answer to prayer for those who cry out in the world around us.

When we consider God's majesty revealed in creation, it's a wonder He takes note of us at all. And yet He loves us and has given us a place of honor and responsibility as keepers of the earth.

The Psalms give a voice to every human emotion, even difficult ones like fear and anger. In the midst of difficulties and struggles, the psalmists cry out to God, and express their hope that he will hear them and answer. So we who read their writings are encouraged to have hope in the midst of our own trials. And we are challenged to be an answer to prayer for those who cry out in the world around us.

A short prayer that will change the whole earth. That sums up Psalm 72 in a few words. How can such a prayer change the whole world? That is what we want to look at when we study this Psalm. In the end each one of us will be involved in this change.

In learning to live and work in God’s economy, we should recognize that debt is a major hindrance to enjoying Gods provision. Changes in life’s circumstances can have serious financial consequences and leave us in a situation in which we cannot meet our obligations, causing internal stress, and straining inter-personal relationships. The Bible portrays an apparently hopeless situation in which a woman cannot repay her debts, until God steps in and shows her what it means to be introduced to His economy.

One of the great things about God is that He never wastes a hurt. And He doesn't want to waste ours. As we yield ourselves to God, He can work through us to bring good news to others, through our example and our words. We can become "wounded healers", like Jesus. When we learn to "recycle" our weaknesses and our pain we can make a difference for good in the lives of other people.
 

Anger, hurt feelings, and even betrayel can emotionally and spiritually tie us in knots. For those of us who have been genuinely wounded, the prospect of forgiving those who have caused us pain often seems impossible. Yet, through Christ all things are possible, including full forgiveness. No matter what you've done or what's been done to you, Jesus offers us a freedom and joy that comes from accepting and extending God's outrageous grace.

We are continuing to explore choices that help us move toward healing and spiritual maturity. This week, in the season of “Spring cleaning” we focus in on the “Housecleaning Choice”: the decision to openly examine ourselves and confess our faults to ourselves, to God and to someone we trust. This is a difficult choice to make, but one that makes a significant impact in our health and growth.

After coming to Christ, many of us are surprised to find that our new lives are still full of our old issues. We struggle with the fact that we can't quite get them under control. We struggle with our apparent lack of faith. We even struggle with the fact that we're struggling. Join us this Sunday as we discuss the comfort that can be ours through the Spirit of Christ... as we discuss the "Hope choice".

As we celebrate Easter Sunday, we celebrate that God has made a way to break through everything that holds us back from him. And this way is not a doctrine, or a set of rules. It is the person of Jesus Christ himself. He is the true way to find real life.

When Jesus fed five thousand people in the wilderness, he was doing something more than providing a supernatural catering service. He was telling a story - in fact, two stories - about the profound need of the people for a bread from heaven that would give them life.

Jesus said "I am the Good Shepherd".  This Sunday we remind ourselves how much Jesus loves us and cares about each one of us.

One of the things that is important to us at Crossroads is being “extro-spective”: looking outside of ourselves. God calls us to not only look out for our own interests, but also to care about, meet the needs of, and reach out to those around us. The early church lived that out with a passion. But what does missional living look like in the 21st century?

One of the things that is important to us at Crossroads is being “extro-spective”: looking outside of ourselves. God calls us to not only look out for our own interests, but also to care about, meet the needs of, and reach out to those around us. The early church lived that out with a passion. But what does missional living look like in the 21st century?

The world is a troubled place. From Haiti to Afghanistan everything can seem in turmoil. The small worlds of our private lives can seem just as chaotic. Where can we go to find peace? Paul assures the Philippians in the midst of their troubles that 'the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus'. How does that work? How can a community like Crossroads become a place of peace?

Paul was in prison in Rome, but his heart was free. He saw the bigger picture and had an eternal perspective on his life and circumstances. In the difficulties of life we too are able to taste joy by seeing life through God’s eyes.

God has given us a pretty amazing planet on which to live, but over time, the effects of progress and man’s desire for convenience have begun to wear negatively on our Father’s World.  What does God expect from his children in the care of this planet – his planet – and what are some ways we can start making a difference in caring for what remains of what we’ve been given.

What difference does it make that Jesus was born? The angels announced: “Good news, of great joy, for all people: born this day is a Saviour, Christ the Lord…Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, among people with whom he is well pleased” (other translation: “people of goodwill.”) This is a global pronouncement, dealing with global issues. Why is Jesus’ coming good news of great joy for all people? What is his legacy? And how do we as “Christ-ians”carry on Jesus’ work of bringing peace on earth and expressing God’s good will to the whole world?

