RECEIVE the Cross of Christ

We are a people loved.

Loved by God as Romans chapter 5 states:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
(Romans 5:6,8-9)

We are a people loved...

while we are weak--that’s God’s grace

while the time is right--that’s God’s sovereignty

and while we are sinners--that’s God’s mercy

It’s quite amazing, really. God showed his love for us by sacrificing his Son, Jesus, on our behalf--and while we were still sinners!

As we learn more about God’s love, though, we’re conflicted. Sure, it’s great to be loved...but do we really need his love? Aren’t we just fine without it?

Although it’s not a very popular message these days, we believe God very clearly says in the Bible that we’re all ungodly sinners--by our own choosing--and destined for a just penalty.

We’ve been told that we need to be saved, but we’re realizing more and more that we need to change, too, not just be saved. Problem is, the harder we try, the more we fail. We’ve tried religion...can’t make the mark. But God understands our problem and solves it with the cross. It’s a gift whose cost we don’t fully appreciate.

But Jesus did.

It’s in the cross of Christ that our sinfulness and God’s love collide.

It’s in the cross of Christ that the sinless Jesus willingly took our sin upon himself and died a death that we deserved; the just penalty for our sins.

It’s in the cross of Christ that our sin was taken away by Jesus and our right standing before God was restored.

It’s in the cross of Christ that events led to Jesus’ burial and physical resurrection, signaling an end to the power of sin and death in our lives.

It’s in the cross of Christ that rests our hope to be saved and our power to change.

All our striving to save or change ourselves amounts to nothing without the cross of Christ. This is something we simply can’t do for ourselves. This is a gift of God that requires our receiving.

RECEIVE the Cross of Christ is the second step in our Purpose & Process; repeatable actions we take to accomplish God’s desires for our lives and church. It’s not a formula, it’s really more of a mystery...and it’s what the church equips and supports us to do. This is the role our church plays in the bigger story of God.

Will you consider joining us as we ask God’s help in receiving the cross of Christ? Will you rest in its promises and be attracted more deeply to its essence--God’s love for us?

RECEIVE the Cross of Christ is Jesus having done for us what we can’t do for ourselves. It’s the gift of the gospel and it’s our hope for eternity--and today.

One last thought...to truly RECEIVE, we must do it along with others...that’s just the way God intended it. This is not easy in our culture of rampant individualism...it presents a huge hurdle for us. But we’re trying and we’re asking Jesus to remove the hurdles and show us a better way.

And you can join us!

Click here to request more information on how to RECEIVE the Cross of Christ.