We are designed for relationships. We will be sharing some thoughts on how we can approach our friendships in a way that brings out the best in ourselves as well as in those around us.

In the New Testament the people of God are compared to a spiritual house, a new temple built with living stones. What does that mean for our lives today?

The foundation of community is shared values. At Mt. Sinai God gave the Israelites his law, which outlined how to live together with God and other people. How do we navigate living in community today?

Moses had a life-changing encounter with God in a burning bush. What are our expectations when we come to worship God? Does our worship set us on fire?

In a changing world, it’s impossible not to change. The question then becomes are we going to change for the better or worse? If change is unavoidable, how can we learn to recognize and embrace the life-giving changes which God wants to bring to us individually and to our spiritual communities?

What’s growing in God’s garden? The Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… God wants to cultivate these and other fruit in the garden of our lives.

What’s growing in God’s garden? The Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… God wants to cultivate these and other fruit in the garden of our lives.

What’s growing in God’s garden? The Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… God wants to cultivate these and other fruit in the garden of our lives.

Patience?! I Don't Have Time For It!

What’s growing in God’s garden? The Bible says the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… God wants to cultivate these and other fruit in the garden of our lives.

This Sunday we will look at the key to unlocking our potential for personal growth. It is found in the posture of our soul before God. Join us for as we dare to dream of real change.

Grace. It's confounding, mysterious, amazing - and the foundation of our community. This week we look at living in and granting grace in our lives.

Jesus wants to open our eyes, so we see what God is doing. He shows us what God is like, and what we can be like too. He is Grace with a face.

In Luke 6 the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus seems to challenge everyone's understanding of the Kingdom of God. The poor will have the Kingdom of God, not the rich, those who weep will laugh, those who are laughing will weep, those who are hungry will be full and those who are full will be hungry. Who is this Kingdom for? The Messy? Jesus elevates those we lower and lowers those we elevate. What is he doing here and why should we care that the Kingdom of God is for the poor? This Sunday we will look at why Jesus Blesses the Messy and why that applies to us.

As Paul works through Galatians he shifts from emphasizing all we are freed from to all we are freed to be. His message strikes at the very heart of our hopes and dreams.
 

We will take a look at God's heart for justice in the scripture and then we will hear from an IJM Field worker and volunteer for IJM here in the Netherlands. You will walk away with a better understanding of why justice and how you can help in God's work around the world.

Peter had tasted the freedom that Jesus offers but he finds himself retreating back into the safe, predictable, restrictive rules of religion. Then he runs into Paul, a passionate advocate for freedom.

God never intended our jobs to push the rest of our lives out of balance. By embracing our work as part of a full life submitted to God, we are better able to lead more fulfilling and balanced lives.

How do you define success at work? At the end of the day, how might Jesus define it?

God shows us His heart on the pages of His Word and by His love for you.

God shows us His heart on the pages of His Word and by His activity in the city.

The life that God invites us into involves a relational connection with God himself. What does that look like? How can we experience that in all its fullness? Join us as we dive into Biblical portraits of people who dared to connect with the God who invites all of us to draw near.

The life that God invites us into involves a relational connection with God himself. What does that look like? How can we experience that in all its fullness? Join us as we dive into Biblical portraits of people who dared to connect with the God who invites all of us to draw near.

The life that God invites us into involves a relational connection with God himself. What does that look like? How can we experience that in all its fullness? Join us as we dive into Biblical portraits of people who dared to connect with the God who invites all of us to draw near.

The life that God invites us into involves a relational connection with God himself. What does that look like? How can we experience that in all its fullness? Join us as we dive into Biblical portraits of people who dared to connect with the God who invites all of us to draw near.

True life in Christ is anything but ordinary.  When a radical God moves into the core of our being he nudges us out of our comfort zone.  Join us for this series that explores embracing a life of impact.

True life in Christ is anything but ordinary.  When a radical God moves into the core of our being, he nudges us out of our comfort zone.  Join us for this series that explores embracing a life of impact.

True life in Christ is anything but ordinary.  When a radical God moves into the core of our being, he nudges us out of our comfort zone.  Join us for this series that explores embracing a life of impact.

“What is truth?” Pontius Pilate exclaimed when Jesus was brought before him.  He wasn’t the first to ask that question and certainly not the last.  Join us as we wrestle with this timeless question and also with the difference the answer makes today.